When We Met, Chapter 6

[goku-lover21.livejournal.com]

Title: When We Met
Pairing: Ace/Spanners
Beta: techh_ism and my gf
Chapters: 6 of 15?
Rating: PG-13
Summery: Before Ace went Dimension hopping he met a young scouser. One meeting changed their lives forever.
Disclaimer: Red Dwarf isn't mine, and Ace and Spanners are sadly the property of Grant Naylor.

            Lister was almost nineteen. After a long conversation with Ace, Lister joined the Space Corp to master his mechanical skills. Ace was a full pilot now, he flew all over the solar system. He now wore a flight suit most of the time. Lister had to admit, it looked good on the man.

            Lister and Ace tried to spend all their free time together, and somehow their relationship lasted the past few years with little complications. Lister was used to his boyfriend always being gone.

            The academy was harder than Lister thought, and he spent most of his time studying. He had to learn the full anatomy of a plane, and what each part did. His schooling wouldn’t last as long as Ace’s had. Lister would be done when he turned twenty-one, and the academy would assign him his first job. Lister would leave Earth behind. Maybe forever.

            Lister loved Earth. It wasn’t the best of the nine planets and their moons, but it was his home. Whenever Ace was still off base, and Lister had off time he’d go back to his old neighborhood. He’d see his old friends, frequent his favorite bars, even stop by the old orphanage.

            He would miss Earth. Lister knew he had three years before he might leave, but the idea of leaving felt like he was leaving a dear sibling behind to abusive parents. On vacations that corresponded with Ace’s off time, he and Ace would take a shuttle and visit all the major cities on Earth. Ace liked Earth well enough, but it wasn’t his home. Lister knew he couldn’t understand how Lister felt about the Earth, but Ace tried.

            At the moment Lister sat in his dorm room, studying. His eyes were starting to hurt, and the words began to blur. He glanced at the clock. 3 am. Lister rubbed his eyes. He needed sleep. The door burst open and his roommate drunkenly stumbled in. He pulled off his pants and shirt and collapsed on his bunk, ignoring Lister.

            Lister glanced at the clothes. Two years ago he realized he was a slob when he desperately needed a part for repairs, and wasted five hours looking for it. He started being neater. It started with regularly doing laundry, and cleaning up after himself. He already started bathing regularly after getting the mechanic job. Slowly Lister developed a slight case of OCD. It bothered him that his roommate was a slob. Partly he was worried he’d fall back into bad habits, but partly because he started finding his habits disgusting.

            Steve, a twenty year old from America, was a nice guy during the day, but at night his favorite pastime was to get drunk and bring home some girl from the bars. Lister was jealous. He wanted nothing more than to toss his books in the trash, get drunk, and get laid. But unlike Steve, Lister didn’t have parents to pay for the academy. His savings were paying for this, and Ace covered what Lister couldn’t. Lister needed to pass his classes so he could get a better job, and pay Ace back.

            Steve let out a loud snore. Lister glared at him, then sighed. He was becoming a prude. I need a bevvie. He decided. Standing Lister grabbed his jacket and key card, and left the room.

            The base’s bar was almost empty. Lister ordered a lager, and laid his head on the counter. His eyes still hurt. He tried to read the sign across the bar, but his head hurt. Lister decided he was just tired. He drank his lager. Let’s get nicely drunk. Lister thought, and ordered another.

            Ten drinks later the bartender looked like his roommate. Lister stood, his legs not fully cooperating. Somehow he managed to get back to dorm room. Another reason to hate Steve, Lister decided, he got the bottom bunk, while a drunken Lister had to climb up.

            Lister woke up the next morning with a massive headache and on the floor. Steve was staring at him, “What happen to you?”

            “Got drunk.” Lister muttered, sitting up. “Dreamt I made it ter me bed.”

            “When did you have time to get drunk?”

            “After ya came back.”

            “Ah. Pick up any tail?” He winked at Lister.

            Lister laughed, “Nah, jus needed a bevvie.”

            “Who doesn’t wanna get laid, bro?”

            “Not that I didn’t want any, I’m jus’ rather taken already.”

            “So? Not like she’s around that often. Otherwise I would’ve met her.”

            “I’d rather remain faithful. They’d do the same fer me.”

            Steve eyed Lister, and shook his head in disappointment. “Here, for your hangover.” He handed Lister a pill. “This’ll fix ya right up. I gotta head to class. See ya.” And Steve left before Lister could get a good look at the pill and decline.

            The pill happened to be an illegal learning drug which was said to clear up the mind and help one absorb information. Lister briefly considered it, but he dealt with worse hangovers and dropped the pill in the bin.

            No class today, so Lister climbed up the ladder, and collapsed on his bunk, wishing he was in Ace’s more comfortable bed instead.

            When Lister woke up the sun had set, and the light-up clock on his desk read 8:00pm. “Smeg…” Lister rubbed his crusty eyes. His mouth tasted like stale beer, and he could taste his foul breath. He hopped off his bunk and entered the bathroom. Lister dropped his clothes in the overflowing hamper, and stepped into the shower.

            The water was nice. He turned the faucet to hot, to help ease his sore muscles. After he was satisfied with his cleanliness, Lister stepped out the bathroom, towel around his waist. Steve was still out, probably getting drunk again or with some girl. Lister punched down his jealousy, and grabbed clean clothes. He was running low, I shulda done laundry today. Smeg. Lister thought, sniffing a pair of boxers he picked off the floor.

