Breakfast in Bed

Posted on 23 Jan 2014 @ 9:49pm by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ellsworth Hudson & Ensign K'os Beaumont

3,262 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia, Earth
Timeline: MD 20 - 0800 hrs

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Ellsworth groaned dramatically and threw an arm over his eyes to block out the sun streaming in from seemingly all directions. He both loved and loathed waking up. There was so much that was wonderful about it: stretching muscles, fresh coffee, crisp air, flipping on a newsfeed. But then, of course, there was the fact that you had to actually get up.

Still delirious with sleep, he stretched his body as far as he could. When his hands came in contact with the bamboo headboard, he jerked them back and opened his eyes. The thatched roof above him finally helped to piece the clues together, and then he smiled at the realization.

"Bon matin." K'os used the french greeting his father always used then placed a hot mug of coffee down on the bedside table. He'd already been up for an hour, had done his calisthenics and gone for a dip in the ocean. He truly could live like this forever, he thought. He felt no need to wake Ellsworth, figuring he would wake when his body was ready.

Ellsworth smiled brightly at hearing K'os's voice and seeing his face. He grabbed eagerly at the coffee cup and inhaled deeply of its aroma before taking a drink. The taste was robust and invigorating. "Good morning to you, too. And thank you." He raised the mug in gratitude and smiled all the more, very pleased with the morning so far. Why couldn't he always wake up in a beach-front cottage with a handsome man giving him coffee?

"Have you been up long? I think I was really worn out."

Ellsworth used the coffee mug to hide his knowing grin, but his eyes still told the story. In fact, his grin was so wide that the coffee mug didn't do much to hide it. As a matter of course he'd been with a lot of other men; however, the evening with K'os had set a new standard. Sheer Vulcan strength and stamina had a lot to do with it, but there had been something far more pleasurable about their nocturnal activities than just physical intimacy. The connection they shared hadn't just heighten the sensation of being touched and caressed; by the end of the night, it had left him feeling deeply, emotionally satisfied in a way that was both completely new and completely wonderful.

K'os blushed. Not from embarrassment however, more from excitement at the memories that flashed in his head. It was very difficult to exhaust a Betazoid, but he had given it his best try. He had laid awake for a long time, reliving the experience in his mind before finally succumbing to sleep.

"I've been up for an hour or so." He sat on the bed next to him and studied the Betazoid's face. Losing himself momentarily in the deep black orbs.

Ellsworth took a long drink then replaced the mug on the end table. He slid back down into the bed to lay prone, easing the sheets down off himself with one foot. He looked up at K'os and seemed to lose himself just as quickly. The sound of a very loud bird outside the cottage broke the moment, and Ellsworth stretched out as far as he could before his new friend. The air was still a little chilly, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Do you think we could just stay here? Maybe they'd come looking for us eventually, but it might be worth the court martial."

He stifled the beginnings of his usual hearty laugh and it turned into a short giggle. "Well the odds are in my favour, this is after all a kidnapping." K'os couldn't take his eyes off the lithe creature.

"Oh, I'd almost forgotten. I'd best restrain you so you don't get away," Ellsworth said, wiggling closer and grabbing for K'os's wrists.

His efforts at restraint just degenerated into wrestling and laughter that threatened to knock the coffee off the table and perhaps damage the bed itself. The laughter and joy threatened to boil over into absolute elation. He couldn't really remember the last time he'd been free with another person like this, perhaps because there really hadn't been a first time. Rough-housing with K'os made him feel his own age, and he liked that.

As the wrestling further entangled them, Ellsworth struggled against his own nature to keep the horseplay from spilling into anything else; his rumbling tummy told him that food was only slightly more important at the moment. As it became clear once again that he wasn't going to win any contests of strength or agility against his half-Vulcan comrade, he surrendered and stretched out on the bed again. His cheeks were red with exertion and his breathing was heavy, but he still managed a smile.

