//This chapter dedicated to Kith - who's gotten me back in the writing
strain. She is somewhat of a muse and continues to be so. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Invader Zim.
Chapter Ten: The Chill
There was complete silence in the hall where Tah worked. The area had been evacuated so no one would disturb the evidence. As she worked to do just that - wiping away fingerprints and dismantling all signs of the perpetrator - she tried to keep her mind free from all distractions. That was hard. Everything seemed so jumbled in her usually rational life. It had seemed easy when she had first taken up the job of finding and stopping the mastermind of the invisible criminal syndicate that infested what seemed to be most parts of the galaxy. She had leads to follow, places to go, and people to see. She had liked the excitement of her job and the opportunity to be out on her own, reveling in the freedoms of a non- military life. Yet somehow along the way the feeling had changed. She was still as dedicated as ever, but the enthusiasm had melted away. She did what she did now because she had to - because no one else had to experience to search out and destroy the menace. She had regrets now, such as involving an innocent like Yempt in the whole mess. She couldn't imagine how she could have prevented him from helping her that day, but since then she knew he wasn't completely safe. If her enemy really wanted him to die, he would have been dead a long time ago. People had died because they'd been involved with her, and she didn't want to hold any more of that responsibility. She sighed as she examined her work - she would protect Twaine.
She heard a curious sound down the hall - past the evacuated area. With her work done, she had the leisure to investigate. It sounded like raised voices, and they were coming from behind Tzen's door. Her eyes narrowed with curiosity as she recognized the Head Researcher's usually mellow voice raised to a high pitch.
"That's ridiculas! Are you trying to give everybody on the ship a nervous breakdown?"
Whoever Tzen was yelling at, he didn't seem as aggravated. He answered with a confident, sure voice. Tah couldn't help but perk her antennae up in surprise when she heard the deep sound of his uncommonly low and smooth voice. "It's like a puzzle - this is just another piece."
"I outrank you in more ways then one. If you don't shape up, I will throw you to the authorities. I can - and they'll never realize my part in it all. You'll be placed with all the blame."
"You aren't blameless. If you throw me to them, you'll throw yourself in too."
Tah was highly interested in the conversation, but after a long silence she realized it had stopped. She figured she had better leave before someone walks by to discover her eavesdropping. As she made her way down the hall, her squiggly pooch pounded frantically beneath her chest - Tzen was somehow involved.
A shudder was heard through the Massive, causing even Tah to stop. Confused Irkens glanced around as the vents all blasted freezing air and the temperature began to drop.
########################################################################
Purple sat in his dark room as he heard a strange, rumbling noise reverberate throughout the ship. He felt a cold breeze brush by his antennae, but he made no move to close the vent. He was too preoccupied to move.
He was usually cleanly to a fault, but he just didn't feel like cleaning after himself for the last two days. Everything had its exact spot in his room, so none of the cleaning staff were allowed to put anything away. Instead piles of random books and reports, emptied snack bowls and discarded cloths from days past, were strewn about haphazardly. He stretched out his long legs and set them on the table before his couch, an action he'd yelled at Red for doing many times before.
His door hissed open and a figure walked in. Due the darkness the figure's features could not be distinguished, but his height bespoke of his identity. Red flipped on the light and glanced about the room. "It's worse -" he commented solemnly before hovering to his friends side. He glanced down at his friend, but Purple failed to acknowledge him. Red folded his arms and began to glare.
"What's wrong with you?" he growled fiercely.
"...she almost died."
"So now you're brooding?!? What sense does that make? Huh? And - get your feet off the table, it just isn't right when you do it!" Red violently shoved Purple's feet off the surface of the table, letting them limply land on the floor. Purple didn't seem to care. He just continued to sit silently on his couch. Red waited for a sheer moment before he continued to rant. "She didn't die! She's already up walking around, investigating her own attempted murder! She's fine!"
"But what if -"
"What if!?!" This phrase seemed to drive Red off the deep end. "YIYIYIYIYIYI!" He leapt onto the couch, pushing Purple on his back. He held him down with his powerful arms as he yelled at his shocked friend. "What is the matter with you? If you're the smart one, then how come I'm the one with all the sense? I hate it when you're like this, and I've never seen you like this! Sure, she could die any day now! We all could die any day now! Make the time you have worthwhile, you lavender dumbass! I have faith in her - I think she's going to live. What the Irk is she going to think of you if you ignore her like this? Snap out of it!!!" Red had been shaking Purple all through his speech, and finished with one, hard shove.
