7

—The day of His Choice—

Curly woke up feeling off, blinking tiredly as he stared up at the ceiling. He could still hear Daisuke and Anya's steady, even breathing. So they were still asleep, so that meant the alarm hadn't gone off yet… ugh. He rubbed his hands tiredly down his face. Every day this week seemed to be the same recently, waking up at an odd hour in the night or way too early in the morning. It was getting really annoying.

The man forced himself to sit up, the pressure in his skull having apparently increased tenfold over the night. He rubbed at his forehead, sighing. The captain took a moment to sit there in silence, listening. Still, he heard nothing, absolutely nothing except breathing.

He slowly laid back down onto his side and curled the blanket around himself.

The captain didn't even realize that the reason he'd woken up was because of the scratching of metal against the lock.

~

"Mmmgghhh…" Anya woke up to the alarm, groaning loudly as she slapped at it. "Morn'ng guys."

"F've… more min'tes…" Daisuke's voice whined from the floor, "Jusssh… mmmmm… sh'offf…"

Anya yawned widely, moving to struggle up into a sitting position. She brushed her hair back as she squinted over, "Curly, you up, yet?" She paused when she saw his blankets and pillow were already settled into some semblance of order, looking about a moment.

Huh. Looks like he'd gotten up early, the woman moved to nudge Daisuke with a foot instead, "Get up, lazy-bones."

The guy had the nerve to toss a pillow at her.

~

After beating Daisuke with a pillow for the next five minutes, the pair had finally dragged themselves out of their mock fight to get ready for the day.

Anya grabbed her clothing, got dressed in the bathroom, and walked back out as she ran a brush through her hair. Daisuke was pulling his shoes on by then, whistling something softly.

"What song's that?" She mused as she set the brush down, grabbing her own socks and shoes.

He paused, wrinkling his nose, "Uhhhh… okay, so like, you… ever watched Digimon…?"

"Not really, but I'm guessing that's related?"

"Theme song," Daisuke shot her finger guns.

"Ohhhhh." She returned the gesture with a nod, "Nice."

~

"And then, well I said, uh— hey, wait, do you hear that?" Daisuke stopped walking, Anya blinking as she also slowed to a stop.

She opened her mouth to ask what he meant when she realized that the kitchen was unusually silent. Usually by now they would have been able to hear Swansea and Curly talking, or at the very least, bickering over the ship's current status.

But there was just. Dead silence.

The duo glanced at one another before creeping along, peeking around the doorway to see the reason why.

Swansea and Curly were indeed sat around the dining table, but well. They weren't alone. Jimmy sat at his usual spot once again, a bent fork held securely in his grasp as he prodded at his breakfast.

Anya frowned, speaking softly under her breath, "I thought he was just eating in his room now?"

"Thought so, too," Daisuke muttered in turn, frowning. He glanced at her, "Wanna skip breakfast?"

She took a deep breath, "No." She wasn't going to let that man ruin her life any longer, more importantly, Anya was tired of being scared. "I'll be okay."

Her friend gave an encouraging smile, "Okay."

~

Curly gently hummed a tune as he walked down towards the main common area. The man had gotten up before Daisuke or Anya, but well, he was done trying to go back to sleep. Something in the back of his mind just wouldn't allow him to sleep, especially not today. So he'd gotten an early start on things, doing his usual rounds without interruption, letting his mind and thoughts wander.

It admittedly felt so good to get back into this routine, hell, it was just amazing to remember that he could carry out his old routine. Curly was fairly certain that without it and the newfound connections he'd made with the crew, he might have eventually broken again beyond repair.

A man can only hold himself together for so long before it all comes crumbling down, afterall, he'd barely made it through that first day without having several panic attacks. It was funny to think back on, or well, ironic more so. When Curly had been accepted as the captain on this ship, he'd been so fixated on being some perfect figure of command, aloof yet put together. And yet? Yet that's precisely what had gotten him into this mess in the first place, or well, the previous mess.

He still wasn't quite sure how to categorize the incident, was it a matter that had been rewritten or had he simply been sent to a diverging point? Was he actually the same Curly as the man the crew had known before he 'awoke' or had he perhaps over-ridden some absent figure? Parallel relaties? Parallel dimensions? Something like a wormhole, some kind of shift in the very fabric of existence? Or just some shift back in time?

