Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
He slowly drifted back to consciousness, and he smiled slightly to himself as he remembered last night's conversation and how he had fallen asleep in Vamshi's arms. They were wrapped tenderly around his body now, and he automatically snuggled deeper into her chest, which was as soft as a cloud. His stomach was pressed to hers, and his body twisted at the waist so that his knees were drawn up almost to his chest.
He heard her chuckle, and a hand carefully stroked his hair. But he didn't miss the subtle way she weaved his thick locks in between her fingers. His earlier resolution to watch her came back to him, and he decided to try something he had never done before.
Feigning semi-consciousness, he slowly wrapped an arm around her waist. His hand brushed soft material, and he realized that they were on the bed instead of on the couch where he had fallen asleep. As his hand rested on the bed next to the small of her back, he felt her grip on him tighten, and he opened his eyes.
"I've been waiting a long time for you to do that," she breathed into his ear. The soft breath of air on his skin nearly made him gasp, but he simply frowned and looked up at her. She smiled tenderly down at him and stroked his face in greeting.
"Don't be afraid to touch me, Weyoun, it's all right."
He drew his hand out from behind her and sat up, staring at her incredulously. "As you wish," he said, inclining his head respectfully.
Hardly believing his audacity, he wrapped one arm around her back and the other around her neck, then gently pulled her forward into a tentative hug, and her grip became even tighter.
"That wasn't too hard now, was it?"
He smiled and rested his head on her shoulder.
"How do you feel?" she asked quietly.
"Safe," he said simply, and they stayed like that until Weyoun had to get ready to go to Ops.
…
Jumana strode cheerfully into the infirmary, head held high and a smile on her face. The Bajoran nurse on duty noticed her and did a double take.
"Jumana..."
The Vorta grinned. "Yes?"
"Your makeup," the nurse replied, coming forward. She didn't have to say anything else; Jumana could tell she was impressed.
She bowed her head. "Thank you. Vamshi taught me how to do it."
Kelaren walked in from the other room and stopped, tilting her head at Jumana's new look. Her wide eyes looked even bigger now, and they had a depth to them she had never seen before. Her lips were swathed in a soft pink wash, and her skin practically glowed.
"Doesn't she look beautiful?" the nurse said to Kelaren with a smile.
"I wouldn't know," she responded. "Vorta lack a sense of aesthetics, but I must say...your eyes look enormous, Jumana. Who did your makeup?"
"Who do you think?" the younger Vorta said with a little smile. Kelaren nodded in understanding; of course Vamshi would teach her this, she had already taught Rulyen a little about how to dance.
"If you want me to teach you, I can," Jumana said hopefully. Although Kelaren was a little jealous that the other Vorta had gotten to spend time alone with Vamshi, she couldn't help but smile at her innocent, hopeful look.
"Of course."
Jumana and the nurse smiled at her reply. "Have you seen Rulyen?"
Kelaren nodded her head to the other room. "He's watching the tissue samples. Why?"
"I need to give him this." She held up a small white box, and Kelaren recognized the handwriting that flowed across the lid.
Rulyen was bent over his samples, taking notes on a PADD, when Jumana walked in and hugged him. He looked at her in surprise and she handed him the box.
"It's from Vamshi."
He opened it and tilted his head at the wooden pendant on a leather string that sat amongst wads of tissue paper. He lifted it carefully from it wrappings and examined it. He knew Kelaren wore a similar necklace, a gift from the Changeling, and it seemed that Rulyen would have the same privilege. The raised shapes on the pendant were abstract and painted with different shades of deep red and navy blue, and he glanced down at his clothing and smiled. Immediately, he placed it around his neck and tucked it away beneath his shirt, and he noticed Jumana was holding a similar pendant in her hand. Hers had a small blue bird raised in the middle, with markings that looked like branches all around it. He also noticed the makeup on her eyes and lips.
"Did Vamshi do that makeup?"
Jumana nodded with a smile. "You know, Rulyen," she said as she sat down and began to take notes with him, "I think she really cares about us."
He lightly touched the leather string around his pale neck, and silently, he realized she was probably right.
…
Vamshi walked silently next to Major Kira through the corridors toward the wardroom. She hated that she had to be recruited for this, but her best friend's father's life was at stake. She had never really gotten to know Rom very well, but from what Nog had told her, he had made extraordinary progress over the years from being a waiter in a bar to one of the station's most intelligent engineers. It was because of Rom that the Dominion hadn't taken over the Alpha Quadrant, that they were held back on the other side of the wormhole.
"I certainly hope this works," the Bajoran murmured to her.
"Me too."
