Morning After

Posted on 2025, Thu Sep 18th, @ 9:55am by Major Alexander Stroud & Civilian Queen Kaitaama XII

650 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: Shadows Over Krios - USS Vigilance
Location: Krios Prime – Princess Kaitaama’s Quarters
Timeline: Morning after the moonlit connection
Tags: Krios Prime, Princess Kaitaama, Major Stroud, USS Vigilance, Marine Detachment, Personal Security, Slow-Burn Romance, Mutual Attraction, Full Imprinting, Morning After, Emotional Intimacy, Tender Moments, Reflection, Professionalism, 2402

The first light of Krios Prime’s twin suns filtered through the latticework windows of the princess’s quarters, casting soft golden patterns across the floor. Princess Kaitaama stirred first, eyes tracing the outline of Major Alexander Stroud as he sat quietly on the edge of the bed, posture straight, yet tension softened by the intimacy of the previous night.

Stroud had never anticipated a moment like this. His career in Starfleet Marines had been built on discipline, duty, and the understanding that personal attachments were liabilities in the field. Yet here he was — not just near someone he cared for, but imprinted with someone whose presence had become essential. His chest tightened at the thought, and for the first time in years, he allowed himself a quiet, private acknowledgment: he had never thought he would find anyone worth this kind of devotion. That longing, that need to protect and cherish, had always been directed toward duty — until Kaitaama.

“You’re awake,” she murmured softly, turning to regard him with a gentle smile, hair tousled, eyes glowing with the warmth of morning.

“I am,” he replied, voice low, still careful, still disciplined, yet softer than it had been in months. “I… trust you rested.”

She nodded, moving closer to sit beside him, the proximity natural, intimate, and familiar. Her hand brushed lightly against his, almost an afterthought, yet it carried weight — comfort, connection, and acknowledgment.

“I… didn’t expect any of this,” he admitted quietly, the words rare and heavy with vulnerability. “I joined the Marines to protect others, to dedicate myself to something greater than myself. But I never imagined… finding someone who makes that dedication personal. Someone I want to protect… for their own sake.”

Kaitaama’s eyes softened, a quiet understanding passing between them. “And now you have,” she said gently. “And I… I’ve never felt so sure of anything in my life. Not duty, not protocol, not even my responsibilities as princess. With you, it feels… inevitable.”

He exhaled, a long, controlled breath, trying to center himself even as his mind raced with emotion. “This connection… this imprinting… it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I’ve trained for danger, for unpredictability, for chaos. But this… this is something entirely new. And I can’t ignore it.”

Her hand slipped fully into his, fingers entwining as naturally as if they had always belonged together. “Then don’t,” she whispered. “We don’t have to fight it. We just… be. Together, here, now.”

They sat in quiet companionship, the world outside the windows fading away. Stroud allowed himself to linger in the moment, brushing his thumb over her knuckles, savoring the tangible proof of the bond that had formed overnight. He realized that his career, his years of discipline, had led him here — to someone who made all the rules he lived by worth breaking, if only in small ways.

Kaitaama leaned her head against his shoulder, a subtle gesture of intimacy, her trust and desire mirrored in the steady strength he offered. They didn’t speak again for a long moment; words were unnecessary. Each glance, each touch, each shared breath spoke louder than any conversation could.

For Stroud, it was a revelation. He had always believed that duty and discipline defined his life. Now, he understood that love — deep, consuming, inevitable — could coexist with duty, could even enhance it. He had never known he could feel this way, nor that someone like Kaitaama could exist for him. And yet here she was, in every sense, and he could not imagine the morning — or any morning — without her by his side.

And so they sat together, a quiet, unshakable understanding threading between them, building a foundation that would endure far longer than a single night. The imprinting had created more than attraction; it had sparked a profound connection, intimate and tender, personal and unbreakable.

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