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you didn't notice him entering the diner. absentmindedly stirring the coffee, focused on the blizzard ravaging outside.
"sorry, i'm late," – james coughed, taking off the outerwear. you didn't spare him a glance.
"ever punctual, mace."
"don't–," he signed. – "don't mace me, i thought we were over it back in the mainframe room."
sometimes james didn't know what he would have enjoyed more: tearing capa in half or you. this dumbass stubborn habit of yours to evade his name completely even after years of cramming on the ship drove him insane.
oh, and you loved seeing him silently seething. "as i said, maybe in another life."
"will this winter ever end?"
you were staring into your drink. mace wrapped the palms around his cup. "of course. that's our job."
"well then i sure as fuck hope capa won't fuck our job up," – you threw the stirrer on the table and slouched on the couch, pouting.
james laughed. "oh, he will. the earth was doomed the moment he stepped on that ship."
you narrowed your eyes. "he's not that bad, c'mon."
the corners of his mouth perked up. "i bet he's already getting fried by the sun..."
you facepalmed. "jeez, i refuse to participate in another round."
the smirk grew. "...or he's giving the launch sequence to pinbraker as we speak."
you shook your head. "wait, wait, what are you even talking about, we're... we're not on the mission yet."
mace's hand pried yours out from fidgeting with the napkin.
"we're not anymore."
you finally mustered the courage to look him in the eyes.
you now remember his gaze fixated on your form as you were bleeding all over the icarus' console
as clear as
he remembers the gaze of your corpse fixated on him as the death throes tore through his freezing body.
you didn't notice him entering the diner. absentmindedly stirring the coffee, focused on the blizzard ravaging outside.
"sorry, i'm late," – mace coughed, taking off the outerwear. you turned your eyes to him.
"ever punctual, james."
he smiled back.