Title: Delicate (1/?)
Rating: NC-17 (Eventually)
Pairing: Jack Sparrow/Taylor Hanson
Author: lulla_belle1208
Warning: Slash? Pirates?
Note: Pirates of the Caribbean/Hanson crossover. Don’t hate.
Beta: i_amthecosmos



Taylor slowly sat up and hugged his knees to his chest, back pressed against the wall to keep from sliding all over the ship. He was in a very tiny room aboard Poisdeon’s Fear, a pirate ship. He looked up in fear when the door opened and a huge man grabbed him and dragged him out, marching him in front of him with a saber point to his back. “Come on pretty boy, you get to go ashore today.”

Taylor wrapped his arms around himself, heading to the deck and not speaking. He knew better than to speak. The captain glared at Taylor and shoved him hard towards the side of the ship. “Get on then.”

Taylor got into the small row boat apprehensively. He was incredibly curious where he was being taken, but knew better than to ask. He had been aboard the Fear for three years and never once had he been taken ashore. One of the other pirates suddenly shouted loudly. “Better take good care of ‘im Cap’n! Pretty boy won’t fair well in Tortuga!”

Taylor blanched and the other men began laughing at him. He looked at the captain as he sat down across from him, cupping Taylor’s face in his hand and turning Taylor’s stomach to ice. Taylor licked his lips. “Tor...Tortuga?”

The captain smirked. “Aye.” The captain suddenly slapped Taylor hard, causing his crew to go into hysterics. “And what did I tell you about talking?”

Taylor hung his head and blinked back tears. Crying would only end up with another beating. Or worse.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jack grabbed another pint of beer and walked over to the table where Gibbs was sitting and sat down next to him. Gibbs looked at him. “What’s wrong Jack? Still upset about Turner marrying Miss Swann?”

Jack snorted and took a long drink of his beer, setting it down violently. “What makes you think I like William?”

Gibbs cocked an eyebrow. “I was referring to Miss Swann.”

Jack flushed a little and waved his hand. “Oh, right, right. Of course.”

Gibbs shook his head. “Going to go to the wedding?”

“I don’t know.” Jack glared at Gibbs. “Stop pestering me about it. Be on the ship at dawn, we set sail then, savvy?”

Gibbs nodded. “Aye. Don’t get into too much trouble, wouldn’t want to have to...”

“Say bail me out Gibbs, and I’ll make you walk the plank!”

Gibbs grinned and waved his cup at him, which only caused Jack to be more flustered. Jack stormed out of the tavern and headed down the street, to maybe smooth things with Scarlet. Or Gisele. He couldn’t remember which.

He stopped and looked over at a group of pirates he had seen before, they were trouble makers even among pirates. He shook his head and went to move on but stopped again. There was a very pretty boy amongst them, being shoved and teased. He was taller than Jack, but thin. He had blonde hair and if Jack wasn’t mistaken, and he hardly ever was, bright blue eyes. He didn’t look like he was more than fifteen or sixteen. Jack took a couple steps forward, peering at him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Taylor hit the ground hard as one of his captors shoved him roughly. He groaned and was dragged to his feet only seconds later by someone fisting their hand in his hair and tugging him up. One of them laughed at him and sneered. “So pretty boy, how’s it feel to be on land?”

Taylor didn’t say anything, just looked as feet and let himself get shoved again. He looked up for a moment and saw someone watching him, he’d never seen the man before, but it was obvious he was another pirate. Everyone in Tortuga was a buccaneer, weren’t they? Taylor stared at him before he was knocked forward off his feet again. He gasped, trying to get wind back into his lungs when the pirate who had been staring at him spoke up. “What have we here?”

Taylor’s owners, that’s what they were weren’t they? Turned and looked at him. “Who the blazes are you?”

The man smiled. “That’s not important. I’m just looking at an awfully pretty creature being mistreated, and I’m curious as to why.”

One of the pirates drew his sword and advanced on him. “That’s not of your business, now is it mate?”

