Refugee
by Kathy P.
Part 4
A willowy Bajoran stepped up onto the stage and waited while her band took their places behind her.
Larin looked around the now crowded room and saw that all his friends were here. They all turned politely to the stage and waited for the performance to start.
After introducing herself and the band, Tre'ela began to sing an old Bajoran song. The measure of the song was slow and the lyrics depicted one man's search for religious enlightenment.
Tre'ela had a very sweet voice and it raised effortlessly to hit the higher notes. She wove a spell with her words that captured the audience.
The song ended to applause and the singer nodded gratefully at the response. She introduced the next song as an ancient Bajoran love song about destined love between two people of different castes.
A wind instrument blew out a breathy tune and was soon joined by a violin that matched the same notes, intertwining the sounds.
Larin and Marrett made eye contact. Marrett offered his hand to Larin across the table. They rose together and moved to the centre of the dance floor where they turned to face each other.
Marrett's free arm circled around Larin's waist and pulled him closer. Larin put his arm around Marrett's neck and they started to move gracefully with the music. Larin and Marrett's eyes were locked on each other and it was obvious that for them only the two of them existed. Every eye was on the pair as they danced around the floor, long legs keeping in perfect synch with the music. Marrett would occasionally twirl Larin to the song, and Larin would laugh as he was brought back into his husband's embrace.
Julian stared at the two men on the dance floor and was moved by the playful intimacy of their dance. He inched closer to Garak and took his hand.
Garak looked away from the Hebitians and smiled at him gently, pulling him even closer. "What are you thinking of my love?" he asked softly.
"Just that Larin and Marrett look like they belong together. Same as us."
Raising the hand that Julian held he reversed the grip and placed and kissed it. "Forever Julian. We will belong to each other forever."
Julian's eyes widened at his husband's soft declaration of love. A blinding smile lit his face. �Forever," he whispered back to him.
They turned back to the stage as the song was finishing up. They laughed as Marrett dipped Larin, surprising the smaller man.
The band then started to play a song with a faster beat to it. The rest of the Hebitians jumped up from their tables and joined their friends on the dance floor. They danced in a large group, twirling around to the music.
The laughter coming from the dance floor was infectious and soon the rest of the audience was joining in.
Larin ran over to Julian's table at the end of one song. "Come and dance Julian," he said panting slightly out of breath.
Julian looked around slightly nervous. "Umm, I don't know how to dance to this type of music."
Larin waved his comment away. "Nonsense Julian. You just move your body to the music. Come on, I'll show you," he winked slyly at him. "Think of it as a gesture of goodwill for the new guys on board. Humour me!"
Julian stood up laughing and followed him to the dance floor. "Ok, but if I bang into anyone it's your fault!"
He was surprise at how easy it was for him to pick up the patterns of the Hebitian's dance from Larin's instructions. Larin was a very good teacher and he soon found himself being passed from one partner to another.
During a break in the performance Julian, Larin and Marrett stumbled back to their tables.
Flopping down in his chair Larin began to fan himself. "Do I ever need a drink," he stated. Looking at Marrett he frowned. "Of course you didn't bring any money!"
Marrett laughed and drew a small pouch from his pocket. He opened it and took out some strips of latinum. "I brought some money. I just didn't want you wasting it playing dabo."
Larin sighed and looked mournfully and Julian. "That's what I get for marrying an older man. They don't know how to have any fun."
"Oh I don't know about that Larin," Julian said with wink for Garak. "They know some interesting things."
Marrett imitated Larin's sigh as he looked at Garak. "Younger men. I don't know why we put up with them. No sense of responsibility."
Larin smacked Marrett in the arm. "You better watch it or this younger man is going to kick you in the butt. No sense of responsibility. Ha!"
"The abuse I take," was Marrett's response. "But I love you anyways," he said with a playful look for his husband.
"Oh, that's ok then," Larin said as he rubbed Marrett's arm where he had hit him. "I guess you are just getting cranky in your old age." He slipped out of his chair as Marrett went to grab him. He then waved around the money pouch that he had taken when Marrett was not watching him closely. "I think I will buy the house a round," he teased as he headed for the bar.
Larin chucked to himself as he headed to the bar. He was having a great time tonight. It was a great relief to finally be off his ship and he was pleased that his friends were all having a good time. Their journey here had been exhausting, both physically and emotionally. He was relieved that they were able to unwind and have some fun tonight.
When he got to the bar he ordered a bottle of kanaar and four glasses. While waiting he turned around, leaned against the bar and looked around the room.
Larin was aware of the covert looks that he was receiving. He hid a smile as he thought of his husband's plan to have the Federation and Bajorans underestimate his abilities in the role of leader for the Hebitians. He was not sure if they would take him seriously at the first meeting tomorrow but knew that they were in for quite a shock if they did underestimate him.
He had only let Starfleet see the playful side of himself so far. The serious side was going to be making it debut tomorrow. When it came to the safety of his people he could play hard ball with the best of them. It was his plan that the Federation would be unwilling to let the information that he possessed on the Dominion pass by, so he was going to do everything in his powers to guarantee the safety and well being of his people.
Marrett had thought that if they shook the officers up first by their appearance and their actions they would be able to get the point across that they were not dealing with typical Cardassians.
So far Larin was pleased with the reactions of their hosts. It was obvious to him that they did not know exactly what to make of the Hebitians.
He was hoping that it was now clearly established that they were not like any Cardassians they ever knew. It was an integral part of his plan that the Hebitians and Cardassians where separated in the Federation's mind.
Larin's thoughts were interrupted by some voices that were getting louder at the end of the bar. He looked over curiously and saw the Bajoran singer Tre'ela arguing with a Bajoran man.
