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“I can’t believe Chris is making us do this,” complained Una. Except, really, she could believe it, and it made her hate him just a little more.
“I know, this is torture,” said La’an. She took another sip from her drink and twisted to set it on the table. As she leaned over the semi-sheer wrap she was wearing slipped down, revealing the top of her bathing suit and more than a hint of cleavage. Una forced herself to look up, not wanting to get caught ogling her friend. Sitting up, she leaned into the bag and started rooting around. Una really had to keep herself from looking then. “Why is it that no one has yet invented an alternative to this?” La’an asked with disgust, yanking a bottle of sunscreen out of the bag triumphantly.
Una knew she looked guilty so she covered it up by saying. “Illyrians can’t sunburn.”
“What?! That’s diabolical. Why couldn’t Khan have done that, too?” Una laughed. It was wonderful to see La’an relaxed enough to joke about their genetic modifications. “Do you mind?” La’an held out the bottle towards Una expectantly.
“Of course,” said Una, because that’s what a friend would say, right??
La’an stood between their chairs and whipped off her wrap, leaving Una eye-level with her bikini bottom. Before Una could so much as swallow, La’an moved to the end of Una’s chair and sat down. Trying not to think about the wide expanse of skin in front of her, Una started spreading on the sunscreen. “Make sure you get under the straps. They always slide…” So Una dutifully added more sunscreen, sliding her hand under the back of the bathing suit, under the straps, under the very top of the bathing suit bottom. It was absolute torture. She’d just finished and taken a deep breath of relief when Una turned around. “Can you do my face, too?” She closed her eyes and tilted her face up. Una dutifully applied the sunscreen, marveling over La’an; the tiny pinpricks of her freckles, the soft bow of her relaxed lips. La’an opened her eyes and Una quickly looked back up, hoping she hadn’t been caught. La’an leaned back, but she couldn’t tell if that was so she could stand or to get away from Una.
Standing, La’an glanced around. “Well, I guess if we’re here, we should do it right. Care to join me?”
“Yeah, sure,” said Una, reminding herself to look at La’an’s face.
“Race you!” called La’an, already turning and dashing towards the waves. Instead of taking off her own shirt, Una watched her run laughing towards the waves.
When they got back out of the water La’an’s hair was dripping down her back. Actually, all of her was dripping. Una’s brain was still caught in that detail when La’an stepped on the sand and grimaced. “I stand by my earlier statement. The captain is trying to torture us.”
----
Back in the hotel room they each showered and changed as Una considered their options. When La’an came back out, clean, dry, and hair rebraided, Una showed her the PADD she was holding. “I asked Christine and Erica for some suggestions on what to do, where to eat. I know they’ve both been here before. Want to check something out?"
La’an walked over, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet that felt like such a luxury. As she perused the list Una inhaled the scent of her. “Here. They recommended this restaurant. Want to check it out?”
The restaurant was dim, but didn’t feel dangerous. Even if Una barely trusted Erica and Christine she knew they wouldn’t send her someplace risky. Their table was out in the open, though, which immediately made La’an uncomfortable; Una could tell by the way she held her shoulders and looked around the room. The host set the menus on the table and Una let La’an choose her seat first.
It took a few minutes, but La’an finally got comfortable enough to pick up the menu. “Ugh, why does everyone have to pickle everything?”
“Not a fan of flavor, I take it?”
La’an glanced up, eyebrows drawn. “Fuck you.”
Una felt like she’d been kicked in the chest. She coughed, sputtering, trying not to imagine what it would be like to do just that. The waiter still hadn’t arrived, and she didn’t even have anything to drink. La’an looked concerned, waving down a waiter and demanding a drink for Una.
By the time it arrived Una had mostly gotten herself back under control, but took a grateful sip anyway as La’an gave her a questioning look. “I’m fine,” croaked out Una, finally, trying to brush it off. La’an didn’t look totally convinced, but humored Una nonetheless.
Just after their dinner arrived the lights in the room darkened even further before spotlights came up on several stages. They both glanced around, surprised. Christine and Erica hadn’t mentioned any entertainment… and very quickly Una figured out why. The stages were soon filled with mostly-naked entertainers. La’an leaned over. “Did you know about this?”
“What?! No! Erica just said it was a great restaurant.” Una followed La’an’s gaze as she examined someone dancing not far away. She didn’t know La’an’s preferences, so she was curious to see where she was looking. “Like the show?” she asked, her voice coming out lower than she intended.
