After dinner, Damian left the mess hall and made his way hurriedly toward the bridge. His vision tunneled so much he almost didn't see the person bumping into him.
"Oh sh--sorry, Captain."
Damian turned to see who it was. All he needed to see was the thick-rimmed tech glasses that projected a handful of screens at a time. The curly hair and the mussed uniform jacket were just bonuses.
Second Officer Alexander Cobalt.
"No, no, it's fine. Uh, just the person I wanted to see, actually. Are you busy, Mr. Cobalt?"
Alexander readjusted his glasses, two holographic screens flickering back into view. "Oh, uh, I'm currently finishing up preparations for tomorrow, but I should be finished shortly. Why?"
"I--uh. Would you be able to meet me in C-wing in an hour? I have some things relating to tomorrow that I would like to discuss."
"Yes, sir, of course."
Damian nodded, dismissing him. "Good, thank you. I will see you then." He left for the bridge again.
He spent the next hour pouring over the maps again visualizing the scenarios he spent so long coming up with in his study. If the council decided to follow his plan note for note, everything would be okay. At least for the crew of the Josefa. If the Fleet Admiral's threat held any water, they still stood a solid chance, but there was always that possibility...
He tried to shake the thought from his head. Negativity would do nothing at this point. Blind optimism, though--that would be just as destructive.
The hour was up faster than he realized. He was already late by the time he left the bridge. He hurried down the halls and took an elevator to get to C-wing.
Damian found Alexander right where he'd hoped he would find him. He sat on a straight bench, facing a window. A window was an understatement, really. The clear glass was ten feet tall and at least twenty feet long. The glass was crystal clear, making passersby feel as if they were walking through space itself. The view tonight was beautiful as the ship passed by the Heltz's supernova. Bright blue, orange, and purple sloughs filled nearly half the window space. Planet Antifre looked like a grapefruit in the distance. Hundreds of stars filled the rest of the blank area.
Alexander was doing what any normal person would do: staring out the window and enjoying the view.
Damian came in and sat next to him on the bench, careful not to say a word.
The two sat there in silence for a minute, admiring the view before them. It was nice. It was moments like these that reminded Damian that this is what he loved to do. Moments like these made months of deep space travel worth it sometimes.
It was Damian that spoke up first. "Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice."
Alexander almost chuckled at that one. "Of course, Captain. What can I do for you?"
He shook his head. "Just with everything that's going on, I think I just--I mean--everyone needs to confide in someone sometimes, especially in the most difficult moments."
Alexander examined him with soft eyes, holographic screens absent from his glasses. "Thank you for choosing me," he said quietly.
Damian inhaled slowly and sat up. "It's hard to believe that we got all the way here. Five years ago, if you told me we'd be executive officers on this vessel I would've thought you were nuts."
"Not just executive officer," Alexander chimed in. "You, sir, are captain."
He let a laugh slip out. "Yeah." He rubbed his hands together. "Do you remember when we first met?"
The second officer laughed but grimaced at the same time. "Oh yeah. How could I forget? Basic training back on Nova Supre. Back when my ass got totally handed to me."
Damian laughed at that one. "Oh, come on you're not giving yourself enough credit."
"No, no, no. I remember it very clearly. It was during Zero G training, during that obstacle course from hell, remember? You slipped on the slick wall--"
"--and you came in to catch me and were all like 'don't worry, I got your back'--"
"--yeah, and then on the very next obstacle I got freaking bombarded with flying tactile. I had welts on my body for the next three weeks."
Damian bust out laughing. "Oh man, that was great."
"And you've been the one saving my ass ever since."
He shook his head. "No, you've been the one having my back for the past five years."
Alexander scoffed. "If by having your back you mean constantly trailing you in everything and everything for the past five years, then sure."
Damian hesitated.
"But that's good," he quickly clarified. "You deserve it. You're the one who joined this cause because you believed in what we were doing. This was just a final resort for me. I didn't have much going for me back home and this was a way out. You, captain, have hero written in your DNA."
