author's note: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please hang on for the conclusion of the fic, okay? Please don't come to my house with pitchforks and torches. I promise this isn't the end. I promise.


islands in the sea
chapter seven - the rescue (part two)


Hubert receives a lecture after barely five minutes back in Yu Liberte.

"What on earth were you thinking?!" Garrett Oswell paces the floor in front of his adopted son, hands wringing together behind his back, lifting his head and sending sharp glances in the direction of the rest of his audience each time he reaches the end of his path and turns around. "I have told you time and time again that going on such foolish - expeditions - is not doing you or the nation of Strahta any good. Do you have any grasp on how close to death you may have come, had I not requested Mr. Caesar's interference?"

"I am well aware of it," Hubert mutters. He is seated in a chair in the middle of the Oswell manor's formal dining room, his right arm extended to his side and held firmly in the grasp of a physician. The dining room is full of people, including two medical experts, a cluster of maids, a cook, and a military-designated messenger; Pascal is close by but not close enough, currently on the other side of the stately table being fussed at by Fourier and inspected by the other physician for signs of dehydration or injury. He wishes briefly that she was talking, chattering away as cheerfully as she had been earlier - but she's silent, which means she's able to hear everything Garrett is saying. "To be fair," Hubert says, meeting his father's eyes with his, "Captain Malik was not the reason we were rescued. Fourier was the one who heard our message - "

"The details are unimportant," Garrett interrupts, narrowing his eyes, and he doesn't stop pacing for even a moment. "You have acted quite rashly, going flying off into the wilderness with that Amarcian - companion of yours. Do you know what people are probably saying about you right now, Hubert? They are probably gossiping in the streets about you willingly abandoning your post to run away with a Fendelian outcast - "

"Hey!" Pascal's voice isn't loud or strong, but she sounds indignant enough to get her point across. "I can't be an outcast if I'm not even part of Fendel. The Amarcian enclave is an independent structure with its own governing body and no political ties to any other country whatsoever. Sheesh. Get your facts straight."

"She is correct." Hubert says before his father can respond, seeing the older man beginning to go red in the face. No one really ever dares to talk back to Garrett Oswell, but Pascal is certainly not one to care about what other people do. "And as for those who might speak ill of me," he continues, "let them. I know why I agreed to venture out to the islands, and I heard no objection from you when I spoke of it prior to our departure. I fully expect the president to be impressed with our findings. And if he feels that it is necessary to - " He winces suddenly, glancing to his side to watch the physician press another finger against the healing bruise on his forearm. "... to reprimand me, I will not protest."

"You truly feel that what you have done is appropriate?"

He has to remind himself that Garrett is speaking of the trip, not of other things that his son has done - things that he would have no knowledge of, thankfully. Had he somehow learned of the rest... well, Hubert would have expected the man's head to explode. "Our venture was fully sanctioned by the military - by Mr. Paradine himself. The ship's engine failed, and when it did, Pascal saved our lives. You should be grateful for that."

"Grateful?"

"Indeed." Hubert winces again and turns in his chair to look down at the physician. "Must you keep doing that?"

"I apologize." The dark-haired man releases his arm and reaches into a small brown bag on the floor beside him, retrieving a roll of white bandage. "My concern is that you may have suffered a minor bone fracture. I would like to compress your arm for a short period of time to ensure that it heals properly. If there is a fracture, it is likely very small, but I feel it better to be safe than sorry with regards to this matter."

"Fine," the lieutenant sighs, and reaches up with his opposite hand to push his glasses up on his nose. "Do what you must."

Garrett stops pacing and narrows his eyes at his son again. "Why, exactly, do you see fit to speak so rudely to the medical professionals that I called for both you and your companion out of concern for your health?"

"It is not my intention to be rude." Hubert leans back in his chair. "Perhaps I am somewhat terse because my own father sought to greet me after I spent several days stranded in the Strahtan sea not with an expression of gratitude for my safety or relief that my companion was unharmed, but with a proclamation of my foolishness shouted so loud that I expected the entire city to hear."

Malik has been quiet so far, standing in the far corner of the room next to the cluster of maids now whispering in hushed tones, but he snorts loudly at this, nodding appreciatively at Hubert. "And you thought I greeted you inappropriately."

