The BLTS Archive- Humanitarian Causes
by Quoth (qtheraven@geocities.com)

---

Archiving: Yes to ASC and ASCEM archives, and to the BLTS.

Usual disclaimer: I don't own them, Paramount does etc etc etc. This
story contains human male/android male sex, so if that squicks you,
please do yourself a favour, and go away. This story also involves a
Mary Sue (well, she's a canon character, but still...) NOT winning the
undying love of the crew and NOT getting the person she wants, so if
Mary-Sue-thwarting squicks you... who the hell are you and what have
you been reading?!

Continuity: Set after "Phantasms", which was early in the seventh
season (where Ensign Tyler appears) and a short while before
"Generations".

---

Geordi slouched back on the couch, arm behind head, dressed
comfortably in casual civilian clothing. He sighed in boredom as he
continued to read some seemingly never-ending Engineering schematics
on a PADD. It was dull, but it did need to be done, and it did help to
pass the time while he waited for Data to come to his quarters that
evening, as arranged.

Geordi let himself take a quick break to stretch a little, and smiled
at the thought of Data. They'd been together for almost a year now,
and he wondered if it might be a good idea if they stopped with all
the 'my place or yours' worry and just moved in together. It's not
like everyone didn't already know, after all-- even though they'd
never actually made their relationship public, pretty much everyone
had figured it out.

Geordi smiled. Maybe he'd ask tonight if Data wanted that as well.
Even if Data didn't feel ready yet, Geordi decided it couldn't hurt to
ask, anyway. At least it would let Data know he was interested in the
idea.

Then again, he reflected, Data had seemed a little edgy and jumpy
lately, most probably due to being nervous about this new experiment.
After all, if it succeeded, Data would be universally acknowledged and
admired-- if it failed, he would be publicly pitied and privately
mocked. As many times as Data swore to the fact that he was not
nervous and had no image to lose, he still seemed like a bundle of
nerves lately. Geordi smiled affectionately and shook his head. [No,
Data,] he thought, [the experiment isn't worrying you at all. Of
course not.]

The door chime interrupted his thoughts. "Come in," he called, and was
pleased to see Data, still wearing his always-impeccable uniform, step
inside.

"Hello, Geordi," Data said quietly, as he crossed the room to sit in a
chair.

"Hi, Data. How'd the experiment go?" he asked, wanting to know. Data's
serious face did not bode well.

"The experiment functioned within normal parameters, Geordi.
Approximately 98.629 percent of the maximum yield was returned, much
higher than the yield that was actually expected. There can be no
doubt that the Smarter-Holly Theory is correct." Data sat motionless
in the chair, voice flat, body language mute, staring fixedly at the
floor.

Geordi grinned in delight. He'd been certain that Data's solution to
the theory would hold. "Well, that ought to have all those stellar
physicists salivating.  They've been waiting for confirmation of that
theory for years."  

"Thirty six years, seven months, three weeks, six days..."

"Which translates to a lot of relieved sighs when you send them the
data. You're gonna be real popular on the party circuit over at
Daystrom Stellographical."  Geordi grinned and began to launch into a
dramatic retelling of the experiment from Data's perspective. "There I
was... manning the Ops console.... when I saw It. The first known
white hole in the history of the universe."

Data kept very still, his eyes lowered. "But I do not plan on
attending any parties at Daystrom. My duties aboard the Enterprise
preclude that," he pointed out logically.

"Oh, come on," Geordi coaxed. Data was just too modest for his own
good sometimes. This was an important step in having Data's scientific
achievements recognized by the anti-android types-- making sure Data
acknowledged them himself. "We've got to at least get one trip to a
conference out of this. This is big news."

"If you say so, Geordi, then I shall believe you. I will try and be
entertaining while telling the story." Data's facial expression was
still distant, his body held rigid.

"Never mind that. You just concentrate on being entertaining on the
shuttle trip."  Geordi smiled teasingly, still pleased as all hell.
[This'll show some of those high-ups that Data is capable of achieving
things as a leader as well as part of a group.] The thought of the
shuttle trip wasn't exactly unpleasant either...

"Of course, Geordi. Whatever it is you wish me to do, I shall do,"
Data said quietly.

Geordi's smile faded. "It was a joke, Data." [What's going on? I
thought he'd relax once the experiment succeeded. Maybe he just needs
time to release the nerves. Oh, yeah, Mister "I do not feel worry".]

Data looked at Geordi, uncomprehending. "Oh. I see. I apologize for
not 'getting' it. I will try harder to 'get' your jokes in the
future." He looked up unsurely at Geordi, as if hoping to have
appeased some imagined annoyance on Geordi's part.

