Lost in Translation

Part Fifteen

****
“Ow. God,” Will whispered, still somewhat asleep. Another powerful kick struck his shin. “God! Stop it, Jack!”

He opened his eyes to find Sparrow convulsing violently in his sleep. Low, vague grunts filtered out between Jack’s parted lips; tears streamed from under his eyelids. Will was utterly alarmed and had no idea what to do. He sat up and patted the man’s shoulder firmly.

“Jack, wake up.” He repeated the action and said louder, “Jack, wake up.”

Sparrow continued to shake uncontrollably. Will pushed him to lie on his back and slapped his face powerfully. A sigh of relief came from the young man as Jack quickly went still. He scrutinized the pirate’s countenance, waiting to see if he would wake or not. When five minutes had gone by and Jack had not moved at all – save for the rise and fall of his chest – Will rested down beside him.

Though the younger male closed his eyes, he did not go to sleep for another thirty minutes.

****
When Will woke again, the sunlight scarcely illuminated the room. Gloomy clouds adorned the sky, soon covering the sun completely, and the gentle sound of rain falling on the windows was almost enough to lull him to sleep again. The only thing that prevented him from doing so was the absence of Jack at his side.

The pirate was huddled on the floor, asleep, in the corner he had retreated to before. Will went to him and picked him up gingerly. Jack emitted an indistinct murmur as he was taken to lie on the bed. Will eased the older man’s legs beneath the sheets, making Sparrow’s eyes open exhaustedly.

“What are you doin’?” he asked faintly.
“Just getting you comfortable. Go back to sleep.”
As if suddenly realizing where he was, Sparrow bolted upright. “No. I can’t. I have to go.”

He moved off the bed and grabbed his abandoned shirt that was crumpled on the floor. Hastily, he put it on, and the abundant pain that the simple task caused was written on his face. As he fled to the door, he said in a quivering voice, “I have to be out there. Five minutes. I have to go.”

Will grasped his arm before he could exit. “No you don’t. You need to rest.”
“Let go of me. I have to be out there. The longer they have to wait, the rougher they are.”
“Rougher? Jack, you’re not there anymore. You need to lie down.”

Sparrow ripped his arm away from Will and shoved the young man backward with surprising strength. He darted out of the room and burst through the cabin entrance in seconds. Rain immediately started to shower him; his clothes hurriedly became soaked and clung to his bony frame. With crazed eyes he looked from one crewman to another, and they in turn gazed at him confoundedly.

“Jack, what are you doing out here?”

Sparrow turned his head sharply to find James walking toward him. He heard Will call his name from within the quarters. The anxiety that increased within him from both men made him run.

Will emerged from the cabin and bolted after the hysterical pirate. He was not sure how he would stop Jack since most of the man’s body was wounded. The right arm, he decided, would be the thing to grab. Despite the immense fatigue from starvation, Sparrow dashed toward the bow with incredible speed. He almost made it to the railing near the bowsprit before he suddenly stumbled backward. Will caught him and tackled him to the deck before he could attempt to flee again.

“No!” he shouted madly. “Let go of me!”
“Jack, calm down,” Will stated evenly. “Take a deep breath.”
“No! Don’t do this to me,” he sobbed.
“What would I do to you, Jack?”
“Please don’t. Please be merciful.”
“Don’t do what, Jack?”
“Don’t take me below.”

Jack lowered his head and hugged himself as he cried miserably. Will took him in his arms and headed for the captain’s quarters with the distraught man. The crew stared at the two as Will strode past them. It unsettled Sparrow drastically to be watched by so many, making him bury his face against Will’s chest. He did not pull away until they were in the bedroom once more.

The young man put Jack down to stand and quickly began to shed his own drenched clothing. Sparrow observed him as if he were daft.

“Come on. You too,” Will voiced tremulously.

They were both shivering radically, and Jack hesitantly obeyed in removing his attire. Will was in front of him with two blankets held together the instant he was naked. The young male pressed his body against Jack’s and cocooned them within the linens. Sparrow placed his arms under Will’s and held the nude frame tightly.

“What are we doing?” the pirate questioned shakily.
“Getting warm. You all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“Good, good. Why did you do that? On deck, why did you?”
“It’s what I always had to do.”
“Why did you have to be out there?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“All right then. Let’s go lie down, shall we? I can feel your legs – they’re about to give out, aren’t they?”
“Yes, they are.”
“Small steps now.”

They shuffled to the bed while continuing to embrace one another. Will collided with the edge of the piece of furniture and toppled back onto it with a startled yelp. Jack grimaced at the pressure on his singed abdomen from lying atop the younger man’s body. He raised his head to stare at Will’s rich brown orbs and appeared mortified. Will gave him a consoling smile in hopes of alleviating the pirate’s concerns.

“It’s all right,” he whispered.
“I….I….Don’t you think this a tad inappropriate?”
“If you’re uncomfortable, we can separate. But maybe this is a good way to start getting over your fear of being touched.”
“Will, I….I don’t even deserve to touch you.”
“You have to stop talking like that. You must stop degrading yourself, Jack. It only makes you believe it more and more, and that is something you don’t deserve.”
“But you don’t know-”
“How can I know if you won’t tell me?”
“I don’t tell you because I’m ashamed of it-”
“But it wasn’t your fault.”
“But if it was-”
“And it’s not-”
“It’s too vulgar for me to tell anyone. Especially you,” he added quietly.
“Why me?”
Jack went silent, and Will waited uncomplainingly for him to find words. “You’re too good. I don’t want to do anything to….I respect you too much to subject you to such abominable recollections.”
“And you’re too much of a friend for me to not keep prodding. Open up to me, Jack. Let me help you. Get it out of your system.”
Jack laid his head on Will’s chest and said nothing.
“Since this closeness with someone else seems to be a bit much for you right now, perhaps you should begin with touching yourself. Let your own hands re-teach you that it doesn’t have to be something to be afraid of.”

