A Change of Course
folder
Pirates of the Caribbean (All) › Slash - Male/Male › Jack/Will
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
9
Views:
4,449
Reviews:
90
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Pirates of the Caribbean (All) › Slash - Male/Male › Jack/Will
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
9
Views:
4,449
Reviews:
90
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Of Death and New Beginings
I’m so sorry I haven’t gotten around to writing all of these responses until now, pleas forgive me. I truly love you all and your reviews brightened some of my darkest days this past semester. Thank you.
Sandrine Black: As always thank you for reviewing, and I am sorry it has taken me this long to respond to you.
Jadefire: Thanks for all the reviews ^^ I hope this chapter doesn’t disappoint.
Sanomi: Thanks for all of your reviews. I promise you lots and lots of pirate smut, and a good dose of plot as well. I know what you were talking about in chapter…5 I think…but I figured I would chalk a little bit up to the suspension of disbelief and hope no one noticed. Though I imagine fighting with a hard on would be rather awkward… Lets just say that fear/anger/adrenaline over-road the testosterone in his body and it…diminished, or at least subsided to a bearable level….or jack has a masochistic streak I don’t know about yet. Hehe, either way…^^ and as for the alternative lubricants…we’ll just have to see what Jack can come up with after they run out of oil. MWAHAHA *cough*
GypsyJ: Thank you for all your reviews, the hyper ones included, and for your comments. I feel so ashamed for having not responded to reviews in so long!
Jen: Thank you for reviewing. I hope that my fic has been a good representation of the J/W fandome, and I hope that since you last reviewed you hreadread lots of other pirate’s fics!
Raven’s Haelo: I vow to deliver all sorts of “action” in this chapter and in the next, and in the on eafter that, and…well, you get the point. I hope that you have enjoyed my fic so far. And Thanks!
Datiye: Thank you so much for your review and coments about swords. Reading something in a book that tells you where the best swords were/are from, and having someone who has actually used one confirm that knowledge are two different things. Thank you very much.
ShadowSpirit: Thanks for your thoughtful comments, I hope you like this chapter as well.
Mel: As always, thank you for everything. You are a wonderful Beta and a lovely reviewer to boot! Thanks! Pirate Smut! Oh, and you shall have to keep those rusty spoons away from me for now, cause I’m in a piratey mood, Arr!!! And I see more chapters in the near future…
Telhuinewen: I just love when people tell me I got a character’s personality right, it just makes my day and tickles me pink! Enjoy!
Renee: You are just as wonderful in person as you are in writing…erm, reviewing. Thank you for your beautiful and heartfelt replies. I truly am glad I have kept this up to your standards. I hope you like this chapter as well.
Wren: Oh what lovely reviews you leave me! Thank you! To move someone, to elicit an emotional response form a reader is always satisfying for an author, and I thank you.
BLACK*PLAGUE: Thanks for reviewing, I hope you continue to read and like my fic.
Ash: Thank you. Your review was nice and short but not pointless. My thanks!
Jakal: Thank you for your review. Yes, I know the Commodore id OOC…more so after having seen the DVD extras, but for now he will be the way I wrote him. Thanks for the comments on savvy…I’ll keep that in mind.
Dusty: Thank you sooooooo much for your review. You tickled me pink and gave my ego a serious boost. To receive positive feedback from veteran fanfic-readers/writers is a wonderful thing that I treasure, aas I myself have been an avid fanfic reader and writer for many years now. Oh how I wish I could drop some courses at school and work on fanfiction all the time, but allas, until I win the lottery, I doubt I shall be able to. Thank you again!!
casey: Thank you for all of your lovely comments. I promise that all questions about Will’s dreams will be answered in due time. And thanks for the death threat! I write well under pressure ^^
collie: Thanks for taking the time to read my fic, and thanks to your friend, shades of hades, for recommending it ^^ I hope you continue to read and review! Thanks!!
kali: Thank you so much! I hope you continue to enjoy my fic!
SwordsNSparrow: thank you, thank you, thank you! I truly, truly appreciated your review. Honest and sincere and everything I could ever hope for in a review. And to have inspires someone is a wonderful thing. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope that you continue to enjoy ACoC!
Kari haru: I love to know that people from ff.net are coming here to read the real, uncut versions of my fic. Thank you! I hope you enjoy all the future pirate smut.
SpiffySpam: Thanks so much, I love when reviewers tell me exactly what they liked or didn’t like ^^
Lierre Mortel: Thanks for reviewing! I hope you like chapter 8!
kristy: thanks for the review, I’m glad you like my fic, please keep reading, and enjoying!
Guesswho: I hope you haven’t died from my lack of reviewing, and if you have, I hope this brings you back from the dead ^^ Thanks!
Brany: Your review from August made my day…my month, hell, my year! Thank you. I don’t know what else to say to you but thank you.
Moria: More Pirate Slash, as promised!
silverdracowolf: Thanks for the review
Winter Moondancer: Thanks for the review. I really like to be accurate when I write about “piratey stuff” though I am still very much a novice at the nautical terms and genres themselves, and I am in danger of rambling on and on, so tahnks again!
Leviathan: You’ve probably guessed by now that an army of rusty spoons has been knocking at my door for a while now, but they have retreated in the wake of a neapteapter. Creative “death threats’ are always entreating. Thanks again for all of your reviews!
