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The lights dimmed once more as system switched to the night cycle for the next 12 hours before shining them with the power of trillion suns in the morning. Despite that most of the hall lights remained on for the sake of security and not having anyone trip over non existent rocks and tumbling right into the nearest corner splitting their head open.
The sanctuary of medbay was one of the places which remained mostly lit during all cycles. Painful hum of the led lights which was starting to wear on theirs already poor state.
Poor... Could they admit to that in the first place? - That was the question which hung at the back of their head as they jotted another piece of information down.
Looking at the clock was useless in space but regardless it really did calm down your mind which was still panicking about the lack of proper sunlight. Even if quietly. Instead it was bitter blue light of the monitor with countless emails opened and countless more awaiting to be sent and received.
Documents splayed around in a thin blanket - a stark contrast to usual tidiness of the place.
Blue will clean up in the morning, sanitise, order it all in place and get ready for another day of swooning. Not that they didn't appreciate the over-the-top cooperation because of theirs(apparently) attractive features, but it did get to you after another "What?" as a reply to your words.
At least none of the procedures got questioned by the crew - well most of the crew.
Lime was their stubborn engineer making Blue find odd ways to convince them. Which not ethical but needs to be done and it challenges them - their understanding, schedule... hell even procedures! Highly inconvenient but so refreshing.
Sliding the chair closer to the table Blue only further squinted at the letters before them. This lighting wasn't helping much. The led lights were dimmed for their own psyche - as contradicting it was to the protocol to keep them on - always.
In the end it was once again proven that reading from shapes should be a sport but Blue was trailing off now. There was work to be done and no later will do, not when you are the only med staff on the ship filled to the brim with hazards and every 1st coming to bother you for - whatever.
Not bother no that was the wrong word to use.
Mira highly cared.. for their workers. That was even hard to say in your head...
The equipment was behind, some of it malfunctioned, some was plainly unusable at moments - one relied on comms! On comms for gods sake!! It was infuriating but Blue made it work as they put samples into the slots of this miracle of a machine, nearly yawning while doing so.
Another- another? Have they really stayed up that long? Their brain was really losing the sense of time and that was alarming, not as alarming as potential cold on board though.
Sighing heavily Blue stepped away back to the table, the chair squeaking faintly as they looked back to the open files. Well, that will take a while.
_
A loud screech of the vent immediately made Blue jump, simultaneously knocking their head on the lamp they had previously drawn closer. The glasses were back on the nose in a whim, standing up maybe all too quickly for their own good after a brief nap.
"You up late." Lime muttered making Blue swallow their lengthy yap with a gulp leaving them staring at engineers surprising struggle with the vent. Despite that they declined a helping hand quickly pulling themselves up.
Lime's clothes were dirty, dust, snot, oil whatever else and probably the whole periodic table on the overalls alone... Despite this it was - familiar.
Blue forced their legs upright from a slightly hunched position. Instinctively fixing the shirt and the coat as they should be, as if embarassed while their hands ever so slightly shook.
"Lime, did you require anything? Are you hurt? You do not come into the medbay without a purpose." Blue quickly spoke but despite that their voice was hushed, like the metal doors weren't sound proof.
In this light it was hard to capture exact expression of Lime. It was definitely an.. angry one - rather worried than angry if speaking honestly fixated on doctor's hands that one quickly clasped together.
A hurried grab of Blue's arm was like a wake up call -making their body go stiff for a moment. It wasn't graceful, purposeful and thats it but still soft enough to not hurt. Just keep them here where Lime needs them to be and thats right infront of them.
"Rest for the love of all holy! I got no plans in accepting a new - doctor. On this ship if you run yerself into the ground."
Their voice was strung, quiet enough not to rattle their eardrums but not hushed either. No wonder tired themselves, yet still came here, an extra route just to check up on them like they began doing as of recent. More and more frequent till it became a near daily ocurance.
They'd meet, wish each other good night and that's about it. Not counting how Blue may or may not sit infront of the vent waiting in blind hope of catching the engineer for a second.
Despite that a sudden confrontation made their heart sink.
"I'm- Lime, I am* in good condition to continue working. I assure you on that-" Blue began only to be interrupted - being yanked closer to the other. Now he was sure that the grip will leave bruises. Their own speech sounded more like to convince themselves rather than the other as professional picture crumbled rapidly.
"Bullshit! It's like you forget you are also human!"
Lime's fingers secured themselves in the hollows of Blues pronounced bones. Scrunching up an already messy uniform. Tie out of proportion, shirt riled up, coat bit dirty. Bad etiquette terrible even.
"Lime- I appreciate your concert but -" Blue held on tightly onto other's arms. Maybe for distance maybe for security the hold offered with it's tough touch.
"But? Have ya looked in the mirror?" Lime carried on, their other hand digging itself into Blue's left shoulder - the other squeezed their eyes in a brief moment of pain. Though it was just tiredness, a hold like that doesn't hurt a normal person at the very least shouldn't but after so long your brain - it stops working like needed.
Amplifying signals, messing them up all the good stuff.
