My Star Trek One-Shots

Garak - Watchful Eyes PT 2

Roana Taren was the picture of calm professionalism—on the surface. She walked her usual patrol route through the Promenade, nodding at familiar merchants, exchanging brief glances with Odo across the way . . . and then casually veered just a little closer to the tailor shop.

Inside, Garak adjusted a collar on a mannequin. Their eyes met. It was subtle. A faint smile. A slow, deliberate once-over of her uniform. Nothing overt. Roana's expression barely shifted, but something warm flickered in her eyes.  Later, when her shift ended, she disappeared into the shop's rear entrance for exactly 37 minutes.

And that was when Kira saw it. From her vantage point near the Bajoran shrine, Kira narrowed her eyes.

"Dax," she said, tapping the Trill with her elbow. "Look. There. Did she just—?"

Dax squinted. "Oh, she definitely did. That's the back entrance. You don't go in through there unless you're . . . you know."

Kira looked alarmed. "Unless you're what?"

Dax grinned. "In love. Or being very friendly."

Kira crossed her arms. "She said she was going to tell him. Not . . . sneak off for mid-morning rendezvous."

"She probably told him a few times by now," Dax said, entirely too pleased.

Roana entered to find Kira and Dax both waiting with expressions of dangerous interest.

She paused. ". . . What?"

Kira spoke first, eyes narrowed. "I saw you go into his shop this morning."

"I was off duty," Roana said too quickly.

"Through the back entrance," Dax added, pointing her spoon like it was a weapon. "Don't deny it. Kira and I saw the whole thing."

Roana exhaled sharply and dropped into the chair opposite them. "Fine. Yes. We're seeing each other."

Kira blinked. "Seriously? Like . . . officially?"

Roana nodded. "Yes."

Dax whooped and slapped the table. "Finally!"

Roana winced. "Not so loud!"

"You really love him," Kira said quietly, searching her face.

"I do," Roana replied, surprising herself with how steady it sounded.

Kira didn't smile right away. She leaned back, arms still crossed. "You're sure? About him?"

Roana met her gaze. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life. He makes me feel . . . understood. Seen. And not like a weapon. Like a person."

Kira's jaw worked for a moment before she nodded once. "Then I support you. Even if he is Cardassian."

Roana gave a wry smile. "That means a lot."

Kira rolled her eyes. "But if he hurts you, I'll airlock him. Slowly."

Dax grinned. "I want full details. And wedding color palettes. And a double date with Worf and me."

Roana groaned. "You two are the worst."

"And you're in love," Dax sang.

That night, Roana slipped in as Garak lit a small Bajoran candle she'd once mentioned liking.

"You told them," he said, without looking up.

"I told them."

"And you survived?"