final frontier #18
Staring across at each other from their bunks, Sean feels a vague sense of intimacy. It’s like when he and Yok first started having sleepovers, except this has a different charge to it. Sean and Yok had been kids, bonding and messing around (not like that), while Sean and White are…
They’re more than acquaintances, but they’re likely less than friends. The familiarity between them isn’t easy, but tense, an acknowledgement of respect but only a base level of understanding.
“What do you want to talk about?”
There. At least Sean has broken the silence, and his own internal reveries.
White says, as if he feels nothing of this surreal atmosphere between them, “My brother.”
Expected, but disappointing. Sean’s tired mind was supplying— “What about him?”
“P’Black and I are very close,” White continues. “If I am to rely on your help, I…” Is this hesitation a sign? A chink in White’s armor? “I would like to know you better.”
“Oh.” Sean is once again uncertain what to think, or how to proceed. “What do you want to know about me?”
In the low light, Sean can make out the curve of White’s cheek, the dark shine of his glossy hair, the tip of White’s pointed ear. “Whatever information is pertinent.”
Sean huffs. “I won’t bore you with what’s in my Starfleet personnel file.” This is harder than he’d thought though, talking about himself. “I grew up…” Too painful. Sean shakes his head and starts again. “I’ve been friends with Yok since before the Academy.” That feels safe. “And then I met Gram, and Black, and I didn’t always get along with Black, but it’s not like I wanted something to happen to him. I’m sorry he’s missing.”
“He’s not—” White’s mouth clicks closed.
No matter how Vulcan he may look, Sean sees that human vulnerability. “Isn’t that what you said?”
“Although I am not sure where Black is—”
“We’ll find him,” Sean assures. He stares over. “White?”
“Krub, Cadet Bawongittacha?”
“Just ‘Sean.’” Is this something Sean will have to remind White often? Or is that part of White’s anxiety making itself known? “Er… Is there a reason why Black wouldn’t tell you what he was doing? Where he was going?”
“P’Black is…very independent,” White replies. Lower, he adds, “But usually not from me.”
There’s pain. Sean wants to offer real comfort, but he can only say, “It’ll be okay.”