Disclaimer: I don't own Trek and I don't make any money.

Summary: The natives on Rivalis expect the Enterprise away team to follow their customs; angst is not permitted on this planet, so what does that mean for our fav guys? Spock/Kirk, Chekov/Sulu

I ignored Sulu/Chekov so much in my last story, so I thought I would pay them a little attention with some Spork thrown in!

Do As I Say

Rivalis is a class M planet in the Alpha Quadrant, in what humans once called the Sagittarius constellation, with massive dilithium deposits. The Federation had finally been granted an audience with the Commander and Chief Notock, of the extremely xeno-phobic society, after three years of attempts. The stipulations of the actual visit included that the Enterprise would be the only ship allowed passage and those who arrived on the surface immediately began adhering to only the Rivalian customs; of course no one had asked what those customs were on the off chance that any further questions or requests would be seen as disrespectful to the natives. Notock had also demanded that the four heroes of Star Fleet be the only ones to beam down – Jim Kirk, Spock, Hikaru Sulu and Pavel Chekov. He was not interested in speaking with anyone else. Command had been more than happy to oblige. It was of the utmost urgency that Rivalis joined the Federation, before the Klingons or the Romulans had a chance to sway their affections.

If someone were to ask Hikaru Sulu what Jim, Spock and these dignitaries had been discussing for the past four hours, he would have merely shrugged. He was not paying attention to the conversation around him. Not that he didn't know what was going on, he knew the tones of the discussion were sociable so he knew that Jim hadn't screwed up the meeting yet. He was also paying attention to the body language, everyone was still relaxed. Star Fleet Officers, especially Hikaru, knew how to judge a situation without understanding the spoken conversation, though it might have been more conducive to his concentration had he been seated where he didn't have to face towards Pavel to see everyone else. His eyes couldn't seem to look past the eager blonde at his side, his heart couldn't seem to stop fluttering at each accidental touch and his mind couldn't stop thinking such inappropriate thoughts about his best friend. Hikaru held in a sigh, this was going to be a long trip.

They had been swept into an elegant dining hall by these short, fat, bald men as soon as their molecules solidified once more. In Hikaru's opinion, this whole place reminded him of Louis XIV's Versailles, but he had just finished reading The Three Musketeers for the millionth time so he might be biased. He shifted in his seat, stretching his legs trying to get comfortable, not that there was any hope. As the table was much smaller than he was accustomed, he kicked Pavel. The young navigator whipped his eager eyes to his bridge partner, smiling. Hikaru mouthed 'sorry', trying not to show how much that one smile melted him, he was such a sap for this gorgeous man. Pavel simply nodded and turned back to the conversation, smile still in place. Hikaru pinched the bridge of his nose, he really needed a break. Just ten minutes away from Pavel so he could calm himself down.

Suddenly as if they had heard his silent wish, everyone was standing. Not that it really was much of a height difference with the natives, Hikaru thought as he followed suit. Notock was smiling happily, which was a great improvement from the scowl he'd been sporting so far. "Captain, I request that you and your officers stay planet-side for the night. We have a large festival tonight for the lunar eclipse, I wish to share this wondrous occasion with such honored guests." His round face turned up to face the tall blonde.

Jim put on his best charming smile. "We would be most grateful to participate in the joyous festival." Hikaru could hear the touch of sarcasm in Jim's voice; it wasn't like they had a choice.

Notock clapped his hands together. "Good, good, that is most excellent. We now have our acceptance to the Federation to celebrate as well! It will be a grand event. My steward will show you to your quarters, so that you may rest before tonight." He waved another man forward, who bowed to the group.

The group nodded back. "We are deeply obliged, Notock." Jim answered for this crew. He turned to make eye contact with each one of the landing party. It was his way of reassuring himself that they were all alive, in one piece and things were really going as well as it seemed. Too many away missions had ended in tragedy during their year and half trek across the night sky, Hikaru understood his paranoia.

So far, Hikaru thought this was pretty much the standard agenda. They came, they ate, they talked, they smoozed and now they were going to party of course minus the part where the natives got pissed off and started wanting to kill Jim. He could get used to this, the lighter side of diplomacy. He smiled at Pavel, letting himself relax slightly. But then something happened that dropped his stomach to his knees. Notock turned to his left and pulled Bylem, his very male counterpart, into a passionate kiss. The other two, who Hikaru really hadn't bothered to learn their names but they were both male, did the same. The four crewmembers stood in shock, swapping glances. Now, they were not against those who preferred their own sex, but it was still a surprise to the new-comers.

Notock pulled back from Bylem beaming. "Now, you must kiss your grunid." He waved his hands in the air motioning for Jim and his crew to turn to each other.

Hikaru's mouth fell open as he turned wide-eyed to face Pavel who was blushing to the roots of his hair. "A grunid?" Spock was the only one who was not speechless.

The natives smiled. "I suppose a grunid would be called a 'spouse' or 'lover' in Standard. It is custom that at the end of conversation, before anyone leaves current company, you share a kiss even if you are not parting from your grunid." Bylem answered calmly.

Spock raised an eyebrow. "I see." It would be illogical to point out none of the group meet that definition technically; he simply turned to face Jim who was chuckling nervously. Spock quickly closed the gap between their lips. The kiss was chaste, a mirror image of their hosts' affectionate gesture.

All the blood drained from Hikaru's face. He gulped. They had to follow all customs. The Federation depended on them to secure the dilithium mines. How bad could one little kiss be? Hikaru gently pulled Pavel into his embrace. The younger man had already closed his eyes and puckered up, wrapping his arms tight around Hikaru's waist like he was an anchor in a storm. It would have been quite humorous had Hikaru's brain been functioning. Time seemed to stop as their lips grew closer. With a more courage than it took to space-jump, Hikaru brushed his lips against Pavel's.

A/N: Thanks for reading

(I am basing my Hikaru a little on Kimball Cho.)

Tell me what you think? Is it worth continuing? Please review!