Lenny: Hehe ^^ thanks for your review! More to come, I promise!
Meg: Sorry to have kept you hanging for so long, but I hope the next few chapters will have been worth the wait.
Holly: Thank you so much for your response. Thoughtful reviews are so wonderful. I really do wish I could have updated this earlier, but life just got away from me. I swear that I will finish this fic and I will not leave it hanging in the middle of the plot, for as you mentions, I do seem to have a few rather…enthusiastic reviewers.
Jess: I’m glad you like my fic, and thanks for reviewing!
Tazzy: Hehehehe. Yes, you may have some more fic! I’m sorry if this chapter is a bit of a teaser appetizer, but the main course is coming soon, I swear!
Willow: Thanks for your reviews! I love loyal reviewers ^^ Well, here’s your update! Btw, raving fan girls are fun ^^
::Comes out from behind a rock holding a BIG white flag:: Please forgive me! m som so sorry. This took too long to get out. No excuse will makeup for my tardiness, but I will just say that the real world got in the way of my writing. But I’m back. I hope to get a chapter out at least once a month. And I hope to get another one out this month. I hope you enjoy this! All the responses to reviews that my wonderful reviewers have left me will be at the end of this chapter ^^ And I thank Mel for not murdering me with her rusty spoon army as of yet…though she had every right to send them after me for making everyonet sot so long.
Title: A Change of Course 8/?
Author: ElizabethGreenleaf
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: JS/WT, WT/ES (friendship, post-failed relationship)
Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean
Summary: Post PotC, Jack/Will. Life for Will, and even Elizabeth will never be the same as for the first time they each take their lives into their own hands and Will comes to terms with who he is and who he loves.
Feedback: ::Holds up a sign that says “Feed the Starving Writer” and a big red arrow pointing to REVIEW:: R&R; any feedback is greatly appreciated. I hope I have Jack IC, any suggestions welcome!
Archive: sure, just tell me where so I can come and visit! These mailing lists, ff.n, aff.n, Savvy? (http://evolutionsx.net/savvy/), Debauchery (http://debauchery.-ice-ice.com/), And Cat’s stick-figure fan-comic will be posted on her site, (http://home.graffiti.net/cocfansite/coc.htm) There’s a little Paint picture of Stick figure Jack up there now ^^;;;
Genre: Drama/Romance/and a touch of Adventure
Disclaimer: Still not mine ::sigh::
Warnings: Spoilers, Lemony goodness, SLASH, if two pretty boys going at it in the bedroom isn’t your cup o’ tea, get out now me hearties, YE HAVE BEEN WARNED!! Oh, I should probaadd add an angst warning here too…
Author's notes: Thank you Cat for making me write this, oh, and of course, thank you for the challenge, which I’ll mention in AN at the very end of the fic; after the last chapter that is ^^
“* *” – thoughts
“//italics//” - dreams
Chapter 8: Of Death and New Beginnings
Will paused before the heavy wooden door of Jack’s cabin, uncertain of what to do and what to say to the man inside. The memory of the look on Jack’s face as he left the deck— a look of a haunted man— forced his hand to rise and knock.
Will’s only answer was the sound of muffled cursing from within. “Jack?” he called, with as much strength as he could muster. No discernable response came. His hand rested on the doorknob and he took a deep breath before opening the portal inward.
Jack stood with his back to the door and to Will. In his hand was an onion-shaped clay bottle that no doubt was filled with rum. By the way that Jack suckled at the bottle, he seemed determined to finish it off in record time.
“Jack?” Will called again as he closed the door and approached his lover. Cautiously, not wanting to disturb the pirate, he drew nearer, his heart becoming heavy with worry when Jack showed no sign of hearing or responding.
Jack pulled his lips away from the bottle with an audible pop only when it was empty. He turned abruptly to Will, his eyes on fire and full of rage, grief and torment. Will’s heart broke at the sight of unguarded emotions within those stormy depths, yet he stood his ground, determined to be strong when Jack obviously needed him.
“Will.” Jack’s voice was rough and even. “Why are you here? You should be on deck.”
“AnaMaria…” he could not think of a reasonable excuse and instead just shrugged and offered a half-apologetic smile and a shy smirk as he closed the distance between them. “My place is here, with you.” He kissed Jack deeply, tasting the overwhelming flavor of rum in his lover’s mouth.
“Aye,” Jack murmured between harsh and needy kisses. Will whispered soothing words against Jack’s lips as he pried the empty bottle from Jack’s hand and placed it on the desk. Jack’s now free hands tangled themselves in Will’s hair as the former blacksmith maneuvered him against the nearest wall.
Will’s hands busily worked at Jack’s clothes, undoing buttons and lacings until he could feel Jack’s pulsating length. Carefully and gently, Will pulled “little Jack” out of his confines. With the strong and firm grip he developed from years of hammering metal, Will teased his lover to a painfully rigid state.
Jack hissed as Will teased his turgid flesh with his calloused hands. “Handle what needs handling, luv,” Jack growled into Will’s ear before taking the lobe between his teeth and tugging gently. Will growled and felt himself becoming hard as well. But this was for Jack, not himself.
