Work Text:
͏ ͏Purple sifts through the cameras, mindlessly clicking. They aren't really looking, their mind elsewhere from the simple task, but they give each room a glance before clicking to the next. The cameras are all awful; not recording, being in black and white, not having any sound, and the positions they're in are less than ideal. Sighing, they take a moment to stretch, the sigh turning into a yawn. Glancing at their makeshift “bed” - a very ratty and holey blanket on top of a thin and uncomfortable cot from Medbay - before quickly looking away. They can't sleep, not with a murderer onboard. They're in charge of watching cams, and clearly they're the only one who cares.
͏ ͏Going back to the clicking, they let their mind wander. Not wandering far, their first thought is about White. They weren't a huge fan of them, since they're the reason any of them are even in this mess, but nobody on the ship deserved that. The scene replays in their mind despite attempting to block it out. White stepping through the doors, gurgling, clutching their throat. A thin line of red coming from their mouth as they made those awful noises. Then, as quickly as they appeared, they fell over, their head disconnecting and rolling a foot or so away, blood suddenly gushing.
͏ ͏Purple shudders at the memory, putting their hand on their mouth to keep from vomiting. After a moment they shake themself lightly, focusing back on cams. They try to put all of their attention onto cams, trying to block out the awful memory that keeps replaying. They need to stay here, on cams, watching. They can't let another person die. There isn't time for anything but keeping watch. Nobody else can be trusted with it, they clearly don't care enough, they don't even remember the faulty cameras!
͏ ͏After a few minutes of keeping tabs on cams, Purple frowns. Their vision is getting kind of blurry, their eyes trying to close. They rub at them, admittedly a bit harder than needed, but their eyes still stubbornly try to close. They can't afford to sleep. No matter what Red says, something is going on, and they need to keep track of everything, since Red can't be trusted. For anything.
͏ ͏The sleepiness lets their mind wander to a place they've tried to stay away from. The murderer could be anyone, really, there isn't anyone they can trust. White wasn't the most loved crewmate, but they can't think of anyone who would want to kill them. Their mind circles back to the one person they've been trying so hard to keep out from both their mind and space. Red. Could it be Red? They want to trust them, that they wouldn't do this, but really, everything that's happened has just proven that they just cannot trust Red. Nothing good has ever come of it. Even this pity job they got them has just made everything worse.
͏ ͏ Letting their thoughts take over, absentmindedly clicking through the cams, their eyes start to close more and more, the effort of opening them getting harder and harder. They barely notice, so absorbed in their thoughts and fears, barely noticing as their head droops farther and farther until eventually it lays on the desk, their eyes fully closed, their breathing evening out. Their hand still rests on the mouse, but the screen stays stuck in place, paused at a now empty Navigation.
͏ ͏Red has been, though they wouldn't admit it - not even to themself - not the best Captain. A murder is one thing. It's just an accident, really, people can split in half whenever and it's okay and there is absolutely zero need to alert Mira HQ at all because really it's no biggie!! It's not that it would reflect poorly on their abilities, which could cost them their job or anything. No siree. They quickly shake themself out of the train of thoughts, looking down at their hands. Hands that have let people die - Nope! All an accident; Blue will be able to confirm their death was just a silly work accident that won't happen again so it'll just be White! So it's all okay!
͏ ͏They quickly stand from their seat, not letting themself dwell any longer, and bang their knee on the steering wheel. Cursing, they rub their knee, but it at least served as a distraction. After a moment of rubbing their knee, making a show of it knowing the cameras are on (not hoping for any concern from anyone in particular! or at all!), they hesitantly put their leg on the ground, testing if it’s okay to walk on. It doesn't hurt too badly, but they let themself have a slight limp (again for no reason!!) while they walk out of Navigation.
͏ ͏Wandering around the ship aimlessly, no particular destination in mind (at all!), they check in on the crew. Everyone seems to be asleep, sleeping in groups together scattered around the ship. Red wonders how long it will last but immediately stops the thoughts, giving themself a slight slap to the cheek. They're a good Captain and it was just an accident so no biggie really at all! They keep walking, taking count of the crew like a good Captain would, which obviously they are.
