Chéri

Ch.7: Davy Jones' Loveseat

It wasn't nearly as exciting, but Jackson was happy being back in his regular clothes. Leigh had helped him out of his corset, but Jackson had done the rest of the changing himself.

The two hadn't talked much since their kiss. Jackson hoped it was just the exhaustion of a long night and a mission gone bad. Even despite the exhaustion though, he couldn't fall asleep. His heart raced and his mind lingered on her. Her icy eyes, cool lips, the subtle pink scars upon her face, the way her fingertips brushed against his thigh before lifting his leg up; it was entrancing to him. In many ways, it was unbelievable. Leigh was this magnificent, commanding, unyielding woman who never showed weakness. She could kill Jackson in every way imaginable and knew just about everything there was to know about the world. She'd even been around the world once or twice.

So, what did she want with me? thought Jackson. Why had she held me in her arms and kissed me? What do I have to offer?

Jackson tried not to think any more about it. He closed his eyes and attempted to force himself asleep. After a while, the exhaustion set in and he drifted off.

He woke in mid-morning to someone shaking his cot.

"మిత్రమా, మేల్కొనే సమయం ఇది ,1" said Mani.

"దయచేసి, నాకు నిద్ర ఉంది,2" replied Jackson groggily.

Mani stepped back in shock. "మీరు తెలుగులో మాట్లాడారు!3"

"What? No, I didn't," said Jackson, rubbing his eyes.

"It seems you're picking up a bit of Telugu," said Jiayi, who was fastening her boots a couple cots away.

Jackson stared in disbelief at her. It was too early for this.

"It's only because this guy keeps talking at me," said Jackson, "I reckon it's unavoidable with how much he says."

Mani looked indignant. "నేను మీతో మాట్లాడటం ఇష్టం కాబట్టి మాత్రమే.4"

Jackson sighed. "Yeah, I like talking to you too, Mani. I didn't mean it."

Jackson sleepily rolled out of bed and started getting ready for work. He was quickly left behind as Jiayi and Mani shuffled upstairs with the rest of the crew. He rushed through putting on his boots and then sprinted up after them. Above deck, the Captain was yelling out orders in English, Mandarin, and Spanish. When Jackson emerged from the lower decks, her eyes narrowed and focused right on him.

"Jackson, you're late."

"Oh, um, sorry, I-" he stammered.

"My quarters, now."

Leigh gave out a few more orders in Spanish before turning back towards the stern. She marched off into her cabin, leaving the door hanging open behind her.

Jackson tried to avoid the prying eyes of the crew as he followed her in.

"Sorry Leigh, it was just a heavy night and I-" Jackson said, his face red.

Leigh closed the door behind him. "I'm your Captain, you'll refer to me as such."

Jackson blinked. "Oh yes, right. Sorry, Captain."

"Since we didn't retrieve your brother, that means you're our sole alchemist. I'd like you to start working with Kingsley immediately on the Infinity Equation."

"Oh," said Jackson, taken aback.

"Is there a problem?" asked Leigh.

"No ma'am."