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Looking up from their plate, his captain whispered, “this tastes like dreams,”
Perking up, Mark looks at them with hopeful eyes, “you like my cooking?! It tastes good?”
They pause, humming, “I only have nightmares.” he visibly deflates as they continue, “It’s not good.”
Huffing, he turns away with crossed arms, “Fine, I see how it is, captain.”
“It’s edible,” they smiled at him, “that’s better than some of the cooking I’ve had,”
“That’s not making me feel better,” He says sarcastically, a small smile forming.
Staring up at him from their seat, they feel their face heat up.
Ever since they prevented the Warp-core from being sent back and landed on the colony, they noticed their emotions and thoughts of Mark had become more… romantic.
They couldn’t help it; he always had this natural charm and tried to do his best, no matter what. His smile always managed to make them smile. And his black hair that looked so soft and—
“Captain? You’re looking a little red?” His smile was nervous, “Is my food making you sick?”
His captain blinks, “No! No. I am not sick, I just—” their eyes dart to the side, looking anywhere but him, “It’s a little hot in here?”
Cringing at how unsure they sounded, they picked their coffee up and took a sip of their coffee.
“You do make good coffee, though,” the captain hummed into their cup, sighing with a small smile.
He was still concerned, but he decided to let it go. Instead, he puffs out his chest, “Of course I do!”
His captain giggles, setting the mug on the table, “I suppose I should start breakfast?” he stares at them with a deadpan expression.
Their finger slid around the rim of the mug, a teasing smile on their face, “Well? Or would you rather eat the food you made?”
Sighing, he pulls the chair across from them and dramatically falls onto the chair with a huff, “Your cooking is far superior to mine. That’s why you are the captain, I guess.”
They shook their head, rising from the chair, “Mr. Iplier, we both that’s
not true,”
Stepping beside them, they sneak a glance at him, quickly looking away when they see him staring at them with a soft smile on his face.
“What’s on the schedule for today?” they ask, opening the cupboard, “I remember hearing about a meeting?”
He nodded, even though they wouldn’t see him, “yeah, we have one at 14:00,”
“Alright, plenty of time.” they turned the burner on, placing the pan onto it.
Shooting him a small smile, they reach into the fridge and pull a carton of eggs out, “Fried eggs sound fine?”
He hums, “Yes, please!”
The captain feels their smile growing, not facing Mark as their cheeks and ears heat up at how cute he sounded.
They nod their head, rolling their sleeves up, “Alright. Let's get cooking,” they mummer to themself.
Breathing in, they spray the oil onto the frying pan, thinking of what else they could make to go with the eggs,
“Mark, could you grab the bread for me?” they ask, placing the oil aside and opening the drawer below the countertop.
They pulled the toaster out. Toast would go splendid with eggs. They plug it in, listening to Mark move around behind them.
Focusing on the eggs in front of them, the captain picks an egg up, cracks it on the side of the pan, and allows the insides to spill into the hot pan. Smiling at the satisfying sizzle it made on contact, they do the same with the second egg.
Mark sets the loaf down and grabs a cutting board, “Would you like me to cut it for you?”
They nod, “Yes please, Mark.”
They reached into the cabinet, grabbed seasoning, and applied their desired amount onto the eggs, relishing the calming environment.
“I like these moments with you,” Mark says, breaking the silence between them.
The captain blinks, looking at him, “Huh?”
He chuckles softly, raising a hand to his neck, “I mean, I like spending time with you… and not needing to be alert?”
The look on his captain’s face made him look away, embarrassed,
“I really like it when it's just us. Mark and [F/N]. not Head Engineer and Captain.”
[F/N] giggles at him, raising a hand to their cheek,
“I feel the same,”
Mark sucks in a breath, his shoulders rising,
“heh… I…”
[F/N] bumped his arm with the elbow, “Little sappy today, Mark?”
