Since he had regained his eyesight a few days ago, Captain Carswell Thorne had taken his time to thoroughly inspect and reacquaint himself with every inch of his beloved ship (which may or may not or have involved rubbing his head along the interior walls, caressing every surface and cooing to the consoles). More often than not, though, he could be found either in the cockpit or - like now - in the bathroom.

They would dock onto Kai's ship in a few hours and who knew when Thorne would have the chance to shower and shave once they got to Luna? A captain always needed to look his best as long as he could, even amidst a revolution. And Thorne simply enjoyed pampering himself. He graciously applied his shaving cream, glad he could finally shave with his eyesight intact. Cuts and uneven stubbles were not attractive, after all.

He heard the door being activated from the outside but the electric lock kept it shut. Thorne didn't need to wonder for long who else wanted to use the bathroom when he heard a quiet, melodic humming from the other side. Not even thinking about it, Thorne used his elbow to activate the button and the door slid open to reveal a startled Cress. She clutched a towel to her chest, obviously having had the same idea as him. Minus the shaving, probably.

She seemed confused and Thorne was surprised when he felt a bit insecure under her scrutiny. He was used to girls gazing at him appreciatively, trying to catch his eye, but Cress's look had nothing flirty about it.

Obviously.

So much for feverish confessions of love. If only she would ogle his bare chest. But Cress resolutely kept her eyes on his foamy chin.

"Ooh, you're shaving," Cress finally said as if she had just figured it out. She probably hadn't seen anyone shaving before. How young had those other Shells been when she'd left them, he wondered? Although, judging from the mess of hair she sported when he first saw her, razors and scissors had probably been out of the question for Shells. "I'll come back later then." She backed away from the bathroom.

It was the first time in days that the both of them were alone, and Thorne didn't want to miss this chance to ... do what exactly? Talk to her? Stare some more at her pretty face that was now perfectly framed by short, golden curls? Confess ... something? He wasn't sure but he didn't want her to leave yet.

"Or better yet, you can keep me company?" he asked her, not sure how she would take it. Since he had gotten his eyesight back, or maybe even before that, Cress had made herself scarce around him. She was always flitting about or too immersed in some task or another to spend time with him. At least, Thorne hoped that she was, in fact, too busy and wasn't avoiding him on purpose. He missed their time together in the desert. With her talking and singing and confessing, things had been so much simpler then—aside from the severe dehydration, fever and possibility of a gruesome death, that is.

Cress turned around and looked at him with that unfathomable expression again. It was difficult to tell what went on in her mind, Thorne found. He'd never had trouble reading girls but Cress ... Cress was tricky. He thought it would get easier as soon as he got his eyesight back but no. And with her speaking so little since they came aboard, he had few ways of knowing what she thought.

But she finally nodded and leaned against the wall before the open door, hugging her towel. Pointedly staring at everything but him.

Oh well.

Thorne turned to the mirror again, grabbing his razor, and started to shave. His eyes kept flickering to Cress, though, and it didn't take a genius to figure out why this one girl was able to distract him from his own reflection - not an easy feat.

"Sooo, seems like we both had the same idea. I don't know what Cinder or Wolf are doing but I for one am going to take advantage of every shower I can get now."

That got a smile out of her. "Yes. I'll never take water and showers for granted ever again, I think." She sighed but suddenly perked up and sniffed around. His heart clenched uncomfortably at the sight of her cute, sun-kissed nose crinkling in delight. "Oooh, you—, I mean, this, this smells nice."

"Finally someone on this ship appreciates a good soap," he said with a big grin before deciding to let it be followed by a wink. Instead of the rosy blush he was expecting though, Cress just tentatively smiled back. Aces, what did he have to do to get this girl to like him back again? The whole hero business Kai had suggested suddenly didn't sound that unreasonable anymore.

Thorne was surprised when she spoke up, though. "I do. I mean, it's not as if I have anything to compare it to but it smells nice. On the satellite, I only got simple soaps without any scent."

