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“They're going to try and split us up once we get to Industria.”
“Yeah, I know,” Red started, glancing away. “But I don't want us to not be friends again. Um— Are we friends?
“Well— killing an alien together doesn't fix everything. But, it's a good start.”
Red smiled, leaning over to grab Purple's hand as they did so. “I’m glad I have you.”
Purple coughed, glancing away and standing up. “Well— It's getting pretty late. We should be getting some rest soon, especially after… well, everything.”
“Wait.”
Purple turned around, giving them a confused look.
“Please don't go.”
“What?”
Red took a small pause before continuing. “Well— I’m a little scared. Only a little though. It's not like I just had to kill an otherworldly horror or anything.”
“Yeah, I did too,” Purple deadpanned. “What do you want me to do about it?”
“Just— Please don't go. Not yet.”
“Red, I'm tired. It's late. I want to go to bed.”
“What if you… stayed the night with me?”
“What.”
“Well, think about it!” Red spoke increasingly fast in a poor attempt to hide the nervousness that was creeping up their throat. “It's a win-win, isn't it? You get to go to sleep, and I don't have to be alone!”
Purple took a moment too long to consider their choices. Maybe they were a little anxious about the whole alien thing, but then again, who wouldn't be? Though, they hadn't been on good terms with Red since the reactor meltdown during their years of interning. Hell, this was the closest they had gotten to an actual conversation outside of incessant bickering for years.
“Okay. But you take the floor.”
“It's my room, though.”
“Okay, I'll take the floor. Just don't mention this ever.”
Red stood up, gently grabbing a hold of Purple's hand (which was quickly swatted away, but oh well). The two walked down the dim corridors of the Skeld, both painfully aware of every small sound and out of place shadow. The pair stopped just outside of Red's room. The room itself was surprisingly clean, Purple thought. Red had the standard MIRA-issued bed and desk, though they had decorated it with little scraps from around the ship. Their Captain's Handbook sat on the desk, next to a small table lamp that looked like it should have stopped working years ago. The bed itself was lazily made with pillows littered about a mess of warm blankets.
Red took the initiative to slide onto the mattress, gently patting beside them to gesture Purple to join them.
“Like I said, I'm just going to take the floor,” Purple announced, quickly tearing their gaze away from the bed.
Though, the more they looked at it, the less appealing it looked. With its metal plates, the floor was hard and cold. It shouldn't be that bad to sleep on, especially considering they could steal a blanket from Red or their own room.
The mattress creaked as Red leaned against it. “Purps, are you sure you don't want to just sleep in the same bed? It would be more comfortable.”
“I'm sure. Pass me a blanket, please.”
Purple laid against the metal flooring and did their best to distribute the blanket across their body. It was still chilly, but it was nothing they couldn't handle.
“Ready?” Red asked, gesturing toward the lamp on the nightstand.
“Yeah. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight!” Red chirped, turning off the lights as they did so.
The room was plunged into darkness. Every shadow, every creak seemed so out of place. The impostors were gone, they were safe. Why didn't it feel like it?
The makeshift bed Purple had set up was proving to be ineffective. The cold metal pushed against their side, they had no pillow— This was a lot less bearable than they expected it to be.
Purple sighed, considering their options as they did so. They could ask Red to make some room and join them in the bed, and though it might be a little (really) awkward, it would be warm and comfortable. Or they could suck it up and stay on the floor, which was uncomfortable and cold.
Another creak, likely something from the reactor, was heard outside the doors.
“Red?”
“Yeah?”
“Is it too late to accept that offer to join you?”
“Not at all,” Red chuckled, sliding to one side of the bed. “Bring your blanket though, yeah? I'm cold.”
Purple stood up, feeling the awkwardness in each of their steps as they navigated to the bed. They set down the blanket and carefully slipped under the covers. Red groaned and shifted, carefully wrapping their hands around Purple.
“What are you doing?” Purple asked.
“I'm cold.”
Should they say something? It was really awkward, but they didn't really mind it—it was actually kind of nice. They settled into the warm embrace of their coworker.
“Purple?” Red asked through the darkness.
“Yes?”
“I never said this, but I am really sorry”
“What?”
“Well— the whole thing with the reactor all of those years ago. I know I was in the wrong, taking that hush deal from MIRA. Yet I never apologized.”
“Oh.”
Red continued, pausing momentarily to assess the situation. “I didn't hire you because I wanted you to trust me. I know the MIRA made sure you wouldn't get hired— but you're amazing.”
“How so?”
“Well,” they paused, basking in the silence before spilling out their confession. “You're smart, and you're brave. It was silly of me to not listen to your warnings about the security of the ship. I handled the situation poorly and—”
“Stop.”
“What?”
“Well, yes, you handled that situation poorly, your heart was in the right place. Mostly. I understand that you just wanted to be looked up to and— Well, I should've been less mean to you.”
“What?”
“I was… not very open, to say the least. I saw that you were trying, I just didn't want to accept you back into my life.”
“That was pretty reasonable, though.” Red reasoned.
“The point I'm trying to make is that I'm sorry. For not giving you a chance.”
“I'm sorry about the whole reactor thing. I know an apology won't fix it.”
“...Yeah.”
The two laid in silence, wrapped in each other's warm embraces.
“I really did miss you,” Red whispered.
“Yeah. I… missed you too.”
“I'm glad I have you, Purps. Even if you don't view me the same.”
Purple settled into the comfortable silence. Maybe this wasn't so bad, maybe they could repair this relationship. MIRA might try to split them up, yes, but they could stay friends. They could find a different job, they could move somewhere nice—they were safe.
Red gave Purple a light squeeze. “I'm glad you're giving me another chance.”
“Me too.”
The exhaustion hung over their eyes, sleep slowly taking a grip on their consciousness.
“Purple?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I say something?”
“Go for it.”
“I really do love you.”
Purple sighed, settling a little deeper into the embrace. “...I love you too.”
They felt Red smile against them, pulling them just a little bit closer. The room around them was darkening, and Purple knew it was time to rest. They allowed themselves to slip into a light slumber with the arms of Red embracing