Chapter Text
As Nova steps on board the cruise ship, she still has to blink multiple times and rub her eyes just to check she isn't dreaming. It's not that she hasn't been here before - she's been invited to hang out with Jordan quite a few times - but the sheer magnitude of it never ceases to amaze and slightly overwhelm her.
"Oh wow..." She breathes out slowly, looking up at the high ceilings and vast windows displaying open sea. She flinches as the ship suddenly lurches by an inch or so, grabbing a railing to steady herself.
"Woah- H-Hey, you good?"
A familiar voice comes from nearby, and Jordan's concerned face comes into view, hands hovering in an awkward offer of aid. "I, uh... I guess you're still not used to the sea yet, huh?"
Nova freezes as she meets their gaze, then quickly stands up and scratches the back of her head awkwardly. "Y-Yeah, haha, still need to get my sea legs..."
After an initial moment of awkwardness, Nova gives Jordan a quick hug in greeting, smiling as she gestures around them.
"Honestly, I still find it hard to believe that you live somewhere so amazing. This place is... Well, once you get used to rocking back and forth slightly, it's pretty incredible with the size of it."
Jordan smiles warmly. "You said that last time too."
"Did I??" Nova's face tinges red slightly, and her eyes flick anywhere except Jordan before finally stopping on a nearby plate of complementary desserts. "Ooh!! These are free, right? They look delicious!!"
"O-Oh, yeah, our private chefs made these! They're pretty good. I recommend the red one." Jordan leads Nova over to the plate, where multiple cubic treats seeming to be made of yogurt lay. "That one's made with vegan Moomoo milk, since you said you don't eat too much dairy."
Nova's heart stutters as she meets their gaze, feeling the familiar flush creep up her neck again before forcing it back down. "Y-You remembered... Um, y-yeah!! Thanks so much, Jordan~"
As she lets out her signature giggle, light and sweeter than the dessert, Nova gets a slightly mischievous idea.
"Hey... Since your parents, you know, own this place... Maybe we could take this back to your room?" Then she realises just how suspicious that sounds, and quickly clarifies- "T-The tray!! The dessert tray!! I mean, um... Ahem, so we could chat and eat at the same time!! If you want. Of course."
Jordan stares awkwardly and shuffles their feet, but after a few moments, nods at the idea and picks up the tray. "I-I'm sure it's fine if we take it... I used to ask the chefs to sneak me extras when I was small too. They're very nice people."
Nova sighs in relief, following after Jordan through the luxurious halls of the ship. Her hair seems extra fluffy and bouncy today, and she even twirls a few times while enjoying the sights.
"Gosh, I am SO glad my parents let me come here alone. Usually they'd insist on sending a chaperone or something with me, but I'm not a baby anymore!! Hehe, I'm glad they care, though."
She quickly catches up to Jordan, trying to keep pace with them as they hold the tray. "You want a hand with that? I really don't mind helping."
Jordan tilts their head, then shakes it and smiles softly. "It's okay, but thank you. My parents said being a good host means not making your guests do all the work. Especially not friends."
Friends. The word echoes in her mind and bounces around for a while before finally exiting through a cough, one barely stifled by her hand. "W-Well, your parents raised you really well. You're so polite and thoughtful, Jordan." Her eyes crinkle at the edges as they turn down a more secluded hallway, where some extremely intricate-looking technology blocks a door. "But, uhh... Since we are friends, I want you to know that I'm happy to share your burdens. Whether that be holding a tray or you wanting to vent about something that happened in your day, or even just telling me the good stuff. I... want to be there through it all."
Jordan's grip on the dessert tray falters, dust seeming to bother their eyes before they quickly fix their posture, nodding straight ahead. "Y-Yeah... I'll... I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Nova."
It takes a few seconds, but they eventually step forward and the tech scans their face before opening the door. Nova's jaw drops.
The rest of the way is pretty quiet, but unlike many precious interactions, the silence isn't awkward. Not even in the slightest.
When they get to Jordan's room, a massive ensuite with a fridge - an entire personal fridge, not just a mini fridge - and plenty of other amenities, Nova thinks she might faint at the sight of all the expensive items. However, it's at that moment that Jordan places down the tray in a table at the center of the massive open space, sighing as they fold their hands.
"You know... I... I'm not really used to people... wanting to talk to me for me... Most just, I-I dunno, hope I buy them expensive stuff for their birthdays or only hangout with me so they can come over here...."
Nova's heart aches at their words, but she slowly lowers herself next to her friend and looks at them with a protective gaze.
"Then those 'friends' weren't friends at all. True friends want to be by your side no matter if you're rich, poor, extraverted, introverted, or whatever and whoever you may be. And they DEFINITELY don't leech off another friend just cause they happen to have more money."
As if proving her point in some way, Nova picks up a nearby bottle of antiseptic and sprays her hands, then uses a fork to stab in and pick up the yogurt dessert. "Here. You go first."
Jordan is stunned, their face beginning to turn a bit pink. Nova waits with anticipation for them to move, but then also starts to blush as she realises what she's just offered.
"Oh goodness, I- I'm so sorry, I-I didn't mean to make it seem like-"
"N-No, it's okay, really... Um... Let me try it."
Both of them stare at each other (awkwardly), then simultaneously laugh softly and meet eyes once again. Jordan gives a slight nod, and Nova brings the fork to their mouth, watching as the yogurt cleanly disappears off of the cutlery. Jordan chews and hums in appreciation at the fruity flavour, but all Nova can focus on is the soft fall and rise of their jaw and the way their hand dabs a napkin at the side of their mouth...
"What are you looking at?" The words are almost teasing, but they come from Jordan... So surely not? Nova's brain bluescreens for a good 7 seconds, all systems running 'cutenessoverload.exe' before rebooting and attempting to come back online.
"Huh?"
She blinks again, then immediately goes redder than she ever has and in a quite improper fashion, shoves a treat into her mouth whole.
Another awkward silence.
Then, Jordan laughs again, more freely than Nova has ever heard them before, and copies her by stuffing another yogurt cube in their mouth. Nova snickers slightly and has to put her hands over her mouth to prevent herself from accidentally spitting out the dessert while Jordan swallows and tries to suppress a slight smirk.
"You're really funny, Nova. And kind. You're really kind."
Jordan's smile is genuine, their eyes shining and body language facing towards Nova, who twirls a lock of her pink hair after swallowing the last of the treat.
"Oh... Jordan, um... Thank you... You're very sweet as well. And I'm not just saying that cause you complimented me, I... I really like being around you. With you. Truly."
After a moment's hesitance, Nova shuffles a tad closer on the sofa and keeps her hands by her side, expression full of quiet softness. Jordan pauses, but then takes the silent invitation and also moves closer, close enough to lean ever so slightly against her body.
"I like being around you too, Nova. With you, I feel... like I can be myself. And I don't have to be judged."
Their head slowly lowers to touch her shoulder, making her breath hitch and heart race. She doesn't hide it this time.
"That's all I want to make you feel... Safe... and happy."