Chapter Text
The day Tom and Harry met was their last day in the Alpha Quadrant. Voyager was to depart from Deep Space Nine in a few hours, and Harry was wandering the promenade of the station without a destination in mind. He had heard shouts of people having a good time, and made his way to Quark’s. He sat down at a table in the corner. Eventually Quark walked over, and he tensed up.
“If I may say so, it's been my special pleasure to see many new officers like yourself come through these portals,” said Quark. “Your parents must be very proud, my boy. You know, on an occasion like this . . .”
“I’m not really interested,” Harry interrupted.
“Interested?” he asked.
“You were about to sell me something, right?”
“I was merely going to suggest that your parents might appreciate a memento of your first mission.”
He launched into a rant about Lobi crystals, showing Harry a case of them.
Harry sighed and ignored the merchandise. “We were warned about Ferengi at the academy,” he informed him.
Quark frowned. “Warned about Ferengi, were you?"
“That's right,” Harry said, fidgeting a little.
Quark shook his head. “Slurs about my people at Starfleet Academy,” he mused.
Oh no. “What I meant was…” Harry started, but Quark cut him off.
“Here I am, trying to be a cordial host, knowing how much a young officer's parents would appreciate a token of his love on the eve of a dangerous mission, and what do I get for my trouble?” He pointed a finger. “Scurrilous insults. Well, somebody's going to hear about this. What's your name, son?”
“M-my name?”
“You have one, I presume?”
“Kim, Harry Kim. But I…”
“And who was it at the Academy who warned you about Ferengi?”
“You know, I think a memento for my parents would be a great idea.”
“Oh, no, no, no, no, no.”
“Really. What are these? It would make a great pendant for my mother.”
“Or cufflinks for your father,” suggested Quark, grinning.
“Cufflinks. Great idea.” Harry nodded.
“They're not for sale. Now, inform your commanding officer that the Federation Council can expect an official query.”
Harry's eyes widened. “How much for the entire tray?”
“Cash or credit?”
Then a kind of handsome guy walked in, wearing a red Starfleet uniform. “Dazzling, aren't they? As bright as a Koladan diamond,” he said.
“Brighter,” Quark breathed dramatically.
The guy crossed his arms. “Hard to believe you can find them on any planet in the system.”
Quark bristled. “That's an exaggeration.”
“You know, there's a shop at the Volnar Colony that sells a dozen assorted shapes for one Cardassian lek,” said the man. “How much are you selling these for?
“We-we were just about to negotiate the price.
He pulled Harry to his feet, and led him away from the bar. “Come on.”
“Thanks,” Harry said, for what else was there to say?
The guy smirked and put a casual arm around Harry's shoulder as he said, “Didn't they warn you about Ferengi at the Academy?”