Title: Leaving
Author: tarotgal
Fandom: Pirates
of the
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Jack/Will
Disclaimer: Disney, not me! They're rich, and I'm only getting poorer for this. And that's the way it is :-)
Summary: Will's a bit disappointed about being sick, but doesn't want Jack to leave.
Note: This was
the 9th in my series of Friday Fics. Just as a note, there are two
ways I write my Jack/Will- One is all piratey and on the ship together. The
other is with Will staying in
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Leaving Will's skin was pale and smooth against Jack's darker fingers. Will shivered when the cold of Jack's rings snaked their way across his upper arm and chest. He closed his eyes, bearing the sensation and feeling sleepy. His whole body suddenly tightened with a sharp breath, and Jack, with his arm around Will from behind, tensed as well. "ihShhhh... sniff... ehhhShhh!" He relaxed back against Jack with a sigh. "M'sorry I had to get sick just before your visit." Jack shook his head, the bangles in his hair clinking, his face brushing against the back of Will's head. "Think nothing of it." His hand reached up and sat hard against the side of Will's head, giving it a heavy pat, squeeze, and shake. "I'll just be back another time." He leaned forward, intending to set his lips upon Will's fair cheek. But Will took another sharp breath, pulling back, then snapping forward. "ehhShihhh! Sniff! sniff! hih... ihhhShhhh!" He groaned and slid a hand under his pillow, withdrawing a rather used handkerchief. He rubbed at his nose with it, then slid it back beneath. "My apologies, again," he sniffled, full of regret. "I promise I'll be well when next you visit." Jack leaned
forward and kissed his cheek gently now that Will was holding still. He gave a
deep sigh, knowing that the night would soon be over and it was time to leave
Will's warm bed and Will's comfortable side. At each This time, however, they had got their wish to some extent and had spent their time together simply resting. Jack had taken one look at Will's rumpled hair, tired eyes, and slightly chapped nose, and had stripped and climbed into bed with him without a word. The snuffling, coughing, and occasional sneezing had said it all. As had Will's relieved sigh as Jack pressed against him from behind and held him tightly in his arms. He had whispered in Will's soft ear to go to sleep. It was clear Will needed sleep. And Jack would stay awake and make sure they were still safe. Will had indeed slept, if only for an hour or two, before waking to sneeze and cough. The rest of the night had passed slowly and uneventfully. Slow, steady breathing. Will digging his handkerchief out after every other sneeze. Jack taking in every detail of the soft naked body of the man who wasn't up for anything but rest this night. They could sense how late it was getting, and both knew the moment would end soon. Jack brushed Will's hair back from his face and kissed his cheek again. "I should get going," he said, his voice full of resolve. "I suppose you should," Will agreed, his voice full of congestion and fatigue, as well as disappointment. He didn't want Jack to leave, as much as they both knew he must. And he was frustrated that he hadn't been able to be with Jack the way they were normally together. Of all the times to get sick... it had to have been now. Jack sighed again and then slid himself over Will's body and out from beneath the blanket to climb out of the bed. He dressed quickly, the moonlight streaming through the window upon him. In the dark of the shadows, Will watched him pull his trousers on first over powerful calves and thighs, then pulled on his shirt and fumbled uncaringly at the buttons. "Here..." Will offered, propping himself up on one elbow. "Let me." "I can put on my own shirt," Jack argued. But his hands were stiff from the cold and he continued to miss the button hole. "Jack," Will beckoned him over with a waving hand. "Let me." Jack sighed and walked the few feet over. He knelt on the dirt ground of the blacksmith shop, letting Will button his shirt for him. Will did so with care, undoing the two that Jack had managed as they had been matched with the wrong holes. When finished, he ran a hand up Jack's shirt, feeling his chest, already missing the feel of the hairs tickling his back or the way it gave in and out against his back at each breath. "Stay?" he asked. He always asked. In the wee hours of the morning when darkness still hid them and everything seemed perfect and safe. He always asked then, when Jack could not see his reaction at the refusal. As always, Jack shook his head. "You know I can't. You're bedding a wanted man, Will. I've a lovely price on my head." He set his hat upon his head and tipped it in Will's direction. "Besides, I'm bound to the sea. I'm a pirate. I couldn't leave all that behind. And you..." he walked leaned forward, taking Will's hand out from beneath his shirt. "You could always leave." Will flushed. Jack had never invited him outright before. Only hinted here and there. And while this was not precisely an invitation either, it was as close as Jack had ever come. "This is my home, Jack," he said softly, looking around at the dirty blacksmith shop. Ever since his master, Mr.Brown, had died, Will had put all his soul and energy into the trade along with his blood and sweat. But his heart still belonged to Jack. "I'm bound to it. My father was a pirate. I am not." "You could be," said Jack with a sly smile. "Think of it, Lad. Out on the high seas. Working the deck. Sharing the plunder. You'd be good at it, Will. You've got it in you. All you need's a little practice by my side." Will's cheeks could not have possibly grown any redder. He pleaded with his cold to let him sneeze now and distract them both. But the tickle in his nose was weak, and all he could do was force a few coughs that didn't buy him much time at all. "I cannot," he said, cursing to himself for