Between Friends

Posted on 04 Feb 2013 @ 1:10am by Lieutenant Aria Rice & Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark
Edited on on 04 Feb 2013 @ 4:22am

1,192 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 5 - Stark's Quarters
Timeline: MD 01 - 18:00

ON:

Aria frowned as she walked into the room, having used Gabriel's codes to get into his quarters. She met his eyes, shaking her head before moving to him and hugging him. "Remind me to tape my mouth shut before ever, ever talking to our new Chief...or just...blind me and cut my tongue out...whatever it takes..." she whispered against his neck before giggling, stroking his back.

Gabriel gave a soft laugh, holding her tight, stroking her hair. "Don't worry. I'll look out for you. I'll be your whipping boy. Take your punishments," he teased. "How you doing? I was worried."

She smiled gently, shaking her head. "I'm fine. Putting my foot in it as per usual..." she held his eyes before tapping his cheek gently. "Just got upset. You know me...bloody temper tantrums..."

He arched an eyebrow at that, giving a snort of laughter. "Says you, you're talking to the guy who flounced off."

She smiled gently before holding his eyes. "Better than telling him to screw himself. Moral highground is yours, Mr Stark."

"Don't think so somehow," he shook his head with a sigh, moving to get them both a drink. "You should be careful about just walking in here. I might have been with someone," he gave a playful smile, offering a glass over.

"Hell, that wouldn't be a bad sight," Aria said and took the glass, watching him with playful eyes, clearly calmed down a bit.

Gabriel laughed softly at that, moving to sit with her. He sipped his drink, watching her face for a long moment. "Wanted to smack him for pissing you off, I did."

She blushed and sipped her own drink, shaking her head. "I need to learn to keep myself quiet."

"Yeah, don't we all," Gabriel sighed, resting back, letting his body stretch out as he crossed his ankles and tucked his arm under his head. "Never seen you cross before."

Aria blushed at that and shook her head. "I just...snapped. He just made me feel so...argh!" she made a face before stamping her foot...and then laughed at herself.

"See, you can't even be cross again now. You're so cute," he laughed softly, watching her with awe. "Like a little kitten or something."

She smiled gently as she held his eyes, taking a deeper breath. "Great...I'll remind you that cats have claws..." she said softly.

"Promises, promises," Gabriel sighed before winking playfully to her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, so she could rest on him. "It'll be alright, petal."

Aria nodded, closing her eyes as she sighed, leaning against him. "Mm...I hope so. Did you get in much trouble for walking out?"

He glanced to her before shaking his head with a sigh. "Kiwosk gave me a talking to. Didn't shout though, so I was lucky. And Stone? I have to go to a counsellor and be assessed as fit for duty. He said I wasn't good at my job and if I wanted to prove myself I had to organise some training in weapon use against the Borg."

She frowned as she watched him, touching his cheek. "I trust you with my life," she said, meaning it...a sign of trust.

"Well then that's all that matters," Gabriel gave a smile at that, holding her hand to kiss the back of it before squeezing it fondly. "We make a good team. We'll stay that way."

She nodded as she watched him, her eyes shining. "Always. Because it's who we are."

He nodded, smiling warmly to her as he reached to stroke some hair out of her face. "I've got your back, girl."

She smiled and nodded, holding his eyes for a long moment. "Fancy a drink? At least we can't disgrace ourselves here..."

"Speak for yourself, sweetheart, I am more than capable of disgracing myself anywhere," Gabriel winked to her before giving a grin. He moved to find a bottle out, grabbing a couple of glasses on his way.

She grinned as she moved to get comfy, stretching her legs out. "Yeah, but I won't report you...."

"Good. Have to have my daily dose of sexual harassment or I'll be even more grumpy than usual," Gabriel teased with a smile, sitting with her as he poured them both a drink. "Got yourself a boyfriend to come and thump me for harassing you yet?"

Aria smiled warmly as she looked at him, shaking her head. "Nah. You know me...way too immature to be with anyone."

"Sweetheart, there is no better way to be with someone," he smiled warmly, tapping his glass to hers.

She smiled gently as she watched him, with interest. "But what about you? No man you have your eye on?"

Gabriel shook his head with a weak smile, letting out a long breath. "Nope. No one permanent anyway. But then, why change a habit of a lifetime."

"Because you deserve more too," she said and reached to stroke his arm, her eyes gentle.

He gave her a warm, wide smile at that, shaking his head as he watched her. "It's all good. I'm trying to do well in work, you know. Despite my mistakes. Well, you might say I'm trying to do well ~because~ of my mistakes when I first joined up. Got a lot to prove, you know? Seems the Chief thinks I have even more to prove than I did."

Aria sighed and shook her head, with annoyance. "Don't break your back over him. You're a good man. You do a good job. Don't let Stone make you feel any differently."

Gabriel gave a small smile at that, nodding before pinching her chin gently. "Same goes for you though, sweet thing. You're doing good at your job, despite being a tiny doll."

Aria laughed softly, holding his eyes before leaning into it. "Hey, I have to think differently because I am tiny."

"Makes you super dangerous," he nodded seriously, but with a small, playful smile. "No one would ever expect such a beautiful little cheerful girl to be a threat."

"Because in reality, I am a ninja," she said deadpanned before grinning, stroking over his arm before slapping it. "And also, I got you as backup!"

"Oh yes, I will stay well and truly glued to your backside," he replied, just as deadpan as he nodded mock seriously.

She watched him before grinning, arching an eyebrow. "Mr Stark, didn't know you had an interest is my backside..."

Gabriel smiled warmly, stretching out lightly as he tucked his arms under his head. "Darling, anyone who catches sight of it with that tiny little waist on top would take an interest in it. But don't worry, I can control myself. I will remain strong."

"Hm..." she arched an eyebrow before grinning. "Sure you can, hot stuff..."

Gabriel smiled warmly, kissing her cheek before leaning forward to top up their glasses. "Come on. Let's get completely and utterly wasted...we deserve it after the last few weeks we've had."

OFF:

Lieutenant JG Aria Rice
Security Officer
USS Galileo

PO2 Gabriel Stark
Security
USS Galileo
(PNPC Scarlet Blake)

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