Note: non consensual stuff happened to the reader in the past
You were a comfort woman during the cardassian occupation of Bajor
You hated your time as a comfort woman, the hands of cardassians made you hate your body. You wanted to curl up many times and just try to hide from the sick twisted world you were in.
Finally the occupation was over...
Yet you didn't feel it was over, the ghost of lingering touches and harsh heated stares kept you stuck in an endless cycle of hatred.
You wish you could rip your skin off and start anew.
When all hope was all lost, the sun started to shine in your cold dead world.
The new CMO on the station was your sunshine now.
You met when he was doing a routine check up on you. You had been a comfort woman that the cardassians had hardly checked up on for STDs or any illness. Julian was too sweet to you.
It made you nervous, the thought that any moment he could switch and become violent to you like the men previously before.
However, he never was violent... He was kind and caring.
Obviously he had picked up that you had signs of PTSD. He wanted you to go to the station psychologist but you rejected that, you didn't want more people to touch you.
Julian made it his job to try to persuade you to go to the psychologist, he gave you some many valid points. Only after his second attempt did you actually consider his offers, even then you didn't say anything.
You liked the attention he was giving you.
It felt different to have someone care for you after so long in the dark.
Hi there! I was hoping I could request a little writing/drabble from you where the female reader and Dukat are in a bit of a sudden argument over something and in the heat of everything, the reader accidentaly confesses that they have romantic feelings for him and...he's actually kind of surprised because he feels the same way about them. If you're not interested or you can't think of anything good, that's quite alright! Thank you~~
{ Uhm, interesting.
I took the liberty of using oneof the bad things happen prompts, because I really want to use them.
Then I have something specific inmind and, honestly, with Dukat I don’t imagine anything good, romantic orhappy, so this story doesn’t have an happy ending.
Here the reader is a Bajoranwoman named Laha Herjea, you can also see her as an OC. It takes place during the occupation of Bajor. Herethe station is still called Terok Nor.
I’m satisfied of this fanfictionand I took several hours to end it so I hope you guys will read and like it. Ihad fun writing it and I needed some angst. Yes, there is a lot of angst here! }
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Don’t forget to tell me your opinion about and leave a like or share if you liked it, it would make the writer very happy.
Prompt: Grief / Mourning
Challenge by @badthingshappenbingo
Words Count: 4171
Fandom: Star Trek DS9
Pairing: Dukat x Female! Bajoran Reader / Bajoran OC!
Triggers: Cardassian Oppressors, occupation of Bajor, angst, death, suicidal gesture, prisoner. But Dukat acts strangely nice.
– The beauty and the Reptile
~ PART 1 ;
A terrible fate fell on Bajor; afate of terror, destruction and desolation because Bajor wasn’t the planet of atime anymore but something else. It was infected by a virus, it was justdestroyed and usurped like the population who lived here. They had been treatedas slaves, strangers of their own land by the invaders of another planet, theirunexpected oppressors.
Cold-hearted aliens had stolentheir home, plundered their fields, killed their children and abducted theirwomen for their own pleasure, because they just felt superior. The Cardassian,their slavers, felt like real gods, they had even desecrated their temples anddishonoured their Prophets, but the Prophets were still there for Bajor,because nobody would have been able to stole their faith, it was immortal,immense and warm. This was the only thing the Bajoran people possessed, theirfaith in the Prophets.
The end of Bajor seemed near butthere were still people who fought for its liberation, who fought for what theybelieved, for their freedom and faith. Faith for prophets, for life and hope.Things the Bajoran cared a lot, things that had been stolen from them. Someday,they would have taken them back, no matter how hard and painful it could be,they would have won. Someday.
Laha Herjea was one of thosewomen who had been brought to Terok Nor, the space station of the Cardassians,to become the lady-in-waiting of one of them.
Actually, entire groups ofBajoran women had been stolen from their family and conducted there for thesame reason.
She didn’t even want to thinkabout her fate because it didn’t appear bright or worthy to be lived, it seemedterrifying and all the women around her were crying, were lost and scared andsome of them would have wanted to die rather than face this terrible destiny.
Laha didn’t live a long life, shewas only 19 years old when she was taken and brought to Terok Nor.
She lived with her father and herbrothers in a little town in the South of Bajor. Her mother Zaha died when shewas 15 years old because of an illness, while her father Janal was a farmer,just like her big brother Nika. Her other brother Paarya was a professor ofBajoran history and this was the subject she would have desired to study, thepath she would have liked to follow, because she estimated a lot her brotherand she wanted to spread her culture all over the universe. This was her dreambut it had been broken before it could even start.
