Chapter Text
The ship labor assigned to Gen may not have been backbreaking, but it was dizzying and extensive. Senku holed himself with Dr. Xeno most of the day, so Senku made Gen his personal messenger to collect any new information from Ryusui and Ukyo about the ship’s conditions and course. After Gen’s sea-legs developed, he managed to complete his duty without many hiccups. Certainly it took some time to make his reports the first few days considering Ryusui and Ukyo used boat terminology Gen never heard before, but they were always quick to explain in detail so Gen could be a better liaison.
For once, Gen’s job seemed a little easier when he went to see Ukyo first and Ryusui was already present. Less back and forth to compare their reports then.
“Ah, Gen, right on time! Look at this!” Ryusui ushered Gen closer with a boom in his voice. “A hurricane is forming!”
Ryusui kept his high spirit as Gen’s face fell in horror. At least Ukyo had the decency to look a little unsettled by Ryusui as well before switching his expression to be more positive.
“We won’t be caught in it,” Ukyo offered. “This area rarely faced hurricanes back in our times, and without humans polluting for some thousands of years, the intensity of the storm won’t be as strong as they probably were in the past.”
“And even if they were as strong, my sailor’s intuition could guide us through any storm.” The loud and boisterous laugh would have inspired confidence in Gen had it not implied they could be caught in a hurricane.
“You’re scaring Gen. I’ll explain things from here,” Ukyo punctuated his words with a wink that had Ryusui disarmed. For such a cute face, Ukyo really knew how to twist people at times. “Captain Ryusui, go fortify our ship.”
“I suppose that is an excellent idea, Ukyo! We’ll need to ensure our sails can catch the extra winds.” Nothing about sea life captivated Gen, but the brightest grin on Ryusui’s face as he rushed past him to get back to deck could trick Gen into thinking sailing across the world with a sniper after them was fun.
Ukyo turned his attention to Gen once again, then gestured to come closer to the sonar machine. Without training or beyond perfect hearing, Gen struggled to hear anything special. “It sounds the same as when you made me listen two days ago.”
“Mm, I guess it’s fair to think that, but it’s faster. The sound bits are a little higher pitched than before, and they’re coming back faster. The storm is probably several days away, but it’s changing the water pressure, and the speed of the wind.”
“Faster wind?” Gen asked as he started to pick up on what Ukyo meant. Ukyo nodded with a smug smile and Gen felt one creep onto his face. “Faster boat.”
“Ryusui will check how applicable the new wind speed can be. I caught a bit of this sound yesterday, so we still need to see how it’ll affect us. The storm will likely curve, so the benefit will be fleeting. Give us about an hour two record the numbers for you to give to Senku.”
“Surely for something as nuanced as this, you or the captain should report directly to Senku to explain.” Not that Gen disliked giving Senku the reports -- he enjoyed seeing Senku take in the information and try and concoct a new plan with it -- but Gen really felt out of his depth. The thought of seeing Senku without a perfect report irked Gen.
Ukyo rose from his spot near the sonar. “We should help Ryusui. I’ve collected all my information from the sonar.” Gen filed Ukyo’s subtle smile and shrug to mean that he would still be the one handling Senku. Not that that made any sense at all in the current situation, but Gen kept his mouth shut lest Ukyo make him do even more manual labor with Ryusui instead.
Reaching the deck and feeling the breeze on his face, Gen could vaguely understand how the winds seemed a little faster, but only after having already been told. A part of him had to wonder how the Super Sailor and Super Sonar generals could notice such miniscule things, but Gen supposed they all have their own specialties, so trying to understand them would be a waste of time. What mattered at the moment remained winning the race and staying alive, so when Ryusui noticed him, Gen knew to help.
Most of the crew ran around busy doing as Ryusui instructed. Nothing that looked like fun, but Ukyo patted him on the back and pushed him to walk faster. “I finished what I could at the sonar. Gen and I need to stretch our legs and get some fresh air, so we came to assist.”
“Splendid! I know you’ll need to return soon, so I need you both to stand,” Ryusui picked up Gen and plopped him at the edge of the boat about four feet from where he was and could have reached himself, “and-”
“No need, captain,” Ukyo cut off to step to where he knew Ryusui needed him.
