Lt. Tito and Lt. Ayala: Roman Holiday. Part 1

[+ Drex0379]

I think I'll collect all the previous sim and the ones to come into a book.

I haven't post the sims before this one, but they are great too. You can find them in the denali group mailing list

 

Quote

((Grand Hotel Savoy, Rome, Italy, Earth))

 

Tito turned slightly, trying to ease the discomfort in his shoulder.

Taisa was still sound asleep, and somehow managed to wrap herself all around him.

He needed to move from that position. The aftermath of their accident was still noticeable, even if the medical services were every bit as good as if they were provided by Marsh and Wethern or any other Doctor in Ops.

 

Or Taisa for that matter. He was afraid to hurt her, as she was also pretty messed up, particularly her leg. But he really needed to move, so he slid slowly to the side.

She mumbled something as he kept trying to turn and spoke very softly.

 

Tito: C’mon honey, I have been in this position for too long…

 

Ayala: Mmmph.

 

She wasn’t going to make it easier so he simply shrugged and grabbed her. Gently as he could he turned them both around, but somehow it didn’t work so well as Taisa flailed her arm hitting him right in the left cheek.

 

Tito: OUCH

 

Ayala: Wh..what!

 

Taisa’s eyes flew upon and she flailed once again, landing another smack on poor Tito’s face.  

 

Hurt in the shoulder and now being snapped again on the nose Tito raised his arms in a defensive posture. Which made him wince since he had been in the same position for too long and Taisa had been pressuring his shoulder.

 

In normal conditions he would be ok with it, but he was still slightly bruised, so a little oversensitive in that area.

 

Tito: Dammit… Stop! My shoulder is numb and hurting, and now you struck my nose… Twice.

 

Ayala: Oh, I’m sorry!

 

Now mostly awake, she reached up to gently cover the place where she landed the strike before withdrawing.  Shifting a bit, she winced at the pain that ached in her leg.  Although the regenerators had done their job, she had been warned she would have pain for a day or two as a consequence.  Her body had responded to the technology with increased cellular regeneration, but that meant her body had been sped up, and it had to recuperate in another way.  

 

Tito mumbled slightly and stretched, wincing at the pain and discomfort.

 

Tito: It's fine…

 

Ayala: Are you in pain? Even Tito hadn’t gotten away unscathed, and his shoulder was likely aching just as much as her leg. 

 

Ayala: I could give you something for it.

 

Tito raised an eyebrow, giving her one of his cold stares.

Tito: You already did. Two knocks on the nose.

 

Crossing her arms, Taisa narrowed her eyes and met his gaze head on.  He couldn’t intimidate her, not that he was seriously trying.  She could see right through him and she certainly wasn’t any more sincere than he was.  

 

Ayala: Trust me, you got off light.  Next time I’ll knock you upside the head.  

 

He shook his head and reached for her chin, giving it a little thump with his finger.

 

Tito: Now I feel better. Payback. ::He smiled as he raised his shoulder slightly.:: Seriously, it isn’t hurting, it was just getting numb and discomforting. ::He grinned before finishing his explanation.:: It looks like you also think of me as your pillow.

 

Her own severe expression lightened as the mock ire faded away and she poked him in his tummy. 

 

Ayala: That’s because you are a good pillow, but if you insist…

 

Pushing against him, she started to rise.  He held her as she tried to move and pulled her close, trying to be careful with her leg, but he wasn’t quite successful, and she gave a small exclamation of pain. 

 

Tito: Sorry…

 

Ayala: It’s okay. 

 

Like Tito, her own injuries were gone, but the body’s rapid healing meant some pain for a couple of days, as well as warnings to take it easy.  Which was what they were supposed to be doing. 

 

Tito smiled sadly. 

 

Tito: No it isn't. If I knew you would get hurt I would never have gotten us in that stupid bike.

Ayala: Let’s look on the bright side, this gives us time to actually talk to each other without distraction. 

 

Tito frowned, slightly surprised by her words. 

 

Tito: What about? 

Therein was the question - what to talk about?  Taisa had to admit, their romance had some moments of depth, but not really since she had left Ops.  The distance meant when they were together, really deep conversation took a back seat to experiences.  While the latter was important, so was the former, and she knew better than to think they could simply ride the wave of the excitement that came from visiting new and interesting places forever. 

 

Ayala: Well, we haven’t really talked beyond hello, how are you, how was your day, what’s going on with you.  Aren’t there some questions you want to ask me, something beyond the mundane, everyday conversation.  You know, the hard questions, the ones we really have to think about.

 

Tito looked away for a second. There was a lot to think about, but he had put all that aside.

He took a deep breath before looking back at Taisa.

 

Tito stared at her for a second longer, lingering in her beautiful face.

 

Tito: I know, a serious talk. We have a lot to consider. So, let's do this one topic at a time.

