by
Chrysa
Disclaimer: Paramount owns DS9 and its characters. I just happened to borrow them for a little fun. ^_^
Author's note: This is a bit of fluff I came up with the other day. Also because I just like the phrase "Worf in sheep's clothing." Don't ask.
BTW, this is post-CoT and pre-"His Way."
* * * * * * *
Odo looked at the invitation on his screen and wondered if throwing Sisko out an airlock would be considered justifiable homicide.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
YOU'RE INVITED TO A COSTUME PARTY!
WHEN: SATURDAY 1900 AND GOING ON UNTIL
THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING.
WHERE: QUARK'S BAR
DRESS: ANY COSTUME.
Odo looked up at the glass and metal double doors of his office. *5...4...3...2...1.*
Right on cue., the doors opened and Jadzia Dax bounded in happy as a lark. "Hi, Odo! Great morning isn't it? Did you get your invitation?"
*It's too early to be this happy. What does she take?!* Aloud, the Changeling grumbled, "Yes, but I'm not going."
The Trill's lovely mouth parted in shock. "Odo! Why?"
Odo looked around as if searching for an answer. Finally, he said, "I'm not very comfortable at parties, Dax. You know that."
Dax suddenly understood. Many memories were exchanged when Odo hosted Curzon Dax for Jadzia's zhian'tara. One of those memories was Odo being the object of attention at a party and the pain and humiliation it brought. She stared at him for a moment thinking it a shame that such a wonderful man couldn't enjoy himself at a party.
Suddenly, she brightened. *Light bulb! Jadzia, you are brilliant.* "Odo, you can go to this party and enjoy yourself."
He snorted and looked at Dax as if she and her symbiont had gone insane.
"I'm serious, Odo! It's a costume party."
"So?"
"Your face is hidden by a mask and you're wearing a costume." Dax opened her arms. "Pretend to be someone else."
Odo's answering snort had a hint of interest in it. Dax picked up on it like a bloodhound.
She came around the desk and crouched in front of her friend. Taking his hand she gently said, "Odo, you're not a lab specimen anymore. You haven't been that for a long time but you still think that way. It's not fair. Go to the party, be someone else. Enjoy yourself."
*Oh, Prophets that actually makes sense.* Odo thought with some surprise.
Dax gave him a knowing smile. "Come on. You know you want to."
"Oh all right! I'll go."
"Wonderful!" Dax hugged him. "You'll have fun. I promise!"
Odo accepted her enthusiasm with a grain of salt. *This will be a disaster. I know it.* "Well, what does one wear to a costume party?"
Dax narrowed her eyes as she tried to decide what costume would look good on him. An idea hit and she snapped her fingers in triumph.
Odo looked at her uneasily. *She's going to dress me up as a piece of cheese. I know it.* "What?"
"You'll see." Dax smiled cryptically as she walked out of the office.
Odo groaned. "I am in *so* much trouble." He banged his head on the desk.
It felt kind of good actually.
* * * *
Dax hummed as she walked down the corridor and stepped into a turbolift. *It's a good costume.* She mused. *A very good costume. Sometimes I surprise even myself. Must be the Curzon in me.* Dax chuckled as she stepped off the ëlift and into Ops.
"Chief! Will you stop singing that damn song?!" The small redheaded volcano that was Major Kira Nerys was standing at the central Ops table yelling at Chief O'Brien.
The Chief was happily fixing a console and singing in a clear tenor voice, "Mare eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy--"
"A kid'll eat ivy, too. Wouldn't you?" Dax finished in soprano.
Kira pointed at her. "Don't help him, Dax! He's been singing that since he got here and it's driving me nuts!"
In response O'Brien sang louder.
"ARRGGGGHHHH!" Kira plugged her ears.
Dax laughed. "Chief!"
"Yeah?"
"Why are you singing that?"
The Irishman smiled. "My mother sang that to me when I was a baby. I sang it to Molly and now that we have Kirayoshi I sing it to him. I can't help it. I think about the kids and I sing!"
Dax smiled in delight. "That's so sweet!"
"It's sweet but it's maddening!" Kira retorted.
"Chief, for the sake of Kira's sanity maybe you should tone it down. Please?"
"Sure." O'Brien shrugged and dived back into the guts of the console.
