Chapter Text
"When it comes to takin' care of a ship like this, kid, you gotta stay prepared for anything to go wrong." Swansea talked, explaining general air craft maintenance to Daisuke while he watched the old man fiddle and tinker with wires in a metal panel. He still didn't understand but he tried his best to listen and not get under Swansea's skin despite how distracted he was by his thoughts. Breakfast was weird. How Anya acted was weird. And was Jimmy always so mean and cold towards her? He felt a twang of guilt bubble in his chest. Embarrassed that he'd only now noticed how distressed Anya looked, acted. He kept replaying how tense she became when Jimmy walked in. Nobody reacts that way unless there was a reason. Daisuke just had to find out that reason to find out the best way to help Anya.
He had to talk to Anya.
He'd have to do more investigating but he couldn't just dip out on Swansea. Daisuke still had to help him even if he was pretty useless in mechanics. Only Daisuke had a sudden idea; his eyes lighting up and his laid back position on the floor switching instantly while he scrambled to his feet. Swansea shot him a look. An arched brow, that scowl turning to a look of confusion from Daisuke's sudden burst. "What? Learnin' how to fix a few cables finally clicked for you?" he'd joke. Cracking a grin that was hidden beneath a fuzzy mustache.
"Mister Swansea can I talk to you about something?" Daisuke asked. He'd usually be beaming that his bossman was making jokes with him but he had more important things on his mind than yearning for that sweet validation. Swansea was quiet for a moment but he'd eventually sit back in his chair. Crossing his arms. Whatever Daisuke wanted to talk about had his full attention. Daisuke talked a lot, about a lot, and a lot of the kid's rambling he didn't understand. So for the boy to actually ask this time? It had to be something worth hearing.
"Shoot."
"...Huh?"
"Spit your shit, indeed, as the kids say."
"....Right, okay so-" Daisuke took a deep breath to gather himself. He didn't want to cause any more problems than he already had so he spoke carefully so he wasn't putting Anya at risk or starting drama with the crew. Swansea noted the kid looked a lot more anxious while he waited. But Swansea didn't like waiting so he'd mimic the Jeopardy! time clock chime. "Stoooop, I'm thinkin'!" Daisuke complained dramatically, laughing at the reference but quickly going back to serious mode. The smile on his face fading to pursed lips. A contemplative look on his face Swansea hadn't seen before. Kid wasn't prone to thinking.
"What would you do...if you think a friend is being hurt by another friend?" His question earned silence. It didn't feel good, and it felt too long for Daisuke's comfort. Swansea's face looked as disgruntled as it always did so he wasn't sure if he'd messed up again. Much to the young man's joy though Swansea finally answered. "I dunno what's got you thinkin' about something like this but I don't know what I'd do." he answered honestly with a shrug. "Be there for your friend who's hurting I guess. And to the friend hurting your friend to them you say: eat shit and die."
Daisuke's smile returned and so did the laughter. But so did Swansea getting back to work and being berated for not knowing what a socket wrench was. Wasn't a wrench just a wrench? He wasn't learning anything. If there was anything Daisuke took out of this though it was that his superior was right. It'd be best to be someone Anya could lean on. Perhaps he was taking things too fast. Getting too caught up in what mysteries were on this ship. Daisuke had to remind himself to keep a clear head at all times. He'd need it. Not just to sate his curiosity but to help Anya if Jimmy really was acting strange behind closed doors. He had to be strong so he could do what Swansea said and be there for his friend! The boy waited impatiently till lunch when he could see her again. He knew Jimmy would be there and he wanted to get there first— or at least get to the dayroom before Anya did. Swansea was starting to get annoyed, his impatience to see the nurse showing as he kept drifting off, lost in thought. Thoughts about Jimmy, his mom, his gameboy. But a familiar face would show up more than the rest.
Anya.
The way she presented herself so professionally. Her aura was a bright golden light in this very small, poorly lit space freighter. Except maybe his wandering mind was getting a big too much on Swansea— after a while Daisuke was being a bigger klutz.
