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The spacecraft hummed with its usual low droning sound as it cruised through the vast expanse of space. Inside, the crew, working under the Pony Express, were going about their daily routines, though a sense of melancholy hung in the air.
Daisuke was in the cargo hold, checking on the manifest of the latest shipment.
He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Ugh, can you believe that we are stuck here on Christmas? All alone in the cold void of space while everybody on earth is having a great time with their friends and families?” He kicked a nearby crate in frustration, causing it to rattle ominously. “I mean, what are we even transporting here? It’s not like we know what’s inside these boxes. Probably just a bunch of useless junk.”
Just then, Jimmy barged into the cargo hold. His face twisted in anger. He glared at Daisuke before storming over to the manifest terminal. “Hey, what are you doing here? This is my job, not yours!”
Daisuke just grinned. “Aw, come on, Jimmy! We should be spreading cheer. Not fighting over who gets what. Besides, Swansea told me to double-check the manifest. Apparently, you’ve been making too many errors lately.”
Jimmy’s face turned red with rage. He clenched his fists, ready to lash out at Daisuke, but before he could say anything, a calm voice came out from the doorway. It was Curly, the captain.
“Alright, that’s enough.”
While Curly lectured the two men, Anya entered the room. She took one look at the manifest and raised an eyebrow. “Hmm, these readings are a bit odd. I think we might want to take a closer look at what’s inside these crates.”
Daisuke, unable to contain his curiosity, rushed over to the nearest crate and began prying open the lid with a crowbar. The moment it popped open, a cloud of pungent, minty vapor billowed out, hitting Daisuke square in the face.
“Ack! Phew. What the heck is that stuff?” He coughed, stumbling back and rubbing his eyes. As the vapor cleared, he peered into the crate and pulled out a bottle labeled Dragonbreath Mouthwash.
Jimmy leaned in to take a look.
“Dragonbreath Mouthwash? What kind of crazy name is that? And why would anyone need mouthwash that strong?”
Anya took the bottle from Daisuke, flipping it over and examining it closely. “Hmm, this does seem a bit unusual. The chemical composition is... interesting. I wonder what it’s used for.”
“What are you guys doing? I told you to leave these crates alone!”
Daisuke, still a bit dizzy from the mouthwash vapors, held the bottle up with a sheepish grin. “Sorry, Cap! We’re just curious. But hey, since it’s Christmas and all, why don’t we do something fun? We could decorate the ship or play some games or-“
Curly ran a hand through his hair, sighing heavily. “Daisuke, we’re in the middle of a job. We can’t just drop everything and have a party.”
Jimmy, always ready to stir up trouble, chimed in. “Yeah, but you’ve been working us to the bone. Don’t you think we deserve a little break, Curly?
Curly’s expression softened slightly. “Alright, fine. We’ll take a short break. Just nobody touch these crates again, got it?”
The whole crew agreed, and Anya grinned. “I’ll go and gather some decorations from storage!”
Swansea, who had been silently observing the whole exchange, grumbled under his breath. “Kids these days, always wanting to play instead of work. But I suppose a short break won’t hurt.”
Daisuke and Anya bounced around the ship, stringing up colorful lights and hanging up makeshift ornaments they had crafted from spare parts and supplies. Daisuke’s enthusiasm was infectious as he hummed Christmas carols; meanwhile, Anya giggled and found it slightly annoying.
Meanwhile, Jimmy stormed into the common room, his face red with frustration. “What are you all doing? This is pathetic! You’re not even decorating it right!”
He grabbed a string of lights from Daisuke’s hands and began rearranging them with precision. “See, this is how you do it! Straight lines, even spacing, and a consistent color scheme. Not this… This mess!”
Daisuke just shrugged, not letting Jimmy’s grumpiness dampen his spirit. “Hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?”
As Jimmy continued to fuss over the decorations, Daisuke couldn’t help but laugh at his friend’s behavior. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he crept behind Jimmy and wrapped his arms around him in a playful tackle. Jimmy let out a surprised yelp as he toppled to the ground, the string of lights he was holding flying out of his hands. Daisuke landed on top of him.
