The Morning After
Ezri wakes up with a headache from late night drinks with Mark at Quark's the night before. Though the glow through her eyelids is faint, she keeps her eyes closed in the hopes that she can drift off to sleep again to escape the dull throbbing. As she waits for sleep to retake her, last night's discussion runs through her mind. She had finally shared her true feelings for Mark, which included doubts and concerns about their 'relationship', and how she even had reservations about calling it that. Mark promised to dial back his infatuative behavior and she promised to continue being honest about her feelings as they continue to get to know each other. After those points had been agreed upon, they had been able to partake in friendly, casual conversation. She had been impressed with Mark's ability to identify all the subtle things she'd done the day before to allow him to win a simulated shuttle race. She thought she had been careful and that her efforts would've gone unnoticed. The conversation and events of the night beyond that were a bit fuzzy…
Ezri finally gives up on the hope of more sleep and opens her eyes to confront the simulated light of morning. When she does, she finds Mark's brown eyes staring back at her.
"Well, good morning, beautiful," Mark says with a grin.
"Oh, no," Ezri groans, putting her hands over her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"You don't remember? That hurts," Mark tries to pout, but his smile foils the attempt. "And this is my place."
"Ugh! This is totally the opposite of what we said we were going to do."
"I know, and don't worry, I still haven't picked out invitations."
"I drank way too much last night," Ezri continues to groan.
"Are you implying I took advantage of you?" Mark teases.
"No, I'm just trying to make sure you know that ending up here was not my intention."
"So you regret it?" Mark maintains his grin as Ezri wrestles with her thoughts.
"Yes... and no. Can you imagine resisting eight personalities that haven't done that in a while?"
"I thought you were the ninth host?"
"I'm not counting the psychopath, he just wants me to kill you."
"Oh… um," Mark's teasing smile wavers at the unexpected and grim disclosure. "Well, I'm glad you're in charge then, and I'm glad you count yourself among the eight that you failed to 'resist'."
"This is so wrong," Ezri frowns and rubs her forehead.
"Don't worry, I know this doesn't mean what you're worried I think it means."
"You keep trying to play counselor on me... I haven't decided if I think that's cute or annoying. And I'm glad that you know what this doesn't mean, or at least what you think I would have thought you think it means," Ezri's brow wrinkles as she repeats her words in her head. "Did that make any sense?"
"I follow you," Mark smiles. "Last night was an emotionless, meaningless, and primal outburst from which I should make no inference of attachment of any kind."
Ezri eyes Mark suspiciously. "Have you taken a crash-course in psychology just to toy with me?"
Mark laughs. "No, but after our talk last night, I have a good idea of where I stand despite what happened after."
"That's good… I think," Ezri strains, "What else did we say?"
"That we'd have no fewer than three children, and that the first one would be named after Bill—even if it's a girl. 'Willamena' has nice ring to it, don't you think?"
Ezri smacks Marks arm, "That's not funny. And you know, we probably shouldn't tell anyone this happened. There are enough rumors surrounding us as it is; we don't want to send mixed signals. We're taking it slow. Nice and slow."
"Does that mean I shouldn't kiss you again?" Mark says as he leans over to kiss her.
"Absolute…"
The rest of the word is muffled as she accepts his advance and they embrace. Regret or no, Ezri willingly re-enacts last night's passion.
Kira walks along the hallway towards Mark's quarters. She had just confirmed the time and that Ezri was not in her own quarters. They were supposed to be going over the personnel records of some new transfers to the station, but she's seen no sign of her friend and Ezri isn't answering her combadge. Kira knows Ezri has been spending more time with Mark and hopes he'll know where she can find her. As she nears Mark's quarters, Bill nearly collides with her from a side corridor.
"Oh, excuse me, miss!" Bill says.
"Excuse me as well," Kira says. "Say, you're Mark's father, aren't you? I was just heading to your quarters to talk to him."
"No, ma'am; No relation. I'm actually tryin' to track the boy down myself. We were s'posed to meet in the shop over an hour ago. I know he was out late last night, but it's not like him to keep me waitin' this long unless somethin's wrong."
As they continue speaking, Ezri ducks out of Mark's quarters and quickly walks down the hall away from the pair, hoping to escape unnoticed.
"Ezri Dax!" Kira yells after spotting her.
Ezri's quick gait halts abruptly and her shoulders scrunch up in response to Kira's raised voice.
"I've been looking all over for you. Where have you been?" Kira asks.
"Oh… Mark left his jacket in Quark's last night, I was just returning it."
"I've never seen that boy wear a jacket," Bill says.
A door slides open and a shirtless Mark starts calling after Ezri before he sees everyone else in the hallway.
"Hey, beautiful, you left your combadge… damn."
Kira looks at Mark with a dropped jaw as the true nature of Ezri's visit is made apparent. She slowly turns to Ezri for an explanation.
"We, uh…uh…" Ezri stammers.
"You two bunked up last night, didn't ya?" Bill laughs.
Mark puts one hand against the door frame and lowers his face into the other. Ezri answers Kira's shocked stare with a sheepish blush and raised brows.
.
Kira and Ezri sit with their mugs of raktajino and pour over PADDs in Kira's quarters. Kira hasn't said a word about Ezri's alleged activities the night before, but the curious glances become more frequent and inquisitive.
Ezri tosses a PADD on the coffee table in front of them. "Would you stop that already?"
"Hey, it's none of my business, but..."
