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A/N: Prompt: "Science Fiction Double Feature; work must include elements of sci-fi, such as robots, space opera, time travel, etc." This is a Star Trek AU.
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Day 2: Boldly Go
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Dr. Arthur Kirkland wasn't what most people considered "warm and fuzzy." Alfred Jones knew this well. He'd spent the majority of their three years together at the Academy subject to the Briton's grumbling manner, his irritated scowls at his classmates and his reserved nature everywhere else. Not to say that the good doctor didn't ever speak his mind — oh, boy, did he ever — but it was the unanimous opinion that any attempt to romance the man should be abandoned in light of keeping one's sanity and avoiding imminent heartbreak.
Alfred was not of the unanimous opinion (which, in that case, it wasn't really "unanimous" anymore, but whatever; semantics) and he was determined to be the first to get gruff and sarcastic Arthur Kirkland to loosen up and maybe even enjoy himself a little. With the Terran holiday of Saint Valentine coming up in a couple days, he thought it was the perfect time to act.
It didn't hurt that he'd pretty much fallen in love with the guy when they'd first run into each other. He'd accidentally (it had all been Gil's idea, anyway!) mixed a couple of the unknown chemical compounds from their lab class in their dorm, and, long story short, they were still rebuilding that half of campus four years later (for as advanced as Starfleet was, one would think they could afford funding for renovations). Alfred, as well as half the cadets on the Command track, were all reassigned rooms, and due to overfilling he was assigned to room with the Medical students. He'd walked up to the quaint little condos that were given to long-term on-campus doctors and staff, whistled lowly at the thought of maybe having anactual bathroom, and sauntered in, coming face to face with the greenest pair of eyes he'd ever seen.
Of course, he'd chosen wisely not to say anything about them, but not so wisely instead blurted out the next thing to come to mind: "Dude, what are those things on your face?"
Not his smoothest moment, and Matt had nearly had a cow when he heard about it, spending their entire brothers' night out at the off-campus bar laughing at him. Alfred had pouted and downed about five beers in quick succession, cursing his superpower-level tolerance to alcohol before slumping back to his room in the wee hours of the morning. Lucky for him (or maybe not), the doctor worked the night shift (and the morning, afternoon, and sometimes evening shifts, occasionally on the same day) and he'd been out before (immediately dubbed) Artie could chew him out again.
It had been five years since then; they were best friends, nigh inseparable, and Alfred was now the youngest Captain Starfleet had ever had, two years into his first five-year mission. His ship, the U.S.S. Britannia, was his pride and joy, and his crew was awesome. Currently, they were orbiting Lanta II, a mix-breed colony of Terran-Andorians known as the Jhoari, in the Andorian star system, negotiating the trading of minerals found beneath the outer layer of the planet in deep mines. High Chancellor Shrevan th'Rothi was taking his sweet time in compromising any of the terms, so the Admiralty had him and his crew waiting for further instructions.
And now Valentine's Day was approaching, and strangely enough, the Jhoari had a corresponding celebratory day coming up as well, to show support for their Terran allies. The customs were different, of course, ceremonies to bind mates under the eyes of their gods being a big deal, but the idea was the same: a day to celebrate love.
Even the crew was getting into the spirit. It was pretty cool to see that no matter how deep in the black they ended up, Alfred could walk around the decks of the Britannia and see shy smiles being shared between ensigns, hear hushed conversations about who liked who in the rec rooms when he was off shift. His First Officer, Commander Lukas Bondevik, was constantly in the presence of their Chief Engineer Mathias Køhler (though no one could tell if that was his doing or Mathias'); his helmsman Lieutenant Ludwig Beilschmidt always went red whenever Ensign Feliciano Vargas came around; and Alfred liked to laugh at Gilbert, his Communications Officer, when he sighed and stared longingly at both Nurse Héderváry and Doctor Edelstein when they came up from Sickbay.
Even Matt had taken the interest of one of the Jhoari priests, one that insisted on going by the Terran name Francis, as he'd become fascinated by their French culture when he'd first spoken to the Xenobiologist.