"Miss Pascal appears unharmed," the second physician suddenly announces, and all present turn to watch him leave her side, allowing her to jump to her feet and scurry around to where Hubert sits, his arm still extended. "Both she and Lieutenant Oswell are likely dehydrated, and it would do them good to have a hearty meal, but nothing else seems out of the ordinary." The tall man nods down at the Amarcian as he passes her, a slight smile on his mouth. "I must say, I expected nothing less from one of your kind. You must have excellent survival skills."

"Well, most of that was 'cause of Hu." She leans on the back of the lieutenant's chair, grinning. "We got lucky, getting stranded somewhere with fish and banana trees."

"We were very lucky," he echoes her, and nods at the tall physician, whom he recognizes from his childhood - a friendly, patient man who had nursed him back to health from more than one childhood illness. "Thank you," he says, earnestly. "I apologize for any rudeness, either real or perceived."

The doctor chuckles, and even the man currently bandaging Hubert's arm laughs, but Garrett makes a face so vile that his son expects him to start screaming right then and there. But he holds his tongue - thankfully - and turns on his heel to stride over to the maids, all who fall instantly silent at his approach. Garrett begins issuing them orders in a low voice, and they scurry quickly away in several directions (though not without each sending a purposeful look in the direction of a particular instructor standing in the corner). When he moves on to the cook, Hubert clears his throat, gesturing with his free hand for the military-appointed messenger to draw near. "Please tell Mr. Paradine," the lieutenant begins upon the young man's arrival, "that we are unharmed and will report to him early tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, and hey! You can give him this in the meantime." Pascal produces Hubert's filled notepad seemingly out of nowhere - he wonders when exactly she'd been digging around in his bag - and passes it to the messenger with a bright smile. "It's not, like, super duper top secret classified information or anything, so I totally wouldn't blame you if you took a peek. But I bet the prez will wanna see it right away, so if you're gonna look, do it now."

"Y - yes, ma'am." The young man looks flustered - probably an appropriate reaction to being greeted so casually by an Amarcian, once thought by Strahta residents to be an extinct race. "I will give this to Mr. Paradine immediately upon my return."

"Awesome! Thanks."

"Is there anything else that I should report, Lieutenant Oswell?" he asks, tucking the pad under one arm. "I will pass on word of your good health, of course, but..."

"Nothing else," Hubert responds, with a nod, and glances to his side at the doctor finishing the bandage around his arm. "You are dismissed. Thank you."

"Thank you, sir." The young man claps a fist to his chest and bows once before turning to leave. The lieutenant watches him for just a moment, trying to remember his name, but he's almost ashamed when he can't recall it. Two years ago, he would have known everything about the young man - his name, his history, his military training, and whether or not he was in line for a promotion away from the meaningless position of messenger - but Hubert has been chained to his desk for so long that he has become out of touch with the current state of things. And this, he thinks, is a reminder of what he's about to go back to -

"So..." Malik speaks up suddenly, departing the corner to cross the room slowly to the others. "... what will the two of you do now that you're back on solid ground?"

"I would hope that both Lieutenant Oswell and Miss Pascal rest for a few days," the taller of the two physicians speaks up, and his companion nods as he finally releases Hubert's arm and rises to his feet, picking up his bag as he does so. "Although their physical conditions are relatively good, I have read that extended exposure to unfamiliar elements combined with a lack of human contact can result in mental fatigue."

One side of Pascal's mouth jerks up into a smile. "Huh. So getting stranded on an island is bad for you, huh?"

"Essentially, yes. Although I must reiterate that the two of you were extremely lucky. You might have perished, had there not been a viable food source." The physician nods. "If there is nothing else to attend to, we will take our leave. Please feel free to contact our office if you experience any pain or illness."

"Thank you very much." Hubert stands, collecting the coat of his uniform off the back of his chair before extending his left hand to both men in turn. "I appreciate your attention. My father will address your bill."

"Oh, no charge. Consider it a favor, Lieutenant." The shorter of the two men waves a hand at him. "We're just glad to see you safe and sound. The entire city was on the verge of rioting when you were reported missing."

"Really now?" Fourier finally speaks up, raising one pale eyebrow. "Hubert is that important?"

