Twin Talk

Posted on Tue Sep 23rd, 2025 @ 4:51am by Lieutenant JG Katie Kellerman & Lieutenant JG Kally Kellerman & Senior Chief Petty Officer Jadizon Enor
Edited on on Tue Sep 23rd, 2025 @ 12:35pm

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Kally's Qarters
Timeline: Evening, after Launch

When Katie got back she'd gone to see Kally and absolutely freaked, finding out she'd been in Sickbay. She'd gotten her sister back to Kally's quarters and was fussing over her like their mother the rest of the evening.

When the chime rang, she rushed to answer it and found Jadizon there. "Hey," she said, smiling.

Jadizon lingered in the doorway, broad shoulders filling the frame.

“Hey,” he said at last, the word low and clipped. His mouth started to form something more, but he stopped himself, shutting it with a click of his jaw.

Instead, he leaned one shoulder against the frame, arms folding across his chest, black eyes fixed on Katie in a steady, unreadable stare. He didn’t press, didn’t push, he just stood there, silent and heavy with expectation, waiting to see what she’d say.

Katie frowned, looking both disappointed and nervous. "Please come in?" she said, stepping aside.

Jadizon pushed off the frame with a slow roll of his shoulders, the tension in his stance not quite leaving him. He gave Katie one last searching look before stepping inside, boots heavy on the deck.

“Yeah,” he muttered, voice low but steady. “Let’s talk.”

Kally sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees, looking at him.

His eyes flicked toward the quarters beyond her, then back to Katie, the edge in his expression softening just a fraction. “How’s she holding up?”

"She's....upset," Katie said. "Physically, she's better, though." She glanced at Kally and lowered her voice. "She filled me in on what happened with Tessa. She's torn up about it. Please don't get her too worked up, all right?" She moved back to the bed and sat next to her sister, hugging a pillow and waiting for whatever was about to hit.

Jadizon froze at Katie’s words, his jaw tightening before he started to pace, boots thudding a steady rhythm across the quarters. He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes flicking between them both, frustration plain in the set of his shoulders.

“I don’t get the two of you sometimes,” he admitted, voice low, uneven. “This… ‘twin magic’ thing. You move in lockstep, finish each other’s sentences, live your lives like you’ve got one mind in two bodies. And I get it......you do what you do, you live how you live.” He stopped, exhaling sharply through his nose. “But damned if it doesn’t leave me confused half the time.”

They frowned, glancing at each other confused, then back at him.

He slowed, turning back toward them, hands on his hips now. “I had a call with my family earlier today. Siblings, parents, the whole Enor circus. And I… I told them about you. Both of you.” His tone softened for a fleeting second before hardening again.

“They asked me if I was ready for the Zheraya’Tel. The bonding. The ritual my people hold sacred.” He let that sit, eyes narrowing. “And then I look here. At you two. Living this open life, weaving yourselves into everyone else’s messes, trying to play matchmaker for some broken couple like it’s your duty.”

Katie's mouth dropped open while Kally's eyebrows rose up, up, and up.

He fell quiet, chest rising and falling with slow, heavy breaths. Then suddenly his voice broke, rising, sharp with raw emotion:

“You’re supposed to be my mates! No one else’s!” His hands started to clenched into fists but then he released them, the force of his words filling the room. “I don't know if you are aware or not but I've engaged in the Betazoid ritual of courting. With you two. Not with the damn crew. Not with whoever stumbles into Sickbay crying about their heartbreak.”

The silence afterward hung heavy, his anger raw but rooted in something deeper hurt, fear, and a desperate need to be understood. He took a deep breath and then turned his back towards them trying to calm himself.

"Katie," Kally said, her voice quiet and steady, "please go back to your quarters and give Jadizon and I a few minutes?"

Katie looked at her sister in shock, then at Jadizon, then back at Kally. She frowned and stood up, looking between them.

"Just give us ten minutes. There's something I'd like to say to him privately," Kally said.

Katie nodded and stepped out. As the doors closed behind her, Kally fixed her gaze on Jadizon. Unlike Katie, she didn't shrink away, and unlike Katie, she was also getting mad. "Please do not speak to her like that again," she said. "She loves you more than she lets on, and that hurt her because everything you just said is about me. She has been nothing but dedicated to you. She adores you."

