#lee!red

(can be seen as romantic or platonic)

Pink, meanwhile, drifted through Medbay, humming to herself as she scanned her hand over a monitor. She had a way of filling a room, bright, bubbly, a little too cheery for outer space. Red liked her. Hell, everyone did. She was the kind of crewmate who teased you for missing a task and then helped you finish it anyway.

When Red passed her later in the hallway, Pink offered a grin through her visor. "Checking on me again, Red? Worried I'm gonna blow up the ship with my medical degree?"

Red snorted. "I'm just keeping everyone on track. You do have a history of spacing out."

"Good pun! I might use that," Pink giggled, hitting Red's shoulder playfully. "Here I thought you trusted me!"

"Of course I trust you," Red said, smiling. "If you were an imposter, I'd probably still think you're adorable."

Pink's laughter followed Red down the corridor, light, sing-song, and for some reason... lingering.

-

Hours later, the calm was fractured.

Red was rerouting power in Electrical when the vent beside her gave a sharp, metallic clunk. Her blood ran cold. She froze mid-task, turning her visor just enough to catch a reflection in the monitor. The vent lid slid open, smooth and deliberate. Out of it climbed... Pink.

Red's mind stuttered. "No. No, no way. Not her."

Pink stretched like she was waking from a nap, her movements liquid and inhumanly precise. For a split second, her hand flickered. It didn't look human.

Red ducked behind the task panel, heart pounding in her chest. She could hear Pink humming again, faintly, as though she were still pretending to be normal.

Then Pink turned... and caught sight of Red's suit.

A long pause. The hum had stopped.

"...Saw something you shouldn't have, Red~?" Her voice was playful, but there was a different tone beneath it now... something dangerous.

Red straightened, hand slowly rising toward the door panel. "Pink... Listen, I don't know what I saw, but we can talk about this. Just... stay there, okay?"

Pink tilted her head. "Oh, I'm definitely coming over there~."

Red backed toward the hallway door, eyes darting toward the cafeteria. The emergency button was only a few rooms away. She could make it if she moved now.

"Pink," she said, her voice trembling despite her best effort, "listen. I won't tell. I swear. We can figure something out."

Pink's visor glowed faintly as she clasped her hands behind her back. "You? Not telling? Please, you reported Green last week for eating an apple mid-task."

"That was unsanitary! He could have gotten all the buttons sticky, you know that I hate sticky buttons-" Red fumbled for the door panel, talking quickly now.

Pink laughed, sending shivers down Red's spine. "Oh, you humans think everything's life or death, all the time." She began closing the distance, one step after another. "For me, it's all just... fun~!"

Red bolted. Her boots clanged against the floor as she sprinted through the corridor, breathing hard, eyes locked on the cafeteria door ahead. If she could just reach the button-!!

The lights flickered.

Pink was suddenly there. One second of empty space, and the next, she'd appeared right in front of Red, between her and the button, impossibly fast.

Red gasped, hand shooting forward, just inches from the big, red button!

Pink caught her wrist, gently but firmly. "Oh, no you don't~!"

Red twisted, trying to break free as she was gently brought into a side closet. "Let me go!!!"

Pink's tone softened into a mock coo. "Relax~! We're just gonna talk, honey-bun!"

"We can talk without me being pinned to the floor-!!"

Pink grinned, the glass on her helmet tapping against Red's. "Well, you were about to call a meeting! We hadn't even finished our conversation. Not very polite, if you ask me~."

Red glared. "You're insane."

Pink tilted her head fondly. "You're really cute when you're scared, you know that~?"

Red's cheeks flushed. "I- I'm not-!!"

"Shhh~." Pink's voice lowered to a purr. "I never hurt humans, Red. Pinky promise!" she giggled at her own joke. "But..." Her face drooped with mock sadness and concern. "But I have to make sure you're quiet about this, honey-bun. There's too much at stake for you to tattle on me now." Her fingers twitched under her gloves, and something underneath began to squirm.

Red blinked, realizing too late what was coming. "W-wait, Pink, what are you-?"