"He's going to be president someday, after all - "

"I am going to be no such thing," Hubert interrupts, sliding his coat back on, and shakes his head at the amused smiles of both older men. "But I suppose I appreciate the sentiment. Thank you."

"You are most welcome."

Both men bow and take their leave, and Hubert notices then that the cook has departed as well, presumably to prepare lunch. Garrett waits until the room is clear before he strides back to the remaining group of four, casting what is assuredly an annoyed look at both Pascal and Fourier in turn before addressing his adopted son. "Hubert," he begins, "you ought to rest."

"I feel fine."

"Well you certainly do not look fine." Garrett sniffs. "You smell as if you are in need of a bath, and your uniform is dirty and torn. I will have to call the tailor to repair it for you. You also appear positively exhausted. I would beg you to go to your room and sleep."

"I am not tired, either." Hubert sighs. "Do you have any other concerns you would like to address in front of my guests? For instance, how my absence caused you such grief and despair that you require me to immediately sit with you and promise that I will never leave the manor again, unless it is to marry the wealthy heiress or government official that you have chosen for me this week?"

Malik laughs out loud and Pascal releases a low whistle, nudging Hubert lightly in the side with one elbow. Garrett goes slackjawed and almost instantly turns red, and there's a moment of silence during which the man's growing rage can almost be felt. "You," he utters, when he becomes able to use words again, "have no right to speak to me in such a way."

"Perhaps I do not. I can't say that I care at this particular moment." Hubert looks at the Amarcian at his side, then to Fourier, who looks almost as angry as his father. He isn't sure he wants to know why that is - and he thinks he'll worry about that later, when he's finished dealing with his father. Garrett scowls and turns on his heel, storming out of the room without another word, and Hubert is certain he'll be hearing it later, but right now all he wants is peace and quiet.

Peace, quiet, and a bath, he corrects himself. There's one thing his father is right about, after all: he really doesn't smell very good.


Almost two hours later, Hubert and Pascal have both bathed, dressed in clean clothes, and eaten a lunch with Malik and Fourier. Garrett Oswell is nowhere to be found - one of the maids murmurs to Hubert that she'd heard him ranting to himself in his study, to which the lieutenant simply laughs - and so their meal is spent mostly in silence, save occasional questions from Malik that Pascal takes it upon herself to answer.

The cook has just cleared the dining room table and is leaving through a side door when Pascal lets it slip - "it" being a topic that Hubert had been hoping to avoid for the next few hours, at least until he'd spoken to his father. Malik has asked Pascal what she expects to do next, and Fourier is in the middle of a rant of how she expects her sister to be locked away in her room for at least three months when the younger Amarcian tips her chair back and giggles, folding her hands behind her head. "You can try to lock me away, Sis," she says, "but I'm pretty sure you won't be able to."

"The hell I won't." Fourier narrows her eyes at her sister. "I will put a lock on your door of my own creation if I must!"

"Go ahead, but it's not like I'm gonna be there."

"And where exactly do you expect to be, then?"

"With Hu," she answers casually, like it's the most simple thing in the world, and when Malik raises both eyebrows and Fourier sputters and Hubert nearly falls out of his chair, she looks at them all like they're crazy. "Huh? What's wrong with you guys? I mean, by then we're gonna be m - "

"Pascal!"

"What?"

"Don't." Hubert shakes his head, hard, pretending he doesn't see the knowing grin sneaking across Malik's lips - or the horrified expression on Fourier's face. "You cannot simply - talk about it like that. I haven't said a word to my father - "

"Oh, like you need to. He's gonna say no and tell you you're a moron no matter how you put it to him." She rolls her eyes. "I know what he thinks of me, alright? It's seriously not a big deal. But why can't we tell Fourier and Captain?"

"Yes, Hubert," Malik says, folding his hands together beneath his chin, "why can't you tell us?"

The lieutenant feels himself blush - from embarrassment or mortification, he's not sure which - and he lifts a hand to push his glasses up on his nose, pausing until he's determined exactly what to say. "I suppose it would be inappropriate to withhold such information," he begins, "but I would not feel comfortable with making any kind of announcement until I have made at least one attempt to reason with my father - "

"Reason schmeason!" Pascal grins and tips her chair back further, looking up at the ceiling. "Just tell them!"

