Hungry Eyes

Posted on Monday, 17 August 2020 - 7:28am by Lieutenant JG Maximus Mackenzie

Mission: Operation: Dreamweaver
Location: USS Standing Bear | Mac's Quarters
Timeline: 2393 - MD 01 -Late evening

{ON:}

Mac lay on his bed staring up at the tritanium roof. Where was he? Why had he not called yet?

He tossed and turned restlessly. Turning to his side he reached over to his monitor and just as he was about to place the call himself it came through.

With lightening speed he punched the button to start the call. Rolling onto his side he watched as the image of Haru's face formed on his screen. "Kaito," He reached out and touched the screen briefly.

"Well hello to you too. Sorry it took longer in sickbay then I thought."

"What happened?"

"Concussion, three broken ribs, some leg fractures hairline only, bruises, and scrapes."

Mac's lips pressed thin. He should have been there.

"I know what you're thinking. There was nothing that could have prevented the injuries. Even if you'd been there."

Mac didn't quiet believe it. "Yeah...okay."

"Hey, I'm alright." He studied Mac. "So I take it you haven't unpacked."

Mac smiled. "What makes you think that?"

"You would have found my surprise."

Mac was up and gone from the screen and back with his duffle bag quicker then a snap. He unceremoniously dumped the contents out finding two things he hadn't packed right away; one being a data PaDD and the other a grey sweatshirt that held a sent that was unmistakable and all Haru; pine and forest cologne.

He looked at the screen. "I get this," He said holding up the sweatshirt and knowing that he would keep it close, "But the data PaDD?"

Haru smiled. "It's just a few messages."

Mac looked through the data PaDD his eyes bugging out a little. "There are over 500 messages here?"

"I guess I've been recording messages for you since we left the Academy."

Mac stared at him. A soft smile played on his lips. "Have you now?"

"Yeah."

Mac lay back down and turned the monitor so he could watch Haru from his pillow. "I'm going to have to watch everyone and maybe even answer them."

Kaito smiled. They stared at one another for a good thirty minutes without saying anything but truly saying thousands of words with just their eyes.

It was Haru who spoke first. "Well this conversation is lively."

Mac laughed. "I don't have to talk to talk." He reached out and briefly touched the screen, Haru doing the same. "You need to be careful Haru. I don't want anything happening to you."

"I know. I feel the same."

Mac thought about it. "There was something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Oh?" Haru sat back.

Mac sighed. He'd been dreading this part for a while. "Back at the Vulcan compound when we were joined," he said pointing to his head. "After...when we talked..even before that you said that we'd be bound to one another but we'd be free to pursue other...partners even to marry."

"I did." Haru felt a bit bitter about that. He'd said it but he'd never expected Mac to actually want that...he hadn't wanted it. His whole devotion was to Mac.

"I don't think I want to have that out there. I kind of just...want it to be you and me."

Haru didn't even try to hide the joy on his face. "Me too."

Mac smiled. "Good. Then it's settled."

"Yeah."

Mac smiled. "You can stop smiling you know."

"I'm not."

Mac laughed, "Clearly you are. I can see your handsome face you know."

Haru chuckled but then grew serious. "You are the one who got me through this. when I was trapped in the mine I...thought of you. I saw your face. I saw us."

That sobered Mac. He could have lost him. "I wish you were here with me. On the Standing Bear."

Haru shrugged. "We'll be together any chance we get. I promise you." He paused. "Maybe I can visit or you can visit here."

Mac gave a nod. "Are you settling in?"

Haru scrubbed his hand down his face. "Yeah. As much as I can. I've...built a home here of sorts. Finally unpacked most of my things." He paused. "I got a package from an Admiral I don't even know."

"Oh?" Mac asked his attention snagged. Unconsciously he pulled the sweatshirt Haru had packed holding it to his chest.

"He knew my grandmother. He wrote me a letter saying that my grandmother had asked him to come over when I was away with Midori and she gave him the Kamidana."

Mac's eyes widened. "What? Why?"

"She wanted him to keep it for me. She thought my mother would sell it and Midori never showed any interest in it."

"Have you set it up?"

He shook his head. "Not yet. I...it doesn't feel right. Not without you."

Mac's lips curved into a small smile. "Well maybe I can be there...holo wise." Holo coms was rarely used now but it still was.

"Tomorrow?"

Mac smiled, "Yeah. Tomorrow."

They talked for another hour and then Mac signed off. He was reluctant to go but he did. Both left the words I love you unsaid but clearly they both knew how the other felt.

Mac got up, showered and was going to get ready for bed but somehow sleep seemed a distant want. He, instead, walked around the ship a little and found himself outside Soral's office. He wasn't surprised to see the hallways dark but the light filtering through under the door. He rang the chime and waited...

{OFF:}