Purple looked up at his friend atop him. "...lavender dumbass?"
Red crawled off his companion and brushed himself off, trying to regain some dignity from his recent outburst. "Reference to your robes - you don't see me wearing pink anymore, do you?"
Purple blinked, still lying on his back on the couch. He turned his head slightly to Red. "But - I like lavender. Are you - hey! What are you doing in my drawers?" He quickly regained his senses to defend against this invasion of his privacy. He hovered to Red, who was tearing through his bookcases and draws as if he were looking for something. Purple yanked Red's arm away from his task and glared at him. "What do you think you're doing? These are MY things!"
Red tore himself away from his co-Tallest and continued to search. His eyes were steely with determination but his mouth was twisted into an amused, mischievous smile. "There's got to be something here! Some sappy poem or song or something - that's just the sort of thing you'd do!"
Purple stood aghast as he watched his friend decimate his room. "What are you talking abou - Hey! Don't mess up my socks! They were organized!" Purple again began pulling at his friend's arm, but Red was much too strong to be distracted.
"Nothing in here!" mumbled the scarlet Tallest as he hungrily moved to another section of the room.
It wasn't long before Purple gave up trying to stop Red. He hovered in the center of the room like a quiet eye of a hurricane, silently glaring at the wave of destruction around him. After the entire room had been completely ransacked, Red gave up and approached his co-Tallest. "I can't believe I didn't find anything!" he complained loudly.
"There wasn't anything for you to find!" replied Purple with his arms crossed.
Red rolled his eyes. "I can't believe you have no plans or anything. I mean, you're the sort of person who always plans these things out. You - such a planner!"
"Plans for what?" Purple let his violet eyes roll in his head dramatically. "If you're so 'in tune' with my agenda, why don't you fill me in?"
Red just gave Purple a look that portrayed just how clueless he figured his co-ruler was. "The question..." he reminded blandly. "You need to make the time you have worth~while!"
Purple blinked. "I guess...I do." He glanced around. "It's ... really cold in here!" He wrapped his arms around his shivering body.
########################################################################
Tah searched through her closet to find anything that might keep her warm. The temperature had dropped a good twenty degrees and everyone was now feeling the effects of the malfunctioning air conditioners. Irkens not being much for fashion, all she had was a spare set of the cloths she already had on. She wrapped her arms around her and looked about, her eyes setting on her bed. She quickly dove in under the covers and cocooned herself within them. She hated the cold.
Just as she had thoroughly wrapped herself up she heard her door slide open. She continued to lie on her bed, figuring her visitor was probably Clay or perhaps Yempt, since they were the only friends she had who were off duty at the moment. She was startled when she heard the deep, rumbling voice she'd heard in Tzen's room. "Would this be Tah whom I hear so much about?"
She squirmed herself around to look at him, embarrassed at her state but too entangled to conveniently unravel herself. "Uh -" she laughed nervously. "Yes, I'm Tah." He was a medium-height Irken, about the same size of her former boss, only lean and handsome. Certainly an older gentleman, but one who kept himself up fairly well. He had a set of deep violet eyes that almost rivaled Purple's in brilliance. She blinked and noticed Tzen was standing right next to him, seemingly laid back as usual. They both looked well equipped for the temperature change, both sporting heavy coats. She absently wondered where she could get one.
Tzen stepped forward, an amused grin showing at Tah's situation. "This is my roommate, Vil."
"I didn't know you had a roommate..."
"He's usually not around - chief technical/communications guy on one of the diplomatic vessels."
Tah raised a brow. "That so?" She wondered why Tzen would bother to introduce him to her. They were on friendly terms, but still...
"I have much anticipated meeting you," assured Vil with a smile as he sat next to her blanket shrouded form.
Tah couldn't help but be taken aback as he sat next to her, as if he'd known her all his life. She gave him a sidelong glance before asking, "Where did you hear of me if you were out with the diplomats?"
"Ohh - I have my ways. You haven't just been sitting on the Massive either." He again smiled at her, almost knowingly. There was a hint of excitement in his attitude, and it seemed as if he really had been anticipating the meeting. Tah narrowed her eyes and huddled closer in her covers - this man was too charming. Besides, although neither of them had been on the Massive, she guessed that a diplomatic vessel wouldn't have been anywhere close to the nasty haunts she'd visited in the past two years.
