No Rubber Duckies

Posted on Sat Nov 2nd, 2024 @ 5:10pm by Lieutenant JG Zai & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

1,855 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Zai's Quarters | USS Arcadia
Timeline: Evening after Launch

ON:

"I'm not going to lie," Adrianna began, "I was half expecting rubber ducks or rubber chickens in the bath." She looked around, just double checking that Zai wasn't around. She knew that he wasn't a threat, and that she was a proud woman, but she didn't fancy him seeing her tally tattoos or another that she had got in memory of Vance just after his 'passing', or her naked for that matter. Further to folding her clothes up neatly and tying her hair up into a high and messy bun, she got into the tub.

The water was scorching, just the way she liked it. She sank into the water, instantly feeling her skin begging for mercy, but her muscles welcoming it. The scent of lavender filled her senses and she groaned, practically purring, as she felt herself unwind. "Madonna!" She muttered, closing her eyes and leaning her head back.

Zai was in the kitchen puttering. He would cook dinner for the two of them, something light and then they could eat on the sofa watching the stars pass by. He could hear her though. "Alright in there?"

"Mhmmmm," she purred, relaxing. The bubbles enclosed around her and she smiled. Even if Zai didn't have boundaries, he wouldn't see anything.

"I've got the dinner on how do you like your beef cooked well done or a shade of rare?"

"So that a doctor can make it moo," she replied almost like she was in a trance.

He laughed. "Got it and how do you like your veggies crunchy or cooked all the way?"

"Good gawd, Zai," she groaned, "at this point, I will have food however it comes as long as you quite asking questions, you cazzone." She chuckled, "you only tend to talk this much when something is on your mind. Speak."

"Well, Sabastian would disagree." He chuckled. "He says I go all quiet when I have something on my mind but either way I'd like to know what's been bothering you and what's got you all stressed. I mean I know a little but... also this chicken thing..."

"Tell me what you think you know and I will fill in the gaps where I think it is necessary," she replied, opening her eyes and looking to the door, "you can't see anything by the way. I know empaths prefer to look at someone to ensure truth is being told."

"Not my people. We can sense. As for what I know it's that I have to give you chicken stickers and I have no idea why, let’s start with that."

Adrianna nodded, "I can't tell you the whole truth there. It would defeat the point. When I know for sure, I'll tell you the whole story-- in fact, Vance can explain. He evidently remembers that." It wasn't exactly a lie. She didn't want to jinx anything, or have Zai meddle in that respect, "next?"

"I know something happened that time you came to see me in sickbay. You told me to trust you. Ready to share more of that incident? Do you need me to step in? Airlocks are wonderful devices."

Adrianna snorted at the airlock comment. What was it with engineers and thinking it was the best way of disposing of a human? "That incident is why I need this bath." She paused, taking a breath, "XO and Chief of Security are handling it. I assume Vance told you that I was off when we last spoke."

"He did, he said he wanted me to check on you. You know if you need to talk I'm always here." He paused. "By the way chocolate or fruit for dessert."

"Fruit," she replied, "I do not have a sweet tooth."

There was a short silence, she was feeling a twinge of fear, anger and disappointment. She tried to regain composure, knowing Zai would feel it if she allowed the feelings to continue as she spoke, "I just pushed someone a bit too far, inadvertently, and they snapped. No-one got hurt. Well, the person that snapped did, but I was ok. It didn't -- " she struggled for the word before finally settling on a word, "clicked at just how dangerous the situation could have been when I saw Vance. Even if he's not himself, he has a hold over me-- he is one of the few people in the universes that know me properly and can see past everything. I spent years avoiding empaths and such, years training to lie to empaths, properly. When Vance showed up and you felt all of that emotion from me, it's like that all the time for me. I'm an emotional person, but only to a select few. Vance never needed to be able to see into my mind, he just knew me, because I allowed him in."

"I see." Zai was processing the emotions he was reading. "As much as it goes against my code I will let you handle things better that I don't know the full story because it sounds like I would need to get involved. Let me know if you change your mind though." He sighed. "Fruit parfait it is. It's been so long since I just cooked for fun, and I'm holding you to your promise."

"The crew member is still onboard and is suffering the consequences. XO and Security are being very understanding. I just don't want it harming the crew member's career. I know that I should have pressed charges, but equally-- it's a one off and they don't strike me as a person that would do it again. Either way, they were drunk," Adrianna smiled, grateful of him dropping the conversation.

