A casual get together

Posted on Monday 27 July 2026 @ 19:44 by Lieutenant JG Oakham Renn & Lieutenant JG Zirvell Khen

Mission: The Seal of approval
Location: Security office/holodeck
1696 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Zirvell had been looking forward to the end of his shift, though with things being very quiet he decided to leave a few minutes early. Casually, he made his way to the security office, where the subject of his attention was still on duty. The Cardassian waited patiently to be noticed, nodding occasionally in greeting as other officers passed the young medical officer. It was certainly a change from when he had first arrived.

When getting noticed took too much of his patience, the Cardassian stepped inside and gently touched the Bajoran's arm to get his attention. "I've booked the holodeck for the next hour after your shift ends," he said, moving back to a respectful distance.

"Zee... You made me jump!" the young Bajoran smiled as soon as he realised his was Zirvell however. The pair had not gotten off to the best of starts, mostly because of his own prejudice towards Cardassian's which now he could see was not only misplaced but exceptionally infantile and short sighted. To a degree he still had those same feelings but over time he had come to understand himself and grow beyond the angry man he had been.

He leaned in and kissed the Grey skinned newly appointed Doctor on the cheek and whispering in his ear. "I'm almost done. Give me just a few minutes!"
He stole a look into the Cardassian's eyes before turning and hurrying back into the Security Office to finish up his duties.

The Cardassian's grey skin seemed to flush upon the kiss and he smiled awkwardly, still getting used to the other's open affections. "I did arrive early," he murmured as he straightened. The Bajoran was also the only one to have found a way to shorten his name and he found he actually liked it. He waited somewhat impatiently for his friend to finish his shift. "I haven't chosen a program yet but I thought we could end with dinner? In my quarters maybe?" The young man looked hopeful, but unexpecting. "What would you like to do?"

"How about we see how things go and perhaps we could get dinner in the holodeck... I've been wanting to show you the Dakeen Monastery on Bajor. It has a beautiful Garden with a pond you can swim in with a waterfall... Perhaps we could load that program and go for a walk around Dakeen" Renn asked almost sheepishly from the other side of the small office knowing this would be sensitive given their initial introductions and that the Cardiassian Union has annexed Bajor and essentially devastated the area during the occupation.
It had taken time but Bajor had recovered and Renn was more than keen to include his friend, for lack of a more appropriate term, in his culture. He was also excited to start to learn more about Cardassia, if Zee was ever comfortable enough. He had heard rumours that Cardassia Prime had recovered from the Dominion Bombardment at the end of the war and its beauty, although different to Bajor, still rivalled its neighbouring star system.

The hesitation was extremely brief as a smile touched the corner of the Cardassian's mouth. "Ren, I would love to see the monastery if you're comfortable showing me. I don't have much of a home to show you I'm afraid. I can't remember ever having been to Cardassia Prime, and the colony I grew up on wasn't much and still isn't much. But I would love to see the places that make you happy, because that makes me feel happy. Want me to wait until you're done?"

"I am done, lets go" he placed the PADD on the desk having handed the duty shift over to the next duty officer and was on the move to the door, scooping Zee's hand into his as he went. "You will love it. The scent of the Giylesh blossoms and the sound of the water running over the smooth pebbles I know no place as soothing to the soul".

"Sounds like a very lovely place to be," Zirvell answered thoughtfully as he allowed himself to be pulled along. "Easy Ren.. I don't want to trip before we even get there." Yet he smiled at the Bajoran's enthusiasm, it was certainly effective. "Is it a creek we can walk or swim in?"

"There is a pool you can swim in at the base of the waterfall".
Renn's smiled was vibrant and even he had to admit his disposition towards Zirvell had changed considerably in the short time they had known each other.

"That sounds marvelous," Zirvell breathed, "slow down, we got time." He tugged at the hand that pulled him along. "Easy... I'm not about to bolt on you. I'd love to go swimming with you, and enjoy the sights. Maybe on our next leave we can go see it for real?"

