The Asgard was undergoing routine maintenance, requiring power outages in some areas.
As the captain, Kael needed to personally inspect critical areas. This kind of work was usually tedious and required high concentration.
Theresa naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity. She immediately crowned herself "Captain's Special Safety Supervisor" and trotted along behind Kael.
Under the dim emergency lights, the vast interior of the ship was exceptionally quiet, with only their footsteps and occasional maintenance reports from the communicator.
Kael held a detector, meticulously checking circuits and connections.
Theresa followed beside him, holding a powerful flashlight, very "dutifully" illuminating for him, though the beam occasionally flickered onto Kael's face or was drawn to various strange protrusions in the corridor.
"Theresa, the light... here," Kael reminded her for the nth time, pointing at the energy pipes at his feet.
"Oh, oh! Sorry!" Theresa quickly moved the beam back, muttering, "It's so dark here, like the underground maze in Haxxor Bunny's adventure..."
Kael finished checking a node, straightened up, and suddenly saw Theresa making funny faces at her blurry reflection on the metal wall beside them, having a great time.
He couldn't help but chuckle.
"Oh!" Theresa heard the laughter, startled, and the flashlight beam swung wildly, almost hitting her own face.
Kael walked over and naturally took the flashlight from her hand: "Let me do it. Your Excellency, 'Safety Supervisor,' please stick close to me, don't get lost in the 'maze.'"
His tone carried a clear hint of teasing.
Theresa's face flushed, and she mumbled, "I won't get lost..." But she still obediently followed close behind Kael, even subconsciously tugging at the corner of his uniform.
Reaching a particularly narrow passage, Kael turned sideways first, then naturally reached back: "Be careful, it's a bit narrow here."
Theresa looked at the hand reaching out to her, and her heart instantly sped up. She unhesitatingly placed her hand into his warm palm.
Kael gently held it, applying slight pressure, guiding her carefully through the narrow area.
His palm was broad and reliable, the warmth from his fingertips transmitting through her skin, warming every nerve in Theresa's body.
It was dark in the passage, but Theresa felt her face must be glowing red.
Only after passing through the passage did Kael release her hand and continue forward, as if he had just done something perfectly normal.
Theresa, however, looked at her hand that had just been held, giggling foolishly for several minutes, not even hearing Kael call her. Only when Kael turned back to look at her curiously did she snap out of her daze, quickly catching up, and this time boldly linked her arm with his!
"It's too dark here! I... I'm afraid of falling!" she declared self-righteously.
Kael's body stiffened slightly, but looking at her bright, slightly mischievous yet somewhat nervous eyes in the darkness, he eventually just smiled helplessly, letting her cling to him as he continued his inspection work.
By the time everything was resolved, it was already lunchtime.
Kael had a habit of taking a short nap in his office during lunch. He used to set an alarm, but recently Theresa had voluntarily taken over this task.
Kael finished his morning documents, leaned back in his chair, and soon fell asleep.
Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting dappled shadows on his face, making him appear much softer.
Theresa stealthily snuck in, squatting beside his chair like a little dragon guarding treasure, propping her chin on her hands, watching his sleeping face without blinking.
His eyelashes were so long... his nose was straight... his lips... Theresa's face slowly turned red, her heart pounding like a drum.
Impulsively, she very slowly extended her finger, wanting to touch his eyelashes.
Just as her fingertip was about to make contact, Kael suddenly stirred, unconsciously smacked his lips, and mumbled vaguely, "...Bitter melon... stop messing around..."
Theresa was so startled that she instantly pulled her hand back, her heart almost leaping out of her throat. She waited a few seconds, realizing that Kael hadn't woken up, but had merely fallen back into a deep sleep.
She clutched her chest, letting out a long sigh of relief, then couldn't help but snicker.
Kael was even dreaming about her? Although in his dream, she seemed to be causing trouble?
Looking at Kael's peaceful sleeping face, Theresa suddenly changed her mind. She didn't wake him up, but instead continued to squat quietly beside him, watching him until lunchtime ended.
Kael's biological clock was very precise; he woke up exactly on time. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Theresa squatting beside him, looking at him with bright eyes.
