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Being escorted to the office of Lord Cutler Beckett you kept your eyes focused in front of you as you weren’t entirely sure why you were shackled and locked in a cell for some time. Only now you were summoned by the man himself.
As the soldier escorting you opened the door he led you in and stopped just a few steps from the door. “My Lord, the prisoner as requested.”
Beckett, who was sitting at his desk overlooking papers, looked up briefly. “The irons won’t be necessary. Then you’ll be dismissed.”
The soldier nodded and took the key and released the shackles before turning and leaving the room. Leaving you and Beckett alone.
The silence was oddly uncomfortable as you stood there unsure exactly what Beckett wanted from you. Taking a look around you realized the man who was constantly at his side wasn’t in the room either. What was his name? Mercer? Something like that.
“Do you know why I’ve requested you?” Beckett asked after a bit of silence as he continued to work as if you were not even there.
“Of course not. How would I know when you’re literally unpredictable?”
It was quiet, but what sounded like a scoff came out of his mouth. “I would prefer it if you perhaps had an idea.”
Rolling your eyes you shifted around the room, taking a look around his office. Three windows that had double doors were behind you, lining up the wall as the clear night sky showed. There weren’t even royal navy officers stationed outside. So this might be a conversation he wanted to have with you and you alone. It made sense considering the man who was glued to his side wasn’t even here. It eased your mind slightly—only slightly.
“I’m quite surprised you have nobody around. You even took away the shackles around my wrist. I figured you’d be smarter than that.” You mused as you took a couple steps around the area to look at the tea set settled on the small low table in front of the red velvet couch.
“Yes, well I know you won’t do anything rash. Unless you want to get yourself killed.” He stood up quietly from his desk. Walking around the mahogany table he went to the wooden box and opened it to reveal a beautiful sword. One crafted by a man he let go in regards to getting the Compass of Jack Sparrow.
Turning on his heel, Beckett pointed the blade at you. Who had looked unamused and did not flinch once as the blade pointed directly at your neck. “Do you know whose blade this belongs to?”
“Ex Commodore Norrington.” You answered, not having to look at the sword to know. “I thought he took it with him when he left to capture Sparrow.”
“Afraid not.” Beckett stepped closer slightly, the tip of the blade tickling your neck just slightly as he stood in the stance. One leg in front of the other.
Your eyes briefly noticed the stance he was in, and despite your gaze focused on his own, your leg quickly moved forward and took out his knee. The loud clattering of the sword fell on the floor as well as the loud thump of Beckett landing on his ass.
Before he could even retort and even understand what you did. Suddenly you had moved to sit on top of him, your hand going to the sword and swinging it to successfully catch it. “Isn’t it quite rude to point a blade at someone you want help from, Lord Beckett?”
“No.” He snapped, “Not rude at all. But the current situation we are in is not ideal.”
Your lips turned upright slightly in a smile before you leaned back. Allowing your right leg to prop yourself up so you weren’t squishing the man below you. “You had too much of a wide stance. I thought you’d know how to stand with a blade. Were you taught?”
“I was standing just perfectly fine.”
“If you were I wouldn’t have easily gotten you to land on your ass.” You looked down at him, then pointed the blade at his face. “You need my help in holding a sword, is that it?”
Beckett furrowed his eyebrows, staring at you in both slight disgust and anger. “I have my men to do that for me.” His eyes turned as the blade just barely graced his neck. One wrong move and he would start bleeding. “You’re playing a risky game.”
“So I am.” You replied, the sharpest point of the blade sliding on his neck just barely. “But I can tell you like it. Isn’t that all you do? Risk it for a greater cause. To get rid of piracy for good. You don’t want to get your own hands bloodied.” Shifting the blade back from his neck you leaned forward, your other hand coming to grip at his neck. “But, you will use other people to do your dirty work, besides the fact I think you’d look good with your pristine clothes painted red.”
