Oki doki. The reviews were acting a bit strange for whatever reason but they finally appeared today. The results of the poll so far is one humanized and two puffballs. I asked because I tend to write things neutrally so it can be imagined as either one when one reads it, and I wanted to know if there was a preference for how the knights and characters were imagined.

I myself imagine it as a mix between the two, since I'm always so indecisive. :p However, things will still be written generally.

Anyway, the ship easily takes off here now, so enjoy the read!

It was subtle and infrequent at first, and it was clear that Galacta thought he was being so clever. Meta Knight ignored it, focusing instead on the vast space in front of him. Galacta would get bored soon enough and he'd stop.

The feathers drifted slowly across his cape at first, spreading fully until it was hanging behind the seat. A few minutes would pass before he would suddenly swipe it back, hitting him in the process.

To be honest, Meta Knight took it as an accident, there were times when his wings were difficult to steady, but hours of the same thing happening every so often was just ridiculous.

"Stop that." He muttered in annoyance when Galacta swiped his wing back for the umpteenth time.

"Stop what?" was the obviously-not-innocent reply.

"You know what." Meta Knight stated, not bothering to look at him.

"Never." Galacta said quietly after a short pause.

Meta Knight ignored him, and the pink warrior actually managed to keep his wings still for several minutes.

...

Galacta reached over and smacked Meta Knight on the back of his head with more force than necessary. In fact, he didn't bother holding back and the ship lurched forward in a burst as the Bat's face collided with the accelerator.

Thank Nova for armored masks, Meta Knight thought blankly before narrowing his eyes. He twisted the helm of the ship suddenly so the ship performed a barrel roll.

As he wanted, Galacta's fat head hit the window. "Ow," he complained as Meta Knight up-righted the star ship.

"Behave," he ordered and glanced at the pink warrior's side of the ship. "Ugh, you scratched the pane with your horns..." Meta Knight griped.

Galacta looked at the glass self-consciously, rubbing his head. "You're the one who did the unnecessary spin." he defended.

"So that hit you gave me was necessary?"

"Yes."

Meta Knight scowled. "You're flying outside the ship next time."

Galacta sighed in annoyance and leaned back in his seat. "It'd be better than being stuck in cramped places."

The knight paused, musing over the meaning of that.

Cramped places. The elevator, the ship...the crystal.

The Bat stared out at space.

From being summoned to fight the one who's already defeated him once, and then dragged along to help him...

("It is to help him as well,") Galaxia interjected, ("Do not forget that.")

Meta Knight pondered this.

That was true. When I was stuck in the crystal, and it was only for a short time, it was horrifying.

The Bat remembered that he was only half aware of his thoughts and the time that passed. Imagine being there for who knows how long...

That was part of the reason why he had struck a deal with Nova to have Galacta Knight help him out. Even if the lancer had destroyed planets, there was no justification to leaving someone perpetually trapped in a way that leaves them aware of their demise.

Be it in a crystal, or a forced programming.

Meta Knight turned slightly to try again at being friendly when Galacta's wing hit him once more at his back. The knight's sympathetic mood melted to frustration easily. He spread his own wings and flapped them wildly at Galacta who recoiled in surprise.

"Stop doing that!" he berated.

Galacta swatted at the bat wings in irritation, "That one was an accident!" He managed to grab hold of one successfully and pulled hard.

"Ow-!" Meta Knight blurted, letting go of the wheel and trying to get his wing carefully out of Galacta's grip while still being angry. "Will you ever stop acting like a child-?!"

"Maybe when you stop being so aggravating!"

"Me!? I was doing nothing!"

"Yes, you were! You little..." Galacta griped, glaring. "You're being..."

The ship once again spun, although this time it veered off-route and began to head in a different direction.

Meta Knight noticed after a few seconds, "The ship!" He pushed himself back and steered it back on course with a bit of resistance. "Okay. Seriously. Stop that. We're going to get lost if this keeps up. I'm not looking forward to-"

Galacta reached out, aiming for the closest wing again. Meta Knight moved his wing to avoid it being tugged again but it just led to Galacta palming the center of his back, between his wings. He opened his mouth to counter whatever it was the bat was saying but paused when Meta Knight shuddered.

The warrior snapped his hand back, as if he touched fire, "...What was that?"

"Nothing," Meta Knight replied, though he sounded guarded. "Just stop." He was in no way petty, but as if he were going to say aloud that touch didn't feel...bad.

Galacta seemed to get some the message (or at least a message) and they flew on in an awkward silence.

The lancer stared out the window as stars passed them by in boredom. It's been several more hours since either of them spoke. Occasionally, Galacta would ruffle his wings in an attempt to get the Bat's attention and study the reflection in the window to see if he even glanced over. He didn't know what he was going to do afterwards, but as long as he looked over...

Meta Knight didn't look over. Galacta wasn't sure if he was being ignored or if he was just focusing on steering the ship.

What's there to focus on? It's just stars and...and nothing!

Okay, be civil. Just look at him and ask.

Stiffly, Galacta turned to look at him.

But if he asks, just glare at him.

Right, perfect.

"Hey, Bat..." he trailed off, noticing Meta Knight's more lax posture and half closed eyes.

The knight straightened up. "What?"

"Hmm," he changed up his question on the spot, "I should steer. You look tired."

Meta Knight blinked and stared at him. "Are you kidding..."

"What? You look about ready to drop to sleep."

"I can't even trust you not to hit me while I'm steering. What makes you think I'd trust you to take us to Shiver Star and not crash into some planet?"

