OKAY OKAY OKAY I PROMISE WE WILL FINISH THIS STORY SOON. Soooooon. Actually this is the last real chapter. I am so sorry for delaying. College, man. Schoolwork.
But a HUGE thank you for all of you who have dutifully read, favourited, followed, and/or reviewed! I can't tell you enough how you guys have been so supportive and kind.
I guess I've delayed long enough. Without further ado: we move to the end.
Disclaimer: Noooooo-
{January 2265}
"Happy new year," Chekov says as Sulu comes out to join him on the roof.
"Happy new year to you too," Sulu answers, wincing slightly as he sits next to Chekov, dangling his legs over the roof. "Are you sure this is safe?"
"You're asking me that question?" Chekov teases. "You're the one who went cliff-diving with Captain Kirk without any safety harnesses."
"And I would have done it again if he'd asked," Sulu says cheerfully.
Chekov gives him a good-natured punch in the shoulder. "You're getting too old to do those sort of things-"
"Old? I'm only turning like, twenty-six-"
"You can't even fence anymore-"
"You made me fence with one hand tied behind my back and I was still recovering from surgery, you cheat," Sulu says. "I could still run circles around you if I wanted."
"Uh huh." Chekov grins at him as he takes a swig from his vodka.
"I never understood why you liked vodka so much," Sulu says, eyeing the bottle.
"I never understood why you didn't," Chekov says right back.
"Apparently alcohol makes you chatty." Sulu kicks his legs up in the air, setting his bottle down. "Or are you always this talkative?"
Chekov laughs. "It's a side of me I don't really show."
"Evidently." They both sit for a while, listening to the party down below in Starfleet headquarters. "How mad was the Board that you didn't take the instructor position?" Sulu asks at last.
"Only a little. Good thing En'Faiz likes me." Chekov cracks his knuckles, setting his bottle down too. "It's nothing to worry about, I'm sure. They have new applicants all the time – physics is a burgeoning field."
"Burgeoning." Sulu snorts. "That's why they wanted you, Pavel. Because you're top of the field. Also probably because you use big words."
Chekov ducks his head. "Thanks, Captain."
"About that…"
Chekov looks at Sulu curiously.
"I'm not cut out to be captain," Sulu explains. "Was it fun being in the captain's chair? Sure. Was I good at it? Debatable. But in the end, I like being a pilot a lot more than I like having two hundred and seventeen lives in my hands."
Chekov grins. "So you retired?"
"I stepped aside," Sulu winks. "There's a difference."
"So who's new captain?"
"I don't know," Sulu shrugs.
"Either way, he'll have big shoes to fill," Chekov says with a smile.
Sulu chuckles. "Not very big shoes."
They both lapse into comfortable silence again. "So," Chekov says, "Scotty and Cynthia…"
"It's about time," Sulu says after he swallows. "I called it from the first day I met her."
"You mean the first day you practically ran away from her?"
"Technicalities. You're full of them."
"Either way, I'm glad they're getting married before we go off on our mission."
"So am I." Sulu raises his bottle. "To Cynthia and Scotty."
"Cheers." Chekov clinks his bottle against Sulu's.
Down below, a raucous cheer shakes the roof. Chekov laughs. "For protectors of Earth, we certainly throw a great party," he comments.
"Can't work well if you don't have a little fun," Sulu says cheerfully.
"Don't I know it…" Chekov looks out across the brightly lit San Francisco skyline, and feels something that feels like nostalgia tug at his ribcage. He remembers the first time he'd ever been out here, weeks after that first harrowing experience on the Enterprise, wondering if anything he ever did would measure up to the miracles performed on that ship. He'd just about resigned himself to the fact that he'd be working on a boring, safe ship for the rest of his life when someone had come up behind him: "Mr. Chekov."
He remembers turning to see James Kirk, flanked by Commander Spock and a grumbling Doctor McCoy lagging behind. Chekov remembers Kirk congratulating him on an "exemplary performance" during their mission and offering him a position as alpha navigator on the Enterprise. Even then, he'd already been so proud of his youngest crew member, ready to tell the world that Pavel Chekov had great things in store for him – just watch.
Chekov wants to reach back in time, grab his younger counterpart's shoulders and shake him. Listen, he'd say. Take this moment, and the next, and the next, and store them in your mind. One day, they'll save you.
"We did great things together, didn't we?" Kirk asks from where he's appeared next to Chekov.
"You've done good, kid," Bones adds.
Uhura doesn't have to say anything. She just smiles.
Spock only inclines his head: "As always, Mr. Chekov, an outstanding performance." He actually smiles as he takes Nyota's hand.
And then they're gone, and Chekov looks over to see Sulu still taking in the view, wind in his hair. And then he thinks about Scotty downstairs, Scotty who's tried to stick around, too. Chekov wonders what his life might have been like without his two friends to keep him alive and sane, and shivers. Sometimes, salvation comes in the unlikeliest families. And family comes in different forms.
Yes, Chekov thinks, so much has changed from when he was seventeen years old. He's still missing a few pieces, but as long as he has Sulu and Scotty by his side, things might still work out.
And oddly enough, he thinks, at the end of all things – he's okay with that.
We out.
Much love,
ohlookrandom
