It had been a long but productive day in Tiraa’s mind. Carefully laid plans had finally been put into motion. She had spent months weighing the risks and rewards, and here she was with an opportunity too convenient to pass up; indecision was obscurity. Tiraa was known, but floated comfortably in the space just under true public notoriety; it made life easier in more ways than one, and to those that knew exactly who she was… there was a reason. She made her way back to her quarters. They were markedly smaller than what she was used to of course, but it certainly wasn’t something she had never had to experience. Perhaps in time Zedd would be convinced to do a bit of rearranging that would allow her a larger space - a “second officer” was such a militaristic concept. She came to the door and used her security code, and as it slid open with a hiss she was immediately greeted by the familiar scent of mild spice with an undertone of floral that she had come to prefer over the years. A smile spread on her beautiful face and a tension she hadn’t exactly been aware of left her shoulders as she stepped inside.

When proper motivation was applied, it was amazing how quickly work could be done.

The stark grey walls had been covered by black and various beautiful pieces of artwork to immediately ward off the cold, Spartan grey that Starfleet offered. Everything that had been standard issue had most certainly been placed into storage never to be seen in these quarters again as long as Tiraa occupied them. Even the carpet had been removed and replaced with a warm brown carpet that would be soft under foot. Warm amber lighting provided the golden accents she was used to in recesses in the walls and above the viewports. The furniture had all been replaced with sleek Orion options full of understated elegance; low couches and chairs of fine fabric complimented by a coffee table of black glass and steel. The small dining area now housed a round table that matched the coffee table and seating for four around it - though it was big enough to accommodate more. Accents of gold, rich browns, and even a few plants brought warmth to the darkly elegant space, and on the newly installed black shelves there were books and small unique sculptures and crystals that pleased the eye. It projected luxury and opulence without becoming gaudy, a line Tiraa had perfected walking over the years.

Rallid turned to face her, and that hard as stone expression he usually wore immediately melted away in favor of a warm, genuine smile that softened his face. He closed the distance quickly between them and reached out to place his hands on her upper arms. “Welcome home. Do you like it?”

“It’s perfect, Rallid, thank you.” Tiraa pressed her forehead against his and the two remained like that for just a moment until Rallid pulled back. “The bedroom is done as well, if you’d like to have a look.”

At the invitation, Tiraa stepped around his massive frame without a word and moved to the closed door that partitioned the bedroom off from the living area. She opened it and stepped inside, finding the room decorated much as the living area had been with the large bed draped in various shades of charcoal and black dressings. She turned back to Rallid with an approving smile.

“There is… one more thing.” Rallid’s voice was a weighted murmur. He stood next to the fine black credenza at the side of the room that would eventually also serve as a bar, but the top of it was currently occupied by a black rectangular box. One large hand rested on it, but his green eyes were on Tiraa. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to unpack this or not.”

Tiraa’s smile faded from her beautiful face and she walked with a heavy stride to where Rallid was standing. He stepped back to allow her room, and she stood in front of the credenza looking down at the box. It was a simple and sleek black divided by a single gold line which it undoubtedly opened from. In the middle, the emerald and gold crest inlaid in the obsidian stared up at her as if it were a judgmental eye. She ran her fingers first over the box and then finally over the emblem itself, following the crescent curve of the line slowly.

“No. Leave it packed. It is… good that you brought it, but it can be put away as is.” She continued to look at the box, deeply pensive and distracted, but she felt Rallid step up behind her. His strong hands slid up her arms slowly to the collar of her jacket. He grabbed it and began to slowly pull it down off of her shoulders while her fingers still lingered on the emblem. She closed her eyes, and he brought his head down toward her neck and shoulder, in response she tilted her head away just slightly to offer him more access. His lips touched her skin in a soft kiss, and he spoke in a low, rumbling voice.

“I don’t like the thought of being separated from you. We don’t know these people.”

Tiraa didn’t smile immediately at his touch, but she didn’t resist as he slid the jacket from her shoulders to reveal the black tank top below it. Even after so many years, her feelings on these moments were still complicated. Rallid was devoted body and soul to her, there was no question in that fact, but he'd had little choice in the matter and that reality had always given Tiraa pause where it barely phased most women in her position. While she had no real problem taking advantage of certain people when the opportunity presented, this was different. At the same time though, she was distinctly aware that he physically needed his connection with her – sex wasn’t a strictly necessary part of the equation, but they were two healthy adults with a close bond, and Orion’s weren’t exactly known for being ascetic. It had, however, taken quite a bit of convincing on Rallid’s part that his desire for her wasn’t solely because of circumstance for her to agree to the act.

She felt the jacket leave her arms and it appeared on the credenza next to the box. Finally, she lifted her hand and touched his cheek as his body made contact with her own.

“Stay with me for tonight then.” She turned in his arms to face him. Her fingers moved to his chin and she leaned up to press her lips to his in a brief kiss. “We can see what tomorrow brings together.

END