05-23-2025, 11:16 PM
Hearing Amila say, "I'm not ready to let that go," felt like a huge weight just lifted off Morad. He'd been so tense, laying out all the bad stuff that could happen. Now, a warm feeling spread through him.
A real smile, no holding back this time, finally showed on his face. He squeezed her hand back gently, his thumb rubbing her fingers a little.
"You can’t scare me off that easily, huh?" he said softly, his voice a bit thick. "Amila, you have no idea how much that means to me."
She heard all the warnings, all the potential pitfalls, and she still chose this. Chose us....
He felt humbled by it, and yeah, still a bit scared, but mostly, it was just… great.
"You're right," he said. He looked right into her eyes, all the affection he'd been trying to hide now clear. "This connection… I wasn't imagining it either. And I don't want to let it go." He lifted his other hand and gently touched her cheek.
"This won't be easy," he admitted, and his face got a bit serious again, thinking about what she was taking on. "The things I said about how people might see it, the challenges… those are real. But Amila, I swear, I'll do everything I can to handle this right, to protect you and your career as much as I can, and to make sure whatever we have, we do it with total discretion and respect for our jobs on this ship." He leaned a tiny bit closer. "We'll face whatever comes, together, if you're truly up for it."
Her eyes seemed to say "yes" before she even spoke.
He leaned down slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull away if she wanted. Then he kissed her. It wasn't a demanding kiss, just soft and full of all the stuff he'd been feeling – relief, hope, everything. It felt like a new start, even if it was going to be tricky.
After a moment that felt way too short, he gently broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers for a second. His heart was pounding like crazy.
"Okay," he murmured, still smiling a little. "Okay." He took a slightly shaky breath. "I should… I should let you get some rest. And I need to get some myself, prepare for whatever our next watch brings and what tomorrow might hold."
And that applies to you too, Amila...
He stepped back a little, though his hand lingered on hers for another moment.
"Thank you, Amila. For… for everything." He gave her hand one last squeeze. "I'll see you… on duty." The words didn't feel like enough, but that was all for now.
Before opening the door, Ameen discreetly pulled out his standard tricorder. He did a quick, subtle scan of the corridor outside.
All clear. Good...
He pocketed the device.
With a final, warm look and a small nod to Amila, he turned and quietly let himself out of her quarters, the door hissing shut. Walking down the empty corridor towards his own stateroom to turn in for the night, even the ship's engine hum felt different. Not just an old ship on an urgent mission anymore. Now, it felt like there was something new and important starting, something hopeful, even if it was going to be a real headache to manage sometimes...
== Next Post: Bridge ==
A real smile, no holding back this time, finally showed on his face. He squeezed her hand back gently, his thumb rubbing her fingers a little.
"You can’t scare me off that easily, huh?" he said softly, his voice a bit thick. "Amila, you have no idea how much that means to me."
She heard all the warnings, all the potential pitfalls, and she still chose this. Chose us....
He felt humbled by it, and yeah, still a bit scared, but mostly, it was just… great.
"You're right," he said. He looked right into her eyes, all the affection he'd been trying to hide now clear. "This connection… I wasn't imagining it either. And I don't want to let it go." He lifted his other hand and gently touched her cheek.
"This won't be easy," he admitted, and his face got a bit serious again, thinking about what she was taking on. "The things I said about how people might see it, the challenges… those are real. But Amila, I swear, I'll do everything I can to handle this right, to protect you and your career as much as I can, and to make sure whatever we have, we do it with total discretion and respect for our jobs on this ship." He leaned a tiny bit closer. "We'll face whatever comes, together, if you're truly up for it."
Her eyes seemed to say "yes" before she even spoke.
He leaned down slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull away if she wanted. Then he kissed her. It wasn't a demanding kiss, just soft and full of all the stuff he'd been feeling – relief, hope, everything. It felt like a new start, even if it was going to be tricky.
After a moment that felt way too short, he gently broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers for a second. His heart was pounding like crazy.
"Okay," he murmured, still smiling a little. "Okay." He took a slightly shaky breath. "I should… I should let you get some rest. And I need to get some myself, prepare for whatever our next watch brings and what tomorrow might hold."
And that applies to you too, Amila...
He stepped back a little, though his hand lingered on hers for another moment.
"Thank you, Amila. For… for everything." He gave her hand one last squeeze. "I'll see you… on duty." The words didn't feel like enough, but that was all for now.
Before opening the door, Ameen discreetly pulled out his standard tricorder. He did a quick, subtle scan of the corridor outside.
All clear. Good...
He pocketed the device.
With a final, warm look and a small nod to Amila, he turned and quietly let himself out of her quarters, the door hissing shut. Walking down the empty corridor towards his own stateroom to turn in for the night, even the ship's engine hum felt different. Not just an old ship on an urgent mission anymore. Now, it felt like there was something new and important starting, something hopeful, even if it was going to be a real headache to manage sometimes...
== Next Post: Bridge ==