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"Surrounded By Stars" Author - Kathy Rose | Genre - First Time | Genre - Humor |
Main Story | Rating - PG-13
Trip * Malcolm Fanfic Home Sequel to: Mooning
Over Malcolm A/N: OK to archive, just ask first, OK? *~*~*~*~*~*~* Malcolm was on his way to the observation bubble an hour before the time he'd indicated on his note to Trip. He wanted to make sure the place was unoccupied before Trip arrived. If it wasn't, he'd just have to chase out anyone who was there. An unusual chain of events he couldn't have predicted had led to this meeting with Trip. After an unprovoked attack on the ship and a long day of repairing the damage, Trip had unexpectedly kissed him. He'd been taken off guard, able only to watch in speechless amazement as Trip sauntered away after kissing him. Malcolm had spent what was left of that night and part of the next morning considering the possibilities. Once he reached a conclusion, he'd determined a course of action which had included avoiding Trip for two days, making the man wait for his response. Arriving at the observation bubble, Malcolm smirked as he recalled Trip's discomfort when he'd finally cornered him in the turbolift this morning. The tall blond was so nervous that it was all Malcolm could do not to yell "Boo!" and see how far he'd jump. Instead, he'd given Trip a searing kiss, then walked off, just as Trip had done to him. But he'd also inserted a note in Trip's breast pocket when he had kissed him. After that, he'd avoided Trip for the rest of the day. He wanted to prolong the anticipation Trip must be feeling after having read the note telling him to come to the observation bubble tonight. Malcolm found the observation bubble unoccupied. "Bubble" was actually a misnomer, as the room was the size of a large cabin. It was furnished with a long couch and several comfortable chairs, a coffee table and a couple of end tables. The deck was carpeted, which helped dampen sound and make the room seem more intimate. The ceiling, however, was made entirely of the same glass used in the window ports, and an incredible vista of stars was overhead. Very romantic, but he wasn't going to rely on the stars alone to set the mood. He reached into the pack he'd brought along and pulled out four candles of varying sizes. He'd borrowed them from T'Pol, saying he needed them for a ritual. He neglected to tell her it was a dating ritual. If she did figure out that part, he knew she'd be discreet. He found it amusing, in a twisted sort of way, that a woman whose assets he had admired from afar was the person he went to for props to use courting someone else, especially since that someone else was a man. As he placed the candles at strategic spots around the room, doubts began to surface. He'd never wooed a man before. He suspected that a person would go about it the same way as beginning a relationship with a woman. He'd find out in a little while if he was right. After disabling the fire suppression system -- the last thing he wanted was an alarm going off when he lit the candles -- he turned back to the pack and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. He was fairly certain it was Trip's favorite. Next he dug two glasses out of the pack and placed them next to the bottle on the coffee table. His preparations were done and he looked at the chronometer by the door.
Arriving an hour early may have been a mistake, since he still had 54 minutes to
kill. He began to pace. Trip was excited as he got ready for his...OK, call it what it is, he told himself...date. Well, maybe date wasn't the right word. Assignation was more like it. He hadn't been able to think about anything else all day, ever since he'd found the note in his pocket after Malcolm had kissed him. Knowing Malcolm, there would be no one else around when they met. That would be a good thing. If they were going to have a relationship, they needed to discuss some things first, and they didn't need any curious eavesdroppers listening in. Or, it could mean that Malcolm was going to tell him in private that he wasn't interested. No, that couldn't be it. Not after that kiss in the turbolift. Even if Malcolm was going to turn him down, he wouldn't do that in the observation bubble. There weren't too many romantic places on board, and the bubble was at the top of that short list. It was definitely not a place a person would tell someone to meet them only to give him the brush-off, he tried to reassure himself. With a muttered curse, he tossed aside the Hawaiian shirt he'd picked out and grabbed a plain button-down denim shirt from his closet. He knew Malcolm detested the loud shirts he favored for special off-duty occasions. He didn't want to give Malcolm something to not like about him right off the bat. Glancing at the chronometer on his desk as he tucked in the shirt, he felt
his stomach drop. There was only a half hour before he was to meet
Malcolm. Malcolm turned off the lights after lighting the candles. Returning to the coffee table, he opened the bottle and poured some whiskey into each glass. Still ten minutes to go. He looked around the room as he tried to think of anything he might have forgotten, and his gaze came to rest on the glasses again. He grabbed one and downed its contents in a single gulp. As the alcohol warmed his insides, his tense muscles relaxed a fraction, and he sighed. He refilled the glass and set it back on the coffee table, then forced