The door slid open once again and to everyone's surprise Tallest Purple hovered in the room. "Hey, Tah! I've come to spend some quality - oh, you already have visitors." He stopped when he saw Tzen standing in the middle of the room and Vil sitting beside her on the bed. He glanced at them and wrapped his arms around his body. "Hey! You have coats!" He sulked. "I want a coat..."
"Well, my Tallest," said Tzen obligingly, "I'm afraid ours won't fit you, but there are some stored in the equipment hall."
Purple nodded to him and then noticed Tah sitting on her bed, completely engulfed in her covers. "Hey! That's not a bad idea!" Some notion entered Tah's head and she huddled deeper into her cocoon as her face turned a deep shade of violet. Purple didn't seem to notice. "Want to come with me and get a coat?" He then glanced toward her visitors, "If you'll excuse us...."
Vil stood and answered him. "Of course, my Tallest." He then turned toward Tah, who was trying desperately to unravel herself. "It was more then a pleasure meeting you. I hope to see you very soon." He and Tzen wiggled their antennae and dutifully left the room.
"Er - want some help with that?" Tah had tripped on her covers and her gangly form was sprawled across the floor.
Once Tah was free from her cocoon of bed sheets, she and Purple began to make their way to the equipment hall. Their relationship wasn't a generally known fact out in public and the two had always maintained some kind of distance when they weren't alone, so it somewhat surprised Tah when Purple didn't hesitate to wrap his slender arm around her shoulders as they moved along. She didn't mind, but couldn't help blushing when she saw the looks she was receiving from passers by. She huddled closer to him, both in defense from the cold and the attention she was getting - then in surprise at someone who was running toward them at a rather quick pace. She blinked, realizing the identity of the runner. He was wearing a gray set of sweatpants with a matching shirt and a red bandana around his forehead as he puffed his way past them. She craned her neck to look after the runner. "Was that Red?"
Purple blinked as well. "Maybe he's trying to keep warm..."
The equipment hall was crowded with Irkens who'd had a similar idea of finding something to protect them from the ever-increasing cold, but they all parted in deference to their Almighty Tallest. Purple hovered over to the racks of clothing and glanced them over, trying to find something that would be large enough. Tah did the same, but found herself wandering to the far end of the hall where she'd located some scarves - apparently designed for those Invaders heading for notoriously cold planets. She picked one up, feeling its feather-soft surface through her gloves and wondered from what material it was made.
A creaking noise made her snap to attention and she looked about to try to find its source, but she was too late - one of the nearby battle mechs began to topple toward her. For an instant her military training failed her as she stood and watched the towering metal giant lean in her direction. She was frozen as she watched it fall, and a voice in the back of her mind calmly informed her that she was going to die just as she was pulled out of the way. She and her savior toppled to the ground just as the mech smashed against the floor with a deadly crunch. She glanced up at the person who had saved her and was now lying on her stomach. "Tzen? You - you already have a coat. How did you know - to come?"
########################################################################
Yempt sat alone in the library. He was not there to examine the literature, but the warm, comfy chairs. It was not a natural setting for him, and he glanced around disdainfully as he shivered. He didn't know why it was so damn cold on the ship, but he wished the engineers would get off their lazy bums and get working on the problem. He leaned back, hoping that the thick upholstery would do something to keep him from freezing to death.
"Are you a cold little waffle?" asked a familiar voice from behind.
Yempt jumped in surprise. "Ack! Wha - waffle! How'd you find me here?!" He glared at Twaine as the researcher sat a little too closely beside him.
"Seems you think the same way I do!" He patted the couch with his black gloved hand. "I was looking for a warmish nest as well!" He grinned widely at Yempt, who just continued to glower. "You look cold!" he suddenly pronounced as he quickly captured Yempt in a playful embrace.
The discontent green-eyed Irken did what he could to squirm away, but gave up once he realized his effort was futile. He gave a frustrated sigh, figuring it was at least warmer to lean against Twaine than the couch. "Aren't you supposed to be working?"
"Break time! It was too cold to work! My claws just couldn't type!" Twaine examined his claws as if they were some abused pets.
"Aren't you supposed to be depressed or something? - I think I like you better depressed." Yempt began regretting his words as he felt Twaine's chest slightly deflate. However, his voice was as cheerful as usual when he replied.
"How can I be depressed when you called me your Huk'ra, Love?"
Yempt's eyes opened wide. "You HEARD that?!"
He felt Twaine's chest vibrate as he giggled like a child. "I'm glad to note that our relationship has reached a new level!" He rose one finger in the air as if in triumph.
"We don't have a 'relationship'! I - I hate you!" With that declaration Yempt jumped out of the couch and ran toward his room. He would most certainly lock the door.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Invader Zim.
