Author: jedipati aka immortaljedi
Author: jedipati aka immortaljedi
Disclaimer: I see no profit in this for me. I don't own these characters.
Characters: Will/Elizabeth, ensemble cast (first movie)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: AU
Summary: The Curse is broken, and Jack derails Will's plans to get Elizabeth away with some of his own. CotBP AU
Ch4
"Dice, lad?" Ragetti asked.
Will nodded. Most of the crew had disappeared into a series of caves on Isla de Muerta. The two guards, Elizabeth, and Will were the only ones on board. Elizabeth was sitting nearby, watching.
The two pirates smiled when he agreed. "I'm just glad it's cloudy," Pintel said.
Will frowned. "Will you know?" He asked. "When the curse is broken?"
"Suspect so, lad," Pintel said. "Is there a breeze?"
Will frowned. "Yes," he said. "Actually, a fairly strong one. The clouds should be gone soon. You can't feel it?"
"Haven't been able to feel the wind in ten years, lad," Pintel said. "I'm looking forward t' it, and a nice dinner."
Elizabeth leaned forward slightly. "How do you break the curse?" she asked. "I understand that you have to return all the coins. Is there anything else?"
"Aye," Pintel said. "We had blood that had to be repaid. All o' us had ta add some blood ta the chest." He rolled his dice and grumbled at the five he'd gotten.
"We did that first off," Ragetti interjected. "So as we could be free as soon as we'd collected all the coins." He took the dice and rolled. "Ha!" He shouted when he saw his nine. He passed the dice on to Will.
Will frowned and rolled. Eight. "Not bad," He muttered.
Pintel looked up just before taking the dice. "Ragetti…" He said.
"I feel it, Pints!" Ragetti said.
"What? What is it?" Will asked, alarmed.
"We're free!" Pintel yelled. "The curse is broken!"
They both jumped up and began to dance a jig.
Will watched in amusement. He exchanged a quick glance with Elizabeth.
She was trying not to laugh as she watched. "This probably means you should get to the cabin," Will said softly.
She sighed. "I know. But I'm enjoying spending time on deck."
"I know," Will echoed. "But too much longer is just too dangerous."
"Let her wait until we see the boats, mate," Pintel said. "It'll be a while, they're getting the swag. We've been collecting it f'r nearly ten years now, since we realized we didn't need t' spend it on food and the like."
"Why do you have food aboard then?" Elizabeth asked.
"Captain says we need t' have it just in case. Came in useful, didn't it?"
"Yes," Will agreed. He hadn't eaten so well since the first summer he'd been in Port Royal, before he'd started his apprenticeship. In fact, he was reasonably certain that a good portion of the food came from the governor's mansion.
Elizabeth had agreed with him, though they hadn't said anything to the pirates.
Will wandered over to the rail, watching the caves. He wanted to know as soon as the rest of the pirates returned.
Elizabeth joined him. "I'm trying not to argue with you," She said. "But I really don't like having to hide. Plus, I'm running out of papers to translate."
"You know why I want to keep you hidden," He said. "If they don't see you, they might not remember you're here and you won't have any… problems." Will paused. "Perhaps Captain Sparrow has some books you can read."
She nodded. "I know. That's why I'm not arguing," She said. "But it may not matter when we get back to Port Royal." She continued quietly. "I am tired of being shut in that cabin."
Will sighed. "I know," He said. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. But I have to get you away from here and back to your father. And I'm sorry."
Elizabeth looked down. "Will you be upset if I admit that I'm not sure I want to go back?"
Will sighed. "Your father will want to know you are safe," He said.
She nodded. "I like this, though. Spending time with you. We haven't been allowed in too long."
"I know." Will rested his hand on the small of her back. He wouldn't have dared do that back in Port Royal, but here, they were pretending to be married. They had to act the part, after all. "But I'm certain that it can't last."
Bill glanced around the cavern. There was still a lot of treasure stored in the caves, but it would take more then one ship to carry it all out at once. They'd loaded the boats with as much as they could, and Bill was sure that they would make more trips until the Pearl was full.
He stretched, marveling at the simple act of feeling his muscles pull.
He smiled widely. The curse was broken, and he could feel again. Around him, the majority of the crew were either loading the boats or doing the exact same thing he was.
Reveling in feeling. Bill closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The slight dankness of the cavern and the fresh smell of the sea assaulted him. He gloried in it.
Jack stopped next to him. "Bill d'ye think we have enough for now?" Jack asked.
Bill glanced at the boats with an expert eye. He knew Jack's question was mostly a formality, but Bill took it seriously. "I think we have enough for this trip, yes. If we want to fill the Pearl, we'll need at least two more trips."
"That's fine," Jack slurred. "Just make sure we c'n live like kings for weeks."
"That will not be hard to do," Bill said after a quick glance around the cavern. "We've enough in this cavern ta last several lifetimes, and never need ta pirate again."
"But where's th' fun in that?" Jack asked.
Bill laughed.
After a moment, Jack joined in.
Jack watched as the last of the gold they were taking with them was loaded onto the Pearl.
Bill was supervising the loading, while Jack was double checking that they were ready to leave.
Jack frowned as he realized he couldn't see Will Turner anywhere. He should be up here helping to get the ship ready. "Bill, where's your son?" He called out.
"Down in th' cabin," Bill called back. "Thought it was best f' now. He c'n learn how to sail later."
Jack nodded. That was a good idea. The lad could protect his- whatever she was to him- better that way.
Jack nodded, finally satisfied. "All hands, look alive!" Jack yelled. "Ready to make sail!"
