Reader is short, and Dukat flirts the way Cardassians do. (Meaning, he’s an ass about it.) Cross-posted to AO3 here.
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Dukat (ST:DS9) x short!Reader
[A/N: The idea for this was given to me by @android-boyfriends, so thank you, fren! I hope I did it justice!]
Warnings: Cardassian flirting (aka: two people pissing each other off until they slap and/or kiss each other), and a bit of swearing.
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The first feeling that coursed through me when I saw Dukat walk into Quark’s Bar was dread. Every time the Cardassian saw me, he made a point of needling me about my height. Just because I was shorter than him by a few inches - okay, several inches - he thought it was necessary to mock me about it. I tried to skirt around a group of Ferengi waiters before he could see me, but it was too late. I’d been spotted.
“Ah, there you are, Lieutenant,” Dukat called with a devious smile on his lips. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”
“Dukat,” I muttered with a polite smile already in place as he strode over with all the arrogance of his military position. He gave me a smirk and turned to face Quark.
“A glass of kanar for me and a Samarian Sunset for the Lieutenant,” Dukat called, and just as Quark turned to grab the alcohol, something heavy pressed against the top of my head. Turning my head ever so slightly, I saw that the Gul was leaning his arm on my head. He turned and looked down at me with a gleeful smile.
I spluttered in indignance.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” I asked before knocking his arm off my head with the back of my hand.
“You’re the perfect height for an armrest. Oh, now don’t tell me you have a short temper,” he quipped before bursting out laughing. A few of the other patrons heard his comment and started laughing as well, and I took a deep breath.
This wasn’t the first time he’d made such a comment, and yet he acted like it was the funniest, most original line that had ever come out of his mouth. He was beyond infuriating. I couldn’t murder Dukat. I couldn’t...could I?
“What’s wrong, Lieutenant? It’s hard work being a Gul of my stature. Surely, you wouldn’t mind if I took a short rest?” He quipped, and as he started laughing once more, I snapped.
“Keep talking and I’ll knock the smirk off your arrogant, Cardassian face,” I growled up at him, but that only made him practically wheeze.
“W-Would you like me to help? I could lift you up so you can reach my face if you like. Otherwise, you might have a bit of trouble on your own,” he offered with condescending mirth in his voice.
I saw red. He wanted a slap? Oh, he’d get one. Grabbing him by the front of his chest plate, I shoved him back onto one of the stools at the bar and stepped up on one of its rungs so we were finally eye-to-eye.
“Oh, very good! I’m almost intimid–” Dukat broke off with a grunt as my hand connected with the side of his face issuing a resounding crack of flesh on flesh. The entire bar went silent as he turned his head back to face me, surprise written all over his features. That was enough to bring me back to my senses.
What had I done? I’d struck a Gul. I could be arrested for assault. Hell, if this became a diplomatic incident, I could lose my commission! We looked at each other for a tense, silent moment each wondering what the other was going to do next. A hungry look from Dukat was all the warning I had before one of his strong arms was wrapping around my waist and tugging me against his chest. A startled little yelp escaped me but was swallowed up by his lips as he kissed me.
Just like that, all my anger faded away, and I let myself fall into the kiss. I couldn’t even say why that appeased me, it just...did. Maybe it was the tension that had been building between the two of us for the last few months, or maybe it was the heat of the moment. Either way, as quickly as it had begun, Dukat pulled back and took in my pliantly stunned expression.
“I must applaud your initiative, little one,” he murmured looking like the cat who got the cream. “Now...are you still angry?”
“You’re fucking infuriating,” I murmured before dragging him into an ill-advised second kiss. Half the patrons applauded and the other half seemed confused about what had just happened, but neither of us paid any mind.
Interesting how they never had Garak and Ziyal do the arguing flirting because then it would have become glaringly obvious that they're not equals and not in any way suited to each other (even discounting the age gap)