Chapter Ten: The Chill
There was complete silence in the hall where Tah worked. The area had been evacuated so no one would disturb the evidence. As she worked to do just that - wiping away fingerprints and dismantling all signs of the perpetrator - she tried to keep her mind free from all distractions. That was hard. Everything seemed so jumbled in her usually rational life. It had seemed easy when she had first taken up the job of finding and stopping the mastermind of the invisible criminal syndicate that infested what seemed to be most parts of the galaxy. She had leads to follow, places to go, and people to see. She had liked the excitement of her job and the opportunity to be out on her own, reveling in the freedoms of a non- military life. Yet somehow along the way the feeling had changed. She was still as dedicated as ever, but the enthusiasm had melted away. She did what she did now because she had to - because no one else had to experience to search out and destroy the menace. She had regrets now, such as involving an innocent like Yempt in the whole mess. She couldn't imagine how she could have prevented him from helping her that day, but since then she knew he wasn't completely safe. If her enemy really wanted him to die, he would have been dead a long time ago. People had died because they'd been involved with her, and she didn't want to hold any more of that responsibility. She sighed as she examined her work - she would protect Twaine.
She heard a curious sound down the hall - past the evacuated area. With her work done, she had the leisure to investigate. It sounded like raised voices, and they were coming from behind Tzen's door. Her eyes narrowed with curiosity as she recognized the Head Researcher's usually mellow voice raised to a high pitch.
"That's ridiculas! Are you trying to give everybody on the ship a nervous breakdown?"
Whoever Tzen was yelling at, he didn't seem as aggravated. He answered with a confident, sure voice. Tah couldn't help but perk her antennae up in surprise when she heard the deep sound of his uncommonly low and smooth voice. "It's like a puzzle - this is just another piece."
"I outrank you in more ways then one. If you don't shape up, I will throw you to the authorities. I can - and they'll never realize my part in it all. You'll be placed with all the blame."
"You aren't blameless. If you throw me to them, you'll throw yourself in too."
Tah was highly interested in the conversation, but after a long silence she realized it had stopped. She figured she had better leave before someone walks by to discover her eavesdropping. As she made her way down the hall, her squiggly pooch pounded frantically beneath her chest - Tzen was somehow involved.
A shudder was heard through the Massive, causing even Tah to stop. Confused Irkens glanced around as the vents all blasted freezing air and the temperature began to drop.
########################################################################
Purple sat in his dark room as he heard a strange, rumbling noise reverberate throughout the ship. He felt a cold breeze brush by his antennae, but he made no move to close the vent. He was too preoccupied to move.
He was usually cleanly to a fault, but he just didn't feel like cleaning after himself for the last two days. Everything had its exact spot in his room, so none of the cleaning staff were allowed to put anything away. Instead piles of random books and reports, emptied snack bowls and discarded cloths from days past, were strewn about haphazardly. He stretched out his long legs and set them on the table before his couch, an action he'd yelled at Red for doing many times before.
His door hissed open and a figure walked in. Due the darkness the figure's features could not be distinguished, but his height bespoke of his identity. Red flipped on the light and glanced about the room. "It's worse -" he commented solemnly before hovering to his friends side. He glanced down at his friend, but Purple failed to acknowledge him. Red folded his arms and began to glare.
"What's wrong with you?" he growled fiercely.
"...she almost died."
"So now you're brooding?!? What sense does that make? Huh? And - get your feet off the table, it just isn't right when you do it!" Red violently shoved Purple's feet off the surface of the table, letting them limply land on the floor. Purple didn't seem to care. He just continued to sit silently on his couch. Red waited for a sheer moment before he continued to rant. "She didn't die! She's already up walking around, investigating her own attempted murder! She's fine!"
"But what if -"
"What if!?!" This phrase seemed to drive Red off the deep end. "YIYIYIYIYIYI!" He leapt onto the couch, pushing Purple on his back. He held him down with his powerful arms as he yelled at his shocked friend. "What is the matter with you? If you're the smart one, then how come I'm the one with all the sense? I hate it when you're like this, and I've never seen you like this! Sure, she could die any day now! We all could die any day now! Make the time you have worthwhile, you lavender dumbass! I have faith in her - I think she's going to live. What the Irk is she going to think of you if you ignore her like this? Snap out of it!!!" Red had been shaking Purple all through his speech, and finished with one, hard shove.
Purple looked up at his friend atop him. "...lavender dumbass?"
