just write it all out

22

#MitchinSpace2k16 - 01/22/16

"It's all gone." Mitch's voice cracked, and I glanced over to see him staring at the screen I'd just torn my gaze off of. "It's just... gone."

"I know."

I looked back at the screen which displayed the biometrics of the planet now behind us.

It flickered again as it updated the information.

Planet: Earth
Type: formerly active

Population
Animal: 0
Human: 0
Habitability: XX

I exhaled slowly. "It's an XX now, Mitchy."

"F*ck. The radiation levels are killer."

"They're slaying," I attempted to joke.

"We've gotta get out of here." He put a hand on the controller and willed the spacecraft to go faster.

"The radiation can't reach us here."

He shook his head. "No, but we need to get to the space colony, Scott. We don't have enough food or water on this ship to last us more than two months." I hated to admit it, but he was right. "Once we get on the hyperway we can put this thing on autopilot."

"It'll be busy there. Too many people trying to get to the colony."

"Yeah, but it's... It's our last ch-chance." He sniffed and looked away before I could look at his face. "Just a few more minutes."

I felt something prickling at the back of my eyes, and I got up, my suit suddenly feeling very heavy. "All right. I'm gonna let you do that and I'll go to bed."

I left before he could say anything, making my way carefully through the turning corridors. Walking was more difficult with the heavy spacesuit, and the sketchy artificial gravity wasn't helping much, either. But I knew I could take it off once we got to the hyperway, so I just went to my room, sat down on my bed, and waited, not even bothering to turn on the light.

Within a minute, I could feel tears leaving trails on my cheeks. I didn't want them there, but they showed up, anyways.

Right on cue, I felt the ship shudder as it entered hyperspace and the artificial gravity strengthened, and Mitch's suited silhouette appeared in the doorway. "Can I come in?"

I nodded, knowing he could see me in the light coming from the hall.

"That's kind of pretty." His voice caught in his throat and he coughed a little to clear it. "Your tears, in the light. Pretty in a sad way." I looked at him, and his cheeks were glistening, too. He was right. It was pretty. Then again, he was pretty.

"You want help putting your suit away?" I asked. I wasn't uncomfortable with crying. I just didn't know what to say.

He nodded, trying to smile, and stood up. "Of course. This thing makes me a whole half foot shorter, I swear. My body can't hold it up." I unfastened it, feeling him sigh and straighten up as it slipped off his shoulders. "God, that feels good." He turned to me and pushed my shoulder so my back was to him. "Your turn."

My suit hit the floor next, and we bent down to reluctantly pick up the heavy material and hang it in the hallway closet before returning to my room.

Mitch had his own room, but I guess he wasn't going to use it tonight.

I lay down on my bed and he lay down next to me, both of us still shedding some tears and sniffling quietly but not saying a word. Neither of us wanted to address what just happened, but we both felt horrible about it.

"This is some Hitchhiker's Guide shit right here," Mitch finally said, making me laugh.

"Except there's more than just one human who survived," I said, feeling for his hand and taking it in mine. "I know it's not just us two out here, and I know this is cheesy, but I'm glad you're here, with me. You're the only person I'd willingly spend two months on a spaceship with."

He shifted so he was making more physical contact with me. "Same here, Scotty. Can I-"

"You wanna cuddle?"

"You always know what I'm thinking." I let go of his hand to let him adjust and rest his head near my chest, and I put my hand on his arm, trying to rub it reassuringly. "God, I wish this wasn't happening."

I thought about making a comment about it sounding like he wished he wasn't cuddling with me, but I knew what he was talking about and decided against it. "I know. It's hard to wrap my mind around it."

"I'm just glad I'm safe here with you. Even if we don't make it to that colony." He snuggled his nose into my neck and sighed, and my heart melted. "Thank you for not judging me for crying."

"Well, I'm crying, too, and you're not judging me. It'd be kinda mean to do the opposite for you."

He laughed, and I could swear the light got a little brighter. "Only kinda mean."

I held him tight. "Well, I kinda love you."

I felt him stiffen for a second before relaxing again and wrapping his arms around me. "I kinda love you, too."

"You have no idea how wonderful that sounds."

He propped himself up, looking me in the eyes, wet gaze meeting wet gaze. "I do have an idea, Scott. I've been waiting a while now." He leaned down and his lips met mine, and I pulled him down to keep him as close to me as possible. Our lips didn't move much, it wasn't passionate or sexy or anything, but it was warm and comforting and it felt like home, and that was all I needed.

"I think I'm ready for that two-month trip now," I mumbled on his lips. "Who cares about food. All I need is you."

Kinda based off of Clem's 5, 4, 3 days left one shots, but.... not really. It is in the sense that Earth is destroyed.

scomicheshamy on tumblr asked for 22O and 22 was Space AU and O was comfort so.... It just made sense to me, okay? Sorry it's not very space-y.

The drawing is something my sister has been begging for. It's fanart for Carry On, which I've previously mentioned. It's based off of descriptions of the main characters, Simon and Baz, that Emma gave me, and she was happy with it, so I guess I did well?