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...

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[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. ]

[dark_ages]

[ Although she doesn't pull from him, there's just a trace of tension, a shift in her that makes him pause. Nothing has really changed much, but he'd wager there's something on her mind right now, something that adds just that bit of strain, a line of tension to her muscles when she presses closer into him. ]

Penny for your thoughts?

[ Very old saying (what's a penny, even), but she'd get the gist, he's sure. ]

[thecanarylives]

[ She tries to push herself to stay present. To let herself enjoy this. But inevitably, he starts to notice, and she puts on a small smile, shaking her head and pressing a kiss to the inside of his wrist. ]

Sorry. [ It's a breath of a mutter, her hold tightening slightly around his middle. ] It's just... it's been a while.

[dark_ages]

[ He nods slowly. She doesn't need to say more for him to understand what she means, and he kisses the top of her forehead, lingering there for a moment before he wraps his arms tighter around her too, pulling her into a proper hug. ]

It's fine. Just know that we can talk about it, if you want.

[ If not, then they just can take things slow, go step by step. No need to rush anything. ]

[thecanarylives]

[ Her eyes sink closed a moment at the kiss to her forehead, and she feels the tension start to melt from her just a little as she slips her head down to rest her cheek on his shoulder. ]

I don't even know where I'd start. [ She chuckles dryly, pressing her lips to the collar of his shirt. ]

You sure you know what you're getting yourself into?

[dark_ages]

You don't have to. Just reminding you that you can, if you ever feel like it.

[ More like letting her know that door's always open, and that she can just come talk to him whenever, without fuss or warning. He chuckles a little at her question, cheek pressed warmly against her temple. ]

Yeah, I'm sure.

[ Or maybe he has no idea what he's getting himself into, but he's still not going to regret his decision. ]

[thecanarylives]

You're sweet. [ She leans up to press a kiss to his cheek, fingertips toying through the hair at the nape of his neck.

Taking in a slow breath, she rests her head back against his shoulder, letting her eyes sink closed a moment. ]

Don't say I didn't warn you.

[dark_ages]

[ Leonard chuckles, holding her close to him, one of his hands slowly stroking through her hair. ]

Mm, yeah. You've warned me. Multiple times, even.

[ So he's well beyond the point of saying she didn't warn him. Not that he would have. ]

[thecanarylives]

[ She laughs softly, head lifting to press a few kisses along his neck. ]

Is it getting old yet?

[ She's fully aware of how hot and cold she can be. Trying to reconcile who she is with who she wants to be. What she wants with what she deserves. ]

[dark_ages]

Mm, maybe a little.

[ He says it airily, though, with a little smile that's not at all upset. Amused, if anything.

One day, hopefully, she'll stop worrying that he'll somehow change his mind about this. But even if their relationship doesn't work out for whatever reason, he knows for a fact that he'll never regret making the choice to give it a try anyway. ]

[thecanarylives]

[ She chuckles, lifting her head and tugging him in for another kiss. This one a little more playful, a little less weighty.

Glancing up at him, a glint of mischief in her eyes, she takes both his hands and tugs him in closer. ]

So... just how gentlemanly are you on a first date, Doctor McCoy?

[dark_ages]

[ The question has him laughing genuinely. Still, he purses his lips and tilts his head with a small shrug. ]

Well, usually there's no sex on the first date. [ Or second, for that matter. He's very "proper" like that. ] But I think you and I are a little past that.

[thecanarylives]

[ She grins up at him, fingertips brushing fondly along the curve of his jaw. ]

Oh, don't go breaking your rules of conduct on my account. [ She pulls away from him playfully, though she doesn't let go of his hands. ]

[dark_ages]

[ Leonard chuckles at that, grinning as he pulls her right back against him, arm looping around her waist in a firm hold. ]

Now, where do you think you're goin'? I don't think our date's quite done yet...

[thecanarylives]

[ She lets out a bubble of a laugh, letting him pull her in flush against him, hand reaching up to brush through his hair again. ]

Oh, really? Got some other surprises in store for us?

[dark_ages]

Well, I think I still might have a few moves left on me.

[ He leans down to kiss her lips, then her cheek, mouth trailing up her jaw before he pulls away again. ]

I mean, we barely danced.

[thecanarylives]

[ She cocks a brow, genuinely surprised at that answer. ]

Seriously?

[ She laughs, glancing up at him and trying to read his features. ]

What, are we supposed to swing dance next?

[dark_ages]

[ Leonard laughs at that. He definitely didn't mean dancing, but it's sweet how she doesn't seem to quite catch on to that. ]

I don't think there's nearly enough room in here for that.

[thecanarylives]

Cha cha? Salsa? [ She grins, toying her hands up to press her palms to his, fingers weaving between his.

A frown. ]

Polka?