(Wasn't ready for that one)

Sulu collapsed onto his cot, dead tired after today’s practically grueling and, as always, unexpected battle with, yet another, Klingon Bird of Prey.

Those Klingons . . . They really do hate the Enterprise and her Captain, don’t they?

Groaning softly, he curled into a ball, trying to force himself asleep. Sulu had been one of the first released, on the basis of his ‘inexplicable and irreplaceable duties at the controls.’ Just to quote the captain.

Even after all the stress and exhaustion that was required in his line of work, Sulu could not get his eyes to close and stay closed. Rather tiresome in itself.

He sighed, stretching out on his stomach, hugging the pillow awkwardly under his chin. Sulu stared at the door leading to the hall blankly, half-hoping to bore himself into slumber.

It was not working.

And still was not when Chekov walked in, looking oddly refreshed. The Russian smiled broadly at him. “Great job out zere!”

“Augh.” Sulu buried his face in the pillow, the energy blinding him.

Though Sulu could not see Chekov’s expression, the concern was evident in his voice.

“Hikaru? Hikaru, are you alright?” A hand landed on him, fingers performing an unconscious circular motion on Sulu’s shoulder blades.

“Yes, yes.” Sulu relaxed under the motions, tension leaving his body at the simple touch. “Just turn down the lights. I am quite tired.”

“Da.” Chekov’s hand moved, leaving Sulu feeling slightly disappointed. “Lights, dim.”

After a moment, Sulu lifted his head catching sight of Chekovs’ faintly lit face.

“Better?”

“Much,” Smiling at the other, Sulu rolled onto his side, his back pressing against the wall. When Chekov started to move to leave he motioned to him. “Hey, come here.”

Chekov’s head tilted slightly. “Um, vhat?”

Chuckling, Sulu reached out and grabbed Chekov’s arm, pulling him onto his bed without warning. “Sleep with me, it has been a long day.”

Biting his lip, Chekov stiffened. “Vhat- vhatever you vant.” He relaxed a bit, moving closer. “You do realize I am not tired, correct?” His head tilted upward to look Sulu in the face, limited light or not.

“Yes, yes.” Sulu settled down, his eyelids finally growing heavy and falling shut. “Door, Secure.” Sulu yawned, shifting slightly. “Good night Pavel.” His arms wrapped around Chekov’s waist, holding him in place.

Resigning himself for the night, Chekov let an arm drape over Sulu’s shoulder, the other curling between them. “Good night.”

There were a few moments of silence in which Sulu almost feel asleep. Then Chekov decided to speak again, in a very subdued tone.

“Ya lyublyu, Hikaru.”

Blinking rapidly now, Sulu felt like a bolt of electricity just shot through his body, forcing all sleep from his system in an instant.

“Pavel?” He moved, his face now hovering directly in front of Chekov’s. He could feel the translator embedded in his forearm start to try to process the man’s words. Later he would have to remember to get that checked out. “What did you just say?”

With heat practically radiating off Chekov, he stammered a reply, both hands now against the other man’s chest. “Ah, vell, um, I zought zat you vere a-asleep.” His accent started to make his words unintelligent.

“Doesn’t matter.” Sulu shifted closer, their noses brushing. “I wasn’t. Now,” He smiled, arms tightening around the smaller man’s body. “Tell me again, what did you say?”

“Ah,” Chekov bit his lip, unable to look away. “I- I said, zat- zat y-ya lyublyu v-vas?”

The translator suddenly kicked in, supplying his mind with the Federation translation.

Pressing his lips fully against Chekov’s, Sulu rolled over on top of him. “Love you too, Pavel.”

“Mmmm.”

(Take it back to square one)

[Academy]

Chekov was worried. And for a good reason.

Earlier that night, he and his roommate snuck out of their dorm to have a good night on the town, despite that it was a Wednesday. But on the way back they ended up collapsing onto a bench in the middle of some park.

And now, as he reopened his eyes, feeling slightly more aware of his surrounding, he came to a stunning conclusion.

The guy he liked was currently using his lap as a pillow.

Not only that, but his face was faced toward Chekov.

