6. The Chair #4
Jere had gotten to saying that phrase every chance he got. He would say it the way he said everything important to him, at full volume, with a big grin, and as if the words themselves should be grateful he chose to say them explicitly.
He was signing off a comm call from the bridge after having wrapped up a coordination session with a research station that had agreed to take their latest batch of rescued fauna.
The station director had been difficult, but Jere's charms had worked its wonders, as always.
The creatures had a new home, no further questions.
"Bigger than the universe?" Elena repeated from her chair, her violet markings pulsing at the steady, relaxed rhythm. The pulse caught the bridge lighting and threw faint violet shadows across the console edges.
"It's our thing," Jere said, pointing back and forth between him and Reyna. "But, now that I think about it, I think I'll make it our thing," he said again, pointing at himself, Reyna, and then Elena. Reyna chuckled from off to the side.
"Since when?" Elena questioned
"Since I just decided."
"You can't unilaterally decide a phrase is 'our thing,' Jere."
"Watch me," he challenged, his eyes getting that glint that meant he was eager for a challenge, especially from one of his best friends who just happened to be a captain.
"Bigger than the universe, Elena. Oh, look!
I did it again!" Jere smug expression clearly displayed his pride.
"Why should I keep it tucked away? That's how much I love you both.
My love is bigger than the universe, for it exceeds the boundaries of known space. "
"That's not how love works," Elena deadpanned.
"That's exactly how love works. Rey, come on, back me up."
Reyna looked up from her operations console, the sight of two faces watching her, both expecting her to settle the argument because she always settled their arguments, even if it was with mild exasperation.
"I think," Reyna said, letting her words drag out, "that if you spend as much energy on the next rescue coordination as you spend on trademarking catchphrases, we'd have the entire sector's fauna rehomed by third cycle."
Jere beamed. "That is a yes."
Reyna smiled. "That absolutely is a yes."
Jere clapped his hands. "That's my girl! See, that's a yes, Elena, and I'm taking it." Reyna saw Elena roll her eyes. "Bigger than the universe. It is official. Where is your captain's seal? I want to use it for the formal documentation."
"Hands off my captain's seal, Carrothi," Elena stated, smacking Jere's hand away from her chair. She caught Reyna's eye across the bridge, her violet pulse quickened by just a fraction. Reyna smiled broadly.
Bigger than the universe. She didn't say it back often, but she felt it just the same.
She reached for the star chart pen kept in her inside pocket, right where it was meant to be.
Reyna carried it everywhere, and whenever she felt it there, sitting in her uniform, it reminded her of the people, the ones surrounding her now, that made up her universe.
Big or not, their universe was perfect the way it was, just for her.
A few months later, a research posting opened at a station in Sector Velant, specializing in the aquatic rehabilitation work Vessi had been training toward for years, right under Jere's expertise.
So, obviously, she was a prime candidate for the position after working with Jere.
It was a good position and the right next step for her.
But Reyna and Vessi had discussed it. In fact, Vessi had mentioned it twice before they talked about it together.
It had never been official between them, but Reyna held Vessi close, letting her happiness in her life and its standing broaden to include people that could potentially lead to romantic attachment.
It was no surprise why Vessi wanted to discuss the position with Reyna before applying.
So they did, and after discussing it at length, Reyna had said, "You should apply," and meant it.
But, she was also honest with the young woman who had taken up residence in Reyna's heart.
"The truth is, I don't want you to go," Reyna said, sitting at a table in the mess hall late one night.
Vessi sat beside her, and they'd been leaning into one another while conversing.
Reyna wouldn't say she wasn't surprised when Vessi first said the words out loud about the position and her possibly leaving, but as they talked more about it, Reyna completely understood how incredible of a position it was.
And she wanted to ensure that Vessi knew just that.
"But I want you to grow. You're so talented, Vessi, and you have a real keen understanding of a part of our natural world in such a niche area, it has to be you to take this position.
I would never want to step in the way of you achieving your full potential. "
Vessi smiled then, her eyes glassy. Reyna reached out her hand and touched Vessi's against the tabletop.
Vessi turned hers over, exposing her palm, and Reyna rested her hand there.
