A/N: Hanar face names how do they work? If I messed this up let me know and I'll fix it.
The student body was, technically, still moving. Lockers were opening and shutting, students unzipping their backpacks and re-zipping them, a few even pretended to be talking. It was so quiet though, the kind of quiet that their teachers literally begged for and demanded every class period but never managed to get. Elissa pushed down the urge to snap her fingers rhythmically and ask Amala to do ballet down the hallway with her, professional gang style, for the rumble. It was a throw down and for once it wasn't between two Krogans. Or the Krogan and the Turians. Or a Human and Batarian. Or Krogan and Salarian.
It was Asari and Hanar.
It was Ms. T'Soni and Mx. Seeks Greater Truth.
Not that they were having a fist fight, they were adults. As such they were instead having a shouting match that merely threatened to become a fist fight. It had started when the two ran into each other in the hallway and traded their usual thinly veiled barbs. Then they made a mutual mistake. Both parties stopped and actually began to talk. By talk it was meant that they quietly began to disagree on everything. Then they had a heated discussion. That evolved into a disagreement. And when you have a disagreement, you usually devolve into an argument. Then they had a heated argument, which meant yelling. This had in turn changed into a full out verbal barrage and fight.
Ms. Goto had been seen filming the whole event from various locations, although Elissa never saw her move between them. She also seemed to be delighting in the student's pretending to go about their after school business and was happily switching notebooks and binders.
Mr. G and Tali were leaning on the wall on T'Soni's side, talking casually but obviously ready to rumble if needed on their friend's behalf. Occasionally one or the other could be heard saying "Is this really worth it?" After the first time when Mr. G said it loud enough for T'Soni to hear the Asari had turned and snapped at him. So now they said it loudly enough for students to hear but not T'Soni. Survival is just smart.
Jack and Zaeed, were making bets with Grunt while Dr. Solus easily provided running commentary on who was further ahead in the fight. The cafeteria lady was collecting the money, her laugh crackling across the main hall and common room. She also added commentary, but usually about how T'Soni should just head-butt the "jelly fish".
Samara stood impassively in her doorway; face clear of emotions as if she had seen so many Asari and Hanar fights that this was nothing more than part of the scenery. Mr. Alenko stood with her and asked if they should intervene, even as he smiled widely and obviously had no intention of follow through.
The best part really had been when Vice Principal Urdnot had arrived. The students had collectively tried even harder to look like they were packing up at the end of the day and Elissa broke into a cold sweat. Urdnot had simply placed a bet with the cafeteria lady and now sat grinning lightly at the scene.
Amala had flittered between standing with Elissa (and behind Kielrok) and edging towards the exit, obviously debating if someone should get Coach Shepard.
"This one believes that you shame the Enkindlers, this one believes that you shame this institution of learning, and this one believes that you are attempting to shame it!"
"This is ridiculous! I haven't even been on a dig in at least…several years!"
"You have disturbed their holy places and stolen their glory."
"I went to sites approved by the Primacy for excavation and turned over all relics to the proper authorities! I'm a doctor, not a looter!"
Elissa wished she was recording and was hoping that Ms. Goto would share. This was priceless. Looking critically into her locker again Elissa noticed her overdue library book had somehow gotten smashed into her math notebook, two broken stylus's hovered shamefully in the corner where her omni was hunkered down. Yes, I am an average student packing up, just need to choose books for my homework, just choosing books; don't mind me, aaaaverage student.
"Oh really? Is that why you chained yourself to the entrance of the Xytaln Caverns, which is illegal!"
"This one took a stand on behalf of all Hanar by utilizing a form of peaceful protest. It is you who insist on escalating these engagements as you have done today; in front of this institution's students."
"Lot of good your protest was, we just ducked under you and had to give you water when you were thirsty!"
Elissa grinned over at Tavo who was trying to not die of laughter on the concrete mushroom bench thing. His attempts to look like he was just cuddling with his boi basically forgotten. Kielrok gave a quiet grunt, "This is a stupid battle, can we leave?" Polite for a Krogan.
T'Soni had just sucked in a deep breath of air, either to calm herself down or in preparation for a final verbal strike when Coach Shepard finally arrived.
"What do you think you are doing?" Shepard didn't shout, but somehow her voice still carried across the hall. Students parted creating a perfect path for her to walk towards the now silent combatants. Shoulders squared, leaning forward, her boots producing a steady thump and squeak that was wholly undignified. "Well?"
T'Soni at least had the grace to look embarrassed, although Elissa supposed that Seeks Greater Truth could be too. Just hard to read a Hanar really.
"This was a…" T'Soni looked at her opponent for a second before flicking her gaze back to Shepard, "lively debate regarding archeological methods."
"Yes, debate is crucial for scientific progress." Mx. Seeks added.
Shepard pinched her nose. "Does scientific debate usually get this loud?"
The two looked at each other for a moment before T'Soni spoke again, "Well, I did say lively didn't I?"
"Do I need to call out fouls or can you two agree to disagree?" Shepard's face was stone.
"This one is in agreement to disagree with Dr. T'Soni. This one will contemplate what you have posited and will be sure to peer review your upcoming research article. This one hopes if you use it's opinions that you will cite it properly. Good day." Mx. Seeks Greater Truth gave a little bop of it's body before floating away from the scene of its crime.
"All right folks, show's over, go home!" Shepard's shout got most of the students to clear out in their usual thirty seconds.
Elissa grumbled slightly as she finally noticed Amala smiling triumphantly, the snitch. Then grumbled further as she realized she had the wrong backpack in front of her. Jenny's name was written on the front in puff paint and bedazzled with fake gems; a few ribbons had been glued on for emphasis. Of what, Elissa wasn't sure. Amala meanwhile squinted in annoyance are her own backpack which appeared to have a Turian umbrella shoved in the top. As they began to slowly look for the original owners Elissa overheard one last comment from the power couple.
"Did you really have to pick a fight with the big dumb jelly fish?"
"Yes. He doubted my scientific rigor Shepard, as you say, it was fighting words."
"Nerd."
"Look, I don't mean to denigrate you by implying you lack the experience and intelligence for this argument."
"I thought this was a debate? And Denigrate, really?"
"I may have bent the truth to fit my needs Jane, and denigrate means to belittle."
Elissa grabbed Amala's arm with bruising force, her head whipping around so fast that her ponytail smacked her right in the eye.
"I know what denigrate means! …now that you told me."
Her own green eyes pleaded with her best friend. Did you hear this? Did you hear THIS? AH! T'Soni and Shepard finally got far enough away that Elissa couldn't listen in; not that she didn't strain in an attempt. Locking her eyes back onto Amala's she finally noticed the smug look and immediately dropped her hand. Schooling her own features, Elissa returned to looking out for good ol' Red Jenny and hustled away to find her. Not running from anything. Nothing happened, shut up. Besides, if Amala was going to be mean she could learn about them being together from someone else!