The thirteen men who had defiled him during the day fueled Jack’s belief that touch was not meant to be pleasurable. In order to try and reverse such a thought, he decided to experiment with himself.

Jack glanced at the captain on the bed from his designated corner and ascertained that the man was asleep. His fingers were shaking as he unbuttoned his breeches to take his limp member into his hand. An excited grin was formed by his lips as he stroked himself, occasionally giving a gentle squeeze. He lightly hit the wall with his head as pleasing tingles coursed throughout him, causing him to close his eyes. It took an unbelievable amount of self-control to refrain from voicing his rapture aloud.

After only a couple of minutes of servicing himself, he ejaculated onto his hand. Having been wholly immersed in his ecstasy, he had not heard the footsteps of the captain.

“What do ye think you’re doin’, Jack?”

Sparrow’s eyes shot open to see Barbossa sitting right beside him. His heart pounded in fear of what the older man would do.

Barbossa firmly grasped Jack’s left wrist and put the hand to Jack’s mouth. “Clean it off,” he said sternly.

Jack was hesitant, resulting in a powerful slap to his face. The warning was enough for him. He began licking his hand, tasting his own milky product with remarkable humiliation. When he was finished, Barbossa forced him to do the same with his right hand. A low chuckle came from the captain at the sight of the first tear that escaped Sparrow’s eye.

“All done?” Barbossa mocked once Jack swallowed the last of his semen. He threw the younger man’s wrist at the floor and stated harshly, “Your body no longer belongs to you, Jack. I believe I told ya that before I fucked ya the first time. You do not have the freedom to treat yourself or do anythin’ for that matter without permission. If I find ya doin’ somethin’ to yourself on your own accord again, the consequences will be dire. Am I understood?”
Sparrow nodded. “Y-Yes.”

Jack expelled a disgraced whimper as Barbossa started to massage his spent organ. The older man worked him into a full erection once again; he panted as unwanted pleasure swept through him. Tears slid down his flushed cheeks as the strong hand rubbed him, bringing him to orgasm minutes later. He climaxed onto Barbossa’s hands and was required to wash them with his tongue as he had been made to do with his own.

“Jack?”
Jack shook his head to shove the memory aside. “I can’t, Will,” he said, ashamed. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“My body isn’t mine. It doesn’t belong to me. I’m not allowed.”
“Not allowed? Jack, your body is yours. It belongs to you. Forget what he told you. You can do whatever you want to do with your body. No one else has that right unless you feel comfortable to permit them to.”
“How do I know that I won’t be punished for doing so?”
“Do something and find out, but I promise that you will not be punished.”

Sparrow did the first thing that came to his mind. He put his lips to the younger man’s and kissed him. Will’s eyes widened in astonishment. He hurriedly regained control of his surprise and responded to Jack’s dry and swollen lips. The kiss was nothing like the ones he had shared with Elizabeth; it was special in ways he did not understand. Sensual, innocent, scared, loving: they all made up the drawn out, demanding kisses the two of them shared.

After a lengthy period, Jack pulled back and opened his eyes shyly. He gazed at Will apprehensively, but his expression soon became terribly frightened.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered frantically. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have. I had no right. Please, don’t hurt me.”
Will was breathless. “No, no. It’s-It’s all right. I’m not going to hurt you. You did it, Jack. You made contact with someone and allowed them to return the action. There’s nothing to apologize for or to be afraid of.”
“You felt….You felt good. You weren’t trying to….”

Sparrow burst into tears. Will cradled the pirate’s head under his chin and ran his fingers through the short black mane of the man.

It was proven that progress had been made, and Will knew the only way to keep on making headway was to take small steps. He was determined to see Jack through it all.

****
Jack did not know when he had fallen asleep, but when he awoke, Will was not snuggling him. The blankets, however, were still wrapped around his thin frame.

He sat up and called softly, “William?” No one was in the room to answer. “Shit,” he muttered angrily at himself. “You drove him away. Fucking bugger. You drove away the one that was tryin’ to help you. Damn it, I knew I shouldn’t have. Always a punishment.”

He ceased cursing himself when the door abruptly opened. Will treaded into the room, and Jack gave a sigh of thankfulness.

“I thought you might like something to eat,” the young man said with a generous smile and took a seat on the bed in front of Sparrow. He set the tray to the side of them and stated, “We’ve got to get you eating well again, Jack. You’re nothing but skin and bones.”
“Tell me about it,” Sparrow mumbled as he reached for the glass of water. He chugged the liquid rapidly, returning the drained goblet to the tray just seconds after having picked it up. “It’s not a good feeling, believe me.”
“How often did you get a meal?”
Jack was in the middle of chewing a large bite of banana as he answered, “Not that often. Once or twice every four days. Sometimes longer. Never anythin’ much.” He swallowed and dove in for another piece of the soft food. “Whenever he gave me a really bad punishment, he’d give me a small lil’ feast. Regain the energy back.” His throat downed the mush before continuing. “Couldn’t have me losin’ all me strength. The brutes liked a good struggle every now and then.”
“Struggle from what?”

Sparrow quit munching on the piece of cooked fish in his mouth and looked as if he had revealed a forbidden secret. “Struggle. Yes,” he verbally stumbled. “Well, um, let’s not get into that, ay?”
Will nodded in agreement, though he was disappointed that Jack would not elaborate when he had been candid mere seconds before.
“God, Will, this is fantastic,” the pirate said delightedly once he had finished the portion in his mouth and greedily snatched another serving of fish. “Do ya want some?”
“No, it’s for you,” Will replied amusedly from the pirate’s exhilaration.
“Nothin’s ever tasted so good in me life. And it’s finally washin’ that taste out of me mouth.”
“What taste?”
“Their see-” Jack stopped himself and averted his gaze from the young man. “Just a taste I had every day.”
“Oh.” Will did not prod him to disclose anymore information on the subject.

Jack nibbled on a slice of bread and shifted his eyes again to stare unblinkingly past the male before him. He appeared to be dreaming or thinking on something important; Will was not sure which it was.