Flipping the eggs, they shift themself away from him, trying to stop their feelings from showing,
“Isn’t it too early to be flirting with me?”
Mark sputters, “WHat! I’m not FLIRTING?!” crossing his arms, “You’re the one—” He huffs at their laughter,
“Stop teasing me!”
[F/N] throws their head back, letting a loud laugh out, “Mark, you’re too cute, I swear!”
“You think I’m cute?”
“Ah,” They pause, “Wait—” [F/N] throws their hands out towards him, “I didn’t mean to say that!”
They turned away, [F/N] took the pan off the burner and turned it off, realizing it was starting to burn, cursing under their breath.
“Damn… it burnt a little,” [F/N] mutters, glancing up to Mark, “I guess my food wont be that good.”
Mark raises a hand to his mouth, muffling his snickering, “And my cooking’s bad?”
Scoffing, [F/N] playfully slaps him, “Shut up—”
They feel a smile on their face; they relax and reach for the plates. [F/N] gasps silently when they feel Mark press against them, reaching above them to grab two of the dishes.
[F/N] feels their face heat up as their body stiffens at how he felt against them.
“I’ll get that for you,” He whispers to them, causing them to tense at his almost teasing tone.
He backs up, holding the plates close to him, shuffling away, “You looked like you needed um… help,” Mark trails off at the end of his sentence, his confidence waning,
[F/N] frozen, stares blankly ahead, their thoughts leaving their head.
“Captain?” Mark asks, noticing the lack of response.
Closing their eyes, they attempt to calm their racing heart. The pounding in their chest
Setting his hand onto their shoulder, Mark calls their name again. Slowly, they turn to him, exposing their flushed expression.
He sucks in a breath, “Are you okay?”
“Yup! Fine!” [F/N] squeaks out, shrugging out of his grasp, laughing nervously.
“You’re face is red?” Mark points out with a raised eyebrow,
“It’s about time to eat, no?” They hold their hands out, motioning to the plates in his hands, “I’ll make them!”
“I don’t think you’re okay, captain.”
They halt slightly before grabbing onto the plates, tugging them towards themself, “You can sit, I’ll make—
Mark tuts at them, “You’ll just drop them, your all…” he looks them up and down, “...like that.”
They huff at him, not letting go, “It’s just serving the eggs and toast, how—” their words die in their mouth at the look he shot them.
Begrudgingly, [F/N] let's go, moving to the table. They pull the chair out and plop into the seat.
Their heart still racing in their chest. How would they ever be able to work with him near when their heart distracts them.
They are coworkers. Friends even. Not lovers.
“There we are!” He grins, setting the plates down.
They give him a smile, looking down at the food the two of them made.
It was just eggs and toast. Nothing difficult.
[F/N] picks up their fork, taking a bite. Chewing softly, they decided they needed to talk about what happened.
A healthy relationship, no matter romantic or platonic, requires communication in some way.
“Mark…” They begin hesitantly, “About earlier… I—”
“We don’t need to talk about it if you don’t want to!” He quickly interrupted, “If it bothers you— I… I’ll stop being—”
“No.” They cut him off. “I don’t mind, Mark. Just… a warning would’ve been nice, though… Besides… I—” their throat betrayed them, catching their words before they could say them.
Lifting their mug, they quickly sip their coffee, clearing their throat and continued,
“I… Like you for you.” [F/N] finished with a small smile.
I love you for you is what they wanted to say…. But they are friends… rather flirty friends on the edge of romance, but friends nonetheless.
Mark stares at his food with wide eyes, swallowing the bite he took,
“Me too… I like you for you.” He looks up to them, his eyes softening when they meet theirs.
They both look to their food, flustered.
[F/N] quickly picks up their fork, shoveling the rest of the egg down.
They pick their toast up, taking a bite.
“I can’t say it….” They whisper, not looking at him, “but… I think you know how I feel.”
Mark smiles, closing his eyes, “It’s mutual, captain.”