Starfire

((Now then, we must admit that book two is really nothing short of a huge smut fest.. but amazingly, this story keeps it in short demand at times. Yet, we can't say we completely stay away from it. Therefore, here is a nice little taste of some one sided action. Eek! Beware! Smut ahead!))

Chapter Twelve: Privyn's Hope

Back on the ship Privyn was looking over damage reports, thinking about how much time it would take to get everything fixed. Tex fucked a lot of things up. Slowed everything down to a stand still. He has no way of contacting anyone, since the dish is completely obliterated.

Fuck... They could be out there fighting the good fuckin' fight. But no, no, no! His plans -have- to be ruined by a pipsqueak who wants revenge. Gods have mercy.

He sighs and pushes the reports away in disgust, sitting back in his chair. Of course there was something else on his mind. The blond bombshell. Tel. Dear heavens but that boy is absolutely gorgeous. Everything on that boy makes the captain's mouth water. Here was no time to think about bending that cute ass over and driving his love home over and over again, but if not here, then where.

He groans quietly at the thought as feeling and desire stirs in him. He doesn't want Tex. No. Tex is not his style at all. But... That pretty blond haired boy. Damn.

"Come and find me soon Tel. Please," he murmurs to himself, turning to the window to watch the stars once again.

As if by magic, a small swish of a door and that very blonde's voice ventures itself into the quiet.

"Sir?" and the door closes behind him. "The prisoner is in quarters. I gave him a sedative and have him restrained. I.. I took the liberty sir, of telling the boys to stay away from him this time. For fear of his finding a means to escape.." he hopes it's a good enough excuse. Dammit, he doesn't want to turn everything around for the miners. He actually has come to be sympathetic to their cause. Yet, the actions of the captain and his crew, are enough to make his stomach turn and his entire sympathy turn to almost an outright hatred. How dare they use Howard like that?

He keeps himself at attention, not given the order to relax. One thing about Teledar, he was always on duty, so to speak. It was, of course, one of the reasons he was so high on the chain of command and so quickly. Still, he rarely let his hair down, and never before his captain.

"All right," Privyn says simply.

He wasn't thinking anything of what Tel was really saying. Prisoner... meaning one of them -did- escape. And right now, with what was going on with all the damage to the ship and his fiery desire for the gorgeous blond standing there. At attention (not the kind of attention he was wishing for), and so absolutely beautiful, Privyn could care less right now.

"Tel. We are going to be here for some time. With all the damage to the ship we aren't going to be able to even move. So you'd might as well relax. Have a seat and please stop standing like a board in front of me. It doesn't become you."

The captain sighs softly, moving from his chair. he paces slowly toward the window he was staring from, leaning against it, as if he were feeling defeated already.

"I'm beginning to think that. This fight is useless. I guess God is punishing me for being such a fucking brat, huh?"

A soft rustle of sound, feet moving with practiced cat like grace, a grace that fits Tel like a glove. He tends to always walk from one end of the ship to the other like an animal, just let out of its cage, never quite sure and always ready to run, but certain that his place aboard was set in stone, adding something of a cocky attitude under the cold veneer. It was an incredibly beguiling mixture of machismo and childlike fear, and it had made him the subject of enough wet dreams aboard ship. He wasn't just handsome, he was beautiful. Though anyone saying that to his face, would have gotten a fist in their jaw. Anyone but those who are his higher ups, which, at present, is only the captain and the second mate. The second mate didn't look at him twice, being a full red blooded hetero, and he was oblivious to his captain's looks.

Tel hadn't had difficulty with his place in the ship until... well, now. Or, rather, an hour and a half before now.

~*~*~ flashback ~*~*~

Woken by the sudden alarums of the bay, he'd leaped out of bed, hurrying into his flight suit and down to the bay. The firing of guns had surprised him and coming into the bay, finding the bodies of guards at the door, he stared as he watched the familiar back rushing to the emergency air lock.

"Fuck.." his voice soft, he'd lifted his rifle to his shoulder and squeezed off two quick shots. The first hit Tex high, the next more fully in the back. They were good clean shots. He walked to the body on the floor. Howie had known he was down so he hadn't been trying to fight back yet. Dammit, why did he stay behind? Even though Tel knew. It had to do with his partner. Still, it meant that Howie's partner would come back with reinforcements.

