Drabble: 'Catching Flies'
Mar. 24th, 2008 09:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dwgmFinally got this one done for the 'Discuss' theme. Yay for Spring Break!
Many thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hereswith for the late-night beta.
~ Catching Flies ~
"Jack!"
"No!"
"You're being childish."
"Am not."
"You are, and--""
Jack whirled, blanched and visibly fought back the urge to swear as he put too much weight on his injured ankle, gathered himself and hissed, "Speaking of children, Mrs. Turner, having had decades more experience with such things than you, I believe I'm able to ascertain when and if I need to be leeched."
Elizabeth ground her teeth at his tone. "How dare you speak to me like that!"
"It's my ship! Now shoo!" He swept insolent fingers at her. "This discussion is over, savvy? Go do whatever it is Pirate Kings do to pass the time in the aftermath of an engagement. Other than nagging me like a bloody fishwife!"
*
For the remainder of the day their intercourse was characterized by icy civility, interspersed with a stony silence that made the entire crew uncomfortable. Elizabeth's anger warred with the realization of her tactical error, and she said nothing about Jack's stubborn refusal to rest, or about his limp, which grew more perceptible with each passing hour.
Finally, long after the tropical night had closed in, when everything else was safe and settled and the Pearl was sweetly tacking east, along the full moon's path, Elizabeth found Jack sitting below, on a step in a dimly lit and otherwise deserted passage, rubbing at his outstretched limb.
On noting her presence, he tucked his foot back and glared at her. She came and sat down quietly, beside him.
After a long moment he spoke. "Don't think I can get me boot off."
She bit her lip, and put her arms about him. To her relief, his stiffness eased and he leaned his head against hers. She said, gently, "If we have to cut it, I'll get you a new pair of boots -- best to be had."
She felt him smile. "Promise?"
"Promise." She kissed his cheek. "Let's go find Gibbs."
~.~
Many thanks to
hereswith for the late-night beta.~ Catching Flies ~
"Jack!"
"No!"
"You're being childish."
"Am not."
"You are, and--""
Jack whirled, blanched and visibly fought back the urge to swear as he put too much weight on his injured ankle, gathered himself and hissed, "Speaking of children, Mrs. Turner, having had decades more experience with such things than you, I believe I'm able to ascertain when and if I need to be leeched."
Elizabeth ground her teeth at his tone. "How dare you speak to me like that!"
"It's my ship! Now shoo!" He swept insolent fingers at her. "This discussion is over, savvy? Go do whatever it is Pirate Kings do to pass the time in the aftermath of an engagement. Other than nagging me like a bloody fishwife!"
*
For the remainder of the day their intercourse was characterized by icy civility, interspersed with a stony silence that made the entire crew uncomfortable. Elizabeth's anger warred with the realization of her tactical error, and she said nothing about Jack's stubborn refusal to rest, or about his limp, which grew more perceptible with each passing hour.
Finally, long after the tropical night had closed in, when everything else was safe and settled and the Pearl was sweetly tacking east, along the full moon's path, Elizabeth found Jack sitting below, on a step in a dimly lit and otherwise deserted passage, rubbing at his outstretched limb.
On noting her presence, he tucked his foot back and glared at her. She came and sat down quietly, beside him.
After a long moment he spoke. "Don't think I can get me boot off."
She bit her lip, and put her arms about him. To her relief, his stiffness eased and he leaned his head against hers. She said, gently, "If we have to cut it, I'll get you a new pair of boots -- best to be had."
She felt him smile. "Promise?"
"Promise." She kissed his cheek. "Let's go find Gibbs."
~.~
