I do not own Star Trek or anything related. Those rights belong to Gene Roddenberry and Paramount Pictures.
Title: Square One
Author: Bitch Slap Love / Against A Wall
Rating: M for Male on Male
Warnings: Out-Of-Character
Couple: Hikaru Sulu / Pavel Chekov
Summary: Twenty-Seven One-shots to lyrics from one song. Sulu/Chekov
Inspiration: The song Shimmy Shimmy (Quarter Turn) by Hellogoodbye
Long Author Note: Sorry about any discrepancies. Also. . . I didn't have the stamina to keep with Sulu/Chekov the entire time . . . I threw in some Kirk/Spock stories. Whoops.
Cont: This entire thing has been split into six chapters of about four or five stories each. The stories to NOT go in order. They do NOT necessarily go together.
Word Count: 2,405
[Notes] – Generally a note of Location/Time Period
- - -
The wilted flowers that I gave
Were not as nice as your bouquet
Valentines Day was a day that Chekov could honestly say he had never celebrated before meeting Hikaru Sulu. (It seemed that the Asian American had a strange affinity for Traditional holidays that had died out around the 22nd century.)
Even after all the studying he did, Chekov still could not see the point of giving flowers and candy without reason. But, none-the-less, Sulu was rather insistent on at least the giving of flowers.
And Chekov would relent to something that simple. Especially if it was for Sulu.
So, he wandered around aimlessly, trying to not only get around a city he rarely visited, but somehow find some flowers to give, on his only, rather luckily placed, day off. Until finally, finally, he found a small patch of wild flowers, sitting on the edge of a little empty lot.
Grinning broadly, Chekov pulled a few, breaking off the dirty roots. Looking at them with pride, he returned to his and Sulu's shared room on Starfleet.
He laid the flowers out on his desk and decided to relax out while waiting for the other man.
"Pavel."
Blinking rapidly, Chekov woke, murmuring incoherently for a moment. He sat up and stretched. "Da?"
Sulu was standing in front of him, a wide smile on his face. "Happy Valentines Day." His voice was soft and low as he pulled his arms from behind his back, presenting Chekov with a colourful array of flowers.
Gasping, Chekov tentatively reached for the bouquet. He pulled them to his chest, looking at Sulu with a mixed expression. "Zey're. . . Zey're vonderful."
Both moved for the other, their lips meeting in between.
Chekov looked down at the flowers and a sinking feeling pulled at his admiration. "Oh. . ." Glancing up, Chekov bit his lip anxiously. "Um."
Tilting his head just slightly, Sulu continued to smile. "These?" He held out the few flowers Chekov had scrounged up. "They are awesome." He ran his fingers over Chekov's cheek. "Plus, it's the thought that counts."
"I guess." Chekov said softly, his eyes cast downward. "Next time." He paused for a moment, thinking over his words. "Next time I shall try 'arder."
"Whatever you like." Sulu replied, chuckling to himself. He pulled the present from Chekov's arms and set it aside, along with his own. "Now, I'll show you what other things they do on this day."
"Oh?" Chekov was pushed back onto his bed, his eyes going wide. "Oh." He grinned, arms going around Sulu's neck. "I zink I like zis day."
All the lyrics that I wrote
Not as smart as the words you spoke
[Academy]
Sulu was sitting at the desk on his side of the dorm he would be sharing for the next four years. He scrolled through the material that was to be read within the week.
The door slid open with a soft 'whoosh' and he looked up. Another teen was standing in the doorway, looking very serious.
The boy was on the short side, brown hair brushed to one side and sticking up in odd places. His brown eyes held a sort of sincere intent that Sulu knew he could admire.
He stood, smiling easily. "Hi. I'm Sulu, Hikaru." He offered out his hand, pleased that it was almost instantaneously taken. "I'll be your roommate for the next four years."
"Priyatno poznakomitsya, Sulu. Ya budu Chekov, Pavel."
Blinking rapidly, Sulu's smile dimmed slightly. "Uh, ah ha, I didn't quite catch what you said." His gaze flickered down and back up, noting that their hands were still joined between them.
"Priyatno poznakomitsya vas. Ya budu Chekov, Pavel."
"Oh, your name is Pavel Chekov?" Sulu got an encouraging nod and he laughed under his breath. "You're speaking Russian aren't you, Chekov?"
Another nod along with words Sulu did not understand.
