OK, and oldie goldie- Antarx/Spantauri! (They need a better ship name) How about something told from Antauri's POV? Could be set when Mandarin was leader, or after they sent him to prison? :3
Antauri was sitting in a meditative position in the center of his bed. He was periodically taking deep breaths as he tried to find peace, only to have that peace interrupted when he heard a knock at the door. Antauri sighed as he uncrossed his legs and stepped off of his bed and walked towards the door. “Come in.”
The door opened and a red monkey stepped inside before the door closed behind him. “Sparx, I didn’t expect you here at this hour.”
Sparx approached Antauri before stopping a few feet away from him and placing his hands on his hips. “Well, I just got my butt whooped by Mandarin. Let’s just say our training sessions have been a little more... brutal lately.”
Antauri held his hands behind his back. “I understand the nature and necessity of our training, but... yes, I do agree that Mandarin’s tactics have been a bit harsher lately.” The black monkey examined Sparx’s body. “You look very bruised. Are you alright?”
Sparx shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve been through worse in battle, but yeah, I’m aching a little here. I figured you’re the master of relaxing. You’d be able to help with my tense muscles.”
Antauri nodded his head. “Well, I do know a few remedies that might be able to ease your pain. Some teas, a few meditative practices. Perhaps some yoga.”
Sparx chuckled before rubbing Antauri’s arm and slowly leaning in to kiss the black monkey. “Or you know, we could do a group activity where we both lie in bed in each other’s arms and talk crap about Mandarin behind his back.”
Antauri became flustered. His relationship with Sparx was still only a few weeks old, so the idea of being touched, kissed, or even just cuddled with still felt a little foreign. “Perhaps there will come a time where ideas like that will be at the forefront of my mind.”
“That’s what you have me for,” Sparx said as he grabbed onto Antauri’s hand and led him to the bed before sitting down. “You can think about all of the yoga positions you want, and I’ll still find a way to get you into bed with me.” He lied down, guiding Antauri to lie down next to him.
Antauri let out a soft chuckle. “I feel like that’s a small euphemism for something else that might be on your mind, Sparx.”
Sparx wrapped his arms around Antauri and brought him in close. “It’s not a small euphemism, Antauri. It’s a big one. But hey, at least you’re catching on now. Now I don’t have to be so obvious with my euphemisms.”