By Karahkwa Ross
Codes: ST Voy C/K
Disclaimer: All things Trek belong to Paramount. This situation is purely my own. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: Sequel to “Uninterrupted Sleep,” “Unwanted Memories,” and “Unrealistic Dreams.” Is the road to love ever smooth? Chakotay and Harry have yet another bump to get over.
Author’s Note: Two real quick things: 1) I have been really bad lately; I’ve forgotten to thank Yelsha and T’Yanna for beta reading and editing for me. You two are the best. 2) This is dedicated for Amiroq. She’s been very patient for me for not letting Chakotay and Harry “do it” yet. I’m not saying they will in this one either but yes, I’ve been listening to your requests. And now…. ON WITH THE FIC.
=/\=
Harry Kim’s life was going great. He was up for a promotion to lieutenant. He had great friends. And best of all, he was in a relationship with a really great guy.
Said great guy was currently frowning at him, but still his life was great.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Why? I think it would be cute.”
“No. I’m not going to Kathryn’s party in matching outfits.”
Harry sighed. “Chakotay, everyone knows we’re seeing each. It’s not like we’d be surprising anyone. And it would get some of those guys down in engineer to stop hitting on me.”
“I thought you liked it when they hit on you.”
Harry stifled a sigh. There was no making this man jealous. Just once he’d like a little bit of jealousy. “I did, for the first week. It’s nice to be found attractive, but now I’m afraid people are going to start thinking I’m cheating on you. I mean we’ve been together three months and men are groping me in the turbolift.”
“Harry, everyone knows you’d never do that.”
He smiled. Chakotay’s vote of confidence was nice but… “I know but, Chakotay, I’m getting tired of it. Please think about this. Please.”
Harry didn’t know why he was so reluctant. He wouldn’t have thought this would turn into a big deal. All he’d said was they should wear matching tuxedos.
Chakotay sighed. “You really want this, don’t you?”
“Yes. I want everyone to know that you’re mine and how better than to do this? Everyone will know that a certain commander is there with a younger man. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
Chakotay shook his head a little. “What did you have in mind?”
Harry held back a grin. Chakotay hadn’t agreed but he was starting to cave.
=/\=
Chakotay looked over the pictures Harry had shown him early. It was Kathryn’s (##)th birthday and Neelix was planning a formal party for her.
He had to admit he like Harry’s idea of what to wear. No ties and cummerbunds for them. Instead they were looking at full vest with a fancy button cover at the neck of the collar-less shirt. It was striking on the models and Chakotay did hate ties. But at the same time he didn’t want…
He sighed and shut off the view screen. This was so hard. He wanted Harry more than anything. But he was trying to keep himself from falling for him. Eventually it would hurt less.
Chakotay squeezed his eyes shut. He hated thinking about their breakup but he was too pragmatic to really believe it was for the rest of their lives. Harry may have said that but…
Still Harry was so patient. It had three months and he hadn’t pushed for anything. Instead he was willing to let Chakotay set the pace. And unfortunately, Chakotay didn’t know how to lead in a relationship. He was always the follower, the bottom.
His first two lovers, Felipe and John, had been unwilling to let him be the top and since he always enjoyed what they did in bed, he didn’t really mind. Now though, he did. Harry wasn’t going to wait forever and he wanted to sleep with the man once before he got tired of him.
Maybe I should give in. It will make him happy. If he’s happy, he’ll stay longer.
Chakotay jerked at the thought. That kind of thinking had made him ignore John’s affairs and Felipe’s repeated requests for threesomes. Okay, Felipe had never pushed it but maybe that was why he’d been so disgusted with him in the end.
“Harry isn’t like them. He’s not. He’s kind and sweet and oh so caring. And sexier than hell.”
Chakotay groaned. What’s wrong with me? I can come onto complete strangers in dirty, backwater bars but I can’t put the moves on my boyfriend?
Chakotay looked over at the view screen and then suddenly smiled. He hurried over and once again opened up the file from earlier. Maybe this wasn’t a lost cause after all.
=/\=
Harry sighed. Something was wrong with Chakotay. Again. He’d cancelled their last three dates. He’d stopped eating lunch with him. Instead he was replicating something in his office or just having Neelix bring him something later in the afternoon.
It was all driving Harry insane. He loved spending time in Chaktoay’s presence. There was something so comforting about him. And frustrating.
Three months and they hadn’t done anything but neck. He wasn’t even sure if anyone would know if Megan Delany and Joe Carey hadn’t seen them necking in the lounge a few days after their fight. He was so frustrated. However, Chakotay had to make the first move. It had to be his choice this time.
Harry sighed as he turned his mind to other things. It was two days until the captain’s birthday and he still didn’t have a gift. And he still didn’t know what to wear.
He sighed and went, once again, to look at the tuxedos.
=/\=
Ten minutes later, Harry wanted to strangle the computer. It had refused to give him access to the replicator files for the tuxedos. He hadn’t been able to find out why.
“Computer, why can’t I access this file?”
“Your authorization has been erased for this file.”
“Who erased my authorization?”
“Commander Chakotay.”
Harry’s butt connected with the floor before he realized anything. “Excuse me?”
“Please redefine quarry.”
“Chakotay erased my authorization to the tuxedos?”
“Affirmative.”
He sat there for a while. Why would Chakotay hinder his ability to view the tuxedos? Was he so upset about the suggestion that they dress alike?
“Kim to Chakotay.”
“Go ahead, Harry.”
“Are you busy tonight?”
“No. In fact I have a surprise for you. Can I come by at, oh, 1930 hours?”