Renn hesitated only a moment, as if trying to slow his own excitement before his expression softened, a reluctant smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Slow down?” Renn echoed gently, stepping a little closer instead of retreating. “Zirvell, I’ve been waiting to show you this program for days. I know we have plenty of time… but that’s exactly why I don't want to waste a second.”

His voice dropped slightly, warmth replacing his energetic urgency. "Ok" he said with a slight smile putting his hands up in defeat before kissing Zirvell gently on the cheek. "I'm just happy to be here with you".

Renn’s energy settled into something more grounded as he fell into step beside Zirvell, their pace evening out. The anticipation didn’t disappear but rather it simply changed form, becoming a shared anticipation between them rather than something pulling Renn forward alone.

"In that case you should've transported us there," the Cardassian teased, his complexion darkening a little at the kiss. While he enjoyed it, it was still something he was getting used to. The whole concept of showing affection beyond a familial setting was alien to him, but gradually he was doing better. "I'm happy to share this with you, but I still don't feel we need to be in a hurry. Slowly, he wrapped his arm around the Bajoran's waist, his hesitation palpable as he drew him closer. "Let's enjoy the walk there too? " He suggested, more or less putting up a show as if he wanted to dare people to say something. As if to dare others to even suggest they didn't belong together. He wanted to show, that he didn't care what others might think.

Renn allowed himself to be drawn closer, the familiar hum of the starship’s systems fading into the background as he surrendered to the moment. The gentle touch of his lover’s lips was warm, reassuring, and far more intoxicating than he had expected. For all the discipline he had learned in Starfleet, for all the years spent following regulations and keeping his emotions carefully contained, he found himself wanting to hold on just a little longer. The only thought that broke through the haze was the realisation that they were still standing in one of the ship’s more public corridors, where any passing crewmember could easily notice the growing lack of distance between them.

A quiet smile tugged at Renn’s mouth as he reluctantly eased back, though he made no real attempt to hide the affection in his eyes. The last thing he wanted was to end the moment, but even he knew that there were limits to how much attention they could attract before someone—possibly even the Captain—took notice. Starfleet regulations, duty rosters, and the ever-present expectations of the code of conduct suddenly seemed like very inconvenient obstacles between him and the man he was slowly, unexpectedly falling in love with.

“We’d best hurry,” Renn murmured, his voice lowered with playful warning as he glanced briefly down the corridor. “Because I’m not entirely sure how long I can keep my hands to myself.” His smile widened as he added, “And somehow, I doubt the Captain would approve of that particular breach of protocol, especially while we’re standing in plain view of half the ship.” With one final lingering look, he turned reluctantly toward their destination, already counting down the moments until they could be somewhere a little more private.

"I don't care who sees us together," Zirvell decided, "and what protocol. We're not in the same department and we have the same rank. Oh, and we're off duty." But he had a feeling it was probably best to get to the holodeck quickly.

Renn took Zi's hand and gently tugged him along. They were already close to the holodeck, but he wasn't entirely sure he could keep his hands off the man he was falling in love with. He could admit that now—with complete certainty.

Their relationship had begun at a time when the Bajoran still harbored a deep-seated prejudice against Cardassians. Fifty years of occupation had left scars that ran deeper than memory. Hatred, cultivated over generations, had become woven into the fabric of Bajoran society, and unlearning it had been neither quick nor easy.

But Zi had forced Renn to confront those beliefs. Day by day, conversation by conversation, he had come to understand that the man beside him was more than the blood in his veins or the species he had been born into. Zi wasn't responsible for the sins of Cardassia's past; he was simply Zi. It had taken Renn longer than he cared to admit to see that.

They rounded the corner, and the holodeck doors came into view.

"Computer," Renn said, unable to hide the anticipation in his voice, "run program Oakham Delta Nine. Seal the doors once we've entered."

Zirvell held his breath as they stepped inside and the doors sealed behind them with an audible hiss. "This is breathtaking," he breathed as he let his eyes wander across the scenery ahead, only to settle on his companion. "I can't wait to see this pool you spoke of." As obviously it was obscured from direct view, for a multitude of purposes.

END