"Dammit, kid!— go to lunch. You...clearly got somethin' on your mind so just take a break, get some grub and get your act together." the old man huffed. His hands on his hips as he looked at him with frustration. Rolling his eyes when Daisuke beamed at the mention of food— only Daisuke was excited for a different reason: Swansea was letting him go early. Which meant he'd be in the kitchen before both of them. "Boss have I ever told you how like, fuckin' rad you are?" the boy asked, hurriedly hanging up his tool belt, giving an earnest thank you to Swansea. But now it was once again up to Swansea to clean up after the boy. "....Was he that hungry?" he pondered, getting to work and forgetting about the incident almost as fast as it happened.
The second he was out the door Daisuke would clammer his way to the dayroom. His feet stomping hard against the metal grated floors. His heart thumping vigorously as he ran. He'd make it to the dayroom before even the captain. That meant he had a little extra time on his hands.
Only Daisuke lacked the ability to wait in a situation like this. It'd only be a few minutes that felt like hours when from down the hallway he saw her; Nurse Anya, heading towards him with that beautiful smile. She was smiling with her eyes this time. Her perfectly pouted lips turned upward. Her cheeks looked so smoochable but Daisuke would never let her know that. And with her came a greeting as she got closer. "Good afternoon, Daisuke." Her voice sounded like drizzling honey, especially when she said his name. He was at his feet, perhaps a little too quick because she'd quirk her brow at him curiously. "S-Sorry if I scared you I just really wanted to see you-" he was getting straight to the point as she sat down beside him. But when she sat down her expression was more serious, and she'd motion for him to take his seat. He'd listen and do so, waiting impatiently for what she had to say. Daisuke was fully ready to comfort her if she confided in him; willing to do anything it took for her to feel better. Or at least be at peace for a moment. But what Anya said made his blood run cold.
"Theres eyes watching us right now," she whispered, jotting down notes on her clipboard to act like she was busy. "Wha...What do you mean?" Daisuke asked. Anya couldn't simply tell him she could feel the darkness of Jimmy's eyes watching them from just behind the corner. Down the hall. Hidden by shadows and listening to see if she said or did anything out of line. He thought Anya was stupid, acting like she didn't know he was the demon lurking behind her. "Come to med bay after 3a.m...it's when Jimmy usually goes to bed." Anya instructed the boy. "We can talk privately then, okay?"
"Y-Yes, ma'am- I mean Anya- I mean nurse Anya."
"You can just call me Anya." the woman giggled at Daisuke's tripping over words. Yet to Daisuke her giggles were like a song that'd get stuck in his head. As if she wasn't a constant thought in his mind anyway. Still Daisuke was excited for their meeting, sure it was in the later hours but he was a big boy, being a little tired in the morning was worth it to be there for her.
"Yes, Anya..."
Lunchtime came and went. The entire time Daisuke would keep Jimmy talking so he didn't have a chance to bother Anya. He found it was his off-the-clock duty now to make sure they interacted as little as possible. Sure, he was being annoying on purpose today. It made Anya laugh and grin and that was all he wanted to see. He made sure it wasn't obvious that he was up to something. Daisuke was great at keeping secrets— he'd often had to keep many from his parents. So keeping one as big as his meeting with Anya and his general suspicions of Jimmy felt easy. Now it was back to work. Back to anxiously waiting till he could see Anya again. He wondered if she was safe, if Jimmy was bothering her. He contemplated theories as to whether or not Curly knew anything, but with how chummy he was with the co-pilot he didn't think so. Swansea didn't seem to care for Jimmy but thats all he got out of that old man. By the time dinner came it was the same thing Daisuke did earlier— distract, distract, distract. His efforts worked for the most part but he'd still get a few digs at Anya. Passing them off as jokes. But Daisuke could see these jokes affected Anya. What by the way she'd sink deeper into herself. Withdrawn for most of the evening. Daisuke felt bad for not opening his mouth to call him out but each time his brows furrowed and he went to say something Anya'd look at him almost pleadingly. It reminded him that he just needed to wait. And once Curly and Jimmy had gone to the cockpit Daisuke found himself tired of waiting. As much as he wanted to take things slow for Anya's sake he was itching to find out something. So...
The boy had an idea.
