A/N: Ahoy, mateys! I be the cap'n of this new starship!
Blurb: Scott found it could get very cold in outer space. Fortunately, Koriand'r is very, very warm.
...I'm not good at writing fluff pieces, okay?
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Baby, It's Cold Outside
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The Starjammer's ship wasn't what one would call large.
Of course, as the chosen vessel of Corsair's band of space pirates, it had to be small and swift. It really was just big enough to house its crew of space pirates. An additional passenger meant was sent straight to the storage room—the only spare room available, really.
But two additional passengers? That meant someone was getting displaced.
The time-displaced Scott Summers sneezed on cue. The common room was not the ideal place to sleep in—particularly when it also doubled as the dining area, meaning a hungry pirate would stumble into the room, waking the mutant from his light slumber—but, really, Scott could have easily ignored that.
The cold, though?
That was different.
Scott made a mental note to find a warmer blanket on the next planet. And a comfier pillow. Maybe even a better sleeping bag altogether if his coin held out.
Because with how cold things were getting, he feared he might sleep walk to his father's quarters just to curl up against Hepzibah—and wouldn't that be a fun story to tell in the morning?
Scott shivered—more at the actual cold than at the thought of waking up sandwiched between his dad and his maybe-mother—and drew his blanket closer. He shifted around restlessly, trying to find the best sleeping position.
Silently, Scott prayed that they'd pass by a sun, soon. Anything for more heat, really, because it really felt like their thermostat was broken with how cold it had been in the common room during the past several sleep cycles.
He sneezed again.
"Are you alright?" A concerned voice called to him. It was such a saccharine tone, too, and Scott instantly recognized its owner—the most precious cargo in the ship, as well as the reason he wasn't sleeping in an actual bedroom.
By his choice, of course.
"Just cold." He told her.
"I told you this sleep cycle would be much colder than the last." She chided him gently. "It is why I am here now."
Light steadily grew brighter beyond his eyelids, and while Scott absently grasped beside him in search of his shades, he couldn't help but smile as warmth finally came, hovering above him. "You're the best, you know that, Kori?"
Koriand'r, the runaway princess of Tamaran, giggled. "You do not say so often enough."
Scott felt her warm hands on his face as she affixed his shades on him. He opened his eyes and beheld her radiant form. "Just stay like that." He whispered to her. "Yes, just like that."
She frowned at him thoughtfully. "That was not what you said earlier. Do you recall? When I asked if you wanted to sleep with me?"
Scott's cheeks burned. He heated up plenty at the thought, as well as the embarrassing reminder. The rest of the crew had been within earshot, and Scott was mortified by the praise his father had heaped at him as well as Hepzibah asking if he needed any tips.
"It's not that I don't want to sleep with you…" Scott began, and was it just him or did his cheeks actually light up? He pocketed the irrational thought that maybe his trademark blasts would burst through his skin in his embarrassment. "Because—because if I'm being honest, I kind of do."
"Really?" Her eyes actually glinted.
Scott's mouth clicked shut and he could only nod. She beamed at him. "But—it's just not a good idea to, well," Scott fumbled his words in his nervousness, "You know-?"
"I do not know." Her fiery hair swayed with her shake.
Scott swallowed the nervous lump in his rapidly drying throat.
"I mean—the room is really small. Cramped." Scott pointed out. "What if—things happen?"
Koriand'r's smile never left her lips as she traced a warm finger along his jaw. "What are these… things, Scott?" she asked him curiously.
Scott swallowed. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?" He accused.
"Partly." Koriand'r admitted as she settled herself atop the mutant. She planted her elbows on Scott's chest so she could prop her head up with her hands as she surveyed him.
Scott's heart raced as he felt the young woman mold against him. He hoped she wouldn't feel his young man beginning to wake—damned teenaged hormones.
"But I do so enjoy hearing your thoughts, Scott." The princess confessed, and Scott found it wasn't fair that he had difficulty getting mad at her and her soothing warmth. "So? What are these things that concern you so much?"
There was a glint in her emerald eyes that assured Scott this princess was not as innocent as her tone suggested.
Scott willed his heart to steady. "I… actually fear that I might accidentally open my eyes and blast you through the hull."
Koriand'r giggled. "Like when you blasted me through a wall when we first met?"
"I'm really sorry about that." No matter how many apologies he'd given, Scott still grimaced at the memory. For all of Starfire's durability, she was knocked out cold, too, with Shi'Ar troops surrounding her.
Needless to say, Scott and the rest of the Starjammers had it rough escaping off-world with the Tamaranean in tow.
"And, well, I was being defensive." Scott grumbled. "I had just gotten out of a relationship with a red-skinned alien who now wants to murder me, and then I bumped into you—an orange-skinned alien that suddenly kissed me."
"I have told you that I do not like the term alien, Scott." Koriand'r pouted. "To me, it is you who is the alien. And I explained that I was merely acquiring your language through direct physical contact."
"I know. But like I said—I was being defensive."
"Are you being defensive now, Scott?" Koriand'r emerald eyes shimmered.
"I'm—I don't really know?" Scott shrugged noncommittally.
"That is alright." Koriand'r tucked her head underneath his chin. "While we practice on your words, I shall remain listening to your truthful heart."
