This story is unrelated to the previous one of a similar topic. This one was based more on some headcanons and stories a friend and I came up with.
[[ Summary: Crushes are hell, Player knows it well. ]]
[[ LOCATION: Mira HQ ]]
--

"Jeez, a lot of people are getting into relationships lately, aren't they?" Veteran laughed, looking towards the hallway to the Cafeteria.

"What do you mean?" Player asked, looking up from a paper he was reading.

"Oh, y'know. Engineer, Gnome.... The Gentleman and Mr. Cheese... All of 'em."

Player shrugged,"Yeah. You're right, Veteran. It's kinda nice to... see that, I guess."

Veteran looked to his friend, and tilted his head,"What makes you say it like that?"

Player sighed. He set the paper aside, looking to Veteran. "I mean, you're my BFF so I feel okay telling you this.."

"Of course I'm your BFF!" Veteran chimed in,"Captain could never compare to me!"

Player lightly laughed,"Yeah, Captain never could be my BFF.....Well.. it is about him, anyway."

"Really, Player? What about him?" Veteran's voice deepened a little, an unsure sign.

Player put his hands up,"It's nothing bad. He's not replacing you, he couldn't ever.... I just... I think I have a crush on him."

Veteran was silent for a moment. Only a moment. "Wait, Player, don't you.... Don't you have a girlfriend? You two were so lovey..."

"Oh, her? No, not anymore. Not for a few months, really," Player said matter-of-factly, staring to the wall in front of him. "I thought I told you. She dumped me not too long after all of us played together. And, well... I guess I like guys too. I didn't even see that one coming, ha."

"Ohh..." Veteran replied, his tone showing some surprise. "Well...whatever partner ya end up with, we can stay BFFs, right?"

Player smiled, laughing. "Of course, Veteran! I.. I really like Captain, but not in the same way I'm fond of you." His gaze was at the table, but he wasn't really looking at anything. "Captain is... different. He's very naive, but it's sort of cute. He tried to serenade me back then, I still think about it. He's been singing to himself lately, while he's got work, he's getting better." Player's voice showed his excitement.

Veteran gently chuckled,"I didn't think you could get more gushy about people, guess I was wrong." He looked towards the hall entrance again, just so happening to see Captain nearing. He put his gaze back to his best friend.

Player looked at Veteran, squinting a little bit,"What's that supposed to mean? I'm not being that gushy about Captain.... I just really enjoy him and not to mention, that little song he did when watering those plants, I still feel a bit bad about that one. He's so adorable, I just--

"Heya, friendos! What're we talking about in here?" Captain's voice chimed in. Player made a noise, his words catching in his throat.

Veteran held in a laugh. "Ha, oh, don't worry Captain. It's just something about Player's ex girlfriend. Do you by chance like females, anyway?"

Captain frowned, crossing his arms. "Veteran, that's not very professional, you know. What're you even trying to say? That I need a girlfriend or something?" He huffed, looking towards Player. Veteran failed to stifle a laugh.

"What is all this? A joke?" Captain asked.

Player shook his head. "No, it isn't." He caught his words, looking up towards Captain. "Do you like guys or girls?"

Captain paused. He stared into the distance, not responding to Player's question.

"Hey Captain, you alive there?" Veteran spoke up.

"Uh.. Yeah. It's just... I don't know, no one's ever asked. No one's wanted to be in a relationship with me, so I wouldn't know!" Captain shrugged.

"Would you want to be in one?" Veteran asked. Captain looked over at him before Veteran quickly amended his sentence. "No, not with me. But with Player!"

"VETERAN!" Player squeaked, putting his face in his hands.

Captain looked to Player. "Wait, you... Hold on, what's going on here? Did I hear this right?"

Player nodded, looking up to Captain. "Captain... Do you want to be in a relationship with me?"

Captain blanked. His expression showed he was thinking, but not much. He walked to the table, sitting next to Player on the opposite side that Veteran was.

Veteran slid out from his seat. He pat Player gently on his back,"Good luck buddy." He walked out of the Cafeteria, down the hallway. Player made a distressed sound, trying to get Veteran not to leave him in this situation.

Captain and Player now sat alone in the Cafeteria. The room was awkwardly silent for a few moments before Captain spoke up.

