LtCmdr Skyfire + Cmdr Blair: Pizza and Confessions
Chythar Skyfire
((Courtyard Outside Starfleet Command, Earth))
::Alex had been nervous all day and he couldn’t really explain why. It had been a pretty typical day, or at least what had been passing as a typical day lately, but Alex could feel a knot tightening deep within his stomach.::
Blair: oO What’s wrong with me, I’m just going to dinner. Oo
::Alex double checked the watch on his right arm and looked to the door for about the hundredth time since he had arrived. He had made arrangements to meet Chythar in the courtyard earlier in the day, and after checking Alex realized that Skyfire still had a few minutes before he would be late. ::
Blair: oO Calm down. You haven’t been this nervous since the last time you went on a date and this is a whole different situation...isn’t it? Oo
::Alex looked up again this time to see Skyfire approaching and as if someone flipped a switch and turned off his nervousness.::
Blair: oO Huh, maybe at least a small part of me wants this to be more than just dinner. Oo
::Alex smiled at Chythar, who was at the moment the person he wanted to spend time with more than anyone else in the universe.::
Blair: It’s about time! I thought you had decided not to come!
::As though taken aback by being called late to dinner, Chythar gave a look of mock-shock.::
Skyfire: Alex! How dare you call me late for dinner. I was fashionably late!
::Alex started laughing as he began to feel the familiar sense of at ease around his closest friend.::
Blair: So, I’m famished. What’s the plan for dinner?
Skyfire: I have a few hours before I get packed on a shuttle and sent off to...um..somewhere. Apparently I’m visiting family I didn’t know I had.
::Brief glimpses of Alex’s childhood started flashing reminding him of fancy formal dinners and events he was dragged to but never wanted to be at. Alex smiled.::
Blair: Sounds fun? But how do you have family you don’t know about?
::Chythar gave a shrug. He didn’t really know. All he knew was that the place was called Llamasong Farms, and he didn’t have much in the way of information. It was run by one Sasha Moonsong, mother of his former counselor.::
Skyfire: Um...I mean, Raissa Moonsong is like my adopted sister, so...if the rest of the family adopts me then it’ll replace the massive loss I feel about not having any family left. ::He paused in speech as they neared the Italian place they had discussed.:: There’s something else that...that I’ve wanted to ask you.
::CD felt a knot forming in his stomach that wasn’t there before. The last time he’d said something along those lines, it was to Ris shortly before resigning himself to the fact she would be unavailable.::
::Alex looked closely at his friend. Whatever it was Alex could tell it was hard for Chythar to bring up.::
Blair: Ask away, after everything you did for me over the past months I owe you at least that.
Skyfire: In the last… ::He couldn’t count, and didn’t remember when it started exactly. Months kind of blurred together over there.:: ...few months, you’ve become one of my closest friends on the Gorkon, but...I’m sensing something else from you as well. Like you want it to be more than just a friendship. Question is, am I wrong?
::As they entered Luigi’s Pizza Parlor and had a seat, he allowed Blair to come up with an answer as water and cheese sticks were brought out to them.::
::The question hit Alex like a brick wall. He wasn’t really expecting it, but at the same time he couldn’t deny anything either. All of a sudden, Alex’s nervousness returned.::
Blair: I don’t know...you helped me get through something that I felt was impossible and I can freely admit that I wouldn’t have made it without you. ::Alex paused to gather his thoughts.:: You’ve become my best friend and being around you has become the best part of my day. ::pause:: Maybe that’s what it is, maybe...probably...I want more than just a friendship.
Skyfire: ::nodded slowly.:: I understand how you feel...I’ve...felt the same way about you…
::Alex was completely at a loss for what to say. For a moment, he just stood there looking at Chythar. This was all uncharted territory for Alex.::
Blair: So...we both feel the same way. There’s something more than just friendship here...what’s next? This kind of thing is new to me...hell sharing my feelings with someone else is new too.
::Truth be told, it was new territory for Chythar as well. Chase didn’t really count because it was one night of complicated, mixed signals. Debra didn’t count either due to the betrayal just after they started talking in that light. Ris didn’t count because he had come to love her as a sibling rather than a lover, and his advice to her after Carter was the reason she was celibate and unavailable.::
Skyfire: There are a lot of things we could do, Alex. Some philosophers say “see what happens.” Others say “share a kiss and see how you feel afterward.” You’re familiar with the concept of a one night stand?
::Alex nodded his head. He had heard of all these things before and even shared in some of them, but nothing ever really lasted.::
Blair: Oh I’m familiar. What about you? Are there a lot of one night stands in your past?
Skyfire: ::nodded slightly.:: Happened to me only once. And it didn’t end well.
::Alex looked closely at Chythar.::
Blair: Well, that’s something we definitely don’t want to happen here. ::pause:: Whatever this is, I want it to last.
::He shook his head. He didn’t know what true love actually felt like, but was definitely picking up something more than friendship from Blair. A crush, maybe…? Stronger and yet different than anything he’d felt on anyone else. As their drink showed up, CD picked up the menu and glanced to Alex.::
Skyfire: I’m all for the triple meat, how about you?
::Alex quickly glanced at the menu before setting it back on the table.::
Blair: Sounds good to me. Anything else good here?
Skyfire: Not that I recall, but then again, it’s been several years since I was here last. ::He paused to have a sip of his drink.::
::As the server stepped away from the table a slightly uncomfortable silence fell across the duo. After a few moments, Alex decided that one of them needed to say something.::
Blair: So...this is awkward.
