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Una sipped her glass of red wine, relishing the zing on her tongue followed by the fruity after-taste. Honestly, Chris did have the best drinks collection this side of the quadrant. It was an envy she had held for years. His music taste on the other hand was something to be desired. A soft guitar strum echoed around the Captain's quarters, 'folk music' he called it.
Una glanced over at him, he had one hand busy marinating some kind of meat whilst the other adjusted the temperature on his grill - the digital screen behind the kitchen was his backdrop. A twinkling forest spun across the panels, she had chosen that program herself after overseeing the refit. Chris had been pleased with her work, he'd finally been given a decent-sized kitchen he could use to entertain the crew.
And oh boy, could that man cook.
The smile fell off her face as she was reminded of what she was about to ask him, and why she had had multiple sips of wine for courage. Una's fingers danced over the countertop nervously, so she picked up one of the knives from the block and started preparing some peppers.
"Chris."
He didn't look up, just carried on messing with the seasoning of his latest creation. "Hmm."
"Am I terrifying?"
Pike stopped seasoning and his eyes flicked up to her, clocking the knife on his way up.
"I feel like I shouldn't answer that question whilst you've got a knife in your hand." He threw her a lopsided grin.
Una placed the blade down and crossed her arms. "I'm serious."
"I can see that." He muttered, then went to wash his hands under the high-powered jets. "I'm just not sure where this is coming from."
Una noted that he still hadn't answered the question, which pretty much told her all she needed to know. How would she ever become Captain if everyone was afraid of her?
With his hands clean, Chris slid into the bar seat opposite her, giving her his full attention. "Yes, you're terrifying."
Una snorted, so much for letting her down gently. Wasn't that what friends were-
Her thoughts got derailed when Chris carried right on. "Yes, you're terrifyingly good at your job, you don't take any shit from anyone which may sometimes come across as terrifying, you keep a professional distance with the rest of the crew so I get where rumours can spread."
His expression warmed as he continued to list off all the reasons why people might think she was terrifying, which was exactly what she had needed to hear. Funny how he knew exactly what she had been asking with just that one question.
"And speaking of rumours, they're just that, rumours. People like to quantify the unknown, and you are quite the enigma amongst the crew." Chris paused to refill his wine glass, topping up Una's as well. He leant forward on his elbows, coming into her space whilst a smirk pulled at his lips. "Enigmas can scare people, especially when they can kick your ass in Suus Mahna."
Una's mood brightened at the memory, Pike was still sore from the last time she whooped his ass in the gym. She understood the point as well, to an outsider, which most people were to her, she was pretty scary.
"So, terrifying?" It would just be something she would have to work on when her command came; if her command came.
Chris held her gaze steadily, earnest. "Not to me."
Una swallowed, there was too much in that statement. She wanted to keep this light. "I'm not sure if I should be offended."
"Not that you don't try sometimes." Pike was having none of it, he didn't let the joke distract him. His blue eyes sparkled with memories. "I just know you too well."
Una found that she couldn't pull away from that gaze, it was like falling into a black hole, and she couldn't resist. They both stayed in that moment, suspended in each other's orbit, in perfect synchrony. Pike pulled away first before the moment could devolve into truly dangerous territory. He took a long draught of his wine which finally broke the eye contact.
Number One could move her limbs again, she cleared her throat and also took refuge in alcohol. Why did it suddenly feel so warm in here?
"Okay, so terrifying and no fun. I can work with that." She muttered.
Pike spluttered on his drink, almost spilling it all down his front. When he had recovered from almost choking to death, he gave her a strange look. "Who said you weren't fun?"
Una hadn't thought twice about mentioning the two together, they were part of the same thing. The fun comment didn't bother her as much as it had when she and La'an had first heard it at the start of shore leave.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just something I heard the crew say."
Chris frowned heavily and sat upright on the barstool - relaxed frame completely disappearing. "What exactly do the crew say?"
Una felt some of the levity leave the small kitchenette. She licked her lips and repeated the nickname. "Where fun goes to die."
Pike didn't say anything at first, but he wasn't laughing which was the reaction most people had to this. Una scrambled, she wasn't bothered about it anymore. "It's okay Chris, it's just a silly nickname. It doesn't bother me."
Chris exhaled slowly, something in his gaze flickered and he tried to control it. "That's hardly the point Una, what people are saying..." His steely eyes pierced hers. "it's unkind."
Number One smiled sadly. "Crews always have nicknames for the higher-ups, it could have been a lot worse."
"It shouldn't be a thing at all." Pike chuckled darkly. "Give me names and I'll have them scrubbing the decks with a toothbrush."
Una could tell he was only half-joking. If she gave him names there would be hell to pay, he was honourable like that with his friends, too honourable. She reached out to soothe his blood-lust, her eyes sparkling with barely contained laughter.
"Stand down Chris, no feelings have been hurt here."
Sometimes she wondered if Pike would go to war for her.
He contemplated her for a second, still not willing to let go of this particular bone. "You sure?"
It wasn't until that moment that Una realised that it really didn't bother her, not anymore. People didn't know her, the real her, that was all.
"Positive."
Chris exhaled deeply and released the tight hold he had held on his glass, he leaned forward on the tabletop, making an effort to let it go now that she had asked him to. He took one look at her and began to laugh. "Not fun? These people clearly haven't seen the Benzar recordings."
Una flushed a bright crimson. "That's because they've been classified." She retorted hotly.
Pike barked a laugh. "What about that time on Alpha Tauri? Those logs must still be around."
Now that was a safer memory, Una allowed a small smile as she remembered the mission. Long days exploring the jungles, nights spent cataloguing the stars... They'd invented at least one new type of sport on that planet, the unique gravity field made ball games a real challenge.
A wicked thought popped into her head, one which stopped Pike's laughter cold. He wasn't the only one with embarrassing stories. "Tribble prime." The mission was so good that she only had to mention the name of the planet.
Pike's face fell and he stood up from his seat, wagging a finger in her face. "Hey now, that was most definitely not fun." He shuddered. "I still have a scar on my arse..."
Una burst into laughter, followed shortly by Chris. They had lived quite an adventure between them. She reached for his hand, glad that he was able to be like this even after the whole shit-show with Boreth. "Thanks, I needed this."
Chris squeezed her hand and grinned. "Always." He tilted his head suddenly, a tell which usually indicated he'd had a bright idea. "Hey, what do you say we go and have some more fun trying out the new light weapons that just arrived."
Una's breath caught. "You mean the light sabers?"
They weren't actually light sabers of course, but they were close enough to get the geeks excited. After all, what were they if not helpless geeks in space?
Chris hummed in the affirmative, his eyes shining bright with anticipation. Una could do with a good workout, and thrashing Chris was always a good way to end the day. She indicated to the dinner they had been halfway through preparing. "What about-"
"It'll keep." He interrupted, pushing off the work surface to leave. "That is unless you're scared you'll lose..."
Christopher Pike was the biggest tease in the galaxy, what with that smile and those dimples. Una bristled and strode straight after her Captain. "Oh, you're going to regret saying that."
Their joyous laughter echoed down the corridors for all to hear.