The Voyage

Untreated

Hope you enjoy reading this chapter everyone. Or not, given its contents. It was actually a struggle to start this, because I was scared I hadn't read enough, and didn't have enough knowledge of the event etc.

Just want to take a moment to thank everyone and anyone who's taken an interest in this story. I don't think I've written something that's been this instantly... popular. I guess it's a popular pairing but I've written popular pairings before and not got this much attention. I'm extremely flattered. Thank you all.

Also thank you to Chocolateturnip, who half-knew what would happen and still put herself through the torture of reading it!

Warning for medical emergencies in this chapter.

...

9:30 am

...

The interior of the Carpathia was nothing compared to the huge, hulking maze that was the Titanic's many different decks, winding corridors and various rooms, yet Érzsebét realised with dread that her search could take hours. Days, even. If needed, she would search every room until she found them, and ask everyone she saw. She would not rest until she found them again, and they were safe in her arms. She would promise Roderich that she'd never let him go again and Franz that she was so sorry for not protecting him like she should've. She would wrap them up and find a nice corner where they could huddle together until they got to New York, then stumble into a new city and a new life.

If only Alin would keep quiet long enough to let her think.

He was hobbling behind her, leaning heavily against the wall and sobbing noisily, not one shred of decorum about him. A few passengers and crew stopped, some asking if he needed help, others attempting to drag him to the first aid station, but he turned down each offer, shaking his head furiously, mumbling in Romanian that they need to leave him alone before stumbling to catch up with his companion.

"Try to keep up," she hissed, marching down another flight of stairs.

...

14 April, 1912

...

"I thought you sung lovely at the service today," Roderich commented as Érzsebét placed him, carefully, back in his bunk, pulling the blankets over him and patting them down gently. She stroked his cheek with a thumb whilst Franz and Andrei played on the floor with toys sewn out of rags. Alin lay on his bunk, singing quietly to himself.

"Thank you," Érzsebét looked away, face flushed and smiling slightly.

"Tsvetan sings better. Better than anyone, really." Alin glanced over at them, lips pulled into a grin that revealed his pointed teeth.

"I'd like to hear him sometime," Roderich replied, and Érzsebét scowled.

"He's probably not that great."

"His voice is the most beautiful sound you will ever hear," Alin rolled onto his side, staring at them earnestly.

"Careful there," Érzsebét replied with a hint of smugness, "anyone would think you have feelings for him."

"I just know how to appreciate a good thing," Alin growled.

"I wager you do."

Tsvetan chose that particular moment to enter, cheerful humming dying in his throat as he stared from Alin's angry, flushed face to Érzsebét's haughty, self-satisfied one to Roderich's bewildered one.

"What an awkward silence," he commented; "this wouldn't be for my benefit, would it?"

"Not at all," replied Alin, a little too quickly. The silence that followed was crushing.