Angel Eyes
By LuvsRimmer
September 2002
Author's Note and Disclaimer: Red Dwarf belongs to Grant Naylor, the song "Angel Eyes" belongs to the Jeff Healey Band. This is a sequel to If You Like Pina Coladas.
Rimmer looked up from his astronavigation book. He'd read the same sentence a million times without comprehending it. That was nothing new; he never could comprehend astronavigation. But this was different. He was distracted. He stole a glance over at Lister and smiled to himself.
***Well, I'm the guy who never learned to dance,
Never even got one second glance
Across a crowded room was close enough,
I could look but never touch. ***
He still couldn't believe it. Only a few days ago he and Lister had been arguing as usual. Then they'd found the Red Dwarf Lonely Hearts magazine and everything had changed. Now there was an unspoken connection between them. A spark in Lister's brown eyes.
He didn't know what would happen next. They'd gone and had a Pina Colada in the empty Copacabana after discovering that he'd responded to Lister's ad, but Lister hadn't mentioned it since. Rimmer had been unable to concentrate for the last few days, wondering, questioning, thinking back on his life. Had he been such a bust with women because he was homosexual and didn't realize it? He wasn't entirely sure whether he was or not. All he knew was he couldn't stop thinking about Lister, wondering what it would be like to kiss him. Would he taste like curry? That was highly likely. But who knew if he'd ever find out.
Lister cleared his throat and Rimmer looked up. Their gazes locked for a moment, and he wasn't certain but he thought Lister blushed. Could Lister be thinking the same things as him? He certainly had been acting differently the last few days. Hadn't mentioned Kochanski once. Come to think of it, he hadn't mentioned Kochanski in a very long time. Rimmer sneaked another peek at Lister, who flushed guiltily to be caught staring.
***There's just one more thing I have to know,
If this is love why does it scare me so?
It must be something only you can see,
'Cause I feel it when you look at me***Rimmer looked down at his book again. Was he imagining things? He was too scared to find out. What if Lister didn't feel that way? How could he go on sharing quarters with him? But he couldn't go on like this; he had to know.
Lister hopped down from his bunk. "Wanna go for a drink?" he asked softly.
Rimmer gulped. "Sure."
As they headed down the corridors toward the Copacabana, Lister's hand brushed Rimmer's and the taller man smiled. Somehow he'd find the courage to find out how Lister felt, but in the meantime he'd enjoy these moments, these magical days he viewed with newly opened eyes.