Reunited

Posted on 05 Jan 2015 @ 11:05am by Lieutenant Oren Idris Ph.D. & Petty Officer 3rd Class Ellsworth Hudson

2,055 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Starbase 84, Docking port
Timeline: MD07 - 1100hrs

[ON]

Having mentally and physically prepared himself for a sudden tacklehug from Ellsworth the moment he stepped off the transport, Oren found himself incredibly disappointed to be one of the few people in the port to not have someone waiting for him. Trying not to pout and failing miserably, Oren couldn't help but feel slightly ridiculous at being so disappointed. After spending such a long time alone, he'd been looking forward to some physical affection and Ellsworth was perfect for that. His hugs were genuine and full of love, something he couldn't help but want at that moment.

Sighing despite himself, Oren made his way out of the area, ready to sign into Ops and get settled.

Ellsworth was breathless when he rounded the corner, having run at full tilt from the Galileo to the docking port for Oren's ship. He was late. Beyond late, really, but those bullies in the security department refused to let him off the ship in time. "Decontamination protocols" or something stupid like that. He'd only half-listened to the regulations they kept spouting off while the biggest of them easily restrained him. He probably shouldn't have tried to slip around them, but he was desperate to see Oren. Pathetically desperate, really, as in it had been the only thing he'd thought about for the past week.

When he arrived at the docking port, it was empty except for one wandering Efrosian with quite a bit of luggage. Ellsworth was so disappointed that he felt his eyes growing wet as he shuffled after the Efrosian, quickly overtaking him and moving into a crowd of people that were queued to be processed onto the starbase.

As the young Betazoid moved into the crowd, he felt Oren long before he saw him. There was a deep familiarity about the El Aurian's presence, his nearness. Sensing it made his heart jump, as well as his feet. As he bounced up and down in place, trying to see over the heads of all the people crowded around, he searched desperately for that golden head of hair. Finally, he spotted it - shorn, now, but the same man beneath it - and he began shoving his way through the throng without many apologies offered.

His arms slid easily around his friend from behind in something of a bizarre and overly intimate embrace for an Ops queue on board a starbase, but Ellsworth could never claim to be fully in his right mind around Oren. Or, ever. He rested his chin on Oren's shoulder, breath falling on the other man's ear, and whispered a question.

"Better late than never?"

The noises that escaped Oren's lips could only be described as a yelp first, followed by a delighted squeal when he identified his 'assailant'. Turning quickly in Ellsworth's arms, he pounced, wrapping his arms tightly around the Betazoid's body. The almost bone-crushing intensity of the hug was a clear indication that spending weeks alone on a transport with just a dog for company was not his brightest idea.

The way Oren buried his face into Ellsworth's neck made it very clear just how much he'd missed him. With a sigh, he melted into his arms without a word, wanting to enjoy the warmth.

Ellsworth ran a hand along the upper portion of Oren's spine and spread his fingers to bury them in his hair, expecting the floppy golden locks but instead finding the new haircut that had disappointed him more than just a little bit when he'd first seen it. But any disappointment now was deep in the back of his mind; he was enjoying too much the feeling of a warm body pressed up tight against his own, the familiarity of Oren's face against his neck, the smell of him, the sight of him.

"I missed you," Ellsworth said, very quietly. The queue had split around them, giving a buffer between their embrace and the press of the crowd that only heightened the intimacy of the moment for him. He kept his hand buried in Oren's hair, kept him gently pressed against his neck, because he would rather have the moment go on and on forever. "Did you have a good flight? Do you need help with your things? Can we hang out for a little bit? You don't have to go back on duty yet, do you? I want you to have lunch with me and sit with me and talk to me and tell me about your trip." He finally relaxed his grip on the other man and pulled himself away just long enough to place his forehead against Oren's to look into his eyes.

Oren stayed where he was for another moment, breathing Ells in before finally pulling away, but only enough to look at Ellsworth's face. "I'm all yours, just let me check in," he told him. With that said, he leaned forward to plant a soft but heartfelt kiss on Ellsworth's lips before reluctantly moving away to go to the information desk. As he stood in line before his turn, he kept glancing back at Ellsworth, as if making sure he hadn't gone anywhere. On such an occasion, he was suddenly broken out of his admiration by being pushed forward by an ornery Klingon (was there another kind?), almost sending him crashing against the panel. Despite the rough treatment, he found it hard to feel bad about it so he just shrugged it off before handing the Ops officer his ID.

Ellsworth was standing on his tiptoes, not just to get a better look at Oren in the queue but also because he felt like he was going to float away. 'I'm all yours' was really all anyone ever had to say to him to make him feel that way - silly, giddy, bubbly on the inside. He scowled at the back of the Klingon's head, feeling a rush of protectiveness, but it was replaced with the bubbly feeling when Oren turned away from the Ops officer and he could see his face again. Instinctively, he grinned, gave a little wave and then immediately took up Oren's hand when he was back in range.

