#nerd jake

you get partnered with your nerdy best friend's twin brother for a project

content: smau ⟡ frat!jake x reader ⟡ nerdbestfriend!jake ⟡ profanity

a/n: shamelessly inspired by fratjo and nerdjo i fear...nerd twin x reader coming after this one is completed i promise 🙏 part one ⟡ part two ⟡ part three (jaeyun route) ⟡ part three (jake route)

-`♡´- Nerd Jake x fem!reader

જ⁀➴ ♡ Genre: Enemies to lovers/fuckers

જ⁀➴ ♡ Word Count: 1,6k

જ⁀➴ ♡ Warnings: Explicit sexual content,penetrative sex, dirty talk, oral elements,strong language and banter,unprotected sex,18+

જ⁀➴ ♡ Song: Slow down - Chase Atlantic

I never thought the day would end with me in Jake’s bed. Jake the insufferable, know it all nerd who had made every biology lecture a battlefield since the start of the semester. He corrected me constantly, rolled his eyes at my answers, and argued with me until the professor had to step in. I hated his smug face, his stupid glasses, and the way he always wore those button up shirts like they made him smarter than everyone else.

But today, fate had other plans.

Biology class had been hell from the start.

I walked in like usual, still annoyed from the last time Jake had publicly corrected me in front of everyone. He was already there, sitting in his usual spot with his stupid button up shirt, glasses perched on his nose, looking every bit the smug know it all. When the professor announced we’d be working in pairs for the microscope lab and Jake realized the only empty seat was next to me, he actually rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath as he dropped into the chair.

“Trust me,” I said dryly, “the feeling is mutual.”

The lab started innocently enough. We had to examine different slides and record observations. I leaned over the microscope first, adjusting the focus carefully. A few seconds later, Jake’s shoulder brushed mine as he leaned in.

“You’re doing it wrong,” he said quietly, but with that superior tone that always made my blood boil. “The coarse adjustment should be slower. Here let me show you.”

I pulled back sharply. “I know how to use a microscope, Jake.”

“Clearly not well enough,” he replied, reaching for it.

We spent the next ten minutes in a quiet but intense tug of war over the equipment. Our hands kept brushing. Our knees bumped under the table. Every time I tried to do something, he corrected me in that low, calm voice that somehow made me want to both slap him and… something else I refused to name. The rest of the class kept glancing over, used to our fights by now.

By the end of the worksheet, we’d somehow finished it barely speaking except in clipped arguments but the air between us felt thicker than usual. When the professor announced the joint presentation assignment with our lab partner, I nearly groaned out loud.

I raised my hand immediately. “Can I switch partners?”

The professor shook his head. “No changes. Work it out.”

I muttered under my breath, “I’d rather fail than do this with that insufferable nerd.”

Jake, who had somehow ended up standing right behind me, coughed. “I’m still here, you know.”

I turned slowly. “Good. Then you heard me.”

He pushed his glasses up, jaw tight. “My place tonight. Eight o’clock. We can’t skip the assignment.”

I stared at him. For a second, something flickered in his eyes annoyance mixed with… challenge? I hated how it made my stomach flip.

“Fine,” I snapped. “Text me the address.”

The rest of the day dragged. I complained to my friends between classes. They were annoyingly excited.

“You’re going to Jake’s apartment? Alone?” one squealed.

“I’d kill to be in your place,” the other added.

I rolled my eyes. “I’d rather trade with anyone. He’s probably going to lecture me the whole time.”

Still, I went home, grabbed my laptop, and headed over.

When Jake opened the door, his hair was damp from a recent shower. No glasses yet. He wore a simple black t-shirt and sweatpants instead of his usual nerd uniform. He looked… annoyingly good. Softer. More human.

“Sorry,” he said, stepping aside. “Just got out of the shower.”

His apartment was clean and minimalist bookshelves lined with textbooks, a neat desk, nothing flashy. We settled on the floor of his room with laptops open, the presentation slides between us. The arguing started almost immediately.

“I don’t think we should structure it that way,” I said after twenty minutes of tense discussion.

“It’s more logical like this,” Jake countered, pointing at the screen. His voice was patient but firm.

We went back and forth for nearly an hour. Every suggestion I made, he picked apart. Every correction he gave, I resisted. The tension kept rising our voices getting sharper, bodies inching closer as we both leaned over the same laptop. At one point our hands brushed on the trackpad and neither of us pulled away immediately.

“You’re so fucking stubborn,” I finally hissed.

“And you’re impossible to work with,” he shot back. “Incompetent and argumentative.”

That word incompetent hit a nerve.

“Did you just call me incompetent?” I demanded, turning to face him fully.

“Yes.” His eyes met mine, dark and intense behind the glasses he’d put back on for reading.

Something in me snapped. All the months of hatred, the constant corrections, the way he got under my skin… it boiled over.

“You’re such a boring, arrogant nerd,” I spat. “All you do is study, correct people, and act superior. I bet you’ve never even touched a girl. That’s why you’re like this frustrated and miserable.”

Jake stared at me, shocked for a beat, then let out a low, surprised laugh. He leaned in closer, voice dropping. “That’s what you think of me?”

“Yeah. I do.”

He moved even nearer, until our faces were inches apart. The air felt electric. “We could find out if you’re right.”

I stared at him, pulse racing.“Fine.”

My heart hammered. The challenge in his eyes, the way his gaze dropped to my lips… I grabbed his collar and kissed him hard.

He kissed me back instantly hungry, deep, nothing like the controlled persona he showed in class. His hands gripped my waist as we shoved the laptops aside. For long minutes we just made out on the floor, slow and intense, tongues sliding, breaths mingling. I hated how good he was at this.

Eventually he pulled me up and onto his bed, laying me down gently. He hovered over me, kissing down my neck with surprising patience, sucking lightly at my pulse point until I gasped his name.

“J-Jake…”

“You sound so much better moaning my name than insulting me,” he murmured against my skin, voice husky.

I laughed breathlessly as he slowly peeled my shirt off, then my bra. He took his time kissing, licking, and sucking my nipples until they were tight and aching, one large hand kneading my breast. His other hand trailed lower, unbuttoning my jeans with deliberate slowness, sliding them down along with my panties. He stripped his own clothes off too, revealing a surprisingly athletic body underneath the nerd exterior toned chest, defined arms, and a thick, hard cock that made me bite my lip.

His glasses stayed on the whole time, which somehow made everything filthier.

He settled between my thighs, stroking himself slowly as he looked down at me. “You’re soaked for this nerd?”

I smirked up at him, pulse racing. “Maybe I am.”

He leaned down, kissing me deeply again while rubbing the head of his cock against my slick folds, teasing me for what felt like forever circling my clit, pressing just inside, pulling back until I was writhing and desperate.

“Jake… stop teasing.”

He smirked. “Say it.”

I grabbed his shoulders, nails digging in. “Fuck me like the nerd that you are.”

His eyes darkened with heat. He pushed in slowly, stretching me open inch by thick inch until he was buried to the hilt. We both groaned. He stayed there, letting me adjust, kissing me softly while my walls clenched around him.

Then he started moving deep, steady thrusts that built gradually, hitting every perfect spot. The bed creaked as he picked up pace, one hand pinning my wrist above my head while the other rubbed my clit in perfect circles.

“Fuck—Jake” I moaned.

“You like that?” he growled, voice softer and sexier than I ever imagined. “Getting fucked by the guy you hate?”

“Yes—god,harder—”

He fucked me deeper, glasses slightly fogged, hair falling into his eyes. The dirty talk kept coming in that low, controlled tone.

“Look at you falling apart on my cock… dripping all over the nerd you called boring.”

I came hard the first time, crying out his name as my body shook. He didn’t stop fucking me through it, then flipping me on top so I could ride him. I sank down onto his thick length, moaning at the new depth. His hands gripped my hips, guiding me as I bounced, his thumb still working my clit.

“Ride me just like that,” he groaned. “Fuck, your tits look incredible bouncing on my dick.”

I leaned down to kiss him messily while grinding on him. He thrust up to meet me, relentless. I came again, soaking his cock and thighs.

Jake flipped us once more, pounding into me with long, powerful strokes. “I’m close—”

“Come inside me,” I gasped. “Fill me up.”

With a low, broken groan he buried himself deep and came hard, pulsing inside me as he filled me with hot spurts. He kept thrusting through it, riding out both our orgasms until we were both spent.

We collapsed together, breathing heavily. I stared at the ceiling, dazed. “Shit… that was good.”

Jake chuckled, still inside me. “Yeah? Guess nerds know how to fuck after all.”

I laughed, turning to look at him. “You’re definitely not the boring, innocent guy I thought you were.”

He smirked, brushing hair out of my face. “Now you know how a nerd fucks. And we still have that presentation to finish… after round two.”

I pulled him in for another kiss, already feeling heat building again.

Maybe working with Jake wasn’t the worst thing after all.

pairings : nerd!jake x tutor!fem!reader

warnings : smut MINORS DNI, explicit sexual content, rough sex, p in v, unprotected sex, creampie, oral sex (f receiving), hair pulling, manhandling, possessive dirty talk, praise kink, light degradation, glasses kink (jake), semi-risky location (living room), giggly reader, aftercare

wc : ~1,6k

the doorbell rang and you opened the door to find jake standing there, backpack slung over one shoulder, wearing those black-rimmed glasses that made his sharp eyes look unfairly intelligent and hot at the same time. his hair was a little messy, that signature warm smile on his face like he hadn’t just bombed every science test this semester on purpose.

“hey tutor,” he said cheerfully, stepping inside before you could even say anything. “mom said you’re the best in school. everyone knows it. you’re like the science goddess around here.”

you closed the door, laughing a little. “jake, seriously? you failed three exams in a row? you’re one of the smartest guys in our year. what happened?”

he shrugged innocently, following you to the living room where you’d set up notebooks and textbooks on the coffee table. “guess i just need some personal lessons. from the very best.”

you sat down cross-legged on the floor, patting the spot next to you. he dropped down way closer than necessary, his knee brushing yours. the glasses kept sliding down his nose a bit and he kept pushing them up—god, it was distracting.

for the first twenty minutes it was actually normal. you explained chemical reactions, drew diagrams, asked him questions.

jake nodded along, asking smart follow-ups, but his eyes kept drifting to your lips, your legs, the way your shirt hugged your chest when you leaned over the book.

