Summary: Just a sweet little thing with Jack and Will; takes place after the movie.
A/N: I love them, and their apparent slashiness. I couldn't help it. Fluffy- slash-haters beware. And yes, this is a SLASH fic. You have been warned. It's nothing major, but it's still there.
Sitting in the corner of the blacksmith shop, bottle of rum in one hand, dozed Will Turner's mentor.
Knowing that the noise wouldn't wake him from his alcohol-induced sleep, Will banged a hammer away, finishing up yet another sword.
In the short couple of weeks that he had decided to return to his life before the Black Pearl interrupted things, he had made an awful lot of swords. It seemed to be one of the few things he did now.
Only because it took his mind off things.
Yes, he still ate, slept, enjoyed his simple life, visited Elizabeth Swann. The last thing was something he really enjoyed. Seeing Elizabeth, having those feelings for her he's always had, made him feel better.
But he still knew something was missing. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but...
"Will?"
He jumped, narrowly missing smashing his finger with his hammer. Turning around, he saw Elizabeth standing in the door, which she had opened without him noticing. He had obviously been completely lost in thought.
"Elizabeth! What are you doing here?" he asked, smiling, setting down his tools, not caring that he would have to start all over from heating to finish the sword.
She smiled her beautiful smile back at him. "I was wondering if you were still going to come to dinner tonight...?"
He nodded, glancing back at his still-sleeping mentor, then walked the few feet over to her. "Of course I am... But you didn't come here to ask me that, did you?"
"Yes and no," she paused, tucking a loose strand of hair behind an ear. "I'm worried about you, Will. Ever since... the pirates were here, you seem different."
He smiled gently. "I know. I just came close to losing you, and you know how I feel- I had the chance to leave all this behind."
"Do you ever wish you did? Leave?"
Will looked surprised to hear her ask that. "I... Sometimes. Once in a while, I wonder what it would be like to have that life again. Not that I really remember it in the first place." He smiled at her, a reassuring gesture that made her feel at ease.
She relaxed, smiling and showing her perfect teeth, her lips curving in happiness. "What time can I expect you tonight?"
"Same as usual, of course," he smiled back.
Elizabeth nodded. "I'll see you then." Smiling still, she leaned over and kissed his cheek, blushed slightly and exited the shop.
Will half-smiled, glad she was back to her innocent ways, then was about to turn back to his work when he thought about what she said. Would he really have gone with Jack? Back to the pirate life that he'd forgotten so long ago?
"I might've..."
"Might've what?"
Will jumped for the second time that day, whipping around to see who startled him.
"Jack!"
"Will, my boy," the pirate captain was leaning against the wall, arms folded over his chest, only a few feet from the sleeping man. "Good to see you again."
"What are you doing here? I thought you left already!" Will grinned, walking over to him.
Jack put up a hand, standing up straight. "Sh. Not so many questions all at once."
"There was only one question."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Then not so much talking at once," he rested a hand on Will's shoulder, grinning.
Will nodded, a smile dancing across his face.
"I did leave, but I got my crew to look after the ship. By the way..." He let go of Will and pushed past him, peering out a window at the front of the shop. "That Elizabeth really seems to like you." He turned around and winked at Will.
Will stuttered. "S-sure."
"You like her?" Jack took a couple steps to where the sword was laying on its anvil, now cooled. He ran a finger over the blade, feeling for nicks.
"Of course I do."
"You're courting her now?"
The blacksmith nodded, a slight blush trying to creep into his cheeks. Why would I be embarrassed that Jack knows? The thought left as quickly as it had come.
Jack shrugged, wandering around the shop, walking almost as if he were drunk. "So, what precious though did I interrupt you from? You might've what?"
Will looked at the man in the corner, making sure he was still asleep. "She asked me if I wanted to go with you."
"And?"
"I might've."
"Do you still want to?" Jack paused where he was, by the donkey in the corral.
"I can't come with you. Not now. It's too late," Will explained.
Jack looked at him, raising one eyebrow. "It's never too late."
Will walked until he was by the anvil. He was getting nervous and needed something to keep his hands busy, keep himself busy. Picking up the sword, he shoved it into the fire, trying to heat the metal and pay attention to Jack at the same time.
Jack lowered his head, keeping his eyes up. Will didn't respond, kept his back to him. Sighing, he walked over to the blacksmith, rested a hand on his back, his shoulder. "You can still come if you want to."
He shrugged, but Jack didn't move his hand.
"You want to, don't you?" Jack inched himself closer, almost breathing on Will's face now.
Will noticed Jack didn't seem to be as nervous as he was. Will was almost trembling, being so close to Jack. But why would he be so nervous?
Jerking the sword out of the fire, Will lost his balance and dropped it, and it clattered loudly to the floor. Wincing, he closed his eyes, and Jack patted his back comfortingly.
"Don't worry. The old man didn't wake, Willy," Jack leaned down and picked up the sword from the cool end, the handle, placed it back on the anvil.
Will sighed, opened his eyes. "Sorry," he mumbled in embarrassment, his hands running over the sword handle.
"Don't worry about it, mate," Jack grinned. "And you needn't apologize - I'm a pirate." He held his hands out as if displaying himself, then bowed.
Will smiled, not feeling as ashamed of his clumsiness now. "I wish I was."
Jack stood straight, giving Will one of those 'Oh-and-now-the-truth-comes- out' looks. Smiling, he pressed his hands together, like he had done so many times before.
Will smiled, not caring he said what he'd been thinking for so long now.
Jack sauntered over, circling around the blacksmith. "Tick tock... Tick tock..."
"Tick tock?"
"Tick tock," Jack smiled. "You coming with me?" He gestured to the open window he'd snuck in through. "We can leave now, if you want."
"No, not now."
"Later?"
"I don't know... I want, but I don't think I can."
The pirate nodded, then walked over to Will, in his signature drunken swagger. "I'll be seeing you then, mate." He touched the brim of his hat in a farewell.
"Jack..."
"I can't stick around this place, Will. You know that."
"I know," Will walked slowly with Jack, back to the window. "I'll... Miss you, I suppose."
"Damn well better," Jack joked, grinning. "Won't forget me?"
"No. I don't think I could even if I wanted to."
Jack smiled, not in a braggish way or anything, just a simple smile. "Want something to remember me by?"
Will shrugged. He wasn't really one for tokens.
Winking, Jack put his arms around Will and pulled him close - very close. Will could feel the other man's heartbeat in his chest, only inches from him.
Will was shocked. And incredibly nervous. Putting his hands on Jack to push him away, he hissed at him. "Let me go."
Jack held him tight, just looking at him with those painted eyes, and Will understood.
"Say good-bye, Jack."
"Good-bye, Jack."
No warning, Jack pressed his lips to Will's, catching him in a trance. It was such a short, simple kiss, and yet... Jack pulled away and quickly escaped through the window.
The sound of the window slamming shut snapped Will out of his daze. "Jack..."
Shaking his head, he stepped back a few feet, completely surprised. He knew Jack was going to do that, but wasn't prepared for it.
He ran his hand over his lips, rubbing them thoughtfully with his worked fingertips.
Smiling, he knew what he had been missing. Not Jack in particular, but still... Jack. That doesn't really make sense, he thought to himself. But I suppose it doesn't need to.
Feeling satisfied with what happened, he picked up his hammer and sword and went back to work.
A/N: blinks How was it? I hope the ending worked out oke... Please R/R, nothing negative, please. Jack the monkey thanks you.