As he tore another part of the bread he questioned wistfully, “What do I do now, Will? Where do I go? I can’t stay here. I can’t go back to the Pearl either. I can’t go back to the thing I love most, and yet I hate her at the same time. Everywhere I’d go on that ship, I’d see everything that happened every day. I’m too weak and too scared to be a captain again. Even if I could take back my title, I wouldn’t have a crew that would respect me. Not after all that’s been done….What do I do, Will?”
The younger man had listened to the distant voice with pity welling inside of him. The only answer he had was one that he knew the pirate would not like. “I think you’re going to have to live on land for a while.”
“Land? I’ll be more suffocated there than I was on the Pearl. I can’t just give up the ocean. It’s….everything. It’s what I know.”
“You just….You just need a break from it. I think it’ll be healthy for you.”
“All right. Say I was to take your advice, where would I go once there? I don’t have anything or anyone on shore to go to.”
“You can come live with me.”
Jack snickered. “I’m a burden to you enough as it is.”
“No you’re not. And I hope that you’ll truly consider the offer.”
Sparrow sighed and nodded. “I’ll consider it.”
“Thank you. Now, I’ll return this to the cook. I’ll be back shortly to treat your wounds.”

Will took up the tray and exited the room. An aggravated groan came from Sparrow as he sprawled out on the mattress. The medicine, he had concluded, came from the depths of Hell. It had the ability to make him feel as if he were being burned by Barbossa’s men all over again. There had been a few improvements because of it, though. The constant pain he used to have had decreased to a tolerable level, and he even noticed that his skin was not as red and blistered anymore. Nevertheless, he still debated about whether or not the agonizing experience he had to endure to see such results was worth it.

Will entered the area and fetched the bottle and cloth as Jack unwrapped the protecting blankets from his body. He turned to lie with his back to the young man who sat beside him.

“Are you ready?” Will inquired gently.
“Yeah. I’m ready.”

Jack bit his lower lip and closed his eyes as he prepared himself for the necessary torture.

It was not until the medicinal liquid cascaded onto his scorched side that Sparrow shrieked and began to sob.


Part Sixteen

****
There was light movement behind him, prompting Will to open his tired eyes. He rolled onto his side to observe Jack shuffling to the corner of the room.

“Jack,” he spoke softly.
The pirate stopped and turned around gradually. His dark orbs were overcast with vulnerability and weariness as he stared at the younger man.
“Where are you going?”
“Just go back to sleep,” Sparrow whispered.
“You don’t have to move to the floor.”
“Waste such as myself has to.”
“No. No you don’t. Come here, Jack.”

Jack glanced helplessly at the corner behind him before he returned to the bed. Will placed his arm across the man’s shoulders and brought him to lie down beside him. Jack was stiff against him and slightly quivering. The raven haired male rested his head on Will’s chest and exhaled a warm breath, making the younger man tremble imperceptibly from feeling it on his cool skin.

“You are not waste,” Will said quietly. “Don’t believe what he told you.”
“Then what do I believe?”
“Well, what did you use to believe?”
Sparrow pondered the question for a moment before he answered, “I don’t know.” His voice was fraught with sadness. “I don’t know, Will.”

Silence settled on them as they lay in one another’s embrace. Jack’s eyelids fluttered shut several times as he tried to stay awake. He cuddled against Will’s lean frame, and it made him somewhat nervous because he was not frightened at all, nor was he afraid when he began ghosting his fingertips over Will’s torso. A small sigh came from the younger man as his skin flinched from the delicate touch.

“Jack?”
“What?”
“Don’t stop.”
“Are you sure it’s all right?”
“Yes. Can I?”
There was a brief pause before Sparrow replied timidly, “Yes.”

A tiny hiss came from him as Will’s fingers started to caress his sore back. They brushed against the torn flesh in a circular motion, and Jack leisurely found that the contact was enjoyable. Such a reaction unnerved him; it was not supposed to be enjoyable.

“Will, um, maybe we should stop,” he stammered awkwardly.
“Is it because it’s pleasant?”
“It shouldn’t be. I shouldn’t be liking it like I am.”
“That’s Barbossa talking again. What do you want? What do you think it should be like?”
“I don’t know,” Sparrow said in a choked voice.
“Whatever your body is feeling, let it.”
“Will you….Can you touch me again like this tomorrow? Can I touch you?”
“Yes. Of course.”
Jack closed his eyes and whispered, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”

The pirate fell asleep minutes later; the fingers that still stroked his back caused him to begin dreaming with a smile.

****
The next morning Sparrow woke to an empty room. Will was nowhere, and he hated the fact that it made him feel forgotten. There was a certain attachment he had come to have for the younger man, and now that he was alone, he felt somehow lost.

He got up from the bed and wrapped a blanket around his nude body. Though he was utterly petrified to leave the bedroom, he opened the door and stepped out into the extremely short, narrow hallway. Low voices could be heard coming from the main room; Will’s was one of them. With extraordinary caution, he started to walk slowly toward the area. He swallowed to relieve his tightening throat, and his heart throbbed unbearably in his chest. A light sheen of perspiration formed on his warm skin as he neared the conversing men. He peered into the room curiously even though he was completely terrified that he would get caught snooping. There were two men with their backs to him; he discerned that they were Will and Groves. The third man he did not recognize, yet he knew he had seen him before. He strained to hear what was being said.