“okay, now balance this equation,” you said, sliding the paper to him.

he scribbled something completely wrong on purpose, grinning.

you sighed. “jake. come on. i know you know this.”

that’s when he put the pen down, turned to face you fully, and said it.

“i failed everything on purpose.”

you blinked. “what?”

“yeah. all the tests, the exams. i tanked them so my mom would freak out and force me to come here for tutoring. so i could finally be alone with you like this.”

your mouth fell open.

you shoved his shoulder, half laughing, half horrified. “are you serious?! jaeyun, you can’t just purposely mess up your entire grade! you could get kicked out of the program, lose your scholarship, not get your degree—all so you could sit here and… what? talk to me?”

he leaned in closer, that playful puppy smile turning into something darker, hungrier.

the glasses made him look even sharper. “i don’t think we will just talk, baby.”

your heart skipped.

you giggled nervously and tried to shove him back again, but he caught your wrist, pulling you toward him instead. “jake— this is crazy. you’re actually insane—”

“maybe,” he murmured, voice dropping low with that slight australian lilt that always got you. “but i’ve been thinking about you every single day. watching you help everyone else after school, all patient and smart and hot as hell. i wanted this. wanted you.”

before you could protest again he kissed you.

it started soft and teasing, but quickly turned deep, his hand sliding to the back of your neck, tongue slipping into your mouth like he’d been dying for it. you made a surprised little sound, still giggly, pushing weakly at his chest even as you kissed him back.

“we… we should study—” you mumbled against his lips, laughing breathlessly.

“fuck studying.” he pulled you onto his lap so you were straddling him right there on the living room floor.

his hands gripped your ass hard, grinding you down against the growing bulge in his pants. “been hard since i walked in. you have no idea how long i’ve wanted this.”

you squealed, shoving at his shoulders again but your hips rolled against him anyway. “jake! my parents could come home—”

“then we better be quick and quiet,” he whispered, nipping at your neck. he pushed your shirt up, hands sliding under to cup your tits, thumbs brushing your nipples until they hardened. “or not quiet. i don’t really care.”

he lifted you like you weighed nothing and laid you back on the carpet, glasses still on as he hovered over you. he yanked your shorts and panties down in one go, spreading your legs wide. “look at you. already so wet for me.”

“jake—” you giggled again, trying to close your legs out of embarrassment, but he held them open, lowering his head.

he pushed the glasses up his nose properly before licking a long, slow stripe up your pussy, sucking on your clit until your giggles turned into real moans.

“so fucking sweet,” he groaned against you, tongue fucking into you messily while two fingers slid inside, curling perfectly. you grabbed his hair, thighs shaking around his head.

he ate you out like he was starving, glasses fogging up a little, making filthy wet sounds that echoed in the room.

you came fast the first time, back arching, moaning his name as he kept licking you through it.

he didn’t give you much time to recover. jake sat up, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and freed his cock.

thick, hard, leaking at the tip.

he stroked himself once, looking down at you with dark eyes behind those glasses.

“want you so bad,” he muttered, lining up and pushing inside in one deep thrust. you gasped at the stretch, walls clenching around him. he groaned loudly, hips snapping forward hard.

“fuck, so tight. been dreaming about this pussy.”

he fucked you rough right there on the floor, glasses sliding down his nose again as he pounded into you. every thrust was deep and punishing, the wet slap of skin loud and obscene. he grabbed your legs, folding you basically in half so he could hit even deeper.

“jake— oh my god—” you moaned, nails digging into his arms. he was relentless, hips snapping fast, balls slapping against you.

“yeah? feel good?” he panted, leaning down to bite your neck. “this what you wanted too? me failing everything just so i could come fuck you stupid on your living room floor?”

you laughed breathlessly between moans, still a little giggly even as he railed you. “you’re such an idiot—”

“your idiot.” he pulled out suddenly, flipped you onto your hands and knees, and slammed back in from behind.

one hand fisted in your hair, the other gripping your hip hard enough to bruise. the new angle made you cry out, his cock dragging against that perfect spot over and over.

“take it, baby. take every inch.” his thrusts got messier, harder, the carpet burning your knees but you didn’t care. he reached around to rub your clit, pushing you toward another orgasm.

“come on my cock again. wanna feel you squeezing me, yeah?”

you came hard the second time, pussy spasming around him, juices dripping down your thighs. jake groaned, pace faltering as he chased his own release.

“fuck—gonna fill you up. been saving this for you.”

he buried himself deep and came with a broken moan, hot thick ropes of cum flooding your pussy.

he kept shallowly thrusting through it, pushing his cum deeper, some of it leaking out around his cock.

you both collapsed, panting. jake pulled out gently after a minute, watching with satisfaction as his cum dripped from your used hole. then the soft side came back instantly.

he gathered you into his arms, kissing your forehead, your cheeks, your lips sweetly. “you okay?” he whispered, voice back to that warm puppy tone. he fixed his glasses and smiled at you.

you laughed softly, cuddling into his chest, still catching your breath. “you’re actually crazy, you know that? failing on purpose…”

“worth it.” he stroked your hair, holding you close. “i’ll fix my grades for real now. promise. but only if you keep tutoring me. privately.”

you shoved him playfully again, both of you laughing.

he cleaned you up carefully with tissues from his bag (he’d come prepared, the idiot), then pulled you onto the couch, wrapping you in a blanket and holding you against him.

“next time i’ll actually study first,” he murmured against your hair, kissing the top of your head. “then we can do this as a reward.”

you giggled, tracing patterns on his chest. “deal. but no more failing, sim jaeyun.”

“yes ma’am.” he grinned, pushing his glasses up again, looking stupidly cute and hot at the same time.

outside the window the afternoon sun was still bright, and somewhere in the house your phone buzzed with a text from his mom probably asking how the session was going.

@sacrificemura please do not copy, steal, repost, translate, or claim my work as your own.

all stories and edits belong to me — ᨳଓ .

suffer me⋆.˚. 𝒾n which, after your group disbands and you suddenly go solo- your only way of reclaiming your power amidst the chaos is by toying with Jake - your younger brother Jay’s best friend, who worships the ground you walk on.

❛ 심재윤 ❜ 𝑥 idol ! reader. 𓈒𓈒

𓇗 : MDNI! plot with smut, angst, fluff, slow burn smut warnings : sub!jake, yearner jake, puppy! jake, nerd!jake, sub/dom dynamics, multiple sexual scenes, needy!jake, begging, use of ‘noona’, sexual tension, masturbation, teasing, jealousy, recording during sex ( y/n makes him listen to it afterwards ), oral fixation, cumming untouched, power play, humiliation kink, praise kink, love triangle (at some point), dacryphilia.

𓏸 ╱ 𝓶. list

pairing: loser shy tutor!sim jaeyun x outgoing tutee fem!reader

synopsis: you're loud, confident, and a little too good at making shy boys squirm. your only issue is you’ve always hated physics—until you meet your painfully shy tutor, jake sim. he’s awkward, brilliant, and blushes every time you call him cute. so naturally, you flirt. hard. at first, he stammers and short-circuits, but as study sessions stack up, jake starts to change. maybe it’s the way you lean a little too close or how he starts to flirt back (badly, but adorably).

featuring: jake sim of enhypen n maki from &team!!

genre: college au fluff!!!

warnings: jake has his first kiss, making-out?? kind of. a bit of jealousy, jake is just a super cute loser. lowercase intended ◡̈

playlist: nonsense by sabrina carpenter & soft spot by keshi

wc: 2.411k

a/n: i fear i will ride the loser jake wave forever! i love nerdy men <3 btw this is not proofread...

⤿ ALTERNATIVELY ✿ the science nerd fucks you in his dorm ᝰ.ᐟ

⤿ wc: 5k

s. jy × fem . reader

ⓘ cw: smut, academic rivals, literature student : reader, science student : jake, enemies to lovers?, they're literally nerds, unprotected sex, embarrassment, whiny jake, puppy!jake agenda, a lot of it, he's so cute, public-ish sex (not exhibitionism), eating out (fem), overstimulation, teasing, sexual tension. ♡

you always had your own suspicions around him—everyone called him a sweetheart, the golden retriever of the campus, kind to everyone. you thought no one could possibly be this good, but the more he spoke with his beautiful smile and gorgeous flowy hair, the more you believed it. that's until... he went on an uncalled for debate with you over his amazing science major.

lose focus- sunnotes

bet you- blackwhitez

margin of error- jakeyswifeblog

out of luck- mssishipi

holy shit- jongst4r

bsfjake- hsnlv

loyal puppy- junsfriend

pairings: jake x reader (f)

synopsis: After waking up eighty nine years too early aboard a starship bound for a distant planet, you've spent the last three months completely alone, exploring the empty ship and trying not to lose yourself to loneliness. But when another passenger unexpectedly wakes up from his pod, the two of you must navigate a world meant to stay asleep for decades, slowly growing closer as you face life together.

warnings: unprotected sex!

word count: 12.5k

author's note: i hope you enjoy this fic! it was rlly fun to write and i kinda love ittt lmk ur thoughts! and pls reblog and like if you enjoyed it :) (and yes, this is inspired by/based off the movie)

tags: @simpikeu @prettygirlthings-world @jakebitez

-

The first thing you learned after waking up eighty nine years too early was that loneliness didn't arrive all at once. It crept in.

The first few days were almost exciting. You were too distracted by panic to feel lonely. Too busy demanding answers from emergency hotlines that led to nowhere. Too busy searching every corner of the ship for someone, anyone, who could tell you why you were awake when everyone else remained asleep.

The Aurora was enormous. Bigger than any city you'd ever seen. A floating world wrapped in polished silver and glass. There were restaurants with tables set for hundreds of passengers who would never sit there. Swimming pools that reflected artificial sunlight. Shopping centers stocked with products nobody would buy for another eighty nine years. Everything was perfect. Everything worked. And everything was empty.

You spent the first week convinced help was coming, the second week waiting. By the third week, you started memorizing the routes between decks because there was nothing else to do. The ship never changed.

Every morning, the lights brightened at the exact same time. Every evening, they dimmed. Every hallway looked spotless and untouched. No laughter. No conversations. No footsteps except your own. Sometimes you would deliberately walk as loudly as possible just to hear something. Anything.

