Work Text:
It's never been uncommon for Cameron to hear his peers swooning over Ferris Bueller. Fifth grade, complimenting his perfect runs in baseball. Eighth grade, raving about his new haircut. Sophomore year, gushing over his charming grin. Senior year, admiring his chivalrous generosity. Every aspect of Ferris Bueller’s appearance, evident personality, and outward talents have been subject to this appraisal.
Cameron finds it obnoxious at points, unable to turn a corner without hearing some classmate fawning over Ferris Bueller’s poem for English class, or Ferris Bueller’s volunteer work at the retirement home. However, as much as Cameron rolls his eyes at their comments, he can’t really blame them. Especially considering he happens to be one of the two people that have been blessed with the experience of appreciating even the deepest layers of the star that is Ferris Bueller.
Cameron has never been able to keep up with every bit of praise that Ferris receives, but every so often an observation will stand out to him. Recently, it was the remark he heard from Angie McCall during Calculus that earned his attention.
“Gosh, aren’t his eyes just dazzling? They make me feel like I’ll melt right here in my seat.”
Angie’s friend, Jennifer, followed her gaze, looking towards Ferris on the other side of the room. Jennifer shook her head, chuckling, “What’s so special about his eyes, of all things?”
“Oh, come on Jenn, don’t act like you don’t understand!” retorted Angie. She tilted her head, propping it up with her hand with a sigh. “They’re so deep, and soft, and… warm. Like a chocolate bar.”
Jennifer laughed, “Ok, now I really think you’ve gone crazy.”
Angie rolled her eyes and swatted at her, both going back to writing their notes.
Cameron, however, lifted his gaze from his paper to glance over at Ferris. He was focused on the teacher’s scribblings on the board, copying them down to his own notes. There was nothing particularly special about this sight of him, looking tired and disinterested. Cameron, of course, still couldn’t resist staring, noticing the way Ferris tapped his foot, brushed his hair out of his face, fidgeted with his sleeve. Most of all, though, Cameron noticed Ferris’s eyes.
How they peaked at the clock every few minutes. How they followed his pencil as he wrote. How they glanced over at Cameron for just a second, landing on Cameron’s gaze and pausing. How they softened and crinkled up at the corners as Ferris sent a small smile his way, meant only for Cameron’s own eyes. How they remained brighter even after Ferris looked away.
Cameron began to notice Ferris’s eyes more in the following weeks. Although Angie hadn’t been wrong with her description, it felt too surface level to match Cameron’s own observations.
He discovered that he found Ferris’s eyes most breathtaking when they acted as a window.
Cameron couldn’t help but put up less resistance when it came to Ferris’s little schemes, because he saw how they lit up with mischief when he thought of a new idea, and how they glowed with pride when the ideas worked.
Cameron felt more easily grounded when he was spiraling and Ferris was there, because he saw the care and concern, but not pity, pool out and into Cameron’s heart.
Cameron squeezed Ferris just a little tighter when he comforted him with a hug, because he saw the despair and fear shine through his tears.
Cameron gave Ferris a few extra kisses the nights when Sloane and himself slept over, because he saw how they revealed comfort and intimacy behind the lenses of glasses Ferris only wore at home.
Cameron stared even more lovingly at the picture perfect view of Ferris and Sloane dancing together, because he saw how every ounce of love in Ferris’s body spilled out of his gaze towards her, and how that same love was directed at Cameron once it was his turn for a dance.
As Cameron, and quite obviously many other people knew, Ferris Bueller is near picture perfect. He’s friendly, he’s talented, he’s handsome, he has warm, chocolate bar eyes. But for the people that get to see the movie, and not just the picture, he’s so much more, albeit less perfect. Ferris Bueller is compassionate, is loving, is at times both selfless and selfish, is emotional, is perfectly flawed.
He has eyes that bear his soul to those who notice.