The hum of the ship vibrated through the metallic walls, casting an eerie glow across the cockpit as it sailed through the vast, infinite blackness of space. Burton Fisher leaned back in the pilot's chair, his fingers expertly navigating the controls of the sleek, state-of-the-art star cruiser. The cold, sterile interior of the vessel contrasted sharply with the chaotic thoughts running through his mind. His life had changed dramatically since he had entered this new world—the world of future technology, simulations, and strange alliances. And with that change, so had his relationships.

Burton had always been a lone wolf, someone who kept his emotions tucked away behind a hardened exterior. But recently, that exterior had begun to crack. The people in his life—his teammates, his closest friends—had become more than just comrades. They had become his family, and in a way he never expected, his partners. It was a strange realization, one that tugged at him in ways he hadn't allowed himself to explore before.

"My girlfriends are my boyfriend, ain't nobody know me better…"

The lyrics from Demi Lovato's My Girlfriends Are My Boyfriend played faintly in his mind, a strange echo that reminded him of the way his life had shifted. The team—his "girlfriends"—knew him better than anyone. And, in a sense, they were his partners, not just in battle but in ways far more intimate than he ever imagined.

The door to the cockpit slid open with a soft hiss, and Burton glanced up to see Cherise step inside. She was one of the most talented engineers he'd ever met, her sharp intellect and quick wit making her indispensable to the mission. But there was something else about her, something that always made his pulse quicken whenever she was near.

"Hey," Cherise said casually, leaning against the doorframe, her eyes flicking to the starry expanse outside the ship. "Everything okay?"

Burton nodded, though the tension in his shoulders told a different story. "Yeah. Just… thinking."

Cherise smiled, her eyes twinkling with a knowing look. "That's never a good sign. What's on your mind?"

Burton chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's nothing. Just… this whole thing. You know? It's a lot to take in."

Cherise walked over to him, her footsteps light against the metal floor. "It's not 'nothing' if it's making you look like you're ready to fly into a black hole," she teased, her voice softer now. She stopped in front of him, her gaze searching his face. "Come on, Fisher. Spill."

Burton hesitated for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh. "It's just… all of this. The ship. The mission. Everything we've been through. It makes you think about things. Makes you realize… maybe you're not as alone as you thought."

Cherise raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Alone? You've got me, and the rest of the team. We're all in this together."

Burton's lips twitched into a small smile, but there was a deeper emotion behind it. "Yeah, I know. And that's part of the problem."

Cherise's brow furrowed in confusion. "How is that a problem?"

Burton sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "Because it's more than just… a team thing. I feel like—" He paused, searching for the right words. "I feel like I'm starting to depend on you all in ways I never expected. And it's messing with my head."

Cherise's expression softened as realization dawned on her. "Ah, I see. You're not used to relying on anyone but yourself. And now… it's different."

Burton nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Exactly."

For a moment, the silence hung between them, thick with unspoken feelings. Cherise reached out and placed a hand on Burton's arm, her touch warm and grounding. "You don't have to do this alone, Burton. You've got us. And maybe that's not such a bad thing."

Burton looked up, his eyes meeting hers, and for the first time, he allowed himself to fully feel the weight of her words. She was right. He wasn't alone anymore. And maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to fight that.

But there was more to it than that.

"There's nothing better than when I'm with my girls…"

Cherise's hand lingered on his arm, and Burton felt a rush of something he hadn't expected—something deeper than camaraderie, something that sent a shiver down his spine. He wasn't just relying on his team for survival. He was feeling things, things he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time.

"Maybe that's what scares me," Burton admitted quietly, his eyes still locked on Cherise's. "The fact that I don't want to do it alone anymore. The fact that I don't want to lose… this."

Cherise's smile softened, and she stepped closer, her voice gentle. "You won't lose it. Not unless you push it away."

Burton swallowed hard, the tension between them thickening as he realized how close she was standing now, how the air seemed to charge with something unspoken. He could feel her warmth, the steady rhythm of her breathing, and for the first time, he didn't want to fight the pull between them.

"Is that your way of saying I should stop pushing you away?" Burton asked, his voice low and rough.

Cherise's smile widened, a playful glint in her eyes. "Maybe."

Before Burton could respond, the door to the cockpit slid open again, and another figure appeared—Kaela, the team's no-nonsense strategist. She raised an eyebrow at the sight of Burton and Cherise standing so close, but her usual sarcasm was softened by the grin on her face.

"Am I interrupting something?" Kaela asked, clearly enjoying the moment.

Burton shot her a look, but there was no real annoyance behind it. "Not at all."

Kaela sauntered over, her eyes flicking between the two of them. "Good, because I came to tell you that we're approaching the drop point. But now I'm wondering if I should leave you two to… whatever this is."

Cherise laughed, shaking her head. "It's nothing. Just talking."

"Sure," Kaela said, smirking. "Just talking."

Burton rolled his eyes, but even he couldn't hide the small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. Kaela had a way of cutting through the tension with her bluntness, and right now, he appreciated it.

"Don't you have something to do, Kaela?" Burton asked, his tone teasing.

Kaela crossed her arms, grinning. "Oh, I'm doing my job just fine, thank you very much. But it looks like you might have a few things to sort out."

Burton opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Cherise stepped in, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "We'll figure it out, Kaela. Don't worry."

Kaela raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "I'm sure you will."

With that, she turned and headed back toward the control room, leaving Burton and Cherise alone again. The silence between them was different now—less heavy, more playful—but still charged with the undercurrent of something more.

Burton let out a breath, shaking his head. "She's impossible."

Cherise grinned, leaning against the console. "She just likes to stir the pot. But she's right, you know."

Burton raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

Cherise's smile softened, and she took a step closer. "About you needing to figure things out."

Burton's heart raced as she closed the distance between them, her eyes locking with his. He knew what she was offering, what she was saying without words. And for the first time in a long time, he felt like he could let go of the fear, the control, and just… feel.

"Me and my girls, we leave the drama at the door…"

"I think I've already figured it out," Burton said, his voice low, his eyes never leaving hers.

Cherise smiled, her hand reaching out to gently touch his cheek. "Good."

The space between them disappeared, and before Burton could second-guess himself, he leaned in, capturing her lips in a slow, heated kiss. It was soft at first, tentative, but as Cherise melted into him, the kiss deepened, and all the tension, all the unspoken feelings, spilled out in that moment.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing heavily, the air between them electric. Burton rested his forehead against hers, his heart pounding in his chest.

"This is going to complicate things, isn't it?" he asked, his voice rough but full of warmth.

Cherise laughed softly, her fingers brushing through his hair. "Probably. But I think we can handle it."

Burton smiled, his eyes meeting hers. "Yeah. I think so too."

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Burton felt a sense of peace, of belonging. He wasn't alone anymore. He had his team—his family—and maybe, just maybe, he had something more with Cherise.

As the stars continued to swirl outside the cockpit, Burton knew one thing for certain: whatever challenges lay ahead, he wasn't facing them alone. And that, more than anything, made the future seem a little less daunting.