By T’Yanna

Codes: VOY C/Tu

Rating: NC-17

Disclaimer: All things Trek belong to Paramount. They have that and I have nothing worth getting in a lawsuit.

Spoilers: Mild ones from "Night" and "Alter Ego."

Summary: Commanders Chakotay and Tuvok examine and modify their current situation.

~/\~
Distance was a good thing when you had something to hide. Unfortunately, Commander Chakotay did and he resented his displacement even as he reveled in it.

He’d come to realize that he felt things, powerful things, for a member of the crew that was more than just friendship or respect. Of course, there was no way he could ever show what was rattling around his head and heart.

Long before the incident in the Void, the commander had come to think of Tuvok as more than just a security office and former spy. Now, however, his musings were about more than competence and an odd sense of literal humor that he enjoyed.

Not for the first time, Chakotay wished that he could master the same emotional detachment that his obsession possessed. He laughed to himself. Like I could ask him to teach me…

~/\~
Voyager swept through space on its journey home. Most of the crew aboard never saw or heard about the by-plays on the bridge. In fact, most of the bridge crew didn’t even notice.

However, Captain Kathryn Janeway and Ensign Tom Paris noticed the many glances the seemingly oblivious Tuvok kept getting from the first officer when the latter thought no one was looking.

The captain wouldn’t have seen if Chakotay didn’t fidget just before and after, like a man nervous of being caught scoping out an armory before he robbed it. It amused her to see the reserved commander show his human side.

The pilot meanwhile was beyond amused. He’d figured out the looks the minute he’d seen them reflecting off the helm. He doubted the captain had by her odd expression. This could be fun…

~/\~
"Detachment is the key."

Chakotay sat in his office over lunch, repeating that over and over. He wasn’t hungry, hadn’t been for a while, even though he still ate more often than not.

What had really killed his appetite was the look Tom had given him in the ‘lift. He knew. How, the commander wasn’t sure. The man sat with his back to the rest of the bridge all day, and yet, he knew.

This couldn’t go on. He had to get over this. There could never be anything between them. Tuvok was married for Spirits’ sake. Besides which, if he did want to become involved with someone there was Vorik who would be much better able to understand him.

"Detachment is the key."

That and keeping his eyes forward.

~/\~
He should have known that he couldn’t be that lucky. He should have known that personal crisis always coincide with some sort of work problem.

This time it wasn’t exactly a problem. They’d found a species with a vast colony network that was willing to trade foodstuffs and maps in return for some medical assistance on a damaged freighter.

He would have been excited except he was stuck in a shuttlecraft with the Doctor, Tom Paris and Tuvok. He and the commander would help with repairs on their new ally’s ship.

He was sure that they would be split up then and he’d be okay, but it would take them half an hour to get there and Tom seemed determine to use that time to subtly tease him.

He was sure that if a person didn’t know what the razzing was about, he’d never figure it out. Than again, the look on his face when they arrived had to have been one of extreme embarrassment.

~/\~
Commander Tuvok nodded in appreciation of the fine work being done around him. This crew was competent but too small for this size craft.

"Excuse me, sir?"

He turned to look at a small Marq’an male. On a whole, this was a short species. They seemed awed by the stature of away team. He theorized that even Captain Janeway would be beyond their height range.

"Yes?"

"Sol Nev has asked me to accompany you to crawl way D-98 and aid you in repairs there."

Tuvok nodded while mentally he nearly shuddered to think what this little people considered a "crawl" space. He was soon to learn that it was not as bad as he had thought it would be.

He could fit, barely, and his movements with the tools was somewhat hindered. However, sealing the ruptures there went faster than he had expected.

"Can I ask you a question, sir?"

He nodded. This was not an overly informal group so he was certain that he would be able to answer.

"What is it like to work with one’s mate?"

"Mate?" Tuvok had no idea where this had come from. Who could this man think was his mate? More importantly, why would he think that?

"Commander Chakotay, of course. He looks at you as a mate should and gives off the scent of one who has been claimed. He smells as if he’s been mated to one of your species, unless you are scented differently."

"No. I am not." Chakotay? That would explain the looks the commander had been throwing him and the conversation Mr. Paris had inflicted on him in the shuttle. Interesting.

"I was wondering if it distracts you from your duty."

He found himself answering before he could think better of it. "No, we try to maintain a measure of detachment while we are on duty."