Ignoring the increasing rocking of the ship, Will sank to his knees before Jack and set all thoughts other than pleasuring the beautiful pirate out of his mind. This was not a time for teasing or playing with Jack, it was time for a fast, hard release of pain and pleasure.
With strong hands and an enthusiastic, hot mouth he brought his lover over the edge. Jack muffled his cries with his arm as the man on his knees swallowed greedily.
Tucking Jack back in and wiping off his mouth, Will stood to look at his lover whose still vertical stance was due only to the wall behind him.
Jack’s eyes fluttered open and he grinned lazily as he brought his rough hand to stroke the other’s face. “That was… a superb demonstration of skill.” Will laughed and maneuvered his partner toward the bed.
“Aye,” Will murmured as he settled onto the bed with Jack’s weight supported on his chest. His hands were kept busy by playing with the pirate’s hair.
Jack had procured another bottle of rum from somewhere and brought it to his lips, drinking slowly. “Jack?” Will asked quietly, still uncertain what to say or how to confront his lover. How was he supposed to ask one of the most fearsome pirates in the Spanish Maine what apparition or fear was it that haunted his every step?
“Jack, how did my father become a pirate?” Sometimes Will’s brain and mouth had a communication problem and he would speak without thinking first about what to say.
If Jack thought Will’s question odd he made no outward sign of it “Oh well, you know, no one can resist the ol’ Sparrow charm.” Jack grinned up at Will. Will smiled in return, feeling a little more comfortable with Jack as he was starting to sound a bit more like himself.
“But was he always a pirate? Was he never an honest merchant like my mother told me he was?” Jack’s eyes flashed with something, but it was gone before Will even noticed it was there.
“Will, my boy, I assure you he was no more born a pirate than he was born a buxom Tortugan lass.” He drank deeply before passing the bottle to Will, who in turn took a small swallow before passing it back into Jack’s waiting hands.
“How did he end up part of your crew then?”
Jack smiled rather wistfully. “Why do most men turn pirate?” Will looked at him quizzically. “For the money, luv; for the money.” Jack attempted to use some superfluous hand motion but only resulted in pouring rum on poor Will, who was a bit surprised to find his shirt covered in rum and not a moment later to have Jack sucking at the shirt’s fabric and lapping at Will’s skin. "Would you like me to help you clean that up? You could use a rum bath. Good for your skin you know.”
Will shook his head ruefully and disentangled himself from Jack, ignoring the grunt of displeasure from the bed. Will removed his shirt and draped it over the back of Jack’s chair to dry. Jack was grinning on the bed and looking quite pleased with himself when Will turned back around.
Looking quickly from Jack to his shirt, he pointed an accusatory finger at Jack. “You meant to do that.”
“Nay, 'twas an accident. Blame it on the rum.” Jack’s eyes danced wickedly and he smiled a devilish and sexy smile that sent shivers through Will’s body.
“Aye, I’m sure of that,” Will responded dryly, though he could not keep a straight face and soon broke into a grin and joined Jack in bed once again.
They lay there, content in each other’s embrace and thankful.
“You said he joined for the money?” Will queried some time latter.
“Aye. You can make in one day's plunder as a pirate what an average sailor makes in a few month’s time.” Will knew, and the look he gave Jack said as much. “With a small son and a wife at home who needed what he earned, what sort of choice did he have? Besides, there is naught different between a Pirate, a Privateer, a Buccaneer and a sailor in their Majesties’ Navy other ‘n a little writ signed by them in power.” Will worried his lip between his teeth.
“Aye, and that difference could mean the Hang-man’s noose.” He said it quietly, perhaps more to himself than to Jack, because he seemed rather surprised when Jack responded, as though he hadn't known he had spoken the words aloud at all.
“True enough, but you court that same fair length of rope as we do do now, whelp.” Jack’s Cheshire-Cat grin was back again. “And if the day comes when all manner of luck has run out for us both, we shall die together. Perhaps Norrington would be so kind as to…” Jack’s grin faded when he noticed that Will had turned pale and was not laughing. He looked like a man who had sa gha ghost. “Will?” The former blacksmith just looat hat him, his eyes distant, which worried Jack to no end, though he did his best to hide it.
Memories of all tovid vid nightmares played over in Will’s mind. “’Tis nothing, Jack.” Will’s voice was thin and distant, but Jack knew this was neither the time nor the place to ask.
“If you say so.” He handed the rum bottle to Will who took a good swallow and barely coughed when he was through. “William Turner was a good man, Will. He always did right by me. Almost landed himself on that God forsaken spit of land that Barbossa left me on after the mutiny. I think he only stayed because I threatened to kill him if he didn’t. I suppose that didn’t make much difference did it now? Cursed treasure and all of that.” Jack was unusually quiet for a few moments. “Mutineers. Horrible, greedy lot they all are. They never change.” Jack’s thoughts were turning dark again.
Will kissed the top of his head softly before kissing his lips. “Not all men will betray you.” Will paused for a moment. “I never will. I swear to you Jack, I never will. Threaten to kill me all you want, I would still follow you. Better to die by your hand than to live without you.”
“So much passion, luv. We’ll have to put that to good use.” Jack plundered Will’s mouth until neither could breathe.
“Mmm, Jack,” Will gently pushed Jack’s roaming hands away. “Service for Ladbroc?”
