Christopher Pike strode through the crisp bright halls of the Federation starship Enterprise. Usually, he would be clothed in his fitted Captain's uniform but today he wore a deep navy tee, matching workout pants, and sports shoes - all Starfleet regulation, of course. He passed a couple of the crew giving them a forced smile but the truth was he wasn't himself. He hadn't been himself since… God, he couldn't get it out of his mind. He needed to stop thinking about this, it had become all consuming. The doors slid open with a familiar hiss as he stormed into the ship's gym which, mercifully, seemed empty.
All he wanted to do was get away from his thoughts, from himself so Pike had settled on a run to try and clear his mind. In keeping with the ships sleek design, the treadmill was built directly into the floor. Tapping the tiny device over his ear Chris started walking. Quickly he built to a jog, then a run. Each foot pounded the floor almost in time with the heavy bass led music – not his usual taste but with his recent troubles he seemed to find some comfort in it. Pike was pushing himself - hard. His breathing was heavy now, legs starting to throb, sweat soaking through his clothes making them cling to his well-defined body. Even with the significant exertion on his body and the thumping music in his ears he didn't feel any better. No respite, no peace, no relief, it was still there in the back of his mind. He didn't know what else to do. Pike pushed harder and faster even though he could feel his body screaming out for relief, until it gave out. He collapsed to floor panting as his lungs burned and his legs ached.
"Captain?" a worried but nervous sounding voice came from Pike's side.
Chris sighed, knowing he would have to present himself in "Captain mode". He had thought he could be alone for a while, be true to himself no matter how self-destructive that was right now. Taking a final deep breath, he looked up to see Chief Kyle looking down on him with a worried look he knew he now had to calm. With his last bit of physical energy, he shuffled himself to sit against the wall.
"Chief Kyle!" Chris breathed in acknowledgement still trying to catch his breath.
The officer asked, "Is everything ok sir?"
Chris ran a scenario through his head where he reassured Kyle with his usual personable charm and perfect smile but he realised he had nothing to give in this moment, no energy to expend on the performance he had been maintaining for the last few weeks. He was spent. He was broken.
"…no... I don't think it is!" this was the first time he had admitted it to himself out loud never mind another person. There was an uncomfortable few second of silence, "Don't worry I will be fine. I just need a few minutes; you don't have to stay!" Pike added to break the tension managing to snap himself back a little. "Captain-mode" came so naturally to him it was slightly worrying.
"I can't leave you like this sir; do you mind if I sit? We don't have to talk."
Chris didn't have the strength to argue so he motioned to his side with as much of a smile as he could muster. The younger man sat next to his Captain, wearing identical navy outfits though it fit the Transporter Chief's slender body much differently to the bulk of Pike's sweaty frame. Despite his state Chris' hair had barely moved and the little it had still made him look like some sort of Starfleet hair model.
"Can I ask what this is about?" Kyle enquired after letting Pike's deep breathing settle.
"It's complicated… and classified." Pike answered leaning his head back against the wall to look across the cavernous room out into space through the huge window. It's vast scale seemed to reflect his own situation.
"I know it must be hard, you know, being the captain, not having anyone to talk to away from the job!"
"I have people - Number One?" Chris offered unsure why he was trying to convince himself everything was okay.
"But it's not really the same. You must always be on guard working together. All I'm saying is if you need to talk about or around a subject with someone less connected to you, I'm here."
Chris turned to look at Kyle "Aren't you in my crew too?"
Kyle smiled "You know what I mean. Sometimes it easier to talk someone you don't know that well."
"I thought you were supposed to be mean!"
Kyle laughed at the captain's directness. "Oh, I can be mean but you are the Captain, I have to be nice to you." He added nudging Chris' shoulder playfully.
Pike erupted into laughter.
"Thank you, that was the first real laugh I think I've had in a long time."
Kyle offered a sincere smile letting his captain enjoy the moment before probing a little further, "Is there anything you can say about what's bothering you?"
The older man paused at the question. As Captain he should shut this down and shut himself off but he was tired of living like that and it felt good to be open with someone, to let his guard down for a few minutes. Even though as he had said Kyle was one of his crew, they had little direct interaction so Kyle was right this did feel different to talking to Una.
"I-I saw something," his eyes grew distant, "something nobody should know about themselves and it's making me question myself, my decisions" he paused again reliving the memories.
The Chief let his mind race for a few moments, processing Pike's words. "And this thing you saw, from the way you are talking I am guessing it is in the future?" Kyle prodded.
Chris was a little taken aback and impressed with the other man, he had thought he was being suitably vague in his description.
"I can't say!" Pike knew that would basically confirm Kyle's suspicions.
"Well, this thing 'not in the future' that you can't talk about, maybe it isn't certain. Temporal mechanics are confusing anyone who has been to the Academy knows that."
