Chapter 60
Takeoff
48° angle to the left, straight for 0.8 meter, 87° to the right, straight for 1.2 meters, 46° on the left, twelve staircases to climb on 3.12 meters, a door to open, 137° turn to the left, straight for 4.3 meters, small jump to avoid a wooden box, 3.9 more meters straight, another door, 90° turn on the left, 4.2 meters straight, a jump over the railing-
"You wanna run away ?"
"No... no... not at all..."
"You sure ?" Ace shifted his weight on one leg, blocking Eli's view of her only route of escape. "Because you look like you want to."
The girl's heart leaped out and back in her chest as her dazed eyes met his. Like a hand gripping on her, they brought her fugitive mind in the storage room, down the stairs, back inside of the girls' dorms, in front of Ace, into her head.
The black-eyed young man lifted his hands to hold her arms and Eli briskly took a step back. For a few seconds, Ace's lifted hands hovered in the air while he stared at the chronicler, grave as his eyes pierced though her. Silence covered the two pirates, and with a deep and long sigh, his arms loosely fell to his sides.
It was a strange sensation, really. Eli didn't want to flee; yet her body yearned for the wind and open air. She didn't want to leave him, yet her mind longed for the thrill of a race. Now looking at her feet, the chronicler clenched a fist to her pained chest.
She didn't want to flee, but her body wanted to run.
More than anything, her slender legs wanted to carry the girl wherever they could while her heart would beat at the rhythm of her strides. Her body wanted to feel her hair fluttering wildly, take off the ground and fly. It wanted to run like she always had, along with the wind, light and free.
Her freedom was always Eli's most precious treasure. As long as she could remember, she had always fought for it, and she became a pirate because she wanted to be free. At that moment, however, as the wooden walls surrounding her seemed to get closer, the girl's mind was suffocating, captive within her fear.
The girls' dorms felt so exiguous then, exiguous and unfamiliar. It was her bedroom, though, and on her left, just a step away, was her bed. Across from her, against the wall, was the desk she shared with Nami, and she could picture their bookcase as well as the chest of drawers containing her clothes.
It was her bedroom and, somehow, having Ace standing on its floor decayed the usual cozy atmosphere into a dangerous one.
Eli wanted to feel serene, though. She wanted to relish his presence and welcome the man she loved inside of the privacy of her bedroom as well as inside of her heart. But the fear stirring in the very midst of the pleasure she should have felt spoiled any prospect of happiness.
"I'm... sorry..." Eli said, quietly, unable to mouth anything else than this empty apology.
"I don't understand." Ace sighed running a hand through his hair. "How can you be so tricky ? You take my hand and one minute later you want to run away. I'm getting tired of this, Eli."
"I'm sorry-" she repeated almost inaudibly.
"I don't care !" he said a bit loud, his voice vibrating painfully under her skin. "Tell me why you keep pushing me away. That's what I wanna hear."
The sharp words and exasperated tone of his voice felt like blazing pins and needles piercing through her swelling heart and Eli was encaged within her doubts and fears. She breathed febrilely and pushed her fist further into her chest as if to catch her heart with her hand and calm its erratic throbs.
"I want more, Eli..."
Ace's words replayed in the girl's head and the air around her grew thinner.
"I want to be so much more."
His voice was so loving when the young man had spoken this wishful declaration. Somewhere, hearing it, the chronicler knew that it was what she wanted as well. It was exactly what she wanted. Eli couldn't even have hoped for something as wonderful as these words coming from the mouth of the man she loved. Affectionate and hopeful, they were more than what she ever dared to wish for.
Then why ? Why did she want to run so desperately ?
Instead of feeling like a release, the barb-wired net of words swathed around her while her swelling fear didn't stop expanding throughout her body. It was now titillating the muscles of her legs, making them twitch and tingle. And in her mind, thousands voices were yelling, compelling the girl to snap the tight bonds, break free and run.
"I'm scared..." Eli said feverishly over the bewildered screams vibrating inside of her head. "I'm so scared."
"Why ?" A deep breath and the flame user leaned forward, trying to look at the girl's face shielded by her short, untamed hair. "I won't hurt you."
The pledge was sweet and so was Ace's voice. They should have been reassuring, but Eli had no idea what she was afraid of. Him, herself, the uncertain future, the change...? She could feel a danger looming over her and furious cries were desperately trying to make her run away from it.
Even though her wish was within her hand's reach, she wanted to run away from it, feeling that the moment her fingertips would touch her dream, it would wither.
