Friendzoned

Posted on 06 Mar 2014 @ 2:26pm by Commander Luke Wyatt & Commander Scarlet Blake
Edited on on 06 Mar 2014 @ 3:30pm

2,245 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 2 - Senior Officers Quarters
Timeline: MD 58 - 1440

[ON]

Luke had spent the best part of the day sorting through endless training data and shifting through the ships current security capability. It wasn't long before he got bored and decided to pay scarlet a visit. Picking himself up he through on his freshly replicated security tunic and proceeded put of the door.

After a quick wall he stepped up to Scarlet's door and pressed the door chime, being around 1800 he assumed she'd be in and available.

"Come in," Scarlet called out, shaking her head gently to herself as she reached up to make a small hole in the wall, enough to put a picture pin in to hang a drawing.

Luke paused for a moment before walking into the room. Smiling as he did so to see Blake, arms out stretched towards the wall "Hey Scarlet! Need a hand?" He asked briskly walking over to her ready to give her a hand.

"Yeah, can you hold this nail with your delicate fingers while I smash it into the wall?" she asked with an innocent smile, passing it over but keeping it lined up where she wanted it.

Hesitating before cracking a wry grin he took over control of the nail making sure he was careful where he placed the rest of his body. "Please tell me you have a good aim" he teased but his voice carrying a sense of worry.

Scarlet didn't warn him as she smacked the nail hard to set it in the wall, but hit it square on the head rather than on his fingers. "Never miss my target," she assured with a small smile of amusement, hanging the picture, dusting her hands off. It was a framed picture that Lily had done, complete with glitter. "There, much better. Thanks," she turned to him, shaking her head gently. "I'm sure that's not what you came for though, right?"

After making sure his fingers were still intact he shook his head, "I came by to see if you was willing to hold up the end of our deal?" He paused to look at the picture for a moment. "You know, coffee?" He added just in case she forgot.

"Ah yes, perfect timing," she smiled at that, moving to pull her jacket off to swap for a more casual one. "Lily's with Verity so I have a few hours to myself," she sighed, shaking her head with a smile. "Did you hear that? I like those words."

A smile tugged Luke lips "Sounds beautiful to me" he waited for her to slip the jacket on before motioning with his hands for her to lead "Ladies first!" He had imagined getting Scarlet when she wasn't busy impossible but it might just be his day.

She led the way out, glancing back to him with a small smile. "How have you been? Getting more settled on the ship now things have slowed down?"

Luke nodded, "Yeah, Its certainly easier to settle in when you're not trying to be killed" He replied in a easy tone "How are you doing now... Commander," He gave a cheeky wink.

Scarlet laughed gently at that, shaking her head as she let out a long breath. "That - still sounds very strange indeed to my ears. Not unwelcome, I must admit, just strange," she looked across to him as they walked. "I thought rank was pretty much lost for me after transferring across from the Marines to the Fleet."

"Well someone's got to do it and if I might suck up a little more you're doing a beautiful job!" They covered some distance during their small talk and Luke's stomach was starting to rumble as the doors came in sight. "Say, what are yours and Lily's plans over this leave? Anything exciting?"

"Not especially," Scarlet admitted with a half smile, wondering if that made her a bad mother. For her, just getting to spend some real time with her girl was enough, it didn't matter where or how. "I might be human but Earth has never been my home. Still, I'm told there's a lot to see and do. Perhaps I should introduce Lily to some of her...heritage?" she glanced to him, almost in question.

Luke thought for a moment "Well there's plenty of heritage in England, I am sure she would enjoy anything as long as its with you. She loves you very much!" He said standing to his side allowing her to walk in first.

Scarlet moved through with a smile, making a beeline to get some hot caffeine back into her blood stream. "My parents are from England. I take it you're a fan too."

"Actually that's where I am from, I was born in London and my Family have a small estate on the outskirts of London" He shrugged as if it was nothing "But yes you're right I am a Fan of it"

"I've only been a couple of times. I didn't spend long there," she shook her head before taking a breath. "I think space feels more like home."

Luke nodded, that was defiantly something he could agree with he had spent most of his time in space and away form his family which lead to his divorce but ever since abbey moved to DS5 and joined Starfleet he had hoped to renew his roots at home. "Well the offer is open if you feel like stretching your legs"

"Thanks. We might take you up on it," she assured with a chuckle as they sat down at a smaller table close to the window. "So what are your plans? You must be looking forward to some time with your daughter."

Sitting down in his seat he sipped his drink "Of course me and Abbey have a few things planned but she's a young adult and she has her own agenda and I my own" He admitted looking across towards her.

Scarlet chuckled at that, nodding as she crossed her legs. She hadn't had a regular set of teenage years herself. Rebellion for her had been trying not to piss off the other Maquis members to the point of blaster fire. It was good that even with a father in the fleet, Abbey would be able to have a somewhat normal experience of teenage years. It was character building. "She'll need you more than she lets on. But she'll let you know in her own way."

He nodded "They'll always need our help its the whole part about being a parent and we wont like to admit it but we will need them to!" He continued to sip his drink in thought. "Scarlet?"