Kira smiled. "You're his god, Vamshi. If you can't convince him to free Rom, I don't know who can."
"Asking for a Bajoran security force to patrol the Promenade is one thing, Nerys. Asking him to release a man they're determined to execute is another. But he owes me his life, and that's got to count for something."
"Odo told me about that...why'd you do it?"
"Please don't ask me why, Nerys. I did what I had to do."
She sighed. "I understand. But I can't see why you like him."
The Changeling had barely heard that last sentence, but she decided to ignore it for now. They were approaching the Jem'Hadar guards, and they bowed to Vamshi when they got closer.
"I'm here to see Weyoun," said Kira.
"He's expecting you," one of the them replied. The two women entered the room and turned to find Weyoun sitting at the table, examining one of Ziyal's pieces of art.
He didn't even glance up at their approach. "You asked to see me, Major."
"I know what you're going to say, but-"
"I'm going to have to ask your help again," he said, then glanced up at her and broke off his sentence. His eyes widened at Vamshi, who smiled sadly at him. He inclined his head.
"Founder...I'm honored by your visit."
He looked back down at the art piece, then back at the Major. "What do you think of this?"
"I think it's good, why?" she said impatiently.
"Just curious." His pleading eyes found Vamshi's, and an unspoken question passed between them.
"You tell me, Weyoun," she said quietly.
He looked back down at it, rattling off things she had taught him, and the piece was thoroughly reviewed in a matter of minutes. Vamshi smiled.
"Someone was paying attention. We've come to see you to ask a request."
"Name it."
"It's about Rom," said Kira with a controlled voice.
"That again, Major? I thought I gave you an answer yesterday."
Vamshi took over, slowly walking around the table toward the Vorta, never taking her eyes off of him. He was staring in awe at her, and didn't divert his eyes until she was standing right in front of him. He cast his eyes downward, but she lifted his chin.
"Please, Weyoun, reconsider. Rom is the father of one of my best friends, and he doesn't deserve to die. I can't sit by and watch all my friends get killed. Please," she whispered, kneeling down in front of him, causing him to quickly dip his head low, "I'm begging you, Weyoun. Release him...for me."
He bowed his head even lower. "I can't release him...but I can lower his sentence to life imprisonment."
Vamshi glanced at Kira, who was unmoved. Then she looked back to Weyoun with pleading eyes.
"25 years hard labor. That's the best I can do." His voice was small, as if he was afraid Vamshi might start yelling at him at any minute. But the Changeling only looked at Kira again, who nodded in defeat.
Vamshi leaned forward and kissed his cheek so lightly that he could barely feel it. "Thank you," she breathed ever so quietly into his ear, and he had to suppress a violent shiver. He looked to Kira, who bowed her head in begrudging gratitude, then she briskly walked toward the door.
"I'll wait outside for you, Vamshi."
The Changeling nodded and waited until Kira was out the door before turning back to Weyoun. Without saying a single word, she gently placed her hands on his cheeks and pressed her forehead to his. He closed his eyes and she followed suit, and they stayed still and silent for a few moments as Weyoun carefully breathed her in. His heart was pounding, but he thought it might race out of his chest when he felt her lips barely brush his.
His eyes snapped open to see her stand quickly and turn to go, but before she got to the door, she turned back to him and smiled. When she was gone, Weyoun slowly raised his fingers to touch his lips, and he could hardly believe she had kissed him like that. It had been so intimate, so familiar, so...enticing.
Enticing? Where had that come from? Since when did he desire to be kissed by a Founder?
Ever since those five days you spent with her, came the reply. This is outrageous, he argued back with himself. It is completely improper for me to feel that way about her. She's a Founder, I am a Vorta.
She kisses you fifteen times a day, she looks at you like she'd like nothing more than to crush you to her chest and she holds you like there's no tomorrow. Has any other Founder treated you like that? Don't be so blind, Weyoun. And admit the truth to yourself...you can't get enough of her, or the way she touches you.
No, he admitted shamefully to himself, I like the way she treats me. More than I should...but she's a Founder!
And she just kissed you on the lips...it was almost seductive in a way...
He tried to silence the crazy, defective voice in his head, but it pressed on.
You should have reciprocated.
And be executed? I am defective...
She would have kissed you even harder. Admit it, you felt what was beneath that kiss. You felt that burning, pulsing passion that's she's been keeping inside her all this time. You felt it, and you want to free it.
"No," he whispered hoarsely to the empty room. He would no longer entertain this dark, disgusting, defective voice inside himself. He was Vorta, she was a Founder, and that was that.