One afternoon, after wandering through the same observation deck for the hundredth time, you found yourself standing in front of one of the enormous windows.

Space stretched endlessly beyond the glass. Black, infinite, and beautiful. You pressed your forehead against the cool surface. The stars didn't twinkle out here. They burned steadily. Thousands of tiny lights scattered across a darkness so vast it made your stomach twist. You had never felt smaller. The realization hit you all over again. Nobody could hear you. Nobody knew you were awake. There wasn't a single living person within millions of miles who could help. A sharp ache settled in your chest.

You hated thinking about it. 

So instead, you went swimming. Then you watched movies. Then you ordered enough room service for six people because nobody was around to stop you. Then you played arcade games until three in the morning. Then you wandered into the bar.

That was where you met Arthur. Well, met was probably the wrong word. He'd been there the whole time. The bartender android stood behind the polished counter exactly as he'd been programmed to do, serving drinks to passengers who weren't awake yet to order them. At first, the conversations were awkward. Mostly because he wasn't really a person. But after months passed, Arthur became part of your routine, you sat at the same stool every evening, ordered the same drink, complained about the same things. Arthur listened politely every time. Sometimes you wondered if he understood more than he was supposed to.

"You seem troubled today," he said one evening. You laughed. 

"Today?" 

"More troubled than usual."

"That's impressive." Arthur tilted his head. The movement was almost human. 

"Would you like to discuss it?"

You rested your chin against your palm. The bar was quiet. Soft jazz drifted through hidden speakers. Beyond the massive windows, stars passed by in endless silence. "I think I've walked every hallway on this ship." 

"Congratulations." 

"I'm serious."

"So am I." You rolled your eyes. Arthur continued polishing a glass that didn't need polishing. 

"I imagine that's quite an achievement." 

"You know what's sad?" 

"What?"

"I was actually proud of it." 

"Understandable."

A smile tugged at your lips despite yourself. That was the thing about Arthur. He wasn't funny. Not intentionally at least. But after spending months alone, his weird robotic responses somehow became hilarious. The smile faded quickly. Because eventually every conversation ended the same way. You would leave. Walk back through empty hallways. And remember that you were alone. 

Completely. 

Utterly. 

Alone.

Until the noise.

It happened on a random Tuesday. At least you thought it was Tuesday. Time had become blurry months ago. You were asleep when it started. A metallic crash somewhere far away. Your eyes flew open. For a moment you stayed perfectly still, listening. The ship hummed quietly around you. Nothing seemed unusual. You almost convinced yourself you'd imagined it.

Then it happened again.

THUNK.

Louder this time. Your heart immediately sped up. You sat upright. The sound echoed faintly through the walls. Metal against metal. The ship wasn't supposed to sound like this. After a few months aboard, you knew every noise it made. The elevators. The engines. The doors. This wasn't any of them.

A strange unease crawled down your spine. You climbed out of bed. The floor felt cold beneath your feet.

The hallway outside your cabin was empty. Bright white lights stretched endlessly in both directions, silent and still.

The noise came again.

A distant crash followed by what sounded suspiciously like someone stumbling into something.

You froze.

Someone?

Your pulse hammered.

No. That wasn't possible. There wasn't anyone else awake. You knew that. You checked the passenger chambers all the time. Not because there was a reason to. Just because it felt comforting seeing other people, even if they were asleep.

The sound echoed again.

This time there was no mistaking it.

Something was happening.

You started walking. Then walking became jogging. Then jogging became running. Your footsteps bounced off the empty walls.

The passenger hibernation chamber sat near the center of the ship. Massive reinforced doors guarded the entrance. As you approached, you realized your hands were shaking. Maybe it was a malfunction. Maybe something had broken. Maybe—

The doors slid open.

Cold air rushed out. The chamber stretched endlessly before you. Rows upon rows of pods disappeared into the distance. Thousands of sleeping passengers. Thousands of motionless faces.

And one pod…

One pod was open.

You stopped so suddenly your shoes squeaked against the floor. For a second your brain refused to process what you were seeing.

The pod stood open. Empty. Its occupant gone. Your heart nearly stopped.

Then, movement caught your eye. Someone was standing near the row of pods. A boy. Alive and awake. It was real. He looked just as shocked as you felt. His dark hair was messy from sleep. His passenger uniform hung slightly crooked. And he was staring at the room around him with wide, confused eyes as if he'd been dropped into another universe. Which, in a way, he had.

You took a hesitant step forward. The floor creaked. The boy whipped around. The second he saw you, he jumped so violently he nearly fell over. "What—!"

You screamed.

He screamed too.

The sound echoed through the massive chamber. Both of you immediately stared at each other in horror. Neither moving. Neither breathing. The boy's eyes somehow widened even more. Which honestly seemed impossible.

"What is happening?" he blurted.

You pointed at him. 

"No, what is happening with you?!" 

"I woke up!" 

"I can see that!" 

"I don't know why!" 

"Neither do I!" 

For a second there was silence. The kind of silence that only happens when two extremely confused people realize neither of them knows anything.

The boy looked around helplessly. At the sleeping passengers. At the open pod. At you. Then back at the passengers. His face slowly drained of color. "Oh." You watched realization hit him. Hard. "Oh," he repeated.

Your stomach twisted because you remembered that feeling. The exact moment you understood. The exact moment you realized nobody was coming. Nobody was awake. And something had gone terribly wrong.

The boy swallowed. His voice came out much smaller this time. "How long have you been awake?" You hesitated.

"Three months." His expression froze. Three months. The number seemed to hit him like a truck.

"Three..." His voice cracked. "Months?" You nodded.

The room became very quiet. The boy looked like he didn't know whether to cry, panic, or pass out. Honestly, all three seemed reasonable. He rubbed both hands through his hair, turned in a circle, then immediately walked into the corner of another pod. The collision made a loud thunk. You blinked. He blinked. "Oh my God," he muttered, rubbing his forehead.

And despite the situation, despite the confusion. Despite the fact that your entire world had just changed again, you almost laughed. Because he looked ridiculously flustered. Like a confused puppy trying to understand advanced mathematics. The boy noticed your expression. Immediately, he looked away. Embarrassed.

A tiny smile tugged at your lips.

Interesting.

Apparently making him nervous was very easy.

And for the first time in those three months, for the first time since waking up alone, you felt something besides loneliness.

Curiosity.

~

Neither of you spoke for several seconds. The silence settled heavily between the rows of sleeping pods. Thousands of people surrounded you, suspended peacefully in hibernation, completely unaware that anything had gone wrong. 

It felt almost disrespectful to speak too loudly, as though you might wake the rest of them if you weren't careful.

The boy was the first to break the silence. 

"What..." His voice cracked. He cleared his throat before trying again. "What happened?" You let out a slow breath. 

"I don't know." His eyes searched yours, looking for reassurance you couldn't give. "My pod malfunctioned," you continued quietly. "That's all anyone, or rather, anything, has been able to tell me. Some kind of critical failure. The computer woke me up for safety reasons." He frowned. 

"So..." 

"It looks like yours did too." He stared back at his open pod. Thin wisps of frost still clung to the edges of the chamber, slowly disappearing into the air. 

"But we can fix it, right?"

You hesitated. "I thought that too." 

"No, I mean..." He laughed nervously. "Can’t we just… go back?" The words made your stomach tighten. You remembered asking those same exact questions. You remembered refusing to believe the answers. 

"I've tried everything." He looked back at you. "I've searched every deck. Every terminal. Every maintenance access point I could get into. I've called emergency support more times than I can count." 

"And?" 

"They all say the same thing." 

"What?" 

You swallowed. "Passenger hibernation cannot be manually initiated."

His expression faltered. "What does that mean?" 

"It means..." You struggled to find gentler words, but there weren't any. "Once you're awake, there's no way back." He blinked.

"No." 

"I'm sorry."

"No." He shook his head harder this time. "No, that's impossible."

Without warning he hurried past you, nearly clipping your shoulder as he rushed back toward his pod. "There has to be something." He leaned over the open chamber, frantically pressing buttons along its side. Nothing happened. Again. Nothing. He hit another panel. The pod emitted a soft, polite chime. Manual hibernation unavailable. "No." He pressed harder. "There has to be an override. There has to—" 

"There isn't."

He ignored you completely, moving to the terminal beside the pod instead. His fingers flew across the touchscreen. Search after search. Override. Emergency sleep protocol. Manual stasis. Anything. Every result came back the same. Unavailable. Restricted. Automatic systems only. His breathing became noticeably faster.

"When..." he whispered without looking at you. "When are we supposed to wake up?" 

"Four months before arrival." He nodded quickly.

"Okay." A hopeful smile flickered across his face. "So how much longer?" 

You wished he hadn't asked. 

"There are..." You looked away. "...eighty nine years left."

The room seemed to stop. 

He stared at you. 

"Eighty..." His voice barely existed anymore. "...nine?" You nodded once. His knees nearly gave out. He caught himself against the pod before slowly sliding down until he was sitting on the floor. "No." The word was almost silent. "No, no, no..." His hands trembled as they covered his face. "This isn't happening… I can't..." He shook his head rapidly. "I have people waiting for me." 

"I know." 

"My family..." His voice broke completely. "They're expecting me."

You crouched a few feet away, giving him space. "I know." Tears escaped before he seemed to realize he was crying. 

"There has to be a way." 

"Belive me, I’ve tried." 

He buried his face in his hands. The only sounds in the room were the quiet hum of the pods and his uneven breathing. Eventually it slowed. 

You stood carefully. "Come on." He didn't move. "You should get some rest." 

"I don't think I can sleep."

"You've just spent decades in hibernation. Your body still needs time to adjust." 

~

You led him through the silent corridors toward the residential deck, showing him one of the passenger suites. The room was identical to yours, large windows overlooking the stars, a neatly made bed, soft lighting, and a small dining area. "The food dispensers still work," you explained. "You should eat something. Drink plenty of water too. It helps."

He looked around the unfamiliar room as though none of it felt real. When you turned to leave, he instinctively took a half step after you before stopping himself. "...Goodnight," he said. You offered him a small, reassuring smile.

"Goodnight."

The automatic door slid shut behind you. The hallway was quiet again. You stood there for a long moment, staring at the closed door. 

