landing party ( for thecanarylives )

[dark_ages]

[ 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...

Comments

[thecanarylives]

That's 'cause I went easy on you.

[ But yes. She'd definitely have preferred a different outcome. Maybe now, their time in the gym can be a little more fun.

She quirks a small smile at his question, brow raising as she gets to her feet. ]

Didn't take you for a dancer.

[dark_ages]

What, you though I was kidding when I said it back at the planet?

[ Dinner and a movie, dinner and a dance... this is a date, after all. He gets to his feet too, switching the music to something more appropriate for a slow dance, then he walks back to where she is, offering her his hand. ]

[thecanarylives]

Kinda just thought you were being cliche.

[ Still, she can't help but smile as she takes his hand, stepping in to close the gap between them.

She could be okay with cliche. ]

[dark_ages]

No, I meant it. I like all kinds of terrible clichés when it comes to dating, you may as well prepare yourself for that.

[ She takes her hand for now anyway, so he figures she's not all that opposed to it. Well, to this, at least. He pulls her closer, until he can wrap his other arm around her waist while still holding her hand, coaxing her gently into a slow sway. ]

[thecanarylives]

Oh yeah? Like what? Just so I'm prepared.

[ She can't help but grin as she draws closer, resting one hand on his shoulder. Up against each other, she's a hell of a lot shorter than him, but it's nice to be close to him anyway. ]

[dark_ages]

[ He seems to take well to the difference in height, managing to tuck her in close to him while they move together. His hand lifts up briefly just to brush lightly through loose strands of her hair, a smile on his face as he tilts his head, meeting her gaze. ]

Well, the candlelit dinner and dancing you've already seen. I also enjoy picnics, long walks on the beach by the moonlight, cooking together, hiking.

[thecanarylives]

[ Her gaze softens up at him as they fit in close together, unable to stop the smile from spreading on her lips. Swaying lightly against him, she tilts her head into the touch of his hand, chuckling softly .]

You do not want me in the kitchen, for the record. Unless it's to butcher something, maybe.

[dark_ages]

Oh, you'd be alright. With a little guidance, I'm sure we could figure out something you'd be good at.

[ Even if it's like cutting meat or peeling potatoes or whatever. ]

Managed to teach Jim a couple things, and trust me, you can't possibly be worse than he is.

[thecanarylives]

You taught him how to cook? Oh, now it's a competition.

[ She chuckles, fingertips reaching up to brush through the hair behind his ear. ]

Thanks. For not changing your mind.

[dark_ages]

[ Leonard laughs at that. Unbelievable. ]

I'm amazed this ship's still in one piece with the two of you in it.

[ He tilts his head a little at her touch, eyes closing for a moment. His hand soon moves to rest over hers, keeping it close as he turns his face to the side and kisses her palm. ]

Thank you for changin' yours.

[thecanarylives]

Just be glad you've never had to sit in on our security briefings.

[ She smiles, thumb brushing softly along his cheek as his lips meet her palm. Fingers shifting to tip his chin down towards her, she pushes herself up on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips, soft and sweet and lingering. ]

[dark_ages]

[ He nearly says 'maybe I should, just in case', but she literally steals the words right out of his mouth. He takes in a breath at the first touch of lips over his own, then closes his eyes and returns the gesture, tipping his head in closer. One of his hands moves to cup her cheek, a touch that only adds to this new gentleness to their kiss, his other arm still holding her close to him. ]

[thecanarylives]

[ She's not worried about Jim Kirk right now. Far from it, really. From the first brush of his breath against her lips, there's not much else on her mind but a need for more. More of him, of the gentle warmth in his touch, the tickle of stubble against her skin.

She pushes herself up a little higher on her tiptoes to deepen the kiss, eyes sinking closed and arms slipping around his neck. ]

[dark_ages]

[ God, it feels like forever since they've last kissed. It's been what, maybe months since their night together? Point is, there's a lot of lost time to make up for, and the moment her lips are on his, he's eagerly pushing back, his lips pressing and parting just slightly against her own.

