A Game of Cats and Mouse

Posted on Thu Aug 13th, 2026 @ 3:32am by Lieutenant Zachary Addams & Petty Officer 1st Class Alexis Aenera

6,363 words; about a 32 minute read

Mission: Flight Of The Valkyries
Location: Alexis' Dormitory/Zach's Quarters

Zach had approximately eight million things on his to-do list, but being a department head meant looking out for his department, which meant ensuring they were fit to work, fit to serve and generally well. And while he knew Alexis was a strong individual, it didn't change the fact that she'd gone through something, and it was his duty to check in on her. And, if he were being honest with himself, he was worried about her on a personal level. Despite her best efforts, he did care about her and wanted to know she was handling things, given how little she discussed it at work. With no time for gymnastics in engineering or baked goods, her usual expressions of happiness were missing, and he felt compelled to check in.

He had the computer track her down and made his way to her quarters, still in uniform so it would clearly be a work call, and rang the chime.

“Coming!” A voice that wasn’t Lexi’s was heard through the door and after about twenty seconds, it opened to someone who was clearly all ready to go out on a date, “Sorry, Jake, you’re a bit, umm… You’re not Jake.” She said with clear disappointment in her voice, “Can I help you, Lieutenant?” The blonde asked him, suddenly a bit more formal in her voice.

"Well, I'm not Jake, but I promise I'm just as good," Zach said, putting on his charming smile. "And I'm Lieutenant Addams. Call me Zach." He saw her lack of spots and grinned. "You must be Alyssa. Jake's a lucky guy."

Her shoulders dropped and back by a couple inches, all the better to show off her second best assets (she considered her legs, already visible sticking out of the dress, her best) to Zach, “Well, if you’re not busy, I could always blow him off, since you’re already here?”

"I'm actually here to speak with Alexis. Is she in?"

The disappointment in the blonde’s face was evident, but brief, but she didn’t straighten up, “She is, in her bedroom.” She glanced over her shoulder, “With the door closed. She’s been a bit secluded since, well, you know..”

He nodded, giving a sympathetic look. "That's why I'm here," he said. "Figured I should check in on her. Appreciate it." He started to walk by her and stopped, turning back and leaning to whisper in her ear. "And tempting as that offer was, I wouldn't ruin another man's evening like that," he said. "But if he's ever foolish enough to stand you up, you just let me know." He gave her a wink and a smile and moved to Alexis's door.

“He and I aren’t going steady or anything, so maybe a rain check.” Alyssa managed to get out as her knees threatened to betray her, but as she stepped back to let him past, she decided that in this case discretion would be the best path and stepped outside to wait for her date of the day.

“Definitely”, Zach said as she walked away. He grinned at the blush in her cheeks as she walked out and waited for the door to close before he he knocked gently on Alexis's door. "Lexi? It's Zach."

The door remained closed, but through it, a voice could be heard, sullen and downcast, “Go away. I’m fine, I just want to be alone right now.”

Zach looked back over his shoulder to double check he was alone. "Sorry, Lexi, no-can-do. I'm here until we have an actual conversation. And while Alyssa is here, she's promised to tell me, and I'm quoting, 'all the juicy stuff' the longer you make me wait. And if Keeta shows up, I've no doubt she'll join in. So, it's up to you."

There was silence through the door, though a sensitive ear would have heard the slightest whisper of sheets being thrown off and no more. The door slid open to reveal Alexis in a set of bright purple pajamas, the bags under her eyes had luggage of their own, as if she hadn’t slept since the battle, hair unkempt and arms crossed with hands in her armpits, “I said I’m fine, Sir. There’s no need to worry about me.” At no point did she meet his eyes.

"You know what I adore about you the most? Your eyes," Zach said, calmly. "Not just the color, or the shape, or the size, or the fact you have two of them, it's the way they always looked into mine. No matter how angry you were at me, or anything, or no matter how intense things were between us, you always looked me right in the eye with that spark of fire in you." He tilted his head. "And right now, I can barely see that lovely color. So don't tell me you're 'fine'. You are, quite understandably, not fine. You haven't been in two days. If you think telling Petty Officer Jennings to 'eff off' when he tried to talk to you is you being 'fine' then you and I have very different definitions. At least when I showed up, you added, 'Sir' at the end."

