Fickle Freddie

Posted on 28 Apr 2013 @ 5:03pm by Commander Andreus Kohl & Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark
Edited on on 28 Apr 2013 @ 5:10pm

3,264 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Mess Hall
Timeline: MD 04 - 2011 hours

[ON]

Before shuffling into the Mess Hall, Andreus Kohl had shed his uniform for the first time in what felt like too long a time. The blond Argelian was clad in fitted grey trousers and a cream-coloured polo shirt with crimson bands around the very short sleeves. A dark 8 o'clock shadow shaded his jawline. When his duty shift ended, Kohl had stayed on in Sickbay rather than spend time alone in his quarters with his thoughts. Even now, when he felt about ready to sleep for a hundred years, Kohl shuffled into a crowded room rather than face the moment. That moment. The moment when he lays there in the dark, and he stops thinking his thoughts, but then the other thoughts come unbidden.

After a quick stop by the replicator, Kohl figuratively dove right in to the middle of the mess hall. Thoughtlessly, he approached one of those tables in the middle of the mess hall. The table was otherwise occupied, but Kohl helped himself to one of the chairs.

Gabriel looked up to him with surprise where he was already sat at the table, a tall cocktail sat in front of him, cluttered with a number of empty glasses. He watched the man's movements, seeing him help himself to the seat. "No, not at all, no one's sitting there, please, go ahead..." he said sarcastically at his not having even asked.

As if the sarcasm went right over his head, Kohl grinningly replied, "You're welcome," without missing a beat. He sat onto the chair with his right flank against the chair-back, so he could get a better look at Gabriel there beside him. Amiably, he added, "Thank you for saving it for me."

"Welcome, I'm sure," Gabriel replied, the same edge to his voice. The man was lucky he was a looker. The good looks of his new companion softened the annoyance down, stopped it from brewing into anger, as it all too often did. He tilted his head, studying him for a long moment. That was a point - he didn't recognise the blonde at all, and he'd done his share of people watching. "Are you new around here?"

A questioning expression crossed Kohl's eyes, as if he wondered, for just a moment, if maybe he was new aboard Galileo. Was he? A heartbeat later, he shook his head in the negative, but his disagreeing with Gabriel didn't take the playful smile from his lips. "No, I reported aboard on stardate 66374.9. ...Or thereabouts," Kohl said offhandedly. While Kohl thought of explanations he didn't mention his detour aboard Venture, but he did say, "My hair doesn't normally look like this. That was my seventh mistake on Vega Colony."

"Hey, you can't go far wrong when you look like that and have blonde hair," Gabriel pointed out, his eyes shining for a moment. "I've been around a while too now, but I don't recognise you. And I'm pretty sure I'd have clocked you, especially over a drink and with some driving music," he chuckled, leaning back, stretching out in the seat as he watched him with a small smile. "They should turn this place into a real club, and then we could have some fun."

"I suppose I was overshadowed by all those towering, virile Klingons mucking up the place. Don't tell me that wasn't fun for a security officer," Kohl said, as if the taunting words might turn his fear of the long-gone intruders into something to laugh about. "Go on," Kohl encouraged, "You can confide in me. You must have been giving the doe-eyes to at least one of them." All the while, Kohl was guilelessly dropping his gaze down the length of Gabriel's body. The man looked to be about Kohl's height --perhaps his legs were longer-- but Gabriel's looked more slender than Kohl's own frame.

Gabriel grinned at that, shrugging lightly as he watched him with shining eyes. "Should have thought of that, shouldn't I. Might have stopped them wanting to kill me. Guess this gentleman just prefers blondes," he tilted his head, his lips curling into a smile as he watched him intently, a glint of something close to a challenge reaching his eyes.

At that, Kohl could only laugh. The laugh shook his whole body and the sound came out clear and sharp, like cut glass. "You Humans are so fickle. Every one of you only likes this or likes that," Kohl said, but he was smirking like he found it all amusing and dead charming. "Even if the mess hall were converted into a club, the Federation is so bloody democratic, we'd have to cycle through music from every world. It would take forever and a day to get to the... driving music, was it?"

