Fic: Saints and Cellies
May. 11th, 2008 09:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
serafina20Title: Saints and Sinners
Pairing: Jack/Norrington
Rating: M (for mature)
Summary: The Dauntless finds the Black Pearl
Notes: This part was strangely hard to write and I'm unsure of my characterization (especially of Jack). Any suggestions would be gladly appreciated.
Previous Parts
Jack left his cabin, surprised it was still light. James was asleep, helped along by a little something snuck into the rum. Man needed it, looking like he did. Big black circles under his eyes, face sickly pale under tanned skin, lines etched where they hadn't been before. He needed sleep, needed someone else to take care of things. James was too ready to give everything up, the life he'd worked for, the friends he had.
He was crazed with grief. No fit state to take care of this. To plan.
"What's going on, Captain?" Gibbs asked. "Turner said something about a baby in jail?"
"Aye. Norrington's son has been imprisoned by the East Indian Trading Company." He turned to his second in command. "We're breaking him out."
"It's not our fight, Captain," Marty protested. "We're not risking our lives for that Navy scum."
Jack turned on him. "You're wrong. It is my fight. Mine. My son too. Any man who doesn't want to risk his neck is free to get off."
"What? Here?"
Jack fought not to roll his eyes. "I follow the code. I will take anyone who wants off to a location they deem suitable, provided it does not postpone or prolonged the duration it takes to get to Port Royal and get a six month old child out of a jail cell." He began to stalk to the Dauntless, when a thought occurred to him. He turned. "Mariah Plover and Elizabeth Turner are also imprisoned. As you've all had dealings with at least one of the ladies, you might feel more inclined to go after them."
"What do you mean the kid's yours?" Gibbs asked. "You never said anything about a kid."
"Why do you think I was in Port Royal all those months?" He climbed onto the gunwale and leapt lightly to the Dauntless.
The tall, calm lieutenant, Groves, Jack thought he'd been called, was on the quarterdeck with Will. When Jack boarded, Groves gestured for Jack to join them.
He needed no further invitation. "We'll need your help," he said without preamble.
Groves nodded. "I assumed as much. Mr. Turner has been filling me in on what happened. I don't know why the Commodore didn't.... Anyway. I've talked to the crew. Only one man doesn't want to risk his career, so he's been confined to quarters until this is finished." He hesitated. "How is James?"
Jack narrowed his eyes and studied the other man, trying to gauge the intent of his question. James was his; he wasn't going to share, not with this tall, pretty man. "Sleeping," Jack finally answered. He turned to Will. "I need to know what you know. What does he want?"
"Beckett? He said he wants your compass. He didn't say why. I told him it doesn't work, but..."
"It works." Jack stroked his chin. "How many ships did he bring?"
"Three. But he's taken over Port Royal. Commandeered the rest of them."
"And everyone's loyal?"
Will shrugged. "Everyone at the fort knows that James's son was placed in prison. No one stood up to him."
He cocked an eyebrow. "You didn't."
"I couldn't risk it. Where would I have taken them?" Will asked pragmatically. "Elizabeth might have managed an escape, but not from the inside."
Jack conceded the point. Will was too steady, feet too firmly planted on the ground. He was capable of brilliant planning, but the moment someone he loved was in danger, he became logical. Hesitant.
And James....
The man was brilliant, but this was his son. And he needed the ship and a safe place to retreat. His planning was over for now.
"I can't imagine anyone at Port Royal has actually turned their backs on James," Groves said. "He's very highly regarded."
"And Cutler is terrifying," Jack agreed. "If we were to go in, how likely is it they'd fight against us?"
Groves' face fell. "I'm not sure."
"Is there anyone to send it ahead to see? Someone who wouldn't be noticed, but who would be able to talk to the officers?"
"There's a few ensigns. Young, unnoticeable. They might be able to."
"The Dauntless will have to go in first. No. First, we'll send in the ensigns. Then you go in... the Pearl will follow, but we can't be seen."
"If the fort is too busy defending themselves from one of their own, they won't notice a small contingent that goes ashore."
"From the Dauntless. Pearl stays out of range."
Groves nodded. "Of course."
Jack tugged at a lock of hair. "The might work." He met Groves' eyes. "And my crew is safe?"
