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Janie released a deep breath as she stepped out onto the deck of the landship, away from all the hustle and bustle of Rhodes Island that was now accompanied by the couples that roamed around the ship. Now that the Day of Hearts has finally arrived, many operators would seize the opportunity to express their love for those they hold dear. Whether they were sweethearts, individuals with unrequited feelings seeking closure, lovers separated by distance, old acquaintances, or even simply friends and family.
The vanguard was one of those operators, showering all her friends with quality time, affection, and all the gifts and treats her savings could afford for the whole day. Naturally, she reaped what she sowed, her affections being returned from her comrades by ten folds. Even though she would have been content regardless of whether or not her affections were reciprocated, she's glad to know her friends value her as much as she values them. And after a long day filled with giving and loving, she figured a small break to herself was well deserved.
The deck’s view was anything but lovely, however. Outside, all Janie could behold was a desolate wasteland, stripped of the life and love that once flourished upon the earth, while in the distance, the relentless whirring and groaning of the machinery propelled the landship forward across the desert sands. It reminded her not only of the horrible catastrophes people failed to overcome, but the aftermath of war, and the remains of the bloodshed that came with it.
But staring into the horizon didn't give her that same feeling of dread she would normally have facing the frontlines. Instead, it told her to stand strong and look towards tomorrow, just like Rhodes Island, always moving forward no matter the tribulations.
And it seems a friend of hers has found comfort in such a bleak view as well. One she had yet to find the entire day right until this very moment.
But as she approached him, a sense of unease crept over her. His demeanor hinted at a troubled mind, as though he were lost in deep contemplation...
“...Lee? Is everything okay?” She asked, waking the detective from his silent daze as she walked to his side.
“Oh, no worries, Janie. I was simply looking for some fresh air.” He replied, grinning to his new companion as if nothing was wrong. “But what about you? Shouldn’t you be back at the command center at this hour?”
“I’m here for the same reason you are, actually. But I'll only be here for a few minutes. I just figured a little walk outside would be refreshing at this time of day.” Janie assumed he would have been discussing business with the Doctor inside their office, or dealing with files from his agency back in Lungmen the whole day. She didn’t expect any company coming out to the deck, much less his. Not that she minded, however.
“Well, that’s certainly a first from you. Though I suppose even the most diligent of soldiers yearn for respite from the battlefield as well.“ He mused, prompting a quiet giggle from the vanguard.
As Lee’s attention drifted back into the horizon, Janie’s eyes wandered to his coat, and the red envelope that stuck out from the golden paper slips that hung by his belt. The petals of a beautiful peony nestled within the envelope fluttered alongside the gentle breeze.
“Do you have an admirer?”
Her question caught him off guard, and he chuckled at her assumption. In all fairness, it wasn’t terribly unrealistic for him to have acquired a few admirers fawning over him from his work in the past. But in terms of deep commitment… that was a different case. “Quite the opposite. It’s for someone else.”
Those words stung more deeply in Janie’s heart than she thought it would. But no matter how painful the feeling, it wouldn’t deter her from being happy for her friend. “Oh… I’m sure whoever it’s for will reciprocate your feelings, then.”
“Huh? Oh, no, this isn’t a love letter.” Lee explained, averting his gaze. “It’s… for a friend. A declaration of my admiration for them, so to speak. Now that today is the Day of Hearts, it felt appropriate to send them my regards.”
She warmly smiled, the clarification bringing her relief for some reason. “I see. Are you planning on giving it to them soon?”
“Of course, of course… I’ve just been distracted by my work the whole day that I forgot to do so earlier this morning. The paperwork can be quite the pain in numbers, and the Doctor certainly never makes it any easier for me, hehe.” She could see the light in his eyes cool down. There goes that same unease from before… Strange.
The conversation soon shifted to them catching up on each other’s lives; Interesting missions, budding friendships, arduous hardships, and even simple stories. Even the mundane can have a certain beauty to it, something Janie has learned over her many interactions with him, and one of the many reasons she quickly became well acquainted with him. It eventually became a habit for them to meet up at the same spot in the cafeteria for a cup of tea at least once every few weeks whenever he came to visit Rhodes Island. There was just something about him and his stories that made her want to stay and chat with him well until sunset.
But as the conversation continued to eb and flow, Janie couldn't ignore the nagging feeling of unease she had from before. Despite his charming smile and casual demeanor, there was a subtle tension beneath the surface that she couldn't quite pinpoint. One she has never sensed from him before. Perhaps it was the way his gaze flickered when she asked about an admirer, or the slight hesitation in his voice as he explained his delay. Nevertheless, she chose to push aside her doubts, allowing herself to be swept along by the familiarity of their banter. Yet, even as they exchanged pleasantries, the unease lingered like a shadow in the back of her mind.
Eventually Lee reached into his pocket, retrieving a box of cigarettes and lighting one up, the pungent aroma of nicotine filling the space between them. There were occasions where he pretended to pop cigars in his mouth with the candy sticks he’d bring with him to Rhodes Island, but she had never seen him actually smoking until now. Did he always have those on him..?
