Let's Try and Find Out
Posted on Wed Oct 23rd, 2024 @ 10:44pm by Lieutenant Commander Jason Frankley & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami
978 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission: Stars Around the Well
Adrianna Baciami moved briskly through the corridor of the USS Arcadia, thoughts of Vance still lingering but growing fainter. Jason Frankley had become a steady presence, and recently, the idea of being with him wasn’t so hard to imagine. Sure, she had been flirting with Vance, but it was how their friendship had been– there was a semblance of innocence to it. Regardless, she needed to move on– he wasn't coming back to her and even if he did, there was a lot that could go wrong.
As she turned a corner, she collided with a solid figure– Jason, of course. His hands gripped her arms gently, steadying her before she could stumble.
“Careful, Chief! You’re going to knock someone over running like that.”
Adrianna smiled up at him, her dark eyes flashing with mischief. “Madonna! You always catch me when I’m distracted, no?”
“Maybe I’ve got good timing,” Jason replied with a grin, though there was a warmth in his gaze that made her stomach flip.
She tilted her head, letting her accent roll a little thicker as she teased, “Or maybe you just like to be close, eh?”
Jason chuckled, a bit caught off guard. “What can I say? I like to be around interesting people.”
Adrianna smirked, stepping a little closer, her voice dropping just enough to make the air between them spark. “Interessante, you say? What makes me so interesting, Lieutenant?”
Jason’s breath hitched slightly, but he kept his cool, his smile playful. “You’re different. I like that. You’re… bold.”
“Bold?” She arched an eyebrow, feeling a strange mix of flattery and curiosity. “Coraggiosa, I like that. But maybe you’re just looking for trouble, no?”
Jason leaned in a fraction, his eyes locking onto hers. “Maybe. But I don’t mind a little trouble if it’s you.”
Adrianna felt her heart race. His words, though teasing, held something more– a sincerity she wasn’t used to. She had become rather good at pushing him away in days of late, but now, it was different. There was no chase, no game– just an easy chemistry that made her feel… lighter.
“Forse, Lieutenant, you should be careful what you wish for,” she said, her tone playful but laced with a hint of something deeper.
“I’m not worried,” he replied, his voice steady, eyes still locked on hers. “I think I can handle whatever comes my way.”
Adrianna’s lips curled into a smile, softer now, her defenses dropping just a little more. “Vedremo, we’ll see.”
As Adrianna moved to step away, Jason’s hand brushed her arm, the familiar touch stirring old feelings. His gaze locked on hers, filled with the weight of their unspoken short history that all started with meddling mothers. They’d kissed before– moments when their connection felt undeniable– but since Vance reappeared, she had pulled away, reopening wounds she thought had healed. He had agreed to back off and give her space but at that moment, he didn't want to.
“Ade,” Jason said quietly, his voice filled with a mix of hope and hesitation. “I know things have been... complicated since Vance showed up, but I don’t want to keep pretending that none of this–” he gestured between them, “means anything.”
She hesitated, her heart torn between the memories of the past and the pull she felt toward Jason. “Jason, lo so,” she whispered, her accent thickening with the swirl of emotion. “It’s just– everything with Vance, it made me question things. I needed time. In some respects, I still do. We're just friends it seems though. He's on another ship. You are right in front of me, and with us– I don't know how to say it– but, there's no complications.”
His eyes softened, but there was a determination there too. “I get that. But we’ve been here before, Adrianna. And I’m not going anywhere. I want you.”
She could see it– the way he still looked at her, like he was willing to wait forever if that’s what she needed. And maybe, just maybe, she was done making him wait.
Before she could think too much about it, Adrianna stepped forward, her hand gently cupping his cheek. "You testa dura," she murmured, half-smiling. “You’re too patient with me.”
Jason’s breath hitched, but he smiled back, that glimmer of hope returning, “I told you before, you’re worth it.”
In a moment of impulse, she closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his in a kiss that was less hesitant than before. It was familiar, yet charged with something new– an acknowledgment of the feelings she had been pushing aside. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close as if afraid to let her slip away again.
This time, when she pulled back, her hand lingered on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. “I don’t know where this will go,” she admitted softly, her voice steady but vulnerable. “But... I think I’m ready to find out– but slowly and openly. I'm still hurting.”
Jason smiled, his hand brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “That’s all I’ve been waiting to hear.”
The ship’s comms chimed, signaling the start of her shift-- the ship was set to leave any day and much had to be done. Adrianna stepped back, her heart lighter, but her gaze stayed on him for a moment longer. “I’ll see you later, Lieutenant.”
Jason grinned, his eyes sparkling. “Count on it, Chief.”
As she walked toward the bridge, Adrianna knew things were far from simple. But for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to hope that maybe, just maybe, they didn’t have to be.
But perhaps fate would have other ideas…
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