Chapter Text
Lime was terrified.
They were terrified of the sickening artificial green glow illuminating from the medical scanner. They were terrified of the flickering fluorescent lights undoubtedly setting an ominous atmosphere to the usually comforting medbay. They were terrified by the set of medical equipment laid on one of the counters, the sharp tools glinting menacingly at them. They can count the number of possibilities that could go wrong if they continue with the medical scan, like Blue selling it to the shadow government hiding inside the MIRA corporation for who knows what or how the medical scanner is actually a brainwashing machine trying to make them forget their own autonomy to become a mindless slave.
Blue was quick to assure Lime that nothing bad will happen to them. Their voice soothing out all of Lime's worries without the condescending tone the other crewmates usually has whenever Lime is spouting out theories that doesn't make any sense.
Speaking of the ridiculously charming, attractive and surprisingly understanding doctor.
They were especially terrified by the unusual sensation building up inside their chest as they felt the doctor's hand delicately held their own.
"Look," Blue's hand was now guiding them to the medical scanner, their eyes searching for any signs of discomfort in Lime's body language. "I promise you that this will only take a moment, take a deep breath and try to calm yourself alright?"
"I don't need to do any of that." Lime grumbled beneath their breath, pulling their hand away from the other before promptly stepping on the scanner. "Let's just get this over with."
Blue gave them a nod before activating the scanner. Letting tiny radio waves pierce through your body to create a detailed map of your organs and bones isn't exactly an enjoyable experience for Lime however the way Blue tilts their head to the side as they monitor the operation was an adorable sight to see. Not to mention, they pout their lips in concentration without even knowing that they're doing it! How can someone be this effortlessly cute?
Lime fought the urge to slap themselves for thinking that.
Don't objectify the doctor, ya moron!
After a few seconds of Lime's insides being visually charted out within every inch of their body, the sudden beep coming off the machine indicates the whole procedure is done. The whole world was spinning rapidly inside Lime's head, a strange static touch was still left sticking in their skin. Similar to rolling yourselves on to a fuzzy carpet for hours, it left Lime shivering in discomfort but at least their skin wasn't glowing a vibrant green like the others – only just a little bit.
Huh, maybe it wasn't all that bad, Lime thought as they try to balance themselves. Blue immediately went by their side and lend out a helping hand. Lime stared at their hand for what seemed like hours before reluctantly holding it. They stubbornly ignore the loud pounding noise of their heart beating against their chest – maybe the medical scan biologically did something to their heart to cause their heart to skip this fast wherever they're with Blue.
"Once again, thank you for putting your beliefs aside and choosing to trust me on this." Blue guides them away from the scanner, then reaching for Lime's other hand to hold. "I know it's hard for you to do that, especially with your bad experiences among the medical community. You were very brave to overcome this fear of yours and I hope that–"
"Bah!" Lime waves them off, their whole face was full on red now. "Enough with the sentiments! Are we done here or are there any more tests or weird experiments you have to do to me?"
"We're done." Blue assured them. "There's no more medical exams to conduct, I just have to analyze the results to figure out what we're dealing with."
Lime furrowed their eyebrows. "Hey, why do we need to get scanned anyway? And how is this related to White's death?"
With that, Blue suddenly makes a solemn expression. "Ah unfortunately that's classified – I apologize for not being able to provide any more information beyond the surface level."
"It's fine..." They were still suspicious of whatever reason Blue needed the crew's scans but didn't question further. "Just shred mine after you're done, I don't need it to accidentally get into the wrong hands, capisce?"
A deep laughter blessed Lime's ears. Blue leans on closer to Lime, a soft smile plastered on their face. The closeness between wasn't suffocating or anything but Lime felt like the air was knocked out of them. Lime was going to explode with all the pent up emotions that were bubbling inside of them, Lime wonders if Blue knows what's their doing to them. If Blue knows how much every interaction they have will ultimately leave Lime blushing madly like a maniac.
“Got it, and I know you're probably tired of hearing me say this but thanks again, Lime." Blue softly said, saying as though they meant every word but Lime wasn't a fool.
There was no way that someone as beautiful as Blue cared for Lime, they were on the opposite end of the spectrum. Blue was intelligent, kind, and thoughtful while Lime was well, he wasn't exactly the picture perfect person that interns would swooned over. Lime was the person that made interns deliberately choose a longer path to walk through just to avoid walking with them on the hallways or the type that people pointedly ignore for their own mental health's sake because being constantly present during one of Lime's rambling sessions could probably kill all the remaining braincells people have. Or atleast that was what Red said to them the other day after a long rant about Lime's theory of government officials being lizard people who came from the center of the Earth.
Nonetheless, Lime shouldn't let themselves feel these emotions. Especially to a person like Blue who was totally out of their league to begin with. Who was a thousand times more attractive than Lime, it had to be crime to even picture them at the same place together!
Lime quickly snapped out of their thoughts after seeing that Blue was looking at them with a soft expression, patiently waiting for Lime to provide a response.
“Whatever.” They muttered as they quickly walked past Blue to get back to their station before the other could say anything more, completely oblivious to the lingering pair of eyes hopelessly following them.
“Son of a–” Lime stopped themselves before any more profanities that will escape from their mouth. The sharp pain coming from the sliced wound was excruciating, Lime mentally cursed at themselves for thinking that loud thud inside the vent was a giant gremlin coming out to get them. Another curse for seemingly tripping on thin air while running away from said gremlin causing them to slice their arm on a sharp piece of metal sticking out. On a closer inspection, they saw that it was because of a hole torn on the wall.
