Chapter 21.
Short of Breath.

It felt great to wake up next to each other after so long.
Garagus missed the feel of Rhuba's warm body next to his own. His fingers traced every inch of her while kissing her neck.

"Something's been bothering me."

"You're awake?"

"I didn't want you to stop~" She smiled, leaning her head back to kiss him properly.

"What's on your mind?"

"Ruble said our planet was destroyed by meteors. So everyone knows or assumes all the Saiyans are dead, but why didn't Freeza tell everyone what actually happened? It's not like anyone would retaliate or like he has a reputation to keep."

"I don't know." He'd missed that part of the conversation. He was too worried about leaving Rhuba behind with friends who'd hate her if they found out who she really was.
But she had a point. It is strange.
"The Saiyans conquered planets in his name with smiles and pride. Maybe he was afraid of people losing loyalty. Why pledge yourself fully if even the most loyal soldiers get exterminated."

"He wanted rid of us but doesn't want to admit it…" Rhuba didn't think there was a way to hate him more.

Startling both of them, the security feed on the monitor by their bed showed two workers standing on the ramp at the airlock.

"you or me?"

"You rest up, I'll get it." Rhuba rolled out of bed and got dressed to meet the men outside while Garagus watched lazily from the bed.

The audio was mute for external cameras, but he could see Rhuba staring at papers.
She suddenly stormed back onboard, down the hall, and appeared at the door throwing the photographs at Garagus.

"Why did you paint a face on a spacesuit with toothpaste?"

Garagus closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

After a short but embarrassing admission of how he dealt with boredom, Rhuba would spend the next twenty minutes laughing.
Not with him, but very specifically at him.

"You don't get to be angry at Wash-Kun anymore."

"You gave it a name?" Garagus sighed as he wiped the helmet clean. "Can you believe how much they were going to charge for this?"

"Sor-r-r-ry! I-I c-can't-t he-ar y-you~" Rhuba had slammed the spin cycle button with her combat boots inside.
The noise was obnoxious, but Garagus watched with unblinking eyes as her body would jiggle. And shake. But mostly jiggle.

"Know what, I'm fine with this after all." Garagus sat back and watched. Turns out getting angry over this was completely unwarranted.
It was actually beautiful.

Once the cycle was over, Rhuba stepped off the washing machine feeling a little numb around the thighs.
"Next time, I want you to sit under me~" She teased.

Since they had time to kill before Garagus' next assignment, Rhuba dragged him around the station.
They did a few laps together, jogging as part of her usual daily workout. Even that turned competitive, but Rhuba still won as she'd had over a year to get used to it.
Though it was understood. If flying was allowed, Garagus would have won hands down, even if she did.

"I get it's literally all you could do, but in such a tight space."

"Oh Rhuba, you don't understand. I can do a lot in a tight space."

"Well. If you say-… Did you just…? Garagus…"

"Hey, if you made that dirty in your head, that's on you." He laughed. "First time you ever got it before I did."

"Oh it took me a few years, but I'm catching up." She winked at him.

After their laps, they retreated to her room for a bath.
"I miss the hot spring planet," Garagus said, knees rising above the water level.

"Tell me about it." Rhuba agreed, feeling his foot crammed under her butt. "This tub was huge all year before you got in."

"It was your idea to do it together."

After their bath, Rhuba took him to the casino with a small allowance each.
"So you put the token in, pull the lever and… you lose."

"… this is fucking stupid."

"I know."

After spending one token and vowing never to go back there again, Rhuba took him to their next place of interest, but to get there, they had to go by the strip club.

"What happens in there?"

"Nothing."

"Aren't those your friends?"

"damnit…" She growled, then walked in with him.

Garagus' eyes were fixed on the dancers that wear Rhuba's uniform, sans the skirt.

"This seems, friendly."

"Yeah." Rhuba nodded, feeling his arm wrap around her waist.

"Could I see you working? Please?" He grinned.

"Fine… I'll put my suit on. Stay here." Rhuba walked out to return to her room.
Leaving Garagus to find a place to sit.

The music was annoying, the lighting was poor, but he did fancy a drink.
However, he steeled himself away for now because his own private waitress should be returning any minute now.

"hey handsome."

"hey- oh…"

"Oh, you're Rhu's man." Ruble was red in the face. "Sorry, I didn't expect to see you here."

"I thought you were her, it's so loud in here."

"You get used to it." Ruble spied Rhuba coming in from the staffroom, in her full outfit. "Turn around, she awaits~"

Garagus turned to see Rhuba's outfit actually glow in the dark under certain lights.
She looked so shy under her big round ears and walked in her heels. But he had to admit, the desired effect on him was in full force.
"You look amazing."

"Shut up."

"Seriously, I-"

"Seriously, shut up." Rhuba took a deep breath before putting on her work smile. "What can I get you?"

"Um, one of those fruity drinks."

"Yes sir." Rhuba walked away from him but felt his eyes with every step. Honestly, it wasn't the worst feeling.
She expected so much mockery as it was so out of what she usually wore, but if he likes it then maybe she could negotiate it as a parting gift from when they finally leave.

When she returned with his drink, the thing she dreaded most happened.
That damn song came on.

