Stress Release

Posted on Tue May 7th, 2024 @ 9:25pm by Colonel Josiah McEntyre & Commander Gunnar Magnusson

1,097 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: The Landings
Location: Josiah's Quarters
Timeline: Shorty Before the Landings

Josiah stared at the ceiling. The hum of the engines at warp filled the room. He couldn't sleep, laying there staring at the one spot of his ceiling where someone missed painting or maybe the industrial feel is what Starfleet was going for when they built the Unicorn. Pipes running across exposed.

Not wanting to stay in bed anymore, He got up, padding to the restroom for a moment before coming back out and walking to one of the big leather arm chairs that sat across from a small coffee table and sat, picking up a PADD to review the plans for the invasion one more time.

Paying a visit to the CO, especially during off-duty hours, had always felt a little awkward to Gunnar. He had spent most of his Starfleet career in research and development, so in actuality it had been a while since he had someone to directly report to; most of the time, the Jupiter Station CO would get updated in a group meeting once a month. And really, Gunnar didn’t need to see the Colonel…but he kind of wanted to, though. Gunnar was seeing to the issuing of field equipment to the landing party, and there were some significant enhancements to the scanning equipment. He could have just sent a quick message, but Gunnar preferred the personal approach. He pressed the comm panel outside the CO’s quarters.

“Sir?” He said, almost sheepishly. “It’s Commander Gunnar. I have the specs for the new field equipment. If you have a few moments.”

Josiah looks up from his PADD as the door buzzed and Gunnar spoke.

"Give me a second, Commander."

He called out, goin to his small wardrobe locker and grabbing one of his pullover hoodies, emblazened with the Insignia of the MACOs, the tradition Shark over the Unicorn of Unicorn's detachment. It was an old one, but still fit over him after all these years.

He tugs it down before opening the door to let Gunnar in with a small gesture of welcome.

"What can I do for you, Commander Gunnar?"

He smiles softly, his heart racing as he stood near the man, much like it had when he met him in his ready room.

Gunnar flashed the Colonel a quick glimpse of the display screen of a PADD. “I,uh, just wanted to make certain that you were made aware of the equipment enhancements. I think you’ll be impressed with the improved scan resolution.” The big Icelander crossed over the threshold of the door. “I also wanted to make certain that you weren’t angry about me deferring to Whitford on the XO position. Respectfully, Sir.”

"I'm not angry about it."

Josiah reassured him as he let the doors slide close before following him into the small living area of his quarters.

"You want a drink?"

He offered as he went over to the small food dispenser set up on a wall.

“A drink would be lovely,” Gunnar said, taking note that the sitting area had two very cozy looking leather chairs. “Your choice. Respectfully, Sir.” Gunnar was now beginning to notice that he said ‘Respectfully, Sir’ a lot when he was nervous. He was going to have to break that habit eventually. Someday, he and the Colonel would drop the formality. Was that today?

"You don't have to keep calling me sir. Josiah or Josh is fine."

Josiah said, bringing over the two drinks, and sitting one down near Gunnar.

"So.."

He started, gazing into the big Icelander's eyes, a soft smile on his face.

"Tell me more about these sensor enhancements?"

This was most definitely him trying to flirt with the man across from him.

Gunnar smiled softly, the corners of his mouth turning only very slightly upward. “I like Josh. It suits you. Call me Gunnar or G please.” Their eyes met for a long moment. Despite the Colonel’s reputation, there was a softness behind his eyes that Gunnar suspected few got to see. “Right. Um, enhancements.” He laid a PADD on the small table. “Overall scan resolution has improved by 22 percent. And we have prototypes installed for the new rifle power cells…in theory they will last 15 percent longer.”

Josh picks up the PADD, taking up a pair of reader glasses from the table to look over everything before realizing that Gunnar was still there.

“They’re mainly for reading. The rest of the time, I have integrated HUDs in my combat glasses that aid me. I still meet all MACO fitness requirements for my postings”

He explained.

“I like the power enhancements, they’ll keep us in a firefight for longer. Every bit counts in a ground fight. The sensors too, will help too. Thank you, Gunnar, this is excellent work.”

He smiles at Gunnar before setting down the PADD, and before he realizes it, he’s staring longingly at the man across from him.

“Thank you Josh,” said Gunnar tightly. He could feel himself growing more tense under the Colonel’s gaze. The big Icelander looks away slightly, his cheeks reddening. “Josh, I don’t have a lot of experience with these things. But I know you like me, and I like you. Would you like to be physical before or after a first date?”

"I think I can get behind being physical before a first date. I know that I like you, a lot.”

He reaches over, pressing his lips against Gunnar's for a soft first kiss, testing the waters to see where this would go. His heart pounded in his chest, like this was meant to be, a spark, a feeling, that indescribable knowing that this was it for him.

The kiss was surprisingly gentle, but still had an intensity behind it that Gunnar could not deny. He leaned into it, placing his right hand behind the Colonel’s neck. “You do realize that once we take this step, there is no going back from that.” He smiled and touched their noses together playfully. “I’m ready if you are.”

"I am,"

Josh kisses Gunnar's forehead

"Most Definitely"

Josh kisses Gunnar's cheek

"Ready"

Josh kisses Gunnar again, deeper, with much more passion and heat behind it than before, all while their foreheads were still pressed together in this new kiss.

“So when are we going to stop talking?” said Gunnar.

Josiah takes Gunnar's hand into his, leading him back to the bedroom of his quarters, eager to continue what they had started.

OFF

Colonel Josiah McEntyre
Commanding Officer
Unicorn NX-151

Commander Gunnar Magnusson
Chief Science Officer
Unicorn NX-151

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