As if something was forcefully breaking out on the other side, which was strange since Lime was the only one able to fit inside the vents.
They mentally noted to themselves to fix that later as they untied the bandana wrapped around their head to use as a temporary bandage to prevent bleeding. Lime can already hear Orange's nagging about unsanitary bodily liquids being found in one of the vents being unethical workplace practices or something along the lines of that.
"Well, at least I get to see Blue again." The pain was intense but hopefully after seeing the doctor, it would make a little less unbearable. Lime should probably tell them about the weird hole, Blue's smart they would give a reasonable explanation on how that happen to ease Lime's paranoia.
Maybe there's a metal eating worm inside the vents, Lime thought anxiously as they pulled themselves up from the vent.
They look up to see the cafeteria entirely empty with no crewmates on sight, the others were probably laying comfortingly asleep or in Purple's case doing security checks at this hour. They hoped they wouldn't interrupt Blue's beauty sleep especially since they're the one that needs it the most for how hardworking they are.
Lime made their way to the Medbay, clutching their injured arm on their chest. The blood was already seeping through the makeshift bandage so they hurriedly ran to the familiar metal doors. They tentatively knocked on the door with their uninjured hand.
“Hey doc?” Lime called out before knocking again. “Got myself injured in the vents, d'ya think you can patch my arm up?”
No one responds.
“I know you're a bit busy doc but I really need you right now.”
Another knock. No one responds.
“Doc, you're starting to scare me – you all good in there?”
Another knock.
“Doc?”
No one still responds.
Lime starts banging the door, desperately calling out Blue's name. Something bad is happening inside there, Blue wasn't the type to let their patient bleed out outside of the Medbay. Blue was the type of person to drop everything at once for something as trivial as someone receiving a paper cut. They were far too kind and caring for their own good, which was one of the many traits that Lime deeply admires about the doctor.
At this point, Blue was already finished with snitching their arm with those gentle hands. Lime quickly grabs the handle on the door, pulling it with all of the strength but it still wouldn't open. They pressed their ear against the cold metal doors, trying hard to listen and figure out what's happening on the other side but all they can hear is their own frantic breathing.
“Blue! Are you alright? Don't tell me the gremlins are trying to kill you–” Lime bangs the doors again before forming an idea. This would definitely break their bones but they're running out of options at this point.
They took a step backwards before quickly hurling themselves at the door. Pushing all of their body weight directly at the metal doors, hoping it'll be enough to break through the door. By some miracle it did, Lime felt their entire body fall down – earning them a loud crack! as their head hit the now fallen metal door. Fortunately, the aching pain forming in their head wasn't painful enough to knock them out unconscious – so using all of the strength they had left in their body they lift their head to see what's in front of them.
Blue.
Their eyes immediately went to Blue, standing face to face with a large monstrous figure made out of what seems to be flesh by the desk area. Blue's face was pure horror, their eyes wide opened with so much fear that Lime felt their heart crushed on how utterly scared Blue looked. They have never seen Blue look like that ever during the years they know each other, a rush of protectiveness washes through them. One that the didn't even know they had possessed until now.
They needed to get that monster away from Blue.
With no hesitation, they ran towards them and immediately pushing them out of the way. Blue was thrown away to the side, seemingly snapping out from the fear stricken state. Lime was now faced with the monster, they quickly took whatever weapon they could find on the desk – a scalpel before flinging themsleves toward it.
As they ran towards it, they had the unfortunately opportunity to really take a look at what in the hell their fighting against. Aliens, that was the word that instantly popped up inside their head. It doesn't look anything remotely like a human being even though it seems like it's skin is made of flesh. But before they hit it with full force, It's jagged teeth formed out a menacing grin as the one of their slimy tentacles made their way to wrapped them around Lime's waist.
“What the–” They try to wriggle themselves out of its grip, only for it to tighten it so hard it would leave bruises on Lime's skin. With a frustrated cry, Lime managed to stab it on the tentacle with the scalpel they had – slashing it across the skin. A loud shriek came out from it, it was haunting like hearing the screams of thousands of people at once. The creature stumbled backwards, crashing into the medical scanner causing a jolt of electricity to traveled through it's veins.
The smell of burnt flesh fills the Medbay, Lime was panting as they clutch their injured arm from the vent – more excruciating than ever. It went on a few moments before the sound of electricity finally stops, the creature lay there with their burnt skin breathing heavily. Lime tried to walk towards it, the scapel still in their hand to finish the job but a painful sensation pierces through their injured arm – falling down on their knees as they scream.
The creature, still in it's weakened state took the opportunity to let out a loud hiss before slithering away to hide inside the vent.
Goddammit, Lime cursed at themselves for their own stupidity on letting the monster let loose.
They push themselves off the floor, trying to stand up but the pain from their arm was too much it made their knees wobbling. Seconds before falling again a pair of gently hands quickly catches them. Lime doesn't need to look up to see who those belong to. They let themselves be held, mixed with the exhaustion and pain still throbbing in their entire body Lime felt like they were a few seconds away from passing out.
“Lime!” Tears were pouring out from Blue's eyes, even if snot were coming out of their nose – Lime still thinks that Blue is the most beautiful person across the galaxies. “Oh my goodness—”
The last thing Lime heard was the desperate cries of Blue's voice before falling into unconsciousness.