Norrington's Darling

...For the Sake of the Sister

POV: Zuri Sparrow

I stepped out on deck. Jack was nowhere to be seen—and neither was Norrington, despite the fact the rest of the crew was already up and working. I suppose that in itself should have made me nervous, but if Jack was berating Norrington for my sake, I honestly didn't care.

Then a shadow of guilt passed over me for thinking that I couldn't care about what was happening to Norrington. I'd be a fool to think that. I'd always care.

I leaned up against the side of the ship. My eyes scanned the horizon briefly before I turned my gaze downward to the ocean, watching the waves break against the side of the ship. 

As I stood there, I felt ghosts of warmth on my skin. Light touches from James that weren't really there. The soft whisper of his breath against my neck that always sent a shiver down my spine. The nonchalant placing of the hand on my hip that always sent heat rushing through my body. The lacing of fingers between my own that made a grin slip across my face every time. 

Except for now. There were no shivers going down my spine. There was no heat washing through my body. There was no smile on my face. There were no reactions.

Because there was no James.

I flinched as I was taken from my contemplating by Elizabeth's voice: "You look like James. When you frown like that, I mean."

My eyes slowly traveled to her. I didn't say a word.

Something flashed across her face. "Something happened between you, didn't it?" And though it was phrased as a question, her tone let it come across as a statement.

I only nodded.

"Care to explain?" Elizabeth asked. "I know it's got something to do with me."

"How'd you know?" I asked quietly.

"It always does have something to do with me. I'm the only thing that ever gets you two in a fight. The rest of the time, you two are great." She sighed. "It's always me."

I sigh. "Yeah, it's you. James...he's just... I don't think he's ever really gotten over you."

Elizabeth looked at you. "You've never heard him talk about you, have you?"

I shake my head. "No..."

Elizabeth looked out at sea. "If you had, you'd realize that he's deeply in love with you. Another guy looks at you and he's ready to go to battle for you. Someone says your name and he smiles. Someone mentions you in a suggestive light, he turns bright red. He loves everything about you. He's a darling, especially when it comes to you. He loves you and loves talking about you. He's always got a compliment for you. And when you two parted the last time..." Elizabeth shakes her head. "He was depressed and pining for you for so long afterward. He only smiled when someone said something about you."

"That doesn't change was happened yesterday," I said quietly, even though guilt was weighing heavily on my heart now. If only I'd known... I thought.

Elizabeth sighed. "What, him talking about me having a thing for Jack?"

"Yes. And do you?" I asked, wheeling on her.

She sighed. "I don't know. Yes? No? Maybe?"

I roll my eyes. "Uh huh."

Elizabeth opens her mouth to respond, but her eye catches elsewhere. She elbows me. "Don't look now, here comes your brother...and a very, very sullen James Norrington."

Gulping, I turn around.

"Didn't I just say not to look?" Elizabeth cries.

"Oops," I say. My eyes fall on Jack, who gives me a brief nod. Then they skip to Norrington, who's still staring at the floor. I see his body move as he heaves a massive sigh. I look away before I can think of how much I missed him last night.

Just as his eyes flick up and catch mine.

My face goes slack.

POV: James Norrington

I'd never thought Jack Sparrow would be able to get me to feel so guilty so easily. But all it had taken was just a few choice words and some prodding and he'd made me feel even worse than I had before about poor Zuri. He'd explained what she had told him this morning and remorse washed through me in waves. It had been all I could do not to bawl right then and there in front of the pirate captain.

My eyes locked with Zuri's and my heart suddenly slammed in my rib cage. I was sure she could hear it, feel it. Her face had gone slack and it looked like she didn't know what to do. Jack walked over to her, said something to her, and then came back and propelled me toward her.

"Talk," he ordered and pulled Elizabeth away.

Zuri and I stared awkwardly at each other.

POV: Zuri Sparrow

Jack walked over to me. "Zuri... Please jus' listen to 'im, alrigh'? He's feelin' awfully horrible about the whole thin'. Almost burst inta tears when I questioned 'im about it."

"You questioned him," I said.

"Yes," Jack said. He looked at me with stern eyes. "For your sake. He makes you happy, Zuri. No one else can make you happy the way he does. I don't want you two breakin' each other's hearts over something like this."

"Okay. I'll talk to him," I relented.

Jack stalked off and pushed James toward me. "Talk," he commanded and pulled Elizabeth away with him.

The two of us stared awkwardly at each other.