A/N: Thanks pallysd'Artagnan and elbcw for your reviews! I'm glad you liked the beginning of this.

So I was wrong, yesterday's episode totally made the possibility of Rios and Raffi knowing each other at the Academy AU, but whatev I'm gonna keep going with it anyway because I just want me some more content with these two.

"Overtures"

2370

With how intense Starfleet course work was, it was little wonder cadets often blew off steam at clubs and bars on the weekends. Rios knocked back a healthy swig of his ale and laughed at something one of his friends said. The bar held a boisterous crowd tonight, but it was a good group of cadets, no habitual brawlers among them.

Rios spotted a head of very distinct curls pass by on his left, and he turned to track the figure's movements as she headed for the counter. He watched for a few moments and, seeing she didn't seem to have any company, slipped away from his group and made his way toward her.

"Saurian brandy," she was telling the bartender as Rios inserted himself into the space at the bar on her right.

"Hey," he greeted.

She immediately narrowed her eyes at him. So she probably remembered who he was.

"I wanted to apologize again for hitting you in the head with the soccer ball," he said, flicking a quick glance at her forehead, which no longer displayed the evidence of that encounter a few days ago.

She didn't respond, just continued to glare at him almost grumpily. He wasn't daunted.

"I'm Rios," he went on. "Cristóbal Rios."

"Raffi Musiker," she replied grudgingly. "And I suppose I could have done a better job of watching my surroundings," she conceded.

"Well," Rios shrugged. "Not that you could have done much in that moment."

"I could have sent the ball right back at your head," she said, lifting her chin with a hint of challenge. It only made him grin.

"Touché." He raised his almost empty glass as her drink was set in front of her.

She picked it up and cocked her head in a return gesture, then took a hearty drag of her brandy. Her face immediately scrunched up and she sucked air through her clenched teeth before letting it back out in a low whistle of appreciation.

"I just get caught up in things," she said, continuing a previous thread of the conversation. "It's why I was running late in the first place."

"What kinds of things?"

"Analysis of sensor readings. You see, each class of starship gives off very specific frequencies across the spectrum that can identify its make without visual confirmation…"

Rios tried to follow along as she became more fervent and animated in her explanation, but he didn't remember going this in-depth in any of his classes thus far at the Academy.

Raffi cut herself off abruptly and leaned back against the counter. "You're not interested in this," she said.

He raised the hand holding his empty glass and pointed one finger at her. "I don't understand it all; that's not the same thing."

She eyed him skeptically, then shook her head and picked up her drink. "This is too much alcohol to be having this discussion anyway."

Rios waved the bartender down to pour him another glass. "So you're operations track," he surmised. "I'm command."

"Big aspirations."

"I won't deny I want to have my own ship one day," he said with a small smile. "With skilled men and women to run it."

"We do all the work; you get all the glory," Raffi said sardonically.

"A captain is only as good as his crew," Rios rejoined, but with full sincerity.

Raffi considered him for a moment, and then raised her glass. "To captains and crews."

He lifted his refill. "And to chasing stars."