Request Ficlet for Cjk1701
I was tempted to write something slightly slashy for cjk1701, but thought it might shock the children too much. Her request:
~ Apprehension ~
There were lowered voices, and the sounds of preparations being made; the faint sea motion felt through the table… the sole… the hull of the Black Pearl; and above all that, the cacophony of the pain in his leg, which he expected would presently rise to deafen him, would likely undo him. He hoped he would not shame himself. He hoped he would live.
He very much wished himself elsewhere.
“Here. Sit up, a bit, and drink this, Commodore.”
James just had time to open his eyes at Jack’s command before he was being helped to raise himself and a vial was set to his lips and its contents tilted ruthlessly down his throat. The bitterness of it was only partially masked with some kind of sweetening, and he made a horrid face, and gulped thankfully at the rum and water he was given by way of a chaser.
“What was that?” he gasped, when he could.
“Laudanum. Would’ve thought you’d had it before, considering a couple of those scars you’ve kept hidden under that uniform.”
“The navy’s doctors are wary of drugging their patients,” James said, carefully. Pointedly.
Jack was undisturbed. Of course. “Hmmph!” he said, “Fortunate you’re with us an’ not them, then, ain’t it?”
The light words and cocked brow almost masked the concern in the dark eyes. James, already feeling tendrils of relief beginning to curl through him, replied, “It would seem so.” He closed his eyes again, but then smiled at the brief touch of a warm hand on his own.
~.~
~ Apprehension ~
There were lowered voices, and the sounds of preparations being made; the faint sea motion felt through the table… the sole… the hull of the Black Pearl; and above all that, the cacophony of the pain in his leg, which he expected would presently rise to deafen him, would likely undo him. He hoped he would not shame himself. He hoped he would live.
He very much wished himself elsewhere.
“Here. Sit up, a bit, and drink this, Commodore.”
James just had time to open his eyes at Jack’s command before he was being helped to raise himself and a vial was set to his lips and its contents tilted ruthlessly down his throat. The bitterness of it was only partially masked with some kind of sweetening, and he made a horrid face, and gulped thankfully at the rum and water he was given by way of a chaser.
“What was that?” he gasped, when he could.
“Laudanum. Would’ve thought you’d had it before, considering a couple of those scars you’ve kept hidden under that uniform.”
“The navy’s doctors are wary of drugging their patients,” James said, carefully. Pointedly.
Jack was undisturbed. Of course. “Hmmph!” he said, “Fortunate you’re with us an’ not them, then, ain’t it?”
The light words and cocked brow almost masked the concern in the dark eyes. James, already feeling tendrils of relief beginning to curl through him, replied, “It would seem so.” He closed his eyes again, but then smiled at the brief touch of a warm hand on his own.
~.~