"Sometime you should just let me win," he pouted. He rolled over closer to K'os with an impish look before playfully biting his knee. He flopped over on to his back, leaving his front completely exposed to the morning air, and rested the back of his head on K'os's thigh so he could look up at him. "Did you eat breakfast?"

"I don't usually break my fast this early." He responded brushing his fingers along the back of Ellsworth's index finger. That was the second time he'd instinctively used the very Vulcan finger-touching. It made him think of his mother briefly before letting the memory go without it reaching his surface thought. He kept the associated feelings though making his smile dimple, knowing that his companion would read him. Even though he had meditated after he woke, and was feeling refreshed and revived, he was still a touch telepath. The connection lasted only as long as he maintained touch. Some time in the night his connection had faded.

"But what were you thinking of?"

Ellsworth grinned up at him when he perceived the feelings behind K'os's gesture. He lifted his hands up, index fingers pointed, and placed them at the edges of the half-Vulcan's smile where he gently pushed to get an exaggerated look. His voice took on a teasing and playful sing-song quality. "You liiiiike me."

Before K'os could respond, he dropped his hands and appeared thoughtful. He finally sat up and fished around on the floor for his boxer-briefs. "If you wait here, I'll go get something from the restaurant, and we can eat it together in bed." As he was pulling his shoes on, he looked over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow. "Okay with you? Maybe it's a little silly - breakfast in bed - since you've been up but I think it's romaaantic." Ellsworth gave a silly grin and clasped his hands over his heart in an amorous gesture and fell back on the bed, resting his head back on K'os's thigh.

"I'm relieved to hear that, Ellsworth. I'm a horrible cook." In one quick motion, he slipped off the bed and scooped him up over his shoulder like a fireman. "But we should go together. What sort of kidnapper would you be if you left me alone?"

Ellsworth let out a cry of mock protest before falling into a joyful squeal. The squeal turned into a fit of giggles and an occasional outcry when his wiggling seemed to threaten to send him tumbling to the ground. Finally, he gave up the struggle and rested comfortably on K'os's strong, firm shoulder.

"This is a very unorthodox kidnapping, where kidnapper is kidnapped by the kidnappee," Ellsworth said, struggling out of some vain pride to keep his voice from sounding too smitten. "Are you going to carry me all the way-...oh, okay, I guess so."

Ellsworth watched the sand passing beneath him and all the while admired K'os's strong legs when they passed into view. He allowed himself a very broad, private smile while he was carried to the small resort's restaurant like a sack of potatoes. The restaurant itself was largely open-air and empty except for a human couple off in a far corner, too involved in their own conversation to really notice anyone else. Ellsworth resumed his wiggling protest, though in reality he was perfectly fine being carried around all day.

"Am I gonna give my order to your back? Is it a better cook than you are?"

"You wanted to break fast in bed. Your feet shouldn't touch sand until you've done so."

K'os grinned, being spurred on mainly by the wiggling. He walked him up to the first server he saw and spun around so Ellsworth was facing her.

Ellsworth let out a wild laugh, thoroughly enjoying K'os's sense of humor and display of strength. The smaller Betazoid put his hands against the cloth of K'os's shirt and pushed, using his abdominal muscles to help leverage himself up until he was actually looking at the server. She looked nearly as amused as he did.

"Um, we'd like a large seasonal fruit plate with yogurt, two egg white omelettes with Gruyere and some toast." He started to lower himself back down but then held his head up. "Oh, and maybe an order of banana pancakes. With extra bananas on top. An' some cream." He wiggled a bit with a wry grin, just to test K'os. "You want anything else, my big strong Vulcan prince? Some kinda soup or rice porridge?"

He tried hard to remain stoic, doing his best Vulcan impression. "That will be sufficient."

"Is it okay to have it all on a tray, too? We'd like to bring it back to our room," Ellsworth said, directing the statement to the server though he had gone limp enough to be speaking to K'os's back. "Oh! And maybe a small vase of flowers, if you have any." He lowered his voice conspiratorially, which was ridiculous since K'os was right there and he was speaking into his back. "He's a bit of a romantic, likes flowers and all that. I spoil him."

