I'm playing with the world and own nothing but those that I thought up.

I would dearly love reviews..

" In sports news: The Texas Diamond Backs traded high scorer Portia Keuhl to the Terra Nova Meteors. Keuhl is one of the last of the old guard since the Diamond Backs came under new management last August. The Diamond Backs will get two first round draft picks out of the deal. " the holo of a trim dark skin human stated.

"It sounds like the Diamond Backs are getting the short end of that deal, " replied the turian to his right." Keuhl has been named MVP three times, helped take the Diamond Backs to the Championships the last two years and is the top ranking in assists. Losing someone of her talent to two fresh faced characters and thrusting them into the Diamond Backs doesn't seem logical. "

The human chuckled. " Well, David Albuck, the new manager of the Diamond Backs, isn't known for his logical thinking but the team might pull another Championship even without Keuhl. Though this does beg the question if Keuhl can help the Meteors into the Playoffs or even win when the two teams meet in two standard months. "

"Didn't know you were into sports, Commander," Joker replied carefully sitting down next to his commanding officer in the port side lounge of the Normandy.

The dark skinned woman next to him shrugged." Too bored to change the channel." she smirked and glanced over to her pilot. "Maybe I should quit being a Spectre and join the UCL. They probably make more than I do saving the galaxy. "

" Well the Illusive Man did get you a UC League combat suit maybe you should show up to Edmonton's Training Camp and sneak into a session. " Joker lived up to his name." Bet you would kick all their asses."

Shepard laughed. " I probably could take most of them. I'm just surprised the Alliance hasn't tried to enlist some of the players. "

" Uh, it's the other way around. Most of the players are ex-Alliance. " he shrugged at Shepard's frown. "Like you said: they get paid a hell of a lot more than a soldier. "


Vurenus Arko couldn't help staring at his teammate as she dumped her old Diamondback warm-up gear and branded clothing into a large metal barrel and poured lighter fluid on them. She took a swig of the bottle of expensive brandy that sat on a nearby patio table and lit a match. It was a good thing she hadn't seen or heard him come into her penthouse. For the past two days she had been surly and refused to leave her house drinking copious amounts of alcohol and eating greasy food. If it hadn't been for the extra access codes and him living across the hall then he would never have been able to see her. No one had seen Portia since the meeting between her and Albuck and her lawyers and the team's lawyers. Luckily they lived in a complex with the highest grade surveillance countermeasures for the rich and famous that lived there, UCL players included. The franchise's and League's PR department spun the trade as a decision based on performance on the field but it was the performance off the field that caused her to be traded and paid off.

Vurenus took a step from the shadows of Portia's apartment and came towards her from the right. She flicked the match into the barrel and turned to look at him.

"This is bullshit, Vurenus."

"I know and I will gladly go with you or retire or hell buy out my contract." Vurenus came closer but Portia held up a hand for him to stay.

"Lets not sully your reputation." she sneered. "One of us has to save face."

"No one knows but the tabloids that we're sleeping together-"

"-and now half the league."

"So what if they know? They don't fucking matter."

"Do remember our agreement?" Portia asked staring at the flames that melted her old gear.

Vurenus nodded and took a seat on a rattan settee nearest her."Yes, but this doesn't count. We can work through this. This can work if we try hard enough."

Portia frowned. "Once a standard month and during off season? Like it wasn't hard enough with an open-minded team and manager? We'll both be scrutinized by everyone, teammates, fans, owners, sponsors doubly so now."

"No one has said anything about us and they won't if they don't want to be seen as close-minded and bigoted." Vurenus replied calmly and reached out to take Portia's hand.

She looked down at him and sighed, letting him pull her over to sit on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close. The strength of his arms relaxed her and she put her cheek on his chest. Unlike humans the heartbeat of a turian could not he heard through their chest but she could feel his warmth.

"It's strange not waking at the crack of dawn for practice. I had forgotten what it was like to sleep in." she said softly.

Vurenus chuckled. "You always sleep in unless I'm around to wake you up."

Portia thumped her knuckles against Vurenus' side and giggled. "You are the reason that I sleep in."

Vurenus shifted his seat and pulled her closer, nuzzling his face into her neck and inhaling the scent that was purely hers: cinnamon and chili's and apples. He growled playfully and slid his arms around her waist. On any other day Portia would gladly play along with her turian but she was still too angry at her trade for their games.

She leaned away from him and sighed. "I need to pack. I have to book passage to get to Terra Nova in three days."

From the flaring of his mandibles Portia could tell that Vurenus was put out by her refusal but after a moment he nodded and released his hold on her. She scooted out of his lap and sat next to him.

"Now if Alfuck hasn't changed the schedule for tomorrow you should have early practice tomorrow morning." she smirked at the new nickname she thought up and watched the flames escape from the burn barrel. "Giving you plenty of time for me to finish packing and you to come over in time for my shower."

Vurenus looked down at her and chuckled. "Glad to see you haven't gone frigid." A small fist landed a punch to his side and he laughed. He stood and ruffled her hair. "I'll see you tomorrow."

He left her sitting on the rattan couch watching the flames consume her time on Earth.