He laughed. "It looks to me that you are more successful than he is."

"Yes. So it would appear."

~/\~
Four days later, the shuttle "Moran" returned to Voyager. The organic members of the away team were all stiff and glad to be able to stand upright.

Captain Janeway and Neelix met them, despite the late hour. An odd combination that raised more than just a Vulcan eyebrow.

"Gentlemen, welcome back. I’ll expect full reports from you all first thing in the morning."

Neelix excitedly chatter about the oddities of the Marq’an culture while the crew that had spent time with them tried to humor him. Only thoughts of being able to sleep stretched out kept Paris and Chakotay from scrunching him down into a gola ball, a Marq’an symbol of friendship.

~/\~
Chakotay leaned against the back of his couch. He was back aboard Voyager, away from Tom Paris’ teasing and with a new powerful ally but he couldn’t get beyond the idea that something was wrong.

He’d tried to meditate and failed. He’d finished his report in record time, gone to work out in the gym and still he was unable to sleep. He just couldn’t get his mind to relax. He’d tried the shower, music, everything.

All he could concentrate on was the fact that something was terribly wrong.

He couldn’t find it, however. The commander had checked the status of the ship six times from replicater power to engines and everything was fine. He was being to wonder if all the bumps on the head that he’d gotten on the Marq’an vessel had done damage.

Just then, the chime to his door sounded. He was very surprised when Janeway entered at his summons.

"I’m sorry to disturb you, Chakotay."

"It’s quite alright. Is something the matter?"

She nodded but seemed reluctant to talk about it. So, the tall first officer offered her coffee.

Soon she spoke. "I’m concerned about Tuvok."

Oh no. "Has something happened?"

Again, she looked uncomfortable. "He went to sickbay a couple of hours ago and has already been released. Apparently T’Pel had their bond broke so that she could enter into another."

"Is that possible?" Why would she break a life bond especially after they’d contacted the Federation and she knew Tuvok was live? Why now?

"Apparently. Tuvok seemed almost relieved but his time is in just over eighteen months and with no bond, even one as weak as his was at this distance, the chances of him dying are twice as great."

Chakotay didn’t know how to respond. This wasn’t a conversation he’d ever thought to have. Poor Tuvok.

However, this did mean that the tactical officer was free to enter a new relationship. That still didn’t mean that he was interested at all in one with the commander or anyone else.

~/\~
Tuvok settled onto his bed and looked up at his ceiling. He had had a very long meditation and had reached some very important decisions. He was not overly saddened that he no longer shared a bond with T’Pel.

In fact, he was relieved that he need not worry about taking a new mate for his Pon Farr. He smiled, very slightly, into the dark. Thanks to the Marq’an he knew who he would choose.

~/\~
Commander Chakotay resisted the urge to bang his head into the wall of the turbolift. In the two months since their encounter with the Marq’an, he’d managed to avoid Tuvok as much as possible.

Now, just as he was beginning to feel the detachment he thought he needed, he was going to be stuck in a shuttlecraft with him for two weeks.

The captain had insisted and nothing he could say would deter her. He drew a steadying breath as the ‘lift approached the docking bay.

This was a simple but long survey mission. He could do this.

~/\~
The Vulcan observed Chakotay carefully. His unease had been apparent since the moment he had stepped aboard.

The conversation had been to a bare minimum, which was a refreshing change from Mr. Paris’ style. However, this type of mission should have warranted more interactions.

It was as if the commander was making a concerted effort to ignore him. It was effective. They were already half an hour ahead of schedule.

However, Tuvok was not pleased. He had hoped that this forced closeness would lead to the opening of a discussion on the Human’s part, allowing them time to come to terms with the situation without the hectic environment of Voyager interfering.

That did not appear likely. He frowned almost imperceptibly at the younger man’s back. He would have preferred to not be the aggressor at this time.

It would take nine hours to reach the next planetoid after they finished with this one. That would be sufficient time to breach the subject.

~/\~
Chakotay didn’t feel like eating. He knew, however, that arguing with Tuvok over it wouldn’t help his already unsteady equilibrium.

So there he sat with a cup of soup in his hand, when the Vulcan said, "Commander, I would like to share a personal anecdote with you."

He glanced up, surprised. "You mean engage in irrelevant conversation? That hardly seems like you."

