Work Text:
“It should be here somewhere,” Raffi’s voice echoed from behind another storage case. Rummaging deeper into the dark grey box, she grunted, hauling a smaller container free. “Let’s see…” she mumbled, unsnapping the lid. “Dammit!” she spat, tossing it back inside.
Her friend smiled as she watched the frustrated woman slump back against the bulkhead. “I fear that you may be looking for the proverbial needle in an equally proverbial haystack”.
“Helpful,” Raffi signed as she glared around the room.
“Is this one of yours?” Seven asked, gesturing to a small black box that sat atop a larger crate behind them both.
Raffi had been searching for her final box of personal belongings which, she hoped, had been stored in the cargo bay of La Sirena and had - as yet - remained elusive.
“I don’t know anymore, they all kinda look the same now.” She reached for the box, her enthusiasm rapidly waning.
“Are you sure that you-” Seven began.
“Wooooohohohohowwwwww!” Raffi cut her off. “Damm Chris you old dark horse!”
An implant twitched as Seven silent enquired.
“Ohhhhh” Raffi lifted the contents from inside, revealing a glass bottle of blue liquid, the cargo bay lighting glistening off ornate decorative etchings spelling out Kali-Fal.
“Is that what it looks like?” The xB asked as she stepped closer to examine her friend’s find.
“Mmmmm-hmmm … our Captain Rios has a secret bottle of Romulan Ale” she replied, waving the shining bottle triumphantly at her shoulder. "Suddenly, I think my stuff can wait," she smirked.
"I am fairly certain that Rios would not be best pleased." Seven shook her head as she smiled in return.
"Oh come on, he shouldn't even have the stuff, we'd be doin' him a favour," Raffi giggled as she threw the box back inside the storage crate before quickly trying to hide the bottle inside her black gilet.
"Oh nobody will notice that" Seven jested before pausing, "Wait. What do you mean by 'we'?" She watched as Raffi turned on her heels and strode smugly towards the exit.
"C'mon," she said, patting the hidden stash, beckoning her accomplice to follow, "let's have a few laughs"
Seven stepped after Raffi, her brows raised in feigned agreement, "yeah, it will be hilarious when you wake with the queen of all hangovers. There are reasons why that stuff was made illegal."
"Oh stop being such a party proper. A couple of these in you and you'll be just as bad." Raffi retorted, quickly checking the corridor as the door whooshed open. "C'mon" she grinned once more.
"My Borg physiology counteracts the alcohol, it won't render me drunk, never mind causing a hangover" Seven stated as she strode behind Raffi who crept along the side of the bulkhead as though she had just raided a Ferengi bank vault.
"Well ain't you the life and soul of the party" Raffi jested. Seven smiled affectionately at the woman who had quickly earned her trust, and friendship since she joined the crew of La Sirena.
"I don't much care for social events and gatherings," Seven stated matter-of-factly.
"Well, good thing it's just me and you. Hardly counts as either an event or a gathering" Raffi beamed as she activated the door of her quarters, standing aside to invite her friend in.
Seven stepped hesitantly into the dull light of the quarters which Raffi occupied, her eyes scanning the room, instantly committing it to her eidetic memory. Noting the sparse personal effects she turned to watch Raffi gather glasses from an overhead storage compartment.
Boots dropped to the floor with dull thuds as Raffi twisted the stopper from the exotic bottle. Seven blew out a muffled laugh as the other woman failed to hide her excitement with a childish squeal.
“Damm, it looks even better than all the stories I’ve heard about it,” Raffi commented, pouring the bright blue liquid first into one glass, then the other. She hummed her approval as she picked both up and stepped forward holding one out for Seven to take. Running her tongue across her lips in anticipation she smiled brightly, “To Rios,” she raised her glass, “and, to saving him from his contraband ale,” “To Rios,” Seven echoed, the glasses ringing as they toasted their friend.
Warm liquid seared across their tongues. “Dammit thatsgoodstuff” Raffi breathed, her words almost forming as one, as Seven sucked in a deep breath, “mmmhhh ‘ndeed!” the former drone held her now empty class before her, examining its empty form.
“More!” the bottle rattled against the rim as Raffi clumsily attempted to refill her friends’ glass. “Wow, oops!” she giggled, “stuff’s strong, huh?”
“Is, 'ndeed” she repeated, her hand lifting to trace her lips, puzzling over her slurring speech.