“What do they want to do withus?” a woman said, looking around.
Laha didn’t know either of thesewomen but she could perceive their fear and preoccupation because she felt thesame feelings but she didn’t say a thing because the question of the woman wasabout to be answered.
A group of Cardassian soldierscame in, their looks were curious, they started scrutinizing the Bajoran womenas predators who were chasing after their prey.
Laha tried not to be scared bythese reptile men and she just looked at the void in front of her, but she wasable to hear the deep breaths of her companions, the way they trembled andsighed.
Some of the Cardassians laughedseeing the young women so terrified and vulnerable until a voice scolded them.
“Sirs, get a hold of yourself!”and then all the Cardassian soldiers became serious, standing at attention,“Can’t you see? These poor ladies are completely uncomfortable. They shouldfeel like home here.”
Another Cardassian man walkedinto the room, he was the possessor of the voice, that rough and severe voicewho was able to stop their laughing.
The man grinned, tall and fierce,admiring the line of women and studying them as if they were kinds of pieces ofart.
Laha supposed he was their bossbecause all the other Cardassians looked at this man with respect and fear,even she felt intimidated from this sinister character.
There was something in his eyesshe could not define, maybe it was lust, a malicious curiosity, or maybe it waspride, the kind of hubris of someone who felt better than anyone else, maybe hetruly felt superior, perhaps even more superior than the other Cardassians,this was the first impression she had of this man.
Soon, she even learnt his name,“I’m Gul Dukat, nice to meet you, my gentle ladies. I’m the one who controls this Station, you can consider me as your mentor, your new family because thisstation will be your new home.” He smiled, “Terok Nor is very big andlonely, and your job is to keep it warm and lively. Don’t see yourself as mereslaves, you’re more than that. You’re guests.”
Yes, guests that had beenkidnapped from their land and given to these malicious and merciless reptiles,she thought, it could not be defined as a gentle act of courtesy.
Dukat appeared veryself-confident, austere but kind in his strange ways but she didn’t trusthim.
Nobody trusted him.
Then he placed his glance on her,Laha didn’t look in the other direction, she just stared, serious and cold. Herlast desire was to lose her integrity and honour because of some Cardassian.
Dukat smiled, and then spoke,still looking in her eyes, “Let’s get to know each other better.”
He still didn’t take his eyes offof Laha, it seemed he was speaking with her and maybe he had already taken hisdecision and in that moment, when Dukat spoke to her, she understood she was inserious trouble.
“What’s your name?” he asked witha soft tone of voice.
“Laha Herjea.” She answered, coldbut polite.
“Oh, such an adorable name.You’re very young.” Then he got closer and raised her chin with his thinfingers, “And very beautiful.”
Dukat caressed her cheek, histouch was cold but soft, and then he moved a lock of her light brown hairbehind her ear.
His grin made her shivering as ifsuddenly the temperature got lower, it was not a pleasant feeling but shenodded, trying to stay calm and do not lose her mind.
Dukat still smiled, something ofhis smile frightened her but also made her wondering what was hidden behindthat mask of charm and self-confidence.
The meeting with the Cardassianslasted ten minutes and everyone left after they all chose their lady-in-waitingand ordered to their Bajoran counsellor –a traitor, she would say- to dress thewomen up in a more decent and delightful way, as if they were real dolls, just little toys that had to satisfyevery kind of fantasy of their oppressors.
Then Laha’s fate was clearer thanbefore, her preoccupation became reality and she just could not escape from thissituation. The only thing she could do was hoping, hoping the Prophets wouldhave given to her the strength not to fall apart.
~ PART 2 ;
Laha had been chosen as Dukat’smaid, he said it was the greatest honour and she was lucky. She had privilegesall the other Bajoran maids didn’t have. She wondered which privileges theywere.
It was her first day of work as maid, she was in his office, he was reading some documents without paying herany attention, and maybe he didn’t even know she was there and that she wouldlike to be somewhere else.
“Oh, sorry, my dear. I was sodistracted by these bureaucracy documents, it’s so boring but job must bedone.” He said, placing his papers on his table, hands joined and his usualconfident smile on his face. Laha found all of this disgusting but she didn’treply.
“I’m such a bad host, I haven’teven offered you a proper meal, you must be hungry.” Then he stood up, reachingthe replicators, “What would you like to eat? Some typical Bajoran plate?Unluckily, I’m not an expert but I could ask to our chef to prepare something specialand real. I don’t really appreciate these food simulacrums. It doesn’t do anyjustice to the original flavours of our dishes.”
