POTC fic: "The Sea's Keep"

[veronica_rich]

Title: "The Sea's Keep"
Rating: PG
Jack/Will
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters nor do I make a profit off their depiction. Just having fun!
Summary: Will keeps Jack alive - and Jack keeps Will living. Sort of a PWP ... without the porn.
A/N: Thanks to metalkatt for suggestions and reading. FB always appreciated


The first time Will had Transported him through wood had been a curiosity, a dare of sorts; Jack had doubted it could be done and Will, with a devilish gleam in his eye, had yanked his arm close and before Jack could protest, vanished them both in a shower of sawdust …

… and reappeared on the deck of the Dutchman. Jack’s stomach had heaved so suddenly and quickly that he barely flung himself to the rail before he vomited overboard, watching the fish he’d put away for breakfast return to the sea. When he’d composed himself, he shakily held his hands up against Will’s offer to take him back to his Pearl in the same manner, and instead crossed the normal way, skittering on a plank extended between the two an hour later.

The second time hadn’t been Jack’s choice, either. He’d been prisoner aboard a Spanish galleon under attack, trapped in the brig when the waterline rose sharply, the ship foundering. Wood heaved and smoked around him as screams of the dying and the acrid taste of a close fire filled his sinuses, and only his shoulders and head were above water when another body quite suddenly filled the scant space he’d found in the dry corner of the tilted cell.

“Hold on, Jack,” a familiar voice whispered, as strong arms wrapped around and seemed to sink into his body. One minute, he was taking a deep breath to submerge – and the next, he was standing aboard solid wood, not even dripping wet.

This time, Jack closed his eyes and pressed his forehead into Will’s shoulder, his stomach looping and swerving. He clutched the back of Will’s greatcoat, pressing his palms to his shoulder blades, and breathed deeply to quiet his confused system. As his inhalations evened out, he picked up the familiar, welcome smell of Will Turner, and breathed it deeply, pulling in as much as he could. He turned his face into Will’s warm neck, feeling the rasp of the man’s jaw against his own, and brushed his nose against the skin and along Will’s collar; his stomach swooped again when he felt Will’s large nose rubbing his throat.

From there it was easy to lift his head and cover Will’s mouth, part his lips against the other man’s and inhale his taste fully and sharply for the first time. Jack’s hands cupped Will’s long neck, then slid up to the base of his skull, into his hair. He found the long curls as soft and springy as he’d always imagined, and went higher, pushing the green scarf up and out of his way as he sucked on Will’s lower lip.

“Ow,” Will murmured as the knot caught, reaching back to halt Jack’s hands and tug gently at the material. Jack felt for the lock of hair trapped in it and held it with one hand as he slowly pulled the knotted scarf off and dropped it to the floor, grinning against Will’s chuckling mouth. They resumed kissing, Jack nearly suffocating as he tucked his nose into the crease of Will’s. Arms that could crush a mast snaked around his lower back, then Jack felt a hand come up and knock his hat off, pushing away his own headscarf. Will was slow and careful, and as it fell away, Jack’s ropy locks fell forward around their faces, curtaining their kisses from no observers in an empty room.

Hands lifted his baldric up and away from his body, and Jack broke the kiss and moved an arm to allow it, catching the intensity in Will’s eyes as he pushed the worn coat off Jack’s slender shoulders. As soon as Jack had the chance, he returned the favor, humming, “Been a little too long without company, William?”

“I just need,” Death’s captain answered, and Jack knew what he meant. They’d danced around this compass pull between them for more than twenty years, Jack resisting out of deference to the marriage of one of the few men he honestly respected, and Will, he knew, out of fidelity to his wife. But Elizabeth had died on land shortly after Will’s second visit four years ago, and it had damn near broken the man when Jack carried him the news of her snapped neck from falling off a horse. He remembered vividly the gale force of the storm that had rocked the Pearl shortly after, nearly capsizing her, as the Dutchman descended into a bubbling stew of foaming seawater and cyclonic winds.

