Drabble: 'Night One' (J/E - PG - 300 words - Theme: 'Promise')

[dwgm]

Hoping artaxastra doesn't mind, but I've been rereading her wonderful PotC stories off and on for the last couple of weeks and, as has frequently happened in the past, was inspired to write fic for her fic. This is Jack's pov, set just before Watching Over You, which is set just after that One Day.



~ Night One ~

He hadn’t been looking but found her anyway. Ran across her by the veriest chance in his stumbling progression, the drink and noise of the celebration down by the docks left far behind. Catlike, the deep shadows of Cove and Hall held few secrets to one who’d been resident throughout his formative years. But there was faint moonlight here and there, which is how he recognized the edge of scuffed boot. The limned curve of her slim leg.

He stilled, swaying, eyes narrowing. Frowning.

He was bone weary himself, and he wasn’t a forgiving sort of man… but it wasn’t right. King of the Victorious Brethren. Not to mention New Bride (and certainly he wouldn’t mention it). Yet here she was in this out of the way niche. Abandoned to exhaustion. Apparently forgotten. The chest with its gruesome burden gleaming dully within reach.

He shivered.

It was cold.

And there’d been too much blood and grief in this victory.

Too much.

She needed a blanket.

He should at least take care of that. He shook off his brooding mien and went to fetch one from a cupboard he remembered (a bit disconcerting all this remembering, when he’d been trying to forget for so long).

And then he was back, standing over her again, and he hesitated, but only for a moment.

Cold. And tired.

Good excuses.

Carefully, he laid himself down close behind her and spread the blanket over them. Felt her sigh, presently, and ease against him a trifle.

He didn’t smile. There’d been too much blood and grief, and even all the rum he’d consumed couldn’t wash it away. But there was a kind of peace. She was warm, and her hair, tickling his chin, smelled of black powder, and sea, and Elizabeth.

He could sleep.


~.~

Comments

[sevanatwonights.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing. This is what their relationship is all about, taking care of one another and (despite her previous treachery which weighed heavily on her soul) protecting one another.

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

See here miz GMa2It's been a while since I finished a story of yours in tears, but damn damn damn...this one is just such a pretty boat, er ship. Really truly. The language is fabulous--I so very much like love how words tumble together.

"held few secrets to one who’d been resident throughout his formative years. But there was faint moonlight here and there, which is how he recognized the edge of scuffed boot. The limned curve of her slim leg"

This is so lovely, so much given in words that flow so beautifully off my tongue (yeah, I read aloud to myself cos I like it so much).

I adore the repetition of the phrase blood and grief and Jack's very selfish "huh, who does she think she is!: thinking, all selfish before that good man shows up to complicate his life. He did try so very hard to forget didn't he?

Dadblame, here in my socks and really ought to kiver my nekkidness and go on to work. What I want to do is read this three more times cos well, when there's delicious CJS and the sights, sounds, smells of the cove it's very very hard to leave.

Cold. And tired. Hubby heart in a box right there...It means a lot that Jack decides to take care of himself as well! I'm go glad you've been reading cos when Jack talks with you, let's you look into his mind, you serve the inspiration so well. Thanks... got's to go.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for reading and commenting. Theirs is an interesting relationship, in so many ways.

[jennifer weston (from livejournal.com)]

Jack saved Liz from drowning when she was no more to him than a shouted name.

Jack was left a chained sacrifice the krakken.

Jack, without a moment's hesitation, flew Liz away from the sinking Dutchman.

Jack is more forgiving than he realizes.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely comment before zooming to work (and I'm sending best wishes that you have a very good Monday, too).

He did try so very hard to forget didn't he?

He's a better man than he wants to be, sometimes. And you're right, it makes things complicated for a pirate.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Very true. He likes to believe he's a harder, more unforgiving man than he actually is.

Thank you very much for reading and commenting!

[phoenix-9664.livejournal.com]

Your version caught my imagination as "Watching Over You" did: how I wish THIS had been the finale scene in AWE, for real. You've captured Jack's usual melange of mixed motives and the unique bond between him and Elizabeth. And to have them lying there WITH the bloody heart--well, that's just too ironic and wonderful. Thanks for this--you made my Monday.

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

a bit disconcerting all this remembering, when he’d been trying to forget for so long
Somehow I really love this line...

Not a word, no smile, and yet still Jack. Aww. ^^

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

how I wish THIS had been the finale scene in AWE, for real.

Me, too -- though I don't think it would've passed muster at Disney. Thank goodness we can at least fix things with fanfic.

Thank you so much for reading and commenting!

(I am reading your True Confessions right now and will have comments for you, later. So enjoyable!!)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

It's been a long day for Jack. Or a long year, really.

So happy you liked this. Thank you for reading and commenting!!

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

Hit the door, feed the kits grabbed my 'nocs and sat down to reread this wonderful story. It so much speaks to the beauty of getting older. Young fine hot Jack morphs into older fine hot Jack. And it seems to address Teague's comment about learning to live with yourself. It's not desperate gotta have this comfort, it's the refined choice to accept an human being how they are and love them and yourself.

You taught me bittersweet==the way we all as humans will poke our own bruises to see if they really hurt so we'll know we're alive. It's also those growing pains we have from day one to last... Jack is like equal parts mind and heart and I'm sorta of the thinkin' that his heart is the driver in truth, that twisty mind working its butt off to "make it so". Kinda like that scene in DMC where he tells Gibbs I have great faith in your concillatory ? navigation skills, keep close, but sail...etc

Man, when it gets dark, after I eat my pile of microwaved garlic (keeps skeeters off) on buttered bread and whatever else is here I'm going to read the other stories... Love your language your way with words...like a bias cut satin dress (those hotcha ones from the old old movies...), flowing, swirling mystifying, cos the material just shimmers. That's what this is. Knocks my socks off....Now I'm gonna drive over to Port A on the coast and bird my little way sTX boioty smooth off! And maybe indulge in another chocolate martini, just discovered there can be fun had without tequila or rum, tho those are my favorites. As always, more please.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Chocolate Martini! I like a Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini, myself, but I shall have to try a chocolate one, one of these days.

I am so happy you liked this scene, and that it brightened your hectic (but hopefully satisfying) day. *Hugs!*