Dukat kept speaking, he was agreat talker, and his tone was always so courteous and soft, Laha asked herselfif he was really the person he appeared to be. She didn’t know enough about himyet.
“So, dear Laha, what’s youranswer?” he asked again and then he looked at her, getting closer.
“Honestly, I’m not hungry, atall.” It was a lie but it wasn’t, too. Because her hunger went away the moment shecrossed the door, it vanished and she only was confused and mad. Even if on herface any emotion could be read.
“Are you sure?” he asked,suspicious.
Laha just nodded.
He didn’t appear angry and heseemed understanding, then he asked to his Bajoran Counsellor to accompany Lahato his quarters where she should have prepared herself and waited for him tohave dinner together since it was still morning and he had a lot of work to do.
Laha didn’t like this idea but,at least, he didn’t insist and left her alone.
Dukat’s quarters were very big,comfortable and elegant, they had the typical Cardassian décor but she didn’tcare a lot about it. She still found her out of place.
Then she admired the space out ofthe window and she observed Bajor, her home planet, how beautiful it was fromup there, she thought, and she could not reach it. She could not break thisglass and jump there. Warm tears crossed her cheeks as she contemplated herhome, she sighed, sad and alone. Then she fell on her knees and prayed theProphets to look after her family, to help her people and herself to believe.Help her to be strong and do not give up.
Then she put herself on the couchand she fell asleep.
Laha stood alone there, asleepand annihilated, for the rest of the day.
***
Dukat found Laha still sleeping,traces of tears still wet her face.
His expression was mortified, buthe didn’t wake her up but he just relaxed himself, reading a book and observinghis sleeping guest.
Laha was not tall but not evenshort, she was about 1.7 metres tall, but she looked so delicate, thin andinnocent there.
After some minutes, she moved andshe woke up.
“Oh, welcome back in reality,dear Laha.” He said, his tone seemed ironical, because this was not the realityshe wanted to live.
She had had a very beautifuldream, she dreamt of her family, she was gardening with her father, it was asunny day and Bajor was luxuriant, free from every oppressor but it was only adream.
Then Dukat stood up and seatednext to her, caressing her cheeks and realized, she had cried.
“You haven’t cried because youmissed me, haven’t you?” he asked, whispering and she blushed, she hatedherself for it.
Laha didn’t answer because it wasa stupid question, she had thousands of reasons to cry.
“You’re not so talkative, I’msorry, I’m just impatient to know you better.” He said, smiling, “But you don’thave to worry about your family.” And she opened her eyes wide.
“Oh, I’ve caught your attention.”He grinned, “By the way, they’re fine, I don’t want you to be sad, they’ve notbeen hurt.” His voice was gentle but Laha didn’t smile back.
How could she trust the man whohad abducted her and forced her to live in this station?
“Should I believe you?” sheasked, serious and wary.
“Oh, finally, you’re speaking.”He seemed satisfied, “I’m telling the truth and, since I don’t want you tomistrust me, I’ll permit you to speak to them and ask them in person how dothey feel.”
Dukat’s words surprised her, shewould have never expected such a proposal.
“Really? Can I see my father?”she asked.
“Yes, you can… But then you haveto stay and enjoy your permanence.”
It sounded more like a threatthan a gift, even if Laha didn’t have any choice, she had to stay here, she waslike a prisoner, so she just nodded because if she would have the chance to seeher father, how could she refuse.
“Now that you feel morereassured, can we have dinner?” he asked, smirking.
Laha forgot about her hunger, andshe felt a little better after his promise.
She guessed, he could havechanged his mind if she would have refused his invitation and it was only a dinner.
In fact, it was just a dinner andLaha was surprised how good he behaved. Dukat didn’t make her uncomfortable ortouch her, he just spoke a lot, he spoke so much but she didn’t care and shejust nodded, faking smiles and filled her stomach.
This man was kinder than shethought for being a Cardassian and maybe she had judged him too fast.
***
Several days passed and Laha wasable to speak with her father. He was fine and her brothers as well.
The Cardassians didn’t hurt themand this was a miracle because she heard so many bad stories about otherfamilies she knew. Maybe she was truly lucky. These were the privileges Dukat hadtalked about.
“Are you ok, dear?” her fatherasked.
“Yes, I’m fine, they didn’t hurtme, they give me food, a bed to sleep…” She smiled at her father.
