#dont nap in the sunlight kids

@ceekarisubmitted:

Fictionbit!

(tags: no warnings apply, slight mention of injury, slice of life, established relationship)

“What are you doing?” Rhys asks.

Zer0 twitches, minutely but noticeably. Still lying flat on the shuttle’s hull, they turn their head toward him.

“Basking,” they answer.

“Is that safe? There’s still rakks up here that could spot you.”

“I’m keeping an eye out,” they assure him, their voice slow and sleep-slurred. 

“Uh-huh. Your helmet was scrolling Z’s.”

“Screensaver.” They turn their face to the sky and resume the Z’s, presumably as demonstration.

“So you definitely aren’t just taking a nap out in the open?”

“Just resting my eyes,” they mumble.

“While still keeping watch. Impressive.”

“Mm-hm. Very alert. Very aware.”

Rhys rolls his eyes.  “Come back inside with me. You can sleep where it’s safe." 

"Can’t bask inside.”

“Is that… a thing you need? Like, you thermoregulate, or photosynthesize, or something?”

“Absolutely.”

He’s almost certain they’re bullshitting him. Regardless.

“We could get you a tanning bed.”

“Claustrophobic.”

“Buddy. You live in a helmet.”

“Helmets don’t hamper movement.”

“Well, what if we install a heat lamp for you?”

They turn their head, interest apparently piqued. “Full spectrum?”

Does full spectrum even matter through their suit and helmet? Rhys shrugs.

“Sure, if that’s what you want.”

Ellipses scroll across their visor as they consider. “Acceptable,” they say finally.

“Great! We’ll get right on that.” Rhys holds out his hand to help them up.

They don’t move. “Sounds good. Come get me when you’re done.”

“Zer0.”

They huff. Sullenly they take his hand. 

He pulls them up- or tries to. They yank, and the next thing he knows he’s flat on his face beside them.

“You are such a dick,” he mutters into the ship’s metal. 

“That’s news?”

“Nope. Just freshly reminded.” He sighs. “…Is warm up here, though." 

Still on their back, Zer0 scoots themself into the space at his side, apparently getting comfortable.

"Rakks will always screech/ just before diving at you./ I react quickly.”

“Even when you’re sleeping?”

“Even sleeping.” They pause. “Which I was not.”

“Hm.” Rhys snakes an arm over their chest. “Sooo what I’m hearing is, if I did doze off here I’d be safe.”

Zer0 idly strokes his bicep. “Safe from rakks, yes, but/ I’ll dislocate your shoulder/ as I’m leaping up." 

Rhys’s arm quickly retreats back to his side. Zer0 snickers and takes his hand instead.