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“Where’s Sulu?”
Uhura doesn’t even bother looking up from her station. “Where do you think?”
Chekov had to fight the urge to groan out of annoyance. That was not bridge behavior, and he could feel Giotto side-eyeing him from all the way over in the captain’s chair. The ensign haunches his shoulders. “Again?”
There’s a curve in Uhura’s lips. “Every night this week.” Her hands never stop flying over the buttons and switches at her station.
“Развалюха!”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, he’s having fun, Pavel.”
He snaps a little. “I know that,” Sulu having fun isn’t the problem. It’s as she said earlier. He’s been doing the same thing every night for a week! Not just that. No, cause if it was just one hobby or hyperfixation then Chekov could understand that. It’s never just one thing with Sulu. The ensign still doesn’t groan he only whines. A little. “but can’t he have fun in one way instead of a dozen?”
Now Uhura finally graces him with her full attention. A sympathetic look adorning her face. “If he stopped exploring new hobbies then he wouldn’t be him.”
Chekov scuffs the floor with the toe of his boot. That is also true. Sulu has always been this way. Even before his time in starfleet. His mother often complained about her son’s instinctual-seeking nature. It kept him too busy in her opinion. Back then Chekov found it all fun, but now, now he too was growing exhausted with every new thrill they chase, or study they dabble in. Thankfully for some of the more dangerous hobbies Chekov couldn’t tag along for, Uhura was often with him.
His back goes ramrod straight as realization dawns on him.
“Wait if you’re here then who’s with him?”
“Scotty, actually.” Sympathy melts away as an amused smile fills out Uhura’s features. A shiver crawls down his spine. He did not like when her mischievous gaze has been turned on him. It often means he will end up the butt of a joke, or victim to someone’s tricks that Uhura conveniently forgot to warn him about. “Turns out he’s a natural.”
“Oh.” Scotty? A natural at parkouring? Were they currently doing the set in Czech, that Sulu had Watkins make just for them? For some reason the idea bothers him. Not only had he struggled with that route, but it wasn’t even for Scotty. His face was warming up. Uhura’s eyes twinkle. He’s been had.
He fakes a cough into his hands. Uhura rolls her eyes. Chekov tucks both hands behind his back and looks over at the time on her monitor. Two minutes past shift change. He leans back trying to look as innocent and not at all upset as possible. “Then I suppose we should go watch them.”
“I’m sure they won’t say no to a cheering squad.” She announces resting her head in her hand.
Chekov offers out his arm. Uhura stands and loops her own through it. The communication officer that had been standing off to the side, quickly ducks out of their way, taking the longer route to their station. None of the communication officers were brave enough to even consider interrupting Uhura. Thankfully, Chekov was stupid enough to not worry about such things.
That’s why they made such fast friends. That and the fact that he knew the perfect times too interrupt. He gently pats a hand over hers. Uhura rolls her eyes again, but doesn’t shake his hand off.