He restrained laughter, as to not ruin the effect or make him drop his companion, but his shoulders vibrated up and down with his restraint. He really was going to carry him all the way back, he was determined. Sure enough, a little while later when they came thumping back into the cottage he put the tray down on the bedside table and dropped Ellsworth in to a heap on the bed.

One leg was draped over the side of the bed, swinging back and forth. Crumpled up on the bed, Ellsworth appeared to be the perfect picture of happiness. The whole trip had almost taken on an unreal dream-like quality, but those cerebral-type thoughts and introspection were best left until after they'd returned to San Francisco lest he end up ruining things by over-thinking them.

"Can you carry me to my duty station every day on the ship?" Ellsworth asked, finding enough purchase with his foot against the bed to leverage himself into a seated position. He wiggled in place slightly, obviously impatient about K'os joining him for breakfast. "I kinda liked it. It was nice. I can just lay there and make snarky comments, an' you can hold me by my butt."

"Yes, well assuming you get passed that court martial that is." K'os placed the tray down between them as he sat on the bed. He sat with his legs crossed, and his back straight. He surveyed the food on the tray carefully and then he looked up and gave Ellsworth a mock confused look. "Oh, didn't you order anything for yourself?"

Ellsworth rolled his eyes and snatched up a fork, falling into a slouched version of K'os's chosen method of sitting. "Famous Vulcan humor, eh?"

He snagged a few pieces of the fruit, dipped them in yogurt and then stuffed them in his mouth. They were delicious, though he had no idea what they were. Terran fruits, obviously. He guessed the names didn't really matter. Pancakes were next, followed by a portion of the omelette. While he ate, he was careful to steal more than a few glances at K'os. He quietly admired his poise and discipline, the shape of his arms and legs, his handsome face and pointy ears. Thoughts of the future - the after-Bali - were never far from the surface despite how hard he worked to suppress them; he was careful not to touch K'os in order to avoid the subject.

"I'm a pretty good cook. I would've cooked somethin' for you this morning, but I figured they wouldn't want me snoopin' around their kitchen," Ellsworth finally said, breaking his study of K'os's form. His eyes fell downward and settled on one of the remaining pieces of fruit, which he speared. His voice, when it came, was quiet. "I'd like to cook for you sometime, I mean."

K'os savoured a piece of watermelon. He loved watermelon, the taste always conjured an auditory memory of the sounds of a baseball game. He chewed it slowly, giving him time to consider his words. "I'd like to watch you cook for me."

Ellsworth laughed immediately, although he had no idea whether or not it was meant to be a funny statement. He replaced his fork on the tray and leaned back on the bed, rolling on to his side to watch K'os. "Well, it's probably not going to be very exciting. Not even Betazoids cook in the nude. One splash of oil and it's off to Sickbay with an awkward story."

He fell silent while watching K'os consume the watermelon, happily smiling. In the span of a day it seemed like they'd already had a hundred different deep soulful conversations, and, assuming they wanted, could probably go a lifetime without saying another word. If Ellsworth wasn't so damn chatty, of course.

"You wanna stay a little bit today, or go back home? I dunno if you have anything to do..."

K'os shook away the image of Ellsworth cooking with nothing on but an apron; open at the back. He smiled warmly before shoving another large piece of watermelon in his mouth. His eyes lazily studied the outline of the young man's lips, observing the fullness of them. His mind conjured a taste memory of Jumja sticks before his eyes reluctantly followed the jaw line, studying how smooth the skin was. The curve of his neck. His small frame.

"Can I stay kidnapped for a little while longer?" He asked.