"Pascal, this isn't something that you can merely announce at the dinner table - "

"Says who? Quit being such a chicken."

"I am not a - a chicken!"

"You sure sound like a chicken. Bawk bawk."

"I - fine!" He leans forward, glaring at her until he realizes she's not even looking - and then he clears his throat, fiddling with his glasses again. "I have," he starts, and drops his gaze to the table, because Fourier looks like she might just rip his head off if he continues with his current sentence, "erm... asked - I asked Pascal - "

"We're getting married," she finishes for him, simply, and as uncomfortable as this situation is, Hubert is glad that at least she can speak of these things so easily. He feels some relief with the words out in the open...

... but then Fourier speaks and the relief drops sharply into the pit of his stomach and turns into cold, clammy dread. "Absolutely not."

Pascal sounds confused. "Wait, what? I thought you'd be happy."

"Happy? About this?" The older Amarcian's voice is unusually sharp. "When, exactly, did the two of you decide it would be appropriate to marry? Was it before or after Pascal ruined the ship in a misguided attempt to bring you together?"

"A misgui... whaaa?"

Malik blinks down at Fourier, obviously perplexed - and just the slightest bit concerned, if the soft edge to his voice is to be believed. "Hold on a second. What are you going on about? The last time I saw you, you were talking about how you couldn't wait for Pascal to settle down. You kept saying you wanted her to find a husband so you could focus on your work and stop worrying about her - "

"That was before I learned just how irresponsible she really is." Fourier faces her sister, pressing her hands together atop the table, and she gives Pascal a long, hard look before shifting her gaze to Hubert. "Do you know," she begins, "that she had this planned out from the very start?"

"I - no I didn't! Fourier, what the heck are you talking about? I didn't plan anything - "

"Be quiet!" Fourier's eyes don't leave Hubert's, even as she cuts Pascal off mid-sentence. "Tell me," she says, "did you know that my sister was well aware of the problems with the main engine of that ship? And that she went as far as telling me that she doubted it would last for the entirety of your trip to the islands?"

"... what?"

"You can ask her yourself." Fourier nods at Pascal, who suddenly looks very pale. The younger Amarcian straightens her chair, staring down at her hands in her lap, and the way she sits without speaking worries Hubert in a way he doesn't like. "I had ordered her to repair the ship before leaving again, but didn't know that she was going out on her little adventure when she did. She waited until I had departed for the Amarcian enclave to run off and kidnap you. She knew full well that the ship would become unusable at some point during your trip."

"I didn't - it wasn't like that, okay? I knew it wasn't in good shape, but it wasn't like you told me it would fail when I had it up in the air - "

"Might I also add," Fourier continues, ignoring her sister's attempts to speak, "that when I heard she was missing and went to her room in the enclave, looking for clues as to where she might have gone, I found several things written in a diary of hers - "

"WHAT?! Wh - why would you read - ?!"

"Fourier," Malik says, gently, "you really shouldn't - "

"Shut up," she mutters, and glares at him once before turning to Hubert again. "She was really quite fond of the idea that the two of you would end up living together on one of those islands. She wrote at great length about it. In fact, I believe she was hoping that the ship's engine would fail when you attempted to leave, and then you would have no choice but to stay there together. She probably didn't count on it failing during your flight, but otherwise, she got exactly what she wanted, didn't she?"

"Pascal..." Hubert shifts in his chair to look at her, both eyebrows raised, and he's unwilling to believe that this is the truth. Fourier is a jealous woman, and an emotionally unstable one at that, so he really wouldn't put it past her to make something up. "Why is she saying this?"

"I - Hu, it's not like I - " The Amarcian doesn't lift her eyes, and her voice is unusually soft. "Look, I was just daydreaming about being alone with you. I didn't know the engine was gonna fail - "

"So it's a complete coincidence," Fourier interrupts, "that you wrote in your little book about how you wanted to be stranded with him, and about how nice it would be if you found out that he liked you? Is it also a complete coincidence that you said what you really wanted was for him to propose so you could finally marry someone? Am I to believe that all your ramblings about Hubert being the perfect person to settle for didn't lead directly to this?"

Hubert almost chokes. "Pascal - !"

