I do not own anything to do with Mass Effect 3.
I hope you enjoy.
"I do have one thing for you, Shepard." Liara began, and for a moment as she turned, her eyes glanced down to her feet. Such a difficult question to ask; she sought courage in the floor before turning to look to the eyes of her love. "A gift. It'll only take a moment, if-" She faltered, stumbling in her delivery, "-You want it."
"What kind of gift?" Shepard asked, a curious glance within those eyes which Liara had grown to adore so fondly.
"Do you remember when I first joined my consciousness to yours? I can show you some of my own memories. Asari exchange them, sometimes. With good friends..." She stumbled again, but only for a moment. It was then where she seemed to realise that if this were the end, it was important to have her love truly understand their connection. "Or their bondmates." Her eyes close slowly, opening once more to see Shepard and the world in a new light, if only for a few minutes. She smiled, then, in the light of her dearest. "It can also be a way to say farewell." Her head dropped for then, such a sparkling image disintegrating with the harsh reality.
"Show me." Shepard replied, exchanging the words she had given as they spent time in her cabin. At first it had been Shepard who needed to show Liara the extent of her love; now it was her turn. With a smile painted clearly on her face, Liara took a step closer to Shepard, closing her eyes in contentment.
"Close your eyes." She said, as Shepard closed the distance between the two. Liara's eyes opened black, and the world around them changed to one of complete peace. It was as if they stood within the dark sky, stars hung from above and below. They looked over to the slowly approaching light; Shepard appeared in awe of such a thing. Liara reached over, holding onto Shepard's hand to get her attention. Shepard looked back to Liara, and they moved together, connecting in a kiss as her memories began to overflow their peaceful setting.
Eyes peered out from the other side of the counter, watching Benezia lean against her desk and start fiddling on the screen before her. The small hand reached slowly across the surface, fingers gently coiling around the handle of her spade; that which her mother had so harshly taken away and scolded her for just yesterday. This child holds a brash smile, disappearing from behind the counter and slipping out the door. Her lungs pumped along with her sprinting legs as she ran as fast as she could from her home, feeling unsafe from the possibility of her mother's disapproving glance and voice calling her back to that prison.
Her feet touched down on the grass within the nearby park; and she kicked off her shoes with haste. Her toes wiggled in the green, arms outstretched to allow the sunlight to tickle her skin. Her free hand scoops up her shoes, and she turns back to check that her mother was not on the war path.
"Doctor T'Soni, you're needed on the site!" She called, and giggled to herself as she ran off towards the dirt patch her mother had caught her in and dragged her away from.
"Sorry Doctor," She began, kneeling down, "I had some..." What was it she always heard her mother say over those video calls? "-Important business to attend to." Nearby, mothers walked by holding their daughter's hands. Daughter's looked to the child in the dirt, and mother's pulled their arms, refusing to allow them to stray from the constructed path.
"Not a problem, Doctor." Her voice became gruff; or as gruff as a child could get. "Last time we were here, you were so close to digging up that ancient artefact!" Her smile brightened, and just as she moved to dive back into the dirt;
"Liara!" She was derailed.
Liara flew off into the nearby green, out of sight from the fury her mother would no doubt bring her. Benezia moved, standing dressed in undeniable hues of sunlight; refusing to step another inch. Standing her ground. Liara knew that look. She pulled herself away from her hiding position, shoes on as her feet dragged across the ground. She reached her mother's side and kept walking to the house with Benezia close behind.
"I turn my back for one moment and you defy me! Did you see the way the world looked at you?" Benezia had sat her down at the counter, pacing back and forth along the floor for a moment before she stopped in front of her daughter.
"I don't mind about that, mother, you know that!" She called back abruptly, and her hands covered her mouth.
Benezia sighed. Atheyta had always told her never to hold her too tightly. It was easier to forget that sometimes.
"Little Wing." She softened suddenly, turning her back to Liara. Her hands connected gently with a book sitting on her desk. How rare it was to use such a thing anymore. "Come here." The dirt faced child complied, rounding the counter to come back to the desk.
Benezia turned, kneeling down to her child. "I have something for you." She began, reaching over to wipe the dirt from her cheek with a thumb. "Close your eyes." And she did; Liara's eyes shut tightly with anticipation. From the desk she pulled the book, hiding it behind her back. She waited, watching her child almost shake with excitement; gifts were not something she regularly obtained from her mother. "Open." Benezia said, a smile on her face as she moved to hold the book out before her. Liara opened her eyes to see the first piece of encouragement her mother would give her. Her eyes sparkled at the sight. The memory fades as the child carefully places the book to the counter, before clinging tightly to her mother's amber dress.
More to come.