Some love-drunk adolescent part of Ellsworth's heart wanted to say he would kidnap him forever. The same thought also threatened to bring on a wave of anxiety, so he, too, struggled to keep his emotions in check. Instead of worrying about what was to come or struggling with his own emotional insecurities, he turned over onto his elbows and knees and crawled closer to his watermelon-eating lover. His boxer-briefs and arched movement did much to emphasize a round, well-defined bottom, which he probably knew all too well.

"Yes, I think I can probably manage to keep you kidnapped for just a little bit longer," Ellsworth said, looking predatory in his slow approach. He spared a glance at the nearly empty tray and pushed it aside to the foot of the bed. "Although at some point you're bound to overpower me and flee back to the safety of the fleet."

"Yes, that's true." He agreed simply. He jumped off the bed before he could be pounced on and swung around to put the foot of the bed between them. He crossed his arms and leaned his weight on his left hip casually. His suppressed smile created dimples on his red cheeks. "All things come to an end at some point, Ellsworth Hudson." For such a negative comment, K'os somehow made it sound matter-of-fact. "The future is comprised of so many possible futures that I would lose the moment I'm in right now if I focus on what might happen." Ellsworth tried to sneakily flank him. He laughed and stood back up, moving to the left of the bed. "Everybody walks around blind to all these beautiful experiences because they move through their moments worrying about other moments that haven't happened yet. For me, this is the only moment that exists, until it doesn't."

Ellsworth sat back on his haunches, struck by the profundity of what K'os had said and wondering whether or not he'd been able to sense his thoughts. Normally he was as carefree as the half-Vulcan's philosophy suggested; he even liked to think he lived in the moment most of the time. He appreciated things as they were... But something - everything - about being on Nusa Lembongan with K'os had felt different. Living in the now - this now - without any consideration for the future seemed suddenly impossible, but he knew thinking about it one more moment would just bring him to the verge of tears.

So he stood up on his knees, shuffled toward the edge of the bed and reached his arms out toward K'os's shoulders.

"This has been one long, beautiful experience," he admitted.

K'os shuffled forward till the finger tips of his companion brushed his clavicle. He continued to just look at him with the same restrained, dimpled smile. He could listen to Ellsworth talk all day. Mingling with the Olive-Backed Tailorbird on the veranda, the Betazoid's voice seemed exuberant. He moved a little closer till hands wrapped around his head then stopped. He felt the impatient pull and resisted firmly but kindly. He wasn't ready for Ellsworth's thoughts yet. He drew his attention instead to the waves in the distance lapping against the sand and the leaves of the palm tree overhead scrapping the top of the cottage in a slow tatta-tatta sound. Even the smell of bananas and coconut lingering on the cool breeze was noted.

Ellsworth was careful not to let his fingers stray from cloth or hair, for as much as he loved the experience of being connected with K'os he was nonetheless deeply fearful that his inner thoughts at the moment would be revealed. The suppressed anxiety over 'the future,' questions about what their time together meant, whether they'd just be colleagues or one-time lovers...all those things he desperately wanted to keep to himself, even as he acknowledged that K'os would probably have something poignant to say to either redirect his attention or allay his fears. Even so... Not now, he thought.

Pulling his thoughts back into the present, he just stared into grey-blue eyes. Ellsworth didn't mean to pry but empathy was harder for him to control than telepathy, so he felt K'os's attentiveness. Taking a cue, he focused his attention on his own senses. As his friend had noted earlier, sometimes one could get so caught up in some things that they missed everything about the moment: the sound of the birds, the feel of the simple cotton sheets under his knees, the taste of the salty air, the texture of K'os's hair, his dimples, his eyebrows, his chin...

Smiling at how quickly his thoughts turned back to the other even when he was trying to focus elsewhere, Ellsworth spoke in a voice soft enough for the short distance between them. "It's nice here, K'os, but nicer with you." The smile broadened for a moment. "I'm glad you let me kidnap you."

K'os simply replied with a warm smile, banishing his dimples.

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PO3 K'os Beaumont
M/E Systems Specialist
USS Galileo

&

PO3 Ellsworth Hudson
Quartermaster
USS Galileo

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