"Driving, yes, thumping, pounding music," Gabriel laughed softly at that thought, stretching as he ran his hands through his hair. "Erk, you painted a really depressing vision of a Starfleet club then. The most horrible thing is, I think you're probably right," he wrinkled his nose, shaking his head. "It's no use, I'm just going to have to start my own." He thought about it before giving a sudden laugh as he wondered what Stone would make to a seedy club full of goodness only knew what on the ship. Run by security personnel. "Would you come?" he asked playfully.

Echoing the question, Kohl ponderously said, "Will I come?" As he thought about it, Kohl lifted his tumbler to take a pull of his synthehol whiskey. His eyes never strayed from Gabriel. "I'll find you a compartment in Sickbay where you can host your club during gamma shift."

Gabriel laughed warmly at that idea. Something tickled him in the idea. Hosting a club night in a sickbay. Although, it would be interesting with all the meds around. "I'll take that as a yes, blondie," he watched with a suggestive smile before shaking his head gently. "Good a name as any."

Wincing out an embarrassed smile, Kohl closed his eyes for a moment. "Andreus Kohl," he said and then he looked at Gabriel through half-lidded eyes. "I am a Nurse Practitioner," Kohl said, "and I am, evidently, lacking in good manners."

"Ah, see that's why I don't know you then. I avoid nurses and doctors like the plague," Gabriel arched an eyebrow with a soft, playful laugh. "It's a shame. I've heard it can be good fun to play doctors and nurses." Gabriel Stark," he reached across the table, close to him, to offer his hand as he held his eyes. "Security. "

Meeting Gabriel's gaze, Kohl didn't look away, he didn't even blink. Kohl clasped the man's hand between both of his own in greeting. "Security, huh?" Kohl asked, "Does that mean you joined Starfleet for the duty or the adventure?"

Gabriel searched his eyes for a long moment, letting out a long breath as he forced a smile up at that. "Funny thing. I was never really bothered with Starfleet. But it was better than the others careers lined up. Now though? I wouldn't want to give it up," he laughed softly, his eyes shining as he tilted his head to him. "Fickle, hm?"

"That doesn't sound fickle," Kohl remarked with a gentle shake of his head. He took a sip of his whiskey and he savoured it for a moment. "What did you miss most about security duty," Kohl asked, "while you were on shore leave?"

Gabriel tilted his head in thought - interesting question. "It sounds so trite, but the people I think," he shook his head. "Everyone had their own thing to do on shoreleave, so I ended up hitting the bars. Which is nice, don't get me wrong. Had a ~lot~ of fun. But it was good to see everyone again. Well, most people anyway," he arched an eyebrow with a playful chuckle. "What about you? You said you'd just reported back in....?"

"Oh, well, I'm not much of a multi-tasker..." Kohl replied, and it came out a bit sheepishly. He looked down at his drink, staring into the half-empty glass as if his thoughts might be found there. "I didn't miss anything," he said, regaining enough confidence to regard Gabriel's eyes. "Waking up each day on Vega Colony, with Edias, was all there was for me."

"Edias?" Gabriel was positively grinning at that, leaning to him as he met his eyes, a glint in his own. "Now there's a story in there. Waking up next to Edias, hm? Bet this Edias was gorgeous then."

"Have you met a Betazoid who wasn't gorgeous? I mean, ever?" Kohl replied in the affirmative. His voice was full with suggestive undertones and he cocked an eyebrow playfully at Gabriel. "Dark skin, dark hair, dark eyes..." Kohl said, reveling in his reverie. "He works as a physiotherapist. Knows just how to take care of his body to stay healthy," --Absently, Kohl patted his own flat abdomen-- "Without becoming vain like the rest of us."

"If I had a beauty like that, I don't think I'd be back here," Gabriel laughed softly, shaking his head. "You smuggled him back with you at least, right? Is he hiding in your closet?"

