A/N: I fell in love with Suvi/Sara the second I witnessed that hilariously awkward attempt at flirting on the bridge of the Tempest with poor Kallo there to witness the epic fail XD This is my version of events.
So! I've tried not to narrate the moments you will all be familiar with, but either mention briefly or skim over them. There will be dialogue lifted from the game for some points and also the general order of the game's story has been tweaked a little. I've tried not to change things too drastically.
Based on a custom Sara who sounds enough like default Sara to hopefully not be too jarring, and my own interpretation of her and other characters. Hope you enjoy it!
Dr Suvi Anwar remembered clearly the first time she had met Sara Ryder, the human Pathfinder. It was a meeting that had gone relatively well, though Suvi always cringed with embarrassment when she thought about it. Sara had playfully offered to teach the awkward academic a thing or two about guns and exploring and all that daunting adventuring stuff that seemed so exciting and dangerous and natural to her. Suvi had leaped at the chance to spend some time with this pretty new arrival.
"I couldn't imagine a better teacher!" She had replied gleefully. Why? Why say that?! You've only just met, you dork. Sara had seemed a little bemused by the enthusiasm, though not displeased.
"Um, I should go. I have…data from the Nexus science team to look through." Suvi had scurried away, cheeks burning hot enough to surely match the colour of her fiery hair.
Okay, so admittedly it could have gone worse, and Suvi was probably the only one that continued to think about it but still. Sara had seemed so cool and collected. Crash landed on an alien planet, almost died, stranded without her team, first contact with an unfriendly alien race, discovered crazy new alien tech, actually died, lost her father and then had a surprise transferal of the Pathfinder title? No problem! Just going to jump back up, take control of a ship and find a home for humanity in a new galaxy. Suvi wished she could have just a fraction of that confidence and swagger. Then she could march right over there and sweep Sara off her feet and-
"You are staring."
Suvi jumped as the low rumble of Jaal's voice right by her ear cut through her thoughts. She twisted in her seat to give him a bewildered look. Jaal's eyes flicked from Suvi's face to Sara and back again.
They were sat together with Kallo in a corner booth at the Vortex bar on the Nexus, a rare opportunity for the crew of the Tempest to socialise together after successfully rescuing a horde of angara and the Moshae on the ice planet Voeld. And restoring the vault on Aya. And receiving permission to settle Voeld. Sara was the best Pathfinder.
Cora, Drack and Vetra stood at the bar as the rest of the crew fooled about on the dance floor. Some kind of Battarian techno music blared over the speakers. Suvi could feel the thumping drumbeat through the metal of their table. Thankfully this gloomy corner of the room seemed somewhat sheltered from the racket. They could actually hear each other talk.
"You were staring at Ryder," Jaal told Suvi again, watching her curiously as a blush coloured her cheeks.
"N-no I wasn't," she said quickly. "I was just…staring. In general."
"I saw it too," Kallo piped up helpfully. "You should ask her to dance." Suvi glared at her friend, unsure if he was teasing her or offering a genuine suggestion. He had been the first to figure her out after one too many fond looks sent the Pathfinder's way, and fortunately kept it to himself. If the rest of the crew found out Suvi had a crush on Sara she would just die of embarrassment. Lord if Sara found out…Suvi suspected she would be the victim of many a witty or sarcastic comment. Sara seemed to find humour appropriate in all situations, whether it was wise or not. She had fallen prey to the merciless teasing of the Pathfinder more than once. The rock-licking moment had been the worst… Suvi knew her feelings for Sara would never be reciprocated, they were polar-opposites. Sara was the wild and adventurous and just downright crazy military gal. Suvi was the quiet intellectual who preferred a good book and a cup of tea over this loud and crowded club. But hey, a girl could dream, right?
"Kallo, that is not dancing," Suvi gestured towards the dance floor where Sara was currently flailing between Gil, Peebee and Liam who were bopping in circles around her. "That is some kind of ritualistic…I don't even know. And this is not music, it's noise," she sighed. "I might go back to the ship. Give Lexi some company." Lexi, who had insisted she had too much data to go through and couldn't possibly take a night off. It was clearly a well devised ploy to escape the horror of this place.
"Would you like me to accompany you?" Jaal asked courteously.
"Thank you for the offer, but it's a short walk back to the ship, Jaal," Suvi said with a soft smile. The angaran nodded and rose from his seat and stepped aside to let Suvi out.
"If I may, a word of advice, Dr Anwar," he said, watching Suvi shuffle awkwardly along the curved sofa to escape the confines of their booth. "Angara are very…forthcoming with our emotions. I find it makes matters less complicated."
"I'll bare that in mind," Suvi said, climbing to her feet. This was a matter that would become far more complicated if she wore her heart on her sleeve than if she were to hide her affections and quietly deal with them herself. The mission was stressful enough without including wayward feelings. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"It already is tomorrow," Kallo said.
"Later then. Don't stay up too late!" Suvi said, waving goodbye as she navigated the floor, weaving in and out of drunks and spilled drinks that made for treacherous footing.
The heavy metal doors had just hissed open in front of her when she was stopped by a firm but friendly hand on her shoulder and an indignant, "hey!"
Suvi reluctantly turned to face a pouting Sara.
"Where are you going?" She demanded, swaying a little on the spot. Suvi could smell the alcohol on her breath. Fruity with a hint of nail polish remover. That explained the 'dancing'…
"Back to the ship," she answered, well aware of Jaal and Kallo watching her intently from across the room. She folded her arms over her chest uncomfortably and glanced away. Couldn't they be a little less conspicuous? "I have…Things. To do."
