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The warm air of the Caribbean came over his skin like a tight hug. Andrew stood on one of the rowboats that had finally made their way toward Port Royal. The closest port after the escape from Beckett’s grasp on the Endeavor. The slow gentle bump of the wood against the pier had Andrew stumble slowly, yet standing atop of the pier he thought back to the last time he stood here.
The memory resurfaced so fast it was like he was thrown back in time. James’ voice echoed in his mind as Jack threatened Elizabeth. Oh how he missed that moment entirely, so much has happened. A year since that incident and the chaos that was chasing Jack across the Caribbean and fighting undead pirates.
Walking along the pier he made his way to the fort, hoping and praying that James made it home safely. Surely he did right? He saw Theo and his heart skipped a beat as he picked up the pace. “Theo!” Seeing his friend turn his heart soon dropped—Theo had tears falling down his face. “What’s wrong?”
Theo took a deep breath, knowing that Andrew had romantic feelings for James. But how could he relay the hard news to Andrew? “I’ve been here for a couple days. I—Elizabeth stopped by, she said that James died aboard the Flying Dutchman.” Theo looked down at the ground. “I couldn’t do anything because I wasn’t on the Flying Dutchman. I was with Beckett!”
Andrew felt his world stop, as if time froze and the warm air around him turned ice cold. “You’re lying, Theo.” Andrew felt like he couldn’t believe it—no.
“Do you think I would lie about this!” Theo yelled, turning his full body to Andrew. “I don’t want to believe it either but he’s gone, Andrew! Elizabeth had tears in her eyes when she told me! I wouldn’t lie about a friend's death!” He took in a sharp breath, trying to steady himself as he didn’t want to yell at Andrew. No—the only reason why he was yelling was because he was upset at himself!
“I’m sorry.” Andrew felt his own eyes brim up with tears as he soon felt Theodore hug him tightly.
“I’m sorry too, Andrew. I wish I could’ve saved him. Elizabeth tried but he was being honorable. Despite it being ridiculously stupid of him.”
Andrew returned the hug, soon breaking down as a loud sob left his lips—James was truly gone. Their best friend, a man he had feelings for. It wasn’t the first time he thought James was gone. The first time was when he had been MIA and didn’t return until a year later. That was when he found out he was promoted to Admiral. Yet before he could even talk or get close to James he was ordered away by the other soldiers. Damn him for being a higher ranking officer!
Feeling Theo pulled away, so did he, despite how he desperately wanted to be held. He knew he had to keep himself composed—at least for now.
“So what now?” Andrew asked, voice shaky and hoarse from trying to hold in his tears as much as possible.
“I don’t know.” Theo shrugged, “I don’t even know who’s in charge anymore. It was Beckett, then James. But…they’re both dead, so I don’t know.”
Andrew took in a deep breath, looking around at some of the soldiers that were clearly injured but trying to fix themselves up. “I’m gonna go for a walk.” He didn’t look back at Theo before he just turned and walked away.
The walk to his next destination felt cold. Like as if he was being shrouded by depression and it was taking hold of him like an iron grip. The world around him disappeared until he was lost in his thoughts.
Memories resurfaced once more.
James’ voice, the laughter he let out when they were spending time away from work. The genuine freeing moments where they just allowed themselves to be men. Not soldiers and allowing rank to push them away from each other. Andrew didn’t have to follow James’ orders during those times. It was freeing.
Andrew finally looked up, his footsteps coming to a quick stop as he saw James home in front of him. How many times has he been here for nights off and James invited him and Theo over? Too many to count on one hand that’s for sure.
Taking a deep breath, Andrew forced himself to walk inside the home. The door was ironically unlocked—as if the house had been ready for his return. Despite the fact it wasn’t even his. As he stepped two steps forward his shoes clicked on the marble of the floor and it echoed in the rest of the house.
No music like normal.
It was silent.
Eerily silent.