Jack swore and pulled away, muttering to himself before finishing off the bottle of rum.
Ten minutes and a few kisses latter, Will, clad in jerkin and chesches, and Jack found themselves on the main deck with the rest of the crew as they prepared to deliver Ladbroc to the sea.
The service was short, but heartfelt. Ladbroc would be missed by those who knew him, and those who continuously beat him at cards. His body had been wrapped in his hammock and Cotton had sewn it shut, the last stitch going threw his nose, just to be certain that he was dead (1).
Jack toasted to the memory of his fallen crewman and the rest of the men, and woman, followed suite.
The day passed in a blur as Will put what Jack had taught him last time around about sailing into practice once more. Soon night was upon them and Jack gave them all leave to get drunk and reminisce about their fallen friend. “And,” he whispered to Will, “for my men to see just who the new men are and where they stand.”
Jack spent most of the night at the wheel of his beloved Pearl, a good excuse to do no more than throw a handful of choice comments into the conversations going on nearby. Will smiled as he realized just what Jack was doing. He made his men (those who had been with him since his last adventure with Will) come to him with information. Jack took all that was said in stride and laughed when it would seem appropriate to someone watching, not listening, regardless of what men like Gibbs had to say. He was gaining a newfound respect for Jack’s intelligence, and for his alcohol tolerance.
Will, on the other hand, joined in with the men most of the time, but he kept an eye on Jack as often as he could, though he never actually went up to speak with him.
AnaMaria proved to be the most interesting of the company aboard the ship. An enigma to all. There were perhaps as many stories about her origins as there were about Jack’s. She too had a quiet and commanding intelligence that easily explained why the men had learned to respect her in a few hours time. Well, that and the fact that she did not take shit form anyone.
“You’re th’ bes’ thing that's happened t’ Jack in ten years,” AnaMaria said from just behind Will’s right shoulder. He had heard her approach, but was too enthralled by the inky sea and star-studded heavens to turn, though he did smile.
“It’s mutual, you know.” Will was thankful for the dark, it hid his blush well.
“Aye, but i’s still nice t’ see ‘im happy.” Her eyes were clouded over and he wondered again what ghosts haunted Jack. “Here.” She placed a bottle of rum in Will’s hand. “He said i' was unnatural for a pirate not t’ giss iss drunk the first night a board ‘is new ship.” Will looked at her quizzically and she just shrugged.
Will accepted the bottle with murmured thanks and let his gaze drift back to his lover, who raised a bottle up in toast.
*****
All Will knew the next morning when he awoke was that if he were dead he shouldn’t hurt so much.
Will groaned as he turned his head to find Jack sleeping soundly as a babe. Will swore and his own voice was painful to his ears.
With much care, and after about twenty minutes, Will made it from the bed, to Jack’s door. Stumbling painfully outside, he was greeted by a rather hard, yet soft and warm wall he didn’t remember from the day before. The wall, it turned out, was Cable, one of the new men, and his companion Dog-ear, who after trying to explain that he had a hangover cure three times just handed it to Will and ordered him to drink.
Foul. He didn’t want to know what was in it. What little there seemed to be left in his stomach threatened to come back up violently and it was by sheer force of will that it did not. When thuseausea subsided, Will was amazed by how good he felt.
“Doc, I have no desire to know what that was, but by God that is a miracle.” Will looked at Dog-ear who had a very satisfied smirk on his face.
“Some fer th’ cap’in when ‘e wakes up.” He handed Will a clay jar and winked before turning to tend to the poor souls who were still passed out on deck.
Jack emerged from his cabin some time later and after a dose of the Doc’s medicine, he was giving out orders.
“It's hunting season lads, and lass,” Jack announced as he gave the wheel of the Pearl a turn. “We’ll break you in, in no time."
Jack was true to his word, and in three weeks time the men had learned how to work as a crew and how to plunder a ship with minimal casualties. “I think they’re ready.” Will overheard Jack say to Gibbs.
“Are ye sure? They seem a bit green t’ me still.” Jack just grinned.
“We shall just have to wait and see.”
Will supposed that conversation and something to do with the fact that when Will woke up one sunny morning, they were anchored in an unfamiliar port and he was alone in their bed. A note in Jack’s scrawl lay on the pillow next to him.
Dearest Will,
If you would be so kind, dress in your finest (including the hat) and meet me at The Mermaid’s Treasure at 11 o’clock.
Jack
Will read the paper and memorized the location of the tavern Jack had mentioned before doing as he was bid and dressing in his finest. The last time he had worn this particular outfit was the day of Jack¹s execution in Port Royal, a memory that brought both fear and pleasure to his mind, not to mention a little bit of worry for his somewhat daft lover¹s safety.
With the addition of his sword and dagger to his ensemble, Will strolled out of Jack¹s cabin and put on a neutral mask. As he made his way toward his destination, frivolous and irrational thoughts about protecting Jack from all bodily harm until the end of time were never far from his mind.
*
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TBC….
(1) I took this from “Master and Commander: Far Side of the Ocean” Go see the movie, its good. And there were some slashy undertones…or maybe I read too much into things now. But some fanfics from this would be nice...
