The Request

As Riza and I leaned back in our seats, our plates cleared and our glasses nearly empty, the door to the booth slid open once more. Lydia, ever the menace, strutted in with the check in hand, her smirk firmly in place. Her eyes flicked between us, no doubt already cooking up something mischievous to say.

"Well, well," she began, placing the check on the table with an exaggerated flourish. "Look at you two, all cozy and full. Did you enjoy your romantic dinner?"

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Lydia, can you just—"

"Oh, no, no, no," she interrupted, holding up a hand. "You don't get to silence me, loverboy. I'm providing a service here. And judging by the redness on your faces earlier, I'd say I'm doing a fantastic job."

Riza groaned softly, muttering, "Why does she always do this?" as she reached for the check. But Lydia was faster, snatching it back and holding it just out of reach.

"Ah-ah," Lydia said, wagging her finger. "I have one last thing to say before I go."

Riza slumped in her seat, her expression a mix of annoyance and resignation. "Let's just get this over with," she muttered under her breath.

Lydia grinned, clearly enjoying herself. "You know, I'm starting to think I should be invited to your wedding. After all, none of this would've happened without me. I'm practically your fairy godmother."

Riza's cheeks turned a deep crimson as she sputtered, "W-wedding?! Are you serious?!"

I could feel my own face heating up, but I refused to give Lydia the satisfaction of a reaction. "You're delusional," I said flatly, though my voice betrayed a hint of embarrassment.

"Delusional? Please," Lydia said, flipping her hair dramatically. "You two are prime material. I'll expect my invite in holo-form, by the way. Make sure it has sparkles."

She finally set the check down, giving us one last sly grin before straightening up. "You're welcome, by the way. For all of this. The food, the photo, the bonding. Truly, my work here is done."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and sauntered toward the door, her hips swaying exaggeratedly as she waved over her shoulder. "Don't miss me too much, lovebirds."

The door slid shut behind her, leaving Riza and me alone once more. The silence hung for a moment before Riza let out an exasperated groan, burying her face in her hands.

"She's… impossible," she muttered, her voice muffled.

I couldn't help but chuckle, shaking my head. "Yeah, but admit it—she's not entirely wrong."

Riza peeked at me from between her fingers, her cheeks still red. "You're lucky I like you, Pepper. Otherwise, I'd throw this check at your head."

I laughed, grabbing the check and reaching for my wallet. "Fair enough. Let's just get out of here before she comes back with a wedding cake."

That earned a small, reluctant laugh from Riza, and the tension finally eased as we settled up and prepared to leave.

As we left the booth and headed toward the register, the air between Riza and me felt lighter, almost back to normal—aside from the occasional flicker of embarrassment whenever Lydia's antics crossed my mind.

"I'm going to hit the restroom real quick," Riza said, nudging me gently. "I'll meet you at the front."

"Got it," I replied, watching as she disappeared down the corridor toward the restrooms. I stepped up to the counter, paying for the meal and waiting for the receipt. As I turned to look around, my eyes landed on Lydia, standing near the service station with that all-too-familiar smirk on her face.

I hesitated, my palms already starting to sweat. This is a bad idea, I thought. She'll never let you live this down. But before I could second-guess myself any further, my feet carried me toward her.

"Lydia," I said, clearing my throat nervously.

She turned toward me, one brow arching as her smirk widened. "Well, well. If it isn't loverboy. What can I do for you this time? Need tips on holding hands?"

I ignored the jab, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. "About that photo you took earlier…"

Her grin grew downright predatory. "Ah, yes. The masterpiece."

I swallowed hard, my voice lowering. "Any chance you could… send it to me?"

Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she leaned casually against the counter, crossing her arms. "You want me to send you the photo? The one that perfectly encapsulates your budding romance? The one I could use for blackmail if I were feeling particularly feisty?"

"Yes," I muttered, feeling my face heat up. "That one."

Lydia's laughter rang out, drawing the attention of a nearby server before she waved them off. "Pepper, Pepper, Pepper," she said, shaking her head in mock disappointment. "I don't know how I feel about this. I mean, cheating on my boyfriend by exchanging holo-numbers with you? And you've only just started your own relationship? Tsk, tsk."

I groaned, rubbing my face with both hands.

"Give me your holo-phone."

I handed it over without a word, watching as she deftly navigated her device and transferred the image. "There," she said, handing it back to me with an exaggerated flourish. "Your romantic treasure, safe and sound. Don't say I never did anything for you."

I looked down at my holo-phone, the photo already saved. It was ridiculous, embarrassing, and somehow… perfect. "Thanks," I said quietly, shoving the device into my pocket.

Lydia tilted her head, her smirk softening slightly. "You know, you're not as hopeless as you look."

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks… I think."

Before she sauntered away, she leaned in one last time, her voice dripping with amusement. "And Pepper? Treat her right. She deserves it."

With that, she spun on her heel and strolled off, leaving me to process her words. A couple of minutes later, Riza returned, wiping her hands on her pants. "Sorry about that," she said, smiling. "You ready to go?"

I nodded, offering her a small smile. "Yeah, let's head out."

The soft hum of the ship's corridors surrounded us as Riza and I walked side by side, our fingers intertwined. Her hand fit perfectly in mine, warm and steady, a connection that felt as natural as breathing. The gentle curve of her smile caught my attention, and I couldn't help but grin in return.

"So," she began, her voice light and playful, "after everything that's happened today, what's the game plan now?"

I chuckled, giving her hand a slight squeeze. "Well, stargazing on the observation deck is still on the table, right? We could start there."

She nodded enthusiastically, her ponytail bouncing slightly as she turned to glance at me. "Absolutely. The stars are so much better when you're not rushing past them. Plus, I heard there's a meteor shower expected near this sector tonight."

"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Guess we picked the perfect time to stop by."

"See? It's fate," she teased, bumping her shoulder lightly against mine.

We walked a few more steps in comfortable silence before I added, "And after the stars?"

She tilted her head thoughtfully, her thumb idly brushing against mine. "Arcade rematch. I need to reclaim my honor after your ridiculous basketball win."

I laughed. "Reclaim your honor? You do realize I let you get close to winning, right?"

Her eyes narrowed, but her smile remained. "Oh, is that so? Guess I'll just have to crush you completely this time."

"Looking forward to it," I replied with a smirk. "And after you lose again?"

"Dinner," she said without hesitation, her tone turning a little softer. "Something low-key. Nothing fancy, just… something nice."

I nodded, her quiet tone making my chest feel lighter. "That sounds good. What about after dinner?"

She glanced at me, her expression turning playful again. "I'm leaving that up to you, loverboy. You've been surprisingly good at making plans today."

"Surprisingly?" I repeated, feigning offense. "Wow, your faith in me is overwhelming."

She giggled, the sound like music, and leaned a little closer. "You know what I mean. You're full of surprises lately."

I couldn't help but smile, my thumb brushing across her knuckles. "Guess I'll just have to keep surprising you, then."

We reached the lift, and I pressed the call button. As we waited, I turned to her, catching the soft glow in her cerulean eyes. "Thanks for today," I said quietly.

She tilted her head, her brows knitting slightly. "For what?"

"For being you," I replied simply, feeling a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the ship's climate controls. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Her cheeks flushed, but she didn't look away. Instead, she smiled—a smile that was soft, genuine, and just for me. "You don't have to worry about that," she said. "I'm not going anywhere."

The lift doors slid open, and we stepped inside, still hand in hand. As the doors closed, the light dimmed slightly, and for a brief moment, it felt like the whole world had faded away, leaving just the two of us and the quiet anticipation of all the memories we were about to create together.