Blasted Stars and Broken Engines
By Umbreon
Year: 3003
Universe: 314
After dealing with Globe Trotters, time skips, a wedding, and a very quick divorce, Fry and Leela stand on the bridge of the ship, stopped near the Tempest Nebula while Bender sets the doomsday device.
Leela: It's okay, Fry. You know we'll always be friends, right?
Fry: Yeah. But I guess nothing I could ever do will make you feel the same way about me that I do about you.
Leela: I guess not.
She takes his hand and kisses his cheek, turning and walking away just as Bender enters
Bender: Well, the doomsday device is ready. Maybe blasting this quadrant of space into a hellstorm of flaming nothingness will cheer me up a little.
Leela: Okay. Let me just take the ship out to a safe distance.
She turns and sees Fry, still standing in the same place and looking very depressed
Leela: Actually, I think I'll go down and prep the detonator. Fry, why don't you take the helm?
He looks up, surprised. Then he slowly shakes his head and gives her a sad smile.
Fry: I don't think I should be flying right now. I'll just stay in my cabin until we get home.
He starts to walk to the door, but she steps into his path
Leela: (slightly worried) Fry? Are you sure you're going to be alright?
Fry: I'll be fine. I just need some time alone to think.
Nodding, she moves out of his way. Once he's gone, she sits in the pilot's seat and looks over her shoulder at Bender
Leela: Well, it looks like you're going to get your wish of blowing up this quadrant of space. Go down to the hold and set the timer.
Bender: (giddy) Finally something I can't be blamed and/or punished for.
The robot skips out, clapping his hands and laughing. Leela shakes her head and flies them away from the nebula, turning to get a good view of the explosion. Then her hand goes to her mouth as she sees I LOVE YOU, LEELA before her, spelled out with stars. All at once, she understands
Leela: That's what he...the one thing men always talk about doing, he actually did. For me. (gasps) He has to see this. I can't let him think he tricked me.
She runs off the bridge and down the corridor, her boots squeaking as she halts before Fry's door and knocks
Fry: (muffled) Who is it?
Leela: (trying to restrain herself) It's me. Listen, I just saw something interesting and you should take a look too.
Fry: (still muffled) Uh...I don't know.
She sighs, leaning her head on the door
Leela: It'll only be a few seconds. And after if you still want to be left alone, I won't axe you for anything, I promise. (softly) Please?
After a few seconds, the door opens
Fry: (smiling) You know you can always ask me for anything, Leela. So, what did you want me to see?
Before she can answer, Bender starts the countdown
Bender: Detonation in three...
She goes wide eyed
Leela: (thinking) No!
Bender: Two...
She grabs Fry's hand and dashes, dragging him with her
Bender: One...
Leela slams her palm into the door switch with an accompanying 'boom' from outside. The pair get to the window just in time to see the last few stars dissipate into the resulting black hole. She stares, slack jawed, unable to form words. The only sound from Fry is a low whistle
Fry: Wow...that was cool. Too bad we couldn't see the whole thing.
Leela: (thinking) You have no idea. (sniffs) Fry?
He turns to face her and notices she's on the verge of tears
Fry: Hey, what's wrong?
She shakes her head and slowly wraps her arms around his waist, sobbing quietly into his shoulder. After a brief period of not being sure what to do, he hugs her and pats her back.
Fry: Come on, Captain. Whatever's bothering you, I'm sure it'll turn out okay.
Just then the ship bucks and the two of them fall into a console. The lights on the bridge flicker, then die and Leela groans
Leela: Now what?
She wipes her eye and plants herself in her seat, flipping the intercom on. Fry moves to stand next to her
Leela: Bender? What's going on down there?
Cut to the engine room. Bender stands with a dented tire iron in his hand and the left engine is in pieces behind him
Bender: Would you believe me if I said nothing?
Leela: No
Bender: In that case, I broke the left engine.
He puffs a cigar
Leela: Why?
Bender: Well, after blowing up a whole nebula I kinda felt like I was on a violence roll. So, I kept going.
Cut back to the bridge and a rather calm looking Leela given the circumstances
Leela: Well now you can go on a fixing spree. You're repairing that engine. Alone.
Bender: What?! Like hell I am. Do you know how long that'll take?
Leela: Take your time. (smiling at Fry) There's no rush.
Bender: Can I at least ge-.
She flicks the switch down, cutting him off. Then she stands and takes Fry's hand
Leela: Come on. While he's working we can get some rest.
She leads him to her cabin and he gladly follows, but when they get to the door he tugs her back
Fry: Okay, what's going on?
Leela: What do you mean?
Fry: You pretty much told me you'd never have romantic feelings for me. It's not even ten minutes later and well...(he looks at their hands, then the door, then back at her) So what's going on?
She smiles and gives his fingers a reassuring squeeze
Leela: You told me whatever was bothering me would turn out okay.
Fry: Yeah?
Leela: It turns out you were right.
She leads him in and to the side of her bed, only letting him go to lie down. He doesn't move and she pats the spot next to her
Leela: I'm not going to bite.
He hesitates, then sits. Without a word, he kicks off his shoes and lies on his back. Realizing how nervous he must be, Leela scoots closer and rests her head on his shoulder. For a few minutes, the room is as silent as it is dark. Then she shivers. Fry pulls her closer on instinct and lays his hand on her hip. She looks down at his hand and moves up to lean on her elbow
Leela: (softly) Fry?
Fry: (thinking) Oh, I'm boned. (clears his throat) Yeah Leela?
She lowers her head and kisses him, pulling away just as he closes his eyes. Chuckling gently, she nuzzles into his neck and thinks about the message that's now burned into her memory
Leela: (yawns) I love you, too.
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