Smoke & Mirrors

Posted on 16 Oct 2023 @ 4:29pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen

3,722 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Regula I - Level 15, Eaterie
Timeline: MD 17, 1900hrs

ON:

Gabriel Stark seemed more than comfortable in his seat at the table as he waited on Constantin. There was a half drunk coffee close to him, and he was reading a book...an actual real book...with no concern for what was going on around him. Poor Constantin had been roped into repair works while they docked, so he'd been happy to work with his schedule. To be honest, after the sheer amount of overtime he'd worked over the last weeks, he was pleased just to be able to switch his brain off and not look at a screen.

"Gabriel," Vansen smiled as he walked over, having taken the time to wash and change clothes before coming here. It had been advice that Gabriel had given him...to separate the professional from the personal. Even so, it was just dark trousers, dark boots and a dark green collarless pullover shirt with a few buttons undone. His hair was tied back and still slightly damp from having used actual water. He sat down, close to him, his leg brushing against Gabriel's.

Gabriel smiled warmly as he set his book down, looking over him with appreciation. "You look great. I would never have guessed you'd just been suffering under the evil hands of engineering," he teased softly. He'd opted for casual clothes himself...dark trousers, a dark red silk shirt and a touch of black eyeliner.

"Wasn't too bad, I got to go out into the black and fix the hull. I took a moment to change," Constantin smiled, his hand going to touch his hand. "You look good," he added, his voice soft. Because he really did, the red shirt complimented his complexion and the eyeliner...maybe he should start wearing some too?

Gabriel's smile became a grin at that, and he let his fingers lace between his. "I mean, I had this tall, dark and handsome fleeter that wanted to come out to eat with me, so I thought I should make an effort," he teased.

Constantin smiled, his eyes warm as he held his hand. "Well, I was sort of thinking the same thing," he said, teasingly, watching his face. "So...what should we eat?" It was a genuine question from a man who had grown up on basic replicated standard recipes rather than anything else.

"It depends what you're in the mood for," Gabriel pulled a menu over, letting out a long sigh at the thought of a good, full meal. "Oh, I ordered drinks..." he sat back as a pair of martinis were delivered.

Constantin laughed, nodding as he looked at him. "Good, I need it," he admitted as he took the menu to look at. It all sounded...he wasn't sure. He wasn't good at deciding things from menus. He met his eyes, searching them. "I am glad we made it here." And to their date.

"Nothing would have kept me away," Gabriel assured with a soft chuckle, but he absolutely meant it. He took his glass, clinking it to his. "This will help you unwind," he sipped it, sighing with satisfaction at the warmth. "Just right..."

Constantin sipped it, watching Gabriel with awe. "It's good," he said, meaning it as he sighed. "This is really good. What...what is it again?" he couldn't remember and he was curious. So he could order it again in the future.

"A martini," Gabriel smiled gently, stirring it with the olive on a stick. "This one's traditional...gin and vermouth, but you can swap the gin for vodka if you want. You can also add a splash of the olive brine, that makes it a dirty martini. But you seem like the clean type..." he teased.

He smiled as he sipped it, watching him. "Looks like water, tastes like fire..." he teased as he studied Gabriel, the way he smiled, the warmth of it. "With a hint of...something else. I like it, Gabriel. Traditional martini."

"Well, you deserve it," Gabriel clearly meant it as he sipped his drink and set it down. He leant in closer to him, touching his hair. "How does it feel to have your first away mission out of the way?"

"I feel that hopefully, the next one won't be as bad," Constantin said as he leant into the touch, watching him. "I got through it, we all got through it. We rescued three people and blew up a base. All in all, I suppose it was...what, standard for the USS Galileo" he added the last as a joke, smiling.

"Yes, sounds about right," Gabriel whispered before laughing gently, stroking up his arm, almost in a soothing motion. "You come back alive, you make sure you learn from it."

"Yes, I have learned not to let any tentacles from the underworld grab me..." Constantin said and rolled his eyes, before he finally laughed. "Actually, does that mean lesson one was...ducking?"

Gabriel laughed, his head dropping with it as he squeezed his knee. "Yeah. Yeah, lesson number one is ducking. The next is making sure you can run faster than everyone else," he winked to him.

"Ah, see...that one I need to work on. I can trip over my legs," Constantin said playfully before he covered his hand with his own, stroking it. "I'd let you outrun me any day."

"Ah, but I wouldn't leave you behind," Gabriel said softly before meeting his eyes, his own dark as he smiled gently to him. "Not ever."

