Nosy, nosy (Green X Reader test run ficlet)
Please read tags before proceeding!
---
The story of you two started....on the floor of the Cafeteria.
Dr. Blue had been conducting body scans in Medbay all day, calling in crewmates one by one. After your scan, you'd scurried out as fast as you could, eager to get out of the doctor's sight. You had nothing against them, it just slightly unnerved you to be near them, because they didn't speak like a normal person. You'd never admit that out loud, however, since everyone else seemed to love them. That was the last thing you needed on your first mission...bad standing among the crew...
But, as you made your way into the Cafeteria, you suddenly found yourself slipping on wet floor, and having no time to find your balance before you lost control and faceplanted. Just your luck...
It was your fault. You'd completely forgotten the floor was being cleaned by the door. That was where one of the other new guys - what was their name? - had dropped dead in a puddle of their own blood. You were lucky it wasn't that you'd slipped in.
Within seconds of you falling, you heard a voice from above you.
"Oh- oh gosh! Are you OK?"
You whimpered in pain in response as you struggled to stand up. Your entire face hurt, as did one of your knees, but you managed to lift yourself into a sitting position.
You looked up, and there they were. You recognized them from before as the other new intern, but...you'd never spoken to them before. You didn't do a lot of...speaking, in general...
So, you were taken aback by how...worried about you they'd looked.
"I-I'm so sorry! I-I'm not quite done cleaning here yet!" they stammered. Then, before you could open your mouth to tell them it was fine, they leaned down toward you. "Can you stand?"
You weren't used to being fretted over...You weren't just new to the job, you were new to working with other people in general. So, it was only natural for you to silently stare up at them for a couple seconds, before only managing a nod.
You tried standing up, but one of your legs hurt when you put pressure on it, and you hissed in pain. Then, to your surprise, they noticed that, and held out a hand for you to take. "Here, lemme-"
As you wobbled, you had no other choice. It was either them or another trip to the floor. You chose them, taking their hand...
For only a second. Enough to stabilize yourself, but...You instinctively recoiled from them, wiping your hand on your top. "Ugh, you're all-"
They looked down at their sopping wet hand, their eyes widening. "O-oh, oops, s-sorry-"
This got you to find your words...only to stutter in response. "N-no, no, don't be sorry, I just didn't-"
"I-I really am sorry! I didn't think about that! Was it-"
"No, no, I'm fine! I-it doesn't matter! You still helped me-!" you flailed your hands in front of you, feeling your cheeks flush in embarrassment. "Th-thank you! Really!"
Those words got them to calm down somewhat, and they let out a sigh of relief. "Aww, shucks...No problem, really! As long as you're OK!" they let out a small, nervous chuckle, "Things are already crazy enough right now, after all..."
Since when did your wellbeing matter to anyone? Especially a stranger? How do you respond to that? They seemed so on edge, and you couldn't blame them after what had happened earlier...and yet they spared a thought to you?
If that wasn't enough...they smiled at you. And in that moment...you had never seen so much warmth radiating from a person looking at you before. They weren't a supermodel like the inhumanly-perfect Blue, but they didn't need to be. They were humble. They were chill. They were friendly. You could tell that they were that kind of person right from the start.
You hadn't known how to reply, acting like a fool by stuttering as always...but they stuttered, too. They were worried about you, as if the things that happen to the people around them really affect them. And they didn't know any more than you did. On board the Skeld, it felt like they were your only equal.
Who else could you have met by faceplanting in the Cafeteria?
At the time, however, you'd been so embarrassed by your clumsiness, and how you'd talked to them, that you'd wanted to sink into the floor. The way you left wasn't any better, with you actually telling them to their face, "Oh, this happens to me all the time", realizing how much of a mess you sounded, and scurrying away as fast as I could.
"All the time"? "All the time"? Did you admit to slipping on wet floors all the time-?
Later that day, when everyone was scanned and the doctor got to work in Medbay, you met up with Yellow and Brown, still simmering from embarrassment, and vented to them about what happened. Yellow had a good-natured laugh about your fall, even when you started thinking out loud.
"Ugghhh...what am I gonna even say to them when I see them next?" you groaned, holding your head in your hands, "I just made the stupidest first impression ever..."
Yellow's reply was one that you shouldn't have taken seriously. It might've been intended as a joke, but...it was a reply that ended up doing more for you than you could've imagined.
"Just tell 'em you're new, and that you don't know what you're doing, and they'll understand! Don't make a big deal outta this, kay?"
Little had you known that from that clumsy accident...came a friendship, like one you'd never had before.
A friendship you were willing to fight for.
---
The next time you got the chance to talk to them, you hesitated. You lingered around them for a minute, deliberating with yourself about whether to speak up. That's how things always went with you...You'd much rather overthink things than not think at all.
Looking back, you realized how silly your hesitation was. They were probably the least intimidating crewmate on the ship, period. And they'd given you the first remotely positive interaction you'd had with anyone other than Yellow and Brown, even if it was still a bit awkward, so...what about them had worried you so badly?
From what you'd seen, they didn't seem to have a mean bone in their body...and yet, you'd wondered if it was OK to "waste their time" by approaching them anyway. Didn't you choose to take the job with MIRA to help your fear of social interaction? That was your first chance...
And you'd taken too long. Because, after your minute of hesitation was up, you ran out of time, and they noticed you. Thankfully, they didn't call you over, but they did give a small smile and wave. That was enough to make your cheeks flush.
They weren't perfect, but their smile was pretty perfect.
You nervously approached them shortly after, realizing it'd be even more awkward if you didn't. "Hi, you from before!" you greeted them, rocking on your heels.
"Hello! Yeah, it's me, hah..." they gave a small chuckle, "Look, I'm still sorry about the other day-"
"No, no, really, don't be!" you blurted out, interrupting them.
Immediately, you regretted it. Based on how they took a step back from you, you could tell that came out too loud. Dang your volume control issues-!
"U-um...I mean..." you backpedaled, stepping back from them in return, "I-it's no big deal! And I kinda wanna just...um..."
Your voice trailed off, with you mentally hitting yourself for already not knowing what words to say. You fumbled your first impression with them so badly, that you didn't wanna think about it anymore...You just wanted to get over it...
So that's what you said.
"Can we...start over...? W-without the whole, uh...falling in puddle thing...?" you finally spat it out, "I-it was stupid, and- and, I swear, that does not happen to me often...It doesn't!"
That came out sounding way too defensive, didn't it? That was bound to happen when you tried to correct something you misspoke before...but you probably weren't helping your case-
"I mean, uh...ahem...I'm..." you said your name, properly introducing yourself at last, "and...and..."
Desperate to think of something to introduce yourself with, anything at all, as you looked up at their confused face (they weren't super tall, but you were short enough to need to look up at them), your mind scrambled to find a new good first impression. Something to make up for the one you were erasing. Something that would let them take you seriously as a crewmate...
And instead, you blurted out the exact thing Yellow had jokingly advised you to say.
"...and I don't know what I'm doing!"
Those words awkwardly hung in the air for several seconds, as silence fell between you two. You kinda just...let yourself simmer in the embarrassment as you realized how you'd sounded, while they simply blinked down at you.
There weren't many complex thoughts behind those eyes, were there? In that moment, they'd conveyed a simple...innocence, at least as much as a grown adult could have, and they politely extended a hand for you to shake.
"I'm...Green!" they said with a chuckle, "And that makes two of us!"
You nearly breathed an audible sigh of relief right in their face. Thank god, they didn't mind your admission of cluelessness...!
You hesitated for a second before reaching for their hand, as if worried for a second that they'd pull back and laugh at you or something. But they didn't, and you got to actually shake their hand. Their palm was a lot colder than you'd expected, but your touch-starved self appreciated the reassuring contact.
"You're new here, just like me, right?" they asked.
You looked away from them shyly, nodding. "Mhm..."
"I remember hearing that, yeah..." they admitted, "Well, it's nice to have someone who knows what this feels like!"
They took the words outta your mouth right then. Even if you still worried about being annoying, those worries were a lot less when talking to them than when talking to literally anyone else. They seemed more approachable...and it was because they were in the same position as you, right...?
They were going through the same things as you...and so, you shouldn't freak out so soon! They understood everything! The stress of not knowing anyone, combined with having to adjust to a new job, while...unforeseen complications arose among you all...
