#verse. ( love me even as you know it. ( jsbashirmd verse. ) )

[lietwice]

A DELIGHTFUL NOISE. Garak smiles smugly down at him, reading his interest easily. "No, I don't suppose I would. I think it suits you." Why would he 'correct' it, when Julian is sprawled in such a ridiculously, endearingly awkward position? He fully intends to enjoy it, and begins immediately by running his hands over Julian's body, just as though he's inspecting a garment he's just finished sewing and is smoothing out the creases, flattening seams, and straightening embellishments. One of his other favourite ways to try and put Julian at a disadvantage in their games is to make sure he knows exactly how closely Garak is observing him. Garak waits, focus razor-sharp, until he detects the slightest reaction to a particular touch, and then repeats it, refusing to allow it to pass without acknowledgement.

Julian feels the realization that he loves this man wash over him like it's new. He smiles fondly and moves to touch his face, but then he's falling into an awkward sprawl, yelping with surprise. He's in a truly compromised position when Garak greets him like he hasn't done anything, and it reignites Julian's previous lust. It's a sort of squirming panic that makes him wish Garak could reach inside of him and caress his organs. "Hello." He doesn't try to move into a more stable or comfortable position. "You seem to have me at a disadvantage. I don't suppose you'd care to correct that?"

[lietwice]

@jsbashirmd The young woman who appeared on the screen when the call was answered wasn't nearly as human as the name suggested. Aisha Rafiq, if she was using her own communication unit and it transmitted her actual name, had dark brown hair in curls that looked something like Julian's, though she wore them longer. She had similar eyes too, but most of the resemblance ended there, as she took after her Ivernian parent. Her expression changed quickly from anxious to surprised. "Oh. Hello. I'm sorry, I was trying to catch Julian. Bashir? Have I reached the wrong code?"

WHAT A DELIGHTFUL OPPORTUNITY. Clearly, this is someone who knows Julian, but not someone he's close enough to to share details of his new circumstances. Garak smiles a slow, polite-and-yet-mildly-sinister smile. "Ah, I think that remains to be seen." He doesn't wait for her to process that before he continues. "What is the nature of your call? I'm not certain we have a Julian Bashir residing here, but perhaps I could take a closer look if you were to provide some of your own details?"

[lietwice]

"No one's ever taken care of me like that." - @jsbashirmd

NEVER? Garak blinks. That would mean... he's the first to treasure Julian the way he deserves. The first to really prioritise him, the first to put his all into Julian's pleasure. It's surprising, because he knows Julian isn't inexperienced. It's difficult to imagine how a person could be intimate with him without feeling the urge to take care of him properly. They must've done a half-job. Taken only what they wanted, and given little in return. Inwardly, Garak scowls at the image he's created of Julian's previous partners. Not one of them deserved to spend a moment in his company.

HE REACHES FOR JULIAN. They're both laying boneless against the pillows, sated and sleepy, but Garak simply can't let this moment pass without action. He rolls so he's half on top of Julian, lifting his head just enough to look down at him. "That, Doctor Bashir, is an absolute crime. Care to pass on the names of all those on this station who have failed to properly appreciate you? I'll pass them onto Odo. I'm sure he'll have them in custody by morning."

[lietwice]

HE GIVES JULIAN ONE MORE KISS. For luck, or courage, or protection, or all three. "I am," he assures him, then moves his hands to adjust the neck and upper fastenings of Julian's tunic, making it look rumpled and not quite done up. Perfect. With any luck, once they see Garak tending to his appearance, Julian's parents will be displeased by both how comfortable Garak is in adjusting Julian's clothing and the implication that they have recently been undressed together in these quarters.

HE ANSWERS THE DOOR. There's a plain and simple smile on his face as he stands in the doorway, blocking their access for a few seconds longer than is polite. "Ah, Richard and Amsha Bashir," he greets, smiling as though he knows them well. He considered not using their names at all, but decided ultimately that he'd rather drop specific details about both Richard and Amsha into his interactions with them, to imply that either he and Julian have talked about them in great detail, or Garak has somehow found the information elsewhere. What better way to start? "My name is Garak. Please, come in." The plain and simple smile widens into something that should look polite, but has an aura of something threatening about it. As planned, he turns away from them almost immediately, and crosses the room to attend to Julian's tunic. "There. You look wonderful, my dear doctor." The possessive ( and it's definitely possessive, this time ) arm slips around Julian's waist again.