He took a breath. "But you aren't fine, Lexi, and it's okay not to be. And I'm worried about you, and I wanted to check in, and let you know I care, and I'm here. You aren't alone in this."

Her eyes tracked up him and finally met them. The dark purple irises were surrounded by lines of red that clearly showed just how bloodshot they were and she pointed imperiously at the couch. She was very good at that sort of pointing, having grown up doing it, “Sit, Sir,” she growled at him, but there was no heart behind the growl, so it came out rather pathetically. She followed him and sat on the very opposite corner than he did, now her eyes not leaving him at all, “Let me correct myself: I *WILL* be fine, sir, I just may take a couple days. I’ve seen just as bad back at home, after Jem’hadar attacks and bombardments.”

He sat down on his corner, but turned to face her. "Yes, but that was watching from the palace window, not three feet in front of you," Zach said, softly. "This happened almost within arm's reach, and it's understandable that a traumatic event like that would be bothering you." He looked at her. "Have you ever gone swimming with inflatable toys? Balls and the like? It's a human tradition to try and push them under the surface and let them fly up. It's fun and makes kids giggle. We do the same things with emotions. We push them far, far down as much as we can to avoid feeling them. But, just like the inflatable toys, once they rise back to the surface, and they always do, the further down they're pushed, the harder they emerge." He looked at her directly. "You shouldn't keep pushing feelings about something this important down."

Alexis glared at him again. How DARE he use fact and logic against her. That was irrelevant and he knew it! “Just because Lieutenant Mil liquified in front of me doesn’t matter,” She didn’t even realize how desperate her voice sounded and she knew she was succeeding in not crying in front of him, “It’s a part of war and Romans know that sacrifices have to be made in times of war. Casualties happen, we just have to get up and keep doing our duty so that others don’t fall because of us.” She didn’t feel the tears over brimming her eyes and sliding down her cheeks.

Defying the will of Caesar, even a former Caesar, or the daughter of a former Caesar, could mean severe punishment. Nonetheless, Zach moved from his assigned spot on her couch and slid over to her, his left hand coming up to her face. As her hand predictably struck out like a cobra and grabbed his wrist, his right hand swept under it and reached her cheek, wiping a tear and resting against her face gently. "It's okay, Lexi," he said, simply.

She squeezed his wrist tightly, eyes blazing a withering defiance. But just like any wall, battering at it would (eventually) cause it to give way, even the famed Roman wall of shields had fallen time and time again under the right pressure. Her chin wobbled as she fought her fight, but the barrier had been undermined by a single touch and now she felt the tears burning down her cheeks and she released his hand and lets hers fall to her lap, “No, it isn’t okay!” She gamely rallied for another assault, but her voice was defeated, choked with emotion, “It should have been me, but he got there first. Mars knows it should have been me instead.”

He grabbed her and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her with practiced ease. "Don't say that," he said, his voice both quiet but firm. "Do not ever, ever, say that. It most certainly should not have been you. Forgive me if this sounds selfish, but I'm supremely glad it wasn't." He took a few breaths, bringing himself back under control as he felt his emotions surge, and stroked her hair, gently. "I care about you too much to let you say that."

“There are some things that just shouldn’t be seen. Especially when there’s nothing to be done.” Lexi’s voice was muffled in his shoulder, herself now unresisting, “Ship to ship combat is supposed to be clinical, bloodless, all they see from the bridge is a machine getting blown up. Shoot, hit and the *machine* blows up, count it as a kill. Never mind that dozens or hundreds of actual people were there as well. I know it’s not all that simple, desperate damage control, rescue operations, then the Heralds came and tried to kill us in our home and I didn’t have time to think of what happened. So yeah, it would be easier if it had been me.” She shook her head, “But life is a four letter word and it doesn’t mean ‘easy.’”

"Truer words have never been spoken," Zach said, kissing the top of her head. "But having loved ones in your life makes it easier," he said, "as does talking about things. That's why we have a ship's counselor after all, not to mention me." He gave her a wry smile. "I'm not just a pretty face, you know."

“No, that’s what I’m for.” The half-laugh, half sob was still muffled, “If my teachers at the Imperial Academy could see me now.. They’d be horrified.”

