for ZEX

[bornsnarky]

[scowling at the communicator]

Yeah, but what the hell happened to him? You could give me a little more-

[Jim barks something curt about not having time and you'll just have to deal with it, Bones]

Oh, great. Just great. Guess I better get ready for anything from the Antares Two-step to Denobulan Mudfever.

Comments

[zexyandiknowit]

Months, yes. And yes, that is how they sold it to me.

Apparently I am contractually obligated to remain in Starfleet until I would have qualified for retirement from the Armada. Meaning, of course, until I perish, for the Armada does not have retirement. I do not know which organization wrote that contract, but either way, I am a bit peeved.

I also... I also promised I would not interact with slavers, given my... past responses. And yet.

[bornsnarky]

I take it you didn't have terribly helpful people giving you advice? Or was it just a case of not really having a choice?

...Federation's pretty good, don't get me wrong. But yeah. Far from perfect.

[softly] And yet sometimes things are difficult to avoid.

[zexyandiknowit]

Most advice I received at that time was something along the lines of trying to put humans and their wellbeing out of my mind. I believe I stopped listening to anyone, for a while.

[Stiff shrug.]

[bornsnarky]

[...I don't like thinking of you that lost and alone]

Will you get in trouble for today? Beyond Jim inevitably yelling at you, of course.

[zexyandiknowit]

...In truth, I do not know. Should the Armada find out, I certainly will be. There is every chance those slaves were meant for VUX, though not above-board ones.

[bornsnarky]

[shudders]

You did a good thing in stopping them, my friend.

[zexyandiknowit]

[Finishes tea, presents McCoy with his mug]

Perhaps soon I will be calm enough to see it as anything other than a drastic loss of control.

[bornsnarky]

[takes with a nod of thanks]

It was that, too, sure. But I know you command types. Always second-guessing yourselves. Never allowing any kind of failure.

'sokay to fail. For the right reasons.

You'll do better next time.

[zexyandiknowit]

[Takes a sip of tea]

[Then sort of]

[Slowly puts his head on the table and speaks in a muffled voice]

This has been a very long day.

[bornsnarky]

[putting my cup down, a hand gently rubbing your back]

I'll bet.

[zexyandiknowit]

Mmmm...

[Relaxing a bit, at that]

[bornsnarky]

[hard to believe now that your back was like that before]

[leaning forward to brush my lips against the skin just behind your ear]

[going back to rubbing your back]

[zexyandiknowit]

[Sighs, letting his eye close and his shoulders relax]

[bornsnarky]

[small chuckle]

[moving around behind you to start doing this properly, both hands]

[zexyandiknowit]

Mmmff. ♥ I do enjoy your hands.

[bornsnarky]

They're kinda fond of you, too.

[working away, gently, around the places you got hurt]

[zexyandiknowit]

[Sloooowly melting under McCoy's attentions]

[bornsnarky]

[quietly, still working] You're a good person, ZEX.

[zexyandiknowit]

[Makes a complex sort of clicking noise]

I am glad you think so.

[bornsnarky]

Yup. And my judgement's clearly better than yours, so you have to accept it.

[zexyandiknowit]

[Little groan]

You are insufferable and I like you very much.

[bornsnarky]

[all the smug]

So you damn well should. I'm very likeable.

[zexyandiknowit]

[Looks up from the table]

I am not... entirely recovered, but I would rather kiss you than talk. Is this acceptable?

[bornsnarky]

[waves a hand]

[gently] Of course. We can talk more later.

[zexyandiknowit]

[Leans up and plants one right on McCoy's mouth]

[Because this is the best sort of therapy]