“Ah ha ha! Always the reliable one, Ukyo! Now stay right there for about 30 minutes and monitor the angle of the sails and inform me if they move outside my control. Gen, try to see if there are any darker patches in the water that look consistent.”
Gen knew what that meant from Ryusui’s brief crash-course in sailing, less so how to actually spot anything irregular. Ukyo being around him meant that he could probably get away with not knowing every minute shift in the wind, so at least Gen had support. Ryusui was a good captain, and Gen bet he considered skill level before giving them a task, let alone together.
Neither Gen nor Ukyo had Senku’s impeccable sense of time, but Gen could sense around five minutes had passed before the boredom started to sink in. “Ne, Ukyo-chan, the sails look the same, right?”
“Not entirely. They look different than yesterday. Ryusui is capturing the wind well. Any dark spots on your side?”
“Nope,” Gen let the “p” pop in his reply. “Must mean we’re already on the darkest spot. Our captain is certainly very capable, hm?”
Ukyo glanced at Gen before setting his vision back to the mast. “That is certainly the case. It seems you give him much less of a hard time than when Senku gives you orders.”
Gen felt an implication, but could not discern what it was, so he replied to the comment at face value. “I doubt that. It seems he gives less arduous tasks. If I reject his orders, Senku will just give me something worse to do.”
“Strange how I don’t see that as all this is. Every time I see you alone, it’s like you’re avoiding Senku, but when you do finally have to be near him, you do everything to stay near him. You bicker with him or ask him to repeat himself to keep him talking to you.”
“It keeps me not doing whatever horrible task he just assigned me.”
“And he lets you.”
“I’m a mentalist. I manipulate him into letting me goof off a while longer.”
“Gen, you’re even better at what you do than what we give you credit for, but I can hear your words better than you. You know Senku likes talking to you. And you can admit that you like being near Senku. He wants you near him. You’re the one he considers his equal.”
Gen squeezed his arms as he crossed his hands beneath his sleeves and sighed. The words upset Gen in a way he refused to acknowledge. “Senku-chan doesn’t see rank like that, not really. He sees all our talents and thinks we’re all amazing in our own way. I . . . feel like I’m close to him, I admit, but that stems from being with him for months as the only other modern-timer he had near him to bounce ideas off of. And even then, he’s certainly close to Chrome and everyone else.”
Ukyo and Gen looked away from their assigned task to share a brief but intent stare. A rare pout of frustration crinkled Ukyo’s soft and sweet features. “You are why he got close to you. You’re special to him. If by some stroke of fate I or Ryusui or anyone else were in your position, he would use us, maybe befriend us like Chrome or Kohaku, but at an arm’s length. And it’s not like we would have wanted to get any closer to him, not in the way you want to be close to him. He’s special to you.”
“Of course he is. He’s the only one who can ma-”
“Gen,” Ukyo sounded disappointed more than upset. “Don’t deflect it. You have nothing to lose by letting yourself admit he’s special to you, not for you.”
Gen looked out to the water, leaning his body over the edge of the boat on his elbows. Ukyo loved to corner him in such frustrating situations, it seemed. Gen could pass a lie detector, but could he pass Ukyo’s ears? “You don’t know me as well as I know myself, Ukyo-chan. This is temporary,” Gen said. Enough of “not a lie” to be neutral. “It’s all from being semi-alone with him all the time during the war with Tsukasa. It doesn’t mean much more than that.”
Ukyo squinted at Gen, but his smile returned. Soon, Ukyo mirrored Gen’s position and watched the water as well. “If it is supposed to be temporary, can I ask how long it’s been?”
Gen, in all honesty, had no answer, lie or truth. “You can ask, but I don’t know. It’s not something I can pinpoint. It’s just a small crush, after all, so it could be when I saw his signature in the respawn tree, it could be when he made me a cola, it could be when he, I don’t know, looks at me. It’s a crush that’ll fade soon enough.” His heartbeat picked up as spoke. Not in panic but in a confusion that any moment could have been The Moment.
