Fifth Element

Posted on Thu Oct 5th, 2023 @ 8:10am by Warrant Officer Iryna Voznyuk & Staff Sergeant Nathanial "Nate" Cusack

Mission: Contagion
Location: Voznyuk‘s Quarters
Timeline: Day 362
3738 words - 7.5 OF Standard Post Measure

She had sensed him come and go a couple of times as she slept over the sedation and pain that her stubbornness had created. It was a reminder that she was not alone in the unfamiliar room. Each time he came and went, a sliver of her exhausted mind roused itself, just enough to confirm that it was indeed him. No one else would have been granted access to her quarters other than a senior officer or an emergency. Still, the peace of mind she gained from the confirmation was worth the effort, however minimal it may have been.

By mid-afternoon, her determination overcame the drowsy haze that clung to her. With an effort, she willed herself into a more alert state, pushing through the layers of fatigue and discomfort that she brought on to herself. Her responsibilities could not be deferred any longer.

Among the stack of paperwork on PADD, two requests stood out. One was a proposal for a crew drill scenario, an intricate plan involving a boarding party. It was a necessary preparation, a contingency they hoped never to use, but one that demanded meticulous planning. The other was a crewman's heartfelt request to join the armoury, just as Nate had once joined sickbay. Both requests held promise and potential, but they required her approval, contingent on Gerhard's final say. She turned her attention back to the never-ending challenge of shift patterns. It was the work she had avoided being a lower level in the MACO’s but now as Assistant Armoury, it was impossible to avoid which was why she needed a desk even in her quarters that was serving helpful to balance her arm on.

In his defense, Nate had tried not to be a disturbance. It was a far cry from his usual strategy, which bordered on obnoxiously interjecting himself without invitation but it had been a while since that version of Cusack had sat in the back of staff briefings and tossed idle commentary into the middle of proceedings. His only intention in this instance had been to make sure she was still where she was supposed to be, and at one point to top up her pain medication. Judging by the slur of her words at the time, there probably wouldn't be a lot of recollection of that particular exchange but he could dress it up as part of his new responsibilities in an attempt to avoid fussing too much. In the past, he hadn't been the most attentive prospect, which accounted for the string of meaningless relationships that only loosely deserved the definition in the first place. He might not have articulated it as trying to rectify that this time around but the intent was there. Eating lunch alone hadn't really appealed to him anyway.

His next arrival, delayed until the end of his shift because things had suddenly conspired to demand his attention in the last couple of hours, was met with some hesitation on the marine's part. Abandoning first instinct had seen him head to the gym first, followed by a shower, because it seemed better to squeeze those things in whilst it was still early enough that she might still be resting. The sight that greeted him as the doors parted was not so much a surprise as it was an opportunity for resignation. Without moving further, he leaned against the door frame and shook his head at her.

"You know you used to yell at me whenever I was this disobedient."

"Hughes did say I could get back to things after resting a little bit. I have the sling on and ice pack so I would not say I am being disobedient." Iryna said over her shoulder as she slowly used her good arm to turn around in the chair and look at him. His appearance just standing there in the doorway was impressive and reminded her just how good-looking he was even looking at her with a mix of annoyance and acceptance.

"You never used to accept my perfectly reasonable excuses either," Nate objected, pushing off the doorframe to step into the room probably so that the doors could close behind him. In a move the definitely wasn't over-attentive fussing, he crossed to check the positioning of the ice pack, carefully drawing it out to reshape and reactive it before tucking it back into place. "You gonna make it, you think?" It was a gentle tease, punctuated by the brush of his fingertips to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

Iryna grinned up at him seeing him in nurse or medic as he liked to call it without having to hide the grin or admiration from her face. She was proud as well as excited to see where it all went for him now that he had committed and taken the plunge. "I hope so... my.... you... would be quite cross if I did not make it." She answered.

"Damn straight, kick your ass all the way back from hell." He winked, more than willing to try his luck now that her options to punch him were literally halved. "We giving card night a miss then?" There was no hesitation in his willingness to include himself, not an insignificant sacrifice given the weekly tradition established months ago amongst what remained of their squad was about the only time any of them got their hands on decent amounts of moonshine.