It made his head hurt to think of, but well, it felt deserved to carry that burden even now. The burden of knowing, the burden of hurting, and the burden of leading.

Or well. At least the burden of knowing, his shoulders had certainly felt lightened of the later two. Having a support system (that's what Anya had called it right?) was doing wonders for him, just… jeez. He never realized how much the pressure had been getting to him until he finally just opened up.

It felt like relief. Like assurance. Like home. It was strange and new and refreshing. And oh, if that didn't fill Curly with a sense of newfound purpose. To just be apart of something, to live and exist.

He smiled to himself, turning to eye that faux sky screen as he entered the room. For a moment, just a moment, he swore he saw that dead pixel.

Curly blinked. And it was gone. But not forgotten.

Never forgotten.

~

Anya reminded herself to keep her chin raised high as she entered the room, ignoring the way Jimmy's eyes locked onto her with an empty expression. It felt like a promise was held in that look, though she couldn't tell what exactly it promised in the first place. She just knew it made a chill go down her spine.

She looked away, going to grab a plate for her and Daisuke as the guy went over to sit in a way that would make it so when Anya sat down, she'd be sandwiched between him and Swansea.

She appreciated the gesture, that's for certain. Though. Something just didn't sit right even then, she opened one of the drawers to grab a couple of forks, noting curiously how one of the kitchen knives was absent.

Anya walked towards the table, the tension in her chest increasing tenfold.

~

"Morning, Capt'n." A voice spoke lowly, making Curly look over with a barely repressed wince. Jimmy stared back, having been settled in such a manner he wasn't immediately notable. Like he'd been purposefully tucked away, waiting.

"I— huh. Decided, uh, to join us for breakfast again?" There was something so… off about the other man. He watched warily as the copilot shrugged and slipped off towards the dining table, hands settled lazily behind his back.

"You could say so."

Curly tilted his head to the side, unsure whether to just leave or take his place at the table as well. Something told him not to run. He didn't know what it meant, but he forced himself to listen.

Jimmy didn't say a word as the blond got his food, didn't say a word as he sat down near the brunet, didn't say a word as Curly hesitated to begin eating. Just. An odd silence. It was weird.

"Y-you—" Those bloodshot eyes flicked to him briefly before looking away, "—uh… nevermind."

"Don't worry. It'll be okay," The copilot whispered, one side of his mouth quirking. Curly grimaced down at his plate and began to slowly eat.

The bloody hell was the guy on about now?

~

"About time you two showed," Jimmy practically crooned. The sweetness in his voice making Anya pause a moment in a building disgust. She hated that fucking tone, that false joy laced with malice and eagerness.

It was that voice he used when he called her sweetheart, it was that voice he pulled when he critiqued any member of the crew (mostly Curly), it was that voice that followed fingers trying to grasp at her waist or arm when she'd move past him in the hallways quickly.

"What? Nothing to say for once?"

She gritted her jaw, glaring at him with a new vigor. "Shut up," Anya spat.

She could see Curly stir sharply at her tone, making her think briefly of the old sheepdog her neighbors had had for their livestock. Sharp eyes, soft bark, cutting teeth. Swansea on the other hand seemed to loosen somewhat, the subtle raising of his brows showing a glint to his gaze. He gave an approving grunt.

Anya held herself higher as Jim stared at her long and hard, then he began to laugh. It was one deep, dark sound.

~

Swansea coming to join him and Jimmy at the table felt like such a blessing, though by the look the technician had given him, Curly imagined he was going to get a talking to about placing himself it a situation like this. Truthfully, Curly would love to explain to Swansea that the only reason he hadn't left when he realized he'd be alone with Jimmy was because he felt like someone had to keep an eye on the copilot until everyone else woke up.

He still didn't know how to explain it, but it was certainly one strange feeling settling into his bones. The gun on his side felt heavier than usual.

~

Anya couldn't help but give a nervous twitch as Jimmy slammed a fist against the table with his increasing laughter. His whole fucking body seemed to tremble with the utter glee that gasped from him. It was unnerving and strange and just creepy.