La’an jumped. “What? No- I mean, no. Just checking the area.” She cleared her throat and looked down, probably trying to hide the deep blush running across her features. Una swallowed a laugh and resumed eating, eager to see what the night had in store.
----
Somehow they’d survived the showtime at their restaurant and made it back to their hotel room. It was only the end of the first day and Una was already ready for shore leave to be over, wondering if Chris would let her back on the ship.
The next morning they pulled out the list again, albeit with much more trepidation. “What about this one here?” asked La’an, pointing to the list. “It says mountain excursion. There can’t be any surprise adult entertainers there, right?”
Una certainly hoped not.
It seemed actually perfect for them - a hiking adventure through high mountainous regions. They’d need to hike and scramble and traverse a glacier. It sounded like a lot of work, but the payoff seemed absolutely worth it. Even La’an seemed excited, and if there was anyone who hated shore leave more than Una, it was La’an.
They were outfitted with gear and appropriate clothes and given a map and a guide before setting off into the already-snow covered mountain. While Illyrians had been made to adapt to nature, it was rare that Una found a place that made her feel like she still needed that. But in the knee deep snow, no other people or animals in sight, she felt connected. The crisp air refreshed her. La’an trudged behind, letting the guide and Una break a path for her.
They stopped at the front of the glacier, marveling at the view. It had been totally worth it, even as both Una and La’an gasped for breath. “Do you want to climb the glacier?” the guide asked.
Una glanced over at La’an who was smiling broadly, taking Una’s breath away. Una tilted her head in La’an’s direction, leaving it up to her. “Yes! Let’s do it.”
They walked over to the sheer wall of ice. The guide clearly explained what they would be doing and how, going over the safety features twice before showing off their route. There were already bolts and lines strung all the way to the top and even La’an seemed comfortable. The guide went first, double checking the lines, and conveying explanations and directions all the way up, even over the creaks of the glacier.
“You ready?” asked Una quietly, pulling her goggles back to get a better look at La’an. La’an beamed up at Una and it took her breath away more than the cold ever had. La’an nodded and Una helped her lock her harness onto the ropes. They’d strapped crampons onto their boots and La’an quickly got the knack of climbing with them, ascending quickly.
She’d just made it to the first anchor when suddenly she slipped, her hands scrambling for the rope as the crampons skidded uselessly. She stayed close to the wall of ice and the guide yelled down for her to use her ice pick. Somehow slipping it from her pack she dug in, arresting her descent just in time. She stumbled through a landing, staggering right into Una. Una wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close. La’an leaned into her for a minute as they both breathed. Una could feel shaking and as she looked down she was surprised to realize it was her.
La’an finally pulled back slightly to look up at Una. “You okay?”
“Am I okay?!” asked Una incredulously.
“You’re shaking.”
“You were coming in hot, La’an. Of course I panicked.”
La’an pulled her own goggles back before removing Una’s. Her hand came to Una’s cheek. “I’m okay, Una.” Una tried to gulp down the cold air, but it burned her lungs and she felt like she was drowning. “Do you want to go back?”
“No.” Una shook herself and stepped back. If La’an wanted to continue then she did, too. “I can’t wait to see the top.”
----
The next day they decided to try dance lessons at a club. Somehow Argentine tango had been exported to the deepest wilds of the galaxy, and Una had always wanted to learn, so she convinced La’an to give it a try. La’an had gone all out with a deep red dress, slit up the side and cut low with heels for days. Una opted for a simple pants and shirt under a jacket, worried that otherwise she’d trip over her own feet or the extra fabric of a dress. The class was small and Una caught on quickly. La’an hid shyly in the back, mostly out of view until the class was over as the dance club actually opened for the night.
The first notes of the song rang out and Una held out a hand. La’an stepped close, wrapping an arm around Una and bringing their cheeks together. Una swept out a foot and stepped, La’an following closely behind.
So focused on her own steps it took Una a moment to notice that La’an was dancing flawlessly, almost floating against Una. She tripped over her own feet and La’an pulled back slightly, laughing, unheard over the music. Her grip steadied Una and then Una continued, trying not to step on La’an’s toes. La’an brought a hand to Una’s chin and forced it up until their eyes met. Leaning into Una again she said, “I’ve got you.” Una nodded into La’an’s cheek and let her take the lead. Her confidence kept Una steady, and as they moved into the flow of the music Una felt every brush of La’an, every breath across her own skin like fire. If she wanted her crush to remain a secret, she’d chosen the wrong activity.
They made it through another two dances before Una begged off. La’an led her out of the crowd and into a quieter corner.
“Where did you learn to dance like that?”