"I can feel yer bones through clothes." Lime finally muttered easing the hold rubbing the spots faintly, a quiet sorry that was not spoken. Blue's own gaze was long averted, looking anywhere but Lime who was extensively doing the opposite - oh how the tables have turned.
Looking at the samples machine it was flashing red in awaiting for completion, the papers were waiting too still messed from the spontaneous nap their body has forced.
"Have ya eaten anything?" The question was rhetorical just a concerned mutter which was so weird to see. Blue's fingers might truly be thinner than their own pens, muscles still in place just slowly blending with the shape - atrophy. It was normal to a degree but not on such level, looks like stress truly caught onto them and now was eating Blue - their only Doctor - alive.
"I'll get you to yer room."
"My room-?" Blue managed to squeak out. Oh right. The tiny quarters that were pretty much the only private space they get and none was complaining about that. Better than nothing which wasn't unlikely in this company. They were sure they looked crazy, most likely tiny pupils from caffeine(or mania which wasn't good to think about..), messy locs- Terrible just terrible.
Lime didn't anwser instead beginning to drag Blue along without ever letting go. How Lime even figured out which one was a mystery to the other as of now.
"Nononono- I got work to finish. Lime, I truly truly appreciate it but MIRA will send a complaint if it won't be done by tomorrow!" Lime was glaring at them now, hand still firm despite Blue's futile attempts to get it out which proved to be impossible with how strong though effortless it was.
This was beginning to get idiotic.
"MIRA won't get any if ya die of freaking dep-ri-va-tion." The engineer spelled it almost tauntinly if not the spark of genuine concert behind their eyes.
How was it... - eyes are the window to someone's soul?
Blue's face quickly flattened into an excuse of a neutral expression, brows still knitted together, lips quivering even when the brain extensively told them not to do so. Blaring alarms about etiquette and professionalism.
Blaring alarms about Lime.
The harsh lights of the corridor made them flinch as if they just got ambushed. Warm touch led them through the labyrinth of the ship, holding tight and never letting go, slowing down the pace when Blue wavered a bit in the step. All while the corridors stretched and stretched ... till they stopped and well a few tiny letters were an obvious tale tell on the unfortunate soul to which it belonged.
Briefly stepping away Lime let the other closer to the lock pad.
It's been a while since Blue punched in those numbers and the lack of wear confirmed that. The sudden tightness in their chest didn't make this any easier as they entered.
It was tidy as expected, too tidy for anyone to be actively living here. Only the bed slightly stirred up which was the only giveaway about anyone visiting this place.
Lime seemed reluctant on letting their hand go, yet.
"Thank you, Lime. I appreciate it - uh - what are you doing?" A brief brake in usual velvet string of words made their brain short circuit.
Lime successfully slipped off the round mirror off the Blue's head which barely seemed to miss it like the rest of the articles.
"Helping you. Can I?" Lime spoke gruffly but that was from the excessive daily shouting, otherwise it was almost calm.
In proper light they were just as messy as they remember them being the last time. The only difference is that the gloves were gone and stuffed into a side pocket to not contaminate Blue's clothes any further. Any further that they already have with just being next to each other.
Blue only faintly nodded, averting the gaze while the other loosened the tie(putting it on the top of the commode with the mirror) and then moved on to the coat.
Slipping out of it was easy but each brush of other's touch was making their body melt or stiffen up - they couldn't quite decide on which was the right response, yet.
As expected the coat got hung on the back of the chair before Lime turned around with a tiny smile. One to treasure at that.
It was weird to be close like that. Any other crew member would jump at the possibility to even do 1/4 of what Lime had done. But that wouldn't be - genuine not in the way Lime did so. Their moves were soft but casual, not paying particular attention to the fact that it was the doctor each and every crewmember swooned over. Just focused on doing what's right - what feels right.
It didn't look like they particularly had an actual plan..
Blue returned the smile before their fingers weakly reached for the buttons on the shirt which was beginning to annoy even them. Without the coat it felt exposing, like everything was on its way to get them and being in their quarters didn't help much.
Lime quickly turned around on their heel staring somewhere far into the corner while their ears faintly burned.
"I do not mind if you look." They called out faintly making the other look behind with flustered face. It was not like their body was anything unusual as others seemed to treat it. Not a temple or a model type, not even particularly memorable if you don't count the structure which was still fairly forgettable.
"Where's yer pyjamas?" Lime quickly switched the topic, busying themselves to not stare and do something efficient and helpful instead but in response they only received a quiet "oh." A tiny pause strung between them before Blue spoke once more.
"3rd drawer on the left." And their directions were spot on.
One long sleeve shirt and pants, perfect for bit chilly temperature down here in dormitories. Lime quickly set them on the top of the commode as close to Blue as they could manage without getting too close.
Blue's torso was just as lanky as the rest of their body. The ribs faintly poked through, spine wavy with each bone. - it understandably worried Lime but Blue couldn't quite grasp why. That was a sight you get used to at a certain point and it was nothing new to witness in the early morning.
Lime was staring.
Averting their gaze they only received a tiny chuckle and ruffle of the shirt which was starkly a near sweater like material.
