Needful Things

Posted on Wed Sep 12th, 2018 @ 7:19pm by Lieutenant Grayson Hawk & Lieutenant Commander Charlotte Hudson

1,426 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 0 - Christening of Legacy and Crew Arrival
Location: XO's Office
Timeline: 2261.186 1145

With a quick computer consult, he found the XO's office easily enough and stopped just outside her door to straighten his uniform. One of those things that was ingrained at the Academy and long before that, by his grandmother and great aunt. One looked presentable always. They would, he was quite certain, never forgive him for going barefoot whenever he could. And that came under the heading of 'what they don't know can't hurt me'. He stood 5'11" with tousled brown hair, green eyes that seemed keenly aware of his surroundings, and a lean, well-muscled physique that reflected hard physical training that began on his fourth birthday. In short, Grayson Hawk looked to be exactly what he was, a capable officer and when he pressed the chime, he knew himself ready for a new ship and a new challenge.

Bec was standing on her desk chair trying to hang a picture on the wall behind her desk when the chime went off. "Oh for f..." she muttered as she almost dropped the framed copy of The Birth of Venus. "Come in," she called, setting the frame on the edge of her chair and turning slightly so she could see the person interrupting her, but still keeping her back to the door.

Grayson entered and his speech disappeared as he took in the scene. "Do you require assistance, Ma'am," he asked with a decided British accent as he moved around to the side where he could be in a position to do what was needed. If anything.

"I don't require it," Bec said with a grin. "But since you're here," she hopped off the chair and leaned the painting against the wall. "You can hang this up while I make sure it's centered."

Grayson stepped forward at once; he put the nail between his lips, the hammer in front of him, and then took possession of the painting. He centered it as best he could and then turned, looked over his shoulder to where the XO stood and cocked his head to one side in question. "How's this," he asked.

"Half an inch to your left," Bec said, watching him move the painting then smirked. "No.. too far, back a quarter inch..." She wondered if she should toy with the man a while before letting him know she'd already marked the center and all he had to do was find the marks on the wall where the hangers should go, and that there should be three hangers.

"Having a go at me, Commander," Hawk asked as he held the painting in place and turned to look back at her over his shoulder. "Or if its that difficult, perhaps we should measure first?"

Chuckling, Bec pointed to where two marks were already on the wall. "I've measured the first two hanger spots, just needed to mark the third before putting the hangers up," she grinned cheekily at him before moving to support the bottom of the painting. "Third hanger should correspond with the notch in the center of the painting, line the outer notches up then mark the center."

Hawk complied and before long the painting was hanging in its proper place. "Lovely copy," he said as he stepped back to admire the work from a slight distance. Stand close to admire the brush strokes and use of color, stand back to study the work as a whole. "Botticelli, isn't it?"

"It is," Bec stood beside him, a rare smile on her face. "It belonged to my grandfather, he left it to me. I don't know why exactly, but he used to always call me Venus." She turned to Hawk and smirk. "Now, I know you didn't come here to hang a painting for me, Lieutenant."

"Regretfully, no," Hawk said smiling in return, the kind of smile that lit the depths of his green eyes, breaking through his habitual reserve, "though I might have had I known. Lt. Grayson Hawk, at your service and I mean that in the literal sense as well as the polite formalities sense. I've just been assigned to Security."

She looked him over with a smirk. "Should have guessed with that physique," she said and held her hand out to shake his. "Welcome to Legacy, Lieutenant. How are you settling in?"

"Thank you, Ma'am," he said, double-meaning completely intended, "though to answer your question, I haven't done much of that as yet, I'm afraid. It was my thought that I do what was required by regulation before seeing to personal needs."

Bec tried not to smirk at 'seeing to personal needs', but failed utterly. "Fair enough," she said with a shrug. "Personal needs can take a while," the smirk turned mischievous. "Though sometimes personal needs come first."

The barest upturn of one corner of his mouth gave indication that Hawk caught the tenor of the conversation. "I'm afraid," he said offering a slightly apologetic look, "personal needs can rather take a long time. Sometimes ... all night. I do like to be thorough."

"Thorough is a good thing," Bec nodded as though agreeing with his comment. "I like to be thorough as well," she turned and leaned her backside against the edge of her desk. "Taking all night sometimes, just to get things right."

"Indeed," Hawk intoned. "Sometimes, when the end result isn't quite right, I confess that I'll just start over. I have an appreciation for the details."

The expression on Bec's face was between agreeing with the statement and wanting to burst out laughing from the innuendo of their conversation. "I like a man who appreciates the finer details," she said after a moment. "Means they get the job done, no matter what." She gave him a wink. "Do let me know if I can assist with your personal needs in any way," she gave him an innocent look.

Green eyes sparkling ever so slightly, Hawk said solemnly, one hand over his heart, "I never accept failure as an option. And thank you, ma'am. Such matters are all the more pleasurable when shared."

Bec moved to stand in front of Hawk, leaving a slightly smaller than normal space between them. "Well, you helped me," she said indicating the painting on the wall. "It's the least I can do," she smiled up at him. "I am free any time to assist."

"Most," he said softly, making no attempt to move backward, "appreciated, Ma'am. I will remember," he said as his eyes traveled the length of her form, "you're most gracious offer."

Bec was tempted to do something more than flirt with the man before her, but she wasn't sure how it would be taken, nor if it was entirely wanted. He could be all talk, no action. So instead she allowed him to look her over and winked when his gaze returned to her face.

Hawk for his part enjoyed the dance as much as anyone but there were other considerations. A casual hookup with the second in command of the ship could have serious ramifications and after all the hard work he had put in to get this far, he didn't want to toss it all out the airlock because the woman before him was exceedingly beautiful and ... he suspected ... as good at the dance as he was. And so, much as his entire body was telling him otherwise, he simply winked back.

Noting that the fun was now over, Bec took a step back, leaning on her desk once again. "Well then," she said hiding the disappointment she felt. "I guess I shall let you get to those needs of yours," she smiled playfully. "And again, let me know if you would like my assistance."

"Perhaps," he said, cursing himself for a fool as he said so because this could go wrong on so many levels, "we could have dinner some time?"

"I would enjoy that," Bec smiled. "What about tomorrow?" Her eyes dared him to say no.

"Its a date," he said as he smiled in return, warm and genuine, the kind of smile that lit the depths of his green eyes. "Now, if you'll excuse me," he continued regretfully, "I must get on with the reporting in business."

"Eighteen hundred, my quarters, don't be late," Bec said and waved him off. "There'll be no dessert if you're late," she teased.

Hawk smiled at that. "I see my taste for that which is sweet in life has preceded me. I shan't be late, ma'am." And with that, he was off to his next appointment.

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