“Gotcha!” Daisuke exclaimed. “You were getting way too worked up over some lights. It’s supposed to be fun, remember?”
Jimmy was caught off guard by the sudden attack but his face lit up. “Hey, cut it off! I’m just trying to correct your shitty job.”
The door to the common room slid open, revealing Curly and Swansea. They paused in the doorway, taking in the sight of Daisuke and Jimmy wrestling on the floor amidst the half-finished decorations.
A small smirk was tugging on the corner of Curly’s mouth. “Well, this is certainly… festive.”
Swansea just sighed. “Kids these days, always finding ways to cause trouble. But I suppose it’s better than them fighting all the time.”
As Daisuke and Jimmy tussled on the floor, Daisuke suddenly froze, looking up at Curly and Swansea, surprised by their presence. Noticing Daisuke was distracted, Jimmy tried to push him off, but in his haste, he miscalculated his movements and accidentally kicked Daisuke right in the groin.
Daisuke let out a high-pitched yelp of pain, his face contorting as he curled into a fetal position. “Ow, ow, Ow! What the hell, Jimmy?”
Jimmy just laughed. “That’s what you get. I didn’t even know your balls dropped yet.”
Daisuke, still clutching his groin, through gritted teeth spat out. “Fuck, Jimmy! You’re a fucking faggot. Kicking me in my dick.”
“Hey, watch your mouth!” Jimmy’s face turned beet red from Daisuke’s accusation. “I’m not a fucking faggot. IT was an accident.”
Curly’s eyes narrowed. “Alright, Daisuke, That’s enough. I won’t tolerate homophobic slurs on my ship.”
Swansea, however, couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath. “Kid’s got a dirty mouth on him, don’t he? That’s partly my fault. But he’s not wrong, Jimmy, you did kick him right in the dick.”
“Fuck you both!” Jimmy replied.
Anya, still fixing Jimmy’s temper tantrum he threw on the decorations, couldn’t help but let out something that sounded like a mixture of a chuckle and a sigh. “You know boys, if you're going to fight, you could at least make it over something worthwhile. Not over who sucks the most dick.”
Curly sighed, speaking before either Daisuke or Jimmy could speak. “Jimmy, Daisuke. In my office now.”
As the two men trudged towards Curly’s office, their shoulders tense and their faces flushed with anger and embarrassment, Curly followed close behind. He could hear their muffled grumbling and occasional insult as they went. Once inside, Curly closed the door and gestured for the two men to take seats. Jimmy plopped down in one of the chairs, crossing his arms defensively while Daisuke leaned against the wall, trying to look nonchalant.
Curly leaned forward. “Alright, what the hell was that about there? I thought you two were supposed to be friends...”
Jimmy scoffed. “Friends with him? Yeah, right. I’d rather this ship crash and die.”
Daisuke grinned. “Aw, come on, Jimmy! We’re the best of friends. You just don’t want to admit you’re jealous of my laid-back attitude.”
Curly held up a hand, silencing them both. “Enough. I don’t care about your petty squabbles. What I do care about is the language you’re using. Daisuke, I don’t want you to go around calling people faggots, and Jimmy, learn to control your anger better.”
“Hey, I’m pansexual. I can be say faggot if I want.” Daisuke grumbled.
“Daisuke, that’s not how that works. You can call yourself that all you want, but don’t call others it.” Curly sighed, feeling like a preschool teacher rather than a captain of a ship filled with “grown” adults.
Jimmy snorted. “Yeah, right. I don’t think you're even gay. I think you're just an attention whore.”
“Fuck you, Jimmy! I am whoever I want to be, and I’ll say what I want.”
“Everybody just calms down.” Curly ordered. “This is so stupid…”
Daisuke, still leaning against the wall with a mischievous glint in his eye, grinned at Jimmy. “You know, if you're so against me being gay, maybe it’s because you're secretly in love with our dear captain Curly here.”
Jimmy’s face flashed red. “What? No! That’s not…”
Curly suddenly sat back in shock. “Wait, what? Jimmy, is there something you want to tell me?”
