[Personal Quarters, Deck 4]
Indi pressed the door chime and looked down at herself. Grubby and
dirty was not how she had hoped to appear at the moment.
"Come on in..." Runo sighed before running his hand down his face,
blinking heavily a few times. The damage reports, as well as apparently
some stolen property reports, were long and there was things that people were
trying to find. Whether they walked off in the hands of another person or
simply were buried under debris was unknown to the lieutenant but he was
attempting to help in any way he could. Turning around to face the door, he
glanced down at his attire. He was casually dressed since he was off-duty and
he needed a shave as well as some food and maybe a quick rest. His eyes
were starting to blur after looking at a screen for the past hour or two and whoever
was at the door was a welcome distraction.
Stepping into his quarters, Indi spotted Runo at his desk. Even as
bad a day as she had had, tall dark and handsome still made her smile.
"Hey. I figured we needed to talk, but I was hoping you'd let me
borrow your shower. Mine was damaged during the engagement."
Runo smiled back at her, definately a sight better than he had been expecting.
"I think I could do that...." Standing up, he winced ever so slightly
but covered it up by moving towards the table. During the fight with the
Romulans, he had taken cover near Jefferies tube with a few other officers
and unfortunately for the young man, one of the Romulans managed to pull
off a lucky shot and land a solid blow to Runo's right bicep. He had eventually
gotten medical attention but the wound hadn't healed 100% of the way yet, the
doctors doing what they could before having to leave some parts to time.
"The shower is in there, I've managed to get a water facet if you'd prefer that
over a sonic shower. I think they've repaired it but its a little on
the sensitive side so watch yourself." He gave a small smile before looking about
his quarters. He hadn't been able to clean up everything that had been damaged
yet so he was somewhat nervous having Indi here seeing it. "Sorry about the mess..."
Indi gave a short laugh. "You should see mine. At least your walls
are still intact." For a moment, the dark skinned lady hesitated
between going to him now or bathing first, but a glance down at her
hands decided for her, and she slipped into the bathroom. Poking her
head back out, "I won't be long, and then maybe we can replicate some
dinner or go down to Eris Deck?" He nodded and she closed the door
behind her. It had been far too long since she was treated to a real
water shower, since talking an Engineer into changing from the
standard sonic shower wasn't very high on her priority list.
It only took a minute to adjust the "sensitive" controls to a comfy
110 degrees Fahrenheit and she stepped in with a soft sigh of
pleasure. She'd promised to be quick, so she set about washing her
hair, but raising her arm reminded her of the incident in her
quarters, and turning to the mirror she caught a glimpse of the bruise
forming a lovely shade of purple. The Doctor in her promised herself
not to use her arm too much, but at least using it a little would help
keep the muscles from being too sore.
When she was finished, Indi dried herself off with a spare towel Runo
kept in the bathroom, and redressed. She toweled her deep brown hair
until it was merely damp and then let it hang loose to dry, though she
could feel the top edge of the back of her dress soak up some of the
water from the ends as she stepped back into the living area.
While Indi had been in the shower, Runo had set about to cleaning up
what he could in his quarters, as well as himself. Quickly changing into
a clean outfit, he actually managed to tidy up rather well considering.
The stubble/beard vanished from a replicated shaving kit and he added
a few items to the list. Two plates bearing italian baked chicken pastina
would soon appear out of the replicators, steaming and sending their
aroma everywhere. Runo hadn't seen Eris Deck since repairs began but
he wasn't going to leave something to chance. As he continued to clean
and wait for Indi to finish, he began to debate with himself. Should he just
go ahead and put everything back into the replicator, take her down to Eris?
Or should he leave everything as they were?