He hadn’t seen Will for nearly two years, and while he’d obviously been keeping up his duty and hadn’t sprouted any fins or scales the next time they met, the man had looked haggard for one so young and immortal, mostly around his eyes. Jack figured he’d been imagining the ache in his own chest at the time, but now with a mouth full of Will’s tongue, he knew that to comfort the widower was what he’d wanted all along.

“I know,” he murmured in a gravelly voice, untying Will’s sash and letting it fall from his narrow hips before untucking his shirt and sliding his hands beneath it. “I’ll give it to you.” Warm, smooth skin met his rough fingertips, and the younger captain shivered, pressing closer. Jack hardened immediately, feeling his eyes roll back even under closed lids as Will nipped at his lips. “Jesus … Christ,” he breathed between kisses. “Hasn’t there been anyone-”

“No,” Will responded, and Jack could feel the growl in the back of that answer, as surely as he felt Will’s large hands clutch his hips and pull him closer. “No, Jack. Nobody.”

Saliva rushed to fill Jack’s mouth; he could practically taste the lust, Will’s bare, desperate need, and suddenly realized he wasn’t harvesting dying souls from the galleon’s wreckage as he ought. “The Diablo,” he managed to gasp, “shouldn’t you be getting-”

“Crew’s seeing to it,” Dutchman’s captain whispered. “They know what to do.”

He let that swirl around his brain, trying a few times to pull away before successfully breaking the string of kisses. “How’d you know I was in there?” he panted.

“You belong to the sea,” he explained simply, offering a wondrous smile. “And I keep the sea and her treasures … I always know where you are, Jack.”

Comments

[placeofinsanity.livejournal.com]

I love this.

And I keep the sea and her treasures...I always know where you are, Jack." I want more of this line. I want more in general. Beautiful.

[a-silver-rose.livejournal.com]

Yeah that's a great line!

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

It's really all Nat's fault. ;-)

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Thank metalkatt for making me reexamine the last line I originally wrote ... she's good at that. *G*

Thanks!

[giselleslash.livejournal.com]

I agree with placeofinsanity - that last line was just gorgeous.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I should say some of the credit goes to metalkatt for telling me my original ending line lacked ... something, and making me stare at it for a while and change it to what it is now.

[danglingdingle.livejournal.com]

Oh, God, I love how the connection that has always been there, is finally coming to completion! Years and years of uncertainty, and perhaps an inkling of lingering, secreted and secluded hope, coming to fulfillment... Very touching. *sigh*

Needless to say I find the little detail of the caught hair most invigorating, together with the grin and a chuckle <3

And I like how you handled Elizabeth. No hard feelings towards anyone there, just the live of an immortal in a mortal's world.

This was a true treat.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I find the little detail of the caught hair most invigorating, together with the grin and a chuckle

You know, I liked that the most, too. I try to work in little details on longer stories that seem like they'd be "realistic" because I'm so aware the rest of what I'm writing is just kind of a crap-shoot at realism (I'm not a gay man or an 18th century pirate - what do I know about writing either? But I know what a hair-owie feels like).

I'm going to take your tack and simply bow to the rest of your comments, since I can't really say anything better in return than the way you said how you liked it. Thanks. :-D

[araestel.livejournal.com]

*loves* If only there were more fic that perfect.

[restrainedchaos.livejournal.com]

There is....it's just all by her.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Dude, you're going to spoil me, seriously ...

/blushes

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Awww, thanks. (But there's a LOT of fic out there much more perfect than this. I read it and weep regularly!)

(Good to see you have some time for reading. Hopefully things are going better with your dad. My mom has to go into the hospital next week for her transplant, for about a month, so that's the next barrel I'm staring down. Still, it's a positive step for her.)

[restrainedchaos.livejournal.com]

I love that, Ver. You always make instances feel like lifetimes; you write so densely.