Daisuke pushed further. “Come on, Jimmy. Don’t you think our dear Captain is handsome with those dreamy eyes? I bet you’ve thought about him, haven’t you?”
Curly, clearly flustered, held up his hands. “Alright, that’s enough! Everyone, just stop. Let’s focus on the matter.”
“Shut up, Daisuke, you don’t know what you’re talking about!” Jimmy spat. He storms towards the door, pausing, wanting to say more. But he clearly thought better of it and just ran out.
Daisuke, still leaning against the wall, couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, that was fun. Looks like I hit a nerve with ol’ Jimmy boy.”
Curly fixed Daisuke with a stern look, his voice low and serious. “Daisuke, that wasn’t funny. That was just mean.”
Daisuke’s grin faded, replaced by a sheepish expression. “I’m sorry, Cap. I didn’t mean to cause trouble; I was just… I don’t know. Trying to get a rise out of him, I guess.”
Curly sighed again. “Just go finish the decorations with Anya and Swansea.”
Daisuke, still shaken by Curly’s stern words, froze, wondering if he should say something, try to defend himself, or apologize. But in the end, he just nodded and turned around, heading back out to where Anya and Swansea were. Anya was still there, placing colorful streamers while Swansea sat in the corner, looking grumpy.
“There you are.” Anya said. “I was starting to think that you got lost or something. I thought that we could make a Christmas cake.”
Daisuke’s face lit up at that idea. “Lead the way, Nurse Anya!”
Anya rolled her eyes at the nickname. She handed Daisuke an apron. “Put this on. we don’t want you covered in flour.”
Swansea grumbled from his corner. “Ugh, this is ridiculous. We’re not here to bake cakes; we are here to work!”
“Swansea, it’s Christmas. A little break won’t hurt. It’s a good morale boost for the crew.”
Swansea huffed, but Anya’s words calmed him slightly. “Fine, fine, I’ll help, but I’m not wearing one of those silly aprons.”
In his quarters, Jimmy sat on his bed, his head in his hands. He couldn’t stop replaying the conversation in Curly’s office, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He knew he had feelings for Curly. He has been trying to suppress them for months, but the idea of potentially ruining his career and friendship with the captain terrified him.
“What am I going to do?” He muttered to himself. “God, I hate Daisuke for putting me in this situation!”
Jimmy sighed and pulled out his personal log and began to write, pouring his feelings onto the page with an attempt to make sense of the chaos in his mind.
Daisuke’s mind drifted to Jimmy. He couldn’t shake the guilt he felt for pushing his friend’s buttons earlier. Setting down his mixing spoon, he turned to Anya and Swansea.
“Hey guys, I’m going to go check on Jimmy. He seems… Pretty upset still.”
Daisuke made his way to Jimmy’s quarters, his steps heavy with trepidation. He knocked softly on the door. “Jimmy? It’s me, Daisuke. Can I come in?”
There was a shuffling sound from inside, followed by a muffling. “I suppose so.”
Daisuke entered the room to find Jimmy sitting on his bed, his personal log clutched in his hands. His eyes were red-rimmed, as if he’d been crying. Daisuke’s heart clenched at the sight.
“Hey, Jimmy, I just wanted to… I wanted to say I’m sorry for what happened earlier. I didn’t mean to… I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Jimmy looked up, his expression filled with anger. “Hurt me? Yeah, you definitely did that. Accusing me of being in love with Curly, in front of him no less! He probably thinks I’m some sort of gross pervert now.”
Daisuke sat down next to Jimmy, his voice gentle. “Jimmy, Curly’s not like that. He’s not going to judge you for having feelings.”
Jimmy scoffed, shaking his head. “Feelings? I don’t have any feelings for him. It’s…. not like that.”
But his words rang hollow, even to his own ears. Daisuke reached out, placing a hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. “Jimmy, it’s okay to have feelings. You don’t have to hide who you are. You’re my friend, and I care about you. You should come out and have some cake with the rest of us. You know how much I love your company.”
Jimmy's shoulders slumped. “I don’t know Daisuke. I’m… I’m not good at this whole friendship thing, am I? I’m an ass. Point blank.”
