Hidden Talents, Encountered Surprises.

Posted on Fri Nov 20th, 2020 @ 8:44pm by Commander Talia Varen
Edited on on Fri Nov 20th, 2020 @ 8:47pm

Mission: After the Storm
Location: Personal Quarters

After sorting out the General with the many requests that he had the end of the shift didn't come fast enough. When it did however he returned home and while his Imazdi was dealing with Sophia once again in Sickbay Leo was at home preparing a special dinner, he knew they would have little time together as things on the the station required more of their time. Pasta was the dish of the night and in true Italian form, just like his Mother used to make. To put him in the spirit of things he had the computer play music, Pavarotti to be exact, Nassun Dorma.

When she approached their quarters, she was surprised by the seeming inattention to the bond. Whatever he was doing he was extremely focused on. There was faint music heard over the soft noise of the station, and she grinned he must be blasting the music quite loudly.

Leo was stirring pot and pan alike as he tasted and seasoned as needed, he could have replicated the meal but something about the personal touch of creation completed the dish and his Mother would only have it done by hand. His commbadge was on the counter turned off, he didn't want it translating what the music was saying since he understood the language anyway.

Ma il mio mistero e chiuso in me

Il nome mio nessun saprà!

No, no, sulla tua bocca lo dirò

Quando la luce splenderà!

Ed il mio bacio scioglierà

Il silenzio che ti fa mia!

Her hand came up to cover her mouth as she allowed the doors to close behind her, locked them and leaned on them as she listened to the beautiful strong tenor. How did she not know that he could sing like that? She didn't want to disturb him, but simply wanted to bask in the sound. However the knowledge that he was Singing struck her so hard in the chest that she lost her breath. Bright eyes fluttering closed around tears that leaked out around her eyelashes.

As the chorus sang 'll nome suo nessun saprà, E noi dovrem, ahimè! Morir! Morir!' Leo leapt into the crushendo of the moment.

Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle!

Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò!

Vincerò! Vincerò!

Since what happened with the Colonel in the reactor room and outburst he let loose and catching Talia with it Leo had been mindful of those around him and reluctant to talk much to anyone other than Talia. He didn't want to hurt her again, that was not what lovers did but he'd did it. It played on his mind constantly, he felt bad for it but knew she'd be understanding and she was, but it still plagued him.

Leo poured himself into the ending, absently forgetting he held a fork in his left hand and as he sang the final piece his arms rose to this sides, shaking them to the final two words sending pasta sauce drops over the wall as he gave his all into the last word. Only when he came down from his spurred high and the piece ended did his senses come to him and he picked up that he had a guest.

She'd been holding her breath, and it came out in a soft exclamation of wonder as she finally was able to suck in a breath to ease aching lungs. His high off the singing was shining down the bond and she was...entranced by his joy.

"Ehilà" Leo turned somewhat slightly embarrassed. "Quanto hai sentito?"(How much did you hear?)

She had to process what he'd asked and the feeling behind it, and she smiled gently at him "All of it." came the whispered comment "That was beautiful Leo."

Leo smiled and felt his cheeks burn as he looked down trying to hide the sheepish grin at being caught. He looked to the side seeing the flung mess he'd made on the wall. "I um, got carried away in the moment." Speaking this time in English even though it was still heavily laced in accent, more so that usual having immersed in the moment earlier.

Not caring one whit for the mess, she approached him slowly and stroked her fingers down his cheek. Her thumb stroked over his lips and her heart overflowed by the almost boy-like embarrassment he was exuding. "You are extraordinary.

"I have my moments. Not many, but some." He lifted his head to look at his Imzadi and smile. "Sorry I didn't tell you, just....something I've always done in private." That and he didn't really think he was very good.

"There's so much I don't know about you" she said softly, as she bushed a tender kiss to his lips.

Such tenderness, one of the things he loved about Talia. When the kiss broke he smiled and said. "Why don't you slip into something a little more comfortable and I'll serve dinner?"

