Just Like Old Times

Posted on Tue Oct 22nd, 2024 @ 7:50pm by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami & Lieutenant Fang Lee

1,824 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Starbase 2 | Bar
Timeline: Current

ON:

Knowing that Vance was shipping out the following day, Adrianna decided to drop him a message. Nothing too telling, just to let him know that she was there. It was a strange feeling. She'd felt an almost relief at things being finalized, albeit ridiculously heartbroken, but it had felt good to apologize and say goodbye, even if in a different context. He'd not reached out to her. Perhaps he'd been busy, but they did leave things on a good note.

I think you said you were shipping out tomorrow. Safe travels. Ade.

Vance had been engrossed in reading his own journals. He'd kept one since he'd woken up in medical. After his first encounter with Zai, the man who'd revealed that Vance had lost his memory. He'd never known why he kept one but he had. Now he saw that it had been something the old Vance had done since he was a child. In fact Vance R was living Vance A's worst fear. Memory loss. He was in the midst of his contemplation when the coms chimed.

I am indeed. We are bound for Vulcan on a glorified escort mission. No opportunity to show my Engineering prowess in any way...unless I take the ship and VIP on a joy ride...but I don't think the Fleeters would like that. He unintentionally used the word he used to use for Starfleet when he has been himself.

Si, Fleeters aren't fans of joy rides. Bit boring. I know that there are some fun asteroid plains near that that would be fun to fly through. As the French say: c'est la vie. Anyway, I hope everything in the box was ok. I've taken another look around and can't see anything else of yours. She smiled at her PaDD, feeling her heart race a little. Even if it never went further, it was nice to have a semblance of friendship back-- she'd missed him in more than just the romantic capacity, after all. It was also good to know that he was safe-- alive even. Escort missions like that were seldom dangerous.

This messaging is making my eyes bug. Let's grab a drink at the Base bar...the Bolian one not the Ferengi one...I like my credits in my pocket and they have a poker tournament I am attempting to avoid.

Adrianna genuinely laughed out loud at the message and couldn't help but tease him about their first meet, forgetting that he may not have remembered it fully-- only what Zai had told him. Why? Scared I won't be there to save you again? I'll be at the Bolian bar in 10. See you soon.

Right on time, Adrianna arrived at the bar in question. The place was packed-- a number of officers wanting one last hoorah before shipping out. Her eyes looked around but she couldn't seem to see him.

Vance had taken some extra time in getting ready. He'd decided on Jeans, a T-shirt and the leather Jacket she'd returned to him. He entered the bar with a swagger that made more then a few heads turn.

She spotted a few heads turning and followed the gaze out of instinct. A smile graced her lips as she thought 'there's my Vance'. Pushing feelings down, she stepped over to him. She was already in civilian clothes at the point of messaging him, just simple leggings and top, with a blazer. It was very her, even from the time of being undercover. "Buongiorno Bello," came her greeting. She tried to hide the flirtatious tone, but it had always been them and it was difficult to turn it off when he looked like... Well... His old self.

He grinned. "You can admit it you know. I will not not hold it against you....until I need to."

"Admit what?" She asked curiously, thinking he'd come across something in the journals that may have outed a secret or two between the pair.

"That you've missed me since the great box exchange. I know. I am all that and a cherry. Being missed is unavoidable." He held out his arm. "Shall we drink until insanity sinks in?"

Adrianna chuckled and looked to the floor, shaking her head, "You're a cazzone, you know that?" She looked back up to him, "but, si, to drinking the sanity away." A phrase he'd said to her several times when they were alone.

She looked at his arm, hesitating. There was a slight reluctance to allow herself a moment to pretend he was his old self. Her better judgement soon got tossed away, when her heart made the decision for her. She took his arm and walked with him, pushing through the layers of people at the bar.

"Vergil. Drinks for me and the lady," He said coming to the bar. "On my tab."

The Bolian smiled. "You got it!" He looked at Adri. "What are you drinking lady friend of Vance?"

"Baciami grappa-- triple, grazie," she smiled and turned her back to the bar, looking at him. It felt like old times-- him knowing the bartender, putting her on his tab, him being cocky, wearing his lucky jacket, that smile. Gawd, that smile, she thought to herself.