Despite her deplorable state of distress, Eli dared to brave the dangers of the pirate's dark eyes, voicelessly asking help from the man she loved. The young man straightened up as she did. He was half a step away from her and, looking at him, a feeble trace of warmth lit up inside of her heart; Ace was one of the few people that were tall enough for her not to look down on them. Standing face to face, their eyes were almost level.
It's going to be all right...
It was faint. It was barely audible among all the screams in her mind, but one single voice was pushing the girl forward. It was like the faint glimmer of a lighthouse in the midst of a raging sea. Eli drew a slight bit of courage from it, enough courage to remain here, to face him.
She would not run.
As her green eyes held firm on his, Eli let her arm fall to her side. She opened her mouth, but the girl had yet to succeed in voicing her faint resolve, and under the young man's unwavering gaze, already, she felt her courage growing weak, her knees too. Squeezing her eyelids shut, Eli swallowed air and tried to hear, once more, the voice that had vanished faster than it came.
"I just want to be with you," Ace said. "Isn't that what you want ?"
His soothing voice reached her rushing mind and Eli opened her eyes again. Ace was gazing at her kindly, comprehensively, as if he already knew the answer, and at this instant, she could hear it again, clearly, just like when she was drowning with him, a warm sensation fluttering inside of her...
Hope.
It arose above all the rest, above the shadows and the screams. It told her that there was nothing to be scared of, that the man standing before her was strong enough for the both of them and, slowly, the dark mist of fears began to disperse.
Her eyes fixed on his, Eli nodded her head shyly.
"Do you want me to touch you ?" Ace asked quietly, sliding the large palm of his hand up along her arm as he spoke.
A shiver ran on her skin at the unexpected touch, but after all, that was what she wanted, that was all she ever needed. His touch, his tender touch and affection, his love...
And again, Eli nodded slowly, feeling Ace's warm skin trailing up her own.
"Do you want me to hold you ?"
His dark eyes were diving into hers, deep inside of her as Ace got closer and settled his hand to her nape while the other rested on her waist, gently. Eli let herself be carried by his familiar warmth as it covered her gradually... tenderly. She was anxious, but the screaming had been hushed, and even if she did not seem to comprehend completely what was happening, she had faith in the hopeful sensation softly growing inside of her, whispering to her over and over, louder and louder, that everything would be alright.
And she had faith in him. He wasn't dangerous, he was strong and warm; he was affectionate and protective. At that moment, Eli felt that Ace would never hurt her.
"Do you want me to... kiss you ?"
His voice barely floated to her ears as Eli was completely mesmerized by the depth of his eyes. Raven black reflecting jade green, Ace peered at her, waiting for her answer.
She was ready now. Ready to give him everything as she asked the same from him. A kiss... That was more than she had ever given him. Eli got rid of her virginity without a second thought, but her lips... Her lips were the last thing that she had managed to keep from him, from everyone, because her lips were where her heart stood.
"I'm salty..." she said almost inaudibly, feeling apprehension squeezing her heart tightly.
"I don't care." Ace slowly raised his face and laid a kiss on her forehead.
The contact was so soft that it sedated Eli's mind. Her faint train of thoughts melted away as if dissolved under his warm lips. Hypnotized, the girl searched for Ace's eyes while he kept kissing her face tenderly, her skin gradually going numb with every soft kisses he laid.
Her temples...
Slowly, Eli lifted her hands and splayed her fingers on his bare skin, her pulse throbbing in her fingertips, or was it his...?
Her eyes...
The world around them had vanished and Eli was in a place where only she and Ace existed; a secret place where the only sounds heard where those of his breaths and his kisses. She could even hear the soft brushing of his lips on her skin, the rustling of her hair as his fingers caressed her tousled mane.
Her cheeks...
Her jade orbs were following Ace as he wavered from a side of her face to the other, desire thudding exponentially stronger in her lips each time his passed by hers. In her chest, Eli felt her love burning with passion, and it was then, as her insides trembled with excitation, that she understood. Her want of him wasn't a parasite of her sentiment; they were one. Her lust and affection intertwined in perfect harmony; that was what her love for him was.
Every portion of her face extinguished under the ghost of his touch, except for her lips whose sensitivity kept growing as Ace's mouth crept closer from hers. With every last of those soft kisses, without saying a word, Eli's mind heard Ace telling his affection for her, his desire... his love.
The corner of her lips...
Eli's body was nothing more than a pair of lips where her heart was throbbing with force. Her body had vanished like everything else. She was his, totally, completely... heart and soul.