"For now, forget how things look," Zach said. "Just work through your feelings. Your instructors aren't here, and their opinions are about as useful as a reverse calibrated hyperspanner." He tilted her head and gave her a warm smile. "And I think you're more than just a pretty face, you know." He leaned in, his lips moving toward hers.

She waited for him to cross the distance, wondering what he was thinking he was doing, then their lips met and she resisted for a mere moment before giving in. When he tried to withdraw, she reached up with one hand to keep his head right where it was, for at least thirty more seconds. Between them was life, renewal, just like her instructors had told her was a natural reaction to witnessing death and destruction. Not something to be shunted to the side, but embraced.

Zach willingly held the kiss, glad she was willing to feel and let herself be shown some affection. He had only meant to give her a kiss to boost her spirits, but hadn't expected her to return it with such gusto. He also hadn't expected her to shove him backwards onto the couch and pounce on him. "Lexi," he said before his lips became occupied again. When the finally broke apart, he looked up at her, a wry smile on his face. "We should retreat to your room at least. You know, 'optics' and all that."

“Why? I was about to go get some popcorn.” Another voice said from over by the other now-open door, a Trill woman leaning against the side of the doorframe, a sly smile on her face, “I was enjoying the ‘optics’ I was seeing.”

Alexis glared at her other roommate for a few seconds, “What’ll it take to forget you ever saw anyone here?” She saw the grin on Keeta’s face. “Cookies? White chocolate?”

“With Macadamia nuts and some cheesecake as well, cherry chocolate.” The counteroffer came smoothly. “And he was never here.”

“Fine.” Lexi stood up and grabbed Zach’s hand, pulling him to his feet, “Make yourself scarce.”

Keeta’s grin widened even more, “When she’s done with you, Lieutenant… This is my door.” She gave him a wave before vanishing into her room, the door slid behind her.

"Well--" Zach's attempt at charm was immediately cut off as Lexi yanked him to her room and he focused on her.

---

Zach was used to his larger bed, but they'd managed to find a cuddled position that worked in hers. Zach was happy to see a smile on her face, but knew it was just a bandage, and not a solution. "Glad to see your spirits improving," he said, wrapping his arms around her and giving her a squeeze.

“Classic Roman technique I should have used earlier.” Alexis gave a slight shrug, “Birth control has been mandatory for the Imperial Military for just this reason. Endorphins and a celebration of life.”

"Can't say I disagree with the philosophy, Zach said. "Of course, endorphins only last so long."

"Admittedly, it's better than ancient Roman custom, I mean from back in the BCE period, and even in our two hundred and fifty year tradition on Roma Nueva, we've only had to fend off alien attacks a half-dozen times, not to mention our...responses." Lexi snuggled into him.

He smiled and kissed the back of her neck. "I will fill your 'prescription', as often as you request," he said. "But I'd still like you to visit one of the counselors and let them help you get yourself sorted."

She stiffened in his embrace, "I'll be fine without someone trying to get into my head." She said stolidly, "I just need time to work it out. I'm made of stern stuff, all of us Romans are."

"Alexis," he said, the playfulness in his voice gone, "we aren't in Rome, and you didn't see someone run through with a sword or shot with a phaser. You saw something no one is supposed to see. There is no shame, no loss of pride in having someone help you get your thoughts and feelings in order so that you don't suffer needlessly." His voice softened. "Right now it's a request. Please don't make me make it an order."

For a moment she considered arguing more, but decided that it wouldn't be worth the fight and she relaxed slightly in his arms, "I won't make you make it into an order, Sir," She added a little bite into the title, "But the next time you threaten to order something while you're in my bedroom, we're going to have a discussion you won't very much like. Or, I'll throw you at Keeta to let her suck you dry and toss out the withered husk." A brief pause, "Take that as you want to."

There was a very pregnant pause as Zach debated internally whether that was a threat or an enticement. Finally he shrugged and quipped, "I promise; I'll walk naked to my office first," he said. He gave her a gentle squeeze. "Can't risk losing you, after all," he teased. "Engineering would fall apart."

"You won't lose me, I can promise you that." Alexis murmured, "Now... Were you going to spend the night? Just so I know if I'm going to have to answer questions tonight, or in the morning?"

