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Ar’alani was beyond tired. She sighed silently as she watched Thrawn as he stared at his commanding officer and blushed, everything from his cheeks to the tips of his ears slightly purple.
It wasn’t just the blushing that was absurd, it was the fact Vanto was talking about some kind of art piece and the statistics that went into making it. It was an interesting proposal, one where Vanto claimed to be able to code a painting using the hidden numbers in said painting. It was very impressive, but not so impressive that a newly returned from wild who knows where Thrawn should be blushing about it.
Ar’alani gently kicked Mak’ro in the shin, motioning to Thrawn who was sitting at the other end of the table looking at Vanto. Mak’ro glanced over before turning back to her with a tired look in his eyes.
Ar’alani tried not to be obvious about the staring as she continuously tried to refocus on Vanto only to be drawn away by the weird display of emotion on Thrawn. Absent-mindedly, she wondered if Vanto had actually paused and seen Thrawn’s reaction yet.
Either way she was sick of this, not just the behavior today but the behavior all days. They had grown significantly close since Thrawn’s return and it had not escaped her notice the way they stood unnecessarily close on the bridge while explaining instructions, or sat next to each other in the cafeteria, their seats scooted together as close as possible. Or, worst of all, the way they would get far too excited when talking about something as simple as statistics or physics together.
Thrawn acted like Eli was the most interesting person he’d ever met, and annoyingly, visé versa. She didn’t pretend to understand, but she did understand that there were some unspoken feelings that were making her go insane. It appeared so obvious to everyone but them.
“That’s a very interesting proposal, very well thought out. You always put so much time and effort into projects,” Thrawn praised.
She could hear Mak’ro sigh next to her as Eli’s facial heat increased for the slightest of seconds before he schooled the expression and continued in with another point, now mostly speaking to Thrawn.
Ar’alani and Mak’ro were the first to dismiss themselves from that meeting, walking next to one another down one of the halls of the ship.
“Oh Eli, so intelligent Eli. Well done, please pay attention to me. I need it,” Mak’ro mocked quietly.
She sighed. “Very mature of you,” she said sarcastically. “But yes, he does sound as such. I would not be surprised if Eli did not feel-“
“I forgot my comm,” Mak’ro said and rushed back off to the meeting room, leaving Ar’alani standing there.
She was about to walk off when she heard Mak’ro running to catch back up with her just seconds later. He stared at her with wide eyes, quickly walking further down the hall ahead of her with purpose.
Ar’alani raised an eyebrow and the man coughed awkwardly. “There is something wrong with you today,” she commented.
“They are together,” he got out quickly.
“What are you talking about?” She prodded.
“You know who,” was all he said as he picked up his pace again.
She huffed amusedly. “Did you see something?”
Mak’ro just looked at her slowly. “I will speak to you later, Admiral,” he said before walking off in another direction.
Silently, Ar’alani thanked every god it was not her that saw…who knows what.