Julian's lips twitch with amusement and he moves his newly-freed hand to Garak's shoulder and leans against him as they walk. He feels young, with his parents around. Like he's still basically a teenager, pretending at adulthood. It's not true, of course, and he knows it, but he doesn't like the vulnerability all the same. Or at least he doesn't like it coming from them. Recontextualizing by letting Garak take care of him as a partner rather than a dependant is helpful.

He hardly even watches as Garak picks clothing for him, but he pulls it on like armor and then gratefully cups one side of his face in his palm and kisses the other. And then the door chimes, and Julian groans as he tilts his head forward like he can hide against him. "Alright. Okay." He looks up again. "Are you ready?"

[lietwice]

garak was never going to not fall for him honestly. look at them.

[lietwice]

THOROUGHLY DISMISSED, GARAK PULLS JULIAN FROM THE ROOM BY THE HAND. He tries to keep his gait at a normal pace, but as he moves, there's an excitable flicking of his tail, and he's gripping Julian's hand with enthusiasm. They may not have discussed how they want their enjoinment to be viewed by the Federation, or specifically which aspects of Federation practice they want to include, but those details can be worked out later. As far as he's concerned, this marks the first very successful step of planning their ceremony.

HE HEADS FOR HIS SHOP. It feels the most natural place to go, to allow them a moment to talk, following the conversation. Plus, he does need to do his job at some point. "How did I do, my dear?"

He stares rather intensely at the pair of them for a long moment, not quite sure how he feels about being considered a friend to either of them. Criminals, the both of them, though admittedly, Odo feels a great deal more comfortable with Bashir now that he knows what he has been so confusingly hiding this whole time. “I am authorized to perform an enjoining ceremony, but you’re correct that it likely won’t be met with a warm reception. Bajor won’t like it either. And that puts him in an uncomfortable place. "Very well. But you’ll need to inform me of just which Federation practices you’re adding. And you should be aware that I do not have authority to officiate a Federation marriage. If you wish it to be recognized that way, you’ll still need to go through Captain Sisko.”

Julian nodded and returned Garak’s squeeze, barely holding back his grin. “We understand. Thank you, Constable.”

Odo just huffed and shook his head, silently dismissing them.

[lietwice]

DISGUSTING. Revolting, in fact. Obscene. Garak loves it. And it shows. He accommodates Julian's tongue in his mouth, lets it move over his teeth, sucks it appreciatively before he lets it go. Then, just to show how difficult it is to handle Julian in his personal space, he throws his leg around him, grabs him by the shirt and yanks him close again. "All I can do is close my eyes and tolerate it." He doesn't look tolerant. He looks exceptionally pleased, in fact, happily nose-to-nose with Julian, and his eyes are open, gazing lovingly at his partner. "Do it again."

“I know, darling. It shows great personal strength, how well you hold back your natural reactions to us humans and our inappropriate behavior all over the station.” Julian catches him in a kiss before he can move too far away from his face, and, just to prove how disgusting and uninhibited he is, immediately shoves his tongue right to the back of Garak’s mouth. Then he lovingly runs his tongue over his teeth before pulling back. “Especially impressive how a good upstanding Cardassian such as yourself handles me in your personal space.”

[lietwice]

NEITHER ARE GOOD OPTIONS. He'd like to say yes, he is functional enough to come with him, because he could force himself, if he really tries. But then he'll have to finish getting dressed, and then they'll be in the infirmary, and there will be other people around to see him in pain, and he doesn't like that. On the other hand, if he stays here, he's admitting to being in too much pain to go with Julian, and he doesn't like that, either. "When were you planning to go? I... may not be ready for some time."

So no, then. Not at all. He sighs and wishes he'd brought home his travel med kit instead of leaving it sitting in the corner of his office. Slowly, he makes his way to the bed, then lays down and curls himself against Garak's side. "If I need something for angry joints, you probably do too. Are you functional enough to come with me, or should I plan on coming back for you?"

