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In Hot Water Again

By Skazitelnitsky

"You look like you're going to an execution," Sulu said softly as they walked down the grassy path to bathhouse, "and that you think it might be yours."

"I didn't think I was going to have to do this," Chekov grumbled quietly in reply.

In preparing for this mission to assist the Amgerians in upgrading the array of navigational beacons they maintained for their system, the two Enterprise officers had been fully briefed on local cultural practices. Chekov had seemed taken aback upon discovering that the local bathhouse here served much the same function as a local bar might on Earth.

"It's no big deal." Sulu couldn't understand why he was so distraught. Assuring the ensign that the baths were strictly segregated by gender hadn't helped.

To allay his fears, the lieutenant had downplayed the possibility that they would be asked to visit one. However, as soon as they'd arrived at the Amgerian instillation and been greeted by the cheerful and friendly group of technicians they were to work with, Sulu knew it would be a matter of when rather than if. The lieutenant deflected offers as long as he could, but finally had to give in rather than be the cause of a needless intercultural incident.

Sulu wished the Amgerians hadn't been so insistent that Chekov come as well. It was the local equivalent of a Friday afternoon. The sun was shining, the technicians were chattering happily among themselves as they escorted their guests down the well-worn path. Everyone was in a party mood.

Everyone except Chekov.

"You've done this before," he said in a tone that was quietly accusing.

"Sure." Sulu knew Chekov was assuming this was because he was Asian. "Nobody pays any attention to anyone else."

"Theoretically." The ensign looked around to confirm no one was listening. "However, the records did note that some of these establishments... have unsavory reputations."

Sulu almost laughed at his prudishness. "You don't think any of our host have designs on us, do you?"

Chekov looked down his nose at a pair of male technicians walking arm in arm. "I wouldn't know."

"Oh, yes you would," the lieutenant rebutted. "You know when a woman's attracted to you... even if you aren't attracted to her."

Chekov made a noise that seemed to admit only grudging agreement. His pace began to slow as the public bath came into sight. "Under normal circumstances, everyone ignores each other," he argued, "but we're aliens."

Sulu conceded the point with a shrug. "So we might get stared at. That's not going to kill you, is it?"

Chekov looked over at one of the Amgerians and lowered his voice. "What about Drianiv?"

"You think he's attracted to you?"

"He smiles a lot."

"Well... I wouldn't jump to any conclusions. But even if he does like you, you can handle the situation, right? You're up to speed on the culture. You're both adults. You should be able to resolve any misunderstandings, right?"

Chekov frowned. "They're a very tactile people."

"Stick close to me and you'll be fine."

The bath house was a large one-story building that stood in a grove of trees. No roads led here, but well-beaten footpaths led to the establishment from every direction. The building itself was constructed of unpainted blonde wood that looked and even smelled a little like pine.

Drianiv, the smiley technician, took Sulu by the arm as they approached the entrance.

"You no pay," he insisted in his thick Amgerian accent. "You guests."

"Thank you," the lieutenant said as the technician handed the door attendant his credit voucher. "We really appreciate this."

Drianiv handed them both a stack of towels and a robe made of an unbleached material with a thick, furry nap. He guided them away from the main entrance and towards a quiet corridor. "Since your friend, he so shy," the Amgerian explained, pinching Chekov's cheek. "We get you a private bath to start. Just two of you. Yes? Yes?"

"Thank you. That's very considerate," Sulu said as the technician unlocked a door. Behind his back, the lieutenant indicated that Chekov should follow suit.

"Yes. Thank you," the Russian said, more dutifully than enthusiastically.

Drianiv pulled cords that drew back the shade over the little room's skylight, then slid the cover off the bubbling sunken pool. "Funny bodies... Whatever," he was saying cheerfully. "No one look at you here. Yes? Yes?"

Sulu nodded and smiled. "Very considerate. Drianiv, you are a good host."

"No, no," the Amgerian demurred. "We all decide."

"Thank you," the lieutenant said sincerely, hoping to offset the way Chekov rolled his eyes at this.