"It's okay, Data."  Geordi smiled again, feeling a little playful. "I
guess I'll just have to make sure you get it tonight." 

The android tilted his head in confusion, looking bewildered. Which
was somewhat the norm lately, Geordi realized.

The engineer sighed. "I'm hinting that I want you to come over here."
He tossed aside his schematics and made room on the sofa for his
lover.

Instantly, Data moved obediently to Geordi's side, looking at him
uncertainly and shyly.

"You could take off your top, firs..." Geordi raised his eyebrow as he
watched Data immediately slip off the tunic, leaving only a black
t-shirt. [Okay, he seems pretty eager...] Geordi grinned, and patted
the sofa again when Data made no move to sit down. Taking the hint,
Data instantly sat. 

"C'mere," Geordi said affectionately, as he pulled Data to him,
kissing him. Data obediently kissed back.

"Mmmm, been wanting to do that all evening," Geordi muttered, pulling
out the sofa-back cushion and tossing it aside, making more room.

Data raised his eyebrows, startled. "You have?"

"Yeah." Pulling Data closer, he kissed him again, enjoying the silky
texture of those lips, the smoothness of Data's skin. They hadn't had
time recently to be intimate, and damned if he wasn't going to make
sure they both enjoyed it...

Except Data didn't really seem to be enjoying it much at all. In fact,
he still seemed tense and miserable-- more so, if anything.

Puzzled, Geordi continued the kiss for a moment, stroking the
android's soft hair gently, the way he knew Data liked, willing him to
relax and calm down. [He can't be THAT wound up about the experiment
STILL, can he?]

Oh, sure, Data was doing everything they both knew Geordi liked,
working very hard to make sure Geordi was enjoying it... but that was
exactly what it was. Working.

Geordi broke the kiss gently and eased off, studying Data's face for
any kind of clue as to what could be wrong.

Data turned away slightly from the scrutiny, eyes darting down to his
lap. [I did not perform adequately... He did not like it... I have
failed him again...]

"Hey," Geordi said gently. "What's wrong?"

"All systems are functioning within normal parameters," Data answered
flatly.

"Whoa, Data, what's going on?"  Geordi quickly struggled to sit up,
hands bracing behind his back. Data hadn't said that in years.
Something was very wrong.

Data looked uncomfortable. "It-- is nothing of any significance,
Geordi. I apologize for my failure to please you. I will make a
second, hopefully more successful attempt--"

"Your 'failure to please' me? What're you talking about? Data, if
you're not in the mood, that's okay. I didn't mean to be pushy. I just
missed you, that's all."

Data raised his head, a look of surprise on his face, and also a faint
trace of... was that hope? "No, Geordi, it is not that I am... 'not in
the mood'. I was merely unsatisfied with my erroneous performance.
That is all," Data said quickly, beginning to look alarmed at the
scrutiny Geordi was giving him.

Geordi looked very hard at Data, skeptical and confused. "Would you
mind telling me what you did wrong, since I seem to have missed it?"
he asked.

"I...," Data looked bewildered. "I obviously failed to fulfill your
desires, since you stopped."

Geordi raised his eyebrows. Where was all this coming from? It was
beginning to seriously worry him. "I just got the feeling you weren't
really, you know, enjoying it. And I'm getting the feeling that
something's bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?" He sat up,
swinging his legs over the side of the sofa. He hesitated for a
moment, then tentatively took Data's slender hand in his.

Data stared at the hand in shock, floored by the simple gesture of
affection. He knew that Geordi sometimes held his hand, when he was
pleased, but how could Geordi be pleased with him now? He was
confused.

The human sighed a little, realizing he has to do some detective work;
his lover always found enunciating his desires extremely difficult,
and Geordi just had to get used to it. [Sometimes I feel like Deanna,
trying to coax some kind of response out of Data.] "Well?"

"I..." Data looked away, distress and confusion clearly marking his
face. "It is not important."

"Yes, it is important, because it's bothering you. Come on, Data, you
can tell me, can't you? Is it something about me? Did I do something
that upset you?" Geordi asked, gently testing the ground.

Data reacted immediately. "Oh, no. No, Geordi, you have not done
anything at all."

"Ohhkay." He thought about it for a moment. "Is it something I
*didn't* do? Did I forget to do something that I should have done?"

Data blinked, looking puzzled. "No, not at all. You are completely
blameless. It is me--" he abruptly cut himself off. Too late, however.

"What about you?" Geordi asked, squeezing Data's hand encouragingly.

Data took the android equivalent of a deep breath, then began to talk
slowly, head bowed. "I am sorry. I have tried to be everything you
need and desire, but I have failed."

