Chapter Text
"Okay," Marius said as he pulled his uniform jacket off, getting ready to relax on the sofa, for just a moment. "When Steven and I were doing our inspection this morning, we ran into that new ensign from Starfleet Intelligence. Steven got very... flustered."
Azaiah shifted them both so he could sit behind Marius, and he started rubbing his neck. "Why's that?"
"I don't know. It was weird. I've seen him anxious, faking confidence, hell, even flat out scared, but this was something else. He could barely string his words together in a response."
Behind him, Azaiah snorted. "What's this ensign look like?"
Marius rolled his eyes. "He's handsome enough; Trill and... Trust me, Zay, it's not that. Steven isn't–"
"What's he look like?"
Sighing, mostly because Azaiah had stopped rubbing, Marius stood and moved to the desk, Azaiah was just behind him. "Computer, display personnel file for Ensign Hunter Walsh."
The young officer's face appeared.
"By the Sacred Chalice, the guy's... He's got that perfect mix of hot and cute! What he could do..."
"I get it, Zay. I get it. But doesn't he have a bit of a golden retriever air?"
Azaiah looked at Marius. "Everybody loves golden retrievers."
"This is ridiculous," Marius said as he sent the screen back into his desk. "It doesn't matter how hot he is. Steven isn't–"
"I don't remember him dating at the Academy," Azaiah interrupted. "Or ever even talking about it."
This whole conversation was an exercise in insanity, but since when was that new for Marius. "He and I talked about it before, he's got a thing for someone on the crew, she's been with the Valjean at least since the refit."
"Oh did he tell you anything? We could figure her out with a little sleuthing."
"I'm not investigating my first officer's love life. Besides, I'm going to be late."
A quick look in the mirror, Marius saw that, as usual, his hair was a mess, but that hadn't mattered in a while, why should it matter for his weekly dinner with his first officer.
"Okay, I'll be back after dinner."
Azaiah smiled. "Go solve all the ship's problems," he said. "And ask him about Walsh!"
"Goodbye, Azaiah."
***
Roth took a single step off of the turbolift and very nearly walked into his captain. "Sorry, sir."
"No problem," Marius said side stepping the ensign.
In just a second, Roth spun around, but didn't lose stride of momentum. "Thanks again, Captain," he called as he continued down the corridor. He could hear the door behind him 'whoosh' shut as the Captain disappeared into the turbolift.
When he got to the Refuge, Basil Whitaker was already sitting at a table and Roth crossed the lounge to meet his friend.
"Rough day?" he asked as he approached seeing the two empty glasses of syntaholic Bajoran springwine and a third half drunk.
Basil shook his head. "Not really. We're settling in, now that Doctor Soryan is officially the CMO." There was something to Basil's tone that was flat, unsettled.
Roth clued in on that fast. "Don't like Soryan?"
"That's not it at all. He's great with patients, and he's a brilliant physician. It' s just... seeing him in Doctor Gurlak's office, I guess, just drove home the point that Gurlak is really dead." He sighed and finished the last of the springwine in his glass. "Better things. So, did you hear? Engineering adapted a whole complex for Thirar."
"Well," Roth said, waving the bartender over to their table. "Not just for Thirar. There's that hot, new guy in Intel too."
Basil was quiet for a moment. "He didn't tell me the new guy was hot."
For a minute Roth watched, appraising his friend's state. "I mean, if you like that sort of hunky boy with just the right amount of boyishness joy mixed with an intensity that... He's fine looking. Got spots so I think he's Trill."
The nurse hummed.
"How are Thirar and Denn?" Th'Kirit asked, hoping that if Basil was distracted by how good his relationship actually was, he might stop thinking about hypotheticals.
Basil's answer wasn't quite as uplifted as Roth had hoped. "Their okay. Denn's bunkmate has been making comments about him having two boyfriends. But she's Rigellian so there's already a weird dynamic there. He's not spending much time there anymore. My quarters are the biggest, so both Thirar and Denn have been staying at mine lately. Denn and I are on the same shift rotation. Since Thirar is outside of the command structure, he sorta sets his own times. He's usually home later, but he crawls in bed with us and it's good. Sometimes he stays in his own quarters when he's got a lot to do or is having those sorta covert conversations. But yea. They're good. How's Baker?"
Roth waited to reply as the bartender approached and the bartender winked at him. If Roth had been paying attention, he have tried to flag down a different bartender, not the one he'd slept with a few months ago.
"What can I get you?" the bartender put his hand on Roth's shoulder and squeezed in a flirty way.
The Andorian made a point of avoiding eye contact with the Caitian. "Can I just have a few Bularian Canapes and a glass of tulaberry wine?"
The bartender stood quietly for a moment, as if waiting for something more.
"So," Roth said, turning his attention back to the conversation "The captain let him on the bridge to see the departure."
Tired of waiting, the Caitian bartender drifted away with Roth's order.
"What was that about?"
The Andorian's antennae wiggled in irritation. "His name's S'Nirl. We went on a date a few months ago. Before I started talking to Jase." He didn't want to acknowledge it any more, and changed the subject back. "Anyway. He came up for our departure. He's good. Spends most nights with me. So, I've got a question."
A confused smile pulled at Basil's lips. "Okay. What?"
"Like I said, he spends most nights in my quarters. We are having lots of... fun. And I actually like him for a lot more than just his body. And I think he feels the same so, how do I know if this is something."
Basil couldn't help the laugh. "See this is what you get for being so... physical."
"You've hooked up with plenty of guys without anything more, yourself. I want some advice!" Roth laughed.
With a slight shake of his head and a rueful smile, Basil answered. "Just ask him. Ask him flat out 'Baker are we together or are we just fucking?'"
