Home sweet home

Posted on 21 Jun 2026 @ 11:52am by 2nd Lieutenant Elora Rykov & Ensign Taren Voss

3,236 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: General Sim Postings
Location: Private quarters of Elora and Taren
Timeline: Following - Meeting old friends

ON:



Elora sat on the sofa, before getting up to pace again. She had supper ready and took a moment to fiddle with the covered trays a moment before pacing again. She removed the yellow blouse and jeans she'd worn to lunch with her friend today. Trading it for a baggy T-shirt and not much else. She went to the flowers Taren had lovingly been tending to and tried to calm herself. The excitement though was nearly overwhelming. The nervous fear was as well. She had seen the new MCO. He was massive. Rumor had it he was very stern and as opposite of the departed Captain Mathews as could possibly be. That he might have even killed fellow Marines in the past and ate them. Elora swallowed hard. She was expected to report to him first thing in the morning. She turned away from the soft purple buds of the flowers and began to pace again. Not all of the rumors could be true. Could they? She wondered.

The doors to their quarters parted with a soft hiss as Taren stepped inside, immediately greeted by the unmistakable scent of dinner.

And by the equally unmistakable emotional storm swirling through the room.

Being Betazoid had its advantages.

His gaze followed Elora as she paced across the living area for what was likely the hundredth time since she'd started worrying about tomorrow. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Without saying a word, he set down his duty bag beside the sofa and watched her continue her circuit.

One, Two, Three passes.

By the fourth, he couldn't help himself. "You know," he said casually, loosening the collar of his uniform, "at this rate you're going to wear a groove into the deck plating."

His voice softened.

"I can practically hear your thoughts from the corridor."

That wasn't entirely true. Betazoids didn't read the minds of those they were emotionally close to without permission, but the anxiety rolling off her had been impossible to miss.

He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Want to tell me about it Imzadi?”


Taren's voice broke through the web of worry she had been weaving for most of the evening. It always did. She felt near to trembling at his small gesture as he brushed her hair back with the same care he used while tending their flowers. "They promoted me today " she said her own voice soft. Only he could bring about such calm with just a touch. She felt herself breathing a little deeper. "I'm going to be... No, I am the new Marine executive officer for the ninety-fifth." It still didn't feel real yet. She let herself move closer to him, her arms sliding over the coarse uniform as she embraced him. She knew that she needed to calm down for his sake if not her own. She rested her face in that familiar curve of his collar bone. She took another deep breath. "I'm just, I wasn't expecting it. I thought Tony was going to get promoted for sure. Not me." She admitted. Holding him gently as she tried to get her fears under control.

For a moment, Taren simply stared at her, the words took a second to register. Then his eyes widened. "You what?" Every trace of amusement vanished from his face, replaced by genuine surprise, and then pride. A smile spread across his features so quickly it was impossible to hide. "Elora..."

His arms tightened around her waist as though he might somehow anchor her to the deck before she floated away. "You're the new Executive Officer?" The disbelief in his voice wasn't doubt, quite the opposite.

He pulled back just enough to look at her properly. "I am so proud of you." The emotions rolling through her were easier to feel than explain. Excitement. Fear. Pride. Uncertainty.

All tangled together but Taren understood.


She felt herself smiling. That look in his eyes filling her up, she was trembling still but now for reasons that had nothing to do with fear or worry. She wondered for the possibly millionth time just how he was able to affect her so deeply.

"Thank you." She whispered leaning forward and kissed him tenderly. Glad for his presence, for his strength and love. "I should probably let you eat something." She spoke against that perfect mouth of his. Before kissing him again more deeply now than she had first intended.

Taren had every intention of responding.

Something clever.

Something reassuring.

Something that would undoubtedly make her roll her eyes before smiling at him again.

Instead, her kiss stole the thought completely.

His hand rose instinctively to the side of her face, thumb brushing softly against her cheek as he returned the kiss with equal tenderness. The worries that had dominated the evening seemed farther away now, pushed aside by the simple comfort of being together.

When she finally spoke, he laughed quietly against her lips. "Probably," he agreed. "But first I want to hear all about my Imzadi's promotion. Tell me everything, leave nothing out.”

Elora talked as she moved, she got him to the sofa with a plate of food and sitting next to him with her own she told him about how she hadn't even applied for the position. How the former MCO had put in a recommendation to Sommers prior to leaving. "I feel guilty. I know Tony had applied for that promotion, he has been the leader of the alpha team forever. He earned it really. I have no idea why she singled me out." Elora confessed. "Then there is the new MCO to consider. I don't know if you have seen him, but he's huge. Just massive." She took a moment to breathe again as that little panic worm tried to eat its way back into her calm. "I haven't met him yet but I'm told he is very strict and has a temper. That he has gone into rages and killed people." She felt guilt over this as well. She usually wasn't one to put much stock into scuttlebutt. She looked over at him. "That can't be true though. I mean Starfleet would never allow someone like that, dangerous and violent to be in such a position. Right?" She reasoned out loud.

