To Dimplz, an extraordinary beta and K/U Shipping Trap Queen. To all my pm-ing honeys ' Ello~!'
Nyota shed her sarong and stretched with a sigh, feigning ignorance to the appreciative glances the male population shot her way. Her bikini moved along with her twisting curves as she walked over towards the poolside. She smiled to herself as she heard a few pained groans and one wolf whistle follow after her retreating form.
She loved pool days. She spent most of her time doing strength training for her acrobatic pole performances and cardio to keep up with the strain that it put on her body's energy to dance for hours on end. Swimming made exercising both fun and relaxing.
Yesterday had been a relatively short work night with only a thirty minute performance piece. She choreographed the routine herself, fusing ballet with pole dancing to a remixed techno song that had been slowed down significantly and had been accompanied with string instruments. Although it was different from her other dances, certain clients liked the style while others enjoyed it simply because of the nudity.
She dove in. Her body relaxed from the heat of the sun, awoke with a brisk rush of energy as the chilly pool water stiffened her skin and slowed her descent towards the bottom.
She felt a tug at her leg and turned to find her emerald colored roommate since freshman year at her leg giving her a mischievous grin. They surfaced with a laugh on their lips and squealed noisily as they shared a warm embrace.
"Who did I do that earned me the pleasure of seeing you today? Seriously! I feel like it's been forever since I've seen you! They're not paying you enough for you not to see your friends or have a life for that matter."
"Good to see you too, Gaila. I just needed a day or two off to catch up with sleep, studying and fun, you know? Work hasn't been hard; it's just been work," she said, pulling her hair back away from her face.
"And yeah, no need to remind me. I had a light set last night so I wanted to do another swim day since it was so relaxing yesterday. Is something special going on today? It feels like half the fleet is here!"
Gaila did a quick circumspect look and made a face of recognition. "Oh yeah, a few of us from engineering and command decided to plan a pool party to relax," she said looking over the healthy gathering of senior cadets who were either in the water or basking in the rarity of a bright and sunny San Francisco afternoon.
Nyota proceeded to catch up with friends and engaged in a game of pool volleyball. She sorely lost the game but had fun anyways. As she went for three out of five, she couldn't help but wonder if she was missing out by working at the club.
She never quite thought of it as losing out on something before–merely trading one experience for another. She overlooked a number of nocturnal extracurricular activities the student body organized for a culture that was related to something she was very much interested in but would not have had the chance to indulge in if she was still living in Kenya.
Pole dancing and stripping were viewed by society with mixed feelings and varying opinions. They were the origin of many popular club dances that in turn, would breed other diverse types of dances. These dances would then morph into a whole new style altogether by the time they got to the other side of the world or to a distant planet. Even after all of these changes, the heart of the dance stayed the same.
From the joyful, rump shaking style of the Mapouka dance to the stiff legged strut of the Etighi, a number of the dances were meant as expressions of happiness and excitement and not necessarily meant to come off as sexually provocative. Cultural views that were rampant before World War III were still held in some circles. In Kenya, dancing however you liked was okay. Some nations within the country even viewed it as getting closer to God, such as with the Maasai and their amazing leaping circles. However, waggling your body as some lusty treat to be earned or even worse–taken, was still seen as quite taboo.
In the Western world, dancing without anything covering the torso was seen as good clean fun but having breasts, buttocks, or wicked hips exposed could be viewed as immoral or lewd.
Dancing at the club gave Nyota the outlet she always wanted to dance in, whichever way she wished. Some nights, she would dance ballet against the pole. Other nights, she would crash her rump against the stage floor with a lewd clasp while whipping her hair around her head to the throb of the bass.
Gaila could understand even more than most humans as she believed the Earth was going through a renaissance of Victorian values. However, she didn't have the same need to dance every night like Nyota did to stave off her carnal cravings.
Even now as they played with their friends, Nyota was eyeing her Vulcan professor with a look that was one step short of undressing him with her eyes, as the alien sat high above them at his voluntary lifeguard post.
Their eyes met briefly before he broke away from her gaze to continue scanning the pool. She sighed just as the volleyball came crashing down on the side of her head. "Oww!"