[lietwice]

OF COURSE HE WILL. He carefully untangles himself from Julian and shifts out from under him, as much as he hates dislodging him from his position. "What sort of game, my dear? Strategy? Luck? Deception?" His personal favourite, and the one he often chooses if it's left to him to decide, is Kotra. But Kotra does require rather a lot of thinking, and he's not certain either of them are entirely in the mood for that tonight.

Julian almost feels guilty about his gratitude for that, but he can’t help but be glad that his partner is as tied up in him as he is in Garak. Julian closes his eyes too, and after a few minutes, he decides he’s not sleeping anymore. “Will you go find a gameboard? I want to play something.”

[lietwice]

NEEDS HIM. Julian Bashir, beautiful, ridiculous creature that he is, needs him. Garak would give him anything. He gasps when warm fingers push gently inside him, his prUt surging forward instantly and nudging against them. He doesn't let himself evert yet, but it's a challenge to hold back, especially when Julian's fingers are right there making contact. He's never wanted anyone as badly as he wants Julian right now. Breathless, he lifts his head from the trail of bites he's just marked Julian's shoulder with. "All for me, hmmm?" he asks, referring to both the blue he's now imagining and the wetness he can feel against his thigh. "Well, then... may you never again know a day you don't feel my appreciation for that, my dear."

He already has little red splotches up and down his neck from Garak's earlier bites, but he's right that they won't stay visible for long--he'll need much deeper bruising for that. Julian gasps and rolls his hips again, in response to his partner's (his partner!!) comment and squirming, and he realizes, and subsequently flushes with embarrassment, that he's getting Garak's thigh all wet and slippery.

He hadn't ever thought of his uniform in that light, but to know that it's been inspiring such thoughts for years is something he can't help but be pleased by, and with the knowledge that he's been teasing for so long, Julian finally reaches a hand down between them to feel between Garak's legs. As soon as he locates an opening, he slides his fingers over and along it, then dips two fingertips just slightly inside. "You're - you're just going to have to know that that blue is all for you," he says, obviously distracted. Then, because he's desperate and just as impatient as he's been accused of, he says, "I need you."

[lietwice]

HE WANTS ATTENTION. But he can't very well say that, can he? He pulls Julian closer, wasting no time in physically moving him where he wants him. His back pressed to Julian's chest, he reaches behind him to grab Julian's arm and wrap it around himself. That's not enough, though. He doesn't want to just lay here. He wants some sort of input. Some attention. Garak squirms, pressing himself backwards against Julian. "Anything. Do anything," he decides. That's as close to asking for attention as he's capable of, really. Any closer and he'd have to be as intoxicated as he was last night to get the words out of his mouth.

Julian does fall, and with a quiet oomph, he just lays with his face in the sheets until he's grabbed and positioned where Garak likes him. He can't very well give his partner anything less than his total cooperation after hearing his name said like that. "What d'you want me to do, sweetheart? Anything for you."

[lietwice]

HE DOES. And he's glad, as soon as he's on the bed. The sheets are so soft. It's just this sort of tiny luxury he doesn't normally bother with. Garak never would've thought to change the sheets just so they could feel nicer against his new scales. It's a distinctly Julian act of thoughtfulness, which makes it all the better. He rolls on his front, distracted, smoothing his palm over the sheets at his side, and letting his face rest against them too. It's not that his normal sheets ever tend to feel bad or rough against his soft scales, but these sheets feel incredible. He moves his leg, delighting in the sensation of the sheets there, too. Only then does he remember why he's laying down in the first place, and turns to look back at Julian. "Ah... I apologise, my dear. My scales aren't usually so sensitive to texture."

Julian smiles into each kiss and ducks his head to grin, pleased with himself, when Garak praises his efforts. He pulls the sheets off of the bed and puts on new ones that are distinctly softer. Then he takes the oil, kisses Garak's palm, and reads the label just to be certain it's safe for his skin. "Do you want to lay down while I do this?"