Closing the door behind him his eyes scanned around the home. To the left from the front door where the dining room table was, it was empty. The kitchen was the same. Andrew turned to the right walking into the living quarters where a lot of time was spent chit chatting and talking about random things while they drank lightly. He remembered where he sat, always next to James on the main couch in front of the fireplace. Theo always sat on the other side to the left of them.
Andrew smiled slightly, remembering all the times Theo would tell him before they got to James house. How he’d allow them to sit next to each other. The smirk on Theo’s face was always priceless, a man who schemed but always wanted what was best. Andrew’s fingers traced over the table in front of the couches—a single tear falling down his face and landing on the wood.
Turning quickly he forced his feet to move and upstairs where he knew James’ office was with spare rooms and finally all the way down the hall where James’ bedroom was located. As he arrived at the top stairs and made his way upstairs for a brief second he thought he saw a shadow down the hallway. Making his heart jump as his hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword. Nobody else should be in James’ home. No, Andrew would’ve heard any footsteps.
Taking in a deep breath, he furrowed his eyebrows but turned to the office first. It was only a few times when James allowed Andrew to be in here, in the rare moments where they worked at night and being at the fort just felt too professional. As he opened the door a wave of nostalgia hit Andrew almost immediately.
Closing the door he allowed his body to hit against the door as more tears fell down his face. He remembered all the times he’d sit down on the chair next to James desk, looking over paperwork and stealing glances at James. How many times did he want to express his love for his Commodore? Too much.
Pushing off the door he walked forward, his fingers once again tracing the beautiful wood of the desk that was still messy with paperwork from perhaps when he was a Commodore. As he moved around the desk, the usual chair he sat in Andrew flicked through some papers. Before one slipped out and Andrew caught it quickly. He examined it, flipping it over as he noticed James’ usual pristine handwriting. It was meant for Andrew.
Slowly he opened the letter and took in a deep breath before allowing himself to open the paper and start reading the contents.
‘Andrew,
I honestly don’t know how I can word this. But I will be honest with you from the beginning. I’m unsure if and how long I’ll be able to survive while under Beckett’s control. I’ve just returned from getting the heart of Davy Jones and while I wanted to get my life back on its course I fear I’ve put myself into a deep hole—one I cannot climb out of.
I’ve seen you around the fort. And I wished that desperately we could’ve talked even one more time. When I write this, I’m afraid it was after I realized I was being controlled. Beckett had told me I’ll be going on the Dutchman to watch the heart and keep Jones in check. I don’t know what consists of me but I cannot deny it anymore—I’m scared.
I know you and Theo have always looked up to me as your best friend and higher ranking officer, but I am terrified for my life in the fact I don’t know if I’ll come back home to the both of you. I’ve seen the insanity that is the crew of the Flying Dutchman. They’re creepy, fast and I’m not sure if I have the patience I did for the undead Crew of the Black Pearl.
If I am dead when you are reading this, I am so sorry. But I tried my absolute best in saving myself or anyone else. One more thing I’d love to write to you and Theo, firstly, you two are my best friends. The only people who have helped me feel less stressed when we spent late nights talking and we’d crash on the couch from drinking all night. Those memories are a huge part of me, ones I will never forget even in my final moments.
Secondly, Andrew, if I end up passing away in the line of duty. I entrust this house to you, as my will and a citizen of Port Royal. I want you to keep it in your name, continue the moments of relaxation we all had. I give it to you, because quite frankly I was too afraid to admit it back then. But Andrew, I love you. I always have, I just wish I wasn’t a coward. It’s why I didn’t allow you to come along when I left Port Royal to capture Sparrow. I know you wanted to come with me, but I wouldn’t allow it. And I’m glad I didn’t because I sailed right into that hurricane without a second thought losing hundreds of men.
I’m so sorry I didn’t express my love for you earlier, I was too scared. I truly was.
Signed, Admiral James Norrington.’
Andrew had stared at the last few words over and over again until he slammed the letter down and let out the loudest sob he could muster. It tore his vocal cords, but at the moment he genuinely didn’t care. He screamed until his chest was heaving and his head ached. Leaning back in the chair he wiped at his eyes angrily.