Christine Chapel shrugged with a small smirk on her face as Gaila passed the ball back to their court. "Guess you need to keep your eyes in the game, Uhura."
Nyota huffed and shot her a dirty look. "Whatever, Chapel. Watch it."
Gaila rolled her eyes and shook her head at both of them while Carol covered her smirking mouth at her partner's antics. "Come on you two. He's not the only Vulcan in the universe. Besides, there's a tall drink of water that's been watching us since we got here."
She pointed and the girls' eyes followed her finger as it fell on a certain blue eyed bachelor, whose gaze was most assuredly looking their way.
The group collectively groaned and he chuckled at their loud dismissal. "Ah ladies, I'm nice! I don't bite...hard," he said with a wink that made Nyota shiver as her gaze fell on his lips. Full and light pink, his tongue snaked across them before he bit the bottom one with an unnerving smile. The whole time his bright blue eyes were locked with hers, winking at her was he blew out a quick kiss.
She sneered and rolled her eyes but she could still feel his heated stare boring into her back–or her ass. It was hard to tell.
Nyota shrugged her shoulders and ignored both blondes and got her head back into the game. She wished that she could shake off the embarrassment about catching a ball to the head in front of Spock and Kirk–the latter of which would tease her about to no end for the next several decades.
Christine served the ball and the game went on without a hitch until Janice Rand screamed at the top of her lungs. "Oh my God! My swimsuit!"
Everyone at the pool looked over towards the raving cadet as her swimsuit dribbled away from her California golden skin and the creamier peach that it was hiding. As everyone stared at Janice, another scream sailed through the air followed by another. One by one, every woman in the water swam towards the nearest edge of the pool to make a mad dash for their towel.
So casual was every males' departure from the pool that Nyota had failed to see that only females were left as they scrambled from the center of the water as their bodies were freed from their rapidly dissolving swimsuits.
Nyota dove underneath the water. She was a faster swimmer underwater than above and she swam in the direction of her bag and towel. In the chaos though, the volleyball netting was knocked free and snagged her like a fish. As she turned to free her feet, her hair became ensnared and she began to worry as the seconds ticked by and her oxygen thinned.
Against her will, she coughed once and then again as her lung searched for air that was nowhere around her face. She was drowning and couldn't stop herself from trying to breathe in the chlorinated water.
Black spots appeared before flashing dots as she closed her eyes and fought to get closer to the surface but her lungs were nearly depleted of air. As her mind faded to black, a warm sense of urgency filled it as a pair of hot, branding arms wrapped around her and the net.
As she came to, Spock's pale angular face hovered above hers with his lips molded against her mouth and he blowing air down her throat. For a moment in time, he looked at her and her at him as he drew back his mouth and watched her with concern etched in his eyes. It was the most touching moment that either of them had shared–that was until she puked pool water on his face.
He closed both sets of lids and allowed himself a small grimace as the warm fluid gushed up onto his face.
"You have recovered," he said blandly, as he turned her onto her side so she could readily relieve her lungs and stomach of the pool water that filled them.
As her coughing subsided, she noticed a muscular thigh on the Commander's part as her eyes roved over his body further, ending at his newly exposed groin. It appeared in his attempt to save her from drowning in the pool, the Vulcan forsook any moral misgivings about nudity when he jumped in as his swim trunks were now completely gone.
What she saw of their predicament almost had her in hysterics as another round of coughing seized her from shock. She spied his lok dangling between his legs as he squatted near her body. What in Cochrane's name was that green goblin?!
"I believe you require medical assistance. I will–"
"Excuse me, Commander, sir! I'll take her to the student clinic, sir."
Nyota looked over from Spock's crotch into Kirk's blazing eyes, the blue darker than she had ever seen it and determination was coming off of him like a stench.
"That will be quite alright cadet. I would be remiss in my duties as acting lifeguard if I did not take the young lady to a medical facility."
Kirk sped on, not letting the subject go. He crouched down beside her, his body blocking her from the view of those starting to gather around them. "Sir, as acting lifeguard you should remain here and continue carrying out your duty. I'm more than capable of taking Cadet Uhura myself."