"Yes." He hesitated, then said, "After, I would like to know where you go. So I know that James is safe. And... And Mariah."
"Mariah?"
The lieutenant's face turned red.
"Does she know?"
"I've... We've spoken. But I don't know if she realizes how... how highly I regard her."
"I shall pass on your respects. And our location." He nodded and gave the lad a smile, more inclined to be friendly as he was not a threat. "We'll stay here for the night. When James awakes, we'll finalize our plans."
"Aye, Captain," Groves said, giving a respectful salute and smile.
James gave him a bow, then twirled around and headed back to the Pearl.
"Jack," Will said, falling into step beside him. "What is going on?"
"I thought it was quite obvious. A child has been put in prison, Captain Jack Sparrow runs to the rescue. I happen to love that boy, if you haven't noticed." He climbed onto the gunwale and swung across to the Pearl.
"I never expected any less," answered Will, following. "I watched you with Gavin every day. I knew you would help. But what's going on with you and James?"
Jack spun around, arms out. He shrugged. "I don't know what you are talking about. Mr. Gibbs?"
"Aye, Captain?"
"Anyone complaining about our mission?"
"No, Captain. Although, you might want to talk to them, too."
"Of course."
Will grabbed Jack's arm. "What's going on, Jack? You seem awfully familiar with James."
"Of course I'm familiar with him. Spent the night on his ship, once or twice. Tried to hang me."
"Yes, I know. And yet, you seem forgiving."
Jack smiled. Spread his hands. "Always magnanimous, me. Never one to hold a grudge."
"You carried a single shot to kill Barbossa for ten years!"
"Score wasn't settled."
"Jack. You called him Jamie."
"I call your wife Lizzie."
"You're friends with my wife."
Jack gave up. Simply looked at Will, eyebrow raised.
Will blinked. Shook his head. "You can't.... You can't mean that you and James Norrington are... friends."
"No, I don't mean. I do mean that he and I... What he and I are is something he can explain to you. In the meantime, rest assured I only mean the best by him and his son." He turned and began walking way.
"You were there for weeks and you never saw fit to explain to either myself or Elizabeth of you... arrangement?" Will shouted. "What about Mariah?"
"As I'm sure your darling wife explained, Mariah and I never entangled. Well, have not entangled for quite some time. Years. Not while I was in town, at any rate."
Will grabbed him. "We were worried. Felt guilty that we were allowing you near Gavin. Thinking he'd protest, thinking we were being poor friends for not following what surely were his wishes. And you knew!"
"Despite what you may believe about me, I am not, in fact, a mind reader."
"Jack."
Jack twisted his arm in Will's grip, taking hold of him and tugging him close. "Despite my rather unconventional attitude toward life, that does not mean I am prepared to ruin the life of another. Especially not one such as he."
Will gave him a long, steadily penetrating look. "Jack, I..." He furrowed his brow. Pulled his arm away. Stepped back. "Jack. Am I to understand that you... that you and James has formed... have done... have been... in some sort of... sexually intimate... thing?"
"Not that it is any of your concern, of course."
The boy looked up at him. His cheeks burned a dull red. "I must know. Neither of you has been... you've not forced him nor he you. Have you?"
He frowned. "Of course not. Neither of us is the type of man to be..." The lie unexpectedly burned on his tongue. He had to swallowed before amending his statement to, "Neither of us is the type of man to force another into our bed." He grinned. "Don't need to, mate. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
Will gave him a wan smile in return.
"May I ask what brought on this unpleasant question?"
He shrugged. "On my voyage from England, there was a man... a man who was quite insistent of his pursuit of me."
"Will," Jack said, stepping closer.
The boy shook his head. "No. Nothing happened. Not.... The cook and the first mate made sure I was guarded when they discovered what was going on. But now... I don't know anything, Jack. That's all I know about this kind of thing. All I've heard. Pain and humiliation."
"It's not always like that. Just like it's not always like that between men and women." Jack shrugged. "There are always them that take pleasure in the pain and hurt of others. It's got nothing to do with sex. Nothing to do with love."
"Do you love James?"
Jack hesitated. He hated to lay himself bare. Hated to give someone else an opening against him.
But he hated even more that Will wouldn't look at him. That he kept edging away from Jack, biting his lip.
So he forced himself not to disassemble for once in his life. "I do."