"Tell him to stay the night!" Keeta's voice shouted through the door.

"Yeah, we have questions for him too!" Alyssa shouted alongside.

"Not to mention offers!" Keeta added before both of them were reduced to a giggle fit.

"Well, that cat's out of the bag," Zach sighed, throwing back the sheets. He sat up, looked at Alexis and got an evil grin. "Want to have some fun with them?"

She turned over in the bed, already debating at yelling for the girls to just go away. "I'm not going to say I've never slept with a girl, but it's not my first choice." She punched him in the arm, "And I'm not sure I want YOU doing it."

"No, not like that," he said, then paused, looking like he was lost in thought. When she punched his arm again he snapped back and looked sheepish for a moment, before the look in her eyes made him smile. He jumped over her onto his feet. "I have an idea," he said, quickly throwing on his shorts and a tshirt.

"Oh gods... That actually scares me, you know." She sat up in her bed and reached for the pajamas she'd discarded on their way to the bed, pulling them on. "And if they ask about what happened already?"

"I'm relatively sure by the thinness of the walls and the strength of your lungs they know what happened already. No point in hiding it," he said. "Just follow my lead."

One palm went over her face, he didn't know what he was getting himself into, these two would eat him alive.

As they stepped out, the two eavesdroppers were seated in their small common area facing their couch, each with a glass of wine. They looked over at the two and broke out into applause and whistles of approval.

"Okay, okay," Zach said. He walked over to the couch and sat down, moving offer and offering a space to Alexis. "All right, you two," he said. "I'm sure your gossip alarms are on red alert, and I am going to be generous and answer every question you have. However, in keeping with the spirit of Ferengi Rule of Acquisition Number 208, for every answer you get, you'll volunteer one extra hour of work in Engineering per week in exchange from Alexis' shift." He looked at Alyssa, whom he'd pegged as the weaker link, and gave her his most charming smile. "And of course, it's a chance for us to get to know each other better."

Keeta gave him a narrow-eyed stare, "We're going to negotiate BEFORE we start this, because you aren't playing a fair game." Her smile was almost feral, "This 'one hour per question per week' thing isn't going to work. One hour of volunteering in Engineering, PERIOD, per question is acceptable, but if we go per week, we ask forty questions and she gets off free all week, every week."

"I suppose those terms are acceptable," Zach said with an amiable shrug. "You have a deal."

Alyssa tapped one finger on her lower lip before blowing him a kiss. "I'm not very good in engineering, you know, unless you have some computer work that needs doing. Any chance I could work off my obligations in any other way?"

"I'm sure something could be arranged," he said, smiling at her. "Of course there's my one boundary I need you to respect."

"And what would- Ow!" Alyssa started when she got pinched by her roommate. "What was that for?" she demanded out of Keeta.

"Because, you idiot, he's already started counting." The Trill said sternly, looking with suspicion at Zach, then over at Alexis. "Tell your boyfriend that was not cool."

"He's not my boyfriend." Lexi shot back, Zach giving an agreeing nod. "I'm just observing. Also, if he can't answer a question, I get to do it."

"Still, Mister, not cool." Keeta held a hand up at Alyssa's look to ask a question. "I'm going to assume your boundary is that you aren't going to sleep with us." It was a statement, not a question, but she paused at the end of it.

"Absolutely wrong," Zach said. "It's far more important."

"Nice try, buckaroo." Keeta pursed her lips, "So, what exactly is the precise nature of your relationship with Alexis in it's entirety, which includes both on and off duty, in and out of engineering?"

"Aw, if you ask them all like that, it'll be no fun at all," Zach said with a grin. "On duty, we are colleagues only. Off duty, in our quarters we are lovers, out of our quarters we are just friends. You can appreciate that arrangement, I assume?"

"Value for my time, Ell-Tee." Keeta stretched. "And I certainly can appreciate it."

"So when ARE you going to take us to bed, whether with Alexis, or separate?" Alyssa blurted out, "And does she have a monopoly on you?"

"That's too far." Alexis pronounced. "No need to get our minds in the gutter."