And then there was Alfred. Still alone with his pathetically unrequited love for the one person who could consistently resist his sweet American charms and took none of his bullshit, that pushed him to be better and stronger, that bitched at him when he did something idiotic and patched him up anyway with the gentlest of touches that sent fire over his skin.
But that was going to change, if he had anything to say about it! He was Captain Alfred F. Jones, hero of Earth, and he was gonna ask out his best friend — CMO — the one person he counted on most — if it killed him.
Slumping sideways in his chair, Alfred pursed his lips in thought as he stared at the viewscreen, observing Lanta II. The surface looked a mix of dark brown and blue, with splashes of green where large forests covered the planet. It was a gorgeous sight, really, and Alfred could sort of understand why the High Chancellor wouldn't be right on board with tearing it up for minerals. It wasn't like they couldn't get the minerals somewhere else — they were pretty common, and Starfleet used them mainly for recreational programs because of their soothing, meditative properties — but orders were orders, and Alfred didn't yet have a reason to not follow them.
"You look like you're thinking real hard there, Al," Matt's voice interrupted him, and Alfred looked over his shoulder at his brother. "Something up?"
Alfred shrugged, turning his chair to face the Xenobiologist. "Nah, just… pondering."
"Pondering?"
"Yup."
"Ah. On?"
Alfred took a deep breath, looking back out at Lanta II. "Valentine's Day is coming up," he said instead, feeling his light flush spoke on what he was really thinking about (Matt wasn't stupid; he knew). "I hear the celebrations the Jhoari hold are pretty cool."
Matt nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I guess," he said. "Francis was telling me about them earlier. Apparently, it's an honor to be mate-bonded on today in particular, because the Jhoari believe that the Divine Powers bless the couple more than on any other day, since they pay more tribute to them."
"Mate-bonded, huh? Like, marriage?" Alfred asked.
Matt shrugged. "Sort of, but I think it's more… 'profound', or something. Like, 'soul mates' profound. Eternally bonded through the spirit." He smiled. "You'd probably have to ask a cultural specialist to be sure. I just study their biology."
"I bet you do," Alfred muttered under his breath, smiling innocently when his brother shot him an unimpressed glare. Too soon. He chuckled anyway. "Sounds like fun."
"Some of the crew's been wondering about it," Matthew said. "Since we're stuck up here anyway, they were wondering if maybe we could go down in a couple days and partake in the celebrations. The High Chancellor invited us, didn't he?"
Alfred nodded in thought. "Yeah. Said we'd all be welcome if we wanted, since we celebrate the day anyway. I'll talk to the Admiralty later, see if it'd be okay. Maybe if we mingle and get to know them, we can get the Chancellor to hurry up and make up his mind on the terms of the negotiations."
Matthew nodded, turning on his heel. "Well, I'll leave you to that, then. Oh, and Kirkland wants to see you before you hit the sack." Alfred glared at his brother's knowing smirk as he headed back to the labs. "Don't keep him waiting."
Alfred pouted at the door to the bridge as it slid closed behind his asshole of a brother, and he sighed deeply. He really should just man-up and ask, but he couldn't fathom what his life would be like if suddenly there was an awkwardness between him and his best friend. Surly as he could be, Arthur was kind as well, caring for his patients with all the nurturing air of a father, able to calm and reassure them that everything was going to be alright and he'd take care of it. Alfred had fallen for his passion for his work, his tenderness in his treatment, his drive to keep everyone safe and alive. Their friendship was everything to him.
He didn't want to lose that because he wanted more.
At the end of Alpha shift, Alfred took the lift down to Deck Five, heading to Sickbay as requested (because if he didn't, he'd be hunted down later and Artie knew how to wield hypos like friggin' phasers) and smiling at Nurse Héderváry as he entered.
"Hey, Liz!" he greeted. "Where's Artie? Said he needed me."
