Fic: 'Captain's Choice' (Elizabeth, Gibbs)
700 words written for hereswith, first, and many thanks to her for editing, and second for the 'Advice' drabble challenge prompt at blackpearlsails.
~ Captain's Choice ~
"Prepare every vessel that floats. At dawn we're at war."
Jack's smile down the length of the table warmed her, even as she knew he had used her, manipulated them all to his own ends. No matter. Her own ends were served as well. Her father would be avenged. And surely it was better to die with honor, dealing a blow to evil, rather than wait to be slowly crushed by its tyranny.
There was approval in Tai Huang's eye, too, as she turned, and in Mr. Gibbs'. The latter gave her a bow, and as she strode from the hall with her crew, Elizabeth knew that he was thinking of the conversation they'd had a few days past - so long ago…
*
If you make your choices alone, how can I trust you?
You can't.
She trotted quickly up the steps and off along the passage. There was no privacy on a ship, but she had to get away from Will's anguished, accusing eyes. But when she rounded a corner…
"Mr. Gibbs!"
"Miss Elizabeth."
She had to say something. They hadn't spoken in private since Jack had been found and told the others (with malicious if, perhaps, justifiable relish) that he'd not gone full willing to his death. Only one thing came to mind. "I'm sorry."
Mr. Gibbs' brows rose.
She gathered herself. "For deceiving you. All these months..."
"Ah." Gibbs nodded. "You did what you had to, I reckon. I don't know that it weren't meant to be, from the things that obeh woman says." He gave a slight shudder. "But who am I to throw stones, after leavin' him to Barbossa and Norrington at the Isla de Muerta that time? No. You did the hard thing, and it's sure I am you'll make a fine captain some day."
Elizabeth stared. "A captain!"
He cocked his head. "Didn't expect that, did you now?"
She almost laughed. "Not really."
Another nod, and a grim little smile. "When it's down to brass tacks, a captain has to do the right thing, whether it be hard or no. Jack did it, in the end there, and you did it, too, by your lights. Might’ve saved our hides."
"I couldn't trust him." There was, perhaps, a hint of the pain she'd felt for the last year in her voice.
"He's a hard man to trust, sometimes."
This from Jack's most loyal friend, one who loved him. As she did herself.
The relief of just being able to talk about it was palpable. She asked Gibbs, "You think he would have stayed?"
"Aye, I think so. Trouble is, don't know if I would've had the courage to let him."
"We all would've been killed."
"Maybe. Like as not. That's me point."
Elizabeth swallowed hard. "I wanted to believe…"
"I know. You did your penance for doubting, though, this last year and more at sea." A smile touched his lips, and lit his eyes. "We did it! We have him back, and things'll be right again, see if they're not."
His joy was contagious and she nodded, smiling back. But she couldn't help asking. "Do you think he'll ever forgive me?"
His smile grew quizzical. "Ever? Maybe. Jack ain't such a forgiving man, as ye may have noticed, so it's hard to say. And the Locker's changed him, that's certain. Give it time. You can trust him to do the right thing." Gibbs made a familiar gesture between them, and arched a brow. "Two peas in a pod, that way, ain't you?"
Elizabeth gaped. "He told you that?"
"In his cups, one night. After that compass of his stopped working for him." Gibbs winked, gave her a pat on the shoulder, and was gone.
*
Jack's compass was no longer on his person, Elizabeth had noticed. Still not working for him? A feeling of lighthearted elation assailed her, and she held her head high as she neared the Empress.
Her ship. Her crew.
They might all be embarking on a fool's errand, with little chance of survival, but she'd done that before, hadn't she? She had! And now, as then, there was hope.
~.~
~ Captain's Choice ~
"Prepare every vessel that floats. At dawn we're at war."
Jack's smile down the length of the table warmed her, even as she knew he had used her, manipulated them all to his own ends. No matter. Her own ends were served as well. Her father would be avenged. And surely it was better to die with honor, dealing a blow to evil, rather than wait to be slowly crushed by its tyranny.
There was approval in Tai Huang's eye, too, as she turned, and in Mr. Gibbs'. The latter gave her a bow, and as she strode from the hall with her crew, Elizabeth knew that he was thinking of the conversation they'd had a few days past - so long ago…
*
If you make your choices alone, how can I trust you?
You can't.
She trotted quickly up the steps and off along the passage. There was no privacy on a ship, but she had to get away from Will's anguished, accusing eyes. But when she rounded a corner…
"Mr. Gibbs!"
"Miss Elizabeth."
She had to say something. They hadn't spoken in private since Jack had been found and told the others (with malicious if, perhaps, justifiable relish) that he'd not gone full willing to his death. Only one thing came to mind. "I'm sorry."
Mr. Gibbs' brows rose.
She gathered herself. "For deceiving you. All these months..."
"Ah." Gibbs nodded. "You did what you had to, I reckon. I don't know that it weren't meant to be, from the things that obeh woman says." He gave a slight shudder. "But who am I to throw stones, after leavin' him to Barbossa and Norrington at the Isla de Muerta that time? No. You did the hard thing, and it's sure I am you'll make a fine captain some day."
Elizabeth stared. "A captain!"
He cocked his head. "Didn't expect that, did you now?"
She almost laughed. "Not really."
Another nod, and a grim little smile. "When it's down to brass tacks, a captain has to do the right thing, whether it be hard or no. Jack did it, in the end there, and you did it, too, by your lights. Might’ve saved our hides."
"I couldn't trust him." There was, perhaps, a hint of the pain she'd felt for the last year in her voice.
"He's a hard man to trust, sometimes."
This from Jack's most loyal friend, one who loved him. As she did herself.
The relief of just being able to talk about it was palpable. She asked Gibbs, "You think he would have stayed?"
"Aye, I think so. Trouble is, don't know if I would've had the courage to let him."
"We all would've been killed."
"Maybe. Like as not. That's me point."
Elizabeth swallowed hard. "I wanted to believe…"
"I know. You did your penance for doubting, though, this last year and more at sea." A smile touched his lips, and lit his eyes. "We did it! We have him back, and things'll be right again, see if they're not."
His joy was contagious and she nodded, smiling back. But she couldn't help asking. "Do you think he'll ever forgive me?"
His smile grew quizzical. "Ever? Maybe. Jack ain't such a forgiving man, as ye may have noticed, so it's hard to say. And the Locker's changed him, that's certain. Give it time. You can trust him to do the right thing." Gibbs made a familiar gesture between them, and arched a brow. "Two peas in a pod, that way, ain't you?"
Elizabeth gaped. "He told you that?"
"In his cups, one night. After that compass of his stopped working for him." Gibbs winked, gave her a pat on the shoulder, and was gone.
*
Jack's compass was no longer on his person, Elizabeth had noticed. Still not working for him? A feeling of lighthearted elation assailed her, and she held her head high as she neared the Empress.
Her ship. Her crew.
They might all be embarking on a fool's errand, with little chance of survival, but she'd done that before, hadn't she? She had! And now, as then, there was hope.
~.~