"First bath. Then you join us for massage." The technician put his arms around both of the Enterprise officers' shoulders. "Yes? Yes?"

"Sure," Sulu agreed.

"Lovely," the ensign commented dryly.

"He so shy!" Drianiv scolded, pinching Chekov's cheek again before releasing them both with a hearty pat on the back. "You relax him good. Yes? Yes?"

"I'll try," Sulu promised without much hope of success.

"I wish he wouldn't do that," the Russian said, rubbing his face as the door closed behind the Amgerian.

"You deserve it," the lieutenant said, pulling off his tunic. "You're being a baby."

Chekov crossed his arms stubbornly. "I am not."

"You are too," Sulu said, playfully tossing his shirt at the ensign.

"No," the navigator said, looking a bit shocked as he dodged the garment. "I'm not."

"Are too. Are too." The lieutenant punctuated each insistence by throwing first his undershirt then his pants at his uncooperative colleague.

"No, I'm not." Chekov managed to dodge the t-shirt, but the pants hit him square on. "Not the boots!" he insisted pre-emptively.

Sulu threw his underwear at him instead.

"You're as bad as they are, you know," the ensign accused as the helmsman lowered himself into the warm water.

Sulu grinned and splashed at him. "Am not."

"Yes," the Russian insisted humorlessly. "You are."

"Am not. Am not. Am not." The lieutenant accompanied each rebuttal with its own splash, increasing the strength and range of each. "Am-not-am-not-am-not-am-not..." he repeated rapidly, winding up for a final, giant coup de grace splash. "Am not times infinity!"

Chekov was drenched. "Was that necessary?" he asked, sounding as unimpressed as he was unamused.

"You are pretty wet now," Sulu pointed out practically. "So you might as well get in the tub."

The ensign released a breath through his nose and bent to remove his boots. The lieutenant settled into one of the built-in seats in the bath and let the warm water bubble over him.

Chekov paused before removing his undershirt. "You're going to watch me?"

"Oh, yeah." Sulu crossed his arms behind his head and let himself sink in up to the neck. "After the way you've been acting, I figure you've got something pretty spectacular you're trying to hide."

The ensign made a noise of mingled disgust and impatience as he turned his back.

It turned out he was hiding nothing more than a trim, well-muscled body with broad shoulders, narrow hips, and nicely shaped legs... which was pretty spectacular in its own way to the lieutenant. Sulu was suddenly glad of the discreet covering of bubbles.

"It's hot," the Russian complained as he stepped into the bath.

"No," the lieutenant said, as the ensign eased himself into a place opposite him. "It's just right."

Sulu could not for the life of him fathom how the ensign could manage to look so stiff while soaking in a perfectly luxuriant hot bath.

"What now?" Chekov asked, uncomfortably.

"Well," the lieutenant said, pausing to gather two heta rocks as he slid over to the seat by the ensign. "As the old saying goes, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."

The navigator blinked at him.

"Must not be an old Russian saying," Sulu said, turning the ensign so his back was to him. The heta rocks felt like sponges, but were actually porous stones. The Amgerians of the region used them instead of soap. "You are so tense," he commented as he rubbed the heta over the ensign's tight shoulders. "This is really bothering you, isn't it?"

"No, I'm just being a baby," Chekov replied peevishly.

"Your turn, baby," Sulu said, handing over the stone turning his back.

The navigator hesitated for a moment, then gingerly applied the rock to his helm partner's shoulders.

"Go ahead," the lieutenant encouraged. "Bear down on it. It feels good."

The ensign sighed and began to labor at his task in earnest.

After a moment, Sulu felt something unexpected nudge him in the lower back. "Chekov?"

The navigator froze. "Oh, God.." he mumbled. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," the helmsman said. "I just wanted to be sure that was you."

When the ensign didn't move or speak, Sulu turned. The Russian's cheeks had gone bright red and he couldn't meet the lieutenant's eyes.

"Hey." The helmsman put a reassuring hand on his partner's arm. "It's okay. Don't get embarrassed."

