Social call

Posted on Sun May 4th, 2025 @ 3:27pm by Lieutenant Commander Savin & Lieutenant Xavier Leiko
Edited on on Mon May 5th, 2025 @ 10:36pm

Mission: Character Development
Location: OPS office
Timeline: MD5
2332 words - 4.7 OF Standard Post Measure

When people didn't come to him, Savin made sure to visit departments himself. Not just to provide counsel but also to get himself out of the office and among people. He preferred to call these visits a social call rather than a counseling session. Especially since he made no notes during these visits.

Savin entered the office and waited for the Betazoid chief to notice him before speaking, so not to startle him. "Greetings lieutenant," he started, "it has been a while since we last spoke.. how have you been?"

"Busy," Xavier said. He had felt the counsellor before he had made himself heard, and Xavier had all but rolled his eyes at the mere thought of doing one of these sessions now. Savin had the uncanny ability of showing up at the worst times. Like a Cardassian vole scurrying into all of the ship's systems, Savin tried to scurry himself into Xavier's head. "What can I do for you, Counsellor?" He asked as he looked up from the holographic display he was analysing. He was frustrated at the Vulcan's interruption, but he didn't want to appear rude.

The frustration was hard to miss. Savin smiled encouragingly as he stepped a little closer, but keeping a respectable distance so he wouldn't be in the way. "Other than busy?" He queried as he took looked at the display. "Unraveling a puzzle, from the looks of it," he ventured in an attempt to get the man to be at least a little more sociable. "I do not believe you can actually do anything for me, except talk to me," he added, "perhaps instead, you could tell me what you are busy with?" The Romulan arched a single eyebrow in question, reasoning he might as well learn something in the process since this was a social visit, not a counseling session.

"I am trying to pull more power to the sensors to increase their range and accuracy," Xavier replied as he manipulated the holographic display. "Our people were ambushed down there and if the sensors had been functioning correctly, that might not have happened." He let out a heavy sigh before continuing. "The problem is, the EPS relays keep blowing and I'm trying to find the culprit."

Savin nodded in understanding, that would be frustrating. "I know very little of sensors," he admitted but if you tell me what to look for, perhaps I can help? Four eyes see more than two, correct?" He could easily sense the frustration but refrained from enquiring further, clearly determined not to make this a session and actually keep it casual and perhaps informational. "What does normally cause them to blow?"

Xavier stood up straight and focused on the Counsellor rather than the holographic display. "No offense, Commander," he placed his hand flat out in the air above the top of the hologram and brought it slowly down towards the table. The computer recognised the action and minimised the display. "But what are you really doing here?" He knew his day would go much faster if he got rid of the Romulan.

"Checking in on you." It was the honest answer, as there was no chance he would lie and destroy any sliver of trust that the man might have. Plus as a telepath, he'd likely pick up on deceit anyway. "But it is a social visit, and an attempt to learn something new." He shrugged visibly. "An excuse to wander around and observe people as they work. You did not answer my question however... what would cause an EPS relay to blow?"

"Many things," Xavier answered bluntly. He stood up a little straighter and folded his arms across his chest. There was no pretense now, he wasn't even trying to mask his annoyance. "Are you observing me or checking up on me? Because in my experience, they are two very different things, and I'd like to be somewhat prepared."

For several seconds, Savin said nothing as he observed him. He took note of the closed bearing of the man before him, so he did the exact opposite. He leaned back against the console, resting his hands on it to rather side of him and looked him square in the eyes. His expression was neutral, a sign he was dead serious. "Read me and see for yourself," he challenged.

Xavier stared at the Romulan, trying to work out exactly what kind of game he was playing. Whatever his motivation, the Betazoid wanted no part in it. "I'm done with this," he mumbled more to himself as he bent back over his desk to continue his work. He gestured with his hand and activated the holographic display again. He rotated his wrist and the image of the Athena spun on its axis, allowing him to view a different area of the ship. With another gesture, the image grew larger. All the while, he could feel Savin's eyes burning into his skull.

"I know why you're here," Xavier erupted, suddenly. His fists were on the table and he was staring at the counsellor. "He sent you, didn't he? He had a tantrum because I didn't tell him I loved him and now he has sent you to do his dirty work."

His mental walls down, the full force of the eruption washed over him and it took all of his willpower not to move back in response. Savin stared back at him in genuine, though perplexed surprise. Ah, so that had happened, he thought as now he realised why Jerant had been so closed off. "Obviously, you do not know him very well then," he finally replied calmly, "please enlighten me, which dirty work are you referring to, because Jerant has not spoken of you in a few days."

While that wasn't actually unusual, the fact that he hadn't been able to get much of a read on his best friend and aide was extremely unusual. "What is going on Xavier," he asked at last, dropping the formality of using his rank, "something is amiss, I can tell. Your behaviour is erratic and I am not used to that from you. Whatever it is, you can be assured it stays between us if that is what you want." Unless if course it endangered the ship and crew, then he was required to inform the XO.

Xavier smiled internally at Savin's statement: obviously, you do not know him very well then. Wasn't that exactly the point he had made to Jerant? Wasn't that exactly why he hadn't told the man he loved him? It was fitting that the counsellor had understood this where the other Betazoid had not.