Three months. For three months you'd wished more than anything that someone else would wake up. Now they had. And somehow... everything felt different.

-

Sleep never came. 

You laid on your back, staring at the ceiling as the soft lights of your cabin dimmed into their artificial nighttime setting. Beyond the enormous window, the stars drifted by in complete silence, exactly as they had every night for the past three months. 

Only tonight was different.

Every time you closed your eyes, you saw him. The way he'd looked standing beside the open pod, frozen in place with wide, frightened eyes. The confusion on his face when he looked around the chamber, still expecting someone to explain what was happening. The hope that had flickered across his expression when he'd asked how much longer until arrival. 

Then the way it disappeared. 

You had watched his world fall apart in the span of a few sentences. 

You remembered hearing those words yourself. You remembered refusing to believe them. You remembered running from terminal to terminal, desperately searching for a different answer, pressing every button you could find, calling emergency support over and over again until you could practically recite the automated responses from memory. You had said the same things. He hadn't done anything differently. It was almost eerie. Like watching your own memories unfold in front of you.

Your chest tightened. When he'd started crying, something inside you had shifted. Maybe it was because you knew exactly what those tears meant, they were grief. Grief for a life that had disappeared in an instant. For family, friends, plans. A future that was so suddenly taken away from him. You understood every bit of it. No one should have to experience that alone.

The thought lingered in your mind longer than anything else. 

He had seemed... so young. Not in age, but in the way he carried himself. There was something remarkably soft about him, sheltered, almost. Every emotion crossed his face before he had a chance to hide it, from confusion to panic to embarrassment. Even through everything, he'd somehow managed to seem... gentle. You smiled faintly to yourself. He'd been so flustered. The memory of him rubbing his forehead after walking into the corner of the pod replayed in your head, and despite yourself, you let out the smallest laugh.

Then the guilt returned just as quickly. He was probably lying awake right now. Probably staring at the ceiling exactly like you were, wondering if his family would ever know what happened to him. Wondering if this was all some terrible dream. Wondering if tomorrow would somehow fix everything. You hoped he wasn't crying anymore. The thought of him sitting alone in that unfamiliar room with no one to talk to made your heart ache.

The loneliness you'd carried for so long hadn't disappeared, but it no longer felt quite so crushing. You weren't alone anymore. Neither was he.

A strange sense of responsibility settled over you. You wanted to make this easier for him somehow, even though you knew you couldn't. You couldn't change what had happened. You couldn't put him back to sleep. You couldn't give him his old life back. 

But maybe you could make tomorrow a little less terrifying.

You realized, with a small huff of amusement, that you didn't even know his name. The thought felt ridiculous. He was the only other conscious person on an interstellar ship carrying thousands of sleeping passengers, and somehow you'd forgotten the most basic question imaginable.

What was his name? Where had he come from? What kind of life had he left behind? Why had he boarded the Aurora in the first place? Had he been traveling alone? There were so many things you wanted to ask him.

You turned onto your side, looking out at the endless sea of stars. 

Tomorrow, you thought.

-

You woke up earlier than usual. For a few blissful seconds, everything felt normal. You lay beneath the covers staring at the ceiling while the artificial sunrise slowly brightened your room, the familiar hum of the ship surrounding you. 

Then you remembered. The boy. 

Your eyes widened. You sat upright so quickly the blanket slipped into your lap. It hadn't been a dream. At least... you didn't think it had been.

You hurried out of bed, barely bothering to brush your hair before making your way into the hallway. The corridors looked exactly as they always did, spotless white floors, polished walls, soft morning lighting slowly illuminating the ship. 

His room wasn't far from yours. When you reached the door, you hesitated for a moment before raising your hand. Three soft knocks echoed through the hallway. No answer. You frowned. Maybe he was still asleep. You waited another few seconds before knocking again, a little louder this time. Still nothing. "...Hello?" you called. Silence.

The door slid open automatically as you stepped closer. Your stomach sank. The room was empty. The bed was neatly made, the blankets folded so perfectly it looked as though nobody had slept there at all. The bathroom light was off. The untouched glass of water still sat where you'd left it the night before. For a moment you simply stood there. Had... had you imagined all of it? Three months alone could do strange things to a person. Maybe you'd finally reached the point where your mind had started inventing company. You laughed quietly to yourself, though it came out sounding more nervous than amused. "No," you muttered. "No..." He'd been real. You knew he had. 

You backed out of the room, your thoughts racing. Maybe he'd gone exploring. Maybe he'd— 

Your stomach growled. Breakfast. You hadn't eaten since yesterday. Shaking your head, you started toward the dining hall, trying to convince yourself that once you'd had something to eat, everything would make a little more sense.

Halfway there, something caught your eye. Movement. You stopped walking. Slowly, you turned your head toward the passenger hibernation chamber. The enormous doors stood open. Inside, beneath the soft blue glow of thousands of sleeping pods, someone stood perfectly still. 

It was him. Relief washed all over you so suddenly your shoulders relaxed without you realizing. You hadn't imagined him.

For a brief second, you simply watched from the doorway. He hadn't noticed you. His hands rested lightly against the edge of one pod while his eyes wandered from face to face. He was looking at them, watching them sleep. The sight made something ache deep inside your chest. You quietly looked away before he noticed you staring. He deserved a moment. Turning back toward the dining hall, you decided to give him some space.

The breakfast area looked exactly as it always had. Completely empty. Rows of tables stretched beneath high glass ceilings while automated dispensers quietly prepared meals no one was around to order. You poured yourself a bowl of cereal out of habit, adding milk before carrying it to your usual table beside one of the windows. The spoon clinked softly against the bowl. You had barely taken a few bites when footsteps approached. You looked up. He stood there awkwardly, hands shoved into the pockets of his sweatshirt. His eyes met yours.

"...Hey," you said. 

"Hey." There was a pause. He gestured toward the empty chair across from you. "Can I...?" 

"Of course." He pulled the chair out quietly and sat down. For a moment neither of you spoke. You realized then that despite everything that had happened yesterday, there was one very important thing you'd forgotten. "I never asked your name." He blinked. 

"Oh." A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "It's Jake."

Jake. You repeated it silently in your head. How fitting.

"What's yours?" he asked. You told him. He repeated it back carefully, testing the sound of it before giving a small nod. "It suits you." Something about hearing another person say your name caught you completely off guard. It had been a long time. You hadn't realized how much you'd missed hearing it until now. You smiled before looking back down at your cereal.

"So..." you began after a moment. "What brought you here?" Jake looked out the window instead of answering immediately. 

"It wasn't really my decision." 

"No?" He shook his head. 

"My parents thought it would be better for us." 

"For... all of you?" 

"Yeah." You frowned slightly. 

"Wait." Your spoon stopped halfway to your mouth. "As in... you came here with your family?" He nodded once. 

"They're on the ship."

The puzzle pieces clicked in your head as you put two and two together. Your thoughts drifted back to only a few minutes ago, to him standing quietly among the sleeping pods, looking from face to face without moving. Your chest tightened. "Was that..." you asked gently. "Were you looking at them?" Jake lowered his eyes. After a long moment, he nodded. 

"My family." Silence settled between you. 

"I'm so sorry," you said quietly. He gave a small shrug. "It's okay." You could tell it wasn't. 

"I've... accepted it." You weren't sure anyone could accept something like this in less than twenty four hours. Still, you didn't argue.

"What are they like?" you asked instead. A tiny smile appeared. 

"I have two sisters. My older sister's two years older than me." He laughed softly. "She always acted like my second mom. And my little sister..." His expression softened even more. "She's five years younger. I used to help her with homework." The smile disappeared as quickly as it had come. "My parents are... they're good people. They worked really hard."

"What made you leave Earth?" you asked carefully. Jake rested his arms on the table. 

"We were struggling for a long time." He looked down at his hands. "My parents had debt they couldn't get out of. They worked constantly, but there was never enough money." He paused. "The government had this relocation program. They were offering families financial sponsorship to join the colony project. They said it would reduce overcrowding on Earth and give people like us a chance to start over somewhere with better opportunities." He smiled sadly. "It was basically the only chance we'd ever have."

You nodded slowly. It made sense. The colony wasn't just all sunshine. For some people... it was an escape.

"I never really wanted to leave," Jake admitted. "But I knew why my parents did." He looked up. "What about you?"

You stared into your bowl for a long moment before answering. "I came alone." Jake listened quietly. "I was always against leaving." You smiled faintly. "I grew up without much family. I was an orphan for most of my life. I had really amazing friends, though." The memory made your chest ache. "They became my family."

You traced absent circles against the side of your bowl. "But one by one... they left Earth. I kept telling myself I'd stay." You laughed softly. "I still had my dog." Your smile turned bittersweet. "He was getting old. When he died..." You looked out at the endless stars beyond the glass. "...there wasn't really anything keeping me there anymore. So I bought a ticket."

Jake didn't say anything. He didn't need to. The sympathy in his eyes said enough. For a while, neither of you spoke. The silence wasn't awkward anymore.

Finally, you let out a small laugh. "Well." You pushed your empty bowl away. "That's enough depressing life stories for one morning." Jake smiled. A real one this time. 

You noticed then that there was nothing in front of him. "No breakfast?" He glanced toward the food dispensers before shaking his head. 

"I'm not really hungry." 

"You should probably eat something anyway." 

"I know." 

"How are you feeling?" He thought for a moment. 

"...Better." 

"You sure?" He nodded. 

"I still can't really believe any of this." His fingers absentmindedly traced circles on the tabletop. "But..." He looked up at you. "I'm not as scared as I was yesterday."

Something warm settled in your chest. "I'm glad." 

"And..." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I actually slept okay." 

You smiled. "Good."

Outside the window, the stars continued drifting silently past.

-

By the afternoon, you decided there was only one other “person” aboard the Aurora that Jake needed to meet.

"Come on," you said as you led him through the familiar corridors.

He looked around curiously. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

He followed a step behind, hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans, his eyes wandering over every passing storefront and observation window. Everything still seemed to fascinate him. Every few seconds he'd slow down to glance at something new before hurrying to catch up again.

The grand atrium opened before the two of you, sunlight spilling through the towering glass ceiling and reflecting off polished marble floors.

Jake stopped walking.

"...Whoa."

You smiled.

"I had the same reaction."

