“To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.”

  – George Orwell.

  That evening, Joey took over the kitchen, all Gordon Ramsay with his 'get out of my way' vibe. He was yelling over his shoulder at anyone who dared to offer help. The result, though? Fantastic. The smell of garlic, spices, and something sweet and caramelized filled the air. Luca's stomach rumbled loudly. Plates clattered as they sat down at the long mass hall table, the sounds of laughter and conversation echoing off the walls. For a minute, it almost felt normal. He could smell the rich sauce, the herbs, and it was making his mouth water.

  "This," Ryan said, shoving a forkful of pasta into his mouth, "is what I call a proper send-off. None of that bland freeze-dried crap." His cheeks were full, and he was grinning.

  "Enjoy it while it lasts," Joey said, smirking as he waved his fork in the air. "The good stuff's going to run out before you can blink."

  "Which is exactly why we need to make the most of what we've got," Emily interjected, leaning forward like she was about to make an important announcement. Luca thought she was about to praise Joey, but no, this was Emily. She had a plan. "That includes keeping the lounge sacred."

  Ryan blinked at her. "The lounge?"

  Emily nodded, setting her fork down with authority. "Shoes off, loungewear only. It's supposed to be a sacred space." Her voice was firm, and her eyes gleamed with that weird determination she got whenever she started organizing things.

  Luca groaned quietly. Here we go. She was on a roll, and he wasn't about to stop her. Besides, she was right. Morale was important.

  Zoe chimed in immediately, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, nothing's ruining that vibe. If you want to hang out there, you've gotta play by the rules." The two of them seemed totally on the same page, a dangerous combo, to be honest. Luca couldn't deny that their faces had a sort of excited sparkle to them. What were they planning? They were definitely up to something. The girls ran this operation more than he did, that was for sure.

  Emily just shrugged, like she was dealing with a toddler. "Consider it bonding. Besides, the rules are non-negotiable."

  "You're both tyrants," Ryan said, pointing a breadstick at her and Zoe. "I hope you know that."

  Emily grinned sweetly, like she'd already won. "And you'll thank us when the lounge is spotless and zen, not smelling like somebody's sweaty boots."

  She'd laid down the law, and Luca was trying to keep his face neutral. This was going to be interesting.

  After dinner, the crew scattered to their rooms to change into their designated loungewear.

  Uniformed pajamas, uniform bodysuits, and now matching loungewear? The thought played on repeat as he stepped inside his cabin and sealed the door behind him. Who changes clothes this much in one goddamn day? It was like they were in some kind of intergalactic fashion show.

  Kicking off his boots, he peeled off the bodysuit and tossed it into the laundry chute. He stretched, feeling the relief after a long day in compression gear.

  He reached for the folded clothes on the shelf. The loose pants and matching long-sleeved shirt were a hell of a lot more comfortable than the bodysuits.

  The pants hung easily at the hips; the shirt just brushed his frame without hugging anything.

  He gave a quick look in the mirror. The cut was simple and clean. There was no compression, weird tech panels, or Joey creeping on their vitals. Under direct light, a hint of silhouette showed through, but nothing scandalous. No one would think he was skipping leg day in these.

  "Not bad," he muttered, tugging the shirt down a little and giving a token attempt at smoothing his hair. But hey, better than vacuum-sealed spandex.

  The corridor was quiet as he stepped out, the hum of the ship a steady heartbeat beneath his feet. He hesitated at the lounge doors for a second, wondering if Ryan would buck the rules just to be difficult. Whatever, he thought, shaking his head. A leader leads by example. He pushed through the doors, ready for whatever was waiting on the other side.

  He flicked on the lounge lights, the soft glow bouncing off the new furniture and the polished pool table the guys had set up. The electric fireplace hummed to life, those simulated flames casting a warm, flickering glow against the walls. It was actually pretty nice, like a real place they could hang out, instead of just a metal box hurtling through space. He dropped onto the plush leather couch in front of the video game console, letting out a long breath. Not bad, all things considered.

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  "First one here," he muttered to himself, a smug grin creeping across his face. He couldn't help it, he was kind of excited about this. Everyone else must be mulling it over, maybe even freaking out a little. He grabbed the controller and powered on the console.

  The main menu lit up the screen, a colorful collection of game titles that immediately soured his mood. Damnit. Most of them required an active internet connection, an impossibility out here. But then, Ryan came through again. He'd jailbroken the system before they left. Two-player mode was still functional, a small victory, but a vital one. Fucking Ryan, always the sneaky bastard.

  The door slid open and Ryan strolled in, his usual swagger present. He plopped down next to Luca.

  "Alright, Captain, happy?" Ryan said, spreading his arms.

