ᜪ ⱮߊƝ∪ꚌⴹՏ in ⲎⴹАⴸⴹΝ [Multifandom Oneshots]

Ꮯ. ᏴᎬᏟᏦᎬᎢᎢ

"Go on, Isabella!" Jack says, his voice slurred by rum. "Nothin' in that hat will bite, darlin'."

Swallowing hard, you put your hand into the hat and let your fingers close around an object, which you withdraw to reveal a gold ring on a golden chain. You recognize the item immediately and your eyes lift to your estranged fiance, who you had been engaged to before being captured by pirates.

Beckett's eyes were just as icy as you'd always seen them. You would have preferred to see some sign of relief, a sign that he'd been even a tinsy bit worried you would draw out an item that would put you alone with a different man for seven minutes.

But there was nothing.

The lord stands and stalks off to his cabin, not even paying attention to you or looking back to see if you had followed him.

You close and lock the door from behind you. You stand awkwardly in front of the wall, Beckett looking at you but seeing right through you as if you didn't exist. He calmly makes himself tea and takes a tentative sip.

"Beckett..." Your voice is soft and alluring, pleading for his full attention. You look up at him with eyes full of tears. "I can't..."

He cocks his head slightly. "You...can't?" he asks.

"I can't keep going on like this...," you whisper.

"...Isabella?" Beckett asks, frowning.

"I can't go on without feeling anything," you say, your voice shaking. "I can't keep going on with you without being in love. I feel so empty, so..." You wave your hand in the air, trying to grasp words that aren't coming to you.

Beckett stares at you. "We have seven perfect minutes alone together—five now—and you choose to talk about this?"

"It didn't appear as though you want to do anything," you snap, "except stand there and stare at me while you sip your tea!" With a breathy huff, you turn on your heel away from him, blinking back angry tears.

You and Beckett had once been in love. The two of you had been overjoyed to have been engaged by your families, who had put the two of you together on account of your live, unlike most noble families. Then he came to Port Royal and you did everything you could to follow him...and by the time you got back to your fiance in Port Royal, he was a changed man, a man without soul or heart or love.

Despair threatens to send you to the floor, sobbing and hugging your knees. You remind yourself a respectable lady would never do such a thing.

That didn't keep your body from shaking as tears dripped down your cheeks.

Suddenly arms wrap around your waist and a head is tucked into the crook of your neck. You glance to your right and find Beckett cuddling up to you.

"I'm sorry, Bella," he whispers, the sharp edge in his voice disappearing instantly. You step out of his arms and turn to face him. The coldness in his eyes is gone. His eyes are clear and soft and open for the first time in several years. "I...I was so caught up in myself and I didn't realize how it was affecting you...affecting us... I... I'm just a horrible person, and I know that now, and—"

"Shhh," you whisper, putting a finger to his lips. You meet his eyes and you find yourself getting lost in their welcoming depths, all the hostility the two of you have been feeling toward each other disappearing, replaced with that warm love you had once felt for each other. 

Your finger drops from his lips and you fold your arms around Beckett. You bury your head in his shoulder. After a moment, Beckett steps back and slowly unbuttons the coat to reveal the cravat and shirt beneath.

A smile twitches at your lips, a memory of one of the many afternoons the two of you spent in the Beckett family's library coming back to you, where Beckett would pick up a book, unbutton his coat—sometimes his cravat, depending on how cozy you wanted to get and how clingy you were being on certain days—and let your wrap your arms around him underneath the unbuttoned piece of clothing, cuddle up with you on the couch, and read to you.

Beckett finishes unbuttoning the coat. After a moment of hesitation, your delicate fingers begin to unbutton his cravat. He smiles at you and your heart warms.

He hadn't smiled at you—at anybody—for such a long time, you'd forgotten how handsome Beckett was when he smiled.

You're glad to be reminded.

He picks up a book once you finish with his cravat and the two of you cuddle up on his bed. Beckett glances at his pocket watch.

"Hmmm...three minutes..."

"Technically, we could have all day I'd we really wanted it...," you say slowly.

Beckett grins at you. "I love you, Bella."

"I love you, too," you say, snuggling into him.

Beckett opens the book and begins to read.

《¤》

When Commodore Norrington opens the door, you and Beckett briefly glance up before returning to the book. The commodore smiles and quietly shuts the door. You can hear him murmuring quietly to the others not to disturb the two of you.

You and Beckett grin at each other. You were right—you really do have all day together.