Electric Blue

Posted on 28 Nov 2013 @ 2:22pm by Lieutenant Aria Rice & Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark

1,470 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 3, Security Offices
Timeline: MD 08 - 1330

[ON]

Aria frowned as she adjusted the wig she wore. She thanked herself lucky she had a few of them, even if this was bright blue and did not match the uniform. She had tried to draw on her eyebrows...it had made her look worse so she had washed it away. She felt uncomfortable. Nervous. Vulnerable.

"Who the hell are you?" Gabriel moved over with interest, recognising Aria's figure, but the hair was all new. He'd know Aria's iddy-biddy waist anywhere.

Aria looked over at him, swallowing. "Hey...I...err...like my new look? It's...cyber punky geisha!"

Gabriel watched her dubiously, setting his hands on his hips. "Uh huh...."

Aria looked at him before motioning to the office, knowing Rhodes was not there yet. "Shh..."

"Aw, come on, Aria, since when do we have secrets?" Gabriel moved through, turning to walk backwards so he could watch her with a smile.

She got him in and made sure the door was closed before pulling the wig off, holding his eyes. "Tada..." she said and sat down heavily.

Gabriel watched her bald head, the shock on his features undeniable. "Aria! You lose a bet or something?!"

"The bloody aliens de-haired us. All of us. And all our hair..." she said and made a face and a gesture down south.

Gabriel held her eyes and kept his composure for all of two seconds before starting to laugh. He covered his mouth, shaking his head. "Sorry...."

Aria looked at him before throwing the wig at him, her eyes narrowed. "Next time there is a first contact, you can go!"

Gabriel laughed as he batted it away. "No skin off my nose. I can do shaved head, already have! Even done the mohawk..."

She pouted before moving to him, touching his chest. "And ever waxed...?" she asked, before arching an eyebrow. "Because I look like a Barbie doll now."

Gabriel had to bite his lip to stop from laughing again. "Yeah, I've been known to wax, and shave, and laser," he touched her cheek. "But it's all okay, cos you're always as pretty as a doll."

Aria hit his hand, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips. "They like...saw everything of us. And I saw everything of everyone else."

"Now that would bother me more," Gabriel laughed, shaking his head. "Because you just can't clean your eyes."

She nodded, smiling as she sat down. "I look like an egg," she said and shrugged. "But at least I am alive."

"Same, well, not the egg bit," Gabriel chuckled, sitting with her as he smiled. "Borg Schmorg."

"And I hear you guys saved a lot of people," she said, nodding with warmth. "Good. I'm glad."

"Not enough," Gabriel shook his head and glanced down. "Never enough."

"Some are better than none," she said and pulled her chair closer to his, touching his shoulder.

He nodded, letting out a long, tired breath. "True. I think I pissed Kita off too. But hey, we got the job done."

"I usually piss everyone off anyway...so I get you," Aria said and smiled weakly, watching him. "I know you. And I got your back."

Gabriel grinned at that, watching her intently. "You know, rumours have it that you were spotted in the arms of a man..."

She looked at him before frowning, shaking her head. "Rumours must be pretty wrong...can't think of who."

"A marine, so the story goes," he teased with a grin, his dark eyes on her.

Aria chuckled and shook her head. "Wyatt? Jesus, he is old enough to be my Dad pretty much..."

Gabriel grinned, shaking his head. "Almost. That's the rule isn't it? So long as a guy isn't as old or older than your father, he's fair game," he winked.

She shook her head, with a small smile. "You know, I actually don't need a man or woman to make me feel...like me. Hell, half the time lovers are just...a hindrance. And if I did like him, you know most would drop me within a second for a taller, curvier option."

"Then they'd be missing out on one hot little firecracker of trouble," Gabriel grinned, pinching her chin fondly.

Aria smiled warmly, her eyes shining as she leant into it. "Well, I can deal with it, you know."

"Oh, I don't doubt it. You could deal with anything, darling girl," he grinned, slapping her thigh.

She smiled warmly as she held his eyes, swallowing. "You're pretty hardcore yourself, Gabriel Stark."

"Me? Nah," he laughed softly, shaking his head as he watched him. "Just a bloke with a rifle."

She smiled at that before laughing warmly. "More than that, you are a good bloke. Pretty amazing. And a great mate...for laughing at me."

"Most people would say that was mean," Gabriel pointed out, but with a small, playful smile.

"But you know I needed it," Aria said and smiled warmly. "I look like an egg, but hair will grow and this looks a hell of a lot better than the stupid wig..."

"Nah," he picked the wig up and put it back on her. "Looks snazzy," he promised.

She smiled as she met his eyes, her own shining. "I have a black one I can wear on duty...just need to wash it."

"We have to find you a bright red one," he nodded with approval, smiling as he took her in.

Aria grinned, watching him closely before moving to hug him. "So glad you are okay," she finally whispered.

Gabriel smiled warmly at the words, holding her tightly to hug close. "Me too. About you, I mean," he said gently. "I was with Amon Mormont, so no worries there, we're always back to back."

She met his eyes before smiling warmly. "Mmm...I bet you were with Amon Mormont..." she said playfully.

Gabriel laughed softly, slapping her back gently in rebuke. "I don't know what you mean," he grinned, but there was colour on his pale skin.

"Oh, you are just so...cute together!" she said and smiled as she moved to straddle his lap. "Please tell me he is all...grrr!"

Gabriel laughed, slapping her thigh warmly as he leant back in the chair to let her straddle his lap. "We're hardly 'together'! We just, you know, shagged last night. It was the first time, we'd never done it before. Doubt he'll want to again, men never stick around. And yes, he was very 'grrr'," he grinned at the last, sighing at the memory, and stretching to feel the slight ache still in his body from the energetic night.

Aria watched him with a small smile, her eyes gentle as she touched his cheek. "Gabriel...do yourself a favour...get him to stay."

Gabriel watched her with surprise at the words, holding his breath for a long moment. "Why?"

"Because you deserve to always smile like this," she said and leant close, kissing his forehead. "Enough running now."

Gabriel swallowed, his throat tightening at what she said. "You see into me too easily," he whispered with a small smile. "It's easier when it's just fun. No one gets hurt. No one gets too close."

"I know. Hell, I know..." Aria said and stroked over his hair. "But...you're not like me. You're alone for the wrong reasons. And just because you think you can't be loved doesn't mean you're right. Means you are wrong. You deserve to be loved."

Gabriel let out a shaky breath, touching her neck with gratitude at the kind words, even if they made his eyes sting. "He is pretty amazing," he whispered, but with a soft chuckle.

"He's pretty hot too," she said and pulled back, her eyes warm as she stood. "Hunky."

"Isn't he!" Gabriel's grin was back with that as he laughed warmly, stretching out, his eyes distant for a moment. "Those broad shoulders, and a chest you could carve, slim hips to get your hands on and tight thighs...."

"And a good kisser?" she asked teasingly, shaking her head. "Good thing you don't have a room mate...means you have somewhere to bring him."

"True...mind you, he's a Staff Warrant Officer. They get way more perks than PO2s," he winked gently to her.

"I agree...his place will be best," she said playfully, letting out a breath. "Thanks for this, Gabriel."

Gabriel shook his head with confusion. "What? Gossip and teasing?"

"Making me feel normal," Aria said as she met his eyes, with meaning. "Needed that."

"But you're not normal, pretty thing," Gabriel teased with a grin, slapping her backside. "That's what's so great about you."

[OFF]

LT Aria Rice
Assistant Chief Security/Tactical
USS Galileo

PO2 Gabriel Stark
Security/Tactical
USS Galileo
[PNPC - Scarlet Blake]

RSS Feed