4.) “I’m flirting with you”
prax wanders down to engineering carrying a bowl of protein cubes and rice covered in warm garlic sauce. he’s only been here once before, but it’s easy to find his way around. the roci is small, and the sound of hammering echos through the narrow metal passages. prax follows it. he comes to a cramped, empty room, where a metal plate has been lifted from the floor and set on its side. amos is sitting in the hollow underneath. his hammering pauses as prax comes close.
“that you, doc?” amos calls.
“you got the quietest footsteps of anyone on this ship.”
prax peers into the hole. amos is kneeling by an exposed pipe, a toolbox at his feet. he looks up and grins.
“holden asked me to bring you dinner,” prax says. “he had leftovers.”
“holden, huh?” amos snorts. “he’s just trying to show me up, ‘cause the last time I made dinner, the protein was dry and the veg paste had crunchy bits in it.”
prax suppresses a grimace. he kneels down to pass the bowl to amos.
“you gonna keep me company?” amos asks.
“come on, climb down the edge, here.”
prax hops down into the hole in the floor. he sits on a sturdy ledge and looks around at the piping and wires running through the walls. there’s not much space, but it’s not claustrophobic. it feels secure–like a cocoon.
“alright,” amos says. “I’ll give it to holden–this is actually pretty decent.” he takes a large bite of protein and mixes the rice around with his fork. “you get any?”
“no, thank you. I’m full.”
amos smiles. he eats quietly, as prax tries to quell the nervousness in his stomach. it’s unusual–he doesn’t often get shy. he looks up at amos, noticing a smudge of grease blending into the stubble on his cheek. he quickly looks away.
“what are you working on?” he asks.
amos swallows his food, then answers in a way that makes sense, even though prax doesn’t know the first thing about mechanics. amos points out different parts of the ship, explaining where each pipe leads, and what each set of wires is connected to. prax keeps asking questions. he likes how passionate amos gets, how he runs a hand through his hair while he’s thinking. he watches as amos takes his last bite of dinner and sets his bowl in front of him on the floor.
“you must be very good at this,” prax says. “normally a ship this size would have a couple of mechanics, wouldn’t it?”
amos shrugs. “the roci’s in pretty good shape. she doesn’t really give us trouble unless holden makes her do something stupid.”
prax smiles and looks down at his feet.
“you know,” amos says. “if you’re interested in this stuff, I’d be happy to teach you the basics. I can usually handle her myself, but it’d be good to have some help–”
“oh, no, no.” prax shakes his head. “I’m not really that interested. I’m just flirting with you.”
there’s a beat of silence, then amos bursts out laughing.
“wow, doc–I didn’t expect that!”
“it’s not unwelcome.” amos gives a warm smile. “just so you know.”
prax smiles back. the butterflies have returned to his stomach.
“maybe when you’re done in here,” he says. “we could have coffee in the galley.”
“yeah, sure! gimme another hour or so.”
prax nods. he picks up amos’s empty bowl and stands to leave. amos shows him where to step as he climbs up onto the deck.
“see you in a bit,” amos says. he winks, then disappears back into the ship. prax bites his lip. he needs to stop smiling before he comes across the rest of the crew.