The BLTS Archive - Comfort
by miera (mierac72@yahoo.com)

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Archive: Ask first

Date: June 24, 2003

Disclaimer: The boys belong to Paramount. I treat them better.

Author's Notes: Response to my own whinging about cuddling.

Feedback: Is like peanut butter and chocolate together.

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Malcolm's gaze flickered restlessly around his quarters. He had been
in a bad mood all day. Not a screaming temper, just an unpleasant
sensation of things being a bit off with the universe. Like a
miniature cloud was hovering over him. Maybe he was the new Cloud
King, he chuckled to himself.

He had worked hard all day, and didn't feel up to facing the reports
which he probably ought to work on. He had time for them anyway. He
didn't feel like watching a movie or listening to music, he'd read the
mail, worked out and eaten dinner already. He was tired but the
thought of going to bed didn't appeal to him. He suspected he would
just lie there unable to get to sleep.

He sighed and rubbed his face. He knew vaguely what he wanted but he
couldn't quite articulate it. He thought it over, trying to pin down
the intangible thing that was chasing around in his head. Finally he
reached a decision.

"You're being an idiot," his mind warned him as he got up and left his
quarters. "Just go back and go to bed. You'll sleep eventually." He
might end up looking like a fool, but Malcolm kept walking until he
reached his destination and pushed the chime.

"C'm in."

Trip was in sweatpants and a blue t-shirt, stretched out on his bunk
reading. He gazed at Malcolm in surprise. "Malcolm? What's wrong? Oh
God, we didn't have a date tonight did we?" He looked worried that
he'd forgotten something. It would not have been the first time.

Malcolm shook his head. "No, there were no plans. I just. . . " he
halted.
He knew what he wanted but he wasn't sure if he could bring himself to
say it.

Trip got up and walked over to the lieutenant, who was flushed
slightly. "What is it?"

Malcolm scrubbed his hand over his face again. "I was lonely." Trip
stared at him in shock for a minute. Malcolm colored even further. "I
didn't want to be in my quarters alone all night."

Trip's entire face lit up like a supernova. His eyes were glowing with
happiness. It just embarrassed Malcolm more. "Can I stay?"

Trip smiled. "Of course you can stay. You didn't even hafta ask, Mal."
Trip took his hand and lead Malcolm over to the bed, pulling the dark
haired man down beside him. For a moment Malcolm was afraid Trip had
misinterpreted his intentions and wanted to have sex. Not that Malcolm
would turn it down, because it would get him what he really wanted,
but he hoped Trip would understand better. Then again, he'd never come
to Trip's quarters off duty except to have sex, or get drunk. Usually
the two things were linked together.

It turned out Trip did understand. He stretched out on the bunk and
Malcolm lay down beside him, flat on his back, hands behind his head,
waiting. Trip settled back and explained what he had been reading,
which was an engineering update. Malcolm began to relax. They chatted
for a bit about a new version of the power source used for the phase
pistols, about how it could be adapted.

Trip asked, casually, how his day had been. Malcolm shrugged. "Not the
best day ever."

Bright blue eyes looked up at him sharply. "What happened?"

Malcolm shook his head. "Nothing. Just one of those days, you know?"
He closed his eyes, soaking up the feeling of the warm body resting
next to him, and the easy familiarity of the smells and sounds he was
perceiving.

Malcolm felt Trip's fingers brush his hair back. He didn't open his
eyes as the engineer leaned over and kissed his temple. Then Trip
moved away and resumed his reading.

Malcolm began to get sleepy and he turned over on his side, back
facing towards Trip.

Malcolm started to drift off, just registering the lights being turned
out. Trip spooned up against Malcolm's backside, and Malcolm felt a
warm hand rubbing his stomach. It was a gentle, caressing touch, not
intended to be arousing, but comforting, and Malcolm, as he fell
asleep, finally identified the word he had been looking for earlier.

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The End