She grinned back, pointing to across the room to the biobeds currently in use, where Alfred could see his CMO fretting over three ensigns that he was sure were from Engineering. "Something went wrong in one of the power rooms or something," she informed him brightly. "He's been reaming 'em out for about fifteen minutes now."
"That's my Artie," he said, and flushed again at the glimmer in her eyes. As if by super-hearing, the doctor turned and shot him a look, eyebrow raised. Alfred smiled at him, all teeth, walking over to the ensigns with a wave to Héderváry. "What happened?" he asked.
"One of the Auxiliary Molecular Resonance Inverters fried and we were sent in to replace it," one of them spoke up. "Someone forgot to completely sever the circuit, though, and the backlash when we removed it, well…" He shrugged.
Alfred looked down at their arms at the indication and winced. From elbow to wrist, each of them had fresh burns, spindly lightning-shaped patterns decorating their forearms. Artie had the epidermal regenerator beside him, using what looked like a type of scalpel to remove the first few layers of skin before allowing the regenerator to grow new skin. He could feel phantom pains in his own arms.
"Other than this, you all are alright?" he asked, concern in his voice.
Arthur looked up at him then, a tiredness to his eyes, and Alfred briefly wondered when the last time he slept more than two hours at a time was. "They'll be fine, Alfred," he said, voice just as tired as his green eyes. "A few days' bed rest and they can return to work. I'll be prescribing some shots in case of any lasting pain or side effects," he told the three.
All of them nodded, and Alfred grinned as he laid a hand on the closest ensign's shoulder. "Good, then. I'll be in your office, Artie."
"It's still Arthur, you git," Artie grumbled, glaring at Alfred from under his lashes.
He winked and turned. "Take care of yourselves, Ensigns," he called, heading across Sickbay to the CMO's office, seating himself in one of the chairs by the desk. The space was sparsely decorated, one shelf full of books on the wall to his right, and papers scattered over the desk.
As soon as he was finished with the ensigns, Artie joined him in the office, slumping into his chair across from Alfred. He let out a weary sigh, rubbing a hand over his face and mussing his wild blond hair up even further. Alfred smiled at him, and he returned it with a slight upturn of his lips.
"Long day?" Alfred asked, leaning back in his chair.
Arthur groaned. "Like you wouldn't believe," he scoffed. He leaned down, pulling something out of one of the drawers in his desk. It was a teacup and thermos of warm tea. "Honestly, I'm not sure they teach any safety measures to the buffoons in Engineering. Those were the fifth batch I've seen of the sods today."
Alfred laughed, watching the doctor pour the tea into his cup, stirring in a bit of sugar before taking a sip. "That sucks. But I bet you told 'em all what for, yeah?"
"Indeed." Arthur smirked at him. "And now I'm here to tell you the same thing."
Alfred groaned, letting his head drop back against the chair as he pouted at his best friend. "Aw, do I hafta?" he whined. He didn't like the hypos or the poking and prodding when they did physicals. He was Captain — it was in the job description to go boldly and get hurt for the sake of his crew!
Artie was indifferent to his suffering. "Yes. Regulations state that all personnel must be thoroughly examined on a regular basis to assure top health, physically, mentally, and emotionally, for maximum performance of duty. You know this, Alfred."
He did, sadly, and he sagged in his chair in defeat. "I hate physicals," he muttered, and Arthur gave him a small smile. "When?"
"In the next week or so, as soon as I finish with the science department," Arthur answered, setting his cup down.
Alfred nodded, remembering his plans to ask if they could celebrate with the Jhoari as he glanced around the room, and he turned back to Arthur. "Oh, hey, so some of the crew wants to head down to the planet to celebrate Valentine's with the Jhoari. I need to talk to Wang about it, but I'm sure he'll agree. Not like we're doing anything up here," he muttered.
The doctor leaned back in his seat, pulling a PADD to himself. "Well then, make sure everyone who goes comes to see me first. There are some diseases that have cropped up that I need to vaccinate for."
Alfred looked at him curiously. "Why don't you come?" he asked. "You're always stuffed back here in Sickbay, under piles of forms and shit."