"But as she suffered an accident on my watch, I will require her medical forms for my logs."
"Sir…you don't have on any pants," Kirk pressed.
Spock's eyes glanced down and he gave a begrudging nod. "You have a sound point in that regard. I am in need of new garments."
Kirk was gathering Nyota into his arms and cradling her soft, wet curves against his skin. He was pleasantly warm against her clammy skin and his firm hold on her was comforting in its security. Yeah, he was definitely meant to be a command tracker. He was extroverted, protective and more dogged than most.
"I promise to bring back any and all medical forms she receives so you can make copies for you report. Besides, you should find out what made the swimsuits dissolve."
Spock looked from left to right before nodding his head and they walked over to his bag near the lifeguard chair. "Very well. Email them to me this evening. I will text you my comm number. I also require yours."
They exchanged numbers and Kirk hurried over to where he saw Nyota drop her things when she first came in. To Nyota's surprise, Kirk threw a towel over her and continued to the changing stalls instead of just dressing her right then and there.
Seconds after he entered the stall, Nyota clamored out of his arms and stumbled into the only chair to be found. "I can get to the clinic myself. Thanks, Kirk."
"No, I'm taking you," he said firmly, pulling out her change of clothes.
Cradling her head in her palm, she wobbled over to the sinewy blond and tried ineffectually to grab her underwear. "I got it, Kirk, really."
He turned around in an angry huff and herded her towards the other side of the room with his body and turned her nude form face first up against the wall. "They could have seen you!"
He breathed on her neck while his body was as close to hers as it could be without touching. She was disturbed by the urge she felt to push back against him, not just to get away, but to also feel her body pressed up against his again.
"What in the world are you talking about?!"
He laughed at her indignant tone. "Ha! That's rich coming from a sweet tart like you, Uhura. Really? You can't draw any logical conclusions!? I would think for someone who impersonates a Vulcan that logic would come naturally!"
Her face was an instant pane of shock as he traced lightly down her back between her shoulder blades over her semi-permanent tattoo. "'Whio'naks nash veh', huh? I couldn't see it, as you already knew, because your hair was down and your swimsuit covered most of it, but it was…"
Kirk grabbed her arm and turned her to face him, both of their faces wearing fierce blushes as he glared at her, "...these pretty little buds of yours that really gave you away. As soon as I saw your mismatched areolas while that Vulcan gave you CPR, the whole thing just clicked–Aitlun'a."
He was staring at her face but no longer in anger but in awe. "I never thought I'd ever see you face to face and all this time, I've seen you every day here on campus."
Nyota swallowed and bit her lip as she was discovered by the last person she would have wanted to find out–the Vulcan commander included. "Kirk, listen I–"
"Do you know that I watch you every night you're there? McCoy, Chekov, Sulu and Hendorff come and watch you too, though not every night. With that club boasting the one and only Vulcan stripper, you best believe you have most of the male population from this campus coming to watch you. Shit scratch that–probably most of the damn fleet."
Nyota's eyes fluttered closed and she felt her knees gave way as Kirk caught her in his arms. "Sorry. This isn't the time nor am I the person to give you the third degree on morals or secrets. I just don't want them to find you out...I didn't want you to be…"
He stopped at a loss for words and placed her gently into the chair. He reached inside her bag and grabbed her underwear. He then lifted one ankle and then the other into her panties and slid them up her legs. The tenderness put into his touch made Nyota feel both awkward and cared for. The reason Kirk had rushed to her aid was now apparent but it was also now quite clear that he was worried about both Nyota as Cadet Uhura and Aitlun'a the Vulcan. As he held her upright to slip her underwear all the way on, she turned her head and spoke to him softly. "You wanted her to be real, didn't you?"
He sat her down again and drew away, picking up her bra and lacing her arms through the straps while not meeting her eyes. "I don't know…"
He was quiet again as he reached over her to fasten her bra, quickly moving through his task of dressing her so he didn't have to dwell on his thoughts. "I won't tell them."
"What?" she asked, baffled by this bewildering side of James Kirk she had yet to ever witness. He was tugging on her shirt and pulling her wet hair free of it when he clarified. "I won't tell any of the others. If you ever want to you can, but you're safe...with me. Your secret and everything you tell me is safe with me."