What are your intentions? Where do you see us considering your feelings for me?

 

Taisa had already gotten a taste of some of Tito’s past, but that was pretty much it - a taste.  There was a lot more to consider, and his questions were well aimed.  

 

Ayala: Look, I don’t do things halfway.  In for a penny, in for a pound.  Hanging out and having fun, that’s what friends do, but in this thing we have - I’m looking at the future, one with you in it. And if you’re not into that, it’s probably best we get that out in the open now. 

 

She hadn’t really meant to come out of the gate with that, but since he brought it up, there was no reason for her to beat around the bush.

 

Tito smiled. One thing he always loved about Taisa was her bluntness and honesty. 

It could be a little annoying at times, but it felt to him that, as their relationship grew deeper, they were managing to find a balance there.

 

He tipped his head as he replied. 

 

Tito: I hope that I made my feelings for you clear enough. I love you. I am falling deeper and deeper in love with you. I want to build a future together if you're willing. 

 

Ayala: Didn’t I already say I was? She laughed and flicked his nose.

 

Tito shrugged, asking naturally the next questions as a follow up to her reply. 

 

Tito: Will you marry me? Do you want children? Do you want to stay in Starfleet? For me it's all yes, how about you? 

 

Whoa.  Taisa definitely didn’t expect that one.  She stared at him, shock stealing any words from her mouth. It was a full minute before she was able to stammer something in a reply.  

 

That caught her by complete surprise as she stared at him. Tito knew she might react like that, but they were dwelling into their future, and from what she told him it was the natural step in their relationship. 

 

Ayala: Did you ask what I think you asked?

 

Tito nodded seriously. It was a huge step ahead, but one he was willing to take.

Not exactly now, but when the time came.

 

Tito: I did, and meant it. Like you this isn’t just a fling for me. I am serious.

 

All right then.  Well, she had been serious about being serious, and that was certainly the epitome of seriousness.  

 

Ayala: I’m going to answer all those backwards.  Starfleet, yes.  I’ve built a life around Starfleet, and can’t see me changing that any time soon. 

What did the future hold in that realm?  She didn’t know, but she was in it for as long as she could be.

 

Tito understood, and he also wasn’t considering a career change. At least not now that he was setting himself in a new position.

 

Tito: Neither can I. I am glad we have the same opinion about it.

 

Ayala: Kids, I like kids a lot.  Would like to have one or two of my own some day. 

 

Right then and there?  No, Taisa wasn’t ready yet, and then there was the third question…well, technically the first.  Of those, it was the most serious one they had to broach. 

 

Ayala: As for the first question, why do you think I’ve been trying to spend as much time with you as possible?  Like I said, I don’t do things halfway.  From the get go, when we started this, my eyes were on the future with us walking it together. 

 

Tito smiled. It was so heartwarming that he almost broke from their conversation and just wanted to hold Taisa tightly close.

But they would have enough time for that, hopefully.

 

Tito: I was just making sure. Now you also know we are both on the same page.

 

Ayala: That being said, I think it’s also wise that we take some time to seriously consider this.  I know what I want.  You know what you want.  We both have to make sure we’re committed to making sure this doesn’t break down, especially after marriage.  But I also think we’re still in the learning about each other stage.  We should take more time to have these sorts of conversations and really, really make sure. 

 

Tito nodded. Taisa had a very good point and even if they manage to spend days together there were always details in everyday life they would need to adjust for sure.

He was willing though, it’s been a long time since he felt he could commit to someone.

 

Tito: I agree. I feel certain and I want for us to build a future, no question about it.

 

With both of them committed to that, the hard work had only begun.  Taisa was well aware of the difficulties of building a life together, and she had to be sure he was willing to traverse them all before taking the plunge. 

 

Ayala: Well then, we both have the same goal.  

 

He smiled, tipping his head, reaching to a lock of her hair that was stubbornly around her cheek. Gently he set it to the side of her face.

 

Tito: It would be a lot easier if we were closer to each other.

 

Taisa’s expression softened.  Her transfer had certainly made things more difficult, but it could be far worse.  Had they lived in a time when technology was more primitive, they would have been a lot more restricted - perhaps even to the point where they couldn’t see each other for years. 

 

Ayala: I know.  It’s hard and it sucks.  

 

Tito frowned, as he began to think of something. They were intended to build a future together. Why not do that literally?

 

Tito: You know, what if instead of just sightseeing and spending a good time together, why don’t we start working on our future. I mean literally build our future.

 

Her brows furrowed together as she tried to understand what he meant. 

 

Ayala: How so? 

 

Tito was getting excited and he turned and sat on the bed. He smiled, his eyes glowing at the thought. It would give them the chance to be close and it certainly wasn’t going to be a vacation. It would allow them to solve problems together, to work with one another, to get closer and set down the foundations to their wedding.

