Her Eyes

Fifty One

Soft jazz, coupled with the warm interior and light chatter, created a calming atmosphere within the luxurious restaurant illuminated with warm lighting from the chandeliers high above and rich colors of red and green for the passing festive season that was still in spirit.

Nikolaos and Esmae ate an array of dishes. From albodigas to paella, gazpacho, and turron for dessert.

Dinner was very filling.

With the option of alcohol to help settle the many dishes, Nikolaos had two glasses of Sherry while Esmae only managed to finish half of her first glass before the taste grew too strong for her.

There they stood by the railing of the restaurant rooftop, overlooking the city of Bilbao at night. Headlights of cars and public buses lit the streets, the few bikers bold enough to bike in the cold weather whizzing past the pedestrians who wished to have a chilling night stroll. Many restaurants and businesses were still open, their warm interior lighting welcoming those who wished to warm their bodies while enjoying a nice meal.

Esmae cautiously held onto the railing, aware of the cold that snipped and bit. The winds laughed loudly as always, though they came in waves and didn't affect her as much as they used to. She'd only realized it now, but the winds were babies. Young children that knew no boundaries or regulations and purely wanted to have fun. They were reckless, but when their childish giggles hit Esmae's ears, she couldn't help but forgive them for the recklessness they constantly caused.

"I hope you're not too cold, moró," Nikolaos whispered in her ear, wrapping his arms around her, his coat on her shoulders as he kept her close. "No, I'm okay," she replied softly before resuming her watch over the city. The humans – people – looked so small from the rooftop of the restaurant.

Nikolaos sighed, his breath turning white with the chill of the cold air. "I feel so toasty," she whispered, leaning into Nikolaos' hold. The man chuckled, knowing why she felt that way, but was too distracted with his thoughts to explain why she felt that way.

"...Thank you for bringing me here," Esmae said after a while. She was quite talkative this evening. Nikolaos raised his head from her neck, looking at her face from an angle and kissing her temple lovingly. "Of course, my love," he murmured.

Esmae felt fuzzy inside when his voice sent vibrations through her body. "You're always so kind to me, and I'm... I'm so happy like this," she continued. She knew not everyone was like Nikolaos. There were evil people who wouldn't hesitate to hurt others and take advantage of the innocent, but Nikolaos wasn't like that at all.

Nikolaos stayed quiet as he listened to her, still rubbing her arms tenderly. "And..." she sighed, a puff of air leaving her mouth as she gazed at the civilians below, "Even the bad moments should be cherished. Being able to feel and understand everything around me is a miracle I never asked for." Her heart drummed in her chest as she looked at the starry night sky, feeling emotional as the world, both natural and man-made, moved around her like clockwork. Yet, as loud and exhausting as it was, hearing Basque, Spanish, and a bit of English all at once, she'd never felt more comfortable in her skin.

Nikolaos' gaze softened like never before, his arms wrapping around her waist in a tight and warm embrace. He'd always known she was more sentimental and sympathetic than practical and logical, but he could never love her more. Listening to her speak about her feelings and emotions when she used to cry from confusion made his heart swell.

He didn't need to shelter her as much as he initially thought, which gave him a sense of accomplishment. "You're very strong, Esmae," he murmured in her ear, lips brushing against her cartilage, "stronger than anyone I've ever seen."