"no… please no…" Her face scrunched up before falling into a forced smile.
The rehearsed dance had to be done in front of guests.
That's fine.
But also in front of Garagus' stupid face, and his stupid smile,
"stupid!" She growled at him through her grin.

Waving her hands, shaking her hips, and stepping with the other ladies before finally having to pose for a moment, then relax when the song ended.

"I'm getting that song for the ship."

"no you're not!" She scorned, finding herself lifted onto his lap. "Garagus…"

"Shhh… Don't call me that." He whispered. Though to be fair, no one could probably hear them over the music.

"Hey buddy, no touching."

Rhuba saw the security man about to grab him by the hair but quickly threw herself over him protectively.
"No No, he's my husband, I'm not even working today!" She announced.

"Aro sir! Nish to meet you!" Garagus said with Rhuba's chest still pressed against his face.

"Actually, kick him off the station please." Rhuba squeezed his head, hoping it would pop.

"Can I get what he's getting?" Another customer asked another waitress.

After arriving back at Rhuba's room, she felt like killing him.
"How have you managed to piss me off so much in so little time?"

"Has one year apart made you forget who I am? If I've not pissed you off, are we even really mates?" He snickered, watching her change from her uniform to her training gear. "Rhuba, I'm leaving today. I don't want to fight you until we're both at our best."

"Oh I'm wearing this for comfort." She gave him a smile. "Want to see something amazing?" She put her hands together, summoning a ball of light, then asked him to watch as she walked away from the ball as it stayed suspended in place. "Aaaand…" With a yank of her wrist, the ball shot towards her for her to catch and evaporate on command.

Garagus had to applaud her.
"So you've been training with that too?"

"I know you've got some trick stored away. You've not shown me, so I'm very curious."

Garagus cursed himself. Her skill could be handy as misdirection in battle, but his will only work in very specific times that are probably never going to happen during their sparring matches.
"You'll see." He winked, wondering what in the world he could come up with before he returns after his next task.

After an eventful morning, Garagus reported at the dock to see the next ship that he'll be piloting.
This one was larger, had proper quality of life additions, and more cargo space, but best of all, a shorter distance to go.

"Your first drop off is also your second pick up. We want you to drop off these containers, receive new ones from the contact, and then drop those ones off to the buyer."

"Understood. Then I come back here?"

"You come back here, grab your good lady and take your fully repaired ship anywhere you like."

"Amazing. Really looking forward to it, I mean no disrespect but it'll be nice to be flying for myself again."

Rhuba was up on the bridge, spinning on a chair. She could see their ship. It looked ready to go. Part of her seriously thought about going to war and just escaping with it.
Wishful thinking only, though.

"I'm about to take off. Can I get a hug before I go?"

Sighing, Rhuba stepped up from the chair and jumped into his arms.
"I wish we had more time."

"Me too, I really wanted to watch you work. Maybe see your dance again."

Rhuba's face went bright red.
"Not a chance." She was still put out by his laughing at her the day before.
She still didn't fully understand what she said wrong.

When it came time for Garagus to take off, he could see Rhuba running along the docks.
She ran up the stairs leading to a catwalk before waving him off as he started to ascend.

Somehow it felt worse. Knowing he was about to return to the lonely isolation again. Only this time there was no space suit for him to talk to because the last one he was trusted with still smells like mint.
Giving a farewell wave to her, he brought the ship out through the shields, coordinates set, and the ship blasted off towards its destination.

"Time to get used to the layout." He set the scanners to max range, then went for a walkabout.
The bed was slightly bigger, but felt comfortable enough and the gravity meant he'd actually get to lie in it without straps keeping him down.
A water shower was installed, and the fridge was filled with the essentials like last time.

One of the issues he didn't share with Rhuba was that the food storage didn't take into consideration how much a Saiyan goes through.
But it'll be worth it. One more outing, two stops, and a return.
"Then we're off, find a planet, start a life. For real, this time."

Around two hours into the voyage, the scanners picked up a pursuing vessel.
Answering the hail, Garagus rolled his eyes to learn it was the GP again.
"May we board?"

"Sure, just don't expect refreshments." Garagus sighed as he adjusted and reduced distance.
Only to be asked to do nothing and let the pros handle it.
"okay…" He dropped the controls and went to meet them at the airlock.

Once aboard, the GP looked in the storage space.
The cargo Garagus had to deliver was locked tight, but bypasses got them to open the lock undetected.

They were shocked at what was inside.

Garagus was called down, to see if he had an explanation.

"What is it?" He asked, taking a deep breath as he reached the empty container. "Where's the carg-"

Everything happened so fast.
There was a thunderous loud pop in everyone's ears, the whooshing sound as the whole team was blown into space, and then everything was deafly quiet.

Garagus found himself falling away from the ship he'd been entrusted with.
The rows and rows of airlocks closed, and the ship took off at lightspeed, leaving him and the flailing Galactic Patrol soldiers behind in deep space.

"The buyer for Subject Krona's ship has just given us six out of seven stars, but seven out of seven for the delivery."
"Typical. Anything else?"
"Subject Gus and Rhu's ship is complete. Buyers will see the advert tomorrow."
"The pilot?"
"The ship was scheduled to decompress a half hour ago. It's jumping to one of our sister stations."
"And the spouse?"
"She's making money as a waitress. I suggest we let her continue working until she misses him."
"So be it."