[lietwice]

WONDERFUL. He adores reducing Julian to this state. How could he not, when he whines so beautifully? And that blush on his face... Garak could just gaze at him forever. The way his muscles flex is perfect, too. Garak does have a certain interest in those muscles, especially when he gets to see them working. He makes a mental note to invent an excuse to come along next time Julian wants to exercise. Hopefully, he'll wear that awful, unfashionable, sexy racquetball outfit. Garak kisses Julian's stomach again when he finally answers, like a tiny reward. "Good." He begins to move slowly up Julian's body, kissing his way up. "I will fuck you. You deserve it, my dear. You've been so good for me." He keeps his focus on Julian's body, kissing and moving to position himself, while one hand reaches for the protection in the bedside drawer. He prepares himself as quickly as he can without stopping his attention to Julian for too long at a time, until he's everted and pressing against Julian's entrance. "Say it again, my dear. Beg me."

Garak licking him is always pleasant, but watching him willingly consume his bodily fluids–spit, blood, or ejaculate–is something he’ll definitely never adjust to. It never fails to attract his entire, undivided, obsessive attention. He’s surprised by his ability to make any sound at all in response to questioning, but he whines weakly, blushes some more, and flexes his abdominal muscles in an attempt to show off while he searches for the strength and focus to say actual words. When he does speak, his voice is rough and low and slow. “Like… you… should fuck me. Please.”

[lietwice]

THAT'S A PRETTY SMILE. And a pretty argument, too, made even prettier by the fact that it's entirely unnecessary. He wasn't talking about Julian and his little friend's matching outfits, but it seems he's going to get an argument out of it anyway, so he will now. "Ah, my dear doctor, you offend me! They most certainly do not match. They may initially follow a similar design, but if you knew the first thing about constructing such an outfit, you would know that there are key differences in the way each has to be approached. I would never be so dull as to produce two outfits exactly the same. Do you honestly believe that an outfit I produced for you, for example, would be constructed in the same way as an outfit I had produced for a friend of yours? I wouldn't be doing my duty as a tailor if it was."

For a moment, he thinks Garak is mocking him and Miles, but then he realizes. Running back through his observations of the promenade, he quickly discovers exactly who Garak is talking about. He can't share it though, because that's certainly something he shouldn't notice. No, better to take offense. Redirect. "My dear tailor, I can't believe you. You know perfectly well that our outfits match. They're not competition." He doesn't move away at all, nor does he dare look up at Garak's face, but he does smile a little more as he waits for his partner's reaction.

[lietwice]

VERY DIRECT. Garak hesitates, and looks towards Julian briefly, but somehow, he doesn't think he'll get any help there, so his gaze returns to Emkari. He's already told several mostly-true things today, so he takes a different approach, tilting his head. "Why do you think, my dear? You know us. Why do you think we aren't seeing each other yet, in my time?"

Selek asks a bunch of questions, about the people Abba worked with and the other shops and restaurants on the station and what his quarters looked like. Eventually though, Emkari cuts him off. "Yadik... why aren't you and Abba seeing each other yet? Isn't it obvious that you're meant to be together?"

[lietwice]

@jsbashirmd

OH... A VERY ATTRACTIVE THOUGHT. Garak smiles instead of confirming or denying that he'd like Julian to wear it, expression innocent but with a definite heat to his gaze for just a moment. He turns to pick out something more suitable, but does not take the transparent garment back. He's certain he could sell it for a good price, but... no amount of money could be preferable to seeing it on Julian. So, Julian can keep it. Garak pulls out some pants and a shirt, holding both out to him. "Will this do?" Both are made in Julian's size, and while they're not Garak's preferred style of clothing, they're acceptably fashionable and made in a fabric he's used for Julian before. If he's a little bit fixated on making clothes for Julian, so what? Clearly, it's come in handy today.

Julian bursts into immediate giggles, but after a moment, he reaches for the outfit anyway. “If you want me to wear this for you? I absolutely will. But not in a public area of the station I work in. Some of my staff still believe I’m respectable.” Truthfully, he would love to wear something so revealing for Garak, but he’d like time to make himself look like he hasn’t been recently crying first. “Maybe something that covers all of my underwear?”