Daisuke chuckled. “Nobody’s perfect, man. It’s kind of one of the reasons I lick you. Now let’s get some of that cake before Swansea eats it all.”
Jimmy couldn’t help but crack a slight smile at that, and he nodded. The two of them made their way to the common room; the aroma of spices and sweetness grew stronger. Anya and Swansea were just pulling the cake out of the oven, the golden-brown top glistening with icing. Anya beamed at the sight.
“Look who decided to join us. I knew the smell of a freshly baked cake would lure you out, Jimmy.
Swansea grumbled under his breath, but there was a hint of a smile on his weathered face. “Aye, and a good thing too. This cake won’t eat itself, you know.”
Jimmy fidgeted in his seat, his fork clinking against his plate as he tried to focus on the cake in front of him. But his mind kept wandering, replaying the conversation from earlier in Curly’s office.
Daisuke, oblivious to Jimmy’s inner turmoil, was busy stuffing his face with cake. “This is so good, Anya. You must be a baking goddess or something.”
Anya chuckled slightly. “It’s just a simple cake, Daisuke.”
Curly entered the room, grabbed a slice of cake, and sat next to Jimmy. He noticed Jimmy’s discomfort, so he leaned in to talk to him. Daisuke noticed the tension between them. He leaned over to Anya and Swansea, an idea forming in his mind.
“Hey, guys. I think we should do something to get Jimmy and Curly together. Like a little matchmaking game. What do you think?”
Anya blinked. “I mean. I’m not so sure about that…. I guess they would be cute together, though.”
Swansea grumbled. “And I’m sure that will go over well. The captain and his… subordinate. That’s never caused problems in the workplace before. Not to add, we don’t even know if Curly loves Jimmy back.
Daisuke waved off their concerns. “Nonsense! I see the way that they look at each other. What if we… I don’t now… Set up a little Christmas movie night? We could make sure they sit next to each other, share a blanket…”
Once everybody agreed, Daisue stood up, clapping his hands together loudly. “Alright everyone, I have an idea. What do you think if we have a Christmas movie night? I’m sure it would be a great morale boost. Curly, Jimmy, what do you think?”
Curly looked up, a surprised but pleased expression on his face. “A Christmas movie night? That sounds wonderful, Daisuke. I think the crew would love that.”
Jimmy, caught off guard, nodded quickly. “Uh, yeah, that sounds good. I’m in.”
“Okay, here’s what we’ll do. I’ll make some hot cocoa, and you can set up the seating in the common room. Make sure that you put Curly and Jimmy right next to each other on the couch with a blanket.”
Swansea snorted. “That will be a sight. Curly and his angry, blushing boy. Imagine how pissed Jimmy will be if finds out about this.”
Daisuke could only grin.
As the crew finished setting up the common room, the couch was prominently in the center, dressed in plush, warm blankets and an array of colorful throw pillows. Anya had already filled the room with the comforting scent of freshly made hot chocolate. Curly and Jimmy were on opposite ends of the couch while Daisuke and Swansea sat close by, Daisuke on the floor and Swansea in a chair.
Anya played her part perfectly, approaching Curly and Jimmy with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate, topped with fluffy marshmallows and dusted with cinnamon. She leaned down, her voice low.
“Here you guys go. I made them just for you.”
She slid the mugs into their hands, giving each of them a subtle wink before moving on to serve the rest of the crew. As the movie played, Curly found himself shifting closer to Jimmy on the couch. He couldn’t help but notice the way Jimmy’s shoulders had relaxed, the tension seemingly melting away.
Curly smiled at himself, taking a sip of the hot chocolate. It was sweet and creamy, with just the right amount of spice. He felt warm contentment pulsing throughout him. As the minutes ticked by, Curly noticed that Jimmy’s head began to droop, his eyelids growing heavy. He glanced over at his friend.
Daisuke leaned over to Swansea, whispering. “Looks like our plan backfired. The poor guy is falling asleep!”
Swansea simply grunted. “This is why we don’t meddle in the affairs of the heart, lad.”
