"I passed!" she squealed with excitement, just as she stepped over the threshold between the dorm and the corridor. In the corner of the room, she saw Jo'rek offer her a smile of admiration.
"Well done," he said softly, quietly, firmly. "What mark did you get?"
She bit her lip in consideration. "Ninety-four," she answered him. Ninety-four out of one hundred. She didn't think that she had ever scored quite as high as that in any test that she had ever taken, even in the planetary sociology examination at the Academy what seemed like ages ago. "And you?" she inquired, trying to appear disingenuous.
His smile grew wry; he was pleased for her but also slightly irritated. "Seventy-two," he replied.
She considered. "I only did as well as I did because of your help," she reasoned.
He held up a hand, telling her to keep her pandering to herself, but she only frowned and ignored him. "I'm not being sycophantic, Jo'rek. It's the truth. Sometimes I think you underestimate how good you really are." She paused and then reasoned with herself that she was saying the right things. "And if your father doesn't think so, he must be blind."
That comment ostensibly hurt Jo'rek, but Lara had come to realise that Jo'rek was not an open book. Just because he looked hurt did not necessarily mean that he felt that way. "I know," he acquiescedquietly, looking away wistfully.
"Listen, Jo'rek," she began slowly, so that she could give herself time to think her thoughts over. "Chebais, Sevin, Devahk and I were going to go into the town centre today..."
He stared at her blankly.
"And I wondered if you wanted to come with us," she concluded for him.
"Do they know…?" he asked, and his cryptic enquiry confused her somewhat.
"About us?" she clarified. She was nervous of naming the two of them as 'us', but she had no idea what else to say.
He nodded curtly, as he always did. It was when he did that that she most often saw the Vulcan-side of him. It somewhat unnerved her more than his Romulan-side did; Romulans were clearly xenophobic and rude and arrogant and military-obsessed, but one could never tell what a Vulcan was thinking or even feeling.
"I haven't said anything," she said truthfully. "And I won't."
"This is against regulation," he told her. It would not have surprised her if he had mesmerised all of the military academy's legislation. "Our relationship."
She did not doubt it. While romantic relationships amongst cadets at Starfleet Academy were not in breach of regulation, they were advised against, in case it caused a lapse in judgement or loyalty. And loyalty was instrumental to Romulan etiquette.
She bit her lip and sighed sadly. She wasn't even sure of the status of relationship that existed between her and Jo'rek. They had kissed, of course, but not much else. And she had no idea how Romulans viewed such acts.
An hour had passed and Jo'rek had agreed to accompany Lara and her friends on the journey into the town centre. He had made such a trip many a time but the other four were understandably not sowell-versed onthe Romulan-inhabitedmetropolis.
"I still don't quite trust him," Charles muttered; it was under his breath but still audible. Not only had Lara heard, but so had Jo'rek.
Seb elbowed him in the side. "What's it to you?"
Lara had no idea what was going on, but she was conscious that something was going on. Jo'rek was walking closely beside her; whenever he moved, she could feel it. She had the feeling that he wished to hold her hand, but he never could. Not while anyone was looking, anyway. And she had the idea that they were always being watched.
"I used to love coming to the Capital City back on Romulus. It was busy, very busy. But in a nice sort of way. There were people coming from all parts of Romulus, old and young, men and women," Jo'rek said, his voice low and husky, the tone of reminiscing.
Lara cast her gaze over to him and smiled, almost sadly. "It sounds lovely." She wanted so much to tell him about her childhood on Earth. It was a wonderful planet, she thought to herself. There were deserts and plains, forests of steel and forests of trees, great oceans that spread further than the eye could see and miles and miles of roads, railways and lanes. A wistful look overcame her expression, one that she could not hide. "I can still remember Beta Magnus IV. It was often harsh, especially in the winter." She paused, as she tried to recall as much as she could about that planet which she had never actually been to, let a lone live on. "It would get unbearably cold."
He nodded sadly. "But it was home," he added for her.
She returned the affirmation. "Yes, it was."
"I used to go to the Capital with my mother," he said, and now his voice was very quiet. Almost inaudible. He sounded almost ashamed, scared, worried, and she hated to see him like that. "That was ten years ago now. At least."
