The Last Woman

Misunderstood

Zora didn't know why she hadn't thought about it sooner.

Ace was Rimmer's alternate. He was a suave test pilot in the space corp whilst Rimmer, after many years of service, was still only a second technician. There was a reason Rimmer had never spoken about Ace to Zora before and all Zora had managed to do was make his fears more real.

Zora was racing down the hall in search of Rimmer once more and spotted him ducking into his quarters. She took a deep breath then knocked on the door.

"Lister is that's you. You better clear off before I eject your cigarettes out the airlock." The rather irritated sounding voice of Rimmer piped up.

"It's not Lister Arnie. You should know that because I actually knocked. Now, are you going to open the door?"

"...no. Why don't you just go on back to Mr perfect with his long hair and charm."

"Arnie, please just open the door."

"No. Just go away."

"Arnie, please."

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"Arnold Judas Rimmer you better open the smegging right now or I shall be forced to find every Reggie Wilson CD on this bloody ship and send it out the airlock," Zora said calmly but with a threatening undertone.

"....Holly, unlock the door please."

Zora walked with haste into the room knowing Rimmer was most likely going to try and escape her presence. Unsurprisingly as the green-haired woman entered the hologram tried to leave and Lister came trotting around the corner with two bottles of lager.

"Oh, smegging hell." Zora grabbed Rimmer by the sleeve. "Right, you sit-" she pointed at Rimmer "You, find somewhere else to drink." She jabbed a finger in Lister's direction before closing the door.

"Hey! This is my quarters too ya know!"

"We don't care!" The couple shot back as the door closed once more.

Zora stood by the door with a determined look. Her arms were crossed and she stared up at Rimmer almost challenging him to try and leave.

And try he did. Though, didn't get anywhere. Zora pushed him back roughly causing the shocked man to fall into the closest chair with a rather startled look on his face. A face that soon turned red at Zora's next actions which she hadn't much thought about the implications at the time. The acting Captain plonked herself on the lap of the flustered man effectively pinning him to the chair.

"Arnold Rimmer I am aware in your eyes I have been a bit of a bitch. But none the less you're going to listen to what I have to say because the last thing that would ever be on my mind is hurting you. Ace is kind and charming and strong and smart-" Rimmer began to scowl again"- but he's not you. I meant what I said the other night and I hope you did too." Zora looked at Rimmer nervously waiting for any sort of response from the man.

"I- I thought you were going to leave me. That you'd realise what a smegger I am and run off with git face. That's why I didn't want you to spend time with him. I didn't want to lose you but I managed to push you away all by myself." Rimmer looked down sadly at the floor.

"And there you go being a dumbarse again. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. You've got to put up with me for the rest of your life. So deal with it." Zora was smiling and laughing lightly.

They settle into a slightly tense silence that was shattered by the irritation of Lister banging on the door.

"Holly unlock the door please," Rimmer asked with an edge of annoyance clear in his voice.

Zora removed herself from Rimmer's lap albeit with great disappointment.

"What do we have to do to get ten minutes of smegging peace," The hologram grumbled as Lister marched in and plonked himself down on his bunk.

"Finally, thought I was going to be stuck out there all night!" The Scouser jested enthusiastically cracking open another beer. "So have you finally admitted your feelings or have you still got a few more days of being weirdly defensive and procrastinatin?" Lister raised an eyebrow at the pair who just managed not to look embarrassed.

"You're just jealous because your only girlfriend is inflatable Ingrid," Zora retorted and grabbed Rimmer's hand before leaving the room. Lister was left flapping his mouth like a fish out of water unable to respond - not that Zora actually gave him any time to.

"What's worse is I'm pretty sure she has a puncture?" Rimmer added as they wandered off down the long grey corridors.

"Oh really." Zora stopped in front of Rimmer with a grin on her face. "And just exactly how do you know that?" She inquired inching closer and wrapping her fingers around the green suspended that we're usually hidden under the jacket Rimmer had neglected to wear today. She pulled Rimmer close in a slightly teasing manner only to let the suspender go sharply snap back into place with a twang.

"Oi!" Rimmer jumped back in surprise as Zora burst out laughing. "You're going to pay for that Missy." He jokingly pointed a finger at Zora.

"Make me." The green-haired woman shot the hologram a challenging grin before racing off down the corridor.

"Get back here!"

Laughter filled the corridor as Rimmer gave chase. Zora charged down corridor after corridor glad to have her Rimmer back to his usual self.

Rimmer was surprised at how fast such a small person could go as he watched a flash of electric green hair who rounded yet another corner.

Zora already knew exactly where she was going and she wondered if Rimmer had caught on yet. Finally, she turned one last corner and caught sight of the door to her quarters. The hologram was a little ways away so Zora slowed to a job as she crossed the threshold of her room before hiding beside the lockers near the door.

"Zora? Where the smeg did she go?" The hologram muttered to himself as he scanned the area before entering Zora's room.

"Boo!" The green-haired woman screamed and then green in satisfaction at Rimmer's reaction. She was soon laughing again far more than she realistically should've been. Zora collapsed on her bed still laughing as Rimmer attempted to reprimand her for running about the ship and nearly giving him a heart attack -if it was still possible to do so.

"Honestly what is so funny?" The hologram threw his hands about in confusion whilst still smiling at the now cackling woman who seemed to be lost in her own hysterics for a reason only known to her. Her hair was a frizzy tangle of green, the top shirt buttons were already half undone and the shirt was half hanging off her left shoulder.

"I don't even know!" Zora managed to reply through her laughter.

"Well, then why don't you just be quiet then?"

"Make me," Zora challenged once more looking at Rimmer dead in the eye with a grin tugging at her lips.

Rimmer crossed the room with surprising speed and tugged Zora off of her bed before firmly planting his lips on hers. It was only quick but it had Zora stunned into silence for a long moment. The man just stared down at her with a similar grin to the one Zora had had moments ago.

"That was very effective," She commented.

"Not quite successful as you're still talking."

"Feel free to try again then Mr Rimmer."

He didn't need to be told twice.