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Everybody made it back to Industria safely, transported the Ore+, and they’ve all somehow stayed in contact. Being in that ship was a great opportunity for all of them to really get to know each other even if things got tense. Both friendships bloomed and other relationship issues worsened. Even so, it was definitely a nice experience for Purple, although even if mostly toward the end.
Everybody had met up in White’s mansion for a party. None of them really liked White that much, but it was still a nice place to be, even if White had been a dick towards almost everyone, albeit seemingly it wasn’t always intentional from White. They just didn’t know better, the kid grew up rich, that’s just how life was.
There had been… numerous drinks set out, and almost everyone was drunk. Purple, being the reasonable one, wasn’t. They had one drink and that was it, and they have a fairly high alcohol tolerance anyway. It didn’t do much to them. So, wanting to watch over their friends, Purple scanned the room.
White and Green were talking in the corner, both of their faces flushed from intoxication. It looked like White was making a move on Green, so Purple decided maybe they shouldn’t watch those two. Cyan and Black were talking, Black being drunk and Cyan only buzzed. Cyan was talking about energy and crystals while Black, dazed as ever, nodded along. It was mostly just the regular people bunched together—Yellow and Brown, Blue and Lime (Purple still has no idea how they convinced Lime to come here), Red and…
Huh. Purple had no clue where Red even was. Knowing Red, they probably were drunk out of their mind.
Purple skims over the room again, not seeing Red anywhere. That is until they turn to the side, and Red is stumbling towards them. Ah. There they are.
“Heey, Purp’s!” Red warbles once they’re in close distance, sitting next to Purple and smiling like an idiot. “You, uh… You’re all ‘lone here… Hm?” They gesture to Purple and the spot they’re both sitting at.
Purple hums. “Hi, Red. Yeah, I am.” An amused grin works its way onto Purple’s face. Purple glances down to the floor then back at Red, who’s still intently staring at them. “Well…” Purple adjusts their hands in their lap. “I suppose I’m not anymore, eh?”
Red slowly nods. “Noope…” They bumble, leaning against Purple. “Thanks to your, heh, wonderful and… Awesome… Amazing captain, me! Red. Heh.” Red points to themself with their thumb.
Purple doesn’t shove Red off, rather, they let them lean against Purple. Considering how much they were stumbling, Red probably needed something, or in this case, someone to lean against. Purple doesn’t respond to Red’s babbling, instead, they just go back to people-watching.
Now, Green and White were nowhere to be seen, but Purple doesn’t question it. Cyan and Black were still talking, Cyan gesturing to each stone and pointing between the two. Lime seemed to be ranting to the doctor, but when was Lime not ranting? All of them have heard Lime talk about their conspiracies at least once. Blue was the only one who could stand it and soothe Lime.
Purple enjoyed watching all their friends. Well, some of them weren’t exactly Purple’s friend. Some of them Purple just couldn’t relate to. Red was a weird case, Purple never really knew how to feel about Red. They look over at Red again, having had thought about them, who was still gazing at Purple.
“Purp’s, heh.. Hey…” Red chirps, making direct eye contact. Which was strange, for Red, who usually adverted their eyes away from Purple. Purple never really knew why Red did that.
Purple turns their head back to look at the crowd of people again, but they adjust and wrap an arm around Red’s back. “Hey, Red.” Purple spoke softly.
Red shuffles to get more comfortable against Purple. “Heey… Heh, Purp’s, you’re really.. You’re… Mmm…” Red searches for the words, their gaze flicking back and forth on the side profile of Purple. “You’re a good security person, ya’know…” Red rolls onto their side, moving to get up-close and personal with Purple. “Really good.”
Purple cocks their eyebrow and uses two fingers to push Red’s face back. “Thank you, Red.” Red whines, but lets Purple’s gentle touch guide their face back. “You’re a good captain.” Purple doesn’t truly think Red is a good captain, in fact, Red is quite a shitty captain, but Purple wouldn’t want to break Red’s fragile—currently drunk—heart. Red is good at piloting a ship, that’s true, but not good with a crew… or really anyone. Red’s expertises aren’t socializing.
Red tilts their head, their eyes widening as Purple compliments them. “You think I’m a good captain?” Red whispers between the two of them, almost as if it was confidential information between the two. Purple simply nods.
Red beams, shuffling closer one more despite Purple having slid them away. “Awh, Purp’s!” They chuckles. “I mean.. Ahh.. I know I am, but you didn’t have to say it!” Red bats their eyelashes at Purple. Red pulls back from leaning against Purple, sitting up straight and turning to the security guard. The position they were before in was quite uncomfortable anyway. “We aren’t even at the, ah.. Ship.. Right now…” Red drunkenly giggles. “But you say that…”
Purple shrugs. “I know we aren’t, Red.” They don’t push Red back this time, but they lean back a little, to which Red pays no mind to. “You called me a "good security person", yet we aren’t at the ship, so…”
Red rolls their eyes, looking back at Purple. “Uh, yeah, I know! Who cares, logistics, or.. Whatever…” Red waves their hand. With that hand, they poke Purple’s chest. They leave their finger pressed up against Purple. “I… I think I know why you said I was a good cap’n, Purp’s…”
Purple wraps their hand around Red’s wrist and gently, they remove it from their chest. Instead of letting go, they hold it hovering in the air. Red doesn’t yank it back. “Mhm?” Purple hums out.
