Antonio was on the verge of giving up oh his crew. They were a bunch of idiots, the whole lot of them. The dining quarters were in a terrible state and, like usual, the whole crew were nowhere to be found on the deck. Sighing, Antonio headed for the room where he knew he might find the cabin boy, Lovino.
Like he thought. The boy was beneath deck in his hammock. He seemed to be writing something on parchment with a quill Antonio recognised as one of his own.
"Lovino," he called, making the boy look up, all the colour drained from his face. The parchment was quickly rolled up and placed out of Antonio's sight.
"What do you want, jerk?" Lovino asked, insolence in his voice.
"How many times have I told you to address me as your captain?" Antonio sighed shaking his head, before levelling his bottle green eyes with Lovino's hazel, "The dining quarters need cleaning. And when you're done with that, the deck needs scrubbing."
Lovino huffed. "Fine." He got up, stretching as he walked past his captain, "I'll see what I can do."
Antonio watched him leave, his eyes softening. The boy might have been an insolent brat, and maybe he was lazy, clumsy and moody, but he wasn't a bad person and he did try his best. Antonio appreciated that. No – he loved that about him.
Now that Lovino was gone, curiosity sparked in Antonio, his eyes scanning the place he saw the boy stash the parchment. After fumbling to get it, he unrolled the yellow page, his eyes the colour of the grass he barley saw reading the fine letters. Surprise filled him. It was a poem – a sonnet at that. He laid down on Lovino's hammock, reading the poetry quietly to himself.
"Shall I compare thee to an orchid bloom,
Thou art more precious and more beautiful.
Thou art fit one day to be a fine groom.
Captain, thou art more wonderful.
Forever yours if you wish me to be,
Like the stalk to the petals and leaf,
Thou art important to the life of me,
My guardian with your silver sword in sheath.
Like bees to the centre of the flower,
Your scent is always sweet, never bitter.
Seconds without you feel like an hour,
Your smile, oh so bold, and eyes that glitter;
So long as I know you, I will love you,
I hope that one day you shall love me too."
Antonio looked at the ceiling of the cabin. Was this love poem... for him? He smiled to himself, re-reading the poem for the fifth time.
"I love you too."