The room was breathtaking even after three months. Water trickled down a massive stone fountain in the center of the atrium while glass elevators drifted silently between floors. If someone had filled the space with people, you could almost forget you were drifting through the emptiness of space.

Almost.

You headed toward the familiar bar tucked into the corner of the atrium.

Arthur looked up the moment the two of you approached. His practiced smile never faltered.

"Welcome back," he said pleasantly. "It's good to see you again."

He turned his attention toward Jake.

"And I see you've brought company."

Jake blinked.

"You..." He glanced at you before looking back at Arthur. "You're... a robot."

Arthur nodded once. "I prefer the term android."

Jake immediately straightened.

"Oh." There was a painfully awkward pause. "...Sorry."

Arthur smiled exactly the same way he had before. "No offense taken."

Jake nodded a little too enthusiastically. "Good."

Another pause.

"So..."

Arthur waited patiently.

Jake scratched the back of his neck. "...How are you?"

You bit the inside of your cheek.

Arthur answered without missing a beat. "I am functioning within normal operational parameters."

"Oh." Jake nodded again. "That's... good."

You couldn't help it. A laugh escaped before you had a chance to stop it.

Jake looked over immediately. "What?"

"Nothing."

"You laughed."

"I didn't."

"You definitely did."

Arthur watched the exchange quietly. "I believe she found your conversation endearing."

Jake's ears immediately turned pink. 

"I..." He looked down at the floor. "I've never talked to a robot before."

"I gathered as much," Arthur replied.

You laughed again. Jake let out an embarrassed groan, hiding his face behind one hand. "This is so humiliating."

"You'll get used to him."

Arthur reached beneath the counter. "What may I prepare for the two of you today?"

"The usual," you answered automatically. Arthur nodded.

"And for our new passenger?" Jake looked between the two of you.

"I don't know."

"What do you recommend?"

Arthur considered the question for exactly one second.

"I recommend broadening one's experiences."

Jake looked even more confused. Arthur set two glasses on the counter before expertly mixing something amber colored into each one. He slid the first glass toward you. Then the second toward Jake. Jake stared at it.

"...What's this?"

"A whiskey sour."

He looked back at Arthur.

"...Is there alcohol in it?"

"There is." Jake immediately looked at you.

"I've never had alcohol before." Your eyebrows shot up.

"You've never drank?" He shook his head.

"Not once."

"Even back on Earth?" Another shake of his head.

"My parents weren't really drinkers."

"And?" 

He shrugged sheepishly.

"I just... never wanted to."

You looked from him to the glass, then back again. "So..." You pushed it a little closer to him. "First time." Jake eyed the drink like it might bite him.

"It smells..." He leaned closer. "...really strong."

"It is."

"I don't know if this is a good idea."

"You don't have to drink it."

He stared at it for another few seconds.

"...No." A determined look crossed his face. "I've already traveled through space." He picked up the glass. "I can handle one drink." You tried very hard not to smile.

"That's the spirit."

"I don't know if that's the right choice of words."

He took an impossibly tiny sip. For half a second, nothing happened. Then his entire face scrunched up. His eyes squeezed shut. His shoulders lifted. He coughed once before frantically grabbing the glass of water Arthur had somehow already placed beside him. You burst into laughter. Jake drank half the water in one go before looking at you in disbelief.

"People..." He coughed again. "...drink that on purpose?"

"They do."

"Why?"

"I've wondered the same thing."

"It burns."

"A little."

"A little?"

He looked horrified. "It feels like I swallowed fire."

Arthur folded his hands neatly on the counter. "This particular beverage is considered relatively approachable."

Jake looked back down at the amber liquid. "I think I'll stick with juice."

"Probably a wise decision."

You spent the next hour talking with Arthur about nothing in particular while Jake slowly became less nervous. Every now and then he'd ask Arthur another earnest question, whether androids dreamed, whether he ever got bored standing behind the bar, whether he knew everyone's names aboard the ship, and Arthur answered each one with the same calm sincerity.

Watching Jake slowly relax, watching the uncertainty melt away into genuine curiosity, you found yourself smiling more than you had in months.

It occurred to you then that this was the first normal afternoon you'd had since waking up. Or at least, as normal as two stranded passengers and an android bartender could make it.

-

The days slowly stopped feeling like days. Morning became afternoon, afternoon became evening, and before you knew it, several weeks had passed since Jake had woken up. The Aurora no longer felt quite as empty.

Jake had changed. Not dramatically, but the nervousness that had clung to him during those first few days had begun to disappear. He smiled more now. He laughed without immediately looking embarrassed afterward. He teased you. It wasn't often, but every now and then he'd say something with the tiniest hint of sarcasm before breaking into a grin when he realized you'd caught on. It suited him. You liked this version of him. Well, you liked every version of him.

Over those weeks, you'd learned dozens of little things about him. His favorite ice cream was chocolate, though he'd insist vanilla was "criminally underrated." He couldn't handle spicy food at all, despite confidently claiming he could before immediately reaching for three glasses of water after one bite. He hummed absentmindedly whenever he was concentrating, usually without realizing he was doing it. He was really good at math and enjoyed things all science. He loved rainy weather back on Earth because it reminded him of staying inside with his sisters and watching old movies together. He always read the little descriptions underneath paintings whenever you wandered through the ship's art gallery, even though there was nobody around to appreciate them besides the two of you.

He couldn't whistle. No matter how hard he tried. The first time he admitted it, he'd spent nearly twenty minutes attempting to prove himself wrong while you laughed so hard your stomach hurt. By the end of it, he'd only managed to make strange little puffing noises.

"It sounds like you're trying to call a very disappointed bird," you told him. 

"I don't even think birds would answer that." 

"They'd probably feel bad for you." 

"I don't need your pity." 

"You absolutely do."

He'd rolled his eyes before laughing right along with you. Moments like those happened almost every day now. You found yourself looking forward to them. The truth was... you were beginning to look forward to him. You tried not to think too hard about it. There wasn't much point. You were two people stranded on a ship for eighty nine years. Of course you were growing attached. That's all it was. Probably. Still... every time he smiled at you, your heart insisted on making things unnecessarily complicated.

He was unintentionally funny. Kind in a way that felt effortless. Gentle. Patient. Almost impossibly pure. He saw the good in everything. In everyone. Even after everything that had happened to him.

One thing became very clear after the first week: Jake loved sports. The Aurora had an enormous recreation center complete with indoor courts, climbing walls, running tracks, and even a surprisingly convincing soccer field covered in artificial turf beneath a projected blue sky. You'd never been particularly athletic. Jake, unfortunately, was.

"Again?" he asked, already jogging backward across the field with the soccer ball balanced against his foot. You bent over, hands on your knees as you caught your breath. 

"Jake..." You looked up at him. "You're just going to win again." 

"I won't." 

"You said that last time." 

"I mean it this time." 

"You beat me six to one." He scratched the back of his neck. A sheepish grin spread across his face. 

"One more round?" You groaned dramatically. 

"I don't know why I keep agreeing to this." 

"I'll go easy on you." 

"You said that last time." 

"I really mean it now." You narrowed your eyes suspiciously. 

"...Fine."

The game started again. Jake really did seem to be taking it easier. He gave you more space, passed the ball slower, and even let you steal it once.

"You're being obvious," you called. 

"I'm not!" 

"You absolutely are!" 

"I'm just playing differently." 

"You pity me." 

"I do not pity you. I respect your determination." 

"That's even worse!"

He laughed so hard he nearly lost possession. You took your chance. Without really thinking, you darted forward and kicked the ball as hard as you could. It rolled cleanly past him. Jake reached for it, and missed. The ball bounced into the net.

"I SCORED!" Your voice echoed across the empty stadium. "I ACTUALLY SCORED!" You threw both arms into the air, laughing as you ran in a completely unnecessary victory lap around the field.

Jake stared after you before breaking into laughter himself. "You did!" 

"I DID!" 

"I wasn't expecting that!" 

"Neither was I!"

You practically skipped back toward him, still grinning from ear to ear. "I won!" 

"You scored one goal." 

"I won in my heart." 

"I'll allow it."

Without thinking, you threw your arms around him. The hug only lasted a second. Maybe two. Then reality caught up with both of you. You immediately stepped back.

The tips of his ears slowly turned pink. You felt warmth rush into your own face. Neither of you quite knew where to look. Jake rubbed the back of his neck. "Um... nice job." His smile was small. Shy. Entirely too cute.

"Thanks," you mumbled.

The swimming pool became another favorite. Some afternoons the two of you raced from one end to the other, both insisting the other had gotten a head start. Other days you floated on your backs beneath the artificial sky, watching clouds drift across the ceiling projection while talking about absolutely nothing. Sometimes the conversations lasted for hours. Sometimes you didn't talk at all. You simply splashed water at each other until one of you surrendered. Jake was surprisingly competitive. He celebrated every victory like he'd just won an Olympic medal. You made sure to splash him extra hard whenever that happened.

Being around him made something inside you feel lighter. For the first time since waking up aboard the Aurora, you caught yourself laughing without forcing it. Running through empty hallways just because he challenged you to a race. Trying new foods neither of you had ever tasted before. Building ridiculous pillow forts in the observation lounge during movie nights. You hadn't felt that carefree in years. He made you feel like a kid again.

More importantly, you realized you no longer dreaded the moments when you returned to your room. Not because you enjoyed being alone, but because you knew you wouldn't be alone for long. There was always tomorrow. Another game. Another conversation. Another adventure through some unexplored corner of the ship.

Jake was still adjusting, though. You could see it. Some habits never changed. Every few days, usually when he thought you were busy elsewhere, he'd disappear into the passenger hibernation chamber. You'd find him standing beside the same row of pods, his family's row. Sometimes he stood there quietly. Other times, he talked. You couldn't hear what he was saying. Maybe he was telling them about his day. Maybe he simply needed someone to talk to.

You never asked. You quietly turned around every time and gave him the privacy he deserved. Because you understood. If the people you loved were still here, even asleep, you thought you'd probably do the same.

-

Every morning followed the same routine. You would wake up just before the artificial sunrise reached its brightest point, get dressed, and meet Jake in the dining hall for breakfast. 

Sure enough, when you stepped into the dining hall, Jake was already standing by one of the food dispensers, absentmindedly scrolling through the breakfast menu. He looked up the moment he heard your footsteps.