Pink smiled innocently. "I'm negotiating!"

Before Red could process what she meant, she felt something slide around her wrists, soft and warm. The fabric of Pink's gloves gave way to slender, ribbon-like tendrils that coiled gently around Red's arms and pinned them above her head.

"P-Pink-!!" Red sputtered, wriggling in surprise.

Pink tilted her head in that affectionate way she always did. "I told you, silly! I'm negotiating! Now, let's see where I cannnn..."

Red felt Pink's tendrils poking and prodding around her wrists, looking for an entrance. It didn't take long for them to find one.

"Heeeere we go~!! Ready or not~!" Pink sing-songed, sending her tendrils into the gap in Red's suit, sliding them down her arms. The skin contact made Red shiver, raising goosebumps all over her body.

"T-This isn't how-!!" Red tried to jerk free, but Pink was far stronger than her small frame suggested. Her alien physiology seemed fluid, muscles blending seamlessly as she crouched closer.

"Awhhh, Blushyyy... you don't really wanna call a meeting, do you~? I certainly wouldn't advise it. Bad idea, really~"

Red opened her mouth to retort, but then one of Pink's tentacles, having reached Red's shoulders, gave a light stroke to the armpit.

Instantly, Red let out a startled squeal and twisted, laughter bursting out of her before she could stop it. "WH- HahAHahHA!! PiIHIhIhnkk!!! StaHAHahppp!!"

Pink smiled through her visor, her tone sympathetic and affectionate. "Oh, sweetie~!! Surely, you can't be this ticklish~!"

"IhIhIhi swehheHEheHEHar- stoHoHOhop iHiHIHIhiT riHiHiHight NohOHoHow!!!" Red tried to sound authoritative, but her girlish giggles made that impossible.

"Now, Red, I think someone's misunderstanding their position at the moment~!" She enunciated each syllable of 'at the moment' with quick pokes to Red's underarms as more of her tendrils wound their way up Red's arms. "Besides, I'm being so gentle with you! You poor thinggg~!!"

She moved her tendrils again, more of them swarming in, coiling around Red's entire upper body. They delivered quick flutters under Red's arms, poking down her ribs, circling her waist. Red's laughter filled the little storage closet, high and uncontrollable. "PiIhihiHINk!! NoHOhOhOHOHoho, OhoHoHOH myHyHYhY GohOhOhOhOhOD!!!"

"See~? I think you're already coming around to my point of view!" Pink teased, her voice playful and lilting with amusement.

"THIhsihs IhIHIHisn't aAhahAH nEHeehHEGoHOHOTiatiOHon!!"

"Well, it's persuasion. I think that still counts, but what do I know? I only have a doctorate in human anatomy." Pink leaned in, grinning devilishly. "Wanted to learn every little spot on you little cuties~. I know just what tickles most~!"

Every word from Pink came with a new ticklish swipe or poke, her tendrils keeping Red from squirming even an inch. Her boots kicked weakly against the deck, her laughter spilling out freely as she lay her head back against the metal.

"YoUhuHuHuhu'Re THehHEHEH WohOHoHORST!!" she squealed out as a tentacle found its way into her belly button.

"Oh, I disagree," Pink replied seriously. "In my humble opinion, most imposters have a far less refined taste in how they treat their humans. Besides, none of them are as funny as I am!"

"YOuHUhUhU're NOHoHOT FuhUhuHUNNYY!!"

Pink leaned closer, her tone mock-whispered. "Then why are you laughing, Blushy~?"

Red's visor was fogged, and her shoulders shook. "IHIHIhI WoOhOHoN'T TEHehehEHELL AnYHyHyONeEE!! IHIHi PROhOHoMISEE!!"

Pink paused, considering it as her tendrils drilled into Red's side. "Promise promise? Pinky promise~? Can't break those, y'know."

"P-PROHOHOHOMIHIHIHISEEEE!!!"

"Hmm." Pink drew back slightly, tendrils retracting back out of Red's suit and into her own. "Alright, then! This concludes our negotiations!" She bounced off her victim's lap and stood.