She could see how Daisuke and Swansea shared a quick glance between themselves as the man absolutely howled. The way Curly raised a hand, though whether to touch the man's shoulder or to possibly move away, no one would ever get to know. It happened in the blink of an eye after that.

One moment? Jim was laughing and snickering and throwing his head back like some maddened beast, the next? The man had made a lunge for Curly.

The captain stared wide eyed, falling backwards as him and Jimmy went tumbling, everyone else positively frozen in place.

Voice shrill with panic, Curly suddenly shouted, "NO—N-NO NO NO NO—!" He seemed to have realized what the brunet's intent had been before anyone else had the chance to.

The gun that had been tucked away on the captain's side went clattering to the ground as the two struggled with one another, Curly desperately trying to claw or kick Jimmy off, but even if the man had recovered some of his appetite and sensibility, it had been such a surprise.

They both reached for the gun.

~

His fingers barely managed to grab the handle before an elbow knocked downwards into his lip, Curly hissing out a breath as he went slipping back. The blond blinked, watching in horror as Jimmy scrambled back with that damned pistol held firmly in shaking hands. The man looked manic, absolutely fucking insane.

Jim raised the gun, pointing it at Anya with a wild grin, "Fucking finally!" The lunatic laughed, voice desperate and pitched, "I'm going to fix this goddamn mess you caused you fucking bitch!"

The woman stared in stunned shock, her plate shattering against the ground as she stumbled a step back.

Jimmy's finger went towards the trigger. Curly didn't even think.

~

Anya raised her hands infront of herself, mouth gaping open before Jimmy let out a startled shout, hands jerking harshly to the side as the gun went tumbling from his grasp. It was to her alarm and stunned silence that she watched as Curly sunk his teeth into the copilot's leg, clinging on desperately as everyone else seemed to finally catch up with the madness happening.

Daisuke was the first to his feet, hurrying to grab the abandoned gun as a harsh crack had Curly reeling back with his hands going instinctually to cover his face. Jimmy barely casted the blond a second glance, merely snapping, "Look what you made me do, Curly!" He swung about, hungry gaze latching onto the gun's new captor. He was moving again before Swansea had even fully risen to his feet.

The brunet dragged Daisuke forward by his arm, nails digging into the guy's skin as he tried to tear the gun away. Anya didn't know what to do, she didn't know what to do! She took a step forward when the gun went off.

For a moment, everyone seemed to have the same thought. Was anyone hit?

The answer came seconds later as Curly hitched out a breath, eyes wide as he looked down to his shoulder, hands still covering his face. Jimmy's head snapped over, the man tossing Daisuke to the side to practically throw himself over towards Curly, eyes wide as he staggered, "Shit— shitshitshit— you fucking moron—!"

~

Curly had heard the gun go off, breath hitching fearfully as he felt something impact his shoulder, though funnily, he didn't even realize it was from getting shot. Not until he noticed the tear in his shirt and the blood beginning to ooze down. Oh. Heh, that was… that was a new one? He'd never, uh, well he'd never been shot before.

He distantly heard the scramble of feet, a series of curses, and when he looked, he saw Jimmy. The man was saying something, though for the life of him, the blond couldn't figure out what it was. The two men locked eyes before Curly realized he had an opportunity.

With a strength he didn't know he had in him, the captain shoved himself from the wall he'd been leaned against, gripping tightly at Jimmy's shirt. He smiled through bloody, aching teeth before pulling his old pal forward quickly, ramming his fucking forehead against the brunet's.

It hurt, that's for sure, the captain stumbling to the side as his blood-slicken fingers lost their hold. Ohhhh, he was going to feel that tomorrow! Ha! The world spun, his head throbbing.

With a sputter of breath, he desperately fought to keep his eyes open. He had to fight. He had to fight if it was the last thing he did— Curly slipped. That's the last thing he remembered.

~

Anya took the opportunity as Jimmy fell back from Curly to show the whole ship what she learned from Swansea.

Because ohhhhh, the shock had worn off, that's for certain. Replaced by a boiling white-hot anger.

She spun Jimmy around, the man nearly falling as he blinked at her with a clear confusion. She didn't even let him get his bearings before pulling her other arm back and giving it her all.

