[Afternoon Stroll] - [Day 14, NVC] - [Uhura, Jim]

[original_fierce]

Uhura had grown more than fond of being in space. She liked the bright metal hallways of both her own Enterprise and this one; liked the constant starscape and the sense of unity in the ever-present red, gold and blue. But Uhura had grown up in Africa, and she missed natural heat. When it was offered like this, on a planet both civilized and safe

Comments

[original_fine]

Jim still had no idea what had happened

[original_fierce]

She looked up at the sound of her name, the voice familiar, but the word so infrequently heard from this man that, for a moment, she doubted her own judgement. But it was him, of course: the Captain, shining golden all over in the sunlight, everything about him strangely serene, glowing. She wondered what he'd been up to, and laughed.

"Jim," she said, after thinking about it for a moment, and then smiled, proud of herself. "You see, I didn't forget about the plan to try and be less formal off-duty." She spread her hands, as if in demonstration. "How are you?"

Besides gorgeous. But that wasn't new. He just looked unusually relaxed, today.

[original_fine]

He smiled, unaware of the glow emanating from him, the lazy sensuality in his eyes.

"I'm fantastic," he said. "And you're... beautiful."

No. He was supposed to resist this. It reminded him of something, her face upturned, need and fear vying in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said, stepping closer, "if that's too informal."

[original_fierce]

...well. That was informal, indeed, but somehow Uhura couldn't find it in herself to protest. Something about the lazy afternoon, the sun warm on her bare shoulders, must have been making her more unconcerned than usual, she thought, her mind suddenly soft and undirected as loose cotton. It was not as if she had never thought of him like this before, of that soft-eyed gaze being turned on her as it had, in moments of weakness, been. But always there had been a sting of warning in her stomach, an undertone of caution and regulation concern making her draw back, smile a little less, turn away.

Now, there was no such sting. Just a slow warm sensation in her abdomen, pleasure at his words.

She ducked her head a little, for form's sake, but in another moment was looking up at him again, her smile undimmed, turning flirtatious. Too much, said a small voice in her mind. "Thank you," was what came out. And then, "So are you."

Now that was too much. But he was, and that alone seemed to keep the needles of warning at bay.