Constantin watched him with awe at the words, reaching out to touch his cheek before gently holding the side of his face. "Not even if I told you to?" he asked, searching his eyes. Trying to see a lie.

"Especially if you told me to," Gabriel's smile turned to a grin with that. He was just about stubborn enough for it to be true too.

Constantin laughed and leant close, kissing him quickly as he closed his eyes. "Think you've hit your head on the bulkhead one time too many," he whispered against his lips, but it was with warmth and affection. He had never had anyone tell him that before. Ever.

Gabriel laughed softly against his lips, running his fingers through the other man's dark hair. "Don't worry, there's loads more braincells left," he teased before kissing him warmly.

Constantin smiled, breaking the kiss after a moment as he held his eyes. "You're the most alive person I've ever met, Gabriel Stark."

Gabriel laughed fondly at the description, caressing the side of his neck tenderly with his thumb. "I can safely say that no one has ever said that before. You give the best compliments."

"It's only the truth," Constantin said and leant into the touch for a moment before he looked at the menu. A sideways glance. "Can you pick something out for me? I'm not sure and...you got good taste."

"No, it's not good taste, I just grew up with a lot of expensive cuisine around me," Gabriel chuckled weakly, shaking his head at himself but taking up the menu all the same. "Hm...well, we have to start with cheese soufflé, that's non negotiable. And do you like pasta? They have truffle tagliatelle which is probably going to be pretty damn good...and then chocolate fondant, I mean, they're hit and miss but I always end up eating them either way. Finished with a cheeseboard and washed down with a bottle of Italian Sauvignon Blanc...."

Constantin watched him with awe, his hand going to touch his knee. "That sounds...good," he said, because he was awed at someone who could navigate the world as easily.

Gabriel smiled fondly to him before motioning to a server to order the same meal for the both of them, nodding gratefully as they left. "Do you ever feel like we're being short changed on our tiny little ship compared to the cruise liners some of the other fleeters get sent to?"

"All the time," Constantin nodded as he leant closer, his voice lowered. "I'd love to be on a Sovereign Class. I know from an Ops point of view the Nova is more manageable in theory, but I swear Starfleet's trying to free up cargo space by stacking us up like isolinear chips."

Gabriel laughed softly, nodding even as he let his head rest in his hand as he watched him, his elbow leaning on the table. "I'll take your word on that," he whispered playfully. "I'd just like something with a bit more luxury."

"I'd like something with a bit more room," Constantin said, in a soft whisper. "Where I could sneak off for a little bit, find a quiet place and...think."

"Think and float?" Gabriel hazarded a guess, watching him with fond but knowing eyes. He liked the idea...of Constantin just sitting upside down the ceiling.

"Hm, if I can disable to gravity in the area, yes," Constantin smiled as he touched his arm. "It's always so loud. I find it difficult at times, the...noise."

Gabriel searched his eyes at the words, trying to understand what he meant with it. "The ship?" he asked gently. "Or the people?"

"People," Constantin admitted with a quick smile. "The hum of the warp core is...comforting. I don't like complete silence, means something's broken."

Gabriel smiled gently at the answer, able to understand where he was coming from on the people front at least. "Being on a ship with an assembled crew, it can be a bit like being in a gold fish bowl. I probably know more about our crew than I do my own family at this point."

"Some, I like knowing about," Constantin admitted as he smiled, meeting his eyes. "But others, I have no interest in. And there's so much politics happening that I just..." he stopped, because he sounded stupid when he said it. "...I don't understand it."

Gabriel smiled softly at that, shaking his head slowly. "Keep it that way," he advised with a knowing but fond look. "Stay out of it as much as you can, and you'll stay sane. Just...keep your head down, do your work, make sure the people around you are okay and play oblivious to the rest of it. So, who are your favourite gossip subjects?"

He grinned, a slow smile that spread and lit his eyes up with it. "Oh, John and Mimi," he said, shaking his head. "I don't really know much, but I'm good at picking up some hints."

"I think you're right," Gabriel leant to him with a grin, his voice nothing more than a whisper. "Sherlock Holmes strikes again. You're a dark horse...I'm coming to you for all my gossip needs from now on."

Constantin laughed, shaking his head before he nudged him. "Hardly. People just forget I am there sometimes, if I stay quiet enough," he said playfully, almost dramatically...a trait he was picking up, slowly. He studied Gabriel before he smiled, touching his cheek with tenderness.