How you had to keep going, even after hearing the news of what happened to the doctor...after it felt like you'd just seen them alive and well yesterday. There one moment, and gone the next. Everything happened so fast...and you'd give anything for a moment of reprieve...
They felt the same. You could tell, by the way their voice, while still cheerful, softened with uncertainty as they spoke to you.
"It's been a lot so far, right? I'm still learning where everything is, and next thing I know, everyone's panicked, and I gotta clean up a couple of, uh..." their voice trailed off, and they looked away from you, visibly shivering, before looking back, "Oh, well, you didn't have to do that part, heh..."
Oh, right...they had to clean up the...the body, didn't they? Same with the other guy's...They had to clean both...That must've been horrible...! You could barely think about it, and they had to touch it...!
And yet, even after saying that...a smile still returned to their face...
You attempted to return their smile, wanting their positive energy to spread to you. You needed it...
You let out an exhale before speaking again. "Y-yeah...it's been..."
You paused, wondering if it was OK to dump your feelings onto them right after introducing yourself. You almost chickened out, but looking at them tilting their head as their small smile remained on their face, you found yourself wanting to open up to them, at least a little.
They were the only one who really understood most of what you were going through. Even though you knew Yellow the best, Yellow didn't struggle like you did. They were self-assured and confident, and knew exactly what they wanted at all times. You felt like venting to them would hold them back. That wasn't the case here.
"It's been hard...to concentrate on my tasks...and t-talk to people..." you continued, looking down at your feet.
Stressful memories of the past day rushed to your head. Worries that you'd tried to bury, but were too fresh...Things you thought weren't real, but you could no longer rule out, with all the unusual happenings on the Skeld...
"And, I-I can't stop thinking about what Lime said, about..." your voice lowered to above a whisper as you struggled to say the word, "About aliens..."
It felt weird to say out loud...but you had to consider the possibility, right? You were in space, after all...
And you'd been cooped up indoors for most of your adulthood, so why wouldn't you believe that such things could be real? It wasn't like you were an expert on it. It wasn't like you had proof either way...
The possibility majorly unnerved you, though. To think, an otherworldly being could've gotten on board and started...killing people...
You didn't wanna think about it...and luckily, Green was there to help soothe your nerves, at least a little.
"Oh...I was told not to listen to anything Lime says, so...I don't think you should worry about any of that, at least!"
Thank god...You still had no idea who to trust the word of the most yet, besides the Captain, so you were glad to get confirmation not to listen to Lime. You didn't know them well, but from what you'd seen, they didn't seem very friendly...
Hell, everyone else seemed to completely distrust Lime at the moment. No one seemed to want to talk about them at all. Apparently there were investigations on them in place for Dr. Blue's death...
So, no aliens. Absolutely none.
You sighed, putting a hand to your chest. "Th-that's a relief..."
You looked back up at them, to see them still smiling away. However, their expression faltered a little, to something more sheepish, as now it was their turn to avert their eyes.
"I've just been figuring things out as I go", they admitted, "I'm not really all that smart...or brave...or cool...or, haaah..."
They let out a sigh as their voice trailed off for a second. In that moment, you saw someone who was more like you than you realized before. So many of your crewmates were either loud and proud, like the Captain or Yellow, or they didn't seem friendly or approachable, like Purple or Lime or Black. But when you heard Green talk about their admitted flaws, something you hadn't seen from anyone else...you felt more comfortable.
They weren't the type to put pressure on you. They weren't the type to expect things of you. They barely expected things of themselves...!
They looked back at you as they continued. "S-so, I figure I should stay in my lane while the rest of the crew figures everything out! And I'll help when I'm needed! I trust all of them before I trust myself to not mess things up, heheh..."
They chuckled lightly...a sound that felt better on your ears than it had any right to. Combined with their humble words, you found yourself unable to resist opening up more to them. It couldn't hurt, right...?
You never thought you'd meet someone who shared so many of your fears of being in a group...
"You...you too, huh...?" you asked, and after they nodded, you confessed, "I...I kinda...always feel that way..."
Their eyes widened, showing that they didn't expect you to feel the same as them in return. "Oh? You do?" they asked, and after you nodded, their smile widened in relief. "Well...I guess you're not alone, then!"
They were right. You weren't alone.
You hadn't felt so seen in a long time.
Even with all the distrust on board after the recent murders and Lime's rant at the meeting...you found a source of comfort. Knowing you had someone to talk to, who related to feeling out of your depth and insecure on a ship of more experienced crewmates was a huge relief for you.
Yet, there was one key difference between you two. They could be cheerful and friendly despite that, while you struggled to be. After all, you'd been a shut-in before MIRA, while they came from an outdoorsy, close-knit village environment. It wasn't any surprise they could talk better than you. Maybe, by spending more time with them, you could learn to be more like that.
You didn't have a plan on how to deal with things, but neither did they.
"Hey, if no one's gonna wanna slow down for us, we unpaid interns gotta stick together, right?" they assured you, "Soooo, let's...figure this all out as we go?"
"Y-yeah...as we go."
---
A few days later...
---
"Purple?"
You cautiously, softly, knocked on the door to Security. You tried to speak up, but your throat was too dry. You were so nervous....You'd never spoken to them one-on-one before. They were always so confrontational, and you never liked being around those types, but....you knew they were reasonable. As long as the Captain wasn't around, at least....
Thank god they weren't right now.
"Purple? You....you gonna come out?" you asked the door, "W-we're not gonna get anything done with you hauled up in-"
"No."
They finally answered, and it was blunt as ever. You tried to reply, but you were frozen for several seconds, giving them time to continue.
"We know who it is...We all know..." their voice was practically a growl, "And no one will do anything about it but me! Why should I come out here to help with a question we already know the answer to!?"
You finally willed yourself to speak. "B-but...w-we don't know for sure! If we could just...t-talk this over, rationally-"
"Rationally!?"
You froze again when they raised their voice at you.
"We have no time for 'rationally'! Red isn't going to politely wait for us to hold hands and talk things out! Either we hold a vote against them now, or we won't have the time to!"
You stared at the door, feeling your body start trembling. "B-but...w-we don't need a vote right away...! We could still...Could still look for other o-options...u-until we have proof, like...real proof! F-from what we know, it's not guaranteed to be-"
You were interrupted by Purple harshly saying your name. "Stop. Just...stop."
Your heart sunk to your stomach as you listened to them speak.
"Look, it's nice that you wanna help, but just...stop. You're not cut out for any of this, and...You just need to stay safe and out of trouble."
Part of you wanted to defend yourself, and the position MIRA allowed you to have in this crew.....but you knew you couldn't. You didn't sign up for any of this....and you had no experience with it, either....
You've never been the kind of person considered.....brave.
But in that moment, it felt like you were the only one who was holding on to hope.
You, of all people. You didn't believe it either. You were shy, socially-awkward, easily-frightened....always the first one to cower from a fight. You'd began your internship on the Skeld a former shut-in desperate to make something of your life, only to find yourself on a death trap of a ship instead, murderous aliens on board, with no way out.....
And yet....you were still hoping. Because, despite all the carnage you'd witnessed....you still could feel yourself become stronger. And it was because of the few bright spots you'd found on board the death trap. You didn't wanna give up.....
And maybe part of the reason is that.....you knew the solution. You all knew. You'd succeeded at killing one of them before, and it'd been easy. All you'd done was find out who they were, get them into the trash chute, and eject them from the ship. And they were gone.
There was one left. Just one. If you all could just put your heads together, and figure out who the hell it is, then everything else would be easy. It'd be over in an instant, and no more innocent people would have to die.
That was all you had to do. Figure out who this.....this impostor is, and expose them. That was all....
But....there were many problems in the way now.
Just last evening, you'd tried to do just that....but things had gone badly. So, so very badly.....when unfortunate circumstances led you all to eject Yellow, your first friend, and one of the kindest crewmates on board despite their loud mouth, off of what had appeared to be hard evidence.....only for them to be completely innocent. The tension in the air between you all was so thick in that moment that you could cut through it with a pizza cutter.
Things got worse. Brown refused to take part in another vote, and stormed off by themselves. Black, always the nihilist, started saying really depressing things about how nothing was working and you were all gonna die. Captain Red and Purple were then at each other's throats, Purple especially yelling so loudly that it made you uncomfortable. They'd always been harsh and blunt with their words, but the way they were shouting at everyone to vote out Red was unnerving.....
And, understandably, no one was in the mood to hold any votes at that time.
