The silence was eerily still. So still that she was afraid to break it as she walked into poorly lit area.

Suzuka didn't even spare a glance to her quiet entrance. As Melfina pulled out a chair, careful to make little noise.

She only spoke when Melfina sat down. Her voice indifferent. "Is Gene going to talk to him?"

"I think so." Melfina crossed her legs, placing her hands in her lap. "Why are you sitting in the dark?"

Suzuka ignored the question. "I was hoping he would. Aisha's reaction last night…" She turned her gaze to the small table in front of her. The barrier between herself and Melfina. "I certainly did not expect it."

"What do you mean?"

"I impart it to her animal nature, but I think she feels the situation is more than it seems. "Suzuka paused, looking thoughtfully at the floor. "Although she is probably unaware. I honestly think it was subconscious."

"What do you think about Jim, though?" Melfina fingered her skirt nervously, looking to Suzuka for information. "Why do you think a nightmare would have that effect on him?"

"I don't have anything to say to that."

Melfina sat quietly, waiting for Suzuka to say something else. She lowered her head, watching her fingers in the dim lighting.

"Hopefully, that's where Gene will come in."

Jim followed Gene through the door of the balcony. As the man held the door, he was upset to note he only reached Gene's shoulder.

Then again, he still had time to grow.

He watched as Gene made himself comfortable on the railing. Completely dismissing the fact that the Inn was fifteen stories above the ground. Jim only shook his head as he went along with Gene's antics. Knowing that Gene wouldn't let him fall.

"So…What do you want to do?"

Jim almost missed the question, the wind rising above the pitch of Gene's voice. But it still surprised him. Rarely did he think about what he wanted to do. He was already used to following Gene.

"What do I want to do?"

"Because we haven't really been spending that much time together, lately."

Jim looked at Gene as if the man had grown a second head. "Are you okay? You're not sick or anything, are you? Wait here, I'll get Mel…" Jim jumped off the railing, making a move to leave the balcony. But Gene grabbed his arm before he had the opportunity to run off.

"No, Jim. I'm fine." He let go of Jim's arm, patting the warmed metal beside him. "Just come back and sit by me."

"Are you sure that you're all right. You're acting kind of strange."

"It's just…" Gene wasn't sure how to approach the subject. He remembered Suzuka's warning from earlier that morning.

"Do not push him."

He was surprised by the threatening expression she wore. But he still tried to make light of the conversation, laughing while he spoke. "Me…Push Jim?"

"I'm being serious, Gene" Her gaze was firmly set upon him, harsh and unyielding. "Something bothers me about this. It does not bode well with me."

"Me, too." Gene turned away from her. Afraid his emotions were too apparent on his face. He didn't want her to see his anxiety. But she could still hear the concern in his voice. "I just don't know what to do, Suzuka."

"You're the only person he'll open up to." She looked at him pointedly. "Be subtle."

"Do you remember what happened last night?" It wouldn't be the first time that Jim had forgotten something. But never before had a nightmare caused Jim to stop breathing.

"Last night…" He looked warily at Gene. "What are you talking about?"

Truthfully, Jim was surprised that he couldn't remember much of his dream. Or memory, if it truly was.

Only glimpses of his mother and uncle. When he first taken away from his father. Although, it seemed that each time he tried to remember, the sequences became harder to grasp.

Like holding water in his hands.

However, Jim remembered exactly what happened last night. As he lay in Gene's arms, surrounded by the Melfina, Aisha, and Suzuka. But he still wasn't able to relay his past with the person he trusted the most.

With his brother in everything but blood.

"Don't play games with me, Jim." Gene grasped Jim's arm again, giving it a small squeeze. "Tell me."

"Let go of me Aniki, I don't know what you're saying." Jim pleaded. He was desperate to make sure that Gene never found out. Because his Aniki would never look at him in the same way, again. "I was asleep last night."

In surprise of the statement, Gene let go of Jim's arm. "Really?" He could only give Jim a blank look. His eyes were raised and his mouth was slightly opened.

"Yes. That's what I've been trying to tell you." Jim brushed off imaginary dust from his sleeve, looking accusingly at Gene. "What's the big deal about me sleeping, anyway?"

Gene laughed sheepishly, placing his head behind his head. "Just making sure you're getting sleep. You've been working a lot lately."

Hopping back on the railing, Jim was taken back by Gene's quick change in moods. "It's nothing unusual. We had to be careful with the last bounty. We almost didn't make it."

Gene, finally calmed, began to scrutinise the young man. "Did you forget tomorrow was your birthday?" He stared into Jim's eyes, bringing their faces closer.

"Oh." Gene noted that he didn't sound too excited. "It is, isn't it?"

"You know…" Gene peered up at the sky, hands firmly grasping the railing. "You used to beg me to take you places on your birthday."

Jim followed Gene's gaze, trying to picture the stars in his head. Not used to be so far away from space. "Is that why we came back to Sentinel III?"

"We haven't been home in a few years."

"I guess I've just been getting older." Jim looked at Gene. "I'm not that eleven year old kid anymore."

Gene wouldn't say it aloud to Jim, but he actually felt that the young man beside him had grown up too quickly. It was because Jim never really had a childhood. Never really had to time be himself. Instead, he spent most of his time taking care of Gene.

He didn't know much of Jim. Only remembering that dirtied kid who wouldn't stop following him on the streets. Seemingly forgetful of his own past. Lost and shy.

Gene didn't think that Jim remembered much as a seven year old. At least that was what Jim said at the time.

But he could still see those grubby little fingers when Gene gave him that first piece of food. The happiness in that smile as he clung to Gene's leg.

It wasn't until Gene took him in, that Jim started to open up. But he would never speak of his past. Claiming he didn't remember.

"I mean, it's not like there's anything that I want to do." Jim trailed off. "Not that I want to do anything."

"Come on. Don't be like that." Gene hopped down from railing, spreading his arms wide. "There's a lot to do here. This is home, Jim." The corners of his mouth continued to spread across his face.

Jim tried to smile at Gene's expression, hoping he could feign the same kind of excitement Gene was displaying. "Yeah. It's home."

Now this feels like it's been ages since I touched it. But I finished Immature, and I had to start on Fourteen Days. It just would not leave me. But I'm trying to catch up on this. Alongside everything else.

And a note on Aniki. I don't like to capatilise my romaji, but I'm going to focus Jim's past and how it will effect his relationship with Gene. And for once, it's not yaoi. I'm very proud of that.