Date Night: Part 2/2

Posted on Sun Sep 13th, 2026 @ 9:35pm by Staff Warrant Officer Oliver Sylver & Civilian Verity Thorne

1,893 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: Behind the Curtain
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: En Route

CONTINUED:

Verity joined him, chuckling before trying some of the gnocchi. He moaned softly, nodding as he looked to him with surprise. "You know, you found a good place..."

"Thank you...I tried," he said with a smile as he tried some as well, groaning softly. "I am sure this is...better on Earth but...here, I got you."

"It's delicious," he assured him with a small smile, watching him fondly. "Besides, it's the company that matters," he assured him lightly.

"And the wine," Oliver teased as he looked at him, taking his glass to sip. "And the plans for later. And the fact I have this holodeck booked for four hours."

"Four hours?" Verity let out a soft whistle, shaking his head. "That's one long meal..." he teased him gently.

"I was thinking a walk along the Thames too," Oliver admitted with a small smile, shaking his head. "I left London so quickly I never appreciated how beautiful it was."

"I'd like that," Verity assured with a warm smile, nodding gently to him. "I lived here for some time. It has its charms."

Oliver smiled as he looked down with a small smile. "Maybe you can show me your London, Verity?" he asked as he met his eyes.

He looked to him with surprise at that, smiling warmly at the prospect. "Sure you're ready for that? What if you run a mile?"

"Well...it won't be any worse than mine," he teased, his eyes shining as he looked at him. "I'd enjoy seeing the city in your way. I think...I might need it."

Verity smiled softly, searching his eyes for a moment. It would be a nice thing to reconnect over, after so long apart. "I'd love to."

Oliver nodded as he looked at him, his eyes filled with love as he searched them. "Now...what are the odds you'll stab my hand if I try and steal some of your gnocchi? I ate mine..." he said in a soft whisper.

Verity grinned, considering toying with him for a moment, but he just couldn't. He pushed his plate towards him, holding his eyes. "There's nothing I wouldn't share with you."

Oliver smiled and took his fork, piercing a piece to eat with a soft moan. "I'll remind you of that for dessert," he said playfully.

"Ah...so you brought me here for a loyalty test, I see how it is...." Verity teased him, enjoying the banter. It was the kind of communication that had been lost over distance.

"Pretty much," Oliver said with a nod as he sat back a little, pretending to think about it. "Basically, I think that if we share this meal and there's no fork-stabbing, we are ready to discuss things like...pets..." he winked.

"Pets, is it?" Verity laughed warmly as he leant back, watching him with shining eyes. "I'm sorry, but I draw the line at targs..."

"Shame, I hear they are great guard animals and great at playing fetch," Oliver said deadpan, giving a sage nod. "It was that or a seagull."

"Absolutely not..." Verity laughed out loud, trying to imagine it. "No, I don't do well with birds. I'd need something I can snuggle with."

"Ah...well, I guess it'll have to be the targ or me. I heard that the ship is a tribble free zone," Oliver looked thoughtful before he winked, unable to stay serious for much longer.

"Well, one day, the right animal that needs a home will find us. We'll know when they have," Verity replied with certainty, fully believing in that sense of fate.

Oliver studied his face for a moment, watching him with awe. At what a good heart he had, what faith. He had missed it. He had missed being able to search his eyes and know in his soul that he believed it.

"What is it? I have sauce on my face?" Verity laughed warmly, confused as he reached to touch his napkin to his lips.

"When I was on the Washington...I would dream of this. Being in the room with you and...seeing how much you believe. In what you feel, say...in me," Oliver said as he looked at him, reaching to touch his wrist.

"Well, I never stopped believing in you," he assured softly, stroking his wrist gently. "I just get to show you now. Every day. Instead of waiting for that message."

Oliver chuckled softly, holding his eyes at that. "I wanted you to...know there was going to be a message. That you knew every day I was still there for you."

"It made so much difference," he admitted softly, looking down with a weak smile, his finger caressing against his palm. "In the hospital...I could pretend you were just away for a few days on an away team."

"I wish I had been next to you," Oliver admitted quietly, looking at him for a long moment. "I wish I had been there."

"That's why I didn't tell you everything," Verity admitted with a weak smile. He didn't want him to think he would make a habit out of holding things back. "I knew there was nothing you could do. Why make it worse."

"Because I love you and I would have tried to get to you," Oliver said with a small smile, his eyes warm as he nodded. "But I get it. I really do."

"And you needed to focus," Verity whispered, squeezing his hand gently with a small smile. "We both got our jobs done."