It was the most satisfying thing she'd ever done, seeing how everything slowed to a crawl as her fist came in contact with the man's face. The way the confusion in his eyes turned to realization turned to stunned horror. The man barely got the words 'oh fuck' off his tongue before her knuckles bit into his cheek.

He sputtered, face pulling into a grimace as the force knocked him back, a brilliant kind of pain sparking through her skin. She thought she saw a tooth go flying, but she blinked and missed seeing if one did indeed go clattering to the ground.

Anya sucked in a breath, let it out, watched as Jimmy fumbled. She never punched someone before.

She blinked, blinked again. Her knuckles were scrapped and bleeding. She blinked. Her ears were ringing. A hand grabbed at her and she realized that Jimmy had bounced back.

She sucked in a breath. She gasped out. A blade flashed in the air. She clawed at his face and pushed her thumb into his eye.

There was a shout, maybe a scream, a few curses. Anya felt the hand scrapping for a hold loosen, eyes widening as something else— someone else— shoved her.

The knife arched down, but it wasn't her who's face it sliced across. Daisuke made one hell of a sound, the guy kicking desperately at Jim before falling back himself.

As Jimmy turned to try and find her once more in the mess of motion, it all finally stopped.

The blunt end of the ax went flying into the man's head, every ounce of adrenaline-induced fight dying in a second. Finally, fucking finally, Jim went down. Another sharp jab made sure he was out cold as he fell into a heap.

Anya sucked in another deep breath, mind still reeling to figure what in the world had just happened.

Jimmy had just tried to kill her. Jimmy had just tried to kill her. The woman blinked, eyes turning to look at the others.

Swansea stood, panting and wide-eyed with that axe raised still, watching Jim's slack form before his gaze swung about. Their eyes locked and he practically tossed the ax aside to hurry over, pulling her into a rib-crushing hug. "Jesus Christ. Just— fuck."

Anya couldn't agree more, the shudder running through her turning into full body shakes, eyes blinking rapidly. Wait— she scrambled out of his hold, words so shrill that she almost didn't recognize her own voice, "D-Daisuke—! Curly—!"

Her fingers buried frantically into Swansea's shirt, eyes darting about before first latching onto Daisuke trying to climb back to his feet with a pained wince and blood dripping down his face and then secondly onto Curly's prone form.

"Oh no— no-no—"

She could see her panic reflected in Swansea's features as she looked at him desperately for guidance. The older man looked as shell-shocked as she felt, his hand coming to grip tightly onto her shoulder, "Stay. I have to get some fucking rope, now."

Her breathing hitched, no— no, no— don't leave her right now, what if he woke up—

"A-A—nya?" Daisuke's voice made her jerk back to attention, Swansea using the opportunity to pull away from her desperate grasp, though the woman couldn't care. She surged forth, hugging the young man tightly before quickly pushing his back so she could cradle her friend's face. Oh god— oh his face.

He gave her a pained smile, tears trailing down and mixing with the vivid red blood. The gash across his face from stepping between her and that knife had arched just shy of possibly cutting into one of his eyes, the flesh of his cheek nearly flapping off. She sucked in a breath, "Oh my god."

Despite everything, Daisuke let out a soft laugh. "I t-think. I think I'm in shock or something." He certainly looked as dazed as she felt, a tremble clear in his hands as he tried to reach up to touch the wound.

She wanted to slap himself upside the head, all she could do was choke out a sob, "You id—iot! C-Could have been b-badly, oh you— so badly hurt or—"

A groan cut her off, the both of them jerking sharply. Her friend let out a whimper as the motion aggravated his wound though thankfully, it wasn't Jimmy that had made the sound. Anya's eyes widened, shit! Curly!

She scrambled over to check on the man next, "Oh my—" She sucked in a breath as the man managed to prop himself up, shakily looking over. If Daisuke had looked a mess, Curly was a disaster site.

His nose was undoubtedly broken, already starting to swell as it twisted awkwardly to the side, blood bubbling down his face as he spat out a globular of blood. God. Blood-stained his mouth, his chin, and she could see now where it had begun to soak through the cloth around his shoulder. Oh shit she had to get him medical attention soon— oh gosh— oh dear had the bullet gone through or—!?

