New Fic: Grin and Bear It

[jackwabbit]

Grin and Bear It

Fandom: Star Trek Discovery
Rated: G
Category: Culmets. RickyVerse. Fluff. Humor. Love. Pride.
Word Count: 818
Time Frame: Post Season Three. Ish?
Spoilers: General Series Knowledge Only – Through Season Three.
Summary: Hugh is talked into something he doesn’t want to do – but maybe it’s not so bad after all.
Note: Another Ricky story, because I just can’t help myself. Also, this one was written in April, apparently, but because Ricky stories are mostly pre-written to be posted weekly, and because I'm trying to alternate happy and sad ones, it sat until now. I think that works rather well. Happy Pride, people. <3

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Hugh sits on the couch, arms crossed over his chest, and gives Paul a look.

Paul sighs. It’s the sigh of a man who has had the same argument a hundred times.

“Hugh, we promised Tilly.”

Paul’s words are met with only a glare from the couch.

“And Adira is really excited too.”

Hugh rolls his eyes and sighs.

“That’s a low blow, Paul.”

“But it’s true. They’ll be devastated if we don’t go.”

Hugh sets aside his PADD and stands, clearly frustrated.

“Fine. I’ll go. But I’m not dressing up.”

“It’s a retro party, Hugh!”

“Will my thousand-year-old uniform suffice?”

Now it’s Paul’s turn to glare at Hugh.

“No. It will not. I’m wearing this,” says Paul gesturing to a pantsuit with a rainbow cape. “You could at least put some effort into this.”

Hugh gapes at Paul and his outfit. “Did you eat some Stella before you came home?”

Paul chuckles. “No. Adira picked it.” He shrugs a little and gives a slight eye roll of his own.

“Well, that explains it,” says Hugh. “I suppose they’ve picked out my clothes, too?”

“No,” answers Paul. “I think they trust you more than me on this, so you’re on your own.”

Hugh scoffs. “Their mistake. I don’t have a clue what to wear to something like this.”

“Use your imagination, Hugh.”

“That’s more your area than mine.”

Paul raises his eyebrows. “Is that permission to dress you?”

Hugh waves a hand dismissively at Paul. “You know what? Yes. Fine. Whatever. Let’s just get this over with.”

Put on the spot, Paul flounders. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, but he doesn’t say anything. He looks at Hugh, then around the room, then back at Hugh, trying to come up with ideas.

Finally, he sees something over Hugh’s shoulder that apparently gives him an idea. He abruptly stops moving, narrows his eyes in thought, then smiles slowly.

Hugh’s eyes widen at the expression. He gives Paul a wary look.

“What?”

“Nothing,” says Paul, still grinning.

“That’s not a ‘nothing’ look, Paul. What are you thinking?”

Instead of answering, Paul walks across the room and grabs something off the bookshelf behind Hugh.

As Paul turns back around to face Hugh, Hugh sees what he has and his expression grows confused.

“What’s Ricky got to do with this?”

Paul’s grin becomes positively wicked, and Hugh’s eyes go even larger. He shakes his head.

“Oh, no. Not happening.”

“But it was your favorite outfit,” says Paul. “You told me so yourself.”

“Yeah, when I was fifteen.”

“Which means it’s perfect! You can’t get much more retro!”

Hugh continues to shake his head, and Paul starts wheedling him.

“Oh, come on, Hugh. I’ve always wanted to see it in the flesh!”

Hugh gives Paul a look that implies he’s clearly questioning his partner’s sanity, but doesn’t give in.

“No way,” he says.

“Pleeeaaase,” says Paul, drawing out the word and sounding all of ten years old.

When Hugh sees the look on his face, so soft and imploring, he sighs.

“Fine,” he huffs, roughly grabbing the stuffed bear out of Paul’s hands and shoving it in the replicator.

He practically snarls at the machine.

“Computer, scan and replicate this outfit for an adult human male.”

Crew member identification required for sizing.

Hugh takes a very large breath in, then lets it out slowly. This gives Paul time to answer for him.

“Culber, Hugh,” he says, his face the perfect picture of merriment.

Then he kisses Hugh lightly on the cheek and literally prances off to get ready.

Twenty minutes later, Hugh is sitting on the couch again, running his hands over the material of his new outfit (with Ricky right by his side), when Paul steps out of the bathroom wearing his caped creation.

Hugh takes one look at him and bites his lower lip to keep from laughing, then gets up wordlessly to take over the bathroom for himself.

When he emerges a short time later, he’s dressed in his new threads and his hair is perfect.

Paul can’t help but stare at Hugh open-mouthed. As ridiculous as he always thought Ricky’s outfit was, with the purple trousers, multi-colored shirt, and red tuxedo jacket, he has to admit it looks great on Hugh now.

Hugh smirks as he straightens his jacket.

“You know,” he drawls, preening for Paul. “It was my favorite for a reason. I wore it well,” he says.

Paul closes his mouth and swallows. “Apparently, you still do.”

Hugh’s smirk intensifies.

“You’re damn right,” he says, holding out an elbow to Paul. “Now, what’s this about a party?”

Paul doesn’t reply. He just puts his arm through Hugh’s, and they walk out the door together to attend Tilly’s retro pride party, where Paul surprises nearly everyone by dancing with the best of them, and Hugh wears both his outfit and his pride very well indeed.