"Hey Howard.."

"Fuck you, Tel.."

The rifle had shut up his former friend and he stared down at the body, checking later for vitals and finding everything just fine. He'd have to tell his captain about injuring the pilot. But first..

It wasn't until after he'd had Howie sedated and was making his way back to the captain's room when the dream he'd been having when he was so rudely woken up, came rushing back.

Fingers, pressing, probing at his mouth... a whisper, so soft, so promising of delights, in against his ear, hot breath, like he'd never felt it. Everything was so hazy, so delicious. He'd lifted, sighing into the hand on his desire, finding himself thickening under the touch, alien touch... damn he hadn't had one of these dreams in forever.

"Darling... look at me.." the thunder of a voice. It draped over him and he felt safer than he'd ever felt in his life. Eyes opening, fingers reaching... then shock and pleasure rocking through him.

"CAPTAIN??"

~*~*~ end flashback ~*~*~

Blinking his eyes, Tel shoves the dream away again. Remembering in the hall outside of Capt. Privyn's office hadn't been the best place and it's leaving him more confused than he'd ever felt in his life. He almost misses what his captain says. Then it sinks in after the lingering shocks of desire that had coursed through him, shameful desires actually.

"No sir," not realizing that his voice is husky, tingling with the dream, "I can't believe that; not when you look at what those men down on the moon are facing."

He's not sure why, but seeing this side of his leader is leaving him feeling lost himself. So much of his conviction is tied up in this confusing, brutal, intelligent man. He moves to the window as well, taking a chance and looking out as he stands beside his captain, his hands folded behind his back in the proper way to be at ease. "Permission to speak freely sir.." he murmurs as he stares out, unable to look at the man standing beside himself for fear of the dream's reiteration.

"I'm... doing everything wrong though. From the beginning. The miners need this weapon. We have no chance without it. This ship is totally fucked and with Tex out, we have no way of getting it down to the moon without being noticed. The people on that moon have no chance against the government." Privyn sighs softly and bows his head.

But he was right. What he had was something he actually had someone develop for him. It was like an imploding mechanism. Something that when triggered would basically crush it in on itself. He doesn't exactly understand it either, but he's seen what it could do - it's powerful and extremely dangerous. But he was at least willing to take the chance against at least one of the bases, or something.

"Oh well. Mmm. Tel. Do you stand like that when you're at home too? Come on, now." Privyn may get slapped for this, but he reaches out, lightly taking Tel's arms, pulling them from behind his back, his warm hands sliding down the sleeves of his Lieutenant's shirt until those small, beautiful hands are caught inside Privyn's and left there a moment. He doesn't know it's happening, really, because he's looking into the palest blue eyes he's ever seen. More beautiful than any star out there. Yes, Tel is gorgeous. So slim. Tall. Oh, the things he could do with this boy.

When he finally realizes that his thumbs are caressing the lifelines of Tel's palms, he lets go, giving a gentle, but almost mischievous blush before retuning his gaze to the stars.

"What is it you want to say, Tel. and please call me Privyn. We're off duty now."

"Ahh.." a soft breath of sound. Tel hadn't meant to look at the captain, he hadn't meant to do anything other than stare out at the stars and maybe impart some long lost wisdom to a man who needs to be strong for the crew and for those men who fight their own deaths upon the moon below them and to the edge of the quadrant. But there were hands on his arms and eyes staring into his and he's pale with it.

To say he's a blushing virgin is to really understate the matter. Tel is a pale, scared shitless virgin and he's never thought much about anything except his job. He hasn't had time, or rather, he's not made time for such intimacies, even so simple as a holding of hands. And until an hour and a half ago, he had simply battled some distant feelings that arose now and again when he least expected them. But this time, with those eyes set upon his, his heart dies in his chest, his words turn to dust in his mouth, and his veins constrict around one another, turning to screaming bullet trains, paining his muscles and making him suddenly aware of the warmth that is threatening to pool in his stomach and between his legs.

