The soft glow of the artificial moonlight bathed the Garden Deck in a dreamy luminescence, casting long shadows through the towering trees and delicate flowerbeds that lined the winding pathways. The air here was crisp and fresh, a stark contrast to the recycled atmosphere in the rest of the ship. Hidden vents simulated a gentle breeze, causing the leaves to rustle softly, adding to the illusion of standing under a real night sky.
Riza and I strolled side by side, our pace slow, unhurried. She had finally unburdened herself of some of her arcade prizes, tucking them under her arm as she walked with a satisfied sigh. "This place never gets old," she murmured, tilting her head back to gaze up at the glass dome that stretched overhead, revealing the vast expanse of space beyond.
I followed her gaze, watching as distant stars twinkled against the endless black. "Yeah," I agreed, my voice quieter, more thoughtful. "It almost makes you forget we're on a ship."
She smiled, letting her hand brush lightly against mine as we continued forward. "Mm. Sometimes I pretend we're on an actual planet, somewhere peaceful." She turned to me, her cerulean eyes gleaming in the soft light. "You ever think about that? Being able to just… step outside and feel real wind on your face?"
I nodded, giving her hand a small squeeze. "All the time."
Her fingers slowly curled around mine, and she leaned her head against my shoulder. "One day," she mused softly, "I want to see it for real. No domes, no artificial sky. Just… open air, a real sunrise, a real sunset."
I glanced down at her, taking in the serene expression on her face. The way the dim light caught her features made her look almost ethereal, like she belonged among the stars outside the glass dome. My chest tightened at the thought.
"One day," I promised, squeezing her hand a little tighter. "We'll make it happen."
She hummed in response, and we walked in comfortable silence for a while, the soft crunch of the stone pathway beneath our feet filling the quiet.
Then, out of nowhere, she stopped and turned toward a low stone bench nestled between two flowering bushes. "Let's sit for a bit," she suggested, gently tugging me along.
I followed without hesitation, settling beside her as she let out a soft sigh and leaned back against the bench. The gentle fragrance of the nearby blooms filled the air, a mix of floral sweetness and the faint, earthy scent of damp soil.
She stretched slightly, then tilted her head toward me with a small, lazy smile. "I'm really glad we did this."
I chuckled, leaning back as well. "Which part? The arcade losses? Or Lydia's relentless torment?"
She giggled, nudging me playfully with her elbow. "This part. Just… being here with you."
Something in her voice sent a warmth curling through my chest. I turned to face her, watching the way her eyes shimmered, reflecting the distant starlight. "Yeah," I murmured, unable to look away. "Me too."
She held my gaze for a moment longer before she smiled, softer this time, more intimate. Then, without warning, she scooted closer, resting her head lightly against my shoulder again.
I exhaled slowly, the moment so perfect that I barely dared to move. Instead, I just tilted my head slightly, resting my cheek against her hair. "You're really comfortable, you know that?" I murmured.
She let out a quiet laugh, closing her eyes. "That's because you make a good pillow."
I grinned, my hand gently brushing over hers. "Guess I can live with that."
The Garden Deck remained quiet, the artificial wind rustling through the trees, the stars above us twinkling as if they were watching over this moment. I didn't know how long we sat there, but I didn't care. For the first time in a long while, I felt like we had all the time in the universe.
The quiet hum of the ship and the soft rustling of the artificial breeze surrounded us as we sat on the stone bench, completely wrapped up in the peaceful stillness of the Garden Deck. Riza let out a slow, contented sigh, her head still resting comfortably against my shoulder. The warmth of her so close, the gentle rhythm of her breathing—it was enough to make me want to stay here forever.
But as much as I didn't want this night to end, the exhaustion of the day was finally settling in.
I gave her hand a small squeeze. "What do you say? Call it a night?"
She let out a quiet groan, nuzzling her face slightly against my shoulder before finally sitting up. "Mmm… I guess. I don't want to, but I know if I sit here any longer, I'm going to fall asleep right on you." She stretched, her arms lifting above her head as she let out a small yawn.
I smirked. "I mean, you could just stay like that. I wouldn't complain."
She rolled her eyes, nudging me with her elbow. "Nice try. If I'm going to fall asleep, I'd rather do it in an actual bed."
I stood up, offering her my hand. "Then let's head back to my room. We can throw on a movie, relax… actually get comfortable."
She took my hand without hesitation, lacing her fingers with mine as she stood. "That does sound pretty perfect."
Hand in hand, we made our way back through the winding paths of the Garden Deck, the soft glow of the artificial stars above casting a dreamy light around us. The walk back to my quarters was slow and unhurried, neither of us feeling the need to rush.
By the time we finally reached my door, Riza let out another small yawn, rubbing at one of her eyes. "Okay, yeah, definitely bedtime," she mumbled as the door slid open.
I chuckled. "Tired already? What happened to that infinite energy you had in the arcade?"
She gave me a playful glare as she kicked off her shoes and flopped onto my bed without hesitation. "Hey, I earned my sleep, thank you very much."
I smirked as I locked the door behind us, then made my way over to my desk to queue up a movie. "Alright, what do you feel like watching? Something action-packed? Comedy?"
She peeked up at me from my bed, her face already half-buried in my pillow. "Something easy," she murmured. "Nothing too intense. I don't think I have the energy for a super complicated plot."
I scrolled through the available options before settling on an old classic—one of those feel-good adventure films with just enough humor to keep it fun. "How about this one?"
She cracked one eye open to look at the screen and gave a small approving nod. "Perfect."
I dimmed the lights and climbed onto the bed beside her, pulling the blanket up over both of us. Without hesitation, Riza scooted closer, resting her head against my chest, her arm draping lightly over my stomach.
"You're warm," she mumbled, already sounding half-asleep.
I smiled, resting a hand against her back, letting my fingers gently trace idle patterns. "And you're clingy when you're tired."
"Mmm… shut up," she murmured, snuggling in even closer.
I chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head before turning my attention back to the screen. But honestly, I barely watched the movie. The steady rise and fall of Riza's breathing, the way she fit perfectly against me, the warmth of her presence—it was all so much better than anything playing in front of us.
As the movie played in the background, I felt my own eyelids grow heavy, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up.
And with Riza tucked comfortably against me, her soft breaths against my chest, I let myself drift off, knowing that this—her, us, this warmth—was exactly where I wanted to be.