He surveyed them and then looked at Taylor, winking. “No, but I could make it my business, if I really wanted to.” He walked off, leaving Taylor to his tormentors.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Taylor woke to a noise just above his head a couple hours after he had fallen asleep. It was a noise that a normal person sleeping wouldn’t have heard, but Taylor wasn’t normal. He sat up and peered around. The guys who were supposed to be keeping watch on him had passed out. He sighed and contemplating running away, but decided it wouldn’t do him much good in Tortuga. He’d just end up getting captured by another band of pirates and would more than worse off, he was sure.

He pulled his knees to his chest and looked up at the sky, staring at the stars. He sighed and then began wondering where he would be if he was actually serving his indentured servitude and not living under the capture of pirates. He did that often, though it wouldn’t do any good he knew. He rubbed his cheek carefully against his arm.

Suddenly, hands out of nowhere grabbed him, one hand on his mouth and the other tugging him up and back. Taylor squirmed, he hated when they did this. Couldn’t they give him warning? Suddenly a voice he barely recognized spoke softly, lips pressed to his ear. “Be quiet and I’ll get you out of here. Be noisy and loud and then we have a problem, I’ll have to fight off twenty pirates barehanded and I just don’t feel like it, savvy?”

Taylor swallowed and nodded, suddenly very, very afraid. They cautiously crept out of the camp, towards shore, Taylor’s (new) kidnapper leading the way. They stopped when they got to the beach where there was a row boat and a black woman waiting for them. Taylor looked at him as he stepped into the light, it was the same guy who had asked why Taylor was being tormented. “You!”

The man turned suddenly and Taylor slapped his hand over his mouth. The man tilted his head. “Do you think I’m going to hit you for speaking?” He stepped close to Taylor, into his space and grabbed Taylor’s hand, pulling it off his mouth. “Because I won’t. I intend to make you my new cabin boy...if you’re willing. If not I’ll sneak you into Port Royal. If you’d like.”

Taylor stared at him, debating whether or not to trust him. “Port Royal?”

Jack nodded. “Aye. I have friends there, sort of. I can drop you there and leave you with them. Now come, they’ll notice you’re missing soon, we have to get aboard the Pearl.”

“The Pearl?”

Taylor sat down in the row boat as directed by him and stared at the man. He nodded. “Yes, the Black Pearl, to be precise.”

Taylor went wide-eyed and blanched. He suddenly wished he had stayed or that this man hadn’t showed up at his side. “The Black Pearl? Isn’t it...cursed?”

The man laughed. “Was cursed, was.”

Taylor stared at him and looked at the ship, which was looming in the distance, no black sails like he had heard, save the pirate flag. “What...what’s your name?” Taylor pulled his knees up. “I mean, what do you want me to call you.”

“Name’s Captain Jack Sparrow, you can call me Jack though...or Sparrow. Or Captain.” Taylor hugged himself tighter and looked up when there was a yell from shore. Jack turned. “Ana Maria?”

“Yes Captain?” The girl inquired.

“I think we should row a bit faster.”

“Aye-Aye, Cap’n”

Taylor stared at him. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

“Of course I know what I’m doing...err....What’s your name?”

“Taylor.”

“Taylor! Of course I know what I’m doing.”

Taylor peered at Jack in curiosity, before looking back at the shore. “They’ll think I ran.”

“I’ll protect you, love.”

Ana Maria rolled her eyes and Jack glared at her. Taylor closed his eyes and looked at Jack. “But, if I go to Port Royal....”

“I can’t protect you, you’ll be at the protection of Commodore Norrington, and that protection isn’t much.” Jack smirked at his joke and then looked up as they came along side the Pearl. Jack made sure Taylor was up first, then Ana Maria and then climbed up himself. Gibbs laughed and Jack glared at him. “What’s so funny, Gibbs?”

“You went ashore again for a pretty boy?” Gibbs smirked and Taylor hugged himself tightly. Pirates were pirates.

