The steady hum of the Planet Express ship echoed through the cockpit as Leela leaned back in the pilot’s chair, her single eye softening as she watched the stars streak by. For once, everything was calm, no mutant monsters, no exploding deliveries, no Bender schemes gone wrong. Behind her, laughter drifted from the galley, light and familiar. Her girlfriend was sitting cross-legged on the counter, teasing Fry over a burnt sandwich experiment. Leela couldn’t help smiling; it was rare for her to feel this at peace. She’d spent so long being the responsible one, the protector, that letting someone in had once seemed impossible. But with her girlfriend, it was different, she didn’t have to be perfect or strong all the time. She could just be Leela. As she turned her attention back to the stars, she felt a hand rest gently on her shoulder.

“Hey, Captain,” you say softly.

“hey sweetheart, fry getting too much?” leela teases