"I must admit Jack", Barbosa spoke up. "But it turns out you're s a hard man to predict. Even Jimmy boy had me thrown. I almost expected something more moral about you". It had been five minutes of silence since the most of the crew had gone to deal with the navy. In that time Benj had found a emerald the size of his thumb, a string of beautiful pearls, a gold cuff bracelet, a diamond and silver necklace and had scooped up handfuls of gold coins to stuff into various pockets. He had the necklaces round his neck and the bracelets round his wrists. At the sound of Barbosa's voice he turned.

"Pirate", he shrugged, attention then caught by a pretty set of pear earrings. (He loved pearls). "You should know. I did spend half my childhood on your ship Barbosa".

Jack chuckled. "Me? I'm dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest". He tossed the statue he was inspecting away and strolled back towards them. "Honestly, it's the honest ones you want to watch out for. Like my friend Benj here. Honest as anything but also an expert at not actually telling you what you want to know".

"It's called word play Jack", Benj huffed, joining Jack's side. "And I do lie. I just don't like to. It's more fun to tell them the truth but still not actually tell them the truth".

Jack wrinkled his nose. "That makes my head hurt. Youth of today, am I right?" He glanced around as if waiting for an reaction. When he didn't get one, he continued. "As I was saying, with the honest ones you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly stupid". At his words, Benj lunged for the nearest pirate.

The man yelped in surprise as Benj fell unpon him with nails and teeth bared. They fell to the floor in a pile of limbs. Benj pulled out the man's sword and tossed it over his shoulder where Jack caught it swiftly. The man then threw it to Will, who knocked his captor back and caught the blade with his tied hands. Benj heard the clanging of steel as a fight broke out. He grinned down at the suddenly frightened man he had pinned to the floor.

"You know", he said conversationally. "My mother likes the taste of men, especially pirates. They drink so much alcohol that she says they're marinated in the stuff. Adds a certain flavour I reckon". He leaned in close and the pirate whimpered. "You guys kept me captive on your ship for over a day. I can't remember the last time I have eaten. I might actually listen to my mother for once and give it a try". He sat upright and turned round. Jack and Will were engaged in battle. Jack steel to steel with Barbosa, Will against the pirate who had been holding him captive.

"Hey Jack", Benj called. "Need a hand?"

"I think I've got it covered", Jack called back. "Have your fun". Benj grinned hungrily and stood up. He snatched up the pirate by the shirt and jumped into the water, dragging the pirate with him. The screaming cutting off as they disappeared under the surface. Soon the water began to turn red with blood and their forms disappeared in the cloud.

——

Benj only emerged once the pirate in his hold had stopped struggling. Frowning, he pushed the man into a patch of moonlight. Nothing happened. The corpse didn't change at all, no alive skeleton fighting him. Benj sighed and dropped the savaged body. It sunk limply, still trailing red through the water. Then he turned to kick up to the surface. He emerged and pulled himself from the water. One nail picking at his teeth as he glanced around. Barbosa lay at the bottom of the mound of gold, a bullet wound in his chest.

"Nice snack Benj?" Jack called. He was once again back to rummaging through the numerous piles of treasure. Will and Elizabeth were there too, Benj's eyebrows raised upon spotting her. The couple were standing over the chest. Elizabeth clothed in a navy red coat, spotted with blood. She seemed to have been having fun.

"Urgh", Benj groaned, spitting out a piece of fabric. "I have no idea what my mother was thinking. Pirate is certainly an acquired taste". He rubbed at his mouth hen grinned at them. Elizabeth and Will were watching him with some sort of abject horror.

"You actually ate someone?" Elizabeth gasped.

"I took a few bites out of him", Benj shrugged. "But I mostly held him under until he stopped breathing. As I said, it's an acquired taste".

"What did you expect?" Jack snorted. "He is half mermaid. It's his nature".

"Don't worry", Benj waved. "I only do it when I'm really angry and never my lovers. Though Issac doesn't mind a bit of biting every now and then". That seemed to break the spell. Will chuckled and rolled his eyes. Elizabeth was still eyeing him though. Benj didn't care.

"We should return to the Dauntless", Elizabeth murmured, eyes back on Will. He smiled then it fell away.

"Your fiancé will be wanting to know you're safe". Elizabeth dropped her shoulders in disappointment and turned to walk away. Benj strolled to and took her place at Will's side. The man was watching her go.

"So", Benj voiced. "Your adventure is over. What are you going to do now?"

"Is your adventure over?" Will asked softly. Benj met his eyes. They were tired and sad.

"No", he muttered. "No it isn't. Not yet". Then, like Elizabeth before him, he turned and walked away. Following her path towards the boats.

Jack clattered up. He was covered in gold and jewels. A crown sat upon his head and he had a chest under one arm, another holding a goblet and dripping with jewelled bracelets. "If you were waiting for the opportune moment", he commented to Will. "That was it. Treasure is all well and good Lad, but you can't always have all of it. Make a choice". Then he was clattering after Benj and Elizabeth. "Now if you'd be so kind and drop me off at my ship". Will took a deep sigh before joining them, his mind whirling.

——

"I'm sorry Jack", Elizabeth voiced as they stared out at the blank space of water where the Black Pearl had been floating. Benj sighed and stood up.

Jack sighed. "They've done what's right by them. You can't expect more than that".

"Anyone got a sack?" He asked. "Or any other bag of some sort. Since the Pearl is not here I thought I would go back for some more treasure before going after her". Will and Elizabeth glanced around the small row boats before shrugging. Benj sighed and stripped off his coat. He dropped it on Will's lap before pulling off his shirt. He tied the material with several knots until it was a makeshift cloth bag.

"Thanks for holding on to that for me", He smiled as he picked the coat back off Will's lap. In the moonlight his scars were visible. The tattoo of scales across his collar bones. The gunshot wound on his chest. The white lines down his arms. Will was stuck with a sudden realisation. He reached out and grabbed Benj's wrist as the man pulled the coat back on.

"Will I see you again?" He asked.

Benj smiled a sharp toothed smile. "Of course. I will be by port royal soon enough to rescue Jack. Our deal is not yet over".

Jack grunted. "It is definitely not Benny boy. Don't you dare leave it until the last minute".

Benj winked. "You know me Jack". Then he was pulling out of Will's grasp and dropping from the side of the boat into the sea. Elizabeth gasping as the impact splashed her. (Benj was never above being petty). Will searched the sea in the gloom for a few minutes. In the distance, heading back towards the cave, they saw a head emerge. Benj waved and arm before diving down and disappearing. Will smiled as he took up the oars. The small rowboat heading towards the Dauntless.

Unedited