Jack glared at Gibbs. “Yes, I did. He’s the new cabin boy, I think. Is that okay with you, Taylor?” Taylor pulled his rags closer to him and nodded, looking at the deck instead of at anyone’s face. “Take him to the kitchens then, Gibbs.”

Taylor followed him down to the kitchens and sat down in the corner after he had left, curling up and staring around the kitchen. “Way to go, Taylor. You can’t even cook, much less be a cabin boy.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After a week aboard the Pearl, Taylor found himself face to face with Jack again. Jack smiled at him and pulled him into his quarters. Taylor closed his eyes and cursed himself. See? Pirates were pirates, no matter their name or if they were on a ship that at one point been crewed by the damned. Jack put his hand on the back of Taylor’s neck and sat him down at his table.

Taylor looked at him. “Captain...?”

Jack looked at him and sat down. “You’re my guest this evening, Taylor. I get lonely and Gibbs bores me.”

Taylor felt his mouth go dry and he started to fidget with his clothes, eyes focused on his lap. His stomach was flipping around like he’d just eaten something he shouldn’t have. He rubbed his face and looked at Jack again. “So...”

“We eat!” Taylor cocked an eyebrow at Sparrow as a couple other pirates brought food in and set it down on the table. “Help yourself, Taylor. You look starved.” Taylor looked at the food apprehensively before grabbing a piece of bread and eating it slowly, picking at it. Jack watched him while he picked the meat off of a chicken bone. After a few moments of Taylor picking at the piece of bread, Jack tilted his head. “Taylor, you know you can have some of the meat or vegetables yes? You’re my guest, don’t limit yourself to bread and water, mate.”

Taylor cautiously reached out and grabbed a chicken leg, picking a few bits off of it before putting them in his mouth. Jack sighed and poured Taylor a glass of wine. Taylor went wide-eyed and stared at Jack. “What...what...I...”

“You’re a member of my crew now, Taylor.” Jack grinned. “Seeing as how you never said you wanted to go to Port Royal, and as such, I will share any and everything I have with you, if I so please. I’m a fair captain.” Jack paused. “At least that’s what they tell me.”

Jack took a drink of his wine and grinned at Taylor. Taylor looked realized he was staring at Jack and quickly looked away. “Um...member of the crew?”

Jack nodded. “Yes...which reminds me!” He got up and pulled a piece of paper out of his desk drawer, setting it with a pen in front of Taylor. “This is the article you need to sign to ensure you get a fair share and all that, mate. So put your mark there and you’ll be our own, cute little pirate!”

Taylor looked at Jack in confusion, wrapping a piece of bread around a piece of chicken and stuffing it in his mouth. “Part of the crew? But...I’m a slave...”

“You’re not a slave on my ship, mate. You’re a cabin boy, and you’ll be treated as such.” Jack pushed the quill into Taylor’s hand. “Now sign, Taylor and join the best pirate crew that’s ever sailed the seas.”

Taylor took the quill and bit his lip, studying the paper. “I...”

Jack leaned in, getting into Taylor’s personal space. Taylor began to shake a little. Jack stroked his hair. “Come now, mate. I’ll teach you everything I know, which is quite a bit. You’ll be one of the best pirates in the world when I’m done with you, and no one will dare hurt you again.”

Jack leaned back out of Taylor’s space and watched as he scratched his name carefully on the paper. His writing was sketchy and it didn’t look as well as it probably once did. Taylor flushed and put the quill down after finishing the ‘r’. “Sorry...I haven’t written in three years...”

Jack raised an eyebrow, taking the paper and putting it with the rest of his papers before sitting back down across from Taylor. “That’s alright, you’ve still got a leg up on the rest of this lot.”

Taylor finally took a drink of his wine and looked at Jack again, as if expecting him to jump at him. Jack was staring at him with a bemused sort of look on his face. Taylor bit his lip and grabbed a piece of the cut up pineapple out of the bowl and cautiously put it in his mouth. After a few seconds, in which he spent debating whether or not he deemed the food edible, Taylor’s eyes lit up and he pulled the bowl close to him, causing Jack to laugh.