"Because...you're tired?" Galacta guessed.

Meta Knight actually considered this for a split second. Then he wondered why he even did consider it. Maybe he was tired. "Right...no." he answered.

"What?" Galacta frowned, "I'm offering."

"And I'm refusing..." Meta Knight grumbled. "I'll just set it to auto-pilot while I sleep."

"You trust a computer over me?" Galacta seethed.

"Yes."

"Oh." he sounded disappointed.

Meta Knight felt a bit of guilt almost instantly. Would it really be that harmful to let him take over for a few hours..? He did need to be well rested. They could be at Shiver Star by morning, and Galacta Knight didn't need to be supervised all the time...

Nova, he really was tired.

Shaking his head, he leaned forward and pressed a few buttons to set the coordinates to Shiver Star. "Don't touch anything while I'm asleep. I'll know if you do. You go to sleep too. We'll be there in the morning."

"I'm not sleepy, and it's boring."

"Well, you can be tired in the cold, but I won't be." Meta Knight leaned back in his seat, shifting to get comfortable.

Galacta growled quietly. "You can also not trust me in the cold."

"Only if you give me reason not to." Meta Knight mumbled, contemplating whether he should take off his mask or not. It didn't really matter, he supposed. He removed it and placed it beside him.

The pink warrior didn't reply, holding his breath as he stared.

Not hearing an answer, Meta Knight looked over in question. Galacta had already turned to the window again. Hmn.

"Good night." he tried.

Galacta ignored him, apparently offended at not being trusted.

Meta Knight sighed quietly, and got comfortable once more. He closed his eyes and eventually dozed off.

The pink warrior wasn't sure how much time had passed, but he was sure he waited long enough. Meta Knight's steady breathing was constant and he hadn't heard any shift in movement for a while.

Galacta finally chose to peer at Meta Knight. Asleep for sure. He turned around all the way now, perching himself comfortably on the seat. He was frowning of course, refusing to treat the bat well even if he wasn't awake.

He slipped off his own mask and purposely let it clatter to the floor of the ship. His eyes traveled back to him to make sure it wasn't enough to wake him up.

Meta Knight stirred a tad, but nothing past that.

Good, he isn't that light of a sleeper.

With that discovered, Galacta rested his cheek on his hand, which in turn leaned on the armrest of the seat. He eyed the bat closely for a few minutes. Stretching his wing out and over to the Bat's sleeping form, the feathers on the edge stroked the knight's face lightly.

Meta Knight shuffled, weakly waving his hand about in an attempt to get rid of the itching.

The feathered wing was brought back just out of reach, waiting for a few seconds before dipping down again, trailing lightly.

The Bat huffed, swatting at the feathers with none of the reflexes he had while awake.

Galacta let the faintest of smiles appear on himself, highly amused by this. His wing lowered again, trailing light circles on the Bat.

"Stop it..." Meta Knight muttered, making Galacta pause.

You don't have an explanation for this, do you?! He's not going to believe you were just stretching or whatever excuse you come up with.

The warrior was ready to defend himself before realizing the knight was still asleep. He had just talked in his sleep.

So he does complain 24/7.

Galacta let his wing relax. He knew the Bat was at least slightly ticklish. Honestly, Galacta was interested in the same spot as before-in between the Bat's wings-but the way he was laying made that impossible.

Maybe later.

For now, he'd be content with just pestering him quietly, and without him knowing.

Without him realizing it, the tip of his wing had lowered enough to brush against the sleeping bat once again and gave him the chance to roughly grab it.

Galacta winced at the twist in his wing but bit his tongue to keep quiet.

Quiet? Why?! He's doing that on purpose.

He's asleep, Galacta reasoned, he doesn't know what he's doing.

...

Meta Knight pulled the wing closer, and Galacta had to inch forward to keep it from hurting too much. Not that he minded-

Ow, okay, no. Now he was twisting it too much, Galacta leaned forward over the armrest, careful not to make much movement. He was starting to get a bit annoyed until finally the Bat stopped shifting around so much. Galacta's darted over to him to see if he can just scoot back again.

Ugh. He was cuddling, or something.

Aww.

It's uncomfortable.

It was, but Galacta still didn't mind too much, and he stayed a while in his awkward position.

You might as well go along with it...get comfortable near him and go to sleep.

He refused to move for several seconds, caught between his pride and what he wanted to do. It was late, and waking up the Bat now would just make things worse.

But I don't want him to even think I wanted to be near him.

Deciding on a compromise, Galacta shifted his wing slowly away but sat next to Meta Knight.

"..." This felt...nice...

And he supposed that the stars weren't that bad to look at when it wasn't from behind a supposedly unbreakable seal that constricts your every movement just because you destroyed a few planets.

Not to mention, he actually had company...well, the Bat was asleep and not exactly aware at the moment, but company nonetheless.

Company? He's the one who took your title, the only thing you had left.

Galacta Knight blinked, a bit perplexed. He very clearly wanted his role of Strongest Warrior back.

Yeah, but...

But what?

Should I be thinking about this now?

Why shouldn't you?

"Because the view is nice," Galacta spoke aloud in annoyance by accident. He tensed when Meta Knight stirred.

Don't wake up don't wake up don't...

He didn't wake up, but the Bat leaned against him, apparently enjoying the soft feathers and warmth.

Don't let him get comfortable.

"..." Galacta ignored that and leaned back. He stared at the stars in silence. Now he was comfortable too, and he was beginning to feel sleepy.

The warrior let out a sigh, and drifted off to sleep.