You are quite endearing

Posted on Fri Mar 13th, 2020 @ 6:05pm by Major Levi Drake & Petty Officer 2nd Class Halla Dezom (*)

Mission: Cosmos
Location: Starbase 621, Main Promenade
Timeline: 2396
1343 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Halla had woken in the lounge confused and alone until she had tried to leave. It wasn’t that moment she knew she was not. A lone marine had been left guarding her for the last four hours. Why had they not woken her up? Why had Levi left someone guarding her? It was kind of sweet when she thought about it. Nope, she thought to herself quickly. She's not looking for love. The Trill swears she is not looking for love. She swears to herself that she is just looking for lust but the sweetness of leaving someone there whilst she slept off the gas off is endearing. She was just starting to gather herself when the door opened.

"Hey sleepy head," Levi noted, stepping inside. In his hand he held a packet of marine field rations and a water canteen. "Figured after the nap you'd have the munchies. That's usually what happens, right?" He held out the foil ration pack. "Dry crackers and water: the breakfast of Starfleet's finest."

"Hey." She answered wanting to spill out that she was sorry there and then but her throat itched. "I am just thirsty." The woman mused moving a little to take the canteen, taking a few sips before she put the top back on and put it on the table in front of her. "I am so sorry. I must have worried you."

"Worried me?" Levi almost laughed. "I've seen marines go down under heavy fire. Watched our only evacuation shuttle get taken out by enemy fire. Been fighting Klingons hand-to-hand...and you think I'd have been worried about some gas making you go a little weird?" He shook his head at the notion. "Not worried, no. Doing my job."

The woman didn’t know wether to nod and move on or comment around it. “Well thank you.” She finally decided was the safer option. She said nothing for a few moments before slowly rising to her feet the blanket wrapped around her.

"We cleared out most of the promenade and surrounding sections. In a way, it's a good thing you were affected by it - we'd have had no idea there was a problem otherwise," Levi explained. "We worked out it only non-humans seemed to have that sort of reaction. Might have to start bringing you along with us as our resident Canary."

“That would make sense. I do not think that a wise option, whenever we are together someone, seems to collapse.” She wanted to laugh but it seemed not the right time too.

"Seems to be the way..." he nodded. An awkward silence fell, as though they were both avoiding talking about something. Unable to bear it, Levi cleared his throat. "So, how much do you remember?"

"All of it." The woman said without hesitation and that seemed to be the issue.

"Oh." Levi took a sip from his own canteen, buying time. Most people would have made a joke, breaking the tension. He just stared. "I understand you were under the influence of the gas, and you weren't yourself. It's fine if you want to forget about it."

"It?" She wondered realising she was going to have to be that person that took charge if they were ever going to stopping dancing around the subject. "The part where I said you were pretty or when you said I was pretty?" She wondered.

Levi grimaced momentarily. She definitely remembered everything, then. "Like I said, you were under the influence of the gas. Unless you were actually saying..."

Halla frowned slightly. "It just loosened my tongue. You are quite... I am not sure of the world but there is certainly something about you but I totally understand." She mused blushing a little as she turned to grab up the equipment that she had been carrying when she had gotten high.

"I see." Levi glanced around. The marine sentry had gone, and they were on their own. He removed his field helmet and put it down on an empty seat. "I must admit, I'm not normally this distracted while on-mission," he said. "It's an unusual feeling for me."

Halla paused in picking up her mask and bag and glanced at him. "Levi I am not going to be a distraction for you. I am sorry that it feels like that." The woman was feeling worse about it by the second.

He moved forward, taking hold of her hand before she could leave. "You don't understand. I've never been distracted before. Not by anyone. That's...maybe a good sign?" he gave her a questioning look. "I'm usually pretty good at compartmentalising my work and the rest of my life, but you're different to anyone else I've met. I'd like to try and understand why that is and what it means."

Halla glanced down at the hand he now held that kept her from leaving before looking at him properly. "I think it is a good sign." She mused softly. "Could mean something scary? You might have a heart under all that toughness." She tried to tease him.

"Don't be telling those marines outside," he replied, "They'll no longer think of me as their heartless badass leader." His lips curled up slightly. Glancing over his shoulder to ensure they were still alone, he moved closer and gently kissed her. "I think it's a good sign."

Halla accepted the kiss and moved her free hand to caress his cheek. “It can be our secret.” She promised realising that Marines were truly a different breed.

Levi let himself smile, definitely finding a moment to appreciate these new positive feelings. "I swear, once we get out of this I'm going to take you on a real date somewhere, with no crazy zombies, weird gas or any other distractions. Just you, me, and a bottle of Saurian Ale."

Halla grinned as she saw him smile. “I don’t know the zombies weren't so bad.” She teased just a little as the door opened and she took a step back.

Levi straightened his uniform as a Corporal walked in. "Hey Lieutenant. We've cleared out the sections you wanted. Not found any more stragglers..." he trailed off, sensing the tension in the room. "Oh."

"Thank you Corporal," Levi responded sternly. Well, there goes any sense of secrecy. "Get the men back together and ready to sweep the next section." He looked back at Halla. "Are you well enough to get back to it?"

Halla stayed quiet as the man spoke to the corporal and held back a giggle as the tension was obvious to the other man. It was thick enough that a knife could cut it. The Science Technician just carried on smiling at the marine as he disappeared off again leaving them alone.

“Yeah. I should be okay to go back to the labs once I’ve checked the filter in my apparatus but come and find me when you get off.”

"You sure?" He thought about sending someone as escort to make sure she got back okay, but thought better of it. Too many loose lips among corpsmen. "You're sure," he corrected himself. "You can always borrow my filter if yours doesn't work."

Halla raised an eyebrow at his choice of words before smiling. He was trying and that was attractive. “You Levi are very endearing. Commander Sloan is a stickler for processes. I have to replace it before entering her labs.” She assured quickly.

"Well, Commander Sloan and I have that in common, then." He tilted his head in understanding. "Try not to wander into any more gas clouds, then."

"You would like her. Slightly crazy I am sure but she's a stickler for process." Halla stepped up to him and kissed his cheek. "Stay safe yourself." She reminded before walking away quickly. He did not need anyone really reminding him of that but she wanted too.

OFF::

Petty Officer 2nd Class Halla Dezom
Scientific Lab Technician
USS Cosmos
(PNPC Gregnol)


Lt Levi Drake
Marine XO
USS Cosmos
(PNPC Jake)