"I do not classify this as irrelevant."

He sat his cup down and leant into listen. He was half disappointed; half relieved that Tuvok only wanted to talk about this mission.

His mental teeter-totter came to a crashing halt as the Vulcan’s words penetrated his brain. Embarrassment flooded his mind and his cheeks as he listened with growing horror to the recanting of Tuvok’s conversation with the Marq’an engineer.

"Commander, I would like to know what your intentions are."

~/\~
Tuvok did a most un-Vulcan-like thing. He sighed as Chakotay’s head hit the floor. He had not expected the man to take his announcement so harshly.

He hauled the commander to the nearest bunk as gently as he could given the man’s bulk. He sighed again as he settled onto the bunk opposite him.

He realized then that he should have waited until the conclusion of the mission. However, what was done was done. All he could do now was wait.

~/\~
Chakotay groaned. Part of his mind was screaming for him not to wake up; that something was terribly wrong. His muddled brain couldn’t recall what.

He opened his eyes to see the bulkhead over the bunks. He frowned. He didn’t remember going to bed. How had he gotten there?

He heard a noise and slowly turned his head. He saw Tuvok’s reflection through the slight visibility the energy shield allowed. Memory flooded back.

He closed his eyes and strangled a groan. The older man must hate him. Any chance he’d ever had with him was ruined. This was a nightmare. For Tuvok to find out was bad enough but in such a way… It was beyond humiliating.

He felt more than heard the other man come into the room. It was too much to hope that the Vulcan wouldn’t realize he was conscious.

"I would continue our conversation when you are ready."

"How about never?" Chakotay could have bit off his own tongue. Where was his control? He never said the first thing to cross his mind, except that day, apparently.

"Unacceptable."

He opened his eyes and sat up slowly, thankful that the security officer wasn’t the kind to punch his lights out, not that he needed help blacking out, obviously.

"I’m sorry, Tuvok. It was never my intention for you to find out."

The silence that followed his statement began to wear on his nerves. He finally looked at the other man. His breath caught.

He’d dreamed of having those intense eyes focus upon him alone. He could hear his mother’s wise voice saying, "Be careful what you wish for."

What would you say if I told you I found it…. flattering?"

The air he’d been holding whooshed out of his mouth as shock flooded his brain as if a damn had burst somewhere up there. He stared at the older man, then said the only thing that came to mind.

"I wouldn’t know what to say?"

Tuvok hesitated. He slowly nodded. "Then you would not have an answer if I asked you to act on your feelings. Let us ignore this conversation."

The older man had stood up from the other bunk, before Chakotay’s mind clicked. "Wait. Would you ask me?"

"Yes. However, you are confused so I will not."

The older man didn’t move as the commander took it all in. He drew in his strength and asked, "And if I weren’t confused?"

Tuvok sighed, shocking him. "I would enter into a relationship with the purpose of making you my bondmate. However, you are uncertain, so it would be best if we acted as if this conversation never occurred."

In the instant it took him to make sense of those words, he was on his feet, gripping the man’s arm. He wasn’t confused. He wanted to be with Tuvok.

"Ask me. Don’t make me make that an order."

~/\~
Tuvok, of course, did not respond as Chakotay had requested. Instead, he rose one eyebrow, drawing the other man’s attention to the endless pools of brown that were his eyes.

The commander took the initiative and kissed the Vulcan, startling him. He had seen Humans engage in such activity but had never thought that he would do so. It was not an unpleasant experience.

Rationally, he could understand why Humans could find it erotic. Indeed, it was a rather stimulating form of contact. He reveled in the sensation of Chakotay’s tongue gliding over his lips.

Tuvok weakly echoed the younger man’s intense moan as his mouth was invaded with a questing lick. The Human’s body temperature was just enough below his own that the touch to the roof of his mouth was teasingly cool compared to the heat of the embrace they were engaged in.

Tuvok was surprised to find the commander’s lips so warm and the hands that touched him to feel so feverish. The evidence of Chakotay’s arousal pressed into his thigh, yet he still startled when his rear was squeezed harshly.

To show the younger man that he was still in control of the situation, he pulled his lips free causing his lover to groan in disappointment. The sound became a yelp when he bit the ear nearest him; not hard enough to draw blood but hard nonetheless, and ruthlessly pinched the man’s bottom.