“….it won’t be a problem if you escort them to prison, Theodore, but if you two were planning on taking Jack ashore also, what’s to say you won’t be forced to take him to prison as well?” James questioned worriedly. “He is still a pirate and because I doubt that you’ll be able to get a pardon for him, he’ll have to go if someone sees him.”
“Would anyone see him?” Theodore asked. “He’s hardly identifiable now that his hair is cut, and he doesn’t have his normal attire.”
“Do you know what happened to his clothes?” Will interjected.
“No, I don’t. He was never wearing anything other than a shirt and a pair of breeches.”
“How were you two planning on getting him on land?” James inquired. “He hasn’t even been able to leave these quarters; I doubt he’d be willing to in order to go ashore where he’d be surrounded by a number of people. Is he improving at all, Will?”
“Not much. And I can’t get him to speak about what happened to know why he’s so afraid of everything.”
“I can tell you one of the reasons why he’s afraid of touch,” Theodore said faintly. “He spent the night down in the brig once next to our cell. He had just acquired the burns two or three days prior.”
Jack’s legs were shaking from fatigue and from the overwhelming embarrassment he had as Groves continued.
“I woke up in the middle of the night and could hear noises coming from him and someone else. I looked to his cell to find him being raped by one of the crewman.”

Sparrow wept as his mind threw him back to that one night. Knowing that Groves had seen it and because Will was now aware of it, Jack wished he could murder himself right at that moment; the two men he had hoped would never learn of such a vile event made him feel entirely appalling because they had. There would be no more comforting embraces because he knew neither would want to touch him.

Just when he was about to saunter back to the bedroom, James spotted him.

“Jack?”
He withdrew his head from the room and pressed himself against the hallway wall to hide.
“Jack, come out here,” Will voiced soothingly. “There’s nothing to be frightened of.”
With his head lowered as if defeated, Sparrow emerged into the area, his skinny frame quaking as he stood several feet away from them.
“You can come closer. It’s all right.”
He almost collapsed to the floor as he took a few steps toward them. His hands clutched the blanket around him incredibly tightly.
Will strode to him and lifted his head by placing his fingers under the pirate’s chin. Sparrow’s eyes were closed, causing Will to command gently, “Look at me, Jack.”
The older man sniffed as his eyelids parted to reveal his reddened, damp eyes. “I’m sorry I was eavesdroppin’. It won’t happen again, I promise.”
“Hush, it’s all right. Why are you crying?”
“Because you know.”
“About….About what happened to you that night?”
Jack nodded and gazed at the floor. “You wouldn’t have touched me if you knew; you wouldn’t have wanted to, nor would you now.”
“That’s not true, Jack.” He enveloped the pirate and whispered, “That’s not true.”

Sparrow’s cheeks were being bathed in tears, prodding Will to only murmur more tender words.

“Let’s go to the bedroom,” the younger man spoke softly after a minute.

He placed his arm across Sparrow’s shoulders and escorted him to the area where Jack was most comfortable. He closed the door, led Jack to the bed, and they sat down beside one another.

“Would it be easier for you to talk to me now?” Will questioned quietly.
“I don’t know. I guess,” Jack answered with a shrug.
“Tell me why you had to be on deck.”
Sparrow forced himself to look at Will and began in a quivering voice, “Barbossa would kick me to wake me up in the mornings. Sometimes I followed behind him after he got dressed. Sometimes he gave me five minutes to be alone before I had to be out there. And then I’d wait. His men would give up a part of their swag in exchange to do whatever they wanted with me. But he stopped collectin’ after a week and just let them have at me for free.” Jack paused to regain a bit of composure. His eyes scanned the room, unable to gaze at Will any longer. “I’d be led below and they….They’d take off my clothes and….and rape me. They liked to bruise me up a bit before they fucked me, and some took me below just to beat me. Soon, they didn’t even care to have a bit of privacy; they’d simply have me right on deck….behind a canon or bent over it. On occasion they’d all gather round near the middle of the deck and watch, encouragin’ one another as they each took a turn; some more than once. I stopped countin’ after about a week, but the average was around twenty men a day that would force themselves on me. At night, Barbossa would have a go with me in his bed. There were a few times when he didn’t care to have me. I wasn’t allowed to sleep next to him. I had to sleep on the floor. There was an exception every now and then, but not that often.

One night when he was asleep, two crewmen came and took me below. They passed me around from one to another….Hands everywhere on me. Insults and cruel laughter. I was handed off to a man sitting in a chair….I didn’t think it was possible, Will. He and another man took me at the same time. Both of them inside me. And it hurt so much, Will. Two others did it again that night and it happened again a few times on deck after that. But after that one night, I didn’t have to go out the next day; Barbossa let me stay in the room. I wasn’t granted such a luxury after they tied me up and burned me; he made me go out to the deck the followin’ morning. It was excruciating. Some touched me where I was burned just to hear me scream….Oh god, Will....”

He bent down, buried his face in Will’s lap, and let his sobs consume him. Will had attempted to keep his expression subdued while listening, but his vision had become blurred and his lips trembled as he cried, making him unable to conceal his emotions. He yearned to hide his visage like Jack to weep incessantly. Instead, he began to pet Sparrow’s hair lovingly.

“Every….day, Will,” the pirate gasped between his uneven breaths. “I didn’t want….to be rescued. I wanted….to die.”
“Shhh….It’ll be all right,” Will said consolingly as tears poured from his eyes. “You have me now, and I will protect you, Jack. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
“When they….held the fire to me….I begged them for help, Will. Begged….them. But they laughed at me. They just laughed as I….screamed and begged them to stop.”
“Shhhh….I’ve got you. You will never have to endure such maltreatment again.”

Ten minutes ticked by before Jack was able to breathe normally. He sat up from Will’s lap and rubbed his eyes. When he opened them, they were bloodshot, swollen, and engulfed with unimaginable pain.

“Now you know why I don’t deserve to touch you,” he spoke tiredly. “And I’m sure you don’t want to touch me either.”

The words made Will act without thinking; all he knew was that he had to prove the man wrong. He cupped Sparrow’s face in his hands and kissed him heatedly. The pirate responded ravenously. He snaked his arms about Will’s neck as they devoured each other’s mouths. It was more than merely a comforting gesture, Jack felt. Whether it was of love or lust, he could not tell.

Whenever one dared to pull away for a breath, the other was quick to capture their lips once more. Will’s head spun from the inconceivable passion Sparrow’s kiss provided him. He could not deny that it aroused him, but he refused to come undone. Though Jack was permitting him to have intimate contact, he knew the older man was not ready for anything more than entangling their lips together; he was not even sure that he was ready for more.

