Time period: post ME 3

/P is for Prothean and Primitive

Javik stared intently at the child, refusing to let a single eye blink. He had never lost to such a small creature before and he didn't intend to now. He was strong; he had survived the extinction of his entire species, had witnessed the collapse of the Reapers, and had mastered the art of civility—mostly. His dear wife and more than half of the galaxy would disagree with him on that last point, but he was as civil as he was going to get and considered it a success.

The child hiccupped suddenly and a spit bubble formed at her mouth and popped, making her squee and clap her tiny blue hands together in delight, setting the Prothean on high alert.

It is a trick! Javik thought to himself, his hands tightening their hold on the crib the child lay in, brow furrowing. She is trying to throw me off my guard with acts of—what did Liara call it? Ah, yes, cuteness. But she shall not succeed for I am Javik! The last of the Protheans! The Avatar of Vengeance!

The baby cooed, distracting the ancient for a split second from his thoughts. She smiled innocently at him before jamming her right fist in her mouth, gently biting down on it as she watched him, an adorable yet inquisitive look on her face. For being barely ten months old, she was a bright little thing and her parents couldn't have been prouder. She was going to do great things one day and while Liara and Javik quarreled on what that would be—Javik was certain that she would lead a revolution that would bring the asari back to the top of galactic rule, Liara disagreed—they both knew that she was special.

There was just one problem…

She had yet to utter a single word.

Stubborn child. But I cannot fail. The fate of the galaxy rests upon my shoulders yet again. I cannot give up, Javik thought to himself, even though his resolve was crumbling the longer he stared at his daughter.

He swallowed hard.

The child is trying to throw me off with acts of cuteness, he said to himself again. But I will not be swayed from my task!

"I will admit, you are a formidable opponent, child," he said slowly. "But even you cannot defeat me. Perhaps someday you will, but not today. Understand that this is for your own good. Now, watch my lips." For added emphasis, he pointed to his mouth. "And repeat after me…primitive."

The baby moved her head to side, her expression nonplussed.

"Primitive," Javik said again slowly, enunciating the word perfectly. "Pri-mi-tive."

"Javik!"

The Prothean jumped slightly, so intent was he on his task that he hadn't heard Liara sneaking up on him. Steeling himself for the reprimand he was about to get, he turned around. "Yes, dear?"

Liara T'Soni frowned, anger in her normally serene eyes. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she looked very unhappy with him.

"What were you just doing?"

"Teaching the child to speak."

Liara huffed. "Deanna—the child—doesn't need her first word to be 'primitive.' It's bad enough that you used to go around saying that like it was the word of the century."

Javik didn't have the heart to tell her that he still said it, just not around her.

"The child must learn to speak, Liara," he insisted. "I am merely choosing a word that is easy to pronounce."

Liara's eyes widened. "Easy to pronounce?" She shook her head and sighed, rubbing her forehead in an agitated manner. "You were never around children much, were you?"

"No. Why?"

Liara sighed again, an expression of dismay on her face. "Javik, you can't just—"

"Pwimahive."

Liara stopped talking, and both her and her husband's heads turned to look at Deanna.

She had removed her fist from her mouth as was looking at the both of them, her brow bunched up in concentration with a look of determination in her eyes that reminded Liara very much of Javik.

"Pwimative," she said again, the word coming out hesitantly and slightly garbled, but understandable nonetheless. "Pwimative."

"Hah!" Javik cheered, smiling as his whole countenance lit up. "What did I tell you? Easy. I knew that she had it in her. She is part Prothean after all, and Protheans are fighters."

Liara groaned, a sad yet happy smile on her face. She was proud of her daughter yet felt a sense of resignation at the same. And she had thought it was hard to just get one Prothean to stop insulting others; she was going to have her work cut out for her getting her stubborn daughter to learn another word.