Eyes... staring into his, humor in them, but something more.. something deeper.. something powerful.. as he's taken by this force above him, brought so close to completion, power, he was powerless and the man had had it all, had all the power and oddly, he hadn't felt afraid. No - it was a relief, to give up himself to the strength that was snatching him from sobriety and drawing him into madness... he'd forgotten that it was the captain, he'd forgotten anything but the intense pleasure.. everything but.. but..

Alarms? What the hell?

The dream ricochets off the inside of his skull and he turns, rubbing his arms and trying to retain sanity, to find where he was going to leave off. "Uhh.. sir.. I.. I only meant to say that, I know you're not the man who is calling all of the shots, but all of the men, those on the ground and those on the ship, look up to you sir. They follow you when they know the rest are corrupt. You can't give up now. So much depends on you." He doesn't think of how it might pain Privyn to hear that. Because in his eyes, Privyn is a god, stronger than man should ever be.

Was that the reason for the dreams? Dammit! He hasn't time to think about things like that.

Yes... So much is depending on the captain. Privyn wishes it wasn't. He wishes he hadn't become a part of all of this. He wishes for so many things. But even when he doesn't want to be strong, he has to be; he sighs again, closing his eyes a long moment, nibbling on his bottom lip in such a way that makes him look... Sensual. Utterly sensual.

But right now. Those words don't matter. Until he can get this ship back up to speed and get that weapon down on that rock, their hands are tied.

"All I want to know is why the government is doing this. Why they feel they have a right to take half of what we've worked for without paying for it like everyone else who wanted what we found has. Why do they just... Damn it." Privyn sighs and moves from the window shaking his head sadly, really wanting to stop talking about this. But wondering what else he -could- talk to Tel about. He doesn't really want to use his mouth for talking anyway. Not that kind of talking. He stays silent for a long moment. Not saying a word. There was nothing left to say on the subject. he merely paces around the room, returning to Tel's side at the window, but closer. So much closer than he was before. Feeling this precious heat. A heat he's been longing to feel... Tel's heat.

Tel doesn't mind the silence. It's comforting in a way, to stand there, staring out at the stars that are too far to drift by visually, but to know that they are moving and rotating and that each day will be one day closer to.. to.. what?

He's back where he'd thought he didn't want to be. Privyn. The man was confusing. Hard as nails, tougher than shit.. and crazy to boot, sicking his boys on Howie like that. But like he'd said, he thought it was better than dying and some of his men had needed the break, if Tel was honest with himself. It was the way of ships. They were fucking nuts most of the time. And it all came down to what you could do when you had an enemy boat coming around. And this was one of the best damn crews in the known universe. Tel had seen it plenty, he knew it. And he felt badly for the governmental forces going against them. it really was only a matter of time. If they could hold out and could oust the more hurtful powers when the time came, maybe even put Privyn into the places that they'd taken? There were other good men like him, men strong enough to make the hard decisions and not get caught up in their emotions like Teledar so often did. Like he was now.

"Wha-" Tel begins, turning to where he feels Privyn come up behind him, close enough to feel the heat on his chest.

And like that, he's arrested, frozen in time. His eyes wide, he's caught in the burning gaze that stares down at him. What was that? Lust? Damn... or something.. something carnal and intense and powerful.. so damn powerful that Tel feels insignificant in comparison. He opens his mouth, meaning to ask.. but finding it hard to breathe.

"You're warm," the captain says absently, taking in a deep breath, and suddenly hit with Tel's scent.

Tel wasn't a man lover. He wasn't any lover at all. He was a fucking soldier, one way or another and he'd done things that made most people cringe. Warm? He felt hot... hotter than hot. If Privyn touched him, he'd go up in flames.

Privyn is drowning. Fast. The world is speeding up and he steps closer because Tel is the only thing keeping his feet on the ground right now. Arms are reaching around the slim waist, pulling. Aching to have that body closer.

That smell. How heavenly and sweet, and heavy. It smells like want and man and sex and desire - or maybe the captain only wants it to smell like that. Maybe he only wants Tel to want him.

And then...

The mouth finds another mouth and melds itself there. Deeply and as passionately as Privyn dares. A tongue is searching desperately for the other and then dancing, warring with it. A moan is spilling out of that mouth capturing the other. Tel's mouth. The sweetest he's ever had. What has he to lose? What is he to do now that the chain reaction has started?

