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Odo harrumphed as he exited the security office. It was closing time at Quark's, and while the Ferengi was fairly adept at emptying out his bar when he wanted to be, the drunken mob would swarm the Promenade before stumbling back to their quarters. The upcoming weekend meant more of the crew was off tomorrow, and as a result the bar had been more raucous than usual. Odo's security officers had broken up three fights already, and he imagined there would be at least a few more before the night was through.
Odo nodded to Deputy Heza as he passed her. The Bajoran woman was his newest recruit. She was young but very competent as he had known she would be. After all, Kira had recommended her personally, and the Major only selected the best.
As though summoned by his thoughts, Kira Nerys herself exited the bar with her arm linked through that of Jadzia Dax. They were dressed casually and had clearly been enjoying one of their “ladies’ nights” as Jadzia had dubbed them.
"Good evening, Major, Lieutenant," he acknowledged with a nod.
"Hi, Odo!" A wide grin spread across Kira's face as she greeted him. If Odo had a heart, it would have stuttered at the sight. That smile, so rarely on display, was breathtaking at any time, but when it was directed at him, Odo felt like his molecules might lose cohesion.
"Hi!" Jadzia echoed happily. "Odo, make sure Nerys gets home okay. I told Worf to wait up for me."
Odo marveled at the Trill's ability to make even the simplest words sound salacious. Jadzia kissed Kira's cheek with an audible smack and whispered something in her ear before unlinking their arms and giving her a not-so-gentle shove in Odo's direction.
"Have a good night!" Jadzia said in a singsong voice as she melted into the crowd.
Jadzia's push had knocked Kira off balance, and she stumbled a step before catching herself on Odo's arm.
"Sorry about that, Constable,” she said with an uncharacteristic giggle. She righted herself but she didn't move away from him. "Making your rounds tonight?" she asked. "Or are you off duty?"
"Both," he said truthfully. "I'm off duty, but I always make sure to monitor the Promenade when Quark's closes on weekends.”
She laughed lightly, and Odo found himself smiling along with her, drawn by the melodious sound of her amusement and the shine of her red lipstick as she tilted her head back to look up at him.
"Can I go with you?"
"What?" Her question caught him by surprise.
"On your rounds. Can I walk with you?"
A pleasurable shiver coursed down his spine. “Of course, Major. You are always welcome to join me."
She pouted at him, her red lower lip stuck out. Odo's brow drew together in confusion. He had just agreed with her. Why was she upset with him?
"O-do," she said in a long-suffering tone. "We've been over this. You don't have to call me Major when we're off duty. It makes me feel stiff and old. It's Nerys."
"Nerys." Her name rolled off of his tongue like honey. Her beautiful, too-wide smile was back.
"See? You've got it," she praised.
It was a small thing, but Odo still felt glad to have pleased her. There was an extra spring in his step as they set off along his usual route.
They didn't talk much, pausing here and there as Odo chivvied late-night revelers along to their quarters or their ships. Kira had still not relinquished her grip on his arm, and the contact was making his molecules quiver delightfully. They had nearly finished a lap of the second level when Odo groaned, "Not again."
"What is it?" she asked curiously.
"Ijarna, come out from behind that kiosk and get to your quarters before I put you both in holding cells tonight. Separate cells,” he growled.
There was a grunt and a squeak and the rustle of the hasty readjusting of clothing before Ijarna and his wife Taral scuttled out from behind the information kiosk. He had lipstick all around his mouth. Her hair stuck out at odd angles as though she had been electrocuted, and her shirt was on backwards as they hurried past Odo and Kira.
Kira turned in to Odo and pressed her face against his shoulder. Preoccupied with giving the couple his most intimidating scowl, it took Odo a moment to realize she was shaking.
"Nerys? Are you alright?" When she pulled back, speech was beyond her. She pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggles, her eyes brimming with tears as she struggled to control herself. "You - weren't - kidding!"
Odo couldn't help but smile in the face of her mirth. "Last time, they were a bit farther along,” he told her drily. "At least their clothes were mostly intact tonight."
Kira's eyes grew round, and she collapsed against him in peals of laughter. "You mean, you saw - you saw -"
"Much more than I ever wanted to," he confirmed morosely.
Kira would have been a puddle on the floor by now if he hadn't been holding her up.
Odo eyed her with an indulgent smile. He found he was enjoying this more relaxed side of her.
"Exactly how much did you and Jadzia have to drink tonight, Nerys?" he asked archly once she had finally regained control of herself.
"Enough," she grinned back.
"Enough for what?"
"Enough that I only threatened Quark twice the entire evening."
“That much, hmm?" He raised an eyebrow, and she dissolved into another fit of giggles.
Odo chuckled.
"Come on, Nerys. Let's get you home."
She didn't protest, leaning into his side as they made their way back along the second level to the turbo lifts. They didn't speak as they zoomed along to the habitat ring, and Odo enjoyed the comfortable silence. He had found that many humanoids felt compelled to fill the quiet with noise, but Kira was content just to be. Her arm still linked through his sustained a pleasant buzz, nearly as potent as the drinks she had imbibed earlier in the evening. If he had ever been more content than in this moment, he did not remember it.
They strolled leisurely to her quarters. Kira palmed the entry and looked up at him. "Thank you, Odo. I had a great -“
THUD
A crash and a moan sounded through the wall next door.
Odo tensed, on high alert for trouble, but Kira just rolled her eyes. "Don't worry," she said blithely. "That's Jadzia's quarters."
Odo looked around at her. "You mean, she and Worf...?"
"Mmhmm. You know what she whispered in my ear tonight? She advised me to use my earplugs."
Odo's mouth fell open. "But that's plated duranium!"
"Yep."
"And you can still hear-"
"Clear as a bell." Kira laughed at the look of consternation on his face.
"Don't worry, Constable. It’s rare that they’re this loud. And Jadzia bought me some excellent earplugs." She giggled again and used one hand on his chest for balance as she stood on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you for a lovely evening, Odo." She gave him another dazzling smile as she entered her quarters.
His cheek burned where her lips had touched him, and his molecules danced. “Good night, Nerys.”