Splintered Heart

Chapter Two

His lips had pulled a smile as soon as they neared Port Royal.

Jack gave his usual list of excuses to his crew as he disembarked, deliberately ignoring the knowing look that Gibbs gave him as he clambered into the dinghy, barking a few orders to watch this and do that. A paddle was tossed down to him, and the Pearl continued on it's way to conceal itself around the cliff. It was best to keep the Pearl out of sight when they were this close to the docks, and Jack happily paddled away as thoughts of a certain Commodore filled his mind.

It took him quite a while, but no longer than usual, and once he had reached the docks the pirate made sure to leave the dinghy out of sight. Next, it was time to dodge the watchful eyes of the navy. Jack had done this so many times that it almost felt like a chore to follow his set path to sneak past the officers on duty. He almost knew their rounds by heart, by this point, and he made an easy job of it.

Before he knew it, he was shuffling his way up the avenue that led to Norrington's estate, then surrounding the property, climbing over the back wall into the gardens and using the trellis to make his way to the good Commodore's quarters. It had been a small miracle that he had not been seen by the housekeeper, or other staff. On other occasions, Jack might have sent word before his arrival, letting James know he was on his way so there would be no servants to ruin their plans. This time, the urge to see him had come out of nowhere, almost as if something had summoned him, and Jack had followed his gut straight back to Port Royal, eager to partake in his business with it's Commodore.

Jack let out a hoarse guffaw under his breath. Business. That was one way to call it.

He couldn't exactly pinpoint when Norrington became James, and when his rivalry with the man had turned into... well, whatever this was. Although, he could consider a specific event as the starting point. Jack had dawdled for far too long in one of the port towns that lingered near Port Royal, and before he knew it he James had found him and managed to corner him in an alley. Jack, as he was widely known to, had begun sputtering his usual array of taunts to try to get out of the situation, to which James had countered by walking up to the pirate with an enraged look on his features and smashing their lips together.

Jack grinned as he relived that moment in his mind. Their first kiss had been an angry one, frustrated even, all teeth and tongue and roaming hands. And then suddenly clothes were being discarded and James was devouring his neck while the only sound Jack could emit were breathy moans and begs for more. James had not held back, and it didn't take long for him to press a delighted Jack against a wall and start thrusting into him.

It had been a strange, but not unwelcome encounter, one Jack thought would not repeat itself. He had also been content to act as if it had never happened the next time they ran into each other, sure that it had been a spur of the moment. But when they did, James didn't pull out the damn irons to drag him off to a cell, much to Jack's surprise. He simply loosened his cravat a little, giving the other man a deliciously inquisitive look. Jack, of course, was more than happy to comply.

After their second meeting of this nature, James had told Jack that, should the pirate wish for another rendezvous and to continue with this, he would always leave his bedroom window open. It wouldn't do for them to continue like this out in the open. James wanted to be discreet, craving privacy, and Jack was not one to deny such an opportunity or the possibility of gaining a bed partner who could make him see stars.

And so, nearly a year had gone by in this manner. Jack could no longer count their encounters on both hands, their exchanges had become less rough and angry to become more slow and passionate instead, and it came as a great surprise to Jack that he had long since stopped his visits to Tortuga, preferring the embrace of his Commodore instead.