The ensign still couldn't seem to speak. He opened his mouth abortively then shook his head.

Sulu looked at him. "Is this the reason why you didn't want to come here?" he guessed gently.

The ensign nodded. "For some reason, I've always found the thought of men bathing together incredibly erotic," he confessed, miserably hanging his head. "I'm sorry if I've offended you."

"Oh, no. Of course not. Hey.." He lifted the Russian's chin. "I feel that way too."

Chekov blinked his very round brown eyes at him. "Really?"

"Oh, yeah," Sulu assured him. "Big time."

"Of course," the ensign said carefully. "I'm not.... I'm not... trying to... suggest anything improper."

The lieutenant patted him on the shoulder supportively. "Understood, pal."

Chekov released a long breath. "I am very relieved that you are being so understanding..."

"Forget it. Don't mention it," Sulu said, then shrugged. "Unless, of course, you decide you want to fool around or something."

"No!" the ensign said quickly.

"Okay, buddy," the lieutenant agreed amiably, turning around and once more offering his back to the navigator. "Your call."

"I'm glad it's all understood then," Chekov said, shakily taking the stone back into his hand and rubbing it against the helmsman's shoulders.

They were quiet for several moments.

"What does it mean, 'fool around'?" Chekov asked, breaking the silence.

"Well, just relaxing, playing... This sort of thing." By way of demonstration, Sulu began to massage the inside of the ensign's thigh. "Not sex, per se."

"Oh." Chekov had to clear his throat. "Not sex, then?"

The lieutenant shrugged. "Not per se."

"Oh..." The ensign's voice trailed off as the lieutenant's hand worked its way upwards. "I suppose there's nothing wrong with that, then...."

"Nothing wrong with that at all," Sulu agreed, putting both hands behind him to massage the stiffened flesh between the navigator's thighs.

The Russian bit down on a groan.

"Just relax."

"I'm trying..."

After a moment, Chekov put the heta rock down and pulled away. "I'm getting hot."

"Yeah?" The lieutenant grinned.

"No, I mean the water. It's too warm." The ensign rose and stepped out of the pool. "I'm getting light-headed."

"Well, here," The helmsman reached a dripping arm out of the sunken tub and grabbed a long towel. He spread it by the side of the pool. "Just lay down for a minute."

Chekov was wrapping himself in another towel. "Well," he said hesitantly, "if you think I should.."

"Sure." Sulu patted the cloth. "Don't want to faint, do you?"

"No..." the ensign agreed guardedly, laying down on his back.

"That's better, isn't it?" Sulu said, patting him dry using a corner of towel. Even underneath the wrapping, the ensign's erection was still very much in evidence.

"Mmm," the navigator agreed noncommittally.

Sulu started at his ankle, making small circular patterns with his tongue as he travelled slowly upwards. The ensign remained very still. The lieutenant gave him a playful nip on the knee. When this drew no protest, he began to nibble up the navigator's thigh -- first on the outside, but carefully working his way to the inner thigh.

As the ensign moaned and stretched, his leg rolled so that more of his inner thigh was exposed. Coincidentally, his movement caused the hastily wrapped towel to drop from his waist in an enchantingly casual manner. Sulu moved his tongue to minister to the sensitive area that was now exposed.

Chekov took in a sharp breath as the helmsman's mouth engulfed him. One of his hands wrapped itself in Sulu's damp black hair as it tickled at his stomach. He arched upward sharply when a slender finger found its way inside him. The steady licking and teasing continued unabated.

"Oh my..." he rasped, his grasp tightening as the licking became sucking, the incredible mouth moving progressively deeper and deeper.

At what he judged to be the proper interval, Sulu added a second finger. He felt the man beneath him shiver -- but not from any chill. He increased his tempo and soon his partner was thrusting upwards uncontrollably.

Although it hardly seemed probable, the steamy little room seemed to be getting hotter by the moment. Chekov was swallowing convulsively, trying to restrain himself. The lieutenant decided that was unacceptable. To speed the inevitable, he swirled his tongue around the base of the ensign's erection. The navigator didn't climax, however until the third finger was inserted.