 

Tito: Let’s build a house. A home for our future. I mean from scratch, build it with foundations and walls, rooms… The works. What do you think? As we are standing now I see it as the next step in our commitment.

 

Well that was certainly an idea.  Sitting a moment, her expression thoughtful, she pondered over it and some of the details that would inevitably have to be hammered out.  

 

Ayala: Okay, we can consider that.  But there are some questions I have. 

 

Tito: Off course.

 

Ayala: Well, first of all, are we looking at this as some place to go when we retire?  That’s a long time from now.  

 

She paused and looked him up and down, her mouth quirking in amusement. 

 

Ayala: Well, a long time for me. 

 

He raised an eyebrow and stared at her.

 

Tito: I will reply to that in a bit. Now I was thinking we have that house for us to use instead of throttling around the sectors and quadrants. ::He smiled sheepishly.:: Also…

 

He trailed off and when the silence extended long enough that Taisa realised he was waiting on her, she rose to the bait.  

 

Ayala: Also what? 

 

Tito: It would be a good place for our wedding.

 

She snorted and smacked him lightly before shifting to get into a better position.  Her leg throbbed in protest, but she did her best to ignore it, even able to school her features to prevent wincing at the pain.  

 

Ayala: Long term planning.  The thing is, Tito, we’re a part of Starfleet.  Now I know that sometimes they are able to keep families together and sometimes they aren’t, so if we get married, there’s no guarantee we’ll be stationed in the same place.  But let’s just say we decide to build this house - where? 

 

Tito shrugged. They could look around for a good place that would have them meet halfway between Denali and Starbase 118. However there was one place they could agree on, or at least he thought it would be.

 

Tito: Somewhere between Ops and Denali. Or Earth maybe?

 

Ayala: I suppose I shouldn’t be all that surprised. 

 

Since he currently served at Ops and had for several years, and since there was nothing that currently suggested Starfleet was moving him any time soon, she supposed it made sense. 

 

Ayala: Okay, and what if Starfleet stations you somewhere else? 

 

He tilted his head.

 

Tito: Or you? That’s why maybe Earth is the best option. Besides, it's usually easier to get there.

 

Ayala: It seems you’ve thought of everything. 

 

Tito: No, not everything. That is why we need to pull this together. But I have already thought

about it.

 

Taisa lapsed into silence as she pondered his suggestion.  It wasn’t that she was opposed, necessarily, she just felt like they were moving a little too fast. 

 

Ayala: Okay.  I’m not going to say no, but I’m not going to say yes.  What I am going to say is ‘wait’. 

 

Tito raised an eyebrow and straightened himself.

 

Tito: Wait? Why?

 

Ayala: Like I said, we both know that we don’t jump into relationships just to jump into relationships, but we also don’t know as much about each other as we should for taking a step like this.  What I would like to do is make a goal.  Let’s revisit this topic in six months. 

 

Tito nodded. Exciting as the thought of them building a home it was, admittedly a little fast considering the time that they had been together. And apart as they were stationed in different postings-

 

Tito: Very well. What do you suggest we do in between?

 

She shook her head and lifted a finger in a request for him to wait as she continued. 

 

Ayala: During those six months, we should talk.  I mean, really talk, about sincere stuff, deep stuff, the dark secrets we have, the things we wouldn’t normally tell others. 

 

Tito nodded. There was one thing he kept way back in his mind. Maybe it was time to put it forward. Taisa felt they needed to share these things, he would obliged.

 

Tito: There’s one thing… About our accident. I don’t quite know how… I know it wasn’t my fault but I feel I could have done better and it is bothering me that you could have gotten more seriously hurt.

 

 

*****

 

Lt. Vitor R.S.Tito

Science Officer

Starbase 118

O238907VS0

 

&

 

 

Lt. Taisa Ayala

Medical Officer

Denali Station

M239008AD0

 

[+ Vitor S. Silveira]

4 hours ago, Drex0379 said:

I think I'll collect all the previous sim and the ones to come into a book.

I haven't post the sims before this one, but they are great too. You can find them in the denali group mailing list

 

 

Thank you very much for the appreciation and kind words. 

I am glad you found it a good reading, another reminder that @Alora DeVeau is an awesome writer.

[+ Drex0379]

@Alora DeVeau is, with no doubts, a great writer, but those sims have two writers, and they are so good beacuse you are an awesome writer as well @Vitor S. Silveira!!!

 

Or are you telling us that Amanda wrote for your character ? 😜

[+ Vitor S. Silveira]

No, but I am pretty sure she could ;).
Now joking aside, I can't thank @Alora DeVeau enough to play along and write this relationship. That's why I mention her.

I am fortunate to have great "writing companions" in both my characters (Tito and Silveira) romantic relationships.