Peeking at Ukyo’s face with a side-eye glance, Gen noticed his small smirk. “That’s some very sweet confession, Gen. You can stop pretending it’s a little ‘crush’. A crush is what I had on Yuzuriha after I saw her hard work and kindness,” That was certainly news that Gen wanted to revel in only for Ukyo to ensure it came back to Gen. “You’re in love.”
“No,” Gen assured with a hard enough tone that left no room to argue. “I won’t let it get to that.”
Ukyo left the conversation at that, letting Gen have the last word. Ukyo had already said enough, after all, to make Gen’s head spin. He had already admitted where he stood with Senku to himself, but having someone else call out Gen changed how he understood things. He had to pull back even more, had to stop making his feelings obvious enough for others to notice and harass him.
Ryusui could not have arrived soon enough to relieve them of their task. Gen said none of the water seemed darker than where they sailed, and Ukyo confirmed the sails aligned perfectly with the wind and moved better than they had a few days ago. Gen compiled all the information they collected, repeated it back to them, and got their seal of approval that he understood enough of the situation to report it. Which further made Gen think one of them should tell Senku, but Ryusui continued running the ship at top speed, and Ukyo had enough of the sun and needed to ensure the sonar had someone monitoring everything.
Gen willed himself to keep his normal, charming smile.
-
The first knock had no effect getting Gen inside Senku’s ship-lab. From all the commotion going on inside, Gen assumed that barging into whatever experience they had would be dangerous. Lab safety and all that that Senku had drilled into his head to not enter without goggles and closed-toed shoes.
Gen looked down at his feet and wiggled his bare toes. The time waiting for Senku to safely let Gen enter at least allowed for a chance for Gen to calm his heart.
Ukyo had to go and fluster him with exaggerated feelings right before Gen had to go and see Senku. And Gen had no opportunity to have his revenge since Ukyo’s alleged crush was clearly past tense. What Gen would have given to have seen Ukyo flustered around an already-taken lady. Then again, Ukyo had an air of supporting kindness that Gen knew he would not want to compromise or tease. Gen just had to focus on his own heart later and business with Senku in the present.
Gen knocked once again on the lab entrance, and ignored the way his heart swayed hearing the firm, “Come in.”
“Senku-chan, I may have antastic-fay news. We need you to run your little math numbers to see how good, though,” Gen said instead of a standard greeting. The smile Gen plastered on his cheeks felt heavy as he noticed Xeno near the table, agitated to return to whatever work he and Senku started.
Ukyo had to have been mistaken. Senku looked, although less annoyed, eager to experiment. The look of joy he had when he looked at Gen morphed into a concern before it went back to neutral. The changes were small and fleeting, but Gen caught them no less. Senku got along with plenty of other people better than Gen, including the enemy, on the grounds that he was a scientist first and foremost.
“Good news for once, huh? Can’t say I can get my hopes up too much, but I’m ready for your report.”
Senku walked them to their usual spot where Senku kept his journal and work and had a spare seat for any company like Chrome or Gen or Kaseki. His demeanor untensed as Gen sat next to him and his smile returned to something more positive. Dr. Xeno, in reality, could hear them from where they commanded he stay, but the distance let them pretend the private reports stayed private.
“So there’s a hurricane forming near the equator,” Gen started, and, without any extra prompting, Senku already took out spare paper and pen.
Senku’s eyes shone bright and the calculating smile Gen missed stretched Senku’s face. “What are the values Ukyo and Ryusui gave you?”
Gen let out a relaxed breath. Ukyo just had to be right. Being around Senku came naturally, like breathing, and Gen only wanted to stay and support his big brain to have all the numbers for all his equations. Gen melted in his spot and relayed all the factors the hurricane changed to Senku. Talking to Senku put Gen at an ease that did not match the stress of life-or-death chases, and he hated every word they shared because the more he gave the less time he had left to be with his dear chief.
