Chapter Eight: His Eyes

A/N: To all Eduardo lovers, you shall (hopefully) enjoy this chapter…. And those who don't will hate me so much. The reason for my late update is this chapter; this is the first serious, heavy chapter I have ever written. Then I decided that I might scrap it because this might be too early or I might not because you guys deserve this chapter.

Eduardo's P.O.V

"Aleks?" I step into her room, pushing the door open with my hand. Aleks had left the feast as soon as Morgan, the shameless flirt, had let go of her waist. She was blushing so badly I thought she would burst into flames.

"Eduardo!" Aleks sat up in her bunk. She was dressed back into her old pirate garb; the white shirt hanging off of her frame and the frayed ends of the trousers stopping right above her ankles. The shabby dress she had worn lay discarded in a crumpled heap beside her bed.

"Why weren't you outside? Everyone's gone to bed now and all of our effort into preparing your birthday has been wasted." I tried to glare at the girl, but I only managed a half-hearted scowl because of her heart melting expression. She had raised her hand to stifle a yawn, her messy bed hair sticking up all over the place but to me she just looked loveable.

"You should go to sleep too Eduardo. Neptune knows the time." Aleks replied drowsily, trying to shake herself awake. I noted how neatly she had managed to avoid my question, but her flush gave her inner thoughts away. Is it odd to feel like a claw was ripping your heart open when you know she had felt something towards one of your good friends? Like a monster was eating you from the inside?

"I'm not yet tired and I'm waiting for Russell's night time shift to switch with mine. It should be in about two hours; at dawn." I replied, walking over to her bed.

Aleks's P.O.V

Eduardo stalked closer to me, stepping languidly aside the crumpled dress on the floor. I bit my cheek for just leaving it there on the floor, but after Morgan's danced I was too rushed and flustered to think about tidying. Now I regret it, with the perfect Eduardo being in my room.

"Suit yourself." I say and I collapse back into my pillows, puffing to blow away the stray hairs in my face. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to appreciate all your effort, but… I guess I have no excuse. Some stuff went down and I wasn't comfortable with it." I turn over to face Eduardo, who was sitting by my side. Smiling I shifted over next to him, encircling him in a type of hug. I could feel him stiffen his spine, I was probably invading his personal space, but I could feel the chill from under my covers. I would just warm him up a little bit in return for organising my birthday party and then I'll return and tease him like we usually do.

"It was…"Eduardo paused, trying to think of appropriate wording. Maybe the moonlight has softened him up a little bit. "So hard. We were all terrified you were going to find out or that we would mess it up somehow." Yep. Definitely. I gave Eduardo a little kick with my leg and he immediately gave me shove back with his hand. "What?"

"You're not yourself today." I giggled into my duvet. "You're actually quite nice, not at all like you're normal self. Where's the old Eduard gone? What have you done to him?" I try to open up our usual banter, but instead I'm met by the reproaching gaze of Eduardo.

"So I'm basically a meanie?"

"How could you have not picked up on that yet? Seriously. What other name have I been calling you nearly every day?"

"Jerk, douche, ass, piss brain, dick biscuit dipped in the milk of sadism…to name a few." Eduardo smirked at me and I swear that in that moment I must have banged my head against the headboard or wall or something. Maybe Christopher's last experimental medicine is giving me hallucination side effects. Nathan must have drugged the wine.

But, nonetheless, I feel as the guilt starts to build up inside of me; tumbling and boiling up into my chest. Have…I really been that mean? All I've ever said to Eduardo are these hurtful insults, not the light banter I was alluding to.

"I'm…really sorry Eduardo. I…wow. I really have an awful mouth don't I? What must you think of me?" I mutter in a hushed, guilty voice. I draw closer to Eduardo's form, sitting up to fling my arms around his neck in an apologetic hug. I embrace him tightly, pressing him close to me, yet trying not to show how hard I was shaking, how hot his skin on mine felt, how familiar he smelt or how my heart was pounding against his back. "Do you forgive me?" I whisper into his ear.

"What is there to forgive? I haven't exactly been a gentle man either."

"But I'm the one who's been plain spiteful. I'm sorry." I sadly say, but I can feel Eduardo shaking beneath my hug, almost as if he was trembling. Shaking. Wait. "Are you…..laughing at me?!"

"N…No…" Eduardo barely manages to contain his laughter and it slyly slips past his lips, fuelling my anger on in the instant. It's like throwing gasoline onto a dying fire. Why is Eduardo such a goddamn infuriating, impossible man!?