Kira's mouth dropped. "I-I-I-I don't believe it!" She sputtered. "I carried your child.
Gave birth to him! I do all this for you yet, when I ask you to keep it down you can't. Then Dax waltzes and you can't tone it down fast enough!"
O'Brien shrugged. "She said please."
Dax grabbed Kira around the waist as the Bajoran woman lunged for the Chief. "Whoa, Kira! Whoa! Settle down. Now, what are you wearing to the costume party?"
"Nothing."
Dax was impressed. "You're going as Lady Godiva?"
"Who?! No!" Kira gave her an exasperated look. "I'm not going."
*What is it with these two?!* "Why not? It'll be fun."
Kira gave her a look. "You know my imagination isn't that great. I wouldn't know what to wear."
Dax smiled. "That's all right. I have just the thing. I'll drop it off at your quarters tomorrow."
* * * *
1900
Odo looked at the black mass of cloth in box that Dax had handed and asked,
"What *is* it?"
"The costume that turns you into a dashing, masked hero."
"A dashing, masked hero?" The skepticism was obvious.
"Yes. You read romance novels. Tonight you're going to be a dashing, masked hero that serves justice and fights for the people." Dax winked. "And if you're really lucky you save a damsel in distress."
Odo groaned. *I knew it. I'm a dead man. I can't pull this off!* "Dax--"
"Come on, Odo! I went to all this trouble--" Dax's face scrunched up and tears started to fall.
"Oh don't cry! I can't stand it when you cry! I'll wear it! I'll wear it!"
Dax's face turned sunny again.
"Useful trick that. Are you going to the party?"
"Of course." Dax looked offended. "I'm Little Bo Peep."
"Is Worf going with you?"
"Yup. He's my sheep."
A smile curved Odo's lips. "So he's a Worf in sheep's clothing."
Dax looked at him in shock. "Oh my God, Odo. I think you just made a joke!" She started to laugh.
"I guess I did." Pleased with himself Odo joined her.
As the laughter died down Dax glanced at the chronometer. "Oh I have to go! I still have to drop off Kira's costume."
Odo's ears perked up. "What's she going as?"
Dax wagged a finger at him. "You have to guess. Just like everyone else. I'll see you tomorrow."
* * * *
Saturday
2000
Julian Bashir dressed as the King of Hearts lounged against Quark's bar. Well, if a giant playing card propped against the bar wearing a mask could be considered lounging. In any case, he was gazing out at the couples tearing it up on the dance floor.
Among the assorted witches, goblins and princesses was Rom dressed as a Grand Nagus. Grand Nagus Rom was dancing with Kai Leeta. Jake Sisko, as Count Dracula, was playfully threatening to bite into the neck of his date, Tinker Bell. Nog, dressed as a Starfleet admiral, was dancing with a Vulcan princess.
"Hey, Julian."
"Hey, Mi--what the heck are you supposed to be?"
Miles O'Brien sidled up to the bar in a green suit and a hat with a four-leaf clover hanging out of it. Taking the fake pipe out of his mouth he replied, "A leprechaun of course."
Quark, who'd been passing by, paused and gave him a once over. "Where's your pot of latinum?"
"It's pot of gold." O'Brien fiddled with the gold buckle on his belt. "And you have to catch me first. His face scrunched up in thought. "I think. Oh, blast it! I can't remember!"
Quark snorted. "Why would I want to catch you? Everybody knows that gold is worthless."
Bashir chuckled. "What are you supposed to be?'
Quark dressed in white suit completely devoid of any decoration, looked down at himself. "Well, isn't it obvious?"
"No."
"I'm a philanthropist."
Bashir and O'Brien looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
Quark planted his hands on his hips. "Well, on Ferenginar it would be obvious."
"Happy Halloween!"
Everyone turned to see Batman and Cleopatra approaching. "Evening Captain Sisko, Kassidy," said O'Brien.
"Wonderful job on the costume, sir," added Bashir.
Quark got close to Kassidy and leered at her. "Yes, wonderful job on the costume."
O'Brien smacked him upside the head.
"Ow!"
Sisko smiled at the Chief. "Thanks."
"No problem."
Bashir started to search the crowd. "Now has anyone seen--"
An explosion of laughter interrupted him and the group turned to see a couple enter the bar.