Her hard heartbeats came to a stop when she saw Ace licking his lips thoughtfully, for she knew what would happen next. But the young man had a moment of hesitation then. He remained immobile, something warm yet unsure glimmering in his eyes, the young man peered at Eli as if he wanted one last confirmation.
His hot breath was caressing the sensitive skin of her carnal mouth and the girl had no doubts, yet, no matter how much she yearned for that kiss, Eli couldn't find her voice to tell him. The voiceless girl swallowed hard and pushed her lips feebly in his direction, letting her body speak the want she couldn't mouth.
The flame user watched the faint movement of those full lips, and, at last, at long last, he pressed his against hers.
With this kiss, Eli felt her dull self lightening up. Just like her lovely pearl, cold and dead until a warm touch would give a breath of life to it, as Ace's hot lips clung on hers, she felt herself glowing, radiating, while a burning sensation arose from her chest and washed over her to the very tips of her toes.
With this kiss, Eli felt more alive than ever before.
Spellbound by Ace's inky eyes, she heard excitation spring inside of her, yet her lips were inert as the girl was completely dazed by the divine contact. Her heart started pounding again, faster, stronger, while her mind was solely focused on his lips' every slight and delicate move.
The young man was brushing the keen and pristine skin, untouched until then; did he realize how much she was his at that moment ?
Too soon, Ace pulled away with a deep intake of air. He pressed his hot forehead on hers, her bangs softening as they soaked in his warmth; and while the flame user's dark eyes were gazing acutely into her green orbs, the pirate girl was greedily staring at his lips.
At that moment, Eli was but a slave of her want. Her body shaken with want and need, the drumming of her heart caused impatience to shoot up in her enchanted mind; she wanted more.
Infatuated, the girl drifted in his direction to recall the delicious sensation that she already missed, and with this second contact, clumsy and hurried, a low and encouraging groan resonated through Ace's throat.
His half lidded eyes were smoldering as the flame user intensified the delightful movements of his lips. He cradled the back of her head tighter and the pressure on her mouth grew firmer. The hand that was holding her waist moved on her back and gently pulled her closer to him.
His body was hot and, feeling hard flesh and bones pressed against her, Eli thrilled with pleasure. Immersing herself in the moment, she closed her eyes at last. It was so pure, so ravishing...
But that wasn't enough, she wanted more, Eli wanted everything.
While her lips moved feebly against his, her delicate hands crept up his bare chest, the pearl she was wearing around her wrist glowing softly as it rolled on the heated skin of the young man. With a long moan, she plunged her slender fingers into his lusciously warm hair. Soaking in the warm silkiness, the girl let her fingertips graze his scalp firmly, liking the sounds her touch aroused from the raven-haired pirate.
They were one. Sharing the same breaths, sharing the same feelings, their hearts pounding against each other's; the two pirates hardly noticed as the Merry was suddenly shaken, making them lose their balance. The lovers slowly fell toward the bed, in the same motion as every item and piece of furniture in the room.
As they roughly hit the mattress, the young man kissed her with more force and so went her heartbeats. Eli was drowning in an ocean of pleasure like never before. His lips, his hot lips, they were fierce, and his arms, his strong arms, she was loosing herself in those arms.
Panting against the young man's mouth, her breaths grew harder as his hot fingertips dug into the skin of her waist. He was holding her tight, so tight, was he afraid that she'd run away ? Slowly parting her eyelids, Eli's eyes instantly met with Ace's, and the sudden rush of energy resulting from that encounter further awakened her intoxicated mind.
It was Ace, and he was kissing her !
He, who was her best friend, her crewmate, he was absolutely kissing her. Her, the old friend, the long and skinny, inexperienced, boyish, pirate girl. Fragmented and overflowing were Eli's thoughts. They widened her eyes and benumbed her lips against his.
"Eli...?"
And now he was saying her name with a voice so hot and lecherous that the hoarse whisper floating through her ears made her quiver in his arms. Voiceless, Eli was stiff; did he realize what they were doing ? Was he aware that he was kissing her ? It didn't feel wrong though, rather, it felt fantastically good, but still, it was... highly disturbing.
Softly, Ace sucked Eli's bottom lip, eliciting a soft gasp from the green-eyed girl.
"You want me to stop ?" he ventured.
His mouth still brushing on hers as he spoke, it looked like the young man had forced the words out. There was hesitance in his voice and reluctance in his eyes. He, the arrogant, brave, and strong pirate, he was apprehensive, almost shy, and somehow, that thought cleared the girl's mind.
