This is Me Now...

Posted on Mon Mar 1st, 2021 @ 10:53am by Chief Helmsman Dixoho Saa (Mirror) & Micheal Robinson (Mirror)

Mission: Mirror Mirror
Location: SS Fenrir, Dixoho's private quarters
Timeline: (The evening of "Hoping for a Quiet Day")
2016 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

It was nearly twenty-one hundred hours. Kyle had released Micheal for the evening, as he was safely tucked away in his own quarters. The Texan was feeling a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. While he had told Dixoho what had been done to him, how would she react when she actually saw it? He wanted to say that she we would still accept him, but, right now, he was a little scared that doing this reveal would just drive her completely out of his life.

So deep in thought that he was, he walked right past her door. Shaking his head for the absentmindedness, he turned back and stopped right outside her door. His right palm was starting to sweat. Swearing softly to himself, Stop it! This is Dix! You two have been through many challenges, and everytime, still came back together! So, knock it off and pull yourself together!

Wiping the sweaty palm of. His pant leg, he then reached up and pressed the door chime. He then waited, taking a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

Dixoho was just removing her knife and phaser when the chime came through. She paused and kept them where they were, it was a long day and she could not imagine anyone pushing their luck but some people were just that stupid. "Enter Michael." She called knowing it would be no one else if they valued their lives.

Upon hearing the authorization command, the computer unlocked and opened the door that Micheal was waiting in front of. His face instantly brightened when he saw Dixoho. "Hey," he said softly as he entered the cabin, the doors sliding shut and automatically locking behind him.

Dixoho looked the man over and smiled. She looked perfect in her uniform, her hair up in a ponytail and her make up still in place proved that there had been no issues that day. She pulled off the phaser and knife from her belt chucking them into her darkened bedroom. “Hello. Sorry, it took longer to dock than we had considered due to gravitational pull.” Dixoho murmured now realizing why the rebels had chosen this world. It was a pain in the ass to dock, most other ships would have given up.

Micheal continued to smile as he disarmed himself. First, he unbuckled the clasps on both of his thighs, then the released the main buckle at his waist, pulling his gunbelt, complete with matching disruptors, which Dixoho had given him as a gift on their first anniversary of being together. He carefully laid this on the back of the closest chair. "No one can hold a candle to your piloting skills, Di." As he spoke, he continued to pull out hidden weapons. There were a pair of throwing spikes in his boots, which he placed in the seat of the same chair. Then, a nasty looking knife came from a sheath that he wore on his back. Finally, a single set of duranium knuckles came from the right front pocket on his pants. Standing less than four feet from the smaller woman, he stretched out his arms to his sides. "I'm unarmed now. What will you do with me?" There was a mischievous glint in his eyes as his spoke.

“I am sure eventually there will be someone else that is good enough.” She hoped eventually to retire alive but it was looking less and less likely as the seconds ticked away. “You carry far too many weapons. You waste time picking weapons,” she uttered looking at the pile on the chair. “Nothing right now.” She shrugged sitting down on her large couch.

Lowering his arms, Micheal’s smile faltered slightly. Nodding to the weapons, he responded as he moved to sit next to her on the couch. "You know me, always bringing a torpedo, when a dagger is sufficient. Heh. Guess it's from my time as a bounty hunter. You never knew what the situation would call for, so, ya bring a little of everything." Laying his left arm up on the back of the couch, exposing his left side to Dixoho. "Whats wrong? Thinking about what I said this morning?'

Dixoho nodded. It was certainly something to think on more and this had been the first time she had been able to think on things. It was a lot to take in, more than she thought she was capable of. “This is the first moment I have been able to think about things properly.” She admitted. She was not sure how much he knew about the place they were but it would be fun learning around the planet and tracking down the rebels.

Nodding, Micheal took in a deep breath and then released it slowly. "Look, Di, I don't want you to do anything that will make you uncomfortable. If you don't want to learn what I've become, then," he paused, clearly feeling a little twisted. "Then I won't force it on you. I hope you know that. I just..I just hope you are willing."

Dixoho rolled her eyes at how he assumed that she did not want to know. She just had no time to think so far. “I have had no time to think about it all, Michael. You left this morning and I dressed, worked and then came back and you turned up. That has been my day. No time to think about anything but the Empire.”

Chuckling to himself, Micheal felt a bit like an overeager puppy who was excited about a new toy. "I know, I know. I always go three steps ahead, and expect the worst. I just don't ever want you thinking that I will ever take, or even try to take, advantage of you."