Jimmy’s head lolled to the side, his eyes fluttering closed as he began to snore softly. Curly, startled by the sudden sound, turned to look at his sleeping friend. He chuckled softly, reaching out to gently shake Jimmy’s shoulder. But Jimmy merely muttered something incoherent and shifted closer to Curly, his head coming to rest on the captain’s chest. Curly froze, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest. He could feel the warmth of Jimmy’s body against his own, the gentle rise and fall of his breath.
“Well.” Daisuke grinned. “I think our plan worked. Just not in the way we expected.” He turned to Swansea. “You know, Swansea. I think this might be the start of something beautiful.”
“This isn’t going to end with a happily ever after. They’ll probably just fuck and then go back to pretending nothing happened.” He grunted. “Young people these days, always chasing cheap thrills and ignoring the consequences.”
“Come on, Swansea! Don’t be so negative. Maybe this is the start of something real. You know, love at first sight… Or at least, love at first snuggle.”
Swansea just grunted in response.
“I really hope that this helps Jimmy calm down a bit.” Anya commented. “He’s always been such an uptight ass. Maybe some romance will help him relax.”
Swansea snorted derisively. “Aye, and I suspect that once Curly gets his hands on that tight little… uh, never mind. You know what I mean.”
The two men shared a laugh while Anya rolled her eyes. Curly, still cradling the sleeping Jimmy, looked up with a confused expression.
“What’s so funny, guys?” He asked softly, not wanting to disturb Jimmy.
Daisuke quickly composed himself. “Oh, nothing, Cap. Just some silly inside joke. You know how Swansea and I can be.”
As the movie kept playing, Jimmy began to stir. He blinked slowly, his eyes fluttering open as he came back to reality. Realizing where he was and who he was with made Jimmy’s face immediately flush bright red. He tried to pull away, his movements jerky and panicked.
“Wh-what? Where… What happened?”
Curly, startled by the sudden movement, let out a yelp as Jimmy’s elbow caught him in the ribs. He quickly sat up.
“I’m sorry, Jimmy, I…. I was just trying to make you comfortable.”
Jimmy scrambled to his feet. “Comfortable. “I was sleeping on you for fuck’s sake.”
Curly stood as well, his expression a mix of confusion and hurt. “I didn’t…. I didn’t mind. I thought you were cold, so I….”
“You thought I was cold? Well, let me tell you something, Captain. I’m not some damsel in distress who needs you to keep me warm. I can take care of myself, got it?”
Curly took a step back, his hands raised. In a placating gesture. “I…. I didn’t mean that at all. I just care about you.”
Jimmy scoffed, his laughter harsh and bitter. “Care about me? Yeah, right. You don’t even know, Curly. You don’t know anything about me.”
After speaking, Jimmy turned around and left.
Curly sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as he sat back down on the couch. The room felt cold and empty without Jimmy’s presence. Just as he was about to sink into a pit of self-pity, the door to the common room swung open once more. Jimmy stood there.
He sat down on the couch, his hands clasped tightly in front of him.
“I-I… I’m sorry, Curly. I shouldn’t have. I shouldn’t have acted like such an ass.”
Curly looked up, his eyes wide with surprise. “Jimmy, you don’t have to... I mean, I know I shouldn’t have assumed.”
Jimmy cut him off, his voice gruff but tinged with an unfamiliar vulnerability.
“No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I… I don’t know how to do this, okay? I don’t know how to deal with… feelings and stuff.” He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes darting around the room as if he was looking for an escape. “I’m not good at this, Curly. I’m not good at opening up or… or being vulnerable. But I… don’t want to lose you as a friend.”
Curly’s heart clenched at Jimmy’s words. “Jimmy, you could never lose me. I… I care about you, too. And I know you're not used to opening up, but… But I’m here, whenever you're ready.”
Jimmy nodded, his jaw clenched tight as if he was trying to hold back the emotions threatening to spill over. “Okay, okay, I’ll try. I’ll try to be better. To… to be open.”
