Painted Wings (Pirates of the Caribbean fanfic)

Speaking Out

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean or Peter Pan.

“MONKEY!”

This yell was followed by a short series of gun shots, and I immediately became alarmed. Surely he wouldn’t kill the poor creature for waking him up?

            Jack the Monkey came sprinting out of the cabin window on his knuckles and feet, screeching so loudly, he could have been laughing. He ran straight for me and leapt to my shoulder once more. I pushed him behind my head just in time.

            Jack Sparrow burst out of the cabin door with such forced that it was a wonder the door managed to stay on its hinges. He’d obviously been sound asleep by the looks of his attire… or lack of attire rather, as I noted his missing shirt and boots. Thankfully he’d had the sense to keep his trousers on. His eyes scanned the deck as the rest of the crew sleepily poured out of their bed cabin.

            “Where’s the monkey? I’ll bloody kill him.”

            The gruff, bearded man known as Gibbs rolled his eyes. “Again, Cap’n? There be no point. Naught but a waste of gunpowder. You know that don’t do no good.”

            “Does me,” he replied stubbornly.

            “Again?” I whispered to Ragetti and Pintel.

            “It’s a long story, lass,” Pintel said.

            “Where is the monkey!?” Jack roared.

            To my despair, Jack the Monkey decided to pop up from behind my head and locate himself back on my shoulder, in plain view of everyone. Sparrow smirked and raised the gun in our direction. I scowled at him and stood up, Jack’s tail rolling up around my neck fearfully. I could feel the creature shaking slightly – by sight you wouldn’t see it. It was obvious that he was terrified. Even if he was somehow immortal or impossible to kill, he was still frightened.

            “Stay still, lass. I’m taking aim,” Sparrow said.

            I stared at him in disgust and strode towards him.

            “Lass, if you keep moving, I can’t – “

            I grabbed the hand holding the gun and forced it upwards before he could pull the trigger. A loud pop went off and the bullet vanished into the sky. Sparrow growled under his breath as the sound sent the monkey flying off my shoulder in terror and up the rigging, returning to the safety of the crow’s nest. Sparrow stared down at me with his dark eyes. “You made me miss,” he said petulantly.

My clenched hand flew into his face; a punch was far more deserved than a mere slap. His head jerked backwards, dreadlocks flying everywhere.

“Not sure I deserved that,” I heard him say.

“Oh, you did,” I snarled.

His eyes widened. “You’re talking to – “

I shoved my hand to his throat and pushed him with all my strength against the door of the cabin. “While silence works enough for most people to get the message, it seems you are too ignorant to realise its purpose. I don’t talk unless I want to. And I want to now.” I leaned in close to him. “If you ever attempt to hurt the monkey again, I’ll kill you in your sleep.”

Sparrow just stared at me with a raised eyebrow and a strange smile on his face.

“No need to stand on ceremony, love. If ye wanted to have me against the wall, ye only have to ask.” My fingers tightened around his neck and he winced. His gaze hardened, all playfulness gone. “Ye seem to be forgettin’ who allowed ye on this ship, love. I do what I like.”