Geordi stared at Data, genuinely mystified. [What the hell? Has he
lost his mind?] "*What* are you talking about? I couldn't be happier
with you. With *us*." Not really knowing what else to do, he tried to
lighten the mood. "Unless we get that trip. I could be a little
happier if we got to spend a week alone each way in the shuttle..." 

[Ah. A specific desire. I can fulfill that.] Data instantly spoke. "I
will arrange it immediately, if you wish it, Geordi."

[Oops, wrong move. Great one, LaForge!] "I mean, not just that I want
to, well, I mean, I do, but..."  Geordi trailed off, unable to think
of anything to say. What had gotten Data so mixed up?

Data was worried. "Geordi? Are you all right? I do not understand."
Data sighed sadly. [That is the problem, is it not?] "Perhaps this is
yet another thing only a human could understand."

"Data, look, I don't need a shuttle trip to be happy. I was just
trying to say that I'd like some more time with you. We've been so
damned busy lately that we hardly see each other any more. That's all.
I've just been lonely for you. And I was trying to joke about that."

Data stared at Geordi in disbelief. "You.. have been lonely... for
*me*?" he asked, stunned.

Now it was Geordi's turn to stare incredulously. "Data, come on, you
can't be serious.  Of course I miss you when we can't be together.
And I don't mean just physically. Sure, I miss that too, but I just
like to talk to you. Or just watch you paint. Or whatever."

"Are you certain? You do not wish for.. human warmth and
companionship? Human attention?"

"You mean, being with a human rather than you?"

Data nodded. "Would you not prefer a human who could better predict
and fulfill all your needs? Especially emotional needs. I am aware
that emotional needs are among the most important in a relationship,
and the ones that are most difficult for me to fulfill. I decided that
if I had failed you, you should choose someone you prefer." He looked
at Geordi, almost... afraid?... of the answer, yet paradoxically,
relieved as well.

Geordi was silent, not trusting himself to speak for a moment. When he
did, his voice was low, and sad. "Data, I *did* choose the person I
prefer. I'm sorry I obviously don't let you know that clearly enough.
I love you. I need you. I need to be near you. To touch you,
sometimes. When you're holding me, or even just looking at me the way
you do sometimes, that's about all the emotion a guy can handle."

Data's lips parted with surprise, but he could not speak, stunned into
silence throughout this speech. "Then..." he finally managed to say,
"my actions within this relationship are acceptable to you?"

"Yeah! Of course they are. Okay, we have to work things out sometimes,
but everybody has to do that."

"I.. thought that perhaps you would tire of 'working things out' and
turn to someone who did not require endless explanations of what you
desired and would supply human warmth. I am told that that is what
most human males prefer-- mmph."

Geordi leaned over and kissed Data again, deeply. "Data, you're
talking too much."

After hesitating for just a moment, Data tentatively wrapped his arms
around Geordi, glancing at him constantly for any sign of displeasure
or lack of permission. "I am sorry. I will stop talking now."

Geordi watched Data's face for a moment, then sighed. "You can feel
this. I *know* you can. Can't you tell how much I want to be near you
right now?" He hugged Data tightly. 

Data nodded. "Yes. But I must admit, I am confused. You say I have not
failed, yet by all accounts, I have failed you."

[Huh?] "Whaddaya mean by 'all accounts'?" [Okay, maybe now he'll tell
me where he got all that from.]

"She did say that human warmth and emotional--"

"She?" Geordi cut in. "She who?" He wracked his brain, trying to think
of women Data would take advice from. The most obvious candidates for
advice were out. Deanna wouldn't say anything so stupid and
destructive to Data's confidence, and neither would Guinan.

Data looked uncomfortable. "I... should not break a confidence. She
asked me to be discreet, and she was only trying to help."

"Wait, wait a minute. If someone's talking about us, you and me, then
I don't think it's breaking a confidence for us to talk about it,"
Geordi said, pointing out the flaw in this logic. 

He was relieved to see that Data seemed to be considering that with
his normal, pragmatic outlook. "That is logical. Perhaps I was also
mistaken in this."

"All right then." Geordi waited.

"In any case, Ensign Tyler--" Data broke off, seeing Geordi's
momentarily blank expression as he tried to place a 'Tyler'. "She is
assigned to engineering, Geordi."

Geordi spoke thoughtfully. "Ensign Belinda Tyler... yeah. Oh, yeah.
Okay." He winced as he finally placed her, remembering all too well
the huge crush she has on him. [That girl is incapable of taking a
hint... but hold on, what's she been saying to Data?]