"Morning." 

"Morning."

You grabbed yourself a tray before joining him. "So," you said, looking over at him, "what's the plan today? Basketball?" you suggested. "Or maybe another soccer rematch so you can embarrass me again?" A grin spread across his face. He thought for a moment. 

"Maybe..." His shoulders lifted in a small shrug. "...a movie?" 

"A movie?" 

He nodded. "I think today's a movie day." You smiled. 

"Okay." You reached for a bowl, letting the dispenser fill it with cereal. "Movie it is."

Then, you noticed Jake glance toward the digital clock mounted high on the wall. 9:47 AM. November 15. His eyes lingered there. You followed his gaze.

"What is it?" Jake didn't answer immediately. 

"It's November fifteenth." 

"...Yeah?" You looked back at him. "I'm not following." He hesitated before rubbing the back of his neck. 

"It's my birthday." 

You blinked. "...What?" He smiled sheepishly. 

"My birthday." Your eyes widened. 

"Jake!" 

He looked almost guilty. "What?" 

"It's your birthday?" 

"...Yeah." 

"Why didn't you tell me?" 

"To be honest I didn't even realize it." 

"Happy birthday!" His smile grew just a little wider. 

"Thanks."

"No, hold on." You pointed at him dramatically. "Now I have to get you something." 

"What?" His eyes widened. "No." 

"Yes." 

"You don't have to." 

"I absolutely do." He laughed, already shaking his head. "Really. I don't need anything." 

"There has to be something you want." 

"There isn't." 

"Jake." 

"I'm serious." He smiled apologetically. "Anything I could possibly need is already here." You frowned. 

"...That is true." He leaned against the counter. 

"I'm not really a materialistic person." 

"I've noticed." He shrugged. 

"I don't know. I've never really cared for stuff." 

You rolled your eyes. Somewhere in the back of your mind, ideas began forming. If he didn't want something... maybe you could give him an experience instead. Something he'd remember. By the time breakfast ended, you already knew exactly what you were going to do.

~

"Where are we going?" Jake looked around curiously as the two of you walked through an unfamiliar section of the ship. 

"You'll see." 

"You've said that for the last five minutes." 

"And I'll keep saying it." He sighed dramatically. 

"I don't like surprises." 

"You literally have no idea if that's true." 

"I have a feeling." 

The corridors gradually became more industrial than the rest of the ship. The polished floors gave way to reinforced metal walkways, and large maintenance doors lined the walls. Jake frowned. "I've never been over here."

You stopped in front of a thick steel door. With a quiet hiss, it slid open. Inside the room stood two sleek white EVA suits secured neatly against the wall. Jake stared. "...Spacesuits?" You smiled. 

"Yep." He looked at you. Then back at the suits. 

"Why?" 

"Just trust me." He laughed nervously. 

"For what?" 

"You ask too many questions."

"I think they're reasonable questions." You walked over and removed one of the suits from its rack. 

"Come on." He stayed where he was. 

"...Are we... going outside?" You only smiled. 

"Put the suit on." His eyebrows climbed higher. 

"Outside outside?" You nodded. Jake blinked several times. 

"You're joking." 

"I'm not." 

"You've been... outside?" 

"A few times." 

"Into space?" 

"Mhm." He looked between you and the suit. 

"I don't know if I like this." 

"You will." 

"I don't even know what's happening." 

"You don't need to." He stared at you for another moment before sighing. 

"...Okay." 

"You trust me?" His answer came without hesitation. "Yeah." That made your smile soften. 

"Then put the suit on."

Several minutes later, the two of you stood fully suited. Your helmets locked into place with a mechanical click. The suits were surprisingly comfortable despite their size. You led Jake into a much smaller chamber beyond the suit room. The heavy door sealed shut behind you with a deep metallic thud. Jake immediately looked over his shoulder. "That doesn't sound reassuring."

A mechanical arm extended from the wall. With practiced precision, it attached a safety tether to the back of your suit. Another arm secured one to Jake's. He watched the cable connect with wide eyes. "...What's this?" 

"Safety line." 

"Oh."

An automated voice echoed throughout the chamber. "External excursion sequence initiated. Suit integrity confirmed. Safety tethers secured. Magnetic boots engaged. Airlock depressurization beginning." A low rumble vibrated beneath your feet.

Jake looked around nervously. "What are we about to do?" You turned toward him. Your voice remained calm. 

"Jake." He looked at you. 

"Do you trust me?" He swallowed before nodding. 

"Is this safe?" he asked. You couldn't help smiling. 

"I swear."

The rumbling stopped. A light above the outer door turned green. Then, with a slow mechanical groan, the airlock opened. Space stretched endlessly before you. No matter how many times you stepped outside, it stole your breath away. The Aurora curved beneath your feet like a gleaming silver city drifting through eternity. Endless panels of polished metal reflected distant starlight, disappearing around the immense body of the ship until they vanished from sight.

Beyond it... nothing. No up. No down. Only infinity. The stars were unlike anything visible through the observation windows. Without glass between you and the universe, they felt impossibly close. Countless suns scattered across an ocean of darkness, burning steadily against the endless black. There was no wind. No sound. Only silence. The kind of silence that felt ancient. The kind that reminded you just how unimaginably small you really were.

Jake didn't move. He simply stared. His visor reflected thousands of tiny stars. "...Wow." The word barely escaped him. You smiled. 

"I know."

He took one slow step forward. The magnetic boots clicked softly against the hull. Then another. His head turned in every direction at once. "I..." He couldn't finish the sentence. There weren't words for this. You weren't sure there ever would be. Together, you walked along the surface, your boots rhythmically locking and releasing with each step.

Eventually you stopped. Jake was still silently admiring the view. You glanced down at the controls on your forearm. With one press of a button, your magnetic boots disengaged. The pull beneath your feet disappeared instantly. You floated a few inches above the hull.

Jake looked over. "...Wait." You grinned. 

"You trust me, right?" He looked uncertain. 

"...Yes."

You gently reached over and switched off the magnets on his suit as well. His eyes widened. Before he could say anything, you grabbed both of his forearms. He looked at you in confusion. "What are—"

You leaned backward, taking him with you. For one heart stopping moment, the two of you fell away from the ship. Jake jammed his eyes shut. His entire body tensed. Then, the safety tethers caught. Instead of falling, you floated. Weightless. Suspended together in the middle of space.

Jake cautiously opened one eye. Then the other. His breath caught. The ship floated above you now, impossibly massive against the stars. The two of you drifted gently beneath it, tethered together while the endless universe surrounded you from every direction. There was no ground anymore. No sky. Only stars. Everywhere.

Jake slowly turned in place, the smallest movement sending him spinning gently through the void. His laughter crackled through your helmet speakers. Not nervous laughter. Pure wonder. "I can't believe this..." His voice was barely above a whisper. "It feels..." He searched for the words. "...like flying."

You watched him drift slowly beside you, arms spread as though he wanted to embrace the entire universe. Seeing his expression made every bit of this worth it. He looked happier than you'd ever seen him. The stars reflected in his visor as he smiled so widely his cheeks nearly reached his eyes. For a long while, neither of you spoke. You simply floated together. Two impossibly small people surrounded by an impossibly large universe.

Eventually, with some reluctance, you reeled yourselves back toward the ship using the tether lines before reengaging your magnetic boots. The walk back to the airlock felt strangely quiet. 

Once the chamber repressurized and the inner door opened, Jake immediately removed his helmet. He took one enormous breath. "My heart..." He laughed breathlessly. "My heart is still pounding." You removed your own helmet, smiling as fresh recycled air filled your lungs again.

 "I know." He ran both hands through his hair. 

"That..." He shook his head. "That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen." 

"I figured you'd like it." 

"Like it?" He laughed again. "I don't even know how to describe that." 

The two of you began removing the rest of the suits. "How many times have you been out there?" he asked. 

"Just a few." You carefully hung your suit back on its rack. "It's the one thing on this ship I don't think I'll ever get tired of." Jake listened quietly. "It always reminded me..." you continued, "...how small everything really is." You looked toward the closed airlock doors. "When you're surrounded by something that enormous, suddenly your problems don't feel quite so heavy anymore."

"I don't think your problems are little." You met his eyes. Something about the quiet sincerity in his voice made your chest tighten. A small smile found its way onto your face. 

"Thanks."

The room fell comfortably silent. Then you nudged his shoulder lightly. "So... happy birthday. I hope you liked your present." Jake smiled. There wasn't even a hint of hesitation when he answered. "I loved it." He looked around the room one last time before turning back toward you. "I don't think I'll ever forget today."

The look he gave you was intense. He didn't break eye contact for a second, and as he stepped a little closer, you did the same. He got really close, but he didn't quite close the gap, so you took the lead and leaned in.

Your lips finally touched in a soft, innocent kiss. You tried to deepen it, but Jake suddenly pulled away. His face was bright red.

"Sorry," he admitted, sounding a bit breathless. "I've never kissed anyone before."

You let out a little laugh. You were honestly surprised since Jake was so good looking and had such an attractive personality, but you didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

"That's okay," you told him with a smile. "I'll teach you."

You leaned in and kissed him again. When you tried to deepen it with your tongue, he flinched slightly, surprised by the sensation, but he caught on quickly. He wrapped his arms around you and pulled you in tight, the kiss deepening as you both lost yourselves in the moment.

~

The mood shifted as you both ended up back in his room, collapsing onto the bed. Whatever nerves Jake had left were being drowned out by the sheer heat of the moment. 

You were on top of him now as you both made out passionately. You couldn't get enough of him, your hands roaming everywhere, tangled in his hair, gripping the back of his neck, tracing the lines of his shoulders.

Jake was a mess under you. Every time you shifted or pressed your weight into him, he let out a soft, needy whine right into your mouth. He was completely overwhelmed, his inexperienced nature making every touch feel like an electric shock to his system.

You pulled back for a moment, wanting to see the effect you were having on him. The sight was perfect. Jake was panting, his lips glossy and swollen from the kissing, his eyes half lidded and hazy with desire. He stared up at you with a look of pure, unfiltered want.

To tease him, you shifted your hips, grinding experimentally against him. Jake’s head snapped back into the pillow, a loud groan escaping his throat. There was no denying it now, you could feel him rock hard, pressing against right where you needed him.