"Aw, okay. Spoil sport." Sara smiled and nudged her shoulder playfully with the knuckles of one hand, much too drunk to spot the lamest excuse ever. "I guess this isn't really fun for nerds."
Suvi arched one eyebrow, though judging by her colleague's open expression she hadn't meant it maliciously. And it was true. This was in no way, shape, or form fun for Suvi. The results on Aya's soil composition waiting on her data pad however... She wished she had thought up the work excuse along with Lexi.
"Thank you for putting up with it this long!" Sara added brightly. "Have fun with Lexi!" She turned and wobbled off back to Gil, Peebee and Liam's three-man rave.
Suvi watched her go, then switched her gaze to Jaal and Kallo, giving them a pointed look. They swiftly turned to each other and leaped into an animated conversation about goodness knows what. Suvi sighed and left the stuffy air and the deafening music of the club for the pleasantly cool and peaceful docking bay of the Nexus. At this time of night (day…?) it was relatively empty. And so quiet. Her ears began to ring faintly in the sudden silence after the noise of the club.
A couple of turian security guards were patrolling the upper walkway above her, the heavy clomping of their boots against the white tiled floor and hushed conversation the only sound Suvi could hear (apart from the muffled racket of Vortex behind her, but that faded with each step she took towards the Tempest). The glowing blue Avina avatar stood motionless and silent on her platform, staring into the distance with a pleasant smile on her face. She didn't stir as Suvi passed her by. The immigration staff were booking in a group of sleepy humans at their desks near the cultural exchange as a lone dockworker wheeled a trolley of cargo away from the doorway that lead to the landing platforms. A male human in the blue and white body armour of Nexus security stood guard beside a glowing console. Suvi smiled brightly at him as she passed, the doors whooshing open automatically to admit her to the long corridor beyond. She turned through the first doorway on her left and made her way out onto the wide landing platform that the Tempest had docked at, her pace picking up as she thought about curling up in her bunk with her data pad.
She went straight to the crew's quarters on entering the ship, grabbing her data pad before she headed into the galley and made herself the much-needed tea. She sighed sadly as she saw she was almost out of teabags. It was from back home on Earth, and once it was gone…well. It was gone.
"Ah, I thought I heard someone."
Suvi glanced over her shoulder in surprise at the voice.
"Lexi, you startled me!" She cried. The asari doctor smiled apologetically at her, entering the galley.
"Sorry, Suvi. You startled me too. I wasn't expecting anyone back yet. Sara assured me it would be an all night thing," she replied. Suvi eyed the doctor, taking in her decidedly unrumpled appearance, her crisp medical uniform and bright eyes.
"Why are you still up?" She asked, lifting her mug and cradling it in both hands. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"
"You know how it is when you're absorbed in your research…" Lexi said, folding her arms over her chest. "What brings you back ahead of the horde?"
"Clubbing isn't really my thing," Suvi admitted.
"I sympathise." Lexi gave her an amused smile. "What about the others? Are they enjoying themselves?"
"Yes," Suvi said, breathing deep from the steam curling upwards out of her mug. It was soothing, reminded her of home. No, of Earth and the Milky Way. This was home now. Andromeda. "Why?" She sensed more behind the question than idle curiosity. Lexi gestured at the dining table in the corner of the room and crossed over to pull out a chair and sit. Suvi scraped back the chair opposite the asari, setting her mug down in front of her as she sat facing her, waiting for Lexi to talk.
"I'm worried about Sara," she said after a moment. "The others seem to be adjusting well to the stress they're facing daily. But Sara…" Lexi hesitated, eyes narrowing as she focussed on a point on the table top and considered how best to explain herself to the science officer. She sighed and raised her eyes to Suvi's. "Sara was thrown into the role of Pathfinder without warning. She has no training and is trying to pretend she has everything under control for the benefit of everyone else. I feel like she wants us to see her as the self-assured woman with all the answers. She doesn't want anyone to see her struggle. She's closed herself off." Lexi paused, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "I probably shouldn't be speaking to you about this but to be honest with you I'm at a loss. I've noticed she's becoming more reckless on her missions. Whether to prove a point or… I don't know." She sighed again and shook her head, falling silent.
"I…Had noticed, somewhat," Suvi admitted. She had seen the mission logs. Been there to listen over comms for some of them. While Sara was more than skilled enough to hang back with her sniper rifle she seemed to prefer charging into the thick of things with a shotgun resulting in a visit to Lexi after almost every visit planet side. As though surviving those situations could prove she was indestructible. "I had no idea it was so bad though." If the doctor was worried the situation had to be pretty dire.
"It's cause for concern, but I wouldn't label it 'bad' just yet," Lexi told her. "She's had no time to adjust. Everything's happened so fast since Habitat 7. I think I'm seeing this through the eyes of a friend rather than a doctor." She gave a wry smile.
"Well, we're a small crew…" Suvi shrugged her shoulders faintly. "Close knit. Bonds are bound to form. That doesn't make you less of a professional if that's what you're worried about."
"Maybe I am." Lexi leaned back in her chair, smiling at Suvi. "And maybe you're right." She stood up. "Thank you for talking. I'll let you get on with your tea."
"Any time," Suvi said, watching Lexi go. The galley door slid shut, leaving her in blissful silence. She stood and crossed the room to pick up her data pad from where she had left it on the counter, scrolling through to the information she wanted to read as she returned to her chair to read.
But she couldn't concentrate. Lexi's worry was contagious.
A/N: First chapter, finally! This has taken a surprisingly long time. I'm aiming for a weekly update, so stay tuned!