Lifting your hands, the blade sliced your finger just a bit to let the blood drip down on his cravat. Taking your forefinger down your blood smeared his cheek and traced it all the way down to his cravat. Now painted a dark red due to the blood being revealed to the cool air. “All you have to do is ask nicely and I will show you the way of a sword. Ironic, you can ride a horse but not wield a blade.”
Beckett stared at you, truly unsure what to do or say. For once in his life he was at a loss for words. The metallic smell of your blood lingered next to his nostril as you had dragged the blood down past his nose.
As you rendered him speechless you just stared at him before leaning back and slightly scoffing. “But of course, as you said that’s what you have your men for.” Getting off him you swung the sword down at him and watched as the blood on the blade covered some of his clothes. Leaning against his desk you watched as he laid there for a moment before he forced himself up and dusted off his clothes.
“Then perhaps I do need assistance with holding a blade.” He stepped closer to you, leaning against the desk himself as he looked at you. “Teach me the skills necessary and you won’t be hanged. Every night at this time. None of my men will be around.”
You smirked, "Sounds oddly specific, you don’t want nobody around.”
“I like to keep my pride,” He muttered, “But if you say a word to anybody about these secret meetings to teach me, you will die.” He had leaned forward just a bit to basically whisper in your ear.
Despite the fact you were both alone.
“Don’t worry. I won’t dare say a word. I don’t want to hurt your ego.” You walked over to the case on the side desk, placing the blade back its sheath and setting it in the case and closed it. “So tomorrow I’ll meet you at this time?” Your eyes looked over at the clock to see it had recently past midnight.
“Yes. That is our agreement.”
“Very well then, Lord Beckett. I wish you a good night.” You gave a playful bow before turning and leaving his office. As you left you couldn’t help but smirk like a devil. If he had no skills to wield a sword and use it properly, this would be an interesting challenge.
The upcoming nights you had given Beckett an actual sword due to your expertise with wielding one without injury. You both sparred in his office, despite the space being filled with furniture you insisted to him it would be better especially due to being on a ship it was a tight area with other men on board.
“If you break anything you owe me.” He warned, dodging quick movements of your blade narrowly missing him.
“I’m already owing you by teaching you. Don’t forget that.” Your snark made him fume with silent rage as he went to attack and you ducked and knocked out his legs once again. “Don’t let your opponent get to you, Beckett.” You teased, pointing your blade at his neck. “They’ll get the upper hand quite fast.”
“Silence yourself!” He growled, his white powdered wig becoming messy at the strain this training was having on his body. He hasn’t been this active in so long it was honestly quite tiring. He sighed, fixing the blade in his hand that was becoming sweaty. “Again.”
“Very well.” You watched his movements, raising an eyebrow as you circled around one of the many tables in his room. As he swung you blocked it with ease and backed away as he swung back and the sound of a loud crash echoed in the room. You both paused to examine the damage. He had wildly swung his sword to where now on the floor laid a tea set—shattered.
“That was your fault, not mine.” You laughed, noticing the dirty look he gave you which only made you smirk more. “Try not to be angry at your opponent, yeah? Adrenaline can only do so much.”
He put his fingers to his temples. “Your teaching is annoying.”
“Well I’m glad, because then you’ll keep the knowledge in your head.” Relaxing your dominant arm that held the blade you soon let out a hum as you looked out the window to see the stars. “May I ask a question?”
“Oh great.” He muttered, but looked at you for you to continue.
“Why are you wanting to learn the way of the blade? Why haven’t you been taught when you were young? If you have your men to do the dirty work, why do you request for these nightly training sessions?”
Beckett didn’t answer right away, instead he tried to think on the question without giving too much away. He had no ulterior motive for you, just wanted to learn as he quite frankly had to wait until either Turner or Swann returned with the compass or letters of marque. Until then, he had nothing much to do besides wait for the right time.
“My choices are limited in what I can do.”
“I say they’re limitless. You can do anything you want.”
