dark_ages | landing party ( for thecanarylives )

landing party ( for thecanarylives )

[ He comes to with his head pounding, his vision blurred, and a persistent ringing in his ears. It takes him a while-- a good while, maybe seconds or maybe minutes, to even regain his vision properly, and to take in his surroundings. He's in a shuttle, which is completely wrecked, panels broken and burnt, wires hanging from everywhere, sparks going off and small fires here or there. They're also tilted forward slightly, so he can feel his weight pushing against the belts keeping him strapped to his chair. He looks beyond the window and he sees a lush forest just outside, trees and blue skies as far as the eye can see. It'd be pretty if not for the fact that they've clearly crashed on the planet they were supposed to land on.

Shit. Holy shit, they crashed. How the fuck did they crash? Leonard just wanted to gather some samples from the surface, it didn't even warrant a landing party bigger than two people, how the fuck did they end up like this?

That thought gets his brain into gear. Because he's not alone. He looks over to find Sara passed out, though at least thankfully still strapped to her seat. He lets out a shuddered breath, trying not to panic as he struggles to undo his own safety belt. ]

Sara!! Come on, you piece of shi-- [ His panicked grousing is cut off as his belt comes undone, and he just barely manages to brace himself against the controls rather than slam right into them. Head still spinning, he nevertheless forces himself to stumble towards her, looking her over briefly for possible injuries before he cups her face, trying to wake her up. ] Sara. Hey, can you hear me? Come on, open your eyes...

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Yeah, but... Leonard, I just told you that I’m a murderer.

[ She watches him curiously, more than a little taken aback by how he’s handling the news. ]

I was on a charter ship that crashed. Got stranded on a planet called Lian Yu for about a year, had to do some... pretty shitty things to stay alive. [ She frowns down at her hands. ] We tried to escape on a freighter, but there was another shipwreck and I got picked up by the League after it went under. [ That’s the very horribly glossed over Sparknotes version, anyway. ]

Yes, I know, I've heard you the first time.

[ He may be grumpy like an old man but he's not going deaf or anything, thanks. As for her background... it is certainly unique, especially for someone now in Starfleet. But it's not some horrible shock that's going to be enough to drive him away from her.

Maybe because he's gotten to know her, and he's gotten to see how she cares about the crew, the lengths she'll go to keep them safe. There's more to her than just being 'a murderer'. ]

Alright. So... how exactly does someone go from that, to Starfleet? Don't take it the wrong way or anything, it's just... that's a pretty damn big leap.

[ She’s not sure if he’s just being stubborn or still processing the information or trying to feel out how much of the good outweighs the bad, but part of her’s not sure he’s actually comprehending what she’s trying to tell him.

She chews on her lip. ]

I got word that my family was in danger back on earth. I left Nanda Parbat to make sure they were okay, and... well, you don’t exactly just give the League of Assassins two weeks notice.

Once I left, I didn’t want to go back. I went into hiding and started hopping shuttles, moonlighting as a vigilante until the Captain found me rescuing this freighter full of girls being trafficked by some gangsters. He recruited me then and there.

[ He's definitely still processing the information. It is a lot, after all, and though he she had a complicated past, he hadn't imagined it'd be something like this. But so far, he's still here. So it can't be going that bad. ]

Mm, sounds like Jim. [ He chuckles softly. ] I can only imagine what he told Starfleet to convince them to let you join.

[ Evidently it worked. Though he may be biased, he's glad for it. She is an asset to their crew, no doubt about that. ]

Do you feel like you are Starfleet, now?

[ Part of her’s still waiting for him to be done. Like her breath is still held, anticipating the real Leonard McCoy reaction. ]

Yeah, I’m still not sure how he pushed that one through, either.

[ She shrugs at his question. ] Sometimes. Then sometimes I think... maybe I’m just playing pretend. Hoping to be someone I’m not.

[ She watches him a moment. ] You’re taking this weirdly well.

Well, you've always seemed pretty genuine to me.

[ He does get where that doubt comes from, that fear that she somehow just hasn't worked through her issues, hasn't distanced herself from her past. It's more complicated than he can imagine and he knows it, but he also doesn't think she could pretend this much, constantly, all the time, to be someone else.

He raises his eyebrows, lips pursed as he lifts his shoulders in a measured shrug. ]

Honestly, I don't know what I was expecting, so I can't say if this is better or worse. But it just... is. You have a past, everyone does. You still are who you are now, and that's who I like. And we've been through enough together that I know I can trust you, no matter what.

[ She watches him carefully, trying to read how genuine his reaction is. If he's holding back for some reason. ]

It just is? [ She furrows her brow down at her hands again, shaking her head. ] How can you say that? You're a doctor. I slit people's throats in their sleep. I'm not... [ She sighs, looking up at him again. ]

You're a good man, Leonard. You see the good in people. But you deserve better than... whatever the hell this is.

[ He rolls his eyes monumentally at that, groaning as he leans forward, face briefly in his hands. ]

Okay, you've got to stop that. You've been through a lot, I can imagine, so I can understand you needing some time to figure yourself out. Not wanting to be with someone else until you've got yourself figured out. Hell, some people just don't want to be in relationships at all and that's perfectly fine, and if it's just not something you're comfortable with then we'll just leave it at that. No explanations necessary, no apologies needed.

But please, stop making my choices for me. I haven't heard you once say whether or not you'd consider a relationship, or if you'd even go on a date with me. I don't think you even know what you want, which is fine. But don't talk about it like you're making my own decisions for me so you don't have to make one of your own.

