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The next morning, the mess hall bustles with activity as crew members come and go for coffee, tea, and breakfast.
Travis, Hoshi, and Malcolm sit together at a table around the middle of the room. Travis and Hoshi casually pick at their respective meals and chat idly while Malcolm sips a cup of coffee, only half paying attention to the others’ conversation as he pores over a padd outlining daily tasks for the armoury.
“Soooo,” Hoshi says cheekily. “What do you think?”
“What do I think?” Travis repeats. “I don’t know. It seems… weird, y’know?”
“What do you mean?” Hoshi presses, quirking her head curiously before taking a bite of toast.
“Don’t get me wrong, I trust the Captain’s judgement,” Travis explains. “But Commander Shran? I just don’t see it.”
“Oh, come onnn,” Hoshi continues, incredulously. “Don’t tell me you haven’t seen the way they look each other on the bridge!”
Travis gives Hoshi a mildly disappointed look at her comment.
“I’m usually facing the wrong way,” Travis notes lightly.
“Riiight,” she replies, unconvinced. “Of course.”
“He’s only been deployed here a week!” Travis retorts.
“That may be true, but they’ve known each other for years now,” Hoshi counters.
Travis’s lips press into a fine line and he takes a bite of scrambled eggs.
“What do you think, Lieutenant?” Travis then asks Malcolm after finishing his bite and clearing his mouth.
“Hm?” Malcolm hums, looking up from the padd. “I’m sorry, pardon?”
“Commander Shran and the Captain. Hoshi thinks there’s something going on there.”
Malcolm scoffs his disbelief.
“Don’t be ridiculous. The Captain would never. Commander Shran is a capable officer, to be sure, an ally to Starfleet, and Captain Archer’s friend, nothing else. His position aboard Enterprise is a mutual benefit to both our species, but even if there were… feelings… I doubt very much Captain Archer would pursue anything. He’s far too professional to get mixed up in something like that.”
“Thank you!” Travis exclaims, relieved. “See, Hoshi? That’s what I’m saying.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” she replies with a coy smile. “Things end up turning out differently than we often expect.”
It’s at that moment that Shran enters the mess and the table of gossiping humans glance over before quickly averting their gaze, collectively somewhat embarrassed.
Shran busies himself with the shelving units, fussing over what, if anything, he would have to eat. Chef was kind enough to start preparing some authentic Andorian dishes alongside the regular menu for Shran to choose from as well, both a taste of home and in case any of the Earth food disagreed with him.
“Excuse me,” Malcolm says, standing and tucking the padd under his arm, coffee cup in the other hand. “I ought to be getting to the armoury.”
A convenient excuse, to be sure, and he leaves without another word or acknowledging the Andorian.
Shran eventually decides only on a cup of green tea, another favourite he’s recently discovered. He casually meanders over to where Hoshi and Travis are seated.
“Is this seat taken?” he asks the pair of ensigns, gesturing with his free hand to where Malcolm had been sitting. He’s expertly hiding his distaste at the idea of idly socializing with any human other than Archer. Much like with T’Pol, when she had first been assigned to Enterprise, Archer encouraged — or more accurately firmly requested — Shran get comfortable with the crew and try to, as Archer put it, “make friends.”
Travis looks at Hoshi, quietly hoping she doesn’t say what he thinks she’ll say.
“No, not at all!” Hoshi answers cheerfully gesturing with an open hand to the empty seat. “Please, join us, Commander.”
Travis hides his disappointment. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Shran, that wasn’t true at all. He had nothing against the Andorian at this point in time. It was simply that he’d prefer not to immediately be interacting with him after secretly speculating about his love life.
Shran nods his acknowledgement and sits down, placing the hot cup of tea in front of him.
“Sleep well, Commander?” Travis asks, being polite.
“Most certainly,” Shran answers, a wry smile tugging at his lips. He thinks back to the fun he had last night fantasizing about Archer.
He truly had slept very well.
The three lapse into idle chitchat, talking mostly about work, as Travis and Hoshi finish their respective breakfasts.
Wiping his mouth with a napkin before standing and taking his plate, Travis says, “I better get back to the helm. Thank you for your company, Commander. See you both later.”
He deposits his dishes in the proper area to be recycled and exits the mess hall.
This leaves Shran and Hoshi sitting alone at the table. Shran sips his tea and Hoshi watches him intently.
“Can I help you?” Shran inquires, his brow raising as he sets his cup down.
“I was wondering if you’d let me practice my Andorii with you,” she admits, hoping to get the same response she’d gotten from T’Pol and Phlox for their respective languages.
Shran regards her warmly for a moment, impressed.
“But of course,” comes the smooth reply. “I’d be honoured to assist you in perfecting your dialect.”
A bright smile blooms across Hoshi’s face and she eagerly switches off her UT clipped to her uniform. Shran copies her and the pair begin, Hoshi’s choice in words slow and pronunciation clunky at first, but she quickly gains confidence and before long, they’re conversing fluidly in Shran’s fluent and Hoshi’s nearly-fluent Andorii. Every once in a while, Shran assists in pronunciation or offers a word when Hoshi seems to blank.
They talk for a short while like that, Shran surprisingly enjoying Hoshi’s company, before Archer enters the mess.
Hoshi notices the Captain first as she’s facing the entrance. She glances over Shran’s shoulder and presses her lips tightly together to attempt to stifle a knowing smile. Shran notices this and checks over his shoulder.
He excuses himself from Hoshi and she simply nods, still trying to hide her smile.
Shran strides up to Archer and greets him.
Archer stares at him blankly, blinking a few times, his brow furrowing slightly. He also tries hard not to think about the tantalizing dream he’d had last night, pushing the intoxicating thoughts out of his mind.
“What?” Archer asks flatly, clearly confused.
Realizing his blunder, Shran rifles with his uniform briefly and flicks his UT back on.
“Apologies, Captain. Ensign Sato requested I practice her Andorii with her.”
Archer smiles warmly.
“Well, I’m sure she appreciates that,” he remarks, impressed that Shran had actually listened to his request and was attempting to fraternize with the crew. Archer glances at Hoshi and nods acknowledgingly at her. She gives a shy wave before standing, clearing up her own used dishes, and walking up to Archer and Shran. She thanks Shran in Andorii and excuses herself before departing the mess hall as well.
“I didn’t think you’d actually try,” Archer says to Shran, both surprised by and pleased with the Andorian’s efforts.
“Well, I suppose if I’m to remain here indefinitely, I might as well get… cozy.”
Archer chuckles softly at Shran’s choice of words.
“I was looking for you. Have you eaten? I was wondering if you’d join me for breakfast.”
Shran grins.
“I haven’t. I’d be pleased to join you.”
Archer’s smile widens and he nods once before turning to leave the mess with his Andorian companion.