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It had all started about a week ago after Lwaxana Troi had made another visit to the station. She claimed to be visiting on business, but it was clear to anyone with a brain that she had come just to hang around Odo. To his credit, the Constable had tried his best to avoid her so he could carry out his duties, but if there was one thing Lwaxana Troi was, it was relentless.
When she finally left, the first thing Odo did was make his way over to Quark’s bar. It was getting late and the Promenade was practically empty, but Odo knew Quark’s schedule well enough to know that Quark would still be in the process of closing up the bar for the night.
With Lwaxana around, Odo was constantly either trying to avoid her or getting dragged around by her, leaving him with no time to make his daily rounds to visit Quark. Odo could only hope that Quark hadn’t been up to anything too nefarious in his time away.
Finally reaching the bar, Odo stepped across the threshold. Sure enough, there was Quark, standing behind the counter as he polished a glass.
“Sorry, we’re closed,” he started, looking up. “Odo!”
The expression on the ferengi’s face immediately softened. His lips drew up into a grin, showing his fangs.
“Hello Quark,” Odo curtly responded as he strolled over and took a seat on the nearest barstool.
“Lwaxana finally left?” Quark asked innocently, fighting back a laugh.
“Yes, she has. That woman is certainly…”
“A character?” Quark offered.
“Yes.”
“The bar felt a bit empty without you lurking around,” Quark chuckled softly, averting his gaze.
Odo’s eyes widened and he felt himself grin stupidly.
“It’s nice to be back to routine.”
“It’s always the routine with you.”
“Mmmf.”
Odo allowed his head to fall down and rest on the table. Despite the fact that he couldn’t actually experience being tired, he was capable of feeling the approximation of exhaustion. That feeling always overcame him when he was around Lwaxana. Now that she was gone and it was just him and Quark, he felt willing to let his guard drop just a little. Although he knew Quark could be a devious man, he certainly wouldn’t try to hurt Odo.
Yes, things were back to normal once again. The changeling went rigid when he suddenly felt the feeling of something touching his head. There were fingers gently carding through his hair, or… approximation of hair. Part of him wanted to bolt upright and yell at Quark for infringing on him like this, but the stupid grin on his face gave him away. It felt oddly nice. Quark continued the gentle motions and so Odo made no effort to move.
“All of that time with Lwaxana must have really taken it out of you, huh?” Quark quipped.
Odo let out a grunt of acknowledgement.
“I really did miss you.”
“I missed you too,” Odo replied, surprising himself with how naturally the words slipped out.
“Oh Constable, I didn’t know you cared.”
“Hmmf.”
“Oh don’t give me that.”
“I was only gone a few days.”
“I know you hate breaking your routine.”
“You think you’re part of my routine?”
“I know I’m part of your routine.”
The two lapsed into a comfortable silence. Odo’s head was still resting on the table and Quark’s hand was still tangled in his hair. After a few minutes of blissful silence, Quark spoke up.
“Odo?”
“Yes?”
“I do need to close up the bar now,” Quark said, his tone almost apologetic.
Quark’s hand drew back and Odo regained his awareness. He shot upright, his back going ramrod straight as he shot Quark a glare. If Odo had been a humanoid, he would have gone red from embarrassment.
“Well, I suppose I’ll leave you to it then,” Odo nodded as he slipped off the barstool. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight Constable,” Quark grinned.
He watched Odo march out of the bar, blissfully unaware of the fact that his hair was an absolute mess. Quark could only hope that no one would mention it to him.
The next day, Quark had received the standard minimum of three visits from Odo during the day. Each time, the Constable had come right up to the bar and simply watched Quark. During the second visit, Quark tried to engage Odo in conversation, but the Constable seemed to be content just watching. Quark was almost worried that Odo was upset at him for what had happened the previous night, but Odo didn’t seem to be angry. If he was truly upset, he probably wouldn’t have made his usual rounds. Quark knew full well that Odo’s daily visits weren’t actual for his job. Whether it was just to pester Quark or if it was just for Odo’s enjoyment, Quark couldn’t say, but he certainly didn’t mind.
Quark was in the middle of getting the bar ready for closing when he heard the squeak of a barstool. He whirled around and saw Odo seated there. Before Quark could start another attempt at witty banter, Odo glanced around, almost as if he was searching for something, before placing his head on the table like he had done the previous night.
Quark was confused. Part of him wanted to ask Odo why he was doing this, but he knew full well that if he used the wrong words, the Constable would shut himself off and that was the last thing Quark wanted. The two were in a comfortable state right now. Quark hadn’t been up to anything too devious for the past month and Odo had been less pushy when it came to searches and investigations.
The ferengi walked forward, and after taking in a breath of air, he put his hand on Odo’s head and began to card his fingers through Odo’s hair. The effect was immediate. The Constable let out a soft sigh of contentment, a sound that Quark could barely pick up, even with his above average ferengi hearing. It took everything Quark had not to let out a snide comment about this; about how Odo was getting all soft for him. The ferengi simply resigned himself to continue the ministration.
Touching Odo was odd. He’d done it a few times before, but still, he was always surprised when he did. Although Odo tried his best to make himself appear physically humanoid, his skin felt nothing like any humanoid he’d ever laid his hands on. Odo’s skin felt almost like rubber, the same with his clothes, which were just an extension of his body. His hair though, that felt a bit like synthetic fibers on a carpet. It was still odd, but slightly more pleasant to feel than the other parts of Odo.
“You like this don’t you?” Quark smirked.
“Shut up,” Odo shot back, but he made no effort to move.