Will relaxed. Looked at him.
"William," Jack said, taking a step closer. "When I first met you and Lizzie... you were both the most beautiful people I'd ever met. Spent time trapped alone with. And I wanted you. Both of you. So very much."
The dull red was back now. Brighter, spread all over Will's face. "So, why didn't you..."
"You wouldn't have understood. Neither of you. Anything I did would have been misinterpreted. It would have hurt you. But James..." He shrugged. "I knew the moment we met that we'd end up tumbling in bed."
"Didn't he arrest you when you met?"
Jack waved his hand. "He did his job. Flirted on top of it. We ended up coming to an arrangement on the voyage to Ilse de lost Muerta to rescue you."
"Oh."
"I would never hurt any of my friends. Never force anyone into bed. You've no fear, William. And if you're still not assured, ask James later, when he wakes."
"I trust you, Jack. I do." Then he shrugged and said, "But, I'll probably still talk to James. Not because I don't trust you, but... well. You do seem part witch sometimes. I have to make sure he's not, you know. Enspelled."
Jack laughed. "Well, me mum dabbled a bit. Myself? Never seen much point in all that nonsense." His smile dropped away. "We all right?"
Will nodded. "Yes, Jack. We're good."
Pairing: Jack/Norrington
Rating: M (for mature)
Summary: The Dauntless finds the Black Pearl
Notes: This part was strangely hard to write and I'm unsure of my characterization (especially of Jack). Any suggestions would be gladly appreciated.
Previous Parts
Jack left his cabin, surprised it was still light. James was asleep, helped along by a little something snuck into the rum. Man needed it, looking like he did. Big black circles under his eyes, face sickly pale under tanned skin, lines etched where they hadn't been before. He needed sleep, needed someone else to take care of things. James was too ready to give everything up, the life he'd worked for, the friends he had.
He was crazed with grief. No fit state to take care of this. To plan.
"What's going on, Captain?" Gibbs asked. "Turner said something about a baby in jail?"
"Aye. Norrington's son has been imprisoned by the East Indian Trading Company." He turned to his second in command. "We're breaking him out."
"It's not our fight, Captain," Marty protested. "We're not risking our lives for that Navy scum."
Jack turned on him. "You're wrong. It is my fight. Mine. My son too. Any man who doesn't want to risk his neck is free to get off."
"What? Here?"
Jack fought not to roll his eyes. "I follow the code. I will take anyone who wants off to a location they deem suitable, provided it does not postpone or prolonged the duration it takes to get to Port Royal and get a six month old child out of a jail cell." He began to stalk to the Dauntless, when a thought occurred to him. He turned. "Mariah Plover and Elizabeth Turner are also imprisoned. As you've all had dealings with at least one of the ladies, you might feel more inclined to go after them."
"What do you mean the kid's yours?" Gibbs asked. "You never said anything about a kid."
"Why do you think I was in Port Royal all those months?" He climbed onto the gunwale and leapt lightly to the Dauntless.
The tall, calm lieutenant, Groves, Jack thought he'd been called, was on the quarterdeck with Will. When Jack boarded, Groves gestured for Jack to join them.
He needed no further invitation. "We'll need your help," he said without preamble.
Groves nodded. "I assumed as much. Mr. Turner has been filling me in on what happened. I don't know why the Commodore didn't.... Anyway. I've talked to the crew. Only one man doesn't want to risk his career, so he's been confined to quarters until this is finished." He hesitated. "How is James?"
Jack narrowed his eyes and studied the other man, trying to gauge the intent of his question. James was his; he wasn't going to share, not with this tall, pretty man. "Sleeping," Jack finally answered. He turned to Will. "I need to know what you know. What does he want?"
"Beckett? He said he wants your compass. He didn't say why. I told him it doesn't work, but..."
"It works." Jack stroked his chin. "How many ships did he bring?"
"Three. But he's taken over Port Royal. Commandeered the rest of them."
"And everyone's loyal?"
Will shrugged. "Everyone at the fort knows that James's son was placed in prison. No one stood up to him."
He cocked an eyebrow. "You didn't."
"I couldn't risk it. Where would I have taken them?" Will asked pragmatically. "Elizabeth might have managed an escape, but not from the inside."
