Enterprise High

being a high school AU of ST: XI

with many hijinks

and much angst

x

Chapter Six: A Piece of the Action

x

The transport slowed to a halt; Pike had just exited off of I-5 and hit a stoplight. They were close to Riverside now. Kirk watched the other transports and cars outside the window speeding along the highway at hundreds of miles per hour. Transports and cars were magnetized to rails installed along the highways, meaning that they could travel at any speed safely and without steering. Once you got off the highways, the rails disappeared. The skill roads, as the roads without rails were called, were still protected by magnetic lanes that did not allow vehicles to hit each other.

They reached Riverside fifteen minutes later. It was an old city, founded in the nineteenth century. A few 20th century buildings still remained in the city center, surrounded by younger and crisper structures. The hotel Pike had booked was in the Canyon Crest neighborhood, near one of the schools they would be competing against. Pike parked the transport in the hotel parking lot and stood to address them.

"After we check in and drop our bags off, we'll go get some food and then come back. Over dinner and afterwards we'll need to discuss our plan of action."

The hotel, the Gatecrest, was an original 21th century building, complete with a brick exterior. The décor inside was equally ancient. The lamps all had light bulbs in them, and the carpet on the floor was rough and fuzzy. Pike got their room chips and turned to his milling students.

"Four rooms," he said, holding up nine chips, one for each of them. "One for me, one for the girls. You boys can divide yourselves into two groups of three. Go ahead, I need to give you your chips."

Chekov, a determined expression on his face, started towards Kirk, who backed up hurriedly and latched himself onto Bones and Spock. "I'm with them," he said. Chekov looked disappointed, Sulu looked relieved, and Scotty looked positively alarmed.

"Ach, well," said Scotty, eyeing Sulu and Chekov gingerly. "Ah suppose ah'll room with these laddies."

Pike handed out the cards wordlessly. Uhura and Chapel grinned at each other. All of the boys looked uncomfortable, except for Spock, who looked slightly confused.

The rooms were all in a row. Kirk unlocked his door quickly and bustled inside, chivvying Spock and Bones in and locking the door behind them. He fell against the wall, relieved.

"Close call," said Bones, grinning. "Be a shame for Sulu to have to cut your heart out, Jim."

"I do not understand," said Spock, his eyebrows raised. "What has James done to offend Hikaru?"

"What hasn't he done," chuckled Bones. "Hikaru's madly in love with Pavel, but Pavel seems to prefer Jim. If Jim thought Hikaru was an option, I'm sure this could all be straightened out ('scuze the pun), but—"

"Hikaru really doesn't seem like the threesome type," said Kirk, peering through the peephole. "Good idea, though. I'll keep it in mind."

"According to scientific journals, polyamory is defined as a physical and emotional bond shared equally between three people; when these bonds are not equal—"

"Yes, Spock, thank you," said Bones. "I was talkin' more about a ménage a trois, but hey, it's just semantics."

"I still do not—"

"Don't worry about it," Kirk interrupted. "How much time do you think we have?"

"Mr. Pike requested our presence in the lobby in exactly twenty seven point two four minutes."

"Awesome." Kirk threw himself onto the only bed in the room, then looked around. "Why the hell is there just one of these?"

"Pull-out couch," grunted Bones, flicking through a copy of The Lancet on his PADD.

"Ah," said Kirk. He glanced at Spock, who was studiously unpacking his bag. "Where do you want to sleep, Spock?"

Bones didn't know what was happening until it was too late.

"I would prefer the pull-out couch, James," said Spock. "I would rather not share a bed with either of you, no offense meant to Leonard."

Kirk caught the insult, but ignored it to grin widely at Bones, who was lowering his PADD with a horrified look on his face. "Wait just a second there, Spock," he said. "I'm not sleepin' with Jim."

"Again," coughed Kirk.

"I will pay you good money to take the bed," said Bones desperately. "Hundreds of credits. Maybe thousands."

Spock looked concerned. He hesitated.

"Aw, come on, Bones," whined Kirk. "You'll be cold at night without a warm body to curl up to."

"Tens of thousands, Spock. Hundreds."

Spock felt the tips of his ears turn slightly green. He would never have offered to sleep in the same bed as Kirk on his own, but Bones was asking him to. He'd been trying to avoid temptation, but—but this was too good of an opportunity to resist. As the Vulcan in him gave up, the human in him positively sparked with excitement.

"Fine, Leonard. You may have the couch."

"I will worship at your feet. Want anythin'? I can fetch it."

"I require nothing at the current time, but thank you for your offer."

"Aww, you're no fun," said Kirk, wrinkling his nose at Spock. Then his expression changed. "Well, maybe not."

"I fail to understand your meaning," said Spock, even though he completely understood Kirk's meaning, and could feel his ears getting greener.

"Ignore him," said Bones, who had turned back to his PADD. "He's just bein' a perv, as usual." He added to Kirk, "Now remember, don't go molestin' Spock unless he wants it, alright? So basically, don't go molsetin' Spock."