James had put in a will that his home in Port Royal was now passed down to Andrew. He shook his head, standing up and grabbing the letter and carefully putting it back into the envelope and pocketing it in his uniform pocket—close to his heart.
So then what would’ve happened if James survived? That thought was at the forefront of Andrew’s mind. Would James have finally confessed his love and had Andrew move in with him? God, if he could time travel he would.
Closing the door behind him as he left James’ office he once again saw a shadow down the hallway. Andrew blinked, once, twice, but the third time the shadow was gone.
It was always near James' bedroom.
Not taking any chances, Andrew pulled out his own sword and gripped it tightly until he found the bedroom. Slowly, he opened the door and quickly was ready to attack anyone who was in the house. Yet, upon looking around the clean room—Nothing.
Andrew furrowed his eyebrows, walking around and keeping a hold of his sword he tried to find anything out of place. Yet, James’ room was spotless as always. Not a thing seemed out of place. Until a small box on the corner caught his eye.
Andrew felt his breath catch as he slowly walked to it and lifted it. Swallowing a nervous lump, he slowly opened it and what was revealed made Andrew fall to his knees.
A ring. Andrew’s favorite gemstone in the center of the band. Slamming his back against the bed he sobbed, clutching the ring so tightly to his chest. Screams echoed in the silence of the house, painful screams as he clutched the box. Shakily, he opened the box and pulled out the ring and he put it on his ring finger.
A perfect fucking fit.
Andrew sobbed, realizing how much care and thought he put into this ring. The question Andrew had in his head was clear—if James survived, he was going to propose to Andrew.
The loud clank of the sword falling to the ground didn’t bother Andrew in the slightest. He stood, kicking off his shoes and climbing into the bed behind him. He didn’t care about the rest of his uniform, in fact half if not all of it was ruined anyways. Closing his eyes tightly and curling up into a ball he clutched his hand close to his heart.
The days passed, Theo was looking everywhere for Andrew and the last possible spot Theo would know where Andrew was—James home.
“Andrew?” Theo called in the quiet silence of the house. Looking around the downstairs he found nothing before ultimately he climbed up the stairs and checked the rooms. The last door he opened was James bedroom, where his heart dropped as he saw Andrew in a fetal position hugging himself in James’ bed.
Theo quietly walked up, checking the pulse of Andrew’s heart rate. The sigh of relief that left his mouth when he heard it was steady. “Andrew.” Theo called, gently nudging Andrew awake.
When he jumped awake Theo quickly stepped back, holding his hands up in a placating gesture of surrender. “Are you okay, it’s been a couple days and I’ve tried looking for you at yours.”
Andrew shook his head, knowing as if he tried to speak he wouldn’t be able to. The screams he let out destroyed his vocal cords so he just raised his hand to show the ring.
Theo stepped closer, sitting on the bed awkwardly as he noticed the ring and his heart dropped. “Oh…Andrew I’m so sorry.”
Andrew nodded, lowering his hand to his breast pocket in his uniform and pulled out the letter. He handed it to Theo who looked concerned.
“Are you sure?” Theo asked, wanting official permission.
Andrew nodded, not trusting his voice as he sat up slowly and rested his head against Theo’s shoulder.
Theo read the letter, his heart dropping and his own tears falling as he let out a broken sob. “Why?” He mumbled. “Why did he have to be so stupid and play the hero!?” Theo handed the letter back to Andrew. “Why couldn’t he just listen to Elizabeth for once in his life?”
Andrew had to fight back a smile as Theo was right, how many times did Elizabeth say something and James didn’t listen? It was honestly quite surprising.
Andrew folded the letter back up and settled it back in his pocket before he tugged Theo into a tight hug. Feeling Theo return the embrace, he managed just briefly, “Don’t leave?”
“Never.” Theo confirmed, “We’ll be with each other until the very end.” Theo smiled as he rubbed Andrew’s back. “I promise you that, Andrew.”