The other man leant into it, letting out a soft breath at the warmth that prickled from his fingertips brushing his skin. "No, not you," he whispered with a wide smile that made his eyes shine. "Tall, dark and handsome man like you brooding in the corner? You'd be seen alright."

"Hm...only you seem to notice me, Gabriel," Constantin said before he lowered his hand. "And I sort of like that, I think. That only you truly notice me."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that. But...I know what you mean," Gabriel assured, shaking his head with a small but reassuring smile, resting easily against the table on his elbow. "Especially in this gold fish bowl, where everyone knows each others business," he actually gave a slight shiver.

He took his hand, watching Gabriel for a long moment. "I think...few knew your business, truly. Just like few really know you."

Gabriel smiled softly with gratitude at the reassurance, squeezing his hand with appreciation. "There might be a couple of whispers about what happened, I don't know. I'm pretty careful though, keep my own business out of the conversation."

"Hm..." Constantin looked thoughtful before he smiled. "Your business is your own. I understand that." He stroked his hand for a moment before he chuckled. "Never really had a business to keep my own in that sense."

"I dunno..." Gabriel shrugged casually, and for the first time, he looked down in an almost shy manner that didn't match his usual confident bluster. "Maybe it's nice to have someone you trust enough to share your business with."

Constantin watched him, studying him for a long moment. "Sort of like...liking someone enough to think about them when you think you've had it?" he whispered, watching him for a long moment. At the shyness.

"Yeah, I mean, that goes along with it too," Gabriel matched his hushed tone, but glanced back to him, holding his eyes with a soft but serious smile.

"Ah good," Constantin said before he chuckled, looking up as the food came. His eyes went back to Gabriel, searching his eyes. "You look really good out of uniform."

Gabriel grinned to him but shook his head lightly, leaning in to take a deep breath of the scent from the souffle. "I hate those uniforms. They're so drab, and dowdy," he gave a mock shudder before reaching for his fork.

Constantin smiled as he took his fork, watching him for a long moment. "You look good in the uniform," he said softly before trying the food with a soft moan.

Gabriel took a moment to just watch him enjoying the food, pleased he'd picked well. He made a vow to himself to introduce the man to everything delicious in life, especially if it made him smile like that. "Now I know you're flattering me...no one can look good in that uniform," he teased, taking a mouthful with a soft moan at the savoury treat.

"You do," Constantin said before he smiled, taking his time to savour every mouthful. "Besides, you should see me in the overalls...looks better on me than the standard uniform. And more practical too, in theory."

"Oh, now we're talking," Gabriel grinned, mischief in his eyes as he watched him with clear appreciation. "You know you're going to have to show them off to me now, right?"

"I know," Constantin said with a slow grin, nodding. "But I think you were happy enough for a spacewalk with me. You're...adventurous."

"Makes me feel alive," Gabriel admitted with a soft laugh at himself, shaking his head as he looked down. "I need that. I can't stand the...numbness."

"Numbness..." Constantin watched him before he nodded, considering it. "Detachment from everything and everyone around you?"

"Hm," Gabriel nodded, looking to him with a small, half smile, taking a slight breath to steel himself. "I get it now and then. Like...life isn't real. Or I can get these downswings. I'm meant to go to regular counselling and medical appointments, but...well things have been pretty chaotic on the ship recently, so that's slipped by the way side..." he searched his eyes. It wasn't something he'd usually choose to share, but...well, he didn't want Connie going blindly into this. It didn't seem fair.

Constantin had stopped eating, just watching him. He reached out, to touch his cheek. "Well, makes us a fine pair. My mandatory medicals and your counselling," he said softly, with warmth. "What helps? When...you have those downswings? Or feel like that?"

"Those things that get your heart racing," Gabriel smiled good naturedly to him, relaxing at the way he'd reacted. "I used to go to a club, get drunk, get high, maybe find someone. That's not so easy out here..." he laughed at the idea of it though, of such a dark, smoky club tucked away on the lower decks. "So I train...I fight...I climb...I jump..."

Constantin watched his eyes, searching them before he smiled. "So adrenaline," he said, understanding that. If he ever wondered if he felt alive, adrenaline was the best way to go. When he discovered sex, he took full advantage of willing partners. The one night stands. This was different, made him feel different. Almost worried about stepping wrong somewhere. "I think there's some things we could do to help if needed. You do well in spacewalks."

"I love it," Gabriel admitted easily, watching him with understanding. "I see why it became your go to. It feels close, cocooning...but at the same time, you get a sense of being just one tiny speck in a vast universe. I've never found anything else that can do both of those things."