Arthur glanced up at him with the look that said his Captain was an idiot. "Because it's my job," he said slowly. "Besides, Valentine's is for those who have significant others to spend it with. It seems inane to partake in celebrations meant for lovers without one of my own."
Alfred paused at that, wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea to broach the subject of his own feelings. Arthur appeared nonchalant, unaffected by his statement, but the Captain could see his doctor's loneliness in the tightening of his beautiful green eyes, the hunch of his shoulders as he typed away on his PADD. It hurt to see.
"C'mon, Artie," he pleaded quietly. "It's one day. You deserve a day off, loosen up, have some fun, eat something funky that you yell at me for making you eat 'cause one of us has some sort of reaction to it." He grinned at the "totally-done-with-your-bullshite-you-wanker" expression he loved so much. "Please?"
Arthur stared at him for a long moment, and for a second, Alfred feared he'd say no anyway. But his shoulders dropped, and a slight smile crossed his face, and Alfred felt his heart stutter in his chest.
"Alright, you git." Arthur sighed as if put-upon, and Alfred grinned widely. "I'll tag along this time. I suppose it will be easier to jab you with a hypospray when I'm right there with you, yes?"
"Yes! Thanks, Artie!" Alfred jumped up from his chair, wrapping his best friend in a tight hug and laughing as he was shouted and shoved from the office.
"Just go talk to Admiral Wang!" Arthur yelled at him, and Alfred sauntered out of Sickbay with a smile.
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The air was fresh and light on Lanta II, and Alfred inhaled deeply as he walked alongside Arthur down the stone streets of the Zeri Industrial District. Decorations in all colors were strung along the buildings, grand bouquets, as tall as him, lining the walkways, all full of exotic flora that the botany lab was just having a field day over. Large bird-like animals flew through the sky over their heads, melodic sounds filtering down to their ears, and the Jhoari themselves were dressed in flowing gowns and robes, chatting amiably as they sold wares and guided groups of the crew around.
"It's really pretty here," Alfred commented, watching petals of the flowers float along the breeze. "Colorful almost doesn't describe it."
Arthur hummed in agreement, and Alfred was again distracted by how the forest color of his eyes was brought out by the tunic he'd been provided when they'd beamed down. th'Rothi and the rest of the High Council had welcomed them with smiles and open arms, native clothing given to them so that they may better integrate themselves into the festivities. Alfred's tunic was a light sky blue, lined in gold, with black pants. Arthur's, in contrast, was a pale green, embroidered with runes that the locals said invoked tranquility and joy, matched with dark brown pants. They still had on their Starfleet regulation boots, but they mixed in well.
Arthur looked graceful as he meandered down the streets with Alfred, relaxed and content for the first time in ages.
Alfred thought he was beautiful.
"Did the Chancellor ever give you his terms for the negotiations?" Arthur asked, looking at him from his peripherals.
Alfred shook himself from his staring and nodded, facing forward. Young Jhoari children played in the streets in front of them, laughing and tossing toys back and forth. "Yeah, finally. Since we'd decided to show our support for an important time of year for them, he signed the agreement to let Starfleet begin mining, with the promise that they'd keep it to specific designated areas so as to not inhibit the natural growth of the surrounding wildlife. Or something along those lines; I stopped listening after a while." Arthur smacked him in the arm and he laughed.
"Git. You're supposed to be privy to all information — not just what you think is interesting."
"I heard it, Artie," he chuckled. "I'm not always an idiot, you know."
"Mm, I beg to differ."
"Ouch, Artie." He slapped a hand against his heart, smiling at his best friend who rolled his eyes. They continued their walk, enjoying the smell of cultural specialties in the air, and Alfred went back to watching the floating petals and flowers.
Reaching out, he grabbed a small, delicate white one. It looked similar to a Terran Calla lily, but its fragrance was purer, cleaner. He turned to Arthur, who was gazing at it in mild interest, and he grinned as he slid it gently into the doctor's hair, above his ear. It caressed his cheek with long petals, his fair skin just a hint tanner than its snow white color. Arthur quirked one of his fuzzy brows, his lips twitching.
