Drabble x3 - Innervision
“What are you looking at?” Will asked Jack, who was peering intently into the water.
Jack didn’t answer, just rose and fixed his still keen gaze on Will. Without breaking his stare he asked without preamble, “Have you heard the story of Narcissus?”
Flippant words were swallowed unsaid under the smoldering eyes burning through his own, into his soul. Will nodded.
“And do you know what Narcissus saw?”
Nodding again, Will managed a whisper. “Himself?”
“Aye.” Jack held his gaze for another minute more before turning away, shoulders drooping. “Aye, he saw himself.” Another long pause followed. Jack’s next words were barely discernable. “And he hated it.”
Will glanced up at Jack, who remained with his back to him, looking out over the deck of the Pearl. He ventured the next question with trepidation. “Why do you say that? I thought he fell in love with his reflection.”
Jack whirled around and took two quick strides so that he was bare inches away from Will. Pain and something else played across his features. “He hated it. He saw himself reflecting there in that deep pool and saw what he’d become.”
Brow furrowed in concentration, Will tried to understand the message, the unspoken words behind the spoken. “People change.”
Sighing, Jack relaxed and crooked his mouth into a tight smile. “True enough. Mostly after the damage has already been done.”
“Perhaps it is not too late.”
Squaring his shoulders, Jack gave Will a long look.
“If I stay it will be.”
“But why?”
“Because when I looked into that pool, I saw you. What you will become if I stay.”
“You said I would have to square with that some day.” Will placed a hand on Jack’s sleeve. “I made my choice.” Eyes fixed on Jack’s he added softly, “What’s yours?”
****
Jack didn’t answer, just rose and fixed his still keen gaze on Will. Without breaking his stare he asked without preamble, “Have you heard the story of Narcissus?”
Flippant words were swallowed unsaid under the smoldering eyes burning through his own, into his soul. Will nodded.
“And do you know what Narcissus saw?”
Nodding again, Will managed a whisper. “Himself?”
“Aye.” Jack held his gaze for another minute more before turning away, shoulders drooping. “Aye, he saw himself.” Another long pause followed. Jack’s next words were barely discernable. “And he hated it.”
Will glanced up at Jack, who remained with his back to him, looking out over the deck of the Pearl. He ventured the next question with trepidation. “Why do you say that? I thought he fell in love with his reflection.”
Jack whirled around and took two quick strides so that he was bare inches away from Will. Pain and something else played across his features. “He hated it. He saw himself reflecting there in that deep pool and saw what he’d become.”
Brow furrowed in concentration, Will tried to understand the message, the unspoken words behind the spoken. “People change.”
Sighing, Jack relaxed and crooked his mouth into a tight smile. “True enough. Mostly after the damage has already been done.”
“Perhaps it is not too late.”
Squaring his shoulders, Jack gave Will a long look.
“If I stay it will be.”
“But why?”
“Because when I looked into that pool, I saw you. What you will become if I stay.”
“You said I would have to square with that some day.” Will placed a hand on Jack’s sleeve. “I made my choice.” Eyes fixed on Jack’s he added softly, “What’s yours?”
****