"What happened?" Thea murmured, more to herself than anyone else. The sparkling gold of her bubble apartment materialized around her, alongside open boxes she still hadn't gone through.

Dance.

Zehra.

Fainted.

Passed out?

"Fuck!" Thea cried bolting upright so fast the soft comforter slid off, falling to the floor. "Captain Zehra. . ."

Peeking her head around the corner, Zehra raised a brow, hiding something behind her back, but not faster enough.

"Are you—" Thea blinked. "Sweeping?"

Zehra's face grew a deep shade of purple. She coughed into her hand. "Maybe. I didn't know what to do while you were sleeping and Janice said it might seem creepy if I stayed with you."

Images of a very scary, military resting face staring at Thea from the corner made her shudder. She giggled, shrugging her shoulders. "Maybe just a little."

Janice wandered in from the opposite side of the apartment, munching on a bag of chips. "You may need to restock your pantry. Besides this, there's only seaweed in there."

Ah, Thea could always count on her friend to raid the pantry. "Thanks, Janice."

"No prob. So," Janice said, grabbing a chair and straddling it backwards. She waited till after her next munch. "This is your crush?"

"Janice!" Thea and Zehra cried in unison.

Did that mean—

Thea and Zehra exchanged wide-eyed looks before averting their gaze. A awkward silence, with nothing more than the crinkle of the chip bag filled the room. Thea's face burned so hot, she swore a star had invaded her body and burst inside.

Letting her eyes finally look back toward Zehra, she yelped in surprise. "Why are you wearing my clothes?"

A nervous laugh that resembled a dying fish erupted from the captain's mouth before she tugged at the sweater that was more of a crop-top on her. Stars, her abs were hot. And those shorts um—she might as well have worn boxers.

"Sorry, I soaked my uniform coming here, and didn't want to ruin your carpet. Janice said these were in your get rid of boxes so you wouldn't mind. If you mind it's fine, I can just stay in my undergarments until my uniform is more dry," Zehra stated, nervously pulling at the edges of the hot pink sweater.

Thea wouldn't mind seeing more of what teased her now— she coughed, shaking her head. "No, no, it's fine. Keep clothes on please." Then she remembered. "The dance! You were going to one tonight, we're going to be late if we don't get moving now." Thea leapt out of the bed, only to trip over herself and almost face plant into the floor.

Zehra rushed forward, catching her by the biceps. "Janice has been telling me about how much you overwork yourself, please, rest. The dance is nothing more than a stuffy room with drunk or boring creatures." Helping Thea back to the bed, Zehra knelt down to be face level with her. "I'd much rather spend this time hanging out with someone interesting than waste a night with others who aren't."

Grabbing Zehra's hands, Thea smiled wearily. "Thank you."

Janice clapped her hands super loud, standing up and walking to the door. "I'm going to go get a few things to fill the pantry and take out. Let's have an in home movie night, on me. If you two do anything while I'm gone, do it fast." The bubble rippled, signifying that Janice had exited.

The back of Thea's neck prickled as she pulled her hands away. It was strange to be alone with Zehra, but not in a bad way. She simply didn't want her hands a place where they might travel. "So um, about earlier, with the crush thingy, you know—"

Zehra waited patiently. Her magenta eyes unblinking with a terrifying intensity. "I'm listening."

"You are?"

"I am."

That was different. What changed? There was a different air about the Captain, almost casual, relaxed, open. Thea's heart pounded furiously in her chest, pumping the blood in her eyes. Zehra was hot before, but now she was like, hot, hot, so starshitted hot. The way the dim kitchen light made her hair and skin sparkle was so unfair to Thea's self-control.

Thea swallowed. "I—I uh." Why couldn't she get the words out? Why wouldn't they come when this was her one starshitted chance to say them?

Captain Zehra moved closer. "Thea," she breathed gently.

"Ye-yes?" Thea asked in a squeak.

"Can I kiss you?"

The world faded around Thea, the request bounced around in her head like bells of victory. Insanely, hot, tempting—

"Can I touch your hair if you kiss me?" Thea whispered, coming only a breath away from Zehra's face.

Smirking, the Captain brushed Thea's hair back behind her ear. "Permission granted. Can I touch your back? If I'm allowed to kiss you."

Thea scooted closer to the edge of the bed. "I'd rather you touched my ass, but we can start with back."

Chuckles shook Zehra's chest, drifting out her mouth. "Slow down, this is only our first date."

"This is a date, captain?" Thea asked, draping her arms around Zehra's neck. "Pretty weird to come home with me on a first date. Don't you think?"

Zehra wrapped her arms around Thea, pulling her in close enough for their breasts to touch. "Maybe a little. You still haven't told me whether I can kiss you or not."

"You can kiss me," Thea said, closing her eyes as Zehra leaned down. Her lips were softer than she'd assumed, gentle, but commanding.

Melting in Zehra, Thea tested the limits, letting her tongue slid on the edges of the Captain's lips. She ran her hands through Zehra's long, silky hair, grabbing it firmly, but not roughly. She waited for a response on whether to stop there or move forward. Zehra parted her lips, shoving her tongue into Thea's mouth. Tingles of thrill traveled down Thea's body. Stars, it had been far too long since she'd done anything like this. With Zehra, it was different. It was special, as if the world had stopped to all them, and only them to share this moment together.

Zehra pushed Thea onto her back, climbing onto the bed beside her. "Is this okay?"

"Yeah," Thea said, as Zehra straddled her.

Oh stars. Thea shuddered when their lips met again, tongues dancing in a slowly increasing passion. It left Thea wanting more, but at the same time, she was content to simply stay in this moment forever.

The door slammed open. "Back!" Janice cried.

Thea yelped, scrambling out from beneath Zehra, and brushing her dress down self-consciously.

Zehra stood up, fidgeting with her sweater.

"Did anything happen while I was gone?" Janice teased, walking past and into the kitchen with sealed bags of groceries.

"No," Zehra and Thea immediately replied. Only then did Thea notice the smeared lipstick all over the Captain's face. She doubled over laughing, but for once, felt far happier than she had in a long time.