In between all the fighting and depression were you and Green, the two helpless newbies. Oh god, Green....the way their face had fallen when they'd realized they'd been the tiebreaker vote in a wrongful ejection had almost shattered your heart....If only they'd abstained, like you had, but they'd probably felt pressured to break the tie....You wished you could've said something to lift their spirits, but it'd been so hard.....
What could your quiet self have possibly done? You'd been stuck in place. Your voice was stuck, your feet were stuck, your mind was stuck. You'd wanted to say something, anything, anything at all.....
And then.....something started burning in the kitchen....and-
Everything after that....was a blur to you. You remember being nauseous. You remember doubling over. You remember everyone's voices a distance away. You remember the smell-
You remember running away.
You hated it. You didn't wanna run away anymore. Not when you had something to fight for still....Someone who deserved to get off this ship alive....
So, this was your last-ditch attempt to get support. You didn't wanna do it yourself, but....if you had to, then so be it. You'd figure out this mystery even if no one else cared anymore.
You sulked back to the Cafeteria, where you sat down at a table with your head in your hands. It was so....quiet. Deathly quiet. You were reminded of Yellow, which made you feel even worse. But you tried to keep yourself together, and think of what you knew about the "second impostor".
In particular, how the hell did it kill Brown?
Everyone was in the Cafeteria at that time. Everyone. No one had left, since they were all arguing about what happened in the Emergency Meeting. So, how in the-?
It confounded you...You thought for sure you all were on the brink of fully figuring out how it worked...It travels through the vents, right...? That's how it got to poor Cyan...But how could it have been the vents and with you all at the same time...? How did that thing work-!?
You groaned, leaning back in your seat. You were gonna give yourself a headache if you thought about it too much, but you had to. If no one else was gonna try, it had to be you...And you couldn't just give up when lives were at stake...!
You had reasons to be happy now...Reasons to wanna see this mission through to Industria...Reasons to wanna go back home and heal...You had hopes, and things to hold on to, all found on this death trap...
You just had to try...
Think...
Think...!
Ugh, you could practically hear Yellow yell at you for being a dunce- wait! Yellow!
Yellow got ejected, because a suspicious-looking Medbay scan was found in their backpack. But if they were innocent, the scan couldn't have been theirs! They were right in that someone must've put in there when they weren't looking!
Maybe that could be a lead! Who could've put that in their backpack? Who would think to do such a thing...?
You ran through each person in your head - Purple, Black, and Captain Red. You had reasons to distrust each of those three - Black didn't fit in the vent, though, so it couldn't be them, right...?
And Purple was currently hauled up in Security and wouldn't talk to anyone. They at least believed it was Red, and...
Wait...Red was the one who called for the backpack check.
You felt your stressed heart stop for a second and your blood run cold when that thought hit you like an anvil.
Yes...it had been them. And they immediately jumped on Yellow afterward. Purple at least had been skeptical...
Did you really just narrow it down by yourself? You didn't wanna believe it...Red was the Captain, after all. And Green looked up to them...You didn't wanna make things any harder by casting doubt on the Captain of all people! Plus, that'd make Purple right, after you'd tried to convince them to back off earlier...You'd look either stupid, or hostile, if you made such an accusation!
It couldn't be them. No. Not them. At least, you couldn't assume yet. You had to look at it from another angle...
You got up from your seat and paced about the floor, your eyes on your feet, as you thought hard about how to proceed. However, as much as you tried not to, you couldn't shake the feeling that you'd have to accuse the Captain. The very thought terrified you...
But that didn't change the fact that they, like everyone else, never left the Cafeteria when the thing attacked Brown. So, you couldn't say it with certainty...
With nothing else to do, your eyes lingered on the vent on the floor, as if part of you was expecting the alien to emerge right then and there. You'd believe it could be anywhere right now...
After several more seconds of silence, you sighed, and looked in the direction of the empty kitchen. You felt an aching in your chest when you realized just how powerless you truly were. You wanted it to be over so badly, but...against such a threat, there was only so much you could do as a shy intern in a broken crew...
"What do I do...?" you mumbled under your breath.
No answer from the kitchen.
"You'd...probably tell me...to figure it out on my own, right...?"
No answer.
"Thought so..." you hung your head, looking down at the floor again, "You always hated...c-coddling me, right...? N-now, I can't burden you anymore..."
No answer.
Your chest ached more.
Your vision blurred.
Despite your best efforts, you felt lost. Scared. Hopeless. Overwhelmed.
You didn't wanna have to do things on your own. You didn't wanna accuse anyone on your own. Not after what just happened...
"A-at least...say something..." you whispered, "E-even if it's to tell me I'm a softie...J-just...something..." Tears came to your eyes, but you quickly wiped them away, "P-please..."
A second later, you finally got an answer.
From behind you, a voice softly called your name. It wasn't who you had asked for...but it was the one voice that had never failed to lift your spirits. It was the sound that you associated with the only happy memories you'd made on board the ship...
You turned around, your eyes widened in surprise. "O-oh...Green!" Embarrassed to be seen in such a state by them, you wiped your eyes further, sniffling.
They gave you a small smile and chuckle as always, taking hesitant steps toward you. "Did I surprise you? Sorry, heheh..."
You waved your hands in front of you. "N-no, no, it's fine! It's fine!" you assured them, "I...I wasn't paying attention..."
The last thing you wanted to do was make Green feel like anything else was their fault. They probably felt awful enough already...The fact that they could still smile at you with concern for you in their eyes said everything about how kind they were...
You'd give anything to keep them safe from harm...While you didn't want anyone else to die, you especially didn't want to see the one person who made you happy die. And as your numbers dwindled, it became a creeping possibility that terrified you like nothing else ever has. You'd lost enough...
The Skeld was a death trap. The Skeld without Green was worse than death.
"Are you OK?" they asked you.
You sighed, holding a hand to your head. You didn't wanna worry them further, but it was probably very obvious that you'd be lying if you said you were doing well.
And they never judged you.
"I'm...h-hanging in there..." you confessed, "It's just...I'm still..."
"I'm sorry about Yellow..."
You could've sworn you could hear the sound of your heart cracking.
The sight of their smile fading from their face, and their gaze leaving yours...it hurt. You didn't wanna cause them any distress, but there you were, unable to hide your vulnerability from them. They always seemed to find you when you were at your breaking point, to bring you down from it with their presence...but this time, you didn't want them to do that. You didn't wanna burden them anymore...
"No, please don't say that...! P-please, it wasn't your fault!" you spoke through your tears, "I-it was all of us...We all messed up together...!"
This wasn't what they needed...These tears, they weren't what any of this crew needed...You needed action! You needed results! You needed to find that monster, so no one else would have to suffer anymore-!
But...they looked back at you. Still hearing you, even when they had every reason to fall apart, too.
And, despite your self-loathing...you were unable to resist the sight of them opening their arms for you.
You couldn't stop yourself from clinging to your last source of joy, softly weeping into their hoodie as they wrapped their arms around you. "C'mere..." they murmured as they did so. Their grip was stiff and unsure for the first few seconds, but it tightened around you after that. "There ya go..."
It felt like they wanted to take your pain away, just as much as you wanted to take theirs away.
Their body was soft, yet firm...and at this point, the cold of their touch barely phased you anymore. It was normal. It was them.
You hugged each other for a minute or so, before you reluctantly pulled back. You didn't realize how much you liked the feeling of being hugged...You would've liked to nuzzle against their chest...yet, you also didn't wanna keep them there too long.
And you still couldn't shake the feeling of being a burden...
You were a burden to Yellow, you were a burden to the rest of the crew, when all you did was panic and cower...And while Green was exceptionally patient with you, and never gave you a hard time, so you didn't wanna assume things, but...what if you were burdening them, too?
Equals or not, they were still getting tasks done, while you struggled.
No more. You couldn't let that continue...Now was the time to truly act, driven by your loyalty to the happiness you still had in the form of them.
After a minute of silence, where you sat down with them at a table and leaned against each other, your eyes wandered to that eye-catching emergency button nearby...
"Hey...Green...?" you mumbled, as you turned to look at them.
They looked at you at the same time. "Yeah...?"
That button...If you had the authority to press it, you could call the remaining crewmates...but would it be worth it...? You had no hard evidence, just more questions...
Questions...about...
"Do you know where the Captain is...?" you asked, "I...I gotta talk to them..."