While Chakotay stilled in shock, Tuvok pushed him down onto the bunk. He quickly straddled his hips and yanked his uniform and undershirt out of the way. He then proceeded to mercilessly tickle the younger man’s ribs.

Laughter filled the shuttle as Chakotay twist helplessly under his lover’s fingers. He was seriously beginning to fear for his bladder control when he managed to draw enough breath to utter, "Stop… order you."

Tuvok did stop, leaning down to tease his nipple gently with teeth and tongue. When his lover was breathless with passion instead of laughter, he raised his head. He stared into the dilated brown eyes, so like his own, and smiled.

"You are not the superior officer when we are in bed. Here, we are equals, Chakotay." Hands drifted from where they had been gently stroking his sides, to rest on the commander’s face.

~/\~
Chakotay gasp. Images flooded through his mind. He saw every event of Tuvok’s life. There was more than that. He felt the emotions his lover controlled in all their intensity. Through it, all there was a rolling mass of thought, logic and perception.

Using techniques that he’d learned as a child, he centered his mind. He’d never imagined that a mindmeld would be so like a vision quest. They were both immense experiences that give a new understanding but that take time to freely grasp the whole of it.

Just as he was beginning to gain control over the tidal waves in his mind, he felt an outward flood. Everything that he acquainted with his sense of self and more rushed along the connection into Tuvok’s mind.

His sense of who the man before him was had sharpened to a razor fine edge. If anything that strengthened his desire to be with him. He wouldn’t want him to share this closeness with anyone else.

"There is no one else."

Chakotay jumped. Somehow, he knew he had not heard those words. They’d come over this new connection. That realization made him smile. He decided to try it himself, "Prove it."

~/\~
Tuvok smiled. So his young lover wanted to play, did he? This pleased him immensely. The one thing that T’Pel had complained about in their marriage was his illogical behavior in bed.

He, however, thought it logical to be… creative. Hopefully, Chakotay would agree. With that in mind, he sent the commander a series of erotic images featuring the two of them.

His eyes popped open. It took him a second, then he grinned. "I’m not sure some of those are physically possible, but I’m willing to try if you are."

He slowly broke the meld. He captured his lover’s sigh with his lips. This time his tongue went exploring. It glided over strong, even teeth; danced along the rough roof of his mouth; toyed briefly with the pearly pink tongue; and finally withdrew to lick at the parted lips of his lover.

He moved to nibble on the point of Chakotay’s chin. Gently, slowly, working his way back to an ear, he licked and sucked and teased until the man beneath him’s already uneven breath was coming in even rougher.

Suddenly, he found himself on his back with a smug looking commander over him. "My turn."

A mouth latched onto the point of his ear, chewing and suckling. Tuvok jerked and moaned deep in his throat. He never would have guessed that it was an erogenous zone.

The moan evolved into a growl as his lover drew back to blow on the area he had been teasing. Chakotay grinned. Tuvok could feel it against his neck where the younger man began to nuzzle.

Usually a fan of slow, the Vulcan was surprised to feel a strong sense of urgency. Nevertheless, he reached up and began to tease his lover’s nipples. Chakotay moaned and began to move against him. The feel of Tuvok’s erection aligning with his own, even through so many layers seemed to ignite the commander.

He reared back and hastily pulled his uniform jacket and undershirt off and flung them into the cockpit. Tearing desperately at Tuvok’s uniform, he took his lips in a hard demanding kiss.

He returned it but more gently. His hands stroked the younger man’s flushed back and chest, calming and soothing him. Slowly, the commander came back to himself.

He pulled back shyly to laugh nervously when he saw the mess he’d made of the familiar fasteners. Chakotay was still embarrassed that he could loose control so easily.

Tuvok smiled. He had known the commander had very intense feelings for him. He hesitated at calling it love, because he knew the younger man had not named it himself.

However, he had never had a lover that manifested that in the physical. He lifted Chakotay’s head and smiled into his eyes. "I believe it would be logical to divest of our clothing, now."

The commander’s flush deepened, but he nodded vigorously.

~/\~
Chakotay fidgeted with the fasteners to his pants. He and Tuvok were now standing face to face. He didn’t understand his sudden apprehension.

He’d never been overly modest. He knew that this was going to be a serious relationship, which was his preference. He hadn’t been this nervous when he’d lost his virginity, twenty-plus years before.