AN: I hope to be getting another chapter out this month…in a week or two, but for now, I’m going to say goodbye…I need to go pack…I’m going to Disney World on Tuesday!!!!! Yo ho, Yo ho, a pirate’s life for me… If anything is going to inspire me, I think this will be it! Not to mention the 6 and 7 hours travel and lay over time.
Sandrine Black: As always thank you for reviewing, and I am sorry it has taken me this long to respond to you.
Jadefire: Thanks for all the reviews ^^ I hope this chapter doesn’t disappoint.
Sanomi: Thanks for all of your reviews. I promise you lots and lots of pirate smut, and a good dose of plot as well. I know what you were talking about in chapter…5 I think…but I figured I would chalk a little bit up to the suspension of disbelief and hope no one noticed. Though I imagine fighting with a hard on would be rather awkward… Lets just say that fear/anger/adrenaline over-road the testosterone in his body and it…diminished, or at least subsided to a bearable level….or jack has a masochistic streak I don’t know about yet. Hehe, either way…^^ and as for the alternative lubricants…we’ll just have to see what Jack can come up with after they run out of oil. MWAHAHA *cough*
GypsyJ: Thank you for all your reviews, the hyper ones included, and for your comments. I feel so ashamed for having not responded to reviews in so long!
Jen: Thank you for reviewing. I hope that my fic has been a good representation of the J/W fandome, and I hope that since you last reviewed you hreadread lots of other pirate’s fics!
Raven’s Haelo: I vow to deliver all sorts of “action” in this chapter and in the next, and in the on eafter that, and…well, you get the point. I hope that you have enjoyed my fic so far. And Thanks!
Datiye: Thank you so much for your review and coments about swords. Reading something in a book that tells you where the best swords were/are from, and having someone who has actually used one confirm that knowledge are two different things. Thank you very much.
ShadowSpirit: Thanks for your thoughtful comments, I hope you like this chapter as well.
Mel: As always, thank you for everything. You are a wonderful Beta and a lovely reviewer to boot! Thanks! Pirate Smut! Oh, and you shall have to keep those rusty spoons away from me for now, cause I’m in a piratey mood, Arr!!! And I see more chapters in the near future…
Telhuinewen: I just love when people tell me I got a character’s personality right, it just makes my day and tickles me pink! Enjoy!
Renee: You are just as wonderful in person as you are in writing…erm, reviewing. Thank you for your beautiful and heartfelt replies. I truly am glad I have kept this up to your standards. I hope you like this chapter as well.
Wren: Oh what lovely reviews you leave me! Thank you! To move someone, to elicit an emotional response form a reader is always satisfying for an author, and I thank you.
BLACK*PLAGUE: Thanks for reviewing, I hope you continue to read and like my fic.
Ash: Thank you. Your review was nice and short but not pointless. My thanks!
Jakal: Thank you for your review. Yes, I know the Commodore id OOC…more so after having seen the DVD extras, but for now he will be the way I wrote him. Thanks for the comments on savvy…I’ll keep that in mind.
Dusty: Thank you sooooooo much for your review. You tickled me pink and gave my ego a serious boost. To receive positive feedback from veteran fanfic-readers/writers is a wonderful thing that I treasure, aas I myself have been an avid fanfic reader and writer for many years now. Oh how I wish I could drop some courses at school and work on fanfiction all the time, but allas, until I win the lottery, I doubt I shall be able to. Thank you again!!
casey: Thank you for all of your lovely comments. I promise that all questions about Will’s dreams will be answered in due time. And thanks for the death threat! I write well under pressure ^^
collie: Thanks for taking the time to read my fic, and thanks to your friend, shades of hades, for recommending it ^^ I hope you continue to read and review! Thanks!!
kali: Thank you so much! I hope you continue to enjoy my fic!
SwordsNSparrow: thank you, thank you, thank you! I truly, truly appreciated your review. Honest and sincere and everything I could ever hope for in a review. And to have inspires someone is a wonderful thing. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope that you continue to enjoy ACoC!
Kari haru: I love to know that people from ff.net are coming here to read the real, uncut versions of my fic. Thank you! I hope you enjoy all the future pirate smut.
SpiffySpam: Thanks so much, I love when reviewers tell me exactly what they liked or didn’t like ^^
Lierre Mortel: Thanks for reviewing! I hope you like chapter 8!
kristy: thanks for the review, I’m glad you like my fic, please keep reading, and enjoying!
Guesswho: I hope you haven’t died from my lack of reviewing, and if you have, I hope this brings you back from the dead ^^ Thanks!
Brany: Your review from August made my day…my month, hell, my year! Thank you. I don’t know what else to say to you but thank you.
Moria: More Pirate Slash, as promised!
silverdracowolf: Thanks for the review
Winter Moondancer: Thanks for the review. I really like to be accurate when I write about “piratey stuff” though I am still very much a novice at the nautical terms and genres themselves, and I am in danger of rambling on and on, so tahnks again!
Leviathan: You’ve probably guessed by now that an army of rusty spoons has been knocking at my door for a while now, but they have retreated in the wake of a neapteapter. Creative “death threats’ are always entreating. Thanks again for all of your reviews!
Lenny: Hehe ^^ thanks for your review! More to come, I promise!
Meg: Sorry to have kept you hanging for so long, but I hope the next few chapters will have been worth the wait.
