"Keep your eyes closed. Trust me," Jack said, his grin bright enough to catch the fading light, eyes sparkling with mischief and something softer, something that made the wind itself seem to pause. His hands settled gently on their waist, warm and steady, anchoring them against the dizzying rush of air that whipped around the deck. He had only truly known them for a few days, yet in that short time, it felt as if the universe itself had conspired to pull their lives into this moment—a fragile, forbidden kind of magic, suspended between reality and dream.

The wind tugged at their hair, lifting strands like ribbons in a dance, and Jack shifted his booted feet onto the railing with the careful grace of someone who lived for moments like this. He reached down, his fingers brushing their sides, steadying them as he hoisted them up with ease that made their heartbeat stutter. "No peeking," he warned, voice low and teasing, carrying a tremor of anticipation that made the world around them feel alive—every creak of the ship, every whisper of the ocean, every cry of the gulls sharpening into a symphony just for them.

His hands wandered lightly over their arms, feeling the tension there—nervous, excited, trembling—and coaxed them gently down until their arms fell open, extended like the wings of a bird poised to take flight. The cold wind kissed their skin, and Jack’s eyes flicked to theirs, bright and unwavering, holding a silent promise of wonder. He bit his lip, the hint of a laugh caught in the back of his throat, a thrill of danger and delight dancing in his chest. "Okay," he murmured, almost to himself, "okay… open your eyes." The world seemed to hold its breath with them—the endless stretch of ocean glittering under the sinking sun, the sky bleeding gold and pink and violet, the waves catching fire in the reflection, and the deck beneath their feet rocking ever so slightly as if the ship itself were leaning in to witness this stolen moment. Jack’s grin softened, vulnerability and joy threading through it, and for a heartbeat, the chaos of the world—the class divides, the expectations, the impossible odds—vanished.