"Harlock!" Mayu sobbed as the injured Captain dropped to his knees fully embracing Mayu, the Arcadia humming peacefully. Harlock winced as Mayu grasped him tightly, her small frame shuddering just as much as his was. Despite the weakness that overcame his body, Harlock scooped Mayu up and headed towards his room, the crew hissing orders behind him on what to do with the unconscious Rivel.
Miime had already swabbed medical supplies from Dr Zero and set them out on Harlock's desk as he lurched through the door
"Captain!" She hurries to his side and helps him to his bed, much to his dismay. Before allowing Miime to inspect the damage, he tucks an exausted Mayu into the bed
"You're okay" She beamed at his darkly shaded face
"Of course I am" He smiled, ruffling her hair as she allowed herself to fall asleep
"What happened to you, Harlock?" Miime murmured as he discarded his rag of a shirt, assessing the open wounds decorating his already scarred body
"The usual" He growled as she placed some ointment onto the wounds
"Rivel wanted to destroy us...and you?" Harlock grunted a confirmation, his muscular back tense
"He has a brutal hand" Miime shook her head. Harlock remained silent until he was bandaged up. Miime left and Harlock tended to the rest of his wounds before shrugging on a new shirt and pants. As he fastened the last buckle on his boot, Mayu awoke. She frowned at first in confusion, she had never seen Harlock wear civilian clothes
"Harlock?" he turned to her with a soft smile
"Mayu" He greeted
"I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough"
"You do not need to apologise" Harlock felt his anger bubble, it's not fair Mayu should feel like a burden
"I...I don't want to go back" she mumbled
"You won't be going back until I know it's safe" Harlock reassured "I am not letting you be used as a pawn in such dangerous games"
"I'm sorry"
"Do not be sorry Mayu" Harlock comforted "what's done is done and we are both fine"
"But you're not" She whimpered
"I've had worse" he winked with his good eye. He lay on the bed, despite the pain it felt good to stretch up. Just a couple of hours sleep and he'll back to his duties...
"Dad would be proud of us if he was here" Mayu whispered in Harlock's ear, he pretended to fall asleep as his heart melted and his thoughts flew into the past of the many times he and Tochiro had been in trouble.
Author's Note-Yeah it's a little short chapter. I'm really bad at keeping fanfics going so please bare with me! I don't want to abandon this one so I'm trying to push the story on wards...