He was 100% correct that she was going to be going to hell. “Very much hell.” She agreed weakly. “I am but you can still go. No need for you to miss out, Nate.” She quickly argued though was struck by the ease of his offer.

"I might put in an appearance later." It was non-committal, which wasn't an unusual tone for him, but under the circumstances and given that this particular social event had been some of the only remaining glue holding them all together as they'd gradually dwindled in number, his lack of concern either way was a palpable shift in priorities. "You planning on working all night?"

She was surprised but did not comment any more. “Mmmhmm.” The woman said softly as she glanced at all the contents of her desk and calculated the time she needed. “I am not planning to work all night. Maybe an hour or so more and then I will be all caught up.” She promised. “Put a film on or something and relax if you want. Have you had dinner?” She wondered slowly turning back to the desk to start again on her work.

"I had way more of those plum things we got from Bug Land than my digestive tract will thank me for," Nate replied, easing himself into a chair to grab a PADD resting on the coffee table. It didn't seem odd that it was his, or that he'd left it to clutter up her living space rather than his own. Pulling up his place on that last journal he'd been flicking through, Nate sucked in his upper lip thoughtfully and then added after a moment's distraction, "So I guess I've had entrée, at best."

The woman glanced over at him for a moment amused by just how relaxed he was this sat there and just how natural it felt to have him there as she busied herself with the final things she needed to do that day. "An hour and we will go and search for something proper." She promised quietly. "Enough time for me to confirm the painkillers are not going to make me sick."

Nate glanced up at that. "Have they so far?"

Even a month ago, it would have been dubious to accuse the man of any diligence when it came to academic study but what correctly-applied determination had done was unlock the marine's unexpected capacity for scholarly success. Struggling the first time around hadn't been entirely the fault of capacity, more a matter of overall preparation for the rigor of the profession he was trying to enter. Now, as he waited expectantly for confirmation that he didn't have to seek her out some anti-nausea meds, a brief glance at the PADD in his hands would have revealed yet another training manual for upcoming assessment and not the purloined girly mags everyone liked to assume constituted his only reading material.

Iryna nodded. “Hughes gave me some anti nausea stuff when I went to get ice pack.” She confirmed leaning out to stroke his arm. “Who knew I would have such a weak stomach for painkillers.” She smiled trying to make light of it.

"That's what happens when you stubbornly refuse to take them." It wasn't a medically-sound argument but it made its point nevertheless. Nate cocked an eyebrow at her. "Probably not going to help things if you skip meals though."

The woman indicated with her head that he might be correct there that it was likely because she never took them. “One hour and we can have diner.” She knew that she needed to eat as it would help her maintain energy for healing.

"You said that five minutes ago."

He didn't wink but there was a glint in Nate's eye that confirmed he knew he was being an intentional provocation.

“55 minutes then.” She laughed ignoring his provocation. She turned away and started to work again leaving him to his own devices.

To say that the next few minutes passed in relative peace might have seemed unlikely but it was mostly true. Taking the opportunity to read over course material wasn't a facetious way of waiting for her to be done, but a genuine attempt to use the time productively. It didn't stop Nate from slouching further down into the seat, or prevent his cheek from smooshing into his fist as he leaned into it, in an attempt to prop his head up. Having to study and enjoying it were not the same thing.

Finally, after 50 minutes Iryna turned to look the man over and smiled. He was a pain in the ass but she was falling for him harder each moment she caught him doing something that was him instead of the show he made of going through life sometimes. "I am ready when you are if you want to go and have dinner together." She said quietly.

"Now she's rushing me." The ghost of a smirk toyed with Nate's lips as he remained focused for long enough to bookmark his place. Then, setting aside the PADD, he glanced up without moving at first. "You sure you're up to it? I can always go grab enough for a night in. I believe a movie was mentioned and someone has yet to subject me to this favoured gem she keeps referring to."

“I did not realise that was an option.” She admitted relaxing a little more into the chair. She had thought he would want to drag her out of her quarters but here he was offering her a night in and her having to not move far. “You do not need to but I would like that to be honest.”

