A/N: Welcome to my second fic, A Toyed Heart. This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, and originally something I wanted to do in my main fic series, Awakening. I've never felt the 'cheating on Liara with Miranda' plot has been done quite right, though several have done it wonderfully. This, however, is my take on how it would play out. For my fans of Awakening, fear not. Awakening will always have priority over this. I am just writing this when I feel like taking a small break from Awakening. As always, thanks to my amazing Beta Rae D. Magon. Enjoy!
A solemn and grave looking asari strode through a long white corridor. Her feet dragged slightly, her body language telegraphing the complete and utter exhaustion she felt. Her once beautifully blue skin seemed almost ashen. Her gorgeous cerulean eyes had long lost their spark. Floating along side her was a long capsule, one she had fought very long and hard to retrieve. One hand lay on the center of the capsule, the other hovered over her heart. This has to work, I need it to, she thought to herself. A memory flashed of a striking woman, her gorgeous hazel eyes, her long and sleek jet black hair, her lush lips. The last feature brought on another memory for the asari, one that caused her more pain. Please, I need you Isabelle.
She neared the end of the hallway when a raven-haired woman followed by two guards emerged from the door. "Dr. Liara T'Soni, I presume," the woman said with her Australian accent.
Liara stopped and stared at the capsule, running her hands over it. She made no attempt to acknowledge the woman before her. "Who is wondering?" she asked in an indifferent tone.
The woman kept her distance. "Miranda Lawson, project lead for Lazarus," she replied. She looked at the capsule that Liara had with her. "I assume that this is Commander Shepard?"
Liara nodded. "Can you bring her back to me?" she asked, suppressing the urge to cry tears she no longer had.
Miranda gave her a 'doctor's look', one that made no promises but tried to look hopeful. "We will do our best to -"
Liara was in no mood to hear it, she needed to know. "That is not what I asked!" Liara yelled, biotics flaring a bit. "I am already going against my better judgment giving her over to Cerberus. I need to know if you can bring her back. I need to know if you can bring my Izzy back to me," she said a little softer, biotics dying down as she again fought another battle with her grief.
Miranda was almost perfect in every way, her father had made sure of that. Her looks, intelligence, biotics, even her strive for success could be attributed to her father's work. Because of that, that Miranda never accepted failure and always got what she wanted. What they were attempting to do with Lazarus would be called impossible by many, blasphemy to others. To Miranda, she viewed it as another challenge, one she was confident she could achieve. Miranda looked straight into Liara's eyes with a look of absolution. "I will bring her back."
The mere thought of Shepard back alive and with her sent Liara's heart fleeting with hope, something she hadn't felt since she was told that Shepard had died in the explosion of the Normandy. She remembered seeing Joker climb out of the escape pod, the look on his face, and the chaos that ensued after she biotically slammed him hard enough that the majority of his bones, even those not affected by his Vrolik's Syndrome, broke. She never wanted to feel that despair again, the pain of her heart being ripped out and the emptiness that filled her body. She just wanted to live the life that she and Shepard had talked about, together in peace.
The two guards moved forward and began carting the capsule inside, and Liara reached out a hand to stop them. "Wait!" she called out. "Can I... I.. s-see her? Please, before you go?" she begged. She wasn't sure what compelled her to look, knowing that she would regret it later. All she knew was that she desperately needed to see Shepard one last time, as she knew this might be her last chance for a long time.
Miranda paused for a second, before nodding and repositioning the capsule. "You will have two minutes, then we must begin."
Liara nodded, and moved to punch in the code to open the capsule. A faint hissing sound escaped from the capsule, before it slowly slid open, revealing its contents. Liara drew in a deep breath and looked down. Immediately her eyes started swimming, heart beating faster and tearing at the same time. Her beautiful Isabelle lay there, though almost nothing was left to confirm her identity. Her body lay broken in several pieces, the vast majority of her skin a sickening charcoal black. Her once gorgeous and flowing hair was nothing but sparse burnt strands. Liara looked to Shepard's scorched torso and saw the faint remainder of the N7 logo on her armor. The sight of her lover's remains was too much to bear, and Liara couldn't stifle the sob that emerged. "Oh, Izzy," she said through her sobs, reaching down and lightly brushing her hand across the ruined armor.
Miranda, growing slightly impatient, moved to the opposite side of the capsule to begin working while Dr. T'Soni said her goodbyes. "We have to begin working, Dr. T'Soni," she said as sympathetically as she could.
Liara sighed slightly, and backed away. "Will you keep me updated on the project's status?" she asked Miranda.
"If that is what you wish, I'm sure we could work something out," she replied. Liara was the reason that Project Lazarus was even proceeding, and she figured she could give a few status updates every now and again.
Liara smiled at that. "And if- when she wakes up, will I be allowed to see her?" she asked hopefully.
Miranda stared for a second, contemplating. "Of course," Miranda lied. "Once she is alive and back up to speed we will arrange a meeting for you two." Truthfully Miranda thought that Liara would be a distraction to Shepard, and her boss The Illusive Man agreed. They were going to do everything they could to keep the two apart so Shepard could focus on the task they needed her for, stopping the Reapers.
Miranda looked at the remains for a second, and back up at Liara before pulling out a plasma cutter and cutting off the main section of the armor. She removed the breast plate, and handed it to Liara. "Something to hold on to," she said.
Liara hesitated for a moment, before grabbing the breastplate and hugging it close to her chest. "Thank you, for everything you are doing. Perhaps I was wrong about Cerberus, after all."
Miranda gave a fake smile. "Thank you Dr. T'Soni, this wouldn't be possible without your efforts." She motioned for the two men with her to take the capsule through the doorway. "I'm afraid this is where we part. Take care, Dr. T'Soni," she said, and turned around and followed the men through the doorway.
Liara, now alone in the corridor, stood still for a moment hugging the breastplate tightly. This nightmare will be over soon. Cerberus will bring Shepard back and we will have our life that we earned. Smiling widely and feeling dangerously hopeful, Liara turned and strode out of the hallway, feeling part of her old self return.