Green hummed. "Mmmm...I did see them walk off somewhere...I think it was to Storage...?"
Why would they be in Storage...? To talk to Black...? No matter. As long as you knew where they were.
You shuddered at the thought of having to confront them somehow...but you had to, for Yellow. You had to question about the backpack check somehow. You just didn't want Green to watch you do it...
But...if you were on your own, could you even find the words...?
Red wasn't a very intimidating Captain most of the time...but, you being how you were, the few times they'd raised their voice to give serious commands had startled you. You hated being yelled at. Did you really have it in you to ask such a loaded question...?
And then there was the other matter you had to discuss...
"Green, y-you think it's possible that...the impostor...c-can be in two places at once...?" you asked.
They blinked at you, looking confused.
You attempted to explain. "Like...if it could be with us in the Cafeteria, but also in the kitchen with Brown...?"
How else could they have died-? The door was locked, and the rest of you were all in the cafeteria-! You couldn't get over it-
"How would that even work?" Green asked, tilting their head.
They spoke your own thoughts out loud right there...You'd had enough of trying to unravel this mystery...Every twist and turn made it all the more confusing, too...
You couldn't quite visualize how the hell the impostor could be in two places at once...but if you put all your heads together, maybe you could! That was another reason why you wanted all the infighting to stop...Stop, and just think.
"I-I dunno..." you answered, averting your eyes from them while simultaneously clinging to their hoodie. "But...it happened somehow...! How else could that have even worked...? Th-that's what confuses me..." You gritted your teeth, letting out a frustrated groan, "Ugh, Purple was right! I-it had to have used the vent, but...!"
Bit by bit, all your thoughts spilled out, until you were basically thinking out loud. They were that easy to talk to. The you from a week ago, before boarding the ship, would never have believed you'd meet someone like this...It was incredible, but also...proved how much vulnerable people will cling to each other in times of tragedy.
They didn't say anything for a couple seconds, before letting out a sigh. "I dunno...I wish I could say something to help, but I'm not good at any of this..." they admitted, "I keep worrying, that if I ask too many questions, I might be next..."
They chuckled lightly, as if trying to lighten your mood. You'd learned over time that they had a really nice-sounding laugh, and it usually did help you unwind, especially when it made that fluttery feeling in your chest come back...
Which it did, for a brief moment, when they continued.
"I'm trying to just...stay positive, y'know? But it's getting so hard to know who to trust anymore..." they looked down at you, their sweet yet silly smile softening under their visor, "I'm happy I can still trust you!"
The fluttering was very welcome, even if it left you speechless for a moment. It reminded you of what you still have to fight for.
You looked away bashfully, your cheeks feeling warm at the same time you saw theirs redden. They stuttered for a second afterward. "U-uh, I mean, y'know- you're just so easy, you have to be-"
You nodded. "Y-yeah, I understand...! I...I'm definitely not an alien!" you laughed at the image, "I-I'm really bad at lying!"
You knew for a fact that it wasn't you, but it was astounding that no one truly pointed a finger at you yet. You'd surely break under that kinda pressure...
They laughed again at your words. "You better not be lying about that, heheh!" they joked.
"Cross my heart, it's not me!" you said as firmly as you could.
Talking to them made your mood significantly improve, as it always did. And thank god, because you needed it, after you'd been caught crying. This wasn't the time for crying. You had things to fight for and protect with your life. You weren't about to lie down and let the impostor take anything more away from you.
For their sake, as well. They didn't deserve this. They deserved to step off this ship alive, and go home to their village again. And not just because you were thinking about what it'd be like to keep in touch, definitely not (even if that had crossed your mind), but because they never did anything wrong!
If you weren't doing this to avenge those lost, you were doing it for those still here.
With renewed confidence, you looked up at them again. "I-I think...we should gather everyone for another meeting!"
Their eyes widened and they gaped at you. "Wh-what?"
You were just as surprised at what you'd said as they were. You had never suggested doing something that brave before in your life! And yet, you'd suggested it as if it was the right thing for you to do? As if you could handle it at all?
But, as surprised as you were that you'd thought out loud so brazenly...you also couldn't take it back. Not when you had no other options other than hope the others come up with better ideas, and don't take too long...
"W-well, uh...uh..." you stuttered, trying to think of how to justify such a suggestion to the best of your ability, "M-maybe Purple was right, and we shouldn't wait 'til the next...y'know..." you looked down at your hands, "A-and...I wanna see if we can have a half-rational conversation about this at all...! J-just...without yelling at each other...!"
That was probably wishful thinking, given how Purple and Captain Red were around each other earlier...
But, if you could find a way to distract them from their argument, by discussing your ideas, then...would that be enough...? You just wanted no more yelling, that's all...
Green looked so worried...You didn't mean to worry them...! You understood why they'd be scared of holding another vote so soon, however...And you just wanted to help them, but...!
"W-we don't have to hold a vote, like, immediately!" you insisted, waving your hands, "A-and we shouldn't! We just...need to talk! A-about the impostor, and about...B-Brown...and h-how that could've happened, seriously..."
You continued speaking your thoughts as soon as they came to your mind, as if trying to justify such a decision to yourself just as much as to them.
"I-if it's able to, like, maybe, um...g-go into the vents, like, so quickly that we don't notice they're gone, then...then..." you paused, voice trailing off, before snapping your fingers, "W-we do a vent check! Like Black did earlier to prove their innocence! W-we can all do that to see who doesn't fit in the vents!"
OK. OK, maybe, you're onto something. Maybe this can work. Maybe...as long as you articulate yourself better than just then...they would consider it.
It made sense, right...? If the impostor moved that fast, then there was no catching it otherwise...You had to try some variation of the same approach that caught the first one, right...?
However, your mind once again jumped to the person who had so vehemently been against stepping in a vent before, and felt a chill. No. Not them. You couldn't verbally suspect them yet. Not in front of Green.
"B-b-but, call a meeting?" Green asked, sounding slightly panicked, "We're only unpaid interns! We're just supposed to do as we're told! Th-they all know better than us, right?"
You felt awful as you heard them worry, so much so that a part of you considered taking it back. All Green wanted to do was stay in their lane and survive. They'd told you this themselves, and yet, you wanted to drag them into your impulsive plans? How could you...?
They never wanted to accuse anyone...and that was one of the things about them that made you feel relaxed in their presence. They were the only crewmate left who wasn't pointing fingers at all...As if they still wanted to see the best in everyone...
"If we do something like that, how're we gonna get them to listen to us?" they asked you.
You paused, looking up to meet their eyes again. They looked anxious, and it hurt you to see them like that. You'd give anything to keep them smiling that wonderful smile of theirs, even in such uncertain times...
If they were uncomfortable with your plan, then you'd change it for them. It was best that way.
"I-I dunno...but..." you sighed, "I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have- I-...I'll do the talking for us. I-I promise, you won't have to say anything...! I-It's my idea, and if anyone's gonna get yelled at, it should be me..." you rubbed your arm nervously, "I-I know I'm not good at talking, but...I gotta try. S-someone's gotta..."
You were scared.
Scared of leading anything at all. Scared of saying the wrong thing. Scared of accusing anyone at all...And terrified of trying to get people of higher status than you to listen to you, and not make a fool of yourself...
But...if it was for Green...
If it was for their benefit...Keeping them from doing anything that makes them uncomfortable..
You felt the urge to give it a go. Even if it went badly, it'd only go badly for you, and they'd be spared from it. That was reassuring...You wouldn't be putting them on the spot for your own decisions...
And yet, even when you offered to make the sacrifice, their worried eyes softened as they looked at you...
"You sure you wanna do that?" they asked, their voice getting...softer, "Cuz I dunno...It sounds so scary...I don't want things to go wrong again..."
They leaned closer to you, and you felt the aching in your chest get stronger. They didn't want this, so why did you...? Couldn't there be another way...? Why should you suddenly start believing you wouldn't mess things up...?
But...you and Green's motto, since you met, was "figure things out as we go"...That's what you're doing, right...? You were adapting, you were learning...You didn't wanna sit back and let more tragedy occur...
And yet...
They set a hand on your shoulder, concern still clear in their expression.
"I'm worried about you, y'know? You're my only real friend here..."
The warmth returned to your cheeks, no doubt leaving you looking a little flustered at their words, despite the situation. They'd never outright called you that before, but...you felt the same about them. Your only friend left...Your only shoulder to cry on...
