Academy Chronicles: Part III - Shipping Them Like Crazy

Posted on Sat Oct 19th, 2024 @ 3:31pm by Lieutenant Fang Lee

1,371 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Earth, Starfleet Academy Tokyo Japan
Timeline: May Years Ago (Final year at the Academy Zai)

Previously On Academy Chronicles...

The ride took...oh ten minutes but at the end of it Zai stumbled from the cars and to the nearest wall. He slid to his knees trying to breath. "That....would wash out many a recruit from the academy."

Fang however, seemed unaffected. "That was amazing! Let's go again."

Zai looked up at him, his lavender eyes wide. "No thank you! If I wanted a death simulator I would have joined the Klingon war academy or whatever they call it. This is .... these humans are truly disturbing!"

Fang laughed. "Oh let loose Zai. Come on. We'll go into the tea pot."

"The what now?"

Fang helped Zai stand. "The tea pot. It's ... a ride that turns and you sit in a tea pot shaped car."

A few moments later Zai looked between the ride and Fang. "Well that looks like a tea cup not pot."

"Oh whatever. Let's go."

Zai groaned. He was re-thinking things. Maybe Fang really was trying to kill him.


And Now, The Continuation...



As the night moved on Zai had to admit that things started to become more fun. He ate apples dipped in caramel and fluffy white popped corn. He had fried foods and rode several thankfully tame rides. The one he loved the most had been the big plastic horse that went round and round. Fang had said the ride was called the Carrie Cell... odd name. But then humans were odd to begin with.

Suddenly he felt himself relax into the night forgetting the all his troubles. He laughed more then he had in a long time and all the while he felt as he had when he was on Capella in that forest. He felt free and safe.

After hours of running around they both collapsed on a bench. Zai held onto a little stuffed toy. "What is this again?"

"A stuffed teddy bear."

Zai smiled. "What is the purpose?"

"I think it's meant to sit on a bed and guard the bedroom."

Zai laughed. "How? It's purple and has a heart on its stomach."

Fang shrugged. "I don't know but they are popular." He motioned around to all the people carrying one. "Part of my gift for you for graduation."

Zai smiled clutching the bear. "Thank you."

Fang shifted closer to Zai. "You're welcome." They rested there in silence for a while. Zai leaned his head on Fang's shoulder as they sat there enjoying the moment.

It was Zai who spoke first. "So, what's next?"

"Well it's getting late...we should go."

Zai looked around. "But we haven't seen everything."

Fang laughed. "We'll be back. Come on then. The bike awaits."

Zai groaned. "That thing again. Well we better go so you can get it back to the admiral before he notices it gone."

The two got up and headed out of the park.


Just off to the side...Frankie, John, and Annabelle walked along the park exit area. It was Annabelle who grabbed Frankie's arm. "Hey...Is that Zai and is that Fang?"

Frankie and John looked around. "Where?"

She pointed to the right. "Over there!"

"What the hell is Fang doing here?" Frankie squinted. "It is Fang."

John snorted. "Look whose with him. It is in fact Mr. Zai." He paused. "What do you think Fang is here for or rather who do you think he's here for?"

Frankie's eyes widened. "Ohhhh right Zai."

Annabelle laughed rubbing her hands together. "Damn straight Fang's wife is graduating."

Frankie and John both snorted. "Don't let Zai or Fang here you say that or they will shove a de-coupler down your throat."

John laughed at Frankie's choice of phrase. "I am not going to make that comment twisted in any way."

Frankie groaned. "Shut up. You just made it weird.”

John laughed. “ Let's let the lovebirds re-bond. Interrupting the um... date might wind us up in sickbay."

They both looked at Annabelle who was madly sending messages from her personal device.

"What are you doing?" They both asked.

She looked up. "Sending a message to the team and opening a bet pool."

Frankie's brow crinkled. "On what?"

She smiled, "On weather or not we'll find them in bed tomorrow when we brake into Zai's room to tell him it's time to get ready for pictures cause you know he's going to oversleep like usual. Honestly with Fang gone we’ve had to keep his ass on time for classes."

John chuckled. "Annabelle! You dork! How could you bet on something like ... put me down for 25 credits that they will be together in the morning."

Frankie shook his head. "I don't think so. I think Fang will be at a hotel. You know that dude follows the rules as much as he can."

Annabelle ignored Frankie and turned to John. "You got it. Twenty five creds on them spending the night together." She grinned. "So far that's the winning bet."

"How many have joined the pool?"

"The whole class." She laughed.

John's eyes widened. "Are you kidding?"

She shook her head. "So far only ten are betting like Frankie here. The rest of the class is shipping them like crazy."

John laughed. "Well we'll find out in the morning. Let's head out for some more fun before we sneak back into the dorms."


Back at the Dorms


Zai sat on the sofa with Fang beside him smiling. "So did you have fun Zee?"

Zai smiled at the use of the nickname. "It was interesting lao ban."

Fang turned to look at him grinning. "We're back to that name again." He sighed. "Well I should get back to the hotel."

As Fang stood Zai reached out snatching his wrist. "Stay tonight."

"Rules..."

"Rules were broken when you came to visit, when you snuck me out, when you stole I mean borrowed the bike. Stay. The dreams have returned and I don't want to be alone."

Fang seemed to be waring with himself for a moment and then he sat back down. "Okay."

Zai gave a nod. "Let's shower in the morning I'm tired."

They changed for bed, Fang happy that he hadn't checked into the hotel but had brought his bag here. He slipped into his sleeping boxers and decided to forgo the T-shirt. It was the change over from spring to summer and tonight had been particularly sticky and hot.

Zai and he rolled back the duvet and they just used the sheet to cover themselves. Fang turned to his right facing Zai. They locked eyes. "You really had fun, Bao Bei?"

Zai smiled. It had been a long time since Fang used that name for him. "I did." He paused. "Thank you for tonight. I was going down a dark road. You always seem to show up when I need light."

Fang smiled. Fang reached out laying his hand on Zai's face his thumb gently caressing the area under Zai's ear. "Get some sleep bao bei. Tomorrow will be a long day. There's the ceremony, the party after, the paperwork before you leave for Sakura... Oh I almost forgot."

"What?"

"I didn't give you the graduation gift." He was about to turn when Zai reached out and pressed his hand over Fangs to keep it on his cheek.

“Wait.” Zai smiled. "Tomorrow. I just want to rest tonight."

Fang withdrew his hand from Zai's face and tucked it under his own pillow.

Zai missed the touch instantly and reached over pulling the hand back. He intertwined their fingers. "Thanks for coming back for me." There was so much to that statement that Fang saw but didn’t understand.

Fang smiled. "Of course I would. You're not alone. Tomorrow my, my parents and sister, we'll all be cheering for you."

Zai snorted. "Your mother too? She hates me."

Fang laughed. "She does not. Now sleep Xiao Zee."

Zai yawned. "Good night Lao ban."


To Be Continued...


Translation:
lao ban - old partner (equivalent to old ball and chain)
Bao Bei - Treasure or Precious -- Used as a term of endearment Similar to baby, darling, sweetie in English
Xiao - Little - can be used as term of endearment

 

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