Chéri

Ch.10: Dead Men Get No Tail

"That was... a lot," said Jackson, exhausted.

"Felt good though," said Leigh with an intense smile.

Leigh threw her sheets off her and then began putting back on her clothes.

"Can I ask you a question?" said Jackson, still under the covers.

"That's already a question."

"Oh, um, sorry. Can I ask another one?"

"Sure," Leigh chuckled.

"Why, um, why do you like me?" asked Jackson, getting a bit red, "I mean, I'm really glad you like me, but I don't understand why. What, um, what is good about me?"

Leigh paused in the middle of buttoning up her shirt.

"Are you being insecure again?" she asked.

"What? No! I'm not being insecure," said Jackson defensively.

"It sounds like you are," she said, fastening her belt, "And you know that I like you."

"...but why?" asked Jackson.

Leigh sighed. "Listen, baby, if I got introspective about every decision I've ever made, I'd never get anything done."

Jackson looked at her with bashful eyes.

Leigh sighed again. "Alright kid, I like you because of how eager you are to please, and how your cheeks light up when you're embarrassed, and how your hair looks with little beads of saltwater in it, and how you always look up at the world with those big brown eyes, and how you look at me with them too. And when you look at me, there's nothing I want to do more than to grab you up and protect you from everything evil out there."

Leigh crossed her arms and blew a stray strand of hair out of her face. Jackson's cheeks went slightly red.

"You are so sweet," exclaimed Jackson.

"What? No, I'm not," said Leigh.

"Yes, you are! You act really mean and tough but what you just said was really sweet."

Leigh's mouth hung open slightly. She stared death in Jackson's direction. "You're not going to mention this to anyone."

"Alright, I won't- I mean, aye Captain."

Leigh promptly changed the subject by taking Jackson shopping. They visited various markets in the heart of Havana, all the while still trying their best to stay inconspicuous. Leigh wore a scarf and bandana to cover most of her face. Jackson wasn't on any wanted lists, so he didn't need to disguise himself. Leigh also hid her weapons and spoke Spanish for the both of them.

Jackson could not get over his excitement. His entire life, he had never left Jamaica. Now, in a little less than a month, he had seen Nassau and Havana, both in the far corners of the Caribbean. And he was in the lucky position of spending almost a whole week in Havana! He was ecstatic. He picked up items everywhere they went, from fresh fruit to fine clothing to spiced liquor. Jackson had a bit of money, but Leigh insisted on paying. The little coin he did have came from what Leigh paid him, so it was all from the same coffer anyway.

Jackson was eyeing a particularly vibrant set of tangerines.

"You should teach me some new languages," he said, "I only know a bit of Spanish and Telugu."