“Are you sure they haven’t noticed we’re following them yet?” Yuri asked. He was sitting on the quarterdeck of the ship, legs dangling over the side, a hand shading his eyes from the noonday sun. Hana stood nearby with a writer’s board, engrossed in what could have been the same piece of parchment she’d been staring at for the past week as far as he knew.
She replied, “fairly certain,” never taking her eyes off the parchment. The trip had been rather boring; aside from the Mnemon blockade. Yuri was still unsure of how Hana had managed to talk them through that without delaying their trip.
“I recognize your concern, Messere, but even if they do notice our presence I believe we hold the advantage, coming from behind,” Hana explained. He watched her touch the locket that hung at her neck; she did that when she lied or wasn’t sure. It was a very clear tell, but he wouldn’t say anything about it.
“And-“ Yuri started, but Hana held up a hand.
“They’re safe, Messere.”
Marian’s kids had snuck off early on in the trip, to Yuri’s surprise. Hana hadn’t seemed bothered, which only added to the young V’neef’s confusion. He worried about them if only because Marian cared for them so much.
“Can’t we just meet up with them now?” He didn’t mean to whine and complain, but being trapped on the ship with Hana and her skeleton crew made him antsy.
Hana shook her head. “It’s not really feasible. It will be better to wait for docking.”
Even if it was improper, Yuri couldn’t help but sigh. For the first time since they had taken this trip, Hana’s face turned sympathetic. She took a seat beside him and set the board down.
She stared off at the horizon off the front of the ship and adjusted her broken glasses. “I am…sorry that she is so protective. I know it can be frustrating,” she said.
“I’m capable. I can take care of myself. I can take care of her,” Yuri argued.
Hana nodded. “I am aware, Messere, as is she. But you must forgive her. She has been through a lot.”
“She didn’t have many friends after Miss Junko passed. Her family life was rough, there was much expectation. She lost her cousins in the war with the remains of Lookshy and Juggernaut, and the memories and consequences that surrounded her exaltation gave her nightmares on the trip off the Isle. They didn’t stay, thankfully, but…she has been frightened for so long.” Hana’s voice was sad and distant. Yuri frowned. “I’ve been through a lot too,” he said.
Hana nodded. “As have I. But that’s why she’s trying to protect us. She would rather shoulder her burdens and ours.” There was a pause, and Hana spoke again, “there is no good answer to her conundrum, but her belief is one of living with consequences; and alienation is less terrifying than loss.”
Yuri looked at Hana, then back out at the horizon. They sat like that and stared for a while, accompanied by only the sounds of the small crew bustling about the ship. He felt her hand grab his and offer a gentle reassuring squeeze. Something within him calmed, just slightly.
“She’s a beautiful idiot,” Hana said with a smile. Yuri tried not to laugh, but a single ‘snert’ escaped. Hana followed up with, “and I love her.”
Yuri squeezed her hand back and replied, “me too.”
A Quiet Respite 