Chapter Text
Barefoot in the Kitchen, Sacred New Beginnings
Geordi awoke to the smell of bacon. At first, the scent made him smile and snuggle deeper into the blankets. His dad was always cooking breakfast for them growing up, right before they all dashed around their Starship to work and school and everywhere else they were busy that day. With closed eyes, he remembered those days. So long ago, and so far away.
But wait…
Geordi shook himself awake and grabbed his VISOR off of the side table. As he waited for the connections between his implants and his brain to form, he sniffed the air again. There were other smells; oil and lavender and fresh paint. A cat hair tickled his nose and he sneezed.
“Gesundheit,” said a voice. Data’s voice.
Data!
Geordi’s head turned at a speed that almost gave him whiplash. He was not, as his sleepy mind had believed, in his own quarters waiting for his father’s cooking. These were Data’s quarters. Spot lay curled up at the end of the bed, readjusting her paws and giving Geordi a glare that said ‘do not disturb me again’.
“T-thanks,” he finally replied to Data’s blessing.
The strange thing was that he could hardly remember last night. They’d had a few drinks in Ten Forward. Then Data had shown him the painting he was working on these days, a portrait of Earth and its moon. And then...and then...well, Geordi didn’t really know what happened then.
“You fell asleep last night,” Data explained, approaching.
Suddenly Geordi noticed that the corner of Data’s quarters had been transformed into a miniature kitchen, packed with a counter full of spices and a pan of bacon and eggs sizzling away on the stove.
Data himself was another shocking sight. He was out of his uniform, instead clad in a loose pair of purple pajama bottoms and an oversized hoodie with the Starfleet insignia on it. His feet were bare as they padded across the room.
“I did not wish to wake you. I have read that it is difficult for humans to fall asleep again once awoken.”
“Thanks,” Geordi repeated. He sat up and shook his head with a smile. “Do you always wear pajamas? And cook breakfast?”
Data looked himself over with a shy smile. “No,” he said. “I do not.”
Geordi shared his smile, leaning up on his elbow. The mattress was more comfortable than he would expect for an android’s bed. It was like it had been made especially for him. And, knowing Data, maybe it was. He always did have a flair for going over the top.
“Would you like breakfast in bed?” Data asked. His voice was so sweet that it was painful. And those eyes...even with the VISOR, Geordi could see how hard Data was trying to please him.
He didn’t need to try. Geordi was well more than ‘pleased’ right now. Well more than ‘happy’.
“Sure,” Geordi permitted him. Data seemed gratified to be given the opportunity, and Geordi wasn’t going to take it away from him. “Thank you, Data.”
“That is the third time that you have thanked me.” Data gave him a raised eyebrow as he returned to the kitchen to finish cooking. “I assure you, I find a certain...contentment in cooking breakfast.”
“Yeah?” Geordi’s smile brightened.
“Yes. The act of sharing food is a tradition in nearly every human culture I have studied. For as long as civilization has existed, people have used food to express companionship, friendship, community, love.”
On that last word they met eyes, then sharply turned away. Data turned off the stove and set two plates as quickly and as neatly as he could. The end result was one of his masterpieces: the eggs sat fluffy and yellow on the blue plate, like a circle of sunshine. Green and red peppers mixed in with the eggs, creating a spotted effect that looked as cool as it did delicious. The bacon rested gently on top of the egg-and-peppers combo with a perfect garnish.
“Data,” Geordi breathed, shaking his head. “This looks so good. I didn’t know you knew how to cook.”
“Commander Riker has told me that if one wishes to have a romantic relationship, they must first learn to cook,” Data explained, settling on the bed in front of Geordi’s blanket-clad legs.
Geordi stabbed his eggs with his fork and chuckled.
“I don’t know if it’s a requirement, with replicators and all. But...wait, are you thinking of dating somebody?”
Data’s eyes looked askance. He took a bite of his bacon so he wouldn’t have to answer right away.
“Do I know them?” Geordi prodded.
Data’s eyes widened. He took yet another bite to dodge the question. Well, this time Geordi wasn’t letting him get away with it. He waited until Data swallowed, then waited some more.
“I can not say, at this point,” Data said.
Leave it to Data to make avoiding a question sound polite and sweet. But seeing that he clearly didn’t want to talk about it, Geordi shrugged his shoulders and dropped the issue.
“They’re lucky, whoever they are.” Geordi noticed Data’s cheeks blush a brighter color. He gestured to the food on his plate. “You’re a really good cook.”
“Ah,” Data gasped. “Thank you, Geordi.”
“No problem.” Geordi stabbed another big bite of egg. “Hey, invite me over any time you want a taste tester.”
Data stared at him for a long moment, and then smiled that shy smile again.
“Actually, Geordi,” he said, “I was wondering if you wanted to begin a new tradition with me.”
“Oh?” Geordi chomped on a slice of bacon, catching a few crumbs in his wrinkled shirt as they fell. “What tradition is that?”
“I was wondering if you would enjoy staying here more often.”
Geordi’s brows drew together.
“Won’t that get awkward when you start dating someone?” he asked.
Data tilted his head until Geordi laughed.
“What?” Geordi questioned, setting his plate down beside him. “What did I say?”
Data looked aside, chewing his bottom lip. “Commander Riker did not inform me that it would be this difficult.”
“Riker?”
“Yes. He said that I should not be too straight forward with my question. That it is better to add flourish to the way I speak, so as to invoke emotion.”
Geordi folded his hands together.
“What do you want to ask me?”
Data raised his head. Raised his eyes. Geordi noticed his temperature rise just a fraction of a degree; enough to know something was up but nothing was wrong.
Geordi leaned in closer.
“Geordi,” Data started. “I would like to begin a romantic relationship with you.”
Oh. Oh. Suddenly everything made a lot more sense. And Geordi felt a whole lot dumber. How could he have not seen the signs? They were all there!
What a thought! Data! And he! Dating! It was the best thing Geordi had ever heard! The best thing since warp coils or sliced bread or whatever came first, Geordi couldn’t remember right now.
Data! And! He! Dating!
Wait, wait. Data was waiting on an answer. Geordi looked up and found him pouting across the bed, looking sadly at his plate. He found his own mouth dangling open like a fish who’d just been thrown out of the water for the first time in its life.
He had to say something! Now!
“Data,” he breathed. What to say what to say, come on brain think think think!! “Yes.”
Data’s head tilted again. “Yes?”
“Yes, I want to date you!” Geordi laughed off his nervous energy. “Of course I do!”
Data’s aura glowed. It glowed brighter than the sun (probably. Geordi had never looked at the sun’s aura before and didn’t know if it had one). Data himself glowed. His smile was wide and sparkling and it reached his eyes and oh God, why hadn’t Geordi asked him out before this? Why had he waited so damn long?
“Data, one promise.”
“Anything.” Data scooched forward until his knees knocked Geordi’s.
“Never,” Geordi said with a smile, “Never go to Riker for dating advice again.”
Data’s smile turned shy again, but the glow remained. The twinkling eyes remained.
“I promise.”