The two men sat on the couch awkwardly, neither sure what to do next. The crew watched. As the tense moment stretched on, Daisuke couldn’t bear to see his friends so uncomfortable. He stood up, clapping his hands together.
“Alright, enough of this serious stuff. It’s Christmas for crying out loud! We need to do something fun to take our minds off all of this.” He turned to the rest of the crew. “I say we have a little Christmas competition!”
Daisuke went on to list the type of things they could do. As his enthusiasm fizzled out, the crew sat in awkward silence once more. Curly and Jimmy exchanged glances, clearly not wanting to participate. Swansea muttered about that being too much effort.
Anya piped in with a gentle smile. “I have been baking cookies. Why don’t we decorate them together? It can be a more relaxed way to spend time together.”
Daisuke’s face lit up at the suggestion. “Ooh, cookie decorating! That sounds like fun. We can make them look all festive and stuff.”
Anya beamed. “Great! I’ll go get the cookies and the decorating supplies. You can set up the table while I’m gone.”
Curly cleared his throat, looking at Jimmy with a shy smile.
“So… Decorating cookies, huh? I guess it beats arguing with each other.”
Jimmy snorted, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah, I guess it does. Though I make no promises about my decorating skills. I've been known to create some… interesting designs.”
Curly, trying to ease the tension between them, decided to make a joke.
“Well, as long as you don’t try to make them look like... What was it you said you liked again? Oh right, those cartoon horses.” He chuckled, nudging Jimmy playfully. “I mean, I get it; they're cute and all, but we should stick to some more family-friendly themes. Don’t want you popping a boner in front of everybody.”
Jimmy’s eyes flushed bright red at the mention of one of his secret kinks. “What? No! That’s… That’s not…”
Curly’s eyes widened as he realized the implications of his words.
“Oh god, Jimmy. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean too… I didn’t know that was…”
“What’s the matter, Curly?” Jimmy asked, glaring at him, his voice low and angry. You probably like getting fucked in the ass, don’t you? Is that why you're so interested in my kinks?”
Jimmy’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to formulate a response. “No, that’s… I wasn’t… Jimmy I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. It wasn’t my place.”
Jimmy scoffed, turning away from Curly. “Your damn right it wasn’t your place. You don’t know anything about me, and you sure as hell don’t know what I like.”
Curly didn’t respond. He just looked sad. As he calmed down, Jimmy let out a soft sigh. He knew that he made a big deal out of something that didn’t really matter much.
“I’m sorry, Curly. I didn’t mean to snap at you. You didn’t deserve it.” Jimmy’s voice was low and gruff, but there was a note of sincerity in it that couldn’t be denied. “You’re a good man, Curly, and I’m sorry for being such an asshole.”
Curly finally finding his voice, simply nodded. “I’m sorry too, Jimmy. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I just want us to be okay, you know?”
As the awkward moment passed, the crew settled around the table, each grabbing a cookie and the decorating supplies. Anya handed out piping bags filled with colorful icing, and Daisuke rummaged through a box of sprinkles, his eyes wide with childlike wonder.
Jimmy, still a bit embarrassed, sat down next to Curly. He glanced over at Curly, his expression softening. “So, Uh… How do you decorate a cookie anyway? I’m not exactly known for my artistic skills.”
Curly chuckled softly. “Well, there’s no right or wrong way, really. Just let your imagination run wild. Unless you want to make a… special design, of course.”
He winked playfully, and Jimmy rolled his eyes, but there was a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Very funny, captain. I think I’ll stick to basic Christmas designs, though, if you don’t mind.”
As the crew settled into the task at hand, the tension from earlier began to melt away. Swansea grumbled about the mess they were making, Anya and Daisuke chatted animatedly about their Christmas memories while Curly and Jimmy worked side by side, their shoulders occasionally brushing as they reached for the same sprinkles.
It wasn’t the grand romantic gesture that Daisuke hoped for, but it was a start. A small step towards understanding and acceptance, one cookie at a time.
“Hey, Jimmy.” Curly said, his voice was low and playful. “Is… your cookie supposed to be a horse cock?”
“What? No! It’s a candy cane. It’s a red candy cane, just a long candy cane. Blame Anya for making the cookie like this!”