They got their drinks and moved to a table in the back. He didn't know why but he liked the private corner where he could see the whole place. Felt less nervous. "So, I now know the origins of the mysterious paper airplane."

"Oh gawd," she chuckled, "wait-- from which system." Adrianna sat next to him, instead of opposite him. She told herself it was because the bar was noisy and she wanted to be able to hear him, but in truth, she just wanted a moment to pretend everything was as it once was.

"The one that damned jester gave me. I've had it since I left the hospital, always wondered where it came from but apparently it was during that time we hid from Starfleet on the crazy funhouse world."

Adrianna shook her head in amusement, "I remember that. Well, I remember being there. I don't remember much about the trip back-- the crew tried to kill me with a glitter bomb. I must admit though-- that fun house, we had so much fun. You know, I genuinely thought that I was busted on that one-- it was my brother Giovanni leading the party after us." It was out of her mouth before she could even think about what she was saying.

He said nothing. "I wish I could remember more...other then what's on in the journals. I did..."

"You did what?" She asked before sipping her drink, "but, Amore mio, pacience. If your memories are meant to come back, they will. You can't force things, Amore mio."

"I remember a psychotic clown and pushing him in a river...of course that could be wrong."

"You remember correctly," she chuckled, "you pushed a clown in and in turn knocked my brother in too-- so thank you for that." Adrianna sipped her drink, "they were both fine-- in case you were worried."

"About your brother, maybe the clown...not so much. Those suckers are creepy." It had been his one big weakness, his fear of clowns.

Adrianna chuckled, "I saw him a few months back. Giovanni was so angry that he had to fake not knowing me and letting me get away. He enjoyed shooting at me though." She shook her head before returning to conversation, "pretty convinced that clown may have been more terrifying than needed though-- a Klingon in clown make-up. My gawd, I think we all had nightmares for weeks."

He laughed. When the laughter died down he said, "I should go. We have curfew before ship out." He stood pulling her chair out for her as she too stood. "Listen, this was nice. I wanted to say..."

Whatever it was, was doomed to stay unsaid. The noise in the room swelled as a group of Engineers walked in from Starbase 2. The crowed shoved and pushed to get a glimpse of them, the popular people on the station. As they moved and jostled a rather large Nausican accidently bumped Adrianne knocking her back. Vance's reflexes, unaffected by his mind were as sharp as ever.

Catlike he twisted right and Grabbed Adri as she was about to fall. Pulling her close to alleviate the anxiety in his stomach at the thought of her falling. He was but a breath way his eyes drawn to her lips, lips that were suddenly familiar, suddenly missed, suddenly an obsession he didn't know he had.

Adrianna yelped at being pushed, but him catching her did something. Her eyes instantly went to his, her hands resting on his chest. Her eyes flicked between his lips and eyes and she was silent for a moment as the tension built. "Amore mio," she whispered near his lips, "you don't remember me fully, you don't owe me this." It was clear that she wanted him to kiss her but she was conflicted. She wanted him to remember her and kiss her because of that, not just because of an opportunity.

A similar scene flashed through his mind. A familiarity that he couldn't shake and then words that he'd said before flashed through his mind. "I never let opportunities slip by." He lowered his lips gently at first, a shot of recognition hovering just out of his reach yet enough of it to deepen the kiss as he pulled her closer.

She was surprised that he followed through-- she was more or less a stranger to him. Adrianna wasn't about to complain though. Her heart pounded out of her chest and for a brief moment, she actually felt complete with him. Sure, they'd only kissed twice-- both within 24 hours of each other, but the familiarity and desire was there. She kissed him back with such love-- proving just how much she'd missed him, but sense soon came crashing into the forefront of her mind and she pulled away, though her lips still close to his, "I'm sorry-- I shouldn't have-- I didn't mean to take advantage-- I'm sorry--."

Vance blinked several times. "I...No...I kissed you, I just...you felt so familiar. I...should go." He turned. "I'm sorry...but kind of not. I got to go." He hurried away feeling confused.

She watched him leave, giving him a minute. Adrianna ran her fingers over her lips, softly, still feeling and tasting his lips on hers. It was such a difficult position to be in. Of course she still loves him, how couldn't she. Either way, she supposed it didn't matter. He was shipping out soon and they would likely just stay distant friends unless he got his memories back-- but even so, who was to say that he wouldn't hate her once he got his memories back.

OFF:

 

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