He carefully shoved Ziyal's art away from him; Weyoun put his head in his hands, as if to block out this delicious hell that he was trapped in, as if to hold in all these strange and foreign thoughts and desires that were plaguing him. For a moment, he simply wanted to be free, and for the first time, he almost wished Vamshi did not exist. Then shame overcame him at the very thought, and round and round in his head his thoughts flew, until he put his head down on the table and silenced his mind.
…
Klaxon-like sirens wailed as Vamshi raced through the corridors with Ziyal. The evacuation had only lasted fifteen minutes thus far, and yet the corridors were practically deserted. No matter how much she didn't like the Dominion at times, she had to admit they were efficient.
She hadn't seen Weyoun since that day in the wardroom, the day she...Shame filled her at the thought of what she had done, but a certain kind of happiness was there as well. It had felt good to kiss Weyoun, even for a brief moment; she knew one thing for sure: she wanted to do it again. She wasn't sure if he knew how the soft warmth of his pale lips had nearly driven her insane, how the maddening passion inside her was getting harder and harder to control.
She and Ziyal paused and pressed against the wall as a group of Jem'Hadar marched past them toward the airlock, and Vamshi sighed as Dukat was still nowhere to be seen. One of the soldiers stopped and turned to her.
"Founder, are you coming with us?"
For almost a full minute, she seriously considered joining them, if only to be with Weyoun. But in the end she shook her head and backed away. The soldier bowed and turned to leave.
"There is one thing you could do for me, though."
The soldier waited.
"Tell Weyoun...tell him that if what I did made him uncomfortable, I'm sorry. And that I'll miss him."
The Jem'Hadar nodded and marched off to rejoin his group.
"Thank you!" Vamshi shouted after him.
Another ten minutes of searching and they finally found Dukat in a deserted corridor. He rushed toward Ziyal and they embraced while Vamshi kept watch, and the Changeling hardly listened to their hurried, whispered conversation. She and the Cardassian woman had just taken a huge risk by freeing Kira and the others from the holding cells. She had sent Leeta and Jake to her quarters, and would have sent Ziyal as well had she not insisted on searching for her father. It wasn't long before the evacuation sirens sounded and the rush to find Dukat became even more desperate.
Vamshi heard footsteps and walked tenatively toward them. Damar raced around the corner and was about to fire at Ziyal when Vamshi ripped the phaser out of his hand and shoved him away.
"Dukat, you have a visitor," she growled, blocking his path.
The Cardassian turned and shook his head at his adjutant. "I'm not leaving, Damar."
"But sir-"
"My place is with my daughter! The ship can leave without me."
"Sir, I really-"
"Go!"
Dukat's last command was almost a roar, and Damar nodded solemnly. With one last look at his commanding officer, he turned and ran toward the airlocks.
…
Weyoun walked back to his quarters on his ship, exhausted from the day's events. He hadn't had time but to grab a few things from his room on the station and run to the airlock. He was mostly lacking in clothing, but it wouldn't be a problem replicating more. The only notable thing he grabbed other than reports was the piano Vamshi had given him. He was on his way to play it and brood when one of the Jem'Hadar stopped him.
He relayed Vamshi's message and Weyoun nodded, dismissing him. But the moment the door of his quarters was closed, he threw himself onto his bed. Uncontrollable tears leaked out of his eyes, which were squeezed shut.
She said that if what she did made you uncomfortable, she's sorry...
He wrapped his arms around his pillow and the tiniest little whimper escaped his lips. Maybe she had made him feel a little uncomfortable, maybe she had confused him, but oh, what he wouldn't give to be in her arms again, to breathe in the warm scent of her body, to feel her gentle lips on his forehead.
...and that she'll miss you.
The Jem'Hadar guards outside barely heard a muffled wail come from inside his quarters. They glanced at each other, but said nothing.
Weyoun pounded the pillow with his fist, then immediately told himself to get a grip. He was acting like a child, but he couldn't help it: there was this gaping hole Vamshi had left in his heart, and it would never be filled. He wouldn't allow it. That hole was hers to fill, hers alone, and although it may be easier to forget all about her, he promised himself that he would not forget her, or the kind of life that awaited him if they ever re-captured Deep Space 9 or conquered the Federation.
He heard a noise and twisted around, and for a brief moment, he almost believed Vamshi wasn't back on the station, that she had snuck aboard the ship and had only been waiting for him to be alone to reveal herself. But no, he told himself, Vamshi would have revealed herself when he had been crying. She wouldn't wait this long.
His heart sank down to his toes as he curled into a ball and tried to sleep, but it would not come, and he stayed perfectly still until the computer chimed the time.