Jack conceded the point. Will was too steady, feet too firmly planted on the ground. He was capable of brilliant planning, but the moment someone he loved was in danger, he became logical. Hesitant.
And James....
The man was brilliant, but this was his son. And he needed the ship and a safe place to retreat. His planning was over for now.
"I can't imagine anyone at Port Royal has actually turned their backs on James," Groves said. "He's very highly regarded."
"And Cutler is terrifying," Jack agreed. "If we were to go in, how likely is it they'd fight against us?"
Groves' face fell. "I'm not sure."
"Is there anyone to send it ahead to see? Someone who wouldn't be noticed, but who would be able to talk to the officers?"
"There's a few ensigns. Young, unnoticeable. They might be able to."
"The Dauntless will have to go in first. No. First, we'll send in the ensigns. Then you go in... the Pearl will follow, but we can't be seen."
"If the fort is too busy defending themselves from one of their own, they won't notice a small contingent that goes ashore."
"From the Dauntless. Pearl stays out of range."
Groves nodded. "Of course."
Jack tugged at a lock of hair. "The might work." He met Groves' eyes. "And my crew is safe?"
"Yes." He hesitated, then said, "After, I would like to know where you go. So I know that James is safe. And... And Mariah."
"Mariah?"
The lieutenant's face turned red.
"Does she know?"
"I've... We've spoken. But I don't know if she realizes how... how highly I regard her."
"I shall pass on your respects. And our location." He nodded and gave the lad a smile, more inclined to be friendly as he was not a threat. "We'll stay here for the night. When James awakes, we'll finalize our plans."
"Aye, Captain," Groves said, giving a respectful salute and smile.
James gave him a bow, then twirled around and headed back to the Pearl.
"Jack," Will said, falling into step beside him. "What is going on?"
"I thought it was quite obvious. A child has been put in prison, Captain Jack Sparrow runs to the rescue. I happen to love that boy, if you haven't noticed." He climbed onto the gunwale and swung across to the Pearl.
"I never expected any less," answered Will, following. "I watched you with Gavin every day. I knew you would help. But what's going on with you and James?"
Jack spun around, arms out. He shrugged. "I don't know what you are talking about. Mr. Gibbs?"
"Aye, Captain?"
"Anyone complaining about our mission?"
"No, Captain. Although, you might want to talk to them, too."
"Of course."
Will grabbed Jack's arm. "What's going on, Jack? You seem awfully familiar with James."
"Of course I'm familiar with him. Spent the night on his ship, once or twice. Tried to hang me."
"Yes, I know. And yet, you seem forgiving."
Jack smiled. Spread his hands. "Always magnanimous, me. Never one to hold a grudge."
"You carried a single shot to kill Barbossa for ten years!"
"Score wasn't settled."
"Jack. You called him Jamie."
"I call your wife Lizzie."
"You're friends with my wife."
Jack gave up. Simply looked at Will, eyebrow raised.
Will blinked. Shook his head. "You can't.... You can't mean that you and James Norrington are... friends."
"No, I don't mean. I do mean that he and I... What he and I are is something he can explain to you. In the meantime, rest assured I only mean the best by him and his son." He turned and began walking way.
"You were there for weeks and you never saw fit to explain to either myself or Elizabeth of you... arrangement?" Will shouted. "What about Mariah?"
"As I'm sure your darling wife explained, Mariah and I never entangled. Well, have not entangled for quite some time. Years. Not while I was in town, at any rate."
Will grabbed him. "We were worried. Felt guilty that we were allowing you near Gavin. Thinking he'd protest, thinking we were being poor friends for not following what surely were his wishes. And you knew!"
"Despite what you may believe about me, I am not, in fact, a mind reader."
"Jack."
Jack twisted his arm in Will's grip, taking hold of him and tugging him close. "Despite my rather unconventional attitude toward life, that does not mean I am prepared to ruin the life of another. Especially not one such as he."
Will gave him a long, steadily penetrating look. "Jack, I..." He furrowed his brow. Pulled his arm away. Stepped back. "Jack. Am I to understand that you... that you and James has formed... have done... have been... in some sort of... sexually intimate... thing?"
"Not that it is any of your concern, of course."
The boy looked up at him. His cheeks burned a dull red. "I must know. Neither of you has been... you've not forced him nor he you. Have you?"
