Laundry Wars

An Alleycat Crew Short

The argument had been raging for a solid five minutes, loud enough that anyone monitoring the ship’s internal comms would have assumed a full-blown mutiny was underway.

“What’d I say!” Kash barked, scowling hard.

“Something stupid, obviously!” Calynn shouted back, hands on her hips.

“You always do this!”

“And you always make me!”

Their voices echoed down the corridor. To the untrained ear it sounded like they were two seconds away from throwing punches. In reality, this was Tuesday.

Kash took a step forward, voice rising. “Woman, if you don’t…”

Calynn cut him off. “If I don’t what?”

“I’m not going to tell you again!”

“You haven’t said anything the first time yet!”

The tension was thick. Kash’s jaw was clenched. Calynn’s eyes were narrowed. They stared each other down like rival captains about to draw weapons.

Then Calynn did what she always did when she wanted to win.

She used her link and shut down the ship.

Every light in The Cat died. The hum of the engines dropped to silence. Emergency strips flickered on, casting long shadows down the hallway. The temperature began its slow descent.

Kash’s eyes surveyed the room before landing back on hers.

“You did not just cut power to the whole damn ship.”

Calynn crossed her arms, looking far too pleased with herself. “I’m not turning it back on until you let go of the basket.”

Kash looked down.

He was still gripping the laundry basket like it was a life raft.

“It’s my damn turn!” he growled, refusing to release it.

Calynn raised one eyebrow. The ship stayed dark.

The silence stretched.

Kash’s stubbornness finally cracked. He let out a long, theatrical sigh and tossed the basket down at her feet.

“Fine. You win, you evil, manipulative, beautiful pain in my… I mean love of my life.”

Calynn’s entire face lit up. She dropped the basket, launched herself at him, and plastered him with kisses — fast, happy, slightly victorious kisses all over his face and neck.

“You’re so cute when you lose,” she murmured between kisses.

Kash grumbled, but his arms were already wrapped tightly around her waist.

“I let you win,” he muttered.

“Sure you did, flyboy.”

She kissed him properly this time, slow and deep, as the lights began flickering back on around them. The hum of the engines and HLD restarted much too quickly. She never actually shut them down. She just made it sound like she did.

Kash noticed, of course.

“You little cheat,” he laughed against her mouth.

“Who, me?” Calynn grinned, unrepentant.

She pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes.

“I’ll let you do the laundry next week… maybe,” she shrugged and giggled.

“I will get my turn or you will suffer my wrath,” Kash said like an overly dramatic character in a movie, pumping his fist for effect.

“See if your wrath can pour me some tea,” Calynn said, releasing him, patting his chest, and reaching for the basket.

“Whatever.” Kash chuckled and turned to walk away.

“Wait…” she said sweetly, tugging at the hem of his shirt. “Strip first. I want to wash those too.”

Kash groaned, but the smile on his face said he wasn’t really complaining.

“Yes, dear.”