05-31-2025, 05:33 AM
Amila’s soft, contented sigh as she leaned on him matched the peace Morad felt. He held her hand, his thumb making slow circles on her skin. Just holding her hand felt good. She called the evening "perfect." He agreed, but the word felt too small for all the moments they’d had, and for how much he felt like he’d changed inside.
From her station quarters, to old Ugarit, the food from home, and now this… floating under so many stars. He rested his cheek on her hair. He could smell her own scent mixed with the holodeck's sea salt smell; it felt real. This whole night has been eye-opening. Not just the places, or her, but what’s happening between us. Morning and the end of shore leave can wait...
They sat in that comfortable silence for the 'few more minutes' she'd requested, the star patterns looking majestic overhead. The tranquility of the holographic cove had the perfect relaxing and calming effect. He enjoyed the feeling of her warmth beside him, the trust she showed in the way she rested against him. Yet, with a reluctance that was almost a physical pain, he recognized the inevitable. This perfect, timeless bubble couldn't last forever. He stirred slightly, enough to shift their comfort, and pressed a light, lingering kiss to her hair.
"I really wish we could stay like this all night, under these stars, until a real sunrise," he murmured quietly, sounding a little sad but meaning it. "But I think our trip to 2000 BC is about over." He squeezed her hand. "Ready to head back to our time… and the station?"
They seemed to agree without words. They stood up, and Ameen kept her hand in his as he looked to the edge of the boat.
"Computer," he said to the holodeck, his voice clear but soft, "Arch."
A plain doorway appeared a few feet away. It looked strange next to the old sea and sky. They stepped through it together. One second, it was cool night air and sea smells; the next, it was the station's air in the hall outside the holodeck. The real door slid shut behind them with a soft whoosh. He looked at Amila and gave her a small smile. It was like they were waking up from a great dream. He turned to the panel by the door.
"Computer, end program and clear." The light on the panel went off.
They walked to her quarters quietly. It was a good quiet, full of things they didn't need to say, but also with the warm feeling from the great evening. He kept holding her hand; it felt good and close, and he didn't want to let go yet. The station hallways, sometimes noisy with people even late, sometimes quiet, felt different tonight, softer, like they were still in the glow of their date.
When they got to her door – just like lots of other doors on the big station – he finally had to let go of her hand, and he didn't much want to. He turned to face her. The hallway light was soft on her face. He looked at her, trying to remember everything – how her hair was still a bit damp, the shine in her eyes, her smile.
"Amila," he started, his voice a bit deeper and a little husky. "Tonight… was really something special. More than I..." He stopped, not finding the words like he usually could. "Thank you," he said finally, looking right at her so she knew he meant it. "For sharing it with me. For being so adventurous… just for being here."
A warm smile came to his lips; he felt hopeful.
"And hey," he added, his eyes crinkling a little at the corners in a playful way, "I'm really looking forward to that second date you talked me into."
== Tag ==
From her station quarters, to old Ugarit, the food from home, and now this… floating under so many stars. He rested his cheek on her hair. He could smell her own scent mixed with the holodeck's sea salt smell; it felt real. This whole night has been eye-opening. Not just the places, or her, but what’s happening between us. Morning and the end of shore leave can wait...
They sat in that comfortable silence for the 'few more minutes' she'd requested, the star patterns looking majestic overhead. The tranquility of the holographic cove had the perfect relaxing and calming effect. He enjoyed the feeling of her warmth beside him, the trust she showed in the way she rested against him. Yet, with a reluctance that was almost a physical pain, he recognized the inevitable. This perfect, timeless bubble couldn't last forever. He stirred slightly, enough to shift their comfort, and pressed a light, lingering kiss to her hair.
"I really wish we could stay like this all night, under these stars, until a real sunrise," he murmured quietly, sounding a little sad but meaning it. "But I think our trip to 2000 BC is about over." He squeezed her hand. "Ready to head back to our time… and the station?"
They seemed to agree without words. They stood up, and Ameen kept her hand in his as he looked to the edge of the boat.
"Computer," he said to the holodeck, his voice clear but soft, "Arch."
A plain doorway appeared a few feet away. It looked strange next to the old sea and sky. They stepped through it together. One second, it was cool night air and sea smells; the next, it was the station's air in the hall outside the holodeck. The real door slid shut behind them with a soft whoosh. He looked at Amila and gave her a small smile. It was like they were waking up from a great dream. He turned to the panel by the door.
"Computer, end program and clear." The light on the panel went off.
They walked to her quarters quietly. It was a good quiet, full of things they didn't need to say, but also with the warm feeling from the great evening. He kept holding her hand; it felt good and close, and he didn't want to let go yet. The station hallways, sometimes noisy with people even late, sometimes quiet, felt different tonight, softer, like they were still in the glow of their date.
When they got to her door – just like lots of other doors on the big station – he finally had to let go of her hand, and he didn't much want to. He turned to face her. The hallway light was soft on her face. He looked at her, trying to remember everything – how her hair was still a bit damp, the shine in her eyes, her smile.
"Amila," he started, his voice a bit deeper and a little husky. "Tonight… was really something special. More than I..." He stopped, not finding the words like he usually could. "Thank you," he said finally, looking right at her so she knew he meant it. "For sharing it with me. For being so adventurous… just for being here."
A warm smile came to his lips; he felt hopeful.
"And hey," he added, his eyes crinkling a little at the corners in a playful way, "I'm really looking forward to that second date you talked me into."
== Tag ==