AN: Double chapter this week guys! Things felt a little short, so I'm giving you two this week. Don't miss chapter 77!
"So Sy, do you want to go out with me sometime?"
"I'm not Sy?" Varian looked around with confusion. "Are you okay Jim?"
Jim flushed deeply. "Varian! Hi! Hey, uh, hi. I was just, uh, practicing for a test?" He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly as he stumbled through his excuse.
Varian raised an eyebrow. "And the test is on how well you can ask a boy out?"
"Just forget you heard anything, okay? I was just practicing." Jim muttered with embarrassment.
Varian laughed brightly. "Hey, I won't say anything. Come on, we're going to be late for dinner. When are you asking him?"
Jim shrugged. "Maybe this weekend. Sunday right after breakfast?"
"Are you asking me?"
"No?"
"It still sounds like you're asking me." Varian smiled over at his friend and picked up both tablets. "I think it's a good choice. If he says yes, you can have a date already planned and sign yourselves out to town for the day. If he says no, well, you can sign yourself out to town and give him some space."
Jim grinned. "Good idea! How well do you know the area? What could we go do?" He scooped his tablet out of Varian's hands and started tapping. "Think there's a good place to eat around here? I could take him to get lunch, and dinner. Does this planet do restaurants? It's kinda a bit less developed than where I'm from. Maybe we could go see a show?"
Varian chuckled. He held the door open, letting Jim pass through first. "Hey, what are you so stressed about? It's just a date."
"It's a date!"
"And what's a date but another day of the week?" Varian asked. Spinning around so he could walk backwards and face Jim, Varian flashed a wide smile.
"What's a date but any other day,
A number just like all the rest,
There's nothing else for me to say,
'Cause after all you know him best.
He's your friend, he's your pal,
What's got you stressed out any how,
'Cause after all it's just a date,
Just another day of the week.
The world is yours, take a chance,
maybe ask him if he'd like to dance,
Catch a play, see a fight,
Stay out late, you've got all night,
And this will be a date,
The best day of the week!"
"Curfew is ten?" Jim reminded him hesitantly.
"Would you please ignore the semantics?" Varian rolled his eyes and pressed on,
"You should be focusing on the romantics,
And maybe on your kissing tactics-"
"Varian!"
"Alright, alright, but you've got to admit I'm right!
It's a date, just another day of the week,
But with the company that you seek,
Everything will be a new delight,
Just relax and have some faith,
Because this is just a date,
Just another day of the week."
Jim took a deep breath as the last note of Varain's song faded off. "I guess you're right," he agreed hesitantly. "Just another day of the week. Just a normal ol' Sunday. Nothing special. I'm only going to ask out the boy I have a huge crush on. Totally normal stuff, right? Not like I almost kissed him already or anything."
"You almost kissed him, didn't you."
"Yes! And I'm freaking out about it!" Jim threaded his fingers into his hair and tugged. "I can't believe I did that! And during our missions no less! What if he's not interested? What if he doesn't like me? What if he was just being polite and didn't know how to tell me to not do that and now he's trying to figure out how to tell me that he doesn't like me?"
Varian's hands landed firmly on Jim's shoulders. "Hey."
Jim looked down at him, eyes wide with trust.
Varian smiled. "He's your friend. Whatever you feel, whatever he feels, it'll work out in the end. I mean, you asked Matt out and he's still your friend. Sy isn't going to run off just because you've got a crush on him. What's a little love between friends?"
Jim relaxed slightly. He took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Y-yeah. What's a little love between friends." He sighed softly, shoulders drooping as he settled.
The words hit him.
Shooting straight up, hair practically on end he demanded, "Love!?"
Varian smiled. "Yeah, love. Platonic, fraternal, romantic, who cares? Love's love, and love'll get you through whatever."
Jim nodded slowly, his eyes still wide.
"Jim."
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
Jim relaxed. Draping an arm over Varian he pulled him close. "I love you too, little brother."
"Why am I the little one!?"
AN: Look at them! I love the friendships in this fic as much as I love the main relationship. Was not expecting Varian to become so important to Jim, but I can't imagine it any other way now. This was such a fun song to write because it really just fit so well with how they handle stress together. I'm so glad I decided to take a chance and try writing songs. It's become such a fantastic part of the fic.
Anyway, love you all, and I adore hearing from you. Thanks for reading along this far! 3