You were just friends, but...the way you felt around them was as if there was more there. It was too soon to tell, especially now...and you'd sworn to yourself that, once you made it to Industria, you'd take the time to figure your feelings for them out...
But you were friends. That was what was most important to know...
And you hated worrying them.
You didn't wanna do this...You hated that you had to do this...
Why did it have to be you? Why couldn't you keep trying to be safe? Why couldn't you hide this time? No one was asking you to do this...
No, don't lose your nerve now!
"I...I have to try, though..." you answered in a weak voice, cheeks still feeling flushed, "Th-the only way we know how to kill it, is to eject it from the ship..."
The fact that, even after you promised to keep the attention off of them, they still worried about you...Why was everything about them so warm but their touch...? You almost wanted to cry right there...
So long without forming connections, only for the first one to be with them...You were still so lucky you met them, even if it was on the death trap that was the Skeld...
They looked down at you for a couple seconds, as if thinking over how to respond to you. Did they still disapprove...?
But then...thankfully...their smile returned.
"Well...OK! Guess I can't stop you, huh?"
Oh thank god. For a moment, you'd genuinely worried they wouldn't support you...when their support was what you needed most. Even if they didn't say much once everything was underway, just knowing they were on your side was enough for you to push forward...
But you shouldn't have worried. You'd only known each other for days, but already, it felt like you knew them well enough to know they wouldn't give you any pushback. They weren't the argumentative type...
You nodded at them, grateful for their agreement. You had all you needed to call the meeting...or so you thought.
You turned to the button in the middle of a nearby table. All you had to do was push it, and everyone would come running instantly. And you dreaded facing them, especially Purple...
You also dreaded what would happen if you were forced to reveal your greatest suspect...The one with the most evidence against them...
You did not wanna accuse Red. You would not accuse Red until the vent test. If you could find the courage at all...You wanted to trust them still...
Get it together...Don't jump to conclusions...Just, call everyone here, and then request a calm conversation that properly discusses the information you all know...
That was what you needed...
You walked up to the table, your eyes lingering on the button.
As soon as you pressed it, the alarm would sound through the ship...and everyone would look to you for an explanation...and you'd have to lead a conversation...
Your mind began racing through all the stressful scenarios that could play out...Most of them involved Purple yelling at you and you clamming up. Others involved Purple yelling at Red again. You thought about Purple yelling a lot, but who could blame you?
If you weren't able to articulate yourself well enough...then the meeting would be wasted. No one would take you seriously.
Green's right. You're just an intern...Why would anyone listen to you...?
You froze, as you looked at the button. Your body would no longer move to hit it.
It was right there, but...
If it was you who pressed it...and couldn't say any more than just "Why can't we all talk nicely?" then...
But...you had to...You had to get it done, or else that thing would attack again before that...!
"You OK?" you heard Green ask behind you.
You didn't answer. Your throat felt tight. Your body was tense.
This was a bad idea.
It couldn't be you to do it. Not because of any cowardice, but basic logic! No one had any reason to play nice because you asked them to. You had no authority over them...
But...you still had ideas...and you knew who would probably like to hear them first.
Right...that sounded easier...
You took a deep breath, before looking behind you at them. "We...should...get the Captain. Run it by them first..." you admitted, "Th-they should call the meeting, not me..."
The last you saw Red, they seemed just as exhausted by all this as you were. They probably wanted this all to be over too. After Yellow's ejection and Purple's shouting, they didn't say a word. If you told them you were on their side against Purple, they'd like that, right...? They'd listen to you, right...?
And if they were the impostor, then...they wouldn't reveal themselves in front of both of you, right...? And, maybe...you keep the vent check idea from them until the meeting, so they wouldn't be able to object to you until it would make them look suspicious to do so-
No, no, no! They're not the impostor! They're not! They're the Captain, and Green trusted them! So did you! So did you...
And Green, when you admitted you couldn't do it, looked almost relieved. Like they'd watched you safely step off a ledge. That let you know that you'd probably made the right call. Reasoning with one crewmate was better to start with than reasoning with all of them...
That was how you learned to be brave...by learning as you go, what you can and can't handle. And you couldn't be happier that you had a friend who supported and didn't judge you...
They sat up and waved you over, an encouraging smile on their face.
"Should I take you to where I last saw them? It was this way!"
You nodded, and were led out of the Cafeteria, feeling hopeful that your ideas would work, and your suspicions would be disproven, by the end of the day. And also, hopefully, that you'd learn the identity of the murderer, once and for all.
At this point, you didn't know who you wanted it to be. Who would be the least painful out of the painful options...Purple? Black? But you did know that no matter what you learn, you'll be certain the pain will be worth it if they suffer the consequences....
---
The further down the empty hallways you got, the colder the air felt around you. Maybe it was in your head, so you tried not to pay it any mind...
But it was in moments like this, that you realized just how few crewmates were left, and how much was now missing because of it. Combine that with the unrest among you, and...you missed the clamor between Yellow and Brown, and Cyan's confusing rambling, more than ever.
Especially since what was still alive, was the murderous alien...Somewhere...
You felt a chill when you remembered everyone lost to it...and your steps got smaller for a bit, leading you to lag behind Green, who didn't notice at first.
"Wh-why are we going all the way here...?" you asked timidly.
"I could've sworn I saw the Captain heading this way!" they answered.
Green seemed a lot calmer than they were before. That was a relief, because you'd been really worried about them, after the vote, and having to clean up another dead body immediately afterward. Those two things happening almost back-to-back couldn't have been fun for them at all. They didn't deserve to go through all that...
So, seeing them still being able to relax was relieving to you, and helped you relax as well. How could you get so jumpy when you were just on your way to Storage, right...? And maybe catch up to Red, and get them to consider holding an Emergency Meeting...
Everything was gonna be OK for now...You're OK...Calm down...
Feeling a bit better, you picked your pace back up, walking beside them again, and attempted a lighthearted comment to keep their spirit up. "Seems like just yesterday when I was getting lost in these halls..." you gave a small chuckle at yourself, "I-I still don't feel like I completely know everything...! I-I don't trust myself not to-"
"Not to mess things up?"
Your voice was cut off by theirs as they looked over at you, giving a small tilt of their head that was almost too endearing for you to handle. Feeling called out, you shyly looked ahead again, nodding.
They seemed to actually catch on to that, too. "Oh, heheh, s-sorry. Didn't mean to cut you off! Keep going!"
You had no idea why that comment had caught you so off-guard. They cut you off a lot, since their social skills, while better than yours, weren't perfect either. They were friendly and approachable, but still got nervous at times, just like you. But just then? It didn't feel like awkwardness or over-excitement...it felt like they had read your mind...
You two really had gotten so close in such a short time...And, while grateful for your friendship, you were also surprised that you found someone you fit with so well on this ship.
Feeling your cheeks get warm, you quickly cleared your throat before continuing. "U-um, anyway...yeah, I spent so many years cooped up indoors, so...I-I never had to learn how to navigate new places for a long time, y'know...?" you waved your arms around you, "N-now, it feels like getting lost is the least of my worries! Imagine that...y'know...?"
Did you ramble too much? You definitely rambled. Whenever you got an idea in your head, you just had to get out as much of it as you could, huh? This was nothing new, but you still were insecure about-
They chuckled lightly, which made your stressed heart do a flip. "Yeah, I know! Didn't you tell me that before?"
You froze in your tracks for a second, face flushing warmer. "D-did I...?"
They shrugged. "Somethin' like that...? I remember..."
You had told them where you came from before! Right! At the same time they told you where they-
"But, yeah, I know that feeling! I was nervous getting on here too!" they continued, reminiscing, "Worrying about...if my time in school for this was gonna pay off, or if it wouldn't matter! I probably would'a gone back home, if home wasn't the entire reason I got to be here!"
Listening to them reminisce about their feelings when they boarded the Skeld reminded you of just how brave they were...Especially with what they told you before about their village, and their family...Leaving home must've been so hard for them, and there they were, right beside you...
They then hung their head, slumping forward a bit, a sign of insecurity. They sighed.
"Being captain means...being a leader, and...Sometimes, I wonder if I have what it takes to be a leader..."
While it made sense for them to feel that way about their dream, especially when their only point of comparison so far was Red, you still hated seeing them like that, and stepped toward them, hesitantly reaching out to pat their arm.
They met your eyes, their smile now smaller, before the spoke again.
