Only a Fool Defends Her Enemies (Domijeanne Pirate Au)

Chapter 8

They had made it through the storm mostly unscathed. After her near-death experience Jeanne picked herself back up to assist the crew while Louis, in considerably worse shape, had been sent belowdecks. The ship had taken a beating, some of the weaker parts broken altogether, although nothing important had been destroyed and it was still completely seaworthy. The weather was still dreary, and no one was quite willing to relax in case the storm picked up again despite their exhaustion.

Dominique was more active than anyone, being sure to check on each individual member of her crew and part of her ship as she gave them new orders. Since they'd made it successfully through the storm, she was beginning to dismiss many of them from their positions. Vanitas was sent away to prepare food for everyone else as part of his punishment for the events at Silverbay.
Jeanne found herself sitting down on the wet deck with Riche, both were already soaked so were unbothered by the water. Soon Johann and Dante joined them. Dante lay down with a groan.

"I'm so glad I don't have to cook today," He grunted.

"You aren't that hard done by," Riche rolled her eyes. "Jeanne nearly went overboard and you don't see her complaining!"

"And whose fault is that? Captain Dominique made her your responsibility."

"Shut up, Fatso, as if you could have done better!"

"I definitely could have, Runt!"

"That's enough you two," Johann tittered. "Really, when it comes to each other you always act like children. Although Jeanne is incredibly lucky she survived. I think I saw Captain Dominique herself go to save her?"

Jeanne saw a glint of something she didn't like in Johann's eyes as he turned his gaze on her and she wondered if he had seen the kiss. "Vanitas and Nox also helped pull me up. I think Dominique assisted because her brother was also in danger."

"Is that right?" Johann smiled and Jeanne was beginning to feel even more sure that he'd seen something.

"Is there something you want to say, Johann?" Jeanne asked.

"No, nothing at all. I just wonder what our captain's choice would have been if Louis weren't in trouble. I personally would have let you drown."

"Johann!" Dante gawped.

"Oh, I let my temper get the best of me. I'm still a little angry about the water, my apologies, Jeanne."

A tense silence settled between them. Johann was smiling but it didn't reach his eyes and the others were all frowning. It was quickly broken by Vanitas who stomped up on deck and yelled that dinner was ready. They all scrambled up and began to head down to the dining hall. Jeanne glanced over her shoulder and saw Dominique following not far behind and tried to grab her attention. Dominique met her eyes but quickly broke eye contact and brushed past her to push ahead of the rest of the pack. Jeanne blanched but quickly dismissed it. Dominique was probably just busy, and she was almost certainly the hungriest of them all.

However, when she was seated at the massive dining table Jeanne decided to reassess her assumption. All the other times she had been in the room she had been seated right beside Dominique without fail. This time she had been ushered into a seat down near the end of the table with Nox and Manet. She could barely even see Dominique unless she craned her head, and she couldn't talk to her over the sound of everyone between them. It seemed undeniable; Dominique was avoiding her.

After dinner Vanitas came over to tell her she would have to sleep in the crew's quarters with everyone else so they could keep an eye on her. Vanitas of all people! It felt a little petty, but Jeanne was annoyed that Dominique wasn't the person giving her this news. She had always been Jeanne's main point of communication about the pirates' plans and now one of her subordinates was being given that responsibility?