Red was really cute right now, Purple had to admit. They were smiling and blushing, even if it was just from the alcohol. Each word that poured out of Red’s mouth was slurred and airy, and there was this curve to their voice that made it clear they had this dumb smile on their face.
Red flexes their wrist—that was captured by Purple’s—for just a second, as if graveling for the confidence. “‘S ‘cause you wanna kiss me, Purp’s?” Red teased, tilting their head.
Purple’s breath hitched.
Oh.
Well… Purple wasn’t really expecting that answer.
Purple was expecting Red to say it’s because they’re an amazing friend, or something stupid like that, and start gloating about themself. Purple’s mind hadn’t even crossed that possibility. Did they want to kiss Red, really?
Red was a friend, one they’ve had this rocky relationship with, one that’s fucked over so much things and on the other side of the coin, helped some others. Red’s been a staple in Purple’s life that Purple didn’t even consider that much up until now.
Purple’s gaze drifts down to Red’s lips. They probably tasted like alcohol, if anything. Purple wouldn’t, Red’s drunk, and Red is only just saying things. Purple tears their gaze away from Red’s stupid face. They turn their head away from Red, trying to find someone else or anything to look at, really.
“Ah-ah-ah!” Red interjects, wagging their finger. They reach over and tilt Purple’s head back over towards them. “Heh, you’re so red…” Red snorts. “Like, uuh.. Like, like my name…”
Red slides their hand to Purple’s chin, inspecting Purple as they keep them looking at them. Purple looks back, speechless and almost mortified. “Don’t look at me like that, Purp’s! You know…” Red leans in closer.
Red’s voice gets softer, albeit still slurred. “I’d kiss you too.” Purple and Red’s face were inches away as Red sings that out. Purple is having multiple realizations as Red assumes this position.
The answer is, yes, they want to kiss Red. It’s not something they thought about before, but maybe it had been just under the radar of Purple’s realizations. Now that Purple thinks back, they found themself wanting to be around Red quite often. They’d often, even if it would lead to banter or even the two of them snapping at each other, would find their feet bringing them back to the same room. The room Red’s in.
Purple never even minded when Red would be handsy. Red often would touch Purple, whether that be hugging them as far back as when they were just two interns, or clapping Purple on the back far too harshly as a captain. Red would sometimes hold onto their arm when talking to them and guiding them somewhere, and it would make Purple feel something they couldn’t place. That feeling’s starting to make sense now.
Purple could smell the alcohol on Red from the position they were in. They could feel each breath from Red breeze against their skin. Purple sighs. They’re still a reasonable person. (Mostly reasonable…)
Purple places their hands down on Red’s shoulders and gently settles them back down. Red lets out a pathetic whine. “Puuurple, weren’t you gonna kiss me?” They state, as if it was something mutually agreed upon before.
Seeing the pitiful look on Red’s face, Purple decides they could humor them. “Well, I would’ve…” Purple raises a hand to Red’s cheek, rubbing the area with their thumb. Their hand travels down to gently pull down Red’s lower lip, and they flutter their eyelashes at Red. “You’re just drunk, Redsie. You know I couldn’t.” Purple’s voice was glazed with honey. Red’s face, in an instant, gets pink, and they stare up at Purple.
Red grabs Purple’s wrist. “…I wish I wasn’t drunk, Purp’s…” Red’s voice was soft. “Mmm…” They squeeze Purple’s wrist, staring up at them. They mimic how Purple rubbed their cheek by rubbing Purple’s wrist with their thumb. “You’re so hot. You know—”
Red, then goes on to say some quite explicit things. Purple cringes, blocking out what Red’s saying. Red’s too drunk to understand the content they were spewing. “Really, I—“ Purple pushes their finger onto Red’s lips. Red looks down at the finger pressed against their lip and smiles cheekily back up at Purple, kissing Purple’s finger.
Purple sighs. “Let’s go get you water, if I can find a cup. I don’t think White will care if we take up one of their million rooms.” Purple rises from their spot, grunting from the dull ache, then stretching. They look down at Red, who hasn’t gotten up yet. Purple leans down and pulls Red up, to which Red stumbles.
“C’mon, now…” Purple wraps their arm around Red’s back and walks Red over to a room, which wasn’t occupied and was shockingly well-kept. The bed was made neatly and everything seemed clean. Well, Purple supposed White does likely have many people over, and probably cares about keeping up their self-image. Not that Purple would really know how that is.
Purple wrangles Red over and sits them down onto the bed, and Red complies. “You need rest. If I have to, I’ll drive you home, but uh… Just stay lying down for now. M’kay, Redsie?” Purple ruffles Red’s hair.
Red nods, giggling as Purple ruffles their hair. “M’kay, Purp’s.” They mimic, and then settle against the bed. They stare at Purple, who’s just about to leave to search for a cup and get water for them. Their lips tug into a frown. “Purple!” They call out.
Purple looks back and tilts their head. “What?” It came out a bit defensive, although not by intention.
“…Don’t go?” Red’s eyes were big and pleading as they ask that. They pull a sigh from Purple, who’s facial expressions soften at the pitiful Red.
…It’s hard to say no to Red.