#dev (character)

"I'm starting to think that you're doing this on purpose."

Bowie stood at the center of the viewdeck. He wasn't wearing his military issue jacket, dressed only in his pants, boots, and sleeveless undershirt. He did not intend, of course, to be dragged up to the viewdeck like this. In fact, he had intended to be on his best behavior since the last incident in order to avoid this very sort of situation.

Apparently dressing down was against the rules, and an offense that would usually only result in a mild scolding by his captain ended with Bowie on the viewdeck thanks to his not so stellar track record. Every mistake he made was interpreted to be a slight to the admiral himself.

"I'm really not." Bowie said, arms folding over his chest in an attempt to dignify himself, "Or do people normally get brought to you because they wear their uniform incorrectly?"

Dev smirked at him and Bowie felt his cheeks heat up. It was getting to the point that this was no longer a silly little crush, but a reckoning he'd soon regret. He didn't know what was worse, when Dev was being melancholy or when he was enjoying himself. Either option left Bowie feeling things he definitely shouldn't for the admiral.

"No, but your circumstances are--"

"Different from the others, yes, I'm only told that every other day." Bowie said rolling his eyes.

"Attitude, Lapietra."

"You like it when I have attitude." Bowie would have smacked himself if Dev wasn't standing directly in front of him.

Dev raised his brow, his smile hadn't left his face yet.

"Do I like it when you have attitude, Bowie? I don't recall ever saying that I did."

Bowie awkwardly lowered his eyes. He knew his face was ultra red and he didn't know if he could make this situation any better, but he could certainly think of a few ways make it worse. For example, Dev's very smug mouth was looking ridiculously kissable at the moment.

"I asked you a question Bowie."

"Are you seriously going to make me answer that--" Bowie shot back before yelping when he felt Dev's hand under his chin.

"You don't want to?" Dev asked and Bowie was suddenly made very aware of how close they were now.

Bowie glared up at him. Dev being in a good mood was definitely worse, he decided.

"If you really didn't like it," Bowie challenged, leaning a little shamelessly into Dev's hand, "would we be doing this right now?"

Dev hummed, turning Bowie's face a bit to the side before letting go.

"No." Dev said, "I suppose we wouldn't."

They stared at each other for a long moment, lightyears between them, each second expanding like the stars in space. And yet, if Bowie wanted to he could close the gap in a single step.

"Come down here a second." Bowie said, "I got something I want to say."

Dev scoffed, "And you couldn't say it earlier?" He asked but was already leaning down like Bowie had asked him to.

Before he could lose his nerve, before he could talk himself out of it, Bowie met him halfway and pressed a kiss to his lips. Dev, to his credit, only made a small sound of surprise before his hand found the back of Bowie's neck and brought him impossibly closer. Bowie felt teeth and would have pulled away if it were anyone else, but this was Dev and Bowie was desperate for him.

When they broke apart Dev put his head against Bowie's and very quietly said--

"We shouldn't have done that."

#

In a star system on the other side of the galaxy, a green dev sets a deck of cards for a game. There are several players, all seeming more interested in their drinks then the cards. The door to the lounge slides open and a draft of cold air blows in. Everyone but the game masters looks to see the intruder.

Regan closes the door behind her, coming silently to the green devs side and saying something just low enough that nobody else can parse its meaning.

"Saros," one of the players says, "are we doing this or not?"

Saros shuffles the remaining cards absently before rising from his seat, his smile is far too pleasant.

"Have a round without me."

He says.