Damian rolled his eyes. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Cobalt."
They both chuckled quietly. After another moment, Damian spoke up again. "Can I tell you something?" he said quietly. "And I want you to keep this to yourself."
"You know I'd take your secrets to the grave, sir."
He opened his mouth to speak, but the words took a while. "I spoke to Admiral Jaxon earlier regarding the plans we sent over today."
"Yeah?"
He nodded. "He said the council approved, but he expressed concern that I put too much effort in ensuring the safety of people and not enough focus on the actual mission."
Alexander frowned. "But if there are no people at the end of it all, then what's the point of the mission?"
Damian wanted to agree, but he could only continue with the story. "I may have spoke out of line about my true feelings on that matter, and he may have voiced a threat of putting us on the front lines tomorrow."
Alexander was quiet for a moment. "That's not your fault, if this is what you're thinking. Admiral Jaxon is only one man. If the council sees its most advantageous to put us front and center of the action, then that is where we deserve to be. None of us will question that."
Damian buried his head in his hands.
"Captain, listen to me. Don't beat yourself up over this one. It was an empty threat. It's not your fault."
"But what if it is?" his voice cracked.
Alexander reached out and put his hand on Damian's shoulder. "I heard what you said to the crew at dinner today. They believe you, you know. They believe in you. I've spoken to the newer crew members before and they will all tell you nobody has cared about them the way you care about them. They fight harder, they try harder because they know that there is someone on this vessel who gives a shit if they make it home alive or not. What you said to Admiral Jaxon is the same thing you said to the crew in that mess hall. If for some reason the worse comes to worst, these people will stand with you without hesitation. Do you understand that?"
Damian nodded. "Thank you."
"Of course, Captain."
He lifted his head. "Could you--can you just call me by my name for right now? I know that sounds stupid, I just--let's just be the best friends we tell people we're not for a minute."
"No, no it's okay. I understand. I totally understand."
They sat in silence for a moment.
"Hey, Alex?" Damian said quietly.
"Yeah?" Alexander answered, barely above a whisper.
"In case something goes wrong tomorrow--"
"--don't say that--"
"--I just need to tell you. Out of all the people floating around in this black void, you know you're the one I care the most about, right? You've been there with me since the start of this journey. No matter how many things changed, different commands, different ships, different crew, you were always there with me."
"Yeah, mostly because we pestered the hell out of high command to keep us together," Alexander chuckled lightheartedly at that one.
Damian didn't shift his tone. "You know I care about you, right?"
Alexander only nodded solemnly.
"And you?"
He spoke softly, barely above a whisper. "Damian, there's never been a moment where I ever considered leaving your side. I--I--at this point, I can't even imagine my life without you in it."
Damian wasn't sure what happened, but suddenly the space between them had greatly diminished. They were face to face, close enough that they could feel each other's breath on the other's faces. The space between them continued to decrease until--
Alexander's lips were soft and warm. They weren't pressed to Damian's, but they were certainly making contact. Just the light touch made Damian's heart swell. He felt like he was in free fall. But in a good way. The best way.
Alexander pulled away and stood up, face flushed red. "Uh, I should--I mean--I'm sure we both have, you know--important things to do. I'm not--I don't mean--I just--"
Damian stood up and reached for his arm. "Alex, wait," he almost whispered. He gently pulled his arm with one hand and reached for Alexander's face with the other. He fastened his fingers around the back of his neck and pressed his lips against his.
Alexander didn't resist. He leaned into it.
They were kissing now. They were really, truly kissing in front of the supernova backdrop.
Damian moved his hands down until they were around Alexander's waist. Alexander's hands snaked up until they were around Damian's face, thumbs resting against his ears. They kissed without any sign of stopping.
Damian came to not long after that.
Alexander must have, too, because the two pulled away at the same time, clutching their heads with the impending headache.
"Fuck," Damian swore. He blindly shuffled until he found the bench and sat down.