Spock was utterly silent. He could feel Kirk's eyes on his back. He finished unpacking his bag and turned to sit on the couch, bringing a textbook with him. He glanced over at the bed. Kirk was still watching him.

Spock gave him his coldest stare. When Kirk's expression lightened and he looked away, Spock gulped hugely and tried to concentrate on his textbook.

Kirk, no matter how much Spock irritated him, had gotten used to having him around to bother. It occurred to him that he could discomfort Spock even more by trying to emotionally destabilize him in Kirk's own special way—the way that involved sharing a bed. He knew he was being mean, but he didn't much care; he was having a difficult time feeling the connection with Spock that he felt with everybody else in the Hoverclub. Still, he knew he felt something for the boy other than amusement, even if he wasn't sure what. He passed it off as fleeting and connected to hormones, which were untrustworthy damn things anyway.

x

Scotty didn't even enter the room with Sulu and Chekov. He knocked frantically on the girls' door.

"Please can ah sleep here tonight," he said when Uhura opened the door.

"Oh, I don't know," said Uhura, pursing her lips. "I'm pretty sure it's against school rules to mix sexes in hotel rooms."

"Listen, ah dunnae think you understand, lass. Ah will be sleepin' in your room tonight."

Uhura laughed. "I was kidding, Monty. C'mon in."

Chapel was brushing her teeth in the bathroom. She waved at Scotty. "Ah'll sleep over here on th' sofa," Scotty muttered, dumping his bag there. "If Pike finds out and tries t' put me back in their room, ah'll just—sleep in th' lobby or somethin'."

"Basically," said Uhura. She sighed, flopping down on the bed. "I'm all envious of Leo and Jim."

"Spock, huh?"

"Yeah. How great of an opportunity is this? A hotel, for God's sake. This couldn't be better if I was in a cave with hypothermia and he had to use his sexy Vulcan body heat to keep me warm."

"Except for a minor detail. You're not in his room."

"Like you said, a minor detail. I'll come up with something."

x

In Sulu and Chekov's room, Chekov had just announced that he was going to take a shower before dinner.

Sulu nearly fainted right then and there.

"I'll be quick," promised Chekov, pulling his shirt over his head.

Sulu had to sit down on the bed. Did that just happen? Holy fuck, am I really looking at Chekov's naked torso?

Chekov bent down to get his shampoo out of his suitcase. His abs flexed.

Yes. Yes I am. Oh wow. Oh just wow.

Chekov disappeared into the bathroom. Sulu listened closely to clothes hitting the floor. As soon as Chekov turned the shower on, he flipped open his communicator.

"Uhura," he hissed. "Pavel is showering. I'm going to die."

"Oh shit, really?" she said. "Congratulations, man. What are you going to do when he gets out of the shower and walks into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist? Have I mentioned that he'll be dripping wet?"

"Like I said, I will die. I will sit here and I will die of happiness and joy and rainbows and sexiness. Oh and tell Monty I love him."

"Anytime you need me t' leave a room, ah'd be glad. 'Tis quite easy," he heard Scotty call.

When Chekov did emerge from the bathroom, he was fully clothed, but his hair was damp. Sulu had done his best to compose himself into a natural position, but Chekov shot him a worried look.

"Are you feeling okay, Hikaru?" he asked.

"'M fine," said Sulu, tight-lipped. "Dinner's soon. You ready to go?"

"Yes, yes, I am wery near to ready to go," said Chekov. "I—oh."

Sulu looked over. Chekov was holding up a pair of slim black briefs and staring from them to his jeans.

"Oh," said Chekov again. "I have forgotten to put these on." He returned to the bathroom.

Sulu fell back on the bed and gave thanks to all of the gods he could think of.

x

Dinner was fraught with tension. Spock, uncomfortable around Kirk once more, had elected to sit next to Uhura, who was doing her best to entertain him. Chapel had chosen a seat that accidentally separated Sulu and Chekov. And Chekov had sat down next to Kirk, who was leaning into Bones, who was trying to ignore Kirk's body heat.

Only Scotty looked utterly unconcerned. He, Pike, and Spock discussed the race with minimal input from Kirk and Sulu, who were both doing their best to ignore Chekov.

The meal could not end fast enough. They had done enough planning: Spock knew the layout of the racecourse perfectly well, as did Kirk (who, as VP, would pilot if something happened to Spock). The final touches to be put on the hovercar could be done the next morning by Scotty and Sulu.

"You guys seem extraneous," said Kirk, addressing Uhura, Bones, and Chapel.

"We helped put it together this summer," said Chapel. "We worked on the blueprint and the design. If Scotty needs us to help with maintenance, we'll be there. We're not totally useless."

"Shocking," said Kirk.

Uhura rolled her eyes at him. Chapel smiled. Bones growled.

