Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed - [Bridge] - [Uhura, Kirk]

[behnd_blueyes]

Returning to alpha shift, Kirk noted a few things. Chekov wasn't there. Uhura was a little on edge. And she and Rand both had a subtle, probably unnoticed-by-them shift towards each other, the way a dog and master attune themselves to each others' presence without knowing it

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[spkng_in_tngues]

They were progressing, were on course for another planet, another mission, making their way back to Earth. But it wasn't entirely smooth. Uhura had banished Chekov to gamma shift for the time being, until she could find out more about what had happened on the planet.

"Kirk. Did you enjoy your first away mission?"

Not his first away mission but his first under her command, his first since whatever the hell Pike had starved him.

[behnd_blueyes]

Kirk didn't bother to correct her--they both knew what she meant. She was establishing the Era of Uhura: Time starts here. Checking his panel first, he glanced back over his shoulder.

"It was most interesting, Captain," he said, as if it wasn't his business to enjoy it.

[spkng_in_tngues]

"And what do you think of our newest addition? Andrea, she calls herself?"

[behnd_blueyes]

Kirk raised an eyebrow. Rand was good--not a flicker. "I believe she was given that name, sir," he said. Alone, he'd have been tempted to say it, to get a reaction from Uhura, but if she was deliberately keeping Andrea's true "nature" a secret from the crew, that was interesting. He had told Rand something she hadn't known?

"Is she joining the crew, captain?"

[spkng_in_tngues]

Uhura leaned back in her chair and gripped the armrests as she stretched. The replacement helmsman was looking at her legs.

"We're a slightly more elite group than that, Kirk. My crew earns their place."

She couldn't help a quick glance, between blinks, at Rand. The woman was intriguing. And Uhura appreciated loyalty.

And there was always the implication that Kirk had not quite been held to such rigid standards.

[behnd_blueyes]

Kirk no longer wanted that place. Maybe he wasn't captain, and maybe he wasn't fucking the captain, but he had his own place that was working out quite well, for now. Kirk had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes. As if he wanted to be Rand. Nosing between Uhura's admittedly shapely legs for scraps.

"Just wondering, sir," he said. "I heard she'd been assigned crew quarters."

[spkng_in_tngues]

"The guest quarters are reserved for those who are actually important."

Andrea was important. She was the key to everything now that Chekov had killed Korby. She'd have to be more careful in what leash she allowed him in the future. But to put Andrea in guest quarters would announce her status and there was enough struggle for power on this ship.

[behnd_blueyes]

"I see," Kirk said, with a quirk of his lip. "Sir." He knew as well as she did how important Andrea was. Perhaps more. But he ignored the little tingle of relief that Andrea was not necessarily in danger. From the captain, anyway.

He glanced, a flicker, at Rand. "Perhaps it will be good for her. She's been so isolated."

[spkng_in_tngues]

"Are you feeling staved for company, Kirk? In sympathy, perhaps?"

He had always been fun to needle, when she'd allowed herself.

[behnd_blueyes]

His mind shot back to his vigorous homecoming.

"Not at all," he said. "I feel my situation has much improved."

[spkng_in_tngues]

Kirk was smug, disgustingly so. It reminded her of how he had been, before, with his golden hair and blue eyes flashing. She had made a deal with him because he was strong and confident and she had sensed that his determination was unwavering.

He was coming back to that and it could be dangerous for her. She had made deals before. If she had to again, to save her ship, she would.

In the meantime, she needed to ask Rand more about McCoy, she needed to figure out what was between Kirk and McCoy, how much power was there.

"Well, I've certainly tried to improve the general quality of life on board."

If ship's gossip was anything to go by, she had succeeded in some ways. The female crew members were beginning to push back against the men. Even that timid little nurse, whatever her name was. Though Chapel was potentially a loss.

[behnd_blueyes]

Kirk was no longer interested in the ship--but there was no reason to inform Uhura of that. Not when he might be able to watch her squirm.

His eyelashes lowered deferentially.

"No one could argue with that, captain," he said. No one had really liked Pike, after all. And his situation had certain improved--though that had little to do with Uhura personally.

[spkng_in_tngues]

Pike had been a capable captain, brilliant in many ways. And with Spock, the pair of them had been a force with which to be reckoned. But Uhura couldn't hold that sort of captaincy and she knew it.

Kirk was doing that practiced thing with his eyelashes. Had it ever really fooled anyone? Or did everyone see what she did, a grasping, ambitious officer looking for his opportunity?

She crossed her legs, restless.

[behnd_blueyes]

Kirk didn't care if they saw what Uhura did, because they usually also saw someone they could use. And that was useful, in turn, to Kirk. He'd often relied on that ability to be underestimated, on his attractive qualities being enough to make people overlook the ambitious ones and assume he wasn't smart enough to follow through.

But Uhura was restless, and it was obvious. He wondered why that was. She had the machine, had Andrea. Was it the weariness of command? A command she'd never spoken of seeking for herself. Did it wear on her?

[spkng_in_tngues]

Did it wear on her? That would have been too simple a question.

"Yeoman, what's the status of those reports?"

Rand had been quietly efficient as always.

[behnd_blueyes]

Rand had practically handed them over before Uhura was finished asking, which Kirk duly noted as he turned back to his console. Whatever favor Rand was currying, it was working. The absence of Chekov--who hadn't shown up in sickbay, as far as Kirk knew--confirmed Rand's ascent.

A yeoman. Of what use was she to Uhura? Then again, the little lesbian had thrown herself in front of an assassination attempt, so she clearly had... well, balls.

Kirk was going to have to refine his mental vocabulary.