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Language:
English
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Published:
2024-06-09
Words:
250
Chapters:
1/1
Kudos:
2
Hits:
8

To Sing

Summary:

Nyota deals with the aftereffects of their singing adventure.

Notes:

Written for the Fandom Empire prompt "To Sing".

Work Text:

Nyota avoids singing, afterwards. It isn't that she's worried it'll happen again – well, maybe just a little – but people react differently now. Nobody blames her – or at least they say they don't - but she can see the way they act, how any kind of spontaneous singing or dance leads to tension as her crewmates brace themselves unconsciously against another unexpected musical number. So she stays quiet, and still, and focuses on her work. Translation is almost as good as music, after all.

She doesn't really expect anyone to notice her decision, so it's a surprise when Captain Pike catches up with her one day and asks if anything is wrong.

"No, sir," she replies. "Why would you think that?"

"You don't sing anymore," he says.

Her cheeks heat, and she has to look away. "I thought... under the circumstances…"

"It wasn't your fault," he tells her. "And I admit it was… uncomfortable… at times, but it also showed how united we are as a crew, and I take strength in that." He pauses, studying her, then adds, "If you want my advice, the best way for everyone to move on is for things to go back to normal. Which means you being yourself, music and all."

He smiles at her, and she smiles back shyly. "Thank you, sir," she says. "I'll think about it."

It takes time, and courage, but he's right, things do go back to normal. And at the next ship's talent night she gets a standing ovation.