La’an looked up at Una, her eyes sparkling. “Dancing makes me a better fighter. Keeps me light and unpredictable. I’ve known for years.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” La’an shrugged. “How have I never asked you to dance before?”
“I don’t know, Chief. Maybe we’ve never had a reason to before.”
Right away Una swore to herself that she’d find an excuse to dance with La’an again.
----
On the last day La’an picked their activity: high speed shuttle racing. La’an could barely pilot anything, but the chance to beat Una at something seemed to have awakened some sort of monster. As Una strapped herself in and listened to the company’s safety policy she prayed La’an wouldn’t do something stupid. The company seemed to have idiot-proofed everything, but that was the problem: La’an wasn’t an idiot, she was a genius, machiavellian in her ability to get out of and around things.
As soon as the safety announcement ended La’an’s trash talk started. She was going to destroy Una, punch her into the ground, lap her, blow her up, and make her sorry she had even learned to pilot. Una had never been one to trash talk, and as far as she was aware, La’an hadn’t been either. Attraction warred hard with competitiveness and as the race started Una pushed the shuttle hard. Instead of gunning it, La’an fell behind her, riding her wake through the atmosphere. Una was suspicious, and rightfully so. As they hit the edge of space, La'an pulled out from behind her, letting the force fields around her shuttle bump Una’s off track.
Cursing wildly, Una tried to right herself as La’an cackled in her ear. Una had been playing nice up to that point, but if La’an was going to play dirty, Una would too. Gunning it, she flipped her shuttle over La’an’s, cutting into her space and forcing La’an to the outer edge of the marked course. “I’ll get you, Una Chin-Riley…” La’an threatened through the comms.
“Oh sweetheart, you couldn’t fly a shuttle out of-” La’an came at Una again, and Una moved quickly, slipping the shuttle past La’an’s. La’an started weaving, hogging the race course. Una carefully calculated the timing between La’an’s passes as they neared the end of the course. At the last possible second Una accelerated, slipping in the gap La’an left undefended and crossing the finish line.
When they were beamed back to the planet La’an was surly and Una tried to hide her smile. It didn’t work. La’an came marching over immediately, getting in Una’s face. “You cheated.”
“I seem to remember someone saying they were going to wipe their viewscreen with me,” said Una.
“You drive me crazy!”
“Oh really?” The smile finally broke through and Una smirked down at La’an. La’an swung a hand up, but instead of the punch Una expected she hauled Una down and into a kiss. An angry, fiery, toe-curling, mind numbing kiss.
And then she was walking away towards the transport station, vanishing into a crowd.
----
By the time Una got back to their hotel La’an had already packed up and left. Una packed her own things and requested a beam out. Erica and Christine were waiting in the transporter room, both looking mischievous. “So, did it work?” asked Erica.
Una held up her bags. “I’m here alone, aren’t I? Was that your grand plot?”
Their faces fell. “No,” said Christine quietly. “Maybe there was a misunderstanding?”
“She kissed me and then left. What is there to misunderstand?”
“Maybe you got her so flustered that she just needed to go take the edge off or something…” Una rolled her eyes.
“Maybe she just needed some time to figure out how she feels about you..?” offered Christine. “You know how big things are for her.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” said Una. “I guess I should go check on her.”
Instead of making her way to her own quarters, she trudged to La’an’s. Entry was granted immediately upon her request, which felt like a good sign. Setting her bag by the door, Una moved into the room. La’an was sitting on her bed, a box open in front of her. All that lay inside were a few differently shaped dice, a remembrance pin, and a drawing torn from a notebook. When La’an looked up at Una, her face was streaked with tears. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have left.”
“It’s okay,” said Una, kneeling next to the bed. “Are you okay?”
“I just-” she shook her head. “It’s so stupid-”
“Nothing you are feeling is stupid, La’an.”
“You make me so happy.” She sniffed, bringing a hand up to swipe at tears. “But I know what it feels like to lose… everything. And I can’t lose you, Una.”
Una reached out to brush away tears, cupping La’an’s face in her hands. “I can’t promise you that you won’t lose me, La’an. But I can promise you that I will give you every bit of love and joy you deserve while I’m here. Just give me one chance.”
La’an shifted and Una let her go. But instead of moving away La’an leaned down, kissing Una gently. When they pulled apart Una smiled. She had no expectations of La’an, but she was excited that La’an might be willing to give them a chance. La’an tugged on her hands, pulling her up towards the bed. Una carefully sat next to La’an, trying not to tip over the box. “These… these were Manu’s. They’re all I have left…”
“Tell me about him,” said Una gently.