A rushing sigh escaped Roth's nose. "It's not that easy, Baz. I'm up for a promotion, and the Frozen Gods doesn't give with both hands. They'll either give me the boy or the second pip, but not both."
"Christ. When did you get so... skeptical. Maybe you get the pip and the boy."
Roth snorted without humor. "That's not how it works."
***
He could feel the oily dressing running down his chin, and he quickly grabbed the napkin on his lap and wiped it away. "Sorry," he said looking across the table at his First Officer. "I'm just happy we're underway again. It's good to have that behind us, literally. Even if we did have to get a new Starfleet Intelligence officer on board." He broached the topic of Hunter Walsh carefully. "But at least he seems pleasant enough."
"Yea," Locarno said before turning his attention out the window. "I think he'll fit in with the rest of the crew."
"I still don't like that he knows about Jerash," Marius said, pushing his blue leaf salad around his plate. "His file isn't complete but I hope it'll be okay."
Steven's focus turned back toward Marius. "Yea, a lot of it's redacted."
Marius offered a suspicious smile; maybe Azaiah was right. "Why've you been going through his file?"
The First Officer stammered a few times. "I ah. I'm in charge of the personnel. I just thought that I should maybe get to know him, at least on paper."
"Trill right?" Marius asked.
It was a slight nod that Steven offered. "Yea, though based on how lightly shaded his spots are, I bet he's mixed with something else. Maybe human?"
"Have you been studying our new Ensign's spots?" Marius teased.
Again, the First Officer stammered. "Well, I, erm."
Marius decided that maybe, if he really was attracted to Ensign Walsh, if he played a long with it, maybe Steven would open up. "So if he's only half Trill, do you think the spots go all the way down, or do that fade away under his shirt?"
"In my head they go all the way," Steven said before his eyes opened wide. "Shit," he cursed.
"Steven!" Marius said loudly, as if celebrating. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"Because it doesn't matter? I'm not going to find anyone, guy or girl, out here."
Marius rolled his eyes. "You're allowed to have romance, Steven. Just let me know so we can work out command structure issues."
"I mean, Walsh is sorta outside the Valjean's command structure isn't he?"
Marius started laughing as he reached for his allira. "You've actually thought about it!"
"Half the ship has thought about it, Marius. You've seen him!"
"Yea, he's good looking. Maybe he thinks you're good looking."
Steven rolled his eyes.
"You are good looking, Steven. And anyone would be lucky to have you. Try it!"
Locarno brought a forkful of mashed potatoes to his mouth before he changed the subject. "Councilor M'Grash and I will start doing crew reviews in a few days. There are a few Ensigns up for promotion, and half the ship's JGs have put in for promotion to full Lieutenant."
"Anyone sticking out in particular who should make the cut?" Marius asked, putting his captain hat back on and taking off the friendship hat.
"There are a few. I think we should consider promoting Doctor Soryan. He's already the CMO, we should probably bump him to Lieutenant Commander. And I think Gora Gomec is definitely a candidate for promotion too."
Marius nodded. "I think you're right about both of them. What else?"
"M'Grash and I will give you a full report when we're done. It'll take a few days."
"Sounds good. Feels a little weird going right back to the routine again, doesn't it?"
The First Officer nodded and ran a hand over his short blond hair. "Yea, but in a good way."
"Definitely a good way."
***
Roth was breathing heavily as he flopped back on to the sheets, his blue skin covered in a sheen of sweat. "I'm not gonna be able to sit at the Conn tomorrow," he said, the smile in his voice clear.
"Too rough?" Jason sounded like he was actually worried. "I'm so sorry!"
Roth put his hand over Jason's mouth. "Nope. No sorries. It was amazing!"
The laugh that came from the young man beside him told him the Chief agreed.
With a gentle roll, Roth twisted to face Jason. "So, I wasn't gonna do this, but after talking to Basil about it, I think I have to."
"Oh! Tell me!"
The Andorian smiled. He knew it was a stupid superstition, but a part of his mind said goodbye to his promotion. "I was just thinking... are we together? Or is this just us having fun?"
Suddenly, Jason pushed Roth flat onto his back and had crawled on top of him. He was grinning. "I thought we already sort of talked about this."
"Don't think so. Pretty sure I'd remember that."
[Well then I should stop telling people your my boyfriend,] he said in Andorian.
Roth shook his head, his smile deepening. "Or I should start telling people."
[Tell everyone.]
***
"Captain's log. Stardate 54576.7
"The Valjean is continuing its mission, exploring far beyond the borders of the Federation. After two months at Draagur, it feels good to be moving again. The Hugo Cloud and all that we uncovered remains behind us. Ahead of us, Commander Phipps reports, is a region of space with several systems that could have dozens of class-M planets. She even says that there is evidence of subspace communications.
"As Jonathan Archer used to say, we're making history with every lightyear as we boldly continue our mission, our mandate of exploration and diplomacy.
"I'm happy to report that the Valjean continues to perform better than any of us could have expected, and the crew embodies all of the best of the Federation. I can't wait to see what awaits us beyond that next star."
With a smile, Marius rose from his seat and moved toward the bedroom, Azaiah just behind him. He paused in front of the bed and a moment later, the apparition's arms wound around him, warmly and lovingly. This ship, this moment, and with this... partner? This is where Captain Marius Peter Rhodes belonged.
"Computer. End recording."
***
"Space, the final frontier. These are the continuing voyages of the starship Jean Valjean. Her ongoing mission, to explore strange, new worlds; seeking out new forms of life and unknown civilizations. Boldly going where none have gone before."