Fear of Falling [Treasure Planet Fanfic]

Chapter Nine: Comfortable Meteors

This is a bad idea. This is a very, very bad idea, Vanessa thought, watching Jim tread across the bow with his arms held out straight and a goofy smile on his features.

"You gotta try this, it's so cool!" Jim called over his shoulder.

She bit her lip and shook her head, pushing one of her poppy red braids behind her shoulder, "N-No thanks, I'm good,"

He turned back toward her, motioning around him with a wave of his arm, "Seriously, Butterfly, it feels amazing, with the stars and planets passing by, and the wind so strong!"

Strong was right. She could see massive ripples forming in his clothing, and could feel the space breeze pushing her towards the railing. Vanessa was afraid it would push her right off the ship and send her hurdling. Jim made his way back to her, his balance impeccable. That wasn't what she was focusing on, however. It was his eyes that captured her attention, his deep, ocean blue eyes, so calming that they almost overdrove her fears.

"Come on, let me help you up," Jim held his hand out to take hers.

Oh, so tempting.

Vanessa took a step back, "This is worse than the crow's nest," she reasoned.

"And remember how great that was? This will be the same,"

"The wind is too strong. There's nothing to keep me from falling off,"

"I'll keep you from falling," slowly and gently, to keep her from freaking out, Jim took her hands in his, "We're just going to walk out and sit down on the bow, okay? You trust me, right?"

She took a deep breath, "O-Okay," she murmured, and she let him lead her forward. Vanessa's balance wasn't nearly as good as Jim's Several times she wobbled, or her foot slipped off the side.

"Ah!" Vanessa shrieked as she miss stepped. Instantly Jim's arm came around her waist, his hand tightening on hers to keep her steady. So afraid of falling, she pressed herself against him, her wide eyes glued to the deep blue and purple wisps of space below them and a sudden nervous lump forming in her throat. Jim resolved to stay put until her fear and tension subsided, preferring to hold her until she was comfortable with him. He noticed while holding her just how thin she was, still like a skeleton, only now with more meat on her bones since she'd been properly fed here on the ship. Jim also remarked that she felt quite nice in his arms, that her skin was soft, and she was the perfect height for him.

He chuckled to himself, making Vanessa glance up at him, "W-W-What?"

"I'm holding you and you're not freaking out," he stated.

He was . . . she wasn't . . . she glanced at his hands, the one that held hers, and the one around her waist, and she didn't feel anything but comfort. She didn't feel the sudden need to freak out, the crawling of her skin, nothing.

"I . . . I g-guess I'm . . . comfortable with y-you," she whispered.

Finally, Jim thought.

.-+*+-.     .-+*+-.     .-+*+-.

"A'ight kiddies, we gotta get to that shooting star, and fast! The harvested ice crystals are used to power our laser cannon,"

As Vanessa and Silver held onto the floating long boat, Jim jumped across the way and untied the ropes. The boat was lowered into the space below them, with Silver commanding it, and disappeared out of sight. Not expecting to go with him anyway, she glanced up at Jim, who had a sudden look of disappointment.

"Jim? A-Are you o-okay?" she asked.

Just them the buzzing of the little boat's engine grew and Silver came back into sight. He waved up at the two teenagers, motioning for them to hop in. Jim's dejected expression brightened up considerably, and with a laugh he jumped into the long boat, leaving Vanessa to stand nervously at the edge.