**Trigger Warning** This chapter includes mildly gruesome details involving an accident and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
After making sure Vincent was really asleep and as comfortable as possible, Aiden gently stood from the bed and tried to decide the best course of action. He knew he should just head back to the port but he found himself concerned for Vincent's sake. He stood there, staring at the sleeping figure of the captain as he warred with himself to make a decision. Finally, he decided it was best if he stayed. So finding the chaise on the opposite wall near the foot of the bed, Aiden curled up and got as comfortable as he could. To be honest, he was pretty tired from this evening's events. However, as Vincent slept nearby, Aiden found he couldn't sleep as his thoughts were consumed by Vincent and all the mystery around him.
The next morning, there was the sound of a quiet bump and slight movement of something quietly scraping across the floor. Aiden could feel himself starting to wake up but he didn't want to. He felt so comfortable! He shifted slightly, feeling the warmth of the sun upon his head and shoulders and it felt so nice. However, upon hearing a door quietly close, his eyes finally opened and he felt a little disorientated. It was really bright and he struggled to focus around him.
As Aiden shifted, he groaned softly to himself as his neck tensed from sleeping as he had on the chaise. Blinking, he looked around the room and his eyes began to adjust to the light which was when last night started to come back to him. He felt nervous. What did Vincent think of him staying here without permission? This could even cost him his job!
Aiden moved from the reclined position and began to sit up, swinging his feet down to the floorboards. He slid his hand up along the back of his neck, massaging with a yawn as he began to wake up more. As he did, he heard the sound of a door opening to his left. He glanced over and was surprised by what he saw, his eyes widening.
Vincent was standing there looking as shocked as he was, still dressed in his leather pants and black blouse with his hair in slight disarray and standing as if he was in pain. But what shocked Aiden was seeing both of Vincent's eyes open and uncovered for the first time. Aiden had seen the scar last night, but now he was seeing what lay underneath.
Whereas Vincent's left eye was a unique shade of blue that Aiden loved and reminded him of the sea, his right eye was oddly discolored an off-white and lightly veiny, the iris drained of color, and where his pupil would be looked to be a red mark which lined up with the scar on his brow and cheek as he stared straight ahead at Aiden.
Vincent, seeing the look of shock upon Aiden's face, licked his lips and quickly averted his gaze before he saw that disgust he was so accustomed to seeing. He wasn't sure if he could handle seeing it in Aiden's eyes right now. He quickly walked to his luggage and hastily grabbed out a fresh pair of pants before ducking back into the restroom before Aiden could say or do anything.
Taken aback by how quickly all that just happened, Aiden stared at the closed door. Okay, that was unexpected. He wasn't sure what to think. It was not a pretty sight to see, certainly, but in truth Aiden didn't find himself put off by it. He'd just been surprised. But...what had happened?
Behind the closed door, Vincent began to strip down out of his clothes, silently cursing and scolding himself for making the mistake of not bringing the eyepatch with him. He hated the looks. He hated the disgust. Above all, he hated the pity. Once he'd changed out of his clothes, he set them aside and began to pull up the fresh pair of pants. That was much more comfortable. Sighing to himself, he unbraided his hair and ran his fingers through it and stared at himself in the small mirror, steeling himself so he could get through whatever was about to happen.
When Vincent emerged once again, he saw Aiden still seated on the chaise. Still not looking directly at Aiden, feeling afraid of what he'd see in his gorgeous eyes, he looked off to the side and began to approach. Feeling uncharacteristically nervous, he brought his hand up and began to toy with his hair and gave a soft clearing of his throat.
"I wanted to say thank you for...for your assistance last night in helping me find my way home. I am fine now."
Aiden had watched as Vincent approached. He'd expected Vincent to be stoic and professional about the whole thing but instead Vincent appeared so vulnerable. His body posture spoke volumes to the younger man.
Honestly, Aiden was bursting with questions! As he gazed at Vincent's face, he replied, "I couldn't have just left you there like that. I didn't mean to impose, but I was concerned and wanted to make sure you were alright this morning." Vincent rotated his head on his neck, willing the tension to release a bit more as he continued to avoid looking at Aiden. "I appreciate it, but I'm fine, thank you, Aiden. There's no need to be concerned."
Vincent turned away from Aiden and began to head towards the kitchen area of his flat. "Would you like some coffee before you go?" he asked, wishing Aiden would decline and leave and pretend like this whole thing hadn't happened.