In possibly only a minute or two, Senku bit his pencil and twitched his lip. “It’s only about five hours extra distance,” Senku muttered with a bit of distaste as he went back to scribbling and checking his math. “The extra speed will be so fleeting when the hurricane curves to North America, but I don’t know when that would be. It’s a five hour max to get some distance between us and Stanley, but only if I can safely bank on the fact that Ukyo and Ryusui are much better at naval tactics and command than anyone on his team to take the advantage fully.”
“And they are,” Gen stated with a disdain that Senku could assume anyone could surpass the Kingdom of Science’s generals’ skills.
Senku gnawed on the end of his pencil before sighing and putting it back down. He looked at Gen, who stared him down with a confidence Senku’s doubt would not shake. Gen knew to trust his comrades. Senku knew, too, and just needed to be reminded. “And they are,” Senku repeated, meaning it. “I can’t predict when the storm’s course will change, but we have at least a four hour bonus, up to five hours, because our team is just that much better than Stanley’s.”
Gen smiled at Senku with none of his usual pizzazz or charm. Only the warmth that came from time and respect shone in his eyes. “If anyone can beat them, it’s us.”
“It’s you,” Gen did not say.
“Or it’s going to Hell together trying,” Senku vowed with a small cringe before turning back to Gen with his prideful eyes once again. “Thanks, Gen. I'll have to try and find a way to maximize this information and confirm all the data. You’re dismissed for now. You can look around the boat and see what’s useful.”
At that moment Gen understood Ukyo’s observation. Gen hated seeking or being around Senku. Being dismissed and leaving his side hurt every time. Even the vagueness of the order proved to Gen Senku had no use for him; his talent set only came occasionally in handy, and not even Senku’s great mind had a way to consider Gen worth having around with a proper job or task.
Not that it mattered much. Getting out of the lab had its perks. For one, Gen could escape the line of fire where Xeno drilled tiny holes at the back of Gen’s head as Gen finished his brief report to Senku. Cute, really, how deeply a grown man can hold a grudge. “Well, I’ll be off, Senku-chan. You two play nice now!” Gen chimed out with a sickeningly sweet smile. Not a moment to spare, so Gen rushed out.
-
As soon as Gen made his way out, footsteps gone and unheard, Xeno turned to Senku with a scoff. “You can’t trust a boy like that.”
Senku continued writing the last of Gen’s report into his own notes, sparing Xeno no glance. His entire body stayed relaxed and unaffected by Xeno’s commentary. “Nonsense. Gen may not be a professional at sailing, but he would not come give a report unless he really understood the information he gave. I’ll confirm with Ryusui at dinner if what Ukyo heard works for us or any changes. Otherwise I’m going to continue looking at Medusa.”
Xeno bristled and crossed his arms and legs. “I’m being generous in this advice. That boy isn’t trustworthy.”
For just a second, Senku’s face hardened and his mouth tightened. “Untrustworthy for you, I guess. Gen is going to be one of the heroes of this Stone World.” Senku relaxed his shoulders and pulled out a Medusa to put on the table. “You want to play with science today or not?”
Xeno huffed but went to the table with Senku. The little boy Xeno once knew never listened to others when it came to advice either; he only cared about information and science. In a way it was endearing how things stayed the same. In practicality it was annoying and no wonder Xeno tried to have his former apprentice assassinated.
-
With Senku preoccupied with Dr. Xeno, Gen refused to go back and ask for an order or offer to help Senku directly. Gen could take the initiative to do something productive before being asked, but he struggled to think of a new way to be useful. Whatever tools or gadgets Senku would make him create came from Senku’s instructions, and Gen had little background to up-and-make a new boon for The Kingdom of Science.
When all else failed to be useful, Gen chose to do what he preferred: being around people and boosting morale. Most of the crew stayed on deck from the miscellaneous muscle members to the people Gen actually knew by name. Muscle Members seemed to enjoy their time at the makeshift casino well enough, and Gen figured gambling could boost their morale and risk-assessment skills enough that he would spend time with the core others.
Bar Francois had a few rotating patrons, but the main loiterers were Ryusui, Kohaku, and Ukyo. Gen certainly felt closer to that lot than most others, but his last conversation with Ukyo left a sour taste in his mouth. A taste that could be washed right away if he had the guts to go to Francois and ask for a spiked cola.