"What's wrong, Jake?" you whispered, a playful smirk on your lips as you ground against him again.

"Please..." he whined, his voice straining. He glanced down at his lap, where you were seated, his face flushed with a mix of desperation and shyness.

"Please what?" you teased.

He looked back up at you, his expression vulnerable. "I've... I've never..."

You knew exactly what he was trying to say. He was terrified and excited all at once. You softened your expression, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "It's okay. We can take it slow."

"I'm just... I'm not ready for that yet," he admitted breathlessly, "but I don't want to stop."

You admired his honesty. Instead of pushing him, you gave him a knowing look. "Here, I'll do something else for you then."

You slowly crawled down his body, the heat of his skin radiating against you. Jake’s breath hitched as you reached his waist and deftly unbuckled his jeans. As you slid the denim down, you reached for the waistband of his underwear and pulled them down in one smooth motion.

The moment he was freed, it sprang forward, slapping against his abdomen with a heavy thud. He was impressively thick and veiny, pulsing with a need that matched his expression. Jake immediately looked away, his face turning a deep shade of crimson as he covered his eyes with one hand, completely mortified by his own arousal.

You, on the other hand, were beyond excited. You stared at him for a second, admiring the view, before leaning in. You gave the very tip an experimental, slow lick.

Jake completely lost it. His hand flew from his face to grip the sheets, his fingers digging deep into the fabric as he shuddered violently. He had never been touched like that, and the sudden spark of pleasure sent him into a total state of shock. The moment your lips first touched him fully, Jake practically jumped. He let out a loud, startled gasp, his hips jerking instinctively. 

As you finally took him into your mouth, Jake practically jumped, a loud, startled gasp tearing from his throat as his hips jerked instinctively. He had never felt anything like this, and the sudden, wet warmth surrounding him was almost too much to handle.

You started slow, swirling your tongue around the crown, teasing the sensitive ridge before sliding down to take as much of him as you could. The moment you created a tight seal and began to suck, Jake’s composure completely shattered. He let out a loud, unrestrained moan that echoed through the room.

Every flick of your tongue against the underside of his shaft sent another jolt through his system. You played with the rhythm, alternating between deep, greedy gulps and light, teasing licks that made him whimper. He was a whirlwind of reactions, one second he was shaking with a desperate need for more, and the next he was gasping, "Too much... it's too much," though his hips were subconsciously pushing back against you, begging for the friction.

Every time you used your hand to massage the base while your mouth worked the top, he let out a series of sharp, needy hitches in his breath, his voice cracking as he called out your name in a fragmented, breathless plea. You could see him trembling, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. A playful, seductive glint entered your eyes as you whispered, "Yeah... do you like that, Jakey?"

Jake couldn't even find the words to answer. He just nodded his head frantically, a pathetic, needy whine escaping him as he murmured a breathless, "Mhm... please..." His eyes were glazed over, completely lost in the sensation, his body practically vibrating with need.

You dove back down, increasing the pace and the suction. You focused on the most sensitive spots, your tongue swirling relentlessly around the head while your hand tightened its grip at the base. Jake’s reactions reached a fever pitch, he was no longer just moaning, he was practically sobbing with pleasure, his hips bucking wildly against your mouth.

"I'm... I'm gonna—!" he choked out, his voice a strained whisper.

The warning was all you needed. You sucked harder, taking him as deep as you could, swirling your tongue in a way that pushed him over the edge. Jake let out a loud, guttural cry, his entire body locking up in a violent shudder as he finally peaked.

He came in powerful, hot surges, filling your mouth with thick, salty heat. Jake let out a long, shaky moan that trailed off into a series of broken whimpers, his muscles twitching rhythmically as he spent himself, his chest heaving as he stared up at the ceiling in a state of absolute, blissful shock.

~

Now the lights had long since dimmed into the ship's evening setting. The two of you lay side by side on top of the blankets, the room quiet except for the steady hum of the ship. Beyond the massive window, endless stars drifted silently past, the darkness broken only by distant pinpricks of light. It was strange how quickly this had become normal. 

You turned your head slightly toward him. "Can I ask you something?" 

Jake looked over. "Yeah." 

"You've never kissed anyone before? I mean… before me?" His ears turned pink almost instantly. 

"...No." You couldn't help smiling. 

"So... you never dated anyone back on Earth?" He shook his head. 

"No." 

"Why not?" He shrugged, staring up at the ceiling. 

"I don't know. I just..." He scratched the back of his neck. "Never really wanted to." You blinked at him. 

"That's kind of impressive." He laughed quietly. 

"I guess."

You studied him for another moment before asking, "Have you ever liked someone? Like... had a crush on a girl?" He thought about it. 

"Once, I guess. When I was little." 

"That's it?" 

"Yeah." 

"You've seriously gone your whole life without liking anyone?" He nodded. 

"I guess so." 

"Huh." You leaned back against your pillow. "You're weird." 

"I've been told."

You smiled to yourself, deciding not to question it any further. For a while neither of you spoke. The silence settled comfortably around the room again. Eventually Jake broke it. "...Thank you." You looked over. 

"For what?" 

"For everything." He kept his eyes on the ceiling. "This was the best birthday I've ever had."

You stared at him. "No way." 

"I'm serious." His smile was small but genuine. "I mean it." He paused before continuing. "And thank you for being so understanding." 

"About what?" 

"Everything." He let out a quiet breath. "This whole situation." His voice grew softer. "If the roles were reversed, I honestly don't know what I'd do. You've been dealing with this by yourself for months. That's really brave. I don't think I could've lasted that long alone. I really appreciate everything you've done for me."

For a second you didn't know what to say. Then you smiled. "Of course." You looked out toward the stars. "I'm honestly just glad you're here. It's not so lonely anymore." Your smile faded slightly. "Even if I really wish this never happened to you." 

Jake was quiet. "Yeah." He looked back toward the ceiling. "I wish it hadn't happened too." A small pause. "But... I'm glad I'm here."

Your eyebrows lifted. "Really?" He nodded slowly. 

"Yeah." Another silence stretched between you. "I've actually been enjoying spending time with you a lot more than I thought I would." A tiny smile tugged at your lips. "And sometimes... I think about everything. My family. The trip. What would've happened if I stayed asleep." He swallowed. "And sometimes I wonder if... maybe this is better."

You frowned. "What do you mean?" He stared at the ceiling. 

"My family didn't really have much. They worked really hard just so we could all come here." You listened carefully. "I always felt like there wasn't enough to go around. So when they eventually landed..." He forced out a small smile. "...they can focus on my sisters."

Your heart sank. "Jake..." He shrugged like it wasn't a big deal. 

"They'll have one less person to worry about." 

"What?" you said immediately. "No. Don't say that." He looked over. "They love you. I'm sure they'd give anything to have you there with them. They're not better off without you."

His expression softened. "I know. I know they love me. I miss them." A faint sadness crossed his face. "I wish it could've worked out like that." He looked away. "But I can't really help feeling the way I do."

You reached over without thinking, resting your hand lightly against his. His eyes dropped to it. "I'm really grateful for you," he said quietly. You smiled. "I'm really grateful for you too." Your thumb brushed gently across the back of his hand. "I really like you, Jake. I don't know what I'd do without you anymore."

He looked at you for a long moment. The corners of his mouth lifted into the softest smile. "Me too."

-

The next few days passed quietly. Today, after spending most of the morning wandering the ship together, the two of you had gone your separate ways for a few hours. Jake had mentioned wanting to explore one of the observation decks you'd shown him, while you'd decided to finally do something productive besides eating and watching movies.

Your yoga mat lay stretched across the floor of your cabin. Both hands pressed against the mat as you leaned into a splits, taking a slow breath. The familiar routine helped clear your mind. 

You were halfway through another stretch when—knock. 

You paused. "...Come in?" 

Nothing. You frowned. Another soft tap sounded against the door. Curious, you stood up and padded across the room. Just as you reached it, something white slid underneath. Then a pen. You blinked. "What?"

You crouched down, picking up the folded note. Written in slightly messy handwriting were only four words: Dinner tonight? One hour? Beneath it were two little boxes.

☐ Yes ☐ No

You stared at it for a second before laughing. "Seriously?" Shaking your head with an amused smile, you uncapped the pen. With unnecessary dramatic flourish, you checked the box beside Yes. You folded it again and slid it back beneath the door.

The paper had barely crossed the other side before—shffft. It vanished. Almost instantly.

"Yes!" came a muffled voice from the hallway, followed by the unmistakable sound of quick footsteps hurrying away. Tap tap tap tap tap.

You couldn't help it. You burst into laughter. "You're such a dork," you called through the door, though you doubted he could still hear you. The hallway had already gone quiet again. Still smiling, you shook your head. Somehow he'd managed to make asking someone to dinner feel like passing notes in elementary school. You folded your yoga mat away before making your way into the bathroom. "Guess I should get ready."

An hour later, you stepped into one of the Aurora's upscale restaurants. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead, casting warm golden light across polished wooden floors. Floor to ceiling windows framed the endless stars outside, while neatly set tables stretched throughout the elegant dining room. Every single chair was empty. Except one.

Jake stood the moment he spotted you. He'd actually brushed his hair this time. You smiled. "You clean up nicely." His ears immediately turned pink. 

"...Thanks. You too." He quickly pulled out your chair. You looked at him. 

"Oh?" He shrugged awkwardly. 

"I saw someone do it in a movie once." You laughed as you sat down. 

"Thank you." He took the seat across from you, looking oddly pleased with himself.

For a moment he glanced around the completely deserted restaurant. Then he leaned in conspiratorially. "You know..." 

"What?" 

"It was really hard getting this reservation." You blinked. 

"Was it?" He nodded gravely. 

"Months of planning." 

"Oh wow." 

"I had to pull a lot of strings." 

"I can imagine." 

"The hostess almost turned me away." You looked around the empty room. 

"There... isn't a hostess." 

"I know. It was brutal." You snorted. 

"Poor you." 

"I even got us the best table." You glanced around. "They're... all the best table." 

"Exactly. I had options."

You laughed so hard you had to cover your face. "I can't believe you're committing to this bit." 

"I'm committed now." 

"You really are."

