Chekov decided he would grab dinner to go and head back to his room quickly. He was aware of Sulu's dinner schedule and avoided the cafeteria in which Sulu normally ate at. The excited nervous feeling fluttered in Chekov's stomach so he reached for a few bread rolls, a scoop of mashed potatoes and a bottle of water.
Bones stood behind Chekov in the line and eyed his plate, "Mr. Chekov that doesn't look like the most nutritious meal." Bones grabbed an apple and a bag of carrots and placed them on the boy's tray.
"Thanks sir," Chekov said quietly as he headed towards the cafeteria door. He was embarrassed that everyone treated him like a child. If he had to pick a best friend, it would be Sulu. Sulu never treated him like a child.
Captain Kirk was finished with his meal and dropped the waste into the trash bins. He began to head over to the lounge on deck 3. He stepped with wide strides confidently down the white and clean hallway. As he entered the lounge it was 5:45 which meant he had quite a while before the sleepover. He saw a member of the maid crew enter the room with a cart full of sheets.
"Hello Captain, where would you like the surplus bed supplied?" the green humanoid woman said softly.
Captain Kirk smiled widely at her, "Just over on that lounge couch would be fine." He rose his hand and pointed his index finger towards the couch. The maid smiled and pulled the cart towards the couch and began unloading the sheets.
"You know," Captain continued, "Some of the crew is having a small soiree down here at 8:00. You are invited, of course. What's your name?" The maid looked up from the pile of sheets and smiled.
The green woman replied, "My name is Gaila and sure I'll be here at 8. Anything else you might need?"
"I think that's it, Gaila. See you there," Captain smiled and Gaila pushed the cart past the door smiling. Spock entered the room while passing the beaming woman and observing her carefully then looking the captain up and down suspiciously.
Captain approached Spock, "Are you going to be here for the sleepover, Spock?"
Spock looked over at the pile of sheets, "I would be more useful on the bridge looking after our posts."
Captain Kirk knew that Spock would be difficult but he wanted him to be there, "Come on Spock. The bridge will be fine without us for one evening. There are plenty of qualified men and women who will do a fine job while we are off the bridge." Spock was about to speak when Kirk put his hand on Spock's shoulder, "You need a break as much as anyone else does."
Spock looked over at the pile of sheets then at Kirk's lingering hand, "I will attend the sleepover but I must overlook the ship wreckage data report and transfer it to Starfleet first. The estimated time of my availability is approximately 9:00."
"See you at 9:00, Commander Spock," Kirk grinned. Spock gently removed Kirk's hand from his shoulder and headed for the exit.
Chekov picked at the last of his roll and placed the empty tray on the small table near his bed. The roommate he was assigned had an entirely different schedule than he so they rarely were in the room at the same time. Chekov slipped of his shoes and arranged them neatly at the bottom of the closet, then placed his yellow Starfleet shirt and other clothing in the bin by the shower. He turned on his shower and stepped into the stream of steaming water. As he scrubbed his curly blond hair with shampoo he couldn't help but think about Sulu.
"Hikaru," he said out loud, "Hikaru you are my best friend. We should have sleepovers more often." Chekov used a musky smelling body wash then stepped out of the shower and dried himself. He opened up the cabinet next to the shower and grabbed a black squared bottle of cologne. As he sprayed the pine scent over his torso wondering if Sulu would like the smell. Then Chekov grabbed a pair of soft black pair of sweatpants from his closet. They were completely black with one yellow stripe on the outside of each leg and Starfleet printed in bold gold down the left leg. Then Chekov slipped on a black Starfleet undershirt. It was 6:56 at the time. Time was moving too slowly because Chekov was anticipating the sleepover.
Meanwhile, Captain Kirk walked to the cafeteria and asked for the head of the nutritionist crew, "Hello sir, I am here to request that five large pizzas, five bags of chips, a cake or some alternative large dessert be delivered to the lounge on deck 3 at 8:30." The head of the nutritionist crew tilted his head and looked highly confused. "Alright? Also add a few pitchers of coffee, water, and juice to that order." Before the man could question the captain's orders Kirk was walking out the cafeteria door.