Holly: Thank you so much for your response. Thoughtful reviews are so wonderful. I really do wish I could have updated this earlier, but life just got away from me. I swear that I will finish this fic and I will not leave it hanging in the middle of the plot, for as you mentions, I do seem to have a few rather…enthusiastic reviewers.
Jess: I’m glad you like my fic, and thanks for reviewing!
Tazzy: Hehehehe. Yes, you may have some more fic! I’m sorry if this chapter is a bit of a teaser appetizer, but the main course is coming soon, I swear!
Willow: Thanks for your reviews! I love loyal reviewers ^^ Well, here’s your update! Btw, raving fan girls are fun ^^
::Comes out from behind a rock holding a BIG white flag:: Please forgive me! m som so sorry. This took too long to get out. No excuse will makeup for my tardiness, but I will just say that the real world got in the way of my writing. But I’m back. I hope to get a chapter out at least once a month. And I hope to get another one out this month. I hope you enjoy this! All the responses to reviews that my wonderful reviewers have left me will be at the end of this chapter ^^ And I thank Mel for not murdering me with her rusty spoon army as of yet…though she had every right to send them after me for making everyonet sot so long.
Title: A Change of Course 8/?
Author: ElizabethGreenleaf
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: JS/WT, WT/ES (friendship, post-failed relationship)
Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean
Summary: Post PotC, Jack/Will. Life for Will, and even Elizabeth will never be the same as for the first time they each take their lives into their own hands and Will comes to terms with who he is and who he loves.
Feedback: ::Holds up a sign that says “Feed the Starving Writer” and a big red arrow pointing to REVIEW:: R&R; any feedback is greatly appreciated. I hope I have Jack IC, any suggestions welcome!
Archive: sure, just tell me where so I can come and visit! These mailing lists, ff.n, aff.n, Savvy? (http://evolutionsx.net/savvy/), Debauchery (http://debauchery.-ice-ice.com/), And Cat’s stick-figure fan-comic will be posted on her site, (http://home.graffiti.net/cocfansite/coc.htm) There’s a little Paint picture of Stick figure Jack up there now ^^;;;
Genre: Drama/Romance/and a touch of Adventure
Disclaimer: Still not mine ::sigh::
Warnings: Spoilers, Lemony goodness, SLASH, if two pretty boys going at it in the bedroom isn’t your cup o’ tea, get out now me hearties, YE HAVE BEEN WARNED!! Oh, I should probaadd add an angst warning here too…
Author's notes: Thank you Cat for making me write this, oh, and of course, thank you for the challenge, which I’ll mention in AN at the very end of the fic; after the last chapter that is ^^
“* *” – thoughts
“//italics//” - dreams
Chapter 8: Of Death and New Beginnings
Will paused before the heavy wooden door of Jack’s cabin, uncertain of what to do and what to say to the man inside. The memory of the look on Jack’s face as he left the deck— a look of a haunted man— forced his hand to rise and knock.
Will’s only answer was the sound of muffled cursing from within. “Jack?” he called, with as much strength as he could muster. No discernable response came. His hand rested on the doorknob and he took a deep breath before opening the portal inward.
Jack stood with his back to the door and to Will. In his hand was an onion-shaped clay bottle that no doubt was filled with rum. By the way that Jack suckled at the bottle, he seemed determined to finish it off in record time.
“Jack?” Will called again as he closed the door and approached his lover. Cautiously, not wanting to disturb the pirate, he drew nearer, his heart becoming heavy with worry when Jack showed no sign of hearing or responding.
Jack pulled his lips away from the bottle with an audible pop only when it was empty. He turned abruptly to Will, his eyes on fire and full of rage, grief and torment. Will’s heart broke at the sight of unguarded emotions within those stormy depths, yet he stood his ground, determined to be strong when Jack obviously needed him.
“Will.” Jack’s voice was rough and even. “Why are you here? You should be on deck.”
“AnaMaria…” he could not think of a reasonable excuse and instead just shrugged and offered a half-apologetic smile and a shy smirk as he closed the distance between them. “My place is here, with you.” He kissed Jack deeply, tasting the overwhelming flavor of rum in his lover’s mouth.
“Aye,” Jack murmured between harsh and needy kisses. Will whispered soothing words against Jack’s lips as he pried the empty bottle from Jack’s hand and placed it on the desk. Jack’s now free hands tangled themselves in Will’s hair as the former blacksmith maneuvered him against the nearest wall.
Will’s hands busily worked at Jack’s clothes, undoing buttons and lacings until he could feel Jack’s pulsating length. Carefully and gently, Will pulled “little Jack” out of his confines. With the strong and firm grip he developed from years of hammering metal, Will teased his lover to a painfully rigid state.
Jack hissed as Will teased his turgid flesh with his calloused hands. “Handle what needs handling, luv,” Jack growled into Will’s ear before taking the lobe between his teeth and tugging gently. Will growled and felt himself becoming hard as well. But this was for Jack, not himself.
Ignoring the increasing rocking of the ship, Will sank to his knees before Jack and set all thoughts other than pleasuring the beautiful pirate out of his mind. This was not a time for teasing or playing with Jack, it was time for a fast, hard release of pain and pleasure.
