Work Text:
"Is this what unemployment feels like?" Red asks.
"What do you think?" Purple drags a hand down their face, right next to Red in bed.
"I'm just wondering what it felt like for you," Red explains, turning to meet them.
"Sympathy," Purple mutters. "I hope you're trying to express sympathy."
"Oh," Red mutters back. "Then I feel sympathy for your past unemployment."
"Well, we're both unemployed now," Purple's brow furrows. "So you can stop trying to sympathise with me and instead realise that you're experiencing unemployment."
"And sharing a room with someone," Red adds, giving Purple a smile in the darkness.
More like sharing a bed with someone, Purple thinks, turning onto their side. It had been a few days since they had to face the higher ups of MIRA. Red had lost their job as captain. Purple had lost their job as head of security. Whilst Purple did not want to be silenced about the atrocities that happened on the Skeld, Purple also said they wanted to remain 'co-workers.' That had nothing to do with being unable to handle the idea of being apart from Red. So instead of separating them both in Industria, MIRA allowed them to be together if it meant that nobody would talk about the imposter situation. It's how Red and Purple ended up sharing a bed in their one bedroom apartment.
Purple tried to not think that much of it. But Red was making it very obvious. They were always trying to face Purple. Personal space was not a concept to Red. It had never been. Not when they were working as interns. Not when they were working on the Skeld. But Purple did not mention anything. It was not like Red held them in their sleep. They just kept close. Red just didn't like to be away from Purple. Purple could only chalk it up to the idea of Red feeling stressed after the events on the Skeld. If this would make Red feel better, then Purple was fine with it.
"You'll get another job somewhere," Purple yawns, turning off the light.
"You think so?" Red asks.
"Yeah," Purple pulls the blanket tighter. "You know how to talk to people."
"I knew that," Red agrees.
After a prolonged silence of Purple probably being unimpressed with them, Red also adds, "but it's nice to hear it from you, purps."
"Goodnight," Purple tells them, rather softly.
"Goodnight," they reciprocate.
Red remains wide awake, watching the shadows of their bedroom twist and turn from the remaining light outside. Moonlight or streetlight, Red did not know. Industria was becoming more populated by the day. Under MIRA's grip. When Red stops watching the darkness of the room, they glance down at Purple, gaze softening. They shuffle slightly closer in bed, savouring the warmth and knowledge that Purple was with them. That Purple was right there. Not in any way able to be harmed by Green in that confrontation. Not in any way to be separated by MIRA. Red lays back down, their mind sprawling with ideas. What if MIRA could take Purple away? What if MIRA's word was not enough? What if they both got separated in Industria? They did not want to be separated from Purple.
They turn again in bed, only consoled by the rise and fall of Purple's body, the sound of their breathing. Purple was safe here. With them. MIRA would only take action in the future when other legal proceedings were out of the way. Red shuts their eyes, hoping that sleeping would end the thoughts.
But the thoughts don't stop. They turn into vivid imagery. A nightmare. Their crew mates struggled under the imposter's grip. Colours turn to the colour of blood. No longer people with roles. Just skins and flesh that the alien wears. They all died except for him and Purple. But Purple was nearly killed for their selfish reasons. Purple even believed that they were the imposter at some point. Because they could not be a better captain. Why would Purple want to be around them? Why would Purple want to live with them? Why would Purple want to share a bed with them?
Purple blinks and squints as they wake up, sensing Red next to them who was sniffling and tossing in their sleep. They turn around, pressing a hand to Red's shoulder.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Purple asks, watching as Red slowly stops struggling.
"I was a bad captain," Red mutters, staring at Purple with a teary gaze. "I'm going to get us separated."
"Did you have a nightmare?" Purple determines, but decides to give Red a chance to explain.
"No," Red denies, then watches Purple's gaze narrow. "Yes."
"What happened?" Purple lays back down, shifting closer to Red. "You can tell me."
"We were back on the Skeld," Red explains, trying to control his tone. "The others were all there. It was normal until it wasn't. I saw them all die. I saw the imposters. I then saw them kill you—"
"I know," Purple leans in now, pressing another hand to Red's waist. "But that didn't happen. You're here with me."
"For now," Red exclaims, shedding another tear. "What if MIRA initiates legal proceedings and we get separated? It's a miracle that they even allowed us to stay together in the first place."
"Well, reputation and classified information do go hand in hand," Purple remarks, then feels Red tense again. "But I won't let that happen. I won't let them separate us, Redsie."
"How?" Red asks, slowly calming down.
"Well, we're both lonely people with a bunch of time on their hands," Purple comments. "I'm sure we'll come up with something."
"Marry me," Red turns and grasps one of Purple's hands, staring intently. "Please, marry me."
"M—Marriage?" Purple repeats, stuttering. They don't move away from Red, though.
"Yeah, marriage!" Red confirms, smiling at Purple until they realise what they were actually asking. "It would mean that Industria, the state, recognises by law that we are one another's in a union of love and therefore they cannot separate us…"
When Purple only stares wider, without answering, rendered rather speechless, Red tries to turn away. "I'm sorry—I didn't realise what I was actually asking of you—"
"I'll marry you," Purple answers, turning Red to face them again.
"What?" Red is the one who stares now.
"I said I'd marry you," Purple strokes Red's hand.
"You want that? With me?" Red continues, in disbelief.
"It means MIRA won't separate us," Purple gently explains. "And, Red, I'm saying yes because I don't want to be separated from you. I want you in my life."
"I suppose that's what a proposal is," they figure, their voice quiet. "That's what it's always been?"
"Between us?" Purple clarifies, then considers their situation. Former co-workers sharing a bed. Friends sharing a bed. "I think so."
"So it wasn't platonic when I always wanted to be around you as interns?" Red wonders. "It wasn't platonic when I wanted to be around you as a captain. It's not platonic now…"
"It's why I probably took your choice to sign an NDA like that," Purple admits, kind of reluctantly. "It's why I took it so badly when you gave me a job."
"I understand now," Red apologises. "And I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Purple tells them. "It's good that we know now that it's… it's never really been platonic."
"If it's not platonic, can I do this?" Red leans in and kisses the side of Purple's face. Then the side of their head. "Or this?" They reach and kiss the palm of Purple's hand.
Purple exhales, feeling something clench in their chest. "Yeah, you can do that."
The blanket shifts and Red pulls Purple closer to them, pressing kisses over their face and hands, murmuring promises about marriage and the future. Something about being so stupid to not realise their love. Something about not letting them go. Purple reciprocates the whispers, holding Red tight and ending any chance for them to slip back into a bad dream.
When Red falls asleep, between Purple's arms this time, they think, of course we're sharing the bed. Purple had always allowed it because they were in love.