An idea Anya didn't have to know about. An idea that was risky. Going by Earth time it was around 10 p.m. Anya said Jimmy didn't go to bed till late into the night, right? Now one would say snooping around in your crewmate's room was wrong. Going through people's things was disrespectful; Daisuke had to keep in mind that his wrongdoings were for a good cause. Which was how he ended up in Jimmy's room. Face scrunched as he surveyed the filth and garbage. Cigarette butts overflowing ashtrays with ashes scattered on the floor. Food wrappers littered the room and something in the small sleeping chamber was giving off a musty, foul smell. Daisuke hoped he wouldn't find what it was as he began shuffling through the drawers of Jimmy's dresser. He struggle to see with the poor yellow lighting but there was even more garbage in the man's dresser. Crumbs dusting his clothes. How did Jimmy live like this? Daisuke found nothing that'd tell him anything messing with Jimmy's clothes so he moved onto the nightstand. "Brotha, eug..." the boy whispered with emotion when his hands grasped the sticky, dirty handle. Upon opening it he was surprised to find a journal. Much to Daisuke's dismay though it was bound with a lock that needed a key to be opened. Jimmy more than likely had said key snd Daisuke didn't want to get caught so he'd put the journal back in expert fashion, making sure it wasn't out of place. If Jimmy lived in a garbage bin like this Daisuke was sure he'd also be the type to notice anything out of place. He was getting ready to start looking beneath the bed when he heard footsteps. The footsteps of a man, bigger than him. The rhythmic jingling of keys alerting him that it could be anybody, but if they were coming this way it was more than likely—
"Jimmy?" Captain Curly's voiced called into the seemingly empty room. Thankfully he hadn't seen Daisuke who had his back pressed against the farthest part of the wall beneath the bed. It was as dirty under there as he expected, and the bowl of rotting fruit he almost laid in seemed to be the source of the disgusting smell from earlier. He could see the captain enter Jimmy's room. Turning in a circle before stopping in front of Daisuke's hiding place. The young man heard a sigh escape the captain, along with something about "not even being able to take care of a shoebox". Curly finally left and the breath Daisuke was holding was let out in a sigh. He'd quickly crawl out from under Jimmy's bed. Shivering and dusting himself off. He felt gross and definitely needed a shower after this. Having done enough snooping for one night Daisuke snuck into the hallway. He was halfway to his own room when he realised something. Something that sent a chill down his spine and made his brain wracked with worry.
If Captain Curly was looking for Jimmy— where was he? Daisuke's feet were quick but the strange layout of the Tulpar made his running feel never-ending. Only when he was standing outside of med bay did he feel his heart rate calm down. But his worries wouldn't be quelled until he saw her. His knuckles thumped hard and rapidly against the metal doors. At first he tried to just walk in but he found it was locked from the inside. Now he was scared. "Anya! I-I need to see you- I uhm- I got hurt helping Swansea..!"
"...."
"Any-"
The door opened. Anya was standing there with a worried expression while Daisuke stumbled inside. It was only midnight yet he was here, in her office, heaving as he caught his breath and while she rubbed his back. He was okay.
She was okay.
Anya would scold him for scaring her the way he did, grabbing him a fresh glass of water. "You were acting like you saw a ghost!" she said, and Daisuke was too busy gulping down his water to answer the woman taking care of him so attentively. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"Don't apologise, just tell me what happened and I'll fix it right up." Anya was preparing a first aid kit at the table beside them. And while Daisuke sat on the uncomfortable gurney he remembered that...he just lied to her. Guilt took hold of him as he didn't exactly know what to say. "W-Well...I didn't really get hurt." he was met with a puzzled look from the nurse. "Then why-"
"I was worried about you."
"So worried you nearly have an asthma attack?"
"Yes-" Daisuke admitted. Rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. A little embarrassed by his show. Instead of being upset or teasing him though he'd hear Anya's laugh as she'd ruffle his hair. A rosy pink hue spreading across his face as she did this. It made his heart race all over again. "You're sweet." Anya said. And she meant it. Daisuke had shown her nothing but respect and kindness since they first met, snd now he was acting like her guard dog. She knew why. Turning away from Daisuke Anya took a seat on her stool. The giggles dying down left her chest feeling heavy. She sighed, and the change in demeanor made Daisuke perk up in curious attention. "You okay?" he'd ask. To which Anya gave him reassurances that she was. Silence followed suit but before Daisuke interrupted, Anya looked at him. Really looked at him.
"How about I tell you about Jimmy since you're here?"