Title: Rule of Acquisition #144 - There's nothing wrong with charity ... as long as it winds up in your pocket.

Series: Rules of Acquisition

Characters: Kira, Quark

Word Count: 1,486

Rating: T

Warnings: slightly dark

Summary: After the events of "Crossover," Kira begins to see Quark in a different light… and appreciates what he did for her people.

A/N: In my opinion, there aren't enough Quark-centric DS9 fics out there, especially ones that are well-written, true to canon, and do not contain explicit relationships (slash or otherwise). As a result, this is the beginning of what I hope will be a sizable project – one ficlet for each of the Rules of Acquisition (at least, the ones recorded in Memory Alpha). We'll see how far my muse will take me.

As usual, constructive criticism is always appreciated. Also, if you would like to give me plot bunnies for any of the Rules, I am willing to consider adoption! As always, I don't own Star Trek or any of its characters; I just play in their universe.

She moved closer to the prisoner crumpled on the floor at her feet, and gave him a smile that was both compassionate and mocking.

"I've always liked you…" she said softly.

"And I have nothing but respect for you." His eyes were wide with fear.

"You feel sorry for the Terrans, as I do. But without them, who would perform the labor for the Alliance?" It was a lie, she knew. In the end, she would never trade her power for their freedom. Why should she?

"A quick death," she finally said. "Don't make him suffer anymore."

The Ferengi's frightened, desperate cries for mercy rang horribly in the room, fading slowly as he was dragged down the hall and out of earshot.

Kira awoke with a startled gasp, the sound of screaming still echoing in her mind, and was momentarily surprised to find that she was back in her own bedroom, on her own space station. In her own universe.

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. She'd seen a lot in her life, between her childhood on Bajor and her time in the Resistance, and even on Deep Space Nine. She'd grown up with torture and slavery. She'd seen friends and enemies die in front of her. She'd even killed people herself. But this, this was different. She couldn't get the image out of her head: she stood over a beaten and terrified Quark, and she callously ordered his execution.

No, that's ridiculous. It wasn't me, she told herself over and over. And it wasn't Quark, either. But that didn't really make a difference. The fact was that she had stood by, too shocked and perhaps too afraid to say anything, while an innocent man was sentenced to death by someone whose genetic make-up was identical to her own. What had the other O'Brien said? If history had been just a little bit different… it was disturbing to think that she might have turned out like the Intendant.

Kira sat for a moment, wide awake now, catching her breath before looking at the bedside chronometer. It read 0300. Damn. She hated being tired in Ops, and she had a long day ahead of her. But there was no way she would be able to sleep tonight. Even if she could, she dreaded the images that would doubtlessly haunt her dreams. No, she needed something to do; someplace to go. Pulling on her uniform, she stepped into the dimly-lit corridor and wandered out to the deserted promenade.

It's too bad Odo's not up here, she thought to herself. Kira decided that standing on the enormous promenade wasn't doing much to assuage her anxiety. It was creepy to see a place normally so full of life looking so…dead.

She was never quite sure how she ended up at the door to Quark's. She could hear someone inside counting latinum - almost certainly Quark himself. She stood for a good five minutes, debating whether or not to enter. Was she really that desperate for someone to talk to, that she would actually seek out the little toad's company?

Throwing her better judgment to the wind, she punched in the unlock sequence and the door swished open.

A creak of the floor heralded her arrival as she stepped into the shadowy lounge, and she saw the Ferengi behind the bar jump.

"Who's there? We're closed," Quark's voice called out nervously.

"Relax, Quark, it's only me," she replied.

"Major?" He was definitely taken off guard, but no longer seemed worried. Obviously, he wasn't expecting to meet any of his despicable "business partners" tonight. He reverted to his typical, annoyingly suave demeanor. "What brings you to my humble establishment at this hour?"

"Couldn't sleep," she said, plopping herself down on a barstool across from him. She glanced around and was not surprised to find that whatever latinum he had been counting was now completely out of sight.

He looked rather tired himself, but, ever the gracious host (or the shameless profiteer - Kira could not decide which), he turned to her and asked, "A hot jumja tea?"