himself to sit down on the couch. Trip stood nervously outside the observation bubble. He raised his hand to open the door but, at the last second, ran it through his hair instead. He straightened the collar on his shirt, drew a deep breath, and opened the door. The observation bubble was dark, lit only by candles and stars. "Malcolm? You in here?" "Over here." Trip took a step into the room, his eyes adjusting to the low lighting. He made out Malcolm sitting at the far end of the couch. "Nice what you've done with the place," Trip said, and swore silently when his voice cracked on the last word. "Would you please shut the bloody door before every person on this ship knows we're in here with unauthorized fires?" Malcolm asked, a trace of laughter in his voice. "Yeah, sure thing." Trip moved to comply, then turned back to face his friend and possible future
lover. Malcolm sure sounded confident, and the engineer felt what little
confidence he had slip farther away. What had he gotten himself into? Alone, in
the dark, with the most dangerous man on board. Trip came to sit in a chair across the coffee table from him. Even in the near darkness, the tactical officer could tell Trip was anxious. The uncertainty was radiating off the man in almost palpable waves. They were both nervous, Malcolm realized. "Here," he said, picking up one of the glasses and handing it to Trip. "Thanks." Trip took a small sip, sighed appreciatively, and took a longer drink. The engineer looked up, taking in the multitude of stars overhead as the ship sailed along. A long moment passed as Malcolm watched Trip watch the stars. "Sometimes I almost forget why we're out here," Trip said quietly. "Then I look out there. The best thing the designers ever did was to put this observation bubble in." "It's not really a bubble, you know." "Oh, pick, pick, pick." "You're the engineer. You work with exact sciences. You of all people ought to appreciate precision." "Malcolm! You know what--" Trip stopped abruptly when he heard soft laughter. "You did that on purpose," he said accusingly. "Yes, I did," Malcolm admitted. "Got you over your nervousness, didn't I?" Trip stared at him for a moment, then chuckled. "Yeah, you did." Malcolm picked up the bottle and poured more whiskey into Trip's glass. "Ya tryin' to get me drunk?" "Only if I get to take advantage of you." "Well, I guess that means..." Trip's voice trailed off. Malcolm let the engineer stew for a few moments before saying anything. It was funny. Trip was the one who had been eager to start this relationship, but he could read his friend well enough to tell that he couldn't bring himself to ask what Malcolm's decision was. As if it wasn't obvious -- candles, alcohol, the room they were in. Taking pity on Trip, Malcolm said, "Yes, I've decided. I do want something more than friendship with you. At least, I'd like to try." A rush of shyness mixed with embarrassment almost swamped him, but he forged
ahead, thankful that Trip couldn't see his blush in the dimness of the room. "I
should tell you. I've never done anything like this before...with a
man." Trip could hardly believe it. He'd suspected Malcolm had never been with a man before, yet he was acting so self-assured and in charge. But his admission gave Trip's confidence a boost, and he got up to go sit by the other man. He settled carefully on the couch, making sure their bodies didn't touch. He held his hand out and, after a moment's hesitation, Malcolm took it. Trip give it a slight squeeze, not quite sure where to start. "This makes me very happy," he said finally. "Me, too. I think." "Ya think?" "Like I said, I've never done this before. ... Have you?" "Um, yeah. A few times." There was another silence as Trip wondered what Malcolm would make of his admission. He didn't have long to wait. "But..." Malcolm started, then tried again. "I thought you liked...women." "I like men. But I also like women. That a problem for you?" "Ah, no. I rather like women myself." Even in the dimness Trip could see Malcolm's lips curve into a smile. Sitting so close to him, Trip couldn't resist. He slowly leaned toward the other man, closing his eyes just as their lips gently touched. Malcolm remained motionless. Trip tried increasing the pressure, and felt Malcolm's lips part slightly. Encouraged, he carefully ran his tongue along the inner edge of Malcolm's lower lip, tasting the whiskey they had shared, and was rewarded with the softest of growls. Not wanting to rush what he was doing and make Malcolm feel threatened, Trip slowly broke the kiss and leaned back. He opened his eyes to find Malcolm's blue-grey eyes staring at him, an unreadable expression on his face. "Well?" Trip ventured, unsure of the reaction -- or rather, the lack of it -- he was getting from the other man. He saw Malcolm tentatively lick his lower lip. "I'm not sure," the armory officer said. "What?!" Malcolm gave him a wicked grin and reached for him. "Trip, you want to talk too much. I much prefer actions." Trip's last thought as Malcolm claimed his mouth in the same overwhelming
manner as he had in the turbolift was that the wait for Malcolm's decision had
been worth it. Then he gave up thinking, and began to return the kiss in
earnest. "The Morning After" is a continuation of this story
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