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It was a boring day on the Sleipnir, one like hundreds of similar ones that had passed since the battleship was in deep-space manoeuvre, on a quest for the mysterious Colteron shipyard. Lead Navigator Keeler did what he seemed to be doing constantly now for weeks and weeks: he sat in is office, hunched over several datapads and screens to figure out the best route towards their next checkpoint, while his secretary Puck kept him company.
The man was supposed to be of help, but in truth he was glad for every distraction. Instead of looking at his screen and the text document he had open there, he stared out of the open office door longingly, boredly chewing on his lip piercing – until suddenly, he wasn't bored anymore.
"Lieutenant?" the boy asked.
"What is it, Puck?" Keeler didn't look up from his work, the proceedings of his mind kept him occupied.
"Lieutenant, did you see? Phobos was just passing by and went to the Commander’s office – again!"
The Lieutenant sighed. "Puck, don’t you have reports to finish? Cook wants them on his desk tomorrow."
"Yes sir, but..."
Keeler did look up now, slightly exasperated. "But what?” he asked.
"I’m worried,” his secretary said. “do you think Cook has him on some special mission?"
"It’s all private matters, Puck, I can assure you. It’s really not our business."
The secretary gasped, then became mightily agitated. "Honestly, sir? You don’t mind the Commander seeing one of the recruits?"
Keeler looked up from his screens again, now abandoning his work for good. "No, why should I, if it’s by their own accord? To be honest, I’m glad Cook finally found someone that appeals to him, someone capable of defrosting his solidified heart, so to speak. I was wondering if he had one at all..."
"But why Phobos of all people? I wouldn’t have figured him as Cook’s type, would you? They had an episode already on the space station, though. Maybe it’s because of the music."
Keeler paused. "What music?"
Now Puck was entirely in his métier and beamed with satisfaction. "I heard Phobos trained all his youth to become a pianist – you know, that big old-fashioned instrument they sometimes use in state ceremonies? I heard he was pretty damn good. But being an aristocrat and shit, his noble parents found it was not an appropriate job for their distinguished son to play some antique music for retirees. They forced him to start a military career instead. Against his will, of course. You know how earth parents are..."
"Yeah." Keeler bit his lip. He knew all too well, actually. "How do you know all that?" he asked to detract Puck's attention from this dreary subject.
Puck grinned proudly. "Porthos told me. You know, the tall one with the mohawk? He's involved with Phobos. Told me he heard him play Beethoven once in the barracks and that was the moment he fell for him. Poor guy probably thinks he found a ruly, faithful girlfriend..."
Keeler shook his head at that and decided that it was enough now. At least one person in this office needed to get his work done today. Dismissing all gossip from his mind, Keeler plunged himself into his space maps again, determined to do his duty as was necessary in a war.
---
Seeing Phobos leave the commander’s office later, watching him saunter towards the elevators like he was king of those quarters, reminded Keeler of an important question he would almost have forgotten. So, on his way to the hangar bay, he made a slight turn round the corner to pass Encke’s office.
Artemis and Cassius, in the outer office, seemed delighted to get a reason to abandon their statistics for an instant and have a chat instead. Keeler was a welcomed guest everywhere – but especially inside Encke’s office, of course.
"Keeler, sweetie pie!" the Lead Fighter exclaimed, happy, too, to be distracted from the tedious report-writing. "To what do I owe this honour?"
Keeler smirked and after the door slid closed, he settled elegantly on the edge of Encke’s desk, dangling his legs and looking more attractive than should be allowed for an officer – so Encke thought at least, immediately falling in love again with his navigator.
"I have an important thing to ask you."
Encke got hold of Keeler’s little hand that lay on the tabletop and playfully interlaced his fingers with the other man’s. In his head, he could already hear Keeler’s question, and his answer was going to be "Yes, I will.” Then he would lift the veil and kiss him and Keeler would be his, forever.
"Do you accidentally have some Beethoven in your music collection?"
Encke’s eyes widened in surprise. "Beethoven?” he stammered, “Er...you know, the music I usually listen to is...much older than that and...Beethoven is...Whence your sudden interest in old Luigi?"
Keeler shrugged, blushing prettily. "Ah, nothing. Puck just raved about how great he allegedly is, and as I’m so ignorant about earth music and you know so much about it..."
Keeler sure knew how to twist Encke around his little finger. "I’ll see what I can find” the fighter agreed, flattered.
Encke would have loved to pull Keeler to sit on his lap now, to snuggle his nose into the blond’s hair (in the absence of a veil) and to make out with him a bit (in the absence of a wedding ceremony), but he was afraid Artemis and Cassius could enter and witness some classic fraternization. He had to think of something, though, to make Keeler stay a moment longer, so he could at least revel in his beauty.
"What about the tactics for the evening manoeuver, my elf? Have you set up a formation?" Encke asked, still caressing Keeler’s slender fingers.
Keeler nodded. “As a matter of fact, we have to practice the loopings. I thought about putting Nighthawk in the left wing and letting Tiberius go first, with us. Ethos is capable of more than he thinks, the boy needs some encouragement and his poor fighter could do with it, too."
"Reliant will go ballistic over that, I tell you."
Keeler smirked. "Ha, is Reliant the Leading Team or are we?" Encke laughed a little at that, but Keeler went on, seriously, "Maybe it would be no bad idea to find a substitute pair for us, dear...just in case something happens."
Encke felt a stab in his heart at the comment, but tried to hide it by joking, "Yeah, but Reliant? 'Lead Navigator Abel', though clever, would probably rather do anything else with his subordinates than train them. And your old buddy Alexei would be dead on his first evening as Lead Fighter, dickhead that he is."
Keeler giggled, "So I guess we better not let anything happen to us..."
"Yeah. Speaking of that... How are you today, honey? Not too tired?" He tenderly took Keeler’s wrist to check his pulse, professionally, having done it too often already. As always, he wasn't content with the results, and his mouth twisted. "What about the new 'pralinés‘ you were supposed to 'snack on'?"
"I didn’t take them. Can’t." Keeler smiled apologetically, "Oh, don’t look at me like that, Encke, you’re not my mother! If I take this stuff and do so much as scrape myself during ship repair, the bleeding could kill me."
"Shh, dear, don’t agitate yourself, I totally accept whatever you decide, ok? I was just asking." Encke gave the white navigator’s hand a squeeze. "Whatever happens, I’ll always...” He hemmed, interrupting his speech. “We're partners, Keeler. Never forget that."
Keeler, choked up, leaned down to give Encke a cute little kiss, too frightened to do more than that, here in the office. He then jumped up and headed back towards the door, always bustling, always on the go like he had mercury in his blood instead of all those cardiac meds, potassium pills, diuretics and whatnot.
Turning one last time before leaving, he fumbled with his braid, and asked shyly, "See you later, for the...Beethoven?"
"Brace yourself for some 'Grand Sonata', sweet cheeks" Encke answered with a grin.