*Summary: Therron Veer is commander of C-Sec's Special Response Unit. Strong and extremely skilled in combat, his only weakness is the small human female who recently began working there as dispatcher. Though completely smitten with her, Therron has convinced himself that she would never have interest someone like him, let alone the fact he is a turian. A night out after work ends up changing everything and soon Therron begins to see that between family and her past there is much more to Lula Finch than he could have imagined.*
Chapter 1: Small Surprise
Everyday he would make a point to stop at her desk. To start off his day hearing her voice always seemed to put a spring in his step. It held such a sweet melody, an accent if it was, that set her apart from so many of the other humans he had met. Her eyes were rich like coffee and her hair was a silken brown. Therron always wondered what it would look like outside of the tight bun she kept it in with the exception of what he had gown to learn were called "bangs." Ever since she started working there he had found himself smitten. He could never admit it but human females had always intrigued him. This one though, Lula, she made him feel weak. It was almost laughable- him! A turian commander who had killed more lives than he could even count! But here she was, this young thing of a woman, infiltrating his thoughts and nearly making him melt in her presence. Therron never allowed himself to get his hopes up though…. it was nothing more than an unrealistic crush. Despite their blaring difference in species she was a mere 28 years of age while he reigned over her in experience and time at 40 years old. It was a prime age by turian standards, but by the way his human coworkers complained- old in human terms.
Once again it was the start of another day. Walking into the C-Sec building he was met with the bright eyes and pure smile of Lula. Her porcelain skin glowed under the entrance lobby's room lights from behind the large rounded desk that separated her from any waiting public.
"Good morning Commander Veer." She stood up from her chair so that he would not have to look down so far to see her.
"Good morning Lula." Therron's mandibles flared slightly with a warm greeting reflected in his gaze. Recently he was beginning to notice dark circles starting to form under her eyes. It was becoming a concern. Though Lula held a bright expression she looked tired.
"How are you this morning?" Her eyes maintained complete contact with him. She was not a human that seemed to shy away from any species. Since the day she started but a month ago, Lula easily held her own with all the turian officers. It was not by force or command by any means though, but through her calm and incredibly polite tendencies. Therron was certain there was not a mean bone in that woman's body. She was sweet and ridiculously respectful. There was nothing anyone at C-Sec could hold against her. In turn, most officers there were found of her… males anyways.
"I am well," Therron began, "How about you? Are you staying healthy?" He decided to pry. The darkening circles under her eyes were beginning to bother him greatly.
Lula smiled softly at his furrowed face that reflected a state of concern underneath white tattoos that marked along his burnt umber plates etching up his crown, under his eyes, and down his cheeks and jaw. His long mandibles flexed tightly against his mouth awaiting her response.
"Of course!" She lied though her smile. He could see it. Lula was a horrible liar.
"I know how much you boys need me." She teased leaning against the front desk counter on her arms, shortening the space between them.
"Perhaps you should take tomorrow off? Give yourself a break." Therron suggested. With her leaning closer he could now see the true extend of how tired her eyes truly were.
"Worried about me?" She placed her chin on her folded arms while glancing up to him. Her soft smile accented the flirting tone that had playfully, and innocently as Therron defended, became a staple point in their conversations.
"Always." He answered with a low purr. If any other turians had been around they would have been able to tell the 100% truth of his words. "If we were to loose you," He began just as the front entrance doors opened allowing a male human and turian C-Sec officers to enter, "We would be stuck having to look at Hughes' ugly mug every morning."
Lula's smile broadened as Therron's eyes flicked toward the door causing an unappreciating human voice to taint the air.
"Hey!" Hughes winced in defense as he walked up to the front desk with his fellow officer in tow. He was dressed in the standard C-sec armor just like his turian partner. His shaven head reflected the light from the ceiling while his dark brow raised with confidence, "I know you all are jealous of my devilishly good looks- don't try and hide it."
"Of course," the turian next to him leaned against the counter. Golden yellow tattoos lined his fringe. "That's why that asari went home with me last night… your good looks were too much," He chuckled.
"Hey now." Hughes grumbled crossing his arms over his chest, "It was my wingman night and you know it Lazeryn."
"Good morning Hughes, Lazeryn." Lula sweetly greeted, finally bringing an end to their bickering.
"Good morning Lula." They chimed back in unison.
"So are you finally going to join us tonight?" Hughes eyed Lula hopefully while she kept her position close to Therron.
"Oh I don't know…" Her gaze shifted away.
"Commander you'll come right?" Lazeryn looked expectantly to Therron.
"Pardon?" His plated brow raised while his head tilted to the side.
"Yes!" Hughes smiled seeing where his partner was going, "Lula if Commander Veer comes would you join us then?"
It was no question to anyone that Lula and their Commander were buddies. There was not an officer sweeter on her than he was. No one would ever dare to call out their superior's attraction, but they sure as hell would use it to their advantage. Therron's gaze quickly went to Lula who was glancing over to him seemingly in thought.
"Okay." Her lips parted ever so slightly as she looked back to the two. "If Commander Veer goes I will go too."
"Commander?" Hughes inched himself closer to their towering leader who stood around 6'7 with broad shoulders and matured muscles that aged finely from years of combat.
"Alright I'll go." Therron finally sighed, "but you are buying our drinks." he tilted his head towards Lula who chuckled softly under her hand.
"First round!" Lazeryn defended heading into the back with Hughes. "I'm not falling for that, we all know how well you can hold your liquor."
