Mistakes made, lessons learned.

Posted on Wed Apr 5th, 2023 @ 10:48pm by Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Temporary Marine HQ
Timeline: MD06 1830 - shortly after: Welcome Baby
1125 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Hooves trudged through the snow, occasionally stepping into the comparably smaller footprints of Naxea.

He'd barely been outside a minute and his flat nose was burning, blood rushing around still-warm veins as his fleshy exterior rapidly lost heat.

Damn this planet, S'hib thought, he would be glad to be back on the Elysium later this evening; though he wasn't looking forward to what awaited him there.

"Naxea?" S'hib bellowed, the howling wind picking up his words and throwing them over his shoulder as he approached the section of the camp that was essentially marine county "Nax," He said again, softer this time as he approached the entrance to the prefab Marine HQ building; and there she was, already mulling over reports on the central table.

He didn't dare move inside, instead standing there in the snow and wind waiting, though he wasn't entirely sure if she heard him.

A heavy sigh left his lips, his thoughts considering the idea of turning and walking away.

Naxea looked up and scowled as she looked at S'hib. "Well, come in," she said as she turned her attention back to the reports made from Woolheater's recon patrols. "What do you want, S'hib?"

"I just wanted to talk, I'll be heading star side in the next hour... and I'll be gone for a few days..." He spoke as he stepped inside, a deep shiver erupting and shooting up his neck. "But I uh..." He fumbled, standing there awkwardly like a lost child, hands unsure where to be or what to do.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry... That I love you, and I'm sorry..."

His words were sincere, however, he had far more to say, though he made no effort to push the subject; content to just repair what damage he could with the time he had.

"Ship rotations are every six hours," Naxea stated before forcing herself to look at S'hib. "And what the hell were you thinking of giving the role of second mother to Miraj without even consulting me first?" her voice was growing in volume.

He opened his mouth, a response teasing the tip of his tongue before he pressed his lips shut and frowned, now was not the time to mention he was heading up early; a decision he also hadn't consulted Naxea over, though to his credit, under normal circumstances this wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow, however, he was trying not to anger her any more than she already was.

“I was caught up in the moment, everything's happened so fast I haven’t been able to think…” S’hib pleaded as he stepped forward. He was hunched low, far lower than he needed to despite the low ceiling, an attempt to appear smaller, less confrontational, his subconscious hoped.

Seeing him hunch down did little to curb her anger and frustration. "S'hib, I have tolerated many Sequus' traditions out of my love and respect for you but I am Sle'anna's mother. The only, and I mean only reason I agreed to Miraj being the Second Mother was because I didn't want to argue and stress out Sle'anna." She sat back on the table, crossing her arms as she stared at the floor, closing her eyes. The last place she wanted to be was on this frozen hell of a planet. She wanted to feel the warmth of the Bajor's Sun. "S'hib, I need you to start thinking of and including me before making any more decisions because next time, I won't give in."

"I'm trying!" S'hib shot back firmly, though his tone was full of pain. "Naxea, I'm trying I swear on every grain of sand in the red sea but I don't know what to do, I-I don't know how to be a father... I don't even know where to begin" He continued, his words coming out in a panicked soup, leaving little room for air to get in between.

"I... Th-" He stuttered, clearly frustrated. "There isn't even a word for it in my language."

"Well there is in the Bajoran language, it's Fa," she replied looking up at him. "Remember that Sle'anna is not fully Sequus. She is of two worlds, S'hib. If you can care for her, and teach her things, then you are a father. I know you're capable because you have been caring for her."

He looked down before plodding over to her, he was tired, so very tired and it was finally catching up to him. "I should have spoken to you about everything, how I felt... how I thought things were going to be, how she'd be raised... where she'd be raised." He said, gesturing around before sitting on the table too, its legs audibly protesting at the fact.

"Because I've always just done... things." He continued, throwing his hands forward before they fell into his lap. "I've never really had to think about it, especially when I was younger... that's what my mothers did for me. Now though, all I do is think... I think and I think and nothing happens until everything happens."

Naxea let out a long sigh as she turned to look at him. She had tried hard to get him ready to be a father during their pregnancy, yet he kept referring to his mothers in the end. "S'hib, it's time to make new traditions. Those that will benefit Sle'anna when she gets older, not hinder or confuse her."

"I know..." S'hib said softly as he felt around for her hand, tugging at it gently into his own. "She's going to be confused enough as it is being the only one of her kind... I know I am."

"Treat her as our daughter, not as a Bajoran/Sequus Hybrid," Naxea said looking at him as he held her hand. "I know it makes things a bit easier for me."

He nodded gently, thinking about what they had just discussed. "She does look like you though... as weird as that sounds what with her having..." He smiled as his free hand cupped the bridge of his snout. "I think it's the eyes."

"You're right, that is weird," she agreed. She still wasn't happy with what S'hib had done but she would forgive him.

"Have you seen us? Of course, it's weird..." S'hib replied, letting his words hang for a moment before nudging into her. "Marines don't normally date fleeters..." He teased, curling his top lip and kissing the side of her head, always the one to make a joke no matter the situation.

"I can see why. You're constantly a royal pain in the ass," Naxea commented back, producing a lopsided grin.

"I know..." He said with equal parts affection and guilt.