Aiden bit his lower lip, then decided it was now or never. "Would you tell me what happened?" he asked in a gentle pleading tone. He watched Vincent's shoulders hunch slightly and noticed his head gazing down as he hugged himself. He could tell Vincent was warring with himself, which is exactly what was happening.
Vincent liked Aiden despite his initial uncertainty about the guy, but he didn't want to tell him more than he needed to know. He didn't like people getting close. Sure, he trusted Damien but Damien had been there for years and walked this journey with Vincent whereas he only knew Aiden for just a month. But somehow, he could feel his wall breaking down just a touch more. "What is there to say, Aiden? It was just an accident. It's not a pleasant story; kind of gruesome. You don't really want to hear it. Please trust me."
"But it will help me understand you better," Aiden replied, turning more on the chaise as he gazed at the back of Vincent's head. "I really do want to know. Please, Vincent?"
The moment his name left Aiden's lips, Vincent felt an odd warmth spread through his chest as his eyes closed. In the midst of his depressing, painful memories, the sound of the younger man's voice speaking his name to him seemed to ease the tension somehow. Slowly, he lowered his arms and turned to look at Aiden; finally looking right at him. He could see that concern and sincerity in those gorgeous eyes. There was no pity or disgust there. He saw Aiden's lips curve into a soft, encouraging smile where one of his dimples started peeking just a tiny bit.
"Has...has Damien told you anything?"
"Nothing, I swear."
Vincent looked away from Aiden and walked towards the window, folding his arms over his bare chest as he gazed out the window and beside the chaise. For a moment, he looked like he may not speak after all. Yet he gave a soft sigh and began to explain, choosing what to say with care.
"It was a little over three years ago," he began. "Leon's Claw was in port a few towns away from here and we were getting ready to depart." Vincent moved away from the window and began to slowly pace as he continued, hands coming up and running through his hair. "It was like any other day loading up cargo. I was standing on deck going over the ledger and doing the final count when it happened." Vincent took a deep breath then let it out as he let himself just...talk. "We were transporting a load of gunpowder and the box must have had some residue because there was an explosion. It was...a freak accident. We figured that one of the embers must have escaped the boilers and caught one of the crates as it was being lowered into the ship."
Aiden's eyes widened at the information before grimacing. "Oh no," he murmured. Vincent nodded, still pacing slowly as he forced himself to keep talking. "When the crates exploded, some of the thin metal shrapnel lodged itself into my eye." Vincent's hand came up to cover his right eye, the memory of the excruciating pain of the burning metal piercing his skull coming back. "I don't remember a whole lot, but I vaguely remember hearing Damien screaming my name and this... white hot, blinding pain radiating from my face." Vincent swallowed hard, pausing before the fireplace and placing his hands on the mantle. "I was told afterwards that I'd fallen to the ground right in the path of the falling mast. The explosion has broken it in half. He'd rushed to push me out of the way just in time but it landed on him instead; specifically his left upper arm."
Behind him, Aiden stared at his back with wide eyes and felt horror as he listened to the terrorizing story. "So that’s why Damien has a mechanical arm?" he inquired. Vincent's fingers clenched the mantle as he nodded, staring down at the empty fireplace. Biting his lower lip, he inhaled deeply through his nose below slowly letting it out before replying regretfully, "There was no saving it. He saved my life but lost his arm in the process. So I had it replaced for him."
Aiden licked his lips and brought his forearms to his knees as he leaned forward slightly, staring down at the floorboards as he processed everything. Damien was a prideful man who loved to boast; especially about himself. He sure knew how to tell a story, too! He'd saved Vincent's life and received a beautiful and powerful mechanical arm, a gift from his best friend. Aiden knew Damien was quite proud of it. He figured Damien would see it as proof of his heroism yet had never even mentioned it.
"I didn't realize- I'm sorry for my ignorance," he began before Vincent shook his head and cut him off. "Don't be," he responded quietly. "We agreed not to speak of it unless necessary for my sake. He knows I don't want or like the attention."
"I understa-"
"No, you don't!"
The cutting response was sharp and so unexpected it made Aiden jump! Vincent was hunched over the fireplace slightly, fingers curled and his fingernails scraping against the mantel. His body was tense as he clenched his teeth and inhaled deeply through his nose. "You don't know what it's like, Aiden! No one does and they NEVER will!" As his voice raised, he turned and began storming his way past Aiden, blindly pacing as he unleashed his pent up frustrations.
