1x1 -- Curious and Stormy

[Curious]

"Thank you, Halia. Actually, I'm not sure. I think what most made me qualified for healing was my desire to do so. I had a strong drive to help others, so I naturally turned in that direction with time. I wasn't a perfect doctor, and I'm still not, but I had the ambition to be, and that's what kept me moving forward." Chyhir's green gaze veered off to the side as he was lost in thought.
When Halia approached so close to Chyhir, the urge to shift away rose in his chest. When he realized the depth that her words held, however, he forgot the impulse completely, listening with concern.
"But...why are you telling me this? I already understand to act carefully around him," Chyhir whispered back, eyebrows raised with confusion. "And...'soft touch?' You mean just general gentleness?"

[stormy tom]

Halia chuckled, and it rumbled in her chest with a sort of purring sound. "The Captain may be as blind as a bat and stupid like a fish, but I can even smell your feelings for him, Doctor. The Captain has not loved in a long time, and I am warning you simply that you must be careful. He is thankfully very unaware, but you must act slowly. He had a shell of iron. But I think you can melt him if you are patient."
How adorable. The sweet, innocent, loving doctor and her stern, decisive, intimidating Captain. Perhaps this was just the person Scott needed. Someone who could handle him the gentleness he deserved. Someone sensitive and aware.

But then Scott was back, with cold water for all three of them. He passed around the glasses. "We're going to crank up the warp speed soon," he warned. "We'll be in the right sector in a couple of hours, and the planet in two days."
"Are you bringing me along this time, Captain?" Halia asked. Sometimes the species mattered, and Scott would bring only the companions who could pass off as totally human, or other species depending on the racial views of whichever planet they were visiting.
"Yes. I want to know what you can get off the people we're dealing with. You can always pick up something I miss." Scott sipped his water.
"That is because you are human," Halia replied, sliding over to her captain and taking her cup, lapping up the water inside with her feline tongue. "And you are plain as a species." She flicked her ears as if to demonstrate just how much Scott's mundane human body was lacking.
"Thanks Halia," Scott forced down a smile as he emptied his water glass. "Come on, Sam's got dinner on the way."

[Curious]

So Halia knew.
Chyhir's usually pale face completely flushed. He opened his mouth, ready to deny what Halia had said, but hesitated and closed it. There was no point in saying it wasn't true if it was so obvious. Ashamed, the doctor stared at the floor. He found it difficult to really process her words on Scott because he was so busy being embarrassed.
He hardly had any time for that, as well, because Scott returned. Chyhir made a mental note to think on what Halia had told him about him and took his portion of water. Hopefully he could pass off the redness in his face as a result of exhilaration from practicing.
"Thanks for the lessons, guys," he mumbled numbly. He stared into his glass of water as though he found great depths within it.

[stormy tom]

So the crew went to dinner, then returned to their posts.
The next stop was not far off.

A couple days later Scott was emerging from his room in the formal attire of the business planet. He wore loose scarlet trousers tucked into his boots, and a form-fitting scarlet top with gold trim.
"Nice work putting all this together, Sam," Scott mentioned. "You and Bolt did a great job."
"Thanks," Sam beamed, watching his Captain start to hide weapons on his person.

Scott struck a noble, graceful pose in scarlet and gold. He'd combed his hair carefully, looking very much the part of a businessman. The crew members who were coming with him had been furnished with similar outfits: one for Halia, another for Sam, and a third for Chyhir. Halia's was a dark grey that matched her snow-leopard like fur. Sam's was emerald. Chyhir's was a royal blue, but all had the gold trim.
Sam handed Scott a leather case with some papers in it, and a second compartment filled with bundles of cash. "Ready?"
"Always," Scott replied, taking the case and making sure the clasps were fastened all the way to his neck. "How about you?"
"Ready," Sam offered a thumbs up.
"Ready," Halia purred.