It wasn’t like he’d never had a male lover before. That relationship hadn’t lasted and they hadn’t done much in the bedroom, but he’d always been comfortable with his body. Then again, he’d never been this aroused, this fast.

He loved kissing but never had it made him feel this uncontrollable need. Never, had he been reduced to a mush-brained set of fumbling fingers. All of his experiences in the past had been wonderful, but none of his other lovers had turned his blood to liquid fire. He was almost afraid that he’d be scorched.

Some sardonic part of his mind snorted. That part wasn’t surprised. Everything Tuvok made him feel was extreme. That part knew that this sudden shyness was from being overwhelmed. He’d always felt affection for his lovers, but he’d never been in love with one of them, until this time. He’d always been faithful and committed, but he’d never known that it was leading to a life-long relationship. He’d always felt close to his lovers, but never as if they were two sides on one coin, until this time.

"Chakotay, if you would prefer, we could wait." His head snapped up. He looked into the understanding eyes before him. Then his eyes drifted down. Tuvok was bare-chested, exposing wonderful dark skin.

He shuddered thinking of the feel of all that achingly taunt flesh against his own. It had to feel as silken as it looked. Smooth, flawless, a rich chocolate brown; not even his fantasy had been this beautiful. He was perfect in a way that reminded him of the glorious racehorses of Earth with their sleek grace and amazing courage and endurance.

All moisture left his mouth. He stared, awestruck at muscles displayed so enticingly. He could all but feel the strength stored and controlled before him. With each breath, they rippled, dancing the pattern of light and shadow, teasing Chakotay’s awareness. A thrill shot up his spine, part fear part excitement, at the thought of all that power wrapped around him.

His hand moved to touch the bounty before him. The sight of his skin, pale against Tuvok’s arrested his movement. He'd had lovers who said that the contrast of skin color could be fascinating. He'd never thought so before. He'd never thought of or seen himself as paler than anyone before, either. The thought of what they'd look like, a dark body wrapped around a paler form, made him smile and sigh with pleasure.

It wasn't until then that he realized Tuvok had been watching him closely with those intense brown eyes. "I don't want to wait."

~/\~
Tuvok ssmiled. He could still sense nervousness from the commander. However, if he wished to proceed, he was not going to object. He most certainly could understand why the younger man could be apprehensive.

Neither of them were as young as they used to be. It had been a while for both men. Taking this step would be committing himself to a relationship that would last at least the rest of the commander's life. That was not even considering the possible consequences of such an involvement on Voyager.

He had had time to examine these facts. Perhaps he should give the younger man the same time.

"Tuvok, do you want to wait?"

He looked into the worried face before him and sighed again. "I do not. However, I am wondering if you need some time to.... think this through."

The hand that had been hovering, barely a centimeter away from touching him moved to rest on his shoulder. It felt warm. The calluses along the palm felt rough but somehow perfect when compared to his sense of... Chakotay.

As the younger man opened his mouth to speak, the computer set off an alarm. They rushed into the cockpit to find that the shuttle had listed off course. With a laugh, Chakotay explained that his com badge had landed on the controls and disengaged the autopilot.

He stood with his back to Tuvok and reprogrammed the computer to take them to their destination. His hands tapped the last command to get the little ship back on course.

Just then, Tuvok slid his hands around his waist. He whispered against his ear, “Do you need time to consider the consequences of our entering into a relationship?”

His answer of “No” led to the other man to begin licking along his neck. That was followed by gentle nips across his shoulders. Finger swept over stomach muscles to move up to tease brown nipples.

Chakotay sighed in pleasure. He went to turn around, but the Vulcan’s strong arms held him in place as a tongue began to caress his ear. One hand drifted down to the button of his pants.

“Do you want me to play with it for a while or can I unbutton for you?” Tuvok grinned against an earlobe before he began to nibble on it. It had amused him earlier to see the younger man indecisively unfastening and refastening the catch.

He groaned an answer. In response, the older man lead over his shoulder and lapped at the beads of sweat that gathered in the hollow of his collarbone. The salty taste reminded him of a child’s treat from his home world that he had been particularly fond of.

His hands edged the rough fabric of Star Fleet uniforms over Chakotay’s hips to pool around his ankles. He smiled at the non-regulation cotton boxer shorts. Their dark green color reflected as a sharp contrast to the man’s coffee-with-cream skin in the viewing window before them.