Figures. It wasn't as if he'd had much time to inspect the satellite she had been imprisoned in but judging from the lack of personal belongings, a few simple dresses aside, it was clear that "Mistress" hadn't cared to provide Cress with anything but the bare necessities. And that wouldn't do anymore. "In that case ...," Thorne said, looking through his cabinet. He grabbed one of the expensive soaps, wrapped in equally expensive, crinkled paper, and handed it with flourish to a surprised Cress. "For you, milady."

While he had trouble reading Cress's expressions before, there was no way he could mistake her radiant smile for anything but pure joy now She took the soap with so much wonder and gratitude that it was as if Thorne had just handed her a basket full of diamonds. His fingers lingered a tad too long on hers but he hoped she didn't notice.

"For me?" she asked as if she couldn't believe it.

She sniffed at the soap in delight before looking at him. This time, she looked directly into his eyes and Thorne found it hard breathe. She was beautiful in every way, from her sky-blue eyes to every single freckle peppering her face. He hoped he hadn't messed up any chance he might have had with this sweet girl. So that maybe he could kiss her once more without them being in danger of dying.

Thorne had thought back to their kiss on top of the palace's rooftop probably more often than he should and he felt he hadn't appreciated it enough. It had been epic and exciting - a kiss worth waiting for, for sure. But now he wanted nothing more than to kiss her again.

Longer this time.

More passionately, with a touch of real emotions and not just a promise fulfilled.

Still watching her every facial expression, Thorne almost missed Cress thanking him. "I've never gotten a gift before, so this is my first one. Thank you, Captain. I'll cherish it."

"You're wel—wait, what? Your first present?" Thorne asked, perplexed. "Like, ever?"

Cress nodded happily, not aware of Thorne's shift in tone. "Yeah. Mistress gave me some dresses and hair pins but I doubt they count."

"No, certainly not." He couldn't believe it. Nothing in all those years? No wonder she was so delighted by a piece of soap. "Sorry, but no. This can't be your first gift."

"Wha...?" Cress brows furrowed, her whole face an expression of utter dejection. She quickly regained her composure though and tentatively handed back the soap. He didn't take it.

"I didn't mean it like that. Keep the soap, Cress. It's just... that soap is hardly an adequate first gift. Even though it's of top-notch quality." She looked only slightly consoled and it broke his heart. "Listen, when this whole revolution stuff is finally done, you'll get the very best first gift from me. Something that is even better than this soap. Deal?"

She shyly shook her head. "That's alright, you don't have to. In case you have ... other plans afterward."

Thorne rinsed out his razor and grabbed one of the smaller towels. "What could be more important than finding the perfect gift for a damsel? A most heroic damsel, but still." He nudged her slightly, relieved when she smiled again.

Cress laughed. "I don't know about the heroic part."

"I do. So, Cress, any particular wishes for your first present? Hey, when's your birthday? We can celebrate it. The whole gang coming together."

With a tiny shrug, Cress hesitated a bit before answering. "I don't know when my birthday is. A few days ago, I didn't even know who my father was."

Thorne nodded. "That makes sense. But you could find out, couldn't you? Hack into some birth registers and hospital records. Sounds like something you could do in your sleep."

Cress flushed at the compliment. It was as if he had finally found a way to break a few of the barriers that had developed between them lately. She finally nodded and he liked that she didn't try to convince him otherwise. She was a far cry away from being vain or conceited about it, but it was a nice to finally see her acknowledge her worth.

"That settles it. When we reach Luna, we get you into the surveillance room, then you do your very important hacking job, ensuring Cinder can take down the evil queen and look into your birth register." He paused. Thorne wanted to add something about maybe getting Cress to hack into his old account or transferring some well-earned reward money.

But no, he couldn't ask that of her. Not if he wanted to become worthy of her like he promised himself he would. It was tempting, though.

"I could do it from here", she said quietly, interrupting his train of thought.

