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The time for feeding was near. She knew, though not how, for there was no real change in the light, no winds blowing or dusk falling or change in temperature as night fell, or any of the things she remembered from Before.
Perhaps it was the hunger. Perhaps the sounds of the other creatures nearby, in their cages and confines, as they all started awakening and calling out for sustenance.
Big Voice Man began his nightly round. But he was starting with one of the smaller cages. The Pyrithian bat gripped the sides of her cage and shrieked angrily. Why was she being ignored? Where was her food?
“Now then, behave yourself. You know very well that today is your treat day and you don’t want me feeding you. Ensign Sato will be by shortly.”
Smiling Voice Lady! The bat squeaked in excitement. She would be let out of her cage and be allowed to crawl around on Smiling Voice Lady’s shoulders. Perhaps even receive scritches! The bat’s head swivelled toward the doors. She was approaching!
There were other footsteps walking alongside hers; a heavier tread, but perfectly in sync. Strong Quiet Man. He had been accompanying Smiling Voice Lady more frequently, of late. He still hadn't interacted with any of the creatures, though.
The doors to Sickbay opened, and Smiling Voice Lady entered, accompanied by Strong Quiet Man. His hands were clasped behind his back, while hers swung freely at her sides.
“Hello, Doctor,” she said, heading straight for the bat’s cage. She squeaked again, eagerly climbing up the side of the cage to where the lid was opening. “Hey, hello, how are you?” The bat crawled out onto her hand, gripping tightly but carefully with her small, clawed feet. Smiling Voice Lady must never be hurt.
“You're so gentle with her, Hoshi,” said Strong Quiet Man. “Not many people would be comfortable around a flying rat with a vampire bite!”
“She’s beautiful, is what she is,” Smiling Voice Lady cooed, gently scratching the top of the soft, silky-furred head. The bat squeaked again and shivered her wings in pleasure, gazing up at the human in adoration. “Don’t tell me you never had rodents or other small mammals as pets? No mice or rats or guinea pigs or hamsters?”
“None whatsoever,” confirmed Strong Quiet Man. He looked a little sad. “We had a Labrador while I was growing up - a good dog for a good British family. His name was Sam.”
“That’s a good name. A strong name.” Smiling Voice Lady kept stroking, and the little bat craned her head to get the best position for the finger scratches.
“He was named after Samwise Gamgee. He was the most loyal dog any boy could ever have hoped for. Sam lived to the age of 13; a ripe old age for a dog his size. When he died, we never replaced him. And then I joined Starfleet a year or so later.”
“I’m sorry.” Smiling Voice Lady sounded a little sad now, too. The bat rubbed its cheek against her hand, and she smiled, and cooed again. Strong Quiet Man let out the softest sigh, a sound only the bat could hear. He must enjoy the sound of Smiling Voice Lady cooing, just like the bat did.
Her voice was less sad when she said, “I never had a dog, or a pet of my own, really. My grandfather, Michio, he had this utterly gorgeous black cat. Kuro - her name meant ‘black’. She’d let me hold her whenever I visited, just the gentlest old lady. She lived to the age of 22. You remind me of her.”
Strong Quiet Man looked surprised. “I remind you of a 22-year-old cat?”
Smiling Voice Lady laughed, and gently allowed the bat to climb up her arm to her shoulder, where she crawled around from shoulder to shoulder, squeaking happily. “Her fur wasn’t pitch black; it had that sort of reddish-brown tint to it, like black hair or fur turning rust-coloured. The way your hair looks black but then is brown in certain light.”
Strong Quiet Man frowned, but it seemed to be more in confusion than anger. He simply nodded.
Smiling Voice Lady continued, “She was very calm, usually quiet, quite reserved - not just anyone could pet her, she usually only allowed Michio and me to touch her, or would curl up in our laps. But she was fierce! She was the smallest of all our cats, but she ruled them with an iron paw. They were all afraid of her, I think.” She smiled. "Small, quiet, but deadly; sounds familiar, don't you think?"
Strong Quiet Man had been watching Smiling Voice Lady and a small smile had crept onto his face when she wasn’t looking. He shook his head at her, chuckling, and didn’t seem offended to be compared to a cat.
The bat crept up against the side of Smiling Voice Lady’s neck and cuddled in. She laughed, saying “That’s ticklish!” but made no move to dislodge the bat from its comfortable resting spot.
“She’s quiet now. Would you like to pet her?”
“I don’t know, Hoshi, her teeth seem very sharp and they’re very close to your neck.”
“Just move slowly and be gentle, Malcolm. She’s a lot smaller than we are and frightens easily. Wouldn’t you, if something a hundred times your size suddenly tried to grab you?”
Strong Quiet Man was reaching out toward the bat, slowly, carefully. The silvery bat hissed at his hand uncertainly, and Smiling Voice Lady bent her head and began rubbing it against the top of the bat’s.
“Hush now, you can trust him,” she murmured, and the bat fluttered her wings and settled, watching warily as the finger reached toward her face. She allowed the touch, and preened under it a little. The finger slipped to one side and began rubbing gently along the sides of the bat’s jaw; she leaned into the touch, grumbling happily.
“I think she likes you.”
“She’s not too bad, herself.” Strong Quiet Man’s voice was low and deep and soothing. It made the little bat shiver happily under the resonance. Smiling Voice Lady seemed to shiver, too. Good sound was good sound, after all.
“Come on, sweet girl. Playtime’s over.” A gentle hand carefully removed the bat from Smiling Voice Lady’s neck and back down to her wrist.
The little creature sat back, considering; then she launched herself at Strong Quiet Man. He didn’t flinch away from the sudden movement, simply looked down to where the bat was now clinging to his chest. There was a deep thudding boom beneath her ear, repeating over and over again.
A large finger began softly rubbing between her ears and under her chin, and soon she began falling asleep. Strong Quiet Man was comfortable and calm and his voice rumbled through his chest, accompanying that deep, rhythmic booming.
Smiling Voice Lady seemed to have moved closer, for a smaller finger stroked gently down between the bat’s wings and along its spine. She let out some contented little squeaks and settled herself for sleep. Then a strong but careful hand closed around her and her wings, lifting her from Strong Quiet Man’s chest. Unfair!
With some annoyed grumbling, the bat allowed herself to be placed back into the cage. She watched contentedly as Strong Quiet Man moved closer to Smiling Voice Lady, peering over her shoulder into the cage, but closing his eyes and inhaling quietly to take in her scent.
Perhaps next time the bat would once again have not one, but two admirers to pay her proper homage.
***
UPDATE: ThetaChapel drew this lovely piece inspired by my fic and I am blown away!
