Disclaimers: I don't own POTC.
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Lawrence came back to her quarters before midnight, very light-headed; this night had seemed so surreal. And James' concerns, his apologies, his smiles, his eyes full of emotions… She could think straight. When she was safely inside, she fell heavily on her bed and hugged tightly against her chest her pillow; her smile as broad as the moon's waxing crescent that was illuminating the night's sky.
She knew she was behaving like a foolish young girl; but for once, she didn't care. If she had ever doubted about her being in love with James, she definitely did not now; she knew she was helplessly in love with and didn't mind admitting it to herself.
She undressed and put on her night shirt, humming a tuneless song.
'Oh James, what have you done of me?' she said softly before falling asleep, still smiling.
In the Commodore's quarters, James was still sat at the table, staring into space. He wondered whereas he should feel guilty about feeling so relieved and happy. The warm sensation that spread through his chest hadn't left him yet; and he realized he rather enjoyed this feeling of warmth and dizziness. Lawrence made him feel so vulnerable and yet he felt as though he could move mountains. 'I think I understand now how love can lead people to commit strange things… I thought this would never happen to me, but I was wrong, oh so wrong.'
The morning after, James and Lawrence were in the top deck with the other officers, examining the maps; the Dauntless would reach Tortuga by the end of the day. Either it was the feeling of sharing the secret of their late-night meeting, or the conclusions both had personally drawn about the other, the two friends felt closer than ever; countless of times they exchanged quick looks and hidden smiles. Lieutenant Pardy and Commander Johnson were obviously oblivious to what was going on around them.
Before arriving in Tortuga, Lawrence took special care of her appearance and bound her chest with two scarves; 'what happened in Santiago de Cuba would never happen again', she promised herself. In spite of all she had heard about this place of iniquity, she couldn't help but feel excited about going there. She knew this place to be dangerous for any man, especially for any officer of the Royal Navy; and her being a female didn't help at all in her case. 'But nothing will go wrong' she said to herself. 'With James by my sides, I could brave anything; even though I hate feeling so dependent on him.'
The ship eventually laid anchor and the officers disembarked, followed by a dozen of armed men; if Sparrow was here, he would never be able to escape them.
What first stroke Lawrence with the streets of Tortuga wasn't the sight of drunkards almost everywhere and women loosely dresses, but the awful stench that filled her nostrils; how could a place smell that badly?!
'I think we should split up, Commodore. That way we'll cover more ground and catch Sparrow more quickly' suggested Commander Johnson.
'I was just about to announce the same thing, Commander' said James.
'Why don't we go find him, you and I; and Lieutenant Pardy can go with Ensign Reynolds; let youth be together for once' he winked.
'No no no, there's no way I'll go roaming those streets with someone I barely know; I'd rather go alone if I can't go with James.' Her panic was starting to show; she looked at her friend, eyes wide with worry. Norrington didn't even have to look at her face to make up his mind.
'I'd rather keep an eye myself on our young Ensign; it is after all his first time on this place, and I wouldn't like to see him go in some houses, if you see what I mean…' Which was of course a lie, but James had never thought of leaving Lawrence without him, anything could happen to her, and he would never forgive himself if it did.
'As you wish, Sir, it was only an idea. Well then, let's go find Sparrow first then, Lieutenant Pardy!' Johnson said before walking away in the direction of the first tavern he saw.
'Thank you, James' Lawrence said gratefully.
'There is nothing to thank me for.' James smiled down at her. 'I would never have let you go without me, especially not here. Alright, let's start with the Empty Thrown; if Sparrow is to be found in Tortuga, this tavern would be the place.'
The two of them entered the main street of Tortuga, swarming with suspicious looking men, pirates for most of them, and penniless aristocrats drowning their sorrow with rum and cheap liquor.
'Stay close to me' James said, getting closer to Lawrence to the point where his left hip touched her lower back, his side imbricating hers.
At one corner of a street, a fat bearded man with tattered clothes yelled at them, and insulted the Navy, blaming them for his destitution; the man tried to unsheathe his sword but he was so drunk that the mere action of moving his arm too quickly made him lose his balance and fall on the ground. The other men around didn't look so pleased either to see two Navy officers in the area; some of them started to whisper to their friends' ears, others looked them up and down with a nasty rictus on their face.
James instinctively wrapped his left arm around Lawrence's hips; at this touch so intimate, Lawrence startled a bit, her stomach suddenly becoming fuzzy and her skin warm. She didn't push him away as she would have done with anybody else, she moved even closer than she already was. In his semi-embrace, her body so close to his, she felt safer; his foreign touch soon became natural, almost familiar.
They had forgotten how the two of them looked until one man laughed at them, insinuating shocking things that made them blush. James let go of his hand around her back, but didn't step away anyway. He looked at her, embarrassed, and cleared his throat.
'I, err, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to… I had forgotten I was holding you, in case you needed protection of course…'
Lawrence's cheeks were bright red, which made her eyes shine brighter, James noticed.