Red slumped to the floor, clutching her middle and giggling helplessly. "Y-youhuhhu're insahahahnee..."

Pink smirked, brushing imaginary dust off her gloves. "Oh, you're alive. More than can be said for what other imposters do. I don't hear a 'thank you, Pinky, for sparing my life and making me laugh all cutely,' now do I~?"

The door behind her hissed open with a quiet whoosh.

Green stood in the doorway, observing the two.

Red leaned up, pointing at her while her back was turned, and then making all sorts of grotesque gestures with her hands in an effort to convey that she wasn't a normal crewmate.

Green cocked an eyebrow beneath his visor. "I should be offended by that." He looked back at Pink. "You certainly took your time today, Pink. What kept you?"

"Oh, you knowwww~" Pink clasped her hands behind her back innocently. "Just playing with my food~!"

Red, still trying to catch her breath, gave a weak glare. "Y-youhu're... with heher???"

Green's grin was unmistakable through his visor. "Of course we are. Imposters. Sort of our whole thing, Red."

"Oh!" Pink gestured toward Red with mock formality. "She has so courteously agreed not to call any meetings! ...If she knows what's good for her~!"

"W-wehehell-!! Ihi had to agree!!" Red sputtered.

"'Cuz I'm so persuasive," Pink finished.

"Youhu tortured me!!!"

Green chuckled, scratching his chin. "Don't be so dramatic. If she really wanted to play with you, you'd have passed out. She finds you people adorable."

Pink formed her hands into the shape of a heart, although she intentionally let her tendrils spill out of her gloves a little.

Red groaned, laying her head back on the floor.

Green stepped closer, crouching so his visor was level with hers. "Still, you're easy to break. Good to know. Any other valuable information?"

Pink interrupted Red's attempt at a rebuttal in a sing-song tone. "She has just the prettiest laughter! I could listen to it for hours, dear."

Green hummed, nodding.

"Maybe you could spend some time together, hm, Green~?"

Green huffed, standing. "I'll tickle her when I want to tickle her, Pink. And I want her at maximum stamina so I can really test her limits. Maybe catch her off-guard so it tickles more."

Red hid her face behind her hands. "Y-Youhuhu guys suhuhuck..."

"Awww, don't pout, honey-bun~!!" Pink cooed. "You did great!! The first crewmate to survive a direct encounter!!"

Green nodded thoughtfully. "Relax, Red, you'll need your energy."

Pink leaned into her partner's ear. "She's got veeeery ticklish ribs, you'll be happy to know~!"

"S-StohOp analyzing mee!!!" Red whined. After a moment, she crawled over and leaned herself up against the far wall. "Y-Youhu two won't get away with this. Someone's gonna figure you out."

Pink leaned in, booping Red's visor. "Oh, sweetheart, don't fret! We already have gotten away with it!"

Green crossed his arms behind her. "And now we know you'll be a pushover."

Pink tapped her chin thoughtfully as she stood. "Maybe we should start small. Blue next? He looks like he could use a laugh, always mumbling to himself."

Green shook his head. "I was thinking Yellow. He's all grumpy about wires again. Said some vulgar things to me this morning that I'm just dying to hear him apologize for."

Red raised his hands. "Wait, you're seriously going to t-tickle the entire crew?"

Pink and Green shot each other a mischievous glance.

"In space," Pink said, tone dramatic, "no one can hear you laugh~!"

Green hummed in thought again. "Hm, no, that's untrue. Everyone can hear you laugh when Pink's involved."

Pink put a hand against her visor as if flattered. "Oh, give yourself some credit, Greenie~! You're not half-bad at tickling these cuties to tears yourself!"

As the lights flickered once more, the two imposters turned to leave the room, Pink tossing a playful wave over her shoulder.

"See you at lunch, Red~! It's enchilada day! And remember... silence is golden~!"

"Yeah," Green added with a wink as he followed her out. "But laughter's contagious."

The door shut behind them with a hiss, leaving Red in the empty storage closet. She slumped back against the wall, breathing out a single, disbelieving laugh. "Why did it hahave to be youu!!" she whined.