͏ ͏While making their rounds, they hesitate once they finally Security. Purple hasn't seemed the most.. fond of them, but surely it's just something random and absolutely nothing to do with anything Red could have possibly done at all so really why are they hesitating!! They laugh nervously before quickly stopping, putting on a Captainly face and opening the Security door.
͏ ͏”Heeyyy, Purps -” They stop themselves upon seeing Purple slumped over on their desk, a flash of panic going through them. They quickly go over to them, trying to be quiet, and hesitate. Pulling out their Captain’s Book, they quickly flip through the pages until they find the one they're looking for - how to check someone's pulse. They quickly skim through the (very dumbed down and large) text, nodding as they do. They carefully take Purple's hand from off the mouse and turn their arm to hold it comfortably in theirs, checking their pulse. It takes a worrying moment, but they find it, their heart beating evenly.
͏ ͏Red sighs in relief, still gently holding their arm. They carefully put their arm down in a comfortable spot and notice that they're only in their thin shirt. They look down at their own shirt and jacket, a big leather jacket with fluff around the top, and slip it off, covering Purple with it. They stir, but don't wake up, and Red smiles. “Sleep well, Purps.” Reaching their hand out to pat them but stopping right before they touch their head, realizing it might wake them. Still proud of themself for doing something good, they congratulate themself and finish off their rounds before going back to Nav and laying down on their cot, falling asleep instantly.
͏ ͏They wake up to an unfamiliar weight on them, jolting up and flinging their chair back, frantically feeling for their hand gun, sputtering half threats. After a moment of the panic they take in their surroundings, realizing no one was there. What is there, though, is a very familiar red jacket.
͏ ͏Storming into Navigation, Purple immediately starts ranting to Red, who wakes up instantly, sitting up wearily. “Wuhuh?” they sputter, looking up at Purple holding their jacket, still yelling. Red cuts them off, waving their hand sleepily. “It's okay, Purps, I just saw you were asleep and seemed soo cold.. All just part of my Captainly duties!” They say it in an almost condescending tone, and Purple immediately starts fuming.
͏ ͏”You - You not only let me stay sleeping, but you further your dumb pity act towards me with this dumb jacket -” they throw it at them, and it falls to the ground before Red can catch it, “- and claim it's all part of your ‘Captainly Duties,’ as if you can't just do something nice for once, or even just think for yourself!! Because surely that book,” They say the word with venom in their voice, and Red looks a bit taken a back, “told you to do it! I see you looking at it all the time, I'm not stupid, Red. I don't know what's in it, but if it's from Mira, it can't be anything good.” They take a deep breath, having started to lose it from the ranting, before glaring at them. “I know you don't care about this crew, but I do, okay? Don't do your stupid act with me, I know you, Red. Just leave me be, and keep your dumb jacket to yourself.” They start to walk off, Red trying to get out from their blanket to stop them, but Purple ignores them.
͏ ͏“Purps, wait, please -” They start to call, and Purple stops, but only for a moment, turning towards them.
͏ ͏“Don't ‘Purps’ me, okay? Just leave me alone, Redsie.” They spit the nickname out like it hurts to say, and stalk off before Red can reply. It doesn't matter though - Red just sits there, staring at them walk away. Hoping they'll come back and they can go back to what they were. Purps and Redsie, best friends forever. They rub their arm guiltily, but stop. If Purple is going to act like this, fine. It's not like they care anyways, they're fine without them, they have this whole crew! Their own crew that loves them and looks up to them and sees them as what they are: a competent Captain.
͏ ͏They grab their jacket off the floor, putting it on and straightening it, then themself. They're the Captain, they shouldn't - and don't - care about some random crewmate. They'll run this ship right; who cares if Purple is too stuck in the past to see them now.
͏ ͏They move to the front seat, trying to look as professional as they can, letting one final thought about Purple through before closing them off in their mind. They have more important things to worry agout, no matter how much this hurts them, no matter how much they miss Purple. They have a mission to do.