"Agreed, I'll class up my answer. You are both welcome to drop by my quarters any time you wish to request my company in any capacity, and while I welcome any combination of you, it has to be agreed upon by everyone involved," he said, simply. "And no, she absolutely does not have a monopoly on me." He smiled at Alyssa again. "But I do appreciate your enthusiasm. Was Jake not entertaining enough?"

The look that Alexis gave him was scathing, "See if you ever get me over there again." she muttered, scooting away from him by several inches.

"Jake was a gentleman, more's the pity. Can't take a hint, that one." Alyssa answered, racking up the hours of work without even realizing it, "Why do guys have to try to take it slow all the time?"

"Not all of us do," Zach said. "Which isn't necessarily a virtue. It depends on the person. A quality woman like Alexis, or yourselves," he said, gesturing to Alyssa and Keeta, "know what they want. Some men aren't as confident."

Keeta rolled her eyes, wanting to grab tape to cover Alyssa's mouth, but well, if SHE wanted to spend time in Engineering, that was up to her. "A question for Lexi, which she can take off the cookies for: What are you looking for out of Zach? It's not tying him down, clearly, so what's in it for you?"

Alexis gave a wry smile. "Just a bit of fun here and there. He's actually pretty good at what he does, so I recommend him to the both of you. Of course, he's also not a prized stallion, so he's not standing for stud anytime soon."

"I see..." Keeta's eyes turned back to Zach, "Is there anyone else that you're seeing on board already? I just want to make sure that if I take you up on your offer that I only have these two as potential competition for um.... Booking purposes."

"I'm not seeing anyone else, no," Zach said. "And, as a freebie, may I reiterate what Alexis said. I'm not being put out to stud any more than I consider you three mere commodities to schedule and buy the time of." He looked at Alexis. "I consider any time spent together with someone to be valuable, cherished and private."

"And yet we're playing this game." Lexi replied.

He looked back at the girls and smirked again at Alyssa. "I'm shocked no cutesy questions about how we met or our first date given how nice it was." He reached over and picked up a bracelet she'd been toying with that she'd left on the table, rolling it around on his fingers.

"Old news." Alyssa stated, "She was out with you until three in the morning, came stumbling back and was as loud as a moose. If you think we didn't hear about things two hours later when we had to be up to get ready for duty, you don't know girls at all."

Keeta chuckled at Alyssa's concise recounting of that first one, "So, I can come to your quarters at any time and so long as you're not already occupied, you'll let me in and I can have my way with you." She held up a finger, "That's not a question, that's a statement based off of what you've said. That only provides incentives to try to find a way into your quarters without you there, so I can work my magic before anyone else tries to claim you for the night."

"And here I thought this was to answer questions about Alexis and I," Zach said, smirking. "And fair warning, if you break into my quarters, you might...." he waved his hands and the bracelet suddenly blinked away. "Disappear."

"Heyyyy, where did that go? Give it back!" Alyssa complained, "I wear that daily, do you know what it's made of? Do you know how hard it was to get my hands on that?"

"I don't know what it's made of, but from the feel of it, I'm guessing Andorian silver," Zach said. "And I don't know how hard it was to obtain, but I bet whoever you got it from was more than willing to part with it." He smirked and stood up, quickly reaching across their small coffee table. His fingers briefly brushed against the cleavage her dress was proudly displaying, and plucked the bracelet from her bosom. "And it went right here," he said, holding it up to show her, and placing it in her hand.

Alyssa shivered at the touch and as soon as he placed the bracelet back in her hand, slipped it back over her wrist. "You know, I think it's time I showed you the inside of my room." She started to stand up, but the glare from Alexis slowed her down before she could make good on the movement, "That is, if you were up to it?"

Keeta glanced down, then her eyebrows shot up and she got a saucy grin. "Oh, he is."

Zach immediately crossed his legs as Alyssa's eyes got wide, and tried not to react to Alexis' redirected glare. "Are we done with the game? Or do we want to risk more time," he said, looking between the two of them. "Because there is still the matter of that boundary I mentioned."

"To rescue Alyssa from the mountain of hours she's undoubtedly going to have to spend down in Engineering now? I'm going to call the game as closed." Keeta almost preened, "I'm almost free and clear with two hours. So, this boundary you mentioned... I'm sure you're about to enlighten us on what it is."