Red crawled off his companion and brushed himself off, trying to regain some dignity from his recent outburst. "Reference to your robes - you don't see me wearing pink anymore, do you?"
Purple blinked, still lying on his back on the couch. He turned his head slightly to Red. "But - I like lavender. Are you - hey! What are you doing in my drawers?" He quickly regained his senses to defend against this invasion of his privacy. He hovered to Red, who was tearing through his bookcases and draws as if he were looking for something. Purple yanked Red's arm away from his task and glared at him. "What do you think you're doing? These are MY things!"
Red tore himself away from his co-Tallest and continued to search. His eyes were steely with determination but his mouth was twisted into an amused, mischievous smile. "There's got to be something here! Some sappy poem or song or something - that's just the sort of thing you'd do!"
Purple stood aghast as he watched his friend decimate his room. "What are you talking abou - Hey! Don't mess up my socks! They were organized!" Purple again began pulling at his friend's arm, but Red was much too strong to be distracted.
"Nothing in here!" mumbled the scarlet Tallest as he hungrily moved to another section of the room.
It wasn't long before Purple gave up trying to stop Red. He hovered in the center of the room like a quiet eye of a hurricane, silently glaring at the wave of destruction around him. After the entire room had been completely ransacked, Red gave up and approached his co-Tallest. "I can't believe I didn't find anything!" he complained loudly.
"There wasn't anything for you to find!" replied Purple with his arms crossed.
Red rolled his eyes. "I can't believe you have no plans or anything. I mean, you're the sort of person who always plans these things out. You - such a planner!"
"Plans for what?" Purple let his violet eyes roll in his head dramatically. "If you're so 'in tune' with my agenda, why don't you fill me in?"
Red just gave Purple a look that portrayed just how clueless he figured his co-ruler was. "The question..." he reminded blandly. "You need to make the time you have worth~while!"
Purple blinked. "I guess...I do." He glanced around. "It's ... really cold in here!" He wrapped his arms around his shivering body.
########################################################################
Tah searched through her closet to find anything that might keep her warm. The temperature had dropped a good twenty degrees and everyone was now feeling the effects of the malfunctioning air conditioners. Irkens not being much for fashion, all she had was a spare set of the cloths she already had on. She wrapped her arms around her and looked about, her eyes setting on her bed. She quickly dove in under the covers and cocooned herself within them. She hated the cold.
Just as she had thoroughly wrapped herself up she heard her door slide open. She continued to lie on her bed, figuring her visitor was probably Clay or perhaps Yempt, since they were the only friends she had who were off duty at the moment. She was startled when she heard the deep, rumbling voice she'd heard in Tzen's room. "Would this be Tah whom I hear so much about?"
She squirmed herself around to look at him, embarrassed at her state but too entangled to conveniently unravel herself. "Uh -" she laughed nervously. "Yes, I'm Tah." He was a medium-height Irken, about the same size of her former boss, only lean and handsome. Certainly an older gentleman, but one who kept himself up fairly well. He had a set of deep violet eyes that almost rivaled Purple's in brilliance. She blinked and noticed Tzen was standing right next to him, seemingly laid back as usual. They both looked well equipped for the temperature change, both sporting heavy coats. She absently wondered where she could get one.
Tzen stepped forward, an amused grin showing at Tah's situation. "This is my roommate, Vil."
"I didn't know you had a roommate..."
"He's usually not around - chief technical/communications guy on one of the diplomatic vessels."
Tah raised a brow. "That so?" She wondered why Tzen would bother to introduce him to her. They were on friendly terms, but still...
"I have much anticipated meeting you," assured Vil with a smile as he sat next to her blanket shrouded form.
Tah couldn't help but be taken aback as he sat next to her, as if he'd known her all his life. She gave him a sidelong glance before asking, "Where did you hear of me if you were out with the diplomats?"
"Ohh - I have my ways. You haven't just been sitting on the Massive either." He again smiled at her, almost knowingly. There was a hint of excitement in his attitude, and it seemed as if he really had been anticipating the meeting. Tah narrowed her eyes and huddled closer in her covers - this man was too charming. Besides, although neither of them had been on the Massive, she guessed that a diplomatic vessel wouldn't have been anywhere close to the nasty haunts she'd visited in the past two years.
The door slid open once again and to everyone's surprise Tallest Purple hovered in the room. "Hey, Tah! I've come to spend some quality - oh, you already have visitors." He stopped when he saw Tzen standing in the middle of the room and Vil sitting beside her on the bed. He glanced at them and wrapped his arms around his body. "Hey! You have coats!" He sulked. "I want a coat..."
