It's my first Red Dwarf story, this fandom clearly deserves more fanfics. I want to thank the wonderful humon (you can easily look her up on deviantart), for she is the reason I discovered RD in the first place. I also want to thank my beat reader Jennifer, she's been adorable. However neither she nor I are native speakers, so please forgive me my mistakes.

Hope you enjoy it :)

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Ace has seen other Listers before. Of course he has, this is after all the 82nd dimension he's visiting so far. He has met space bums and successful ones, female as well as male ones, evil and angelic Listers. Some had plaits, most did, others had the same smile as Spanners. Most were keen on facial hair, but some, like this one, lacked it. Like every other before him he's unique and so it shouldn't make such a lasting impression on the space hero when he meets this one.

And yet there he is, Ace Rimmer, saviour of several universes, being affected by one of the many, many David Listers out there. He can't really pinpoint what it is about this one that makes his insides twist pleasantly. He doesn't have anything he hasn't already seen at alternative versions of the man, although he has to admit that he has never seem them in this precise combination.

He has long dreadlocks, that reach his butt when he throws his head back. Dark eyes and a gaze so intense it makes the dimension jumper weak in the knees. A skin that whispers to his fingertips to reach out and just touch it. But most unsettling of all is without a doubt this smile. This smile which is so similar to Spanners' one, so alike and yet so different, for the effects they evoke in Ace can't be compared to one another.

This smile makes him want to eat this Lister alive. To devour that mouth in a soul-searing kiss. He wants to taste that smile, wants to bury his tongue in it, even though he suspects that it would not rest in peace there, not that he's hoping for it.

And then there's this smell. It contained quite a few elements that are by no means unusual for Listers: curry, cigarette smoke, steal sweat from not having showered in at least a week and the unmistakeable scent that all Daves without a fail have in common. But once again this one varies from all his alternative selves, for he seems to have an additional odour mixed in. Ace can't quiet make out what it is, but he finds it simply intoxicating*.

Yes Ace has met other Listers before him, but for some unknown reason this one makes him forget that his bread isn't supposed to be buttered that side.

However this Dave seems to be as alluring as the Rimmer in this dimension is bitter. What a pain in the butt!

He's just finishing sewing his left arm as Lister enters the room. He's about to tell him that he can't stand the sight of his alternative self no longer, but as his eyes fall on Skipper's open and honest face the words die in his throat. He can't bring himself to say it, can't bring himself to depart already.

"Put your finger on that, will you, Skipper?" he asks instead, gesturing towards the stitches on his arm. Ace doesn't know if it's just his wishful thinking or if the other man's hand has really lingered on his skin far longer than necessary.
He goes on explaining why the Rimmer in this reality has developed so differently, all the while leaning back on a wall, taking in the sight of Lister. The shorter man is now leaning on the opposite wall, playing with the cigarette in his fingers.

"Hey Ace, man, I could use yer help 'ere." he says with his heavy accent, wiggling the cigarette suggestively.

He plants his good hand next to his face and bends down till the tip of his cigarette touches Lister's so that he may ignite it. At first the man in front of him seems concentrated on the warm glow that is growing between them, but than he looks up. His eyes meet Ace's with a gaze like a killer that is out to murder Ace's self-control.

Lister moves in slow motion, his fingers sluggishly wrapping around his cig before moving it away from his mouth. He parts his lips to let the smoke escape without exhaling.

Ace resistance snapps like an overstretched rubber band and before he has the time to register what is happening he's kissing the third technician with abandon. It feels like falling of a cliff and Ace's determined to drag Lister down with him.

He never imagined what any Lister would taste like, but if he would have had to guess, this is exactly what he would have come up with. He savours the faint taste of vindaloo and smoke that still lingers on his tongue. A soft moan takes a walk from his mouth into Lister's as he relishes in the moist feeling of another tongue sliding against his own.

Lister must have had similar intentions for he kisses back without as much as a hint of hesitation, his hand which is not holding the slow burning roll of tobacco finding its way to his neck to pull him deeper into the kiss.

When Ace draws back Lister's face follows his a few centimetres, obviously not wanting it to end. The test pilot cups one of Skipper's cheeks in his hands, covering the slight blush that was forming underneath. The shorter man lowers his gaze sheepishly, taking another drag from his cigarette with a somewhat shaky breath.

"'T's been a while." He tries to justify himself.

Ace fights to suppress a shudder, debating with himself if he should pop the question or not, but Lister beats him to it.

"Want me to chase away Rimmah so we can 'ave the room to ourselves?"

Not trusting himself to be capable of composing sentences just yet he simply nods in response.

Not a minute later this irritating version of him is running out of the room like he's fleeing from something while his bunkmate leans in the doorway with a satisfied smirk on his face. He catches his eyes again, cocks his head into the direction of the newly liberated room and disappears in it. Ace is more than happy to follow him.

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*I'm fascinated with biology, so I had to build that one in. So many animals attract potential sexual partners with their scent, I just couldn't resist X)

Comments are always welcome, I hope you liked it. Please don't hesitate to criticize me, I wanna get better after all.