Truth
For several minutes the room was silent save for their harsh panting before Hikaru turned his head to look at the man lying across the bed and half on top of him. Pavel's head rested on his thigh and Hikaru could see that his eyes were closed. He couldn't resist staring for several seconds until Pavel's eyes flashed open and met his gaze.
"So, how did you know zhat I would be open to your... suggestion?"
Hikaru grinned and reached down to run his hand through Pavel's curls. "You can't fool me, you know. We work together day in and day out, shift after shift. I knew within a week that the innocent act was just that – an act."
"I am glad that you took the initiative, then. I am not sure how much longer I would have been willing to wait." Pavel released a soft groan as Hikaru's deft fingers moved across his scalp, alternating soft near-ticklish scratching with a soothing massage.
"I'm pretty sure you've got me figured out too," Hikaru laughed. "I'm a 'seize the day' kind of guy."
**
Pavel closed his eyes once again as his mouth quirked into a slight smile. He'd known that since Hikaru had volunteered to throw himself out of shuttle at an alien planet. Pavel, too, had held no illusions.
He rather liked it that way.