[Curious]

After he'd been given his outfit for the mission, Chyhir had taken the time to put up his hair in an elegant braided chignon. The hairstyle accented his attire perfectly, bringing out his nobler side. The doctor could have passed as a quiet prince with his naturally demure disposition, even without putting up any sort of act. He emerged slim and small with his hands folded over his thighs.
Oh my goodness... I didn't know Scott could look like that. He couldn't help but blush and tried to tear his eyes away to no avail. How many times has he caused my face to burn without even trying? Ugh...
Chyhir's gaze darted back to Scott every once and a while as they prepared to leave the ship. Watching the blond in that dashing outfit made him feel less nervous. He almost didn't catch Sam's question to check whether they were ready, pausing before answering.
"Er...ready."

[stormy tom]

"Good," Scott replied, unconsciously aware of how well the outfit suited the doctor. It of course only flickered in his eyes for a moment, for nobody to see as he had his back to everyone.

They landed shortly after and the ramp gave a hydraulic hiss as its seals broke and it slid open to reveal the hangar. Luckily, their physical appearance had not yet reached this planet, although Scott doubted it would be too long, so he warned his crew about giving away any information that could be used to hunt them down at a later date.
Scott led his small crew from the hangar and into the bright and bustling city.
It was a beautifully built city. There were big, bright signs everywhere, sky-high office buildings practically made of windows. Along generous ledges and most of the roofs grew lush green gardens full of all sorts of plants that suited this planet's Earth-type atmosphere.
Scott led the small group through bustling streets, himself at the head of the system and Sam at the back to make sure nobody was swept up and lost in the crowds of people.

At last, Scott led them to the doors of the building he was scheduled to meet the businessmen in. The receptionist greeted them, and responded instantly to Scott's explanation for their visit. She guided them to the elevator and swiped her card, pressing the floor button.
The small group sailed up to the top floor and were led into a large meeting room with windows exposing them to the outside world on two walls. It was a gorgeous view.
A small group of people were waiting for them, wearing similar outfits to Scott and his crew. But it was clear who was in charge.
And Scott recognized that face in an instant. It felt like someone had gripped his stomach with an iron fist and twisted. It felt like someone had punched his heart, which missed only one beat. The blonde's back muscles tensed as he stood staring at the only other human in the room from across the table. Only those behind him could see those muscles tense.
"I have a deal to make, Mr. Edwyn," Scott began cordially.
"Obviously, or you wouldn't be here," the Mr. Edwyn replied, clearly recognizing Scott but having a very different reaction. "I did receive your message that you wished to bargain." He was equal in height to the other human, but sporting a thicker-built body and dark hair, with sharp green eyes and a teasing grin. He clasped his hands behind his back nonchalantly, standing tall in his white and gold formal attire, staring Scott down as if challenging him to make a move, to react to the surprise meeting of a person the blonde ever wanted to see again.
Even Sam, who was not as perceptive as some of the other members of crew, could see Scott's heart beating through the fabric of the back of his outfit. But Sam also recognized the man. And he knew nothing good would come of this interaction. At least, not for his Captain.

[Curious]

As the group arrived to their destination, Chyhir gazed around him in awe. His usual nervousness dissipated slightly. This building reminded him of the wealth of his home planet, except more modern and clean-looking. Everything looked shiny, dazzling the petite doctor's wide eyes.
Upon noticing the man Scott was talking to with such tension, those wide eyes of Chyhir's narrowed. Clearly, this meeting between the two hadn't been planned, judging by the usually-calm captain's shocked demeanor, and clearly, they knew each other. What's more, they didn't seem to like each other, with the man in the white's cynical smile.
Chyhir swallowed, coming up close and slightly behind Scott in an effort to comfort him and back him up a bit. If he was braver and stronger he may have appeared defiant. He craned his neck to search the stranger's gaze, hair falling over his eyes. This man...was dangerous. He had to be, to cause Scott so much fear.
I don't understand what's going on, but I'm here for you, Scott. I'll do whatever I can to make sure you're safe, even if it's very little, and I'm sure the other two will, as well.

[stormy tom]

And the deal began.
But it was clear that neither of them were focused on the issue at hand -- bribing the closure of a supplies company run from up here in this building. No, the two men were talking a different game.
Scott and Halia knew what that game was and they weren't in the mood to play. Scott especially wanted to leave... but he couldn't.