Curly just laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Uh-huh, sure. That’s why you put a slit at the top.”
Jimmy groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Oh god, I can’t believe I let you get me like this. “You’re the worst, Curly.”
But even as he said it, there was a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Curly just grinned, reaching over to ruffle Jimmy’s hair playfully.
“You know you love me, you big softie.”
Jimmy’s face flashed bright red, and he just froze, wondering what to say. In the end, all he could mutter out was. “I know I do.”
As the night wore on and the cookies piled up, the crew found themselves laughing and joking like old friends. The tension from earlier had all but disappeared, replaced by a warm, fuzzy feeling of joy. As the crew settled down, Jimmy found himself cozy next to Curly on the couch. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him. Daisuke bounded over, his eyes fixed on the empty spot next to Jimmy. But in his haste, he misjudged the distance and nearly plopped right on top of Jimmy.
“Hey! I don’t want you on me.” Jimmy exclaimed, scrambling out of the way just in time. “Watch where you’re sitting.”
In his haste to avoid Daisuke’s body from landing on him, Jimmy ended up straddling Curly’s lap, his face mere inches from the captain’s.
“Oh god, sorry, Curly. I didn’t mean to…”
But Curly just smiled up at him, his eyes soft and warm. “It’s okay, Jimmy. I don’t mind.”
The rest of the crew watched the scene unfold with bated breath, unsure of how to react. Swansea cleared his throat, trying to hide a smirk.
“Well, well. Look who’s getting cozy.”
Jimmy just rolled his eyes and climbed off Curly’s lap.
“Very funny, everyone. I was just trying to not get squished by our resident bull in a China shop here.”
When Daisuke realized his plan was failing, he whispered to Anya. “I got a great idea. Let’s put up some mistletoe in the kitchen.”
Anya nodded. “I’ll go grab some from the storage room.
She bounded off, muttering young love under his breath while Curly and Jimmy didn’t notice, too, into their own conversations.
“Where should we put this?” Anya asked, a sprig of mistletoe in her hands.
“How about over the kitchen doorway?” Daisuke suggested.
Anya nodded and put the mistletoe above the doorway, not too noticeable.
Jimmy and Curly weren’t paying attention while Swansea was reading a book. Anya turned to Jimmy and Curly, a sly look on her face. “Hey guys. Could you go and grab some more cookies from the kitchen?”
Jimmy nodded. “Uh, sure, no problem. Just cookies, right?”
Curly nodded, extending his hand to help Jimmy up. They didn’t notice the mistletoe until Daisuke spoke up.
“Hey guys! There’s mistletoe up there, so… You know what that means.”
“Well, this is stupid.” Jimmy muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this, Curly. Mistletoe? Seriously? What are we? High schoolers?”
Curly sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s just a little tradition, Jimmy. It’s not a big deal.”
But Jimmy was on a roll, his annoyance growing with each passing second.
“A tradition for what? For forcing people to do something they don’t want to do? For making them uncomfortable? I don’t need any dumb plant to tell me to kiss somebody.”
Curly’s patience was wearing thin. He took a step closer to Jimmy, his eyes narrowing. “You know, for someone who’s so dead set against the whole thing, you sure are talking a lot of crap.”
Jimmy opened his mouth to retort, but Curly cut him off, his hand coming up to the back of Jimmy’s neck. Before Jimmy could protest, Curly pulled him forward, his lips claiming Jimmy’s in a firm kiss. Jimmy’s eyes widened in shock, his body going rigid for a moment before melting into Curly’s embrace. Curly’s lips moved over Jimmy’s, his tongue teasing the seam of Jimmy’s mouth, coaxing him to open up.
Jimmy resisted for a moment, his pride warring with the growing heat he felt in his stomach. But as Curly’s thumb brushed over his jawline, he found himself submitting, his lips parting to allow Curly's tongue access.
“About bloody time.” Swansea muttered under his breath.
The kiss seemed to last an eternity, the world falling away until it was just Curly and Jimmy, lost in their own little world. When they finally broke apart, they were both breathing heavily, their faces flushed.