Lara reached out her hand, eager to calm his nerves and soften the anger that she espied in him. Immediately, he looked away and turned away.
Charles glowered at his sister. He was worried that she would be revealing too much. Of course, he did trust her. He had said as much to her, and he knew that the Academy wouldn't have sent the four of them if they weren't trustworthy. But those facts didn't exactly put him at ease. He could see how Lara looked at Jo'rek – and possibly, how the Romulan looked at his sister – but he didn't want to see it. He felt Seb's eyes fall on him.
"You seem worried," Seb muttered, careful not to draw attention to himself.
Charles shrugged and looked up at him. "I'm not," he replied shortly, before bringing a hand up to massage his ridged forehead. "Okay, I am."
"So must she be," Seb added pointedly, nodding to Lara. "I mean, we've told her to get as much intelligence-" he stopped and laughed at himself, shaking his head. He sounded like a spy. "To get as much intelligence on Jo'rek. But she obviously feels bad about doing that."
Charles raised an eyebrow. "What better way to get close to the praetor than to be friendly with his son?"
Seb nodded. "I accept that, but don't you think… well, it's like we're using her."
"She seems happy enough," Charles conceded.
"Exactly. That's my point. Her and Jo'rek seem genuinely close."
Meanwhile, Data, who had been quietly keeping to himself for the majority of their trip, went over to one of the market-stalls. He gestured to the stall-holder, who gave him a nod of encouragement. It perplexed him to see Romulans performing such menial tasks – holding stalls, vending things and chatting to prospective customers – when all that he had heard of them concerned xenophobia, militarism and hatred. But androids weren't prejudiced. He gave the vendor the best smile that he could manage.
"Is that an osol twist?" Lara asked of him; she approached the android-in-disguise, with Jo'rek sauntering along behind her. Charles and Seb had since departed.
Data nodded at her and paid the Romulan vendor the appropriate money. He then gave Lara one of the small sweets. She took it gingerly, smiling as she reminded herself that it was just a normal Romulan treat. She put it in her mouth and pulled a face as she swallowed it. "It's quite bitter," she said, chewing her cheek and pulling a face.
"I like them myself," Jo'rek put in, as he took one from Data's outstretched hand.
While Jo'rek was tucking into the confectionary, Data took Lara aside and gave her a meaningful look. "How are you?"
She bit her lip and considered how to answer his question. At any other time, it would have been easy enough to answer. But now… "I'm as well as can be expected, I guess," she sighed. "It's difficult, you know? I do really… care for Jo'rek. I don't think that I can keep this going. It's so hard to… lie to his face. I feel like such a fraud. Well, I am." She paused; Data's empty eyes offered little help. "He's told me so much. But nothing strategic or that could be used in our mission. I've learnt a lot about his family and his traditions and himself. But really not much about his father. He and his father aren't close, and I don't want to push him."
Data considered quietly and briefly. His eyes flickered quickly from side to side; he cocked his head like a confused dog. "I am attempting to understand."
"Don't worry," she said with a regretful sigh. "I'm sure that if I speak to him properly, I'll be able to find something of use out. After all, his father is such as important figure. And family is so important to Romulans."
"That is true," Data agreed, before gesturing over to Jo'rek, who was still examining the osol twists.
"I will return to the academy now," Data told her, and he headed off in that general direction.
"We're left alone, I'm afraid," Lara said to Jo'rek when he returned.
The young Romulan nodded ingeniously. "I'm not alone," he said to her. "You're here."
That last sentence both endeared and confounded her.
He looked at her with his blue eyes; he was curious. "I still think of when we kissed."
"Which time?" she teased, and he let loose a small smile.
He cocked an eyebrow, trying to seem surprised. "Perhaps we should go back to the academy."
The look on his face with his lowered eyes and his hushed voice told her what his intentions were. For a brief moment, she considered. She wanted to agree to his proposal, but it would be wrong. It would unprofessional. And she couldn't do that to him.
"That would be an idea," she finally settled on saying. "I do need some help with this Engineering."
His face fell at that very moment.
Inwardly, she giggled.