"Men never look me in the eyes anymore! Women whisper behind their fans and avoid my gaze at formal events and hope I won't look their way! I'm a fucking MONSTER! Even mothers on the street clutch their childr-" He cut himself off abruptly as he stood there facing Aiden, lips pressed together as his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. Aiden watched as Vincent's eyes flicked to the picture frame he'd kept beside his bed. A moment later in silence, Vincent turned and sat down on the edge of his bed facing away from Aiden, hunching forward with his forearms pressed to his knees. A moment later, his shoulders began to tremble as he pressed his face into his hands.
Aiden sat there for a long moment, eyes wide as he stared at Vincent from where he sat. He was stunned! It took him a moment to realize that Vincent was crying. Vincent looked so defeated as he sat there with his shoulders shaking as he silently sobbed. Aiden felt so lost as to what to say or do to this poor man who was so traumatized by his past. There had to be more to this than just the accident.
"Vincent, I'm so sorry. You're right, I don't know what it is like. But you are NOT a monster."
"Yes I am!"
"No, you're not. You are a good man."
"A good man would have been here in time! Fucking Hell! A good man would have not even left them in the first place! HOW AM I A GOOD MAN?!"
As Vincent broke into silent sobs once again, Aiden's gaze wandered towards the small picture frame of Vincent and the pregnant woman. An ominous feeling washed over him as he remembered hearing how bad the plague had hit the capital three years ago which was around the time of Vincent's accident. Was it possible that an injured, stranded Vincent couldn't get home to his wife and child in time?
Vincent was so sure that Aiden was going to think he was absolutely pathetic! If he hadn't lost the respect of his engineer before, he sure as bloody Hell did now! He tried to stop crying but he found now that he'd begun that he couldn't stop! Vincent felt the bed shift on his left, feeling embarrassed as he realized Aiden was sitting beside him on the bed.
It was about a minute later and Vincent's tears began to slow. He gave a sniff and wiped at his nose, feeling utterly embarrassed. He was about to apologize when he heard Aiden's soft voice pipe up beside him, "You know, I think you look quite dashing even without the eyepatch."
Vincent blinked in surprise, his teary eyes turning to look at Aiden. What was THAT supposed to mean?! "Y-you think I look dashing?" Vincent's cheeks blossomed in a rosy color as he glanced away in embarrassment. "I'm not dashing!" he exclaimed. "I'm not like...like...Damien! Damien is dashing. Me? Nuh uh!"
"Damien? Are you serious? He's like a damn peacock! 'Oh look at me! I'm so pretty! Worship me and my dashing good looks!'"
Vincent stared with wide eyes, lips parted in surprise as he witnessed Aiden imitating Damien with quite the accuracy; even going as far as to imitate his cocky smirk! And very suddenly and without warning, Vincent doubled over with laughter! Five seconds later, he caught himself and immediately stopped. He covered his mouth with his hands, eyes wide in surprise as he stared at Aiden with an embarrassed blush coloring his cheeks! Aiden suddenly beamed, his dimples on full display as he placed his hand on Vincent's shoulder and said, "So you DO know how to laugh after all!" He chuckled and smirked slightly. "Don't worry, Captain, I won't tell anyone."
Vincent blinked and then started to laugh again, lowering his hands as he wrapped them around his own abdomen. "Oh God, Aiden! The Hell am I gonna do with you?!" he asked even as he chuckled and wiped away the tears from his eyes. Aiden simply gave a small smile and lowered his hands to his lap. "Let's start with that coffee. No pressure to talk. Only when you're ready, IF you're ready. Okay?"
Vincent gazed at him, surprise and uncertainty filling him at once. No pressure? No need to talk? Just coffee? Really? A slight smile tugged at the corner of Vincent's lips and he gave a small nod. "Okay."
For a long moment, the men sat side by side and gazed into each other's eyes. Vincent had been so afraid that he'd see disgust in Aiden's gorgeous blue eyes. Instead, he saw only acceptance. Vincent smiled a little more and then stood from the bed, wiping his eyes free of tears. Somehow, Aiden made it better just by being here. How did that kid manage to break his wall down like that?! There was just something about Aiden...
Aiden allowed his gaze to follow Vincent's retreating figure. As it did, his eyes wandered a bit and took in the sight of how his rear was hugged just the right way by his pants. Not wanting to be caught dead staring at THAT, his gaze shifted quickly and settled on Vincent's elaborate and beautiful Celtic-style raven tattoo. He found he admired how it curved around his slender body. Catching how Vincent's tattoo dipped down below his belt line of his pants, a small little smirk grew on Aiden's lips. As he bit his lower lip, he couldn't help but wonder...how far down DID that tattoo go?
Next Part:
www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/51040325757/in/datepo...
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
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**Special thank you to Vin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!
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