"That was the longest trip ever, Oren," Ellsworth complained, pulling him by the hand toward the El Aurian's temporary quarters. "I don't think I've ever been separated from somebody that long. It seemed like forever. Forever." He kept his hand locked with Oren's but turned around to face him, walking backwards and suddenly looking very serious. "Not that I think we always have to be around each other, you know, that's ridiculous. We're not married. It's just... Well. I missed you more than I thought I would. I got bored. Nobody on the ship will just cuddle with you without thinking you want in their pants."

Oren smiled coyly. "What? You don't want to get into my pants?" he asked, his voice surprisingly flirtatious as he looked up at Ellsworth through his lashes. The lack of contact had certainly had it's effect. "Has it really been that long or have you found someone?" Oren wasn't sure why he was asking, but some odd, tiny particle inside him was slightly jealous at the prospect of Ellsworth having someone to share his affections with. It was ridiculous, of course, but the feeling was there nonetheless, whether Oren admitted it or not.

Ellsworth let out a breathy laugh that was meant to cover up his embarrassment and nervousness, although there was nothing he could do about his blushing cheeks. He never felt ashamed to tell someone that he was sexually attracted to them but Oren was different. He just was. So above all he was trying to keep out of mind any thoughts of him out of his pants because he wasn't sure of the El Aurian's abilities; the last thing he wanted to hear was 'I know what you're thinking about.'

When he spoke, his eyes were bashfully lowered to their feet. "You're teasing me." He grinned a little bit despite himself. "Nobody. There's nobody else. I was seeing Grayson for a little bit but I haven't spent any time with him since before you left. And then you left. So there was no one, and I was just sitting around waiting for you to come home. It's all your fault, Oren Idris. You owe me, mister. Big time."

"And how, exactly, am I to correct this grievous error of mine?"Oren asked, looking up at Ellsworth with a confident intensity as he enjoyed the younger man's blush. He moved closer, slipping his hands easily around the Betazoid's waist, still looking.

Ellsworth felt his usual self-assuredness falter and collapse for a moment. He hadn't seen Oren in so long... And there was something about how confidently he was holding him, the firmness of his grip and the shamelessness with which the gap of space between their bodies was closing. The effort he gave to keep his eyes open was half-hearted at best because Oren's hands around his waist just felt so much better with them closed. Depriving his brain of visual stimuli let it focus much more on the tactile, like the strength in the El Aurian's fingers moving along the fabric of his uniform just above the hip.

"Uh," Ellsworth mumbled, suddenly opening his eyes. The moment had started to feel almost uncomfortably sensual, like having forbidden fruit so close to your lips you could anticipate the sweetness of it. He'd hoped actually seeing him would help, but the way he was looking at him... There was always something behind Oren's eyes that made him think the El Aurian knew he was in complete control of everything that happened between them, that all it would take was a word and Ellsworth would jump. And the level to which he was comfortable with that helplessness - a feeling he usually hated - only made Ellsworth all the more attracted to him.

Even so, he found his footing again and grinned. He wasn't looking the least bit bashful anymore as he pressed a finger to the small of Oren's back to draw hips closer together. He rolled his eyes skyward and tried to look contemplative. "Hmmm, well, you can start by having a meal with me and tell me what Bajor's like cuz I've never been there." His eyes moved from looking at the ceiling to looking at Oren with a little mischievous twinkle. "And then maybe later you can give me a crack at those pants, hm?"

Oren tactfully ignored the last comment and instead hooked his arm through Ellsworth's as he began to lead the Betazoid closer to his assigned quarters. "I'll have to take you to Bajor then," Oren told him, giving his arm an affectionate squeeze. "It's really sunny this time of the year, but I didn't spend much time there this time. So all I can really tell you is what it was like before." Oren's voice took on an airy, almost far-away voice as he spoke of his home planet. For all of it's faults, Oren did like it. It was the only place where he could truly say he was 'from'. The only place he felt the vaguest of connections to.

Ellsworth listened attentively, genuinely interested in hearing what Oren had to say. And, of course, how he said it, since he enjoyed the sound of his voice. Having him back as a physical presence beat even the most fascinating stories about Bajor, but it was funny how disinterest turned to interest depending on the person involved. If someone else - anyone else - had tried to tell him about Bajor then he would have managed nothing more than a passing interest.

As it was, Oren had his full attention as the two walked, arms linked, down the promenade. With one of his arms occupied holding onto his friend, Oren used the other to full effect, trying to explain the intricacies of proper etiquette for an alien in a Bajoran temple, something he learned a child, the hard way.

And if he reveled in Ellsworth's slightly adoring look, well, who could blame him?

[OFF]

Oren Idris, Ph.D.
Archaeologist/Anthropologist
USS Galileo

&

PO3 Ellsworth Hudson
Quartermaster
USS Galileo
[ PNPC - Mott ]

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