He bit his lip. This was a bad situation. Hikaru Sulu was dangerously close to learning about his unnatural admiration.

Chekov shifted uncomfortably, fingers clutching uselessly at the flat bottom of the bench he was currently seated at.

Sulu made a small noise and moved with him, his arms moving up to wrap loosely around the Russians waist.

“Rodina.” Chekov flushed a dark red, his body going rigid.

This was really, really bad situation.

After a tense moment, he tentatively placed a hand on Sulu’s shoulder. “Sulu. Vake up.”

The teen stirred, groaning. “Wassat?” Tilting his head to the side, Sulu cast Chekov a sleepy gaze. “Chekov?”

Chekov nodded, “Da.” He resisted to urge to shift and move.

Sulu yawned, and laid his head back on Chekov’s thigh. “Give me five more minutes . . . Then I’ll go to class . . .”

“Sulu!” He spoke with a higher pitch then he meant too. “Ve- ah,”

Sulu was looking at him again, slightly alarmed. When Chekov didn’t speak further, he looked around. “Hey, where are we?” He sat up, stretching as he did so. “Oh,” He grinned at Chekov. “Right. We should get back, huh?” Sulu patted Chekov’s leg.

Chekov let out an unwelcome squeak. “Yes! Ve should!” He started to stand, then sat back down just as suddenly, hands covering his lap. “In a moment.”

Sulu gave him a funny look. “Chekov?” He looked worried. “Are you okay?” Brushing hair from Chekov’s face, Sulu pressed their foreheads together. “You don’t feel warm.”

Fretting, Chekov darted the last inch forward, pressing their lips together.

In the next moment, he was pressing hard against the back of the bench. “Sorry.” Chekov looked away. “I- I not mean to-”

Chekov then found himself surprised when Sulu returned the gesture.

“Ah- ah.” Chekov, for the first time in his life so far, was utterly speechless. He didn’t know how to react.

Sulu smiled at him slyly. “I thought I’d have to pin you down and ravish you before you’d do anything.”

It took just a few seconds for the words to sink in.

“Vou knew!” Chekov surged forward without thinking, knocking the Asian back and off the bench. “Vou knew and vet vou say nozing?”

Sulu looked up at Chekov incredulously from his spot on the ground. “We live in the Academy where relations between students is strictly forbidden.” He scoffed and pushed up on his elbows. “I can’t exactly walk up to you in the hallways in front of others and say ‘Hey, Chekov, buddy. Guess what? I like guys too, wanna date?’”

Chekov felt indignant. “Vou ‘ave say somezing in our room.” The rush of happiness he had expected to experience if Sulu liked him back failed to show. “Vou ‘ave say somezing.”

Pulling himself up, Sulu kneeled by Chekov’s feet. “I’m sorry Chekov. I didn’t mean to go behind your back of anything.” He grinned easily. “Plus, I didn’t know if you liked me back or not.”

Chekov opened his mouth to argue more, but Sulu silenced it in such a way that Chekov knew he could come to enjoy.

When they broke apart, Sulu brushed the back of his hand against the other’s cheek. “All that matters is that we’re both in agreement now, right?”

Chekov pouted for a moment, then smiled. “Da. Guess so.”

Gotta get it back to
A backup plan to find you

Sulu smiled, catching sight of Chekov in the Rec Room. He started to go to him when he saw who Chekov was keeping company.

He was with a woman, Sulu didn’t know her name, and she was considerably pretty by most standards. Brown hair piled on top of her head in a new fashion, blue uniform hugging her curves and showing enough leg for men to double take, face made up to look pleasing but not artificial.

It would seem that Chekov had noticed by the way he laughed lightly, not loudly like he did with other guys, and the way he gently touched her face.

Not that Chekov himself wasn’t handsome. In fact it seemed that many women about the USS Enterprise, and various planets they traveled to, found him quite charming. His dark hair brushed off to one side with stray locks turning away from place rebelliously, golden uniform top tight enough to show the result of his workouts, smile always present and inviting to anyone.

Seems she was taken in by his charm as well, with the way her hand was resting on the Russians arm as they spoke and by the way her eyes fluttered periodically.