"You really are a dick biscuit dipped in the milk of douche bagginess and covered with sprinkles of kiss my fabulous ass. You are a miserable tu3rnip in a stupid turnip coat! Sometimes you're so impossible, but sometimes you're like a…a…prince of some sort. A prince from a castle in the sky. And I'm so confused. What do I mean to you? Am I a pest? Or am I…could I…be considered a friend?" I withdraw my embrace from Eduardo, letting out a small 'humph' as I flop back into my pillows. I close my eyes in frustration, too vexed to even bother looking at him.

Instead I just wait for the usual rebuke, something even nastier than I said. Maybe a hard poke in the ribs to tell me how I am, in turn, annoying as hell and should just go and swab the decks. But there is none. I am met by a wall of silence. It rests between us, the moments crawling by as I crack my eyes open to look at Eduardo. Nothing. Not even a smirk. Instead, the pregnant silence drags on; the want for words is almost killing me, but neither of us have the right words to fill the growing void.

Have I stepped over the line this time? Could it be that I finally snapped Eduardo's patience? God's wounds, I think so. Maybe I overloaded Eduardo? Curse my blabbering mouth! Another pang of remorse explodes in my chest and I sit up again, wanting to be level with Eduardo. Should I say sorry? But that would perhaps make it even more tense between us, neither of us used to receiving apologies from the other party, and I would only screw it up even more.

"Eduardo." I hesitantly begin, shuffling over to his back, wrapped in my thick covers. I slowly reach out my hand and place it upon his shoulder. It rests there and I gradually relax it, but the awkward silence still continues to form an abyss. "Eduardo? If you want to, you can just leave me be. If you're… angry at least. I apologise fit my stupid mouth. It's all my fault."

Eduardo, who had turned away, turns back around to face me, and the pale moonlight that trickled through a small window in a far corner of my cabin cast long shadows on his extremely attractive…face…Wait. Whoa. What?

Captain Morgan and Eduardo? They're all turning my mind to their very, very handsome outer appearance. Is this how nineteen year olds feel? Are their minds in such turmoil as I? Is this how a nineteen year old should act around a twenty four year old man? Or is it just me?

I let myself stare at Eduardo. His sift locks of black hair take on iridescent, deep, deep brown shades that help emphasise his creamy, pale skin. His one visible eye is a gorgeous shade of green; the dark green of olives blending in with the brighter hues of emerald green, adding depth and sensitivity. His mouth is well formed and his fingers are long, slender. His eye patch does not take away from his general appearance; rather it adds on to him an air of adventure. I can feel my cheeks becoming mini oven tops as I continue to examine every little detail of Eduardo. I swallow hard, my throat dryer than a summer day, and soon I have to avert my eyes before I start blushing too hard. Damn my complexion and damn my blushes.

"You're really pretty Eduardo. I always get this weird, fuzzy feeling next to you; it's like there's….cotton wool inside of my chest and my heart is cloaked in it. I know this sounds stupid so, please, feel free to ignore my ramblings." I manage to choke out as I feel Eduardo's heavy gaze on my neck. "Actually, I think it would be better if you would say something because at this rate I might as well as talk to the wall."

"You're so oblivious, aren't you?" I hear a bitter laugh as Eduardo finally speaks to me. He traps my gaze in his intense one. There's something in those eyes of his; he thinks he's an encyclopaedia, but he's more of an open diary. His eyes do not lie.

"Is there something I should know about?" I trail off, confused as to what he expects me to know. I bite my lip as I catch his eye and I'm almost sent reeling back in shock.

There's something smouldering deep inside them, something I had never seen before. It's sending electric shocks down my spine. Goosebumps appear on my lines and I feel cold, so very cold, all of a sudden. I can't hold his gaze, dropping it as I stare down at his clenched fists. The element in his look…it was uncontrollable. It was blazing all the barriers between us down. I breathe deeply, the empty breath rattling round my ribcage, tying to quell the rising emotions that threaten to engulf me. What is this feeling? As if I want him badly but….it feels so dirty and wrong.

I raise my eyes from his hands in an attempt to withstand Eduardo. He is like a thunderstorm; terrifying yet beautiful, freeing, wild and untamed. He stirs me up in his tight embrace then drops me like a rag doll. Does it make me a bad person if I enjoy our battle of Cat and Mouse?

"Aleks…I swear." Eduardo growls in his throat as he pins me down onto the bed, swinging his legs over my form. His hands push my arms down and I'm trapped between the bed and him. I squirm uncomfortably underneath him but I can only I stare, frozen, up at him. Eduardo's sharp face stares back. I can feel his hot breath fan over my collarbone.

"You drive me crazy Aleks. You have no…freaking…idea how much I hate you. I hate the way you attract me like we're some damn magnets. I hate the way I'm driven to the point of insanity. But I can't help but revel in everything you are." He snaps at me but I can't help but be paralysed. We're so close. I can feel his body warmth. A few mere millimetres lie between our lips.