Then the little voice in the back of her head offered, 'actually it's exactly the type of person they would want for such a position.' She swallowed hard at that thought.

Taren listened quietly as she spoke, giving her the space to unload everything she'd clearly been carrying around all day. The food was almost forgotten. Almost.

He managed a few bites while she talked, nodding occasionally as the pieces began to fit together.

The recommendation.

The promotion.

Tony.

The new MCO.

By the time she finished, he set his fork down and turned slightly toward her on the sofa.

"Okay." That was all he said at first. Just okay.

Because there were several things to unpack. "First..." He pointed at her with the fork. "Stop doing that." He spoke. "Convincing yourself that everyone else deserved your promotion more than you did."

His tone wasn't harsh. Just matter-of-fact.

He held up a finger. "Captain Somers approved it."

A second finger. "And Starfleet signed off on it."

A third. "That's three separate levels of command looking at your record and deciding you were the right choice."

His eyebrow rose slightly. "Do you honestly think they all forgot Tony existed?”

Elora shook her head. "No. I don't." She thought deeply and carefully about what he said. Her smile was more confident now. Taren was right of course. "What about the new MCO?" She asked then, hating the way she seemed to sound more like a child asking if the boogie man was real, than a battle hardened Marine.

Taren couldn't help but smile. Not because she was wrong, but because the woman sitting beside him had faced hostile boardings, combat deployments, and enough Marine field exercises to make most officers reconsider their career choices.

Yet somehow a commander she hadn't even met yet had managed to worry her more than all of them combined.

He set his plate aside and shifted slightly toward her. "Are you going to let rumour dictate your reaction, or judge for yourself tomorrow morning?" He asked.

"Besides, I hear he's a Caitian, and they smell fear.”

His last words sparked a moment of true terror. Then the rest of what he said sunk in. She felt herself sit back, her own plate resting on her lap as she always considered what he was saying. "No. I don't want to believe any of that. It's unfair of me to form an opinion of someone whom I have yet to meet. You're right." She set her own plate on the table for the moment as she let herself reconsider everything and look at it with a fresher perspective. "I wouldn't want people to believe rumors about me. I should show him the same respect and consideration that I would hope would be extended to myself.”

Then her eyes widened slightly as she looked at him. "You goose! You added that last bit to mess with me." She accused her tone wasn't angry, no. It had that playful edge to it as she caught onto the joke.

The moment her eyes widened, Taren knew exactly which part had landed first and exactly how long it had taken for the rest to catch up.

A grin immediately began forming. Slowly. Unapologetically. By the time she pointed an accusing finger at him, he was already guilty. "Me?" He pressed a hand dramatically against his chest. "I am wounded by this accusation." The performance lasted all of three seconds before he started laughing. "Alright, maybe a little." His smile softened as he looked at her. "But listen to what you just said." Taren nodded toward her. "That's the important part."

He had watched the tension leave her shoulders little by little throughout the evening. Not completely, but enough. "You caught yourself." His voice carried quiet pride. "Most people hear a rumour and decide it's true. You stopped and questioned it.”

His antics had her giggling. What he said landed hard however. "I'd be lost without you, you know." Elora admitted. She honestly could not fathom how she had lived as long as she had without Taren there by her side. He was her missing piece, her other half. Her soulmate even. He helped her to be a better person. As it always happened when such thoughts crossed her mind she suddenly wanted to move closer to him. The small distance between them felt painful and she yearned to close it. To her credit she was able to control the impulse and instead stood up picking up her still mostly full plate. She looked at him apologetic and asked, "Do you want me to take your plate for you?”

For once, Taren didn't immediately answer. The words had caught him off guard.

I'd be lost without you.

A dozen witty replies came to mind. Every single one of them felt wrong. Instead, his smile softened into something quieter. More genuine.

"Elora..." He looked down for a moment before meeting her eyes again.

"You give me far too much credit." His voice was gentle.

The kind reserved only for her.

"You were extraordinary long before I came along." Taren meant every word.

He had seen her lead Marines through impossible situations. Had watched her stand her ground when lesser officers would have folded. Had seen her offer kindness when it would have been easier not to. Those things belonged to her. Not him. "You don't need me to be who you are." A small smile tugged at his lips. "I'm just lucky enough to be here while you figure out how amazing that is.”

She arched a brow at him. He gave her more credit than she deserved as usual. Still, it wasn't worth tittering about. She smiled at him. Gave a slight nod. "That doesn't answer the question about your plate " Elora jested her heart beat ever so faster though as her cheeks flushed a few shades of pink.

"If you wish to." He answered. His smile was warm, gentle and loving. "Then you can come back and cuddle me.”