He frowned. "Of course not. Neither of us is the type of man to be..." The lie unexpectedly burned on his tongue. He had to swallowed before amending his statement to, "Neither of us is the type of man to force another into our bed." He grinned. "Don't need to, mate. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
Will gave him a wan smile in return.
"May I ask what brought on this unpleasant question?"
He shrugged. "On my voyage from England, there was a man... a man who was quite insistent of his pursuit of me."
"Will," Jack said, stepping closer.
The boy shook his head. "No. Nothing happened. Not.... The cook and the first mate made sure I was guarded when they discovered what was going on. But now... I don't know anything, Jack. That's all I know about this kind of thing. All I've heard. Pain and humiliation."
"It's not always like that. Just like it's not always like that between men and women." Jack shrugged. "There are always them that take pleasure in the pain and hurt of others. It's got nothing to do with sex. Nothing to do with love."
"Do you love James?"
Jack hesitated. He hated to lay himself bare. Hated to give someone else an opening against him.
But he hated even more that Will wouldn't look at him. That he kept edging away from Jack, biting his lip.
So he forced himself not to disassemble for once in his life. "I do."
Will relaxed. Looked at him.
"William," Jack said, taking a step closer. "When I first met you and Lizzie... you were both the most beautiful people I'd ever met. Spent time trapped alone with. And I wanted you. Both of you. So very much."
The dull red was back now. Brighter, spread all over Will's face. "So, why didn't you..."
"You wouldn't have understood. Neither of you. Anything I did would have been misinterpreted. It would have hurt you. But James..." He shrugged. "I knew the moment we met that we'd end up tumbling in bed."
"Didn't he arrest you when you met?"
Jack waved his hand. "He did his job. Flirted on top of it. We ended up coming to an arrangement on the voyage to Ilse de lost Muerta to rescue you."
"Oh."
"I would never hurt any of my friends. Never force anyone into bed. You've no fear, William. And if you're still not assured, ask James later, when he wakes."
"I trust you, Jack. I do." Then he shrugged and said, "But, I'll probably still talk to James. Not because I don't trust you, but... well. You do seem part witch sometimes. I have to make sure he's not, you know. Enspelled."
Jack laughed. "Well, me mum dabbled a bit. Myself? Never seen much point in all that nonsense." His smile dropped away. "We all right?"
Will nodded. "Yes, Jack. We're good."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 11:09 pm (UTC)Kind of a cliffhanger, here. I do love that you've included the horribly evil Cutler Beckett. A truly nasty character.
Again, you write everyone so in character its just...amazing. And Jack and James just make my heart constrict. Which is very fangirly of me, I KNOW, but I can't help it. :D
Another great part, this. Can't wait for more!
no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 01:31 am (UTC)And Jack and James just make my heart constrict.
Ah, thank you. :P
no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 12:01 am (UTC)The conversation between Jack and WIll was beautiful, I am always a little scpetical about stories where Will and ELizabeth (both being young and relativly innocent) instinctively know that Jack and James are lovers and are totally ok with it. Nice to see Will being neither accepting or homophobic (as we would call it), just unsure and operating from his own bad experiences - and bless him, for wanting to protect both his friends.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 01:34 am (UTC)I understand the impulse to do that, since they're both fairly... openminded when they encounter new things. But, yeah, I kind of got tired of the always knowing or trying to set them up, etc. I wanted to do something new and a bit more believable.
Nice to see Will being neither accepting or homophobic (as we would call it), just unsure and operating from his own bad experiences - and bless him, for wanting to protect both his friends.
You know, I started out after CoTBP not really caring one way or another for will, mostly because I'm not a huge Orlando Bloom fan. But the more I watch, the more I love Will and how... honorable and loyal he is. I love writing him, because I do think he'd do his best to protect both Jack and James from the other if they needed.
Thank you so much!
no subject
Date: 2008-05-15 02:48 pm (UTC)Uh-oh. I have a nasty suspicion this is relevant to Jack's history with Beckett.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-16 04:09 pm (UTC)I'm not even kidding, when I get into a lengthy good story, that's pretty much what I think about between updates and then have a sense of loss when the whole thing is over. I know, it's creepy, but this just means I adore your story.
Everything is perfectly in-character, the story is excellent and it's even believable. Good job, don't keep me waiting too long for the next chapter.