Among us- the lost ALPHA

Pushing buttons

The glowing structure loomed larger in the viewport, casting strange, shifting lights over the cockpit. Red's hands gripped the controls tightly, his focus glued to the anomaly ahead. This was it—the moment he'd been preparing for, the answers he needed. He couldn't afford any distractions.

Naturally, Lime didn't seem to care about that.

"You know," Lime drawled, their voice low and playful, "this is probably the most serious I've ever seen you. It's kinda... hot." They were leaning closer to Red again, their arm brushing his as they pretended to peer at the readout on the control panel.

"Back off, Lime," Red muttered, his eyes staying forward. "I'm not in the mood for whatever this is."

"Oh, come on," Lime replied, their tone dripping with fake innocence. "I'm just here for support. Isn't that what you wanted? Someone to watch your back?" They leaned in further, their voice dropping to a murmur. "Or maybe... someone to get closer than that?"

Red stiffened as Lime's hand once again found its way to his thigh, this time squeezing just a little too firmly to be mistaken as an accident. His heart thudded painfully in his chest, a mix of anger and something he didn't want to admit.

"Lime," he growled, shooting them a sharp look. "I'm warning you. Stop."

But Lime's grin only widened. "Stop what? I'm just trying to keep the mood light. You're so tense, Red. You should really learn to let go once in a while." Their fingers trailed further up his leg, lingering in a way that made Red's skin burn.

Red's hand shot out, grabbing Lime's wrist and pulling it away. "I said stop," he snapped, his voice louder now. He turned to face them fully, his eyes blazing. "I don't know what game you think you're playing, but this isn't the time."

Lime tilted their head, their smirk unfazed. "Oh, Red," they said softly, their tone mockingly sweet. "You're cute when you're angry."

Red was about to respond—probably with something scathing—when the ship lurched violently, nearly throwing them both out of their seats. Warning lights blared across the console, and Red quickly turned his attention back to the controls.

"What the hell was that?" he muttered, scanning the readout.

"Looks like the anomaly didn't like us getting too close," Lime said, their tone still maddeningly casual. "Guess it's not a fan of tension either."

Red ignored them, his hands flying over the console as he tried to stabilize the ship. The anomaly pulsed outside, its glow intensifying, and strange symbols began to appear on the monitors.

"We're being scanned," Red said grimly. "Whatever's in there knows we're here."

"Good," Lime said, leaning back in their seat like they didn't have a care in the world. "Maybe it'll give us a warm welcome."

Red shot them a glare. "Can you be serious for once? This isn't a joke!"

But Lime just shrugged, that infuriating smirk never leaving their face. "I'm serious about you, Red. Isn't that enough?"

Before Red could respond, a sudden jolt threw the ship sideways, and Lime's body slammed into his, their face inches from his own. For a split second, there was silence, just the sound of their breathing and the distant hum of the anomaly.

Lime's eyes searched his, and their smirk returned, softer now. "Looks like I'm in your personal space again," they murmured, their voice almost a whisper.

Red shoved them off, his face burning. "Focus, Lime. Now."

Lime let out a low chuckle as they slid back into their seat. "Whatever you say, Captain," they said, the teasing lilt returning to their voice. "But don't think I didn't notice the way you froze just now. Guess I really do get under your skin."

Red didn't respond, his attention locked on the anomaly. But inside, he was seething. Lime had crossed the line—again—and he wasn't sure how much more of it he could take.

The ship stabilized, and the cockpit was filled with a tense silence as the glowing structure grew larger on the screen. Red swallowed hard, trying to push down the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

"This is it," he said finally, his voice low and steady. "We're going in."

Lime leaned forward, their grin almost predatory. "Lead the way, Red," they said softly. "I'm right behind you."

As the ship plunged into the light of the anomaly, Red couldn't help but feel like he wasn't just walking into the unknown—he was walking straight into a game he didn't know how to win.