[DURING A PAUSE FROM A BRIEFING]

DUKAT: [sighing warmly] Why don't you just ... let it go Major?

KIRA: [looking upward with a glare] Let WHAT go Dukat?

DUKAT: Come now ... [sharp smile] We've been dancing around this mute dialogue for far to long ... and now that we are together--

KIRA: [cutting in furiously] We're NOT together ... get that through your head, we're simply on the same damned station because there was not other way.

DUKAT: [waving dismissively] Come now Major ... don't tell me you stayed here because of some irrevocable urge to free your people once again? You know it's not going to work this time.

KIRA: [slamming a PADD on his desk] Dukat, what more do you want from me? I'm here, I'm working for you under new Bajoran law ...

DUKAT: [intense stare] I want more, Nerys.

KIRA: [steaming] Call me that again and I'll break another cup over that miserable head of yours.

DUKAT: [amused smile] You know, in Klingon culture that's taken as a request for mating.

KIRA: In mine, it relays an intense hatred for the one on the receiving end. [furiously gathering all her PADDs] If we're finished here--

DUKAT: [sighing] Major, you've got me all wrong.

KIRA: [sardonically] Do I?

DUKAT: Yes. [standing up to gaze thoughtfully out of the window] I admit I've done some terrible deeds in my ti-

KIRA: Oh SPARE me the song Dukat! [standing up as well] The routine is old. It might have NEARLY succeeded back when you were fighting the Klingons, but it sure as Hell doesn't now. I'm here against my will, get that across your thick head. What your people are doing is recreating another Occupation.

DUKAT: [glancing over his shoulder, eyes glaring] We are rebuilding Cardassia.

KIRA: [staring incredulously] By enslaving my people?

DUKAT: [growing angry] We need laborers!

KIRA: Why you bloody-- [hurls herself across the room in the evident intent to strangle the breath from him]

DUKAT: [catches her easily with a rich chuckle] Ah, finally you come to your senses ... [sweeps down for a bruising kiss]

KIRA: [sends a swift kick to his groin] Get the fuck away from me.

DUKAT: [bends slightly in pain, then straightens up with a furious snarl] You can't talk to me like that, Bajoran.

KIRA: [equally snarling] Watch me. [stalks out the door]

DUKAT: [rubbing his injured groin, and helping his arousal in the procees] I'm definitely melting her down.

WEYOUN: [from the shadows] Whatever you say.

DUKAT: [rolling his eyes to the ceiling, a look of irritated suffering on his face] Do I get ANY sort of privacy around here?

WEYOUN: [looks on innocently]

The End