I also thought it was neat (as in tidy) the way you nudged Elizabeth out of the way. In your own way, you acknowledged Will's love of and with her, but made it so she wasn't an issue, having died on land. You're so adept at that.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I don't deliberately like to make things difficult for my characters (such as infidelity), but I don't like killing any off, either. This time, it just happened that was what the muse dictated with Elizabeth, and I definitely wanted it to be after her son was old enough to be on his own, and after she'd had the chance to see Will at least a couple of times, and have a somewhat full adulthood of her own.

I thought about doing a drabble, but there's no way this would've fit into 100 words. Still, it does feel a little short. Maybe I'll do something else with it if I get the notion. I'm glad you liked it. Thanks!

[gypsyluv.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!! Omg... that last line!
All of it was perfect... but that last line... *sighs*
Thank you for this!
I totally love it!
*hugs you*

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

And I love your feedback! Thanks!

[soleilpirate.livejournal.com]

Mmm, very nice! Though I wish it were more porny, being the perv that I am, I did enjoy the sweetness of them coming together. Years of friendship and trust building, solidiying into love. Gorgeous.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I really wanted it to be more porny myself, but I got to the end of the kissing and thought "That'll do, pig. That'll do." I may try some more of that - I've done the porn, I'd kind of like to focus on the interaction maybe ...

Glad you enjoyed it!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

That last line... OMG! Such a beautiful story. I like how you wrote Elisabeths death (so like her...) and how Will dealt with it. Poor guy... No one to guard the chest, eh? Well, I'd say he just found a new guardian for his heart. I would love to see more of this. :-D

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I figured Elizabeth would be doing something active, still in her forties. She's not likely to sit around knitting doilies. I don't usually like to have her dead to get the guys together - I prefer to come up with something not quite so easy - but it's just what happened in this particular story.

No one to guard the chest, eh? Well, I'd say he just found a new guardian for his heart.

Hmm, I like that. I don't know where the chest is, but maybe Jack does. I'll have to knock him over and see what falls out, maybe. ;-)

Thanks!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine seeing Elisabeth just sitting at home either. :-) To much off a spitfire that one. ;-) And I think she would continue to be one when she was old to. :-)

[ladymouse2.livejournal.com]

I'll just agree up front with everyone that the last line is not only beautiful but utterly touching in it's deceptive simplicity.

It echoes Will's line to Elizabeth in AWE, when he asks her to take the chest into her keeping, since she's, "always had his heart anyway".

It's the same sentiment, worded slightly differently, and made under the same terms of avowal. Will has loved them both.

There's no mention of the son so I am assuming the end scene of AWE doesn't figure into this scenario. Since they are twenty years along, Jack must either be getting up in years or have found that fabled water, in which case he's in shape for the sex and likely to be around a very, very long time for Will. So they've both waited decently for the right time to have their turn.

Elizabeth has had her due and come to her mortal end.

I like that the moving between "worlds" or at least dimensional shifts between objects gives a mortal mal de mer of a sort. Makes perfect sense--not to mention a perfect excuse for Jack to cling to Will...ahem.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the detailed comment!

I'm starting to feel guilty about that last line ... Nat (metalkatt) is the one who suggested I alter it slightly from what I had, so I stared at it for half an hour and finally came up with this, based partly on a suggestion of hers. I think I should be paying her royalties or something, LOL. I didn't think of it being similar to what he told Elizabeth, but you're right. And I did want to indicate these were the only two people Will had been in love with, so maybe I did that unconsciously.

As for little Will the Third, he'd not be so little anymore - he'd be in his twenties now, so I figure he's probably gone off to have his own life and adventures, especially since Mom is gone and Dad isn't around for a landlubber but every ten years. Then again, he could be in the Navy or have his own ship and seeing Dad and Grandpa every so often, as well as Uncle Jack. Or, he could not exist at all. I like letting people come up with their own thing sometimes. Same with Jack - I don't know if he drank the water or not. If not, he'd be around 60 and knowing him, probably a little slowed on the libido, but not dead yet. ;-)

Makes perfect sense--not to mention a perfect excuse for Jack to cling to Will...ahem.