"Now that was fun, wasn't it?" Sulu asked -- quite rhetorically since his partner was obviously incapable of coherent speech at the moment. While the navigator shuddered and gasped, the helmsman licked him clean and pulsed the fingers inside him.

Chekov's back arched to an impossible angle, but his hand remained tangled in the lieutenant's hair. This provided more than sufficient motivation for the helmsman to rise out of the bath. His plans were taking him in that direction anyway. His partner began to make whimpering noises as he licked small circles around his navel.

The lieutenant shifted position until he was kneeling between the navigator's legs. Putting those well-shaped calves up onto his shoulders, he placed himself carefully at the entrance to the younger man's body. Sulu liked this particular position for lovemaking primarily because it allowed him to see the other person's face. Chekov's features were flushed. His eyes were closed and he was biting his lower lip. The lieutenant penetrated him gently, taking it slow.

The ensign's full mouth formed a silent "oh" as the lieutenant rocked steadily deeper into his body. Sulu bent carefully forward, pleased that his partner proved limber enough that the tops of his thighs could be pressed to his chest. The lieutenant drew close enough to lick the ensign's parted lips. The navigator lifted his chin so that he could be kissed. The helmsman obliged him, claiming his lips as greedily as he was claiming the rest of the ensign's body.

He had intended to take it slow, but when Sulu felt the ensign began to harden once more against his stomach, his planning began to go awry. His thrust became faster and less restrained as the signs of his partner's renewed arousal grew. His breath started coming in shortened puffs through his nostrils as Chekov's tongue pushed past his teeth.

His hand found the hardness between the ensign's thighs and began to pump, quickly bring them both to the same level. The heat between them was rapidly becoming almost intolerable. Sweat beaded on their pulsing bodies. It dropped from Sulu's face onto Chekov, who eagerly licked rivulets off the helmsman's cheeks.

The first tremors of orgasm stole the lieutenant's breath, causing him to gasp. The ensign clenched beneath him as the hot flood poured into him. Sulu's hand tightened uncontrollably on the hard shaft beneath his fingers. Spatters of the ensign's climax hit their stomachs and chests.

Sulu watched the navigator's face as he came, shuddering in silent agony-ecstasy. That was stimulus enough to cause a final ecstatic tremor to course through him.

They held each other for a moment as they heaved for air. The lieutenant finally collapsed on his partner's chest, exhausted and shaking. He rolled off the ensign and onto the cool bare floor. After resting a minute, he reached for a warm, slightly damp, clean towel. Still breathing heavily, he propped himself up on one elbow and began to dry the ensign's still trembling form.

He smiled as his partner's eyes finally opened. "How was that? Are you okay?"

Chekov wiped at his eyes as he stretched and yawned. He looked about him blearily as if completely disoriented. "So.." he said, finally fixing on the helmsman's face. "That was just 'fooling around'? Not sex?"

"Well..." the lieutenant admitted grudgingly, "we might have... segued into sex for a little while there. Sorry."

"No, it's all right." The navigator reached out and patted his hand wearily. "I definitely think I now fully understand my feelings about same-sex bathing. It is quite erotic."

"Oh, yeah." The lieutenant grinned before gently kissing him on the forehead. "Big time."

"You boys relax now?" The door burst open to admit the grinning Amgerian. "Yes? Yes?"

"Yes on both counts," Sulu agreed, as the ensign groaned and hastily wrapped a towel around himself.

"Good!" Drianiv helped each officer to his feet and into a clean robe. "Time for massage now. Yes? Yes?"

"Do you have strong feelings about same-sex massage, Chekov?" Sulu asked, tying his robe.

The ensign shrugged. "Not yet."

"Massage very good. Very relax," the Amgerian informed them enthusiastically. "Get you ready for group sex quick, quick!"

The two Enterprise officers froze and exchanged a glance.

"Boshe moi!" Chekov breathed. "Away missions are hell!"