reddwarfslash | Accidental Fairytale:Chapter Two

So um, here's the second chapter of my little fic. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter and I hope you enjoy this part.

Title: Accidental Fairytale: Chapter Two
Author: epic_rhythm
Pairing: Rimmer/Lister
Rating: PG
Summary: The boys make another visit to the AR room.
Disclaimer: I don't own Red Dwarf. If I did, I'd have much more interesting things to do then sit here writing fanfic.

Accidental Fairytale: Chapter Two

Lister sat alone in the cockpit, his mind still reeling from the events of the afternoon. He’d kissed Rimmer. Admittedly Rimmer had been unconscious for most of it but it still counted as a kiss. It had been a few months since Lister had noticed a dramatic change in his feelings towards the hologram. Sure, he still thought Rimmer behaved like a smeghead most of the time, but Lister had seen glimpses of a truly wonderful man behind the condescending attitude and he soon found he couldn’t get the older man out of his head. It was only a matter of time before he began dreaming about him instead of Kochanski.

Rimmer’s lips had felt just like he’d dreamed they’d feel. And even Rimmer being unconscious reminded him of that one dream…hang on, something wasn’t right…he’d dreamt about that kiss before. Suddenly it hit Lister. Everything about the world in the game was exactly like one of Lister’s dreams. Normally when they went into a game their clothes changed to suit their environment. When they’d ventured into Snow White’s forest they were all still wearing their normal clothes. And when Lister had looked at his watch, Holly had shrugged. The Holly in Lister’s dream had had shoulders and so had the Holly in the world they’d visited.

“What the smeg is going on?” Lister said to no one but himself.

He decided he’d better tell the others what he’d discovered before they decided to try any of the other disks.

Circumstances out of his control meant that he didn’t get a chance to talk to everyone until dinner time. Kryten had just sat down when Lister began to speak.

“Look, I know this is gonna sound a bit weird but I don’t think those disks are AR games.”

“What makes you say that?” Cat asked.

“It’s just…that world we visited today…it was exactly like one of me dreams. Everything that happened, even what we said to each other…I’d dreamt it all before.”

Rimmer wrinkled his nose in disgust.

“You dreamt about kissing me?”

If only you knew, Lister thought. Keen not to let on to Rimmer just how often he had dreamt about kissing him, Lister glared across the table.

“I say ‘dream’, it was more of a nightmare.”

“But Mr. Lister, that doesn’t make any sense,” Kryten exclaimed.

“I know man, it’s just weird is all I’m saying. I just think we ought to check it out before using one of them disks again,” Lister replied as Holly appeared on her screen.

“Holly,” Lister said, “Can you run some tests on those disks you found?”

“Okay Dave, won’t take a minute.”

An hour later Holly’s blonde head reappeared on the screen.

“Okay boys, here’s the deal. Those disks weren’t AR games after all.”

The four men gazed at Holly expectantly but the computer said no more.

“Well…what were they then?” Rimmer asked eventually.

“Old disks from the dream recorder,” she said nonchalantly.

“But that’s impossible,” Kryten remarked, “If they were disks from the dream recorder how come we were able to enter them?”

“Don’t know,” Holly replied, “Must be an extra feature we never knew about. Or possibly a malfunction in the programming. Either way, you can use those disks to enter your dreams just like an AR game. The game ends when you reach the end of the dream.”

Cat and Lister’s eyes immediately glazed over and they both jumped up from the table.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s live out some dreams!”

“Mr. Lister, are you sure that’s a good idea? We still don’t know what dreams are on the disks and there’s no guarantee you’ll get a good one,” Kryten asked, concern etched across his face.

“Kryten’s right,” Rimmer said, “It’s too dangerous. And even if it weren’t dangerous there’s no way I’m venturing into your dreams, not after this afternoon. God only knows the filth that goes on in that head of yours Lister. No way.”

But Cat and Lister were already opening the door to the AR room.

“It’ll be fine. Stop worrying so much,” Lister said, making his way over to the box of disks and picking one out at random.

“Man, I hope we get my dream about the two ginger models and the tub of ice cream,” Cat said, licking his lips in anticipation.

The two sat down in their chairs and looked over to where Kryten and Rimmer were stood in the doorway.

“You cowards comin’ or what?” Lister asked.

Kryten muttered something about protecting Mr. Lister and obediently sat down. Rimmer remained stationary for a few more moments before relenting and sitting down opposite Lister. Lister inserted the disk and waiting for Holly to start up the game. Within seconds the room began to spin.

Lister closed his eyes and when he opened them he was sat at a table in what appeared to be a 21^st century nightclub. He glanced up at Kryten and immediately burst out laughing. The mechanoid’s usual black surface had been replaced by a shiny silver suit decorated with tiny black stars. On his head was a flashing pair of devil horns. Kryten noticed Lister laughing and looked around to see what was so amusing.

