Coming to with a jolt, it does not take Muharrem long to register where he is and who has woken him. His chest rises and falls rapidly, the emotions dragged to the fore by his subconscious mind chained back behind the cage of his teeth, held at bay through force of will and recognition that here was neither the time nor the place to voice them.
Realizing that in his initial alarm he had grasped hold of his superior officer, he had the good grace to flush and release the lieutenant from his grip. Taking a steadying breath, he offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to be disruptive.”
Sitting up slowly, he ran a shaky hand through his hair, before sighing and deciding he might as well make use of being awake this early. “Would you object to Travers getting a lie in? I can cover his shift, seeing as I’m up.” With the strain on everyone due to the captain’s brewing madness and his vindictive treatment of Wellard, those who were of gentler constitutions deserved to be watched over in whatever small ways could be managed, as far as he was concerned.
Ocean Archive 