Data nodded. "Yes, that is her name. She has commented many times on
how you deserve human warmth and companionship of the best quality,
and how she hopes that your emotional needs are being met..." his
voice trailed off as he saw that Geordi was starting to look...
irritated.

Geordi gritted his teeth, noticing that Data had stopped talking. "Oh,
please, go on. I've got to hear this." He listened as Data continued,
starting to fume.

"She often sits down next to me in Ten Forward to talk about you. I
believe she is very concerned for you and your happiness."

Geordi laughed, shortly and humourlessly. "Oh, I'll just bet she's
concerned about my well-being," he muttered, voice dripping with
sarcasm.

Data missed the sarcasm. "Indeed. It is very kind of her to attempt to
help me."

Geordi shook his head in disbelief and disgust. "Data, you don't get
it, do you." 

Data looked at Geordi, puzzled. "I do not understand. 'Get"? Is there
something I should 'get'?" [What have I failed to do now? He seemed
content with me a moment ago...] His mind raced as he tried to think.

"Yeah, there's something you're going to get in a minute," Geordi
promised him firmly. "But, first, you've gotta understand what's going
on here."

Immediately, Data straightened up, listening attentively. "Yes,
Geordi?"

The engineer sighed, still a little nervous, but mostly still pissed
off. "She's been coming on to me and I've tried to be tactful, but
obviously she just doesn't want to get the point."  He saw Data was
still attentive, but not making the connection. He sighed. "Translate
all her remarks as 'I'm better for him than you are, so scram.",
Data." 

Data pondered that for a moment, frowning slightly in thought. "Are
you suggesting that she was attempting to misinform me, rather than
assist me?"

Geordi snorted. "Well, at the very least, she was trying to help
herself, and whatever happened to you was probably pretty
inconsequential."

Data considered that for a moment. "Then I should not pay attention to
what she is saying, because her behaviour is unacceptable to you?"

"Absolutely not. How about you let *me* be the judge of how I think
things are going in our relationship? Don't let anybody else tell you
how I feel."  He thought about it for a second. "Except for maybe
Deanna. But even then, talk to *me* first."

With a sigh, Data bowed his head. [My attempts to make things better
made them worse.] "I am sorry, Geordi. When she offered her advice, I
merely thought to make use of the advice I believed was kindly meant,
and make you happy."

"I'm sure she wanted you to think that. She deceived you, Data. The
sad thing is that most humans grow out of that sort of immature,
jealous behavior by the time they're in their late teens. It's very
manipulative."

"She is quite young," Data noted. "Perhaps she is simply not yet grown
emotionally." [I am hardly entitled to judge her, after Lore. My own
behaviour regarding emotions has certainly been reprehensible, and far
worse than hers. I was not simply childish. I was cruel.]

"I suppose it's possible," muttered Geordi, not feeling nearly
generous enough to give Tyler the benefit of the doubt. Not where Data
was concerned. "Or maybe she's just a nasty, manipulative woman who
wants to get what she wants, regardless of the cost." He shuddered. "I
feel sorry for the guy, or woman, who winds up with her."

Data nodded, "Geordi, there is one thing I do not understand."

Grinning now, Geordi looked at his lover fondly. "Only one?" 

"Well, one main thing," Data clarified. "If her aim was to be your
partner in a relationship, why did she not attempt to impress you,
rather than send her efforts through me? What was she trying to
achieve?" He reached out uncertainly to clasp his lover's hand.

Geordi laughed. "Oh, I assure you, she was trying to impress me." He
snickered, amused at a memory from last week... "She told me she
wanted me to check this calibration work I'd assigned her, up in
sector 78. You should have seen her wiggling her butt when she was
going up the access ladder."

Data stared at Geordi, confused. "But I do not wish to see that,
Geordi. Not at all."

Geordi burst out laughing even harder. "Neither did I!" he managed to
gasp out, holding his sides helplessly.

Thinking it over, Data quickly realized what Geordi meant. "Ah. I see.
Sector 78. I recall that problem quite well. Recalibration of the EPS
modulation units, was it not, Geordi?"

Mystified, Geordi said "Yeah. How'd you know?"

"The ensign asked me to assist her on the work. She did a lot of
talking, as I recall, while I did the more sensitive calibrations.
Actually... most of the calibrations." He hesitated, seeing the
growing anger on Geordi's face, then admitted quietly, "All of them.
She seemed to think you would be pleased with the result. She thanked
me, while continuing to... advise me on how to make you happy and what
you would need as a human. At the time, I was happy to do the work in
return."

Geordi's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Oh, that just takes the cake. She
was using you to make her look good! And I fell right for it, too,
told her what a good job she'd done." He was disgusted and furious.