"No! I won't let you!" the man shouted as he grabbed the singer by the upper arms and started shaking her.
Larin walked over quickly and put his hand on the man's arm to stop him. "Calm down and let her go," he said.
The man let the singer go and shook off Larin's hand. "Let go of me Cardassian. This is none of you business so you can get the hell out of here." He reached over and grabbed Tre'ela again and dragged her to his side. "You're coming with me now." He snarled angrily at her.
"No," Tre'ela replied firmly. "I'm going to finish my performance first. You have no right to tell me who I can and cannot talk to," she said then gasped in pain as the man tightened his grip on her arm.
Larin grabbed his arm again and pulled it off the singer. "I told you to let her go," he said sharply. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Odo and Marrett coming over to them. "What is your problem anyways?"
"I don't have to explain myself to the likes of you," the man said as he started to swing at Larin. He stopped when he saw security coming over to them. He scowled at the Hebitian who had assumed a defensive pose.
"What is going on here," Odo demanded when he reached them. He stepped between Larin and the Bajoran man waiting for an answer.
Tre'ela stepped forward. "It is all just a misunderstanding," she said as she pointed to the Bajoran man. "This is my brother Tren. We were just having an argument and the gentleman," she said nodding towards Larin, "thought that I was in trouble. Everything is fine."
Odo looked sceptically at the siblings then over to Larin for confirmation of her story. "Gul'en, what did you see happen?"
"I heard then arguing at the end of the bar," Larin said. He pointed to Tren. "Then he grabbed her and started to shake her. I went over to stop it, then you came."
"I see," Odo said as he turned to look at the scowling man still standing near his sister. "And that is when you decided to take a swing at a visiting dignitary. What were you arguing about? Give me one good reason why you shouldn't be in the brig cooling your heels off?"
Tre'ela rolled her eyes when it was obvious that her brother was not going to answer. "The Cardass.. er Hebitians seemed to be enjoying my music so much and I wanted to go over and talk to them. Tran disagreed and our argument just got a little heated. Like I said before everything is fine now."
"Tran, is this what happened?" Odo said.
"Yes," he said angrily. "I was having a private conversation with my sister when this idiot interrupted."
Larin snorted at the man's description earning a glare from him. He shrugged and turned to look at his husband who was hovering behind him. "Idiot? Do you think I should be insulted be this small-minded individual? No? Didn't think so," he said before Marrett had a chance to reply.
He felt more than saw Odo step between them again as Tran stiffened in anger.
Over his husband's shoulder he could see Captain Sisko and Minister Garrett coming over to the scene. Beyond them he saw the rest of his friends looking on curiously. *Great* he thought *what a way to start the talks. Larin gets in bar fight. Wonderful.*
"All right gentleman" he heard Odo say. "That's enough. Tran I am going to have to ask you to leave."
Larin turned back to them with a calm mask on his face as Tran exploded in anger. "What! Your taking the side of that murdering piece of garbage!" Suddenly he lunged around Odo reaching for Larin.
"Tran, NO!" Tre'ela shouted as he grabbed Larin by the upper arm and started to draw back a fist.
Before anyone else could react Larin snapped into action. He blocked the punch with his free hand and squirmed out of Tran's grip. As the man lunged for him again he found his centre of balance then lashed out with a punishing kick to the man's midsection.
Tran dropped to the floor, gasping for air. Odo grabbed him by the arms and pulled him up. He shoved him over to the waiting security guards. "Take him to a holding cell," he growled in irritation.
"Well that was interesting," Larin quipped as the still gasping man was taken away. He smiled slightly at Marrett who was shaking his head as he looked him over.
Taking a look around Larin could see the rest of the Hebitians muttering among themselves, clearly unhappy that he had been attacked. He waved reassuringly at them, then turned his attention to Minister Garrett and Captain Sisko.
"Are you alright Gul'en?" Garrett asked.
"I'm fine," he replied trying to smooth over the incident. "No harm done really."
"I'm sorry that this had to happen your first night here Gul'en," Sisko said apologetically. He looked very angry over the whole situation.
"That's ok captain. I'm not here expecting miracles. Scenes like this are bound to occur. I think that it was handled fairly well."
Odo humphed at the statement. "I apologise that he managed to get around me. We will be sending him off the station as soon as possible."
Larin waved off the apology. He turned to the singer who was standing there uncertainly. "Are you ok?" he asked gently.
She gave him a sad smile. "I'm fine. I feel that I must apologize for my brother," she held up a hand to stop Larin's objections. "He has a very bad temper and I should of known better than to tell him that I wanted to speak with you. He is still very bitter about the Occupation."
Larin nodded understandingly. "I think that we will be heading back to our quarters now but I would love to get together and talk sometime."
Tre'ela smiled at that. "That would be wonderful. But if you excuse me, I need to go speak with my bandmates."
He watched her walk over to her friends who started to bombard her with questions.
"I think that's it for us tonight," Larin said to everyone. He looked at his friends who were coming over to them. "Marrett and I are heading back to our rooms now," he told them. He turned to Captain Sisko. "I will see you all tomorrow for our first meeting. Goodnight."
Marrett put his arm around him as they headed for the exit. He saw Garak and Julian looking at them curiously and he waved goodbye to them. He noticed Odo sending some security guards to follow them to their quarters.
Sighing Larin put his arm around his husband. "Well that didn't go to well. I hope that this is not a sign of things to come."
Marrett tightened his embrace as they continued walking. "Everything will be fine. You'll be fine," he said. He knew that Larin was really nervous about the upcoming meeting. "If anyone can help the Hebitians it's you," he said reassuringly.
"And one other, but they don't even realise it yet," Larin said. "It should be an interesting day tomorrow."
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