  Danny followed close behind. "You know," he muttered, "I'm still not sold on this loungewear thing."

  Luca shrugged.

  "No rebels in this crew, huh?" Luca teased, tossing the controller onto the coffee table. He was honestly surprised they actually followed the rules. For a bunch of rule breakers, they were all surprisingly compliant. Maybe Emily had cracked the whip earlier. Whatever was happening out here, this was progress.

  Ryan snorted. "You're lucky Zoe and Emily are making these rules, or I'd be in gym shorts and calling it loungewear."

  "Sure you would," Luca said, leaning back into the couch.

  The door slid open again, and Zoe and Emily walked in, chatting animatedly. Luca glanced up, then back to the console. Four years of working together meant he'd seen them in everything from combat gear to workout clothes. This wasn't that different.

  Though he had to admit, the relaxed setting changed the context a bit. Made it feel less like work and more like... well, whatever this was.

  Ryan grabbed a pool cue and Danny settled into his seat.

  Emily was the first to break the silence, her smirk playful. "You boys look cute," she said, draping herself onto the arm of the couch right next to Luca. Her hip brushed against his shoulder, and he became acutely aware of her presence. He could smell her shampoo, a light, floral scent.

  Zoe rolled her eyes, her own smirk playful. "It's called equality. If we're dealing with this, so are you." She moved with casual confidence, always seeming in control.

  Luca glanced up, then back to the console. Equality, huh? It was definitely a new dynamic.

  Chris entered the lounge right behind them and casually tossed a pool cue stick to Ryan.

  "Alright, who's up first?" Chris asked, his grin all confidence.

  "Me and Danny," Ryan said, grabbing another cue. "Loser buys dinner next time we dock up."

  "Bold of you to assume we'll get back," Danny shot back, taking his position at the pool table.

  Joey arrived last, muttering to himself as he browsed the movie catalog on the main screen. "What is this crap? Half these movies look like they were pirated by someone's grandpa." He was clearly not impressed, but then, Joey was never impressed by anything. He scrolled through the list with a dismissive flick of his thumb, clearly unimpressed.

  "Welcome to our life now," Ryan said over his shoulder, lining up his first shot. "Better find something good, or Zoe's picking."

  Zoe smirked, settling into a chair with a drink. "You say that like it's a bad thing." She was right. Luca had no doubt that she'd pick the most terrible movie imaginable, just for the hell of it.

  He shut the console off, leaning back into the couch and letting the atmosphere of the room wash over him. The hum of the fireplace mixed with the faint clack of the pool balls and Joey's quiet grumbling as he scrolled through the movie titles.

  The warm light from the lamp cast the room in a golden glow, making the sleek lounge feel cozy and inviting. It was almost like they'd created a real place to relax, despite it being a metal box in the middle of the void. And he was stuck here, surrounded by... everyone. This was going to be a long trip. At least it wasn't the worst.

  Then his eyes drifted to Emily. She was laughing at something Chris had said, leaning in slightly as they talked. Four years of watching her with other people had taught him to keep his expression neutral, but it didn't make it easier.

  Chris had a way of holding a conversation, making a point with a quick grin that made people listen. And Emily was listening, responding with an energy he hadn't seen from her all night. And Emily responded to it, the way she always did when someone actually challenged her intellectually. It wasn't flirting. Just connection. Two smart people enjoying the conversation.

  Still didn't mean he had to like watching it.

  Professional distance. That's what he'd chosen. Pierre was still in the picture, the timing was still wrong, and sitting here getting territorial about a teammate talking to his XO was exactly the kind of bullshit he'd been avoiding for four years.

  He focused on the pool game instead, letting the background noise wash over him.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Danny watching Zoe. Not sneaking glances—they were past that teenage shit. Just... aware. The way someone looked when they were interested but weren't sure about timing.

  And Zoe? She'd caught it, obviously. That sly grin said she knew exactly what was going on, and she was taking her time with it. Making him work for it.

  Fair enough. They'd figure it out.

  For a moment, it all felt strange, but... okay. Like they were just existing, all of them in the same space, caught in the absurdity of their situation, but somehow making it work. It wasn't exactly peace, but it was something close. A truce, maybe.

  Luca took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he closed his eyes, trying to shake off the tension coiled in his muscles. It was a good kind of tension, though, from a long day finally winding down. It made him feel... present. Yeah, we can do this. For better or for worse, they were stuck with each other.

  When he opened his eyes again, he noticed Emily looking his way. She caught his eye and winked.

  She knew.

  He shook his head slightly, the corner of his mouth pulling up despite himself.

  This trip was going to be... interesting.