Mr. Darius Edgar teased, prodded, tried to stir a reaction from stony Scott who was just trying to stay calm and stern as usual. Despite his rapidly beating heart. Edgar's coworkers did not seem to know about his and Scott's previous... encounters.
But they would catch on soon.
"You're taller than I remember, Blackwood," Edgar leaned against the table on an elbow, giving the captain a charming, devilish grin.
"I have not grown since after we last saw each other," was the cold reply.
"The only time I saw you wear red it was a dress shirt... what day was that?"
"You're the one left me," Scott replied, calling out the attempt to dance around the suggestion. "Darius, do you want the money or not?"
"It's probably fake anyway," Darius batted a hand. His coworkers looked a little confused and awkward now. "But I believe you'll find I at least tried to apologize."
"You wined and whimpered, and then you carried on with the work you knew I hated." Scott replied, coding his cool admirably. "That was the deal breaker. You knew that."
"Do you want the money or not?" Sam growled, joining in and slamming his hands on the table hard enough to crack the glass, staring menacingly across at Edgar. "Leave the past behind, you filth."
Scott lifted a hand. Edgar replied, amused.
"Nice friend you have there. Still the same as always... and I see you've made a new friend as well! Managed to drag him into your deranged mission? Tell him lies about heroism and saving people? What did he offer to pay you, cutie?" Edgar wandered around the table and bent down to eye level with Chyhir, reaching to touch his face.
Scott grabbed his wrist, a dark look in his eyes. "Touch him Darius and I will not hesitate to remove your arm."
"Now that's the Scott a liked," Darius smirked. "What happened to you, dearest? You used to be so... open! That's the Scott I loved . What happened to you?"
Scott moved in front of Chyhir protectively and replied with a brutally honest answer as Edgar ripped his hand away from his grip. "You did."

[Curious]

Chyhir listened to the two men bargaining with heavy anxiousness weighing in his chest like a block of lead. The tension in the air was unbearable, sparking between Scott and Darius and threatening to burst into flames (flames being who knows what). He folded his clammy hands behind his back and tilted his head toward the floor.
He had hoped the intimidating man would ignore him, but to no avail. As soon as the attention shifted to him, he flinched, eyes darting about but his body unmoving. He then glued his gaze to the floor, refusing to look up at the source of the voice that mocked him and tried to poke at his emotions.
I won't let you. Talk about money and leave me alone. Leave Scott alone.
Chyhir would have squeezed his eyes shut as he heard approaching footsteps, but he didn't want to look any more scared than he already did. Fingertips entered his vision, but he absolutely refused to budge, not wincing away nor saying anything as he gazed unblinkingly at his feet. His heartbeat thrummed in his ears.
What did make him look up, however, was Scott's sudden outburst of defensiveness. His eyebrows shot upward and he started backward, turning his owlish gaze to the blond.
How can you be so brave?!
"Scott, we should leave," Chyhir said hurriedly, stepping forward to touch his shoulder with those gentle hands of his. "Nothing good can come of this and we're clearly getting nowhere." He tried to meet his gaze imploringly.
I know you're really uncomfortable and I hate seeing you this way. It makes me just as antsy as you are. I don't like anything getting under your skin.

[stormy tom]

Edgar responded before Scott could. "Run away, Blackwood. Like you did from the navy, like you did from me. I won't stop you."
Scott was grateful for Chyhir's touch, reaching for it with a hand that was trembling so slightly that on Chyhir would be able to detect it through the contact.
"I'm not leaving until I get my deal, Darius. Just take the money. You think I'd risk lives by giving you fake bills? You know me better than that." Scott refused to fall to Edgar's jibes... but they were getting to him. Subtly, yes, but they were. And they hurt so, so much.
"Very well, Blackwood, but you're still running, " Edgar offered him a devilish grin Scott used to love... then he went a step to far as the blonde left the money and started to hurriedly lead his group out the door. "See ya later, sunshine."
And Scott just froze, visibly shaking now, his eyes and face fighting to remain emotionless. But those eyes were staring off into the distance, even starting to well up at that nickname brought back so much... so many good memories. Beloved memories.
Even though Edgar couldn't see Scott's face he knew... he knew what he'd done.