Disclaimer: Star Trek isn't mine - it belongs to Roddenberry and J.J. Abrams. Kirk sadly isn't mine either.

A/N: This is the first in a series of fun little ficlets based on the Star Trek 2009 movie, which I have seen four times now(!) I have been bombarded by plotbunnies but they aren't usually enough to constitute an actual lengthy fic. So I'm sticking with these for now.

Tales from Trek

1. For The Love of Green

"James, I think I love you." Kirk froze for a second, and then relaxed when he realized that his green-skinned consort was only kidding.

"Funny, I was just about to say the same thing," Kirk quipped. Gaila giggled as she used her access code to gain entry to the main computer lab.

"Really?" Kirk rolled his eyes.

"No."

They stepped inside the computer lab, and Gaila quickly sealed the door behind her. The last thing she wanted was to get caught bringing a guy into her workplace, even if it was late at night. She was really getting quite a reputation as of late, and many of the Starfleet teachers disapproved. Not that she needed their approval or anything, but she had worked hard these past four years and wanted to get a decent starship assignment at the end of the term.

"Oh you're no fun, Jimmy," the Orion pouted, using his childhood nickname because she knew it would incense him. Kirk just glared at her.

"Don't call me Jimmy." The redhead ignored him.

"Honestly, Jimmy, you need to keep being nice to me or I won't help you pass the Kobayashi Maru."

Gaila's job enabled her to have access to certain classified Academy projects that Kirk was just itching to get his hands on. Which was why he'd started hanging around her in the first place. Of course Gaila didn't have any foolish notions about love when she became involved with Jim Kirk. They were both in it for the sex, nothing more. He had other girls, she had other guys and they were both content with that arrangement. But she did care for him on a level that wasn't entirely superficial. Even she wasn't completely immune to his icy stare, to the warmth that lurked beneath his haunted blue eyes.

"You don't like it nice, and you know it." Gaila had to admit he had a point there. Their bedroom romps certainly hadn't been all languid kisses and pillow talk. Sometimes they didn't even bother to use a bedroom. Kirk's inventiveness and penchant for taking risks was part of what made him such a fascinating lover. It was what made her come back for more. The man certainly had a talent for pleasing women; that was for sure. He was one of her most satisfying lovers, and she'd had plenty to know the difference between a good lay and a great lay. Good lord, the things that boy could do with his mouth…

"I know why you're doing this," she said suddenly.

"This?" He smirked as he maneuvered her up against the wall. "Yeah, me too."

"No, silly." Gaila sighed in pleasure as he pressed his body to hers. "The Kobayashi Maru test. I know why you're rigging it."

"So?" He began to kiss her neck, as that action usually rendered her speechless. But not this time.

"Jim, be serious for once." He dropped his voice an octave, causing her to shiver.

"You're seriously turning me on." It didn't quite work out the way he'd hoped, as she (somehow) pulled away. Gaila did not enjoy resisting Jim Kirk, but she did want to find out if her presumption was correct. So she backed up a few steps away from him, and folded her arms across her chest.

"Look, I didn't watch you that first time you took the test, but I can only wonder what it must've felt like, being in a situation just like your father faced before he died. No wonder you froze up." Kirk's stomach squirmed, as the one thing he hated getting from people was pity.

"I didn't freeze up." Kirk grimaced at the memory. "I was taking extra time to make a decision on how to handle the scenario." Gaila just shook her head. Kirk had lost his head completely during his first go at the Kobayashi Maru whether he would admit it or not. His second round hadn't gone much better. Although the test was designed specifically to determine a cadet's character when faced with an emergency situation, Kirk wasn't satisfied. He'd decided to turn a no-win scenario into a truly winnable scenario, which was where she came in. All she had to do was install his counter-program, and he'd be all set for tomorrow.

"You know, one of these days you'll find someone who loves you, Jim, and when you do you won't be able to hide behind your sarcasm and excuses." He snorted at her prediction.

"That'd be the day. I might even feel sorry for the poor bastard. Really, someone would have to be out of their mind to fall in love with me. " Gaila didn't know how to respond to that. She'd seen glimpses of his true sense of self, and it always unnerved her when he voiced how little he thought of himself. It was such a contrast to his cocky personality. Yes, James Kirk needed someone to love him, but it wasn't going to be her. She wasn't cut out for commitment anyway – she valued her freedom too much.

So instead of replying, she checked her desk for messages, and found one from her boss reminding her to turn in her workload by next Monday. Just then she realized something, and it struck her as rather hilarious. She couldn't stop the peals of laughter as they escaped from her mouth. Kirk was sure that he'd missed something.

"What's so funny?" Kirk asked, a look of confusion written across his attractive features.

"Commander Spock…" she gasped out, and then collapsed in a chair.

"Who?"

"My boss," the green girl explained. "He's the one who designed the test. Boy is he going to be pissed when he finds out what you did! He's a Vulcan, which means he's a real stickler for the rules."

"I can't wait to brighten his day tomorrow," Kirk deadpanned. "You sure this won't get traced back to you?" She shrugged.

"I doubt it. But if I did, it would be worth it. I'm helping a friend prove a point."

"Is that all I am to you?" He teased. "A friend?" Gaila smirked – she knew where this was headed.

"Why don't you show me just how good a friend you are," she suggested. She took a few steps toward him, swinging her hips not so innocently. Jim licked his lips.

"Is that an order? Because it sounds like an order. " She smacked him in the arm. He could be so infuriating sometimes!

"I thought you were the one who liked giving the orders." He smirked at her, recalling one particular incidence when she suggested role-playing Captain and First Officer. It really hadn't done much for her, but he had really gotten into it. It probably had something to do with his aspirations to become a starship captain.

"Guess you know me pretty well, then."

End

A/N: I usually don't write about promiscuous girls - it was kinda fun. I really liked the Gaila character and I wish she hadn't been killed. Suggestions for my next ficlet? I might do one about Spock, or about Uhura (who was SO AWESOME!). We'll see.