Taking a breath, he calmed himself again, then asked, "What can I do to help you relax and come down from the stress of your workday?"

“I wold slit your throat before you took advantage.” She said a grin crossing her throat. No one took advantage of her unless she wanted them too. She wasn’t some Betazoid or slave willing to be controlled to keep safe . She saved herself. She had been sent to the other universe because she was the strongest. “I do not know. I normally used to take a bath or go for a run.” She shrugged. Nathan had used to know what to do. It was the one thing she missed about him.

Micheal shrugged. "Why don't we do both? We will go for a good, long run, and then I'll get a bath ready for you, like I used to. And then, when you're ready, we will discuss our current situation, over a lovely dinner. How does that sound?"

Dixoho sighed. It sounded lovely but she was sure that was not what he wanted to do really. “I thought you have stuff that you wanted to show me?” She countered.

Nodding, Micheal replied. "I do. However, you just said that you haven't had time to think about what I said. I was just wanting to give you that opportunity."

“Maybe you are right.” She mused standing up to start removing her uniform.

Micheal’s eyes stayed locked on Dixoho as she moved. "So? What is the lady's pleasure? Run, bath...or something even more enjoyable?"

Dixoho paused in taking the golden armour off and looked at him. “I do not think I am ready to jump into that.” She admitted with a bit of a blush. How much she had changed was evident.

Seeing that he had embarrassed her, Micheal stood and moved to stand in front of Dixoho, gently placing a large hand on either of her upper arms. He gave then a gentle squeeze. The look in his right eye was full of loving concern. "Di," he spoke softly, "I was only trying to make you smile. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I'm sorry."

“No. It’s fine. I’m going to change for running.” She stumbled through feeling daft as she moved into the darkened bedroom area.

Micheal released his grip on he arms and watched as Dixoho moved to her bedroom. Not wanting to make a mistake, he turned away, to give her privacy as she changed.

The room was dark and just how she liked to keep her bedroom even when she was moving around inside. She just wanted somewhere that her eyes did not always hurt with. Ever since going to the other universe, she had struggled with lighting and her bedroom was something away from it all. She quickly took off her uniform changing into something that would allow her to go for a run whilst still be protective if someone decided to start something. It was foolish when there was no one to replace her in skill nor attitude. “So run… are you going to go like that?” She wondered quietly.

Looking down at his outfit of Micheal chuckled. "What, don't think I can hang with you in combat boots, cargo pants and a sleeveless t-shirt?"

Dixoho looked him over and smiled softly with a shrug. She tied up her hair in a tiny ponytail. Normally she would have washed her face and makeup off her face as it was going to sweat off. She was not sure about the combat boots at all, they were good for working but running and maintaining fitness was another thing. She needed to maintain it if she was going to survive. “If you want to be like that then be but I need to keep up my fitness. I need to also exhaust myself out.” She whispered as a reminder starting to stretch.

Micheal chuckled softly. "You've never had combat training? You train as you'll fight, sooo, combat boots were always worn. Besides," he winked playfully at Dixoho. 'With my new legs, I'll be able to keep up with you, my dear."

If it had been anyone else she might have beaten them to a bloody pulp but she reined in her need to defend her skills with an audible snort as she stretched her arm over her shoulder. “Michael you forget that as a Trill I had to fight harder and longer than you to get where I am so please do not think I do not know how to fight in combat boots.” She reminded with a bit of a roll of her eyes as she led the way to the door and stepped outside. “Ten times around this deck should be far enough.” She decided.

The amused grin on Micheal’s face practically glowed. He was one of the few people alive who knew just how hard Dixoho fought, and still fights, to keep her position. That disciplined drive was one of the things that first attracted him to her. He was also quite conscious of the fact that he was one of the very few people, possibly the only person, who could tease her like he did, and, no matter what was going on, he swore to himself that he would never abuse that privilege that she had allowed him.

Stepping out into the corridor with her, he stretched his arms, neck and hips. The sound of popping sinew and tendons was practically a cacophony in the narrow passageway. Finally ready, he got into position and grinned over at her. "On your call, My Dear."

The pair then set out on their run, first at a gentle jog, then moments of sprinting. During the run, they chatted and laughed, as they used to do when they ran together. During the last two laps, Dixoho put everything she had into finishing first. While Micheal was getting winded, due to his size and the added weight of his implants, he dug deep down and pushed everything he had left into moving his artificial legs faster. In the end, he finished the run right behind the woman he loved.

Exhausted from the effort of the run, the pair collapsed on Dixoho's couch, trying to catch their breath and relax.