"Watch your step, watch your step!" Phineas cautioned as The Captain ran lightly toward him, laughing as she threw her arms around his neck.
"Missed you!" She exclaimed, then opened with an attack of kisses all over his face ending with his lips in that way that always made Phineas a bit woozy.
"Easy now. You must always handle me as though I am made of meringue."
She giggled and grinned at him.
Phineas squinted."What have you done, now?"
Poking her tongue out one corner of her mouth the Captain dug in her bag. "I got Season 2! I'm letting Vati and Jun borrow Season 1."
Phineas took the cartridge from her, turning it in his hands. "Did you give them the usual warning?"
Still digging in her bag she said "Of course."
Bubbles snorted happily, shoving her head under the Captain's hand. "I didn't forget about you, Bubbles! Got something for you. Okay Bubbles." Producing a mock apple she held it out of the excited cystypig's reach. "Okay Bubbles," she repeated. Bubbles fairly worked herself into a frenzy at the smell of her favorite snack. "Bubbles, sit! Sit, Bubbles! "
Phineas watched, a little nonplussed. "You've been training her?"
"Well it's been slow. Come on Bubbles, sit! You sit like a good piggy then you get snackies."
Bubbles sat at last, mouth glistening with saliva. Perching the mock apple on the cystypig's snout and sure it was balanced the Captain said "Okay hold still...good girl."
"Impressive." Phineas observed dryly. Poor Bubbles, if she were capable she'd probably be in tears by now but she obeyed. "Oh let her have it, this is demeaning."
The Captain's eyes lit up. "And GO!" she exclaimed and the apple was reduced to sauce in a matter of seconds, stem, seeds and all.
Phineas and the Captain relaxed as the evening wore on. As usual she was a motormouth. Nyoka says hey, we should have a drink sometime. Hiram sends his regards which led to a plethora of House Lannister references. Vicar Max is doing alright, and if you ever need some muscle Felix is your man, his words.
She sat with her legs across his lap, his hands on her knees as they watched their show. Then later when they were too tired to focus anymore lay down on the bed, upgraded to queen size never truly sleeping they spent hours talking in the dark, holding hands or each other. When she finally dozed off in his arms Phineas kissed her forehead and wondered if life could get any more perfect.
Nights used to be unbearable. Of course being a man of science Phineas didn't believe in ghosts but sometimes he was convinced. The workings of a sleep deprived mind in isolation but when the Captain was there he had something better to focus on. The future was uncertain and Phineas tried hard to not think of the inevitable- that his time would run out.
He'd already taken legal action, naming the Captain his sole beneficiary. She made an off handed comment about how a marriage might quiet wagging tongues but more than likely start them, but screw what people thought, and besides she was his- they didn't need a contract for that. It wasn't like anyone who mattered cared. It sounded so possessive, too. Not like she was his property or something like that.
"I still can't figure out why you're with me." He muttered to himself.
Without opening her eyes she said "Kindness. Goodness. Your sense of humor. You're adorable, handsome and make science look badass."
He raised his head briefly to look at her then laid back down with a smug expression. "Damn right."
Law, he loved her.
The next day the Captain ran in, wearing nothing but an enormous towel and wet hair. "Hot water is out, can I use your shower!?" She asked urgently.
"Er, of course."
She trotted out then back in with her basket of toiletries and for the next twenty minutes she was singing in the shower until a blood curdling scream had Phineas running for her, expecting her cells to be breaking down or some kind of medical emergency and his heart was in his throat as he rounded the corner.
Instead he found the Captain brandishing her towel like a lethal weapon. "I cornered it! Quick! Kill it!" She stared at him incredulously "Didn't you bring a weapon?"
The sprat in the corner hissed. Phineas blinked. "Of course not. It's just a sprat, it's alright."
Twisting the towel in her hands the Captain said "I hate those nasty things! Little bastard fell on me." She presented her bare shoulder to him. Water mingled with blood on a set of long scratches. "It's not bad but it scared the hell out of me."
Phineas sighed "I'm so sorry, darling. I'll handle it, you get cleaned up."
It dawned on him not only was there no crisis but she was without a single item of clothing...and possessed no modesty whatsoever. He shielded his eyes. "I saw nothing."
"You can look." she purred and he fairly choked.
Phineas scarcely drew a breath to reply when they both turned to see Bubbles waddle in and sniff the cornered sprat. It hissed then let out a squeak of terror as the cystypig opened her mouth, snatching the sprat in her jaws swallowing it whole before Phineas or The Captain could react.
"I forgot pigs were omnivores." She said as Phineas cleaned the scratches. Hissing in pain she growled "Think you can make it hurt more?"
Phineas frowned at her not relenting his admittedly excessive scrubbing of the wounds. "Sprats carry all manner of diseases, and trust me you don't want them. Now hold still."
Despite protests he had not looked with anything but a clinical eye she teased him for seeing her in the flesh. He was caught though when during a nude scene on their show he made an off handed comment that the Captain's chest was nicer. Well it was the truth. Later her kisses were anything but chaste.
The tossball game came and went. A signed Hammersmith Thunder jersey was her gift to Phineas. She told him excitedly of the game, standing and waving her arms, spoke of Max, Felix and Nell the nice young girl Felix was now dating. The Captain was proud that she helped set them up but Max took all the credit, the mean thing!
She had her own jersey, the last of the Rizzo's Rangers that wasn't an extra small. But it was quadruple extra large and served as a dress on her. She had a Hephastus Hammers jersey too to appease both of her friends.