Jadizon froze where he stood, Kally’s words cutting deeper than he wanted to admit. His mouth started to move, some sharp retort on the edge of his tongue, but he caught it and swallowed it back down.

Instead, he stayed silent. His jaw tightened, eyes hard, but he didn’t fire back. He let her see the weight in his stare, the storm brewing just under the surface, but he didn’t give it voice.

Kally sighed and looked him in the eye. "I care for you more than most people, and not just because you're special to Katie. I like what we had and you're special to me, but...Jadizon I've never been 'in love' with someone. I don't know if I know how. And I don't know if I want to get married, or bonded or what have you. And my relationships with Cally and my friends are important to me. We've never really talked about this before. I know you talked with Katie about it, but you and I haven't, so please extend me a little bit of forgiveness for living my life."

Her face got hard. "As for Tessa and Henry, that has nothing to do with you, and I will not cut off all emotional and social interaction with people for anyone." She looked away, tears streaming. "This isn't the first time this has happened, you know," she said. "I know not everyone wants a girl in their life they share. I'm sorry I caused you pain. I never wanted to."

Jadizon’s tone was steady, but there was no hiding the weight behind it.

“Kally… I’m not blind. I know Katie’s in love with me, and I’m in love with her too. But I’m also in love with you. Both of you. That’s the truth I’ve been carrying.”

He paused, pacing once before facing her again, eyes sharp but softening at the edges. “But if you’re not ready to stand there with me, if you’d rather keep living the life you’ve chosen, then I need you to say it. Because as much as it tears at me, for the sake of how this crew sees us, I’ll have to let you live your life… without being with me.”

His jaw tightened, the silence afterward pressing heavy, waiting for her to fill it.

Kally looked down. "I...I don't want to lead you on," she said. "And if that means we can't have any kind of relationship....I hate that option too, but I'll understand." She looked up at him, crying. "Why didn't you ever tell me? Why didn't you ask me out or...or try something other than sleeping with me? I mean...yeah that's my love language but still, all those nights we shared..." She wiped her eyes. "Incidentally, you'd do well to say that to Katie now and again. She's been dying to hear it." She sat back against the headboard of her bed.

Suddenly, she let out a chuckle. "You and Henry...two peas in the same pod."

Jadizon’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t snap back. He leaned against the bulkhead, arms crossed, staring at the floor before finally looking at her.

“You think I didn’t want more?” His voice was low, edged with hurt. “Kally… I kept my distance because I thought that’s what you wanted. I thought if I pushed, I’d drive you away. So I settled for what you gave me, even if it left me wondering every damn morning if it meant anything. And yeah… maybe I should’ve said it out loud, but I’m saying it now—I wanted more than just the sheets.”

She looked up at him. "Okay. And for what it's worth, I've always cared for you more than just a sexual partner. But is there any room for compromise between our two positions?"

He let out a rough sigh, pacing once before stopping in front of her. “Compromise… yeah, maybe. But it’s gotta go both ways. I can bend, Kally, but I won’t break. If I’m standing beside you, I can’t be wondering if I’m just another name on your list of ‘close friends.’ That ain’t fair to me, and it sure as hell ain’t fair to Katie. So if you’re asking if there’s room? Maybe. But only if we’re honest about where the lines are—and if you’re willing to meet me halfway.”

She threw back the sheets and stood up, coming over to him. "I'll try and tone down my activities, but I'd like to be able to still be intimate with my close girlfriends. Cally's important to me. Maybe, we could try something more open, all of us? Katie only wants you, but on my side of the equation, you join me for fun sometimes. I work to repress my urges more and you learn to share me a little? Best of both worlds? But no matter what, please understand one very, very important thing."

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. "Nothing I have done with anyone on this ship has in any way lessened the affection I have for you, and nothing could. You're a good man, and I enjoy our time together. I don't know if that's love, but it's how I feel."

He let her hug him, stiff at first, then slowly returned the embrace with one arm across her back, his chin resting against her hair. His other hand stayed clenched at his side, fighting the storm inside him. “I hear you,” he said finally, gravel in his voice. “And I believe you mean it. But understand this, Kally, sharing you with the crew, with your ‘close girlfriends’? That’s not what I signed up for. If I try to walk that path, it’s because I care for you, not because it’s easy for me. Don’t mistake the two.”

