Chapter Text

I.O.U.

James licks his lips, and frowns.
It's been a long, hot day and they haven't had any time to stop to take a sip from their flasks. That's why he does it, and he trusts (and hopes) for everyone else to think of the same reason.

The pirate captain in front of him executes one of his most annoying gestures and is awfully close now; If he leant forward just a few centimeters more, their noses would touch. A horrible mental image, really.

"Nearly considered getting caught this time, just t'see the look on yer face then."

Usually, James would be the last man to give up on a good old staring contest. In fact, he prides himself in being exceptionally good at stern and reproachful glares, and he is sure it did indeed help him in keeping his reputation, respectable place in the Navy and in maybe even interrogating one or two villains. But this is different, and when Sparrow grins, cheeky and flirty, he has to turn away.

Even though they are far beneath them and surely can't see all too much against the blinding sun, his men stare a bit, not sure what to make of the rebellious pirate that seems to be able to provoke their commodore without even trying all too hard and James waves a hand in front of his face lamely. "Truly devastating to find out that dental hygiene does not seem to have found its ways across the seven seas yet," he says, a bit louder than necessary just to make sure they heard it too.

Sparrow fills his cheeks with air for a moment before letting it out, soundly. "'Alright, blue pants, any other declarations of attraction before I escape as per usual?"

"I won't just let you get away," James answers resolutely, one hand resting on his belt, missing the extra weight of his sword. Even though he wouldn't use it right now, he's sure it'd make him more authoritative.
"You stole something from me, Sparrow."

The pirate lifts one finger that's covered in just a bit too much gunpowder to be anything but an intentional choice of aesthetic. "First of all: It's Captain, for everyone and you too. Second of all." The second finger is a bit cleaner, though also only half visible, the rest of it hidden in extravagant golden rings. "Don't let it get to your head. I've stolen more hearts than I can count."

James grits his teeth and this time he uses one of his most dangerous kind of glares. "Captain Sparrow, I am talking about the-" he hesitates for a second, but they are far up on an old tower and his men are beneath, surrounding it and cutting off all escape routes for the pirate, hopefully. They can't hear him. "I am talking about my ship, and my sword. An 'I. O. U.' note does not preclude theft."

"Hmm, right. Thought you might've forgotten it. 's been a while."
He acts disappointed and James sharpens his glare even more.

Across from him, the pirate grins lazily now, a gold tooth glinting in the sun and James nearly expects for his eye to do the same when he winks. Just like everyone imagines him in those epic tales of Captain Jack Sparrow's cunning adventures that make some ladies swoon and James scoff.
This is the version the pirate wants to be known for and James wants to arrest.
The version that drives him up the wall just a bit too often.

Out of a habit, James hand reaches for the handle of his sword before remembering it's gone currently, but the message still came across. Sparrow lifts his hands and eyebrows. "Kidding.
Despite what you may want to think of me, I am a man of honor," he dares to say and then chuckles at his own audacity. "I didn't lie when I said I'd repay you. I keep my word." And then he adds, a little more quiet so his words may only barely reach James before the warm caribbean winds carry them far away across the sea: "For you, I do."

Afterwards, he salutes, sloppily and ironically, and takes a step back, off the wobbly old brick wall surrounding the platform. James' breath hitches as he plunges forwards to stare down the tower, for very professional reasons. He breathes out, a mix of relief and annoyance when Sparrow first rejoices while swinging away on a rope, and then yelps when it snaps under his weight, sending him straight into the bay.

He climbs into a rowboat waiting there, and while he takes off into the open sea, glistening in the sunset and towards a dark ship on the horizon, he waves with his soaked hat, and James is left to stand there, staring after him.

Part of him hoped that Jack would never be a man of his word, because James is not at all sure how to explain when they discover his old ship on a different dock later, his sword rammed into the wooden planks and a bow tied around one handle of the steering wheel, near a delicate carved heart, framing two intertwined Js.