"Stuffing my face in the messhall is a privilege I can live without for one night," Nate reassured, mildly surprised himself that the offered seemed such a significant one to her. "Any specific requests?" Setting aside the PADD properly, he rose into a stretch as he waited for her response.

“Something light.” She assured knowing there would be something like a sandwich or something light. Whilst her nausea was not strong it still felt like she was pushing her luck if she eat too much plus she wanted to sleep early that night to try and reset her brain and body.

In typical fashion, once Nate had clear direction, it didn't take him long to execute the task. He returned within twenty minutes, one pilfered tray stacked up on the other with a promise to return it immediately, and a small sealed jug of freshly squeezed juice. The stores they had taken on from Relea had bolstered variety in the short-term but with cool-storage at a minimum, there was no sense rationing the fresh produce. Nate's marginal obsession with what he swore tasted like his grandmother's plums was going to become its own contained grieving process sooner rather than later.

"M'lady," he declared, offering the tray on top with a sweep.

Iryna smiled as he came back and found her minus her uniform jacket having un gracefully gotten it off. The woman smiled and took the tray one handed keeping her other arm despite the lack of sling close just encase and set it down on the desk. She was trying to keep food away from her bed to separate her day. “Plums again I see.” She teased.

His own tray had two of them in the designated dessert section. The rest of his tray seemed to consist of a literal mountain of pasta-substitute. "I'm a growing lad, I need my vitamins." Setting down the jug of juice on the coffee table, he otherwise remained standing, tray in hand, to ask, "Where do you want us to eat?"

“Sit wherever you want. Lots more space than a bunk room.” She teased. The room was not much bigger but at the very least there was no bed on top of the other and no having to share everything.

Left to his own devices, Nate turned a pointless full circle and then decided on the floor in front of the small sofa, leaned back against it to avoid being overly squashed. Legs bent, he placed the tray between them and helped himself to dessert first, pulling apart the plum before eating half at a time. "So what's this movie anyway?"

Iryna was intently aware of him practically flopping onto the floor with a grin and watched him. “Fifth Element. It’s a classic but I love it.” She loved films that were sci fi even if they struck close the home sometimes.

"Never heard of it," claimed Nate, which was highly likely but no guarantee that he'd never seen it. Committing to memory the names of popular media wasn't always something he excelled at. Stretching across, he grabbed the juice jug and waggled it. "Didn't think to get glasses. If you don't have any, we can just chug."

“Bathroom or in the box to your left.” Iryna had not unpacked everything yet from the room so it could be any where but she knew she did have some. “But feel free to chug.” She laughed already moving slowly to go check the bathroom.

Having already hefted himself to his feet, Nate looped an arm carefully around her waist and spun Iryna back in the direction of the desk. "You sit your cute butt down, no unauthorised movement." It took a little rummaging but he eventually returned with glasses in hand, one of which he handed to the seated woman, another he set aside whilst he found space in a cupboard for the rest. That done, he moved back to pour juice and then settled back into his spot.

"So, is this the one with all the blue aliens?"

"I am not fragile but thank you." She said quietly sitting back down at the desk as she brought it up on the screen. "No that is Avatar and there are like ten films, this is just a stand-alone classic." Iryna smiled wondering if she should go into all the facts she knew and reveal just how much of a geek she was over that film.

"So, no blue aliens?" From his position, the twinkle in Nate's eyes wasn't easily seen but it reflected in his tone easily enough to be predictable.

“One and she sings.” Iryna revealed turning away a little to eat her food balanced on the desk. With only one arm fully usable it was easier to do it that way whilst the film started.

"Singing blue aliens." It was an easy recollection, a link to recent events given that their final night on Relea had involved a trip to what loosely resembled their version of the opera. "Not something I ever thought would become a running theme."

Iryna smiled a little as she span back to look at him as the scene started in the pyramid. It had been why she had wanted to go if she was going to be honest with Nate now. “Why I wanted to go. It reminded me of this film and seeing it in real life was… it was amazing.” She blushed spinning away again.

