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lizbeeFandom: Star Trek: Discovery
Rating: All ages
Characters: Katrina Cornwell, Gabriel Lorca
Pairing(s): Katrina Cornwell/Gabriel Lorca
Notes: Written for Katoberfest 2022
Summary: They used to be rivals; now they're friends. Could they be ... more? Cadet Lorca gives Cadet Cornwell a tour of his home town. Day 6 of Katoberfest 2022: Rom-Com.
Gabriel's excitement at showing Kat around his hometown was infectious. She had expected a day of feigning polite enthusiasm at historical sites which meant nothing to her, but Gabriel's idea of a "proper tour" turned out to involve barbecued meat, beer, and live music on the beach.
She could have done without the sand, but Gabriel grabbed her hand to steady her as she walked. So even that had its benefits.
Then his ears turned red and he let go.
"Gabriel," she said.
He paused, and she reclaimed his hand.
They weren't alone. The concert had ended but the crowds lingered along the foreshore. People took advantage of the early evening sunshine to get a final swim before they beamed home.
But to Kat, it felt like they were the only people on the beach.
Gabriel's lips found hers, and she felt herself exhale with relief as she returned the kiss. Finally -- after weeks of dancing around each other, playing at being academic rivals, then trying out the role of friends--
"About time," Gabriel muttered when they parted, and they both laughed.
"I know!"
They kissed some more, moving closer, Gabriel's hands wrapping around her waist. For a minute, Kat wondered if this was inappropriate -- Starfleet Academy had rules about this sort of thing. But no: they were out of uniform, on leave, on the other side of the continent. As far as anyone else was concerned, they were just two eighteen-year-olds.
But--
"What's the time in San Francisco?" she asked when they parted again.
"Just after 3. We've got time."
Time for what? Kat realised she had some ideas, but--
"I like you a lot," she said, leaning against him, "but--"
"Yeah." Gabriel's arms had moved to her shoulders. He was warm and solid, and she wished she could lose herself in him. "You notice how the cadets in serious relationships are sliding down the rankings?"
"Yes! I thought it was my imagination."
"Nope. Asked Commander Fendel." He imitated their Bolian advisor's clipped tones. "'In my experience, Cadet Lorca, responsible officers postpone such matters until later in their careers than their first month at the Academy.'"
"Well, he's right," said Kat. "But I bet he hasn't felt a sexual urge since Archer was president."
"So … you're feeling a sexual urge?" Gabriel sounded casually interested, but he was blushing. So was Kat, she realised.
Which was stupid, she was an adult, and this was not her first experience of intimacy. Just … maybe her first time with someone whose company she really valued. It wasn't just fear of getting distracted and losing her place at the top of their class ranking. If this didn't work out, she'd lose her best friend.
"I just like you so much," she murmured.
"I know." Gabriel kissed her forehead. Then he found her lips again, and his fingers slipped beneath the hem of her shirt, and she felt her resolve crumbling.
"What if--" she started.
"We could--" Gabriel laughed. "You go."
"What if it wasn't a serious relationship?" she asked. "I mean -- we're friends. That doesn't have to change. We can just…"
"Have sex sometimes?"
"Right! And if we want to stop -- if you met someone else--" it had not escaped her notice that Gabriel was a habitual flirt -- "we just have to be honest, that's all."
"And try not to fall in love." Gabriel grinned. "Which, no offence, might be harder than it sounds."
"Cadet Lorca, that's the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me."
"See? I'm irresistible."
He deserved an elbow to the ribs for that. Later, she decided. When the kissing was less interesting.
"Listen," he said, taking her hand and leading her away from the water, "my house is a five-minute walk from the transporter, and my parents are off-world. We've got about two and a half hours of leave left."
Kat slid her arm around Gabriel's waist.
"Then let's finish this tour properly," she said.
end
Rating: All ages
Characters: Katrina Cornwell, Gabriel Lorca
Pairing(s): Katrina Cornwell/Gabriel Lorca
Notes: Written for Katoberfest 2022
Summary: They used to be rivals; now they're friends. Could they be ... more? Cadet Lorca gives Cadet Cornwell a tour of his home town. Day 6 of Katoberfest 2022: Rom-Com.
Gabriel's excitement at showing Kat around his hometown was infectious. She had expected a day of feigning polite enthusiasm at historical sites which meant nothing to her, but Gabriel's idea of a "proper tour" turned out to involve barbecued meat, beer, and live music on the beach.
She could have done without the sand, but Gabriel grabbed her hand to steady her as she walked. So even that had its benefits.
Then his ears turned red and he let go.
"Gabriel," she said.
He paused, and she reclaimed his hand.
They weren't alone. The concert had ended but the crowds lingered along the foreshore. People took advantage of the early evening sunshine to get a final swim before they beamed home.
But to Kat, it felt like they were the only people on the beach.
Gabriel's lips found hers, and she felt herself exhale with relief as she returned the kiss. Finally -- after weeks of dancing around each other, playing at being academic rivals, then trying out the role of friends--
"About time," Gabriel muttered when they parted, and they both laughed.
"I know!"
They kissed some more, moving closer, Gabriel's hands wrapping around her waist. For a minute, Kat wondered if this was inappropriate -- Starfleet Academy had rules about this sort of thing. But no: they were out of uniform, on leave, on the other side of the continent. As far as anyone else was concerned, they were just two eighteen-year-olds.
But--
"What's the time in San Francisco?" she asked when they parted again.
"Just after 3. We've got time."
Time for what? Kat realised she had some ideas, but--
"I like you a lot," she said, leaning against him, "but--"
"Yeah." Gabriel's arms had moved to her shoulders. He was warm and solid, and she wished she could lose herself in him. "You notice how the cadets in serious relationships are sliding down the rankings?"
"Yes! I thought it was my imagination."
"Nope. Asked Commander Fendel." He imitated their Bolian advisor's clipped tones. "'In my experience, Cadet Lorca, responsible officers postpone such matters until later in their careers than their first month at the Academy.'"
"Well, he's right," said Kat. "But I bet he hasn't felt a sexual urge since Archer was president."
"So … you're feeling a sexual urge?" Gabriel sounded casually interested, but he was blushing. So was Kat, she realised.
Which was stupid, she was an adult, and this was not her first experience of intimacy. Just … maybe her first time with someone whose company she really valued. It wasn't just fear of getting distracted and losing her place at the top of their class ranking. If this didn't work out, she'd lose her best friend.
"I just like you so much," she murmured.
"I know." Gabriel kissed her forehead. Then he found her lips again, and his fingers slipped beneath the hem of her shirt, and she felt her resolve crumbling.
"What if--" she started.
"We could--" Gabriel laughed. "You go."
"What if it wasn't a serious relationship?" she asked. "I mean -- we're friends. That doesn't have to change. We can just…"
"Have sex sometimes?"
"Right! And if we want to stop -- if you met someone else--" it had not escaped her notice that Gabriel was a habitual flirt -- "we just have to be honest, that's all."
"And try not to fall in love." Gabriel grinned. "Which, no offence, might be harder than it sounds."
"Cadet Lorca, that's the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me."
"See? I'm irresistible."
He deserved an elbow to the ribs for that. Later, she decided. When the kissing was less interesting.
"Listen," he said, taking her hand and leading her away from the water, "my house is a five-minute walk from the transporter, and my parents are off-world. We've got about two and a half hours of leave left."
Kat slid her arm around Gabriel's waist.
"Then let's finish this tour properly," she said.
end