"Well, I'll be," said Sisko. "If it isn't Little Bo Peep--"
"And her pissed off sheep!" Chortled Quark.
Dax looked like she had just stepped out of a children's PADD with her costume. The spots had remained but the brown hair had been replaced by a blond wig and was covered a frilly pink bonnet. Her ruffled pink dress had a scattering of tiny blue bows and came down only to her knees exposing white ruffled pantalets. Pink slippers adorned her feet and a curved staff was held in her right hand. A bright smile completed her outfit.
Worf, the pissed off sheep, stood next to her. His costume was a full body suit of fluffy white wool complete with hooves to cover the tops of his hands and boots as well as floppy ears. Around his neck was a big blue bow.
"Hey guys! Are you having a good time so far?" Asked Dax as she sidestepped Morn who had attached two bolts to the sides of his neck so he could be Frankenstein.
"It's great so far." Sisko looked Worf up and down and smirked. "Nice outfit Worf."
Worf growled.
"Now, Worf," Dax chided. "Is that anyway to for a sheep to talk? Show everyone what a good sheep you are."
Worf stayed silent.
"Come on, Worf."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes!"
Worf's shoulder's slumped and with the sigh of a man who knew he was in hell he said, "Baaaa!"
Everyone started to laugh and Dax clapped her hands in delight. "Very good, Worf!"
Kassidy was impressed. "I never thought I'd see a man, let alone a Klingon, do that! How ever did you manage it?"
"He lost a bat'leth contest." Dax smirked. "Has anyone seen Odo or Kira?"
* * * *
Odo, dressed in black, stood on the second floor of Quark's and gazed down at the costumed partygoers. A black cloth covered his blond hair and was tied at the back of his head. It also came down over his eyes creating an effective mask as his ice blue eyes peeked out of two eye holes. A black cape adorned his shoulders and at his side was a rapier. He saw his reflection in a metal girder and decided to change his eyes from their usual ice blue to black. *Fits better with the costume I think.*
Off to his left he noticed two women staring and at him. He turned and smiled at them. The two women blushed and began giggling like school girls.
*Well, I guess I am a dashing, masked hero Dax wanted.* He mused. *Now if only there was a damsel in distress.*
* * * *
"Actually, I haven't seen either one of them since this afternoon." Said O'Brien as he sipped a synthale.
Sisko and Kassidy had slipped away onto the dance floor and Quark had gone off to supervise his waiters. That left Worf, Dax, Bashir and O'Brien to speculate on the whereabouts of their missing friends.
"Well, maybe they both decided not to come," commented Bashir as he ate a cocktail wiener.
"If they did, those two are in such trouble." Dax declared. She looked down at Worf and smiled sympathetically. "Are you really that unhappy?"
Worf nodded miserably.
"Go on and change." She shook her head in amusement.
Suddenly the music stopped and there was complete silence. The little group as well as everyone else in the place turned to see what the problem was.
Standing in the entrance of Quark's was an incredibly beautiful woman. Her upswept black hair cascaded down her back in ringlets. As she tilted her head slightly a gold ornamental hair comb flashed in the low light. She was dressed in an off the shoulder red ball gown and long white gloves. She held a fan in her right hand and a white feathered mask hid her identity.
"Who is that?" Bashir breathed.
"I have no idea." O'Brien answered.
Dax smiled.
* * * *
The masked brunette beauty stood frozen in the entrance for a moment as she felt everyone's eyes on her.
*They're all staring at me. What do I do now?!* She quickly unfurled her fan and started to gracefully wave it creating a soft breeze. A little more in control and a lot calmer, she smiled graciously at the people staring at her and made her way across the room. *Okay. You're doing fine. If you trip you're dead.*
"Hey, baby. Wanna dance?"
"No, thank you." Kira didn't even look at the guy trying to pick her up. Deftly, she changed course and took a route that put her at the outer edges of the dance floor.
A rough hand grabbed her upper arm and whirled her around. Kira came face to face with an ugly werewolf whose putrid breath and yellowing teeth made her recoil. "I asked ya if ya wanted to dance with me."
Kira was starting to get mad.
* * * *
Odo watched with interest as the woman in the ball gown made her way towards the group of senior officers at the bar. *There's something about that walk.*
She exchanged words with a werewolf and moved to get away from him. Apparently, the guy didn't like her answer because he followed her and grabbed her arm and turned her around. The tilt of her head and her stance triggered something in Odo.