At last, they broke away completely. Each was panting and shaking. The expression of anxiety in Jack’s brown orbs caused Will to take his hand and massage it.

“It’s all right,” he said kindly. “There are no consequences or punishments for enjoying something like that.”
“I trust you,” Sparrow whispered.
“Thank you for letting me.”
A ghost of a smile formed on the pirate’s countenance. “Thank you for doin’ it.”

They rested down on their sides facing each other. Jack curled up against the younger man and placed affectionate caresses with his lips onto Will’s fingers, while the blacksmith’s free hand very gently rubbed the pirate’s back.

It was Will who fell asleep first with a contented grin gracing his visage.

“I love you, Will,” Jack whispered sincerely once he knew the young male was dreaming.

When he finally went to sleep, it was not nightmares that met him this time.

****
With a weighty sigh, Sparrow opened his eyes and turned onto his side. There was someone sitting next to him, and it was not Will. The initial trepidation he had from seeing the person faded instantly, for he knew who it was.

“Theodore,” he whispered weakly.
The Lieutenant met his gaze and smiled. “Hello, Jack.”
“Where’s William?” His voice sounded fretful.
“I believe he’s spending some time with Elizabeth at the moment.”
Sparrow sat up, kept his head lowered, and muttered almost inaudibly, “Oh.”
“How are you feeling?”
The pirate shrugged. “You tell me.”
“You’re looking better,” Groves said kindly.
“Thanks, but I don’t see it. You don’t have to lie about it for me, mate.”
“I would never lie to you-”
“Why are you here? Talking to me?”
The questions caught Groves off guard. “Why would you ask such things?”
Jack sniffed and started to quake. “You….You saw me. That night, down in the brig. On my back like the fucking whore I am.”
“You’re not a-”
“How can you even stand to be near me? I can’t even stand it. You and Will….I don’t get why the two of you keep wastin’ your time with me. Why not just dump me off somewhere and be done with it? It would do everyone a great favor.”
“Please don’t talk like that, Jack,” Theodore spoke sadly. “It hurts me to witness you like this. After all you’ve done for me and my men – you’re truly a wonder. A beautiful wonder. And I hope that in time you’ll be able to see that too.”
“No,” Sparrow choked and raised his head to stare at the younger man. “The only thing I’ll ever see is a torn up body that has but one purpose for being in existence. And that purpose is to be used in every way possible by men. So if you need me to do anythin’ for you-” He let the sheet fall to reveal his battered frame from the waist up and leaned forward to whisper into Theodore’s ear. “-I won’t object. It’s time I fulfilled your needs just as I did for everyone else who was on that ship.”

Groves clasped his hands on Jack’s shoulders and pushed him away gently. The look of frightened bewilderment and dejection on the pirate’s countenance was heartbreaking.

“You don’t need to do anything,” Groves stated compassionately. “And you are not alive simply to satisfy men’s urges. It’s a horrible crime that you had to be subjected to such atrocities. But you are still beautiful, Jack. You are still worth something.”

Sparrow scrutinized the man’s visage, paying close attention to the subtle changes in Theodore’s eyes. He swallowed and blinked to release a crystal droplet. As if being forced, he undid the blanket from around his waist and placed it aside to allow the younger male to gaze upon his naked body. He lied down on his back and spread his legs. Groves was completely dumbfounded as he gaped unabashedly at the pirate’s tanned form.

“Wh-What are you doing?” he stammered.
“You want to fuck me. Please just take it easy. I promise I won’t ask for anythin’ else.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I can see it in your eyes, Theodore,” Jack whispered shamefully. “I know you do.”
Groves could not deny that he had imagined himself making love to Sparrow on a number of occasions; his attraction to the older man had become great. But he was not about to admit it to the broken man. “Even if that were true, Jack, I would never take advantage of you when you’re in such a vulnerable state. I never want to hurt you.”

The Lieutenant got up to cover Jack with the bed sheets and sat next to him once more. He stroked the pirate’s forehead and erased any tears that came from the brown orbs with his thumb.

“Please let Will and I in,” he whispered.

Jack put his hand on the back of Groves’ neck and lowered him down. Before Theodore had a chance to react, the older man was kissing him ardently. The lips were impeccable against his own, moving with excellent precision to heighten the intensity. Determined not to break contact, Theodore shifted from where he was in order to stretch out directly above the pirate. The being under him quivered; he could feel it when Jack’s hands traveled up and down his back. Soft moans were lost in one another’s mouths as they indulged in the tingling sensations produced from the passionate kiss.

Sparrow’s mind never lost the thought of what Groves truly wanted, and so after a period, he clumsily began to work on the buttons of the Lieutenant’s trousers. He was terrified of disappointing the younger man by not giving himself to him.

Theodore broke away and closed his fingers around Jack’s fumbling ones. The pirate stared at him with panic-filled eyes.

“Please don’t hurt me,” Sparrow pleaded. “I’m sorry I did somethin’ wrong. Please don’t lock me away. I-”
“Jack, shhh…..Shhh…..You didn’t do anything wrong. And you’re not going to be locked away. I told you there’s no need for this – to make yourself do this. It’s all right if you’re not ready; don’t rush it. No one here is looking for you to commit such….physical acts with them.”
“I don’t want you to be upset.”
Groves smiled affectionately. “I’m not upset. Not at all.” He placed a tender kiss onto Jack’s lips before whispering, “Get some rest. Will should be coming back shortly, alright?”
Jack gave a small nod and said, “Alright. Thank you, Theodore.”
“You’re welcome, Jack.”

Groves stood and left the room as Sparrow moved to sit against the wall. The pirate held his head in his hands and gazed vacantly at the sheets in front of him. He thought of Will with Elizabeth and detested the twinge of jealousy that coursed through him. It morphed into guilt for feeling such a thing.

“You’re awake.”