The waiter robot approached your table with perfect timing, placing two beautifully prepared plates in front of you before silently rolling away again. Jake watched it disappear. "See? Very professional. The service here is incredible." 

"I'll be sure to leave a five star review." 

For a while, conversation gave way to eating. The food was genuinely incredible. You hadn't appreciated just how nice it was to sit across from someone during a meal until now.

A comfortable silence settled between you again. Neither of you felt the need to fill every second anymore. It was enough simply sitting together. Jake smiled to himself as he took another bite. "I'm really glad you checked yes."

You looked up. "You would've cried if I checked no." His eyes widened. 

"I would've been devastated. I even had a backup plan." 

"And what was that?" 

"I was gonna slide another note under your door asking if you were sure." You laughed.

You smiled so hard your cheeks hurt. "You know… I think I'd check yes every time." Jake's smile lingered. 

"Good."

~

Once dinner was over, the hallway stretched ahead, quiet and dim. Jake walked beside you, as you approached his room.

"I think I'm ready."

His voice came out thin, almost a whisper. You turned and found him standing rigid two steps behind you. His eyes were fixed somewhere around your collarbone.

"Ready for what?"

The question left your mouth before your mind caught up. Then you saw it, the flush crawling up from his collar, the way his throat bobbed when he swallowed. The silence stretched, and in it, everything clicked into place.

Your hand found his, warm and trembling, and you laced your fingers together. You didn’t wait, you just turned toward his door, and stepped inside with him.

The door clicked shut behind you.

The bed dipped under you two as you sat, your thigh pressed against his through the denim of his jeans. Your fingers found the hem of your dress and you pulled it over your head in one clean motion, tossing it somewhere behind you. The clasp of your bra came next, a practiced flick of the wrist, and then you were bare from the waist up.

Jake went still. His lips parted, but no sound came. The blush that had been creeping up his neck flooded his cheeks, his ears, the top of his chest. His eyes tracked down from your face to your collarbones, then lower, and his breath caught audibly. He stared at your perky breasts with the wide eyed reverence of someone standing before something he'd only ever imagined. His hands stayed frozen in his lap, fingers curled into loose fists.

"Do you wanna touch me?" Your voice came out softer than you’d intended, almost a murmur.

His throat bobbed. "Can I?"

"Of course." You smiled.

A shaky exhale escaped him, something between a laugh and a release of held breath. You reached for his wrists, your fingers circling the warm skin just below his palms, and lifted his hands from his lap. You guided them up, slow and deliberate, until his palms hovered an inch from your breasts. Then you pressed them forward.

His hands met your flesh and he gasped, a small, punched out sound. His palms were warm and slightly damp, and they trembled against you as if he were holding something fragile. For a long moment he didn't move. Then his fingers curled, tentatively, into the soft weight of you. He squeezed, gentle at first, then with a little more pressure, his palms molding around the shape of you. His eyes were fixed on where his hands met your skin, his mouth slightly open.

"They're—" he started, then stopped, as if words were inadequate.

You let him explore. His fingers kneaded your flesh with a clumsy, earnest rhythm, learning the give and spring of you. His thumbs dragged across your nipples by accident, once, then again, and each time his eyes flicked up to your face, checking, questioning. The third time, you let your breath hitch audibly, and he froze.

"Did that hurt?"

"No," you said. "It felt good."

Something shifted behind his eyes. He drew his thumbs back over your nipples, this time on purpose, and watched your face as he did it. When your eyelids fluttered, he did it again. Then his fingers changed position, thumb and forefinger closing around one nipple with the careful precision of someone handling something precious. He pinched, lightly, and your sharp inhale made his pupils dilate.

"Like that?" he whispered.

"Just like that."

He tried the other nipple, testing the pressure, squeezing a little harder and then easing off when your breath caught. His other hand still cupped your breast, thumb stroking absently over the soft skin. The flush on his face had deepened, but his hands were steadier now, less tremor in the fingers that held you.

"They're so soft," he whispered, his hands still full of you.

You pushed him gently, both palms flat against his chest, and Jake fell back onto the mattress with a soft grunt of surprise. His eyes went wide, but you were already swinging a leg over his hips, settling your weight across his thighs. The heat of him pressed up through his jeans, hard and unmistakable. You leaned down and pressed your mouth to the center of his chest, then lower, kissing a slow path down his stomach while your fingers worked his belt open. His breath came in shallow, ragged pulls.

"Can I—" he started.

"You can just lie here," you murmured against his skin. "Let me."

You tugged his jeans and boxers down together, freeing him. It sprang up against his belly, flushed dark at the tip, already slick with a bead of pre-cum. You wrapped your hand around him and Jake's whole body jerked. You pumped slowly, base to tip, your palm growing wet with him, and his hands fisted in the sheets.

"God," he choked. "That's—"

"I know." You stroked him again, watching his face twist. "I've got you."

You rose up on your knees, positioned yourself above him, and reached down to guide him. The head of his cock nudged against your cunt, and you were so wet already that the first inch slid in with a slick, obscene sound. Jake gasped, his hands flying to your hips. You sank down slowly, inch by inch, letting your weight carry him deeper until he filled you completely. Your slick coated his shaft, dripping down onto his balls.

"Oh fuck," Jake whispered, his voice cracking. "Oh fuck, that's—you're so—"

You rolled your hips once, grinding your clit against his pubic bone, and the wet squelch of your cunt around his cock made him groan. You did it again, finding a rhythm, steady and deep. His hands gripped your hips hard enough to leave marks.

"Y-yes," he stammered, and his hips bucked up into you involuntarily, a stuttering, desperate thrust. "Yes, yes—"

“So good Jake,” you groaned.

You felt him twitch inside you, his cock throbbing, and then his whole body seized. He cried out, a raw, broken sound, and his hips jerked upward as he came, hot cum pulsing deep inside your cunt. The sensation of it, the wet heat flooding you, the frantic buck of his hips, sent a shock through your own body. Your walls clenched around him rhythmically, and you ground down hard, whimpering, your own orgasm hitting in a sudden, blinding wave. Your slick dripped down his shaft, soaking his balls, as you rode him through it, gasping, until the last aftershock faded and Jake's cock twitched inside you, his cum warm against your walls.

You eased your hips up, and Jake’s softening cock slipped out of you with a wet, slow sound. His semen trickled down your inner thigh, warm and thick, as you collapsed against his chest. You two breathed together, ragged and spent, the room quiet around you.

Jake’s arms came around you, no hesitation now. His palms stroked your back in long, slow passes, like he was memorizing your skin. You felt his heart hammering under your cheek, gradually slowing.

You both lay tangled in the dim lamplight, sweat cooling, bodies still pressed close. Something had shifted, the nervousness gone, replaced by a quiet, settled wonder.

-

Life aboard the Aurora was good. Not perfect. There were still mornings when you woke up and forgot where you were for a split second. Still nights when the endless stretch of stars outside your window reminded you just how far from home you really were. But none of it felt unbearable anymore, because Jake was there. He had become home.

You smiled to yourself as you walked through one of the ship's endless hallways. It was funny. Three months ago you would've given anything to hear another person's footsteps echo through these corridors. Now they echoed beside yours almost every day. You had someone to laugh with. Someone to annoy. Someone to argue over which movie to watch. Someone who knocked on your door with handwritten invitations instead of simply using the intercom because, according to him, "it felt more personal." You had someone who made eighty nine years seem possible.

Life had turned upside down in the strangest way imaginable. If someone had told you back on Earth that you'd wake up alone aboard an interstellar ship decades too early, you would've thought it was the worst thing that could ever happen. And for a while it was. Those first three months had been the hardest of your life. The loneliest. You wouldn't wish it upon anyone. But if living through those months meant eventually meeting Jake, you wouldn't change a thing. Every lonely day had somehow led you here. To him. And somehow, against every odd imaginable, you were grateful.

A few weeks later, you found yourself wandering through one of the ship's maintenance sectors. Jake had disappeared somewhere after insisting he wanted to "learn how literally anything on this ship works”, which left you exploring on your own.

The maintenance rooms weren't nearly as polished as the passenger decks. Bundles of cables lined the walls. Diagnostic terminals blinked softly. Shelves were filled with replacement parts and archived storage drives. You wandered absentmindedly until something caught your eye. A terminal. Its screen hadn't fully gone to sleep. A small notification blinked quietly: Personal Video Log Saved Successfully.

Timestamp: Just a few hours ago.

You frowned. "Jake?"

Curiosity got the better of you as it usually did. You tapped the screen and the recording opened.

Jake appeared almost immediately. He was sitting exactly where you imagined he had been earlier that afternoon, perched awkwardly on a maintenance crate. He looked nervous. He cleared his throat once, then smiled.

"...Hi." He laughed quietly. "I don't really know how to start one of these." His fingers rubbed together. "So... I guess... this is for my family."

He looked down for a moment before continuing. "I know... when you wake up... I'm probably not going to be there." His voice caught slightly. "And I know that's going to be hard. It would've been hard for me too." His smile returned, softer this time. "But... I need you guys to know something. I'm okay." He shook his head. "No." A tiny laugh escaped him. "I'm more than okay." His eyes brightened in a way you'd seen countless times before. "I'm really happy."

Your heart skipped.

"I met someone." His smile became almost impossibly warm. "Her name is..." He paused, smiling to himself before saying your name. "She's incredible. She's smarter than she'll ever admit. She makes fun of me constantly." A grin spread across his face. "She's funny. So patient. So understanding. And" He looked away for a second, almost embarrassed. "She's beautiful."

You swallowed.

"She woke up before me. If she hadn't" He exhaled quietly. "I honestly don't know what would've happened. She turned this giant empty ship into something that actually feels like home. I wasn't alone. So when you wake up, I don't want you worrying about me. I don't want you wondering if I spent my life here by myself." His head shook firmly. "I didn't. I've been happier than I ever thought I could be."

He smiled again. "The funny thing is, I used to think waking up early ruined my life." His eyes drifted toward something just off camera. "Now, I think it gave me one."

A long silence followed. When he spoke again, his voice was almost a whisper.

"I love her."

Your breath caught. There was no hesitation. 

"I really do." His smile lingered for another second before he looked back into the camera. "If you ever somehow see this... I hope you're happy too. I love all of you. I'll always love all of you." He reached forward. "This is Jake." A small smile. "Signing off."

The recording ended.