He pulled back just enough to meet her eyes, his expression raw. “Katie’s in love with me. I’m in love with her. And I love you too, even if you can’t say it back. That’s the truth. But if I’m gonna learn to share you, you damn well better make sure it’s worth the cost.”

Kally nodded. She wanted to discuss what he meant by cost, but she realized they needed to expand the conversation. She put her finger to her lips and pulled away, walking over to her bedroom door and hitting the manual controls. The doors opened and Katie gave a shriek of surprise as her listening position caused her to fall to the floor. Kally folded her arms as Katie got to her feet and dusted herself off, putting her nose in the air and walking over to a chair, pulling it to the bed and sitting down, tucking her legs under herself.

Kally grabbed the other chair and pulled it over for Jadizon and then sat down on her bed, legs criss-crossed, facing them. "We need to talk this out," she said. "We've let this go too long, and we should just get it all out now."

"All right," Katie said and looked at Jadizon. "I've...been wanting to tell you how I feel for a bit now," she said. "The times you've opened up to me, the connection I've felt to you felt so deep and so strong. But when you close off, you really close off." She looked at Kally. "I love you, I always will, but you can be a real idiot when it comes to love and how people feel for you." She sighed. "And I know I can be a bit naive, and a bit insecure. Not a good combination between the three of us."

She looked between Kally and Jadizon. "Since you two had a moment to talk, I'd like to ask some questions." She looked at Kally. "Do you ever want to get married? Have a family? Any of that?" She looked at Jadizon. "And if we continued this way, what about you? We both marry you? We both have your kids?" She looked back at Kally. "You and I both know the Three Musketeers are fun for you, but are they more important than how you feel about us? Or...anyone else?" She didn't want to call anyone out, but they were rapidly getting past the point of politeness. She looked back at Jadizon. "And you want us to share, but you can't share her with someone else she cares for? I get that you love us both, but if you can be open enough to love two people, why can't she? And is my love for you enough on its own? What if she decides she can't do this, and it's just me? Am I a backup? Or would you love me wholeheartedly, no regrets, no resentment? Because I can't sit here, tell you I love you and get into something serious if down the road this all blows up over her." She was trying so hard not to cry, but her emotions were getting the better of her.

"At the risk of presumptuously answering on his behalf," Kally said, glancing at Jadizon. "Our situation is different from me sharing him with...someone," she said. "We're....well we're us. Kind of a package deal. We've already got this close bond that--"

"Kal," Katie sighed. "I know what we have together but..." she shook her head. "We can't just hide behind that. Let him speak his mind." She held out her hand towards Jadizon. "I know you won't lie to me, so I won't get all dramatic and 'demand the truth' or whatever. Just...be open with me."

Jadizon froze a moment, eyes flicking between the two sisters, Katie’s hand outstretched toward him like it carried all the weight in the quadrant. He dragged in a breath, rubbed the back of his neck, and finally stepped closer, his voice gravel but low, measured.

“…Katie, I—I’m not gonna dance around this,” he started, then stopped, jaw flexing. “I want you. I want both of you. And if that makes me sound selfish, then… hell, maybe I am. But it’s not about trying to...” he gestured vaguely, struggling for words, “.....monopolize, or collect, or whatever else. It’s about what I feel. And what I feel is real.”

He shifted, uneasy, then met her eyes again. “There’s an old Earth saying, about wanting your cake and… ice cream too. And yeah, maybe that’s me. Because I don’t just want one. I want both. You’re different, but together, it feels like something whole.”

Katie's eyes watered. It wasn't the response she'd hoped for, but she understood his feelings.

He faltered, looking down at her hand before he carefully took it. His thumb brushed against her palm as he went on. “But listen… if it ever came down to it, if I had to choose Katie, it’s you. It’s always been you. You’re not some… backup, or second place. You’re not a consolation prize. If Kally decides she can’t, or won’t—then it’s still you. I’ll stand with you. Wholeheartedly. No regrets. No resentment.” His voice cracked, but he pressed on. “I’ll give you everything I’ve got left.”

Katie blinked, realizing what he'd said and her chest swelled as she squeezed his hand.

He glanced at Kally, then back to Katie, swallowing hard. “I’ll accept the bond. The real Betazoid one. Zheraya’Tel. I’ll do it with you, Katie because I love you. And Kally, I love you too. But if you can’t meet me there... if you need to live your life the way you do—then I’ll let you. No shame, no anger. But I can’t keep guessing where I stand anymore.”