"That is the problem though, I can never know. Are my decisions now dictated by what I saw? Is having seen it leading to the eventual outcome," Chris was working himself up again, his fingers dug into his thigh, "I don't know what to do. What is best. I have to keep this crew safe, but my judgement is impaired," he was going way too far now but it had broken through to the surface, he couldn't contain it. "Do you want to die because you have a Captain who is second guessing himself all the time. I-I can't keep doing this!"
Pike's frustration was more than evident both in his words and his actions; his hand had gone white as it clawed at the muscle of his thigh. Kyle was thrown, he hadn't expected this. The Captain was their rock and Pike was always so calm and assured. All he could think to do was offer some basic human comfort placing his hand over Chris'. He felt it slowly relax under his touch – the tension starting to fade away. They sat like that in silence for a few moments both looking out into the vastness of space.
"I'm sorry Kyle, I shouldn't have let you see that." Chris offered. He looked at the younger man. "You have been very kind I really do appreciate it."
People weren't usually so nice to Kyle so he awkwardly smiled and gestured for a hug in that jokey way people did to help alleviate a strained situation. The tension couldn't all be attributed to the unusual position the Chief had found Pike though – there was something else that had emerged as the two men had spent this brief time together something more like apprehension that hung in the air. The Captain smiled genuinely at the gesture. Kyle had surprised him again – his impression of the Transporter Chief had always been influenced by the opinions of others but he had seen they were all wrong.
The two men embraced clumsily as two people unfamiliar with each other. It was immediately evident that Kyle enjoyed the feeling of his Captain so close. Strong arms closed around him bringing them so close they were able to take in intimate details of each other. Though he didn't yet realise it, for Pike this meant something. He hadn't felt this comfortable with a person in a long time even with his closet friends he had felt a sort of disconnect. Had both men not appreciated the moment in their own way the duration of the hug might have started to feel awkward.
As the they started to part Chris couldn't, or more accurately didn't want to, control himself. His hand rested gently on the back of Kyle's neck as he guided him into a kiss. There was no resistance as the younger man's soft plump lips pressed gently into his own. Pike could feel himself barely breathing as he enjoyed the other man's mouth against his. It was sweet and gentle as many first kisses were but was laced with a sense of necessity. Though it only lasted a few seconds the impact made it feel like much longer. Chris' mind was focused solely on this moment. He felt at ease, at peace, even happy at least for these moments he had spent with the other man. Naturally the kiss came to an end with Pike's forehead rested against Kyle's, keeping his eyes closed.
"I shouldn't have done that!" Chris spoke as if he had known the consequences before the action. He was unwilling to open his eyes because he knew it was the end of whatever this was.
"It's okay, I wanted to!"
"That doesn't matter I'm the Captain! Please forgive me"
"But, there's nothing…" before Kyle had the chance to finished Pike was feeling the room in embarrassment.
...
Pike let the water wash over his body. It was blisteringly hot, as the computer had warned, but that's how he wanted it - he didn't deserve to feel comfort after tonight. What the fuck had he been thinking. Basically, telling Kyle classified information was bad enough but he could maybe have justified that to himself but kissing him. Fuck! That was so wrong on so many levels. He had jeopardised his career, but more importantly put Kyle in a terrible position. Yet it was all he could think about. That kiss had been the most real honest moment he had felt in as long as he could remember. Kyle had lifted him, made him feel something, something other than that utter dread and disillusionment that had plagued him for months. Despite all that it was still wrong. Managing to push it just far enough from his mind to finish showering, he dried himself wrapped a towel around his waist and ran another through his hair before tossing it aside.
Stepping into the main living space lit only by the fire and a few low lights he heard the intercom beep. Chris had every intention of ignoring the request as it continued to ring. He sighed in relief as the noise stopped taking a large sip of his whisky and slumping down into a chair – it had been a taxing day. All of a sudden, he heard the sound of a transport seeing the materialisation in the centre of the room.
"Computer, who is..."
He was cut off with the sight of Kyle standing before him, "It's me Captain, please don't call security."
"How the hell did you beam into here?" Chris boomed jumping from his chair.
"Well, I am the Transporter Chief…" Kyle shrugged he was almost trying to be funny but realised it wasn't the most appropriate time for that.
Pike stared at him his arms thrown open and a look spread across his face saying 'what the fuck?!'. Despite his fury at the invasion of his space Pike didn't exactly feel like he could be lecturing the other man on right and wrong after his display earlier in the evening.
"I'm sorry I had to talk to you and you weren't going to let me in." Kyle suddenly became very aware that the captain only had a towel covering his modesty. He blushed a little but decided this was now or never, "I can't stop thinking about earlier, not just the kiss." he almost whispered the last word even though they were alone.
"Kyle we can't!" Pike interrupted shifting from anger to sympathy.
"Tell me you don't feel the same!"
"Look it was one kiss, one that shouldn't have happened, I'm sorry." Chris downed the rest of his whiskey trying to resolve the situation with bare-faced lies.
"But what if it wasn't one?!" the Chief stepped into the other man, "I want to kiss you again!" he looked up at the other man, "tell me you don't." he felt like he was in some cheesy holo-novel but he didn't really care at this point.
