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“ Promise me, ” Seven said between Raffi’s gasps, “ that every, ” she slightly curled her fingers, keeping a steady pace, earning herself a moan from her partner as she met every one of Seven’s movements with a thrust of her hips, “ single, ” her free hand started a slow and painfully teasing journey up Raffi’s body, her breath catching at the feeling, “ time, ” she placed a kiss where Raffi’s jaw met her neck “ that,” a kiss on her breastbone, “piece,” another on her stomach, “of leather, ” suddenly Seven’s hand found the strap of the holster wrapped around Raffi’s thigh and pulled it tighter, basking in the raw sound emanating from Raffi’s throat. “ touches your skin, ” Raffi desperately grasped at Seven’s waist while her partner watched her writhing body, flushed, with a confident smirk adorning her face, piercing blue eyes filled with warmth and glazed with desire.
Slowly, but steadily, Seven’s hand resumed its journey upwards, finally reaching Raffi’s breast. She arched into her girlfriend, surrendering to the feeling of cold tritanium fingertips, like ice cubes melting on her burning skin. Seven’s mouth grazed Raffi’s ear, earning a whimper between her heaving, determined breaths, “ you’ll remember, ” her hand left Raffi’s breast only to be replaced by her mouth, releasing it to utter “ this. ”
As she played with the length of that word her thumb found Raffi’s clit and she unraveled, letting out a throaty moan and laugh, still meeting every single one of Seven’s thrusts with her hips as she came down from her high. Seven wrapped her arms around her girlfriend and moved to capture Raffi’s mouth in a dizzying kiss but stopped just short of pulling her in, her warm breath searing her words onto Raffi’s parted, hungry lips, “ And promise me, I’ll be the one to take it off again. ”
Just as she was about to taste the sweetness of Seven’s mouth on hers again, to be swept away by the feeling of warmth and safety that always coursed through her veins when she was in her partner’s arms, Raffi gasped herself awake, instinctively reaching for the phaser on her nightstand. When she lifted her gaze she saw Worf standing next to her bed, Starfleet uniform in hand.
“ What? ” she said, almost out of breath, a frown slowly settling on her face.
“ It is almost time. ”
Raffi’s heart raced, but she masked her panic and excitement with a sarcastic huff and a mumbled thanks as she grabbed the jacket and folded clothes and collapsed back into bed. She heard Worf’s footsteps getting further and further away, his overly formal Klingon attire clinking along with them.
When the doors to her quarters hissed shut, she felt the tears pooling at her waterline. “ Fuck! ” Her hands wiped at her eyes, but to no avail. The tears wouldn’t stop flowing. Another dream, another disappointment. She was getting tired of waking up alone, of all of those dreams convincing her that she wouldn’t. Raffi’s fist slammed down on the mattress and she heard something fall on the ground all the way on the other side of the bed.
She reluctantly left the warmth of her covers and walked over to the source of the noise. She picked up the belt she’d felt wrapped around her just moments ago and twirled it around her hands. “The universe has a twisted sense of humor.”
She sighed heavily as she began getting ready, finishing everything off by carefully winding the piece of leather around her thigh, like Seven had shown her so many times before. She messed with the buckle, her finger tracing the Ranger’s symbol engraved on it. She took a deep breath and as she exited her quarters she shouted, “Let’s go!”
✦ ✦ ✦
Raffi felt herself materializing on The Titan’s transporter pad, heart pounding in her chest. Who would her greeting party be? As her eyes took in her surroundings she saw Picard, Crusher and Riker’s faces light up, beaming at Worf. JL’s eyes met hers and a warm smile followed. He was happy to know his former first officer was still around. Not many people he’d known could be counted on anymore. He knew that if there was ever anyone who would be upfront with him it would be Raffi.
A polite smile settled on her face as she nodded her hello to everyone before her. She turned her head slightly and her heart stopped. The formerly polite smile was brought to life by a swarm of love and warmth directed at the blonde woman standing proudly in the corner of the transporter room. Raffi’s lips parted, the woman’s name threatening to escape her throat as she took a tentative step forward barely able to stop herself from running into her arms.
Months… it had been months since she’d felt this alive. The loneliness, the abandon, the quiet of La Sirena without its former Captain on it to keep her company, it was all catching up with her right here and now. She fought it with every fiber of her being, that sinking feeling that this was all far from over, that she’d have to leave again. Now was not the time, she knew that.