The crew jumped into action. Jack smiled. There was more energy in their movements then he'd seen in a long time. Most of the crew was smiling or in clearly good spirits. Not that he blamed them. He was just glad that they had a good supply of very good food, courtesy of the governor's mansion at Port Royal.
Nevertheless, he couldn't wait to get to Tortuga. He wanted rum- real, good rum- and a lass or two. He wouldn't say no to fresh fruit, either.
He knew others in the crew had similar plans. Jack figured that they could take a week or two for enjoyment before starting to find more crewmen. He'd like to take on another helmsman and a few more cannoneers to start. A good cook would be needed, unless the lad proved to be good at that. They'd stay at Tortuga for a month, at least, to resupply and fix the ship.
Jack nodded. The girl could probably be set up in Tortuga. Bill had already expressed an interest in using part of his share to buy a house in the better part of town. Jack was sure he could find one big enough for his son and "daughter-in-law" as well.
Jack grinned. It'd be interesting to see how far those young adults would be willing to take this deception. Of course, it was far more likely that the lad would find a way to get the lass on a ship away.
Jack didn't particularly mind if that happened. He had what he needed from the girl- the medallion. And the lad, while useful, could be replaced.
Jack smiled.
Will shifted uneasily as footsteps approached the cabin and then faded away. "I felt better when they were cursed," He said.
Elizabeth smiled at him then returned to the papers she was trying to translate. She couldn't really offer any words of comfort, since she felt the same way. It had been nice of Will's father to make that threat, but she and Will both doubted it would matter in the end.
Someone approached again, and Will stood up as the door opened. "Easy, lad, I'm here t' explain a few things," Jack said as he entered.
"Such as?" Will asked. He didn't sit back down.
"The lass," Jack said, gesturing at Elizabeth. "We can't keep her on board."
Will nodded. "Good," he said.
Elizabeth frowned at him. Will turned to her. "Elizabeth, it's not safe." He glanced at Jack. "Though I doubt any place this crew decides to make port at will be any safer."
"I'm staying with you, Will," Elizabeth said.
"Not on this ship, love." Jack said. "If you were a sailor, perhaps, but I don't need you. Young Turner, I want on my crew."
"Why do you need me? And don't give me some line about needing good fighters." Will said.
"But it's true, lad," Jack said. "That was the only reason I wanted ye, at first."
"At first," Will repeated.
At Jack's smirk, he knew that the pirate captain had wanted him to pick up on the wording.
"Ye belong here, lad," Jack said. "Where else would the son o' Bootstrap Bill belong?"
"I do not," Will denied. "I belong in Port Royal."
"Is that so, boy?" Jack asked.
"Yes," Will said firmly. "I'm not my father." Elizabeth saw the slight flicker of regret in his gaze as he did, however. It was probably over the fact that his father was a pirate.
Jack laughed. "You'll change your mind, lad."
Elizabeth couldn't be certain he wouldn't. She sighed.
"I doubt that," Will disagreed scornfully.
Jack waved it away. "In any case, lad, yer father is planning ta buy a house in Tortuga. He says that ye and yer lass c'n stay there until ye've enough ta buy one o' yer own."
"Buy my own?" Will asked, startled. Elizabeth looked up worriedly. At Port Royal, Will was years away from being able to afford a home. Even now, with his apprenticeship done, and working as a journeyman, he had to rent.
"That might take some months, lad, but with your share once we get back to proper piratin', you'll be able ta afford a proper home for yer wife."
Will sat back down, stunned. "Months?" He repeated.
"Aye, though it will depend on what prizes we take, lad." Jack blinked. "Is something wrong?"
Will shook his head. "No, nothing's wrong," He said unconvincingly.
Jack frowned at him.
Elizabeth forced herself to smile. She had to pay the part! "Will, this is wonderful," She said. "We'll be able to have our own home soon."
Will looked at her sharply, but she couldn't interpret Jack's gaze. She settled for smiling at Will. He blinked and then smiled back. Good, he knew what she was trying to do.
Lord alive, this charade was both too hard and too easy!
Bill watched as Jack headed toward the captain's cabin. Jack looked up and gestured for him to follow.
Bill nodded and, after making sure that everything was going well and things were under control on deck, followed the captain.
"Aye, Captain?" Bill asked.
"None of that, Bill," Jack said as he poured two tankards of rum. Not the best, but better then nothing.
"What is it, Jack?"
"Did you know that your son and that lass can lie with the best of them?"
Bill blinked. "No…" He said.
"They sat there, lying through their teeth about living together," Jack said. "Only the fact that she can't be your lad's wife stopped me from believing them." Jack shook his head. "They're playing this through, Bill. And they're doing it perfectly. Be proud of the lad."
Bill took a drink. "It's that perfect?" He asked. "I've not spent much time with the both of them."
"You've not spent much time with your lad, Bill," Jack said. "But yes."
Bill looked down. "We are… very different men, Jack," Bill said. "And I want to give him time…"
Jack waved his hand around. "Still, ye might want ta take them in hand, as it were. That lad has the look ta be a perfect lure. So does the lass, come ta think. But young William has the perfect face for it."
Bill smiled proudly. "They're pulling it off, aren't they?"
"Aye." Jack said. "They had perhaps two seconds ta pull it together and it's still holdin' up. An' only the two o' us know it's not true."
Bill nodded. "I'll talk with Will," He said. "I think I need ta anyway."
Jack shrugged. They enjoyed the rum in silence for a moment before Bill laughed. At Jack's look he smiled. "Will had no idea I was a pirate," He said. "And he's probably finding life as a pirate has more rewards then he thought."
"What do ye mean?"
"The lass, Jack, the lass." Bill looked smug. "Fact is; I wouldn't mind having her as me daughter-in-law."
Jack shifted.
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