Without breaking eye-contact with Gabriel, Kohl lifted his tumbler and teased the edge of the glass with his lower lip. Once Kohl gulped back the rest of his whiskey and breathed in a deep breath, he shook his head sadly. "No," Kohl said ruefully, "Edias would not entertain life as a Starfleet civilian."

"Shame," Gabriel tilted his head as he watched him with even darker eyes, his lips curling into a half smile. "Still, I'm sure you can find another pretty thing to play with," he said softly. "His loss is our gain."

Kohl laughed at that, and it was a hearty laugh indeed. "Edias wasn't," Kohl said, "just some pretty thing to play with." --Kohl set his jaw ruefully and breathed in through his nose-- "But he has made me wonder how I lasted so long aboard Galileo without anyone to play with." --Kohl tilted his head to the right and his eyes darted towards his glass-- "Oh, I need another drink. Can I get you anything?"

Gabriel smiled at that, his eyes lighting up as he slid his glass across the table to him. "I'll take a screaming orgasm. If you'd oblige," he sat back and stretched with a playful smile, enjoying watching the blonde and enjoying flirting with him even more. He couldn't help himself. Not only was Kohl one very fine male specimen, but frankly, it was good to just have some fun. Everything could get so serious and heavy sometimes.

Gabriel's choice of drink forced a bit of a laugh from Kohl. The Argelian managed to clutch four empty glasses between his two hands and he walked away from the table. Although, halfway to the replicator, he looked back. After waiting in a small line, and availing himself of the replicator, Kohl sauntered to the shared table with a tall glass of screaming orgasm and another tumbler of whiskey. Kohl took a pull from his own tumbler on his walk back to the table. "I hope you missed me terribly," Kohl said, as he returned to his chair.

"I did," Gabriel sighed, shaking his head slowly from side to side. "But I got a very nice view," he assured with a soft laugh. "I'm glad you went and got it for me. Ordering one of those from a barman is fine, but I always feel like a bit of pervert asking for one from a machine. You get to be the kinky one today."

"Gabriel, I get to be a kinky one every day," Kohl said with perfect conviction. He cocked a eyebrow in a suggestive manner, even if it felt a bit over-the-top. Soon after, though, his gaze began to soften. With that faraway look in his eyes, he turned his head slightly to search for something out beyond the viewport.

Gabriel smiled softly, watching him with with dark eyes. It seemed that some over the top flirting was easing Kohl too. "You miss him, don't you," he said quietly, at the far away look in his eyes.

His eyes filled with the stars, Kohl said, "I do miss him." He sounded hurt and his voice quavered on the last word. "Oh!" Kohl said suddenly, as he tilted in the direction of Gabriel. "Not Edias. I don't miss Edias. How terrible is that? I loved him more than medicine, more than life, but I don't miss him now."

"Then who are you missing?" Gabriel asked with a frown, watching him with dark eyes as he sipped his drink. Something was aching in the other man. Gabriel might not have been the most sensitive person in the world, but even he could see that.

When Gabriel lifted his glass, Kohl lifted his tumbler as well. He swallowed a sip of the whiskey and he anticipated the burn. Who was he missing, Kohl thought as his memory filled with visions of today's shuttle crash. Kohl shifted his weight in his chair and he held his own chin in his left hand. "Could there be something wrong with me?" Kohl asked. "I should miss Edias, shouldn't I? I was ready to spend my life with him, to leave Starfleet. And it doesn't hurt to be without him."

"Maybe he was one of those intoxicating guys," Gabriel suggested with a small smile as he leant to him. "It's all heady and intense. Sparks and heat. Raw fire and feels near on perfect. But maybe you didn't love him. Maybe that's what it all was, and now you're not intoxicated with it, you can feel it clearer."

Kohl laughed at Gabriel's words. It was a full-bodied laugh, but it was self-deprecating and fearful around the edges. "Oh," Kohl said, "Oh, that would be frightening, if I were capable of making career-altering decisions under the influence of inter-personal intoxication." --He went for a full gulp of his whiskey then-- "...I suppose it's true, though."