"When I was a kid...there was one day, where one of my siblings was going through a hard time, and didn't wanna talk to me when I tried to cheer them up..." they recalled, "I got really, really worried! I wanted to help them feel better, so I asked around to try and find out what happened!"
Oh, yeah, they'd told you before that they had a lot of younger siblings, didn't they? That they were the oldest in a pretty big family? They told you a few stories about their home and their farm...You could tell they missed it, and you didn't blame them right now.
"Most people didn't know, but I poked around a bit, and...I eventually learned they'd gotten rejected by their crush at school..." they continued, "That really freaked me out! I didn't wanna see any of my family being sad, especially since I'd, uh, been there before, heh...And I thought to myself, how would I cheer them up?"
It was just like them to try to cheer up those they care about...Even when they were younger, they were like that...You couldn't be surprised....
They rambled on a bit, and you didn't stop them. You listened to every word, almost taking comfort in how casually they told the story. You...liked hearing about their home...
"I figured that it wasn't too late for them to get back up and try again, right? So, I went up to their crush the next day at school, and told them stories about how cool my lil' sibling is, and how well the worms get along with them, and how worms are smarter than anyone thinks, so that means they're right, y'know? Worms at least listen to you and don't judge you!" they then let out an embarrassed-sounding chuckle, "It didn't go so well...and when I got home, I got yelled at...They said, 'I never asked for your help!'"
Even though that happened years and years ago, your heart still ached at the image. All they wanted was to help someone out, only to get punished for it...
You knew the feeling. It was why you'd been terrified of taking any kind of initiative at all for most of your life...
Yet, despite how embarrassed they must've been recollecting that story...they still smiled.
"And, they were right, y'know? Heh...they never even told me their crush's name before. I figured that out on my own, and...I shouldn't have! They got bullied afterward...and that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't tried to help them..."
Ouch...
You had nothing to say to that. That was just...painful to hear. They must've hated themselves for a while over it...and that hurt you to think about. They should never hate themselves! They're so kind, and earnest, and genuine every time they speak...Their clumsiness always came with the best intentions! Everyone makes mistakes, especially dumb children!
You wanted to say something about it, but...they suddenly stopped walking right in front of you, leading you to stop in your tracks quickly and just avoid bumping into them. Their back was to you, so you couldn't see their face...
But they kept speaking.
"That's when I learned that, even if I mean well, I shouldn't stick my nose in places I'm not wanted..." they explained, "Sometimes, bein' all nosy and asking too many questions causes more trouble than not asking any! That's why I've been staying in my lane and staying safe, so I don't mess things up again!"
So, their passivity didn't just come from their fear of the impostor...but it came from their youth? Such a lesson had been taught to them so early...and, again, it made sense. You were a passive coward too. You understood the fear of stepping forward and speaking up where you aren't wanted. You understood wanting to keep yourself safe so as not to cause trouble for others...
That was what you'd always done...
That was what...you sometimes wished you could still do...
Green's "stay in my lane" stance was one they never wanted to deviate from. You had to respect that, and do your part to protect them the best you could...The thought of going back to it, staying by their side and hoping the danger doesn't find you, was definitely alluring...but...
You couldn't afford to do that anymore, could you...?
And yet...in front of you, you watch their posture straighten back up, and their voice become calmer...
"In times like this especially...it would be best to stay quiet and compliant, would it not?"
...What? "Compliant"? "Would it not"? You didn't expect such vocabulary from them all of a sudden! That came outta nowhere, to the point it almost gave you whiplash...
It was...different. Just different enough for you to notice. It wasn't a big deal, but...The way they asked that question, what did they want you to answer...?
You didn't fully know why, but...you felt a chill run through your body as you stared at their back...
Silence fell for many seconds, as you thought about what to say...
Until they looked over their shoulder at you, smile back on their face, and it was like that moment hadn't happened. Gone as soon as it came.
"But...would that make me a good captain?" they nervously asked, "Am I making sense?"
You were very quick to shake your head and wave your hands in front of you. "Y-you are, don't worry!" you did your best to assure them.
But then, as you did before when you were eager to lift their spirits...you kept going. Rambling again.
"I...I understand why you think that way, but...I actually think that wasn't a bad thing you tried to do! I think that was really cool of you!" you stuttered, "I-I mean- there's nothing wrong with trying to help! That's leader material, if you ask me!"
And, as always, your rambling, while it would bother other people, never seemed to bother them. They were just happy to have a friend to talk to, just like you. As evidenced when they turned to face you with a bashful expression and slightly red cheeks that made your chest feel warmer.
"Awww, shucks..." they replied, as if touched by your praise.
They really had no idea how they positively affected others like you...and you hoped that, if- when- when this mission was over, and they were assigned more missions on more ships, they would gradually become more aware of the good they do for others.
You genuinely wanted to see them become a captain. With more experience leading, you believed they could do it. They had a ways to go, but they already certainly knew how to keep morale high, which was an important skill, right...?
The two of you continued walking to Storage, the hallways getting colder and dimmer as you did, but you barely noticed as you confided in them.
"I-I wanna stay in my lane, too, just like you...E-especially now..." you confessed, before trying to hype yourself up as best you could, "B-but I can't...! Not when I don't want anyone else to die..."
Images flashed by in your head...of all the crewmates who lost their lives to the threat that has still yet to be found...And to those still alive, their backs to each other, with the exceptions of you two, standing together in the middle of the tension.
You didn't know how you'd be holding up without them...supporting you when no one else left wanted to...
"I-I hate being the one who has to do this..." you stuttered, your voice trembling with emotion, "B-but, everyone else is too busy just...sh-shouting at each other, and...I gotta try...s-somehow...!"
You thought back to how much everyone seemed to get along when you'd first boarded...before the danger arose. Those who'd tried to make you feel welcome were almost all gone now, and you hadn't been able to do anything to save them...
You'd been too scared... A mess... A...coward...
Even when you should've known something was wrong, you did nothing...You'd briefly succumbed to the doubt, and had froze when you were needed most...
No more...
"Y-Yellow and Brown deserve justice...and no one else deserves to die...!"
As you voiced your determination, you assured yourself this was the right thing. You couldn't take back your lack of action before today, no matter how much you wanted to...but you could choose to learn from it. Yellow had supported your decision to get on this ship because they'd always wanted you to become stronger and learn to stand up for yourself, rather than keep being spineless...Now was your chance to make them proud.
You were scared...so, so scared. You were terrified of how close to death itself you could be at any moment. But...
You still had a reason to keep going. One last person left to fight for.
"...You've...gotten brave."
Those words, spoken unexpectedly softly, made your chest swell with warmth. Praise sounded so good in their voice...probably because you knew you could trust them, so if they praised you, you must be doing something right.
You shyly looked away from them, trying to hide the small smile you couldn't wipe off your face for several seconds.
"Like...seriously brave!" they continued, back to their usual tone, "At this rate, I'm worried that you're gonna leave me behind! Heh..."
Wait, why would you leave them behind-?
It took you a few seconds to realize what they were implying. Once it hit you, you immediately spoke up, not allowing them to think that way about themselves.
"Wh-? A-are you saying you're not brave?" you exclaimed, "Are you kidding me? D-don't say that! You're super brave! C'mon now!"
You knew they weren't the most confident person around, and to an extent, you understood why. Being nothing more than an intern, constantly spoke over by all the louder and more bombastic personalities would definitely do that to someone...but that didn't mean they weren't brave!
"J-just...being able to be here at all proves that! You're here, with a goal you set for yourself...B-being able to chase a goal at all, and get closer to it, takes so much bravery! A-and you get to be here because you took those first steps toward that goal to be captain!" you explained, stumbling over your words as you spoke faster and faster, "A-and you're always so nice to everyone, even when they're not nice to you...and even when you're not getting any pay outta it! You know how hard that is-?"
Once you started talking about them, you kept going. At first, wanting to explain to them how wrong they were, as they went silent, looking at you with wide eyes...but then...
"I-I can barely stand being yelled at, but you? Y-you take everything so well! E-even when you don't know what to do!" you started stuttering more, still trying to make sense, "S-so what if you're scared? We're all scared right now! Wh-what matters is that...unlike some people-" you were specifically thinking about Purple- "you never stopped trusting people...and y-you're still there to help everyone, no matter what..."
Oh no...were you talking about them too much? You weren't going too far into everything you like about them, are you? They'd tell you to stop if you were, right? You hoped you hadn't said anything too embarrassing-!