"Well, my Tallest," said Tzen obligingly, "I'm afraid ours won't fit you, but there are some stored in the equipment hall."
Purple nodded to him and then noticed Tah sitting on her bed, completely engulfed in her covers. "Hey! That's not a bad idea!" Some notion entered Tah's head and she huddled deeper into her cocoon as her face turned a deep shade of violet. Purple didn't seem to notice. "Want to come with me and get a coat?" He then glanced toward her visitors, "If you'll excuse us...."
Vil stood and answered him. "Of course, my Tallest." He then turned toward Tah, who was trying desperately to unravel herself. "It was more then a pleasure meeting you. I hope to see you very soon." He and Tzen wiggled their antennae and dutifully left the room.
"Er - want some help with that?" Tah had tripped on her covers and her gangly form was sprawled across the floor.
Once Tah was free from her cocoon of bed sheets, she and Purple began to make their way to the equipment hall. Their relationship wasn't a generally known fact out in public and the two had always maintained some kind of distance when they weren't alone, so it somewhat surprised Tah when Purple didn't hesitate to wrap his slender arm around her shoulders as they moved along. She didn't mind, but couldn't help blushing when she saw the looks she was receiving from passers by. She huddled closer to him, both in defense from the cold and the attention she was getting - then in surprise at someone who was running toward them at a rather quick pace. She blinked, realizing the identity of the runner. He was wearing a gray set of sweatpants with a matching shirt and a red bandana around his forehead as he puffed his way past them. She craned her neck to look after the runner. "Was that Red?"
Purple blinked as well. "Maybe he's trying to keep warm..."
The equipment hall was crowded with Irkens who'd had a similar idea of finding something to protect them from the ever-increasing cold, but they all parted in deference to their Almighty Tallest. Purple hovered over to the racks of clothing and glanced them over, trying to find something that would be large enough. Tah did the same, but found herself wandering to the far end of the hall where she'd located some scarves - apparently designed for those Invaders heading for notoriously cold planets. She picked one up, feeling its feather-soft surface through her gloves and wondered from what material it was made.
A creaking noise made her snap to attention and she looked about to try to find its source, but she was too late - one of the nearby battle mechs began to topple toward her. For an instant her military training failed her as she stood and watched the towering metal giant lean in her direction. She was frozen as she watched it fall, and a voice in the back of her mind calmly informed her that she was going to die just as she was pulled out of the way. She and her savior toppled to the ground just as the mech smashed against the floor with a deadly crunch. She glanced up at the person who had saved her and was now lying on her stomach. "Tzen? You - you already have a coat. How did you know - to come?"
########################################################################
Yempt sat alone in the library. He was not there to examine the literature, but the warm, comfy chairs. It was not a natural setting for him, and he glanced around disdainfully as he shivered. He didn't know why it was so damn cold on the ship, but he wished the engineers would get off their lazy bums and get working on the problem. He leaned back, hoping that the thick upholstery would do something to keep him from freezing to death.
"Are you a cold little waffle?" asked a familiar voice from behind.
Yempt jumped in surprise. "Ack! Wha - waffle! How'd you find me here?!" He glared at Twaine as the researcher sat a little too closely beside him.
"Seems you think the same way I do!" He patted the couch with his black gloved hand. "I was looking for a warmish nest as well!" He grinned widely at Yempt, who just continued to glower. "You look cold!" he suddenly pronounced as he quickly captured Yempt in a playful embrace.
The discontent green-eyed Irken did what he could to squirm away, but gave up once he realized his effort was futile. He gave a frustrated sigh, figuring it was at least warmer to lean against Twaine than the couch. "Aren't you supposed to be working?"
"Break time! It was too cold to work! My claws just couldn't type!" Twaine examined his claws as if they were some abused pets.
"Aren't you supposed to be depressed or something? - I think I like you better depressed." Yempt began regretting his words as he felt Twaine's chest slightly deflate. However, his voice was as cheerful as usual when he replied.
"How can I be depressed when you called me your Huk'ra, Love?"
Yempt's eyes opened wide. "You HEARD that?!"
He felt Twaine's chest vibrate as he giggled like a child. "I'm glad to note that our relationship has reached a new level!" He rose one finger in the air as if in triumph.
"We don't have a 'relationship'! I - I hate you!" With that declaration Yempt jumped out of the couch and ran toward his room. He would most certainly lock the door.