Norrington's Darling

Welcome to the Crew, My Love

POV: James Norrington

I followed Elizabeth in her sailor's garb, still quite light headed and dizzy. Zuri had one comforting arm thrown around my waist to assist me, which I was grateful for, as my usual proud and sure steps had become a version of Jack Sparrow's own ridiculous pirate walk.

As Elizabeth talked with Jack, I suddenly began to feel sick again and spit bile over a barrel at the edge of the pier. Zuri's attention suddenly snapped to me at the same time Jack's did.

"You look bloody awful. What are you doing here?" Jack demanded.

"You hired me. I can't help it if your standards are lax," I retorted.

"You smell funny—" Jack started, but before the two of us could start arguing, Elizabeth interjected. At the same time, Zuri gave me a look that suggested she was about to murder me if I didn't shut up.

"He said something first," I murmured softly to her.

"And the commodore I know wouldn't bend so low as to antagonize him!" Zuri hissed back.

"I'm not the commodore anymore," I argued.

She punched my arm. "Who cares!? You're still bloody James Norrington! You're still the man who captured my heart and my brother! Act like it!" She sighed and softened her tone. "For me, James? For me?"

"Oh, fine," I sighed and caught the last bit of what Sparrow and Elizabeth were saying. 

"Darling, I am truly unhappy to have to tell you this, but...through an unfortunate and entirely unforeseeable series of circumstances that have nothing whatsoever to do with me, poor Will has been press-ganged into Davy Jones' crew."

"Davy Jones?"

I splutter. "Oh, please. The captain of the Flying Dutchman?"

Zuri gave me a look, but I resumed the conversation when it turned to Sparrow's broken compass.

"My compass...is unique," Jack was saying as Elizabeth inquired of it.

"Unique here having the meaning of broken," I put in and Zuri slapped me yet again. 

"James!" she hissed.

"True enough, this compass does not point north," Jack agreed, giving me a sly look. But before I could respond, I vomited again. I bit back an undignified groan and listened to the rest of the conversation.

Suddenly, a pirate who Zuri whispered to me was called Pintel shoved a goat in my arms, cackling.

"Welcome to the crew, former commodore!" He hurried off and I stumbled forward.

"ZURI!" Sparrow yelled.

"Good tides, I'm coming, Jack, I'm coming!" she hollered back. She gave me a look, moved to peck my cheek, then backed away and ran onto the Pearl. 

A hollow feeling settled inside of me. I'd been dissed by my own girlfriend.

As the night grew darker, I grew more unhappy with my position. Zuri hadn't even given me a second glance since she'd ran aboard and I had a feeling she was as angry with me as the last time we'd seen each other before she'd left with Jack when I'd put him behind bars.

Then, when I finally was told to sleep, I was sent to the crew's sleeping quarters, just like any other crew member would when I was privately hoping for some attention from Zuri.

I somehow managed to fall asleep in an uncomfortable hammock when I was being shaken awake. I groaned and rolled over, automatically assuming it was a crewman coming to tell me either I was on watch again or it was morning.

Then the crew member spoke and I felt happiness flood through me.

"James! James, get up!" Zuri hissed, glancing around. "Oh, don't you dare make me say it again. Don't you dare make me say it louder! The crew's already asleep, I'm not having them wake to see me trying to find some love."

I smiled sleepily at her. "I knew you needed some."

She snorted, but a blush was creeping onto her cheeks. "You need it more than I."

"Probably," I agreed, smiling up at her.

She let herself smile slightly. "Come on," she whispered and I swung myself out of the hammock and slipped my hand into hers. Her eyes flicked to me, a side smile appearing, tugging at her lips. I bent to kiss her cheek and she let the smile come on her face.

"There's that pretty smile," I sighed. And I couldn't resist the opportunity to tease her, so of course, I did as we walked up the stairs.

"Are you still drunk?" she asked, rolling her eyes at me.

"No," I said, truthfully.

"Did you get over your hangover?" she asked softly, trying hard not to sound concerned and failing.

"A little," I said.

Zuri nodded, but her eyes lingered on my face. She allowed herself to lean into me as she pushed open the door to her quarters, which were good sized.

"This looks big enough to accommodate two people," I commented, looking around.

"It is," Zuri said. "It's actually kind of lonely in here when it's just me."

"Another reason why you brought me in here?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, stop being cynical," she chided softly, her voice loving, as she looped her arms around my neck. "I missed you."

"I'm not being cynical," I protested but didn't bother trying to continue my argument when she tightened her arms around me in a hug and cuddled into me. The movement was sweeter than any kiss. "Oh, I missed you, too," I admitted with a heavy sigh of relief. It felt good to say, to get off my chest.

"Stay with me," she whispered. "Please. Sleep with me."

I nodded and kissed her forehead. "I was planning on it," I admitted.

Zuri smiled at me.

Zuri disappeared behind a curtain to change and came back in a loose, red silk slip. I had taken off my many layers of muddy clothing, wearing only a loose shirt and pants. The pants were just as muddy, but Zuri, as always, had a solution.

"James," she said softly. "I have something." And she threw one of my old uniforms at me. 

I stared at her. "Zuri?"

She smiled. "I kept one, just in case you happened to stop by one time and need a uniform for the next day."

"I take it you would have been very pleased if I had?"

She nodded.

"Even after the terms of our last encounter?"

Her smile faded a bit. "Oh, James, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left like that. I should have stayed and not gotten so mad at you—I mean, you were only doing your job and—"

"Zuri," I said. "You don't need to apologize. I understand."

Zuri came and looped my arms around herself, wrapping hers around me. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely, my love," I whispered.

We climbed into her bed after I'd swapped pants and made ourselves comfortable. 

Zuri pressed her lips to mine and whispered, "Welcome to the crew, my love."