Run to bed

Posted on Tue Dec 11th, 2018 @ 4:17am by

Mission: Run Afoul
Location: Beata's quarters
Timeline: MD7 1900 Hours
2090 words - 4.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Stef didn't know how long he'd been asleep for, however when he suddenly startled awake, he found his movements hampered by what felt like dead weight. His arm felt utterly numb as he shifted and suddenly he realized where he was. Smiling, he looked down at the young woman leaning heavily against him, then shifted a second time, easily catching her limp body and picking it up in his arms.

Cradling her close like a baby, he walked into her bedroom and eased her down onto the bed, yanking the covers away with a single hand in the same motion. Not quite sure how to avoid the next stage, he simply tried to focus on her face as he proceeded to take her pants off. He folded them, laid them aside then covered her up to her chin with the blankets. Quietly, he kissed her forehead, then returned to the living area and curled up on the couch.

Beata slowly rose to wakefulness. She glanced around her wondering what had happened and why she felt confused. When she realized she didn't have any pants on a jolt of more confusion and even fear went through her. Hadn't she fallen asleep with Stef? Why was she suddenly without pants?" She wrapped a blanket around her and wandered into the living room to find Stef on the couch still asleep. Beata touched his hair. "Hey," she said, waking him up.

Stef gasped as he was touched, not having expected to be awakened so soon again after falling back asleep. He turned his head and smiled. "Hey," he answered softly, "why are you up?"

"Probably because I lost my heater. Did you umm, partially undress me before putting me in bed? And why didn't you just stay with me there?" She was cold stand there, despite the blanket wrapped around her. Beata had always preferred her quarters to be a bit warmer than the average human.

The Vulcan nodded sagely. "It would have been too warm for you to sleep in them," he explained, "I promise I did nothing inappropriate." He breathed softly as he sat up. "It did not seem proper to join you in your bed..and now you appear to be cold...you should head back to bed."

"Well in the future," Beata said patiently. He'd been so serious answering her question that it left no doubt in her mind of his innocence. "I would prefer to leave my clothes on and for you to stay with me." She held out a hand to him. "I like being warm," she clarified, "just to sleep."

Hesitantly, he took her hand. "You have my word," he vowed as he got up. "If you like being warm, you could just raise the temperature?" he suggested, not quite sure why she didn't do that in the first place.

"I could," Beata couldn't help but giggle at that. "But then I wouldn't have an excuse to cuddle with you." She pulled him gently back toward the bedroom.

Allowing her to guide him, he frowned. "Do you need an excuse?" he queried curiously, "why do you need an excuse?"

"No, I guess I don't. But you might have? In case you didn't want to just cuddle with me for no reason." She turned around once they were inside the bedroom. "I've never been close to a Vulcan before."

"I do not need an excuse, but I do not wish to move too fast either."

"I think just cuddling is all right. If it's okay with you?" She waited for his approval, not wanting to make him uncomfortable but knowing she slept so much better when someone else was there in the room with her. "Did my dreams bother you?" She asked, wondering if he had felt any emotions from her.

"Negative." He smiled encouragingly at her. "I simply thought you would be more comfortable in your bed. If you wish it, I will join you." His smile widened a little. "I did not presume to read you and you were very quiet. I simply woke because my arm was going numb."

"Oh, sorry about that." Beata smiled slightly. "Yes, stay with me, please. I was sleeping so deeply when you were there." She pulled him onto the bed with her and wiggled her way under the covers. Beata was facing him. "See isn't this nice?"

Staying on top of the covers, Stef smiled at her. "This is more comfortable," he acknowledged, draping his arm over her, drawing her closer. Shifting his hand up he tangled his fingers in her hair again. "And more personable." He leaned over her and kissed her. "And easier to do this," he murmured.

"True," she said, smiling between kisses. "Stef? Can I ask you something?" Beata said, her eyes already feeling heavy from his fingers playing with her hair.

"You can ask me anything you want," he answered, smiling down at her as he sensed her drowsiness. "And if I can, I will answer any questions you may have."

"Have you always felt like an outcast?" Beata murmured. Her eyes were still open but she was having a hard time keeping them that way.

"Among my own people? Yes I suppose I have felt that way, because I had no telepathic skills. But I had my twin sister, who was in exactly the same boat. She enjoyed attention though, she liked being among people. I did not, I generally preferred to be left alone."

"Me too," Beata said softly. She never knew why she didn't feel as if she fit in, but she always had. "But now we have each other."

"That we do," Stef agreed, "even now, my peers would not accept me for who I am. Too emotional, they would say." He nuzzled her cheek, sensing her drowsiness. "are you falling asleep on me?"

She took a deep breath. "Do you not want me to? I can stay awake." She blinked her eyes a few times and focused on his face.