Anything to get out of the uniform and she crept towards the closet to find something appropriate to wear. She came out again wrapped in a deep navy blue sarong. It wrapped around her body, clinging to her every curve and tied between her breasts to allow a cascade of soft silk there.

Leo was serving plates and bowls with his creation as he walked each to the table, lit candles and even some campaign, clearly he'd pulled out all the stops for the night together. When he heard her moving back towards him he spoke. "Dinner is ser.....ved." The drawn out word caused by the new attire of Talia and the pleasing to the eye appearance. "Bello" (Beautiful)

Her bare feet made little sound on the carpet as she approached him and slid her arms around his neck. Rising up on her toes, she kissed him again softly in thanks for the compliment. Her fingertips toyed in the hair at the back of his neck, while she gazed deeply into his eyes.

When Talia held him his hands rested on her sides above the hip. "You are in a good mood yes?" He asked as he looked into her eyes. "It can't be all me."

"And why not?" she countered with a chuckle as she stroked his cheek. "Why can't I be happy just to be home with you?"

"I think its because you enjoy learning more about me." Not that he minded that. "Or you enjoy walking it to what you did. Maybe next time I'll catch you doing something."

"You might just do that. But you're right, I love learning new things about you." Her fingertips stroked his neck and she kissed him again softly "What did you make?"

"Fettuccine al pomodoro" Even the name highlighted his accent as he looked at the bowls set on the table, one of pasta, the other holding the rest of the meal.

Nudging her nose against his, Talia settled into her chair and took one of the bowls to place on the table before her. "It smells divine."

"Please, help yourself, there is seasoning next to the pasta to suit taste and campaign to accompany." He sat himself opposite her. "So, busy day in Sickbay, when I felt what I did I could also feel burden. Busy?"

"Sort of. I met my new Assistant. He's a full Vulcan, which is an interesting choice to be here with me as Chief. But the work was from that ambassador that came in on the shuttle the other day. She was back again today."

That stopped Leo cold, something like that the should have been informed about, a detail prepared, arrangements made to meet them. "No I don't recall...who was it again?" Knowing he'd catch flak from Liarra for this but if he didn't know, he doubted she would. There had been a lot of diplomatic traffic recently, maybe he'd missed a memo.

"Her name is Sofia. I'm not surprised you haven't heard of her arriving, apparently it's a punishment assignment." Talia shrugged and looked at his face and smiled at the concern there. "She was thinking rather hard about how much she didn't want to be here, but at the same time that could have just been sickbay she didn't want to be in" her chuckle came easily.

"I'm not aware of her, maybe she was diverted because of the storm, we didn't get the diplomatic notification because 332 was not on the agenda." Leo spoke as he considered the options while twirling his fork to curl pasta around it.

Talia shrugged "You'd best have quarters made for her that are very private, and make a note to security that she's..." Talia paused trying to find the words to describe it. "Alluring."

"Alluring?" Leo paused. "What do you mean?" Had to be something it Talia had cause for pause and use that word.

"The only other time I've felt like that I was with an Orion woman who was using her pheromones." she shrugged and then reached across the table to squeeze his hand. "I'll have to read more into her medical records to know for sure what I was sensing."

Oh this story had to be told. "Go on, tell me more." Leo had a smile on his face that couldn't be missed, Talia, Orion woman.....

Talia's cheeks colored deeply, and she raised her gaze to meet his and then flicker away again. "Are you sure you want to know about my past...experiences?"

The way she said that gave Leo a moment of pause, his facial expression changed as it was clear he was thinking on her words. "On second thought.....no." Even though Talia was with him now there as some things that were best left in the past.

Talia continued to blush and smiled gently at him. "Ive always been equally attracted to women as men...Varidi was special to me when I was a young unsure ensign."

"Oh, I see." Leo fell awkwardly silent as he processed what she'd just said. Alluring, new ambassador, how could he compete with someone of that distinction?

His apprehension and defeated thoughts trickled down their bond and she sent him a pulse of pure love. "Amore...I love you. Nothing is ever going to change that."

A smile returned if only faint but it did and at the risk of the food getting cold he tucked in as it reminded him of home and family.