Teledar finds himself turning weaker than jelly, his knees knock together and he almost falls, when he's suddenly clasped in arms so strong.. and in an instant, fireworks explode in his head because a mouth has cut off all thought, all speech, and a tongue is coaxing his.

A moan, gutteral, a whimper twined around it.. and shaking, his arms lift without thought, to tangle into long hair along his leader's back, soft fine hairs only he can't be aware of anything because time has ceased... completely ceased, stolen from him by the touch of lips and a strong body against his own.

So much. It's too much for the captain, almost. To kiss this boy he's been longing for since he's been aboard this ship. And he can't believe this is real. That Tel is actually kissing him back. That Tel is giving into him. Into Privyn's mouth. This mouth that wants more. More and more and more. He pulls the body closer and kisses deeper, pushing Tel against the window. He wanted to let his Lieutenant feel him... truly feel with this is doing to him. How it's rocking his world.

It's an eternity. It has to be because he's afraid That if he stops now that it will be gone forever, that he will never get this chance again. That Tell will never allow this again. He doesn't want that to happen.

But the kiss breaks and when it does a finger comes and hushes lips that would speak. He doesn't want Tel to talk. He doesn't want a protest. All Privyn wants right now is to please Tel. Please him until all that boy knows is pleasure. All he knows is that Privyn is dying inside without knowing Tel from head to toe a thousand times over.

Tel is burning, his entire body on fire. He's limp in Privyn's arms, limp and weak as a newborn kitten. Leaning back against the window, not even able to think of how he might be glad that it's space glass and can't break under the pressure of such a slight weight, nor notice the stars flowing past him, because right now all he's seeing is stars. Lips on his, breath mingling with his, until he isn't sure if he's not just breathing air the captain has breathed before him, sharing the same breath.

And he's left dazed, a finger to his swollen lips is no different from the kisses and he sighs, parting his lips to suckle the end of the finger, his lust filled gaze half shuddered with lids falling down. All he knows is gone. There is nothing to guide him but want and desire and the pure unadulterated lust for that which presses has pressed against him.

Into those eyes Privyn stares again and he lets his free hand slide slowly, oh so slowly down the boy's chest and belly and down in between his legs, dying to know what he's done to this beautiful, beautiful boy.

Head falling back against the glass, Tel pants his need, forgetting the finger in his lips, forgetting everything but the slow trail of fingers down his aching body to that which aches more than all of the rest put together.

"Beautiful..." whispered because Privyn's voice has left him. Even as he has stolen away Tel's strength, Tel is slowly confiscating the captain's as well. In everything, Tel has become more that Privyn could have possibly dreamed of. Much more. And the want in him is now going far beyond everything he's felt for anyone.

Feeling heaven. Sweet heaven. Fire and steel there. Tel is throbbing like the pulse of the universe and Privyn knows Tel needs so, so badly. The full of his hand caresses this need, cups up squeezes it lightly and then a little harder unable to help the purr coming out of his mouth like prayers.

"Gnnahh!" Tel's knees buckle as the fingers caress and then fold over the bottom of his testes and his arms, shaking as if they were going to break, cling weakly to the body against his own. In some foreign part of his brain, he knows it is his captain that holds him and that is the very thing that leaves him without defense. The nearness of the dream, unfulfilled... it's as if he's entering it all over again. A gasp, a breath, he moans and it is all he can do, but there's a pleading to his hands as he clutches Privyn's jacket and drags him closer, wanting the body against his own, afraid somehow, somewhere, that he'll be left alone, without that strength, without that power to overtake him and make him someone else's... make him...

"Anh!" a cry as the fingers tighten and Tel groans deep in his throat, arching his back and thrusting himself into Privyn's hand in a bid for more.

The cries. The way Tel calls out. It hurts. It's lusciously painful to the captain's body - he groans upon hearing Tel scream and he stops his torment, but only to drop to his knees like a slave before his master, leaning in and wrapping his lips around the hidden treasures, mouthing the secrets best he could, and then licking at it. Teasing his lover, he has to know if Tel really and truly wants him. He has to make sure inhibitions are gone before he goes any deeper than this.