"Another mystery solved." Nate, who had been distracted by finishing up his plum and moving on to tackling the heap of pasta in a somewhat dignified manner, with dubious success. Twirling a strand around his fork, he glanced back at the movie and then jabbed the empty utensil at the screen once he was chewing on the mouthful. "I know him. He's the Yippee-ki-yay guy." That had been a movie watched in the barracks months ago, and had subsequently resulted in Cusack misusing the quote several times a day for a week.

Iryna grinned a little and nodded. “This is a much better role.” She assured before realising eventually he was going to realise that it was a bit of every type of film rolled into one. “What other mysteries do you have?” She asked intrigued.

"If I told you, they wouldn't be mysteries anymore." Looking across at her, Nate winked. "Nothing wrong with a little mystique, you'll just have to deal with me being slow on the uptake."

He had a point if she thought on it. They were still a little too new to know all the secrets. “Guess not.” The woman commented eating a little more before giving up and moving to join him. She would eat more in a little bit once the moving had progressed.

Nate had left the small sofa free for a reason, since typically the best way to share it had been to cozy up and it seemed likely that wouldn't be entirely comfortable for the woman right now. Sat on the floor leaning against it gave her ample capacity to use him as a foot-stool though, and also meant the pasta didn't have as far to fall when it inevitably slid off his fork. "Apparently this is made from beans," he remarked, apparently new to the concept of edamame. "Which is just taking sneaking vegetables into my food to a whole new level."

She sat down with only a grunt of pain before sighing as she realised it was going to take several days for her not to jar herself with every movement. “Got to keep you healthy somehow.” She promoted gently.

Given that he had proven incapable of sitting through a movie that didn't engage him without making constant remarks, the minutes of comfortable silence that followed not only spoke to the standard of the food but also Nate's willingness to give the movie a shot. Granted, hot women falling through the ceiling of your personal shuttle vehicle was not an objectionable motivation. "Huh."

Iryna laughed softly as she found herself watching Nate’s reaction to the film and the fact he had folded himself into a small space like he had was adorable. It was refreshing watching someone else’s reaction to her favourite film. She had to do this more often.

"If he thinks she's difficult to understand, he should try asking you a question first thing in the morning." He was in slapping distance and he knew it, already ducking despite the fact she was one arm down.

Iryna inclined her head before nodded. “That is a fair point. Standard does not click in until I’m a bit more awake.” She agreed, knowing she could have hit out at him but he was correct despite his cheekiness.

Experience had taught him not to let his guard down but it hadn't taught him how to quit while he was ahead. "I like her..." There was a pause, devious in intent. "...outfit? You'd wear it better though." This was a brave new frontier, strips of fabric were probably over-dressed for some species.

“I have already worn it better.” Iryna commented keeping her gaze on the screen grinning. She leant over pulling the spare cup to herself and took a sip purposely avoiding his gaze.

It was enough to get him to turn around, a distraction finally worthy of pulling his attention away from the plot. Eyebrows arched, Nate managed to hide most of his interest behind amusement. "Didn't you grow up in the middle of the snow?"

“Yes.” She answered seeing the cogs moving in his head. She shook her head. “You have seen me naked yet the thought of me like that has got you all like that.” She chuckled.

"Hey, the packaging matters sometimes." Craning his head right back, Nate opted for looking at the other marine upside-down. From there, he pulled a face and then turned to kiss her knee; it was the easiest part of her to reach. "Bet she couldn't rock full tactical the way you can though."

“Hell no.” Iryna grinned and touched his cheek. “I’ll see if I can find some ribbon and wrap myself up for Christmas or birthday.” She added smugly before returning her gaze to the film wishing, for a moment she had the old photos to show him that sometimes she had known how to relax and party.

It became easy enough to leave his head rested against her knee, affection without the complication of creating physical discomfort. And it was testament to the movie's appeal that Nate fell silent again but for the occasional remark, though there was also a willingness on his part to be restful for once. It wasn't usually his strongest point, and with the possibility of poker still lingering, there also wasn't any real need for him to remain glued to one spot. It was the promise of singing blue aliens, probably. Or maybe the plums had finally caught up with him. Whatever the case, by the time the credits rolled, there was a heaviness to his weight against her leg, a droop to his head that suggested any longer and he might have added snoring to the film's impressive soundtrack.