Nobis ✴︎ Pavel Chekov

Chapter Twelve - Ex-position

Kirk and Sulu return when they're slightly more sober and are genuinely concerned for Pavel despite their hangovers. Emory leaves for a while to go eat and have a shower while Pavel's in other company. Both of them seem reasonably surprised to hear about the date rape drug. They expected the same as what Emory had earlier, that it would be her being targeted and not Pavel. Kirk and Sulu look at one another uneasily and take a seat beside Pavel.

"So you and Emory right," Kirk says, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "You said you're not dating or anything right?"

"It's complicated," Pavel mutters, knowing that a conversation like this was inevitable. Sulu and Kirk look at one another again.

"We've got time," Kirk grins.

"Aye, it's hard to explain. I don't want to go into detail about it."

"Should we just ask her then?"

Pavel sighs, accepting defeat. He knows they won't leave him alone until he gives them the details they need. "No, don't ask her. We just, we were dating and then we broke up and then we started dating again and now we're not really dating and yeah. I don't know how to explain this."

"How did you meet her?" Sulu asks, feeling like the beginning will probably give them some kind of exposition.

"I woke up in her bed after getting wasted the night before to get over my ex."

"Woah, what?" Kirk laughs, not expecting anything remotely like that coming from his youngest crew member. "So, you slept with her and then woke up in her bed?"

Pavel nods. Sulu raises his eyebrows in surprise but doesn't say anything. "I met her on campus randomly a while later and then I started seeing her and helping her with navigating. We just got closer and one night we just kissed and then we were dating. The day after she said she didn't think she could do long distance if I were deployed and I got angry with her and broke things off. The morning after she said she was assigned to the Enterprise and I guess that's where we've been in limbo ever since because my roommate said I need time to get over my last ex and I realised he was right. Is this making any sense? I'm sorry I-"

"It's fine," Kirk says firmly. "Your roommate is right though, you probably do need some time to get yourself together. She's a nice girl. I think things will turn out well with you two."

"Thank you," Pavel says quietly.

"What happened with your ex? I remember her, Irina, wasn't it?" Sulu asks quietly.

Pavel flinches at his ex's name and shakes his head a little. "I don't want to talk about her."

Sulu seems surprised by Pavel's reaction but doesn't press him any further. He knows that they had been together for a while, over a year at least and for Pavel to go out and to get wasted to get over, Sulu figures they must have had a pretty bad breakup.

Emory returns and Pavel smiles at her, glad that Sulu didn't ask about Irina in front of her. Pavel hasn't heard her name since they did break up and it stings Pavel significantly more than he expected it to.

Emory sits on the end of Pavel's bed and asks him if he's feeling any better. He nods and sits up, giving her more room at the end of the bed.

"When are you getting discharged?" Kirk asks, stretching his legs in front of him.

"McCoy said this morning but I haven't seen him yet. Hopefully soon."

Emory checks her PADD and frowns, slipping it back into her bag.

"Everything okay?" Pavel asks, seeing her slightly concerned expression.

"Yeah, I just have work soon."

"I'll let you know when I get out. Don't be late, okay?" Pavel shoots her a smile and she rolls her eyes.

"Keep me updated okay?" She smiles before she goes and Sulu mutters something about needing caffeine and following her out.

Pavel looks at Kirk with a weak smile. He's considering asking if he's heard anything about having a first year assigned to the Enterprise. He trusts Emory but just still can't help but feel that something is a little strange about the timing of her getting assigned to the Enterprise. Plus, the fact that she's still a first year doesn't help. His curiosity gets to him and he asks Kirk about it, feeling like he's doing the wrong thing.

Kirk frowns and tells Pavel he hasn't gotten the full crew list yet but he'll check once it's out. He can sense Pavel's concern and starts wondering why a first year would be assigned to the ship. He's not surprised Pavel's asking questions. He asks Pavel for her last name and he thinks it's Corrsin but he's not entirely sure. Kirk promises to look into it later and Pavel feels a little more at ease, even if he's doing wrong against Emory.

Pavel gets discharged and he just goes home, falling asleep before he can remember to message Emory. He wakes up to find her in his kitchen updating Alec on everything that happened. Pavel realises Alec was probably concerned that his roommate disappeared for two nights without any explanation. He apologises to the both of them but neither of them are too worried now that Pavel's fine. Pavel starts wondering what else they were talking about while he was sleeping. Emory has to leave for class and she hugs him goodbye quickly and Pavel thanks her for looking after him. As soon as she leaves Alec tells him never to scare him to death again and Pavel agrees, seriously put off drinking.