If at any time, Tel had had an opportunity to say no to the proceedings, it was stolen from him by the simple gasps and touches upon his body. Fire, each one, they tear apart his soul and he grips the window ledge, leaning back so that the back of his head, his bare shoulders, his naked skin, press to the chilled surface. A blazing inferno before. When had he lost his shirt? Does he even know it's gone? No - he sighs, opening his eyes to look for his captain, something in his mind shouting to him to say no. To push the man away. He stares, finding no one, then ventures a look downward and groans at what he sees. His lips part, meaning to speak, when the hot warmth of a mouth presses to the fabric of his pants. "Ah... ah... l-lady sweet... of... heaven... shit.." words that mean nothing for there is truly nothing left. Not to him, no longer. "Gods!" a cry, he bucks heavily in toward Privyn's mouth and groans in pure pain. The ache is so much! Never in his dreams... and how many dreams had he had? Only the one?

No - now that he is here, he knows he's had this dream time and time again, maybe even before he ever joined the ship. To be made another's in this way. He does not know how or where, only that somehow, he'll be overcome and he'll accept his captor, his victor. His walls breaking, crumbling, one by one.

Privyn's longing for Tel. His undying, unrelenting need for this one man has him looking up, hands reach, sliding, searching for fasteners and buttons; grabbing, ripping at them, uncaring for where they fly or land. Only knowing the delight of skin so hot and so soft and so damned beautiful as he tugs the garment away.

"So beautiful. More than any dream could possibly portray," more whispers as Privyn's eyes gaze at the lovely skin, hands settled on Tel's slim hips as if they were meant to be there. Privyn groans softly and leans in, his tongue swirling along Tel's nakedness, what he could reach from his knees, anyway. The captain had a thing for navels. He didn't know why, but Tel's was beyond sexy to him as he dipped his eager tongue into the small indent, tickling it lightly.

He's on his feet as his tongue travels upwards now. More desperately as it finds the swollen pink nipples. His hands have moved from hips to work on getting the pants away now and as before, he is impatient with the belt and fasteners and merely tears away what he will until Tel is totally naked before him.

Only then does he pull away. To feast his eyes on his dream. His fantasy. Eyes swivel lusciously over every inch, leaving not one part of Tel untouched by his haunting eyes. Priyvn licks his lips slowly, the look on his face that of a hungry wolf about to attack its prey.

A complaint surely would have come when those fingers go to his belt fastenings. He gasps, eyes opening wide as he moans in a negatory, unable to say the words, unable to put his tongue to any better use than to cry out his need, but somewhere in there, he wants to tell the captain that it is not a dream, this is not real. He can't be doing this. It's wrong! So so very...

But so good! Heat surrounds his nipples, they rise into golden pink pebbles under the lips and tongue laving across their tops. He bites down so hard that he breaks the skin on the inside of his mouth, and blood floods his tongue, the iron taste ignored for the peak that is reached, then backed away from. "NNNNnnnggggh!" a bit back cry and passion tears at his face, takes the mask away until he is nothing more than a beautiful prize to be had, his eyes closed, mouth parted with the pink of his tongue dusting over his lips. He collapses then, into Privyn's arms, unable to hold himself up any longer, arms too weak to hold him even in the sudden pull of mouth to his nipples again. It had been there. One more moment. And he would have arrived, he can feel it, wherever he is being taken, this incredible force that threatens to overtake him, he would have arrived had Privyn only suckled a moment longer. His cock so swollen he feels it would simply explode. A whimper of pleasure and base need as he shoves his hips upwards, close, wanting to push ... push...

Skin hot, he can feel everything against the weeping end of his heat. Something rough, fabric, sensation, he wants... more.. but he can only cry like a child, his eyes filling with tears at finding it too far away.

Oh, what would it be like to make Tel explode? Privyn had dreamed about that the most. He's had vision in his wake as well, with Tel standing before him.

Visions of Tel draped on sheets of white satin and red rose petals arms and legs bound in silk wrappings, skin so sweet and milky and his gorgeous need; beautiful and thick and aching there, right there, only seconds from reaching it's peak.And as if it were magic, he screams and it is as if it were an angel were crying, weeping in joy and bliss. That face. That gorgeous face becoming even more so as rapture takes him away. And that beautiful need crying its release, its exquisite love.

