How much time is there in space?

0o0o0o

Ivan was right. Yao Wang, leader of the Middle fleet, wanted Earth like an spurned lover. The flame of jealousy and spite that had mixed with the wonder in his eyes when Ivan had told him had confirmed the ambassador's observations. Yao was the kind who had hot anger, bright and fast. He would think little of dirtying his hands with blood in the heat of the moment.

Ivan wanted Yao to tell him more about himself. He wanted to see awe on his face again. He wanted to see the shock and fear and want his secret had garnered again. Mostly, he just wanted Yao. Fiery, sharp, interesting Yao.

Ivan chuckled and glanced over to where the leader of the Middle fleet was making polite conversation with his sister.

'Ah, Yao. I see you have met Natalya?'

Yao glanced back, jaw tense. 'I have.'

'She is my sister,' Ivan continued, leaning in. Yao minutely drew closer. Delighted, Ivan smiled. 'She is a commander in battle, and very impressive.'

'Indeed.' Yao abruptly turned to his food, every muscle taut. However, Ivan knew the nobleman had leaned in when he had.

How far would Yao lean in if pressed? Ivan wanted to know, but it would have to be a science in pretty things if he didn't want Yao to become suspicious.

Ivan waited exactly seven minutes before taking Yao's arm. The fleet leader stopped and glanced over sharply.

'I thought we went over this yesterday, Braginsky,' he said. Ivan pretended not to hear him.

'I have things to show you, nobleman Yao. Come with me,' he invited. 'Natalya will take care of your absence.' Behind Yao, his sister glanced up with a slight frown, but Ivan was confident she would obey. Rank was only one of the things that kept people in line, and so Natalya far outstripping him in status simply brought them level at the dinner table.

Yao bowed his head to the elegant woman next to him, thanking her for the meal before rising from his chair.

'What is it you want me to see?' he asked. Ivan shook his head and gently pulled at him again, and with little reluctance, Yao followed.

0o0o0o

'I do enjoy your observatory, Ivan,' Yao said, 'but it is nothing new. What is it I am supposed to see?'

'You are interested in my origins and as I have said, I,' Ivan said, reaching forward to touch Yao's face, 'am interested in you.'

Yao jerked back before Ivan could touch him. 'I have said twice not to touch me and yet you still do it.'

'Do you want to know my secrets, Yao?' Ivan asked. 'I feel like secrets should not be kept among friends.'

'Is that what we are, now, Ivan?' Yao asked with a practiced laugh. Ivan almost winced at it.

'Do not laugh falsely,' Ivan commanded. Yao stopped, and Ivan saw a flash of fear in his eyes. He had never had anyone who saw the falseness in his court-regulated expressions before, or simply nobody honest enough to say. Ivan would be honest with him, even if it hurt him.

Ivan motioned for them to sit down.

'Lies like those are not a thing between friends,' Ivan continued, calm again. Yao grimaced, his hot and bright anger clear.

'Secrets should perhaps not be held over friend's heads, either,' he growled, barely managing to keep poise.

'It is not a secret, Yao. Not unless it is true.'

Yao stiffened, struggling for words, and Ivan shook his head. Yao, so impulsive and fierce. It would ruin him unless Ivan was there to keep him safe.

'So, Ivan,' Yao began. 'What secrets do you have?'

'More than I am willing to tell you yet,' Ivan said. 'For example, you want to know why my sister is held in such esteem when I am not.'

Yao nodded, carefully hiding any traces of frustration. 'I would like to know, Ivan.'

'They are jealous, just like you,' Ivan said simply. Yao opened his mouth, but Ivan spoke overtop of him. 'They know, in their rational thoughts, that I was born into a time of more hopelessness than war-for war is bloody and terrifying, but cleaning up the shattered remains is simply numbing. They know that the toxins I breathed when I was barely old enough to open my eyes ruined my body and ravaged my lungs beyond repair. They know I wish to be like them and still they envy me. Why do they envy me, Yao Wang?'

Yao sighed, his words rang of defeat. 'Because humans who have never seen it long for Earth like a phantom limb.'

'Like a spurned lover,' Ivan said softly. 'You are jealous of me because even though the Earth I saw was shattered, at least I saw it.'

He rose, and Yao followed as he made his way towards the door.

'Ivan.'

