Apologies

Posted on 04 Feb 2015 @ 9:56pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Pieter Van Zyl Ph.D.

2,832 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo, Deck 6, 06-1003 EN
Timeline: MD40 - 1700hrs

[ON]

It took Pieter hours to realise that you could only rearrange the botany lab a limited amount of times before you were toeing the line of violating safety regulations. Now that he'd cooled off considerably after his conflicts with Oren and Tyrion, Pieter couldn't help but feel that he'd overreacted. Rationally speaking, he knew he was right in both cases, but deep down, he wondered if his reactions to them may have been more dramatic than the situations called for.

The fact that he'd actually pushed Tyrion into a table felt surreal. But he had done it, no matter how disgusted he was with the concept. Giving the lab one last glance, Pieter watered some of the samples and left, heading to his quarters to asses the damage.

When Pieter came home, Tyrion was just waking up and lay semi-awake in his bed, blankets pulled up to his chin. The lights were on low, a clear indication he was awake, or going to be in a matter of seconds. He heard the doors slide open, knowing Pieter had come inside. Tyrion held still, pretending to still be asleep, trying to avoid a confrontation.

Pieter shot a glance at Tyrion, wondering if he was doing his 'I'm sleeping don't bother me act' in lieu of talking to him or his 'I'm about to pretend you woke me up but I was just being lazy' act. He hoped it was the latter.

Not saying anything yet, but keeping an eye on the Betazoid on the couch, Pieter walked over to the nearby closet and took out a fresh change of clothes. As he passed by the bed on his way to the shower, he said: "Hopefully by the time I finish we can have a decent conversation."

"That depends," Tyrion muttered, "are you going to throw me into a table again?"

Pieter stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Tyrion. He shook his head at him, the troubled look obvious on his face.

A look Tyrion failed to see in the semi darkness around his sleeping area. "I'll be up in a minute," he said, though he made no move to toss back the blankets and actually get up.

Pieter continued his trek to the bathroom and, during his quick shower, he tried to think of what he could say to Tyrion. He had an idea of where to start, but much of what would follow hung on Tyrion himself. He pulled in his clothes and stepped out, running his hand through his hair.

Hearing the shower cycle down, Tyrion sat up and pulled a shirt over his head, then poked his arms through the sleeves. Reaching for his pants, he pulled them on then grabbed his socks and headed over to the replicator. "Hot chocolate," he told the replicator, "strong, moderate temperture."

Grabbing the mug when it appeared, he headed over to the couch and gingerly sat down, waiting.

Pieter walked up to him, wiping his hands off of his sweatpants. Unsure of what to do with himself, he sat down on the couch, as far away from Tyrion as possible. After his outburst earlier, he wanted to give the Betazoid space. They sat there for several moments, awkwardness filling the air.

"I'm sorry for pushing you," Pieter finally said.

"No, you're not," Tyrion retorted, not even looking up to meet his eyes. "You didn't even come back, you left me there Pieter, you left me!"

"I was upset," Pieter explained. "I'm not saying it's right that I left you but I was upset and I wasn't in my right state of mind."

"And you think I was? I kissed you Pieter, have I ever tried that before? Do you think that's normal for me, to kiss just anyone who comes onto my path? You know me better than that!"

Pieter struggled against pointing out that he kissed Oren of all people, but somehow managed to keep it to himself. "I know," he agreed instead. "That doesn't excuse what you did, just like nothing excuses me for pushing you like I did. We're both at fault."

Slowly, Tyrion nodded. "It still hurt that you walked out on me, when I needed your help. When I asked for your help. Do you know how awkward it is to call a doctor for that"

Pieter frowned. "Do you know how horrible it is when someone grabs your arms when your arms are how you communicate? Or when someone you trust grabs your arms and kisses you without your consent?"

"I only wanted to calm you down before you clouded me in the face with all the waving about you did. You know I meant nothing else by it.....seriously, you know me better than that! I'd never hurt you! And I didn't mean to kiss you that just...happened. "

"That waving about is what my talking looks like." Pieter couldn't help but be offended by Tyrion's flawed observation. He'd never hit another person with his signing, no matter how emotional he got. "And that kiss just happening makes me think I don't know you at all. I agree that I overreacted, but how would you feel if I walked up to you, covered your mouth, ignored your obvious discomfort and then added to it by kissing you against your will?"

"I don't know," Tyrion confessed, "all I wanted to do is calm you down. I never meant to stop you from talking." He looked away, feeling awkward and uncomfortable and just to give himself some posture, he picked up his mug again.

"I talk with my hands, Tyrion," Pieter said, hoping he looked more calm now. He knew it was difficult for some people to grasp his specific needs and abilities, so he tried to remain understanding, even though he'd hoped that Tyrion knew them better.