She nearly fell off her seat.

"Absolutely not!"

Quark looked up in surprise.

"I mean, I'd prefer something else. Something a little stronger."

He grabbed a Bajoran ale off his shelf, studying her with narrowed eyes as he poured her a glass. Eventually, he said, "It's that mirror universe, isn't it?"

She would have protested, but she didn't have the energy. "How do you know about that?"

"Doctor Bashir was in here earlier. Wanted something strong, too."

"I see."

"Spent nearly an hour taking up space. He wanted to talk." Quark handed her the glass. "He was pretty upset; apparently killed Odo in that other universe. Can't say I think that's something to feel particularly guilty about."

Kira jerked her head up at the Ferengi, fully intending to leap across the bar and throttle him, but when she saw his face, she knew he didn't really mean it. She sat back, remaining perfectly still and silent.

Quark was undeterred. "So, did you meet the other me?"

She should have known he'd ask that, but it still took Kira a moment to answer. "Yes," she finally responded quietly.

"Well? What am I like? Am I making a profit?"

She sighed ruefully. "Not really. Taxes are high. He seemed to think you got the better deal."

"Is that your way of telling me to stop complaining about my earnings?" Quark gave her that amused, leering grin that made her want to slap him.

"No. I was just telling you the truth," she replied fiercely.

"Something is really bothering you, isn't it?" Quark leaned closer to her, his voice softening.

"Yes – no! Look, I…can't talk about it." Then how come all she really wanted to do was pour out the whole story to him? Maybe that's why he was such a good bartender, and such a good crook. He could make people talk. He was still eyeing her carefully, as if expecting her to continue. She gave in.

"Okay. There is one thing I want to say to you," she finally began, slamming the glass down on the counter with unneccesary force and taking a deep breath. "In the other universe, I met someone. He was helping the enslaved Terrans escape. From the ore mines. Quark, it was so similar to the way it used to be here…only it was the Bajorans running the mines."

She paused, struggling to keep any trace of emotion from her voice as she haltingly continued.

"This man, I went to him for help. I had to find a transporter. We thought it could get us back here. He wanted something in return. He asked me if I could find a way to send other people back here. Terrans." She had only just realized this. She had not had time to think it through, but the other Quark had wanted to send escaped Terrans back to DS9.

"The Alliance found out. They…brought him in for questioning. Had him tortured, then executed." Kira continued to look down at her fingernails. "And it reminded me that I never…thanked you for what you did for my people. For me. You took a big risk. You sold us food when other people weren't willing to. Your alibis saved my life, and the lives of many of my comrades. I know that charity doesn't come naturally to you, but we really did appreciate it."

There. She'd said it. When she finally looked up at him, he had stopped uncomfortably folding and unfolding a dishcloth and was staring at her in astonishment.

"I've been waiting two years for you to say that," he said, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "You're welcome."

He took her half-empty glass from her, refilled it, and then poured a tall one for himself.

"To freedom," he said, tipping it towards her and then consuming it in one gulp.

"To freedom," she agreed quietly. They sat in silence for a long time.

Eventually, Quark decided he'd done his duty as the sympathetic bartender and was ready to call it a night.

"If you'll excuse me, Major," he said cordially, "I, for one, would like to get some sleep. Morn will be out here at 0900 sharp, expecting me to open the bar. Can't let my loyal customers down."

Kira stood up to leave. "Thanks for the drink, Quark."

"I'll put it on your tab," he replied, more out of habit than anything else. "Oh, and Major?"

She paused at the doorway.

"I want you to know that what I did for you back then was only for profit. I could see how determined all of you Resistance people were, and I knew Bajor would rid itself of those Cardassians someday. I was simply trying to gain an advantage with the new regime."

Kira looked at him with an exasperated expression. "Good-night, Quark."

And with that, she turned on her heel and left him standing there, grinning.

A/N: Thanks and congratulations to Selena, who managed to capture Quark's character beautifully, and whose brilliant DS9 stories have amused and inspired me.