Externally, however, Xavier's features hadn't changed. His fists were still clenched and he was still staring at the Romulan as though his mere willpower could make the man disappear. "Has anyone made an official complaint about my mood? Or has my work as chief of operations been questioned or compromised in some way? Sir." He added as an afterthought. Savin might have dropped his formality but he still outranked Xavier and he wasn't going to forget that now.

"Not to me," Savin admitted, "but rumours do travel and my own observation right now is that you are irritated, quite easily in fact. And you jumped to a conclusion that did not even occur. Has your work been compromised, lieutenant? Will it be, because of whatever you are going through?"

He returned to a formal address as he held the Betazoid's gaze, his mental walls still down. "Jerant has not mentioned anything to me as he does not inform me of his personal affairs. If there is something going on, then that is for the two of you to work out." A hint of annoyance flickered across his features as once again what had been intended as a social visit and perhaps learn something new in the process, was turning into a counseling visit.

Xavier went to say something, caught himself just in time, and stopped himself. Now was not the time to be on anyone's radar and regardless of what the Counsellor wanted, he was still a superior officer. "Permission to speak freely, Sir?"

A superior officer with a set of rules that required him to keep things between him and his patient. "That is usually the idea, when speaking with me," he encouraged, "I already told you that whatever you tell me stays between these walls. What is on your mind Lieutenant?"

Xavier exhaled. "You say I am irritated, and you're right. I am irritated by you. I am unsure if you noticed but we're in a pretty intense situation. People died, they died down there on that moon over technology. I am trying so hard to focus on my work so that no one else suffers that same fate," he continued as he used the heels of his palms to rub at his eyes. "But instead of consoling their friends and colleagues, instead of helping the Commodore prepare a letter for their families, you're here in Operations. Doing what exactly? Playing engineer?"

Xavier shook his head in the silence that followed his outburst. No doubt a counselling technique, allowing him time to cool off before wading in with some advice. "I can feel the grief all over the ship, it's a lot. So yeah, I'm irritated, Sir."

"It seems to me that you are also in need of consoling," Savin answered after carefully considering his words and his next action. Without warning, he stepped closer and took the man into a very brief hug. It was a very uncharacteristic and spontaneous move, but no less genuine. "You forget, that I too am aware of all the grief around us. I cannot be everywhere at once and I too can be overwhelmed and in need of distraction. In need of doing something else.. if only for a moment."

Xavier's eyes bulged with fear, but before he could react, the Romulan had pulled him into an embrace. He fought against it but Savin was surprisingly toned and being a Romulan probably meant that his strength was more comparable to a Vulcan than a human. He flexed the muscles in his arms and pushed Savin away with all of his might, not caring if the Romulan was hurt in the process. "Don't you ever touch me again!" He exclaimed, through clenched teeth.

The sense of fear was overwhelming and Savin didn't understand where it came from. Why was the Betazoid afraid of him? He stumbled back as the man pushed him with a force that actually surprised him and he grimaced involuntarily as he fell into the consoles behind him. For several seconds, he said nothing as he needed to regain his bearings. "I apologise," he finally said, making sure to put some distance between himself and Xavier. But this outburst....

Savin hesitated as he studied the man, not quite sure now what was going on but by now definitely certain something was. This response definitely was uncharacteristic. "Are you alright?" He finally asked, "I did not intend to cause discomfort, and certainly not fear.... I do not understand why you seem to fear me, because you have no reason to. I am not here to remove you from your duties, nor will I unless there is absolute reason to. But..." Again a pause. "Something is going on and unless you talk to me or someone else you trust if you will not trust me, I may not have a choice." This visit certainly has gone very different than he had intended.

Xavier was confused for a moment before he realised what the Romulan was talking about. "I don't fear you," he said, unable to keep the revolt out of his tone. "I was worried that you were going to embrace me, and then you did. That's the last thing I wanted. What is wrong with you?" He was struggling to think of what had been going through the counsellor's head in that moment. He, himself, was too caught up in his own shock and horror that he couldn't recall what Savin had been thinking.

"I do not know..." Equally confused, Savin just shook his head. "I seem to have misread you, that is... inexcusable. And for me to touch someone against their desire is...odd since I do not desire to be touched either." He seemed to try and recompose himself but the emotions he was experiencing were overwhelming. "You mentioned the sense of loss you are sensing amongst the crew, I sense it too. I mistook the context and felt that you needed consoling."

The Romulan sighed to himself as he attempted to reinstate his mental shields. He had let his guard down and this was the consequence. Idly, he rubbed his side where he had struck the console when Xavier had pushed him back. But the fierceness with which the man has responded was concerning even though there was nothing he could do about it. "I should return to my office," he finally spoke. "I will return when you have time... I still wish to broaden my horizons and learn things from other departments."

"Fine, just book an appointment next time," Xavier replied, his voice cold. "And maybe not during the middle of a mission." He turned back to continue his work and finally looked up again. "Make sure you get that looked at," he pointed to Savin's side that had collided with the console. He felt a pang of guilt, but held it in. He was not willing to show weakness to the Counsellor now. Instead, he continued with his work as though the Romulan was already a distant memory.

"I will," the counselor agreed though he didn't specify which part he agreed with. He senses the brief pang of guilt but wisely didn't comment on it. "Carry on lieutenant," he added formally, before leaving.