Self-Care (Val's Quarters)

"I'm just worried about the upcoming away mission. New ship, new officers, new problems. Nothing specific, really-- just the lingering feeling something will go wrong."

Val blinked. "What could go wrong? Aren't they all from star fleet? I mean.. we aren't at war yet, are we?"

"No, not yet. Bajor wants blood for the Kai though, and Cardassians are well, Cardassian, and based on the intelligence I've received, I know what to expect on this mission, but I worry what might happen if it's worse than that."

Val sighed. "So the Kai is definitely dead?"

"Yes, very dead. Tahain confessed to it," he said. "Her two Ranjen companions were Cardassian as well. I'm sorry, I thought you knew. Word usually travels fast."

Val shook his head. "I was sort of holding out hope they'd find her. It's not just murder, you know. Killing the Kai is a direct attack on the Bajoran way of life, on our beliefs, on our heritage. At least that's how they're going to see it."

"Killing the Kai is like silencing the voice of the Prophets," he said. "I wonder how long it will take for them to replace her. It could be weeks. Months, even."

"Oh, sure.. it'll be a huge ordeal," Val said. "But surely the Cardassians are too weak to be much of a threat again so soon? Right?" he asked hopefully.

"I hope so," Rai sighed and leaned back into his chair. "I don't want to go to war. That's all."

"No," Val agreed. "Would you like a shoulder rub?"

"Only you're up for it," he said. He didn't really expect the petite Bajoran man to lay hands on him at all, as he looked inexplicably puffy and tired, and sounded as if he was coming down with a cold.

Val stood slowly and selected a scented non-transference oil, just to soften his hands. He settled back on the sofa and threw a cushion on the floor in front of him.
"Sit there," he instructed. "I'm too tired to stand," he said with a little chuckle.

Rai sat down heavily before Val with a small tired groan, and slipped his uniform top off of his shoulders. "Do your worst," he said.

Val began by scraping his nails over Rai's scalp, raking his hair, then massaging the back of his neck. He then set to work giving him a firm massage of the shoulders and upper back.
"You might be comforted to know that I do not freely recount anything we do, or talk about in our sessions... Not with names anyway."

Rai shut his eyes in quiet bliss. "What would you need in order for me to never come up in conversation at all?"

Val laughed. "Hope?" He kneaded Rai's tense muscles, forcing them to slacken. "Are you embarrassed?"

"Not embarrassed," quietly letting himself turn to putty in Val's hands. "A little worried for you. You've already had a bomb placed here in your quarters, what if someone thought you were privy to intelligence?"

Val considered this a moment.
"Someone will think that if you're coming to my quarters on a regular basis regardless," he reasoned. "Unless of course I'm telling everyone that we're simply having the most frantic sexual escapades and have no time to talk."

He closed his eyes peacefully at Val's touch, having missed contact with another man. "I can live with that."

Val laughed in delight. "All right then, that's my story, if anyone asks."
Papus slowly woke from his nap and padded over to sniff Rai's knee.

"Oh hello," he said softly, and held out his hand limply for Papus.

The cat sniffed the man's hand, then rubbed its face against it.
"Papus is my oldest friend. He's very cuddly.. and a little protective," Val smirked, taking a break from the deep massage to let his hands rest and gently stroke Rai's back and neck.

"I like him, he's very soft," he said, and petted the cat from between his ears to the base of his tail. "You're just as good as Lorelai, if not better."

Val laughed again, then whined, "Ahh... and I can't even brag to her about that. Obviously, you've been too busy banging me up against the wall for a massage."
Papus purred loudly.

"It's a living, isn't it?" He teased, before falling into a soothed silence. "I should have done this sooner."