Elora took his plate and her own back into the small kitchenette area and set about cleaning up. It was a habit to keep things tidy and in order. She took her time to try and let her body simmer down. He wanted a cuddle he had said, not ravishing. He was probably tired. She hadn't even asked him about his own day yet. How selfish of her. She finished tidying up. "Maybe tell me about your day now?” she asked.

Taren watched her move about the kitchenette with the same quiet appreciation he always did.

There was something comforting about the routine. The familiar rhythm of life they had built together aboard the Tomcat.

Two officers. Two careers. One home.

Taren leaned back into the sofa and let out a quiet breath.

"My day was considerably less exciting than yours." A pause. "Nobody promoted me." Another pause. "Nobody spread rumors that I eat people."

His grin widened. "So, honestly, I feel a little left out." He laughed softly before continuing.

Elora shook her head; her own laugh met his as she finished her domestics. “Well that's a shame.” She stated as she returned to the main room. Her own eyes filled with mischief now as she sat herself across his lap, a knee on either side to straddle him, She wrapped her arms around his neck letting her fingers play along the soft skin at the edge of his hairline. “If you want tomorrow I can start a rumor about you. Tell everyone how you tried to eat me.” She teased.

"Only tried?" He responded by adjusting to her weight in his lap. "That implies something Imzadi." He enjoyed her playfulness, her teasing. Betazoids were less inhibited than most races and yet Elora seemed to not only embrace that, but make her equal mark on it too. His hands rested on her bare thighs since she wore nothing more than a tshirt, a smile on his face as he peered into her eyes.

"Does it now? If it helps I can also tell them how I provoked you." Elora stated as she leaned in kissing him tenderly "Vigorously." She added her mouth still playing over his.

"A bold claim." Taren spoke with a grin, clearly enjoying his Imzadi in her physical and emotional freedom.

"Indeed. It is." She had pulled away to look at him, to enjoy that smile of his. To drink in the fact that he was actually here with her, and even after all this time it still felt so unreal at times. He was playing along with her, and it was fun. Still he seemed a bit removed from it. 'He must be tired' she mused. It wasn't fair to keep teasing him like she was. It wasn't that he wouldn't say no he knew he could. But she also knew he would want to try and please her, even if it meant over working himself. She didn't want that. "If you like I can get a move or something together while you go get out of your uniform." She offered, dropping the playful tone. She wasn't going to press him, she decided, she loved him too much to do that. Carefully she got up again. "I put some fresh towels on my head after I finished. We can get that cuddle in after you're finished."

"No." He sensed the sneaking reluctance. "You are right where I want you to be." Taren answered as he pulled her close into a hug. "It does not matter where we are, as long as I am with you, that is all I need." He thought back to the times when they were dating, to the times when she was away for weeks at a time and how empty, emotionless home had felt. He remembered sitting at the end of the bed missing her presence, even the emotional and the physical. She was a marine, braver than most and shied from nothing, he thought about when she said yes to marrying him. A smile creeped onto his lips as he held onto her.

His response surprised her a moment later. Only for a moment. Elora understood where it came from. She felt it too at times. She brushed her fingers through his short dark hair as she held him to her, cradling his head against her chest "I am here." she whispered her chest feeling tight with a thousand emotions. Ranging from desperate yearning , to absolute joy, also some guilt at how she had misread the whole situation. She simply held him because it felt better than anything else in the world to feel him in her arms. For the second time that evening she thought about how lost she'd be without him. How empty her life would be if they had never met. It didn't matter that she'd still be herself. She would still be less without him. He made her better in so many ways. How was it he never seemed to see that? She ran her hands over his shoulders, not sexually this time, but no less intimate in their intent. Touching him was as natural as breathing. She wanted him to take comfort in her touch.

It took some doing, a little shifting but eventually he removed his tunic and undershirt baring his top half. His hands went to Elora's t shirt and he lifted it up exposing her in the beauty he'd come to admire, crave and desire. He hugged her again drawing her to him, skin to skin, bare with nothing between them. Feeling her warmth against him he drew that comfort, the proximity he took in her presence, the love he sensed radiating from her was his foundation.

Elora felt a rush of warmth wash over her as Taren's hands lifted her shirt, exposing her skin to the cool air, but more importantly, to him. It was a vulnerability she rarely allowed herself, yet with Taren, it felt right. As their bodies connected, she could feel the steady beating of his heart against hers, a rhythm that seemed to synchronize with her own. "I love you." She whispers to him. She knew he could feel it yes. Still, she needed him to hear it too.

"I love you too Imzadi." Taren spoke as he rested the side of his face to her chest and listened to the beating of her heart. To her he knew he'd be slightly colder to the touch, but that wasn't always a bad thing. With each beat he felt it, each breath she took he heard it, her love for him. An act didn't need to be sexual to be intimate, only intimate to make it known that love was shared between them and it was as strong as ever.

OFF:





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