"I am glad I'm...able to show you something new," Constantin said, his hand going to cover Gabriel's, a small smile on his lips. Almost shy. "I feel like you are showing me so much that I never really knew about."

"You're showing me more than you think," Gabriel assured with a wide, warm smile, covering the hand to squeeze firmly. "Never doubt that."

"I won't," he said softly, watching Gabriel before he lifted his hand up to kiss, holding his eyes for a moment. "Means a lot to me though, that I can be...interesting to you."

Gabriel laughed warmly at the description. Yes, tall, dark, handsome, mysterious and interesting. The perfect combination for any torrid affair. "Oh, I think you have a fair few surprises left," he predicted knowingly.

~~~~~

Constantin smiled as he walked, his arm in Gabriel's, a drink in his free hand. "So...what is an Arboretum anyway?" he asked, looking at the trees as they walked. "And why is it so different from a botanical garden?" his voice was surprisingly steady despite the alcohol...he could even walk in a straight line.

"It's a place where a variety of trees are grown and cared for," Gabriel smiled warmly, keeping his arm looped easily through his as they strolled under the blossom. "Botanical gardens usually have lots of different kinds of plants, not just trees. In honesty, this should probably be called a botanical garden," he added in a stage whisper before pointing to small, red flowers that grew in the shadow of a tree.

Constantin smiled as he saw it, his eyes shining. "It's beautiful," he said before he looked at Gabriel. "If we get to Earth, maybe we could go somewhere there? I...didn't see trees until I was older. They're beautiful."

"Oh we have to!" Gabriel looked to him with a grin, nodding with excitement gleaming in his dark eyes. "There are some beautiful ones in England, and a charming little one in the Netherlands. I think you'd like it. The scented air is something special."

"And you could show me your England," Constantin said, his voice soft as he held his eyes. "I would like that. Seeing your favourite places."

Gabriel's smile softened at that and he squeezed his arm fondly. "I would love that," he admitted softly. "I hesitate to go back alone. I know, I'm such a coward. But it would be nice to go there with you at my side."

"I'd protect you," Constantin joked, his eyes shining. As if Gabriel Stark needed any protecting. He was strong, capable...he was a Security Officer who had kept a whole ship saved.

Gabriel laughed warmly, nudging his shoulder against his in rebuke for the joke. "Oh my hero, is that it? I can play that fantasy if you want," he teased, winking to him, a lightness in his step.

Constantin shook his head, looking at him before he leant to kiss him. It was awkward from the angle while they walked, so it was more a brush of lips than a proper kiss. "Maybe I need you to be my hero and protector," he said, meaning it. "I'm not a fighter, Gabriel. And this world is difficult for me to navigate. I know the road signs, I just...can't tell which way I am going."

Gabriel turned to watch him fully, smiling gently with awe. He leant close to him, catching hold of the side of his face to kiss him warmly and deeply, taking his time to feel him completely.

Constantin kissed him back, gently wrapping an arm around his waist to hold him closer, to feel him. The kiss was warm, made him shiver with it. He had never really been kissed like that before, like his soul was exposed in it. It felt good. Real. Gabriel felt real.

Gabriel was smiling against his lips as the kiss ended, his hand sliding up the line of his jaw and into his long, dark hair. "I'll keep you on the best paths," he teased.

Constantin watched him with awe, his breath catching as his hands gripped him. "Please do," he whispered, swallowing at the emotions he felt. "Please do, Gabriel."

Gabriel smiled warmly at seeing the obvious feeling behind his eyes. It made his throat tighten, to see the sincerity in the other man. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had looked at him like that. He wasn't sure they ever hard. He leant to him, kissing him with need as he gripped his hips to tug him closer.

Constantin kissed him back, stroking his hand up to his hair, to feel it, while his other rested on his back to keep him close. When the kiss broke he searched his eyes, his breath coming fast and his heart racing. "I...think I want to be alone with you," he said, his skin reddening with his blush. "Maybe...yours? Or mine?"

"Yours..." Gabriel whispered, his smile wide with awe even if his eyes were filled with desire. He couldn't stop himself from stealing another kiss though, his lips caressing to his. He shivered as he felt the hot breath and he urged him back the few steps to the tree. He pressed him against it, kissing him heatedly before catching his breath, laughing breathlessly as he rested his forehead to his, his fingers intwining with Constantin's as he took his hand to lead him away.

[OFF]

PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security/Tactical
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

PO3 Constantin Vansen
Operations
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

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