His thoughts had still been preoccupied with his internal struggle when Indira
walked out of the bedroom, her skin gleaming and a smile on her face. It was
infectious and soon, he felt his face curl into a smile. "Wow... I realize that we
just saw each other but you get more beautiful every time I see you." There
was a brief moment of silence, no more than a second or two when Runo
gave a chuckle, lowering his head towards the ground a moment before looking
back up. Sure enough, she was still there. Remembering the food only because
his nose caught a whiff and his stomach rebelled against his indecision, he gave
another smile before moving his arm out and bowing. "Your dinner madam. Maybe
once we're finished, we can take a walk down to Eris deck?" If it got that far, he had
planned a light dessert bruschetta made with a honey ricotta mixture and topped with vanilla
and strawberries. Flavorful but not very filling. No where near as appetizing as the sight
of the woman standing before him in a casual dress and damp hair. After a moment, he
realized he was staring so he gave a light cough to give him something else to use as
a distraction.
Indi pressed the door chime and looked down at herself. Grubby and
dirty was not how she had hoped to appear at the moment.
"Come on in..." Runo sighed before running his hand down his face,
blinking heavily a few times. The damage reports, as well as apparently
some stolen property reports, were long and there was things that people were
trying to find. Whether they walked off in the hands of another person or
simply were buried under debris was unknown to the lieutenant but he was
attempting to help in any way he could. Turning around to face the door, he
glanced down at his attire. He was casually dressed since he was off-duty and
he needed a shave as well as some food and maybe a quick rest. His eyes
were starting to blur after looking at a screen for the past hour or two and whoever
was at the door was a welcome distraction.
Stepping into his quarters, Indi spotted Runo at his desk. Even as
bad a day as she had had, tall dark and handsome still made her smile.
"Hey. I figured we needed to talk, but I was hoping you'd let me
borrow your shower. Mine was damaged during the engagement."
Runo smiled back at her, definately a sight better than he had been expecting.
"I think I could do that...." Standing up, he winced ever so slightly
but covered it up by moving towards the table. During the fight with the
Romulans, he had taken cover near Jefferies tube with a few other officers
and unfortunately for the young man, one of the Romulans managed to pull
off a lucky shot and land a solid blow to Runo's right bicep. He had eventually
gotten medical attention but the wound hadn't healed 100% of the way yet, the
doctors doing what they could before having to leave some parts to time.
"The shower is in there, I've managed to get a water facet if you'd prefer that
over a sonic shower. I think they've repaired it but its a little on
the sensitive side so watch yourself." He gave a small smile before looking about
his quarters. He hadn't been able to clean up everything that had been damaged
yet so he was somewhat nervous having Indi here seeing it. "Sorry about the mess..."
Indi gave a short laugh. "You should see mine. At least your walls
are still intact." For a moment, the dark skinned lady hesitated
between going to him now or bathing first, but a glance down at her
hands decided for her, and she slipped into the bathroom. Poking her
head back out, "I won't be long, and then maybe we can replicate some
dinner or go down to Eris Deck?" He nodded and she closed the door
behind her. It had been far too long since she was treated to a real
water shower, since talking an Engineer into changing from the
standard sonic shower wasn't very high on her priority list.
It only took a minute to adjust the "sensitive" controls to a comfy
110 degrees Fahrenheit and she stepped in with a soft sigh of
pleasure. She'd promised to be quick, so she set about washing her
hair, but raising her arm reminded her of the incident in her
quarters, and turning to the mirror she caught a glimpse of the bruise
forming a lovely shade of purple. The Doctor in her promised herself
not to use her arm too much, but at least using it a little would help
keep the muscles from being too sore.
When she was finished, Indi dried herself off with a spare towel Runo
kept in the bathroom, and redressed. She toweled her deep brown hair
until it was merely damp and then let it hang loose to dry, though she
could feel the top edge of the back of her dress soak up some of the
water from the ends as she stepped back into the living area.
While Indi had been in the shower, Runo had set about to cleaning up
what he could in his quarters, as well as himself. Quickly changing into
a clean outfit, he actually managed to tidy up rather well considering.
