You checked your harness, double checked your controls and triple checked the flight path. You placed your communicator in your ear and signaled for your teacher if you could start flying. With a green light and blood pumping, you pushed the accelerator of your little fighter pilot ship. Smiling, you let out a shout of excitement and pumped a fist. Your smile grew as your ship burst through the space station and soared through the stars. with your final flight exam coming up, you took what little break time from studying you had to get behind some controls and practice one last time.

You heard there was one guy, Hikaru Sulu, was your main competition. You heard that he was so good that Pike had already preemptively picked him to pilot the Enterprise. Your blood boiled at the thought of your dream position already getting taken by a someone who hasn't proven himself yet. You barrel rolled to let off steam. Thank goodness you got one of the training ships, you couldn't stand the training simulators; they made you sick to your stomach.

You pulled a double flip, giggling at the freedom you felt out in space with nothing or no one to hold you back. You let out a whoop as you started another trick but a male voice came over your comms, bringing you out of your euphoria.

"How come I get the feeling you're the girl who screwed up the last training ship."

You rolled your eyes at your unwanted visitor. You looked out your window spotting another training ship but you couldn't make out his face.

"So what? I beat the last cadet's race time. I say it was worth the single day of cleaning parts."

You heard a chuckle and his ship drifted a little closer to you.

"Oh, so it was you. Alright then."

You shook your head slightly, raising your hand and giving his ship a look of confusion.

"Alright what? Was that your ship I screwed up or your race time."

He chuckled again. "My ship. But if you can beat me in a race and prove you beat the leading race score, then I will forgive you for setting back my qualifying test."

Your cheeks reddened and you swallowed, nodding. "Yeah, ok. And if I don't win?"

"Hmm...I get to choose."

You let out a breath. "Fine." You looked over your controls and checked your stats. "And where do we start and end this little bet?"

You saw his ship turn, so you followed him, leading you to the base of the space station. "We start here, follow the usual flight path for our qualifying test, wrap around the planet then end up back here."

You shook your head again, stretching your arms and fingers, rolling your shoulders and head. "Alright. Sounds easy enough. And who gets to start us off."

"On the tenth blink of our comms unit indicator starting..."

The green light on your dash blinked.

"Now!"

You silently counted down to ten with the green blinking light. Your ships hummed in eager excitement as your knuckles turned white while you gripped your accelerator hard.

3. Your leg bounced.

2. You took a deep breath

1. You smirked.

The ships came to life. You bit your lip as your ship shot forward and your euphoria returned. You heard a holler from the other end of your comms unit.

"May the best pilot win."

You rolled your eyes and focused on the race. No need for distracting banter if you can bash him later on. When you win.

 ~

Sulu let himself smile as he took the course alongside your ship almost in unison. Last week, when he heard his assigned testing ship had its accelerator burned out, he wasn't sure he was relieved or upset. He wanted to get it over with but at the same time, he didn't feel ready to take it. When he asked who used his ship they said who took it didn't take it with permission.

He heard Captain Pike had already picked him so Sulu wanted another chance to practice. Still bitter about his broken ship, he did some digging and found it was you. Therefore he decided to meet you out here. And seeing the tricks you were pulling Sulu saw how you could have ruined a ship. And he was grateful you took it. Seemed like you took it out to good use.

He almosted considered letting you win.

Almost.

~

The two of you were neck and neck until you finished the course a bit faster than your nameless competitor. You sped off, the tip of his ship disappearing out of the corner of your eye as you rounded the large planet. You let out a little giggle, the thought of winning making you giddy.

You completely rounded the large planet, the winning spot in sight. You glanced around you, searching for your competitor, but you didn't see any ship. Your smile widened and you let yourself do a quick little barrel roll. But you stopped half way, ending upside down to the station.

A laugh mimicked yours over the comms and you saw the missing ship. He was below you. You glared down at him as he looked up at you, his face finally clearly visible.

You suddenly found it hard to breathe. Why do all the really smartass pilots have to be hot? His dark hair looked a bit long and his eyes looked tired but his smile drew you in. You lifted a hand about to show him how you felt but instead, he winked and took off, making it to the end point before you.

You growled under your breath and turned right up, glaring at his ship haughtily turning around the base of the space station. Being the petty person you felt like at the moment you decided to leave him there and dock your ship. You huffed as you got out of your suddenly confining ship. You stomped around in circles, your hands on your hips as you waited for that stupid man to come back.

Sulu looked down out his window at you making angry faces at him as he docked his ship. He jumped out and smiled, running his hands through his hair. He gave you a cute smirk as you practically stomped up at him.

Sulu crossed his arms and leaned against a ship's hull. "So looks like I get to choose what happens next."

You pouted, pointing your finger at him. "You cheated."

Sulu shrugged. "How?"

You let out a breath and brushed some hair from your face. "I don't know but I know  you did."

Sulu righted himself, unfoling his arms, placing his hands on your shoulders. "I believe what you are looking for is called 'early celebration' and the person to blame is you."

You knew he was right. Your shoulders shagged as you looked down. "Guh. Whatever."

Sulu smiled a bit. "Now, for my reward."

Your head snapped up. "Wait, I don't even know your name."

"Sulu." He reached his hand out. "Hikaru Sulu."

Your face drained and you turned raround, burying your face in your hands. Of all the people...

Sulu stepped around to look at you. "If it's any consolation I didn't get to choose my name. It was given to me."

You cracked a smile but it vanished when you met his eyes with yours. "Alright, what do you want? Just, please don't make it too humiliating."

Sulu pretended to think. "Hmm...how about...."

Your heart started to beat wildly. Not only has this man taken your job but you ruined his ship, he beat you due to your own stupidity and he now has bet winnings to collect from you. So there you stood, anxiously awaiting his verdict.

Sulu glanced at you and the corner of his lips lifted. "A date."

You blinked. "A...date?"

He nodded, clasping his hands in front of him. "You can handle yourself out there.  Besides, you look cute when you celebrate, albeit early."

You let out breath, looking off to the side, squinting. "Fine." You get an idea and look up at him pointing. "I get to pick where. At least."

Sulu chuckled, raising his hands. "Alright, alright." His smile gave you butterflies.

The two of you started to walk off but you kept your distance. You glanced over at him and the butterflies in your stomach started to flutter faster. Sulu turned his head and caught your eye. You glared and looked away.

"What's eating you up alive?" His voice was kind and you could tell he was walking a little closer.

You kept your eyes forward as you spoke. "Congratulations on your new assignment with the Enterprise. You will be a great captain." You thought it best to be nice to him instead of hate him.

At least for the date.

Sulu stayed quiet and after a few more seconds you glanced at him. He didn't exactly look happy. You reached out and placed a hand on his arm.

"Hey," you said kindly, "I really am happy for you."

Sulu glanced at you and gave you a small smile. "Thanks. I just don't feel I'm ready for that kind of position yet."

Your heart ached. You didn't think the guy who everyone dreamed to be like would think he wasn't good enough. You scoffed and lightly punched his arm. "Oh shove off. You beat me, so that has to count for something."

"That you suck at planning your celebrations and I'm an opportunist?"

You punched him again but not as lightly. Sulu laughed. You liked the sound of it, like a refreshing drink of lemonade in the summertime. You stood a little closer to him as you kept the conversation going. Sulu liked you. A lot. And he hoped to get a few more dates out of you before he was sent away from you.

Suddenly you had a new goal: get on the Enterprise by any means necessary.