"Beckett?" Benj muttered as the black Pearl sailed over the waves. It was a bright day with a strong wind, good sailing weather, and they had long left Tortuga behind.

"Yes lord Beckett of the east India trading company", Elizabeth repeated. Her long sun bleached blonde hair was loose around her shoulders today and Benj was considering asking if he could braid it for her. He had always enjoyed braiding his mother's and her sister's long hair.

"Beckett wants the compass", Mr Gibbs hissed. "Only one reason for that".

"Of course", Jack turned to them from where he had been watching the horizon. "He wants the chest".

"He did say something about a chest", Elizabeth hummed.

"Everybody wants the chest", Benj rolled his eyes. "I don't want it. Met Davy jones before, we didn't get along so great".

"If the company controls the chest, they controls the sea", Mr Gibbs stated.

"A truly discomforting notion love", Jack added.

"And bad! Bad for every mother's son who calls himself a pirate". Mr Gibbs looked up. "I believe there a bit more speed to be coaxed from thee sails. Brace the foryard!" He called, stomping across the deck.

"Maybe it's time to change my job description", Benj sighed as Elizabeth turned to him. "Before the India trading company kill me". He lifted his dark gaze to hers. "For once they control the sea, it won't stop with pirates. Mermaids will fall to their gun, I will be hunted. Strung up and killed or boxed in a tank for shows. My corpse dissected and parts sold off to the highest bidder. Humans are cruel and greedy when it comes to treasure darling. The richest the most greediest of them all. Any creature not human will be forced into a living hell".

"The world has been cruel to you", her voice was a soft murmur. The sun was bright on her tanned face and the breeze tugged at her blonde hair. Benj twirled a lock around his finger, gaze lowered.

"The world is cruel. Anyone trying to tell you different is selling you something. We make our own luck and our own happiness. I am well aware what fates may await me if I fall into the hands of the wrong person. I shall not make that mistake again". He smiled lightly at her and tucked her hair behind her ear. Fingers brushing her skin ever so softly before he was pulling away and reaching for the ropes. Elizabeth watching as he began to climb up into the rigging.

Her gaze was interrupted by Jack snatching the leather bound letters from her belt. He pulled the leather open and glanced at them curiously. "Might I enquire as to how you came by these?"

"Persuasion".

"Friendly?"

"Decidedly not".

Jack smirked at the bite in her tone. "Will strikes a deal for these and upholds if with honour. Yet, you were the one with the prize. Full pardon, commissions as a privateer on behalf of England, and the east India trading company", he read out. "As if I, or Benjy, could be brought for such low prices. He will never work for England". He tucked the letters into his coat as he turned to stroll away.

Elizabeth reached for him. "Jack, the letters, give them back".

"No. Persuade me".

"You do know that Will taught me how to handle a sword", she stated. Jack turned to meet her gaze.

"Are you persuading me, or our mutual fish friend? He likes a woman with a sword". The grin was a suggestive leer.

"Are you insinuating that the man who kissed my fiancé"- Elizabeth's voice rose but a quick hand over he lips hushed her.

"Not so loud", Jack jerked a finger at where Benj was hanging in the rigging above. The wind was tugging on his long dark hair and playing with the collar of his shirt. His skin wasn't as tanned as Jack's but it had a lovely warm tone. The open neck meant that the blue ink of tattooed fish scales peaked over collarbones. When her gaze drifted back, Jack was smirking at her. "You can have multiple treasures at once you know", he grinned. "Why just ask Benny boy, he is quite fond of sharing".

"Why are you telling me such nonsense?" Elizabeth's voice lowered into a soft hush.

"If we find the chest first. You may save both sweet William and Bonny Benj from their fates. It's only so long before Benj is found and taken. The last one came close. Nasty scars", Jack hissed, wincing in mock sympathy. With that parting comment, he sauntered off, leaving her alone to her thoughts.

