Maybe Odo's method could have used a little work, he pondered as he sat alone at the replimat. Quark's question had simply caught him so off guard that he hadn't had time to prepare a proper response. Besides, it was always fun to mess around with that devious little Ferengi— make him sweat a bit before giving him his answer. Still, when all was said and done, dating Quark wasn't the worst thing Odo could think of. All things considered about that criminal, it really should have been, but the ever-present threat of being wiped out by the Dominion made Quark seem almost desirable by comparison. In any case, entering such a relationship would give Odo something else to think about, to get his mind off the war.
Perhaps he should have been clearer with Quark. Then again, how much clearer could he have been than laying out a time and place for them to have their first… get-together?
Odo didn't feel comfortable thinking of it as a date. He'd known Quark too long for such a sudden change in the manner of their relationship to be made overnight; it would be better to see this get-together out and, if it went agreeably, they could discuss the nature of their relationship in depth at a later date.
Noting with increasing impatience that it was already creeping up on 13:00 hours, Odo decided that Quark wasn't coming. Whether he'd missed the point or just changed his mind between then and now, it was clear that the bartender wasn't going to take Odo up on his offer. Odo was about to get up and leave the replimat when Quark ran in at last, wide-eyed and out of breath. He collapsed into the seat across from Odo and wiped sweat from his browridge, panting.
"Sorry I'm late," Quark said once he caught his breath— which took quite a while, but that was hardly surprising, considering he wasn't exactly in the best shape. "I had to deal with some very demanding customers today."
"That's fine," Odo said. Actually, he was quite annoyed by Quark's tardiness, but if they really were going to try dating, they may as well try to be civil with each other for once. "Captain Sisko insisted I take today off— apparently I need to use up some of the unused vacation days I've accumulated— so I've got nothing else I need to be doing today."
"But I bet you got bored waiting for me," said Quark.
He winked, which was a horrifying sight. Quark should never try to act cutesy, but apparently he liked to anyway. Odo told himself he'd better get used to it if they were going to be making such… dates… a regular thing— which there was no guarantee they would, he reminded himself, and this wasn't a date.
"Bored? Yes, I suppose so," Odo said wryly, "But it's up for debate whether or not your company will be an improvement."
Quark scrunched up his face and threw his napkin at Odo. "Oh, that's really funny," he said as Odo caught the napkin in his hand and leaned across the table to place it on Quark's head. "You're a regular comedian, Constable, you know that?" He yanked the napkin off his head and smacked it down on the table between them, glaring at Odo.
Quark placed his order— a plate of tube grubs and a tall glass of slug juice— and Odo formed a mug of raktajino in his hand, which of course was just an extension of his body. It was the same thing he did for breakfast with Garak, but Quark seemed significantly more disturbed by the fake beverage. At first Odo took pleasure in creeping Quark out, but when the little bartender kept trailing off halfway through insults and staring at the mug, Odo realized it was making things less fun, and retracted the mug back into his hand.
They carried on bickering for the rest of their date— no, get-together; Odo had to keep reminding himself. Soon enough, the both of them were completely engaged in their battle of wits, to the extent that all things war-related were the last things on their minds. By the time Quark had finished eating, Odo had almost forgotten that there was a war going on.
Of course, the moment their dinner date— because by the end of the evening, Odo had to admit that it was indeed a date— ended, he was reminded of the current political situation when he received an urgent call to Ops. He had to leave in a hurry; he thought that Quark looked a little dejected to see Odo walk out on him without any ceremony, but there was no time for such things.
Even so, all things considered… Odo wouldn't have minded going on more dates with Quark in the future.