Where the Night Takes Us - Part I

Posted on Sun Oct 27th, 2024 @ 9:43pm by Lieutenant JG Zai

1,304 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Starbase 2

ON:

Zai stood at the small stove top finishing the dinner. Sabastian was back and taking a bath to help ease the muscle aches from his earlier fight with Fang.

Sab was half Vulcan, of course, but Capellan’s had stronger hits then even Vulcans. He was also half Betazoid a more delicate race. Less strength, easily hurt, lovers not fighters. Zai smiled at the last point that crossed his mind.

Zai had come to pick him up after his talk with Adri and had decided that tonight he would forget all that was weighing on him and just be present with Sabastian.

He was confused and he wanted to leave it all behind for a night but didn’t know how.

He had been so lost in his own mind and thoughts that he hadn’t heard Sabastian come out of the bathroom.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. “Zai?”

Startled he jumped a little. “You’re out already?”

Sabastian’s knowing eyes studied him. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” No he wasn’t.

“You’re telling me a lie.” He smiled as he gently removed a lock of hair that had fallen across Zai’s forehead. “We promised we would never lie to one another. We’ve mind melded I know when you lie.”

Zai sighed. “I’m feeling a lot now. I don’t even know how to put things into words. I honestly want to forget everything tonight.”

Sabastian smiled. “Then I’ll help.”

As he smiled Zai focused on the small beauty mark on the right corner of his mouth, a feature, Zai had to admit, was rather cute and had captured his interest from day one. Suddenly he had an urge to press his lips to it. Zai shook his head. “You go sit. I’ll get this done and we’ll eat.” Zai turned back around and started plating the pasta dish he’d made.

He felt Sabastian stand there a moment and then he left to pour some wine. “So, back to the ship tomorrow?”

Zai laughed. “Yes, your team left quite a mess in our Engineering after the new installs.”

“The former Chief’s team. My team is neat and clean. Besides, let fisty mcfist deal with it.”

Zai turned around to look at Sab and then threw his head back laughing. “What did you call him?”

Sabastian smiled. “Fisty Mcfist.”

Zai chuckled and shook his head. “You two are like kids.” He carried over the plates and laid them on the table. Sitting down across from Sabastian he took a sip of wine. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve repeatedly been hit by a shuttle. Damned doctor wouldn’t alleviate the pain. She said it was penance for fighting.”

“Sounds a lot like our doctor. She and he would get along.”

Sabastian closed his eyes. “Oh my Goddess! They would scare the Klingons shitless.”

Zai laughed. “Probably.”

They ate the rest of the meal chatting and laughing. Talking about the Academy days. Soon they’d eaten the meal, had dessert and Zai stood to clean up.

“Let me help?”

Zai held up a hand. “No you rest.”

“Come on let me do something.”

He sighed. “Fine, bring the rest of the dishes and I’ll wash them.”

Sabastian grinned. “Sure.”

Zai was just washing the first of the dishes when Sabastian came with the last of the plates. Instead of dumping them into the sink he stood behind Zai and reached around him slipping his hands in the water to deposit them in the sink. Sabastian rested his chin on Zai’s right shoulder. His breath fanning Zai’s cheek.

Zai smiled. “What are you doing?”

“Helping.”

“You’re really not.”

“I am. I swear.”

Zai could read the smile in his voice and sense the mischievousness behind his words. Zai turned slightly finding that his face was a mere few inches from Sabastian’s. “What are you really trying to do?”

“I’m exercising my great powers of seduction.”

Zai laughed. “This is seduction?”

“Well it’s romantic I think. I have seen it in holo vids on those old Earth movies. Doing the dishes was apparently seductive.”

Zai laughed again but a slight blush colored his cheeks. “I see well then…”

Sab smiled as he moved his lips towards Zai’s ear. “Is it working?”

Zai had to admit the closeness was having an effect. Oddly his mind didn’t go to Fang this time. “I think we should keep doing the dishes.”

Sabastian smiled. “Good idea.”

So the dishes were done by Zai, Sabastian’s hands eventually finding their way out of the water and around his waist and his head on Zai’s shoulder.

Zai could feel Sabastian’s heart pounding. Zai found it curious that while he’d experienced something similar with Fang this felt a lot different. This time Zai wasn’t the drunk on his own feelings alone he felt Sabastian’s feelings too. Excitement, yearning, a sense of being drunk on what he felt and he had to admit that his own feelings mirrored it to some degree. Not to the degree that he felt them when Fang was near him in the past but was that because he was limiting himself? Still being cautious? What would happen if he just focused on the feelings?

With the dishes done he turned towards Sabastian resting his own hands on Sabastian’s shoulders. “What now?”

Sabastian smiled. “How about what we did at the Academy, dance?”

Zai smiled and gave a nod. It had been a long time since he’d danced. Dancing, that final year, had pulled him out of a dark time. “Alright.”

Sabastian stepped back and Zai had to admit that he disliked the space Sabastian had put between them. He followed though and stood in the middle of what was the living room listening to the music. “What is that? It’s not the music we danced to in the Academy.”

Sab shook his head. “No, that was Salsa and Bachata. This is…slow dancing. It’s meant to be romantic. Are you okay with that?”

“Bachata is considered romantic isn’t it”

Sab smiled. “Then the Bachata?”

Zai gave a nod.

Sabastian put on an old Earth song from the 2020 called Carita de Inocente.

Zai closed his eyes. “This is beautiful. What’s it called?”

“Carita de Inocente. It’s Spanish. The song talks about a man in love. Very infatuated by someone.”

“I see.” Zai grinned as he stepped close putting his arms around Sabastian’s neck. They stood close letting their bodies dance to the rhythm. Gently rotating their hips in tune with the music and then Sab spinning Zai out bringing him close again. A sensual dance yes but one filled with turns and dips. Zai remembered why he’d loved dancing so much. He would give up, let Sab lead him around the dance floor and just get lost in the music and the moves.

He closed his eyes letting the steps flood back. He let the music soak into his body moving slowly in and out of Sabastin’s arms. Letting Sab lead him into turns and spins by the time the music was done he felt at peace.

“Shall we continue dancing?” Sabastian asked.

“Let’s try that slow dance you had before.”

Sabastian switched the music pulling Zai close.

Zai marveled at how well his arms fit around Sabastian’s neck and how good Sabastian’s arms felt around Zai’s waist. He again moved slowly to the music. His eyes locked on Sabastian’s. He felt as if he was falling into molten silver pools.

“Are you alright?” Sabastian asked.

Zai smiled. “I am… I feel.”

“What?”


To Be Continued...

 

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