"Don't grab them anymore," he said. Another pause, then, "How bad were you hurt?" he asked, glancing at the broken table. There wasn't much glass around it now, from what Pieter could see, but it was clear the Tyrion had broken through it almost completely.

"I'll try," Tyrion promised, following his roommate's gaze. "I had glass cuts all over," he added, "but it wasn't too bad. Mostly my ego I guess, and a couple of bruises. Turns out that the arrival of the doctor discovered something else entirely." He cast his friend an embarassed smile. "I never knew there were muscles that could be quite embarassing to bruise or sprain. Doctor thankfully could heal it, and I'll be more careful about my bedpartners in the future. Or at least...the amount of strain I put on myself during ah...certain activity."

As Pieter took a moment to connect the dots of Tyrions complaint before he made an uncomfortable, mildly disgusted face. "Tyrion, I am your friend," Pieter said, hoping the statement still rang true. "But there is such a thing as 'Too much information'," he explained, but then the disgusted look left him and he smirked at him to signify he wasn't too annoyed at the overshare.

"Oh.." Tyrion gave him an awkward smile in return. "Sorry, I .. didn't know that." He looked up. "Do you mean that? About being my friend?"

"Of course I do," Pieter said with a nod. "If you forgive me for pushing you?"

"Yea... but the leaving me is harder Piet, that really hurt."

Pieter sighed. "Fine, next time I decide to push you through a glass table, I'll be sure to stay and pull the glass out." It felt ridiculous to say and Pieter was sure it probably sounded just as ridiculous to hear.

"That's a deal," Tyrion smiled, holding out his hand to 'seal the bargain'. "DId you want some hot chocolate?"

Nodding, Pieter took Tyrion's hand and shook his gently. "No milk proteins," he reminded after getting his hand back.

"I'll get you a lactose free one," Tyrion said, handing his mug to Pieter for a moment. Seconds later he came back with a new mug and swapped them back around. "Soy hot chocolate," he said.

"I'm not lactose intolerant, I'm allergic to milk," Pieter said, taking the mug and going back to the replicator. Typing in his own person code to make sure nothing on allergy list would get through, he replicated himself another cup. "Maybe it's better if I replicate my own food, just in case," Pieter suggested. Although he liked the idea of his friend knowing what he could and couldn't come into contact with, Pieter knew that, for his own safety, he should rely on himself only with things like food and medication. No matter how well meaning people were, it was a serious issue he didn't like taking risks with.

"I didn't put in any milk," Tyrion said, looking mildly offended, "it was made with soy."

"There could still be traces of allergens inside," Pieter explained, taking the mug from the replicator and coming to sit beside Tyrion. "It's safer if I put in my ID code. It links to my medical files and the replicator automatically filters anything I cannot consume or touch."

"THen why let me get it in the first place?"

"I told you 'no milk proteins', not 'soy'," Pieter pointed out with a shrug. "It doesn't matter," he added, finally taking a sip from his mug before he needed to say anything else.

"Same thing to me, soy isn't milk." The Betazoid shrugged in turn and leaned back. "How was your day?"

"Not bad..." Pieter said, but it was obvious something wasn't right. Despite being professional and just by nature (or perhaps because of it), Pieter couldn't lie to save his life.

"I spoke to Idris," he admitted.

Tyrion froze, black eyes fixing on his friend. "Why," he stated curiously. "Why would you do that, when it's none of your business what happened between me and him."

"You're my friend. That makes it my business," Pieter explained. "Our talk was overdue." Ever since Idris came onboard, Pieter had avoided him, not wanting to stir up old drama. But what he'd done to Tyrion was unforgivable in his eyes.

"No Pieter, not everything is your business. Whoever I choose to sleep with remains my business and I consider it a breach of my privacy if you ever go talk to someone I choose to sleep with again. Even if that is Oren Idris. I'll always try to keep my affairs such that they won't bother you, as in have people over when you're here too. And I did, it happened on starbase, and my date with Kot happened on starbase too and if he's not gone already I might actually seek him out again. I don't want to remain alone Pieter, not forever. I can't grieve forever."

Pieter rolled his eyes. "I don't want you to be alone either, Tyrion. But you can do better than Oren, and I didn't speak to him because I wanted him to stay away, I just wanted to give him a piece of my mind about his behaviour. It wasn't just about you," he explained. The fact that Tyrion might be altering his behavior because of him made Pieter uneasy.

"It's alright for you to bring people here, just tell me so I can give you your space."

"I will," Tyrion answered. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable when I bring someone home. I'm just glad you're not opposed altogether just because I like guys. Did I tell you about the Bolian I met on the starbase? before I met Oren?"

