Chapter Text
Jack had heard rumors around the Republic that the plan to separate Ed from Stede hadn’t gone well for Izzy. After he’d spent a grueling months-long recovery in a room rented to him by Jackie out of pity and the promise of a favor owed in the future, he set out to find the Revenge.
Hitching rides and calling in favors led him just off the shore of Ocracoke Island. It’s here, in the dead quiet of a clear night that Jack finally catches sight of the Revenge. He begins rowing a dinghy towards the ship and prays to a god he sure as shit doesn’t believe in that he’ll make it to the hull unseen. The barnacle scraping seat lay carelessly over the rail and Jack manages to throw a hook on a rope to latch onto it, using it to haul himself up. He sits above the gentle swells in silence, waiting to see if he’s been heard.
When no noise comes from the deck above, Jack throws his grappling hook again, catching the rail. He climbs as silently as he can manage while huffing and puffing. A full set of bruised ribs and healing fractures does a number on an aging pirate, even one with Jack’s dumb luck. He lands on the deck with a thump and looks around. His luck seems to have held out, but nobody being on night watch is worrying. Looking up to the crow’s nest, there doesn’t appear to be anyone there either and even the helm is unmanned.
“Where the fuck is everyone?” Jack says to himself and decides to start soft shoeing to Izzy’s cabin. Before he turns the corner below deck, Izzy appears. “Shit, sugar! I didn’t even hear you coming!”
“What are you doing here, Jack?” Izzy deadpans, but his eyes betray his tone, sparkling with… something. Jack can’t put his finger on it.
“Came to get you, princess, what else? Heard you were having a rough go of it.” Jack grins flirtatiously to lighten the mood, waiting hopefully for Izzy to share any information that will shed light on what happened after he’d been chased away by an English cannonball.
“You need to leave, Jack. It’s not safe. Ed can’t see you,” Izzy pleads.
“He won’t, just… come on. Follow me. Please. I’ve let you go before and I’m not gonna do it again. You gotta know. It’s not good for you here. He’s…” Jack rambles urgently, but Izzy interrupts.
“I know.”
“You…what?” Jack can’t believe what he’s heard.
“I know, Jack. You’re right. You’ve always been right.” Izzy sounds defeated.
“It’s ok, Iz. It’s ok. Let’s not… just get a move on! Shake a leg, sugar!” Jack grabs Izzy’s wrist and starts dragging him above deck.
Stopping in his tracks, Izzy pulls Jack closer, crushing him in a hug. He lays his head on Jack’s chest. When he pulls back, there are tears in his eyes threatening to spill.
“Jackie, I can’t leave,” Izzy rasps.
“What are you talking about? Of course you can, just get in the dinghy and we’ll sort all this out, I swear! Anything you want, anything you need, you got it. I’m making up for lost time, baby.” Jack rubs his hands up and down Izzy’s arms.
Izzy stifles a sob and leans in, pressing his lips to Jack’s. He cradles his face in his hands and pulls back. Jack is dumbstruck by the kiss but can’t take his eyes off Izzy’s tears, rolling freely now. He’s known Iz since they were green and he’s never seen him cry.
“I want to, Jack. You need to know that. A few weeks ago, I’d have…” Izzy holds Jack again and Jack holds him in turn.
“Can you trust me, Iz? Just let me take care of you and you’ll see. Nothing’s changed, we’ll be okay.” Jack is choked up as well as he leads Izzy to the rail.
Izzy sighs and follows Jack over, descending another rope Jack rigs up to land within jumping distance of the dinghy. Jack is ecstatic and tries not to let it show in case his enthusiasm puts Izzy off. He starts rowing.
“Where to, Iz?” Jack asks.
“It doesn’t matter, Jack.” Izzy looks up at the moon, fresh tears rolling down his cheeks.
“Iz?” Concerned, Jack reaches out to touch his hand, to hold it, to provide some comfort if he can.
Jack’s hand goes right though Izzy as the rest of him evaporates like mist.