Academy Chronicles: Part IV - Back In The Closet

Posted on Sat Oct 19th, 2024 @ 9:41pm by Lieutenant Fang Lee & Lieutenant JG Zai

1,494 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...

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

Zai missed the touch and reached over pulling the hand back. He intertwined their fingers. "Thanks for coming back for me."

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."


And Now, The Conclusion...


The panel on the wall blinked green three times.

"YES!!!!!" John pumped his fists. Annabelle gave him a thumbs up and Frankie just sighed shaking his head. He’d tried to talk them out of this several times.

"This is a bad idea,” He pointed out for the fiftieth time.

Annabelle snorted. "No, changing your code without telling your friends is a bad idea…” She waved her hand, “this is just...harmless mischief."

John watched as the door silently hissed open. "Okay. Let's go. Mission win bet and wake Zai about to begin."

The three entered the silent quarters. Annabelle headed straight for the small bedroom. The door was wide open and when she entered she held up her hand to stop the others. Gently extracting her pocket imager she took a silent photo and then replaced the imager in her pocket. She cupped her hands over her mouth as the other two caught up to her and called. "WAKEY WAKY!"

Fang and Zai, who'd been fast asleep, still holding hands, jumped up. Zai was already on his feet in a cat like crouch and Fang, who'd been startled out of a dead sleep rolled onto the floor with a thump.

Zai looked around taking in the sight. He groaned. "How the hell did you three idiots get in? I changed the code."

Anabelle pointed at John. "This master code cracker got in. Took five seconds boyo."

John snorted. "Yeah stop using Fang's birthday."

Anabelle laughed. "Oh my gawd. He's blushing!"

Frankie, who'd been silent to this point, waved. "Just pointing out that I’m not with them. I was trying to talk them out of coming in."

Fang, who'd gotten up from his less then graceful roll off the bed. Sighed. "You three i didn't miss."

Anabelle grinned as she walked over to Fang. "Awwww is that any way to talk to the three people that have been taking care of your wifey since you've been gone."

Frankie and John both exchanged a look. "Anabelle! Inside thoughts."

Zai snorted. "When has that ever worked with her and I’m not his wifey."

She smiled and blew him a kiss. "Didn't say you were but you just put yourself in that position. Maybe I was talking about someone else."

Frankie groaned again. "Shut up, please. I don't want to go to sickbay."

Fang who'd been shaking his head at them sighed. "You three are here why?"

Annabelle smiled but before she could say anything Frankie jumped in. "Well Zai was running late for class photos. Grad ceremony is coming up so..."

Just then a familiar voice rang out. "What's going on in there!"

Zai yelped. "Dora! Damn." He leapt over the bed and grabbed Fang's arm.

"No, no. Not again! Zai don’t you dare!"

"They have an excuse as to why they are here and you're the only half naked one... well other then me...oh Gods that sounded wrong." He slammed his hand on the wall panel and the closet hissed open. "Back into the closet you go!"

Annabelle's eye widened. She looked at John and gestured as if to say, 'see!'

He grinned back at her.

Fang was out of sight just as Dora came rushing in his antennae twitching. "What's going on!"

Frankie held up his hands. "All good. We just came to wake Mr. Sleepy head. Pictures and all."

Dora looked at the three of them. "Fine, fine. Get out now. He's awake. Mr. Zai hop to it!" Dora gave one more exasperated sigh and headed out.

Frankie, Annabelle and John turned to Zai.

Grinning Annabelle said, "So...you gonna help him out of the closet?"

John bit his lower lip to keep from laughing.

"Get out! All of you, get out!" Zai shood them out and then cursed. He locked the door and headed back to the closet where he palmed the controls and the door slid open expelling Fang again who gave a small yelp as he fell, once again, on top of Zai.

The two stared at one another. "Don't say it again Zai."

Zai grinned. "Wasn't thinking it." He paused. "Um... Fang."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Fang stared at him. "Oh, okay." He too paused and then said, "Say did you press your uniform for today?"

"Yup. It's all ready and hanging in the front closet by the door."

"Good." He sighed and then as he shifted slightly he became aware of two things. He was still on the floor on top of Zai and they were both wearing nothing but boxer shorts."

"Damn it! Why didn't you tell me to get up." Fang said scrambling up.

"I don't like to complain."

"I'm going to take a shower!" Fang stormed into the bathroom.

Zai got up and sat down on the bed. "Well that went well." He let out a breath that he’d been holding. Being this close to Fang was frying his brain again.


One Hour Later

Zai stood in front of the mirror staring at himself. He had on grey suit pants, a white turtleneck and his grey jacket, with the cadet pips, sat on the hanger to his right. He was actually here. He was about to graduate from Starfleet Academy.

"Ready?"

Zai turned and his breath caught. Fang stood over six feet tall wearing black dress pants and the red jacket that buttoned on the right. A white strip off the right shoulder had the jacket flap sealed. Ensign insignia embroidered on the flap stood out in gold thread. He'd braided his hair for a change and it hung down his back. "Wow...You look..."

Fang shifted his feet looking down at his shoes attempting to hide the blush. "Yeah. Not a fan of the dress uniform but it is what it is. Your new uniform is waiting on the ship. When we're done here next week we'll travel to Vulcan to meet the Sakura."

Fang walked over to the hanger and pulled the grey jacket off. He held it so Zai could slip into it and then helped him button it. Once he was satisfied he placed the dress hat on Zai's head taking care to adjust the visor lower on the forehead. "There. Perfect."

Zai turned around and looked at himself in the mirror again.

He seemed to be speechless.

Fang walked up behind him placing his hands on Zai's shoulders and meeting his gaze in the reflection. "That actually is you."

Zai's eyes filled with tears. He tried to swallow past the lump that had formed in his throat.

Fang gently pulled him back against his chest and wrapped his arms around Zai bringing his head down on Zai’s shoulder. "I'm so proud of you. You escaped a planet that was filled with war and hate and you stand here representing peace and unity and exploration and all the Starfleet can teach our people. We may be all be from different planets here but we are family united by the same ideals and that is something our planet could have if they choose Starfleet over the Klingons. Each of our people will eventually have to choose but you made your choice and look at how far you've come. By our planet's mandates we should hate one another but we stand here our friendship stronger then the history and hate of our people."

Zai's head lowered and Fang felt a tear drop onto his hands were they were clasped around Zai. He sighed and he gently released Zai turning him around. He cupped Zai's face and using his thumbs he wiped Zai's tears. "You made it. Come on, soon to be Ensign Zai. Let's get you graduated and then off we go to the party. In two weeks time you'll be on the Sakura with me and we'll be sailing the Star filled sky like we planned. The future is ours. Yours and mine. Together through thick and thin my friend."

Zai gave a nod. “Through thick and thin.” It was all he could manage. The emotions of the day were overwhelming. A new chapter was about to begin. He wrapped his arms around Fang. "Can we stay here a bit longer?"

Fang smiled. "We've got time. When you're ready we'll head over." He smiled. "Just promise me one thing."

Zai caught his eye. "What?"

"No more shoving me into the closet."

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