Therron returned Lula's parting wave as he followed the two back. It had been quit a while since he had gone out drinking. Such a thing did not interest him that much any more. It was always the same people there. In truth it had become boring, but he could never imagine Lula intoxicated and that was something he could not turn up…. Especially if she was going just because of him. The thought sent a shiver down his spine but he quickly brushed it off as he reached his desk. A pile of case folders had already been planted on it. Today was going to be a long day.
"Did you get your paper work filed on last weeks hostage situation?" Therron walked down the hallway next to Lazeryn.
"It pains me to even call it that, the guy was high out of his wits…..they could have just pushed him over and walked away." Lazeryn sighed dramatically.
"I don't think most people when confronted with a Krogan yelling in their face have the first thought of pushing him over." Lazeryn waved off Therron's response with the movement of his gloved hand.
"Get that paper work done though or I will push you over." Therron's eyes met him sternly. He was no fool to Lazeryn's attempts of topic evasion.
"I never said I didn't!" the young male quickly defended with a raised talon
Before Threrron could respond he was forced to pause in his movement at the sight of a small human child tagging along at Laseryn's heels. His head cocked to the side with curiosity while Lazeryn continued down the hall talking; oblivious to the fact his Commander was no longer with him.
"Lazeryn." Therron breathed. Lazeryn quickly looked back at Therron with a questioning gaze. Therron pointed down guiding his officer's eyes to the small girl with long brown hair. Lazeryn quickly jumped back startled by the sudden appearance.
"Why is there a small human here!?" He kept inching back away from the girl as she approached him.
"It must belong to some one." Therron walked up. He leaned down to get more on the young child's level. The girl, who appeared to be no older than three, turned back to face him with a smile before taking a firm hold on his mandibles. Instantly Therron's eyes widened as a snort exited his nose, but quickly is lids relaxed settling into a gentle gaze. He brought a soft hand to up to the girl's head placing a light pat.
"Are you lost little one?" The girl kept her grip on his face before releasing a laugh.
"Mommy sleeping!" She spoke loudly. Therron blinked. There was only one woman human that worked there and it was Lula… did she have a child?
"I think she is Lula's." Therron stood up brining the child with him in his arms.
"Lula?" Lazeryn watched, "Does she have a kid?"
Therron simply shrugged his shoulders as they proceeded down the hall.
"Let's find out." He spoke as the little girl finally released his mandibles and began to reach for his fringe. Therron moved his head to the side in a small attempt to avoid her surprisingly strong grasp.
"What is your name?" He bounced her up in his arms while they walked.
"Atalanta!" She announced with deep brown eyes that were the exact replica of Lula's. The girl had to be hers.
"Atalanta," He repeated, "That is a pretty name." With a sudden act of embarrassment she dropped her small head into his shoulder, hiding her face away. Therron could not help but to feel a bit down. Did this mean Lula was already claimed by a male? Though he had known not to get his hopes up with her, he still could not help but feel a bit disappointed.
They both turned a corner to see straight into a lounge room where Lula was sitting at a table with her head cradled asleep in her arms.
"Mommy!" Atalanta looked up as they entered causing Lula's head to immediately spring up with a half awake expression. Her eyes instantly widened when they landed on Therron and Lazeryn.
"I believe this belongs to you." Therron handed the girl over.
"Oh my goodness!" Lula jumped taking her daughter back into her arms, "I am so sorry!"
Therron knew she was letting her health go. Her eyes looked so tired.
"Atalanta." She placed the girl to stand on her own as she kneeled down in front of her. "Where did you go silly girl? Mommy doesn't want you to get lost."
"Nooooo." Atalanta shook her head.
"Yesss." Lula mimicked her daughters drawn out word.
"Me no lost! No lost Mommy!" She kept repeating. Lula just pulled her into her arms before rising back up to her feet.
"I am so sorry Commander Veer, I was only planning to rest my head for a minute-"
"It's quite alright." Therron reassured her with a lifted hand to cease her talking, "There was no harm done."
Lula released a small sigh of relief allowing her stiffened shoulders to drop,
"Thank you." she bowed her head, "Atalanta's sitter will be here shortly, before my break ends," she quickly added in, "and then I will be back to work."
Therron studied her face while Atalanta lifted her small hand to try and pull on her neatly pinned bun of hair. It was frustrating, he shouldn't be worrying about her like he was… not if she already had a male to do such for her.
"Very well." He ended abruptly with a nod, turning on heel to leave the room. Lazeryn followed after him quick to notice the sudden stiffness in his Commander's step.
"You know," He quickened his pace to catch up with Therron's long strides through the hall. His commander's brow plate was stressed and furrowed, "I've heard human's are not very good at mating for life." Lazeryn tried to speak as casually as he could as to not raise Therron's defenses. Working with him enough he knew that was something his commander was easily prone to. Therron could lock himself up tighter than a safe. It was most likely why he was as good as he was at his job.
Lazeryn watched Therron glance over to him out of the corner of his eye,
"Hughes was telling me about it the other day, it's called…" He paused for a moment to make sure he was saying it correctly, "… divorce. Apparently it is not uncommon amongst humans. If mates no longer get along, or simply loose interest they get a divorce and they no longer are bound to one another. Maybe that is what happened to Lula?" He could see his commander's thoughts mulling over the possibility.
"Perhaps," Therron's voice spoke out deeply, more to himself than Lazeryn. He felt so frustrated. From the beginning he had told himself it was only a simple crush, nothing to it! But he was finding himself so distraught over the situation. He needed to go cool off, especially if they were all going to go out together tonight. This was no fault of Lula's. It was only his one-sided infatuation that he needed to get under control. If he remembered correctly some new officers were going to be going through training today, the perfect opportunity to relieve his tension.