[ She frowns as he speaks, eyeing him curiously. ]

You're trying to tell me you still want to date me? After all the shit I just told you?

[ He pauses at her question, then nods slowly, eyebrows arched. ]

Well, I don't remember sayin' I've changed my mind.

[ She stares at him a moment, the corner of her lip tugging upward just a bit, despite herself. ]

You do know that's insane, right?

Yes, well, [ He starts, his own lips quirking up a little too, an eyebrow arched. ] Maybe Jim has been rubbing off on me more than I realized.

[ She chuckles softly at that, glancing down at her hands again. ]

Maybe you should take a few days. I kind of just unloaded a lot on you.

[ She bites her lip after a moment. ]

I'm not trying to make decisions for you. I... If you still want me, then I do want to try. I just don't want you choosing me because you think I'm someone I'm not. Or regretting it after the fact...

[ He smiles faintly, nodding at her suggestion. She's not wrong, that was a lot of information, so a few days to let things settle, both from her reveal and the mission that's just finally been wrapped up, will only help in clearing both their heads.

Not that he thinks he'll change his mind, and it definitely won't change how he feels about her, but it might make her feel surer that he means what he says. ]

Alright, then. Let's do that. I'm sure we can manage a few days not chasing each other around the ship, right?

[ She's already pretty much convinced herself that in a few days, he'll realize just what he's getting into. He just needs time to let it all sink in.

Still, it's strangely freeing, getting it out in the open. Until now, Jim's been the only one on board who knows about her history.

She puts on another small smile, nodding. ]

Do me a favor? Try to stay in one piece until then.

[ She needs that time more than he does, he thinks. Still, he hardly minds postponing the rest of their conversation. Better than it ending badly now. ]

I don't think I'll have any problems promising you that.

[ He's not exactly a reckless idiot like their Captain, so surely in a few days he'll still be alive, well, and yes, in one piece. ]

Well, if that's everything... I think we both probably need some decent rest now.

Don't jinx it, Doc.

[ She quirks a small smile, this one at least a little more genuine. Nodding at his words, she straightens a little, hesitating and looking up at him again. ]

Hey... [ She reaches out, fingertips grazing against his wrist. ] I'm glad you're okay.

[ He had been thinking of maybe reaching out and touching her, but it seemed... well, not fitting to this moment. However, when she reaches out first, he takes that chance and rests his hand over hers, squeezing lightly and briefly as he answers— ]

I'm glad we're both okay.

[ Then he lets go, smiling back to her as he gets to his feet. ]

I should, uh... let you go on your way. I'll talk to you in a few days?

[ He's not sure yet if he should be the one getting in touch or if he should wait to get a message or a call from her, but he'll figure that out later. ]

[ She lets that touch linger a moment, soaking in the warmth of it, fingertips dragging along his palm even as he pulls away. Nodding and getting to her feet, she sucks in a breath. ]

Yeah. I'll see you then.

[ She gives him another small smile before she picks up her gym bag and heads out.

The way she sees it, the ball's in his court. If he really decides he wants to see her again, he knows where to find her. If not... well, then a few days can easily turn into a hell of a lot longer. ]

[ 'A few days' happens to not be very specific, but Leonard does want to give it some time. They've talked, a lot was said, and he does want her to know that he's giving it some serious thought, letting everything she told him settle firmly in his head.

But after a week, he's very sure that his mind's in the same place, as is his heart. He thinks about texting or calling, but it all feels a little too impersonal. So instead he heads out to meet her where he knows he'll find her.

It's later in the day, after she's wrapped up all her training sessions, and he's surer that he'll find her alone at the gym. He steps inside with a bag of his own and some training gear, slowing down once she looks up and spots him. ]

Time for one last sparring session?

[ Also yes, he's clearly here to talk. ]

[ After the first three days, she'd gone ahead and convinced herself that that was that. It was what she'd been expecting anyway. She'd given him an easy exit, and he'd taken it. They could both move on. Be professional, courteous when their paths crossed. Back to status quo.

She's been spending a lot more time in the gym lately, trying to get her mind off things. Beating the hell out whatever poor punching bag or training dummy was nearby.

Tonight it's the salmon ladder. Up and down, up and down until she's lost track of the time, and the only thing snapping her out of her daze is the hiss of the gym doors opening.

Dropping to the ground, she blinks at him a moment, looking very much like a deer in headlights for a split second before she walks over to grab a towel and wipe the sweat from her face. ]

Hey. You uh... sure you're up for it?

[ He looks back to her, feeling a tinge of awkwardness before bucking up and remembering why he's here in the first place. In that context, her question seems to have a double meaning, but he doesn't ask. Whether or not it does, the answer is the same. ]

Yeah. Why else would I be here?

[ He sets his bag down and toes off his sneakers. She'll easily wipe the floor with him but that hardly matters. Sparring's not actually the reason why he's here anyway. ]

[ She watches curiously as he gets on the mat, toweling the sweat off the back of her neck. ]

I'm not gonna fight you, Doc. [ She quirks a small smile, crossing her arms over her chest. ] I think you've taken enough beatings lately, don't you?

Who, me? Fit as a fiddle. Well— not you fit, but you know what I mean.

[ Besides, it's hardly a fight. The last time she went very easy on him, so he knows she won't hurt him.

But this does leave him at a position where he just has to say what he really came here for. He bucks up, letting out a sigh before changing the subject entirely. ]

Fine, then. Have dinner with me.

[ She's suddenly very aware of her current state, sports bra and joggers drenched in sweat, hair sticking to her cheeks, face flushed.

Hesitating a moment, her voice softens as she takes a moment to let his words sink in. ]

You're sure?

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