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Jake saw Nog up ahead on the promenade waiting for him. “Nog!” he yelled and waved, hurrying over. A lot more people were walking hand-in-hand than usual and stopping to gaze into shops that displayed Valentine's merchandise, which meant he had to go around them instead of slipping between them with an apology.
Nog turned and grinned at him. Jake came to a halt in front of him, looking down and shuffling awkwardly. He glanced over and Nog was grinning even harder.
“Hey,” Jake said, stepping closer and shoving him with his shoulder. Nog stumbled, then shoved him back with both hands. Jake's stance was solid and he was barely moved.
“Stupid Hoomans,” grumbled Nog. “Why do you have to be so tall?”
Jake bit his lip in amusement. “Stupid Ferengi. Why do you have to be so short?”
“I'm not short. I'm just right for a Ferengi.”
“Yes, you are,” Jake agreed and they both fell silent, staring at each other. Jake could feel his face getting hot.
A passerby bumped into Nog, who turned away to snarl quietly at their back. Jake took a calming breath and said, “It's too crowded here. Let's go somewhere quieter.”
Nog nodded. “How about the lower observatory?”
Jake agreed and they made their way to an elevator and took it several levels down, then wandered to the lower observatory, a large, dimly lit room with a huge space window currently facing the wormhole. There were a few other couples seated on benches enjoying the view. The boys took one of the benches along the back wall.
Nog pulled a heart-shaped box out his bag and handed it over. “Here, I got you something. Uncle Quark has these imported for the Hoomans' festival. They are selling like crazy. I heard it's romantic?”
Jake took it and smiled gently. “Thanks, Nog. I got you a present too.” He pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Nog.
Nog took it and his jaw dropped as he stared at the two thin gold strips tied together with red ribbon and a bow. “This is latinum.”
“Yeah, two strips. I almost saved enough for three but ran out of time.”
Nog looked aghast. “But... but... this is latinum. Why are you giving me latinum? Are you trying to buy my affections? You're wasting your latinum since I already like you.”
“No! I tried to research a culturally appropriate romantic gift for Ferengi, but couldn't find anything that felt right. I figured latinum is an all-occasion gift. Did I get it wrong?” Jake asked, hoping he hadn't offended Nog.
“I didn't give you latinum,” Nog said in a distressed tone. “I stole the box from my uncle's inventory. I didn't pay for it.”
Jake laughed. “Somebody's in trouble! You know he's going to find out, right?”
Nog shrugged. “I already work at the bar. He can only make me work more hours.” He started to get up. “I should go buy you something.”
“Nog!” Jake pulled him back down gently. “I like your gift. It's perfect.” He opened the box and popped one of the chocolates in his mouth, then offered the box to Nog. “Do you want a chocolate?”
Nog's eyes opened wide. “There's chocolate in there? I thought it was just a weird-shaped box.” He hesitated. “Chocolate's something married people give each other.”
Jake's eyes widened too and he blushed again. “Well, you are my boyfriend, right?” Nog slowly nodded. “I won't tell if you don't. Besides, it's a completely appropriate Human gift. You're just indulging me.” He offered the box again.
Nog looked down at the box then up at Jake. He gazed intently into Jake's eyes for a long minute, then slowly reached into the box without breaking eye contact and put a chocolate in his mouth. He might even have licked his lips. Jake felt his heart racing and he felt for a chocolate blindly and ate it. They both chewed while staring into each other's eyes.
Then, Nog broke the weirdly intense silence. “I like that you can earn enough latinum that you can afford to give me some. You will be a great earner someday.”
Jake blinked, then remembered his boyfriend was a Ferengi and that was a huge compliment. “Thank you.”
“Now you,” Nog prompted. “Every bite of chocolate means a compliment. What do you like about me?”
Oh. Jake searched for an equivalent compliment. “I like how smart you are. You're going to be a super successful entrepeneur someday.”
Nog preened. Then he took another chocolate. “You have beautiful eyes for a Hooman.”
Oh wow. This was great. Jake ate another chocolate. “You have big lobes for a Ferengi!”
Nog choked in momentary shock at Jake's daring, then laughed. “I'll have to teach you how to do Oomax then.”
“Whoa, isn't that kinda sexual? I'm not sure we're ready for that.”
Nog shrugged and leered cheerfully. “We're already doing married stuff.”
Point. Enough cultural exchange. Jake closed the chocolate box firmly. “I'm eating the rest of these myself. Alone.”
Nog pouted, until Jake added, “I will think about how much I appreciate you while I'm eating them.”
Nog snickered. “Will you be appreciating my lobes?”
Jake gasped in mock offense, and shoved Nog until he fell off the bench still laughing. Then, he fell on him, tickling him. They rolled around, wrestling and laughing, until an older Bajoran woman sitting with her husband began scolding them into behaving more politely.
Jake apologized sheepishly and Nog nodded as they got up and sat back on the bench. Nog slid closer and Jake put his arm around his shoulder and rested his head against Nog's stupid big lobes, smiling with quiet happiness.