May 10

A/N: Once again, I must give due credit to the one and only Lyricoloratura. Without you, I couldn't have done it!!! "Vizzini: HE DIDN'T FALL? INCONCEIVABLE. Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Inigo Montoya: I donna suppose you could speed things up?
Man in Black: If you're in such a hurry, you could lower a rope or a tree branch or find something useful to do.
Inigo Montoya: I could do that. I have some rope up here, but I do not think you would accept my help, since I am only waiting around to kill you.
Man in Black: That does put a damper on our relationship.

"Soooo…" Pavel said, faking casual as he finished his dinner.

"Yeah?" Sulu responded, looking across the mess table at Chekov.

"I vas thinking that perhaps it vould be a fun time if you vould like to vatch a movie. Tonight. Vith me?"

"Yeah, Pav. I'd like that," Sulu agreed. "What time?"

"Ahh… 18:00?" Chekov asked. "You vill come to my quarters perhaps?"

"That sounds great," Sulu said. "I'll bring the popcorn and soda."

"Da," Chekov said with a nod. "I vill be choosing the movie."

"That seems fair," Sulu laughed, standing. "I need to get to the botany lab."

"Da," Chekov said with a smile up at Sulu. "I vill see you at 18:00."

"Sure thing," Sulu agreed, leaving the mess for the botany lab. The smile on his face didn't fade the entire time he was in the lab. He was beyond pleased that Chekov had invited him to a movie in his quarters. Sulu had wanted to move past friends for some time and had often responded physically to Pavel's presence, a response that necessitated hiding it from the younger man. Because all this time, he wasn't sure if Pavel was ready for more than just friendship. Maybe this movie night would be the first of many. Maybe it would even be the first night of something… more.

That was providing Sulu wasn't guilty of wrong thinking, and that Pavel only wanted to be friends. Just friends, and didn't feel the same as Hikaru, didn't want to be with Sulu in that way. Because Sulu had to acknowledge that anyone as fiercely bright and attractive and all around superior as Pavel could have anyone that might strike his fancy, on this or any other ship. No way would he settle for someone as ordinary as Hikaru Sulu, who was not superior on any level what-so-ever.

Well, whatever Pavel wanted to give, Sulu would accept as a gift and not be greedy. He would be content being the best of friends if that was to be their fate. And that had to be Chekov's choice. He was only 17, after all. A mature 17, of course. But how could he possibly know what he did and did not want? Or like? Or … well. It had to be Pavel's choice to make. Sulu would find a way to make his feelings clear and hope he wouldn't scare off Chekov. There had to be a balance he could maintain.

At precisely 18:00, he rang the bell to Chekov's quarters, stepping through the doors when the slid apart. Sulu entered with his popcorn and the Pepsi he have filched from the Captain's not-so secret stash. Kirk knew some of the Command Crew periodically took his favorite nonalcoholic drink, and so long as it was replenished at each Starbase, he turned a blind eye to the mysterious disappearing Pepsi.

"I see you have snuck into the Captain's cupboard," Chekov laughed, bringing two cups with ice to the love seat. The holovid-player was all set up, ready for their private showing.

"Yeah," Sulu said with a shrug. "He knows I'll replace it."

"And the Doctor vill be thanking you for taking it," Chekov said, turning on the movie. "Ve are vatching The Princess Bride. That is good for you?"

Sulu laughed in delight. "You know it's my favorite," he said. "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

"Could you defeat Inigo Montoya?" Chekov asked Sulu with a smile that made his eyes sparkle even more than usual.

"I don't know. He practiced for 20 years."

"Da. This is true - More pursue than study lately. The Man in Black – he could best Inigo Montoya."

"He can," Sulu agreed.

As the movie started, they took great pleasure in repeating their favorite lines just ahead of the characters, united in their love of this movie that had everything, just like The Grandfather promised.

"Only mostly dead," Sulu called out when they arrived at Max's.

"That was a very noble cause," Chekov countered. It wasn't long after that that they were both laughing so hard they could barley watch the movie.

When Westley had rescued Buttercup, and Inigo had gone off to become The Dread Pirate Roberts, the popcorn was gone and the last Pepsi was empty, Sulu looked over at Chekov, wondering if it was time to try the next step. But Chekov looked tentative, uncertain. Scared even?

"I should go," Sulu said, trying to hide his disappointment that he was right, and Chekov had gotten what he wanted. Someone to watch his favorite movie with him.

"It is not so late," Chekov said, looking up at Sulu where he stood next to the couch.

"No. But we're both on Alpha tomorrow. If I'm late one more time, Jim will put me on Gamma for the next month," Sulu said with a shrug.

"Yes. I vould not be liking that," Chekov said with a sigh. "Ve vill be watching another movie soon?"

"As you wish," Sulu agreed with a smile. "Thanks for the invite. You seem a decent fellow... I hate to kill you."

"You seem a decent fellow... I hate to die," Chekov responded, walking him to the door. "Goodnight, Hikaru."

"Goodnight, Pavel," Sulu returned, reluctantly leaving. Well, he had said it would be Pavel's choice and his choice was clearly to sleep alone. Hikaru would respect that and try to not think about the fact that he had not found true love.

That still left one small problem. The fact that his body had been anticipating staying with Pavel. Well, that was easily dealt with in the privacy of his own quarters. Which he did directly before falling into a sleep filled with dreams of swashbuckling, and of rescuing Pavel from the evil clutches of those who did not deserve him, even if it meant braving the Fire Swamp.