Quark stopped his hand for a moment and pulled it away less than an inch. To Quark’s surprise, Odo proceeded to push his head up into Quark’s hand, much in the way a terran cat would. The ferengi smiled softly as he continued to do what felt like the glorified equivalent of ‘petting’ Odo.
Odo could feel his solid form starting to loosen. Although it wasn’t time for his regeneration cycle yet, occasionally, when he felt truly relaxed, he would start to revert back into his liquid form. Odo tried his best to concentrate on not letting himself turn into goop, but Quark’s hand on his head felt so nice and comforting that it was taking an alarming amount of effort to keep himself together.
“Odo, are you… melting?”
At this, Odo hauled himself up into a sitting position. The second that Quark’s hand lost contact with Odo’s hair, the changeling was able to fully solidify himself.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about Quark,” he huffed as he stood up. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight to you too,” Quark sighed.
And so, the two settled into an odd routine. Their days would go by normally, but every night while Quark was closing up the bar, Odo would come in, put his head down on the bar table, and expect Quark to play with his hair. Quark did so, but he couldn’t deny that he really wanted to ask Odo why he was doing this. Was the changeling really so desperate for touch that he’d sought out the comfort of Quark? Quark did sort of enjoy seeing this softer side of Odo, and if that meant not asking Odo for his reasons, Quark could live with that.
It was the 12th day of their weird new ritual when Quark decided to try something new. That time, after Odo had sat down, before he could rest his head on the table, Quark reached out and cupped Odo’s cheek with the palm of his hand. Odo’s eyes had widened in shock, but after only a few seconds, he shut his eyes and leaned into the touch. Quark felt his heart lurch at the trust Odo was giving him. Well actually, Odo could probably still see him even with his eyes shut; Quark wasn’t exactly sure how ‘seeing’ worked for changelings. Still, it was the gesture that mattered.
The ferengi gently ran a thumb across Odo’s cheekbone, testing the waters, and he was pleased with the result. Odo let out another soft, contented noise as he dropped his head a bit to learn further into Quark’s touch. He could feel Odo’s skin melt a bit into his hand, but he decided not to comment on it, knowing Odo might pull back.
He didn’t understand how so many people could find Odo ugly. Sure, he was strangely smooth, but it made the wrinkles around his eyes when he smiled all the more endearing. Sure, he didn’t have lips, but it was still clear whenever he was smiling.
“You’re beautiful,” Quark murmured.
Odo’s eyes fluttered open. “What?”
Quark just stared blankly, unsure of what to say. “Was that out loud?” He asked.
“If you mean you calling me beautiful, then yes,” Odo said.
“Erm,” Quark muttered awkwardly. “Well… if it’s worth anything, I meant it.”
Odo let out a breathy laugh as he leaned back, his face coming away from Quark’s hand. “Sure you do.”
“I really do!” Quark insisted.
“I don’t need you trying to humor me.”
“Odo!” Quark huffed. “Why is it so hard for you to believe that I genuinely think you’re beautiful?!”
Odo rolled his eyes. “Flattery will get you nowhere Quark. Don’t think I haven’t seen you conversing with that visiting Orion who just so happens to have family ties to the syndicate.”
“This has nothing to do with her,” Quark insisted. “Why can’t you just let me compliment you?”
“I-“ Odo faltered for a moment. “I suppose I’m just confused.”
“On what?”
“On what about me could possible be beautiful,” Odo said softly, looking almost shy.
“Do you want me to list it out for you?” Quark grinned, finally gaining the upper hand of the conversation. Before Odo could answer, Quark started to talk. “I think the most beautiful part of you is your eyes. And yes, I know they’re an ‘approximation’ of eyes, but that’s unimportant. Everything else about you is this unremarkable shade of beige, but your eyes… they remind me of the color of this flower that used to grow by the riverbed on Ferenginar. I can’t remember what they were called, but if you saw them, you’d know-“
Before Quark could finished, he was cut off by the press of Odo’s lips against his. Quark made a noise of surprise, but in seconds, he’d recovered from the reeling shock and grabbed onto Odo’s face, deepening the kiss. That day, Quark discovered that the inside of Odo’s mouth had the same texture as the outside of Odo. Dry and rubbery, yet so wonderfully unique to the changeling that Quark didn’t mind it.
When they pulled back from one another, there were a million thing that Quark wanted to say, but all he could manage was a simple, “Oh.”
Odo found this very amusing. “What’s this? You’re finally at a loss for words?” He teased.
“You- you kissed me!” Quark exclaimed.
“Maybe you should be the detective with those observational skills.”
“How are you being so calm!?”
“I assumed you wanted to kiss me,” Odo stated simply. “You were cradling my face and calling me beautiful, and so I assumed the appropriate response was… to…” Odo seemed to be realizing the weight of what he had just done.
“You just copied that straight out of one of your bajoran erotica novels!”
“I- I may have used it as a frame of reference!” Odo huffed. “But still, you didn’t pull away from the kiss.”
Quark couldn’t think of a way to refute that point. He knew Odo was right. He hadn’t tried to pull back or fight the kiss. Deep down, he knew full well he had properly enjoyed it.
“And now I know I have a new tool in my arsenal of ways to shut you up,” Odo grinned.
“You’re planning on doing it again?!” Quark cried, a mix of surprise and excitement evident in his voice.
“Mind games. And I’m winning.”
“You- You- You-“
“I’ll see you tomorrow Quark,” Odo hummed as he rose from his seat. “Try not to miss me too much.”
“You’re insufferable,” Quark grumbled.
“I know,” Odo smiled.
“I hate you,” he retorted.
“Me too,” Odo replied as he exited the bar, a small smile on his face.