"That isn't what I meant by that!"

He can't keep the dismay out of his voice. "Then what did you mean? You said you would - settle for me?"

"That's totally out of context! It was like a year ago when I said that, and I only said it once!"

"Why?"

"Look, I was lonely and I wasn't really in lo - it doesn't matter, okay? That was before all this!" She finally looks up, showing the tears that are beginning to gather in the corners of her amber eyes. "I didn't plan this. I promise. It was a coincidence. I was thinking about the trip, and sometimes I like to write things out, you know? So I was daydreaming a little bit about what might happen, and I was like "oh, man, wouldn't it be nice if we got stranded together?" 'cause if you read any of those crappy romance novels that Cheria likes, it's always the hero and heroine getting stuck together somewhere, and it resolves all their conflicts - "

"Did you expect me to propose to you?"

"... I - " She glances away. "I mean - I wanted that, and maybe I thought about it, but I didn't know - "

"Answer me!"

"Hu, don't yell at me!" She tightens her hands into fists, smacking them into the table. "I didn't expect anything! I thought you hated me, and I didn't know how I felt for a really long time. What happened was that Fourier - " She frowns at her sister. " - started pressuring me to get married, and you were the only person I could think of who I could stand - I mean, I liked you - wait, this isn't coming out right - "

"I cannot believe this." He bows his head. "Do you know how long I - " He glances abruptly to Malik, but the older man looks hurt and concerned and not at all in the mood to jest, so he decides that he might as well go all the way with this. "Do you know how long I loved you? How many times I accompanied you on ridiculous trips and missions just because I wanted nothing to be by your side? Do you know - " His words catch in his throat but he forces them out, and there's a pain he'd all but forgotten creeping back into his heart, like an old, unwelcome but still familiar friend. "I never thought about settling for you. I have done nothing with my life but love you for almost three years. I waited for you to show some inclination of your feelings for me, and now that I finally feel something other than despair - " He shuts his eyes. "Did you really want this, Pascal? Did you really want to nearly kill us just so you could be alone with me? Just so I would finally find the courage to tell you my feelings, and give you everything I had - "

"It's not like that!" she insists. "I swear I didn't plan this!"

"It certainly worked out well for you, though, didn't it?" Fourier actually sounds amused, and Hubert has to fight back the urge to lunge from his chair and strike her. "I remember what you said about Hubert. You said that he would take care of you, that he would never hurt you - "

Pascal's voice is getting hoarse with emotion now, and Hubert doesn't have to look to know that she's crying. "Stop it."

" - and that you'd be able to live out a comfortable life while he worked for the military, or maybe even became president - "

"Fourier, stop it."

" - and that you'd never find anybody you ever really loved, so why not just settle for him? Because it was obvious that he liked you, after all, wasn't it? You said so yourself."

"STOP IT!"

"You knew?" He looks up, eyes wide, but Pascal is already sobbing into her hands and probably doesn't even hear him. "But," he says, and that coldness in his stomach turns bitter and painful, and suddenly all he wants to do is run away and leave and never come back. "But - "

"She knew." It's Fourier who answers, sighing as she does so, as if this is all very painful and horrible for her. "Of course she knew. You were like a ridiculous little puppy dog, following her around with a lovesick look on your face. Why does this surprise you? Did she pretend otherwise? I suppose it doesn't surprise me, if she did." The older Amarcian shrugs her shoulders. "Pascal can be a very convincing actress when she wants to be. I'm sure she also told you about how awful I was to her, encouraging her to find someone to marry like the horrible, demanding older sister I am. How dare I want someone to take care of my childish twenty-five year old sister so I can finally live my own life? Well, no matter." She exhales loudly. "You two most certainly won't marry now, will you? If you want to marry for love and she wants to marry for convenience, there's certainly no way of making it work - "

"Fourier, this has gone on long enough." Malik finally speaks up, and he stands with a grunt, shoving his chair away from the table so hard that it nearly tips over. "You're just putting thoughts in his head now."

"Thoughts? Or the truth?"

"With all due respect, I highly doubt your version of the truth is the right one." He reaches down and grabs her by one wrist, yanking her to her feet. "Come on. We're leaving these two alone for a while so they can sort things out."

"M - Malik, let me go right this instant!"