            Dressed, Lister plopped in his study chair. He flipped open the book he was reading last night. “I dun wanna study.” He said to no one. “Shit.” Lister stood back up, grabbed his jacket. I’ll study later. He decided, and left.

            Not wanting to return to the base bar and possibly running into Steve, Lister decided to take a shuttle to Liverpool and visit his favorite bar. He had just enough dollarpounds for the shuttle and maybe one lager. An hour later he stepped into the dimly lit, smoke filled pub. The bartender waved at him as Lister sat. “Tha usual?” he asked, his voice weary and gruff.

            “Yea. Thanks.” Lister felt his buzzing nerves start to calm. The lager appeared in front of him, and he muttered another “thanks.” He took a long drink, letting all his stress disappear.

            “It’s been awhile.” Said a voice to his left.

            Lister turned and recognized the face, but the name escaped him. “Sorry?”

            “You should be. Dave, right?”

            “Yea. I’m sorry, but I don’ remember yer name.”

            “Lise. Where’ve ya been, Dave?”

            “I joined tha Space Corps. I’m in tha Academy right now.”

            “Then what are ya doing here?”

            “Jus’ needed to get out fer a little while.”

            “I understand that. Wanna go somewhere?”

            Lister was about to say he was still taken, but he bit his bottom lip, “Yea, sure.” He dropped his money by his empty glass, and stood. Lise took his arm, and they stepped into the autumn evening. “Come on.” She pulled him towards an empty park.

            There were beer bottles littered on the ground, and trash everywhere, Lister would’ve never brought Ace here. Lise ran over to the swings, sat, and began to swing, “Dave, come on!”

            He walked over, unsure if he should stay. She hopped off the swing, stumbled over to him. Her face was suddenly very close. Lister could smell an assortment of alcohol on her breath. Then she was kissing him. Lister was far from buzzed, but it had been a while since Ace had been back; he was drunk on the touch.

            Lister felt Lise’s hands slide into his jacket, one unbuckling his belt. “No.” Lister grabbed her hands. “I can’t.” he muttered, pulling away.

            Her face was hurt, “Why not?”

            “You’re drunk, and I’m…I’m seeing someone.”

            “Then why did you come with me?”

            “I dunno. I’m sorry. I should go.”

            Lise let a frustrated growl, then stormed off, muttering “Ugh. Men.”

            Lister sat on her vacated swing, “Smeg.” He glanced at his watch, 10:30pm. I should’ve stayed in. Lister sighed. He heard music blaring from a passing car, and glanced upwards. The sky was clear. He could see the faintest stars. They were so far away, Probably already dead. Ace is out there. Somewhere. He imagined seeing Ace’s plane fly by, but he knew it was impossible. Ace’s plane would be too small for him to see from this far away.

            Lister ran a hand through his curls, grabbing one of his long locks and began to chew on it. He heard a group of teens approaching. Lister stood, and began the walk to the shuttle station. He was half way there before he remembered he was out of money. He stopped dead. Only shuttles were allowed on base. Lister was stranded in the small Liverpudlian neighborhood. And he had class tomorrow. “Smeg.”

            Lister reevaluated his situation, but couldn’t find a single solution short of some quick prostitution. Lister cursed. He turned and went back to the pub, he’d ask the bartender for some money, and pay him back his next visit.

            The pub was full of laughing teens, Lister spotted Lise flirting with another guy. She spotted him, shooting him a dirty look. Lister ignored her, he sat at the bar, “Back fer more, Dave?” the bartender asked.

            “Nah, Bob. I have to axe a favor.”

            “Wa’?”

            “Giz a sub?”**

            Bob shook his head, “Oi, Dave.”

            “I’ll pay ya back next time I’m in town.”

            “When will that be?”

            “Coupla weeks. I ‘ave ter be back tonight. I wusn’t thinkin’ when I left.”

            “’ere.” He handed Lister fifty dollarpounds. “Make sure ya pay me back.”

            “Thanks Bob. Yer a life saver.” He pocketed the money, “I could kiss ya.”

            “Ah, jus get outta ‘ere.”

            Lister almost ran out of the pub, picking up speed when he got outside. The Shuttle station closed at midnight. Lister glanced at his watch, 11:15pm, he had time. He ducked between the crowds, bumping into several people. He heard them call at him, ready for a fight, but Lister ignored them.

            At 11:30pm Lister punched the red shuttle button. A tired man poked his head out, “Where ya goin’?”

            “Sp…Space Corp Base.” Lister responded trying to catch his breath. There was a stitch on his side.

            “That’ll be forty dollarpounds.”

            Lister shoved the fifty at the man, who promptly returned ten. “The nex’ shuttle will be here in ten. ‘Ave a seat.” He handed Lister a ticket, and pointed to the benches.

            Sitting on the cold metal benches, Lister thought about his night. If I jus’ stayed in. I mean, wa’ did tonigh’ accomplish? Wa’s my problem? Who cares if Steve’s out getting blitzed ever’ nigh’? Tha’s not ‘o I am anymore. I ‘ave a shot. I need ter get me act togethe’.

            The shuttle arrived, Lister was the only passenger. He handed his ticket to the computer, and took a seat. Tomorrow He resolved, I’m gonna see if I can switch bunkmates, an’ call Ace.


**Can you lend me an advance, some money?