"I am sorry, Geordi. I did not know you had assigned the work to her
specifically as a test."

"No, Data, that's not it. I don't have a problem with someone asking
for help or training. It's just that she *used* you." Geordi continued
to fume for a while, until a thought suddenly struck him. "What else
has she been asking you to do for her?"

Data hesitated, then asked in a small voice, "Did you also assign the
warp core injector alignments, and the replicator repairs to her?" He
looked guiltily at Geordi. [He is going to be unhappy about that.]

An angry breath hissed through Geordi's clenched teeth. "Oh, she's a
prize, all right. She's been handling both of us like a pro." He shook
his head, beginning to rant. "And I was so glad that she hadn't gotten
demotivated because I wasn't interested in her. I even made a few nice
remarks about her in front of the whole division. Well, I'll have a
few spot checks done on her repairs, right now."

"That is most likely not necessary, Geordi. She is a competent
engineer from the... limited... amount I have actually seen her do.
The work she *did* perform on the level one diagnostic routine was
more than capable. Of course, I could do the work much faster, so
logically, I did. And she did return the favour by giving me more
advice..." Despite his self-resolution about not judging, he could not
help but become a little... chagrined... at how he had been
manipulated. [I do not like this... why do I always believe those who
lie to me?]

"Such as?" Geordi asked, suspiciously. He didn't like the sound of
this.

Tilting his head, Data began to recite a list. "Such as that
intermarriages between humans and species such as Vulcans were
relatively rare, as humans naturally gravitate towards emotional
species."

Jokingly, Geordi noted, "But you have a greater mass than most humans,
and so your gravitational pull is greater than..." Data gave him a
reproachful look. Geordi snickered, then paid attention again.

"That you are a very nice and charming man who deserves the best."

Geordi couldn't help but grin, still trying to make fun of Tyler's
meanness, take some of the sting out of it. "Why, yes, I am. And I do
deserve the best."  He mock preened, hoping to amuse Data.

"That she--" he gave Geordi a look at the comment, then smiled and
took it in the spirit offered, continuing. "That she is very lonely."

"Oh gee, I wonder why."  Geordi observed sarcastically.

Data raised his eyebrow, but refrained from commenting and continued
with the list, which now seemed to him much longer than it had been
while she had been dispensing her advice. "That she admires anyone
that could impress you to the extent of starting a relationship,
because that person would have to be spectacular to hold your interest
for long."

Geordi turned serious. "Yes, she's right about that too.  Completely."
He squeezed Data's hand affectionately, and was rewarded with a small
smile from Data. However, that quickly faded.

Data hesitated for a moment, then whispered the last comment. "And
that it would be a great pity if you were to go unhappy, because you
would be too noble to say if your needs were not being met--"

Data broke off his monologue to look at Geordi. His lover did not look
'noble' at this particular moment. In fact, he was wearing the
particular expression that Data had come to associate with what Geordi
called 'pissed off'.

Wincing, Data finished the comment. "And that it should be up to your
partner to do all the work and make sure you are..." [I do not think
he is going to react well to this.] "Served correctly and completely
in all ways."

Geordi smacked his hand to his head, face like a thundercloud. "I
can't believe this. 'Served correctly and completely'? What the hell
is that? I don't want a servant."

Data sighed, touching his forehead in imitation of a human gesture of
exhaustion. "I am sorry Geordi. It seemed sensible at the time. Quite
logical, in fact. It is well known that I am an android and that I
would find it difficult to fulfill emotional needs. And you are too
kind to say if you are unhappy. I assumed that being a fellow human
allowed her to perceive your unhappiness, and that I was therefore
failing you, by not perceiving it as well."

"Well, I'm certainly unhappy with HER." Still fuming, Geordi forced
himself to cool it. [The *last* thing Data needs right now is to think
I'm angry at him.] "Data, she's got some problems, let me tell you.
She doesn't have anything approaching a mature attitude towards
relationships. She thinks the way to win someone's love is being what
they want, not what she is. Who she is."

Data frowned. "But you say she is being immature, and that is not what
you want. Why would she think that making me... unsure of myself..
would attract you? Surely she had to realize the risks if she were
caught passing off someone else's work as her own, for example." His
brow furrowed in confusion.

Geordi shrugged, not knowing or really caring at this point. "I don't
think she really thought she'd get caught. I think she laid out this
grandiose plan, and she never thought it would fail. And she's good, I
mean, she fooled both of us about some things." Data seemed
dissatisfied with that explanation, so he thought about it for a
moment more. "Data, young people think that they can make somebody
love them by being a certain way, and they try to be that. They don't
understand that -- even if it works in the short term -- it can't
possibly last. The other person has fallen in love with an illusion."

