Light Bulb Moment (Masada x reader Oneshot)
Summary: After waking up one evening (or rather, you think it to be since it’s kind of hard to judge time on Masada’s spaceship and all), in your room, you notice it to be pitch black and thus come to the conclusion that the lightbulb in your room has burned out. So then begins the journey of you trying to track down your boyfriend to find a replacement.
*If you would like to see my notes on this, here’s a link to the AO3 version: https://archiveofourown.org/works/34400566/chapters/204660056
When most people expect to wake up in their bedrooms, unless they had turned off their lights prior to sleep, they aren't worried about being in total darkness. You - an outlier - were not one for total darkness, and as such, were not exactly thrilled waking up to it on an indiscernible day at an equally indiscernible time (living on a spaceship tended to make time irrelevant, you surmised).
Don't panic...what time is it...? My phone...I need to check my phone...
Trying not freak out more so then you already were, you couldn't help the sigh of relief that left you as you gazed at the brick made of plastic and glass in your hand: okay, so it's night - that's good to know.
Turning your phone's flashlight on for aid, you quietly slipped into the slippers you had by your bed and began to carefully make your way to your bedroom door - looks like you needed a new light bulb, and you knew just the man to help you out: your boyfriend, Masada.
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Truthfully, if you were being honest with yourself, you had lost track of just how long you'd been in the dreamworld - let alone had known Masada prior to agreeing to stay on his ship as a crew member. However, as far as all that was concerned, you didn't really care.
The man, whose full name was a lot longer than that but who assured you calling him by that moniker was a - okay, was a gentleman through and through, and when compared to any other relationships you had back on Earth (romantic or otherwise), you had no problems committing yourself to the dreamworld whatsoever if it meant spending every day here on Masada's ship.
As such, as you made your way over to where he usually hung around during most hours of the day due in part to the ship's auto piloting system making it to where you two were free to do as you pleased other than general maintenance of the ship most days, you couldn't help the slight frown appearing on your face: he wasn't at his organ...
Okay...relax...I'm sure he's just - busy - with something else...I should see if he left a note...and go from there...
Mind made up on this matter, it was only after a careful inspection of your boyfriend's instrument that you breathed a small sigh of relief.
"There we are! Looks like he's getting ready to make dinner for tonight, I should see if he needs help! Then...I can ask him for a new light for my room..."
Stepping away from the note, you couldn't help the yawn that left your mouth as you made your way to the mess - hall; although he himself did not need to eat in the same way you yourself did being human and all, Masada was always kind enough to make sure the kitchen and pantry were well stocked should you be hungry and - after you had shown him your own cooking skills not long ago - had wanted to try cooking in a similar fashion~ As such, for someone not really one for human food himself, you'd be lying if you said the man wasn't a damn good cook, and with this in mind, you felt a small smile tugging at the corner of your mouth as you walked into the kitchen only to be greeted with the smell of - well - something delicious (even though you couldn't quite place just what the smell was, mind you).
However, while walking into a room full of tasty food may have been a spot of good luck, the smile you had felt come to you near instantly vanished as you unfortunately noticed a striking detail: while there was a plate of food on the dining room table, Masada himself wasn't here...
Wonderful.
Huh...I guess I must've just...missed him...? It's still warm in here...and this food looks fresh so...he can't be that far from here...hopefully? In that case, should I wait and see for him to come back or...did he already have food and is busy somewhere else - wait a minute, is that another note on the counter for me...?
Eyeing the plate full of food one more time before making your way over to the counter in question, you wearily picked up the little sticky note and read it - your boyfriend's soft, kind words easing the nerves you felt the longer you had yet to see him after waking up the way you had earlier:
Hello darling, I hope you enjoy your meal! I found a new recipe in that cookbook you gave me for my birthday not too long ago, and thought it'd be fun to have you try it since I don't recall you mentioning trying such a dish back in your own world. Unfortunately, I can't dine with you this evening - there's been quite a few outages across different levels of the ship, and although I thought it to be an electrical problem at first, it seems I just need to replace a few light bulbs here and there. As such, after you're done with your meal, if you would like to help me re - light the ship as it were, I would welcome your company! Otherwise, please feel free to turn in for the evening and I will take care of the matters at hand - as always, darling, you have my heart - Seccom Masada♡
"Cool…so in that case, I should check the ship's directory out and I can...find him that way? I know he told me if we have power outages in places that...the little lights representing the rooms will turn black...if there's a problem so, after dinner, I'll see if I can spot him…? It shouldn’t be too bad…I mean it’s not like I’ll be in total darkness for very long, alone that is…although it's a shame I can't eat with him though...he looks like he outdid himself tonight..."
