Work Text:
Standing before Trip was the weirdest man he’d ever seen, and he didn’t mean by appearance (although that was pretty weird too. Shoulder-length, greasy wavy hair, strange garb that looked like it came right out of the 1990s, stubble almost reaching a full beard on his face). No, when Trip said weird, he meant the words that streamed from his mouth.
“I have finally found you!” the man panted, pointed an accusing finger at Malcolm. “You- you demon! For centuries I have hunted you down, and now, now I will strike you where you stand! Mallos!”
There was a beat of silence. Trip blinked back and forth between Malcolm and the strange man who apparently knew Malcolm was a Demon. How had a peaceful shore leave turned to this?
“Look, Raphael,” Malcolm said eventually, raising his hands at shoulder height, “I’m sure we can talk this out-”
“There is no time for talk.” The man, Raphael apparently, withdrew a broadsword, held it in expert hands. The weapon glinted deadly in the sunlight. He narrowed his eyes. “It’s time for you to die.”
He darted forward and Malcolm met him halfway, a blur of silver sword and swinging fists. Trip could barely keep them straight.
Somehow, despite how many times Trip had seen Malcolm come out on top, Raphael got the upper hand, and pushed the Demon back. Malcolm skidded to his knees, one hand on the ground, and glared daggers up at the man.
Raphael raised his sword.
“Stop!” Trip yelled, darting forward before he even knew what he was doing.
The broadsword swiped down.
Pain ripped across Trip’s arm.
He cried out, falling to one knee. His hand clamped down on the wound that had been slashed from his shoulder to just past his elbow.
“What are you doing?” Raphael looked shocked. “Get behind me, mortal!”
“No chance in hell,” Trip hissed. He staggered to his feet and thrust his arms out at either side protectively, ignoring the blood dripping down his arm. “If you want him, you’ll have to go through me.”
Raphael’s eyes were practically bulging out of his head. “You… you would protect this Demon?”
“Trip, you idiot,” Malcolm exclaimed next, “get out of the way! I almost had him.”
“Why do you risk your life for him?” Raphael asked, still holding his sword between two hands defensively. “You are not… no, you are indeed a mortal. So why…?”
“Because I love him.” Trip’s arm was really starting to sting, but he ignored it. “That’s all there is to it.”
Raphael blinked at him. “How could you love someone such as he? Do you know what evil he carries? What atrocities he has committed?”
“No, and I don’t really wanna know. That’s his business, not mine.” Trip dropped his arms. “’sides, he’s changed. He’s not whoever you’re huntin’ for anymore. So back the fuck off.”
Raphael looked at him. Looked at Malcolm. For a moment, as Raphael readied his sword once more, Trip shifted his stance and prepared for an attack, ready to do anything to protect his lover.
But the attack didn’t come.
Raphael miraculously backed off, a scowl marring his face. “I will come for you one day, Demon,” he spat at Malcolm. “You will not escape. No matter how far you run!” And then before Trip’s eyes, he was gone.
“Good riddance,” Trip sighed and moved to turn around, and suddenly found his lips were being attacked by another pair in a hungry kiss, as Malcolm’s arms snaked around his body and held him tight.
“You bloody fool,” Malcolm said when they pulled apart. “He could’ve killed you.”
“He could’ve killed you,” Trip retorted. “Besides, you’d never let anything bad happen to me.”
“Damn right I won’t.” Malcolm kissed him again, then gently took his injured arm. Trip couldn’t help but suck a breath in through his teeth as pain flew up the limb. “This is a nasty wound. We should get you back to Enterprise, get you to Phlox.”
“Yeah, probably,” Trip said. “This thing hurts like hell. Sorry our shore leave got interrupted, too.”
“It’s that bastard Raph’s fault.” Malcolm looked away, face darkening. “Trip, the things he said-”
“You don’t need to worry ‘bout that, darling.” Trip brought a hand up to Malcolm’s face. “I don’t care who you were before. All I care about is who you are now.”