"Oh good grief that's Kira! And she's mad!" Odo knew perfectly well that Kira could take care of herself and he knew she's probably kill him if he interfered.
Odo grinned.
*What a glorious death it would be! Well, Dax said I might get lucky and save a damsel in distress. Here's my chance.*
He quickly threw some of his substance over one of the rafters and gave if the look of a whip. Climbing up onto the railing Odo took a deep breath and jumped.
* * * *
The whole party stopped and held its breath watching the confrontation with
interest.
Dax was getting worried. "Come on let's go help her."
Worf nodded, "Death to the impolite jackass."
The four senior officers started to get up but before they could step away from their chairs something extraordinary happened.
* * * *
Major Kira Nerys was a formidable woman whether in a duty uniform or a ball gown. *And if there was one thing the Resistance didn't raise it was weaklings.* She threw her fan to the floor and prepared to tear into her assailant.
The crowd around them suddenly started to gasp and point distracting the two from their confrontation.
A masked man dressed completely in black swooped down towards them his cape spread out behind him like the wings of a bat. He landed in a crouch next to Kira. Faster than the blink of an eye he was up, the deadly point of the rapier at the werewolf's throat.
"I believe," he growled. "That the lady does not wish to be in your company."
Kira looked at her would-be savior in outrage. Then the sound of the masked man's voice registered in her brain. Her eyes widened as she realized that her rescuer was Odo.
In the meantime, the werewolf had decided that the man with the sword was dangerous and wisely decided to retreat. He put up his hands and backed off. "Hey, sorry. No harm done right?"
"We shall see." With that, Odo calmly sliced off half of the werewolf's whiskers.
The werewolf let out a scared yelp and took off the sound of laughter chasing him all the way down the Promenade. Next, the crowd turned and clapped for the masked man and his lady.
Odo looked at Kira for a moment. *What do I do now?* With a mental snap of his fingers it came to him. Dramatically, Odo bowed and simultaneously picked up the discarded fan. With a flourish, he presented it to Kira. "I believe this belongs to you."
Kira blushed and took the fan. At a loss as to what to do next, she fell into the character her dress represented silently thanking Dax for dragging into the holosuites to play Camelot. She curtsied and, injecting a note of breathlessness into her voice, said, "Thank you kind, sir. Quite a stroke of luck you being here." She presented the back of her hand to him.
Odo took the offered hand, raised it to his lips and kissed it. For a moment time stopped and the two friends looked each other in the eye for the first time since Gaia.
Kira saw the hope in Odo's eyes, even if they were black. Their friendship had been strained the past few months since Gaia and the revelations it brought. It had taken Kira a lot of soul searching to come to terms with her feelings about Odo. Now Kira saw the chance to repair that friendship and possibly move it forward.
She waited too long.
The hope in Odo's eyes died a little and he let go of her hand. "I hope you have an enjoyable evening, my lady." He turned.
"Wait."
He turned back.
Kira slowly unfurled her fan she frantically thought of a reason to keep Odo with her. "What if I am in need of your services again? He might come back."
Odo nodded recognizing the flimsy excuse and joyfully seizing it. "There is that possibility."
Kira nodded. "Would you consider being my escort for the evening? To protect me from the unwanted attentions of anyone else?"
Odo presented his arm to her. "A gentlemen would do no less. I would be honored."
Kira smiled as she took it. "As would I. By the way, what's your name?"
*Crap. What was the name on the card that came with the costume?* "Zorro. And you?"
"Cinderella."
"Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too."
Together they walked upstairs to get away from the cheering crowd.
* * * *
*YES!* Dax cheered silently.
"Damn!"
She turned to see Bashir's costume sort of fold in half as he slumped back onto his chair.
"I didn't even get a chance! A beautiful woman walks in here and I don't even get a chance!"
O'Brien smiled sympathetically and patted him on the shoulder. "Want to go egg the Captain's office?"
"Sure."
The two friends went off to have their fun and Dax looked over at Worf. "Want to go dance?"
"No."
"Are you still upset about the sheep costume?"
"Yes."
Dax gave him a sly smile. "Well, I happen to think it's sexy."
Worf perked up. "You do?"
She nodded enthusiastically. "Please dance with me, Worf. I want to see you shake your tail."
