Title: The Facts of Life
Rating: T
Summary: Shura gets some advice from Mu and Dearka.
Author's Note: Inspired by kazuma40978461's artwork of Shura looking shocked while reading a book, with Mu and Dearka looking in.
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For persimmon_09, who wanted to know the backstory. This is what I came up with!
It was a quiet, ordinary afternoon aboard the Millennium.
Shura was bored, so he decided to go to the cafeteria.
He got himself a drink, then sat down near the viewport. After a few sips, something red on the far corner of the table caught his eye.
It was a book.
Someone must have left it behind.
Shura glanced at the cover. From the title, it seemed to be about romantic relationships between men and women.
He looked around. The room was empty.
So he furtively picked it up and flipped through the first few pages. And then a few more. And then a few more…
Twenty minutes later, his mind was reeling.
He understood the basics of procreation, but beyond that, he had no clue. His childhood education and training had been solely focused on becoming the strongest and winning every battle.
But this book…
He'd never seen anything like it. It had words he'd never heard of, ideas he'd never thought about before, answers to questions he hadn't even known he'd had…
The early chapters were full of good advice, tips and suggestions about communicating effectively, maintaining good healthy boundaries, asking for permission…
But halfway through –
He nearly dropped the book in shock.
Shameless!
Anatomy diagrams, pictures of men and women in different positions with each other, detailed descriptions of various techniques…
Suddenly, he heard footsteps in the entryway. A moment later, Commander La Flaga and Captain Elsman walked in.
"I must have left it here when I got called away," Commander La Flaga was saying. "It's probably still on the table."
"Thanks, old man," Captain Elsman said, clapping him on the back. "You're a lifesaver."
"Don't call me old man!" Commander La Flaga said testily. "Or I won't lend you the book!"
Shura hastily slammed the book shut and tossed it back on the table. But it was too late. They'd already seen him reading it and were now staring at him in surprise.
"Sorry!" Shura exclaimed, thoroughly mortified. "I didn't know it was yours. I was just… curious."
"It's okay to be curious," Commander La Flaga said affably. "We're all curious. That's why books like these exist."
"Yeah, that's why I want to read it," Captain Elsman agreed. "I have no idea what I'm doing. And it's really hard to talk about this stuff. I used to ask my dad, but he always got so uncomfortable, I gave up."
At least you have a dad, Shura thought enviously.
Commander La Flaga nodded sympathetically.
"Dads can be like that," he said sagely.
Is having a horrible dad worse than having no dad at all? Shura wondered.
He wasn't sure.
"That's why we guys have to stick together," Commander La Flaga continued. "We can help each other out."
"I need all the help I can get," Captain Elsman said ruefully. "Do you really think this book will tell me what I need to know?"
"Yeah, I think it'll give you the answers you're looking for. There are a lot of books out there on this topic, but this is the best one I've found so far."
"Well, you must be doing something right."
"I've dated more than my fair share of ladies," he said modestly. "But I'm a one-woman man these days."
"One is all you need, right?" Captain Elsman said with a knowing grin.
"If she's the right one."
"That's just it, though. How do you know if she's the right one?"
"It takes some time to figure it out. But after a while, you just know. It just feels right."
"What if you've already found the right one, but you don't know what to do after that?" Shura blurted out.
Commander La Flaga blinked.
"You ask her," he advised.
Shura looked down. "But I don't even know where to start."
"I don't either," Captain Elsman admitted.
"It's not so important where you start, as long as you're honest with her."
"That's the hard part."
"I know it's hard," Commander La Flaga said kindly. "It's hard for everyone. Even when you're with the right person, it still takes a lot of work. Murrue and I have our ups and downs too. But you guys can talk to me anytime, you know. And you can ask me anything you want."
"Thanks," Captain Elsman said. "I'll let you know if I have any questions after I read the book.
He picked it up and studied it for a moment, then looked at Shura.
"On second thought, why don't you hang onto it for now, Shura," he said, holding it out to him.
"Oh, no – I couldn't –"
"Sure you can."
"But don't you need it? I thought you wanted to read it."
"I can wait. I'm trying to take it really slow with Miriallia this time around, and we're in a long-distance relationship, so I don't have to read it right away."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's fine. I'll just get it after you're done with it."
"Okay, thanks," Shura mumbled, finally taking the book. He slunk out of the cafeteria with it tucked securely under his arm.
A few hours later, he'd almost read to the end when Agnes bounced in.
"Hi, Shura!" she said cheerfully. "What are you reading?"
"Nothing!" he said quickly, hiding the book behind his back.
She tilted her head sideways quizzically. He could sense her confusion.
He'd never tried to hide what he was reading before.
"It's just a book Commander La Flaga lent me," he said, feigning nonchalance.
"Oh, okay. Is it any good? What's it about? Can I see it?"
He hesitated for a moment but then handed it over.
Be honest, Commander La Flaga had said.
Her eyes widened as she skimmed the back cover and the table of contents.
"Why are you reading this?" she asked.
"Because I don't know anything about relationships! And you've had two boyfriends…"
"Those relationships weren't serious! You know that. Hulegu and I lasted about a week. And Leonard –"
She broke off and looked away.
"It wasn't real, so it doesn't matter," she said at last.
"Yes, it does! Even though you didn't do anything besides kiss him – and you're glad that you didn't – you still thought he was a good kisser!"
"Stop reading my mind!" she said in exasperation.
He winced. "I'm sorry! I can't help it."
The book says to ask for permission first, and here I am, violating her boundaries…
Her expression softened.
"I know you're not doing it on purpose. It's just… a little unsettling sometimes."
"I'm trying not to, but…"
"I know. It's okay."
She sat down next to him.
"You don't have to follow a step-by-step instruction manual to impress me, Shura. I want you to be with you no matter what," she said.
"I want to be with you too, Agnes."
She smiled. "I have an idea. How about we read it together and talk about it as we go along?"
"Okay. I'd like that."
She hugged him, and he hugged her back, feeling relieved. It was still awkward and embarrassing, but somehow it didn't seem quite so bad as before.
When they touched, he could feel the immensity of her love and affection for him.
She hadn't felt that way about Hulegu or Leonard.
Even though he didn't know what he was doing and still made a lot of mistakes, she still wanted to be with him. And that was enough.
We'll figure the rest of it out together.
The End!