Giving in to the Universe

Posted on Wed Nov 6th, 2024 @ 2:34pm by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

798 words; about a 4 minute read

After so many near-kisses stolen by interruptions, Adrianna and Vance had fallen into a strange, almost comfortable rhythm. They knew the attraction was there, unyielding and undeniable. Every time they caught each other’s gaze, a silent, mutual understanding passed between them, acknowledging the spark that simmered just beneath the surface.

One evening, they found themselves alone again, this time in a quiet corner of the ship’s bridge. The stars stretched out before them in endless, glowing trails, and the soft hum of the engines filled the space with a comforting familiarity. Adrianna glanced over at Vance, feeling that familiar pull as he turned toward her, his eyes holding hers in a way that made her heart race.

But this time, instead of moving closer, he sighed and gave her a small, rueful smile. “We keep trying to make this happen, don’t we?” he said softly. “But maybe we’re... not meant to cross that line.”

Adrianna’s heart sank, but she knew he was right. Every time they’d tried, something always got in the way. Maybe fate– or the universe, or whatever forces were out there– had been sending them a message. Maybe it was even Q playing a dumb prank. “Maybe it’s enough,” she murmured, meeting his gaze with a mixture of longing and acceptance, “just to be here, like this.”

Vance nodded, his expression softening as he reached out, his fingers intertwining gently with hers. “We don’t need to change anything to know what we mean to each other.”

They stood in silence, her hand warm in his, the unspoken promise between them settling into something quieter, something deeper. No need for grand gestures or stolen kisses; they simply let themselves exist together, each presence an anchor for the other.

Adrianna laughed softly as a thought came to her. She shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips, "we must be the only two people in the galaxy stubborn enough to love each other without ever really... doing anything about it."

“It's not from lack of trying,” Vance smirked, leaning back against the back of the captain's chair, his gaze tracing the curve of her smile.

"Guess I’ll be the only guy in the known universes who marries his girl without ever getting to kiss her," he said, his tone light but laced with something warmer. "Who needs to be able to kiss their wife anyway, right? Just think of the stories we’ll have to tell.”

She laughed, squeezing his hand as a warmth bloomed in her chest. “Madonna, amore mio! You’re ridiculous, you know that? But, maybe this is our way. Loving each other without needing every answer,” she sighed, her smile softening, “I’ll take what we have, even if it’s not the story everyone else thinks it should be. As long as I don't lose you for someone you can kiss.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his smile turning fond, “we’ve never been like everyone else anyway. I wouldn’t want this with anyone but you.”

They stood in comfortable silence, letting the quiet moments fill the spaces where words might have gone, simply being together as they watched the stars. In that moment, with her hand held tight in his, it was enough.

Adrianna grinned, her eyes glinting mischievously, “you know, if we ever do end up getting married, I’ll have to talk to the officiant and change a few things in the ceremony.”

Vance raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips as she finally joined in on the joke, even though, to him, it wasn't a joke, “Oh? And what would you change?”

She leaned in, lowering her voice dramatically, “Instead of ‘you may now kiss the bride,’ we’ll have, ‘You may now stare longingly and awkwardly at the bride from a respectable distance’.”

His resolve broke and he laughed, shaking his head in mock dismay, “sounds like a perfect way to drive a man crazy.”

Adrianna chuckled, playfully nudging him with her shoulder, “it’s not so bad. After all, the suspense is half the fun, isn’t it?”

Vance’s gaze softened, his smile turning wistful. “With you? I think I could live off the suspense forever,” he brought her hand up to his lips, brushing a gentle kiss over her knuckles, his eyes never leaving hers, “Who needs the mercy?”

She blushed, feeling a warmth spread through her as she held his gaze. They may not have needed the kiss, but the love between them was as real as any promise, lingering in every glance and every unspoken word. She needed to tell him who she was. She had fallen too far to make this an easy conversation.

“Vance, I–”

 

RSS Feed