“Sure. But I need to talk to you.”
There was a slight pause. “Is something wrong?”
“No. I just- Why did you lock me out of the computer?”
Harry smiled at the sigh. Chakotay worried more than anyone else he knew. The answer proved the thought true. “Are you mad?”
“No. Just curious.”
“You’ll find out tonight. Okay?”
Harry smiled. Had he mentioned that Chakotay was a great guy to be dating? “Sure. I’m looking forward to it. After your surprise, can we go to our lounge and….?”
“Maybe. We’ll see. I’ll see you tonight.”
“All right. Kim out.”
Harry stood and rubbed his butt absently. He sighed. So what to do for the next hour and a half?
“Computer, do I have access to the gift files?”
“Affirmative.”
At least he could do that.
=/\=
Chakotay looked down at the outfit he had on. The tuxedo was sharp. He was wearing a deep forest green vest with swirls in the pattern. The top button on the shirt was decorated with a similar swirl. The black coat and pants looked as if they designer had him in mind. He loved it. He felt handsome and sexy.
And, oh, was he going to need it tonight.
=/\=
It started with a package. It materialized at 1925 hours and there was a note. The directions stated “To be opened at 1929.”
Harry stared at it and nearly ripped it open. So this was Chakotay’s surprise…
The chronometer flipped to 1928 and the young man put his hands on the top of the package. His eyes locked onto that last digit. The second it flipped over his hands tore the box apart. And then he froze.
It was a tuxedo. Black jacket and pants with a dark green vest and a shirt without a collar but a fancy top button. It was exactly what he’d been looking for to wear but…
The door chime rang and his eyes flew to the door. “Enter.”
Harry’s heart stopped. Chakotay was… beautiful. Men shouldn’t be but his was. He’s eyes were darker than normal. And the cut of his outfit made his body look like a Greek statue. The tuxedo brought out his coloring and….
And it matched the one lying on his coffee table.
“Oh, Chakotay.”
The older man stepped forward and smiled. “I take it you like your surprise.”
Harry nodded and threw himself into Chakotay’s arms. His kiss was passionate. It didn’t take much and his lover’s mouth was open for his exploration. He licked the hot roof and danced with the sweet tongue.
Chakotay pulled away. “There’s more. Go put on the tux.”
“Cha-“ Harry moaned trying to reclaim that mouth.
“Just go. I promise you’ll like it.”
=/\=
They walked hand-in-hand down the corridor towards the holodeck. Apparently Chakotay had reserved them the deck for the evening. Sandrine’s was gone for the night since the other deck was being used for a beach volleyball tournament.
Harry had never been so flattered in his life. It had taken quite a bit of finagling to get the deck for the evening. Chakotay obviously wanted tonight to be very special.
Of course, he was very embarrassed, too. Tom Paris had whistled at them both and then pinched Chakotay’s butt as they exited the turbolift. Then B’Elanna had done the same to him. It was just too much.
“Cha-?“
“No hints, Harry.”
He smiled. “I know I’ll love it. I’ll be with you. Did I tell you how good you look tonight?”
Chakotay smiled softly. If he didn’t have such a dark complexion, he would have blushed. Harry smiled back and decided to keep going. “That tuxedo it wouldn’t look nearly so good one anyone else. It’s you that makes it so handsome.”
“Harry… If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to sweet talk me.”
“Who says I’m not?”
“Well, I’m not telling about the program for tonight.”
Harry laughed. “I’d be fine if we just went to out lounge and made out for a few hours. In fact….?”
Chakotay stopped. “If you’d rather, we could do that. I want to you enjoy tonight.”
Harry pressed a soft kiss to Chakotay’s lips. He pulled back and then decided that was a bad idea. He returned to those sweet lips. He could lose himself in the texture and taste of Chakotay’s mouth.
“Ahem.”
Chakotay’s brain vaguely noticed the sound. He was too busy loving the feel of Harry’s lips. There was nothing like the taste.
“Ahem. Excuse me, gentlemen.”
Harry and Chakotay pulled apart of see an amused captain looking at them. “I believe you have a holodeck reserved for the rest of the night. I suggest you move this to the holodeck.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chakotay and Harry entered the holodeck at warp speed. As soon as the doors shut behind them, they burst out laughing. After a few seconds though the sound died down and they stared into each other’s eyes.
“Computer, run program Chakotay4Harry. Authorization gamma gamma fourteen beta.” Chakotay’s voice was low and Harry smiled at the file name.
A night sky and a sleepy little village replaced the checkered walls. They stood on softly lit street. An occasional person bustled up the street. It was beautiful.
“Chakotay?”
“Come, we have reservations.”
They walked along the street towards a building with light pouring from the doorway. As they walked the people they passed said hello to them both. They seemed to know each by name.
As Harry looked around he was struck by the detail in everything. Darkened windows still had something inside. It really was if they were there at night but come morning there were other lives to be lived here.
Harry glanced skyward and gasped at a shooting star. This was so romantic and perfect.
“Chakotay?”
“Did you wish on that star, Harry?”
Harry shook his head. He didn’t understand why he would ask that.
“I did. Every year on my birthday, I wished on a shooting star. And it wasn’t until now that my wishes came true.”
“What did you wish for?”
“Someone who would care about me as much as I would care about them.”
“Oh, Cha.” Harry leaned over and kissed him again. When they pulled apart breathless, he spoke again. “I do love you more than anything.”
Chakotay smiled and pulled Harry towards the restaurant. His heart of was singing. He’d never been so happy. What do you know? Not all wishes go unanswered.