“Yes, but my plans are calculated in a way that’s very important. You are the only individual in Port Royal that knows the way of the blade. Turner has gone off due to me requesting something he would know that I want. Until then, nothing can be done—as for right now.”
“Ah…” Leaning against the table you looked back down at the destroyed tea set. “But what of Mr. Brown?”
“You’re the better option.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.” He held the sword back up, “Should we continue?”
Avoiding the question.
Continuing the days at midnight he was slowly getting better. The improvement was becoming apparent but he was still getting angry every time you insulted his skills. It had you smirking while continuing to block his attacks. A few times he aimed for your head which you narrowly missed, he was clearly trying to go for the kill.
As you were being cornered near the windows you soon ducked and side stepped, eyes wide as he collapsed into the closed doors and fell through it. It took all the willpower to not laugh out loud. Biting your lip you walked forward, looking down at him. “Are you okay?” You offered a hand for him to take.
He didn’t answer but he did take your hand, “The amount of things I have to replace.”
You snickered, helping him up as you stepped back to allow him his space. “Same as if we were on a ship.”
Beckett looked at you, “Then perhaps the next session will be on the Endeavor.” He turned to look at the ship docked in the water. Waiting for its time to return to the open Caribbean Sea.
“Then don’t get mad at me when you destroy something on your ship. And I won’t go easy on you.” Your eyes looked at him, “To the death.”
Beckett hummed, “Perhaps. You’re dismissed.”
You nodded, giving him a salute before leaving his office.
The next meeting you both were stationed on the Endeavor. This time Mercer was here, Beckett said it was to watch in case you or even himself went too far. You didn’t pay it any mind figuring it was for the best.
Beckett stood near his captain quarters, while you stood by the main mast. He was the first to initiate the duel as you blocked and stepped back and around the mast, disappearing from his view you quickly circled back and went to attack but he heard the creak of the ship and succeeded in blocking the attack and pushed back.
Catching your step you sidestepped as he went to attack again as you thrust the sword near his abdomen and successfully landed a blow.
He looked down, seeing the blood pooling slowly and coating his clothes before he continued to move and attack. He truly wouldn’t be satisfied until he got you.
Meanwhile, you ran ahead and kicked the lever and held on the rope as you flew up into the air and landed on the main mast. You looked down at Beckett, smirking triumphantly.
“That’s unfair!” He shouted, before looking around to try to find a way up to you.
“Is it? Or is it me using my resources and environment?” You shouted back and watched him attempt to find a way above. While he was too busy, you walked across the beam and sheathed your blade before climbing across the rope to the next area. Then the loud bang shot through the air as the rope you were climbing on fell and you landed straight back onto the main deck.
Beckett held his pistol, walking over to you as he pocketed it and held the sword back up as you were trying to regain your senses. He took his sword and stabbed it right next to your head, and you didn’t move as your eyes opened to look up at him standing over you.
For a minute both of you remained quiet until you offered a smile. “Good use of your other weapons on your person. Is that a draw then? Or will you prefer to take the victory?” You raised your hands in surrender, “I would be dead if you decided to kill me. I accept when I lose, Lord Beckett.”
He nodded, “Good.” He helped you up, taking the blade out of the wood, he looked over at Mercer with a nod as he left.
Meanwhile you looked up at the rope that was shot down as you snickered, “So you might want to get that fixed before you set sail.” You suggested, grabbing the rope as he sighed.
“That’s what Mercer is gonna go do. Get the men to fix this.” He motioned to the rope dangling freely from where it was shot down.
“Are you feeling confident now? About your skills with the blade?”
“I’d say so. Better than what I was before.”
“I’m glad my shitty teachings helped.”
His lips twisted up into a slight smirk, “They aren't that bad.”
You looked at him, “Well I appreciate the compliment.” Looking out to the sea, “Do you need me anymore?”
Thinking about it he looked at the blade in his hand then to the open sea. “I don’t think so. But if I change my mind, I’ll know where to find you.”
“Goodbye then, Lord Beckett. Oh, and good luck.”