Beyond the Horizon (JELSA)

-Shiver Me Timbers!-

The Atlantic Ocean, 1740s

The familiarity of her face, surely he'd remember a face that beautiful if he had seen it before...

Jack gasped loudly as he startled awake. He breathed heavily and his body was covered in cold sweat. Jack swung his trembling legs outside his bunk and rested his elbows on his knees. He ran his hands through his hair as he tried to steady his breathing again. He hated getting flashbacks of his past at night. Especially of his years when he was working for the company, it was a beautiful time in his life, a dream, which ended so abruptly, so dramatically. Jack had a habit of mentally blocking everything that had hurt him in the past. It was a form of self-protection Jack used. Elsa had unconsciously managed to break through one of these blockades.

"...Arendelle, Elsa A-Arendelle. Arendelle, ofcourse." Jack mumbled to himself. "Adgar's daughter a pirate?"

"I didn't choose to become a pirate."

"Of course..." Jack breathed out as he stood up, still fully dressed. It all made sense. He couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he was putting the pieces together so late. His once intelligent and quick mind seemed to have gone foggy. "Stupid." Jack muttered as he grabbed the bottle of rum that was still on his desk and made his way out of his cabin.

"I can take over, Hiccs. Go to bed." Jack said dismissively, not looking his friend in the eyes, as he arrived at the helm. Hiccup took one look at his friend and knew what was going on. "You only drink like that when you think about-"

"I know." Jack said shortly, making it clear he had no desire to discuss the matter. Hiccup nodded briefly and sauntered away.

"Hold up, Hiccs." Jack said, softening his voice a bit. Hiccup turned around and looked his captain in the eyes. "Yes, Jack?"

"When you heard Elsa's last name, Arendelle, did you immediately connect the dots to Corona's colleague Adgar?" Jack asked.

"Well, we weren't that well acquainted with the man. But, yeah, it came to me pretty quickly." Hiccup chuckled before he realized Jack was dead serious. "I figured you didn't want to talk about it." Jack sighed and closed his eyes. "Go get some shut eye, Hiccs.''

''Aye," Hiccup mumbled and went to get some rest.

Things were starting to get back to Jack. He figured he needed to open himself up again. He used to be a step ahead of everyone, which was what made him a great captain. He lost that greatness when his once quick and witty mind got emotionally constipated. It wasn't something a man liked to admit, that he had trouble dealing with his emotions. 

"Hey," A soft voice broke the silence of the night. Jack shrugged himself out of his thoughts and looked at her.

"It's you," Jack blurted out.

"Yeah,'' Elsa whispered as she hugged herself and looked down at the deck. "I didn't get the chance to say thank you earlier. You moved into your cabin right away.'' Elsa said humbly as she carefully looked up into Jack's eyes. ''So...thank you for dragging me back to the ship when I was thinking and behaving irrationally,'' Elsa sighed before she continued. ''I have to admit, not my finest moment as captain.''

''No worries,'' Jack smirked. Jack took the bottle of rum out of the inside pocket of his coat and offered it to Elsa. She hesitated at first but decided to take it, it had been a long and troubling night after all. She took a big swig and felt how her throat tingled from the burning sensation after she swallowed the liquor. After she took a few more sips she handed the bottle back to Jack.