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Lime stares up at Blue through the vent.
"I'll be the first to admit that the medical community has a lot to apologise for," Blue says, kneeling down. "I'm sorry, Lime."
Lime glances away, grumbling to themself. They had plenty of theories but also plenty of bad medical experiences under MIRA. Yet, here Blue was, apologising and speaking gently on behalf of the medical community. There was something so soothing about their voice that made Lime feel less hesitant. Enough to consider getting the scan done.
When Lime does not respond, they feel warm hands take the sides of their body. Blue lifts them out of the vent and into the medical room. Lime's visor widens, but they don't protest to the contact.
"Lime, I know you have your personal beliefs," Blue explains, then gives Lime a reassuring smile. "But this is bigger than you or me, and I really need a scan of every crewmate."
Lime's visor widens again, solely focusing on Blue as someone finally acknowledges their beliefs. No other crewmate had ever acknowledged their beliefs. They all called them crazy behind their back, or would give each other weird glances when they would speak up about the very real threats of the world. About MIRA. And here Blue was, a medical official and a representative of MIRA healthcare, who was willing to respect their views even as they had to do their MIRA assigned job. Lime felt something in their chest clench. They had never felt so seen. They had never felt so lost for words, even though they had so much to speak up about with their theories against MIRA.
"I know it's hard to open your heart to trust in this crazy mixed up world," Blue leans in, their voice determined yet understanding. "Just this once… can you trust me?"
Lime glances away again, unable to meet Blue's visor anymore. Unable to bear how nice their hands felt. Maybe they could trust Blue. Just this once. Maybe Blue did not like MIRA, either. Because if they were completely on MIRA's side they would not try to be this understanding. Maybe they needed to be protected from MIRA.
"Fine! Swoon, swoon, swoon!" Lime agrees, pulling away. They feel the side of their face and for some reason it was warm. It was never warm, but now it was when they interacted with Blue. Raising a shaky finger, they point at the doctor. "But I'm watching you shred my scans when you're finished."
"We'll do it together," Blue insists and smiles, taking Lime's accusatory hand that points at them. Lime glances at their hands together, feeling how Blue's fingers intertwine with theirs, and feels their face grow even warmer. They pull away and go to stand on the scanner.
"Can you please make it quick?" Lime asks, shifting on the machine.
"Of course," Blue answers, operating the machine.
Blue watches Lime and nearly forgets to start the scanning process, somehow slipping out of the routine that they had been practicing for a long time now. They frown and start the scanning process again, knowing that Lime was not feeling comfortable here. For some reason, their resistance to the whole practice of medicine intrigued them. People who always resisted vaccines and medicine were never favourable to help in the medical community, but sometimes they were just misunderstood. That's what Blue thought of Lime. Because the more Blue watched Lime, the more they realised that Lime had every right to be suspicious of what MIRA was up to. Maybe they were just another individual, like them, who was into researching science and aspects of society. Blue just practiced medicine and knew science, whilst Lime took a slightly more alternative approach. That wasn't something to entirely dismiss or disrespect.
And the other thing about their resistance was that they did not seem entirely swayed by their looks. Everybody else on the Skeld always stared. Always had something to say. But Lime did not seem to completely care about Blue's appearance. They were hesitant and cautious, unable to meet their visor or really admit to feeling anything for them. This was something Blue was appreciating more than they thought they would.
"Okay," Blue says when the scan finally prints, lifting it up to view. "I just need to look at this and then we can shred it."
Lime nods and stands to the side, fidgeting with their hands. Blue glances down at the scan, studying Lime's physicality and body. One strong bone on the inside. Not an imposter. Blue turns back to Lime, offering the scan.
"You're letting me look at it?" Lime asks, slowly accepting the scan.
"Yes, of course," Blue tilts their head. "Why wouldn't I?"
"My past doctors haven't always let me look at them… not that I go often," Lime mutters, hesitantly glancing between Blue and the scan they had actually handed over. Lime studies the scan, seeing that everything was normal and that nothing would be sent over to MIRA and their power hungry leaders. It would be shredded within a few minutes.
"Well, you should always have the right to look at your medical records," Blue's voice grows concerned. "Which doctors have you been seeing? When we get back to Industria, if things work out, I should be your doctor."
"You? You—you want to be my doctor?" Lime mutters, nearly dropping their scan.
"Yes," Blue nods. "Why wouldn't I want to be?"
"Why would you offer that?" Lime mutters again, then squints. "That's too good to be true."