She’d have plenty of time to act on her worry once she got back out there. Right now, she was being greeted by a room full of people whom Worf had been keeping busy while she’d gotten lost in those sky blue eyes trained on hers.
Both she and Worf stepped off the platform and she immediately turned to the commander on her right, “Are you alright?”
Raffi looked at Seven as she always had, with disarming warmth and openness, but instead of seeing her relax, she was met with the cold, impenetrable veneer that always made her heart flinch, “We’re alive if that’s what you mean.”
Raffi nodded curtly and turned to join the others in a lively conversation about Worf. She couldn’t resist the opportunity to fill them in on the Klingon’s newly pacifistic lifestyle. Worf had finally had enough of their chit chatting, as friendly as it was, he knew he’d have to be the one to bring their attention back to the matters at hand, “We have much to discuss.”
“Indeed we do, Mr. Worf.” said Picard, turning towards the door, urging everyone to follow.
While Worf, Riker, Crusher and Picard led the way, the latter three incessantly pressing for details about what Worf had been up to all these years, Raffi and Seven fell behind.
They now had the transporter room to themselves. Same as she’d done before, Raffi took a tentative step towards Seven, gaze locked on hers, but she put up her hand, stopping her in her tracks. Raffi broke eye contact and decided she was better off joining the others. Just as she turned to leave she heard Seven whisper, “Later.” and felt her metal-laced fingers brush against hers, locking her in a promise.
✦ ✦ ✦
During the briefing, Picard had mumbled something about Jack and got up to leave early. Once it was all over, they mostly all went their separate ways. Raffi, Seven and Shaw stayed on the bridge.
Raffi was well versed in the ship’s history; she'd heard Picard talk about how proud he was of Riker for being its captain. Still, nothing beats seeing it in person, she thought as her eyes darted from station to station. It had been a long time since she’d been on a Neo Constitution Class ship. It felt odd, cold, uncomfortable. It felt nothing like La Sirena. That probably had something to do with the people too. She wondered what it would feel like, giving up La Sirena to return to this, like Rios had.
Her eyes turned to the main viewer and as she looked at the stars glimmering outside, she began getting lost in thought. She realized that no matter what job Starfleet had lined up for her next, she’d keep La Sirena. No way she’d let it go. It had been her best friend’s ship, then her love’s and it somehow ended up hers. She was her home away from home away from home.
Home… she pondered the term as she shifted her gaze from one star to another. Her home was in constant motion. Home was definitely not Earth, her cabin, or her ship. Her home had a name, one that had fallen from her lips so many times in so many ways. As soft whispers, angry shouts, euphoric screams, terrified cries, it was beautiful in every context. A name she would die to protect.
Something brought Raffi back to the present, a noise perhaps, she wasn’t sure.
“ Hansen, I need you to find Picard. Tell him I want access to Commander Ro’s files by tonight. ”
“ Yes, sir. ” Just as she turned to leave, she heard Raffi’s voice ring out.
“ I’m sorry, who? ”
“ Raff- ”
“ No, Seven. ” Raffi looked over at the visibly uncomfortable commander beside her, the look in her eyes starting a whole new wildfire of rage inside her. “ Call her by her name. ”
“ Commander. ” he said, more sternly, turning to glare at Seven, blame in his eyes.
“ Seven? How long has he been calling you that? ”
“Doesn’t matter.” Seven’s voice faded to cover it cracking as she did her best not to meet Raffi’s gaze. “I’ll go find Admiral Picard, sir.”
Just as Seven turned to leave, Raffi grabbed Shaw by the collar and pinned him against the nearest bulkhead, which made her freeze in her tracks.
“ Oh, you just sabotaged your Starfleet career. ” he laughed, struggling against her grip.
“ Yeah? Well, Starfleet hasn’t been all that kind to me. ”
Shaw stilled, looking at all the others presently on the bridge. They all had their eyes trained on him, powerless, at Raffi’s mercy. Still, staying true to his jackass bravado, all he did was huff sarcastically.
“ You’d really throw it all away for her? ” he pointed dismissively at Seven, “ And for what, a few scraps of metal? ”
The words hit Seven like a truck, Raffi could feel it. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Seven stiffen and lift her chin, solidifying that unaffected veneer, but she knew her partner could see through it.