Sulu turned away and walked to another part of the room. He sat down, running a hand through his black hair in agitation, silently berating himself for being like this.

Why couldn’t he just like Uhura? She was a nice girl and she seemed to like him okay.

Leaning back in his chair, Sulu put on a smile, not wanting anyone knowing what was wrong.

Unable to stop himself, Sulu glanced at Chekov to see him shake his head and for her to give him a sad expression. Then she inclined forward and kissed his cheek before walking away, fingers trailing down his arm.

Chekov shook his head again, and then turned in Sulu’s direction.

Sulu’s gaze snapped to the girl. She walked from the room, leaving him alone with the man she’d just been talking with.

“’ey Hikaru.”

Sulu couldn’t help but feel a rush of giddy happiness when Chekov said his name. He always made a point to pronounce the ‘H’ he usually dropped.

“Hello Pavel.” He stood and moved to stand with the other near the room’s viewer. For a moment they looked at the stars on the screen in silence.

Chekov spoke first. “Nice girl.”

Sulu’s smile dimmed a bit. “Looked like it.”

There was another bout of neither speaking.

Chekov broke it again. “Lights, dim.”

The lights in the room did as they were told and the room neared darkness.

“Zey’re beautiful.” Chekov said, still facing the stars that were more visible now.

“They are.” Sulu agreed, feeling the warmth of Chekov’s arm near his. The Russian shifted, leaving their arms pressed together. “But so are other things.” Sulu spoke tentatively.

“Da.” Chekov replied. “I turned ‘er do’n.”

Sulu turned his head to study Chekov’s barely light profile. “Why are you telling me?”

Chekov turned towards him, but didn’t say a word.

Sulu felt fingers brush his own and he reacted without thinking.

The next thing, Chekov was against the viewer, Sulu pinning him there, hands on either side of his shoulders. “Stop teasing me.” Sulu whispered before their lips met.

Parting his lips against Chekov’s, he licked the Russians bottom lip. When the mouth opened for him, Sulu didn’t know how to react.

A tongue moved out to greet him, touching Sulu’s almost delicately before hands were sliding through his hair and pulling him closer, making the kiss deeper.

Sulu groaned and pressed his body closer, aching to touch the other.

There was a noise from the direction of the door and they pulled apart before it could open.

Sulu automatically reached up and smoothed his hair, noting how mussed it had gotten.

A few people entered but the lights stayed dim, sounded like all they wanted to do was talk.

Sulu stared pointedly at the viewer, knowing Chekov was standing beside him once again.

His mouth opened to apologize but before the words could get out, fingers brushed his.

Sulu’s teeth clicked closed and he turned his hand just a fraction.

Chekov’s hands moved against his and his fingers laced his Sulu’s, gently squeezing his hand.

Smiling, Sulu returned the gesture.

Start acceleration
Take it back to square one

[Kirk/Spock]

Kirk couldn’t help but notice that every step forward he took with Spock, Spock would take two steps back. The only time Kirk could learn anything about the Vulcan was when he was against a wall and couldn’t escape with his logic or tactical diversions.

It wasn’t helpful that Spock seemed to know everything about him though. Kirk couldn’t pull any ‘You tell me something, I’ll tell you something’ crap.

So, every time Kirk learned something new about his First Officer, he was forced to backtrack and start all over again. Only with a bit more knowledge.

Which made their relationship with each other all the more exasperating.

Currently, he was on his elbows, looking over at the Vulcan asleep beside him. His back hurt and his head screamed at him to sleep, but he couldn’t, he wanted to figure it out.

This aspect of their relationship started without warning and without incident. Almost as if they’ve always known this was going to happen.

Kirk shook his head, this was getting off track. What did he know about Spock? A handful of facts about his race sure. A couple of things about his family. But the man himself?

He knew Spock didn’t like clowns, but that was something he had learned as a teenager when they shared not only a dorm at Starfleet Academy but also a cell at Starfleet.

Aside from that? Very little.

Sighing, Kirk collapsed face first into the pillow, his aching muscles getting the better of him.

Square one or not, Kirk mussed as Spock turned in his sleep and curled an arm across his back, he had seen more of this Vulcan than any other could dream for.