"No, it's not," Blue shakes their head, then walks over to the scanner. "You need a doctor you can trust. Here, let's shred that scan. You're completely healthy."
"Even though I can go through the vents?" Lime asks, approaching with the scan.
"Squish bone syndrome," Blue answers, then smiles. "In fact, it's a helpful condition."
"You think it makes me helpful?" Lime's visor widens.
"Yes," Blue nods.
"You—you're doing something to me," Lime drops the scan and raises an accusatory finger. "You're making me feel sick. My insides feel weird. My face is warm. What did you do to me? Is this MIRA trying to do something to me?"
"You feel sick?" Blue grows confused, as their scan was practically flawless.
"Yes, it's too hot," Lime clenches their fists. They had completely forgotten about the scans now.
"Can I do another medical examination on you?" Blue asks, motioning a hand to the bed. "I'll be gentle, I promise."
"Fine…" Lime agrees after a small while. They sit on the end of the bed and furrow their brow, still confused as to what they were feeling and why it got worse when Blue got closer to them.
"Tell me, what's wrong?" Blue asks, sitting on the bed. Maybe if they were more casual about it, Lime would not feel so stressed.
"Everything I mentioned… but it's not a headache?" Lime explains, clutching their face.
Blue leans in and whispers to them. "I promise that even though we work for MIRA, I don't agree with everything they do and that they are not doing anything to you right now. I won't let them."
"It's getting worse," Lime's face reddens and they look away, unable to bear how gentle Blue's visor looked at them.
"Can I examine you?" Blue asks. "I'll need to touch you."
"Okay," Lime folds their arms.
"Okay," Blue repeats, then slowly presses a hand to the side of Lime's face. They feel around, determining what could possibly cause Lime so much discomfort. Then they slowly press their hand to Lime's forehead. When Lime's visor meets theirs and looks away, Blue realises that Lime was not in fact suffering from a fever—but suffering from them. Blue was the cause of Lime's discomfort. Nothing physical, but emotional.
Blue steps back and feels warmth spread across their face. They had never seen romantic feelings cause someone this much confusion. They had never seen someone so hesitant of falling in love with them. Even though hesitance in the romantic sense might be perceived as a negative thing, Blue never felt more fascinated by their patient.
"You intrigue me," Blue gazes at Lime.
"What?" Lime turns back to them, squinting in confusion. "Am I sick?"
"N—No," Blue shakes their head, stuttering a little. "You might be feeling unwell—but it's not in a medical way."
"Then what is it?" Lime clutches their face in a panic.
"Nothing," Blue quickly approaches and takes their hand. "It's nothing bad… nothing to worry about. Unless you do want to worry about it?" Blue sighs and decides they may as well explain it to Lime, because it was wrong to withhold information from a patient. "What you are feeling right now is purely emotional and can have physical effects. It can make the subject feel weird when they're with another… it's what someone feels when they have affection for another… but I can't exactly speak about all of that because MIRA has banned any romantic relationships between crew mates on the Skeld…"
Lime's visor squints at Blue as they suddenly stumble over their words, over explain things and somehow also avoid topics. This was unlike Blue, who always had a way with words and knew how to speak to anyone. But then their visor widens when they realise that Blue was talking about romantic affection… and that they could be feeling exactly that and not actually suffering from any medical condition. And the more Lime stared at Blue with their awkward speech and motions, the more they realised that Blue was also feeling it.
"Are you feeling that way too?" Lime stares at Blue.
"I…" Blue hesitates. "Maybe… but MIRA won't like—"
"Don't worry about MIRA," Lime answers, shifting from the bed and approaching Blue. They take their hand, determined. "I won't let MIRA do anything to you. I'll use my holy water gun to protect you. You're the only one on this ship that I can trust, Blue."
"Oh, I am?" Blue blinks, glancing down at their hands.
"Yes," Lime pulls them closer, then presses another hand to the side of their face. "And whatever this thing is between us I know it's real now. And I won't let some stickler like Red come and separate us."
"Okay…" Blue nods, feeling their own face grow warm.
"Come and visit me in my vents later," Lime's visor gazes at them. "I could show you my holy water gun and I could tell you all about my theories."
"I'd love to hear about your theories, Lime," Blue softly answers, squeezing their hand.
"Well, it's a date," Lime winks at Blue and leaves the medical bay. "I'll come get you later."
"Swoon," Blue mutters when the door closes.