“Let me tell you something,” she paused before letting the bitterness and disgust on the tip of her tongue spill like venom as she uttered the last word, “Captain.”
She tightened her grip on Shaw’s uniform with one hand and withdrew her other, her fingers gathering in a fist, “ You’re an idiot if you wouldn’t. ”
Seven noticed Raffi’s body shift into her battle stance and she rushed to her partner’s side to whisper in her ear. “ Raff, he’s not worth it. ”
“ Oh, it’s not him I’m worried about. ” she said, jaw clenched, lifting her arm to gain momentum to really cement her point. It’d leave him with a nice, bruise shaped souvenir to make him think twice about mistreating Seven ever again.
“ Raffi, ” Seven said, something in her voice forcing Raffi’s gaze to shift to her, “ please. ” she said, gripping her arm, fingers tightening around her muscles just enough to ease Raffi’s anger.
In that moment, Raffi saw the ocean of pain in Seven’s eyes, an ocean she’d had to sail for so long. She didn’t want to be yet another wave amongst the many already tormenting her.
Before releasing Shaw with a shove, “ I’ve broken more criminals and spies than you can count. I’m capable of much worse than roughing you up. Don’t ever disrespect her again. Got it? ”
Everyone’s eyes were now on them. He could do nothing but subtly nod as he tried to hide his embarrassment and re-establish his authority over his bridge.
“ Good. ” Raffi said, smiling menacingly before turning to look at Seven. “ I think I’ll join you. I need a word with JL. ” Seven nodded curtly and stepped onto the turbolift once Raffi had arrived by her side.
✦ ✦ ✦
Once the door slid shut, Seven was first to break the silence. “ You didn’t have to do that. ”
‘Later’ had come sooner than she thought it would. “ Like hell I didn’t! Seven, it’s not all about the mission. It’s about the people. No people, no mission. And you deserve to be treated like a human being. ”
“ I know, I know, I just- ” she sighed heavily, “ It was easier to shut up and take it. I’m just so fucking tired of having to fight for myself. It’s never enough. ” her voice cracked and for the first time in months, Seven felt she was being seen, truly seen. That’s how things felt when they were together. She’d missed it more than she’d allowed herself to realize, she wouldn’t have survived otherwise.
“ Look at me. ” Raffi said, reaching for her metal laced hand, pulling her closer, “ I’ve got your back. I’ll always fight for you, all you have to do is ask. You’re not alone, Seven, you never will be as long as I’m around. ” Raffi shifted her weight from one leg to the other, “ I promise. ”
The closeness, their hands clasping tightly, it so quickly transported them to their own little corner of the world, like it always had. Raffi could see nothing but strands of gold around her. She suppressed the urge to tuck one behind Seven’s ear, to move even closer.
She was playing a losing game of tug of war with the invisible string pulling her towards Seven, towards her warmth, her lips, the feeling of her hands mapping out her body, Raffi doing the same in return, their bodies moving in tandem, a usually wordless understanding of a melody they were composing as they went, in perfect harmony.
“ Seven, ” Raffi whispered tentatively, trying to gauge the tension in the turbolift, “ I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking, I shouldn’t’ve said it like that, I don’t- ” Seven cupped Raffi’s face with her free hand, thumb brushing against her lip.
“ Just shut up and kiss me. ” she said, leaping forward, closing the distance between them, pulling Raffi as close as she could get her, her metal capped fingers digging into her back as their lips crashed into each other with a hunger and sweetness that felt like returning home. They were finding their way back to each other, hearts open, souls on fire.
Raffi’s hands were suddenly everywhere. In her hair, on her neck, shoulders, waist, in constant motion, like she couldn’t settle on one part of Seven, she wanted all of her. She slipped a leg between Seven’s, the contact shocking her into a moan that broke their kiss. This gave Raffi the opportunity to start peppering kisses down Seven’s cheek, stopping to place a kiss just below her starburst implant, just like Raffi knew she liked.
“ God, I missed you. ” Seven whispered between heavy breaths, her thumb hooked on one of Raffi’s belt loops, her other hand busy tightening and loosening her grip on the back of Raffi’s neck, guiding her lower and lower as their hips moved in tandem, until Raffi’s mouth was on her pulse point.