Sulu rubbed the back on his head with his free hand, smiling broadly again. "You see, Chekov, my last translator got damaged. I'm going to get it replaced tomorrow."
"Ah." Sulu could understand that, along with the way Chekov took a slight step forward, allowing the door behind him to finally close.
Silently, Sulu berated himself for not noticing that it had been open. "So, until tomorrow, anything you want to say write it in my Data Slate or, I guess, show it." He laughed more openly this time, his hand tightening around Chekov's just slightly.
Chekov's head tilted and his face lit up. "Da, Da." He took a full step forward, advancing on Sulu.
Caught off guard, Sulu tried to back away but Chekov held his hand in a firm grip. "Chekov?"
A sly looking grin was his reply then the Russian was on his tiptoes pressing their lips together.
The next moment they were apart and Chekov managed to make a curious look still completely serious. "V- Vnderss-stand?"
It took Sulu a moment to respond, shocked not only from the kiss but also from the other's attempt at English.
Then he chuckled, a grin taking its rightful place on his face as he leaned down, reciprocating Chekov's kiss with one of his own. "Perfectly. Even if we are breaking the number one rule of no fraternizing within school bounds."
Chekov returned the laugh, and his free hand reach out to grab onto Sulu's upper arm. "Da."
Sulu pulled back a moment, his head tilting the opposite direction. "But I must say, I'm glad that we had to use another means of communication."
The starlight above my hometown
Ain't as bright as the star I've found
Moscow.
Chekov had not seen his home in many years. He had realized this after a long, grueling day that left him exhausted and longing for home. The smell of the textile mills, the bitter chill of the air; even in summer it was colder than it technically should have been. The sounds of bickering women, chess matches between the men, and the children playing; no matter the season all three groups would be outside, whether in shoddy rags or fine furs, they would group together and carry on their daily activities.
He glanced down at his card and grimaced. What he wouldn't give for the warm feeling of borscht running down his throat.
Chekov frowned, longing to be back in the Rodina. He sat down on his bed, tossing the card to the side and covering his eyes.
The zvyzdy. Moscow's night sky.
He cast a glance at the viewer, which was showing the outside by Chekov's default. Not nearly as bright as home.
He had gone back to covering his eyes when he heard the door to his shared room slide open. "Privét, Hikaru." He muttered, covering his eyes once more.
"Something wrong, Pavel?" Sulu asked, walking over and sitting at the foot of the Russian's bed.
"Nyet. Nozing's vrong." Chekov lowered his hands and forced a smile. "Just 'ome-sick is all."
"Wouldn't that technically mean something was wrong?" The Asian smiled as well, leaning forward slightly.
Chekov frowned and leaned back against the wall, folding his hands in his lap. "Eh, maybe?" A serious look settled on his face and he looked down at his hands. "Nyet, it vouldn't."
Sulu scooted closer, reaching out and patting Chekov's hands. "Sure it does." He raised his hand and touched Chekov's left cheek. "Tell me what you miss most about home."
Chekov blinked and looked up at Sulu. "I suppose it vould be ze night sky. Ze stars . . . zey do not burn as brightly out 'ere."
Sulu looked confused and he moved forward. "In space? The stars are dimmer out here, than in Russia?"
"Nyet. Not Russia, just Moscow."
"Moscow had brighter stars?"
"Da." Chekov nodded seriously, sitting up straight now. A smile pulled at the side of his mouth. "I feel much better. Zank you."
Sulu nodded for a second. "You're welcome. I'm sorry I couldn't fix your star problem." He turned, about to walk away when Chekov grabbed him.
"But, Hikaru." Chekov swallowed before looking up at the now-standing man. "You shine brighter zan zem all."
Every drawing that I drew
Was never ever as cute as you
[Academy]
Sulu was sitting against a tree that was a dozen or so feet from the waters edge of the San Francisco Bay. It was Saturday, meaning no classes, no dress code, no instructors hovering over your shoulder. A time of freedom and blue jeans.
He held a book in his lap, flipping through the pages absently looking for a blank space. Finally he found one and picked up a pencil.
When he was a child, his mother taught him how to draw, giving him scraps of pages and showing him how to put what he saw down on paper. Once he was older he started to buy his own books, always searching around for a place that actually sold them in this day and age.
There was something relaxing about taking your surrounding and putting down somewhere you could see it always, holo images just weren't the same for some reason.
Usually he would come to this spot to draw the Bay and sometimes the people that also spent their free time here.