“To … “ Raffi thought for a moment, the strong drink already beginning to take its notorious influence, “to, uhm. To one hell of a hangover tomorrow.”
“Are you to purpo, pup, pupro,” Seven’s brows creased in confusion as she struggled to articulate her words.
Raffi giggled, “Jeez, and this is you with one”
“Are you to,” the blonde attempted to continue, “to - toast every drink?” she finally managed?
“Fuck it, drink” Raffi ordered, consuming her second glass in one deep mouthful, “ohmygod!, i cant feelmyface!”
The liquid coarse a fiery path as Seven followed suit. Within moments she blinked, wiping her human eye as Raffi began to blur in her sight. “My. My vsn”
Raffi felt the room swirl as she loosely looked to her friend, “Ya goodthere? Fot acol not ‘fect ya?” She smeared a hand across her mouth, “shit. Ma lips”
Blinking repeatedly, Seven attempted to focus, “mmmhhhhh. Yeah, seem is. This. shit” She swayed as she looked back to her friend and giggled, in a very un-Seven of Nine manner.
“ … ‘gain” she slurred as she held out her glass once more.
Raffi laughed as she tried to bring the bottle to meet Seven’s glass, “Shit. Gotta sit, I think” before grabbing a metal laced hand and dragging its owner across the room for them to sit clumsily at the edge of the bed.
Seven leaned heavily onto her other hand as she held her glass out, “Jus’ one more,” she ordered as more shining blue ale toppled into their glasses.
--------------------
Sharp, shrill chirping assaulted Raffi’s ears as she sluggishly rolled onto her back, gulping back a wave of nausea. “Ughhh, ‘mputer, silence alarm.” she croaked. Her mouth felt like the floor of a Klingon bar after a night of celebration. Keeping her eyes tightly closed she slowly filled her lungs before pursing her lips and releasing it, as another bout of nausea dispersed.
Her eyes flew open as she suddenly as her senses awoke. More unsettlingly, at the awareness of someone beside her. “What the …?” She snapped them closed again as the realisation dawned on her.
Wearily, she turned, preparing to look to her side. Her anxiety began to rise as her awareness grew, not only was there an unknown figure in her bed, but Raffi could feel that she was also in a very unclothed state. Her lower regions ached in a manner which she hadn't felt for some considerable time. Her memory bombarded her with images from her past. Of drunken nights. Nameless encounters whilst high. Shameful regrets. A past which he had tried so hard to lave behind.
“Shit. Shit shit shit…” She gripped the sheet, gripping it close to her nude chest as she summoned the will to discover the identity of her bedmate.
Gradually, her vision cleared.
A figure beside her came into focus.
Blue eyes gazed back at her. Eyes which mirrored her own apprehension as their own realisation dawned.
Raffi fingered the sheet which shielded her naked form from view, gripping it tighter. She noted the bare shoulder and chest of Seven, who was now biting her bottom lip, clearly, and equally, unsettled by the situation.
Raffi opened her mouth, searching for some way to break the tension of the moment.
“ … morning … “ she mustered.
Silence hung in the space between their naked bodies.
“Morning,” Seven echoed, quietly.
“Wow. This is, uhm, well, awkward.” Raffi finally spoke.
Seven held the silence for a moment,
“A bit, yeah,” she whispered, her eyes, all the time, holding Raffi’s gaze. She could feel a wave of nausea wash over her and swallowed thickly. “Do you wish me to, uhm, to leave?”
Somewhat surprised by the question, Raffi slowly shook her head. “Uhm … no. No. Not unless, well, unless you do?”
Wordlessly, Seven shook her head too.
Raffi blew out a gentle laugh, “I don't know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing, but I really don't remember, uhm, last night” she cringed slightly. “You probably do, with that perfect memory of yours …”
Her memory also clouded by the potent ale, Seven struggled to recall the nights’ event from their second glass onwards. “I don't.” she confessed.
“However,” she edged a hand, tentatively, close to Raffi’s, “I would not be adverse to attempting to recreate it.” her voice cautiously low.
Holding Seven’s statement, Raffi slowly smiled.
“Neither would I,” she confessed, gently taking the hand in her own. “Uhm. Any chance we could sleep these hangovers off first?”
“I’d like that,” Seven smiled, “I don't think that I like hangovers.” she said as she slipped an arm beneath Raffi’s head and pulled her to her.
Raffi smiled into the bare skin of Seven’s chest.
“Dammed Romulans".