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“Where did you get the bristles, Tup?” Hardcase examined the brush end of the makeshift paintbrush Tup had put together. The ones they used for their armor would be far to large for the job. “Wait, is this your hair?!?!”
Tup shrugged, turning around, “can you even see where that little bit came from? It’s not even a whole curl. Besides, it’s for a good cause!”
“What’s going on here?” Fives asked as he and Jesse came into the bunkroom.
“Nothing!” Tup said, stepping between Hardcase and the other two. Hardcase rolled his eyes. He could do without this kind of help.
“Tup you’re hiding something,” Jesse said.
“No…” Tup began to answer but got jostled aside by the other two.
“Hey ‘Case,” Jesse said, sitting on the bunk next to him.
“Hello Jess, Fives. What’s up,” Hardcase asked.
“We just got off of corridor patrol. We were wondering what you were up to,” Fives answered.
Hardcase held up the makeshift brush. “Just going to do some painting,”
“What’s this?” Fives got a hold of the doll before Hardcase could move it.
“A doll? And paint?” Jesse asked. “You’re making a doll of yourself! This I would expect from Fives,”
“Hey!” Fives exclaimed before Hardcase interrupted.
“It’s not for me,” Hardcase answered, without thinking.
“Is this for that mechanic you are crushing on?” Fives asked.
“What do you care?” Hardcase asked, “give it back,” he tried to grab it back from Fives, but was worried it would get damaged if he did it wrong.
Fives tossed it to Jesse, who once he got ahold of it started making kissy sounds and said, mocking Hardcase’s accents “Cyar’ika! I love you! Mwah mwah” laughing when Hardcase lunged for him and tossed it back to Fives while he still made the kissy noises among his fits of laughter.
To his credit, Tup tried to get it mid air but missed.
“Hardcase, you’re supposed to give them chocolates,” Fives said, laughing.
“Or flowers,” Jesse volunteered.
“Those things don’t last very long, do they?” Tup asked.
Fives stopped, “yeah, I guess not,” he handed the doll back to Hardcase.
He retreated to his bunk, picked up the brush, but stopped. After a few minutes of glaring at the doll Jesse asked, from his bunk. “What’s wrong ‘Case?”
“You weren’t taking us seriously were you?” Fives continued. “Because we’re excited for you, you know that,”
“Ah, no. I know you two are full of shit” Hardcase rubbed his head. “It’s just…is this vain? Giving them a doll of myself?”
“Hey, no!” Fives said. “No way!”
“Yeah, we’ve seen the way they look at you when we go into the LAATs for battle,” Jesse told him.
“I told you,” Tup said, “it’s a good idea.”
“It’s an excellent idea,” Fives agreed. “So are you giving it to them at the Life Day celebrations?”
“Unless we are in battle then,” Tup qualified.
The best that could be managed for decorations were some spot lights turned to festive colors and aimed at the walls of the Cafeteria. Someone had sliced into the com system for the room to be able to pipe holiday music in and still send emergency coms over it.
Through some miracle of the supply network Life Day cookies had been procured along with plenty of punch. The least noxious of rations were being served that day. And enough room had been cleared for a dance floor.
Some one even managed to rig a holoprojector to project a Life Day tree. People were exchanging small gifts of artwork, writing, the recipient’s favorite ration bar, pretty rocks and shells found planetside. Small crafted things, some inexpensive souvenirs from various places.
You fidget the small pouch in your pocket. It holds a crystal from your home planet that you had fashioned into a necklace. It just felt right, giving him something of yourself when you confess to him.
Scanning the room repeatedly, even though you know he isn’t there. Was he coming? Everyone that wasn’t on duty was. Had he gotten pulled to cover for someone? If you didn’t tell him today you had no idea when you’d get the courage again. The pilots were already teasing you about it. Evidently you were more obvious about it than you thought.
Then you see Fives and Echo enter the mess hall from the other side, grinning. Behind them and seemingly escorted by Tup with Jesse, Dogma, and Kix behind them was Hardcase. Anxiety clear in his expression and carrying a gift.
As his eyes swept the room, clearly searching for someone, you left. Walking quickly down corridors. ‘This was a bad idea’ you thought as you head for the security of your work station, or even a ship console to worm your way under and bury all thought in work.
You hear someone calling you as footsteps followed you. Likely one of your pilot friends.
“I’m going back to work,” you call back without looking.
“Can I please talk to you first?” The answer comes.
You turn towards the speaker and see Hardcase walking towards you. The sudden urge to just tell him bubbles up strong again.
“Yeah, I actually wanted to talk to you too,” now glad that you were in the corridors and away from the mess hall.
He still holds the package as he approaches with a grin.
“I need to..” you begin at the same time as he says ,”I want..”
Then you both say, “ you first”
And you wonder for a second whether he intends on saying the same thing as you do.
“Uh, um. Here, this is for you,” he stammers, “I hope you like it”
Before you take the package from him you pull the pouch out of your pocket.
“This is for you,” you put it in his hand.
“For me?” He asks, wonderingly.
You nod, but before you can say anything he says, “Open it, please?” And continues while you do, “I wanted to get you something, and… I hope it’s not weird. It’s I just really like you and,”
His stammers break off at your gasp when you see the trooper doll, carefully and perfectly painted to match his armor. You surge forward, wrapping your arms around his neck and kissing him. Hardcase pauses, stunned for a split second, then responds with his arms coming around you to hold you close.
You pull back long enough for your own confession, “I love you, Hardcase,”
His smile is the brightest you have ever seen when he answers, “and I love you too,” and kisses you again.