Alexander was still holding his head. "Oh my god." He reached his arms out and felt around for the bench. He took a seat next to Damian.
The two didn't talk for a long time. The humming of the spaceship's engine filled the space around them. The stars moved past them slowly. The supernova rotated.
Damian spoke up after what felt like an eternity. "So, space, huh?"
Alexander looked up. "It's the most beautiful thing I've seen, honestly. I don't care how real or fake all of this is, this is the most beautiful thing I think I've ever set eyes on."
Damian nodded. "Yeah, it really is."
"Do you think we're lucky, that we get to see this?"
He nodded again. "I don't doubt it for a second."
The answered seemed to surprise Alexander. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
They were quiet again.
"I kissed you again without asking," Damian spoke up. "Sorry."
Alexander almost laughed. "No, I was totally into that. You're good. I definitely--I wanted that."
A grin played at Damian's lips. "Yeah?"
"Well, y-yeah. Like, as part of the whole backstory, you know? The script said I was into you for a long time. Which is why I kind of acted like I did."
"The script said it, huh?"
"Well, yeah, I--"
The playful grin didn't recede. "Just the script?"
"I--I'm not--are you still on that theory that I'm secretly falling in love with you? Because that's a load of bullshit, Captain."
Damian shrugged. "All evidence to the contrary, Mister Cobalt."
"Excuse me?" Alexander sat up. "Statistically speaking, you have kissed me way more times than I've kissed you."
Damian sat on that one. "Well--I mean, you're right, but I had good reasoning behind each and every one of those."
"And that last one?"
He gave Alexander a hard look. "The script, asshole."
"Uh huh."
"Shut up."
They were quiet again.
"Can I say something weird?" Damian asked.
Alexander looked at him. "That's all you say."
He shot him a side-eye.
"Sorry, go for it."
Damian paused, trying to figure out how to word his statement. "I'm still kind of horny. Like from before."
Alexander exhaled loudly. "Oh fuck dude, same."
Damian sat up. "Yeah?"
Alexander turned toward him. "Yeah."
Damian felt his heart beating against his chest. "Do you wanna--?"
Alexander looked around. "Here?"
Damian looked around. He stood up and took Alexander's hand. "This way." He pulled him up off the bench and toward the window. Between the left wall and the glass was an alcove hidden to passersby. It was just big enough to comfortably fit the two.
They stood there for a second, bodies brushing up against each other. Here it was really just them and outer space on the other side of the glass. They had yet to break eye contact.
"Can I?" Damian asked softly.
Alexander nodded.
Damian reached up and pulled the glasses off Alexander's face. He gingerly folded the arms and slid the pair of glasses into his back pocket. With both hands, he cradled Alexander's face. He leaned down carefully and kissed him.
Alexander kissed back with fervor. A noise echoed in the back of his throat.
That energized Damian. He pushed the other guy's body against the far wall until they were both parallel with the supernova. Their bodies were closer now than they had ever been in the past two weeks of their adventures together.
Alexander accepted, wrapping his arms around Damian's abdomen and hugging him in tighter.
Damian started moving his hands.
They had surpassed kissing. Now they were making out like a couple of teenagers. Whatever frustrations that had built up during their adventures was getting blown off here and now.
Alexander's hands unhooked from Damian's trunk and made their way to his waistline. His fingers traced the edges of Damian's uniform jacket, the material firm but malleable. The tips of his fingers slipped underneath the lining of the jacket and made contact with an undershirt tucked into his pants. He tugged at the shirt just once.
Damian didn't react. His tongue glided across Alexander's lips.
Alexander went on ahead, yanking the undershirt out from Damian's waistband. His hands snaked up until his fingertips brushed up against Damian's skin.
Damian inhaled sharply.
Alexander pressed his thumbs into Damian's hips.
"No, don't worry, people do this all the time. Especially on nights before big battles."
Both Damian and Alexander stopped in their tracks and whipped their heads around to the entrance of the alcove.