Data spoke very quietly. "I also tried to mould myself into whatever I
thought you wanted me to be, in an attempt to please you. Are you
angry at me?" He waited, head bowed, for a response.

With an affectionate sigh, Geordi gave Data a hug, lifting his chin so
that Data was looking at him again. "I know you did. But Data, I fell
in love with you before you did all that, didn't I? You don't need to
change." 

Data gratefully returned the hug, laying his head softly on Geordi's
shoulder for a moment.

Inwardly cursing Tyler for hampering Data's self-confidence progress,
Geordi gently cupped Data's chin in his hand, bringing his face up
again, and kissed him lightly. He looked at him carefully. "Listen.
I'll do whatever it takes to convince you that I love you." 

Data spoke very softly. "Whatever it takes?"

"Yeah. Just name it."

Data spoke in a serious tone of voice, but there was a tiny
mischievous smile on his face, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Are
you certain? Because once you have said so, I will not allow you to
take your promise back."

Geordi pretended to reconsider, then said, mock-grudgingly, "Yes,
Data." A wide grin split his face.

Data smiled back before kissing his cheek, gently. "In that case, I
shall not tell you what I want. I believe I shall show you."  He then
proceeded to kiss his lover hungrily, pulling him close and on top of
him.

Geordi moaned softly at Data's touch, kissing back just as eagerly. He
started to press his hips down against Data, moving slowly and
teasingly, rewarded with the sound of Data moaning in return. He
twined his fingers around Data's, clasping the delicate hands as Data
began to push his hips up to meet Geordi's.

Data murmured softly in pleasure as his eyelids flickered open when
the kiss finally ends. Smiling, he reached up to touch Geordi's face.

Geordi stared down at Data, willing him to believe what he was about
to say. "I want you, Data.  More than anybody."

"I share the same desire towards you," Data said quietly. His voice
was solemn, but there was a calm certainty in his eyes that had
recently been missing. 

Geordi slowly let loose one hand and slid it under Data's t-shirt,
along Data's side. Becoming less gentle, he started tugging at Data's
shirt, breathlessly, urging Data silently to take the shirt. Smiling,
Data aided Geordi in removing his shirt, then stroked his hand lazily
down Geordi's own shirt, a question in his sparkling eyes.

The human smiled back, and closed his eyes behind his VISOR as Data
continued to stroke him through his civilian shirt.

"Please," Data whispered heatedly.

"Name it," Geordi whispered back, huskily.

"I.. I want..."

"Anything, Data, just tell me what you want."

Data sighed softly as Geordi's hands slid gently across his cheek.
"... I would like you to make love to me." 

In answer, Geordi stopped trying to remove his shirt and leaned
forward, straddling Data's hips, letting silky fabric slide along
Data's chest, with only the faintest pressure of weight.  Supporting
himself on knees and hands, Geordi leaned down, closer, and brushes
his lips against Data's ear, whispering "I told you that you were
going to get it," as he licked along Data's ear, breathing slowly.
Data smiled, finally 'getting' it in both senses of the word.

Kissing the spot behind Data's ear, then trailing lips and teeth --
just barely -- along Data's jawline and then under his chin, and
slowly down, Geordi spread his knees a bit so a little more of his
weight ended up pressing down on Data's groin.

Data moaned, his hands rubbing along Geordi's arms, eagerly. He
whispered heatedly. "More... oh yes, please, Geordi. Please."

"Take your pants off." A gentle command.

Data quickly obeyed, sliding his hands down to remove the black
trousers, pushing them down over his hips.

Geordi turns around, helping to remove the boots and the trousers.

"Thank you."

Geordi grinned. "Don't mention it." He pushed Data's trousers further
down, at a torturously slow pace, breath shushing hotly over Data's
skin. Finally, he slid them down all the way, and removed them along
with the black regulation boots. Backing up slightly so his hips were
over Data's face, Geordi's erection was clearly visible to his lover
through the thin cloth of the casual pants.

While Geordi was occupied nibbling at Data's inner thighs, Data lifted
his head up to try and kiss Geordi above him. The human immediately
discouraged that by shifting his hips upward and away with a sharp
warning nip.

With a sigh of mingled pleasure and disappointment, Data dropped his
head back onto the sofa cushion, hands lazily stroking along Geordi's
backbone.

Geordi pushed Data's thighs further apart and began licking his balls,
sucking one in slowly, then the other, occasionally placing a gentle
kiss. Moving up, he licked along Data's shaft, upward to the head and
licking around the crown. Using one hand to hold Data upright, in firm
grasp, his tongue flicked wetly around the rim again.