"No," he says, and pulls her away from the table. She fights him at first, but eventually she seems to realize that he is capable of dragging her the whole way out of the room and straightens, walking beside him. They leave the room - and then the house, as Hubert shortly hears the front door of the manor opening and slamming shut - and the massive dining room is silent save the soft sounds of a young woman crying to his side. He doesn't want to look at her, doesn't even want to think about what has just happened -

"Hu," she whispers, and the sound of that nickname in her mouth is suddenly painful, like a blade shoved deep into his heart and twisted, "you have to believe me. It's not like Fourier said. I promise."

"Then tell me the truth." He turns in his chair, reluctantly, to face her. "Did you know that I had feelings for you?"

"I don't know. I - " She sniffs, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I mean, I kinda... guessed... but the more time we spent together, the less right I thought I was..."

He swallows hard. "Was I really following you around like a lovesick puppy?"

"I never ever said that. That was all Fourier, I swear. Hu, please - "

"And you were truly going to settle for me?" The words taste vile in his mouth, and he wishes he'd never spoken them aloud. "That's why what you said what you did, isn't it - about the two of us marrying? You planted the seed, and you knew I would propose after I confessed to you, because I'd listened to you talk about how lonely you were, and how you wanted nothing but to live with me forever - "

"Stop it. Stop it!" She shakes her head frantically. "I wasn't lying! I never once lied to you!"

"Then why didn't you fix the engine?"

"Because I forgot, okay?!" She wipes at her eyes again, sniffing loudly. "I was too busy freaking out about the trip and worrying that you'd say no to think about it! And by the time I remembered that I hadn't repaired it, we were up in the air and the alarm was going off, and - seriously, it wasn't on purpose, and I only told Fourier once that I didn't expect it to last! I just forgot!"

"Somehow..." Hubert closes his eyes, feeling his hands tremble. "I would like to believe you. But this is too much."

"Hu, no. No, no, no, don't."

"What - how should I react to this?" He snaps at her, raising his voice, and he sounds angry but he is really just hurt, and his chest is starting to throb with some kind of uncomfortable pain. "How can I believe that you would joke about leaving us stranded on an island? What if we had been killed? All the time that I spent defending you, convincing you that it was an accident - " He cringes. "And then to hear that you considered me nothing but some kind of suitable husband - to know that I spent so long in love with you while you simply toyed with the idea of marriage just so you wouldn't have to work - !"

"That's not how it was at all! I was confused!"

"And perhaps I have been confused as well. Perhaps I fooled myself, believing you to be the person that I wanted to spend my life with." He opens his eyes, rising unsteadily from his chair, and Pascal lets out a strangled cry and jumps to her feet, stepping close to him. She reaches for his hands but he yanks them away, avoiding her gaze, forcing himself not to look at her even as she releases a sob. "I am not foolish enough to believe that everything your sister said was the truth. But I am also not foolish enough to believe that everything she said was a lie, either. The extent of your falsehoods is certainly questionable, but you did lie to me, didn't you?"

"Hu, please, don't do this."

"And what choice do I have?!" He raises his voice again. "Am I to simply go on pretending that this never happened?!"

"It doesn't - it doesn't freaking matter, okay?!" Her words are punctuated by sniffs and soft sobs. "That was all in the past. I didn't - I didn't lie. I do love you. I haven't - loved you for as long as you have me, but that doesn't matter. I didn't expect you to propose, I - I really didn't. I promise. Anything I said a while ago... me forgetting to fix the engine... I know it's all stupid, but it's different now. It's completely - it's different." He sees her shake her head, her hair fluttering around her cheeks. "You can't just throw away everything we have because I did something - because I did or said some dumb things. I'm always doing dumb things. And maybe I did things once because of - because of bad, stupid reasons, but I love you now, and I - "

"Enough." He turns away, weary and upset, and absently touches his aching chest with the tips of his fingers. "I... I would like to be alone. Please go."

"Go - where?"

He shrugs. "It doesn't concern me. Find your sister and Captain Malik and leave with them, if you like. Or stay at the inn for the evening. I don't wish to see you right now. Perhaps tomorrow, once I have sorted out my thoughts - "

"That's it? Seriously?" He hears her draw in a breath. "You're just going to tell me to - to leave? Just because I said some stupid things to my sister once?"