Except once the thought crossed his mind, Gen realized it would do the opposite. Phenomenal butler-bartender though they were, Gen realized any cola made by them would not be as refreshing as one from Senku. Not that Gen needed to dissect the reason why that was.
As it turned out, Gen quit his self-given task. Being around people sucked, and their morale seemed fine. Even though it was more of a square foot in a corner, Gen ducked below again to go into his personal chamber area. Chrome, if he were there instead of with senku, would likely try to pester Gen into doing something, which Gen may be more open to do than usual.
Chrome alone could have distracted Gen well enough, so seeing Tsukasa in his chambers as an added bonus seemed like overkill in Gen’s whole need of “do more and be useful and forget you miss Senku despite wanting to be with and work with Senku” thing. If anything, seeing Tsukasa, powerful and gentle and raw and beautiful, furthered Gen’s own thoughts on “Wow, I really betrayed an absolute specimen of a man for some smartass twink with a forehead.” And Gen really had the audacity to lie to Ukyo and trivialize his feelings.
“Hey, Gen! It’s only afternoon, but are you free?” Chrome asked with such bright eyes that it seemed like Chrome thought Gen liked labor and crafts. He asked so differently than Senku, who, for one, would make it a command over a question, and said “afternoon” instead of the exact time down to the second. The change seemed refreshing.
“I am. I planned to nap, but I assume you need me for something, Chrome-chan,” Gen said his reply with a sweet smile, hands hidden in his sleeve, and words feigning both amusement and a small whine.
“Not yet! Tsukasa’s room is empty, so we can move there if you want some quiet for a nap.” Chrome meant well, he did, but he seemed far too loud and excited. Chrome turned to Tsukasa, who stood up as well only to loom over Gen and Chrome, and smile. “Or would you rather head to the bar?”
“I can go wherever Ryusui isn’t,” Tsukasa muttered with distaste.
Finally, Gen could do something helpful, even if it were something as small as helping Tsukasa avoid his roommate. “Oh, then you’ll be happy to hear he’s at the bar with Ukyo-chan and Kohaku-chan, flirting with one or both, I imagine.” Gen had to level his expression seeing Tsukasa blanche at his words.
“Cool, looks like it’s your room then, Tsuka!” Chrome announced with a nice pat on Tsukasa’s back. “Thanks for the heads up, Gen!”
“Yes, thank you. Though I’m surprised you chose resting over flirting and drinking for yourself.”
Gen struggled to find a reply to that observation, and thankfully he did not need to after Tsukasa and Chrome took his lack of response as cue for them to leave. If Chrome failed to notice something amiss, Tsukasa certainly caught Gen. Gen himself had no idea what exactly the trap was, but he felt off, and he knew Tsukasa sensed the way his entire body language and face seemed amiss when he spoke. Tsukasa would keep the information to himself, much the same as Gen trusted Ukyo to not blab to anyone about Gen’s personal affairs.
Alone in his room for the first time since they left Japan, Gen found himself lonelier than he expected. A part of him always craved attention and companionship, but Gen thought he would be overwhelmingly joyful at having a private space for the first time in millennia. Though Gen knew he would have mediocre dreams and rest, he decided to do as he told Chrome and take a nap. Even if he felt awake, Gen’s body felt heavy, and it melted into the lumpy bed.
—
Gen awoke from a shaking more violent than the common rocking of the ship at sea. His eyes squeezed shut harder, and he covered his face with his sleeve.
“Gennnn! Wake up! Can you help with dinner duty?” Chrome continued shaking Gen as though his loud voice would somehow not be enough.
“Chrome-chan,” Gen said as he revealed half his face, “what?”
“C’mon. It’ll help Senku out if we get spare hands helping dinner.”
Gen groaned the entire time he stood up, clutching the wall for support as a larger wave seemed to hit the ship. “Fine, fine, I’d love to help,” Gen answered with sleepy honesty. Gen hated when he felt groggier after a nap, but he could wake up if it meant being useful for Senku.
For Senku, he would do any task.