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English
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Part 5 of Star Trek Femslash Week ‘25
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Star Trek Femslash Week 2025
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Published:
2025-09-07
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948
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1/1
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16
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7
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31

Thermal Regulations

Summary:

The environmental controls are on the fritz and T'Pring knows the best way to warm up is to cuddle her girlfriend.

Notes:

Day 5: Environmental Controls

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

The environmental controls on the Enterprise had been malfunctioning for three days now, and despite Chief Engineer Scott's best efforts, certain sections of the ship remained stubbornly cold. The quarters shared by T'Pring and Nyota Uhura were unfortunately located in one of those sections.

Nyota stirred first, as she usually did, her internal chronometer more reliable than any alarm. The cold air hit her face immediately, and she instinctively burrowed deeper into the warmth beside her. T'Pring's arm tightened around her waist in response, pulling her closer with an urgency that was distinctly un-Vulcan-like.

"Good morning," Nyota whispered, her breath visible in the frigid air of their quarters.

"It is not," T'Pring replied, her voice muffled against Nyota's shoulder. "The ambient temperature has dropped another 2.3 degrees since yesterday evening."

Nyota couldn't help but giggle at her girlfriend's matter-of-fact complaint. T'Pring had been increasingly clingy the past few mornings, though she would never admit to such an emotional response to mere temperature fluctuations. Instead, she rationalized it as "thermal efficiency" and "conservation of body heat."

"We have to get ready for our shifts," Nyota said, though she made no move to leave the cocoon of blankets and Vulcan warmth.

"Negative," T'Pring said firmly, pressing closer. Her typically controlled demeanor had given way to something almost petulant. "You are exceptionally warm this morning, Nyota. It would be... illogical to waste such a valuable heat source."

Nyota's laughter bubbled up again, soft and musical in the quiet of their quarters. She turned in T'Pring's arms to face her, noting how her girlfriend's usually perfect hair was mussed from sleep, dark strands falling across her forehead. Even in the dim lighting, she could see the slight flush on T'Pring's cheeks – whether from cold or embarrassment at her own neediness, Nyota couldn't tell.

"Valuable heat source?" Nyota teased, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to T'Pring's lips. "Is that all I am to you?"

T'Pring's eyes opened fully, meeting Nyota's gaze with that intense stare that never failed to make her heart skip. "You are considerably more than that," she said quietly, her voice taking on the softer tone she reserved only for Nyota. "However, at this moment, your thermal properties are of particular significance."

Another kiss, longer this time, and Nyota felt T'Pring's fingers trace along her spine beneath her sleep shirt. The Vulcan's hands were surprisingly cold, and Nyota shivered.

"See?" T'Pring said with what might have been smugness. "You require warmth as much as I do. It is only logical that we remain here until the environmental systems are repaired."

"T'Pring," Nyota said, trying to inject some authority into her voice and failing miserably as her girlfriend nuzzled her neck, "we have duties. I'm due on the bridge in an hour."

"Fifty-eight minutes," T'Pring corrected, her breath warm against Nyota's skin. "And I have calculated that we require at least forty-five minutes of continued thermal sharing to maintain optimal body temperature for the duration of our respective shifts."

Nyota pulled back to look at her girlfriend's face, seeing the slight upturn at the corner of her mouth that passed for a grin in T'Pring's emotional vocabulary. "You made that up."

"I did not," T'Pring replied with perfect Vulcan composure, though her arms remained firmly wrapped around Nyota. "It is based on sound scientific principles."

"Mmm-hmm." Nyota kissed her again, tasting the lie on her lips and not caring in the least. "And what happens when Captain Kirk asks why his communications officer is late to her shift because her girlfriend didn't want to get out of bed?"

"I will inform him that Vulcans are susceptible to temperature fluctuations and that I required medical attention," T'Pring said seriously. "You were merely being a responsible Starfleet officer by ensuring my well-being."

The absolute ridiculousness of T'Pring. – one of the most disciplined and punctual officers on the ship – using such an excuse made Nyota dissolve into giggles again. She buried her face in T'Pring's neck, feeling the vibrations of her girlfriend's responding chuckle.

"You're terrible," Nyota said, pressing kisses along T'Pring's collarbone. "And we're still getting up in ten minutes."

"Fifteen," T'Pring negotiated, her hands finding the small of Nyota's back and holding her close. "The heating system in the sonic shower is also malfunctioning. We will need additional time to... prepare for the day."

Nyota lifted her head, eyebrow raised. "Together?"

"For thermal efficiency," T'Pring said solemnly, though her eyes were dancing with mischief. "It would be wasteful to heat water for two separate showers."

"Of course," Nyota agreed, settling back into T'Pring's embrace with a contented sigh. "Purely practical."

"Indeed," T'Pring murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Nyota's head. "Although I must admit, even when the environmental controls are repaired, I may continue to find mornings... challenging."

"Oh?" Nyota tilted her head up to meet T'Pring's gaze.

"It appears I have grown accustomed to this particular method of temperature regulation," T'Pring said quietly. "I find myself... reluctant to discontinue the practice."

Nyota's heart warmed despite the cold air around them. It was as close to "I love holding you in the morning" as T'Pring was likely to get, couched in scientific terminology and logical reasoning.

"Well then," Nyota said, snuggling closer, "I suppose I'll just have to keep being your personal heating system."

"That would be... acceptable," T'Pring replied, and Nyota could hear the smile in her voice.

Outside their quarters, the Enterprise hummed its way through space, environmental controls sputtering and crew members bundling up in extra layers. But in their small sanctuary, wrapped in blankets and each other's warmth, the cold felt like nothing more than an excuse to hold on a little tighter.

Notes:

Don't forget to feed the writer!

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