Angels (Pavel Chekov)

53 - For or In

Vienna breaks down again when she has to explain what happened. Pavel's in another room for questioning but he knows Vienna is still a little on edge. When she comes out, Pavel is there waiting and he encourages her to come down with him a few minutes. She has a few tissues in her hands and keeps wiping her eyes, wondering when she'll be able to calm herself down. McCoy comes in and sits down, passing Vienna a cup of water.

"It's got something in it that will help you calm down a little. It tastes like raspberry."

She looks at the drink a little before taking it and sipping it slowly. She can't help but be a little apprehensive about having to take so many medications over the course of the last 24 hours. She stays a little longer and McCoy asks that she comes and visits medbay within the next few days so he can check in on her again. She nods wearily and asks Pavel to take her back to her room.

Vienna wants to spend some time alone to catch up on study and Pavel just kisses her cheeks and tells her to call if she wants company. He misses her as soon as the door is shut and he decides to try and clear his mind in engineering before his last class. He finds David and finds that McCoy has already filled him in on what happened, more or less. David doesn't ask any questions, knowing that Pavel's probably in engineering to escape whatever else is going on.

Three days pass before Vienna and Pavel see one another again. Vienna throws herself into study and dance to keep herself from thinking too much and Pavel spends hours in engineering. He works hard and learns so much every time he's there. He feels like by the end of the year, he'll know the mechanics of a starship inside and out. Vienna shows up at his door and he smiles when he sees her. She gives him a weak smile back and he encourages her in, taking her hand and kissing it.

"There's a dance showcase soon," she tells him, after they'd been sitting down for a while.

"Will you perform for it? Wait, for or in?"

"What do you mean, for or in?"

"Will you perform in it? Will you perform for it? Which is correct?"

"Ah, they both sounds okay to me. Maybe 'perform in it' is the more correct one. I don't actually know. But yes, I will be performing."

"And am I allowed to come watch?"

"I was worried you'd ask that," she laughs.

His expression changes a little at her comment and she worries she's upset him. "I won't come if you don't want me there," he says softly. "I would like to see you. I love you and I want to be supportive of your hobbies."

"You're so sweet," Vienna smiles. "Please don't take it personally. I've just always been a little insecure about my dancing. I get really bad stage fright. I'd like you to be there, even if it sounds like I keep trying to discourage you coming."

"I will be there," he grins, kissing her cheek. She smiles at him with a fondness that he's missed seeing over the past few days. He loves her, and he makes sure to tell her as soon as he can keep his lips away for long enough.

They spend their weekend half studying and half exploring the city. Vienna seems a little less tense when they're out and about. They get ice cream from the store they visited when they first kissed. They kiss again and smile at each other, remembering the occasion. Pavel tells her he loves her and then he tells her how much he wanted to tell her the night that they kissed. Her chest swells with loving and she takes his hand, squeezing it tightly.

After working on assignments for two hours, they join each other for dinner and can't seem to stop laughing. It starts with Vienna play-mocking his accent and just keep going from there. She swears she could never get sick of his genuine, hearty laugh. He doesn't seem to mind her imitating his accent, just from seeing much she grins when she does. Everything seems just that little bit funnier, that little bit warmer and that little bit brighter when they're together.

That night they cuddle up close and Pavel whispers in Russian to her. She starts repeating some phrases back and she wishes she knew what they meant. He makes her repeat one line and grins when she does, biting the inside of his lip.

"And what does that one mean, Pasha?"

"It means 'I have the most handsome boyfriend in the whole world.' I am certain it's a phrase you will use all the time in Russia."

Vienna laughs, kissing the end of his nose. "I don't know about most handsome, but you'd have to be one of the smartest."

"Not the smartest but I think maybe the luckiest," he smiles, looking at her. "I must have done something right in my past life to have you as my girlfriend."

Vienna swears her chest feels lighter and warmer than ever and she beams, putting her hand on his cheek and guiding their lips together. They start kissing and keep kissing, nothing on their minds other than the very moment they're in.

(Author's Note)

Celebrating almost 20k reads and 950 votes ♪