Tears of Time

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CHAPTER XXXX

Julian turned to Garak. He looked the Cardassian over. Garak had been more agreeable than he had thought he would be when it came to treating the Bajorans. He thought Garak would surely want to turn them in to the authorities.

“Superstitious nonsense.” Garak said, watching the retreating backs. The human needed to get off this planet soon. “Julian, come here.”

Julian took a step back. He moved so a piece of furniture was between Garak and himself. He lifted his chin. He would make Garak understand how humiliating and awful the spankings were...especially when he did not deserve it and Garak tricked him.

“I don't want to be hit.”

“Julian, come here. I want to take care of your injury,” Garak said, looking the human over and giving a brief glance out the window. “I am arranging transport home for us tonight. I want to get away from this backward civilization.”

Julian crossed his arms. His back was stiff as he looked across the room at the Cardassian relaxing on the sofa.

“I am not going to punish you,” Garak said, holding his hands up innocently. “We do have much to discuss.”

Julian remained watchful in his position. Garak needed to understand that hitting him was wrong.

Garak looked at the injury and felt an answering ache in his body. He looked up at the ridge-less face.

Julian held his his chin tilted up, out, and slightly to the right. Garak owed him an apology. But he also should perhaps apologize to the Cardassian. Just because the probability was high that Garak would be thoroughly disgusted by Ziyal's existence, it did not mean that he would kill her. But Garak would need her company later. Better that they not be introduced while she was younger. Julian inched around the sofa.

Garak leaned forward. He wanted to shake Julian and cuddle him close at the same time to be sure that he was actually back to his old, flirtatious self. It had been horrible, seeing him motionless with a glazed look in his eyes and unresponsive. Why had Julian pushed him out of the way? There was no doubt that he, Garak, was more valuable to Cardassia. However, that would not hold much sway with a human...was it just some bizarre human behavior? After all, Tskara had done similarly for Ghemor. Julian had never shown him such devotion. What did it mean? The human said he cared, but now, his affection was beyond contestation.

Julian stood closer with his arms crossed and a serious look on his face. He remembered a similar situation on Deep Space Nine, when he penetrated the thick Cardassian skull and gained Garak's trust enough to gain the location of the implant's triggering device. Garakl ooked considerably better here, but Julian still had to get through to a very stubborn being.

Garak stared at the human. He would have to wait to shout at Julian. The human did not look in a mood for such a Cardassian display of affection. The added bonus would be not broadcasting his emotions for the gentle human in a place where it would too quickly become exaggerated.

“Julian, please. I won't hurt you. But you need your shoulder tended to,” Garak coaxed as Julian took a step closer with his head held high. Garak relaxed his tense muscles. He still felt the effect of the Cardassian defense response coursing through him. He closed his eyes, willing the sensation down. He was not a brash, young glinn. He was a top agent of the most feared intelligence agency in the Alpha Quadrant.

Julian looked into the blue eyes. If this was a lie, he would find Garak when he returned to his own time and beat the Cardassian's arse till it turned charcoal colored.

Garak leaned back to appear as non threatening as possible. Julian was more valuable than he had thought. The human was a prisoner of Federation dogma, but he was also capable of learning the real ways of the universe.

Julian moved with slow deliberation to just inside grabbing distance. He would be able to get away if Garak made a threatening move. Enough trying to hide his enhancements. Garak would likely suspect nothing more than excellent training on the part of Starfleet Academy.

Garak watched the cautious movements. It was possible that this cautiousness was all an act, but that was not Julian's style. And after taking that phaser blast—Garak kept his eyes locked on the lithe frame. He would not hurt Julian. He would certainly not spank him, even though he deserved it for endangering himself.

Julian eased closer to Garak. He was within easy grabbing distance, and Garak was not making a move. Usually, he was snatched for a quick snuggle or cuddle the moment he was in range. It was not bothersome under most circumstances. It was nice in a way to know that he mattered and Garak wanted to be cuddling him so often. It made him wonder about all the innocent touches he had at future dates with the Cardassian, especially the first time they met in his memory.

Garak watched him. Had the spankings really affected the human so negatively? Julian had said positive reinforcement was a better teaching tool, but he probably just wanted to avoid what he deserved. Julian had been adorably and flirtatiously defiant after his first spanking. It had been quite provocative. He had considered ravishing the soft form for his overt hostility. But now...Julian was acting as if he thought Garak was about to slice him open for investigation. He would wait for Julian to see that he was entirely safe.

Julian eased closer. He sat down on the sofa, keeping an eye on Garak. He eased his singed shirt off, wincing as cloth brushed his injury. Garak was correct about his injury needing slight medical attention. But Garak had almost killed two of the Bajorans. His injury was minor.