That surprised him. "You could? Then why don't you? We still have a bit of time until Kai reaches the Rampion. Sounds like something to kill time with instead of just waiting around."

When he looked at Cress, she sported an expression he knew only too well. Thorne had often worn it himself when he didn't want to talk about a certain subject any further. Unlike him, though, Cress didn't smoothly change the subject but remained silent, almost sullen. It was the most teenage-like look he had seen on Cress so far and it made him smile. So, instead of pushing her for an answer, Thorne quietly applied his aftershave, taking his time with it. He knew a thing or two about stubborn teenagers.

"My ... mother."

He looked up to watch her reflection in the mirror. "Yes?"

Cress glanced at him unhappily. "If I were to look for my birthdate, I would also find out about my mother. And I'm not sure I'm ready for that."

A mother who gave up her child to be killed.

He didn't think anyone would be ready for that and he wasn't quite sure how to answer. Instead, he simply nodded. "Fair enough. Take your time. But Cress, they—" he made a sweeping gesture even though he didn't quite know who "they" referred to. The witch, certainly. Queen Levana, too. But it probably went beyond those two, these systematic prejudices and cruelties. It made no sense to dwell on that now, though. "They already took a lot from you. I would try to get at least something back."

When she didn't answer right away, he shrugged. "Your choice, obviously. But this way you'll get presents and a cake out of it. I heard that Scarlet makes a killer lemon cake. Old family recipe."

Cress visibly perked up at the mention of cake.

He quickly changed the topic. "So, gifts. Anything you always wished for? Something your heart desires?" What could someone like Cress wish for? He thought back to their time to the desert. "Like, some fancy shoes?" he said with a wink, remembering her wistful hope after trekking the desert barefooted.

"Oh, I already got some shoes." Cress wiggled her feet, drawing his focus to some battered canvas shoes.

It took Thorne awhile to realize that she must have gotten them from someone in the caravan in Kufra. They were made for casual strolls in warmer regions, but certainly not for quick escapes from a fight. These shoes didn't seem practical for what they had planned on Luna and it worried Thorne. He didn't want her to slip and fall in case things went awry.

There wasn't much he could do, though. He doubted he could find any leftover military boots that could fit her tiny feet. Tiny feet that led to some very nice, tanned legs, he noticed before he made himself look away.

"I'm sure we will find something better. But okay, no shoes for your birthday." He tapped at his chin. "I'll think of something. But we will celebrate it. With gifts and cake and everything."

"Did your mother bake birthday cakes for you?" she suddenly asked him with a smile. It was a simple question and something in her tone was genuinely curious.

But before he could stop himself, Thorne snorted at that thought. He couldn't remember his mother using the kitchen for anything other than getting something Janette or one of the android bots had prepared before. The idea that his mother would be in the kitchen wearing an apron and ruining her perfectly-manicured nails to bake a cake she could just as easily buy was ridiculous. But Cress couldn't know that and she was obviously confused by his reaction. He would usually change the topic and steer it away from his family and past, but something made him explain. After all, she had opened up to him, too. It was only fair to reveal at least something of his childhood.

"Sorry, Cress. It's just ... my mom wasn't the baking type. Or cooking type. Or anything of that sort."

An image of his mother appeared in his mind: Immaculately dressed, her hair fashionably styled and with a constantly absent expression—as if nothing really mattered to her.

Except when it came to the way her family presented itself to the public.

And opulent birthday parties, always thoroughly planned by some renowned party planner in order to impress the neighbors and friends, were part of that ideal family image. But it hardly seemed justified to be bitter about a lack of home-made cakes when he was talking to someone who had never gotten one in her whole life.

"But she bought some from a bakery downtown. Always shaped like a spaceship."

And expensive like everything Laurel Thorne bought. A designer cake which would have saved him three months of playing Royals if he had gotten the money instead.