"Yes...?" she replied to the questioning tone of her name as she smiled gently, leaning back against the back of her chair with a slight stretch.

"I know this sounds a bit far forward but I was wondering if you would like to sometime come and have dinner with me sometime?" He asked cautiously.

She tilted her head, watching him with curiosity. "Why would that sound forward?" she asked lightly, wanting to know what it meant before she jumped to conclusions.

Luke sighed as he rolled his eyes "You sure know how to put a guy on the spot!" His hand moved naturally to his mouth and he began to bite on his fume nail. "I... Have a sort of hidden agenda when I say I want to take you to dinner. Over the past few weeks I've found that I enjoy your company and Lily's. She's a wonderful daughter and reminds me a lot of Abbey" He lowered his hand. "I guess what I'm trying to say is I like you"

Scarlet watched with a small smile, leaning forward to him, to lower his voice gently. "I like you too, Luke. I think we can be good friends. But I should say, upfront, I'm not looking for a lover or a partner. It's nothing personal, it's just something I'm not looking for it at all. My family is Lily and me, I'm happy with that. But I'd love to have you around as a friend. It's nice talking to a marine, what can I say? I miss the green."

Luke smiled he didn't honestly expect a different answer especially for her to fall head over heels in love, perhaps he needed her to tell him straight but it still felt just a small excuse in the attempt to explain to himself. He didn't even dislike the idea. He loved it. "I understand, I never meant it in a way to replace or to add to your family I just see a good... Urm well I just see good, I just wanted to try and give it a shot. The whole shoot for the moon and even if you miss you'll land among the stars kinda shot" he shrugged "let's perhaps just forget I said anything and of course who doesn't miss the green stuff?" he joked hiding his disappointment poorly. He sat back in his chair and allowed his lips form a soft small curve and flashing it towards Scarlet's direction.

Scarlet smiled back to him, her eyes shining with it. "I think about it everyday, the days back in the marines," she admitted with a chuckle. Wow, that sounded like an obsession. "And anyway, I'd hardly call it shooting for the moon," she motioned to herself, not used to people paying compliments to her. "And there's loads of stars around here," she motioned to some of the people around them, but mostly towards the women. "You're a lucky man, you're on a ship full of beautiful women. I don't think I've seen such a good looking ship before!"

Luke thought for a moment and shrugged. "But none that would make half the substitute for you" He smiled as the last word rolled of his tongue, it sounded sloppy but he'd said worst things before. "Besides not many can handle a Marine, we're a whole different breed" He joked.

Scarlet laughed softly, nodding in agreement as she arched an eyebrow with wry humour. Wasn't that just the truth. "You'd be surprised though. Despite what fleeter's might say, most of them can't resist a marine," she assured with a smile.

Tilting his head as he raised an eye brow "You seem to be doing a good job at resisting me?" He teased, "Could you not ever just give it a try?" He edged further outside of him comfort zone.

Scarlet was silent for a long moment, watching her hands. She hadn't had a relationship since before Lily was born. And she hadn't even spoken to that last boyfriend for a long time. The cause of her team getting caught and interrogated for so long. She shook her head lightly, giving a half smile. "It's not what I'm looking for," she said quietly. "Besides," she took a deep breath, lifting the atmosphere back up again. "I was talking about fleeter girls. I don't count."

Luke shrugged "Well they always say its worth the try but I can see you have your limitation" He went over his thoughts for a moment twisting the glass round in his hand leaving spirals of moisture from the condensation of his drink on the table top. "Well I should be off, I cant leave Abbey for two moments before she starts something devious and I can imagine you have things to get to" Luke looked up from the glass and smiled. Taking a Gaze into her eyes he wondered if he would ever get a chance to break down the barrier she had so carefully built.

"If you need," she said softly, watching him with a small smile before shaking her head. "Don't go because you feel you have to," she added quickly. She liked him, she didn't want to lose the chance of his friendship over this.

Watching her for a split second Luke settled in his seat again before turning to the door and then back to Scarlet "As long as you let me get you another drink?" He didn't want to go and nor did she at least that's what he could tell. So why ruin the moment? he asked himself.

She laughed at that, sitting back with shining eyes. "As if I would turn that down," she arched an eyebrow before shaking her head. "Shame it's not rum though."

Luke thought for a moment before smiling "You know..." The grin grew on his face "That can be arranged if that's what you want?" He asked before he made any further move to get the drinks. If he couldn't win her over the least he could do was have a bloody good drink and after recent events he thought they deserved it.

"I suppose I should take advantage of a babysitter while I have one," she chuckled, shaking her head with a small smile. "But just one, I have to go back to Lily later."

"Why not eh?" he stood up from his seat and disappeared for a few moments before returning with a bottle and two tumblers. Setting them down on the table he began filling slightly higher than what he would usually go for but he felt like he needed the release.

Scarlet couldn't help but laugh, motioning to the glass with clear approval. "Now that's my kind of 'one'..."

[OFF]

--

CPO Luke Wyatt
Security Officer
USS Galileo

&

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

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