Benj found Elizabeth despondently slumped on the stairs to the upper deck. Her head resting on one hand as she gazed off into the darkening blue sky, evening slipping over them as the sun began to set. Soon the sky would be full of pinks and purples of sunset. Benj flicked his coat as he slumped into the empty space at her side. "You seem troubled", he commented. Elizabeth let out a deep sigh.

"I just thought I'd be married by now. I'm so ready to be married".

Benj pulled out a small silver whistle from his coat pocket and twirled it in one hand as he handed over a bottle of rum with the other. She uncorked it and took a swig. "You know, if you want I get married. I am right here", he smiled. "Jack is a captain, he can preform a marriage".

Elizabeth spluttered on her next gulp and let out a laugh. "You? You kissed my fiancé. You're a pirate with no moral code or decency".

"Ouch", Benj mock gasped, leaning back in the wooden stairs, hair flirting around his teasing smile. The silver whistle was lifted to his lips and he played a quick, short tune that sounded bright in the air as pinks tinged the clouds. "I'll let you know that I do have a outline of a moral code, and the tiniest bit of decency".

Elizabeth snorted, eyes shifting from him to the water as her face fell into thought. "The couple at the tavern in tortuga. Your friends, do you sleep with them?"

The tune in the whistle stopped and Benj paused. "I do. Does that offend your ladylike sensibilities?"

"Don't you have anyone?" She asked curiously and with a soft note of pity. "You said that you loved Will. Don't you have anyone else?" Am I taking him from you? She wanted to voice. Am I taking him from you even though he was mine first? Because I see the way he looks when he's thinking of you. It's the same way he looks when he thinks of me.

Benj's fingers twitched, the leather cuffs and bracelets shifting with the movement. After a few seconds he let out a mournful sighed. "Did Jack say something?"

"He said that you have scars". Elizabeth's gaze was heavy in him. Waiting, curious and memorising. The golden light of twilight shone down on them and around them, the crew were chattering loudly. The noise infiltrating their little bubble but not breaking it.

Benj huffed. "I told Will this. I guess I can tell you too". He reached up to the wide neck of his shirt and pulled it down to expose more of his chest. There was a puckered scar there from a bullet wound, white but still raised. "I got this from a prostitute. I just wanted to not be alone for a night, thought if I paid her enough she wouldn't sell me out. She snot me for my tears because mermaid tears fetch a high price". Then he began pulling at the bracelets on his wrists to expose more white scars. "I had a lover once. When I was young and foolish. He found out what I am and chained me up. He wanted to sell me. I got these in the escape".

"What happened to him?" Elizabeth's voice was barely above a whisper.

Benj met her gaze, black eyes as dark as the bottom of the sea. "I killed him".

"How old were you?" She couldn't look away.

"I was sixteen. When the prostitute came for my tears, I hadn't even healed from the chains. I guess that is what happens when you don't learn your lesson".

"How could you still open your heart after that?" Elizabeth's voice trembled and she felt the sting of threatening tears int he corner of her eyes. Benj was watching her with a quiet wonder. When he had told Will, all those months ago, he had done it to shock and scare. He had done it to drive the hard bitterness of the world into that beautiful, righteous man. This, this felt like a vulnerability.

Benj turned away to gaze at his silver whistle as it spun between his fingers. "I guess that is the definition of madness. You repeat the same behaviours again and again, all expecting while different a different result. I should have gotten it by now. I am no one's first choice. Humans only want me for what benefits I can give them. My skills, my blood, my body, my bones". The last word came out a deep sigh. Elizabeth felt the tears rise up as she watched Benj lift the whistle to his lips. A gentle, soothing melody emanating from it as his fingers danced over the holes in the metal. He was beautiful int he light of the sunset.

"Excuse me", she muttered as she pushed herself up and hastily fled. Her chest aching with guilt and tears in her eyes. Benj didn't watch her go, eyes shut as she disappeared below deck. The tune shifting from soft to slow and mournful as the sky darkened.

Unedited

It's been a while. Hope you enjoy.