"That isn't the extent - "

"How is this fair, Hu? How?"

"If you would let me finish a sentence - "

"No! This isn't fair! You're acting like I just broke your heart because I made a couple little mistakes! So it's totally okay for you to act like you hate me, and treat me like crap, and pretend you don't feel anything for me, and it's totally okay for you to just toss me out of your house because you want to be alone - " She stomps one foot against the floor. "I love you, okay? But this isn't fair! We both messed up! You can't just decide that you don't want to see me because of things that don't even matter - "

"They do matter!" He rounds on her, hands clenched, and even when her eyes widen in fear he doesn't stop himself. "I refuse to marry a woman who once declared she would settle for me merely because I was kind to her or because I might become the president of Strahta - which, I will have you know, I have no intention of doing! I refuse to marry for anything less than love, and by announcing so cheerfully that you once thought of me as some kind of last resort, you are no better than the women my father parades into our sitting room and introduces to me as a potential mate!"

Pascal stares at him, her amber eyes huge and filled with tears, and it takes a moment before she can respond - but when she does, she draws herself up to her full height, looking directly at him, and her words come strong and steady and without emotion. "Fine," she says, "if that's how you see me, then forget it. I don't even want to marry you. If you can't forgive me for not always being hopelessly in love with you - with you, the guy who treated me like I was annoying and stupid and pretty much worthless for three full freaking years - then I'm better off leaving you now and never coming back."

They look at each other, silent, and Hubert feels what might be a pang of regret. She isn't wrong, but even so -

"Guess that's it then, huh?" Pascal forces a smile as she speaks, keeping the room from becoming quiet. "Said all you needed to say, yeah?"

"I - " He glances away. "Do you mean to say that you are calling off our engagement?"

"You know, I can't believe I ever thought I loved you." She doesn't answer him - instead she moves, brushing past him, walking quickly in the direction of the door. "I can't freaking believe I ever thought I loved somebody who got away with being a jerk just because he would sometimes be nice. That's a really messed up relationship. I think I'll be better off leaving."

"Pascal, wait."

"No." The answer is hard and final, and suddenly there are tears in Hubert's eyes. This has happened fast, too fast, and he's only now realizing what he's said and what is happening, and what he's about to lose, and - oh god, why, why does he always have to be such a spectacular idiot about things?! He starts toward her but she speaks again, holding up one hand. "No," she repeats, and doesn't look at him. "We're done. I'm going home. And since I'm such a bother and such a horrible person, you will never, ever hear from me again. 'kay? So you can finally be happy, all on your own, sitting here in your big house with your rich dad and your awesome military job."

No, no, no. "Pascal, please wait. Let me - I need to just - I didn't - "

"You're not getting out of this one," she tells him, with a bitter laugh, and then she goes to the door and through it and is gone. He chases after her, but by the time he catches up she is outside, burying her head in the front of Fourier's shirt and sobbing, and the older Amarcian shakes her head at him and turns away. Malik looks at him and sighs, reaching out to touch his shoulder - but Hubert jerks away and walks back into the house, slamming the door behind him.

He goes to his room and locks the door and buries his face in a pillow and cries for the first time in a very long time. He doesn't know exactly why he's crying, and it feels revolting to react in such a way. But he cries long and loud, not caring if the maids hear or if Malik comes in to check on him, and eventually he falls asleep and doesn't wake again until the early hours of the morning.


At eight the next morning, when Hubert goes to the presidential palace, having skipped two meals and sporting dark circles under his eyes, Malik meets him on the front steps. The older man tells him in a low voice that Fourier and Pascal have gone back to the Amarcian enclave, and that he'll be leaving for Fendel the following day. He tries to reason with Hubert, saying that if he goes to her now, he has a chance -

"I don't deserve a chance," he says, simply, and pushes past Malik so he can enter the building. "She will be better off without me."

And twenty minutes later, as Hubert stands in Dylan Paradine's office and watches him review Pascal's notes with wide eyes and an enormous smile, he wishes for the first time that they had never been rescued. He would have been happier dying there on the island, because he would have at least died with Pascal, with the love of his life, with all his sins forgiven and his heart full and happy.