Jack's eyes hardened at the sight of Norrington beginning to come onto the Pearl. This man had tried to take his ship AND hang him, and he'd be damned if he let that happen again. "Jack Sparrow." "CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow," Jack said icily, not able to keep the venom out of his voice. Norrington's face echoed Jack's tone. It was hard and unforgiving. "Why are you in Port Royal?" Jack put his fingers to his lips. "Y'know, I really don't know why," he said smoothly, but a voice stopped him. "I know why."
Will stepped out from his hiding spot. Norrington's glare heated up. "Turner." Will acknowledged the commodore with a nod. "Jack's here…because I've asked him specific directions from the governor," Will lied easily. Norrington didn't notice, but Jack did, and he shot the blacksmith a questioning glance. Will returned it with a look that said 'I-know-what-I'm-doing'. Jack merely shrugged and allowed Will to continue. "The governor offered Jack a proposal--if Jack let the Pearl be in service to the Navy and gave up on his ways of piracy, the governor would allow Jack to remain her captain, as well as being a privateer and escaping the hangman's noose," Will explained.
Norrington cast a suspicious glance at Jack. His eyes were shimmering the way they did when he had a plan. "Is this true?" he asked, his voice clipped. Jack nodded, pointing to the ship for emphasis. "Yep. Me and my old lass are going to be part of His Majesty's Royal Fleet," he chirped, straightening his back, clasping his hands behind them. While Norrington couldn't see his hands, he gave Will a thumbs-up. A smile crawled into the blacksmith's mind. "Well, then. I shall see to it that this ship will be in a proper dock in the morning, then?" Norrington asked, confirming that Will and Jack would have no escape if they were lying.
"On the jiffy," Jack replied. "I'll start over right now--that is, as soon as you and your men leave me and my ship in peace," Norrington grimaced. "Fine." He called a few directions to his men, and they scrambled back to the ship. The commodore walked up to Jack, so that their faces were mere inches apart. "If you are deceiving me in any way, and if I do not see that ship in port tomorrow, I shall have you hung--and I mean it this time," he hissed. "Do I make myself clear?" Jack smiled. "Inescapably," he replied, unable to supress a smirk when he saw the rage on the commodore's face. "Turner." He acknowledged Will with a nod of the head, then left.
Jack and Will hurried to the other side of the Pearl's deck, out of sight. Jack's face broke into a huge grin. "That was brilliance," he said, reverence in his tone. "It was absolute, utter brilliance." Will smiled. "Thank you," he said, a grin sliding onto his own face. "After all, I learned from the best." He leaned against the railing on the Pearl, resting his arms out wide on either side. "Oh, did ye now? Say it, Will," Jack sing-songed, a chirpy little sound. "Say, 'Jack Sparrow is the greatest pirate who ever lived.'" Will rolled his eyes. "No." "Please?" "What's the use of telling you? You already know." Jack grinned again. "That's true."
Will looked around at the crew, who was still passed-out, despite all that had happened. "Well," Will said, looking down. "What are we going to do now?" Jack furrowed his eyebrows, then scratched his chin. "We could actually go through with it," he mused. "I'd be safe, still keep the Pearl, and still get to go hunting. Sounds like a fair deal to me." Will's mouth dropped open. "What about the crew?" He asked. Jack smiled, his face softening. "Gibbs is getting older; so is the rest of 'em. They're going to have to settle down, whether they like it or not." Jack turned to face Will, the smile still on his face. "And I wouldn't have to hide, coming or going to the governor's house for your lessons," he added.
Will looked down, flushing slightly. "Oh, and about what I said earlier? I'm…sorry about it," Jack said, looking the other way. It was clear he didn't like apologizing. Will smiled at the effort he made. "It's okay, Jack."
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Ehh. This turned out the way I wanted I to! Well, yes and no. Gah. The ending seems a tad bit too rushed for my taste, but since I don't really know how to change it in any way I'll leave it be.
Review, it gets Jack's libido running hard and strong ;)