His own hands move to her waist, then wrap around her midsection, sliding up her back to hold her closer to him. He sighs quietly into the kiss as she clings to him just as tightly, the swaying forgotten for the time being as they seem far more interested in latching onto each other than anything else. ]

[thecanarylives]

[ She'd never admit it, but God, it feels like she's starved for it. For something real, something intimate, a connection she's refused herself for far too long. The night they'd had so many months ago had been fun as all hell, but even then she'd kept her guard up. Convinced herself that fun was as deep as it would go.

She lets her forehead press up against his, content to let this moment hover - needing nothing more than what it is, losing herself in the quiet softness of it. ]

[dark_ages]

[ The kiss breaks slowly with a shuddered sigh from him, eyes still closed as his forehead rests against hers. Tilting his head slightly, he plants the softest of pecks on her cheek, not moving far at all but rather almost nuzzling against her.

It's definitely different, this time. There's still this heat between them, passion and attraction, but there's a layer of warmth and tenderness that neither of them really seemed to eager to add to it. It's nice, seeing her open up to that possibility. If anything he might've worried she'd pull back at the first sign of anything emotionally intimate, but he's relieved to see that's not happening. ]

[thecanarylives]

[ It's strange, how much more weight a kiss can hold after a few months. She's dizzy with it, face tipping up to meet the soft brush of his lips on her cheek. Smiling softly against his chin, she lets her own lips skim the curve of his jaw, leaving a soft trail of kisses there.

Maybe she just hadn't known how much she'd missed it. The feeling of letting someone in close. Casual encounters are a sore substitute, and she's not sure she could pull away now if she tried. Arms shifting down to hook around his middle, she hums a small smile against his neck. ]

[dark_ages]

[ He smiles back, unseen, holding her close and maybe swaying them just a little to the music still playing quietly. He pets her back in small, aimless strokes, just wanting to keep her close and make her feel comfortable and safe with him. ]

[thecanarylives]

[ In a way, it makes the shit show of a mission they went on worth it. If it forced their hand and led to this. God knows she's grateful for a moment of peace - for however long it lasts.

Eventually, she tips her head up to press another kiss against the side of his chin, smirking up at him. ]

Does anybody else on board know you're such a hopeless romantic, or is this our little secret?

[dark_ages]

[ The question gets a soft laugh from him, and he turns his head a little to meet her eyes at her question. ]

No, a few people definitely know. I don't tend to keep it a secret much.

[ Granted, he may not get a lot of opportunities to fully express that, but those closest to him do know. He's kind of a sap, really. ]

[thecanarylives]

[ She chuckles, smiling up at him, hand reaching up to graze a thumb lightly over his cheekbone. ]

Big softie.

[ She leans up to kiss him again, nipping playfully at his bottom lip. ]

[dark_ages]

Mm, maybe just a little.

[ He murmurs with an amused little smile, dipping his head down to meet her halfway on that kiss, his hand weaving into her hair as he cups the side of her face. ]

[thecanarylives]

Kinda like it.

[ She's still smiling in the midst of that kiss, eyes sinking closed again. Her hand threads back through his hair, a low, content hum escaping her. Lips skimming along his, she dips in to suck gently at his lower lip, dragging her teeth against his skin. ]

[dark_ages]

[ Well, she better like it, since that's just how he is. In a way, he feels like she's denied herself something like this for so long, she must be aching for this kind of connection, and he's all too glad to give that to her.

With a soft sigh, he returns the kiss, lips parting invitingly when she drags teeth over his lower one. His tongue darts out to flick faintly across her upper lip, thumb brushing across her cheek in a slow, gentle stroke. ]

[thecanarylives]

[ She's spent a lot of time pretending she's alright without it. God knows she's gotten used to it - going at it alone, feeding the physical need with something that doesn't breed any more connection than necessary.

But being home all those years ago - seeing her family, seeing Ollie again - it'd reminded her that even if the League had broken her down and rebuilt her, there was still humanity left that needed to be fed. That sought something beyond the violence and the blood.

She hesitates, struggling to push back the memories, the part of her she's been hiding since she'd joined Starfleet. The part of herself she's been trying to hide from him.

Brow furrowing, she lets out a breath against his lips, leaning her head into the cup of his palm and shutting her eyes tightly a moment. ]