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Seven stood, leaning against the railing on Raffi’s porch, looking out into the vastness of the desert surrounding them. The afternoon had been exhausting. Starfleet had organized that kind of social gathering that leaves you feeling drained for days. Too many faces, too much noise and expectation. Raffi, as always, had noticed her discomfort in certain conversations and was there when things got uncomfortable, until they finally sneaked away a little earlier, unnoticed by the hustle and bustle.
Some would say the desert is a lonely place, a dead place, where you lose yourself and maybe they are right, but the moment she visited Raffi for the first time in her trailer, it felt different. There was something about this place and it wasn’t just the way every little perfectly imperfect detail reminded her of Raffi, there was a calm, a peace like she had never felt before.
Seven knew why she had chosen this secluded place and although she could never stay in one place for long, it became easier and easier for her as time went by. Something kept pulling her back here, maybe it was Raffi, maybe something else.
On many evenings they would sit on the porch and simply gaze into the distance, where the wide plain rises in hills, like a rampart that surrounds them and keeps them away from the prying eyes of this world. Where freedom and privacy do not contradict each other.
For a long time now Seven craved this kind of solitude. It’s partly the reason she chose a life among the stars.
Seven closed her eyes and spread her hands over the smooth, round surface of the railing, still warmed by the sun. She focused on the way the breeze brushed over her skin, blew through her hair and made the hem of her light, navy blue, floor-length dress float.
It was warm but not uncomfortable like one of the midsummer days in the city in July. It felt more like a pleasant embrace, the one that warms your whole being, the kind of embrace Raffi gives.
If Seven listened closely, she could hear, besides the wind chimes she loved so much, the rustling of the few bushes and dust particles in the air around the trailer. Wind in this part of the desert always made her feel equally alive in its waves and at the same time had something calming about it.
Now, Seven heard the soft footsteps behind her, two cups being placed on the table and a few moments later she felt two arms wrap around her waist. Raffi rested her head on Seven’s shoulder, the remaining fresh note of her perfume in the air. Seven sighed, leaned back and sank deeper into the embrace, placing her arms over Raffi’s.
“It’s peaceful, isn’t it?” And it was rather a statement than a question and Seven thought about the way, Raffi always seemed to know what’s on her mind.
For a few moments they just stood there, enjoying each other’s company. Seven listened to Raffi’s calming breath until she slowly turned in her arms and put her own around the other woman’s neck, only to be greeted by a radiant smile. It showed all the beautiful lines adorning her expressive face and Seven felt a smile tugging at the corners of her own mouth.
It never ceased to amaze Seven how Raffi’s smile got a little wider, her heart beat a little faster and her eyes shone a little brighter when she saw her. And in moments like these, she wondered how she ever got so lucky.
From time to time she lost herself in the moment to simply look, take in the beauty in front of her. It wasn’t like she couldn’t control it, she could if she wanted to, but with Raffi she felt safe enough to just let it flow, see where she would end up.
Seven wasn’t very good at expressing herself with words but there weren’t even enough words to describe Raffi in her mind. Her gaze wandered to her eyes, the remaining golden eyeshadow shimmering in last rays of sunlight, making them shine.
They always held a warmth, a kind of pure love and compassion, one she had never seen anywhere else. If you looked closely, they weren’t just brown, there where all kinds of brown shades and gold melting into these comforting earthy tones, the ones that sometimes reminded her of mars’ surface. However they could also look like hazel or amber depending on the light.
Somedays they would appear cloudy, the way a desert is overdrawn with dust on those stormy days and on others they would be so clear and full of live as they were now.
Raffi made her feel seen in a way nobody ever could, made her feel safe, trusted and understood the moment she laid her gentle gaze upon her.
“Don’t you… want to change clothes?” Raffi asked slowly, so as not to destroy the magic of the moment.
Seven looked down. For a moment she had completely forgotten that she was still wearing the dress from the gathering, but when she looked back up again she realized she didn’t care. The way they stood, wrapped up in each other’s arms, was way too comfortable to let go so she slightly shook her head.
“You know, I don’t mind you staring.” admitted Raffi with a soft chuckle, that kind of infectious chuckle that comes from somewhere deep in her chest and grows into another smile.
“Just give me another moment.” It was barely a whisper when Seven said it and Raffi realized that she didn’t want her to stop.
“Okay” she said and Seven felt it resonate in her chest. There was something about Raffi’s voice, so rich, so deep and it held the same kind of warmth she radiated.
Another gust of wind blew a strand of curly hair into Raffi‘s face as Seven reached up to tuck it behind her ear. Raffi’s golden curls were another thing that never ceased to amaze her. No matter how messy they seemed to be, they were always somehow perfect and matched all her elegant curves, curves she knew like the back of her hand, curves she could draw if she tried.
Seven had never understood the appeal of art until she met her and realized Raffi was art in herself. She would never tire of watching her move, watching her dance. It had something so graceful when she twirled, hands above her head, her wild curls flying, letting the rhythm flow through her body. Suddenly Seven’s mind wandered, imagining the way she arched into her touch at night, fell apart under her and she felt her pulse quicken.
She knew Raffi could feel it and it only took a few heartbeats for their lips to find each other, getting more passionate by the second. Seven spread her fingers into her thick curls, deepening the kiss. There was something sweet about it and Seven tasted a hint of tea, probably the one they had forgotten on the table behind them.
There was something electrifying about kissing Raffi and no matter how many times she did it, she always felt a tingling sensation spread through her body to her fingertips, that kind of tingling you feel when you kiss someone for the first time and Seven allowed herself to let go because after all, she was at home in Raffi’s arms.