Pieter shook his head. "What was he like?"

The Betazoid's eyes took on a somewhat dreamy look. "He's all blue, and big and muscular," he murmured, "and yet so gentle. I had a great evening, it's just too bad it didn't go anywhere."

"Maybe you can see him again?" Pieter suggested, trying to be comforting.

"Oh gosh I hope so!" Tyrion blurted out. "I intend to try..I really hope he hasn't left yet... I'm just a little scared of what Doctor Mott may think..."

"Don't be scared, he'll say what he thinks. Mott always has something to say," Pieter pointed out with an exaggerated eye-roll. He avoided the Bolian whenever possible and, if he couldn't escape, he turned his voice off and pretended the battery was dead. It wasn't the most honest way to avoid a conversation, but Pieter was willing to sacrifice a bit of integrity to spare him having to read pages and pages of rambling to find one coherent sentence that made sense to what they were talking about.

"You think?" Tyrion shuddered. "You see...Kot is Doctor Mott's brother....so yea I'm a little afraid of what he might say or do..."

Pieter watched Tyrion for a moment, thinking on his words before saying them. "He won't do anything Kot isn't ready for, they're brothers. Don't pay attention to what has to say. It's not like you're marrying him."

Tyrion had just been sipping his drink when Pieter spoke and he choked on the small amount of liquid. "What?" he breathed between coughs, his eyes watering.

Biting his lips, Pieter held in a laugh at Tyrion nearly choking to death because of a harmless comment. "You are not marrying Kot, so you shouldn't concern yourself with what his family members think."

"No, I'm not marrying Kot, or anyone else. Certainly not after just one date." He looked up and shrugged. "It's okay to laugh you know..."

Pieter just grinned and shook his head. "I'm glad you're seeing someone," he said. He was, after all, happy that Tyrion hadn't just given over to sulking and being miserable. He was too young for that.

"Even if he's a Mott?"

"If you don't mind, then I don't mind," Pieter confirmed with a small smile.

Tyrion smiled back at him. "Well....he's perfect, and I honestly hope he's still around. I really want to see him again."

Pieter shook his head. "You're cute when you like someone," he observed. Although Pieter considered himself a bit too cynical to consider someone perfect in any way, it was still nice to see someone who wasn't.

That caught the Betazoid's attention and his black eyes seemed to fix on his friend. "You think so?" he querried, as if not quite believing what he heard, especially coming from Pieter.

Pieter nodded. "It's sweet that he makes you feel happy. You deserve it."

"Now all we need to do, is find you someone too," Tyrion teased happily.

Suddenly Pieter didn't look very sweet. He looked annoyed. "Please don't."

"Why not? You deserve someone too!"

"I know that," Pieter said, then shrugged almost helplessly. "I just don't like anyone," he said. "I have lots of work to do."

"SO we'll find you someone with the same interests, then you can work together. And how can you not like anyone." His smile turned cheeky. "You like me, don't you?"

Pieter rolled his eyes. He was getting used to that smile of Tyrion's. "Not anymore I don't," he said, looking a bit grumpy now.

Tyrion poked out his tongue then pulled the man forward, blatantly kissing his cheek. "Well...I like you, and like it or not, we'll find you someone suitable."

Pieter made a face like a disgruntled cat being pulled in for unwanted cuddling. As he managed to pull away, he reached up to wipe his cheek. He tried not to be uncomfortable with the sign of affection, comparing it to the same kind of thing his sister did on a regular basis. At least, he hoped so.

"Hey now...it was just on the cheek," the Betazoid teased, moving back to his side of the couch. "Well perhaps a date is too far fetched for you, how about a pet first?"

Reaching out, Pieter bumped Tyrion's shoulder playfully.

In response, Tyrion rubbed his shoulder and mock-pouted. "Hey now," he repeated, "what was that for? Punching me for no reason."

"Don't be a baby," Pieter said with a small smirk. Back home, Pieter rough housed with his brother all the time. It was nice to have a least a small bit of that away from Abrahem.

"That's not fair," Tyrion pouted, giving his roommate a casual shove.

Raising an eyebrow, Pieter smiled at Tyrion before the Betazoid found himself with a pillow in his face.

Laughing, Tyrion grabbed another pillow from the couch to defend himself and smacked it right against Pieter's chest. "That definitely isn't fair!" he cried out.

Pieter looked down at his chest, where the pillow collided, then up at Tyrion. "No more talking, defend yourself," he just announced before grabbing the pillow in his lap and attacking, thereby starting what would later be knows as their first pillow fight.

[OFF]

CPO Tyrion Faye
Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC T'Vanna]

PO1 Pieter Van Zyl
Botanist
USS Galileo
[PNPC Idris]

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