When they got back to the hotel, Pike let everyone head back to their rooms. Spock, being Spock, still had questions for Pike, so the two of them stayed in the lobby, which meant that Scotty didn't have to pretend to go into Sulu and Chekov's room.

In Kirk's room, Bones had taken over the bed. He was laying on his back, holding his PADD above his head, still reading medical journals.

"What's up?" said Kirk, bounding onto the bed like a puppy.

"Great article on mental retardation," said Bones. "I quote, 'Test Subject Kirk has greatly advanced our understandin' of true stupidity.'"

"I live to serve." He put a hand on Bones's arm. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," snapped Bones.

"You don't seem fine," said Kirk. Bones heard something different in his tone. The kid actually sounded concerned.

"Well…" said Bones, turning off his PADD. He rolled over to look at Kirk. "I just—I'm worried."

"About what?"

"I'm not sure," said Bones. "I have a bad feelin'." He shook his head as if to dislodge the thought.

"I'm glad we're speaking," said Kirk softly.

"Me too," said Bones.

They looked at each other.

In a split second, something clicked in Bones's mind. The other night—the tension leaving him—Kirk's body, muscular and gentle, moving against his.

Bones opened his mouth.

"What?" said Kirk.

"You drive me mad," said Bones, and kissed him.

It was a hard kiss. Kirk found himself pressed deep into the bed, Bones having straddled him. Oh, thought Kirk, this was very, very nice. Bones's tongue parted his lips and covered his mouth. He bit Bones's tongue in reply and Bones actually moaned and pressed him down harder.

Bones pulled back suddenly. Kirk realized that one of Bones's hands had both of Kirk's wrists above his head. The other hand was holding Kirk's cheek, a thumb running softly beneath his eye.

"I don't like you," said Bones gruffly. "I just like kissin' you."

"Fine by me," said Kirk, and strained upwards, trying to reach Bones's lips.

"Now wait a sec. Don't you think we should set some ground rules?"

"Right now? You're on top of me. I'm not really interested in rules."

"You're such a slut," said Bones almost admiringly. "No sex, okay? By which I mean, no sexual contact."

"Okay, anything, just get your head back down here."

"Hm," said Bones, stroking his chin with his free hand. "Could it be that James Kirk doesn't like to be kept waitin'?"

Kirk struggled against him. Bones found this extremely sexy.

"I'll take my own sweet time," Bones whispered into Kirk's ear. He bit Kirk's earlobe. Kirk gasped as Bones began to work his way down Kirk's neck. Kirk struggled a bit more, but this only made Bones go slower. It was driving Kirk insane. He wanted Bones's mouth on his, right now.

But no, Bones was taking off Kirk's shirt. He tried to grab Bones's face, but Bones held him down again, trailing his tongue across Kirk's shivering chest as Kirk panted.

"Fuck, please," whispered Kirk, eyes tight shut.

"What's that?" Bones's voice was heavy and hot in his ear.

"Please, Bones. Kiss me. Please."

"Mmm. I like you askin'."

"You—sadist! God, I need your mouth. Give it to me."

"Tellin' isn't askin'."

"Agh! Dammit, Bones, please, oh God please—"

Bones silenced him. They moved luxuriously against each other, each devouring the other's mouth. Kirk sucked on Bones's lips; Bones slipped his tongue over Kirk's teeth. Kirk kept struggling, kept pleading whenever Bones would come up for air.

Finally Bones rolled off of Kirk, wiping his mouth. He was trembling from the effort of holding Kirk down for so long.

Kirk rolled over and stared at him, totally limp.

"Fwah," he exhaled.

"Yup," agreed Bones, breathing deeply.

They lay there for a while.

Then Bones leaned over and kissed Kirk lightly. "Thanks," he said, voice rough.

"Oh, anytime," said Kirk, still flushed. "You uh, you take out that sexual tension whenever you need. I'm right here. I'm definitely at your service. Are you sure you don't want to have sex?"

"Positive," said Bones, who had gotten up to get some water. "It'd end badly."

"Why do you say that?"

Bones shrugged. "Just would." He handed Kirk his water. "I can get you some more if you need it."

"No, thanks," said Kirk, taking a sip. "Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Did you and Jocelyn—did you two have sex?"

Bones stared at him.

"Why would you ask that?" he said slowly.

Kirk didn't know how to reply. "Uh, well, I was just wondering, I didn't think—"

"Of course we were havin' sex," said Bones. "Are you that idiotic?"

"Oh," said Kirk, relieved. "Okay."

"What, did you think we weren't?"

"Well, yeah, a little," said Kirk defensively. "I mean, you were such a germaphobe when you started dating her."

"Jim, she had breasts and a vagina and was willin' to use 'em. I got over germs pretty damn quickly."

Kirk huffed. "I didn't know, okay?"

"Okay," said Bones, grinning. "Want to play cards 'till Spock gets back?"

Kirk sat up and pulled on his shirt. "Sure."

Bones won every game.

x