Quickly dealing with the pants Blue put all the clothes in respective place for tomorrow, mentally preparing for what's about to come. Again.
A mountain of paperwork they would need to clean right before the whole ship would go into day cycle even if that will require getting up at least an hour earlier.. and all the stuff they didn't have the time to put back..
Lime made them forget about tomorrow, even if briefly. Just bask in that care for a few minutes before their brain sounded the alarms once more
"Thank you, Lime." Blue began, gently taking other's hands to somewhat bring more meaning to brief words of gratitude. They could go on, make a velvety string of poetry to thank their engineer but - that wasn't needed. Not now.
Their brain was too worn out for that anyway.
"I'm not leaving." Was the only thing they spoke not yanking their hands away but staying in one place, slightly grasping them back. Face determined but an option to decline lingered somewhere behind. Lime wasn't the one to force at the end of the day, not Blue at least.
"I watch you." Lime continued looking at how Blue's face slowly melted into something confused, something uncertain and that wasn't the doctor they knew but not the one they'll reject. Never.
Mumbling a gentle "go to bed" (as gentle as they could allow) satisfied Lime carefully sat at the chair next to the bed, making sure not to lie back to not dirty the coat still hanging on the back of it. Queitly watching as Blue settled beneath the covers.
They were dirty from head to toe at the end of the day. Gross even but doing such job it was one of the many sacrifices you had to make. One of them was saying goodbye to the nerve endings in your fingers, apparently.
Lying back down comfortably Blue stared at them, waiting for them to leave or do something - but their engineer remained. Watching to ensure Doctor's safety from gremlins, aliens, everything else and everyone else.
Protect them from themselve and more important forcing to stay horizontal by just being there, resting for once properly.
The main light flicked off and a gentle table light was turned on, away from the bed and just bright enough to navigate the room if needed. It gently reflected off on the metal walls, one singular cap hanging on the hooks by the door while the rest of the items were hidden away somewhere on the shelves.
Speaking of which - they were filled with books, as many as one could reasonably take within the weight limit. Most if not all about medicine raging from the most general to the oddest one out which both freaked them out and fascinated despite the alarms about how this could potentially be used.
Blue themselves fell silent a long time ago, staring at their dear crewmate in the dim lighting. "How unprofessional" was the thought that still lingered in their head bashing them each time even outside of working hours that never quite stopped.
They were on the 24 call at the end of the day, one could barge in and no matter what Blue had to perform their best job.
Breathing in as if before a confession Blue broke the silence.
"There's enough space-"
"I'm dirty like a hog." Lime didn't let Blue finish. Adjusting the position slightly to sit better, leaning forward just a bit.
Awkward silence hung between them before Blue rose to sit down on the bed pushing themselves up towards Lime who was already sprung to "aid" them back in.
"Lime- I don't care. Please." Their hand was quick to hold onto their elbow, holding in place though it wouldn't do much if Lime decided to manhandle Blue. Their fingers faintly dug into the tightly woven blue sweater one wore probably dirtying their own clothes in the process.
Doctor's face was pathetic it was stupid to deny that, sad and desperate for connection a genuine one at last.
Engineer's brows kneaded tightly as if in disbelief - were they trying to steal their soul this way? Their heart? Their brain? Whichever it was.
"This is selfish of me -" the silence stretched thin but Lime didn't let go if anything they held on just a tad tighter, eyes looking at their hands, mulling over this.
Selfish request indeed, breaching any rules of professionalism - anything Blue swore they stood by. Looking away to the side they watched how the lamp painted their shadows on the wall, soft and fuzzy like a dream.
"give me a sec." They whispered pushing away just enough to have the space to at least shrug off the top layer. Unsurprisingly Blue couldn't keep their hands to themselves, helping even if a bit to get off the sweater which he folded tenderly next to their own.
"I can manage myself you 'now." Wide shoulder straps of the overalls were easy to slip off, leaving the grease on Blue's clean fingers as they folded it too not caring for any grime that could get to them. Maybe they will use it to somehow clone them - who knows.
At the embarassed comment Blue only smiled approaching for one last thing - bandana. Lime had it on constantly the same way Blue did with the mirror, no wonder this kind of thing gets used to to the point of forgetting after a while.
Slipping their hands behind - the knot was quickly dealt with, messy grey hair peeking from underneath it laying in odd angles. Lime wasn't even old enough to have a head full of it but guess that comes with being a conspiracy theorist.
"I know." Blue replied a few minutes late, handling the other like they would flee at any wrong movement which was not so far for either of them.
Laying down Lime didn't waste much time hogging the wall and well Blue didn't want to protest much anyway. The awkwardness had eased being replaced by something more soft and familiar, yet it still lingered somewhere in their limbs, mind or soul itself.
Turning to face the other Lime wasted no time with huddling up close to their precious doctor one that nearly got a heart attack from such sudden action. Their heavy arms draped over their own shoulders like a weighted blanket, a warm weighted blanket.
"Dirty" Blue mumbled jokingly tucking their own arms between their bodies, leaning only further in even if the smell of burnt cabels(vaguely reminding of fish..) lingered.
"Warned ya."