'It's, it's alright. I don't mind… I mean, err, it's all fine. No harm done.' The place where his hand had been felt too cold now, she wished he had ignored the man and held her forever.
'My God, I'm such a foolish girl; I need to stop like that, it's not proper!'
'Why did I do that?' James admonished himself. 'You're disgusting James; taking advantage of her in such a way, in such a sordid place…' He felt really angry with himself at that moment, but still, I longed to hold her this close again; it just felt right to him.
Neither of them said a word until they reached the famous Empty Thrown.
'Have you seen the Black Pearl recently? Or her captain, Jack Sparrow?' Norrington asked the keeper of the tavern in hushed voice.
'Maybe that I have, maybe I have not… Depends on the gold, Sir' the man replied, giving him a false smile.
James huffed and gave him two golden coins.
'I've seen Sparrow, he's been here for a week now. I can't whether he's still here or not, but he was in my tavern not two days ago, looking for new crewmembers.'
'Do you know where he's staying?'
'Maybe, maybe not…'
James gave him another gold coin, getting weary of this man.
'I don't know where he sleeps.'
'I can't give you any more money!' said James, his anger rising. 'Now, tell me where is Sparrow!' He seized the man by the collar of his shirt.
'I've just told you, I don't know!' said the man with difficulty, his face turning red.
'James, stop, stop it!' Lawrence interfered, seizing James's hand and lowering it down to let the man go free. She placed her hand upon his and placed her left hand on his right shoulder, looking at him right in the eyes, smiling softly to appease his anger.
'He said he didn't know. I know you hate this pirate and want to be done with him for ever, but we'll find him; he can't be too far.'
Norrington lowered his eyes and nodded, ashamed of his irrational behaviour in front of Lawrence.
'You're right. Let's try someplace else then.'
The night had started to fall; soon they wouldn't be able to search the streets because the dark would make their situation too perilous.
They entered another tavern, overcrowded with people.
'Let's find a table and eat something, I'm starving!' Lawrence said to lighten the mood and also because she was indeed starving and wanted to taste whatever foul dish would be served to her.
'I'm glad you suggested it, I'm hungry too' he laughed, his anger now vanished. It's only when she moved slightly away from him that he realized they were holding hands; she hadn't let go of his hand when she had stopped him from hurting the man and lead into the streets.
Lawrence hadn't realized it either, so she was surprised to find resistance as she was walking towards a table. She looked at their hands intertwined then looked at him, letting it go.
'Sorry' she said with a small smile, her cheeks starting to turn red.
They ordered some chicken and potatoes with two beers and ate in silence, watching with attention all the faces around them and the people coming in and out.
'Have you ever met female pirates, or is it just a legend?' Lawrence asked, curious.
'I have two of them; one was with Sparrow now that I come to think of it… Why do you ask?'
'Oh, I was just wondering. I find it strange that pirates are more open on this matter than the Navy or any other institution of the colonies.'
'You're not considering piracy, are you?' James raised his eyebrows, amused but with a bit a worry in his voice too.
'God forbid, never! Pirates are so immoral, and barbarous, and crude; I will never become a pirate, even if everything around me has fallen to pieces. And look at those men, James' she said, pointing to some drunkards at the other end of the tavern, 'Such a disgrace; by the look of them, I'm sure they were good and proper gentlemen, once. And now they have nothing but drinks and women of easy virtue!'
James nodded approvingly. 'Yes, I can't imagine how a man can fall that low and have no dignity left in him. I'd rather die than become like them…'
'I don't think we'll find him tonight, it's too dark and too late. We might as well stay for a while now that we're here; unless you want to go back to the ship?'
'Oh no please, let's stay a while longer! Being in such a place is so thrilling, I've never really had the occasion before.'
'Good, I don't want to go back either.' He smiled and asked a waitress two other beers.
'Are you trying to make me drunk, James?' she laughed when her second beer had arrived. She had never drunk much alcohol in her previous years, and so the first pint of beer was already starting to get to her head.
Her friend laughed with her; he hadn't realized that she wasn't used to alcohol as much as he was.
'Sometimes I forget how young you are, Lawrence…' he said, still smiling and looking at her reddening face.
'Is that bad?'
'No, no, don't worry. It's just that… I can't believe we've met only a year ago! It feels like I've known you as long as Theodore or Andrew. And yet, you're so much younger than me, it seems unreal.'
'Is ten years that much? I know ladies married to someone twice their age, sometimes more! ... Not that I, err… It's not comparable in the least, but… you see what I mean…' 'Marriage, really? Couldn't you be more obvious about your feelings, Lawrence? Ugh, I need to stop drinking alcohol, it really troubles my way of thinking!'
James laughed to see her so embarrassed; though she had a point, people married with age gap wider than ten years. 'I know she is right for me, I cannot imagine living with anyone else. And she does seem to like me, I think. Maybe I should propose to her someday…'