The sight of his own hands gliding of that skin made him smile. The straight white teeth glinted briefly in the slightly fuzzy image. His smiled faded as he met the brown eyes of his new lover in the glass.

The intensity of what passed between them in that moment was not lost on the Vulcan. If anything, it struck him more profoundly. Ever since he had learned to control his emotions, he had felt very little. All he’d felt for T’Pel was passing affection and respect.

With Chakotay, he felt a great deal more. He even returned his love. Tuvok sighed softly then pressed a gentle kiss on the commander’s nape. Controlling this emotion was going to be more difficult than he had anticipated. No wonder Ensign Kim had not been pleased when he had lectured him on love matters when they had had that encounter with Marayna.

“Want to go back to a bunk?”

~/\~
Chakotay nodded and then led Tuvok to the bunk they’d just been on. He lay down and then pulled the older man down on top of him. He wrapped his arms around the elegant neck.

He smiled at the feel of the taller man. He licked his neck and grinned when the movement was matched. The interruption seemed to have removed his remaining nervousness.

“Tuvok, I think you’re overdressed.”

The older man pulled back and looked into the grinning face of his new lover. He smiled in response to the contentment he saw in Chakotay’s eyes. He arched one brow. “What do you propose we do about that?”

He pushed the older man up so that they were sitting side by side. His grin increased as he slid off the bed to tug of black boots. He liked to be able to slip them on and off, but somehow he knew Tuvok would go for maximum arch support.

He pulled the socks off and looked at the big, Vulcan feet. So the rumor about them having only four toes was just that. He smiled. The digits before him were kind of cute in a totally illogical way. He moved getting Tuvok to putter around his quarters without shoes and socks to the top of his to do list.

Well, second on his list.

He climbed back up by the older man and pulled him into the position they’d been in before. Slowly while his nibbled on an ear, open the man’s pants and with some very stimulating wiggling, managed to get them off and onto the floor at the end of the bunk.

Hard, velvety lips settled gently on to his own slowly bringing the flame of desire that danced between them into full blaze. Intense heat flooded straight from the Vulcan’s lips to Chakotay’s groin.

The slow pace of their lovemaking wasn’t going to last long if Tuvok didn’t stop licking at his lips as if he were his favorite flavor ice cream. He could feel them beginning to get that bruised, well-kissed look.

His hand moved to clutch at the strong back. He was amazed at the intense silky smoothness beneath a very slight sheen of sweat. He could feel the tension in the muscles as well as the almost imperceptible movement into his palm and fingers.

His other hand left clutching the side of the bunk to join its mate. Within moments, they had drifted under the waistband of Tuvok’s regulation white briefs. He groaned harshly as hands kneaded taunt buttocks.

The older man’s hips moved to align their erections. Both men began thrusting powerfully against each other. The layer of cloth between them teased their senses and added little needed friction.

Tuvok torn his lips away from Chakotay’s to pant loudly into his ear. The younger man echoed him. Tuvok's hands that had been lightly teasing his nipples began to increase the pressure. Fingers tweaked roughly drawing a growled “Naked, now!”

The mad scramble to get rid of their last remaining clothes and yet not loose contact would later bring a fond and amused smile to Chakotay’s face. In that moment, though, he was feeling like he was going to go insane.

The moment naked hips met impassioned moans and groans filled the shuttle from stem to stern. An instant later, Tuvok bit the shoulder beneath him as he shifted back into alignment.

With a strangled scream and a few awkward bodily jerks, Chakotay came harder than he could remember coming in a long time. Above him, the Vulcan joined him with a much more controlled sigh.

The younger man’s muddled and pleasantly hazed brain, never did figure out how it was that an instant, an eternity, later they were snuggled together on the narrow bed, clean and under the blanket. He wouldn’t have thought that Tuvok was a cuddler but at that moment, he was too content to care.

He remembered vaguely kissing the slowing pulse that rested against his nose, before he slipped into sleep with a slurred “Love you.”

He never heard Tuvok’s answer. His smile was evident in his voice when he murmured “And I, you” into the silence. That smile widened when his new lover nuzzled his neck. His Vulcan demeanor slipped as he sighed, enjoying no distance between them.

The End
~/\~