audio.

[delincuente]

[The audio feed rattles to life with a blare of feedback, and the voice that comes through is bright, cherry, and possibly familiar to a few.]

Gooood morning, outer space! I'm pleased to announce that I've just taken over your fleet. You can call me Your Majesty, or Supreme Overlord, or Beyoncé. One of the three. Mom jeans and aerobic dance are officially outlawed, and nothing is allowed to start before noon.

Kay, thanks. Beyoncé out.

Comments

audio.

[stefanged]

[Atroma wouldn't be rude enough to send a hallucination over the devices. At least, Stefan sure hopes not.

He draws in a disbelieving breath - it's her? it's really her?]

Habibti? [His voice cracks, just a bit - ] When did you get here?

[delincuente]

[Oh, he can definitely call her that. There's more solemnity in her voice when she speaks to him - she sounds older, more like the self that he knew.]

This morning, before the shuffle. [A slight pause.] Allen told me how long it's been, on this side.

[stefanged]

[He heaves a sigh, tinged with relief and worry and a million other emotions he can't possibly describe.]

Yeah, uh, you missed quite a bit. [He swallows,] Where'd they place you this time?

[delincuente]

Wonderduck.

[She pauses, wondering how to phrase this next part, how to tell him that he's missed even more.]

... It was a lot longer for me, Stef.

[stefanged]

How long're we talking? A year, two years... [He hesitates. He's not sure where this road is going, but he can already feel that it'll be tough.] Ten?

[delincuente]

[She can't help but let out a burst of nervous laughter.]

No, dude, nothing like that. Just a year and a half.

[stefanged]

No kidding?

[Hold up. If she's spent a year and a half back home, then . . . ]

Mashallah. Congrats on finally graduating high school.

[delincuente]

Thanks.

[She's silent for just a moment too long.]

I failed, actually. Had to blackmail the principal into faking my records, so I guess I'm kind of a piece of shit back home.

[stefanged]

Ooor you were an opportunist. [He laughs, a little grateful that she can't see his expression.] I don't exactly have room to judge.

[ . . . ]

When can I come over?

[delincuente]

As soon as you want to.

[stefanged]

On my way, then. See you in five.

[Maybe even sooner, depending on how quickly he can pilot that shuttle over.]

[delincuente]

[She's waiting for him in the cargo hold, perched on a box. A somewhat ridiculous cow-print astronaut suit hangs unzipped around her waist, but the tank top beneath and long, styled hair show off a beautiful woman more so than the skinny girl who left last summer. As soon as she sees Stefan though, she can't help her wide, dorky grin.]

Hey, you.

[stefanged]

[He freezes in place, drawing in an involuntary breath at how gorgeous she had become. Some part of Stefan had always known that she would grow up, whenever she got home, but it's so pronounced that his cheeks turn a faint red.

Give him a second; he's taking a mental snapshot.] H-hey. Long time no see.

[delincuente]

[She tries not to watch his reaction with hawkish analysis - the pinkness in his cheeks is apparent, but she takes it as a sign of discomfort. This has got to be weird for him, she knows. Their relationship didn't work out, and then he got a good, long six months to think about it, while she's just been thrown back in the fray.]

I know, cow suit's a little much.

[stefanged]

Huh? [He swallows his hesitation, forcing himself back to here and now - ] No, no - you're fine.

[Only Alex could pull off something so udderly ridiculous. (The cow suit had been the absolute last thing on his mind, in all honesty...) Stefan manages a smile before he rushes over to embrace her.

They may not be dating anymore, but God, he missed her so, so much. They can figure out where they stand - and if their relationship is worth rekindling - later.]

[delincuente]

[Her apprehensive smile turns bright and geniune as she throws her arms around his neck, letting out a laugh of relief. This is good, it's familiar, even if it carries a different undertone now. The best part of them has never been about romance, she thinks - his arms will always set the world right for her.

Lifting up on her toes, she presses her face against his neck.]

Miss me a little?

[stefanged]

Of course, [his laugh is soft, and far more genuine than he anticipated.] You left some pretty big shoes to fill, Capt'n.

[But it's more than that, Stefan knows. It's the warm, fuzzy feeling deep in his chest as he wraps his arms around her, and that equally calm sensation as he rubs his nose against hers.

He loved her. He still loves her. Nothing's changed in that light, and he finds himself furiously blinking back tears (of joy) as he closes his eyes and basks in this moment.]

[delincuente]

[It's hard not to want to kiss him, coming from a year and a half back home, tucked into the crook of a werewolf's arm, allowed to listen to her body as much as her mind. She doesn't think she could ever stop loving him in all the ways she did for their months together, in handholding and late night conversation and dreams that left her feeling traitorous. But the reality is this - that part is over, he's her best friend again, and that is more than enough.

It's going to have to be.]

Bullshit. You guys are probably running better than ever.

[stefanged]

Nuh-uh. Trust me: a smooth ship is also a boring ship.

[He can say this now that she's back, safe in his arms, rather than a whole universe away. He's had more than enough time to think about what he would say (what he should say) and frankly? He's scrapped every word.]

I've already started your transfer paperwork. I hope you don't mind.

[delincuente]

Dude, I'd be pissed if you hadn't.

[She doesn't mean it. Taking in a breath, she tries very hard to remember their last conversations, their amicable split, all the reasons she thought she might not love this boy.

It's useless.]

Kirito offered me First Mate. I turned him down.

[stefanged]

What? But the Paisley's your - hold on. [He furrows his brow as the (incorrect) gears click into a place and he jumps to the most logical conclusion.] Do you wanna be Captain? 'Cause I can step down.

[He still loves her. As much as he's grown to love and appreciate the role, she'd come before the ship - and he has to wonder, is that platonic? Romantic? Or is he just desperately trying to make up for lost time?

Even he doesn't know.]

[delincuente]

Hey, no, that's not-

[She wants it. She wants this ship bad, but she's being a less selfish person these days. She couldn't live with herself if she took that from him.]

It would be weird.

[stefanged]

Not that weird. We could try the co-parenting thing, see how well it works out for us.

[He couldn't live with himself either if he didn't at least offer. She's too important to him (though he's keeping the bed).]

[delincuente]

What, you want to get along for the kid?

[The joke falls a little short; she pulls back an inch.]

[stefanged]

[His laugh is a nervous, startled one as he finally lets go.]

We're getting along now, aren't we?