Jack looked up hurriedly and matched the grin on Will’s face with his own. Will crept onto the bed to be next to the older man and laced his fingers with Sparrow’s. Jack giggled as flutters soared in his stomach; he had never felt so childish in his life.

“I just passed Theodore,” Will spoke calmly. “Were you well enough to see him?”
“Yes. We, um….shared a few….”
“You kissed him?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“That’s good, Jack. You really are getting better. I’m glad.”
“I just couldn’t….I couldn’t bring myself to let him have me, though,” Sparrow said regretfully.
“That’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with waiting until you feel comfortable enough to.”
“But I think….I think I am. Maybe. But the only person I would trust to….to take me is you,” he ended in a whisper.
Will’s mouth fell open in surprise.
“I would never ask you to do such a thing,” he quickly added from witnessing the younger man’s reaction. “It would be selfish of me. After all, you’re engaged. It wouldn’t be fair to either of you, and I wouldn’t want to-”
“Jack.”
The pirate stopped babbling immediately.
Will gazed at him with utter seriousness. “Whenever you’re ready, absolutely ready to do it, I will be there for you.”
Jack was completely taken aback at the words.
“I want you to be able to overcome the fear. I want you to be happy, Jack.”

There was a brief period of silence between them before Sparrow suddenly hugged Will gratefully. He started to shake, but it was not because he was weeping. It was due to cheerful laughter. Will’s heart leapt in his chest from the pleasant sound he thought he would never hear again.

“Thank you, William,” Jack breathed.
“You’re welcome….Listen, I had an idea. I think it may help you.”
“What is it?”

As Will told him of his suggestion, they kept their arms securely around one another. Jack had never felt more protected than he did then, and whether he liked whatever Will was saying or not, he would agree to it no matter what.


Part Seventeen

****
When the door opened, he felt as if he were about to enter through the gates of Hell. The day was warm and clear, and some of the crewmembers were lounging around the deck area in boredom. Sparrow wanted desperately to take Will’s hand in his, but the younger man made it clear that he had to hold himself up on his own.

“Everything’s going to be fine,” Will spoke softly. “Are you ready?”
Jack’s mind screamed “No,” yet he verbally whispered, “Yeah. I’m ready.”
“You first.”

The pirate’s legs felt as if they were attached to canon balls. They were radically heavy as he stepped out the door with Will following behind him. It was as if they moved on their own accord, for he began to shuffle forward without even realizing it. The young man kept up at his side, ready to comfort him if need be.

“Just walk around?” he inquired nervously.
“Yes. And we’ll stop every now and then so that maybe you can exchange a ‘hello’ with a crewman.”
Jack looked as if someone had shot him. He started to sweat and tremble from the growing fear. “T-Talk to them?” he asked, his throat suddenly dry.
“Yes. It’ll be fine. They won’t harm you. They’re good men.”
“I won’t….I won’t have to….pleasure them?”
“No. Absolutely not.”

The reassurance did nothing to quell his tremendous fear. Will gave him a gentle push, causing him to begin his journey about the deck. His eyes flitted from one face to another on both sides of him. The men stared back, some even providing him a kind smile.

By the time he reached the middle mast, he was breathing shallowly, and his hands fidgeted at his sides from his unspeakable anxiety.

“I-I can’t do this,” he whispered restlessly. “I can’t do this.”
“Yes you can, Jack. It’s all right. Nothing’s happened and nothing will. There’s no reason to be afraid. You can do this.”

A minute passed before they continued on. A familiar figure came into view as they neared the bow. He grinned and quickened his pace to stand next to the person that always provided him protection. Tia Dalma smiled broadly and stroked his cheek.

“Jack Sparrow, it pleases my heart to see you come out of hiding,” she said tenderly.
“I won’t deny that I’m scared shitless,” he replied with a chuckle. “You can blame William for gettin’ me out here.”
“He’s a wonderful man for doin’ so. ‘Tis a big accomplishment for you to have agreed.”
“He is a wonderful man, isn’t he?”
“Aye,” she voiced amusedly, drawing out the vowel sound.
Jack recognized the tone; she was on to something. “What?”
“Him be your guardian, and you ‘ave come to have feelings for him.”
“No I don’t.” He failed at lying.
“’Ave you told him?”
The pirate sighed, knowing that there was no use refuting anything. “No, I haven’t. And I don’t plan to.”
“Why?”
“It’d be wrong to. Selfish. Lizzy and him are finally on good terms with one another again; I can’t do anythin’ to ruin that or their engagement. I can’t put that on him. Or her.”
“Perhaps you’ll find it not so wrong to love him.”
“How so?”
“Him will do somethin’ for you that will make him question everyt’ing he believes in.”
Jack eyed her suspiciously. “What? What will he do?”
“The ‘ting dat brings two people together in ‘de closest way possible.”

She gave a nod and a wide grin before walking away. Will had stayed back to allow Jack private conversation; once the enchantress was gone, he strode to the pirate. Sparrow’s mouth was open in astonishment and disbelief. He was utterly silent and did not move.

“What is it?” Will asked quietly.
The older man shook his head as if waking from a reverie and gazed at him in awe. “N-Nothin’. It’s nothin’.”

He slowly started to tread toward the captain’s cabin; Will followed him, though left a small distance between them. The terror Jack had felt before had now dissipated almost completely. A giddy smile crept onto his face and remained there as he passed by men of the crew.

“That went well,” he said brightly as he entered the quarters.
Will shut the door and went with the pirate to the bedroom. “It did. I’m proud of you, Jack.”
Jack’s cheeks flushed red. “Thank you, love. I owe it all to you, though. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he confessed embarrassedly.
It was the younger man’s turn to blush. “I feel the same.”

Sparrow exhaled a breath as he fell back onto the bed. Will joined him, and each gazed at the ceiling in silence.

“Will?” the pirate at length said.
“What?”
He was unable to catch himself before blurting, “I love you.”
Will laughed and replied, “I love you too, Jack.”
“But I mean I….”

