Episode 10:Tevos arrives home after a hard day's work to find her daughter having a party.
. . .
Tevos was beyond exhausted. She had been in meetings all day and then had to attend a human gala in the evening. The only good outcome was that she managed to negotiate an early exit. It wasn't all that late when her escort reached her apartment. The Csec flanking her were quite vigilant. Tevos contemplated the necessity of a squad this size assigned to her protection, however she had to admit the reasons for it had been valid. One almost-kidnapping during the war, that had nearly turned assassination no less, and a successful one pulled off right under Csec nose. She had no illusions about what this black spot on their reputation would mean in the long run. Her security had been growing over the years in number and the protocols they followed – in complexity. Not that she was unappreciative, after all being kidnapped was not on the list of experiences she liked to repeat, but the overbearing attention could get to be too much. More so on days like this.
At least, the Commander had budged down in regards to one aspect of her security arrangements. Namely, Omega. Even he had to submit to the fact that Aria's mercs and, more importantly, Aria herself was the best protection, and plainly the most motivated party in that regard. Thus whenever they stayed on the unofficial capital of Terminus, Tevos only took two guards with her. Well, a few minutes earlier, on descent towards her home on the Citadel, she could almost feel the taste of irony on the tip of her tongue.
The mercs posted on the perimeter were Aria's. And once the guards in blue armor joined them… Goddess, that was just embarrassing! Thea pinched the bridge of her nose as she let the DNA scanner zoom over her on the way up in their private elevator. The posturing of these two groups was as ridiculous as it was tiring. She would have blamed the competitiveness on the traditional male behavior of the other species, yet the women on both sides were just as bad. They took it on like a challenge, to see who was more deserving of protecting her.
Thea walked through the doors as soon as they hissed open. The sight of a short hallway at the entrance of their Citadel residence, just a few steps long leading to a set of steps to the massive living room – that of itself made her exhale in relief. Finally, home. She leaned against the wall and bend at an angle to remove her heels. Tevos couldn't for the life of her understand why would humans call shoes by their singular part. Though, when the less than comfortable pointy shoes were removed and she suddenly became shorter by an impressive amount, Tevos had an inkling of the reasoning behind that name.
She leaned back on the closed door enjoying the coolness of the hardwood floor under her feet. It was an intriguing experience to attend this particular human gala. Everything had been styled according to fashion of Earth. The fundraiser accompanying the event was dedicated to preservation of human cultures after the devastation of the war. Thus all attendees were advised to wear appropriate attire. Tevos glanced down at herself. Human style dress. Deep ocean blue, more conservative than some she had seen there. Still, the silky material hugged her figure and wrapped around her arms and neck like second skin. And, a smile toughed at her lips, Aria would without a doubt appreciate if not the tightly wrapped body, then the expanse of leg on display.
Letting out a long sigh, and ignoring the little flutter at the pit of her stomach at the thought of her bondmate, Tevos held onto her clutch and shoes as she made her way through the living room. She had expected to find Aria in the kitchen, but no. She peered into the study – still no luck. Her facial tattoos moved along with a frown. Tevos padded down the corridor leading to their bedroom. Then, slightly muffled voiced caught her attention and she changed course turning left. Around the corner, behind the door left ajar she could see the bright colors of her daughter's room. Tevos took another few steps and barely stifled a gasp. This definitely wasn't something she would have expected to see.
Lycoris wasn't supposed to be home yet. While Tevos was out and Aria had business meetings to attend to, Liara had agreed to take Corrie with her. And yet here she was sitting on the floor next to a small table, which was filled with what Thea recognized as cups and mugs from the very kitchen she had been to not two minutes ago. In the middle of the table there was a kettle and at the edges were Lycoris' dolls – each supplied with its own cup. The toys were incredibly life-like, asari, humans, turians, a krogan female – all dressed according to their customs, animatronic arms and heads moving. The illusion of a tiny version of a real person was still easy to break for an adult, but young children were more inclined to believe the fantasy. Lycoris was telling something to one of her asari dolls bend low to her ear. A mischievous look on her little face.
And still, that wasn't what made Tevos eyes widen. Seated around the table, with cups in their hands were Aria and three of her henchmen. Grizz and another turian had taken the sofa behind where Lycoris was plopped down on the floor. They were both wearing armor. Familiar gray camo for Grizz and maroon Kestrel set for this other turian. Opposite them on a tiny kids-stool was a batarian merc in dark unmarked armor. Tevos could only see him in profile, but recognition flared in her mind as the man let out a garbled chuckle. Bray. All three were given a doll to take care of, all three had cups in their hands and all three looked entirely out of place.
Aria herself was reclined, regal and imposing, in a chair to their right, though her usual sharp aura was somewhat softened by the fact that the chair was yellow with little spaceships printed over the fabric and just a tad too small of her. Not to mention the little asari doll perched in her lap and the expression on her tattooed features. Deep blue eyes were focused on Corrie, corners of her lips twitching, the affection trying to escape her mask – unmistakable.
This scene was so bizarre Thea wasn't sure what to make of it. Therefore she simply stood at the threshold partly hidden from view by the door and watched on. Lycoris finished telling what was supposed to be a secret to the doll, then listened to the imaginary reply and beamed at her little friend. She turned to her father and bobbed her head in agreement.
"The showed me how to do 'dis! Her daddy always has a tea party when she comes back home! Its'a important part of her cutul–" Lycoris stopped, pursed her lips and almost crossed her eyes in concentration as she spelled out the complex word, "clultur– cul-tu-ral" she breathed out proudly at getting it right and blurted out the next word all jumbled up showing all her teeth in a smile. "hertage! Shepa'd said so. So we have to do it, too!"