He paused, stammering faintly as if searching for the last words. “…So, yeah. That’s my truth. I want you both. But if it can only be one… then Katie, it’s you.”

He squeezed her hand once, firm, before finally falling silent, eyes locked on hers, bracing for whatever came back.

Katie grabbed his shoulders and jumped, wrapping her arms and legs around him, hugging him tightly and kissing him.

Jadizon caught her with a grunt, steadying his stance so they didn’t topple over. Her kiss hit him hard unexpected and fierce and for the first time in days, he let himself melt into it. His arms circled her, one hand pressing against her back, the other hooking under her leg to keep her held up tight. When he finally broke for air, his forehead rested against hers, breath ragged but voice steady.

"I love you too," Katie said, breathing hard.

“Guess that answers my question,” he muttered, a crooked grin tugging at his mouth before he kissed her again, softer this time, like sealing the promise he’d just made.

Kally looked on and smiled at her sister, happy to see her happy. She watched Jadizon and she thought about his proposal. About giving up the life of intimacy and expression she'd lived. She thought about Katie's questions, and as she thought it over, she realized she wanted to talk to someone about it, and the more she wanted that, the more she realized why she felt so conflicted.

She stood up and walked over to them as Katie dropped back to the floor. She pulled Katie in and kissed her deeply, hugging her tight. "I love you so much," she said.

Katie hugged her back and rubbed her back comfortingly. "I know," she said, laughing. "I love you too."

Kally then turned and reached up, putting her hand on Jadizon's cheek, giving him a deep, serious look. "Of all the people on this ship, there are very, very few I can say I love in any capacity, and two of them are in this room with me. But I don't know if I can love you the way you need me to. I need...." She took a breath and thought. "Give me two days? Let me wrestle with some feelings and make my decision, and we'll have some closure on this, all right?"

Jadizon gave her hand one last squeeze before letting it drop, stepping back just enough to glance between both sisters. A wry grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, his tone lightening though his eyes still carried the weight of everything they’d shared.

“So…” he drawled, folding his arms across his chest. “Are you two ready to meet my family?”

The question hung there, half-serious, half-daring—like he already knew what kind of storm that introduction would be.

The girls looked at each other, eyebrows raised, each of them wondering how their own parents would take to the news they'd been jointly dating the same man.

Jadizon let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck. “All right… after this talk, I’ve had a day. Before I came down here I had to go ahead and let Henry out of the brig. Had to make that call. I've still gotta update the Cap’n.”

He paused, looking at both of them, the weight of the conversation still lingering. Then he cracked the faintest grin, shaking his head.

“Can’t wait for ya’ll to meet my family,” he said, half a sigh, half a chuckle—like he knew exactly how wild that storm was going to be.

Kally let out a huge sigh of relief at hearing Henry had been released. "Thank you," she said, honestly. "I'll inform Cally if you want, since this was largely my fault." She looked pained. "And I'm so sorry I caused your day to be this stressful." She stepped up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

"You should be," Katie admonished her, folding her arms. "Shame on you." She got a wicked glint in her eyes however, and looked at her sister.

Kally caught the look and grinned, but then looked cautiously at Jadizon. "She's right," she said, slowly. "I really should make it up to you. We both should. And, technically, if we're giving things forty-eight hours...." She gave him a playful smile. "Might as well put some of that time to good use."

Jadizon stood there a moment, jaw tight, the weight of the day still hanging heavy on him. He let out a long exhale, shaking his head slightly.

“You two,” he muttered, half-scolding, half-worn. His eyes softened though, the edge of his anger finally breaking under their smiles. “Stars help me, you’re trouble.”

He gave a small, tired grin and added, “But… maybe trouble worth putting some of that time to good use.” He reached out, brushing his thumb across Kally’s cheek before glancing at Katie. “Don’t think for a second I’m letting either of you off easy for the headaches you give me, though.”

He chuckled low, the sound rough but warmer now. “Come on then—let’s see where this forty-eight hour takes us.”

The two of them grinned and each jumped up, kissing both of his cheeks and pushing him to Kally's bed, intent on working every ounce of tension out of him and earning his forgiveness.