“It would be better if you wouldbe here.” he said and then the signal started freaking out until the video communicatorblacked out.
“Dad! Dad, what happened?” shespoke to the black monitor and she sighed.
At least, she had the chance tosee him, for some minutes but she was glad he was fine. Now she had to keep herpromise too and just appreciate her forced permanence on Terok Nor.
***
“Have you seen your father?”Dukat asked.
“Yes, but not for a long time, thevideo blocked at a certain point.” She explicated.
“Oh, I’m sorry, you’ll try againanother time.” he smiled and then he took her hands, delicately.
His skin was so cold, it wasstrange, she could not define this feeling.
Somehow, she found it pleasant,different from the first time she met him. She wasn’t afraid anymore.
Since now, he had only treatedher as a special friend, a real guest, with respect, kindness and a sort ofdevotion as if he was afraid of offending her.
Dukat always had that sinistersmile on his face, the one that hid something, but she learnt to ignore it andjust appreciate his company. Laha would lie to herself if she said she feltuncomfortable with him.
Then Dukat got closer and hetouched her cheek and kissed her lips gently, so delicate, chaste, she barelyperceived it, Laha didn’t move and the Bajoran let him to get further. His kissbecame more passionate until she was unable to resist and Laha just kissed himback, her senses were completely lost, and her mind possessed by her lustingemotions.
He embraced her in a strong hug,even if his skin was cold, she could perceive warmth and her entire body washeating up.
Everything happened so naturally,with no pressure, no excuse and she felt good, loved and satisfied.
She had to trust him, she had noreason to misbelieving and she was glad, if any prisoner could feel fine in itsprison but she didn’t feel as a prisoner anymore.
Laha had found her new home hereon Terok Nor, here in Dukat’s arms.
~ PART 3 ;
A month passed and Laha evenforgot about her previous issues.
She still missed her home and so Dukatpromised her they would have visited Bajor but this promise had not been kept yetbut she knew he had a lot of work to do.
Despite her beautiful days, thesituation on Bajor was still hard because people still died of hunger, childrenwere still killed, cities were destroyed and nothing really changed. Bajorbecame a hell and the Cardassians were the demons who ruled it.
Laha was used to spend her daysin Dukat’s quarters reading, writing or sewing clothes but some other times shewas even able to take walks through the promenade or talk with the Constable Odo.Laha didn’t go so far because she didn’t want to meet other Cardassians, shecould trust Odo but walking with all those Cardassians around made her veryuncomfortable.
During one of these walks, sherealized an awful truth, the truth she had ignored until now. The reality sheleft behind, the agony every Bajoran was living. She forgot everything and afeeling of doom and guilt took possession of his mind and heart. Because shefelt like a traitor, like an enemy.
She was living carefree, safe andsound in Dukat’s quarters, while her people were fighting and dying for theirplanet.
A peculiar fact had opened her eyes,because that day took place a riot in the middle of the promenade. Some Bajoranworkers revolted against the Cardassians, it seemed, it was an organizedassault. They were three members of the resistance of Bajor but they had beencaught and executed.
Laha was there, on the top of thepromenade and she observed the scene from above as the men screamed, fought andthen fell on the cold ground as dead weights but they were not dead yet. Thiswas not the end they deserved, it would have been too gentle for theCardassians.
Those men had been hanged infront of everyone, their last words had been prayers dedicated to the Prophets.
Laha saw, she saw all of it andshe was left speechless as the men died, but they didn’t cry, they were proudand even glad to die for their people. They didn’t lose this battle becausethey became martyrs.
Then she understood. Lahaunderstood it was unfair, she lost her mind, her dignity. She was just anobject, a little toy, she lived in a golden cage and those people, the peoplewho had killed her compatriots, had put her in that cage. She could not be gladof it anymore. Could not be blind anymore.
Laha started crying and then sherun away to her quarters, she could not stand it anymore.
She wanted to forget the terriblescene she had already seen and just disappear and sleep forever.
***
Dukat tried to comfort her but hefailed
“I didn’t want you to see that,it was awful…” he said, “I’m sorry, dear.” He spoke, kissing her wet cheeks, sogentle, so mortified.
“What did they do?” she asked,sighing.
“They have injured a Cardassian guard andtry to escape.” He said, his tone was neutral and it seemed, it was a logicalreason to execute someone.
“Why kill them?” she asked andher tone was harsher, because she could not still accept it. She could notunderstand it.
Dukat seemed confused and thatquestion was strange because it was the normal procedure. Killing Bajorans wasnormal for any Cardassian. Especially for him.
