A Different Approach
by Kathy P.

"This is impossible," Garak mumbled glumly to himself as he sat alone in the quarters assigned to him on the Defiant.

When the Dominion and Cardassian alliance had overtaken Deep Space Nine, the resident Cardassian tailor had been taken along to help out with the war effort. Garak had jumped at the chance to be sequestered on a ship with the object of his unrequited lust, Dr. Julian Bashir. Unfortunately the doctor had been unresponsive in his attempted tries at seduction.

Just this afternoon Garak had accused the doctor of being a Vulcan when the younger man had patched up a minor wound. There was no visible reaction to his slight, to Garak's dismay, other than the doctor's returned jest.

Now, here he sat alone instead of engaging in more pleasurable acts with Julian. What was he to do? He thought of employing some human forms of seductions, but quickly dismissed the idea as too insipid to work on his genius friend.

What kind of race gave prospective mates flowers and candy? Garak shuddered at the thought. Everyone knew that it was your intelligence and ability to hold a conversation that attracted partners.

Anyway; surly Julian knew that his brusque manner and insulting tone were the way that Cardassians, at least, perused potential mates. Certainly a genius of Julian's calibre wouldn't be ignorant to this fact. Could he?

Garak shook his head to dispel that depressing thought, but a small kernel of doubt lingered in his mind.

Rising from the chair he sat in, he headed over to the small replicator that was provided, and ordered a cup of Tarkalian tea. Julian's preferences seemed to be rubbing off on him in more than one way.

'Speaking of rubbing', Garak thought as he moved back over to his chair and sat. The Cardassian started to think of different ways that he and Julian could rub together. With a happy sigh, he sipped at the hot beverage, enjoying the fantasy.

***

Shrugging out of his uniform, Julian pulled on his favourite, old blue robe. Running his long, slender fingers though his hair he wandered over to the replicator and ordered himself a tea.

He smiled in remembrance as he thought of how Garak had started to order his preferred drink of choice.

Unknowingly imitating the only Cardassian on the ship, he moved over to the small table and chair that had been provided in his quarters. Taking a seat, he started to plan ways to encourage Garak's continued attempts at seducing him.

He chuckled wickedly at the thought of the poor frustrated Cardassian. He had every intention of allowing Garak to seduce him but it would be on his own terms. Little did the poor Cardassian know he was being stalked in his own specific way.

The scene in the Defiant's sickbay brought a wide grin to his face. He was rather proud of how he had turned the tables on Garak's planned insult of him. Comparing him to a Vulcan instead of being genetically engineered. The doctor's quip about his boyish smile had produced the desired results in Garak. He had watched with hidden glee as Garak's rich blue eyes had glazed over as the older man stared at the doctor's lips.

Tapping his fingers on the table, as he took a sip of tea, Julian decided to bring the seduction attempt to an end and claim what was rightfully his.

With a shiver of anticipation, the young doctor finished his tea and headed off to bed. Slipping under the covers, Julian stretched languidly, pleasant thoughts of intricate arguments and pleasure filled nights lulling him to sleep.

***

With a plan firmly in mind, Julian commed Garak the next day, asking the older man to join him for dinner. The Cardassian's eager reply none the less did nothing to hide the confusion in his voice.

Setting the table with some Cardassian delicacies that he had finally managed to program into the replicator, Julian looked around the room with satisfaction.

Candles sat on every available space, casting a rich golden glow to the otherwise bleak gray room. The younger man had turned up the heat in his quarters to make Garak more comfortable, and therefore more relaxed, during dinner.

The brown silk shirt he wore was light enough for Julian to be comfortable in the warm room as well. The shirt was shot through with golden threads the sparkled in the candle light. The doctor knew that the colour of the shirt went well with his skin tone, making his skin appear even more golden.

Garak wasn't going to know what hit him.

The chime to his quarter's went off, announcing the arrival of his dinner, and hopefully overnight, guest.

"Come in," Julian said as he moved toward the door to great Garak.

The door rolled open, admitting a slightly nervous looking tailor. Stepping into the room, the Cardassian came to a halt as he watched Julian sway toward him. Garak's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the beguiling young man in front of him.

"I'm glad that you could make it, Garak," Julian said as he stopped in front of the larger man. Leaning forward a bit, he let his eyes travel over Garak's body. The tailor was impeccably dressed, as usual, but held one arm behind his back.

"Do you have something behind your back, Elim?"

Unaccustomed to hearing his first name spoken by Julian, except in some hot fantasies, the older man gulped. Bringing his arm forward from around his body, he held out the object that he had hidden behind his back.

A dozen red roses.

Raising an eyebrow, Julian looked from the sheepish expression on the Cardassian's face, down to the bouquet of roses in his hand.

Blushing slightly, Garak shoved the flowers at Julian. "I thought you might enjoy these, doctor. Maybe add some colour to these dreary rooms. I find it highly amusing the human's complain about the severity of Cardassian designs then come up with a design as horrible looking as these rooms," he said as he waved his hand to indicate the bleak colours used. He blinked as he belatedly noticed the soft glow the candle produced in the room. "You've done a marvellous job with your quarters though."

Holding the offered bouquet, Julian listened with amused interested as Garak rambled on, noting the blue flush that crept into the older man's scales.

The faint discomfort and unease on Garak's face proved too much for him. Julian bent over double with laughter, the flowers hanging limply from one hand.

"I'm glad that I managed to amuse you at least. If you don't mind, I think I'll be going now," Garak grounded out indignantly as he moved toward the door. Just as he reached his destination he felt two strong hands land on his shoulders.

Grabbing the tailor's shoulder, Julian spun the startled Cardassian around, shoving him back against the door, the roses left abandoned on the floor.

Lunging forward the doctor locked his lips with the older man, his hands resting on the door on either side of Garak's head,

Too stunned to react for a moment, Garak stood stiffly in the doctor's embrace, his mind racing. Instinct suddenly kicked in as he raised his arms to pull the younger man closer. His hands rested on Julian's hips, the warmth radiating thought the soft silk of Julian's shirt arousing him even more.

"You don't really want to leave, do you?" Julian breathed as he moved to nibble on a neck ridge.

"No," Garak huffed as Julian bit down on a prominent ridge, sending sharp spikes of pleasure mixed with pain through his body. "I think I'll stay right here if you don't mind."

Chuckling against the older man's neck Julian replied, "I don't mind at all," before he moved up to take Garak's mouth in another long kiss.

Breaking apart, the two men panted for air.

"As long as we're in agreement, doctor," Garak quipped as he ran his hands up Julian's back.

Taking Garak's head in his hands, Julian stared into dilated blue eyes, "Shut up and kiss me, Elim."

The pair came back together for another kiss. Pulling the Cardassian away from the door, Julian started to back his way toward his bedroom.

Stopping at the door, Julian broke away from the older man again, much to Garak's dismay. He easily avoided Elim's grasp and the tailor reached for him.

Grinning wickedly, Julian started to blow out the mass of candles. "I want you on that bed now, Elim and you better be naked when I get there."

He had never seem anyone move any faster than Garak did as he tore into Julian's bedroom.

Recycling the food that he had prepared, Julian threw one last look around the room. With a nod of satisfaction, then started to unbutton his shirt.

Moving toward his room, he shivered with anticipation he joined his now naked lover on the bed and brought both of their fantasies to life.

The End.

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