"I am," he said. "I want your assurance that Alexis' reputation will not suffer one iota from this conversation. This was fun and all, but if we're in Engineering, or in the corridor, like I said, we're colleagues and nothing more. No winks if we're together, no knowing smiles. I don't even want to see you two whispering to each other or glancing her way. You will treat her as a complete professional on duty and with total respect, and nothing any of us do behind closed doors is spoken of past those doors. Understood?"

"Of course," Alyssa said with a wave, "What do you think we are, barbarians?" She gave a languid smile at Alexis, "We have to live with her in the first place and there would be too much trouble if we didn't behave." Keeta gave a nod of agreement.

"Good," he said. "Now, we do have one problem. Engineering requires quite a bit of math skills, and given your inability to count past two for the answers you heard, when I counted a dozen-"

"Two." Keeta cut him off, including a sharp hand gesture, "I only asked two questions. What blondie here does has no bearing on what I asked. If I'd known you meant for it to be the both of us, I'd have made THAT perfectly clear."

"Team reward means team risk. You asked for shared benefits with me, you both heard the answers to questions, so you both pay the piper," Zach said. "I think that's only fair." He smiled pleasantly but there was a slight hint of a smirk to it as he looked at Keeta. "Game well played, though."

The look she gave him warned him that he was playing patty-cake with a cobra, "I don't think it's fair, but if we're going to play it that way, then I'm going to have to get dibs because I played the game better" There was pout from Alyssa and the new glare from Alexis bounced right off her, "So you're coming with me."

Zach gave her a polite smile. "Sorry, Keeta, but we agreed. First come first served, or first serviced, first come, take your pick, but either way, I'm already busy this evening." He stood up and offered a hand to Alexis, his back to the other two, giving her a conspiratorial wink and looking towards her room and their escape from Keeta claiming victory.

It was only to dig the knife deeper into Keeta that Alexis took the hand offered to her. "And perhaps we should take this to a less... Overhearable location?" She offered. "To allow these two to get some sleep tonight."

"Couldn't agree more," Zach said. As Alexis stood he smiled at the other two. "Ladies," he said, inclining his head.

"Pity, but I'll see you tomorrow." Keeta said, "That's a promise, not a threat."

"Unless I get there first." Alyssa said with a sly smile, "I have my ways."

He walked with her back to her room and as the doors closed behind him, he let out a quiet chuckle. "The look on Keeta's face was price--" he let out a grunt as her palm suddenly connected with his chest, knocking the wind out of him for a moment. He choked and inhaled deeply. "Before you say anything," he wheezed, "computer: emergency transport, two to my quarters."

A moment later, they were standing in the middle of his living room. He sat down on his couch and rubbed his chest. "Thanks for that," he said, wincing.

"Thanks for WHAT?" Alexis snarled back at him, "I wasn't about to say anything in front of THEM, because I don't need them knowing what I'm thinking. But what the hell, Zach? If you want to sleep around with everyone on the ship, fine by me, but holding court for that in FRONT of me? If they entice you that much, by all means, go fuck their brains out, but you know who won't be there in a bed with you? That's right, me."

"Okay," Zach said, holding up his hands in surrender, "admittedly, that was not the direction I thought things would be going in. I just wanted to needle them with the threat of overtime work and limit what no doubt would've been far more personal questions that I wasn't sure you wanted to answer. I didn't expect them to be so..." he shrugged, not being able to find a better word, "wanting."

He sat back and crossed his legs again. "For the record? I am not attempting to 'sleep around with everyone', nor did I plan on 'holding court.' My plan to avoid embarrassment backfired a bit, I admit." He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "I also technically never said I was going to sleep with them."

"No, you didn't, but I warned you about them, especially about Keeta! Alyssa will flirt with just about anyone, but she knows how to take 'no' as an answer." She paced away from him, "Keeta doesn't. When I was JOKING that I'd throw you to her and she'd suck you dry and toss your withered husk away?" She shook her head.

"I said they could drop by and request. I never said I'd agree. I was more trying to get Alyssa to keep talking and ask more questions and rack up more overtime." He shrugged.