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“Hello, Masada! Are you nearby? Well, guess that’s another location I can cross off the list, I suppose…still…there aren’t that many places left on the map where he could be…” trailing off to yourself as you marked off the place in question on the map you had pulled up on the tablet in your hand (a tool you’d been given by Masada himself which, in addition to displaying a map of the ship in its entirety also had other functions like submitting reports about broken or missing items, letting Masada know if he needed to order something important that was out of stock, letting the both of you know if there was a problem with the ship’s navigation, etc.), you couldn’t help the small sigh that left you as you toggled a different location to start investigating.
To be fair on Masada’s part, you knew he could be quite the busy man some days, so you weren’t necessarily upset because – technically the captain of the ship – you knew he was just doing his job trying to make sure it ran smoothly/was safe for the both of you.
Indeed, to think he was unavailable when he was clearly doing what was necessary was childish on your part…
…and yet…
Having not seen him all day…after waking up the way you had…childish though you were willing to admit…hurt your heart nonetheless if not because of the feelings of isolation and loneliness creeping in, than because you really just – wanted to see your boyfriend…
…so he could comfort you…tell you everything would be okay…and most importantly…that maybe you were brave for even trying to find him after having to deal with a personal fear of yours…as soon as you had woken up…
It honestly sucked being an adult and still being afraid of the dark – to a near crippling degree nonetheless; back on Earth, despite being well into your 20s, you were unable to fall asleep unless you had some kind of light or noise to keep you company (something several people were more than happy to let you have it over) and you felt so much shame and personal disgust over it that, upon meeting Masada, you just…had never bothered to mention it…
After all, why would you? It had never exactly been a hot topic of conversation – that being what both of you feared the most, mind you – and with your own bedroom away from him, you had always simply left your lights on when falling asleep until last year when you’d found a dreamworld equivalent of what many to think a television to be and put in your bedroom to fall asleep to while you and Masada had been exploring a planet you didn’t remember the name of at the moment. This coupled with the fact that, in the entirety of your stay on Masada’s ship you’d yet to experience a blackout (one of your worst nightmares to deal with – ESPECIALLY if you just so happened to be alone), let alone a power outage made it to where you never felt the need to disclose…such a personal problem…
However, now currently wondering the recesses of the ship (some of which you’d yet to see on your own before let alone without Masada by your side, and which you were gambling with due to, as Masada himself had mentioned, being out of power) looking for your lover, you couldn’t help silently praying that he’d appear to you like the angel you knew him to be…
Masada…where are you…? It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have slept in so late but…he told me after last night when I had helped him clean the common room that…it’d be okay to sleep in if I wanted to and if any work needed…to be done that he’d handle it…I just…I want to see him so badly…I feel so silly for getting worked up over nothing but…I just want to hug him and see his face…I swear I can’t believe I’m letting this crap get to me after all this time…I seriously need to grow up…I mean what if he found me like acting like this – wondering around while trying not to cry just because it’s a little dark…I’m so pathetic…
Wiping away a small tear you felt fall against your cheek as you stewed in your own thoughts with your right hand, you tried to remain calm as you marked off yet another place on your map where you’d yet to encounter your boyfriend.
At this point, you were starting to think that – since the map had a slight delay and didn’t 100% update in real time – given there were only 4 spots left on the ship after you’d finished eating that had needed maintenance via light bulb replacement, Masada may have already done all there was that needed to be done and had turned in for the night. In that case then, as you noted one last location in need of assistance on the map, going there may have just been a waste of time…
…and yet, even as this idea occurred to you while making your way to the location in question…it was still worth a try if not to see this whole thing through to the end…
Besides, the last location isn’t too far from here…I can just walk over there and…if it’s all lit up like it’s supposed to be…then I’ll have my answer…
“Masada…? Masada…are you there…?” Your voice having grown much quieter than when you’d originally started your journey, you tried to keep it from trembling as you hugged the tablet in your hands to your chest, turning the corner only to come to a complete stop.
I swear I’ve never been so happy to see the dark! But…will the tablet be enough to light my way and…more importantly…can I actually go through with walking down the hall to find him…? I know he’s got lights on him…so I just need to go in there for a few minutes and then…I won’t be alone anymore but…but…
Legs shaking as you stared ahead of you, horror clear as day on your face, you tried not to sob as you clutched the device in your hands against your chest tighter – could you actually go through with walking in the dark alone, the only potential saving grace in this scenario being that you’d potentially meet up with your beloved…?