A tall female ensign with a long blond ponytail stood there, holding the hand of a shorter crew member.
All four froze.
The two were caught red handed, Alexander's hands under Damian's shirt and Damian's hands firmly located on Alexander's ass.
The blond ensign spoke first. "Oh, uh, Captain Ryker. Officer Cobalt." She saluted. "I--I apologize for--"
Damian put on his best captain voice. "I'm willing to forget this ever happened if you are, Ensign."
She nodded once. "Yes, sir." She hurriedly pulled the other crew member along and vanished out of sight as fast as they came.
Alexander started laughing.
Damian rested the top of his head against the wall next to Alexander's face. "Fuuuuuck," he breathed.
Alexander stroked the hair on the back of Damian's neck. "It's alright, those anti-fraternization rules are really only guidelines anyway. Honestly you could write 'dick too bomb' on the report and they'd give you a pass."
"Whatever," he sighed. "It's not like it matters anyway."
"That's the spirit."
They stood like that for a minute.
For once, it was Alexander that spoke up first. "Did you at least have fun?"
Damian couldn't help but laugh at that one. "Yeah, yeah that was fun." He lifted his head off the wall and moved it in front of Alexander's face. "Thanks ."
Alexander laughed nervously. "Yeah, n-no problem. Happy to help. Now, uh, can I have my glasses back? This is great and all but I can't see for shit."
"Oh, right." Damian pulled the glasses out of his back pocket and handed them to Alexander. He took a couple steps back to put some distance between them.
Alexander put his glasses back on. "Thanks."
Damian nodded. He leaned against the wall parallel to the window and slid down until he was sitting on the floor.
Alexander quietly positioned himself next to him. "What're you thinking about?" he asked softly.
Damian's eyes were narrowed, brows furrowed. "Do you want to keep doing this?"
Alexander turned to look at him. "What, the kissing? I mean, yeah I thought it was pretty nice and I didn't even get a chance to--"
"No, I mean, do you want to keep doing this." He gestured to the space around them. "Jumping around to all these weird places and weird scenarios with people that we sort of, kind of know with no explanation about what's going on? Don't you want to go home?"
Alexander took a second to think about. It. "I don't know. I don't really get it either. I mean, I guess I miss some things from home, but I feel like there are still things to figure out here. Why? What about you?"
Damian shook his head. "I feel like I should want to go home more than I do. Is that weird? I mean, don't get me wrong, I miss my family and friends--like, my real family and friends, but I think I'm kind of having fun doing this. Is that wrong?"
"No. I don't think that's wrong at all. I think I'm kind of having fun, too."
"Really?" He turned to look at Alexander.
"Yeah," he nodded. "I mean, back at the coffee shop when it was just me going through this super traumatic thing I wasn't like a huge fan of it, but after you came along--" he trailed off. "I don't know. It's been nice to go through it with someone else. Even if that person is kind of a fuckboy." He flashed him a teasing grin.
Damian nudged him with his shoulder. "Yeah, well, you're not too bad for a weird ass hipster, either."
"Hey, thanks."
"You're welcome." He slid his hand into Alexander's and laced their fingers together.
"What's that for?"
Damian only shrugged.
They sat there on the floor holding hands for a while. They watched the stars outside pass them by.
"Hey," Alexander spoke up after a while. "Is it just me or is the supernova getting brighter?"
Damian followed Alexander's line of sight. The green in the supernova that was still floating past them was closer to white now. It was a gradual brightening, but a noticeable one nonetheless. He gripped Alexander's hand tightly. "Buckle up, looks like this turn is coming to an end."
The light continued growing brighter until it expanded past the supernova and began filling in the black void of space. It was difficult to look at, but the two didn't move. They only squinted through it all.
The moment before the light completely engulfed them, that split second when the air around them felt heavier than lead, Alexander moved. He reached up and kissed the corner of Damian's lips.
And that's how things ended.