You slowed down, feeling nervous again, your face feeling warm. "Wh-what I mean is...you're so much braver than me...f-for being here, and...and, uh...." you hesitated, "being...being y-you..."
You immediately stopped talking after those words left your mouth.
What...did you just say...? What was all of that? You could've just stopped at telling them they were brave, not- all of that! How would you explain that? How much of that did they really need to hear? That was so cheesy- What has gotten into you?!
You felt the shame and embarrassment seep into you, more by the second, as silence fell again between you, leaving your words hanging in the air unanswered.
You'd said too much.
You really weren't good at this...
You were just trying to be a good friend to them...because that's what you were. Friends. Just friends. You were just friends- and you couldn't come across like you wanted more right now-! You'd figure that mess out later-!
They stared at you for several seconds, before looking away, hiding their face from you...Were they embarrassed by your words, or flustered, or-?
"...Thanks."
That one word was all they said.
And...it sounded...flat.
That was worse than sounding flustered. That gave off an even worse message to you...After you'd said all that to them, heaping all that praise, a bit too much...
They didn't believe you, did they?
They were so used to being seen as the clumsy newbie who compared themselves to the Captain, that they didn't see themselves as brave. And you couldn't help their confidence, no matter how hard you tried. All that could help was more experience...
And that stung. That really hurt...You didn't want them to have a low opinion of themselves...You wanted to help! You wanted to let them know you really did think the world of them!
But...as much as you wanted to...there was no time for that now.
Because, only a minute later, you arrived at Storage.
You quickly tried to pull yourself together from the awkward moment. You were gonna talk to Captain Red. You couldn't afford to look scared right now. You had to be taken seriously if you were gonna make them take your request for a meeting seriously.
At the entrance, you froze for a moment, taking a few deep breaths in order to steady yourself. It didn't work too well. You could still feel your anxiety spiking. You were so not used to this, and the thought of messing it up terrified you.
But then, you and Green shared a quick glance at each other. They looked a bit nervous too...but they smiled. And that was enough for you.
Remembering that you were leading, you stepped into the room first, your steps slow and unsure while theirs followed behind.
It was a bit dark, but not to the point where you couldn't see. You still squinted a bit, looking around to see if anyone was present. You saw nothing. It looked completely empty in there.
You cleared your throat before attempting to speak up. "Um...excuse me? Captain?"
No answer.
You didn't wanna speak louder, but you still tried again. "C-Captain? You in here? I wanna talk to you about something!"
Still no answer.
Well, you just made yourself feel really awkward.
Freezing up in your tracks again, you took another deep breath. You had to do this. You had to. Don't chicken out now...
"Captain? This is important!" you kept calling, as you stepped further into the room, your voice echoing off the walls, "Red?" That was the first time you'd addressed them by their name, which made you feel weird.
You looked around yourself again, spotting some of Black's equipment near one of the Ore+ containers, but no sign of them or the Captain. You did, however, notice tarp on the floor near the equipment...and you retched when you realized what was likely underneath. You quickly turned away from it, taking another deep, shaking breath.
The sooner you got outta here, the better.
The thought of them coming here, of all places...You began to feel...uneasy at how empty it all was...but that was just you, right...? You had to calm the hell down...This didn't have to mean anything...As long as nothing was lurking in the shadows watching you, it was nothing...! It didn't mean the Captain was actually the...the...
...Maybe they came to check on the ore to make sure it was safe, and then left before you got there. That made sense. You were too slow to catch them...Just your luck...
You let out a frustrated huff. "I-I guess we just missed them...ugh..."
At least it wasn't anything worse...It was just poor timing, nothing more.
You managed to let out a small chuckle at your own expense as you slumped against one of the containers, feeling a bit woozy from stress for a few seconds. "My first time leading anything, and...and already, it's not going well, huh?"
Your self-deprecating jab was met with no answer.
Silence fell.
Now you really felt awkward...You expected Green to laugh along with you, like always-
You looked behind you...and there was no one there.
You could've sworn you felt your heart stop.
"Green...?"
Your first reaction was confusion.
Where did they go? They were just behind you! They wouldn't leave without telling you, either! They wouldn't-
The confusion quickly turned to panic. No. You looked around, spinning in place, your eyes darting every which way to try to spot them.
"Where are you? Green?" you called their name a bit louder, your throat beginning to feel dry. This wasn't the same as being ignored by the Captain...You just saw them. They were just here with you, following closely behind you. You had just spoken to them. You had heard their footsteps, assuring you of their comforting presence as you'd prepared yourself...
And now...they're suddenly not here...? What's going on...? Were you losing your mind from the stress...? Why weren't they answering...?
This was so unlike them, it set off alarm bells in your head.
Something wasn't right. Green wouldn't do this.
The silence wasn't just unnerving now...It had become deafening. It was the feeling of suddenly being left alone...No one watching over you...No one to help you...
Lost in a place you knew.
"Green?" you called their name again, your breathing getting heavier and your voice beginning to crack, "Green!?"
...Your biggest fear, the thing you'd had nightmares about...abandonment. Everything you'd opened yourself up to when leaving isolation, and everything you'd grown attached to on board the Skeld, suddenly being ripped away from you...
The last thing you'd held dear...The only reason you had to keep smiling through the terror and dread...
All of a sudden, you couldn't find them...
And for a moment, you felt yourself start to collapse. Your chest felt tight, and you were close to hyperventilating. Everything felt so much bigger to you...Bigger, emptier, and scarier...and you were the coward you'd sworn to never be again...
But only for a moment.
Before you heard that voice say your name.
It was them.
You looked over in the direction you heard it, which was a distance away at the other end of the room near another crate.
"I'm over here!"
You nearly doubled over when you heard their voice again, sounding cheerful as ever.
"G-Green...? Oh, thank god...!" you stuttered, clutching your chest as your heart hammered through your ears, "You almost gave me a heart attack...!"
Instead of apologizing, you heard them let out a light little chuckle in response to your comment.
"H-hey, that's not funny!" you objected, stomping your foot on the ground, before managing you get yourself back into motion again to walk up to the crate, "Wh-what're you even doing behind there, anyway-?"
"Come over here and see!"
That was all they said. Of course, you happily obliged. Anything to distance yourself from the sheer panic you'd just experienced. If you could just see their face, and laugh it off together, then you'd forgive them for such a stunt. You couldn't ever hold a grudge against Green...
Even if you didn't know what had just gotten into them...! This wasn't the time to be so...playful? Was that the right word-?
You walked up to the crate where you'd heard their voice, only to hear the soft sound of footsteps to the side of you. You expected to see them when you looked around the crate, but they weren't there.
"No, not there! Over here, slowpoke~"
Now their voice was behind you again. You looked over your shoulder, but still didn't see anything.
At this point, you were getting antsy, and wanted nothing more than to return to their side. You wondered if they were doing this to get back at you for making things awkward in the hallway. In that case, you deserved it, and would definitely apologize to them for it.
You turned around, and walked around the container again, going over in the direction of another one at the other end of the room, where you again heard their voice echoing encouragingly at you.
"That's it, over here~"
Something had changed in their tone, but you couldn't quite identify what...It was probably that you weren't used them so blatantly teasing you like this...but you wouldn't complain. As long as they were still there with you.
As you stepped closer, you attempted to tease back, feeling your cheeks flush. "Wh-when I get over there, I swear I-"
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Schlup. Schlup.
Your thought was interrupted when you heard the most jarring and uncomfortable sounds you'd ever heard coming from the direction you were walking.
You couldn't compare it to anything. It didn't sound like anything you'd ever heard.
First, a cracking noise, akin to the snapping of twigs...Then, a squishy, almost slimy noise, accompanied by what sounded like a liquid dripping onto the floor...Bringing to mind a wet, saggy lump of raw meat.
It was sickening.
You almost felt ill on the spot, by the sound alone.
You couldn't stay here.
Yet, you kept walking, your steps getting faster until you'd darted behind the crate. "Green, did you just hear that?! We- we gotta-"
Once again, they weren't there. You didn't find anything...
...or so it seemed at first.
While your eyes darted around for a trace of where Green could've gone next, a shadow cast over you from behind...followed by another noise you couldn't compare to anything, but vaguely sounded like a screech of some kind...
You slowly looked behind you, holding your breath...