But today a friend from the Academy had come with him. In fact, it was his roommate, Pavel Chekov. An eccentric little Russian that sometimes spoke too fast for even himself to understand.
"Vou sit 'ere an' draw?"
Sulu turned to the other and smiled. "Yes, it's a nice distraction from the pressures on the Academy."
Chekov knelt beside him, sitting on the balls on his feet. "Ah." He said with a slight look of wonder. He bounced slightly, looking away.
Chuckling, Sulu turned back to the blank page before him. He already had an idea of what he wanted to draw today.
"I doubt you will want to watch. You can do what you like." Sulu glanced up.
Chekov made a face, "Vou brought me 'ere just send me 'way?" He rocked momentarily then jumped up. "Fine, fine. I run."
Sulu watched as Chekov jogged to the path, setting a pace. Idly he wondered how long he'd be.
The pencil finally touched the page and Sulu started on his own project.
He did as always, starting with a light under sketch to get the composition right, sometimes already planning the background. Then he moved on to defining the drawing, adding definite shape. Then came details and movement, erasing the sketch if needed. Last he would finish the background and touch up any mistakes.
Occasionally, he would look up and catch sight of Chekov, see where he was, judge how long until he'd be back.
As Chekov approached him, Sulu turned to the next blank page and greeted him.
"Good run." Chekov was grinning widely, panting softly. He dropped down onto the grass, stretching out on his back. "Good draw?"
Sulu inclined his head, "Yes."
Holding out a hand, Chekov looked expectant. "I see?"
"No." Sulu unconsciously gripped the edges of the book protectively. Sulu would gladly show any of his other sketchbooks to the Russian, but not this one. "It's unfinished." He lied. The book that sat in his lap held only pictures of a certain subject and he did not want Chekov to see it.
Chekov frowned and propped up on his elbows. "Don' care."
Sulu turned away, not wanting to see the look of disappointment anymore. "I don't like for people to see unfinished drawings of mine."
A hand appeared in his peripheral and before he could stop it, the book was snatched away.
Whirling around, Sulu almost toppled over. "Chekov!"
He watched, shocked, as the Russian took off down the field.
Shaking his head, he quickly followed after; knowing he wasn't nearly as fast as Chekov but he would sure as hell would try.
Finally, Chekov stopped, but Sulu was still too far back to stop him when he started through.
Sulu slowed, gasping from his effort. He'd seen it, no point in wasting energy now. He walked the last few dozen feet, noticing that Chekov was already ten or so pages in.
He hesitated; maybe he should just leave now, Chekov surely was smart enough to understand what he was seeing.
Chekov turned, his eyes landing on him. Sulu congratulated himself for not flinching.
"Is vhat?"
Sulu nervously tugged at his shirt hem. "Concept drawings."
"Concept?" Chekov focused back on the drawings. He turned another page. "Concept." Repeating himself, Chekov started to smile.
Sulu didn't know how to respond, but he didn't take the book back once he was near enough to. "Sorry."
Chekov didn't seem to hear him. "Wery good." He thumbed past a couple more pages.
"Thank you." Sulu was getting nervous. Chekov wasn't reacting in the way Sulu thought he would.
They stood in silence, unnerving for Sulu, until Chekov reached the last used page, what Sulu had drawn earlier.
Just like every other page, it was of Chekov. This time of him running, the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.
"Today." Chekov stated simply, giving Sulu a quick look. "Unfinished?"
Sulu felt a stab of guilt. "No, that was a lie."
"Hmm." Chekov continued to study the picture. Then he closed it carefully and handed in back. "Wery good."
"Chekov-" Cut-off in the most unexpected fashion, Sulu didn't realize what Chekov had done until he moved back. He could feel his cheeks growing warm and he raised a hand to his mouth. "You. . . Just kissed me."
"Da." Grinning devilishly, Chekov clasped his hands behind his back. "No one 'round."
Sulu checked and saw that that was the truth. "But." He paused, gathering his words. "You understand how I feel?"
"Da. Feel same."
This time, Sulu leaned down and pressed a fast kiss to Chekov's lips. "Really?"
Chekov just grinned.
- - -
The chapter will be put up weekly simply because I haven't completely finished the last two.
Russian Translations: (In order of use)
Priyatno poznakomitsya vas - Nice to meet you
Ya budu - I am
Borscht - Salty Russian soup
Rodina - Motherland (Russia)
Privét – Hello