"So, let me get this straight.... You.. You like me? You... like like me? Really..?" Captain looked to Player, trying to see any reaction at all.

Player nodded. "Y-Yeah. I.. I do. It's... it's a little different, for me, I've.. I've never thought about having a boyfriend..."

Captain glanced away for a moment,"I've never had a boyfriend or girlfriend. Or anything else."

Captain and Player looked towards each other at the same time. They both spoke, their voices in an uncertain harmony of sorts,"I think I need time to think."

Captain lightly laughed at their accidental synchronized speech. "I.. I just want to be sure. I'll let ya know if I.. decide to." Player nodded in agreement.

Both men eventually went their own ways.

--

Player went to Veteran's living quarters, where Veteran was relaxing. "Veteran, you're a horrible best friend but I thank you for that."

"Oh?" Veteran sat up, turning the phone he was scrolling through off. "So, how'd it go?"

Player looked down. "We... need time to think. He didn't say no, but I didn't...I didn't get a solid yes, either. Could've probably went better if you hadn't left! You knew I could barely say anything, why'd you do that?"

Veteran laughed happily. "I'm sure you're gonna figure it out."

--
Captain walked down the glass-floored hallway. He stopped in the Office, connecting his tablet in order to get it to sort the new data on the computer. He sat on the chair and sighed. How could someone like Player like him? Player was an amazing person, Captain knew that. But didn't Player deserve someone better? Why did Player want him? Well, he knew he had to try to ask someone about it. Stoner wouldn't help in this instance, unfortunately. He'd made it loud and clear that Captain could come to him for anything but "gooey, romantic crap" and that's exactly what this was. Who else could help....

The noise of the data being completed broke Captain's thoughts away. He picked up the tablet and stood up. Turning to the exit of the room, he saw a familiar smaller, orange crew member.

"Hiya, Captain! Whatcha doing here? You've been here for a while!" Mr. Cheese spoke, tilting his head lightly.

"How long's it been? I didn't think I was here that long." Captain replied.

"I saw ya in here maybe 30 minutes ago, you were busy with the data. You look like you're thinking a lot." Mr. Cheese answered.

Captain sighed, lightly laughing. "Yeah, you got me on that one. Hey, can I ask you for a little advice, Mr. Cheese?"

Mr. Cheese nodded. "Sure thing, Captain! I gotta do that data stuffs so I'll be in here a bit too!"

"Good." Captain nodded. Mr. Cheese went to the chair that Captain had previously been in, plugging in his own tablet.

"What's up, Captain?" The smaller crew member asked.

Captain explained his situation. Player's confession, and his thoughts on it. "How could someone so... so wonderful, want to be with someone like me?"

Mr. Cheese gave a smile. "Captain. Listen. Sometimes you think someone is really cool! But y'know what? Sometimes that person thinks you're really cool! Player really thinks you're cool. I've even heard it. I think you'll work together really good. It's all up to you, though"

The ding of Mr. Cheese's data transfer marked the end of their conversation. "Good luck, Captain!" he said, before running out of the Office.

--
Night was approaching. It was getting to be time for lights out. Captain knew he wouldn't sleep well through the night if he didn't make his move if he saw Player.

Captain and Player encountered in the hallway on the way to their living quarters. Captain stopped Player for a moment.

"What's going on, Cap--" Captain hugged Player before he could finish his sentence.

The hug itself radiated how Captain felt. Love, appreciation, want. "Player, I want to be in a relationship with you. I think I'll be able to do that. Will you?"

Player reached his hands up to complete the embrace. "Yes, Captain. I think I can. Thank you for telling me."

--
Morning arrived quickly afterwards. Player rubbed his eyes, his alarm waking him up. It wasn't long after he put his beanie on that his friend, Veteran, opened the door uninvited.

"Mmh.... Veteran, what're.. What're you doing in here?" Player asked groggily. "You did all that stuff yesterday, now you're here right when I woke up...I'm not functioning right now, do you just want to torment me?"

"I saw what happened in the hall last night, wink wink," Veteran grinned. "So, you gonna tell our friends?"

"First off, can I have five minutes to wake up? Secondly, we'll see about that."