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"I heard Cadet SAM wants into your class," Nahla laughs, stabbing down into her lettuce with a fork. "I think she'd be a great fit. Kid's got a real spark."
"She's certainly eager," replies Illa, pushing an empty plate forward. Nahla watches her lips press into her glass of water as she drinks, watches the dusting of spots just barely visible when Illa shakes her head. The reminder is always there, but no one knows how to talk about it: they're old, they've lost, they've loved, they've lost. Illa is the only person here besides the Doctor who will ever understand the agony of longevity. And she's beautiful, and she's hilarious, and she's kind. Nahla is young compared to Illa Dax, and Illa Dax's presence makes her feel that youth again after so, so many years.
Nahla wants to keep her around. She could, in theory, use her position to keep Illa close--schedule meetings to go over curriculum, one on one training sessions, maybe even sit in on a class to see exactly how she teaches the inexplicable. But even their occasional break lunches have managed to fluster Nahla--ancient, prepared, sturdy Nahla Ake, finally seen, finally witnessed, finally the younger one. Illa elicits a feeling that Nahla has not known since--
"Let me ask you something," Nahla says, wiping ranch from the corner of her mouth. "Do you enjoy teaching at Starfleet Academy?"
Illa cracks her knuckles. "I wasn't sure at first, but the fact that you let me teach - and I quote - 'whatever the hell you want, just come teach for me' - definitely helped my decision."
"Yeah, but do you enjoy it?"
She laughs, curls her hair behind her ear. The spots are bared, vulnerable once more. "Yes, I do. These cadets just keep... surprising me."
"You can say that again."
Illa gives her a wide smile. Radiant. "You've done a good job here, Nahla. It can be hard at times to teach these kids, but it's worth it." She gives a wink. "You make it that way."
Nahla coughs on a slice of cucumber, mumbles an awkward half-laugh in an attempt to soften her reaction.
"Thanks," Nahla replies. "I've got some pretty great professors helping me out."