"I was under the impression you wanted to cuddle and talk." He smiled, feeling his face warm up under her scrutiny. "Why do you feel as you do not fit in? Why do you feel an outcast?"

"I've always felt different. Maybe it's all in my head but people don't react to me the same way they do other humans. I've never been able to be close to anyone before, except you. I have a hard time making friendships and keeping them." She swallowed and let the color darken her cheeks as the emotions felt their way to the surface.

Stef gasped as er emotions slammed against his unprepared mind. A sheer sense of loneliness overcame him and it took him a few seconds to realize that those were her feelings, and not his. "You are not alone now," he whispered to her, "you will not be alone again."

Realizing it must have been rather overwhelming for him Beata started apologizing, "I'm so sorry." She squashed the sense of guilt she felt for overwhelming him but then remembered what he said about not being alone again. "Oh? Are you going to follow me around the rest of my life?"

"Follow you?" Leaning up so he could look her in the eyes, he shook his head. "No Bee, I will not follow you around. I will however, stay with you for as long as you want me to. I am yours for as long as you want me ."

"I think," Beata said slowly. "That you are the sweetest man I have ever met and I don't understand how women aren't throwing themselves at you. But how can you say that, you might get sick of me someday and want to leave."

"I am glad women are not throwing themselves at me..." He smiled at her. "Most consider me a child anyway, as I do look younger than I really am. Even if I have not yet twenty years. Standard years, that is, Earth years."

"You're a few year younger than me, and yes, you do look very young but your species lives a long time." Beata grinned at him. "What? You don't want to have an affair with the Captain?"

"No, I do not desire an affair with the captain," Stef answered seriously, "and I doubt she is looking for a teenage love interest. Besides, I believe she is already committed to someone." He paused, looking her straight in the eyes. "As am I."

"Oh, how do you know the Captain is seeing someone? And it's been two days, you're already so smitten with me that you're not going to think about dating other women?" Beata was still teasing him slightly. The subject of commitment was a scary one, not that she would ever cheat on Stef because no one else wanted her anyway and she really liked Stef.

"I have already explained the Vulcan way to you," Stef answered patiently, "and I know because I am her yeoman. However I am not going to elaborate on the matter as it is a private affair." He shrugged. "Two days, to some species, can be an eternity. Why waste time, when tomorrow you might run out of it?"

Beata decided not to respond on any of it. She watched his face and made little notes about how often he blinked, how often he took a breath, the way his eyes tracked hers. She knew he was serious but it was amazing to think that in such a short time she seemed to have found someone who wanted to at least to remain with her for . . . she couldn't make herself think forever. "If I hadn't kissed you how long would it have taken you to kiss me?"

"I do not know," he replied honestly, "possibly not at all as I would not have taken such initiative without permission." He smiled warmly at her. "But seeing as I obviously do have it now...." Stef leaned down again, his lips brushing lightly against hers. "I can tell you are tired.. I should let you sleep."

Beata shook her head. "I'm fine. I shouldn't sleep too much now anyway, then I Won't sleep tonight. Are you staying tonight? Or we could sleep in the arboretum, as long as the chickens don't try to sleep with me."

"Then we should get up," Stef suggested. "I would welcome you to sleep in the arboretum." Caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers, he smiled at her. "Do not worry, I can put the chickens in a pen."

It made her feel slightly guilty that they should be locked up, but she really didn't want to wake up with a bird on her. "Okay," she agreed and began to move. "It will be like camping I suppose. I've never been camping. I'm pretty sure the Captain would frown on us building a campfire though. The fire suppression systems would put it out anyway."

"Unless we move to a holodeck for that, or use a holographic emitter to create a campfire." Stef sat up, giving her room to sit up as well. "Would you like some privacy so you can get dressed?"

"Nah, if we are going to be mates then I shouldn't be shy." She was able to slip her pants back on with ease. Beata put on a soft jacket and looked back at him. "Are we taking blankets or sleeping bags?" She was a little worried about getting cold despite having him to curl up with.

"We can take both if you think you will be cold." Though he doubted she would be cold, because the arboretum, in his experience, did not cool off at night.

Beata debated for a second and then replicated one sleeping bag. Since Stef did not seem to get cold easily she thought she could scoot to the inside of it and there would be enough room for him to come in with her if he got cold. Their body warmth should keep her from freezing. "Okay," she said. "I'm ready."

"Only one?" he teased, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Alright. Should we bring some food? Maybe the mess as something left over for us."

"Well we can bring one for you if you like, I just thought you never got cold. That tough Vulcan exterior of yours. Sure," She smiled as he led her out. "Food is always good."

Ensign Beata Lauryl (pnpc by Saulitis)
Operations Officer
USS Majestic

Crewman Apprentice Stef
Animal Caretaker/Yeoman
pnpc Lhaes