"To do what? She's in Operations, and yes she's a PO-2, but that's just because she's in logistics and she's a whiz at getting requisitions through the system." Alexis rolled her eyes, "Keeta's much more useful to us in engineering, but once she gets something in her head, she'll do what it takes to see it come to fruition. She gets her claws into someone? They're hers until SHE lets them go."

"Honestly? I was going to let it go, but then decided Keeta needed to be taken down a peg." He shook his head. "She's a bit too full of her own importance. Strikes me as the type who likes calling the shots all the time. Alyssa's more easygoing, but she has no idea what she wants in life other than the 'fun of the moment.' Maybe a little hard work in our department will humble one and serious-up the other." He shrugged again. "But either way, I'm sorry for how it all came across. I was hoping that would be more entertaining for you than it evidently was." He stood and walked over to her, taking her hands. "But, Lexi, I meant what I said," he said, looking her in the eyes. "I consider our time valuable and cherished."

Alexis started at him for several seconds, considering whether to knee him in the groin and walk out, or whether to offer to rescue him from them. "I warned you about Keeta. She's not going to make any overt moves when she's helping in Engineering, but you're going to find little notes, gifts. If she catches you alone? She's going to move on you hard, wherever you are. I've seen that look in her eyes before and she's got her eyes set on you." She took her hands away from him. "This wasn't fun for me in any way and it's all gotten away from me. Maybe I should let just let you get Keeta out of your system, Zach."

"She isn't in my system," he said, not backing away. "And for the record, I'm not and never will be 'hers' regardless of what happens. If anything, I'm yours more than hers by lightyears--" He bit back the rest of what he was going to say and looked her in the eye. "Lexi, if the choice is them or you, my choice is you. I'd much rather have your friendship and respect than just a random liaison with either of them."

"Call it off, then." She stated, crossing her arms over her chest. "Tell them they don't have to spend the extra hours in engineering and that they aren't going to even have the option of sleeping with you over this." Lexi's eyes burned at him. "As I say, I don't really care who you sleep with for whatever reason, but this isn't just a random fling. Call it off, Zach."

Zach walked over to his desk and sat down at his terminal. He typed a succinct but complete message absolving them from work and apologizing for giving them a false impression that he was using that conversation to meet up with them, and sent it to both of them. "Done," he said. "They won't set foot in our domain unless someone else sends them." He stood up and walked back over to her. "And if Keeta doesn't take no for an answer, she'll see how seriously I take this."

"Thank you." Alexis sighed heavily, uncrossing her arms finally, "If something happens just...organically with one of them? So be it, but that's just different. Already it's going to be a pain in the ass to go back there for a few days." She held a hand out in a stop motion as he opened his mouth. "Don't, I'll deal with it, we're all adults and they won't be that pissed."

"Well you're welcome to stay here as needed to avoid them," he said. His eyes twinkled a bit with their old mischief and he gave her a teasing smile. "But don't be too hard on them. It's not their fault I'm just too charming for my own good."

"You are, you know." Alexis rolled her eyes and turning her back on him, "But I can't just hide here, they'll still be at the suite when I get back and I'll have to deal with them sooner or later. I'll handle them."

"Roll those beautiful eyes all you want," he said, coming up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her ear, "but even you've admitted it. Fortunately, you're too smart to fall for it, so you must like me for me, and I appreciate that more than you know." He kissed her ear and held her close.

"Mmm...." Her hands went to his on her waist, pushing back against him, "And I can get you out of my system whenever. I just don't want to. You're fun, you make me laugh most of the time and you really aren't that much of an asshole. And I don't have to go back tonight, just... Have to figure out how to get out of here without people realizing I stayed the night."

"I'm 'really not that much of an asshole'? Please, Alexis, stop gushing so," he teased, kissing her ear again. "I suppose I can coax one more emergency transport from the computer, if you wish," he said. "It'd be worth it to finally answer my question."

"Emergency transports are for emergencies!" Alexis smacked his hand gently with the admonition, but clearly didn't intend to argue, "And what question is that?"

"What do you like for breakfast?" he said, kissing her neck.


END:

By

Petty Officer First Class Alexis Aenera
Engineering NCO
USS Tokyo

Zachary Addams
Chief Engineer
USS Tokyo

 

RSS Feed