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“Are you certain we’re meant to take this particular ambassador as a sign the Federation is committed to establishing diplomatic relations?”
“Yes,” said Julian. “She’s very accomplished. Why wouldn’t it be an indication of good faith that the Federation sent her?”
“She’s a telepath,” Garak replied, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Well, yes. Betazoids almost always are. Don’t worry, Ambassador Troi has promised not to read anyone’s minds without express consent.” That had been emphasized in the bulletin sent out to Federation relief workers, in case they found themselves in the position of needing to reassure any Cardassians on the point. Julian thought the move demonstrated a significant underestimation of Cardassian suspicion.
“Consent no Cardassian will give, I assure you, but I distinctly recall that she is capable of causing a great deal of telepathic trouble without reading anyone’s mind.”
“That was an exceptional circumstance.” Admittedly, an embarrassing one. Julian and Kira hadn’t been able to look each other in the eye for weeks after the Zanthi fever incident.
Garak did not look reassured.
Three Weeks Later
The reception was as lavish as could be managed, which Garak found time to bemoan was not lavish at all. Julian promised that the Federation would not take this as a slight. It hadn’t even been a year since the Dominion made alarmingly good headway in bombing Cardassia into uninhabitability, so no one was going to expect sixteen courses of rare and expensive food or intricate décor.
Lwaxana Troi made a point to come see them personally when Garak was checking on the perimeter of the reception (entirely ignoring that there was an entire security team to see to the perimeter, and that he was supposed to be cultivating an improved relationship with the Federation Diplomatic Corps). “Dr. Bashir, Mr. Garak! So lovely to see you again.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” replied Julian, as one was expected to do when recognized by such an esteemed ambassador.
“Now, when are the two of you going to stop pretending you aren’t madly in love?”
Julian forgot all about expected manners and stared at Garak, who for his part was glaring at Ambassador Troi. Madly in love? That was surely an… alright, it wasn’t really an exaggeration of Julian’s own feelings, but Garak’s?
“Madame Ambassador,” began Garak, “I believe you may have gotten the wrong impression. I’ve always suspected that telepathy could be prone to misunderstandings across species.”
“Telepathy is the best way to avoid misunderstandings across species,” she said. “I simply didn’t need it here. I studied Cardassian body language extensively in preparation, you know, and this level of possessiveness is never platonic.”
“Possessiveness?” asked Julian. Garak grew interested in a nearby bush.
“The first sign was the particular eye contact he makes with people who are a bit too friendly with you. Then there’s the way he stands next to you.”
It was news to Julian that a person could stand possessively, although he imagined if any culture would invent such a thing, it would be Cardassians.
“And as for you, Doctor, I was married to a human man. I know what one looks like when he’s jealous.”
Evidently Julian had not hidden his unhappiness with the lead musician throwing herself at Garak as well as he’d thought. Garak, for his part, was extremely interested in this revelation and deigned to stop examining the bush.
The evening had taken quite the turn. Julian wasn’t quite ready to let himself believe it – Garak was fully capable of pretending to be possessive for his own ends – but he was cautiously optimistic all the same.
“Do you happen to have a copy of your reference materials on Cardassian body language to share?” he asked Ambassador Troi. “For reasons which have suddenly become clear, I’ve had the hardest time finding any myself.”
She laughed. “Of course. I think you’ll find them very educational.”
“I’m sure I will.” He turned to Garak. “As for you…”
“I would like to note that anything you care to say about my alleged secrecy can just as easily be applied to you.”
That was as good as an admission. Only the knowledge that they were at a diplomatic reception stopped Julian from kissing the infuriating man senseless.
Besides, Garak had actually made a fair point. “I didn’t want to make things awkward. And, truth be told, I thought maybe we’d waited too long and lost our chance.”
“Surely you knew that waiting for proper circumstances is the height of Cardassian romance.”
“You do realize that you told me that in the same conversation where you tried to convince me that there was a Tal Shiar agent on the station.”
“Your counterarguments were delightful.” Garak grew serious. “You are leaving in less than four months.”
“I’m not now. I’ll work something out.” If Starfleet wouldn’t let him extend his service with the Relief Corp, he’d resign. That didn’t frighten him anymore. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
With exaggerated care, Garak moved to stand next to Julian with his torso turned at a seventy-five-degree angle.
“And that is how a Cardassian stands next to their partner,” translated Ambassador Troi. “Well, one of the ways. There are six, for some reason.”
Julian didn’t manage to get out an appropriate reply because he was too busy grinning like a besotted fool. Luckily, Ambassador Troi wasn’t offended. “Cardassians communicate through body languages and gestures much more than humans,” she told him. “You’ll need to learn.” To Garak, she said, “And you’ll need to use words sometimes, if you want to keep a human happy.”
The fact that Garak actually nodded and didn’t argue the point was nothing short of astonishing.
“Well, my work is done here.” With that, Ambassador Troi swept off to work her magic with the Detapa Council.
“Julian. I must ask if you are quite certain that you…”
He grabbed Garak’s hand and interrupted. “I’m positive.”
“You don’t even know how I intended to finish the sentence.”
“Because it doesn’t matter. I’m certain.” He’d found someone who loved him for all of who he was, had never even minded his flaws at their most glaring and wasn’t the slightest bit bothered by the parts of him which were just a bit too flawless. Someone he loved deeply in return, in a way which seemed… sustainable. If Garak was worried about his Starfleet career, Julian didn’t mind giving up other kinds of adventure because he’d never get bored with Garak.
“We probably should work on our communication, though.” He could really use that reference material on Cardassian body language.
“Ambassador Troi may have a valid point regarding the demands of an interspecies relationship,” conceded Garak with clear reluctance. Julian took it as promising all the same.
If they were truly addressing concerns, it seemed only fair to mention something else, namely, that Cardassian xenophobia was still alive and well in far too many quarters. “I don’t think I’m going to do your political standing any favors.”
“I am also certain,” said Garak.
That was a very Garak declaration, one which made Julian’s heart soar. There was only one inconvenient detail. “How soon do you think we can leave?”
“Not for another two hours, at least.”
“Damn.”
“Always so impatient, my dear.”
Feeling bold and absolutely thrilled to hear ‘my dear’ without it being followed by ‘doctor,’ Julian grinned and said, “You love it, really.”
For once, Garak didn’t argue the point.