Garak eased closer to the human. If the spanking had been so negative as to push Julian away, he would have to find something different. But maybe he could make the human understand. A spanking done playfully was not all bad. He pressed a hypo with some pain relieving medicine to the slender, golden neck.

Julian sat stiffly and looked into the soft blue eyes. What had happened earlier, when he had found himself on the station again? He had been in his own time, and yet it was not his own time. Only Garak had been there. Then there was thee strange light and how Garak vanished.

Garak gently tended to the wound, nudging Julian's chin every so often with his nose. He rubbed the hair at the base of silky golden neck. He gathered Julian close, pressing his lips over the the carotids and kissing them gently. He maneuvered Julian into his lap and rubbed his thighs softly.

Julian wiggled, trying to think as Garak lowered him to his back on the sofa. What had those flashes of light been? What had Garak been talking about in his Tailor Shop?

The cool lips on his throat and the hands caressing his sides had him arching for more of the Cardassian's touches. He sighed, flushing a little as he splayed his knees open for Garak. He was still angry with the Cardassian. He felt a stabbing pain. Garak, in his time, was all alone. He had to get back to him, but it was difficult to think beyond the Cardassian instistance he was being subjected to right now.

Garak's eyes closed as he felt the human open his body for more touches. He flexed his abdominal muscles sensually against the half-hard, cloth-hidden erection.

“G-G--” Julian gasped, but Garak captured his lips before he could get the name out. Julian grabbed the neck ridges and rubbed firmly.

Garak lifted up, surprised when Julian followed his mouth with a soft noise of protest. He eased his face into the slender throat.

Julian moved his hands around to rest on Garak's back as the Cardassian continued sucking softly on his neck. He lifted up as questing hands eased around his back and lifted him closer. He leaned his face against a neck ridge, giving it soft kisses.

Garak hissed softly, trying to relax the tension his fight reflex caused. He shoved the image of Julian being injured away. He would not allow it to happen again. He gave the slender neck a firmer nip to punctuate the thought. Julian was so gentle and in need of protection. He pulled back, admiring his work.

“We need to prepare to catch our shuttle back to Cardassia,” Garak whispered, stroking the human more. He was not ready to be done with the snuggling.

Julian leaned up as Garak withdrew a little.

“Our shuttle leaves soon,” Garak said, rubbing Julian's sides softly up and down. He could feel the arousal and wished there was time to take proper care of it. It was better to delay gratification than to do it a fraction of the time it deserved. “I want you changed into something new. You must look very tidy and well put together. It is a public shuttle. I don't want you attracting more attention than you already will.”

Julian nodded. He needed to think, and thinking with Garak pleasuring him was impossible.

Garak smiled and gave the area under the human's chin a soft nibble, marking it. Thanking the human for his compassion could take precedence for the moment. The human's nature was baffling, but quite easy to appreciate. He could yell at him later when they were not in such a public setting.

“I won't spank you again,” Garak whispered, softly.

Julian shifted closer to him and kissed the chin ridges. He had not believed it would work so quickly. He should have not allowed Garak to arouse him while he was still supposed to be angry, but Garak had been subjected to life or death circumstances today. Allowing the cuddling had been in the interest of Garak's health.

“Unless you really deserve it.” Garak said, gliding a hand over Julian's stomach and up his chest.

Julian scowled and wiggled away from Garak.

Garak smiled pleasantly and handed Julian a change of clothes.

Julian took them and lifted his chin. He walked away stiffly. He had much to think about, especially if those flashes of light were what they seemed to have been. He probably had an excess of neuropeptides. But the wormhole aliens seemed to be trying to tell him something in their typically vague fashion. That had to be akin to an orb shadow, even though he was currently in the midst of some sort of orb experience of a sort.

“I have informed Dukat of our need for rapid departure due to the pressing nature of his father's campaign to join the Detapa Council. He has agreed that it is important for us to quickly be on our way back. He is quite certain that your patient will be fine. He has had a nurse brought to take care of the rest of the treatment.”

Julian nodded. Back to Cardassia. He went to Garak's side quietly.

“You must stay at my side. It will be a densely packed shuttle. If we run into an ion storm, you may find yourself being brushed in ways you would prefer not to be.”

“I understand,” Julian said, shifting a little as Garak attached the leash.

“I will take it off as soon as we are underway,” he said, petting the soft hair. “You are likely to be the only slave aboard. It will be mostly women and children aboard this shuttle.”

Julian took the leash with a scowl.

Garak tapped the wrist comm and called for transport to a vessel docked at Terok Nor.

“Energize.”

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