Left alone for a few minutes, Alexander took his chance to sit down on the floor next to Julian. The knight rolled onto his stomach on the magnetic floor until his pale face was visible to the young lord. Cautiously Alexander cleared his throat before daring to speak, and even then he kept his words soft. “This is why you didn't want to come.”

“What?” Julian groaned, not opening his eyes. “Think a lil sea-sickness is enough to scare me off?”

“Sort of.” Alexander chuckled. The silence that followed him told him Julian didn't find anything about this amusing. After a nervous fidget, Alexander spoke up again. “Weren't your parents seafaring merchants?”

“So?”

The callous voice made Alexander's heart sink. Slowly, he shut his eyes. Before he could say anything, the doctor returned and gave him a cup of water to give Julian when he felt like sitting up. “I'll check on you in a few hours, if you're still here.” She then left them to themselves after shutting the door to the small private room they were in.

Alexander's blue eyes focused on the surface of the water in the cup for a few minutes while he listened to Julian quietly breathe next to him. “Are you asleep?”

“Fuck no. Who can sleep when they feel this sick? Are you crazy?” Julian grumbled and promptly turned his face to look away from the blond.

“I... I just thought if you slept, you might feel better.”

“Didn't anyone tell you?” Julian asked. When Alexander didn't answer, it became clear that he was clueless to what Julian was talking about. It took effort for him to turn his head to face the young man once more. “Knights don't get to sleep whenever they want.”

“Oh.” Alexander nodded as if that was easily digestable information. “Well, I don't mind if you want to sleep right now.”

“And if you run off and get hurt while I'm out?” Alexander met Julian's eyes. The two stared at each other for a few seconds before Julian turned his face away again. “Whatever. If you say it's fine, then Imma catch some sleep. You go off and play. Just don't fall overboard.”

“Do you want some water first?” Alexander asked in a softer voice, looking back down to the cup in his hand.

Without warning the knight sat up suddenly. He swung his legs underneath his middle to sit on by balancing his weight on his knuckles. He snatched the cup up from Alexander, took several big gulps, swallowed and then exhaled a large breath, then set the cup loudly next to him on the platform. Without missing any momentum, Julian was laying back down on his side, curled up so he wasn't facing Alexander.

“Happy? Now beat it.”

No sound came from Alexander as he rubbed his left foot over the top of his right, his fingers gently pinching his nails of his left hand in his lap. He sat there quietly for a few minutes in the dim light of the room, just watching Julian rest.

“Not going?”

“I'd like to stay with you since you don't feel well.” Alexander answered with sweetness.

“It'll be boring. No awesome sights of the land as we leave the bay from this tiny fucking room. Not even a window.”

“That's fine.” Alexander let out an airy chuckle. He added in a whisper, “I'm not on vacation.”