Chapter Text
"How long are you two going to avoid each other?" Odo asked, barely sparing Kira a glance before he turned back to reading a report on his PADD. "Don't think I failed to notice your… exchange yesterday at the Replimat."
"Jadzia put you up to this." It wasn't a question.
Kira stopped her pacing and hung her head, not out of any unseen shame, but because it somehow felt heavier than it ever had before. The weight was a burden as well as a companion, one that dutifully accompanied her for the past week. Merely the idea of unloading it came with two feelings, both overarched by uncharacteristic trepidation: a heavenly satisfaction that she approached with hesitance; and her indulgence in ignoring (what was it Miles O'Brien had said on occasion?) the elephant in the room.
"That's what happens when you ignore not just Doctor Bashir, but also her and everyone else. All except for me."
"You must be flattered then," Kira said in her most flat tone. "Absolutely thrilled beyond belief, Odo."
"Oh, you have no idea, Major," Odo harrumphed, "but my point still stands."
"How do I strike up that conversation? 'Hey Julian, sorry my teenage self pulled a phaser on you?'"
"What's wrong with that?"
"It sounds—" Kira paused, searching for the right word yet drawing a blank at every turn.
"Idiotic?" Odo supplied. "Perhaps Quark-like is a better analogy."
She snorted a little at that, meeting his gaze momentarily. In his bright blue eyes she saw nothing but concern, if not a hint of amusement at his bashing of Quark. Kira grinned before looking away and glancing at the bustling crowd outside of Odo's office. The background noise was comfortable whenever it filtered in and tickled her ears.
"Speaking of Quark, I'm in need of a drink," Kira decided with a final nod in Odo's direction.
"Suit yourself, Major."
The doors slid open with a nearly inaudible hiss as Kira approached. She stepped out, the same sound echoing her exit, and maneuvered her way around the crowds. Humans, Bajorans, and even a suspiciously drunken looking Morn accompanied by a Dabo girl made their way past. It didn't take even a minute to reach Quark's bar, but her short trek across the Promenade felt too long.
Entering Quark's, Kira immediately knew what a mistake it was: the exact person she was avoiding was no more than fifteen meters away, whispering something into Miles's ear as the Irishman squinted at the dartboard. A second later and his shot went wide. Julian grinned at his scowling friend.
She was about to turn around and head back through the bustling Promenade, chiding herself with every step backwards, when a voice suddenly reverbated over the yells of "Dabo!" and the scraping of glassware as drink after drink was slid across the bar counter.
"Major Kira!" Quark said, cheerily. "I was hoping you'd stop by! How about a drink, on the house?"
"On the house," Kira echoed. "What's the occasion?"
And there he was, shoving a glass into her hands. "Well, I figured I should thank you for stirring up some of the most juicy gossip on this station lately."
"I don't see how that's good for your business." Kira gritted her teeth. Like a mantra, she told herself to not smack Quark upside his large-lobed head.
"Rule of Acquisition number—"
And there she was, hand gripping the front of Quark's silk tunic as she leaned in. He made a startled noise of utter bewilderment.
"Don't finish that statement, Quark."
"Advice noted and taken," he said. Kira let go and grabbed her on-the-house drink. Before turning on her heel to find an empty table (far away from Julian, of course), she spotted Quark scurrying back behind his bar. He was looking off in the direction of the dartboard as if it were the most interesting thing he'd seen all day.
Before she could find a table, Julian found her. "Major! Wait!"
Kira really didn't want to wait. Against her protesting instincts, she stopped but didn't turn to face the doctor.
"We need to talk," he said. "Please?"
"Okay, fine, we're talking right now." Kira took a sip of her bitter drink, steering herself over to a table. She felt Julian's presence somewhere behind her. "I don't even have a phaser on me, Julian."
He smiled warmly. "That was going to be my next question. Do you carry any knives or blades that I should know about?"
"Ha-ha," Kira said, genuinely grinning. "The next time I turn into a battle-hungry, chaotic child I'll use my special knife."
"How flattering. I really look forward to it, Major."
"Just don't tell Chief O'Brien. That man might keel over and die in anticipation."
Julian laughed. "Let's just be glad he wasn't de-aged with us, back in the runabout."
"Keiko would get a kick out of that, and frankly, so would I."
As the night dragged on and the drinks and bar tabs piled up, Kira almost felt like a child giddy with amusement (and very unchild-like alcohol).