------{The Dance}------
Everyone got excited about the dance.
Save two people. And they sat side-by-side on the Bridge, not saying anything to each other, just sitting there and following orders.
These were the depressed.
"Stupid vomen," Sulu distinctly heard Pavel mutter at lunch when they sat eating their Replicated meals.
"What about them?" The Helmsman asked, picking at another bit of sushi with no particular interest. That day was one of the days when Landon was leaving him be. And now, Pavel didn't want to talk to him.
"Who?" Pavel snapped, glaring at his friend.
"Er…you just said, 'stupid women', and I asked 'what about them?'"
"None of your business!" The Russian snapped angrily, getting up and stalking off, not even stopping to take his tray to the waste chute.
The Asian blinked at the empty chair for a few seconds, then shrugged and carried on with his meal, assuming that Landon and Pavel were going through a temporary glitch.
None of his business, really.
February 14th
Everyone was allowed to leave the bridge half an hour early to get ready for the Dance, clearly showing that the Captain was in a good, giving mood. He didn't even complain when Hikaru was fifteen minutes late that morning.
Pavel hadn't spoken to the pilot since the lunchtime incident four days ago. He was in what Uhura described as 'a teenagers hormonal mood swing thingy'.
"See you at the dance then," Uhura smiled at Sulu in the Turbo Lift that would, because it was told to, take them down to Deck Four, the habitation deck.
"Er, no, actually, you won't." Sulu shook his head, "couples only, remember?"
"Oh…I'm sorry! I wouldn't have made it like that if I'd remembered…I'm sorry!"
"It's okay. You can't ruin one evening for one guy."
"Two." Uhura whispered.
"What?" He glanced at her quizzically, "what d'you mean?"
"Pavel. Didn't you know what happened?"
"No. All I know is that he's not talking to me."
"Oh. Well, Landon went to see him five days ago, with Liam, and it turns out she's been having an affair with him and she's pregnant. Silly cow."
Sulu stared at her, then sighed, "oh, sheese."
"I know." Uhura shook her head, "and I though she really liked him too."
Sulu stuffed his hands in his pockets*, then shook his head like she'd done a few minutes before, "learn from your mistakes I suppose…" The doors opened and he smiled at his girl-friend, "well, see you tomorrow."
"See you."
He sauntered back to his quarters, then sat on his bed and stared blankly at the wall.
"Oh, well," he couldn't help but think, "at least Landon's out of MY life."
Then he thought, "okay. I'm a nasty friend and a stupid person. How could I think like that when Pavel's probably lying on his bed crying his eyes out…actually, he's quite cute when he cries… arugh. I'm schizophrenic. Half evil half good."
Around twenty minutes later he became aware of a great mass of people charging past his door, probably desperate to get to the Rec. Room early. Stupid. Stupid stupid stupid.
"Stupid people," He whispered aloud, "it's only a dance. Why get so excited about a dance?"
Then Uhura's voice echoed in his ears, "couples only."
"Oh, right couples." He reminded himself, "the single most important thing in the Universe."
After around an hour, he got bored and decided to go to the Mess to get a slice of pizza.
The corridors of the Enterprise were strangely deserted. 437 people crammed into three joining rooms. Weird.
He walked into the Mess, ordered himself some pizza, and only then noticed someone sitting at the table by the huge plate glass window, stars zipping across it's surface.
"Hi," He said cautiously to Pavel, who was stirring his spoon again and again in a mug of stone cold tea, "how long've you been here?"
"Vhat's it to you?" The young man asked without taking his eyes off the outside view, "hmm?"
"Well…nothing. No reason. None at all." Hikaru turned to leave.
"Vait,v Pavel's soft voice called across the Mess, "vait. I'm sorry. I…I didn't mean to be rude, I just…I haven't had much sleep lately," he explained flatly, "I'm sure you know vhy. It's all ower the ship. Can't keep her stupid mouth shut for seex seconds, can she?"
"Well…no, she can't," Hikaru agreed, pausing by the Mess door, "but, hey, we're all different."
"No offence," Pavel continued without even hearing him, "but leaffing those scraps of that letter outside my door didn't really help too much."
Hikaru felt a blush creep up his cheeks, "oh…er…I'm…um…sorry." He said weakly, "sorry."
"It's okay. It vasn't your fault. It vas mine. I didn't pay attention to her, I didn't buy her anythink-"
"What's buying someone something got to do with a relationship?" Hikaru cut in angrily, "oh, she's so selfish! Breaking up with you just because you wouldn't buy her anything!" His tone was thickly laced through with anger.
"Really?" Pavel looked a little stunned, "oh. I thought I had to…bekaus…well, bekaus women like gifts…."
"I wouldn't know what women like," Hikaru muttered, "but I do know you aren't supposed to love someone because they buy you presents…"
"Vhy d'you love me then?"
"What?" He looked up, startled.
"I said, 'vhy do you love me, then?'. Vhy do you?"
Hikaru blushed and looked away from his friend at the inviting corridor, "er…I…Chekov, I…"
The young Russian stood up and walked slowly over to his friend, blinking in the light of the passage beyond the door, "there must be a reason."
"Of course there is," Sulu surprised himself by not stuttering, "it's just that…er…I…I can't…"
He sensed Pavel's attention span start to drop, the Navigator turning away from him and blinking at a nearby table instead, "vell…if you ken't say it in vun full sentence vhy don't you…tell me vhat you like about me…"
"Er…." The next thing Hikaru said was a complete mistake, "your hair?"
It was the truth. The first thing you couldn't help but notice was the new-ish recruit's hair.
Hikaru knew he'd said the wrong thing immediately when he saw the amount of hurt and rage that suddenly seared through Pavel's eyes, "oh, right, so the only thing you like about me is my hair? Vell, that's just great!" His voice was full of sarcasm, "vhat's next? My nails? My eyes? My feet?"
"Pavel, look-"
"No! You look! You're just like Landon! The only thing she liked about me vas my eyes at first! I don't ewen think you know anythink about me, do you?"
"Yes I do!" Hikaru protested, "you like that old band. Abba. Dancing Queen."
"Shut up!" Chekov shouted, "Eweryvun knows I like Abba. Ewen DeSalle knows! It's not exactly like you had to sit and haff lunch vith me and haff a huge discussion about museek to find it out! You just haff to sit next to m on the Bridge long enough for me to accidentally start humming it vun day! You know vhat, Hikaru Sulu? I hate you!"
As if the atmosphere of the heated row demanded it, Pavel threw his empty mug as hard as he could at Hikaru. The Asian ducked before it could hit him, causing it to sail into the corridor and smash against the opposite wall.
"Pavel, I-"
"Get out! I newer vant to see you in off-duty time again! Get out!"
