Closure. She supposed completing these reports was supposed to be some sort of closure after all of the events on that ship. A way to put it all behind them.
Beside her, Lee toyed with the band on his left wrist, gifted to each of them to monitor radiation onboard Segura.
“You’re still wearing that?”
“What?” Lee looked up. “Oh, this. Yeah. Guess so.” She couldn’t remember where hers had even ended up, or if she even still had it. Those first couple days back had all been a blur.
Gingerly, he peeled the dark band from his wrist in measured spirals until it rested in his open palm. She didn’t know why, but seeing it lie there limp made her sad.
Lee seemed to harbor a similar attachment. They both studied it, and then, like freeing blades of grass or wish seeds, he tossed the band lightly over towards his desk.
Adjusting his position and using his arms for support, Lee leaned forward, swiping a hand through the glowing files in front of him to close out his holoblock.
“You done?” she asked him.
“I’ll finish it later.”
Shrugging, Kat closed out her own report files, bundling both holoblocks.
The bed sunk a little deeper as Lee readjusted once more, angling his head and upper body back down onto the pillows. She scooted forward to give his legs some room, depositing the holoblocks at the base of the bed, while Lee settled into the mattress, tucking his hands up behind his head.
This had always been friend territory. They’d pushed those lines a little over the years, sure. But they’d always known what that territory encompassed.
But now…
She peered over at Lee. He gazed up at the ceiling with that boyish face of his. Still lost in thought, wherever his brilliant mind had gone.
She knew that face as well as her own. Better. She crushed on every single freckle that spattered across his nose and cheeks. And the body that went with it…
She dug her hands into the blankets at the heat rushing her face once more as she drew her eyes sky high. Would she be so obvious if she buried her face in her pillow right now?
But she drew in another breath, willing her heart to slow.
She didn’t let herself think about it as she eased backwards to let her head rest against his hard stomach. Her ear pressed into the thick commercial fabric of his dark all-terrain suit. They were still friends. But… They could do both, right?
The muscles beneath his suit shifted with his subtle movements as he angled towards her to make her more comfortable. His breathing was steady, lifting her head in smooth arcs and dips, the heartbeat just off from the beat of the music.
This was comfortable.
This was home.
Lee let one of his arms drop, his finger trailing up her arm, the sparks in her blood rising to meet his touch—
She was going to flip this home upside down.
Kat lay there in agony, a red hot, wild sort of thing, uncontrollable and reckless as it burned down her body in wave after wave. Unable to tear herself away. Terrified to make the first move, lest they burn too bright too fast. She clenched her fists around the front of his all-terrain suit as it threatenedto consume her. Beneath her, Lee’s heartbeat picked up, his breaths significantly shorter than before.
She didn’t dare turn her head to look for evidence that he was feeling the same things. This was still so new. They hadn’t even talked about it since Segura. And with all the ship drama heading their way, was he ready for this? Was he ready for her?
Lee’s hyperband buzzed at his wrist and Kat sat up straight.
“Training assignments,” he said somewhat breathlessly as he smashed his lips together, staring very pointedly not at her.
“Right.” She nodded, stealing the moment to flush more air into her system as she also glanced elsewhere. “I assumed we’d get those reinstated eventually.”
She twisted her hands together, her breaths coming in with a shudder as Lee shifted again on the bed. “I need to eat,” she blurted, this time jumping back down off the bed, ignoring the half-filled green juice still on his desk. “Let’s go grab dinner?”
A dozen minutes later, Kat stood with Lee outside the Canteen doors, arms crossed over her chest and feet unbudging, despite their earlier intentions. Of course, saying she wanted to go grab dinner and actually facing the loaded dinner crowd were two separate things entirely.
