Much later that day, Rimmer wandered into the sleeping quarters, brushed the sugar-puff sandwich crumbs off his bunk, and then lay down on his back miserably. Lister's words still echoed in his mind:
'It reminds me all right. It reminds me what I really think. It reminds me that you're a total git,'
That had hurt.
Out of all the remarks and insults Lister had said to him during their arguments, spats, quarrels, altercations, shouting matches, and the like, that had hurt the most. The sincerity of it had come as shock, as if someone had slapped him in the face, or suddenly struck out and pushed him to the ground, and that too had come up to slap him. He did want them to get on, and on the rare occasion, they did, but then one of them would do something that would fan the flames and it would all start again.
"It's fine Kryten!"
Rimmer froze as he first heard Lister's voice, then shut his eyes tight and pretended to be asleep as he then heard it get louder as he neared the sleeping quarters.
"It's fine man!"
Kryten's less than graceful footsteps could be heard as he hurried after the Scouser, "Sir! Don't be vulgar! I'm very surprised that shirt hasn't crawled off your body of its own accord by now!"
In the sleeping quarters, Rimmer made a disgusted face.
"Smeggin' 'ell!" Lister groaned, "Just leave it Kryties; it can wait another week can't it?"
"No Sir, it certainly cannot!" Kryten insisted, "In fact I don't ever remember washing it!"
Rimmer heard the faint sound of buttons being undone and cloth being thrown in the air. Then, Lister's voice:
"There. 'Appy now?"
"Thank you Sir," Kryten said huffily, "It's for your own good Sir,"
Lister scoffed and entered the sleeping quarters, "Night Kryten,"
"Goodnight Mister Lister. I can assure you your shirt will be cleaner than a nun's bloomers by tomorrow morning,"
Lister smiled, shook his head and shut the door behind him. Then he went to the wardrobe and dragged out an old shirt for bed, "Rimmer?" he said, yanking it down over his head and pulling his dreads out the back, "Rimmer? You awake?" he stepped out of his trousers and left them in a heap on the floor, "Smeghead?"
Rimmer stayed quiet.
Lister came over to him and leaned in close, "Rimmer?" He hissed.
'Get away from me, lager breath,' the hologram thought.
"Rimmer I 'aint loopy, I know yer awake," Lister said prodding his shoulder, "I need to talk to ya!"
In response, Rimmer turned around onto his side, so that his back was facing Lister.
"Rimmer, it's important!"
No reply.
"Fine," Lister sighed, jumping up onto his own bunk, "Be a smegger then,"
A/N: Sorry it's such a short chapter. More coming soon! :D