Scott rolled his eyes beneath his shades. The blush on his cheeks never quite left, though. "Huh. And I'm the one that needs to learn English?"
"Most definitely." Koriand'r nodded. Her gaze softened. "So, am I correct to assume that you have no more misgivings with me sleeping with you here in this common area?"
Thoughts raced through Scott's mind and he cursed his hormones again.
He hated how Koriand'r made him feel things he wasn't ready for, but he couldn't find it in himself to create any distance.
He felt like a moth to her flame.
Scott swallowed the nervous lump in his throat.
"I don't think you should sleep here." Because the cold, he could find a way to sleep with. But this Tamaranean princess whose passion was as blunt as she was beautiful?
Well, there was going to be no sleeping for him tonight.
"I do not appreciate falsehood, Scott." Koriand'r reprimanded. "If you continue so, I might decide on a truthful answer—and I do not mind if it is here in the place we partake our food in."
Scott gaped. "Is—are you for real?"
The Tamaranean princess burst out laughing. "You need not be so apprehensive. It was mostly in jest, Scott."
Scott leaned away nervously. That meant she was partially serious.
The girl harrumphed in response and then closed the distance between them, planting her hands beside his head for good measure. Green eyes glinted with mischief as her long hair cascaded down around them. Hiding them from the outside world.
"So what shall your decision be?"
"I just don't like the idea of being threatened." Scott admitted, before quickly adding. "Even if with a good time."
Koriand'r laughed. "Then take it not as a threat." Her lips brushed against his cheek on its way to his ear. "It is a promise."
Scott's nervousness suddenly came back like a punch. "Koriand'r…"
The Tamaranean knew why he was hesitating.
But the fire in her couldn't help itself. She needed to know.
"Do you love me, Scott Summers of Earth?"
"You're…precious. To us. To… to me, too."
"I do not mean we will be wed at this moment, Scott." Koriand'r smiled at him gently. "You need not speak in your circles. I only wish to confirm that, in this moment, you feel the way I do."
It took a moment for Scott to realize what his heart already knew. They had been on this journey for nearly half a year now, and in all that time, he had steadily thought of his old team less, and less.
The unsent letters to another redhead, who made it clear she only wanted to remain his best-friend, no longer cluttered his desk.
And as he gazed into Koriand'r's emerald eyes, Scott finally found his voice.
"I do, Kori." His cheeks would have exploded if it could. His heart certainly was about to. "I'm still not sure if this is really love but—I like you so much that I always want to be with you."
Koriand'r gazed at him happily. "That is a very good beginning, Scott. And we still have time to be together." Her lips turned into a grin. "By the end of this journey, I shall finally have you say it."
Scott nodded.
He knew he would have at their quest's end.
She was, after all, a runaway princess.
And he was the mutant son of a space pirate.
But for now?
He opened his blanket and let her inside.
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Omake:
S: Why aren't you in bed?
K: Scottie, it's cold outside~
S: We need to go sleep.
K: Scottie, it's cold outside~
S: My father will get suspicious-
K: X'Hal, your lips look delicious~
S: -and if you listen, you can hear him snore.
K: Just let me in then lock up your door~
S: I don't know if that is-
K: Your warmth gives me such bliss~
S: -quite a well-thought of plan.
K: Kiss me now and it'll be grand~
S: There's bound to be talk tomorrow.
K: Think of your lifelong sorrow~
S: But I guess it'll be mostly implied.
K: If you missed this 'cause you never ev'n tried~
S: I guess you can come in.
K: X'hal, this way we both can win~
S/K: 'Cause baby it's cold~ Baby, it's cold outside~!
S: … We really need to change dad's playlist tomorrow.
K: You will do no such thing, beloved.
A/N: As if the song-piece that inspired this nonsense wasn't obvious enough.
So, brief background because most things here were implied/unstated:
- After Gladiator was beaten by the Phoenix Five & Teen Jean's near-ascension, the Shi'Ar decided to renew their hunt for potential Phoenix Hosts—leading them to the Tamaraneans, a passionate, fire-based warrior-race descended from the Okaara who worship a previous Phoenix Host in X'Hal
- The once peaceful and trusting X'hal had used the Phoenix Force to wipe out two races, the Branx and the Psions, in vengeance after everything they put her thru
- Koriand'r, Second Princess of Tamaran, was separated from her family when they fled, and she crash lands on [insert random alien planet]
- She stumbles upon the time-displaced Scott Summers, who feels guilty that the O5's actions forced the Shi'Ar to drastic, genocidal measures
- He, along with the Starjammers, travel with Kori to liberate the Tamaraneans and negotiate a truce with the Shi'Ar before a galactic war could start.
- The Starjammers are hoping for a hefty compensation for all their troubles, of course. A pirate's life and all that.
So yeah. That's the gist of this idea.
If someone wants to pick this up, please, please, do. Give me something to read, too. Or ogle—I don't mind art, either.
Yeah, I butchered Kori's voice. I keep shifting between Teen Titans animated series and Justice League Odyssey. It's also 1am where I'm at, and I wanted to post this before I fly off to another country in a few hours.
As usual, proofreading comes days later. It's way too late at night for me to be bothered with that.
But otherwise, thanks for reading, and don't forget to leave a review!
Advanced Merry Christmas, y'all!