"Eduardo…" I stop as I feel a cool hand caress my jawline softly. My eyelids flutter close as I soak in his gentle touch. I can feel his scrutiny upon my face and I open my eyes. Eduardo lets a soft, little half smile spread over his face, seeping into his eyes. My insides melt as I explore this unknown side of Eduardo. Timidly I reach out my own hand, placing it over his as he strokes my cheek. Slowly, not wishing to break the tranquil atmosphere that had settled around us, I trace my hand up his arm and cup his face. His cheekbone is hard, but the skin is softer and colder than I thought it would be. I examine every squared centimetre of his face, trying to burn every detail into my mind. I brush my thumb lightly over his cheekbone, following his temple then over his closed eyelids.

I love the way Eduardo had the longest eyelashes I have ever seen on a man but his angular cheekbones help him pull that off. I love his adorable facial expression; his eyes closed and his lips turned up at the corners. He looks gentle, meek, and peaceful. The usual arrogance and dominance that plays on his features has melted away.

I move my hand along, passing through his thick hair, I reach the edge of his eye patch. I hesitate for a moment, faltering in my touch as I fiddle with a stray thread. I send a questioning look at Eduardo raising one eyebrow in a quizzical motion.

"It's okay." He whispers to me, once again stroking my cheeks, dancing around the edge of my lips.

Regaining my composure, I work my fingers under the strap and gently lift the useless thing off of him. He does holds his breath for a moment, but he does not protest; just stares back down at me, silently urging me on to remove it. He closes his eyes as I reveal the entire face.

I put the eye patch next to my dress on the floor, dropping it casually over the side of the bed. I stare deeply into Eduardo's hypnotising gaze. He's opened his eyes and now I realise how stupid Eduardo is for hiding his Mordor blood in the dark. With the eye patch on, he's damn attractive but without it he's breath taking. I love both of his bi-coloured eyes but I had often heard his lament over their stunning colouration. I hate it. I hate the way he holds them against himself. They're just so damn pretty and unique; something that makes Eduardo…well, Eduardo.

"Your eyes are beautiful, anyone ever tell you that?" I murmur under my breath as I trace along the outline of one. The golden eye shares the same gleam as that of a tiger's. It's cutting into souls and mesmerising the predators. But the green one is like leaves during springtime, sharing the same soothing effect of a garden in bloom. Yet both take my breath away. I feel as though I could lose myself in them.

"No." He replies back to me. "But since you said it, it makes the waiting worthwhile."

The silence takes over again, but this time we have no need to fill it with words. Our movements supply all that needs to be communicated. The light brush of a hand there, the press of a palm here or the trace of a finger. We map out each other's faces, trying to remember how every little aspect felt like. A significant look from Eduardo can send me reeling over the edge as I thaw from all these swirling, conflicting ideas and primitive emotions. I want him to touch me, I want me to touch him but I feel old me fight back; wanting to slap away his hand and shot out of the door. But I tune out the old me in a flood of emotions that overpower my mind and instincts. Want. Admiration. Love.

Eduardo lifts up my other free hand and ogresses the wrist gently to his lips, but his look never leaves my face. He wants to see my reaction. I bite down on my bottom lip and avert my gaze to try not to let the butterflies in my stomach turn into the whole zoo. But a small sigh escapes and I blush for modesty's sake.

He feels that I like, because he kisses my wrist again and again, leaving a trail of tingling sensation down my hand as he ventures lower down. Soon he reaches down to my elbow and stops, lifting his face up to me again. I cock my head a little to the side, asking him non-verbally why he stopped.

Slowly he sits up and smiles, stretching himself up like a cat as I reluctantly let him go, The passion inside my belly is only stirred and Eduardo is intentionally teasing me, pulling away when he knows I want more.

"You liked that didn't you?" He purrs; a smirk appearing. I do a small nod because what is the use in denying? My embarrassingly red face, the supernovas in my mind and my positive reaction tells all.

"But you liked it too." I mirror Eduardo's smirk, pulling him back closer to me by his shirt collar. "You liked it as much as I did." I close my eyes and plant a soft kiss on his cheek. I move back, just a split hair's breadth away before kissing his other cheek. I deposit the little kisses on his eyelids, the tip of his nose and one final one on his forehead. I linger a little, before touching my forehead against his. I can see his beautiful eyes directly opposite mine, can feel is skin against mine and smell his familiar scent; a cool mix of salt, water yet a faint hint of my own scent intermingled. With every little interaction I'm driven crazier and crazier about Eduardo. I feels his hands on my waist, the pressure of his chest against mine and the thumps from both of our silly hearts.

"Bet I can make you even more…amused." Eduardo breathes out, a true smile now replacing the smirk He slips out of his coat and let it fall, discarded, onto the floor.