"Spending the night with Mark was... not my intention."
"So it was a mistake? Wait… did he get you drunk?" A spark of anger flares in Kira's eyes.
Ezri shakes her head and raises her hand. "Guilty party. I got myself drunk. And, you know, there are feelings, and then there are feelings," Ezri lowers her chin and adds gruffness to the last word.
"Those would be hormones," Kira rolls her eyes.
"Whatever," Ezri says. "I promise, Mark didn't take advantage of me, but now that I think about it, I feel like I used him… Ugh!"
"I thought you were just wanting to get to know a little more about the guy, not… do what you did. You're going to completely mess with his head if you keep this up. That's bad form for a counselor, right?"
"Hey now, don't judge me," Ezri points accusingly. "Mark is surprisingly… understanding of the situation."
"Of course he is! I've seen how he looks at you. He adores you and you just… well, it doesn't take much imagination to know what you did."
"We did… and it was soo good, Kira. Very passionate. It wasn't primal, like with Worf, and definitely no biting. It was very, very..."
"Whoa! OK. Stop right there… wait, biting?"
"Noo, Mark doesn't, it's a Klingon thing. Though I bet if I ever missed it and asked…"
"Forget I said anything!" Kira puts up her hands to halt the flow of intimate detail.
Kira just shakes her head at her friend.
"What?" Ezri asks of her friend's apparent disapproval.
"We've got a lovestruck Human and a horny Trill that are going to try and 'take it slow.' I think you're doomed."
"Doomed?"
"Let's just say… I won't be surprised to get an invitation," Kira jokes.
After the awkward meeting in the hall outside Mark's apartment, he and Bill walk into the maintenance shop to get a late start to their shift.
"Son, I know I was a nay-sayer at first, but I gotta hand it to you. Spendin' the night tangled up with a senior officer. I never thought it'd happen for you."
"I'd call you on the insult, Bill," Mark replies, "but I honestly didn't think it would either."
"I'm sorry, son, but I'm dyin' to know… did she do any 'man' things when you two… you know?"
"What?! What are you talking about?"
"With that symbionic thingamajig. She's been a man more'n once."
Mark's eyes drift and lose focus briefly as he starts to think, but they quickly snap back to Bill's expectant stare. "Oh, that's nonsense, Bill!"
"She did, didn't she? What was it… did she insist on bein' on top?"
"Bill! Cut it out! I am not going to talk about it with you… you're like… my dad."
"I dunno how many people I've had to correct on that silliness, now you?"
"It's just weird, is all."
"Don't tell me what's weird. You just slept with a woman with nine personalities. Now spill it, son."
Despite a full day of strange questions from Bill, Mark divulges scant few details about his night with Ezri. After his shift and cleaning himself up, Mark heads to the Promenade to browse options for dinner. As he nears the replimat, he spots Ezri eating alone.
"May I join you, ma'am?"
"Oh. Mark. I didn't even see you. Umm."
"Last night's not making you want to avoid me is it?"
"Oh, no… of course not. I just… I've been thinking."
"I've had a lot of bad conversations start with those three words."
Ezri bites her lip and scrunches her brow. "I feel so bad about last night."
"Bad? Last night was wonderful!"
"Shhh, we don't need to give Bill and Kira any help spreading the word."
Mark whispers, "Last night was wonderful, Ezri."
"I know… it was. But it never should've happened. I feel I took advantage of you."
"You? Took advantage of me? I thought…"
"Shhh, there's Worf, right over there," Ezri cuts Mark off.
"Does he know?"
"I didn't tell him, did you?" Ezri asks.
"Are you kidding? I've seen the inside of the infirmary enough lately."
"What if one of the others talked? Uh oh, he's coming this way."
"Good evening, Ezri," Worf says plainly, then with a hint of displeasure, "Mark."
"Worf," Mark does his best to hide his nervousness.
"I owe you both an apology."
"Apology?" Mark is truly bewildered, "For what?"
"For presuming to speak for you," Worf nods to Ezri, "and for showing you great disrespect. I was unaware that you had been a warrior."
"I, uh…" Mark blinks in disbelief, "accept your apology. Thank you."
Worf nods, "Good day to you both."
As Worf turns and walks off, Ezri is visibly perplexed.
"What the hell was that all about?" Mark asks.
"I have absolutely no idea."
Worf walks around the corner, completely out of sight of the replimat. He approaches Bill, who is struggling to contain himself.
"That was perfect, Worf. I bet Mark was shakin' in his boots."
"I could smell his fear, it was… most satisfying."
"Now remember, as long as they think you don't know they bunked up, you won't have to hear them go on about it. And if they ever find out you do know, don't tell them you heard it from me."
"I will not lie."
"Don't lie, just don't tell 'em."
Worf rolls his eyes as they walk off together around the Promenade.
Back at the replimat, Mark and Ezri are still confused by Worf's seemingly random apology.
"I so had a feeling he knew!" Ezri sighs with relief.
"I know, me too," Mark wipes his brow.
"I hope it's a long time before he finds out. He knows I'm not Jadzia, but still."
"Well, the more we do what we did last night, the harder it will be to keep it from him."
"You're not suggesting we make that a habit? We're trying to go slow and get to know each other, we can't just base a relationship on sex."
Mark shrugs, "Why can't we get to know each other... and have sex?"
"Can we do that?" Ezri tilts her head and raises an eyebrow.
"I'm willing to try"
