Stuff and Things

Send Me A Couple/Quote And I’ll Write A Story

I’m still up for prompts! (This was sent to me three days ago, but it still applies.)

And thank you so much! Hopefully this will be just as fantastic for you. c:

Prompt 6 - “It’s fine, stop worrying about me”
Prompt 17 - “I can’t believe they spelled your name wrong again”

Jules

It is in our best interest for Chief Medical Officer Jules Bashir to continue his work on Deep Space Nine.

Jules Bashir.

Jules.

Garak could have thrown the PADD across the room. He almost did, in fact. But he managed to reel in his fury and only express it through his voice.

“I cannot believe they intentionally used the incorrect name again,” Garak said. He was sure it sounded more like a deep hiss to his companion, who remained reclined on the couch, his brown eyes staring at the ceiling.

“It’s fine, Garak.”

“Oh, this is hardly the definition of fine, my dear,” Garak said. He glared at the PADD. At that damn name. At Jules. “They may have allowed you to keep your position, but that hardly means they respect you. To use the name you deemed so reprehensible that you changed it in an official federation report shows how little they actually care for you as a person. I imagine this decision was only based on the sacrificial act of your father and the passionate insistence of Captain Sisko.”

“I don’t disagree, but this was bound to happen.”

Garak shifted his glare to Julian.

“And that makes this deplorable use of your birth name acceptable?”

“No, but it’s nothing to worry about. I got to keep my position. That’s all that matters.”

“That is not all that matters,” Garak said, “Such disrespect in Cardassian society–”

“This isn’t Cardassian society, Garak,” Julian said as he finally made eye contact. There wasn’t a flicker of light in them. “The Federation has strict rules on genetic engineering. I’m lucky I was able to keep my commission. I can’t expect everyone in Starfleet or even in the medical field to accept me now that the truth is out. There’s going to be people out there that are going to treat me this way regardless of my accomplishments.”

“And you’re just going to let them?”

“Yes.”

Garak tightened his grip on the PADD. He felt the thing tremble in his hand. Julian saw it, no doubt, because he stood from the couch, walked over, and placed his hand on Garak’s. The doctor’s warm fingers slowly eased his grip, though the PADD never slipped from it.

“Garak, really,” Julian said, “It’s fine.”

“Then where is your fire?”

Julian blinked.

“What?”

“Your fire, my dear. When you discuss anything with me, there is such a blaze in your eyes that one could mistake the brown tones of them for Earthen topaz and yet this matter has deadened that color. You say that it’s fine, but I’m afraid your eyes tell a rather different story.”

Silence. Garak watched Julian’s expression shift from that stoic one to another Garak only saw once – in the holosuite, when his eyes laid on the picture of Jadzia and he realized that the young woman he treasured as a valued friend might die and be gone forever. Shock. Dismay. Uncertainty. Perhaps in his young doctor’s mind, Julian concerned the reaction normal and even intended on allowing it to continue, but now, here, behind the closed doors of his quarters, Julian let that veil fall. After a second, his gaze went with it. Garak doubted he was looking at anything significant.

“My dear Julian,” Garak said, placing his free hand above the one Julian laid across his other moments ago, “I realize that you wish to keep your response to this matter private and I intend to maintain secrecy on the matter. However, I implore you to show your emotions with me, even if you believe they are inappropriate or sorely misplaced. I will not judge you over such matters.”

Julian’s fingers tightened against Garak’s hand. A tremble surged through them. Then Julian’s free arm lurched forward and wrapped around the back of Garak’s neck. Garak was pulled in; his nose was forced to brush the short strands of hair on the side of Julian’s head. Garak lifted his hand away from Julian’s fingers and wrapped his arm around the doctor’s waist. Julian’s face pressed into his shoulder. It took a second, then another, before Julian sobbed. It was such a heartbreaking sound. It nearly built up Garak’s rage a second time. There was a time and a place for such feelings though, and here, now, Julian needed anything but his anger.

Garak planted a kiss on the Julian’s ear, rubbed his hand against the doctor’s back, and let the man cry.