such an answer. All those nights lying alone in the shop, wondering when he would see Jack again. All those days working hard when he felt his heart lay elsewhere. Jack shrugged casually. He hadn't really expected Will to accept the offer anyway. "Thought I'd ask at least," he said with a charming smile and another nod. Will nodded back, still rethinking his answer. Jack's voice held no trace of disappointment, but even in the dark Will could see it in his eyes. The sneezes he had so longed for just moments ago, finally chose to strike. Will curled up a bit in bed, holding his hand to his face. "hahShhhh! ihhShhh! heh... sniff... ihhShuhhh! Sniff! Sniff! hehShhhh! Sniff!" He dared not lower his hand afterwards, cursing silently to himself again for now having the sniffles in his runny nose and a wet hand. In an attempt at being helpful, Jack went for the handkerchief under Will's pillow. "No!" Will exclaimed, forgetting his situation and reaching out to stop Jack. But he was not quick enough. Jack's hand slid beneath the pillow and he pulled it back out with a yell and some swearing. Will sat up in bed, kneeling to get a better look at Jack's hand. "Let me see," he insisted, wiping his hand off on the pillow and reaching out to Jack. "How bad is it?" "Bleeding like mad, that's how it is," Jack snapped back. "What the Hell have you got under there?" Will pushed the pillow aside to reveal a small dagger and a sword in addition to a handkerchief. Jack rolled his eyes. "And I suppose you keep them there just in case you should meet up with a pirate in the middle of the night?" Will shrugged and grinned guiltily. "Guess it worked, aye?" Jack said, wrapping his bandana around his palm to hold off the bleeding. "Don't fret. It's just a little cut." Will nodded. He took the handkerchief and snuffled into it a few times before putting his pillow back in place. Then he caressed Jack's hand gently around the bandana and the wound. He did indeed hope Jack wasn't just putting on a brace face for him. The cut had looked rather superficial, but there had been a significant amount of blood. They stood in silence a moment, as Will studied Jack's hand, unable to look up to the man's face and admit that their time tonight was over already. It felt as though they'd barely had a few hours together. Will wished he hadn't gone to sleep and missed the valuable moments together. "Jack..." he started softly, but stopped. He didn't know what to say. Didn't know what he could say. "I hope you have smooth seas and clear skies," he said finally, looking up. Jack smiled back. "Until next time, Mr. William Turner." As Will's hand was still upon his, he took it and raised it to his mouth, kissing gentlemanly. Then the kiss turned into several tiny pecks. Seductive, small kisses, then raced across Will's hand to his wrist and lower arm. Will felt a tingling sensation start there and race throughout the rest of his body. And now he really did not want Jack to go. There was never enough time. Never enough hours in the night. Just now he would have done anything for just a few more. Just to have Jack back in bed with him, holding him for a little longer. But Jack dropped his hand, then turned to leave. And Will shivered, feeling alone now in the dark. The bed seemed horribly cold and empty. And the warm, comforting feel that had surrounded them had somehow gone. Will took up the handkerchief, intending to blow his nose, but felt another sneeze already. He tried to hold it back, not wanting his last moments with Jack to be filled with him helplessly sneezing from a cold. But it was strong and insistent. "IHHShhh! hihShhhh!" Quickly he blew his nose and looked up, not wanting to miss the man's exit, not knowing when he would see Jack again. But then the feeling stirred in his stomach, stabbing at him so hard that he could not resist it. "Jack!" he called out anxiously, making the man stop with a hand on the door latch. Jack tossed a look over his shoulder. "Aye?" he asked, smiling but curious. He expected Will to have a last witty comment. Or even to say something bumbling and sentimental about how he didn't want Jack to leave. Instead, Will sprang from the bed, pulling on his trousers and shoes. He grabbed his sword and blanket and a couple of shirts from the trunk at the foot of his bed. "I take it back," he said as he hurried about. He scribbled a note and stuffed a clean handkerchief into his pocket, feeling that he'd need it sooner rather than later. "I'm coming with you," he said, throwing on a shirt once he realized he had the time to do so. Jack was still frozen at the door. "If the offer still stands, that is. I want to be with you. I want to sail with you. I don't want this night to end." Jack's smile turned into a wide grin and he threw his arms out wide in welcome as he turned on his toes to face Will. "The more the merrier!" he exclaimed. When Will had caught up to him, he put an arm around Will's shoulders and roughly hugged him close. "Knew you'd come around sooner or later." Will put his hand to the shop's door, pausing a moment before pushing it open. "Just to check... but there will be somewhere for me to sleep won't there?" he asked. He pulled his hand back and rubbed his nose, his other hand was carefully clutching the all things he had so hurriedly gathered. "I'm really not feeling too well." He coughed a few times, not forced this time. All the sudden, quick moving had winded him a little. "You know," Jack said, tilting his head so that the moonlight glinted off the gold teeth in his grin. "I'd noticed that about you," he said with a chuckle. "And I think it's safe to say you'll have a place to sleep. I don't reckon you've ever seen the captain's cabin on The Pearl." He leaned into Will, whispering, "The bed is more than large enough." Full of determination, and hoping all this wasn't just a fever thinking for him, Will took a deep breath and pushed the door open, letting it close behind him and not looking back. |