Chapter 8
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The two adults left the room at a slower pace and started their trek to the deck.
They walked in silence until it was interrupted by Reid, "so, you found a large lake when you were a kid? You must like-."
Giving a humorless laugh Luciano interrupted the doctor. "I wish I would have been able to search the forest, or even have a bear stuffed animal, but father never thought that stuffed animals belonged to Grimaldi's, we shouldn't play with toys, and you know what, I've never set foot in a forest."
Reid's eyes widened, "but you said-."
Luciano laughed at the look on Reid's face. "Yes well, let other pens dwell on guilt and misery."
Luciano ran ahead leaving Reid to follow.
They emerged from below the deck and stood in silence. The stars and the moon twinkling down on them gave the deck an unearthly glow. A small gust of wind blew through and Luciano couldn't help the small shudder that ran through his body.
"Here." Reid was next to him holding out his jacket; glancing down to himself he realized he must have forgotten his at some point in their adventure. Grabbing the offered jacket he threw it over his shoulders.
"Thank you Dr. Oliver." Shrugging the man walked over to the railings, Luciano noticed it was about the same spot as he had seen him in the previous day.
"Yeah well didn't want you to catch a cold, daddy would probably have me slain." Luciano narrowed his eyes in confusion, and walked to stand next to the confusing man.
"Why do you do that? And tell me the truth this time. Why can't you just do something good and accept a thank you, instead of ruining it by insulting people?" Reid shook his head and glowered into the water below them.
"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil— a natural defect, which not even the best education, can overcome."
Luciano's face remained fixed in a frown, "so what you're trying to tell me, Reid, is we all have some evil tendencies, and yours is your inability to be human?"
Sighing he glanced back at Luciano.
"No, I simply am unable to suffer fools. I feel that thank yous are unnecessary." Indicating to the jacket he continued "I simply handed you a jacket because you were cold, I didn't do it because I expected something in return, not even your words. Our world is becoming a needy society, and I am certainly not."
Exhaling he glanced back into the water.
"And that is your natural defect, you need praised, you need coddled, you need someone there that can defend you against harsh words. You are so unconfident." Looking back up Reid met Luciano's eyes.
"You are too good a person to be so self-doubting."
Raising a hand he brushed his finger down Luciano's cheek. Feeling the soft appendage touching his cheek Luciano swallowed. Reid's face seemed to be moving closer and closer to Luciano and he found he was also leaning forward. Cupping Luciano chin he pulled him more rapidly and their lips crashed together. Luciano's eyes widened and then closed involuntarily. He gave a small chocked sob and then wrapped his arms around Reid's neck. Reid's hand that had been cradling Luciano's chin moved to the back of his neck and the other hand moved around his waist.
Ending the kiss Reid pulled his hands from around Luciano, but the young blond gripped his neck tighter. Opening his eyes he glared at the slightly taller man.
"So that was it? You kiss me and what else? Are you going to act like this didn't happen?"
Reid cupped Luciano's face and pulled him in for another fast kiss. "I've wanted to do that since the day I met you, I don't think I could just forget it happened." This earned him a wide smile from Luciano.
Pulling the smaller man towards him he wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled him to his chest. The leaned against the railing and stared at the moon. Silence still around them only being interrupted by the occasional yell from a passenger on another deck, or the slap of a wave against the ship.
Luciano glanced around and found luckily the deck was empty.
The silence was broken by Reid. "I'm standing on the moon, with nothing left to do, with a lonely view of heaven, but I'd rather be with you."
"That's very beautiful."
"My mother use to say it when she was missing my father."
Looking over his shoulder Luciano asked a very personal question, "what happened to your parents? You don't have to tell me if you don't wish too."
Staring at the glowing orb a moment he then released Luciano from his hold.
"It's not a terribly exciting story, but I suppose if you want to know. My father was killed in a mine explosion when I was 7 and my mother died from pneumonia just 3 year later."
"How does Professor Hughes fit into the story?"
"My father was part of a prominent family, and went to Harvard. One of his professors was Bob Hughes. But my father met my mother, who was from an inferior family. They married and my father disowned. Of course he was forced to leave Harvard, he couldn't afford it. Soon after that I was born. And like I said, when I was 7 my father was killed, and then my mother passed. Bob Hughes had remained a family friend, and when my parents perished he took me in. I suppose Professor Hughes saw potential in my father, and he later saw it in me."
"Well that was very nice of him."
"Hm, yes it was."
They fell into silence and the clock chimed. Looking towards it Luciano found that he had missed dinner. He couldn't help but break into a laughing fit. He had missed dinner, and that could only show badly on his father.
"What?"
"I missed dinner, and service; and I don't care."
Luciano pulled Reid down onto a bench and he gripped both of his hands.
"I feel free, freer than I've felt in a very long time. You were right; I just lived the life everyone had planned out for me. I was just my father's puppet, but I won't be that anymore."
They continued to talk long into the night, only parting when the clock shown 2 in the morning.
Reid stood up and brushed his trousers off, "Well Mr. Grimaldi I do believe it is getting late, and we should get some sleep."
Luciano stood up and rubbed his hands together awkwardly. Walking forward Reid grabbed the hands and pulled Luciano to him. He gave him another deep kiss on the lips and then stepped backwards.
Nodding his head to the stairs he started walking towards them. Luciano followed while touching his lips, he could still taste Reid.
They reached the split in the hall way, Luciano slid off the jackets still hanging from his shoulders and handed it back to Reid. Opening his mouth to thank him Reid gave him a glowering look.
"Thank you for a lovely evening Reid." Leaning forward he kissed Reid on the cheek.
"Good night Luciano." They both made their way to their rooms.