Simply Love III

Love wishes nothing ill upon most of its partakers

However some force ill upon themselves

It takes understanding to heal it

It only takes a moment to destroy everything

Love wishes to belong in you

But first you must accept the first step cannot be skipped

You must let them know you care for them


~o~ Nel ~o~

I'd like to say the walk back from the outside of the club had been uneventful and only filled with a stern lecture from Lars on the million different reasons why he considered Etarn to be a bitch. Well, that's what I'd like to say happened.

Lars walked me back out of fear that Etarn was hanging around. Why Etarn was such a threat was beyond me. But Etarn wasn't the threat. And there had been a threat waiting for us.

Somehow the Blue Suns had managed to infiltrate the Zakera Ward; I assumed it was because there was a rather open base in part of the ward where C-Sec officers were. However, there were about sixteen of them and two of us. I had an office job in C-Sec, for the most part, and didn't have a gun. Even as others filed in to keep them away I found myself dodging bullets without as much experience as I thought I could muster.

I could claim guilty when it came to not keeping up to date on my strength. I still managed to knock one out with a potted plant while he was distracted with Lars and Max. The loud volume of it was my downfall though. Another one noticed me, and shot me in the abdomen. I yelped out in pain as another shot got me in the shoulder on my way to the floor.

I laid there, kind of dazed. I had been on an adrenaline rush. Now that I was on the floor, unmoving, the rush of blood was fading. The pain was crisp and sharp, and the world was becoming more and more noticeable. Right then I decided I really liked the world when it was out of focus.

I barely registered someone yell my name.

I also just barely picked up someone lifting me off the ground and beginning to run.


~o~ 3 Days Later ~o~

I woke up to arguing; loud arguing. "Shut the fuck up…" I mumbled under my breath and turned to lie on my side. As I did so I made out Lars's voice.

"That's not a good idea Nel!" Lars warned.

I registered a sharp pain in my side and whimpered in pain. "Oh, ow…" I muttered.

There were more words, agitated this time, and then silence as gentle hands turned me back onto my back. I sighed gratefully before passing out again.


~o~ One Day Later ~o~

The next time I woke up only Lars was in the room. "Hey…" I mumbled.

The Turian jumped up and was immediately by my bedside. He brushed some hair from my face. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Not all that great…I'm starving actually…" I mumbled the last part.

Lars laughed at me and hesitated for a moment before pitching forward and pressing a small kiss to my forehead. I chuckled a little at that and then gave him a smile.

"What was that about?" I asked.

"We were all worried." Lars replied.

"We?" I asked.

"Everyone Nel, Bailey, me, Max, Salem, everyone…" Lars said.

"So," I coughed and tried to sit up, "Who carried me here." I asked after Lars helped me sit up.

Lars scowled and leaned away. "It's not important." He muttered.

"The hell Lars." I snapped and crossed my arms angrily.

"Hey now," Lars tried to calm me down.

I smacked his hands away and turned my head to the door. "Why does it matter?" Lars asked.

"Forget it Lars." I grumbled, now in a bad mood.

Lars sighed. "Look, I'm sorry…" He tried.

"Please stop talking," I sighed, "I don't want to talk."

"Fine then, whatever…" the turian grunted and sat back silently.

It was silent, awkwardly so for a while. Then Lars stood and spoke as he walked across the room to leave. "It was Etarn." He growled and walked out of the room.

'Etarn…he saved me?' I mused somewhat shocked.

A moment later, the door gently clicked and was slowly pushed open. To my amusement, it was none other than Etarn himself that seemed to hesitantly poke his head through the doorway.

Speak of the devil…huh.

"Hi," I gave the Turian a small smile.

"Uh, hi…" he cleared his throat, his mandibles writhed for a second, "Are you up to um…are you…are you tired?" he cringed at the stutters he made.

"No…" I let him off easy and patted the chair by the bed, "If you want to talk I can manage." I offered to the anxious Turian.

He looked relieved for a moment before he hurried over and sat down in the chair. "Well, um…how are you feeling?" he asked awkwardly.

"Better than I was," I replied, "I believe I have you to thank for it too."

His mandibles twitched with…embarrassment…maybe? "Who told you?" He demanded.

"Hey," I put my hand over his and he stiffened, "Please don't get upset. I'm grateful to you."

He gingerly pulled his hand away and placed it in his lap. That was a small blow to my mood but I brushed it off. "I know," Etarn nodded, "But who told you?"

I sighed. "It was Lars. He seemed kind of upset when he was with me earlier."

"It's unlike him to yell at his mate from what I've heard." Etarn muttered.

I blinked at him. "What?"

"You and him," he clarified, "You are mated."

I blushed scarlet. "Uh…no. I've never thought of him like that. We are definitely not mates…!" I shook my head.

Etarn stopped my head with his large hands. "Why did he claim it then?" Etarn demanded softly.

"I don't know. I've never…we've never been together." I sighed, "Look, he's a nice guy. But he's not the one I'd want to spend my life with."

"Why?"

I gave him an irritated look. "Why all the questions?" I growled.

The turian sighed. "My apologies," he murmured and brushed my hair from my face.

I fought back a flush before musing over what he had just said. "Wait…when the hell did he claim we were mates?!" I exclaimed.

"He did just a day or so ago when you were still asleep." Etarn replied.

"Well…whatever, he's got it all wrong." I sighed.

Etarn let out a small rumble from somewhere around his chest area before humming thoughtfully. "In any case, we're all glad you are okay."

"Ah, yes…thanks again for saving me. But I have to ask-." I trailed off.

"Hmm?" he prompted.

"Why did you do it? I mean…I don't know you all that well and…" I tried not to babble.

He let out another hum, effectively silencing me. "You…interest me. I couldn't let you bleed to death."

A beep came from his Omni-tool and he sighed. "Sorry, I have to go."

"Oh, uh, bye," I nodded.

He nodded back and left the room. I sighed and lay back on the bed. This was getting a little…complicated.