Words were not sufficient enough anymore. He was filled with confidence as he moved over Will and kissed him erotically.

To his surprise, Will did not push him away. Instead, the younger man responded eagerly.

For twenty minutes, they knew nothing but the taste of the other’s mouth.

****
The sun had disappeared, and Jack did not feel the need to move from his spot on deck. He sat with his knees to his chest at the port side and observed the men that bustled about. Whenever one would bid him “good evening,” he echoed the greeting timidly with a shy smile.

Will took a seat next to him after a while and nudged him playfully, causing him to grin happily.

“How are you doing?” the younger man asked.
“Not bad. It’s just….strange not havin’ to….you know.”
“Yeah. I understand.”
“And I’m not….scared anymore. At least, not as much as I used to be.”
“That’s great, Jack.”

Jack was about to respond, but he fell quiet when a chord was strummed on a mandolin. A fiddle was soon to follow, along with a recorder as the small group of musicians began to play. The crew enjoyed the entertainment by beginning to dance; Tia Dalma was even in on the fun with James as her partner, which made Sparrow somewhat surprised. He spotted Elizabeth moving about and laughing with one of the men, and he chuckled at the sight of everyone letting go like there was nothing in the world to worry about. His attention was so immersed in the group’s happiness that he did not notice Will stand up until the younger man offered him his hand.

“Care to join me?”
Sparrow beamed with joy and replied, “I’d be honored.”

Will pulled the pirate to his feet, placed his right hand on Sparrow’s hip, and his other held Jack’s right one. They made their way toward the crowd, stepping in time to the quick tempo, and waltzed about in a manner nowhere near the proper and graceful way a rich couple would. Sparrow laughed as Will twirled him around in circles, and his knees went weak whenever the younger man pulled him so close that he could feel his heart beat.

“We’re going to do a partner switch,” Will said after several minutes. “Ready?”
“Ready.”

They broke from each other, taking up with the closest persons. Jack matched Elizabeth’s smile with his own as he danced with her. The cheerfulness and relief in her eyes made him kiss her cheek in confirmation that he was indeed feeling better.

He glanced around to locate Will, who now had Groves as his partner. Will met his gaze and winked at him, causing his heart to flutter adoringly. He longed to be the one in the younger man’s arms once more.

The song ended, and the assembly stopped to applaud and cheer. Another tune started, and Sparrow found himself moving about the deck with James this time. At first, he did not know who James was. However, when the former Commodore addressed him as he had done in the past, Jack instantly knew and grinned.

After two more songs, Sparrow was delighted to be back with Will. Having the younger man’s hands on him again made him hear his own gorgeous music and sent him soaring into a blissful oblivion.

****
“La la da da dee da da,” Jack sang merrily as Will spun him. “Hum hmm do la da….”

Will shut the bedroom door with his foot and led Sparrow about the area as they danced together. He dipped the older man backward, and Jack let his head hang over the young male’s arm limply. His neck was deliciously exposed, and Will could not resist savoring the stretched skin. Sparrow giggled as the smooth lips planted kisses along the length of his throat. He closed his eyes, submerging himself in the pleasurable touch.

“Thank you for tonight,” he said with a wide grin.

A noise of surprise came from him as Will abruptly lifted him up to stand. His eyes clouded with insecurity as the younger male gazed at him intently.

“Jack?”
“Y-Yes?”
“Can I….”

Will did not finish his thought, for he pressed his lips to Sparrow’s fiercely. Jack almost passed out from the intensity of it. He put his arms around the male’s neck and allowed Will to dominate his mouth with tongue and lips. Not breaking contact, Will moved Jack to the nearest wall and pushed him against it. The pirate moaned softly; his hips bucked forward when the younger man wrapped strong arms round his waist. His body was becoming hotter by the second, perspiration forming on his tanned skin as his anatomy was woken from its imprisonment of denying such exhilaration.

“Jack,” the young man breathed before attacking the pirate’s lips again.
Jack grunted to signal him to continue.
“Can I have you?”

Sparrow stared at him with anticipation, apprehension, and approval present in his brown orbs all at once. He stiffened from remembering how much it hurt from having someone inside of him, but he reminded himself that Will would not humiliate or abuse him as Barbossa and his crew had.

“Yes,” he whispered faintly. “Take me. I’m yours.”

He saw the young male smile before the lips were against his own. Nimbly, he wound his leg around Will’s waist and jumped to put his other one about the lean frame. Will carried him to the bed and bent down to lay him on his back. Jack hurriedly ridded the male of his vest, and the shirt joined it on the floor seconds later. His palms roved over the muscular back, causing a small groan from Will that was muffled by his mouth. A tremor bolted through Jack as firm hands started to slide along his torso. He ended the kiss to turn his head and gasp when the fingers began to knead his nipple.

“Ohhh Will….” he forced out. “Please don’t stop.”

Will removed Jack’s shirt and replaced his fingers with his tongue on the tender spot. Jack squirmed and trembled from the touch that sent shots of pleasure through him, making his cock respond by hardening. The singed portions of his side and midsection no longer caused him grief, and Will took advantage by moving his hand up and down the still ruby flesh, squeezing gently on occasion. Sparrow blindly fiddled with the buttons of Will’s breeches, and he was rapidly being stripped of his own by more graceful fingers.

The pirate’s breath caught in his throat when his garment was speedily taken off of him. A sense of helplessness suddenly washed over him as he lay naked beneath the younger man. Will saw this and stroked the short, black hair to soothe him.

“We can stop if you don’t wish to go further.”
Jack caressed the male’s face and stared at him indecisively. “I want this,” he whispered. “I do. But I….Well, what about you? Aren’t you nervous? Scared?”
Will nodded. “I am. And I always thought I’d be doing this for the first time with Elizabeth.”
“Do you want to stop, love?”
There was a brief period of silence before Will answered, “You need this-”
“But do you want it?”
“I do. I just….I’m so nervous, Jack,” he ended with a chuckle, making the pirate smile. “I’m afraid I’ll do something wrong or hurt you.”
“You’ll do fine. You don’t need to be afraid. I trust you completely.”