Privyn's about to lose his mind as Tel falls against him... The tension... The need in the both of them is just too great. Their song has gone unsung for too long. Yes, it is wrong. No, they should not be doing this, for obvious and not so obvious reasons, but he doesn't care. Privyn can't care. He wants too much. Wants Tel too much.

His lover needs so badly. He feels it, he can nearly taste it. Pulling the boy closer, the captain guides them both to the desk and the captain haphazardly pushes reports to the floor uncaring, before lifting his Lieutenant from the floor and placing him there on the desk, immediately taking hold of Tel's lovely need, sweet and hot and so slick to the touch. He growls hungrily and takes that sweet mouth as well, his hand firm against Tel's cock, stroking up and down the aching length, longing. Ooooh, sweet gods, longing to know what it would feel like inside of him. Something this big and this wonderful. Privyn's intent on making every fantasy he's ever had of Tel a reality. No matter how long it takes him. He works that long with a definite rhythm now, hard and tight, so, so turned on by the evidence of lust beading at the cap. His own lust growing, filling his pants, aching, gods, burning for this boy, for what he's about to give him. His mouth journeys back to the swollen jewels nestled on Tel's chest, devouring the beauties like a dying man without water.

"Come for me, Tel... Please... I want... to see you..."

In a haze, Tel can feel himself lifted, his skin rasping against the fully dressed body, but sensing just as well the form of muscle and the thick cords of tendons on the insides of his lover's arms. He moans, turning, wanting sensation, seeking it as a blind man seeks shelter.

A flutter, a crash, he can hear the papers fall to the ground, and he's gasping, being laid upon the cold desk, his back arching away from it, but also toward the sensation of touch on his skin. "ahhh.. yess..." a whisper, he sighs, heads thrown back, fingers seeking and finding the long blonde hair of his ... his...

No, he doesn't know any more. It's simply the touch of hair, skin to his, the rasp of trousers against the insides of his calves as he reaches out with his legs to draw that body closer, and the sudden enveloping of his lust, callused hands brushing along his length, a thumb running under the cap where the nerves bundle up and flare.

His neck muscles strain with the pressure and he clamps his jaws closed tightly, not ready yet to scream, pushing instead toward that goal that he'd been held from just a moment before, against the window. A rhythm set that his hips take up, pushing up into that rough touch, the sound of harsh breathing in his ear, not his own, but another's. Whose?

Does it matter? He gasps, eyes widening and suddenly open, building deep inside of himself, something coiling, waiting to strike, when, swifter than a snake, a mouth descends upon the dusky point on his chest and like a brand, pleasure so intense that it drags a half shout from him, shoots through his body, down his arms and legs, dancing back as if they were bullets off of a titanium plate, and slamming into his gut.

He comes as if he had been holding this in for years, his scream a harsh sound, animalistic and pure desire, his body tensing and arching upwards like a bow as his instincts take over and he shoves himself into that palm which covers him, shooting his seed over his own chest and the white fabric on his captain's jacket. A second cry, softer, more languorous and his abdomen trembles again, more of the white liquid falling out in a long line against his belly, again.. he sighs as his entire frame falls into silence, shuddering as the last of his orgasm rocks through him, leaving him limp and helpless.

A banging on the door and a voice calling out rouses him like a shot. "SIR?" muffled through the door. "Captain Privyn! Are you okay?"

Teledar's brain muzzily searches for what those words mean and a split second later make the connection. He stares down, seeing Privyn's hand around his sex, the hungry gaze in those unsatisfied eyes, and notices instantly that his body is cold and hot, hot from the act, but cold as the sweat on his skin dries - but more importantly, because he's naked.

Shame hits him as hard as a two by four in the brain and he scrambles back, pulling away from his leader, his face pale and his eyes wide. "Fuck.." he whispers as he turns his head to stare at the door, expecting it to open and someone to find.. to find...

Him. Sitting on the captain's desk. His entire body nude and covered in his own semen, his legs... spread wide, for even now, unconsciously he realizes he's held them slightly apart, and looking like he's just been... been fucked.

"Ah fuck.." he moans, his entire body tense.

