Fine

Posted on Wed Jun 23rd, 2021 @ 10:54pm by Major Levi Drake & Petty Officer 2nd Class Halla Dezom (*)

Mission: Cosmos
Location: New Rixx
Timeline: 2396
1338 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Halla was sure that her head was going to explode as she stumbled for a moment before regaining her footing shaking her head. She needed a moment to herself away from everyone and to take something to drown out all the voices around her.

Trust her to get some Betazoid mutated virus, if it had to happen it had to happen to her. It was how it had always been and why she had always tried to keep a low profile. Halla had just got to where she had been bunking and sat down with her head in her hands when the door whooshed open again. “I am fine.” She shot thinking it was the crewman she had been sharing the space with.

"Well we both know that's not true," Levi retorted, approaching her rapidly. "I can see just by the look in your eyes that you're struggling." He lowered himself onto the bunk next to her. "Do you need another suppressant? Something to take the edge off?"

“I am maxed out on what can be given in a certain time period.” She said closing her eyes quickly not even looking up at him. It was a childish response but she did not what to slip into his thoughts.

He nodded blankly. It must have been tough to push through all of that, the strain on the mind having to deal with dozens of different thoughts and feelings all at once. "Hopefully they'll have a fix soon. Thanks to your data."

The Trill nodded softly. “Least I could do. If it helps it helps us all.” Anything to help the greater good was worth her embarrassment at them having her personal logs. “Le…things are bad out there.” She finally whispered.

"I know," he replied quietly. "Those are trained marines out there. Men I've drilled and fought with. They've not been this ill-disciplined since boot camp. We're fortunate none of them have weapons right now." He touched her shoulder. "Did any of them hurt you?"

Halla nodded holding up her swollen hand and bloodied knuckles. “Yes. But he got hurt right back.” She quickly assured. Out there now was a Marine sporting a black eye and busted lip who hopefully remembered going forward to not touch people.

"Atta girl," Levi smirked, taking her sore hand in his and giving the bruising a once-over. "Should be careful with closed-fist punches, especially without hand protection," he added, his free hand peeling open a pocket to retrieve a minor field dressing, which he then proceeded to wrap around the damage. "Next time, base of the palm to the sternum or to the jawbone. Try to avoid the nose, though, my boys are ugly enough as it is."

Halla nearly took her hand back at the pain that shot through it at someone touching it but reminded herself it was him, it was Levi. “This scientist will try and remember that for the future. It was either break my hand or have them… they are not very nice at the moment. I do not respect them much.” She murmured softly pulling her hand back wrapping it around herself.

"I'd have said they wouldn't have hurt you, but...with everything that's going on I couldn't say that for sure." He put an arm over her shoulders. "Stay close to me for a while?" he suggested protectively.

Halla sighed laying her head for a moment on his shoulder. “Levi I do not mean this badly but if i stay close I won’t be able to resist looking in your head to work out how you tick.” She whispered.

"Then look," he said, peering down at her. He stroked a few strands of hair from her cheek. "You said before you wanted this...us...to be serious. Well, I'm a marine. We don't talk about things and feelings all that much. So why don't you have a look for yourself?"

“Yes but you said at this point, that's as uncomplicated as it is. I'm not thinking too hard about the rest and something about it only being a few months.” Halla commented not moving to look at him. She did not want to point out that it was closer to a year but she did not want to pressure him into something he was not happy with. “What’s changed?”

"Changed? Nothing has changed. I guess I'm busier since they put me in command of the detachment, if that's what you mean. But my feelings haven't changed." He frowned at her. "Have yours?"

“No… I mean why do you suddenly want to be serious to allow me to look?” She wondered quietly looking at the floor still. She did not need to look at him to hear the frown in his voice.

Levi wasn't really sure what to say. He thought he'd been clear enough, but with her mental state being what it was, she could be thinking anything. "I'm really not the most empathetic guy, Halla. Earlier on it sounded like you wanted things to be more serious between us. Well, this is me taking things seriously. And it's an opportunity for you to really understand how I feel." He shrugged. "Tactically, the marine in me says you should take advantage of every opportunity you're presented with."

Halla nodded as she pulled back and looked at him. She wanted to be serious with him, wanted to know where she stood and it seemed like it was now or never. She took her hand out of her sleeves from where she was trying to avoid touching him and placed it on his cheek. The strange pulling sensation hit her instantly.

"Tickles," he grunted, staring into her eyes. It wasn't easy for him to let his guard down, but with Halla he felt differently; like he could trust her to see and to hear his thoughts. Especially when he was looking at her. "Promise you won't suck my brains out or anything."

“I did not. And I’ve tickled you worse.” She said lightly It was a painful feeling going in and pulling away hurt even more as she pulled herself back and just looked into his mind. “Whoa.” She whispered, unsure where to start with how much she now knew. “You are not as simple as you make out Le.” She finally decided to started with.

"Huh." He blinked a little as he felt her presence, her thoughts, roaming the fringes of his consciousness. "Is that so? Well, don't go around telling people. I've got a reputation you know." He smiled faintly, feeling like there was an itch in his skull that he couldn't quite scratch.

Halla smiled, even now that she was inside his mind and he was still trying to keep his reputation. She moved forward and kissed him softly as she found what he felt did her. “Thank you.” She whispered leaning her forehead against his as she pulled back and out of his mind.

Levi's smile turned into a grin. "So I've given you all my secrets. What about you? Do I get to know what's going on in your head too?"

Halla just stared into his eyes and nodded. "If your super control and resistance will let you into my head go for it but my feelings are pretty clear for you. They have since the beginning." She said bluntly. She had thought it was obvious that she was naively in love with him.

His grin held, his eyes resting on hers. "I don't have telepathic super powers," he replied. "I wish I did, that would make a few things easier. But I think I've got an idea how you feel too." He pulled her close. "I'm glad we're on the same page."

“It’s going to be a big book with lots of same pages.” She whispered in his head as he pulled her close. She revelled in knowing that everything between them was not one sided just one of them was a lot deeper and needed time.