"Oh, really?" he asked, tone teasing.
"Shut up," Alfred chuckled. "You like flowers, anyway."
Arthur reached up, touching the flower softly. "I do," he agreed. "It's very pretty, Alfred. Thank you."
"Well, it's a tradition to give flowers to the one you love on Valentine's, so…" Alfred trailed off, eyes widening as the words slipped out without actual thought to them. He bit his lip as Arthur froze next to him, and he dropped his eyes to his boots. "Shit, Artie, I…"
Hands cupped his face and pulled it up, forcing him to look into soft green eyes. "Did you mean it, Alfred?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, brushing against Alfred's cheek. "Do you mean it?"
Alfred could only nod as he gazed back, feeling his heart beating against his ribcage like a drum. "Yeah," he breathed. "Yeah, I meant it. I've been in love with you since the first day I moved into your dorm, really. You were beautiful sitting there doing homework. And I've only fallen harder every day since. For your grumpiness, for your sarcasm, for your determination and your drive and your passion. I love you, Artie."
Arthur's breath caught, and Alfred clenched his fists, preparing for imminent rejection. "Alfred…"
"Artie—"
Soft lips cut him off with a rough kiss, and Alfred melted against Arthur, arms wrapping around his best friend as Arthur pulled him closer by his shoulders. It was electric, a fire burning through him as Arthur pressed against him, slipping his tongue into Alfred's mouth and tracing his teeth, mapping it out. Their breathing became ragged and Alfred was lightheaded by the time he pulled from Arthur's lips, swollen and red, bitten and licked. Arthur's hand caressed his face as he stared in disbelief down at his best friend.
"You were the most gorgeous man I'd ever seen when you walked in that day," Arthur murmured, tracing the contours of his lips, his nose. "I was mesmerized. Until you opened your mouth, of course," he chuckled, and Alfred flushed. "But I could never push you away like I could everyone else. You were sweet, kind, always standing up for others and leading them like a true hero, something I didn't know I admired and loved until you came along. You showed me there was more to life than just cynicism and darkness. You fought your way into my heart before I could even put up my defenses."
Arthur leaned up, pressing another kiss to his lips. "I love you too, Alfred."
Cheers sounded around them, and Alfred glanced around to see what was happening. Arthur frowned but didn't move, keeping his arms around Alfred. From down the street, which Alfred saw now was in the market square outside of the High Temple, they watched as the High Chancellor approached them, clapping with the crowd and smiling a bright white smile.
"Captain Jones!" he called, and Alfred took one of his arms from Arthur to shake the outstretched hand that th'Rothi offered him. "A thousand congratulations! May the Divine watch over you from this day on!"
"Thank you, Chancellor," he offered, confusion in his tone. "But, um, I'm afraid I'm not sure why congratulations are in order."
"Why, your intention of bonding to this lovely man, of course!" The Chancellor gestured to his CMO. "It is Jhoari tradition to offer a white Thelin Firre," he pointed to the lily-flower in Arthur's hair, "to one's prospective bond-mate! And yours accepted!"
More cheers sounded, and Alfred looked wide-eyed over to Arthur, who looked back stunned. "Like, Terran engagement?" Alfred managed to ask, turning back to the Chancellor.
th'Rothi contemplated for a moment before nodding. "I believe that is the correct equivalent, yes! Oh, happy days ahead of us! Please, you must let us perform the bonding ceremony! It is the least we can do for such an exemplary Captain of Starfleet."
Alfred could hardly think though the rush of oh shit I just proposed to Artie and he said yes oh my god running through his head, but he managed to smile and nod. Not like he could refuse, after all. He looked back at Arthur as the Chancellor and the Council started making plans for their wedding — oh shit we're getting married — and saw that Arthur was smiling softly.
"Next time," his CMO said, looking at him with a sparkle in his eye, "I expect a ring."
Alfred laughed, pulling his best friend close and kissing him again.
Matt was gonna have a cow when he heard about this.
