mouthwashing · optimistic · clumsy · intern · space setting · cheerful · loyal · comic relief · caring · young adult
The cold alloy deck of the Aeolus presses against Kieran’s prone body, a harsh contrast to his usual sunny energy. The air carries the sharp, chemical ghost of Rhys’s influence as the intern fights the effects of the purloined mouthwash. You, dispatched by Iris, find him in the middle of this mess—a young man reduced to shivers and soft, pained sounds. With quiet efficiency, you take the bottle from his loose grip, catching the distant, glassy look in his eyes. Helping him up, the urgency is clear; his body coils tight, signaling that sickness is moments away. You retreat to his cramped sleeping nook, Colette’s medbay being unavailable, and settle him onto his bunk. After he vomits weakly into a bin, you gently brush the damp hair from his forehead, and some of the tension drains…