The stubble/beard vanished from a replicated shaving kit and he added
a few items to the list. Two plates bearing italian baked chicken pastina
would soon appear out of the replicators, steaming and sending their
aroma everywhere. Runo hadn't seen Eris Deck since repairs began but
he wasn't going to leave something to chance. As he continued to clean
and wait for Indi to finish, he began to debate with himself. Should he just
go ahead and put everything back into the replicator, take her down to Eris?
Or should he leave everything as they were?
His thoughts had still been preoccupied with his internal struggle when Indira
walked out of the bedroom, her skin gleaming and a smile on her face. It was
infectious and soon, he felt his face curl into a smile. "Wow... I realize that we
just saw each other but you get more beautiful every time I see you." There
was a brief moment of silence, no more than a second or two when Runo
gave a chuckle, lowering his head towards the ground a moment before looking
back up. Sure enough, she was still there. Remembering the food only because
his nose caught a whiff and his stomach rebelled against his indecision, he gave
another smile before moving his arm out and bowing. "Your dinner madam. Maybe
once we're finished, we can take a walk down to Eris deck?" If it got that far, he had
planned a light dessert bruschetta made with a honey ricotta mixture and topped with vanilla
and strawberries. Flavorful but not very filling. No where near as appetizing as the sight
of the woman standing before him in a casual dress and damp hair. After a moment, he
realized he was staring so he gave a light cough to give him something else to use as
a distraction.
Indira flushed bright red at the compliment. She sat in the chair he offered, and inhaled deeply..
"It smells delicious, Runo, I'm starved." They ate in companionable silence, the food getting
the better of the both of them. When the meal was done, Runo picked up both plates and
turned his back to put them back on the replicator. Indi stood and stepped behind him, lifting a
hand to his shoulder uncertainly. "I hope you're not angry with me for not stopping by more
often these past weeks, I just had taken some time on the beta shift and the timing never
seemed right." The looks he had been giving her so far were more tender than angry, but
she had been feeling guilty.
Runo gave a soft chuckle before turning around, Indi's hands sliding off of his shoulders due
to the movement, the plates in the replicator. His face bore an apologetic expression and he seemed
a little embarrased. "I'm not angry. I could have stopped by to see you just as easily as you could have
but I wasn't able to either. I'm... I'm sorry too. Things around the ship had gotten a little busy and then
with the attack as well as the following repairs and such, neither of us had a lot of time off." Having picked
up a towel to wipe down the table, he did so before tossing it into the replicator with a light sigh before
trying to choose his words carefully. He hadn't be able to get much time with Indira lately so he didn't want
to accidently upset her or any outcome along those lines.
"Hey, you know what? It's okay. We can start over if you want, but I'm thinking that such is the life for
"Hey, you know what? It's okay. We can start over if you want, but I'm thinking that such is the life for
Confederation officers." She lowered her eyes when he looked at her, and tucked a strand of her now-dry hair
behind her ear. "Duty comes first, right, Lieutenant? So it'll probably always be a challenge if you want to
spend time together." She gave him a playful little grin, "Up for a challenge, Runo?"
He watched as the smile transformed her features and her statement piqued his interest as he grinned back
although his smile didn't quite match hers in playfulness because for all he knew, the challenge might be something
he would not be so excited to complete. But then again, who knew besides the female standing in front of him?
"As always..."
Indira laughed at the confused expression that flitted across his face, though she worried for a moment. "It's not a
game and you don't have to...I just..." she shook her head as she lost words. She stepped forward and leaned
up to kiss the corner of his mouth; actions speak louder than words, as they say.
He hadn't been expecting that and when her lips came into contact with his, his mind blanked before his body
moved for him. Adjusting his head so that their lips locked together, he slowly wrapped his arms around her and
the two stood there a moment before Runo pulled back, maybe an inch or two, his forehead resting against hers.
"... I think that I could enjoy this challenge." He didn't allow Indira a chance to reply before he moved again, his
body returning to where it had been moments before as everything else was forgotten.
======To be continued======
Lieutenant (JG) Indira Bai
Assistant Medical Officer
USS Charon
&
Lieutenant Runo Dlya
Assistant Security Officer
USS Charon