Data's hips started moving, almost beyond his control for a few
seconds, before he regained enough self-control to force himself to be
almost still.

Geordi smiled at that, then slowly, very slowly slid Data between his
lips, warm and wet, his tongue busy. Data gasped involuntarily as the
sensation surprised him and his hands gently grip onto Geordi's sides.

Geordi continued to slide his mouth down on Data, until his nose was
against Data' balls. Staying a few seconds before he had to come up to
breathe, he started to use shorter strokes, mingled with deeper ones.
Cool silky fabric draped down from his body, brushing against Data's
chest and face as Geordi lowered himself slightly, sucking Data
gently, one hand playing with Data's balls and the tender skin behind
them.

Data moaned and murmured, soft noises of pleasure, as he stroked his
hands down Geordi's spine and along his shoulders, trying to please
him too.

[Where is that damn lube?] Geordi thought to himself, fumbling a bit
under cushion in annoyance. [I could have sworn I kept some here just
in case...]

Data lifted his hips hungrily, almost too distracted by all the
touching to realize what the delay was.

Using his fingertips to stroke Data, Geordi dug more determinedly
under the cushions. Opening his eyes at the pause, Data finally
realized what the problem was. "Oh. It is under the second cushion,
Geordi."

Fumbling in that general area, Geordi finally found it. Giving an
especially deep throat as thanks, he quickly opened the flip tube and
began rubbing Data's opening with a fingertip. Data moaned louder as
Geordi slipped the finger in, shallowly, then out again, circling.
Applying a little more lube, the finger slid in deeply and easily,
brushing firmly against the gland. Data's cry of pleased surprise was
more than ample reward. Pushing his hips against the soft traces of
the finger, the android wanted more. Badly. 

"...please... please, Geordi. Geordi... please... I want you now..."

Geordi lifted his head enough to say hoarsely, "What do you want me to
do?  Fuck you after you come in my mouth?" Hungrily, he began to suck
again.

A loud moan was his first answer. "Oh... yes... yes, Geordi." The
thought of it alone was enough to push him close to the edge.

Sensing this, Geordi smiled as he sped up and used his fingers and
mouth to best advantage. He was rewarded as Data's body tensed, then
shuddered as Data cried out loudly and came. He took Data in as deeply
as he could, enjoying the taste as he licked gently through the
aftershocks.

Geordi turned around quickly and stood up, slipping off his clothes.
Meanwhile Data lay there slowly recovering, beginning to regain his
senses. Blinking softly, he opened his eyes and smiled to see Geordi
preparing himself.

Finishing lubing himself, Geordi rubbed around Data's opening with his
cock, breathing heavily as he touched himself, looking at Data's
spread legs, hardly aware of Data's gaze on him. Gently, he guided his
cock slowly into Data, who sighed in pleasure as Geordi moved upward
to kiss him, now sufficiently recovered enough to tilt his head and
watch. A happy, expectant smile hovered lightly on his lips.

Geordi began pumping his hips slowly, pushing deeper each time,
sighing. Moving more quickly, he bent down for another quick kiss,
thrusting more quickly and roughly as he started to get too close to
the edge himself to control himself, his moans mixing with Data's as
the android made sure that his lover heard his pleasure.

Geordi's chest was shiny with sweat as he slowed slightly to try to
regain some control. Data, however, did not like that idea at all.
Deliberately, he whispered Geordi's name, over and over again, with a
heated tone Geordi was sure must be illegal on at least a hundred
planets.

The human groaned at the sound, shifting his hips to change the angle
slightly and breathing very much harder. Thrusting hard and fast now,
Geordi was completely absorbed in what he was doing, sweat dripping
off dark skin, face contorting.

Data gladly took the thrusts, his own lips parted in passion, Geordi's
sweat droplets landing softly on his golden torso. When he felt
Geordi's body tense and saw his face contort in impending climax, he
deliberately squeezed his internal musculature at just the right
pressure.

Geordi froze for an instant, then groaned loudly and thrusted as
quickly as he could, crying out as he came, each pulse exploding out
in pleasure. Taking one last shuddering breath, he collapsed on top of
his lover, who quickly caught him.

Gasping Geordi tried to catch his breath, too spent to even kiss Data.
His cock twitched inside Data as Data teasingly squeezed him again,
and rewarded with a faint moan from Geordi.

Geordi felt delicate hands stroking gently over his face, neck and
back. Looking up, he saw Data looking at him, smiling like an angel.
He sighed and rested his head back on Data's shoulder, shifting his
hips so he slipped out of Data, as Data gently hugged him closer.