And when Vessi entwined their fingers together, Reyna let it happen, because, dammit, they had started to be really good together.
"Can I say something honestly to you?" Vessi asked softly.
Reyna nodded. "Of course. I would expect nothing else."
Vessi pulled their hands up to her lips and gently kissed Reyna's fingers, wrapped between Vessi's own. Reyna let out a quiet gasp at the touch. Then she saw Vessi's eyes raise to hers. "You are the only reason I'm considering not taking this position."
Reyna sighed, her whole body going limp at Vessi's confession.
She raised her other hand to Vessi's face and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before placing her palm against Vessi's cheek.
Vessi leaned into Reyna's touch, and it was suddenly that she realized, even though she knew Vessi would take this position, leave the Emberkind, and succeed beyond her wildest dreams, a small, rarely allowed part of herself wanted to plead for her not to go.
"I won't lie and say that a statement like that doesn't do wonderful things for my ego," Reyna quipped, attempting to lighten the mood.
Vessi smiled softly, but Reyna could see it wasn't in the other woman to let go of her feelings that easily.
To be honest, it wasn't easy for Reyna either.
"But," she began again, watching Vessi's eyes raise to meet her own.
"You and I both know, Vessi... you need to take this position.
" Vessi's eyes dropped again, but Reyna placed a finger under her chin, raising her gaze back to meet Reyna's.
"No matter what we both may be feeling."
And despite Reyna's words, Vessi smiled at that, knowing it was the one and only way Reyna was going to admit that there were feelings to be had on both sides. A few moments passed, the two of them just sitting together in the dim light and the quiet. But then, Vessi sat up straight.
"Come with me," she said, so fast Reyna took a moment to make sure she'd heard her clearly.
"What?"
Vessi closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. "Come with me," she repeated, her eyes searching Reyna's. "Please."
That one word made Reyna almost cave, right there and then.
She closed her eyes, the whisper of Vessi's request hanging in the air between them.
She leaned forward, connecting her forehead against Vessi's, and just held there.
She could almost feel Vessi's hope seep out of her, her body letting go and her muscles relaxing.
But the longer Reyna took to answer, it became clear that Vessi's relaxing wasn't in comfort, but in awe.
"I can't," Reyna whispered, not opening her eyes, not moving. "My place is here. It always has been. It always will be."
Vessi nodded against her but didn't break the contact. They stayed that way for longer than either of them noticed, but it was okay. It was their way of saying goodbye, and Reyna would take as much of that moment as she would be given.
"Don't forget me," Vessi whispered minutes later.
"I couldn't if I tried."
At this, Reyna pulled herself up and opened her eyes.
Vessi did the same, and Reyna could see every emotion she was feeling mirrored back to her.
Their hands were still clasped together on the tabletop, but Reyna used her other to, once again, reach up to Vessi's cheek, stroking the skin there.
Vessi's eyes fluttered closed again, and before Reyna knew what she was doing, she leaned forward and captured Vessi's lips in a soft kiss.
Their hands still together, Reyna cupping Vessi's cheek.
Vessi immediately responded, leaning into Reyna's kiss.
Reyna felt a flash of energy pummel against her already rapidly beating heart, pushing her to intensify the kiss as Vessi's lips began to move against her own.
Reyna got lost in the kiss, knowing she would remember it until her dying day.
They parted, and this time, it was Vessi who leaned her forehead into Reyna and stayed there, her breathing more rapid than it had been. Reyna realized hers was as well.
"You're going to make someone very happy one day," Vessi said.
Reyna smiled and a soft chuckle escaped her, which seemed to be contagious as Vessi joined in. "I can only hope."
At this, Vessi sat up straight again, looking at Reyna. "You will. I have no doubt."
"As will you."
And, as if they both knew the moment had come to an end, she and Vessi both stood up from their stools at the same time. Their hands were still together on the tabletop, and Vessi raised them once more to place a kiss against Reyna's knuckles.
As Reyna watched Vessi walk away and out the door of the mess hall, she wondered, for a moment, if she was making a mistake. She wondered if, maybe, this was who she was meant to be with. Her version of a soul match.