"Let's go!" Worf grabbed her hand and dragged her laughing out onto the dance floor.
* * * *
For the last few hours Odo and Kira, in the characters of Zorro and Cinderella, happily got reacquainted as the strain between them dissipated. Feeling freer than they had for a long time, the two were now down on the dance floor swaying back and forth to a slow song.
"So, Zorro." Said Kira as she titled her head back. "What do you do for a living besides saving damsels in distress?"
"I serve the people but justice is my ultimate master."
"Really. What a noble calling."
"What do you do? Besides look beautiful on a day to day basis?"
Kira blushed and thought about it. "I help rule a small kingdom."
"An occupation of great import."
She nodded.
The conversation skipped to various subjects as the two danced. With the next slow song the conversation died a slow, comfortable death as Kira and Odo held each other. After awhile the two drifted out of the bar and walked along the Promenade. They stopped at a viewport and watched a ship pass through the wormhole.
"Zorro?"
"Yes?"
"Anyone special in your life?"
Odo looked down at her. "There is someone very special to me in my life."
"Do you love her?"
Not quite understanding where this conversation was going Odo answered hesitantly, "Yes...very much."
Kira nodded and moved out of his arms. Odo watched her wondering if he'd finally driven her away for good. She placed her hands on the viewsill as if to steady herself.
"Why?"
Odo smiled, "For so many reasons I couldn't begin to name them all."
"Could you try?"
"I love her for her beauty, her passion, her faith, the confidence she has in herself." Odo took a step towards her. "I love her because she was the first person to accept me as I am." He could see her watching his reflection. "She was my first friend, she is my best friend. She is the one constant in a universe gone mad." He took a deep breath and kept going. "I love her for who she is and what she could be. She...she awakened in me feelings I never thought I had. Feelings I thought I didn't deserve. She makes me want to be a better person and I cannot imagine my life without her."
Kira turned and Odo could see tears rolling down under her mask and along her cheek. Gently, he reached up and wiped them away. "There are so many more reasons," he whispered. "But words are inadequate to express them."
Kira gave him a small smile. "Why didn't you ever tell her before?"
Odo shrugged helplessly. "Fear. Fear of rejection. Fear that somehow friendship was all right but that my love would repulse her. It never seemed like the right time..." Odo paused looking for the right words. He touched the edge of her mask.
"Imagine that the mask and the persona that goes with it is what you wear day in and day out. You hide behind it because you don't want to be hurt anymore than you already have. It becomes comfortable, safe. Then it becomes your prison. You want to change, to rip off the mask and let your true self show but you can't. The mask is too much a part of you to let it go so quickly." He looked away. "I don't know if you cant understand that."
"I do." Kira turned his face back towards her. "Probably better than you think."
Odo nodded. Deciding to take a chance he said, "I do wonder..."
"What?"
"If she'll ever reciprocate my feelings."
Kira took his hand and squeezed it. "If I know her as well as I think I do then I can say with some certainty that she does reciprocate." She gasped as the inky blackness that had covered Odo's eyes lifted and the ice blue underneath was revealed. "It's just that she's afraid."
"Afraid? Of me?"
"No, of losing you."
Concern shone in Odo's eyes. "Losing me?"
"Masks hide so much." She chuckled humorlessly. "My mask hides the part of me that believes everyone I love leaves."
Odo held Kira tightly as she continued as herself instead of her character. "I loved my family and one by one they died. Furel and Lupaza, they died too. I loved Bariel and he died. I thought I loved Shakaar and then he left." She looked up at him. "I'm afraid to love you because then you'll leave and I'll be alone."
Odo kissed the top of her head and rocked her back and forth until she calmed down. "I'm right here," he whispered into her ear. "And I'm not going anywhere. I promise you that."
Kira leaned back in his arms. "I don't want to wear a mask anymore." She reached behind her head and undid the strings that held her mask in place. She let it drop to the floor.
"I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful sight." Odo smiled at her. "Can you help me remove my mask?"
Smiling, Kira reached behind him and undid the knot on his mask. Slowly, the cloth slid off Odo's head and fluttered to the floor.
"I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful sight," she breathed.
Kira and Odo kissed then walked off, arms wrapped around each other.
Forgotten on the floor lay two masks one made of black cloth and the other made of white feathers.
The End.