"Thank you Geordi."

Geordi found he could only whisper hoarsely, "Oh, god, Data, that was
so good..." Kissing Data's neck, he rested back down on top of Data,
his limbs rapidly turning weak and shaky.

"And also for me, Geordi," Data replied softly as he braced him more
comfortably on top of him. He waited for Geordi to get off him and
move to the bedroom, then realized, with some amusement, that Geordi
had no intention of moving just yet. In a quietly amused whisper, he
said, "Do you not feel you would be more comfortable in bed?"

Geordi groaned. It was a good idea in theory, but when he tried to put
it in practice... "I can't move," he muttered, whole body totally
limp.

Data gently lifted Geordi up off him, then stood up and carried him
carefully to the bedroom. "You cannot sleep on the couch, Geordi. You
will hurt your back." He heard an indistinguishable mumble from the
engineer that might have been agreement, or perhaps not. Data laid him
down gently on the bed, and turned to go get Geordi's sleepwear.

Half asleep, Geordi frowned. Why wasn't Data next to him yet? He
reached his hand up, seeking Data.

The android stopped as Geordi's reaching hand touched him, and instead
slid gratefully into the bed, listening as the human's breathing was
already slowing. Carefully, he removed the VISOR from Geordi's face,
placing it in the customary place on the nightstand.

Snuggling closer, he gave Geordi a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Good
night, Geordi. 'Sweet dreams'" he whispered in Geordi's ear, using a
human phrase he had sometimes heard.

There was no answer, save for a faint snore.

A soft smile lit Data's features as he closed his eyes, feeling more
secure than he had in weeks, before drifting off to his own dreams.

---

Yawning, Geordi stretched to get all the knots out of his muscles,
before switching his attention back to his lover and the end of their
conversation. "So, Data, what do you think? Interested in moving in
together?" he finished.

"Yes. If you wish it, too," Data said quietly, smiling. Geordi
grinned. It wasn't often that anyone got to see Data smile, and it had
been especially rare lately. Which made the smile on Data's face now
seem all the more precious now.

"If I didn't want it, I wouldn't have asked, would I?" Geordi pointed
out logically, grinning. "Come on. We have to get up now, or we'll be
late. We'll work out the details later tonight, okay?"

"Oh-kay." Data sighed, momentarily annoyed at his continued inability
to pronounce such a simple word correctly. Then Geordi dragged him out
of the bed and into the shower, and Data decided there were more
important things to devote his attention to than human pronunciation.

Showered and dressed, Geordi gave Data a quick kiss and a few short
words before they left for their respective positions. "So what've you
got planned for tonight?" 

Data's smile turned almost... impish. "Now, that, as Counselor Troi
would say, 'would be telling'. I shall not 'tell' just yet."

Geordi's brow creased for a minute, then he raised his eyebrows and
grinned. "Sounds even better." [What a change from the Data of twelve
hours ago. That reminds me... I'm going have to do something about
Tyler.]

---

Down in Engineering, it was busy. The monthly level one diagnostics
had come up, and they took time and energy. There were a lot of
systems to be done, and Geordi was glad when he finally stretched his
neck and signed off the last PADD. Officially, as of 1900 hours, he
was off duty, but there were still a few tests to be done. They
wouldn't take long, though, and the Gamma shift could easily take care
of them. Still, he wanted to know the results as soon as his staff got
them...

"Ensign Tyler?" he called out, keeping his voice calm with an effort.
He'd had her assigned to work with Barclay today, and a mystified Reg
had obeyed his superior and kept an eye on her work.

"Yes, Commander LaForge?" she asked, walking up to him with a sway of
her hips that he guessed was supposed to be seductive, batting her
eyes. He fought the urge to yell at her to grow up and quit it.
Knowing about all the mind games she'd been playing on him, and more
importantly on Data, made even more drastic action seem extremely
tempting. However, he figured that someone so manipulative would
probably twist it into verbal abuse and complain to the captain, so he
decided to keep calm, for now. Give her a firm indication that he and
Data were together that she simply couldn't ignore. If she kept on
after that, she was the harrasser, and he could take it up with Troi
if need be.

So instead of saying what he really wanted to, he merely said,
"Listen, Ensign, I'm going off duty right now, but I'd like to have
this analysis delivered to me sometime later tonight."

Ensign Tyler straightened immediately. "What time, sir?" she asked,
trying to not seem as eager as she felt. Not when she was finally so
close... 

"Well, I guess it doesn't matter. I'll be with Data in his quarters
all night. Stop by whenever you get a chance." Pausing for a moment to
let that sink in, he added pointedly, "Um... make sure you call
first."

---

The End