“Is something wrong Mr. Lister?”

“Krytes man, what happened to you?”

Kryten never got a chance to answer because at that moment the Cat bounded up looking like, well, the cat who got the cream.

“Evenin’ fellas. Man, am I looking nice or what?”

Lister looked the cat up and down before nodding. Cat’s pants were made of shiny black leather and they clung to him like a second skin. The mesh shirt he was wearing showed off his toned stomach and his hair was perfectly smoothed back and sparkled with just a hint of glitter. Lister had to admit, the Cat looked good.

“You look great Cat. Have you seen Rimmer anywhere?”

Cat shook his head.

“Sorry bud, I haven’t seen him anywhere.”

Cat span around before sitting down next to Kryten and began scanning the crowded dance floor for a suitable ‘lady friend’. Lister was just about to go and look for Rimmer when he noticed Kryten and Cat staring at something behind him. He turned around to see what they were looking at and had to fight very hard to control himself.

Rimmer was standing in front of him wearing a pair of tight blue jeans that hugged all the right places, a sleeveless green shirt that stretched tight across his chest, and looking, in Lister’s mind, like sex on legs. Trying to pretend he didn’t want to kiss Rimmer in his own dream had been hard enough, how on earth was he going to keep his eyes off him when Rimmer was dressed like that?

“Rimmer!” Lister exclaimed, inwardly wincing at how high his voice sounded, “You look…different.”

Rimmer chuckled.

“You obviously haven’t seen yourself then,” he responded.

Lister suddenly realised that whilst he had had a great laugh at Kryten’s expense and marveled at the Cat’s outfit, he had no idea what he himself was wearing. Half dreading it, he glanced down and found himself pleasantly surprised. He was wearing black drainpipe trousers and a form-fitting black silk shirt. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone and around his wrists were a couple of silver chains.

“Interesting,” he remarked before gesturing to Rimmer to sit down.

The four sat quietly for a moment before Cat let out a disgruntled sigh.

“I don’t get it. Where are all the women?”

Lister looked out to the dance floor and realised with a shock that it was full of men. Sweaty men, grinding against each other and doing things that Lister felt really shouldn’t be done in public. He swallowed heavily and looked over at Rimmer, who was blushing a bright red.

“Umm Cat…I think we’re in a gay bar.”

“A gay bar? What the hell are we doing here?”

Lister shrugged.

“Well, there is one way to find out. We could ask the person whose dream this is,” Kryten suggested.

The four men looked at each other but no one seemed willing to own up. Lister sighed.

“Right, well if no one’s going to own up to it, we’re stuck. We can’t get out of here until we complete the dream.”

Still no one spoke.

“Fine. If we’re stuck here, I’m getting a drink. Anyone want one?”

Cat and Rimmer nodded and Lister headed off to the bar. Rimmer glanced over at Cat and Kryten who were deep in conversation about something before following Lister. He soon caught up with Lister and the pair stood waiting at the bar. Lister was just about to order when Rimmer reached over and grabbed his arm.

“Lister…this is my dream,” Rimmer mumbled, avoiding Lister’s eyes and blushing.

“What Rimmer? I can’t hear you,” Lister said, leaning closer so he could hear Rimmer properly.

“I said, this is my dream.”

Much to Rimmer’s surprise, Lister said nothing, just sort of smiled and turned back to the bar to order the drinks. When he’d placed the order he turned back to Rimmer.

“So what happens next?”

Rimmer looked out to the dance floor, still avoiding Lister’s eyes.

“We dance,” Rimmer said quietly.

“We dance?” Lister questioned.

Rimmer nodded.

“At first it’s just you. Everyone’s watching you; they can’t take their eyes off you and you know it. They all want to be the one to dance with you but you keep on dancing alone. And then our eyes meet and you walk over to me. You ask me to dance and I accept. Now they’re watching both of us and they’re all so jealous because you could have any guy in the room and you chose me. And we dance.”

By this time Lister was blushing a little as well.

“Rimmer, have you ever seen me dance? If I go out there they’ll be staring at me all right but it won’t be because they want to dance with me.”

Rimmer let out a nervous chuckle.

“Something tells me you’ll be alright.”

When the drinks arrived Lister sculled his beer down in one go, clearly nervous about the whole situation.

“So if I go out there and dance, then ask you to join me …we’ll be able to leave then? I mean, you didn’t dream anything more than that did you?” he asked, half hoping that there was more to the dream.

Rimmer shook his head.

“Just dancing,” he said.

Lister let out a breath he didn’t realise he was holding. Damn.

“Just dancing…I think I can handle that. You up for it?”

“Do I have a choice?”

