As fine a Pirate

"You're giving me all the worst work on the ship to take my mind off her, aren't you?" grumbled Will as he relaxed beside Jack on the rail of the Pearl, deftly snatching the ever-present bottle of rum out of the other man's hands.

Jack got the contemplative look of one who recognises a great idea and isn't ashamed to take credit for it. "Aye," he said sincerely. He reached for the rum, and missed as Will brought it to his lips again and took another gulp. "That's me, sly." Yet more rum went from the bottle into Will's stomach, and Jack was beginning to feel acute distress over the matter. "Did it work?" he asked, both hoping to distract the youth from the liquor and also from some measure of curiosity.

"I'll let you know in a month or so, by which time I'll be so worn out that I won't be able to stand."

Jack thought that time would come a lot sooner than a month considering how much rum the boy was downing.

... His rum!

This time his lunge was far more successful, and he triumphantly drained what was left, which wasn't that much.

He gave Will, who had a glazed look to his eyes, a betrayed glare. "Now that's gratitude! I take you on as a member of my crew, and you go and mutinously steal all of my rum!"

"You don't have any more rum?" slurred the younger man.

That gave Jack pause. "Right. Well then, shall have to hunt down some rum." He made little beckoning gestures with his fingers, as though encouraging any nearby barrels of the stuff to come out of hiding. When nothing came of it, he turned and swaggered off in the direction of his cabin.

Will, having considered his options in as logical a fashion as he was currently capable of, followed.

When Jack reached the door he abruptly spun around to face the clumsy footed person who had tailed him, raising his sword to fend off attack. When he saw a flushed Will Turner, hair mussed and eyes bright, he seemed surprised, as though he'd forgotten the boy was even on the ship at all.

"Ah!" he said in discovery and prodded Will's half bared chest gently with the sword. "Were you after my rum hoard now?"

"Yes."

"Hmm." He was momentarily stumped by the answer. "Good plan. But if you try and sneak any of it out, or burn it to make smoke signals, I'll make you walk the plank. Savvy?"

"Aye, Captain."

Jack, who had opened his mouth to say more, shut it again at hearing the title and gave a shiny toothed grin. "That's my lad."

The captain's quarters were a scattered mess of gleaming bounty, a chaotic riot of silk and gold and pearls and...

"Rum!"

Jack was soon happily drinking away, Will slumped at his side with his head lolling on the captain's shoulder.

"We'll have to get you accustomed to drink, boy. Can't have you embarrassing yourself in front of the lasses."

A soft sigh coming from his crew member made Jack consider that sentence. "Ah, she was a bonny lass, your one." Will murmured his agreement. "Is that why you liked her, for there are pretty faces enough out there. Just look at me!" Jack gestured to his own face and developed an injured look when Will chuckled.

"I'm as fine a pirate as ever you'll see," he muttered, disgruntled.

"I miss her," said Will into the sudden silence.

"Why?" There was an air of childish innocence to the question, and, remembering all of the women they had come across who slapped Jack, Will realised that the pirate truly didn't understand.

"I loved her. I would have done anything for her. She was... the first thing I saw in my new life, my hope; I worshipped her I suppose."

"Like the sea then," Jack said reverently. "I feel that way about my boat and the waters I sail on. And my rum." He rolled a little until he was able to see Will's face, which required some tactical readjustment of all the rum lying around. "How could you leave her then?"

The tiniest smile quirked up the corner of Will's mouth. "I found out I love the sea too."

"Ah." Jack nodded. "Pirate blood will show. Good and strong, like ru

Will rolled his eyes at the mad pirate's obsession, then passed out. It took at least half an hour for Jack Sparrow to realise he had a deadweight on top of him and another ten minutes to make it to his feet afterwards.

Managing a wobbling bow to his unconscious friend, Jack carefully re-corked the bottle. "I'd offer you the bed, being a gentlemen, but since you're already on the floor it would be impolite to move you. Watch out for the crabs."

He blew out the candles, and settled into his bed. "Avast," he muttered just as he fell asleep.