Chapter Text
The applause ends and the Enterprise crew descends the stairs. Trip watches as Jon and T’Pol move to talk with Prime Minister Samuels. Jon nods in what looks like polite agreement - Trip will never understand how Jon puts up with politicking. T'Pol looks as composed as ever, but Trip thinks he can just maybe make out a bit of irritation in her expression.
“You’d think after a week’s leave, you’d be less cranky,” Malcolm says, stepping to stand beside Trip.
“Yea, well who wants to leave paradise just to get shut up with a bunch of blowhard politicians.”
Malcolm rolls his eyes. “Paradise, eh? Was that because of the scenery or the company?” He frowns and holds up a hand. “No, wait. I do not actually want to know.”
Since his return from Columbia, Trip and T'Pol have been slowly working on their relationship and the radical concept of being honest with each other. They'd used their leave before the Coalition Conference to go to Hawaii, hiking volcanoes and basking on the beach - among other things.
Trip smiles, remembering one particular morning in bed.
“I love you,” Trip said with his face nestled in the curve of T’Pol’s neck.
“That is fortunate,” T’Pol shifted to face him. “Because I hold deep affection for you as well.” She pulled him down for a kiss. “My t’hy’la.”
“What does that mean?”
T’Pol stroked her hand along the back of Trip’s neck. “It is complex. It could be translated simply as ‘beloved.’ But it means more than that. Something like ‘the other half of my soul.’”
“Because of this psychic mating bond thing.” Trip pressed kisses along her jaw.
T’Pol arched to give him room. “Yes, I do not believe many Vulcan couples form a bond this strong. It is certainly not openly discussed. Perhaps it is because of the adversity we have faced together, or my experiments with the psychic techniques of the Kir’Shara, or… other factors. Nonetheless, I feel that you are a part of me, and not just metaphorically.”
“However,” she sighed heavily, “I deeply regret forcing you into this.”
“Nah, but ya didn’t.” Trip stopped his kisses to look her in the eye. “Ya didn’t know this bond would form any more than I did. And ya definitely didn't force me to sleep with you. Whatever this is, we'll deal with it together.”
“Together,” T’Pol agreed. She’d pulled him into her arms then.
And, yea, Trip finally feels like they are really making a go of this thing.
Trip watches as an aide approaches Samuels, whispering something into his ear. Samuels frowns and takes Jon by the elbow, leading him away. T’Pol follows, turning to look at Trip, a tilt of her head beckoning him to follow.
Trip catches up by the time they reach a conference room, the rest of the Enterprise team drifting in behind him. Samuels seems displeased at the size of the group, but turns on a viewscreen nonetheless.
“...abomination of human values. We must not allow our world to be overrun,” a balding man says from behind a desk.
At a nod from Samuels, the aide speaks. “John Frederick Paxton, the leader of Terra Prime, has interrupted the broadcast of several major news networks following the Prime Minister’s speech.”
Trip crosses his arms and frowns as he listens to Paxton accuse Starfleet and Enterprise of everything from undermining Earth’s governments to trying to breed human/alien children. T’Pol stands beside him, and he feels reassured by her presence.
“There are also disturbing things happening within the ranks of the Enterprise crew. You will find this video disgusting, but showing it is necessary. This evidence was recorded just this week.”
Paxton’s face was replaced by a view of a beach. The image zoomed in on a male figure in swim shorts, laying on his side, his back to the camera, another person obscured by his body.
Trip’s stomach clenched as he realized who and where this was.
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” Trip’s voice said. The man’s companion pushed on his shoulder, and he rolled onto his back, revealing Trip and T’Pol’s faces to the camera.
“I find you quite attractive as well,” T’Pol said, shifting to straddle him, her loose sundress rippling as she moved.
T’Pol leaned back, stroking Trip’s bare chest. He moaned as she rolled her hips in time with her fingers finding his nipple.
She leaned down to kiss him, and it quickly turned passionate. Trip’s hands moved to the hem of her dress.
And the image returned to Paxton. “This is truly disturbing evidence of aliens controlling humans…”
Trip suddenly realizes that everyone has turned to look at him and T’pol. He has the sudden urge to shield T’Pol with his body, like that would somehow protect her. Instead, he lets the back of his hand touch hers and feels their bond flare. He feels her suppressed emotions: embarrassment, anger, fear. But most of all he feels her determination.
Whatever the fallout of this, they will deal with it together.