"Does it matter if it is true?" Gabriel chuckled, leaning close to him so he could lower his voice. "Who cares if it that euphroria was based on shagging an incredible man rather than loving him. Doesn't make it any less amazing, or any less special, just because it was based on the physical rather than love. It still felt amazing either way, right? You don't often find people that you click with like that, on such an intense level. Good for you for enjoying it, I say. So don't beat yourself up for getting on with your life afterwards."

"You're right, Gabriel. Of course you're right," Kohl said, the conviction in his voice absolute. He held both arms out to gesture at Gabriel approvingly. "That was my father speaking a moment ago. My father's beliefs. Not mine."

Gabriel rolled his eyes at hearing that, sighing with a nod. "I hear you, mate. Isn't it frustrating and sickening that we can get lightyears away from them and they still manage to get into our heads and lecture us."

"There were lectures that haunted me my whole life," Kohl said through a wry smile, "and then it turned out my mother can't even remember giving them in the first place."

Gabriel grimaced at that, shaking his head before drinking eagerly from his glass. "Sounds like they formed a pincer movement if it was both your mother and father giving you a hard time."

In what was probably the first time Kohl had been forgiving of his parents in quite some time, he said, "I don't believe it was ever so calculated." --He shook his head and that sad, faraway look returned to his eyes-- "They married young. They were hardly together a year before they adopted me. They didn't know what they were doing."

Gabriel sighed as he watched him for a long moment. He didn't believe it for a moment. In his experience, family knew exactly what they were bloody doing. He didn't say it though. If the guy had reached some kind of understanding with his parents, who was he to make him question that. At least it was more peaceful than being angry with them. He didn't know them either, and the logical part of his brain lectured him that he was putting his own experiences onto the other man's. "Well, 'they' say that parents only have their children's best interest at hearts when they get all overbearing. No idea who 'they' are, but 'they' do say it, so I'm told."

Although Kohl nodded vaguely at Gabriel, his eyes returned to the starry viewport. His thoughts couldn't manage to escape shuttles falling out of the sky. It may have sounded like a non sequitur, or maybe not, but Kohl said, "I don't want to talk about my father." He sneered slightly and then just looked lost.

"Then we don't," Gabriel watched him with a small, knowing smile. He felt the same way about his own. "Just you and this crew, in a flying machine," he chuckled, shaking his head as he reached out to squeeze his shoulder warmly. "Chin up, blondie, you're amongst friends again."

When Gabriel laid his hand on Kohl's shoulder, Kohl reached for it. He clutched the hand, really holding it to his shoulder, as if he were terrified Gabriel was about to pull away. In a guarded tone, Kohl asked, "Are you my friend?"

Gabriel watched with surprise at the sudden question. He smiled, warmly, a genuine smile. No more games, no more flirting, just a real, genuine smile. "I'd like to be, if you let me," he said softly. In truth, Gabriel didn't make friends all too easily. Many ended up as one night stands never to be seen again and with others he ended up losing his temper and arguing with. Then there were those that worked out who he was and that he didn't have the most honourable of backgrounds. But when he did make friends, he was fierce in his loyalty. Andreus looked so lost when he looked out at the stars. He didn't like that, not at all.

"Why would anyone," Kohl asked, "stop you from becoming a friend?" He still hadn't let go of Gabriel's hand.

"I can be a bastard sometimes," Gabriel replied honestly, but with a grin all the same as he squeezed his hand, showing he wasn't crying into his beer over it, but wasn't in denial of it either. "I lose my temper real easy. I'm better than I was though," he laughed softly at that thought. It was true. "I suppose you seem like a nice guy, a good soul. Besides, you don't know me all that well yet. I don't want to scare you off," he winked.

Kohl patted the back of Gabriel's and then he did let go. Rather, he wrapped his hands around is tumbler. "I don't totally trust people who don't lose their temper," Kohl said, and then he used an Argelian saying that translated to something like: "We'll get along famously." Kohl raised his glass, and drank from it again, but he didn't look away from Gabriel Stark.



[OFF]

Lieutenant JG Andreus Kohl
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Petty Officer 2nd Class Gabriel Stark
(Played by Lieutenant JG Scarlet Blake)
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

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