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“Doctor” Garak huffed as he took the last bite of his meal “you have been acting very strangely all throughout lunch. Is there something wrong?”
“What? No. I’m not acting strangely” Julian winced at the speed at which the sentence launched forth.
“Please Doctor, we are well past pretending don’t you think? You’ve been fidgeting in your chair, barely making eye contact with me and tapping your foot incessantly. If there’s something going on I really wish you’d tell me"
Bashir sighed his acceptance.
“It’s just something Miles said” he admitted.
“What, pray tell, did he say?”
“Well do you remember a few weeks back when those Cardassian scientists were aboard the station?" Bashir asked.
Garak had in point of fact been deep in creating an entire bridal party of suits and dresses at the time though Bashir had no doubt in his mind that Garak was keenly aware of all of their movements
“Of course” Garak replied curiously.
“Well the Cardassian Miles was working with argued with him the entire time they were together” Bashir continued.
“Oh dear”
"Apparently she thought Miles was hitting on her because of the heated debate they had been having the entire time. I had no idea that this was part of Cardassian romantic rituals”
“I see” Garak’s expression melted into a warm knowing, if not slightly smug smile “and what” he paused for effect “does that have to do with me?”
Julian blinked nervously leaning a little closer over the table
“It got me thinking about our lunches”
“Fascinating connection ” Garak responded, a playful tone bouncing in the back of his throat “do go on”
“Garak” Julian chided before pausing awkwardly, his warm trusting eyes searching Garak’s “Have you been flirting with me?"
Garak chuckled.
“Doctor!” He exclaimed amused in the extreme “I hardly think I’d be the kind of Cardassian to lead you on for so long without giving you any indication of my intent”
Julian leaned back his expression slightly perplexed. Garak slipped out of his chair.
“Our lunches are friendly intellectual debates, sparring matches, commiseration sessions” Garak explained eloquently.
“That’s true” Julian agreed reluctantly. Garak slipped his hands onto the human's shoulders as he rounded behind him
“Besides” he said before leaning down to a whispering distance. His voice purred in Julian's ear “if I were flirting with you, Julian, I’d do it the Terran way” his words slowed to a languished pace running tingles down Bashir's spine “Lingering touches. Embraces that leave warmth long after they end. Stolen kisses in dark corners”
He leaned back up patting Julian firmly twice on the shoulder shaking loose the shivers.
“Oh yes Doctor ” he said playfully as he left “if I were flirting with you - you’d know”