Jack shook his head when Taylor offered him the bowl. “No thank you.” Jack propped his chin on his hand and his feet on the table. “So, tell me something about you Taylor. I like to know my crew.”

Taylor looked perplexed and took another bite of pineapple. He shrugged. “What do you want to know?”

“Anything. How about age first?”

“Sixteen...I think. What day is it?”

Jack thought for a minute before getting up and finding a calendar. “March 14, 1652.”

Taylor’s eyebrows went up. “Really?” Jack nodded. “Then I’m sixteen. Today.”

Jack looked shocked. “Today’s your birthday and you didn’t know?”

Taylor nodded. “Don’t really keep track of dates when you’re locked up every day except...” He shook his head and looked at Jack with a small smile. “I lost track.”

Jack nodded. “Well, this calls for...more wine. Or rum, do I have any rum? Where’s the rum?”

Taylor laughed. “You don’t have to...”

“I want to! It’s a reason to drink rum.” Jack winked and went off to find the rum. Taylor looked at the silver on the table and reached out, touching it and fondling it in his hand. He played with the tines on the fork before setting it back down. He pulled his knees up and looked up when Jack came in with a bottle of rum. “Don’t fret, love! I found the rum, all is saved.” Taylor nearly smiled and Jack grinned back at him, broader than ever. “So you do have the ability to grin, eh?”

Taylor flushed. “I..”

“Haven’t done a damn thing wrong. Now then, here’s a glass of rum for you and a glass of rum for me.” Two glasses of rum later, Taylor was almost giggly, which made Jack smile. Jack reached out and pushed Taylor’s hair out of his face. “So tell me, mate, how did you come to be captured by those pirates?”

Taylor bit his lip and looked at Jack, frozen and trying to ignore the hand in his hair and the fact that his stomach was doing a flop and chilling off at once. “I...I...”

Jack tilted his head. “You don’t have to say if you don’t want to.”

“I was sold.” Taylor looked up at him. “Into servitude by my mother and father. We were on our way to Port Royal and the ship was attacked by pirates. They took the gold and food and stores and me.” Taylor paled and he turned away from Jack. “They left everyone there to starve.”

Jack nodded and moved away from Taylor, giving him his space and standing next to the window, looking out at the sea. When he turned around Taylor had his chin propped on his knees and he looked sleepy. Jack chewed his cheek. “You didn’t have to answer.”

Taylor shrugged. “You’re the first and only person who’s ever asked.”

Jack nodded. “You wanting to...go to bed?”

Taylor blanched, he had forgotten about...about that. He closed his eyes and just nodded. “Yeah...”

Jack tilted his head, confused. “Why do you look sick, mate? Something wrong?” Taylor shook his head and slowly stood up, walking towards Jack. He stood there in front of him, looking away from Jack. Jack stared at him and crossed his arms. “Now what in the world did you think I meant by ‘go to bed’?”

Taylor’s head snapped up and he looked at him. “I...I...”

“I would never expect that out of a member of my crew. Never. And it aggravates me that you bloody well think I do.”

Taylor turned red and stepped back. He was suddenly confused. “But...but..”

Jack glared. “I don’t know what those pirates did, but you’re my cabin boy, not my slave. Go back to the galley, Taylor.”

Taylor walked back to the galley, head hung and not understanding why Jack was so angry. He curled up in the back where he had taken to sleeping and pulled the thin blanket over himself, staring into inky black darkness.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jack lay in his bed, staring out the porthole and thinking about, for the first time in a long while, not William. He sighed and flopped over, pulling his warm blankets closer and cuddling into the fluffy feather pillow. He was so young and beautiful and so wounded, like a bird with a broken wing. It was delicate and you wanted to fix it, but you couldn’t. You had to wait until it wanted you to fix it.

Jack sighed again and flopped on to his back, putting his hands behind his head. He was sure that Taylor would prove to be a valuable asset to his crew, but how he wasn’t sure. He was going to have to teach him to sword fight and shoot a gun and load it. Jack groaned and rubbed his eyes. “What have you gotten yourself into, mate?”