The thud of footsteps made her look up, tensed and ready for the fight to go on, only sputtering in relief when it was merely Swansea thundering back in. He had nylon ropes coiled around his hands, face drawn into something fierce and determined now. The man didn't even waste time before forcing Jim's slumped form up, gripping the unconscious man's arms roughly before working to tie him up.

Anya shuddered and looked away, Curly blinking slowly a few times, "W'sss… hu'phhen?"

She winced at the sight of his bloodied teeth, "I— I don't— h-he tried—" She swallowed thickly, hands trembling more and more. Jimmy had tried to kill her! Jimmy had tried to kill her! W-What in the— she—

"A'aan?"

The woman blinked, "Wh-what?"

A hand shakily moved to wipe the tears from her face, she shuddered at the feeling of blood smearing against her skin. "'Sss… g'nnoa 'e o-ay."

She could only bite out another sob.

~

Curly tried to ignore the burning warmth that was slowly clawing through his shoulder, watching tiredly as Anya shakily stitched Daisuke's face back together.

The blond couldn't look away, chest rising and falling in trembling huffs, the blood still sat thick and bitter in his mouth despite his best efforts to wash it out. He winced a touch as the alcohol dipped rag Swansea had brushed against his forehead, funnily enough, his head was probably the worst thing right now.

Sure, having his nose reset had been one real bloody lovely time, but even the bullet wound was mostly numb right now. He was apparently still in survival mode or whatever it had been, but sheesh! The way his forehead pounded right now had him actually accepting a few of the offered pain medication sent his way.

It had been a bit rough swallowing it (thankfully not dry-mouthed, the cup of water certainly made it go down a lot easier) but he was fairly certain it'd do the trick.

He felt a gentle nudge at his side, blinking slowly over. Yikes, the lights in here were bright, "Huh?"

He could see Swansea's face shift in and out of view. He closed his eyes and tried to listen. "…mma…id… yees …en…"

Curly opened his eyes and felt himself beginning to slump forward, jolting a touch when a steady hand nudged him back upright. He sniffed, "Mmm… m'ired…"

A low voice nearby, the colors were too much, a gentle contact on his back as he felt himself shift. He just nodded softly, leaning into the warmth.

~

"Annnnd… there he goes again," Anya heard Swansea say gruffly. The nurse glanced over, and sure enough, she could see that Curly was out cold again.

She winced, "I'm worried he's concussed, I didn't see what happened with him and J-Jimmy."

Daisuke sniffled from where he was trying to keep it together, Anya's hand gently rubbing against his back as she moved to dab at his face with a wet towel again. The intern had been damn lucky that the bite Curly gave Jimmy had caused him to be unstable in his stance, otherwise it could have been just as likely that Daisuke would have been stabbed through the eye.

"He rammed their noggin's together," Swansea sighed, face pinched as she glanced at him. She knew the man was blaming himself for not moving fast enough. "He probably knocked his skull against the floor on top of that, the dumbass."

"…I, I can't believe that…"

The mechanic grunted softly. He walked over and gently patted Daisuke on the shoulder before reaching to take Anya's hand, "Here, you've done enough, sit down now so I can clean your knuckles."

Anya opened her mouth to retort when he gave her a hard look, it said quite simply not to argue. The woman's shoulders slumped and she moved to sit besides Daisuke, feeling the younger lean against her heavily.

That head wound had bled something awful but at least he was still conscious and responsive. She let Swansea take her busted hand and gently wash the broken skin.

"Ya know," the older man grumbled, "That was a pretty damn good punch, kid."

She gave a tired, lopsided smile. He briefly gave her the faintest of smiles back before moving to grab at some disinfectant and wraps.

~

No one to blame but yourself. No one to blame for your own actions. It was all you. You monster, you goddamned monster— a man jolted awake. Gasping in desperately he tried to get up, tensing when he realized he couldn't move.

Wildly he turned to stare at his bound wrists and ankles, eyes darting about in a building frenzy. No. No— NO NO NO THAT FUCKING BITCH! She'd ruined everything AGAIN!

The man's breathing hitched wildly before he began to thrash and scream his throat raw. THIS WASN'T HOW THINGS SHOULD HAVE GONE! THIS WASN'T HOW THINGS SHOULD HAVE FUCKING GONE!!!!

No one showed up to fix his mess. It hurt. Oh, how it hurt.