“Who gave the order? Who hasdecided the execution?” she asked and Dukat’s face freeze.
Laha understood, it was soobvious and she felt stupid, naïve and scared because she was facing the personwho had condemned those men. The person who had killed so many Bajorans and shehad even loved that person. She felt dirty, outraged and she stood up, shaking.
“No, it’s not me, they haveassaulted a group of Cardassians, they were dangerous. They were members of theresistance.” Dukat explained as if it was not a real problem.
“No, they were not dangerous.They were slaves, all we Bajorans are slaves for you. I’m just a slave foryou.” Laha burst into tears.
“No, dear, you’re not a slave.Believe me, you have nothing to do with that. You should have not stayed thereand seen that scene.” Dukat seemed anxious but he didn’t lose his temperament.
“No, you have lied to me untilnow. How could I be so blind? So stupid?” Laha didn’t want to listen to hislies any longer.
“No, Laha, it’s not truth, I’venever lied to you. I truly love you.” Dukat said and she could not understandif those words were lies or maybe he truly felt something for her.
Only echoes were crossing hermind, the voices of those Bajoran men who hung on the promenade, their prayersand the cries of all the Bajoran who were dying.
Then she just hid inside her roomand there she stayed for several days, before she took a decision.
If Terok Nor was her new home, itwould have been her grave, too.
***
Laha spent three days locked inher room and Dukat was very worried about her
He didn’t pressure her or forcedher to invite him to enter, he also called his Bajoran counsellor but it was useless.Laha didn’t want to talk with anybody.
The execution of those men hadshocked her so much that she became even unable to fall asleep without hearingtheir screams, the words of hatred the Cardassians told to them as they hang tothe rope. She could not save them, she could not do anything, she just watched themdying.
The next day, Laha decided to goout of her room, she took a sonic shower and then she kneeled and she prayedthe Prophets for her people, for Bajor and for herself. She asked to theProphets to forgive her because she had betrayed her compatriots and she feltas if she deluded the Prophets, too. She didn’t feel as a true Bajoran no more.
“Oh, dear, finally you came outof there. How are you?” Dukat asked, he seemed truly worried.
For once, his voice appearedsincere and even his grin was not sinister or lascivious. He didn’t even smile.
“I’m fine.” She said, withoutlooking at him, she just observed the space in front of the window.
“What are you doing?” he asked,he was not used to see her like that.
“I’m talking with the Prophets.”Laha said.
Since she knew Dukat, she hadstopped praying so often and she hadn’t realized it at first. Staying in thisplace made her forget about her true values. What she was before had stopped existingthe moment she fell in love with him. It was true, an awful truth.
Dukat didn’t answer and he lether pray, totally unaware of the world she had inside, of the thoughts she washaving that moment.
Laha understood. The moment hadcome.
***
Laha stood up, leaving herquarters and then she kept walking through the promanade.
She stood there, in the sameplace where those men died, where their bodies were hanging and she still feltsad for them but nothing else. She just felt anything at all.
The young Bajoran placed herhands on the handrail and she climbed it, it was a sort of ledge, she couldobserve the Cardassian guards who walked under her.
She stood up on the handrail andshe closed her eyes.
No sounds could be heard, no morevoices of desperation or cries, but only the warm embrace of the Prophets, ifthey would have ever forgiven her, was waiting for her on the other side.
Then she jumped, her body aslight as a feather but her mind so heavy, full of thoughts and worries.
Everything just disappeared.
May the Prophets forgive hersins.
***
Everything happened so fast,nobody realized it at first.
Some Cardassian guards hadpointed to her and other Bajorans that were there started screaming.
Surprisingly, the most shocked onewas Dukat, he was not there when it happened and he just saw the corpse of thewoman he loved in the sickbay, lifeless, cold and broken.
He should have known, maybe he hadsuspected it but he just ignored the signals because he was still too selfishto care about somebody else.
That same day, Dukat made Lahacorpse transported to her home on Bajor, giving Laha’s body to her father.
That was the place where sheshould have been, where she should have returned.
Dukat hoped he would haveaccompanied her there, and maybe even the occupation would have stopped and anew era would have come but reality was different from his dreams.
He was not welcome in in thathouse, nowhere on Bajor, but he felt glad he had been able to love someone likeher. Maybe she saw something good in him, not everyone was able of this, butnow everything was over and he could only mourn the death of a person he trulyloved. Because it was not a lie, not an illusion or a Cardassian trick. It waslove and it was dead, it was resting with her, in her grave.
