| Christina Koch x Reader
It was late. NASA had a clear policy of "No workers inside past midnight." You knew you weren't supposed to be here at this time of night, but you couldn't help it. You had to get this done, you just couldn't bear the thought of having your free time tomorrow stolen from you. That was cruel.
The bright glow of your laptop made you wince. You rubbed your eyes in hopes of waking yourself up. You've had about three cups of coffee and a granola bar since this morning. It wasn't exactly healthy, but what could you do?
The report wasn't going to finish itself.
You leaned back in your chair and glanced at the time.
A yawn escaped before you could stop it. Your shoulders ached, your eyes burned, and every word on your screen was beginning to blur together.
You'd been telling yourself that for the past hour.
The building was silent. Most people had gone home long ago, leaving only the sound of machines and the air conditioning running.
"...Fancy seeing you here,"
Standing in the doorway was Christina, one hand still on the doorknob and her bag slung over her shoulder. She looked as surprised to see you as you were to see her.
You and Christina have been friends for quite some time, you weren't exactly close with her, but you guys shared a few laughs, ate lunch together sometimes, and worked with her a few times.
Somehow, you always find her in places where you went and never failed to engage small talk with you, almost as if she really knows you, as if she's finding ways to see you.
One time, you've seen her hurry to the break room. You were in a meeting that time—and barely a minute in, you were dismissed. you thought of going to the break room for a coffee, and there she was.
It was strange, but maybe you were just assuming things. Maybe she just liked coffee that much.
For a moment, neither of you spoke.
Then her gaze drifted to your computer screen, to the lock, to the stack of papers beside you, then back to you.
"What are you doing here?"
She stepped into the office and shut the door behind her.
Christina paused for a moment before speaking.
"I saw the light under your door."
Christina looked around the office before her eyes stopped on the empty coffee cups crowding your desk.
Then the crumpled granola bar wrapper.
"How many times have you been doing this?"
"I don't know what you're talking about—"
She completely dodged your question.
"That's a very broad question."
"You know I can report this, right?
"Wait— You can't rat me out!"
You groaned and dropped your head onto the desk, regretting the choices you've done tonight.
Then Christina spoke again.
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, the kind that never meant anything good.
"You can run errands for me."
You blinked, is she serious?
"Are you seriously blackmailing me...?"
"I'd say it's more of a favor."
You stared at her, waiting for her to say it's all a joke and she's really just messing with you and that she'll leave you alone and go home.
"Lunch runs, coffee, and maybe accompany me too."
She laughed, actually laughed.
"One phone call." She held her phone up as a threat.
"Okay-! I'll do whatever you want,"
"Perfect. I'm looking forward to it."
You left home early for a reason. Originally, you'd be out the house at 6:45 and get to your workplace at around 7:15. Now, It wasn't. In a span of an hour, Christina has made you get her coffee at the cafe she always visits, bring her pastry, get her a new stack of A4 paper because she recently ran out, and question your whole existence.
You were a mess, not a total mess, but enough to get a few side comments from people. You balanced a stack of papers beneath your arm while holding her coffee in your other hand.
You stared at her office door, how would you be able to knock? With your foot? maybe. But before you could do so, the door swings open, revealing Jeremy.
"Oh- Oh god-" You stumbled back, somehow managing to balance everything you were holding.
"Oh- I'm sorry-" Jeremy put his hands up, backing away to let you enter.
You gave him a sheepish smile before stepping inside.
Christina turned her head, holding a tablet in her hand. She was wearing her usual, A mustard yellow jacket, a black nasa shirt underneath, and some trousers.
Jeremy turned, raising a brow.
You glared at Christina for a moment before placing her things on her desk.
You were about to walk away, when suddenly she called out to you.
"What did we talk about?"
You opened your mouth, then closed it. Without a word, you approached her. She pats the chair beside her, slowly sipping her coffee.
Victor and Reid piped in beside Christina, their wheeled chairs gliding across the floor.
"You have an assistant?" Victor asked.
"Since when?" Reid asked.
Then, they turned to you.
No. Don't tell them "Oh, I decided to break the rules and stayed late, I've been doing it for so long and now Christina is blackmailing me, so I'll have to do what she says or I get reported and probably lose my job.".
"I uh...I volunteered. Yeah, volunteered."
You looked at Christina, she was trying not to laugh, you see it.
"...Yeah. I mean, it's an honor...to be her assistant."
They both shared a look, then nodded and went back to whatever they were doing.
Christina's lips formed into a straight line, her hands typing away, trying not to look guilty.
"...You're enjoying this."
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A few weeks in, you were beat. You genuinely felt like Andy Sachs right now.
At week one, she made you eat with her at lunch, print some things for her, get her coffee, and accompany her when you were free.
Week two, you've ordered lunch for her and her team, get her coffee, and remind her for the things she has planned for the day.
Week three, you don't know anymore.
Week four, you were cracking.
Week five. During lunch, she said something unexpected.
"I like having you around,"
"I like having you around."
You stopped, then looked right at her.
Her breath hitched, she had stopped eating. Instead, she was looking at you.
You start noticing everything, she was too close, your shoulder touching hers, you could hear her breathing.
"Y'know, this was never about blackmailing."
You blinked, letting the words linger.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking, and..."
She relaxed her shoulders, then looked at her tablet but never really acknowledged it.
"This was the best excuse I've ever come up with."
"Yeah. To see you all the time."
You stared at her, like she just revealed a life changing secret, except it really was.
"This has to be one of your worst ideas yet,"
She laughed, her gaze drifting back to you.
For a moment, she just looked at you. The room was silent, but it didn't feel uncomfortable.
She leaned closer, her hand cupping your cheek. Her hand slipped under your chin, tilting your head up, her lips close to yours.
Then, closer. There was enough time to pull away. Enough time to change the subject, laugh it off, do anything else.
Slowly, carefully, she leaned in.
Your eyes fluttered shut, the kiss was soft—hesitant at first, like neither of you wanted to break the moment.
When you both finally pulled apart, you two stayed close, foreheads nearly touching.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."
You let out a breath, almost like a laugh.
"Oh? That's all you have to say?"
"My brain stopped functioning."
Maybe being ordered around wasn't so bad,
You were her assistant, after all.
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