She kissed him then; she gave no pretense or warning as she pressed gently against his lips and hugged the back of his head with the palm of her hand. Kirk stiffened at her sudden affection but quickly received it, even playfully nipping her lip before she drew back from his face. The tall blonde was studying her mouth, memorizing the shape and softness but she could tell by his eyes he was distracting himself. He didn't have to say anything else because she knew in her effort to have fun and get some latium bars, she had crushed him with her guise.
He was reeling from the realization that his idol was just a costumed hoax and that the girl he had been fawning after even before he joined Starfleet was the one parading around as her. That Airlun'a wasn't even a person was one thing, but that it was Uhura who wore her mask was something he was still trying to grapple with and he didn't know how to feel about it all.
"Let me dance for you."
He shook his head in disbelief then stared into her eyes to read her motives. "What? You mean a private dance?"
She nodded and reached for her skirt which he helped to wrap around her waist. "As a thank you."
"I don't need it."
"But I want to do it," she said brushing her hand against his arm. "Aitlun'a has never danced for anyone but she would willing for you."
"What about Eros? Would she dance for him?"
"How did you...that's you?!"
He put on an amused look and winked down at her face. "Looks like it's a day of truth or dare with everything coming up truth."
"Oh my gosh, it was you? You were the one courting me?!" she exclaimed.
His thick brows knotted together as he grimaced at her doubt. "I was courting Aitlun'a or more accurately, admiring her from a distance until she grew interested in doing something more than wearing my trinkets."
Nyota cast her gaze down at her bare feet as he shuffled through her bag for more items. It was taking more time than it should have to leave but her tote bag wasn't the only luggage getting unloaded.
"Would Aitlun'a ever have danced for Eros?" he asked with his back towards her. He had one flip flop in hand was searching for the other.
"Would Eros ever have asked?" she queried back, reaching around his waist to pluck the shoe from his hand. As she drew back he grabbed both of her arms and wrapped them around the defined, golden plain of his lightly haired chest. "Would you believe me if I said that he was being a gentleman and not pressing for Aitlun'a's favor?"
She tugged her arms away but not before scraping her fingers across his abdomen. "I don't know if I would, but Aitlun'a might."
He found the other shoe and handed it to her. "I would take you up on that dance tonight but you should rest after I take you to the clinic. Maybe tomorrow night?"
"You're still taking me?" she asked slipping her wet foot into her sandal as it squeaked in protest.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he said shouldering her bag and sweeping her easily into his arms. She stiffened and locked her arms around his neck and he laughed at her fright. "Don't worry, Uhura. I'd just as soon drop the bag before I dropped you. You weigh nothing...well most of you," he teased as he gave her fat bottom a quick squeeze.
She gasped and hit his shoulder for his manhandling. "Quit it! You of all people should know, no touching the dancers!"
He laughed through his nose, his mouth crumpled as he tried not to laugh out loud. "Yeah well, can you blame a guy? Just look at you! Even with you looking like a half drowned sewer rat, you are more gorgeous than the rest of the ladies out there."
Kirk was carrying her out of the changing bungalow now, nodding to the newly clothed Vulcan who nodded back over the heads of three cadets lined up in front of him with a small container to their right. It appeared that the melting bathing suits was an elaborate senior prank that went awry when Uhura got hurt in the fray.
"I'm glad you're alright. I know they didn't mean it but that's why you gotta think these things through," Kirk commented as he caught her looking over at the group.
"You? Thinking things through?" she jabbed, giggling until she felt his arms unlock around her before catching her an inch lower. She screamed and clung to him while he chuckled at his joke. "Oh suddenly got heavier there. Putting on a few pounds, Uhura?"
She hit his shoulder, but not painfully so and pouted. Unclenching her fingers from his shoulder and scalp, she relaxed as he carried her to the shuttle stop and waited for the bus to cart them over to the clinic. "Actually I have gained weight but nothing that I'm ashamed about. And it's Nyota."
She felt him straighten with surprise and she glanced up to find those achingly blue eyes looking down at her face. "Nyota?"
She nodded and he smiled at her broadly.