Lister chose not to answer that. Instead he wiped his hands nervously on the back of his pants and looked up at Rimmer.

“Well, wish me luck.”

“Good luck,” Rimmer replied, grabbing his and Cat’s drinks and heading back to the table.

Lister on the other hand headed out to the dance floor, letting his body get used to the music before beginning to sway slightly. The song changed and more upbeat rhythm started pounding through the small room. Lister took a deep breath and began to dance. Lister wasn’t sure whether Rimmer’s dream was affecting his dancing skills or whether he was simply a better dancer than he remembered, but he was really getting into it. He glanced around and much to his surprise people were beginning to take notice. Fighting the urge to run at the foreign feeling of having a crowd of men staring hungrily at him, Lister forced himself to keep on dancing. Lister peered through the crowd, trying to find Rimmer. When he finally located him he couldn’t help noticing the looks of shock on Cat and Kryten’s faces. Obviously Rimmer hadn’t told them about the plan. Smirking slightly, Lister made his way through the crowd and stopped in front of Rimmer.

“Care to dance?”

Even though he knew they were only pretending, Rimmer blushed and accepted Lister’s offered hand. Cat stared at Lister in horror but said nothing. The pair made their way back to the middle of the dance floor and Lister stepped closer to Rimmer, wrapping his arms around the taller man’s shoulders and beginning to sway. He smiled as he felt Rimmer’s arms wrap awkwardly around his waist. It took them a while to get used to dancing together but once they did Lister found he was rather enjoying himself. Once he’d gotten over the general weirdness of the situation, he found the whole experience of being stared at rather flattering. He had to keep reminding himself however, that he was only being stared at because Rimmer had dreamt it like that. And it was taking all the self control he had not to trail his hands down Rimmer’s back and maybe even beyond. Shaking his head to rid himself of inappropriate thoughts, Lister raised his head so he could look at Rimmer and was somewhat surprised to see something like pain in the hologram’s eyes.

“Rimmer, are you all right?”

Rimmer nodded.

“Fine Listy, absolutely fine,” Rimmer replied.

Lister could tell he was lying but decided it would be best not to press the issue.

“So, how long do we have to dance for?”

“Just until the end of the song,” Rimmer replied.

Lister nodded.

They danced the rest of the song in silence. As soon as the song ended Rimmer let go of Lister and the room began to swirl. Before they knew it they were back in the AR room. Rimmer ripped his belt off and jumped out of the chair, rushing out of the room without saying a word. Lister took his time, knowing he’d have to explain to Cat and Kryten what had just happened. Sure enough, when he removed his helmet they were looking at him expectantly.

“Don’t ask me, it was Rimmer’s dream,” he said.

Cat and Kryten seemed to accept that what had happened was the result of Rimmer’s screwed up mind and so said no more. Lister sighed and stood up. He supposed he ought to talk to Rimmer. He’d definitely seemed upset about something and Lister knew he’d be embarrassed at having this particular dream exposed.

Lister found Rimmer in the room they shared. The hologram was laid on his bunk, head facing the wall.

“Rimmer,” Lister said quietly, “Are you ok man? If it’s about the dream, don’t worry about it. We all have silly dreams sometimes. I mean look at me! I dreamt we were all characters in Snow White.”

Rimmer made a strangled sound and Lister realised he was crying. Lister made his way over to Rimmer’s bunk and sat down, wishing he could reach out and touch the older man.

“Rimmer, what is it?”

“It’s just not fair Lister. I’ve been waiting my whole life for something like that to happen and when it did it was all just part of some stupid game,” Rimmer sobbed.

“What, you mean the dancing?” Lister asked.

“Yes,” Rimmer replied.

“You mean you’ve never danced before?” Lister asked incredulously.

Rimmer shook his head.

“But I…” Lister began, but he found he didn’t quite know what he wanted to say.

“Just leave me alone Lister. You’ve caused enough trouble already.”

Lister knew Rimmer was just upset but he found himself responding anyway.

“Me? What did I do?”

“It was your stupid dream that started all this. It was your dream that made you kiss me.”

“So that’s what this is about? You’re upset because I kissed you? I told you Rimmer, I didn’t have a choice. It was either kiss you or spend the rest of my life in Snow White’s forest.”

Rimmer let out a strangled cry.

“You just don’t get it do you? I’m not upset because you kissed me. I’m upset because I enjoyed it. Because I’ve wanted you to kiss me for months now and I know that the only reason you kissed me, the only reason you’d ever kiss me, was to save your stupid life.”

Suddenly Rimmer’s behaviour made sense. Lister took a deep breath.

“You wanted me to kiss you?”

A few seconds passed and then Rimmer ever so slightly nodded his head. Lister abruptly stood up and without another word, he left the room.