slowly, and then all at once

“I know you have history with Lieutenant Detmer, but we are all professionals here, I trust?”History. History is still knowing the sensation of Keyla’s touch on cold nights, the knowledge of what her chin feels like tucked against Joann’s shoulder, laughing until she cried in the mess hall and games of kadis kot and inside jokes and whispered plans about shore leave in Düsseldorf and Ogbunike. History is the promises Joann made and broke, and the pale, haunted look in Keyla’s eyes as Joann told her it was over, her worst fears coming to life right in front of her from the person she most trusted not to hurt her. But Joann is Starfleet, so she just shakes her head. “Yes, Captain.”