"First of, it's heritage, little one" corrected Aria, the spark in her eyes and small smile equally indulgent and amused.
Corrie grumbled. "That's what I said," she huffed out under her breath, but Aria ignored her tiny frown that was gone as quickly as it had appeared continuing on.
"Secondly, what Shepard is teaching her daughter is her business, but I don't really see the point in showing mine the human traditions. Don't you have enough with your mother's lessons, huh?"
"Nope!" grinned Corrie.
"So you want to know about humans, too?"
"Yep!" giggled the child catching up on the game.
"And turians?" Aria continued keeping her mask on, only deep in her eyes and at the corners of her twitching lips could Tevos see the real affection seeping through.
"Yep!" agreed Lycoris again clasping her hands over her mouth to keep the giggles from escaping.
"Well, then I suppose you should ask Grizz over there for help, then…" drawled Aria glancing at the turian from the corner of her eye.
"Oh, no," murmured the turian in question looking between the father and the daughter. "I'm so not qualified to do this, Boss…"
The flange of his voice was high and more trembling then usual. If Tevos didn't know any better, she would have thought it a whine, but having known Aria's most trusted bodyguard for a long time she could see through him. This was all a game, he would be thrilled to tell Corrie about his people. There were not many people in Lycoris' life who were more protective and caring than Grizz. To say that the turian had been enamored with the little asari since she had been born would be a massive understatement. Tevos felt her own lips spread in a broad smile looking at them. She was sure Aria had been teasing, she obviously had already made that decision, and had discussed it with Grizz beforehand. The whole display was for Lycoris' benefit. Judging by the way both Aria and Grizz were trying to keep from smiling, she had hit the bulls eye.
"Pleeeeese, G'izz! Turians! I wanna know all about 'em!" Corrie was looking up at him with huge eyes, her hands clasped into fists and pulled tightly to her chest.
The turian chuckled. "I guess, since the Princess asks… Your wish is my command."
Lycoris gigged at the endearment and jumped up on her feet. Although, instead of going abound the angled table she padded to the other turian, who was closer to her, and started unceremoniously to climb up his armored legs. The bodyguard went completely still, his back and hands went rigid, and the expression of terrified apprehension flooded his face. He remained stock still as Lycoris climbed into his lap, then over his legs and further down the couch towards Grizz. Who caught her easily, sat her down in his lap and handed her the turian doll. Lycoris perched on his armored leg and leaned into his chest with her side. This evidently wasn't the first time this had occurred, though not for the fellow turian next to Grizz who was still not quite out of it.
Tevos heard a garbled sound and Bray burst out laughing. He was watching the new turian intently before that and just could not hold it anymore. Aria was openly smirking.
"Tornis, you should have seen your face! Priceless!" heaved Bray as laughter bubbled out of him. "You know, if ya wanna keep your spot on the roster, you really should get used to the kid. She's a firecracker, that one."
"Bray…" drawled Aria, though the menace in her voice was blunted considerably.
"Sorry, Boss, it's true though. The newbie was scared shitle–" Bray grumbled and glanced over at the whispering Grizz and Lycoris, who were not paying any attention to this conversation. "I mean, Tornis here was concerned about his performance around the kid. As in he thinks she's made of glass and will shatter if he sneezes too loud, ha!"
"I seem to remember a batarian who had been concerned that my daughter would poke one of his eyes out," remarked Aria with a regal raise of her facial tattoo, her smirk firmly in place. "When she was a baby no less."
"Apologies, but despite the popular belief batarians do not have extra eyes. I would like to keep all four, thank you very much."
Aria's sharp laughter was answer to his slight, and clearly affectionate, grumble. Even as her eyes were drawn to the giggling pair on the couch Aria raised her cup and toasted the batarian, who responded in the same way. Tevos had suspected that they were not drinking the traditional human beverage, but that was the smallest detail Aria could have changed in their daughter's request. Lycoris wanted to have a tea party. An idea that had migrated from the T'Soni household, and Tevos could not help but feel her chest warming up at the thought. Despite the oddities of Shepard's ways of upbringing, she was grateful for this. This little display was more telling of just how much Aria loved their daughter. Of how much she wanted to be a good parent for her.
Strange as it were to come home to her daughter having a tea party in a company of four of the most dangerous people in the galaxy, the scary-looking mercs in full body armor, Thea felt the surge of that wonderful feeling she knew and loved for a long time. Family. She never had any illusions of how it will go down. Even since the moment she first felt the life growing inside her Tevos knew their life would not be even close to normal. Lycoris was growing up not surrounded by what average asari children were. Their life was complicated and strange at times even to her, yet what was beyond any doubt was that Lycoris was loved and cared for by more and better protectors than, perhaps, only a handful of children in the galaxy.
Somewhat comical this, this bizarre image of armored mercs having a tea party with tiny dolls in their care and a giggling child looking up at them, this was the best representation of what her and Aria's family life was like.
And Tevos found herself, for what seemed like a thousandth time, realizing that she would not trade it for the world.
Slining a private smile she slipped away from her spot at the door and headed for the kitchen. Now was not the time to break up this strangely wonderful party. But maybe later on, after catching up with Grizz and listening all about Lycoris' day, after their daughter was sent off to bed and the exhaustive events of the day forgotten, she could get Aria all to herself.
Tevos had an inkling they had something to discuss.
Among other things.
Original prompt: Aria, two scary merc bodyguards, and Lycoris all having a tea party when Tevos arrives home.