She knew that the past events had changed him. Hell, it even changed her, of course, but she never thought it would change him this much.

His odd behaviour was the same as what it was when the two were stranded in Julien's lighthouse. The fatigue, downward gazes and increase of jokes - that he made for no one in particular - that would follow with a soft and uncomfortable chuckle. Those were just a few of the strange behaviours she picked up that he didn't get rid of when everything went back to normal.

She didn't realise that she was studying his behaviour.

Nya didn't expect them to be the same the moment their feet touched the wooden deck of the Bounty, of course, but after a month, Jay was still exactly the same as what he was at that stupid lighthouse.

She believed that the change in his behaviour was due to him being in a stressful situation, as well as being free of mopping a deck for days on end. He had the world on his shoulders and had the last wish. It was not a good space for an easily stressed and anxious person like Jay.

He didn't tell her what happened on that ship, and she never brought it up. After a month, she decided to at least try and speak to him. He was hurting and the others were catching on. They did the moment they came back home.

Cole was the most unconcerned. Jay and Cole spent a lot of time together. Cole knew all of Jay's secrets, and Jay knew all of his. When Jay would barely speak to him, Cole fell into similar stress-induced depression.

Nya knew this, because to Cole, she was his last resort to get Jay talking to him again. She promised to talk to him in the morning. Jay needed his sleep before she would attack him with questions.

She knew that she was going to be the only person who could get some sort of an answer from him. She knew that he was hurting, and she knew that he was hurting himself more by isolating himself from those who want to help the most.

...

Nya finally managed to sleep in her own bed after about two weeks of being depended off of Jay, like a baby of its mother. She - as well as Jay - would be kept conscious by horrific and realistic nightmares that would cloud their minds when they did slip into unconsciousness. She knew what she dreamt about, but Jay, she had no idea. He would simply brush it off.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me. S'okay. You okay?"

Nya didn't question any further, because he was so fragile. He didn't know that Nya could hear him softly cry every night when they slept in the same bed. And no, they didn't even cuddle. Nya was the one to go to him and he would let her in with open arms.

She was quite scared to ask him about his dreams. She was worried that, in his already fragile state, she would crack the glass he was made of.

"Give him time, Cole. All will be explained once he's feeling better. I promise."

This was the second week in a row that she slept in her own bed and got the recommended amount sleep. Her nightmares got less and she, well, got used to them. They were less graphic and unrealistic. They lost the fear it held over her head or maybe, she just got used to seeing them every time she shut her eyes.

Nya's two-week sleeping streak was ended by someone viciously tapping on her shoulder. She thought she was dreaming since she was sputtering in and out of consciousness. She groaned and wrapped herself in a blanket like a makeshift cocoon.

"Nya!" Someone whispered again and poked her shoulder harder, clearly annoyed at her exhausted groaning.

Her eyes shot open and so did her hand, forming a first within a millisecond and landing a blow to the intruder's nose.

"Ah! Shit, woman! Why'dya do that?"

"Lloyd?" she asked, not answering his hissing, "Why are you in my room at this time?" She groaned and reached her hand for her bedside lamp.

She yanked the string down and grimaced as light flooded the room. Her eyes stung and she shut them tightly to get used to the sudden change in lighting.

Lloyd was still crouched down next to her bed, clutching his nose that thankfully wasn't bleeding.

"Because," he growled and sat on the bed next to her, "I need to talk to you about something."

Nya rolled her eyes.

"Lloyd," She started and stared at her alarm that flashed the current time in bright red, "It's two AM. Can't it wait?"

"It's about Jay," He stated.

Nya sat up more, bringing the soft blanket cocoon with her.

"What about him?" She inquired.

Lloyd crossed his legs and looked her straight in her droopy eyes. He looked more serious than he usually did. That line of worry between his eyebrows seemed to be more visible than usual.

"Nya, I know that you know, that I know, that you know what's wrong."

"What?"

"What's wrong with him?"

"Why do you ask?"

Lloyd groaned, "Okay, except seeing him constantly being tired, never eating, the weird change in behaviour and him not eating your face out in public, there is another problem."

