Zelup knew they’d be distracted for hours to come, so he decided to painstakingly braise a cut of bowis loin. It was paired with a delicate ragout made of a fungus that grew on the dark side of one of Vartik’s moons. He’d even managed to find a bottle of wine tucked away on his ship, a dark red that would pair well with the meat. When the meal was finally done, he stuck his head back into the lab.
“Time to take a break,” he said, advancing on the little doll of a doctor when she ignored his call. He put his hands gently on her shoulders and steered her away from the workbench.
“Hey,” she murmured. “I was onto something there.”
“Don’t worry,” he said lightly. “It will all still be there after dinner.”
“Something smells good,” she said when they entered the living quarters. Once again, he pulled out her chair for her, hoping that tonight’s meal would end on more amicable terms.
“I finished sorting the cords,” he said as she dug into her plate with gusto.
“Great,” she said between bites. “I’ve got three more containers you can go through. And then we’ll start on the wire spools.”
Zelup fought back a frown, nodding. “Sure. Anything to help.”
She looked up at him then, her gaze seeming to size him up. “I appreciate what you’re doing,” she said, holding up her full fork. “The food, the organization. Believe me, it all helps.”
“I’m glad,” he said, holding her gaze with his and feeling his heartrate increase. After a moment, she broke the eye contact, a pink blush staining her pale cheeks.
The mood tonight was very different from last night, enough to give him a spark of hope. Perhaps the two of them could have a civil relationship. Maybe even something more.
Dessert was a small cake that erupted with red cream. He couldn’t tell her that its name was the Vartik Volcano. But he could enjoy the little cry of delight she made when she cut into the cake and watched the lava cream spill out.
“Thank you for dinner,” she said when she’d finished. He nodded, grabbed the dishes from the table, and carried them into the kitchen. As he washed, she came in beside him, standing on tiptoes. He bent down to her, curious, and she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. “I’m going to spend a few more hours working. Tomorrow, I’ll show you the other containers.”
It took a moment for Zelup to realize he’d just been dismissed. By then, she was already back in her lab, and he had the dishwasher mostly filled. Letting out a good-natured laugh, he decided to let things go.
They hadn’t fought once today and, in fact, had established a kind of camaraderie between them. He hoped it would carry through to tomorrow.
Her absence from the living quarters provided him a little time to search for the crystal. Although he doubted she would have it stashed outside the lab, it was still worth a look. After poking through all the cabinets and cubbies he could find, he found himself standing in front of her underwear drawer.
Zelup smiled, remembering the lace panties he’d ripped off her body. He still had them tucked under his pillow on his ship. Sliding the door closed, he looked longingly at the bed. The medical unit was far from comfortable, but he’d slept in rougher conditions before. Her bed, however, looked blissful, especially when he imagined his little doll naked and beckoning to him.
Shaking his head to clear it of impure thoughts, Zelup abandoned the search and returned to the laboratory. The doctor didn’t even lift her head when he walked past. At the entry to the storage room, he said, “Goodnight,” but received no response. Dr. Illya was once again buried in her work.
The next few days went much the same. He cooked, she ate. He untangled, she tinkered. He became more and more entranced with her, and she ignored him.
Except at dinner. Tonight, it was pasta accompanied by a soft bread that melted in one’s mouth. He lit a couple candles this time, feeling like they complemented the browned sugar on the tops of tonight’s dessert.
This time, the doctor wandered in without having to be summoned. “Wow,” she breathed, taking in the scene. “You’ve outdone yourself.”
Zelup smiled, pride filling his chest. “Thank you.” He pushed in her chair for her, then seated himself across from her.
As they dug in, her aimed for light conversation. “All the cords are untangled, all the wires re-spooled.”
“My goodness,” she said with a grin. “You work fast.”
He inclined his head toward her. “I think I’m ready to move up to something a little more complex.”
She looked at him as if assessing him once again, then gave a little nod. “Let’s talk about that later,” she said, standing up. He rose too and she motioned him back down. “I have something that might make this a little more special.”
The doctor went into the kitchen and began digging around in one of the cabinets. Pulling a bottle from the depths, she blew the dust off the label. “I’ve been saving this for a while,” she said, bringing it back to the table. “I had hoped to celebrate something momentous. I think this qualifies.”
Zelup’s brows furrowed. “This dinner counts as something momentous?”
The little doll nodded. “Not so much the dinner but the truce between us. It’s held up much longer than I thought possible.”
He let out a laugh and she joined him. Releasing the cork with a touch of her thumb, she poured them each a glass. The sparkling wine was smooth and sweet, and Zelup realized it packed a little bit of a punch.