With strong hands and an enthusiastic, hot mouth he brought his lover over the edge. Jack muffled his cries with his arm as the man on his knees swallowed greedily.
Tucking Jack back in and wiping off his mouth, Will stood to look at his lover whose still vertical stance was due only to the wall behind him.
Jack’s eyes fluttered open and he grinned lazily as he brought his rough hand to stroke the other’s face. “That was… a superb demonstration of skill.” Will laughed and maneuvered his partner toward the bed.
“Aye,” Will murmured as he settled onto the bed with Jack’s weight supported on his chest. His hands were kept busy by playing with the pirate’s hair.
Jack had procured another bottle of rum from somewhere and brought it to his lips, drinking slowly. “Jack?” Will asked quietly, still uncertain what to say or how to confront his lover. How was he supposed to ask one of the most fearsome pirates in the Spanish Maine what apparition or fear was it that haunted his every step?
“Jack, how did my father become a pirate?” Sometimes Will’s brain and mouth had a communication problem and he would speak without thinking first about what to say.
If Jack thought Will’s question odd he made no outward sign of it “Oh well, you know, no one can resist the ol’ Sparrow charm.” Jack grinned up at Will. Will smiled in return, feeling a little more comfortable with Jack as he was starting to sound a bit more like himself.
“But was he always a pirate? Was he never an honest merchant like my mother told me he was?” Jack’s eyes flashed with something, but it was gone before Will even noticed it was there.
“Will, my boy, I assure you he was no more born a pirate than he was born a buxom Tortugan lass.” He drank deeply before passing the bottle to Will, who in turn took a small swallow before passing it back into Jack’s waiting hands.
“How did he end up part of your crew then?”
Jack smiled rather wistfully. “Why do most men turn pirate?” Will looked at him quizzically. “For the money, luv; for the money.” Jack attempted to use some superfluous hand motion but only resulted in pouring rum on poor Will, who was a bit surprised to find his shirt covered in rum and not a moment later to have Jack sucking at the shirt’s fabric and lapping at Will’s skin. "Would you like me to help you clean that up? You could use a rum bath. Good for your skin you know.”
Will shook his head ruefully and disentangled himself from Jack, ignoring the grunt of displeasure from the bed. Will removed his shirt and draped it over the back of Jack’s chair to dry. Jack was grinning on the bed and looking quite pleased with himself when Will turned back around.
Looking quickly from Jack to his shirt, he pointed an accusatory finger at Jack. “You meant to do that.”
“Nay, 'twas an accident. Blame it on the rum.” Jack’s eyes danced wickedly and he smiled a devilish and sexy smile that sent shivers through Will’s body.
“Aye, I’m sure of that,” Will responded dryly, though he could not keep a straight face and soon broke into a grin and joined Jack in bed once again.
They lay there, content in each other’s embrace and thankful.
“You said he joined for the money?” Will queried some time latter.
“Aye. You can make in one day's plunder as a pirate what an average sailor makes in a few month’s time.” Will knew, and the look he gave Jack said as much. “With a small son and a wife at home who needed what he earned, what sort of choice did he have? Besides, there is naught different between a Pirate, a Privateer, a Buccaneer and a sailor in their Majesties’ Navy other ‘n a little writ signed by them in power.” Will worried his lip between his teeth.
“Aye, and that difference could mean the Hang-man’s noose.” He said it quietly, perhaps more to himself than to Jack, because he seemed rather surprised when Jack responded, as though he hadn't known he had spoken the words aloud at all.
“True enough, but you court that same fair length of rope as we do do now, whelp.” Jack’s Cheshire-Cat grin was back again. “And if the day comes when all manner of luck has run out for us both, we shall die together. Perhaps Norrington would be so kind as to…” Jack’s grin faded when he noticed that Will had turned pale and was not laughing. He looked like a man who had sa gha ghost. “Will?” The former blacksmith just looat hat him, his eyes distant, which worried Jack to no end, though he did his best to hide it.
Memories of all tovid vid nightmares played over in Will’s mind. “’Tis nothing, Jack.” Will’s voice was thin and distant, but Jack knew this was neither the time nor the place to ask.
“If you say so.” He handed the rum bottle to Will who took a good swallow and barely coughed when he was through. “William Turner was a good man, Will. He always did right by me. Almost landed himself on that God forsaken spit of land that Barbossa left me on after the mutiny. I think he only stayed because I threatened to kill him if he didn’t. I suppose that didn’t make much difference did it now? Cursed treasure and all of that.” Jack was unusually quiet for a few moments. “Mutineers. Horrible, greedy lot they all are. They never change.” Jack’s thoughts were turning dark again.
Will kissed the top of his head softly before kissing his lips. “Not all men will betray you.” Will paused for a moment. “I never will. I swear to you Jack, I never will. Threaten to kill me all you want, I would still follow you. Better to die by your hand than to live without you.”
“So much passion, luv. We’ll have to put that to good use.” Jack plundered Will’s mouth until neither could breathe.
“Mmm, Jack,” Will gently pushed Jack’s roaming hands away. “Service for Ladbroc?”
Jack swore and pulled away, muttering to himself before finishing off the bottle of rum.
Ten minutes and a few kisses latter, Will, clad in jerkin and chesches, and Jack found themselves on the main deck with the rest of the crew as they prepared to deliver Ladbroc to the sea.