Jimmy stumbled back, his face a deep shade of red. He looked around the room, his eyes wide and embarrassed as he realized the crew had been watching.
“Oh my god.” Jimmy muttered. “I can’t believe that just happened.”
Curly, on the other hand, looked rather pleased with himself. He had a small, satisfied smile on his face as he watched Jimmy’s reaction with amusement.
Jimmy turns to him, his eyes narrowing. “You… You did that on purpose, didn’t you? You just wanted to embarrass me in front of everyone.”
Curly just shrugged, his smile widening. “Guilty as charged. But I have to say, it was worth it. You’re pretty cute when you’re all flustered like that.”
Jimmy’s blush deepened, if that was even possible. He looked away, trying to regain his composure. “I am not cute. I am… I am a grown man, and I don’t need to be called cute.”
Curly reached out, tilting Jimmy’s chin up to force him to meet his gaze. “You’re right, you’re not just cute. You’re stubborn and passionate…. And I like you, Jimmy. A lot.”
Jimmy’s breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding in his chest. He searched Curly’s eyes, looking for any sign of deception or mockery but found none. Instead, he saw sincerity and a warmth that made his heart ache in a way that it never had before.
When he spoke again, the biting edge was gone. “I… I like you too, Curly. More than I probably should.”
Curly smiled, his thumb brushing gently over Jimmy’s lower lip. “Well, it’s about time you admitted it. Now, what do you say we get out of here and go somewhere more… Private?”
“Lead the way, Captain.”
Jimmy and Curly made their way to Curly’s private quarters. As they stepped inside, Curly closed the door behind them, shutting out the noise and prying eyes of their crewmates.
“Jimmy.” Curly began, his voice low. “I know things have been complicated between us. I know I haven’t always handled things the way I should have. But I want to do better for you.”
Jimmy listened, his heart swelling. He squeezed Curly’s hands gently. “Curly, you’ve always been a good captain, a good friend. I know I’m the one that caused most of the problems. I know I haven’t always been the easier person to deal with…”
Curly shook his head, silencing Jimmy with a gentle squeeze of his hands. “You don’t have to explain. That’s just a part of who you are, and I care about all of it.” He stepped closer, his forehead coming to rest against Jimmy’s. “I want to understand you better. I want to be there for you. In every way I can. I want to support you, challenge you and hold you when you need to be held.”
Jimmy’s breath caught in his throat. He blinked back the sudden moisture in his eyes, overwhelmed by everything.
“Curly…” He whispered. “I-I don’t know what to say. I’ve never… I mean, I usually don’t let people in like this.”
Curly smiled softly. “And I don’t usually let myself be vulnerable in front of people like this.”
“Curly…” Jimmy said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Are you… Asking me out? Like, do you want me to be your boyfriend?”
Curly blinked, taken aback by the question. He hadn’t really thought that too far ahead, too caught up in the moment and the emotion of the situation. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to gather his thoughts.
“-I don’t know, Jimmy. I mean, I want to be with you. But I’m not sure if that’s… I mean, dating? I’m not really sure what that would look like for us.”
“Jimmy nodded, understanding in his eyes. “I, yeah, I get it. I mean, we’re on a ship in the middle of nowhere with a crew that depends on us. It’s not exactly the most conventional dating situation.”
Curly laughed softly, the sound filled with a mix of nerves and affection. “That’s an understatement. But I don’t know. Maybe we could try? Figure it out as go?”
Jimmy’s face lit up, a genuine smile plastered on his face. “You mean like… Being exclusive but also being there for each other as friends? Are crewmates?”
Curly nodded. “Exactly. We could take things slowly and see how it goes. No pressure, no expectations. Just… us, figuring it out together.”
Jimmy bit his lips, his eyes shining with excitement and nervousness. “I’d like that, Curly. I’d like that a lot.”
Curly’s heart soared, a warmth spreading through his chest that had nothing to do with the ship’s heating system. He reached out, pulling Jimmy into a gentle embrace, holding him close.
“Me too, Jimmy. Me too.”