“ Mmm, uniform’s in the way. ” Raffi said as her teeth lightly grazed Seven neck and she pulled her closer by her waist. Seven cupped Raffi’s face with both hands, bringing her back up to kiss her, tongue sweeping urgency across Raffi’s bottom lip, need crystal clear in her movements.
She brushed her lips against Raffi’s ear as she whispered, “My quarters. Now.” then moved to instruct the turbolift to switch destinations before smirking at the yearning, leather-jacket-wearing spy in front of her, “We can deal with Picard later.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Next thing Raffi knew, the doors to Seven’s quarters hissed shut and she felt the Ranger’s hand hook her holster’s thigh strap. “ Still wearing it, huh? ” she said as she pulled Raffi closer.
“ I always keep my promises. ” Raffi whispered. Seven cupped her face, thumb moving in a soothing motion drawing constellations on Raffi’s cheek.
“ I have my own promise to keep. ” she said, metal entwined hand continuing the mapping of an entire galaxy across the right side of Raffi’s face while her free hand traversed Raffi’s chest, fingers spreading over the slopes of her breasts, down her abdomen, her muscles twitching deliciously under Seven’s fingertips. She stopped once she reached the piece of leather wrapped tightly around Raffi’s waist and thigh and found the buckle that held it all together.
Raffi’s breaths were getting heavier and heavier as she felt Seven’s fingers prowling, toying with the fast strap around her core, floating above the innermost part of her thigh, inching towards her center, teasing her, as Seven’s other hand began its descent and landed on Raffi’s waist.
Seven’s appetite was insatiable when it came to Raffi, she could watch even her most minute movements like they were world changing events. She still wasn’t able to wrap her mind around the fact that she could affect Raffi this way.
“ Come here. ” Raffi said, the warmth in her voice echoed by the one spreading through Seven’s body, as her hands grabbed Seven’s face and pulled her in, bringing their lips together in a slow kiss. Their hands roamed each other’s body as their lips crashed together, frenzy setting in.
The Ranger’s hands moved through Raffi’s curls, down her neck, subtly making their way down. Soon her palms were firm on the intelligence officer’s chest, gently spreading to her shoulders, slipping her jacket off. Raffi reluctantly removed her hands from Seven’s waist, letting her partner’s fingers glide down her arms, leaving goosebumps in their wake, as she guided the material off of her. They let jacket drop to the floor as their hands found their way back to each other’s bodies, the Ranger’s resuming their journey downwards.
Suddenly both of Seven’s hands were undoing Raffi’s belt and holster, grazing the spot where she needed her most, earning herself a gasp that melted to a moan after they heard the buckle hit the floor with a metallic clink and Seven’s mouth found Raffi’s neck and began placing kisses around her pulse point, while her hands were busy undoing her partner’s pants.
“ Off. ” Seven breathed hot against Raffi’s neck, placing one last, wet kiss before she dropped to her knees tugging at the fabric clinging to her waist. Raffi stepped sideways, freeing her ankles of the material pooling around them, while she took her top off and abandoned her clothes, shifting her attention to Seven as she moved to pull the Ranger's top off her, letting it drop to the ground, along with her own items.
They teamed up getting rid of Seven’s pants, relishing the opportunity to increase the tension between them. They came back together, joining in an impulsive, open-mouthed kiss as Raffi’s hands slid down Seven’s back landing just below the curve of her backside, gripping tight, lifting her off the ground.
Seven’s legs instinctively wrapped around Raffi’s waist, fingers digging into her back when she felt Raffi’s meltingly warm lips take hers, while she walked them over to the bed. Even after she gently laid Seven down on the soft mattress, the Ranger’s legs refused to release her waist from their grip, willing Raffi’s body onto hers, as close as she could get it.
Raffi began trailing kisses down Seven’s neck, continuing down her body, stopping to pay some extra attention to her breasts before moving down to her abdomen, feeling Seven’s muscles tensing and relaxing with every breath. Just as she reached the top of her navel she licked a line back up, stopping in the center of her chest.
Seven grabbed Raffi’s chin and tilted it upward, pulling her up to kiss her fast and deep. After releasing her she grabbed the back of Raffi’s neck, halting her descent for just a moment, sky blue eyes never leaving her partner’s hazel ones, as she said, voice thick with her desire, “ Bring me home. ”
So Raffi did and Seven gave just as much in return.
They brought each other home.