You picked that up too, did you? Heh heh. My work here is done. *bows*

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'm a lot more than I set out to be! Thanks! ;-)

Glad you liked it.

[ainsoph15.livejournal.com]

Wow. I feel rather giddy and breathless myself after reading that. You are so superb at condensing so much information and imagery into such well-chosen phrases and words (your day job is showing, darlin' ;D). As someone else commented, you write densely - and from the heart. Each sentence needs to be lingered over and savoured, because there is so much contained within it.

'You belong to the sea.' *sigh* And thus, to Will :D

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Ah, I have another in progress, involving swordfighting. *G*

Every writer needs a fan like you, falling all over them. Seriously. I write for myself, but a tiny bit of me also loves adulation. I don't get much, but I always get some from you. *loves*

[bearleft77.livejournal.com]

I'm reading this so late I'm probably just going to end up repeating what everyone else said.

I absolutely loved this.

“Ow,” Will murmured as the knot caught, reaching back to halt Jack’s hands and tug gently at the material. Jack felt for the lock of hair trapped in it and held it with one hand as he slowly pulled the knotted scarf off and dropped it to the floor, grinning against Will’s chuckling mouth.

Because this wasn't perfect and made it much more realistic. And then I was just thinking this fic was perfect and I come to the last couple of lines. Absolutely lovely.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading - the last line I have to share credit with someone else, on it. But I'm writing a bit of a follow-up to this that will hopefully have more humor. Stick around!

[roguedemon.livejournal.com]

This was just so hot I thought it would spontaneously combust. Will always makes me hurt so good.

One thing -- how old is Jack at this point? He can't stay young(ish) and beautiful and vigorous enough to sail the seas forever -- could it be he found the Fountain of Youth? After all, people aged more quickly back then, sailors had poor diets and hard lives, and if Elizabeth died in her forties Jack would be at least 60, which would be pretty old for that time...

Forgive my realism. Mea culpa. It's a wonderful story no matter how you look at it.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I envision that Jack is around 60 at this point. No, he isn't yet immortal - I believe he probably has silver in his hair, at his temples, and perhaps his face looks a little older. Life may have been hard, but honestly, if it was THAT hard on Jack, he'd look at lot worse at almost 40 than he does, don't you think? ;-)

Bah. Realism has no place with pretty, pretty pirateses. Banish the thought! *G*

Glad you liked it. Working on a sequel scene now; hopefully more humor in that one.

[yakkorat-fics.livejournal.com]

Ver,

Nobody does it better. Seriously. I love you.

Love,
Jules

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Now I have that song in my head - "Nobody Does It Better" *G*.

Thanks, dear!

[eyeonahorizon.livejournal.com]

Good stuff as always. Don't know how I missed this the first time around. (I'll blame the sea legs.)

I'll echo all the other sentiments. That last line undid me...seriously.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Sure, THAT'S why your legs are wobbly. ;-)

Glad you enjoyed it. I had been feeling a little more like writing lately, but it's been a while since I tackled these two, so I wasn't completely sure about it. It's nice to get the comments!

[unseen-quill.livejournal.com]

I can't think of a more elaborate comment, but I absolutely loved this. :D The last line especially was very poetic. I love the emotion implied in it, since I assume he can't/doesn't track everyone in such a manner.

The visual of Jack without his headscarf and loosened hair falling about is a particularly compelling one. I think it's becoming a favorite of mine in general, lol.

I'll agree with the other commenters about your handling of Elizabeth, but then you always do that well in your stories. :) I've always been fond of that kind of bond between them, wanting each other but holding back because Will cares for Elizabeth just as much and Jack accepting that.

Well done. :)

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I have no problem writing J/W fic where Elizabeth is still alive or in the picture, but honestly, I'm happier when I either pretend she's out of the picture altogether (preferably doing exciting things and not dead, but that worked for this fic) or doing something I think would be in-character for her, such as adventure.

Jack without his scarf = UMF. He's gorgeous enough with it, but all that hair without ....

Thanks!