"A Rampion cake?" Cress asked, a knowing smile on her lips. Like everyone in his crew, she knew how much this ship mattered to him. But she was the only one who had visited him in his cabin, inquiring after his model spaceship.

"No. But I would have loved that." Fancy racers, but never a plain cargo ship to match the spaceship-themed party he got every year until he was too old for them. Even Janette, who had often snuck him her homemade cookies, had never managed to get the form just right.

If he sounded bitter, Cress didn't seem to notice. "Too bad. I always wanted to try baking. And cooking. I've often watched the food networks with Little ... on my own." She looked thoughtful for a minute."Maybe I can bake a Rampion cake for you? For your birthday? If you still want to meet up by that time?"

Finally done with his beauty routine and knowing he had to let Cress use the bathroom at one point, Thorne stepped away from the sink to face her directly. She looked unsure about her proposal but he couldn't be anything but touched. Here she was, offering to make him the cake he always wanted to have when he was younger.

"Or not," she said when he didn't say anything. "I mean, it's probably harder than it looks. And you probably have other things to do. I just meant... to return the favor, you know? For the gift. And the soap." As if to demonstrate her point, she held up the soap bar. She looked positively unhappy.

"How I could say no to a homemade Rampion cake?"

Thorne was tempted to tweak her nose, and if she had been Scarlet or Cinder he would've had no qualms about it. But this was Cress and he wasn't sure how she would take it. He took his shirt instead and started to dress again.

When he looked at Cress he could see a very pronounced blush on her face. It was unlikely that she was flustered by his flawless physique, as much as Thorne would like to think otherwise. Cress was just not used to guys dressing in front of her and he had to be more careful about that. She looked at everything but him again, probably still unsure about her offer. It was hard to ignore his disappointment but not to hide it. "Sounds like a date. On May 22, by the way."

"I know," Cress said with a small, embarrassed smile.

Ah, her research.

Of course she would know his birthday. And blood type and final grades, among many other things.

"I know you know. But don't you forget. I'm looking forward to it."

And it was hard not to.

Thorne wasn't worried about the revolution. They would win, simple as that. He had always been lucky and he would easily bet his money on Cinder and Cress and all of them being successful. They would rescue Scarlet and they would defeat Levana, so Cinder could become queen (hopefully he could get in a punch or two when he met that traitor, Jacin, again, too).

But the time afterward... where would he end up? Pardoned in the Eastern Commonwealth but still sentenced for his crimes in Australia and the American Republic? Or would he be free—free to meet Cress and make good on his promise to buy her her first gift? Would she even remember their conversation today? Would she still want to meet him even after she could do whatever she wanted and go wherever she wanted ... meet whoever she wanted?

He didn't know and it made no sense to think about it now. That's not who he was. He didn't worry, but planned for the best outcome instead.

And this outcome involved at least two birthdays he could spend with Cress. It wasn't much but it was a start.

An opportunity.

Thorne was good at seizing those.

He was also good at masking his feelings, so that's what he did now. "I'm finished. Thanks for waiting but it wouldn't do to rush. What do you think?" He struck a pose, hand on chin to draw the focus on his now smooth chin and a—hopefully—dazzling smile on his lips.

Cress's blush intensified and he hoped he hadn't made her uncomfortable once more when she answered. "Good. Not as stubbly." And in a smaller voice, she added, "I like it."

Progress. He would take it.

"Me too. Now, the bathroom is all yours." With a small bow, he led Cress into the bathroom, delighted by her small giggle. The door closed behind him and shortly after, the now familiar humming started again, even if it was muffled by the walls between them. He easily picked up the tune and hummed it the whole way back to his cabin.

A/N: Hi everyone. Since I'm a bit stuck with PEA and TWMA, I thought I could publish a oneshot instead. It was actually the first thing I wrote about a year ago and I hope you'll like it. I miss canon Cresswell so, from time to time, I would like to write a small oneshot about them. Similar to this one and "Play Ball". They are unconnected so I'll write and update whenever inspiration strikes. :)