Ace was kissing her and Eli felt that she was the luckiest girl in the world.
"Never," she murmured, a little smirk on her lips as she pressed them against his.
The flame user's bare restraints seemed to shatter at the sound of her voice. With a groan, his large hand slid along her back; sweat building on her skin upon the path of his fingers, whose temperature increased tremendously. In his eyes, an unambiguous glow smoldered; he wanted her.
Unable to withstand his burning gaze, Eli closed hers, and once again, plunged into bright darkness.
Ace's lips were lavishing hers and the girl followed the motion sluggishly; pressing his bottom lip between hers, caressing her parted mouth on his and, as she brushed his wet and heated skin with her own, Eli felt that it had the most exquisite and intoxicating flavor she had ever tasted.
An entrancing melody of moans and erratic breaths rose from their intertwined bodies as the kisses grew more passionate, and Eli was nothing but a needful body. Yearning for more, a supplicating whine left her throat as she held his raven hair tighter, feeling that she needed those exciting kisses more than she needed to breath. Ace inclined the girl's head to the side and she docilely complied, feeling her heartbeat throbbing and burning between her legs as he opened his mouth against hers and slipped his warm tongue inside. Craving for that thrill, she instantly pushed hers for a divine contact, which sent tremors of delight throughout her lustful body.
It was here, at the peak of her desire, that the sound of someone yelling their names, somehow, managed to reach her ears.
Despite her wide opened eyes, it took Eli a few seconds to grasp what her vision was showing her mind; her arms stretched out, her palms opened, and further, on the other side of the bedroom, Ace sprawled on the remains of the chest of drawers.
Eh ?
Apparently she had pummeled the young man away...
"Sor... sorry..." Eli stammered looking at Ace who was rubbing his head with a wincing face. "I... I didn't mean to-"
"ACE ! ELI !" The screaming voice of Luffy was closing in and, hearing the doorknob grating, Eli jumped and ran up the stairs at the speed of light.
"WhatdoyouwantLuffy !" she sputtered in a breath, barely understanding her own words.
"Eli, you gotta come ! It's starting !" Luffy said cheerfully, before looking at the girl, puzzlement on his childish face. "Are you alright ? You're sooooo red !"
"Justwokeup."
Luffy grinned and, without waiting for her approval, grabbed the girl's arm and dragged her briskly out of the enticing bedroom where an even more enticing young man remained. In a reflex, Eli jerked her head over her shoulder at the door, hoping to see Ace appearing, but Ace didn't appear as Luffy kept pulling her until they arrived on the deck.
"Look !" Luffy yelled. "It's like the hugest whirlpool of all time !"
Eli might have mumbled something back since, apparently satisfied, Luffy ran to his favorite spot, the Merry's figurehead.
Dazed, Eli stumbled over to the side of the ship and leaned on the railing wearily to support her jelly legs. Absently, she ran her hands slowly through her bangs. The interruption was so sudden that the girl wasn't sure where she was. Turning around, she looked blankly at the gigantic whirlpool the Merry was in, but her mind was still in the bedroom, she could still feel Ace's lips on hers...
She brought her hand to her face and brushed her fingertips lightly against her lips where his warmth slowly faded away.
A kiss, her very first kiss.
The frantic cries of the pirates barely reached her ears as Eli was obsessed with the recollection of the sublime moment. A colossal sea king came into the corner of her field of vision, yet she didn't see it. Ace's lips were so deliciously warm... Eli closed her eyes feeling all of her skin tingling with excitation, impatient to see him again, to kiss him again.
to be continued
Betaed by Fox MC.
The sixth month anniversary of this fic was yesterday (23rd of September). Six months since I started this adventure and, from that day, you have been more and more to follow it.
I didn't plan it, really, I just noticed that yesterday when I was blogging about my revision campaign. I think that it is quite coincidental.
During precisely six months, Eli has been beating around the bush and you read her every move , thought, and feeling. You were annoyed at her ignorance and resistance against her own sentiments for Ace.
And now, six months later, you witnessed the two lovers' first kiss.
Obviously, I hope you enjoyed every last of these words. I have been working really hard on those. I started writing it about two months ago and have changed so many things, so many times, that it almost feels like I had written ten versions of this chapter.
Review please. Review and tell me if your heart beat a little faster. Tell me if you felt the tiny trace of warmth catching you from the screen. Tell me if the world around you was somehow quietened as your eyes glided upon those words.
As you can see I am very eager to read your reactions (I wish the story could reach the 500 reviews with this one, up to the challenge ?).
See you soon~