The Cadet

Bliss

Bliss has always been fleeting for me.

It didn't matter if I spent an entire evening wrapped up in Spock's arms, it was never enough for me.

Weeks passed by quickly, and graduation was quickly approaching. If I wasn't with Spock "studying" I was over at Leonard's or with Mikael, doing some grind work. Spock and I were careful about how much we saw each other, and honestly I did do a lot of studying when I was with him. I told him it was easier to study alien anatomy if I could see it in real life.

He promptly told me how illogical that was as my textbooks showed anatomy in plenty of detail.

It was the last days of finals, and soon I would be taking my comprehensive and placement exams. As excited as I was, I was also terrified that I wouldn't place as high as I want to. Beyond the academy, my last name carries a lot of weight in Starfleet, which meant eyes were going to be on me the moment I left.

There was a lot expected of me.

I was sitting in the quad, enjoying the warm spring weather when Mikael joined me, his face contorted into a mixture of anger and shame.

"What is eating at you?" I asked, putting my study materials to the side to listen to Mikael. He huffed, his hands quickly finding my own on the table.

"Cherie, please promise me that if you have the opportunity to sleep with a professor to get a better grade, you take it." he said very bluntly, his eyes sparkling with mischief and sincerity. I nearly choked on the saliva in my mouth when he said that, a small bubble of panic tried to force its way up my throat.

"What?" I said, choking down the anxiety as I watched Mikael's face turn into stress.

"I'm going to fail my Stellar Cartography class unless some miracle comes down and blesses me. Or I go down and bless them." he says jokingly, stress still evident in his voice.

I relaxed slightly, and almost chuckled to myself.

Oh if only he knew...

"Oh Mikael, so worrisome. You'll be fine, you always are." I reassured, giving his hands a squeeze. "Besides, I don't think your married professor is going to suddenly leave you and forget about his gorgeous Orion wife and six children for some knob polishing."

"Hey!" he said indignantly, his usual mischief returning to his face. "I have the shiniest doorknobs on campus!" he says proudly, puffing his chest out.

I laughed, swatting away an imaginary bee, "See! I knew you'd be fine. You're already back to your usual quips."

He glared at me, but offered a smile that told me that he was feeling better. "What are you working on?"

I looked down at the Calculus notes on the table, stressed that it would be my toughest exam. Part of me knew that I would be fine, and that Spock wouldn't do that to me. On the other hand of things, I could totally see him failing me just to piss me off.

"Calculus, I've only got a few exams left before I take my placement test." I said, giving my arms a quick rub as if to warm them. "It's getting real."

"Mon chere, wherever you go-" Mikael said, taking my hands in his again. "- you will exceed any expectations. It's what you've always done." He said, giving a quick peck to my forefinger.

"Cadet McLaren."

I nearly jumped out of my seat from a deep baritone voice practically yelling at me from across the quad.

I turned to watch Spock stomp across the quad, eyes fixated on Mikael's hand over mine. "Shit-" I murmur, looking quickly to Mikael and offering him a smile. "I think I've done something, might wanna scram before you become collateral damage." I say. Mikael wastes no time gathering his things and leaving as Spock approaches.