Jack raised himself to kiss Will tenderly before tugging lightly on the man’s breeches. Will received the hint and took them off to join the other discarded clothing. His beauty was mesmerizing; Sparrow gawked at the flawless being, causing him to feel sheepish because his own was no longer remotely attractive in his mind. As he trailed his hands down the male’s torso, guilt flooded him for contaminating the gorgeous skin with his grotesque body.

“Don’t cry, Jack,” Will said gently.
Sparrow had no idea that he was. “I’m sorry,” he spoke glumly. “I just don’t understand why you’re lettin’ me feel you. How can you let such soiled hands touch you?”
“Because your hands aren’t soiled. They’re stunning, like you.”
“You’re such a sweet talker,” Sparrow replied with a smirk. “But I do appreciate it.”
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah. Do you know if James has any….slick substance around? Oil?”
“Let me check.”

Will strolled to the other side of the room to search through the table drawers, and Jack grinned from viewing the young man’s backside. It was just as exquisite as his front.

After a period Will found a bottle and retreated to the bed. He opened it and poured a bit of the oil onto his palm.

“Do I just….”
Jack pressed his hand to Will’s to swipe up the lubricant into his own. “Here,” he said as he sat up to coat the young man’s erection with it.
Will shuddered and released a tiny sound of enjoyment from having Jack rub him.
“There. Like that.”

The pirate rested down on his back, bended his knees to where they were near his head, and crossed his feet on Will’s dorsal side. They gazed at each other timidly, but both expressed their approval with their eyes.

“You sure you’re all right with this?” Sparrow asked quietly.
“I am. Are you?”
“I am. Can you go slow?”
“Yes, of course. Ready?”
Jack sighed and nodded his head.

It took a moment for Will to discover exactly where he was supposed to enter Jack’s body. When he did it was not long before he started pushing himself into the warm orifice. Jack closed his eyes and emitted a shaky whine. He speedily attempted to repress the horrendous memories that rushed through his mind. Though it was painful now, he knew that it would soon change.

Leisurely, Will inched more and more of himself inside of the being until he was completely within Jack. He was motionless to allow Jack time to recover. The pirate was breathing heavily, his expression was fraught with anguish, and soft sounds expelled themselves from his opened mouth. The image beneath him made Will incredibly aroused. Seeing such vulnerability was utterly thrilling.

“Are you ready for me to continue?” he questioned after numerous minutes.
“Yes,” Sparrow choked.

Will rocked his hips forward, making the pirate gasp and grab hold of the hands grasping his waist. The sensation of the sensitive muscles tightening and relaxing against his hardened member was nothing like anything Will had ever known; he was wholly consumed with ecstasy. He withdrew from Sparrow’s body only to thrust into him quickly again. Sparrow whimpered with rapture. Having evidence that the older man was not hurting, Will began an even pace of moving in and out of the slim frame. Jack moaned, and tears formed in his eyes.

He could not remember a time when he had known such extreme passion and elation.

The way he breathed and called out Will’s name made the young man groan freely. Both of their bodies were quaking from the intense gratification. As Will sped his ministrations, he swept his arms under the pirate’s knees for him to drive himself even deeper within Jack’s orifice. Jack cried and emitted constant noises of bliss. He clasped his fingers around his throbbing cock and massaged it fervently. There would be no punishment for tending to himself, making him work aggressively towards an orgasm.

Will slowed after a lengthy period. His posture became rigid, and he spilt his seed inside of Sparrow with a throaty groan. Jack climaxed seconds later onto his abdomen and hands with a strangled whimper.

At last, Jack opened his eyes and gazed up at Will coyly. There was something about the young man’s expression that unsettled him, yet he could not place what it was. He brushed away the damp, brown locks that were covering Will’s face before gently pulling him down to kiss him lovingly. They shared several before parting for Will to remove himself from Jack, and the pirate lowered his legs to hang over the side of the bed. The younger male sprawled out beside him, panting and sweating like Sparrow was.

“I forgot how enjoyable that could be,” Jack stated quietly. “I forgot how it was supposed to be entirely. Thank you, William.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’m spent. Do you want to sleep here with me tonight?”
“Sure.”

They got up and moved beneath the sheets. Jack compressed himself against Will, placed his hand on the male’s chest, and put his leg over Will’s. An arm went about his shoulders and held him securely.

“You don’t….You don’t regret it, do you?” Sparrow inquired worriedly.
“No. No, I don’t.”
He grinned contently and closed his eyes. “Me neither. Good night, Will.”

Will kissed the top of the pirate’s head and clutched Jack’s hand to him.

For the first time in five months, Jack felt desirable and human again simply because of Will.

****
The angry disfigurement had healed almost completely, and Will caressed the blade-shaped scar on the pirate’s right cheek delicately. Jack was far gone in a slumbering state and provided no acknowledgement of the touch. He was cuddling a pillow to his nude frame that Will had slipped into his arms to substitute as a body. He rubbed his face against it and inhaled deeply; a little smile pried at his lips as he dreamed and cradled it to him. The sight made Will’s heart ache from observing such tranquility. He had lied to the recovering man, and he felt utterly terrible for it.

He stood at the bedside, fully clothed, and merely brushed his fingertips against Sparrow’s jaw line and hair. A broader grin spread onto the pirate’s countenance before he sighed and shifted to his side facing Will. The pillow never left his embrace. The young male brought the covers to Jack’s shoulders and ran his fingers over Sparrow’s scarred neck.

“I’m sorry, Jack,” he whispered remorsefully. “I shouldn’t have done that with you. I’m Elizabeth’s….And I betrayed her by having you. I won’t deny that it was pleasurable, but….You can’t expect it to happen again. I’m sorry.”

It was not until he had closed the door behind him that he began to weep, and he did not know why.