Neither spoke for a few moments. Chris' eyes were searching - Kyle couldn't read them. Feeling bold he placed his hands on Pike's chest feeling the warmth of the muscle under his touch. They were so close now. There was like nothing that could have stopped Kyle. He let his lips brush against Chris', barely touching at first. He felt no response unlike that first time. Chris could feel the pressure of the other man's hands on his bare chest. He knew he should have put a stop to this immediately but he needed to feel something good. He felt Kyle's soft lips against his own. Once. Twice. Desperately he tried not to, trying to resist giving in but the third time he couldn't help himself - he kissed back.
This may have only been their second time but there was familiarity, a comfort in this kiss and both men felt it. Chris relaxed wrapping a hand around Kyle's head, tangling his fingers in his soft dark hair. Naturally, as Captain, he assumed the dominant position increasing the intensity of the kiss. The breathing of both men became heavier as Kyle submitted to Pike letting the older man's tongue slide against his own.
"I knew you wanted to!" Kyle smiled in earnest.
"Fuck!" was all Chris could manage and in reality, it expressed his conflicting feelings perfectly.
"Can I help you with that?" Kyle gestured raising his eyebrows.
Pike didn't understand for a second but he suddenly became very aware he was very noticeably hard with just a towel to cover him. Kyle was looking at him with a smirk biting his bottom lip – God he looked good. Kyle wasn't sure how far to push things but having heard no protest from his Captain he yanked at the towel letting it fall to the floor. Pike looked down to see his cock swinging side to side under its own weight dragging his gaze up to meet Kyles'. The Chief was wide eyed, trying to play innocent but with a knowing smirk. He couldn't help but steal glimpses of Pike in all his glory – it was a sight to behold and Pike showed no hint of embarrassment.
The Captain remained stoic for a moment before a huge smile crept across his face followed by a laugh. Suddenly though Kyle was forced against the bulkhead behind him. Chris' face pressed to his own, no more hint of the brief smile but now a strong forearm pressed against his chest. The younger man visibly swallowed fearing he had gone too far. His fear was soon replaced by want when Pike forced their mouths back together. The naked Captain stepped right into Kyle pinning him against the bulkhead – a particular part of Chris was pressed right up into him.
This kiss was more deliberately intense. Kyle's hand gripped at Pike's broad powerful back as he felt Chris' moulding his face and waist. The taller man couldn't help but rut against the Transporter Chief desperate for more friction to gain himself some more pleasure. He could tell Kyle was hard as well, grinding his naked cock into the clothed covered bulge. Letting his hand drop from Kyle's face to the collar of his uniform, Pike started to slowly lower the zipper down the Chief's chest; not stopping for a second to remove his lips from Kyle's. The zipper stopped dangerously low; Chris purposely letting his knuckles graze Kyle's cock hard in his uniform before moulding the bulge with his eager fingers. Their kiss grew more urgent as they become more intimately familiar. Kyle loved being pinned between the bulkhead and his Captain, having the older man so confidently controlling their kiss and touching him however he wanted. He gasped into Pike's mouth as he felt a hand slip inside his uniform.
"You don't have to!" Kyle breathed, although he really really didn't want Chris to stop.
"I want to make you feel good!" Pike knew how corny that sounded but it was genuinely how he felt.
With those word Chris was forcing the uniform off Kyle's shoulders and down to his hips leaving his undershirt to cover his torso. He let his hand slip inside the chief's underwear. The moment his strong hand wrapped around the other man's cock he knew from the way Kyle's body noticeably tensed under his touch. Had the situation been less desperate Pike would have been taking his time, teasing, edging every inch of pleasure from his partner but they had moved way past that point tonight. He worked Kyle's cock awkwardly, but effectively between their bodies'. The younger man moaned into his Captain's mouth as just the right amount of pressure and speed was applied to his cock; he was surprised that Chris was so good at this.
Pike took hold of himself unable to ignore his own throbbing cock any longer. He jerked both of them with each hand, unable to tear his lips from Kyles'. This feeling of want, need, desire, Pike hadn't felt it in a long time and coming at his darkest moment it was intoxicating. Both men were close but Kyle was the first to cum.
"Oh fuck, Captain!" he moaned loudly as he unloaded all over his undershirt and Chris's hand and stomach.
Pike smiled self-satisfied at the pleasure he had brought to Kyle. Letting his hand slowly continue milking the chief of his pleasure while he worked his own cock with a quickening pace. The taste of the Chief's lips, the smell of cum and the intensity of the situation were too much for Pike. With a deep low grown his cum splashed across the front of Kyle's already cum coated uniform. The intensity of his orgasm almost sent his legs out beneath him but he manged to stay upright for a desperate breathy kiss.
"Captain…" Kyle breathed, completely spent.
"You really have to stop calling me that!" Pike smiled placing a final kiss on Kyle's lips knowing this was the start of something he couldn't control.
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