Nya rested her head on her hand, that she reluctantly pulled out from her soft sanctuary.

She was sure that Lloyd would mention things that she already knew.

She was set on not telling him anything that took place. Nya promised Jay that she wouldn't, and she won't ever break a promise she made with the man she loved the most.

"I'm listening," She sighed.

"You don't seem interested in what's concerning your boyfriend at all," Lloyd replied in a rather sarcastic tone.

"I think I know what you're going to say, that's all. Also, I'm tired."

"Nya, when was the last time you slept with him? In the sense of having a lil' old sleepover?"

"Two weeks. Why do you ask? You're worrying me," Nya said.

"Can you just, please go back to sleeping with him?" Lloyd begged softly, "I just, I'm worried about him. His room is on top of mine and he keeps on pacing back and forth.

"Not only do I lose sleep from this, but he does as well. Whatever is going on, Nya, it needs to stop. He won't tell us anything and I know you know what's going on.

"I'm not going to play the leader, Nya. You're going to have to deal with this. Not to be a Sensei Wu or anything, but this is in your hands now. I've done what I could."

"He told me he was sleeping fine?" It came out more like a question.

"Of course he did. Let's just go. I'm tired and I've tried talking to him, but of course, he won't talk to me," Lloyd snapped and dug his nails into his scalp.

Nya rose without a word and followed Lloyd to the top floor, the only floor with two bedrooms. The other rooms were on the floor beneath it. Nya anxiously skipped ahead of Lloyd; trying to keep quiet at the same time. It was only two AM, after all.

She made her way to Jay's door and Lloyd returned to his own without a word.

She slowly opened his door and closed it behind her. His room was dark and she could make out the still figure on the bed. She crept to his side, and to her surprise, he was wide awake. He stared at her with concern from what she could tell, anyway. It was dark, after all. His room was neater than it usually was. He gave his room a scrub out once a week. Nya knew where he got that habit from. Old habits die hard, she guessed.

"Nya?" He whispered and lifted himself from his duvet. He wasn't dazed or half asleep. He had really been awake for a long time. "Are you okay?"

He scooted to make some space for her and she gratefully slipped under his baby blue duvet, wrapping it around her shoulders. It smelled like rooibos. She hugged it tighter as it caressed her cheek. It was definitely something that could knock her out within seconds.

"Yeah, but I'm worried about you, Jay," She whispered back.

They were facing each other with a space between them. Jay refused to go to close to her, or anyone for that matter.

Nya reached out her hand and quickly grabbed Jay's. He flinched but he calmed down quickly. Nya's thumb rubbed smooth, soft circles into his skin. She scooted a bit closer and surprisingly, he didn't move back.

"About what? You don't have to worry about me."

She reached up a hand to touch his face. "I do and I think it's important that we help you. At least let me help you. You know we love you," she said.

His blue's followed her hands every movement and when it touched his freckle splattered cheek, he didn't back away. Maybe he was finally opening up again.

"I don't need to be worried about."

"And why is that?" Nya whispered, her thumb stroking his cheek.

"It's my punishment."

Nya frowned before she realised what he was referring to.

"You've been punished enough. You don't need to beat yourself over this. We're okay."

Jay stayed silent and his eyes stared anywhere except Nya's.

"We need to talk."

That seemed to catch his attention because his eyes were staring directly into hers.

"'Bou'what?"

"You."

"What about me?"

She sighed and smiled sweetly.

"Jay, you know I care for you. You're hurting right now, and you don't deserve this. You don't deserve to keep this to yourself. I'm asking you now if it would be okay for you to tell me what happened on that ship."

Jay was reluctant to answer, "I-I don't know Nya. To be honest, I'm really ashamed at what I let happen to me."

"I promise I won't. You can't let this hurt you. I'm here for you, Jay Walker, now let me help you," She pleaded, her thumb still running soft circles on his cheek.

He nodded as a glistening pearl rolled down his cheek as a necklace undone.


The next chapter will have the good stuff; aka my take on Jay's experience during Skybound. The warnings will be given then. Thanks for reading so far.