Chapter 7: Just a Joke
Smiling, Purple studied Delan's sleeping form. Her face bore a tiny smile. Purple suspected that she's only meant to lie down for just a minute. Pulling a decorative quilt off of the back of an armchair, Purple draped it over Delan's body. The least he could do was tuck her in, especially since she looked so comfortable that Purple didn't dare to wake her.
That done, Purple went back out into the living room. Well, so much for dinner. Purple wrapped up Delan's part of it and put it in the fridge. She might decide she wanted it later. Then he reheated his portion, and ate it on the couch while watching movies.
Purple didn't know whether to leave or stay. Delan hadn't exactly invited him to spend the night, but she also definitely hadn't kicked him out. Perhaps it all boiled down to what he wanted to do. After a bit of thought, Purple decided to stay. But he wouldn't invate Delan's bed. Instead, the Tallest stretched out on the couch and was soon fast asleep.
Morning came all to quickly; not that anyone on the Massive could tell, though. All of the ships clocks were set to the same time as the Irken Capital because a since of time was necessary, otherwise nothing would ever get done on schedule. And so, despite the lack of true morning, it was far too early for Purple to be up when Delan's communication screen station began buzzing.
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Purple flicked the screen on. Dr. Gizmo appeared onscreen, looking at a clipboard. "Good morning, my Tall-" The doctor petered off when he saw Purple, then rallied himself valiantly. "..est Purple. I guess I've dialed the wrong room. Sorry for the interruption." Gizmo ended the transmisison quickly. Purple smiled and waited.
In seconds, the Incoming Call buzz started again, and again Purple answered. Gizmo found himself once more staring at Purple. Antennae twitched nervously as the doctor asked, "So you're in Tallest Red's quarters?"
Purple nodded. He could almost imagine the doctor's mouth gaping wide open beneath the high-collared professional coat. Week-old unvoiced suspicions rose in Purple's mind as he smiled pleasantly at the doctor. Perhaps Delan's secret was shared by one other... "Would you like me to go get Red for you?" Purple's voice dripped honey.
"No!" came the doctor's panicked reply. Taking a deep breath, Gizmo got himself under control. "That is... I wouldn't dream of distrubing my Tallest's sleep... on purpose, that is." Purple kept his gaze steady on the doctor until Gizmo's antennae drooped. "You've figured it out, haven't you?"
Still wearing that infuriatingly bland smile, Purple asked innocently, "Figured what out, Doctor?" Gizmo went silent, and so Purple stood. "Now, let me go get Red for you. Wait right there." Ducking into Delan's room, Purple crossed to the bed and shook the sleeping Tallest's shoulder gently. "Hey, wake up. Dr. Gizmo wants to talk to you."
Delan yawned and cracked open her eyes. She held her hands out to Purple and he pulled her up into a sitting position. Once she was sitting up, though, she fell backwards, dragging Purple down on top of her. "Up and at 'em," Purple laughed, roling off of Delan. Delan just smiled and held up her hands once more. "Oh no! I'm not falling for that again!" And indeed, instead of lifting Delan up by her outstretched hands, Purple pressed forward and rolled her out of the bed.
With a surprised squeal, Delan sat up. "I'll get you for that!" Her outrage was all noise and play, though, as she chased Purple once around the bed and out into the living room. Purple slowed and Delan leapt onto his back, wrapping her lithe legs around his waist. "Ha! Told you I'd get you!" Delan crowed from her perch.
"But what are you going to do with him now that you've caught him?" Gizmo interrupted.
Delan dropped off of Purple's back, spinning him around and waving an accusing finger at his face. "You did that on purpose!" she shouted. "You were trying to betray me!" Delan turned to flee back into her room, but Purple lunged and managed to grab her about the waist.
Purple held on for all he was worth, which took more effort than he would have thought, for Delan was struggling for all she was worth. "I wasn't trying to betray you!" Purple insisted as he pressed Delan against his chest. "I figured out that he knew already!"
Delan froze, her breath coming hard and fast. Her whole body trembled like a leaf in the wind. Purple led Delan to the couch, and drew her into his lap once he was seated. "How did you know?" she murmurred, laying her head against the crook of Purple's neck.
Gizmo propped his chin up on his hands. "I'd love to hear this too."
Purple smiled and brushed his lips lightly against Delan's cheek. His hand brushed lightly over her antennae, smoothing them back soothingly. "Well, I figured she had to have a doctor who knew. Either that or our medical training is getting so lax that our doctor's don't know how to tell male from female. You also switched her records with Red's, didn't you, Dr. Gizmo?" The doctor nodded and Purple gave himself a mental pat on the back.
While Purple was busy congratulating himself for his brilliant deductions, Delan slugged him in the stomach. "That was for scaring the royal pee out of me!" she snarled. Pulling out of Purple's now limp grasp, Delan stormed back into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Purple moaned and held his stomach. The woman knew how to hit - of that there was no doubt.
Gizmo proved to be most sympathetic as he began to laugh. "No offense, my Tallest, but you deserved that."
Having managed to catch his breath, Purple groaned and poked gingerly at his abdomen. "Oh slark! She hits like a man!" He winced as his fingers probed the area where Delan hit him. Yeah, that was going to leave a mark.
Gizmo arched an eyridge. "And you're surprised by that? She's spent the last...," Gizmo paused and began counting on his fingers, "...about two hundred years learning to be a man. Anyway, if you would be so kind as to remind her that she has a physical tomorrow at 0800, I'd be greatful." And with that, the doctor ended the call.
Purple sighed and shot a glance at the bedroom door, which remained firmly closed. The time had come to start ordering flowers and prepare for another week of getting the cold shoulder treatment.