Taking a breath, she changed the topic, well, it seemed it anyway, "in other news, I assume Vance also told you that myself and Jason are over. I guess that's another cause of stress. As for Vance-- Madonna--Vance was so very upset to find out." She chuckled, her heart racing a little. She almost felt like a school girl with a crush with the way her heart, stomach and cheeks reacted to her own words.

He smiled out in the kitchen. "Yes he did mention that he was deeply wounded by your breakup. I believe his words were I am so hurt I'm setting off fireworks in space."

"Poor man," she grinned, "he's taking it harder than I am. Gawd, if Jason knew how sad Vance was--" Ade didn't finish that sentence as the feelings of fear, anger and disappointment resurfaced from before. She cleared her throat and relaxed back into the bath, regaining composure, "either way-- I asked Vance to dinner if we are ever in the same place at the same time again. My Vance, or not, I still love him and I cannot shake that."

There was a long silence. "Adrianna. For what it's worth I understand what it's like to feel betrayed. I know the anger and disappointment and believe me it's hard for me to sit back and not do anything but I do it for you. As for time, it does heal wounds."

"Merde," she finally let it slip, but as barely a murmur, "what if hitting him had not have stopped him." Her mind started spiraling a little, the fear coming back, "what if I had been drinking too. What if he-- merde-- stop, Adrianna!" She pulled herself under the water completely, trying to refocus herself. When she came back up, she wiped the bubbles from her eyes and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face that clung to her skin.

"Adrianna? You okay in there? Time to get out dinner is ready."

The woman placed her face in her hands, her mind spiraling as she muttered her thoughts in her native tongue, desperately trying to regain composure, knowing that her emotions were seeping out to an empath. She didn't even hear Zai over the sound of her own words and at how much her mind was screaming at her about the what ifs.

"Adrianna Baciami I will call your mother personally if you don't hurry up." He was trying to snap her out of it.

Adrianna just shook her head, "merde, merde, merde. Stop. It never happened. Stop thinking about it. It didn't happen!" She growled, still unfocussed.

"Adrianna so help me I'm either calling medical or coming in there myself. I need to know you are okay."

Ade blinked, finally hearing him. She took a breath. "Sorry, sorry, I'm coming," she replied rather breathlessly. She got out of the bath and dried off, putting on some fresh clothes. She then headed out, trying to act natural, "sorry, I was in a world of my own." She smiled.

He walked up to her. "I'm gong to give you a hug. Any objections?"

"A few," she replied, "but I guess you felt all of that, so it may help both of us." She wrapped her arms around him. "I don't know how much you know, or heard, but please-- everything is handled. I just haven't faced it all yet. Finally relaxing, I have, so I can move on now. XO and Head of Security have it handled and the crew mate-- they've already apologized anyway. That's why I recommended no real punishment. Plus, I know then-- I know they weren't in their right mind. I was their trigger."

"You were not. Right mind or not. NO excuse for it." He hugged her back trying to send soothing energies out because she needed them. "I will trust you but I will be there for you as your friend. Deal?"

"If I tell you, you will kill the person, no doubt," she replied, relaxing in his hold, "they don't deserve that. It was a heat of the moment scenario. It won't happen again."

"Well you're probably right about the first part of your sentence anyway. How about we try to have a relaxing evening. Foods done let's eat till we're stuffed and have some wine. Deal on that at least?"

She released Zai and nodded, "I have never been so relieved for you to no longer be close to Fang." Adrianna chuckled softly before heading to the dining table, "Thank you for choosing to redo the meal that I missed. I was so looking forward to it."

He smiled. "Always. Honestly can admit something to you?"

"Go ahead."

"I'm relieved I'm not that close to Fang now. I know it's horrible and I think I really did love him at one point but...I think it was an unhealthy co-dependency. These last few days with Sab, he hates being called that by the way, I have felt more loved then...I can ever remember."

"Everyone deserves to be loved," Adrianna smiled, "there is nothing like being in love. I miss it. That feeling of belonging, that feeling of home. When you are seen and when it doesn't matter what you do, you have a safety net." It was almost wistful, but the memories of Vance were flooding her memory, "true love never ends."

"Well then. A toast to love."

"Amore."

OFF:

 

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