We should talk

Posted on Thu Oct 13th, 2022 @ 6:29am by Lieutenant JG Kiara Rahl (Jansen-Carey) & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels
Edited on on Thu Oct 13th, 2022 @ 7:58am

Mission: The Lost Brother
Location: Tony’s quarters
Timeline: Morning after ‘Let’s see where this goes’

Having seen Antonia leave the crew lounge the way she had, Kiara thought she would drop by Stoffels Quarters. Rumours were always rife aboard a ship, and Kiara had heard the ones going around regarding Antonia and Soran. As she arrived at Tony’s door she pressed the chime and awaited a response.

Tony had changed into something comfortable and had installed herself on the couch with her vid reader when the chime went. She did not expect anyone this evening so she walked over to the door with a curious expression on her face. "Lieutenant, what can I do for you?"

Walking in Kiara offered a polite smile. “Commander, I hope you don’t mind me dropping by? I thought you and I should talk.”

The other woman feigned ignorance. "Why come to my quarters and not my office? What is wrong?"

“I think you know what’s wrong Commander” Kiara offered a polite smile, and a knowing look. “Soran...”

Tony's eyes widened. "Did something happen? Is he hurt?"

“Ohh .. no, ma’am. Soran is fine” Kia smiled warmly. “I think we’ve all heard rumours regarding yourself and Soran. He assured me the two of you aren’t romantically involved, but I wanted to be sure I’m not moving in on another woman’s man. Even if you haven’t told him how you feel.”

"You have a nerve." Tony was too surprised to think for a few seconds. "You...you stay out of my head, you hear!"

Kiara looked surprised. “Commander I’m not in your head! I sensed what you were feeling when you left the lounge when you saw us together. That’s why I came to see you.”

"You have sensed nothing, lieutenant. Ren is one of my best friends and he is also a former patient. There is and has never been anything between us. And I have always been supportive towards his girlfriends. But you had better not hurt him in any way."

Kiara nodded, she could sense Tony was telling the truth, but she was definitely holding something back. “I promise I wouldn’t do anything to hurt him, I understand him better than you might think.”

Little did Tony realise that after their walk in the Arboretum, Soran had decided not to pursue anything with Kiara. There was nothing between them but the dinner date in the lounge.

Tony gritted her teeth without really realising it. Never before had it bothered her to listen to his in love girlfriends gush about him. Why did it this time? "I hope so. He deserves some happiness."

Kiara could tell she was only making Tony feel worse rather than better, though she didn’t say it. “He does indeed Commander.” She offered a brief smile.

"Good we agree on that." She paused. "Please do not be intimidated by me. Ren and I spend time together as friends. I would like to continue to do so. We have done so for years and it is not romantic."

Kiara nodded. “Thank you, I swear to you I wouldn’t do anything to hurt him.”

"Good." She smiled trying to hide the pit in her stomach and the empty feeling inside her. "That is all I ask. Now if you need any tips you know were to find me."

Nodding Kiara headed towards the door. “Anytime you need a friend, you know where to find me.”

"Sure no problem." Tony said brightly and let Kiara out. But as soon as the other woman had left she sank to the floor and just broke out crying.

Outside in the corridor Kiara paused to look back, sensing the sudden rush of negative emotions. Carrying on her way she wondered whether she should have told Tony that she and Soran weren’t involved, she sighed before carrying on.

{OFF}