The service was short, but heartfelt. Ladbroc would be missed by those who knew him, and those who continuously beat him at cards. His body had been wrapped in his hammock and Cotton had sewn it shut, the last stitch going threw his nose, just to be certain that he was dead (1).
Jack toasted to the memory of his fallen crewman and the rest of the men, and woman, followed suite.
The day passed in a blur as Will put what Jack had taught him last time around about sailing into practice once more. Soon night was upon them and Jack gave them all leave to get drunk and reminisce about their fallen friend. “And,” he whispered to Will, “for my men to see just who the new men are and where they stand.”
Jack spent most of the night at the wheel of his beloved Pearl, a good excuse to do no more than throw a handful of choice comments into the conversations going on nearby. Will smiled as he realized just what Jack was doing. He made his men (those who had been with him since his last adventure with Will) come to him with information. Jack took all that was said in stride and laughed when it would seem appropriate to someone watching, not listening, regardless of what men like Gibbs had to say. He was gaining a newfound respect for Jack’s intelligence, and for his alcohol tolerance.
Will, on the other hand, joined in with the men most of the time, but he kept an eye on Jack as often as he could, though he never actually went up to speak with him.
AnaMaria proved to be the most interesting of the company aboard the ship. An enigma to all. There were perhaps as many stories about her origins as there were about Jack’s. She too had a quiet and commanding intelligence that easily explained why the men had learned to respect her in a few hours time. Well, that and the fact that she did not take shit form anyone.
“You’re th’ bes’ thing that's happened t’ Jack in ten years,” AnaMaria said from just behind Will’s right shoulder. He had heard her approach, but was too enthralled by the inky sea and star-studded heavens to turn, though he did smile.
“It’s mutual, you know.” Will was thankful for the dark, it hid his blush well.
“Aye, but i’s still nice t’ see ‘im happy.” Her eyes were clouded over and he wondered again what ghosts haunted Jack. “Here.” She placed a bottle of rum in Will’s hand. “He said i' was unnatural for a pirate not t’ giss iss drunk the first night a board ‘is new ship.” Will looked at her quizzically and she just shrugged.
Will accepted the bottle with murmured thanks and let his gaze drift back to his lover, who raised a bottle up in toast.
*****
All Will knew the next morning when he awoke was that if he were dead he shouldn’t hurt so much.
Will groaned as he turned his head to find Jack sleeping soundly as a babe. Will swore and his own voice was painful to his ears.
With much care, and after about twenty minutes, Will made it from the bed, to Jack’s door. Stumbling painfully outside, he was greeted by a rather hard, yet soft and warm wall he didn’t remember from the day before. The wall, it turned out, was Cable, one of the new men, and his companion Dog-ear, who after trying to explain that he had a hangover cure three times just handed it to Will and ordered him to drink.
Foul. He didn’t want to know what was in it. What little there seemed to be left in his stomach threatened to come back up violently and it was by sheer force of will that it did not. When thuseausea subsided, Will was amazed by how good he felt.
“Doc, I have no desire to know what that was, but by God that is a miracle.” Will looked at Dog-ear who had a very satisfied smirk on his face.
“Some fer th’ cap’in when ‘e wakes up.” He handed Will a clay jar and winked before turning to tend to the poor souls who were still passed out on deck.
Jack emerged from his cabin some time later and after a dose of the Doc’s medicine, he was giving out orders.
“It's hunting season lads, and lass,” Jack announced as he gave the wheel of the Pearl a turn. “We’ll break you in, in no time."
Jack was true to his word, and in three weeks time the men had learned how to work as a crew and how to plunder a ship with minimal casualties. “I think they’re ready.” Will overheard Jack say to Gibbs.
“Are ye sure? They seem a bit green t’ me still.” Jack just grinned.
“We shall just have to wait and see.”
Will supposed that conversation and something to do with the fact that when Will woke up one sunny morning, they were anchored in an unfamiliar port and he was alone in their bed. A note in Jack’s scrawl lay on the pillow next to him.
Dearest Will,
If you would be so kind, dress in your finest (including the hat) and meet me at The Mermaid’s Treasure at 11 o’clock.
Jack
Will read the paper and memorized the location of the tavern Jack had mentioned before doing as he was bid and dressing in his finest. The last time he had worn this particular outfit was the day of Jack¹s execution in Port Royal, a memory that brought both fear and pleasure to his mind, not to mention a little bit of worry for his somewhat daft lover¹s safety.
With the addition of his sword and dagger to his ensemble, Will strolled out of Jack¹s cabin and put on a neutral mask. As he made his way toward his destination, frivolous and irrational thoughts about protecting Jack from all bodily harm until the end of time were never far from his mind.
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TBC….
(1) I took this from “Master and Commander: Far Side of the Ocean” Go see the movie, its good. And there were some slashy undertones…or maybe I read too much into things now. But some fanfics from this would be nice...
AN: I hope to be getting another chapter out this month…in a week or two, but for now, I’m going to say goodbye…I need to go pack…I’m going to Disney World on Tuesday!!!!! Yo ho, Yo ho, a pirate’s life for me… If anything is going to inspire me, I think this will be it! Not to mention the 6 and 7 hours travel and lay over time.