Kirk strutted down the hall and fetched his communicator, "Captain to all head crew members. Reminder that there is so be a, uh… meeting tonight. All head crew members and other invitees please arrive at the lounge on the third deck at 8:00 tonight. Wear your night clothes."
Finally it was 8:00 and slowly crew members began to pour into the lounge. The first to arrive was Uhura and she glanced around the room and he gaze stopped on a pile of sheets on one of the couches. Next to arrive was Sulu, he was wearing grey Starfleet sweats and a red T-shirt. Then came the Gaila, Bones, and Scotty. Sulu began to wonder where Chekov was and his eyes continued to dart at the clock.
At 8:20 Chekov entered the room shyly and Captain Kirk shouted above the chatter noise, "Welcome to your first and best sleepover, Mr. Chekov!" A few people clapped or cheered momentarily then turned back to their conversations. Chekov made eye contact with Sulu who was on the opposite side of the room by a window facing the distant stars. Chekov twisted through the small crowd and found himself at Sulu's side. He was standing a few feet away but Gaila's giggling maid friend bumped into Chekov, pushing him towards Sulu.
Chekov giggled, "Don't you think this will be fun, Hikaru?"
Sulu smiled and glanced around the room, "Sure I think it will be great Chekov. I see a pile of sheets over there by some string and tape. I think Captain is planning to build a fort."
The boy swung around to see the fort materials and his cheeks lifted into a contagious smile, "Oh wow! The captain is so kind!" At this time they were standing very close and their faces were looking at each other.
"The food is here!" A few voices in the crowd cheered and people began to gravitate towards the left side of the room. Chekov glanced towards the commotion but Sulu's eyes lingered on Chekov's cheek.
"It looks pretty crowded over there. I'll go get us something to drink," Sulu began to walk over to the food carts and Chekov watched him closely. Then Chekov sat on the wide window still looking out into the galaxy. Sulu returned with two cups of pink punch. He smiled and handed one to Chekov but Chekov's hand stumbled and the cup tumbled onto his shirt getting it wet and his chest sticky with fruit drink.
"Oh my. I'm so sorry Hikaru!"
Sulu kneeled quickly and grabbed the cup, "Oh no Pavel. That was my fault, I should have been more careful. Do you need to go back to my room and change your shirt? My room is closer and you can just borrow one of my Starfleet shirts."
Chekov was silent for a moment and he realized he was being invited to Sulu's bedroom, "Yes, yes. Thank you. That would be good."
Sulu put his hand on Chekov's arm and lead him through the crowd, "My room is just down this hall and I have an extra grey Starfleet shirt." Even after the two were out of the crowd Sulu's strong hand still remained attached to Chekov's arm. Nobody seemed to notice they were leaving.
They hurried into Sulu's room and it was very neat, "You can just put your shirt in my laundry basket." Chekov removed his black, punch drenched, Starfleet shirt and carefully dropped it into Sulu's bin. Shirtless Chekov sat on Sulu's bed as he searched the closet to a T-shirt. He found one and turned around holding it up. He saw Chekov and fumbled with the shirt for a second. He was nervous. Chekov smiled as Sulu handed him the T-shirt. Sulu sat down on the bed next to him as he put on the T-shirt.
Chekov slipped the shirt over his head, messing up his hair, as he pushed his fingers down on his blond curls to tame them he said, "Thank you Hikaru. The punch was my fault…" Suddenly he was interrupted by a beautiful unexpected gesture. Sulu kissed Chekov on the cheek. Chekov was stunned and looked up into Sulu's eyes wondering if he had imagine that but the lingering heat tingled on his cheek, proving that it did really happen. Chekov placed his hand on the side of Sulu's face, caressing his jaw, tracing his fingers down to the back of Sulu's neck while looking at his cinnamon eyes. They embraced lip to lip for the first time, moving slowly like a starship in dangerous territory. It became clear to Chekov that he was not the only one who had been wanting this. Sulu was still tense with fear but as he began to get on top of Chekov and as he felt Chekov's warm hands on his back, the fear dissolved into a buzz of excitement that traveled from skin to skin.