Title: Through Hell For You [ 1/3 ]
Rating: G
Pairing: James Norrington [ Commodore ] / OC [ Odette Beaumont ] With the addition of another OC [ Evie 'Cricket' Beaumont ].
Warnings: Umm. I'd guess another failed attempt at Norrington? I don't have many warnings unless you don't see Norrie as a father. xD
Summary: Fourteen years. A title reclaimed. A new world. Going back to Tortuga for strictly business, one can't help but be sidetracked.
Notes: I wrote this first half Study Hall at school. It wound up just a small page, but I continued it in Geometry and I wound up liking it. So, here it is and I think I'm going to fancy this one. A lot. While I was writing it though, I had yet to even know who Andrew Cliche was. But listening to his song, "A Walk Through Hell", I realized it matched up with where I wanted this little fic-let to go.
- The knots were tied and her muscles ached. The sweat that lingered above her brow were proof of hard work done out in the pounding sun. Twisting knuckles through dirty-blonde hair, bright green eyes flashed towards her mother's friend. He had arrived no more than a few days ago and she had noticed something more that just friendship between the adults. But, she paid no mind. All that mattered was that at the moment, she was in pain.
"Can I stop now?" Her tone was persistant and her lips pursd in a pout.
"Cricket, you do know you haven't even done half of work your mother asked me to teach you?"
Throwing her arms up in defeat, the youth groaned and toppled over. "Why do I have to learn how to tie rope, swim, use a sword - there's so much more to it! I'm only fourteen!" Whining - being more than reluctant to press on. It was your average teenager attitude.
Laughing, James watched the girl as she sat back up, ruffling her hair. He hadn't imagined that Odette would settle ... it was a good thing for her. Even if when she had little Evie she was still a kid all on her own. Just a few weeks short of turning twenty from what she shared.
"It's not ... lady-like in the least, sir."
He caught her mumbled and walked over, patting the top of her head and sending her a smile. "Take my word, it's useful even if it's not expected from a lady. They're all good traits to have in this new world."
A new world of Beckett's doing. Thoughts of the man brought up black clouds that hovered over his head, constantly. James was on a short leash with the man and would eventually have to return with the knowledge that most of Tortuga had been shut down. That town was probably the last "safe place" for those remaining pirates and with it shut down and under the control of the British Navy - the pirating age would be put to an end.
"Evie! Your lunch is ready. Hurry up, Grandpa's waiting." Odette's form stood in the door frame. In a matter of fourteen years, becoming a mother wasn't the only change that James had noticed since he arrived.
Once short hair now lingered at mid-back, a natural curl to it that framed her soft, pale face. Even after going through a pregnancy, she managed to keep the hourglass figure James knew so well. Her eyes had even changed - a darker shade of green that left stories to be told. Stories that he was certain he'd be able to unfold.
Cricket shot up from where she sad and jetted towards the door, slipping passed Odette who leaned against the door frame. "Thank you, Mumsie!" She called back, being more than happy to be getting out of the teaching session she was having with James.
"You've got yourself a handful, don't you Miss Beaumont?" Hands folding behind his back out of habit, he took a few steps towards where Odette still stood, keeping a good distance between the two.
"I do. But it's worth it." A simple reply.
Turning around to go back in, Odette was thrown off. Familiar arms wrapped around her middle and an even more familiar warmth was pressed against he back.
"A lot has changed."
Her tone was cold and unwelcoming but still, James kept his hold despite his gut feeling to let the woman go. She was like a stiff board in his arms and just from that, she didn't have to tell him things had changed. It was obvious. He had done a lot of changing himself. Not necessarily new changes, for he had already been a Commodore. It was just that he was't the man Odette had come across before.
A clean cut face replaced a scruffy one, a powder white wig replaced chocolate curled locks, and a primmed outfit replaced one that was torn and dull. It could possibly be accounted for that all together, he was a changed man once again.
"You're right. A lot has changed."
"It's not enough to just agree, Commodore." Venom laced her words and she forced herself away from him, going into the security of her pub.
A stone face stared down at his empty arms.
Something wasn't right and it was most likely him.
---
"Mumsie?"
Odette looked up from the papers that entaled the progress of the Banshee. It wasn't progress anymore. It was as if everything was dying out. The town, her pub, and even herself.
"Yes Cricket?"
"Tell me about dadsie." The fourteen year old was sitting at one of the tables in the pub, playing with a pair of dice her grandfather had given her.
Now, the question she had asked wasn't something new to Odette. At many ages the small girl brought it up and Odette would recite the same line. Your father was a great man. He didn't see that at first, but your mumsie helped him out the best she could. There were many ways she had told Evie, but now, the story had to change.
"Evie, all you need to know now is that your father is an idiot."
She paused, catching the confused look on the teen's face.
"And your mumsie is too ..."
to be continued
Community Member
I'm betting Norrington is the Dadsie.