Star Trek Imagines (Reader-Inserts) Part Two

TNG. Data - "I suppose we would make a good couple."

A/N: I'm so sorry for not writing for a while. University has been kicking my ass lately.

You and Data walked through the corridors of the Enterprise, dressed in costume in preparation for the holodeck. You were trying out a new program, one that Geordi recommended. It was an original mystery story that one of Geordi's old friends had made. Data was dressed in his Sherlock Holmes outfit, and you were in old-fashioned attire to match the time period.

"I hope we manage to solve the mystery," you said to Data as you two rounded a corner.

"I believe that with our combined intelligence, we will succeed," he replied.

You smiled. "Let's hope we have enough time to complete it. Geordi told me the mystery is pretty difficult."

"If we run out of time, we can save our progress and continue it another day," Data said. "As you often say: do not worry."

Your smile widened.

The two of you passed by Beverly, who smiled brightly at you both. "Hello Data, Y/N. Off to the holodeck I assume?"

"What gave us away?" you teased.

Data nodded his head as you all stopped walking to talk to one another. "We are trying a new program that Geordi gave us. It should be most intriguing."

"It's a mystery holonovel," you added.

"Sounds like a fun date," Beverly said with a grin.

Your cheeks heated up and Data tilted his head to the side.

"Date?" Data asked. "Doctor, are you implying that Y/N and I are romantically involved?"

Beverly's grin faded to an awkward smile. "Oh. I'm sorry. I just assumed... you two have been spending so much time together. Some people have been talking... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."

You frowned softly. "What are people saying?"

"Nothing bad," she assured you. "Just that you two make a good couple."

"Interesting," Data said. "Did they say why they thought such a thing?"

"Not in particular," Beverly said. "I think it's just because you two are such good friends. You spend a lot of time together and just care a lot for one another. I think people just assumed there was something more than friendship going on."

You smiled softly. "Oh."

"Interesting," Data repeated. "Thank you for the information, Doctor."

Beverly nodded, smiling softly at you both. "I'll let you two get back to you not-date. Goodnight."

You nodded. "Night, Bev."

"Goodnight Doctor Crusher," Data said.

The two of you continued your way to the holosuite, in silence now. You fidgeted with your fingers, unable to stop thinking about what Beverly had said.

"You know something?" you asked.

"I know many things, Y/N," Data replied.

You laughed lightly. "Right. It's a figure of speech that people say before stating something that they're thinking or feeling."

"Ah," Data said with a curt nod. "What is it you are thinking?"

"I was just thinking about what Beverly said," you told him, avoiding eye contact. You mustered up all your courage and took in a deep breath. "And I suppose we would make a good couple."

Data tilted his head as he looked at you. "Do you have romantic feelings for me?"

"I don't know," you admitted shyly. "Maybe?"

"Hm." He was quiet for a few moments.

Your heart thumped against your rib cage. You'd been questioning your feelings for him for a few weeks now. You didn't want to make things awkward between you two, but you figured now was the best time to tell him.

"What would be the difference between our friendship and a romantic relationship?" he asked as you two neared the holosuite.

"I don't know, to be honest. Probably not much. Beverly's right: we do spend a lot of time together. And I truly care for you, Data. And I think you care for me, too."

"I do care for you," he said. "You are one of my closest friends."

You smiled, touched to hear him say that. "And you're one of mine. I guess in our case, the only thing that would change would be putting different labels onto things... that, and having physical affection..."

Data looked at you. "And would you like to engage in physical affection?"

Your cheeks heated up. You tried to supress the smile that was spreading. You were thankful that there was no one in the corridor. If they were talking about you two now, who knows what they'd say if anyone heard yours and Data's current conversation. You honestly couldn't believe you were even having that conversation. You'd never truly thought of Data in a romantic way. At least, not consciously. You loved spending time with him, and you thought of him often. But you never expected yourself to develop romantic feelings for him. When you did realize what you were feeling, you didn't expect him to feel the same way.

"Maybe," you said as more of a question than you'd intended. "Only if that's something you'd want to do. I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable or anything. Or turn our friendship into something else if you didn't want it to change."

"I would be willing to try engaging in physical affection with you," Data said.

You couldn't contain the smile any longer. "You would?"

"Yes. I believe it could be enjoyable. And if it would make you happy, I would be happy, so to speak, to do it."

A warm, fuzzy feeling spread in your chest. "Then maybe we should call this outing a date."

Data nodded. "I believe that would be appropriate."

You laughed lightly and took his hand.

He looked down at your hands, and you swore you saw a faint smile flash on his face. Though it could've been you projecting your own feelings onto him, you liked to believe it was true.

"Now," he said, walking over to the panel outside the holodeck doors. "Shall we begin our date?"