"You're awake?" Theresa said with a smile, "Good afternoon, Kael!"
Kael rubbed his eyes, a little groggy: "Hmm... what time is it? Why didn't you wake me up?"
"The time is just right!" Theresa stood up, and like magic, pulled out a warm, green drink from behind her back, "Here, a refreshing bitter melon juice for a good afternoon! Theresa's special!"
Kael looked at the drink, his expression complex, and took it. He took a deep breath, as if going to his doom, and took a sip, and as expected, his face wrinkled at the extreme bitterness.
Theresa watched his bitter expression, laughing so hard she bent over.
Kael reluctantly put down the cup and reached out to pinch her cheek: "Next time, wake me up on time, or the afternoon's work will be delayed."
His actions were natural and intimate, carrying the laziness and indulgence of just waking up.
Theresa covered her face, feeling the lingering touch of his fingertips, her heart bubbling with sweetness, and nodded vigorously: "Got it! Next time, definitely on time!" (No way! She still wanted to watch Kael sleep!)
In the evening, Theresa mysteriously pulled Kael to the headquarters' botanical garden. It was very quiet here at night, with various glowing plants and simulated starlight creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
"Close your eyes! No peeking!" Theresa commanded.
Though puzzled, Kael cooperatively closed his eyes. He could hear Theresa rustling around beside him, busy with something.
"Okay! You can open them now!"
Kael opened his eyes and saw Theresa holding a... flower crown? It was woven from glowing soft vines and fresh bitter melon flowers. The design was a bit abstract, but it was clear she had put a lot of effort into it.
"This is..." Kael was a little surprised.
"A birthday return gift!" Theresa lowered her head a little shyly, her voice softening, "You gave me so many delicious things... I, I want to give you something too! Although it might not be as good as yours..."
Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, her cheeks flushed.
Kael looked at the slightly cartoonish flower crown, which emitted a faint glow and the fresh scent of bitter melon, and then at the shy yet expectant look on the girl's face before him. The softest part of his heart was deeply touched.
He lowered his head to make it easier for Theresa.
Theresa stood on a stool, tiptoed, and carefully placed the unique flower crown on Kael's head.
The soft light illuminated his smiling eyes and the slightly comical flower crown, creating a scene that was a bit funny yet exceptionally warm.
"How is it? Do you like it?" Theresa asked nervously.
Kael didn't answer immediately. He just reached out, gently took Theresa's hand, which was still resting on the flower crown, then pulled her hand down and placed it on his left chest.
Theresa instantly froze. Beneath her palm was his strong and powerful heartbeat, thump, thump, clearly transmitting through his chest to her palm, incredibly fast, almost in sync with her own pounding heart.
"Do you feel it?" Kael's voice was exceptionally deep and gentle in the quiet night, "Its answer."
Theresa's face instantly turned crimson, as if it were on fire.
She felt the rapid heartbeat, looked at Kael's gentle and serious eyes, her mind a blank, leaving only the burning sensation in her palm and the deafening sound of his heartbeat.
His... his heart was beating so fast... was it because... of her?
Immense joy and happiness enveloped her like a tide. She even forgot to breathe, just staring blankly at him, her sapphire eyes reflecting the starlight and his smiling face.
Kael looked at her silly expression and couldn't help but chuckle. He released her hand and gently flicked her nose: "Silly girl, come back to reality."
Theresa then gasped, her whole body like a cooked shrimp, stammering, "I, I... that... the flower crown... I'm glad you like it!"
With that, she couldn't bear the torment any longer and turned to run.
Kael, however, pulled her back and gently hugged her.
It was a brief but incredibly clear embrace.
Theresa could smell his fresh scent, feel the warmth of his chest, and his still somewhat rapid heartbeat.
"I like it very much," he whispered in her ear, then released her as if nothing had happened, pointing to the flower crown on his head, "It just pokes my head a bit."
Theresa stood rooted to the spot, watching his back as he walked away, still wearing the glowing bitter melon flower crown and a smile on his lips, feeling like she was about to faint.
She touched her burning cheeks, then her palm, which still seemed to retain the warmth of his heartbeat, and finally couldn't help but happily bounce several times on the spot...
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