Oliver nodded, looking at him for a long moment before he smiled gently. "You were trying to protect me," he said softly. "I...you don't have to, you know. Protect me emotionally."

"Of course I do," Verity shook his head with a gentle smile, shrugging as if it were the most obvious thing in the universe. "That's literally your boyfriend's job."

Oliver looked at him with a hint of a blush, searching his eyes for a long moment. "Still not...used to that," he admitted, almost shyly.

"I can be patient," Verity replied with an overly innocent smile that changed to a grin as he hooked his foot around his. "And it will be totally worth it."

Oliver smiled, the blush deepening as he hooked his foot around Verity's in return, his thumb stroking slowly over the back of his hand. "Oh, I already know you're worth it," he said softly, leaning closer across the table as he searched his eyes. "It's having you here, choosing me every day, that still feels...a little too good to be true. But I am very willing to practise."

"You don't have to doubt it, Oliver," Verity chuckled though, not offended by his doubt. "Faith wouldn't be faith if you didn't have to believe."

"And I believe in you," he admitted as he watched him with a small smile. "But sometimes I do...feel that old doubt. You're so much, Verity. You're...such a good man."

"Doubt is what makes faith valuable," he replied softly...before shaking his head at himself, laughing softly as he looked down. "Sorry."

"Don't," Oliver chuckled softly and stood, moving around the table so he could lean down and kiss him. "Don't be sorry."

Verity chuckled softly, leaning up to kiss him, stroking through his hair. "I don't mean to preach," he promised.

"You're not preaching," he said and touched his chin, stroking lovingly for a moment. "Because we're not talking about faith in God. Just in each other."

Verity grinned, nodding as he touched his face with gratitude for his understanding. "If anyone should be amazed that you choose this every day, it's me. I've punched....far above my weight," he chuckled, enjoying the view.

"You're beautiful," Oliver said and stole another kiss before he pulled back. "And you know it, Verity Thorne."

"You certainly make me feel it," Verity assured, never having spoken a truer word. "Anyone would choose to do this day after day with the way you make a person feel."

Oliver searched his face before he moved to sit down, tilting his head. "I've never...felt as comfortable with another person as I have with you."

"Even now? After the gap?" Verity asked, gently, his smile reassuring him it was okay to say the truth.

"Yes," Oliver nodded, not meeting his eyes as he thought about it. Because he deserved the right answer. He looked back at him and smiled. "I know you'll listen. And take the time. You're...steadfast. I love that about you."

Verity's smiled widened at the words, remaining silent as the waiter cleared their starter plates. He nodded his thanks to him before leaning in closer to Oliver. "I enjoy it, you know. Listening. Sitting with what you share."

"And I like listening to you," he said as he took his hand, stroking over it as he smiled. "Verity, you got so many experiences. A rich spiritual life too...I like your view of the universe."

"I like my view of the universe right now too..." he motioned to Oliver in his eyeline, grinning.

Oliver blushed at that, smiling as he leant forward across the table, unable to resist to kiss him. He knocked an empty glass over and the napkin slid onto the floor, but he didn't cate.

Verity laughed against his lips, caressing his hair with warmth. "This is one of the best bits about being back together," he admitted softly.

"I agree," Oliver said with a smile, meeting his eyes with love. "This is the perk of not being long-distance. I can reach out and touch you. Give your hand a little squeeze when I need to remind myself we are alive, we're okay."

"I'll wait for you, if I have to," Verity assured, shaking his head with a weak smile. "But I never want to have to again. Whatever it takes, we stay together."

"Agreed," Oliver whispered and looked at his hand, smiling with awe as he stroked over it. "I...love this, you know. Being your person." He met his eyes and held them for a moment before he let out a soft breath.

"I'll never get in the way of your career," Verity assured softly, stroking his hand gently. "But I'll make sure I go with you wherever you're sent."

"Verity," Oliver's voice firmed a little bit at the words and he frowned, shaking his head. "I love flying. I care about my career, yes...but it's not all I am. I don't care if I am flying a shuttle, a freighter or a ship..." he looked down and lifted Verity's hand to kiss. "As long as I can fly and be with you, like this."

"Then we...commit to make it work," Verity replied softly, using the word carefully as he watched him with gentle, blue eyes.

He searched his eyes for a long moment before he nodded, meeting his eyes. "I want to," he said softly, meaning it. "Commit to make it work."

"Good," Verity watched him with warmth before his smile became a grin. "In which case, you can start by picking curtains for our quarters, I can't deal with a big square hole in the bulkhead...."


[OFF]

Verity Thorne
Chaplain
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Blake)

&

Staff Warrant Officer Oliver Sylver
Flight Control officer
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Hanlon)

 

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