If it meant facing a fear, he’d do the same for me, so I can do the same for him…
Mind made up, then, it was with a heavy heart and tears pricking the corners of your eyes that – after taking a deep breath – you pressed forward, the soft LED light of your tablet lighting the way: don’t worry Masada, I’m here to help you…
Moving slowly, you carefully observed your surroundings and took note that this area was close to the navigation room, meaning that the hallway wasn’t too long and if Masada was nearby that you’d hopefully be seeing him soon enough. As such, with this idea giving you hope, you tried to keep your voice even as you called out to your boyfriend for what seemed the 100th time tonight: “M – Masada…? Masada…can you hear me…?”
“Darling, I was hoping to see you! Did you enjoy your…dinner…are you alright, my dear?”
“…Masada…Masada I’m so, so happy…to see you…” Well aware of the tears now flowing down your cheeks, it mattered little to you in that moment as you felt the warm embrace of your beloved engulfing your person.
Finally – I found him…
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“…so…yeah…I guess that’s the crux of it…pretty sad, right…? I mean, I’m an adult now…I shouldn’t need a damn night light…just to go to sleep let alone freak…when it’s just a tiny bit dark…I understand if you want to laugh…”
“My dear, you know this isn’t as bad as you believe, surely? We all have our own weaknesses and strengths that make us who we are, and if I had known of this particular fear of yours, you know I’d never made it to where you need put yourself in such an unbearable situation…I wish you told me prior I – I just feel so awful – ”
“Are you kidding me? This isn’t your fault, I – I know I should’ve – could’ve told you about my fear of the dark long ago but…like I said before…I’ve always had this fear ever since I was a child and was hoping I could outgrow it by now…If anyone should feel bad it’s me for making YOU feel bad by crying like a big baby in front of you…seeing you so upset because of me made me feel horrible…” voice trembling towards the end of your sentence, you couldn’t help the blush on your cheeks as you hid your head in your lover’s chest out of embarrassment.
It had been about an hour since you and Masada had left the area by the navigation room, the area shinning like the sun thanks to your efforts via replacing the light bulbs there, and it was only as the two of you now sat cuddling in the common room that you finally found yourself at peace since waking up seemingly ages ago. Having finally confided in your boyfriend one of your most embarrassing and personal secrets like you should have long ago, it was only as you felt him place a soft kiss to the top of your head that you finally pulled away from his chest to look him in the eyes, your own still red from having cried while confessing to something you’d thought you’d always have to hide from him least he think less of you.
“My darling…you know I love you so, do you not?”
“Of course I do…Masada…I love you too…”
“Since it’s so late, provided of course you’d be open to the suggestion, when you’re ready to retire for the evening, would you like to retire to my bedroom instead of your own? I know we replaced the light bulb in your room, but I have a, er, ‘TV’ in my room as well – if you want, you can sleep together by my side, and we can watch anything you so wish.”
“I – Are you sure, Masada? I don’t, um, want to bother you while you’re trying to rest…I know you had a long day already and I woke up so late…I’m sure you probably want to go to bed soon I – I’ll just stay up ‘till I’m tired and then go to bed later…you don’t need to go through the trouble…”
“Nonsense! If anything, if you retire with me to my room, we can both stay up together until you’re tired before going to sleep! Please do not forget, I need not rest as much you yourself, so if you prefer, I can stay awake with you as long as you need, my dear. Even if we are not watching the ‘TV,’ we can read, or I can play music for you, or even go to the observation deck and look at the stars together! So long as I am by your side, I promise regardless of the reason, no time I spend with you will ever be wasted.”
“I – Masada…thank you…in that case…so long as you don’t mind…I’ll listen to the organ for a little while and then…we can go to sleep…”
“Wonderful~ In that case, let us be on our way, and if you change your mind at any time, we can do something else, okay?”
“That sounds great to me, lead the way…” Laughing a little at your boyfriend’s exaggerated showmanship – knowing full well he was trying to cheer you up – you felt nothing but love and adoration as you felt him wrap his arm around your waist before leading you to his music room.
While there was still so much to learn about and fear in the dreamworld, you knew you had truly found happiness in the presence of the man next to you, and that was something you knew you’d always know to be one the few truths of this world…