How is it possible to absolutely exceed a dream? When Privyn's lover explodes, it's like watching a star coming into existence. More beautiful than anything in this world. He groans loudly at the sound of Tel's rapture. Those screams again! Gods! Enough to drive a man totally insane. He continues stroking that sweet cock watching the floor of liquid pleasure and reveling in the fact the he brought this out of Tel.

But as any -good- thing...

It has to be interrupted by fucking morons!!

"Sir? Captain?" a second voice joins the first.

Tel scrambles off of the desk, turns and dives into the head off to the left, a private bathroom for the captain. The door closed, he realizes suddenly, he forgot his clothing. "fuck!" he mutters grimly and holds hard onto to the door knob.

Listening to the guards outside his door, Privyn closes his eyes in total defeat. Damn it. Damn it!!! The spell is broken. Totally broken. Tel will be on his guard from now on in and he will never see his fantasies come to reality.

He opens his eyes to see poor Tel scrambling away, forgetting his clothing in his fear.

"I'm fine!" He screams back from behind the door, growling and opening the bathroom door and tossing Tel's clothes in before closing it quietly as possible.

"Jesus Christ! I'm masturbating! Do you fucking mind?!" he growls walking up to the door and kicking it, letting them know just how pissed off he is for the interruption.

The men stand staring at their captain's door and then one, a taller man by the name of Idlea, turns bright red while the shorter man, stocky and built like a tank, stares and then averts his eyes from just the idea of it all. "Umm.. sorry sir.." Idlea's voice calls out and both turn and rush back to their posts.

"Yeah." Privyn groans quietly as the guards go away and he looks over to the bathroom, feeling his heart and soul sink into this bottomless pit of loneliness...

"Tel."

Inside the bathroom, Tel stares at the mess of his clothing on the floor. In the silence that follows, he turns and with a soft click of the lock, locks the door to the head. He goes to the sink, running the water and bending over, pushing his head under it, pressing water to his burning face.

Shit. What the hell had that all been? What the fuck indeed?

Rubbing some cool water on the back of his neck, he straightens, feeling a drop of moisture trail comfortingly down his spine as he turns and gathers up his clothing. He stares down at it, rifles through it, then unlocks the door and opens it a crack. "My umm..." and a hand, long and slender, on the end of a muscular forearm, points to a small bundle of white on the floor near the desk.

His briefs.

Tel was so beautiful. The memory replays in the captain's mind over and over and he almost doesn't hear Tel when he asks for his underwear. His mood is ruined. His life is ruined. His world is fucking ruined the way he sees it and he sighs in his defeat, picking up the underwear from the floor, and walking them over to the bathroom, feeling them snatched away from him and the door slammed shut.

Tel hates him. That's what his mind is saying right now; he goes about picking up the scattered papers from the floor, righting them and setting them in front of his chair before walking back to that fateful window, looking blankly out at the stars. He felt so alone now. So ashamed as well. he shouldn't have done what he did. He knows it.

But...

Why did it feel so right, then?

Lt. Teledar Livindian waits. But when it's obvious that the captain isn't leaving the room, he takes a deep breath, opens the door, and ventures out into the bridge room. His face pale, he refuses to stare at his captain. He needs the comfort of protocol, but he's unsure he wants to hear his captain's voice just yet. Not when the last thing he can remember hearing Privyn say was to beg him to come. The vestiges of lust which he'd cleansed off his body before he'd left, but could still feel, still found lingering in his nostrils. The room smells like sex.

He stops at the door leading to the bridge and then softly, "I'll see to the prisoner, sir. I will... ah... brief you later on the situation."

Brief him later, mainly, later after Tel has had a chance to get his head on straight. Shit.. what the hell had happened? It wasn't as if he could do anything about it either. They were in a disabled ship, miles and miles from the surface, a surface that was not habitable, and he was under command. There is nothing he can say, and the darkness of confusion and dismaying shame hangs over him as he lets the door close behind him and steps out into the corridor.

He salutes Idlea who is walking past and has given him a salute and he misses the look the man gives him a moment after, turning to watch his stiff back stalk down the hallway and turn.

Idlea rubs his head in curiosity. Wasn't it.. just a moment ago that their captain.. had.. umm...

Oh well.

((next chapter: Privyn considers the needs of the miners and tries to keep his mind off of his lieutenant))