"Let's see." I reply. I put my hands against his chest, like Morwen in Yamato told me to if the situation ever arose. I can feel the hand muscles beneath the thin white shirt he had on. A feeling of appreciation rises in me yet my eyes widen at how forward I am. What if Eduardo doesn't like this? I snatch my hands away like I'd been scalded. I cover my face with my hands and scrunch up my eyes.

"Don't look at me." I say from under my hands. "I'm so embarrassed."

"Why?" Eduardo asks and I hear amusement lace his tone.

"I…," I gulp "I….I…put my….hands against your…" I finish, unsure how to phrase this.

"My chest." He concludes and I nod.

"I'm sorry!"

"But why? You didn't do anything wrong…I think I was enjoying that." He says and I look up at him, uncurling from my ball of embarrassment.

"You…did?!" I yelp in surprise.

"Yes."

"Oh."

"You're such an idiot." Eduardo chuckles as he descends upon the sensitive skin of my neck. He begins to shower it with chaste, fluttering butterfly kisses. As he reaches my collarbone he gives a little nip, sending shock waves spiralling through my body, I let out a little sigh of pleasure and move my hands up behind his shoulder blades. My instincts take over, my mind no longer controlling my movements. God damn it but for a navigator he is quite well-toned and that does not help my drugged mind. I can feel Eduardo smiling into the kisses as he continues giving me hickies around my throat.

"I told you." He says. He plants a final one on my exposed shoulder. He smiles down at me and I smile back, enjoying the crackling tensions between us.

"Indeed you did, but this was a bet I do not mind to lose," I drape my hands around him in a semi hug.

"But I think we can do this better." Eduardo teases me, sliding his gaze down to my lips. My eyes widened as I momentarily went into shock. My first kiss would be Eduardo? But my brain was hazy, my heart a battering ram against my ribcage and I think that this would be the closest thing I ever got to being in love. It was sweet that Eduardo was asking my permission and I knew that if anything…unexpected happened Eduardo would stand by me.

"So, do you agree?" He asks.

"Yes….if you don't mind…." I squeezed out, in turn flicking my gaze down at his lips. I feel as though I'm letting something go and a new, darker me is emerging. She's drawn like a moth to a flame by Eduardo.

"Better get rid of this first though." Eduardo remarks as he takes off his shirt, sliding it off over his head. He leaves me with an ample view to admire his awesome physique; his smooth skin stretched over muscles, I reach out and gently trace the outline, exploring his body.

"You like?" He growls as he lowers himself back down again. I gulp and nod; my throat dry all of a sudden. I watch as Eduardo leans closer, until he tenderly grazes his lips over mine. It leaves a fleeting expression of warmth and an exciting tingle on my lips as Eduardo gives me those kisses over and over again. Little bursts of happiness explode in my brain and my stomach is the entire animal kingdom squashed together. I close my eyes with bliss and let myself drown in this amazing, transcendental plane of existence. Then Eduardo lets one of his little kisses drag on for a few more moments, pressing harder into my lips as I press back. My eyes fly open as his smooth lips left mine and the suddenly cold air stole his warmth away.

He kissed me.

He actually kissed me.

"That was my first kiss." I whisper up to Eduardo. I look up and I'm surprised to see a grin stretched over his features.

"Really?"

"Stop. Of course it was. I guess I waited for someone I would be comfortable with sharing it to come along…and here you are." Eduardo is grinning so hard I can see a dimple in his right cheek appear. Eduardo has a dimple? That's adorable.

"So I guess I'm special."

"Yes. In a way."

For a moment we were suspended in that position; just us looking at each other, drunk in each other's presence. Savouring how we look, from our tangled hair, darkened eyes, heaving chests and interlocked fingers to our heavy breaths filling up my room. Then we were plunging back into reality and we were desperately pulling each other closer.

Eduardo cupped my face in his hand. I closed my eyes just in time for our lips to collide together and the entire galaxy to explode inside my brain. His lips were warm and soft, giving and demanding. He gently nit down on my bottom lip and I gasp, not knowing what else I would do. My mouth is filled by his tongue exploring me. It was a complete meltdown, but to me it felt like there was something beyond pure physical attraction. Like it was love.

Urgently we kissed, our legs, fingers, lips interlocked as we faded from our world into a dimension where only we existed. It practically fizzed with electricity around us as we broke apart only to be attracted together again. His lips pressed into mine and I pressed back, my hands tussling his hair and his hands around my waist.

"Aleks." Eduardo managed to say as we broke apart for the final time, both of us gasping for breath.

"Yes…" I ventured out carefully.

"I'm late for my shift." He said and I burst out in peals of laughter.