1.
The train to New York had been delayed for a few hours due to the snow now. Nami sighed quietly as she closed her book and looked at her watch for the hundredth time in the past hour. She looked out the window and stared directly at the bright white snow. Her thoughts started to wander. They've reached D.C. now, she thought, finally somewhere she felt close enough to her destination after having to be stuck on trains for days, but then now the snow...how unfortunate. She felt trapped in her seat. She wondered what the city of D.C. looked like. She almost wanted to hop off the train and maybe walk around the city in the snow, but a voice in the back of her mind kept telling her it was too risky. What about a new book? Maybe she could run to the nearest bookstore and still make it back to the train. Or just anything. Anything besides sitting there and reading the same book over and over.
"Uhhh… excuse me Ma'am, this is the 9:30 train to New York right?"
Nami blinked and turned her head towards the source of the voice—a rigid looking young man in his uniform. His face sharp and serious, skin brown and tough in contraction to his soft, bright green hair. He still had snow on him but did not seem to be bothered by it.
"Ugh… yea. Supposedly, but there's been a delay because of the snow... as you could tell."
"Yes. fortunately. I was going to miss this train." he said emotionlessly as he took off his hat, a good chunk of snow rolled off. "Is the seat next to you open? The train is exceptionally packed."
He sat down before Nami could even respond.
Normally, she would've been extremely bothered by his lack of manners, but right now, she was actually kind of glad to have someone to keep her accompanied in this forever lasting journey to New York, in one way or another.
But then she was wrong.
The young soldier hadn't made a single noise since he sat down. He sat in silence with his arms crossed on his chest, back straight, eyes closed and head slightly tilted to the right, showing absolutely no intention to engage in a conversation. Nami stole a quick glance at him and rolled her eyes, how dreadful, she thought, he's not going to say a word. Then she went back to reading her book again.
An hour later, the snow had almost stopped. The train finally started again, continuing its slow way to New York.