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[This ficlet is not part of a larger work, though the characters (Trace and Franklin) appear in another microfic you can find via the tags below. Just a fun little story written using the three prompt words in the subject line. I very much hope you enjoy it. :)]
Criticism, Affinity, Essential
"Look, just let me try." Trace's elbow nudged his arm, gentle but with an edge of stubbornness.
"Because you have such an affinity for reprogramming recalcitrant locks?" Franklin bit out in reply. He regretted both the words and the tone as soon as they emerged—it wasn't Trace he was frustrated with—but he still barely managed to bite his tongue and stop talking.
"Nope." Miraculously, Trace still sounded calm and easy. "But you've been trying to open that door for over an hour."
"If you think criticizing will help—"
"It wasn't criticism," Trace cut him off in the same level tone. A moment later Franklin felt the delicate curl of fingers at the nape of his neck, cool and grounding. "But Captain, you're frustrated. Let me try. Hell, you can take a crack at the comm panel if you want. I couldn't get any power to main or subspace frequencies. Maybe you'll have better luck."
( Franklin huffed an irate sigh, but he dropped the diagnostic device and sat back on his heels. A moment for the ache in his shoulders to register, and he rearranged his limbs to sit properly, legs crossed and eyes drifting shut. )
"Look, just let me try." Trace's elbow nudged his arm, gentle but with an edge of stubbornness.
"Because you have such an affinity for reprogramming recalcitrant locks?" Franklin bit out in reply. He regretted both the words and the tone as soon as they emerged—it wasn't Trace he was frustrated with—but he still barely managed to bite his tongue and stop talking.
"Nope." Miraculously, Trace still sounded calm and easy. "But you've been trying to open that door for over an hour."
"If you think criticizing will help—"
"It wasn't criticism," Trace cut him off in the same level tone. A moment later Franklin felt the delicate curl of fingers at the nape of his neck, cool and grounding. "But Captain, you're frustrated. Let me try. Hell, you can take a crack at the comm panel if you want. I couldn't get any power to main or subspace frequencies. Maybe you'll have better luck."
( Franklin huffed an irate sigh, but he dropped the diagnostic device and sat back on his heels. A moment for the ache in his shoulders to register, and he rearranged his limbs to sit properly, legs crossed and eyes drifting shut. )
