Star Trek Imagines (Reader-Inserts) Part Two

Ent. Malcolm Reed - Confessions

"Just go over and talk to them!" Trip whisper-shouted to Malcolm, who was staring at you from across the mess-hall. "Ask them on a date."

"I can't," Malcolm said, shaking his head.

Trip sighed heavily. "Why not?"

"Because," the other man replied pathetically.

"Because...?" Trip prompted.

Malcolm frowned. "Because I don't know what to do if they reject me."

"I've seen the way they look at ya'," Trip said. "Trust me, they won't say no. Just go ask them to dinner. Or movie night."

Malcolm made a face. "No offense, but I'm not sure I want our first date to be at movie night."

Trip smirked. "Fair enough. At least tell 'em how ya' feel. You don't have to go on a fancy, official first date right away if you'd rather keep things more casual for a while."

"What do I even say?" Malcolm asked, looking at his friend.

Trip gave him a small shrug. "Just be honest. Say that you've been admirin' them for a while and wanted to finally let them know."

Malcolm rubbed his clammy palms against his pants and nodded slightly. "All right. But if this backfires, it's your fault."

Trip held up his hands and grinned as Malcolm approached you. "Mind if I join you?"

You smiled and shook your head. "Please."

He swallowed nervously and took a seat next to you. "How's the food?"

"Good," you said. "Is your day going okay?"

"Uh, yeah, it's all right," he replied.

You raised an eyebrow slightly. "Are you okay? You seem nervous."

He licked his lips and nodded. "I just have something to tell you, and I'm not sure how you'll respond."

You frowned. "Uh oh. Is it something bad? Am I dying? Are you dying?"

"No, no, nothing like that," he replied. He made eye contact with you for only a second before looking away. "I want you to know that I really admire the work that you do. You're an extremely hard worker and I love how passionate you are about what you do."

You smiled at him. "Thank you, I feel the same way about you. Half the crew would be dead by now if you weren't here."

Malcolm's lips twitched. "I... enjoy your company, Y/N."

"I enjoy yours as well," you said, brows furrowing together when he didn't say anything else. "Is that all you wanted to tell me?"

He shook his head and pursed his lips together. "I'm sorry. I'm not great at talking about stuff like this."

"Stuff like what?"

He finally made constant eye contact with you. He took in a deep breath. "Y/N, I think I may be developing feelings for you. Romantic feelings, that is. I've been feeling this way for a while, but I didn't know how to tell you. And I know that it isn't always appropriate for coworkers to date but seeing as we're in different departments I figured it wouldn't be that big of a deal. But I understand if you don't want to get involved with me, for whatever reason. And I'm sorry if me saying this is making you uncomfortable or will affect how we work together, but I—"

You cut him off by kissing his lips gently.

His eyes widened, but he kissed you back after a moment. He moved his hand up to your face, feeling your cheek tighten as you smiled.

For a few moments, everything else melted away. The ship, the crew, the hum of the engines. All of it faded into the background. It felt like it was just the two of you. You felt the soft skin of his lips moving against yours. His rough fingertips pressing ever so slightly against your cheek. His hair falling over his forehead and tickling your own.

Then, you pulled away and the world came back into focus. You looked into his eyes, your own squinting in a smile.

Malcolm's cheeks were flushed, and he smiled. "I take it that means you feel the same way...?"

You nodded, taking his hand in yours. "I've been wanting to kiss you for a long time."

His smile widened. "Well in that case, Y/N, will you go out with me?"

You nodded again, smile spreading across your face. "I'd love to."