Ivan did not turn around.

'Ivan, listen to me.' Yao stepped forward and caught his sleeve. Ivan looked back, almost confused at Yao's boldness and the contrast of his hand on the heavy tan of his coat.

'Remember, nobleman Yao, not all of my soldiers would show you the kindnesses I have,' he warned. Yao scoffed softly and raised his head to look Ivan in the eyes.

'Would you have given up the glimpse you saw if you had the option?' Yao asked, eyes hard. Ivan searched his eyes and found no answers in them.

'Your visit is almost over, Yao,' he said softly. 'It might be time for you to go.'

He pulled his sleeve out of Yao's grasp and walked away down the hallway. Behind him, Yao was silent.

'We will see each other again, Ivan,' Yao finally said. It was not a question, and Ivan was not fool enough to answer it as one.

0o0o0o

'Explain to me why Ivan Braginsky is so...Ivan,' Yao demanded, striding aggravatedly across the room. Kiku watched him with a resigned expression.

'It could be because he is Ivan.'

'Shut it, Honda,' Yao snapped. 'I want to know why he is who he is to everybody. Also, I want to know about his scarf.'

Kiku took a deep breath and shuffled his feet-uncharacteristic for the usually still man. 'I was told this by Im Yong Soo, so it may be incorrect, but I believe the story is that the toxins he inhaled on Earth damaged his respiratory system severely enough that it had to be replaced.'

'Replaced?' Yao asked, whirling around.

'With metal and plastic. Entirely.' Kiku glanced down at his device. 'If the Russian fleet does indeed have the technology and medicine to save someone from the toxins created during the war as well as completely replace their lungs and throat, they are indeed invaluable allies.'

'We're basing an alliance with Ivan Braginsky over a rumour on him?' Yao shouted. 'That is stupid!'

'We are not only allied with Ivan Braginsky,' Kiku reminded him with a hint of anger. 'Just because you have become entranced with him does not mean that the entire alliance rests on you two, and you should remember that.'

'Entranced? Kiku!' Yao said, but Kiku had already departed. Helplessly, Yao sat down where his prodigy had been a moment before and ran his hands through his hair, deftly unbraiding and rebraiding it without thought. Maybe he had been too hard with Kiku. The alliance was going smoothly, and Yao would probably benefit from a new ambassador.

However, Ivan was still going to tell him about Earth, and Yao wanted to know so dearly it hurt.

0o0o0o

Ivan sat down next to Natalya, who nodded seriously.

'Did your talk not go well, brother?' she asked. Ivan shook his head.

'It went very well. Yao is a very intriguing ally,' he said, taking the device that was handed over.

Does he want technology?

Ivan barely hesitated before writing his own answer. The choice was obvious. His sister, or the sharp, coppery-eyed fleet leader?

No, he seems more interested in me. I will handle Yao.

They made a few polite more minutes of small talk before Natalya excused herself. Ivan rose as well, intending to head to the observatory to clear his mind.

0o0o0o

It didn't work. Yao permeated the space, his lovely manner of talking, his long spill of black hair, his bright red silk shirt, a spot of blood against the snow of the starship. Yao would bring war, whether it be inside Ivan or on a larger scale.

With a soft groan, Ivan relaxed in the middle of the floor and stared upwards at the stars. In the very corner, the last traces of a nebula were fading away. The crimson leached from the darkness until it was just black and white.

Yao was all brightness. Red shirt, golden accents, even his hair had a sheen like oil to it. And his eyes. Amber eyes, and he was prettyprettypretty in the way that a poisonous thing was, all delicate with only one defence to protect it.

0o0o0o

Yao watched the huge crimson cloud soak across his window. He'd always loved nebulas, even after one destroyed the Celestial Knights fleet. They were powerful and sometimes unfathomably large; beautiful, but secretly deadly. It was obvious they were dangerous if you got close, but not many people ever did.

Much like Ivan, in a way, Yao reflected, gently combing through his hair with a brush. The aftermath of a dying star and the slow rebirth of a new one. If the story was true, of course. Yao felt inclined to believe it.

Ivan, with piercing blue-purple eyes, who didn't lie, who threatened with a smile on his face. The alliance did not rest on him.

0o0o0o

In the end, probably too short of a time.

:: Running quickly in the dark