show me something new

Jack beamed at her words, and nodded, understanding the loss of a library when he’d left his childhood house. “Ah, as do I. There was something like going home in diving into a book. I like all of this,” he motioned to the island. “The adventure, the danger, the people,” he smiled over her before continuing. “But what I wouldn’t do to curl up in a chair by the fire, a good book to get lost in.”

Jack smirked as she bumped him, and back against her gently, as though they were a human Newton cradle. He gave a quizzical look as she commented about not seeing one, and he wondered for a moment if they had left the island. “Hm? Oh, no. I just like to learn; this belongs to one of my crewmates,” he commented with a shrug. 

Jack frowned slightly, but a smile still hung around his lips. “A garden fairy, eh?” He asked, looking down at the page again. “I wasn’t aware there was such a thing. How queer,” he grinned, running his thumb along the sweetbriar image, before shutting the book, moving the ribbon bookmark to keep his page. 

Jack gave a soft smile at her response, lifted a hand as though he meant to take her hand, but instead lifted it to her shoulder and gave her a gentle pat. “I am very glad to hear that, Wendy. Being yourself now,” he commented, moving his hand back to his book. “Now that’s the best any of us can hope to be, eh?” Merriweather gave another little grin, before tilting the book towards her. “Look at this,” he told her, pointing at the pastel pink bloom on the top left of the page. “Sweetbriar. Looks a bit like a fairy in disguise, don’t you think?” 

Jack glanced down at her hand when she reached out, and bruised inside slightly for her when she pulled away. He tilted his head to the side and gave a soft smile, clasping his hands together in front of him. “Go on,” he encouraged, nodding again. 

Jack nodded, understanding what she was saying, even though he had never been in anywhere close to her position before. “Well, no matter what happens, you can look at my camp as one of neutrality,” he told her, firmly believing that. “To be honest, I’ve always read the story as Peter being the good guy, and Hook being the brute. But if you of all people can’t decide over the two...I’ll stand with you.” He told her. It was one thing to be looking at it all from the outside, only having the ink on a page to tell one what they must believe, but if it was true, if Barrie had written the stories he heard of a child’s perspective, it made sense that Pan was the hero and Hook the villain. Now he knew that people were never that simple. 

Jack released a shocked, single laugh, shaking his head after a moment. “Now why on earth would I do that?” He asked, resting his palms on his knees. “I’m going to say one thing,” Merriweather stated, looking cautiously at her. “And I’ll only say it once,” he added, nodding his head to the side. “I think that Wendy Moira Angela Darling is one of the most fascinating creatures I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about; one of the kindest and caring people I’ve heard of. But I am much more interested in getting to know you,” he finished, giving a warm smile. “Why would I yell and run away from such a person?”

Part of him saw her in a whole new light; here she was, this hero that he had read about a hundred times over in his worn out copy of Peter Pan, and she still struggled with very human and normal emotions. Despite everything they’d talked about, there were very few reasons why someone would be on a cliff’s edge in the middle of the night. “The pleasure is mine, Wendy Darling,” he said, pulling her hand up and placing a small kiss on her knuckles, before letting go. 

As soon as she spoke, his eyes widened ever so slightly. He paused a moment before replying, a small smile spreading across his lips. “That--,” he started, swallowing the dryness in his throat. “That is a beautiful name,” Jack smiled, taking her hands in both of his. “I’m Jack, Jack Merriweather,” he added with a playful smirk, seeing as they were having a ‘do over’. 

Jack listened carefully as she spoke, paying careful attention to the way the words fell off her tongue. He gave a single nod at her request, watching her quietly. “Okay,” he breathed, running his fingers gently on her arm. “What’s your name?” He asked, feeling his breath hitch in his throat. 

Jack cocked his head to the other side when she said she had lied about her name. It was in curiosity, not judgement, that he looked confused. Her name was her own, and it seemed as though she were going to tell him the truth now. “Oh?” he asked, and then reached out to touch her arm. “I would like to know your true name, but I hope you know,” he started, giving a small smile. “You can keep your secrets if you want to,” he added. It was a wild and strange world, this Neverland. He could imagine that there must have been some reason for her wanting to keep that to herself.

Jack paused at her tone, tipping his head to the side as he felt as though she were going to tell him something important. “Yes?” He asked quietly, leaning in slightly as encouragement. He felt as though she could tell him anything, grand or small, and he’d believe it at face value. Something about the way they met, the honesty that poured out of her that night, he felt a deep connection to her despite only having met her for a brief time.

Jack stared at her in awe; imagine feeling confident enough to jump between the two warring people of Neverland? He tilted his head slightly when she mentioned about crowing for Peter, and it made him wonder of her connection to the boy. “That’s very brave of you,” he commented quietly, looking away. He doubted that he would’ve had the courage to do such a thing.

Jack nodded, smiling falling slightly because he knew she was hurt. “Well, that’s good. Let me know if you need anything, you know? We have the best doctor on the island here,” he commented, nodding back towards the little camp they had set up. “How’d that happen? If you don’t mind me asking?”

Jack pulled a barrel up beside Jill and grinned, taking a seat. Running into her in the woods earlier that morning had kept him smiling all day; he had been thinking of her since he’d left her that night on the cliffs, and was glad to be around her once more. “How’re you feeling?” He asked, nodding at the bruise on the side of her head. 

Jack gave a small, somber smile when she asked about hope. He supposed that was true. “Oh? I know of the pirates not liking him, but they would rather destroy the island? That I don’t understand,” he commented, wondering just how she might know that.