::It had been over a year since Debra had carved into his heart, and the same for his one night with Chase. Neither of which CD forgot, but by the same token he wasn’t sure he had recovered either.::
Skyfire: Ah’m still having a bit of difficulty adjusting to being somewhere with food.
::Alex smiled.::
Blair: Okay, now we both know how we feel so let’s just see how things go. I really like being around you and doing things with you, so let’s just see what happens. What do you think?
::Chythar dimly recalled his few conversations with Taybrim and Moonsong, that eventually he might find someone who felt the same way about him as he did for them. Maybe this was it. He smiled in return: Alex seemed like good people. The warm and fuzzy happy glow he felt off of the man was definitely distracting, in a pleasant sort of way::
Skyfire: Good idea.
::Alex smiled. There was something about Chythar that made Alex feel at ease and this was no exception.::
Blair: So how bout that food? How long do you think it’s going to be? I was too nervous all day to eat anything!
::It had been at least two years, so things did change. He didn’t remember how long the pizza took to bake, but managed a sip of his drink before answering the question.::
Skyfire: Given how empty the place is tonight, Ah’d say maybe five to ten minutes at a guess. Ah had lunch with Cory where Ah learned our saviors are all under arrest.
::Alex had read a few reports on their way back aboard the Yaraha, but had heard nothing of their rescuers. Skyfire’s statement was news to him.::
Blair: They were arrested? For doing something that the fleet couldn’t? ::Alex paused and then spoke with a sarcastic tone in his voice.:: That seems like just the right thing to do!
Skyfire: Yep. Everyone who was aboard the Yaraha and participated in the theft of the starship.
Blair: ::Alex shook his head:: I just can’t believe that Starfleet thought that would be a prudent course of action. Who comes up with this stuff?
::Chythar nodded faintly but couldn’t come up with an answer to that so changed the subject.::
Skyfire: While we’re on the subject of lasting...stuff… ::Words failed him only for a moment.:: During lunch, Ah didn’t know where yeh were and couldn’t get a straight answer from the med staff. Ah was heavily concerned and didn’t think about much else besides hoping yeh were okay.
::Alex had felt much the same way and when he couldn’t find Chythar in the triage holodeck only found solace in diving into work.::
Blair: I felt the same way. A part of me knew that you could take care of yourself, but another part wanted to run around looking for you. ::Alex smiled.:: But don’t worry, I won’t let you get rid of me that easily!
::The warmth in Alex’s words was only matched by that warm and fuzzy glow. CD reached a hand across the table and gripped Alex’s gently, giving a soft smile.::
Skyfire: Maybe life will be kind enough to let us attempt something stronger than friendship.
::Alex gripped Chythar’s hand and returned the smile.::
Blair: I really hope so.
::Just as their food arrived, Chythar heard the familiar chirp of a badge going off. After giving a roll of his eyes in the fashion that said “A doctor’s work is never done”, he listened to the hail.::
Golden Gates: =/\= Golden Gates to Dr. Skyfire. =/\=
::At first, the hail confused him, then he remembered that was one of the personnel shuttles from his hotel . With a sigh, he tapped his badge.::
Skyfire: =/\= Go for Skyfire. =/\=
::Alex tried not to eavesdrop on Chythar’s conversation, but one could only do so much when they were sitting at the same table.::
GG: =/\= Sorry to bother you sir. A shuttle ticket just came in for you. Destination: LlamaSong Farms.=/\=
::CD blinked a couple times, then acknowledged it.::
Skyfire: =/\= Departure time? =/\=
GG: =/\= 0800, pad A. =/\=
Skyfire: =/\= Acknowledged. Skyfire out. =/\= ::Once the line closed, he looked to Alex.:: Looks like Ah’ve got plans tomorrow morning.
::Alex had been enjoying himself and was looking forward to spending more time over leave with CD, so he frowned a little.::
Blair: I understand, we’ve all got things to do and people to see. It’s not like we get back to Earth too often.
::Alex took a bite of his pizza before continuing.::
Blair: So where are you going?
::Chythar had a couple bites of his pizza and a swig of his beer before answering, as he was trying to figure out how to explain his connection.::
Skyfire: Counselor Raissa Moonsong aboard the Invicta adopted me like a brother. Looks like she wants me to visit her family now that Ah’m back. ::He had another swig of his drink and processed that sentence, letting it sink in. Then whispered softly.:: My family…
::Skyfire’s statement made it sink in for Alex that he hadn’t even contacted his family since getting back.::
Blair: Family’s always good right? ::pause:: I should make some time to visit mine, in fact I should probably call them.
Skyfire: Or both. Are yeh close?
Blair: No, I’ve never been too close with my family. We tried to reconnect recently, but me being in Starfleet things never seem to normalize. I guess I’ve grown to used to not seeing them often. But I really hope for better with you and your family. Have fun with them!
::CD had no sense of fun anymore after that year of running. Especially since all his jokes were staler than the rations.::
Skyfire: Likely won’t have anything to do with fun...more making sure Ah’m mentally stable.
Blair: We’ll just have to do something once you get back!
Skyfire: Ah would love that.
::He smiled softly at Alex and wondered what that first kiss would be like, if it ever got to that point. Their words signified the beginning of something special. Now he just had to hope Murphy would go pick on his enemies, and leave him and Alex alone.::
===
Commander Alex Blair
Mission Specialist
USS Gorkon
T238906AB0
&
Lieutenant Commander Chythar Skyfire
Chief Medical Officer
USS Gorkon, NCC-82293
History Team Co-Facilitator
Medical Duty Post Facilitator
Dear Doc Columnist