Before he could bring the cigar to his lips, Janie caught it from the tip, the freshly burnt ash singeing her fingertips as she looked him in the eye with a stern gaze.
“Smoking isn’t allowed inside the ship, Lee.”
The detective smirked, peering into her light blue eyes. But before he could argue that they weren’t technically inside the facilities of the landship, something within him began to falter. It was as if her gaze, brimming with unwavering conviction, pierced through his very soul, rendering him speechless as his voice caught in his throat, unable to utter a single word.
“...Right. Forgive me.” He sighed, though his smile never seemed to wane. He watched as Janie confiscated his almost-used cigar inside her pocket. “You’re gonna report this, aren't you?”
“I’m sure they’ll only let you off with a warning. You didn’t inhale a single puff.” The vanguard replied, her gaze softening as she met his eyes once again. “And if there's something on your mind, you can always tell me. We are friends after all, and I wouldn’t want to leave a friend feeling bitter. Especially not on a day like this.”
Lee furrowed his brow at her remark, leaning gently against the cold metal railing as he looked back at the gold-painted skies.
"You're too kind, Janie…" He murmured, a faint trace of gratitude coloring his words. "But really, there's nothing to worry about. Just a fleeting thought, nothing more."
The Vouivre’s lips pursed into a slight frown as her eyes met his troubled glare with an unspoken concern. Yet, she had no choice but to take his word for it. Pressing him any further would likely end up with him changing the subject or escaping the conversation entirely in a hurry, leaving her with nothing but conjecture for what could have been a simple trivial matter.
But even then, trivial matters never seemed to bother Lee much, at least not to the extent of resorting to smoking at work to relieve stress. Even grueling missions out on the field against thousands of enemies weren't enough to shake his spirits like this. Could it have something to do with that letter…?
“If only it were that simple for me to believe,” She lamented, her words tinged with a hint of longing. "Sometimes it feels as though you hide too much from-"
"Jane."
Lee’s abrupt shift in tone sent her heart thumping, yet there was an unexpected comfort in the newfound firmness of his voice. "It's not as bad as I might make it out to be. I promise. You needn’t waste a single thought on it."
"I understand that, but... seeing you like this just worries me." Her eyes downcast to the sands below, weighed down by a laden heart. “If you really don't want to talk about it, then I won’t pry. I only hope you’ll be at peace. Forgive me for my stubbornness.”
"No… No need to apologize." He replied softly, his words laced with a hint of regret. "If anything, I owe you an apology for causing you to worry about me. I appreciate your concern, truly, but this is something I can sort out on my own.”
A heavy sigh escaped the detective barely above a whisper, resting his chin on his palm as his gaze returned to his companion. Janie was the last person he wanted to burden with his troubles.
“But if it eases your curiosity…” He continued, his eyes not daring to cross hers. “I’m just having second thoughts about some things. That is all.”
Ah. So that was it, then.
“I see…” She murmured softly, the weight of his words settling between them.
“Well… I can’t say you’re completely alone on that struggle.” Janie added, her words catching Lee’s intrigue.
“Because… well, I…” Her heart pounded in her chest, begging for air. But she took a deep breath, and finally mustered the courage to reach into one of her satchels.
And with a little hesitance, the vanguard pulls out a simple, pale blue letter, holding it out to the detective. “...I’ve been meaning to give this to you.”
Lee’s gaze quickly fixated on the envelope presented before him. It was plain, but had the charm of a warm summer morning. “For me..? Janie, now you’re just making me feel overwhelmed...” She could only hope he meant a good kind of overwhelmed.
She giggled at his subtle bashfulness. It looked nice on him. “Of course. It’s a ‘declaration of my admiration’ for you, you know?” She winked, her cheeky little joke causing both of them to chuckle.
“Your kindness knows no bounds, does it?” He sighs, gracing her with the familiar warmth of his smile that she had dearly missed. “Rhodes Island is fortunate to have you.”
“So are they to have you.” Janie remarked with a grin, her heart filled with contentment once more. And I’m fortunate to have met you.
The once-golden sky soon deepened into twilit hues of indigo, her smile replacing the sun as it laid to rest. “I’ll be heading back now. Take care, Lee.”
The detective nods as he watches her depart from his side, his heart fluttering from a familiar, lovely ache. Though their time together had been short this day, it felt like a lifetime. His eyes cast down at the mundane envelope in his palm, the delicate sheen of the parchment catching the fading light of dusk in a soft, iridescent glow.
Days had slipped by since the start of their friendship. Months had gone by since their first mission together. Almost a year has passed since they first met. And all this time, she remained on his mind far longer than he anticipated, akin to a lingering guilt seeking resolution.
Perhaps he had kept her waiting for too long. And perhaps, she finally deserved to know the truth.
The next day, Janie found a red letter waiting on her doorstep. The petals of a beautiful peony nestled within the envelope swayed alongside the gentle breeze.