Treasure Planet: Jim x Kael (OC)

Twelve

          I don't understand why, but I couldn't help but think about the day my father left. I was a few months away from turning twelve, so I could remember it well. The whole house felt off that day. Like there was a fuse lit but you didn't know how long it was, or where it was leading to.

          I was sent outside to play, so I just took a walk around the house, trying to keep myself occupied. But when I came back, my mother was crying and my father was silently packing his things. I don't remember what was said, but I do remember the feeling of dread within that house. He left without a word. Now that I remember, he never said goodbye either.

          What a jerk.

          A thunderous explosion ripped through my ears, deafening me; and for a moment, I thought I was dead. The pressure of the ship speeding up told me differently though. I felt Jim's hand squeeze my own as Silver hugged us closer to the mast. The bright and burning sensation left as we rode the final wave out of the abyss and back into the stars.

          My ears, still ringing, could barely hear the cheers and laughter of the crew as Silver started to let Jim and I loose. I opened my eyes to see starlight and happy faces and the captain looking quite pleased with herself.

          It took a moment to comprehend that we weren't in danger anymore. I let out a weak sigh of relief, my body starting to relax. As the adrenaline was wearing off, a pain in my wrist and hand reminded me that I was still holding Jim's. I loosened my hold, dropping my hand to my side.

          "Kael?"

          I looked to see Jim's grinning face and Silver huffing, tension melting from his shoulders. Before I knew what was going on, I was being crushed in a hug. I wrapped my arms around Jim, ignoring the soreness in my forearm, and buried my face in his shoulder. During the entirety of the supernova, I didn't shake at all. Now I was trembling like a leaf as the realization that we all could have died. But we didn't!

          My giggles were muffled in his shirt, and he was squeezing me so tightly that my back was starting to hurt, but I was just grateful to be alive. I was the first to let loose, my heart finally starting to calm down. I took a few deep breaths to speed up the process.

          I winced at my wrist, turning my attention to it to make sure it wasn't broken. Sure it hurt, but I was certain that it didn't break. I may have pulled something though. I massaged it with my thumb as I balled my hand into a fist a few times. Not broken.

          "Well, wasn't that sometin'?" Silver chuckled, wiping his face with his hand. "Are ya' both alright?"

          After shaking out the pain, I gave a thumbs up and a smile. "Aye! I'm gonna be sore, but I'm fine."

          Jim nodded at the old cook before taking my hurt hand in his, but it was gentle. My heart rate spiked, again, not used to this kind of contact with him. I was used to the friendly touches; the pats on the back, the don't let me fall holding, the playful smacks to our arms, but this... this felt different.

         Maybe it was because we just survived on the brink of a black hole, but I couldn't help thinking it was something special. I stared at him blankly as he looked over my wrist.

          "You sure? You're flinching." He stated, finally taking his eyes off of my tense hand.

          "Oh boy..." Silver's quiet mumble barely reached my ears.

          I could only imagine what my face looked like, but it was enough for Jim to realize how embarrassed and dumbfounded I was. Before anything else happened, a voice cut through the excited chattering of the crew, directed at the old cook.