What you saw made your blood run cold in fear. It was the nightmare you'd miraculously avoided until now. It was finally staring you down as its next prey.
The impostor was here.
You only had a second to absorb what you were seeing. And in that second, it felt like time stopped. You couldn't move, you couldn't speak, you couldn't think. You could only stare, like a deer in headlights.
Then, after that second was over, it moved toward you. And you finally screamed.
You turned and ran, ducking back behind the crate where you'd last heard Green's voice. Your only shelter...Once there, you collapsed on the ground, heaving. You attempted to make yourself as small as possible, getting on your knees and covering your head as the crate's shadow concealed you, but its inhuman growls and gargles didn't get any quieter.
You wanted to call out for Green, but your voice got stuck in your throat. Part of you hoped they were safe...but the other part came to an awful conclusion.
You didn't wanna think of it, but you couldn't shake it...
The possibility that your suspicions of Red were correct, and...because you were too chicken to tell Green, they...they...
...
The air in Storage felt colder. More desolate. Lonelier...
Smaller...
You didn't wanna believe it...but you felt it. How, in a matter of seconds, you'd indeed lost everything you had left to that thing. Right under your nose, you'd let your guard down, and as soon as you took your eyes off them...
They were...gone...
And it wasn't done.
Just as you were starting to get choked up, cursing the name of the so-called "Captain" you'd sworn to keep trusting...you were startled by a cold, slimy tendril reaching behind the crate and wrapping twice around your huddled body. You let out a squeak, but couldn't muster anything louder.
You, did, however, instinctively start squirming with all your remaining strength as it forcibly yanked you back into the open. It was hopeless, as you were much too weak, yet your tiny body still tried. Even with so little to lose, you tried...
Your life...still had to be worth something, right...? Everything you'd been given...The memories you'd made...! Everyone who spared you their time...!
Green's face flashed in your head.
You couldn't give up...You couldn't...You couldn't...
You flailed your legs as you were dragged along the floor, and you attempted to free your arms as they were held to your side. The grip on you was tight, but slimy...so if you could slip free-
The impostor, of course, was not akin to a mindless, feral beast. It was intelligent. You knew this. It had to be, in order to work how it did...and it knew. It knew how to make you stop struggling.
The tendril holding you around your torso tightened further...and suddenly sprouted...what felt like spikes along it. They stabbed you in several places on your stomach and back. The pain was immediate.
You yowled in agony, and your body went still.
You were then flung into the air, too fast to react to, as the pain engulfed your senses. You were then caught and suspended in midair by several more tendrils, wrapping around each of your limbs. They pulled tightly, assuring you had no hope of freeing yourself...
From the stab wounds across your torso, you couldn't hear anything anymore behind the ringing in your ears. It was so fast...Everything was so fast again...How did it go so wrong...?
Just a moment ago, you'd heard Green's voice calling you...and now, you're alone...
This thing got them first...To taunt you...To rip everything from you, leaving you for last, because you were the weak, sensitive one...
They'd just wanted to make it out alive. They'd just wanted to follow their dream. They'd never done anything to hurt anyone...and now, they were so quickly taken away, by the one they'd looked up too so much...
Before you could do anything, they-
Damn it...
Damn you and your indecisiveness...
You'd known...You'd suspected this, and had said nothing...!
Under your breath, as you felt the room around your dangling body spin, you muttered helplessly...
"G-Green..."
The tendrils around your limbs tugged harder, until they all sprouted teeth as well, stabbing you in several more places. You cried out as tears rolled down your cheeks.
"G...Green..." you sobbed your friend's name, hopelessly begging for their forgiveness.
It was too late for you.
You weakly open your eyes to truly see the one you'd been so blind to before. The one you'd been foolish enough to follow the orders of...You wanted to curse them for all the lives it'd taken...of those it claimed to care about...
If only you'd called that meeting when you could...Maybe Purple would've actually listened...and then, Green would still be...
It was the first time you'd ever seen it up close in its true form...and you wished you hadn't. It was a shapeless, pulsating mass of flesh, teeth, and tendrils. And it was over twice your height, meaning even if you miraculously could squirm free, the fall to the ground would be just as painful. It didn't look like it had any eyes with which to see you, yet it saw you anyway. How did it see? How did it think?
All you knew about it was that it had no heart.
It let out a low growl-like sound as it pulled you closer to it, as if reacting to you opening your eyes with amusement. You let out a pitiful sob as tears blurred your vision. The thought of once trusting this thing, only for it to be this...You were gonna be sick.
Another tendril, this one smaller, sprouted from the mass in front of you, and instead of further hurting you, it brushed your cheek, getting its cold slime on your face. You shivered at the sensation.
Bile rose to your throat, but you were too weak and dizzy to do any more than feebly attempt to choke it back down.
This was it for you, wasn't it?
It hurt so much...You felt the world around you fade, as the pain took your mind, your body, your sight...All you could see was the monster who you'd trusted for too long...
I'm so sorry, Cyan... I'm so sorry, Yellow... I'm so sorry, Brown... ...I'm so sorry, Green...
I wanted to be brave for you, but I did nothing but fail...You gave me so much, but I was never good enough at anything...I'm so, so sorry...
You could only brace yourself now. There was nothing left to do. You were already severely wounded and too weak to struggle. You were dead no matter what, and it could do whatever it wanted. It could make it slow and agonizing, or it could be over quickly.
The perfect dilemma for such a sadistic creature...
You got your answer immediately.
It pulled.
The tendrils dug into your arms and legs all tugged in different directions, stretching your body as far as it could go. You cried out, but your voice was too weak by now to reach anyone outside...
God, if you could apologize to Purple, you could. They were right all along...and they could've saved everyone if you'd listened to them-
If only you could've been more like Green...Someone who saw the good in everyone...Rather than a coward who only tried to become brave at the last minute when it no longer mattered...
With the last of your willpower, you spoke through your pain...
"Ass...hole..."
Your voice was only barely audible, yet filled with all the venom you could throw at the one who had tricked their entire crew. The only way you could hope to make your last words count as they ripped you apart...
However...a second later...it stopped pulling.
And...as if responding to your insult...it made a high-pitched chirping noise that sounded almost like laughter...
Only for actual laughter to accompany it in perfect sync. A real laugh. A person's laugh.
While mocking, it also was an almost...cheerful laugh.
You...recognized it.
The same laugh you heard when you awkwardly attempted to tell jokes. The same laugh you heard when telling you stories over breakfast in the Cafeteria. The same laugh you heard when stumbling over your words when you got a bit too flustered as you told your own stories. The same laugh you heard when greeting them a bit too loudly and apologizing. The same laugh you heard when making fun of the day you slipped on the wet floor...
That was not Red's laugh.
You may have been spared a few extra moments before your end...but you wished you hadn't. The pain you felt just now was enough to break anyone on the spot. It was the worst kind of pain...the kind that was felt so deep, it could never be repaired.
It didn't stop at betrayal, or anguish...it was both at once. The thing you'd been afraid of during all your years in isolation...
Heartbreak.
The twisting of your gut as you, dizzy and weak, watched the grotesque mass move in front of your eyes, and a face emerge from it, looking back at you.
And you almost vomited.
Familiar eyes, yet barely seeming like a person's anymore...bloodthirsty, looking at you like a predator looks at prey.
A familiar smile widened into something unrecognizable....a wide, toothy grin that only conveyed sadistic amusement.
Everything you'd taken comfort in was replaced by what had been hidden underneath the surface.
You stared at each other, your eyes no doubt conveying all the pain you couldn't say out loud. You didn't wanna believe it was real. You wanted to hide from reality...to believe it was a nightmare born of your own ridiculous paranoia...
A broken sob was all that escaped you. Part of you wanted to ask them...something...but you didn't know what. What was there to ask anymore...? What could you say now...?
You didn't get the chance. You only looked at each other for a few seconds before they started pulling again, this time faster and harder. You yelled again, tears clouding your eyes...
Their laughter continued, a twisted echo of the monster's distorted alien sounds behind them...Their two voices, real and fake, together in unison, enjoying your death as if it gave them life.
"You just haaaaad to look for the answers you couldn't handle, huh~?"
The last sounds you heard.
"I liked you better as a coward~"
Ripping apart the only happy memories you made on this blasted ship.
"Nosy little pest~"
Tearing away the last bit of hope and joy you held for so long, before ripping you apart.
Everything went dark just as you shattered to pieces, both in body and spirit.
