2nd Date Pt. 2

Posted on Tue May 19th, 2020 @ 4:34am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Commander S'hib

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Naxea's Quarters
1278 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Naxea entered her quarters, which was sparsely decorated with holo photos of her with several other Marines at various locations. A presentation model of the Marines' Mameluke Officer Sword along with a scabbard hung on the bulkhead near the replicator. She made her way to the kitchen. On the opposite bulkhead was a painting of Deep Space 9 with Bajor in the background. "So, what are you in the mood for?" she asked, turning to him.

"Aside from you?" He teased while trying to take in the view of her quarters without being too nosy, silently taking note of the fact Naxea seemed to hold memories dear to her heart.

"Maybe a pasta or rice dish?" He asked, slowly making his way towards the kitchen.

Naxea shot his a wicked grin before turning back to the kitchen. "How about some Hasperat?"

"Hasperat?" S'hib asked curiously. "I think I saw someone try one on DS9..." He said, pausing for a moment as if replaying the memory in his head. "Is it hot?"

"It's a little spicy, yes," Naxea smiled. "I can forgo the spices if you want."

"Wouldn't be a Hasperat if you did." He grinned while leaning on the kitchen counter, knowing full well he was going to regret trying to show off.

"If you're sure--the spices are usually toned down for Bajoran Children anyhow," Naxea grinned as she got out the ingredients. One thing she loved about Hasperat was how quickly you could make them.

S'hib simply opened his mouth in response, stunned by the sudden blow to his ego. "So I'm a child now am I?" He asked with his shocked expression curling at the edges.

Naxea laughed and kissed him on the cheek. "Not at all. It's just that Bajoran spices tend to be on the more flavorful side which is why Hasperat is popular even among non-Bajorans. But it's not for everyone."

"If I can handle your Bajoran spice, I think I can handle your Hasperat." S'hib teased, resisting the urge to cup his cheek and savour the small kiss he could still feel prickled against his coat.

Naxea simply grinned as she finished making one hasperat. "Here you go then," she said as she placed it on a plate and slid it across the table to him.

S'hib glared at Naxea as the plate slid to a stop, knowing full well she was taking advantage of his stubbornness. "Thank you..." He said as he slowly reached down for the Hasperat, cupping his two fingers under the wrap and gripping it tightly with both thumbs. "You know, the fact you're watching me... makes me think you've put extra spice in it." He grumbled as he cupped the bottom of the wrap with his other hand and carefully lifted it up to his mouth, sniffing it briefly with his large nostrils before taking a bite.

"Now, that would be evil," she grinned as she began to make hers. "How do you like it?"

A few chews later and S'hib's eyes had widened slightly. "It's good..." He said, straining to keep a cough from developing. "Might need a drink though." He whined before stubbornly taking another bite, refusing to be beat by her Hasperat.

"You're a terrible liar," Naxea laughed as she went to the replicator and ordered S'hib a large glass of milk.

"That makes two of us." S'hib wheezed, panting through his mouth in an attempt to cool what might as well have been a plasma conduit fire.

"Just drink the milk, you big baby," Naxea laughed.

"I'm used to eating flowers," S'hib whined as he took the glass. "Leave me alone." He laughed before hurriedly sipping a mouthful of milk.

"Never," she said as she finished her own Hasperat before taking a bite from his, watching S'hib. After swallowing her bite, she continued. "Well the replicator can't replicate flowers but I can get you some grapes if you'd prefer." She recalled that he had grapes or grape-like fruit hanging in his quarters.

"No, no no no..." S'hib said as he put the glass down, milk still wetting his muzzle as he got closer to Naxea and leaned towards the Hasperat she had stolen from him, attempting to take a bite as she held it in her hand. "I wasn't lying when I said it was good."

She handed him the Hasperat back. "You're obviously a glutton for punishment."

"I must have picked that up off of you." S'hib smiled smugly, wrapping a single arm around her waist before taking a far smaller bite than he originally had.

"I am not stubborn," she protested playfully. "I'm just always right."

"Yes, you are." He grinned, purposely making his answer apply to both of her statements. "But that's why I like you."

"Just like? I see how you are," she teased, watching S'hib take another bite.

"Well, I did love you... but you did just try to kill me." S'hib smiled as he wiggled what remained of the Hasperat.

"Believe me, if I wanted to kill you, you'd never--wait...you love me?" she asked shocked. He had never said so to her before--she didn't really know what to think.

Her question caught him off guard, stopping him mid bite as he tried to process what she was asking and then what he had said to warrant such a question. "You didn't know?" He mumbled before almost choking on the small bite of Hasperat he had forced down.

"I mean...I guess I did," Naxea began slowly. "I just never really thought about it. I've never let anyone get this close to me." She would keep others at a distance--never really trusting them save for those Bajorans she knew from the Occupation. She was used to being on her own and now she was faced with the fact S'hib was in her life. "I love you too."

Slowly putting down the last morsel of Hasperat S'hib looked at Naxea with a sudden seriousness that was unusual for him, his hands gently cupped around her hips. "I've had a lot on my mind since what happened... everything is so cluttered and I can't sleep," He sighed tiredly, moving a hand to his temple and then onto her cheek before gently brushing a small strip of hair behind her ear. "Apart from when I'm with you..." S'hib said softly, his lips remaining open for a time as though he had more to say, and in truth he did, he just didn't know how.

Licking his lips and conceding defeat to his inability to articulate how he felt with words S'hib simply pulled her close, leaning his forehead against hers.

Naxea enjoyed S'hib's closeness. "I'm here whenever you need me," she replied quietly.

"That works both ways..." He said softly, trailing the very tips of his hoofed digits over her back in meandering patterns.

"I know...it will just take some getting used to," Naxea said softly. "So, if you're mouth has cooled off, let's go have a seat," she gestured to the sofa.

“The milk helped a lot,” He smiled before edging back towards the sofa. “Lips are a bit numb though...”

"Oh is that right?" Naxea asked with a grin. "Let's see if I can't do something about that." She then reached up and kissed him.

The kiss quickly escalated the moment their lips touched, scooping Naxea up by her rear as he fell back onto the sofa, pulling her onto his lap. "Ahh..." He grinned through a small gap between their lips. "That worked."

Naxea grinned as she continued to kiss him.

OFF:

Lieutenant S'hib
Security Officer
USS Elysium

Major Azhul Naxea
Marine Detachment Commander
USS Elysium