When the evening of the reception arrived Phineas had second thoughts about attending until he saw her turned out to perfection in a neat wine red suit.
"You ready to go?" She asked unaware of her glory- hair swept up tidily instead of in its wind-tossed tail, just a touch of makeup to highlight her natural beauty and the undoubtedly custom made suit hugging her form. He knew it made him sound like a grumpy old man but Phineas didn't like excess makeup. It reminded him too much of the insipid fools in Byzantium who caked it on like all they had to use was a sponge roller or maybe a push broom or something like that. Sometimes she put on that eyeshadow like war paint but not tonight. Really in his unbiased opinion her bone structure was aesthetically pleasing. He told her as much once and she asked if that was his way of telling her he thought she was pretty.
Phineas found his voice at last. Sort of. 'Beautiful' he mouthed then recovered with "Ready, yes. I'm ready, let's go."
A few dances in Phineas was relaxed enough to say "You look beautiful."
Now she blushed and he was satisfied to have one up on her. Phineas took all the dances he could from her keeping her grinning with his comments and anecdotes. The highlight of his night was when she leaned close and told him she loved him.
"And I love you." He returned softly. Putting it into words was exhilarating. Another perfect moment as this, with the music this time with singers, a man and a woman their voices blended beautifully. Though he was shy about public displays of affection Phineas still permitted the Captain lay her head on his shoulder.
Later he still heard scandalized whispers of 'but they work together!' Phineas laughed to himself. The real taboo. They escaped barely noticed, into the night. At last in the relative quiet he went to kiss her but she evaded him.
"No." She said coyly. Phineas was confused momentarily then with a devilish smirk tried to corner her but she slipped out of his grasp with a 'come and get me' smile.
The game didn't stop until they arrived at her door. There she let him catch her and she kissed him with a completeness and ardor that made him a bit tense. She stopped.
"Uh, do you...want me to stop?"
"Please don't ever stop." Fumbling for the controls he shut the door behind them.
They ended up in the luxurious bedroom but the need for sleep was lost. He needed her.
But he had her and now hugging and kissing weren't enough, not anymore. When he saw her unclothed that time he'd been truthful that he hadn't looked in a lascivious way-far from it, he'd been in a panic up until the ordeal had become comical.
Somehow he was touching her. That was better than looking. Just the right places drew a soft sigh from her. Once again she asked if she should stop. By then he could only reply by kissing her.
"So that happened." The Captain said and tucking under one arm snuggled up to Phineas sighing lightly. "Are you sure you've never done it before?"
Phineas said nothing, drummed his fingers on her shoulder. No, he hadn't. He hadn't expected either of them to have a sheet-gripping wake the neighbors good time but nor did he expect...he didn't know what he expected. It was over far too quickly that he knew and now was like waking from a dream.
"You okay? Bit for your thoughts? Hello?" She lightly smacked his chest with the back of her hand. Scoffing she said "Law, was I that bad?"
"I've no basis for comparison." He didn't dream much.
"Good, then you have no idea how bad I am." Squinting at him she teased "But you liked it."
"Yes." He admitted."Did you?"
"Yes!"
"And did you…"
" I don't care about technique or ability, that's not what it's about for me. We're both out of practice."
Drawing the covers up over both of them she said "So what are you thinking about so hard?"
"I'm just taking it all in, is all. "
"Bad choice of words." She chuckled.
Phineas laughed shortly. "I'm just thinking about us. How strange." And how terrifying he wanted to say but he decided to keep the topic light.
She shrugged in his arms. "Love is strange, life is strange. You can't explain it. " Pausing, she added "Does it bother you, still?"
"Sometimes." He admitted. "But let us not speak of unpleasant things now, darling. " He kissed her temple and she hummed in agreement. "Go to sleep."
That morning Phineas found the Captain busily typing a message on her terminal. Every now and then she'd pause, look up and furrow her brow then resume writing or she'd take a sip from a Spacer's Choice mug. He was content to sit for a while drinking in the image of her. She wore a robe gifted to her by some up and coming designer that they agreed was hideous and beautiful all at once. It was in traditional Japanese style but lacked the subtlety of their art, instead covered by garish stars and planets, nebulae and other heavenly bodies. It was comfortable anyway and the way the collar hung down in the back to show all her neck to the first bumps of her spine was alluring. Her hair was unbrushed but knotted up which only served to enhance the effect.
"Send, you motherfucker." She growled under her breath hitting the key with excessive force.
The events of last night swelled in his mind but his doubts didn't rise with them. Because this was right.
Briefly Phineas thought about if things had gone according to plan, that the Hope had arrived on schedule. He would have never met her, though. Perhaps but the odds were slim. He entertained this fantasy a while -he would meet her at her job and they talked more and more until he mustered the courage to ask her out- no, she'd ask him out. They'd go on dates, some mundane some extra special and he'd be captivated by her spirit and charm.
He'd marry her and they'd have a child or two, watch them grow up, have children of their own and by now be arguing over whose turn it is to macrowave dinner before the grandchildren came over.
Time was so cruel. Oh why did he have to think of all that now? Rising he hugged her shoulders from behind. She laid her head against his neck. "And good morning to you, too." Turning her face up to him he kissed her. "Sleep well?"
Phineas smiled. "Better than I have in a long time."
Yes. He could do this every day.
And he did. For years after Phineas never thought about time or this or that. He had his work, and his love. That was all he needed.
Too bad time is such a bitch.