"Is it normal for people to be out this long? Y'know, after being violently knocked out?"
Averil stared down at Kolyat's unconscious body through narrowed eyes. Her arms were folded across her chest, and she glanced questioningly at Thane. The green-scaled drell was as stoic as ever, seemingly unfazed by the fact that he was standing by his son's sleeping form in Averil's cabin.
"It might take a while," Thane replied calmly. "Have patience."
Averil "hmph"ed. Patience. Right. "I mean, I have very little experience with this kinda thing. When I fight with someone, they usually don't come out of it alive, so unconsciousness is kinda new to me…I don't really know what to do, y'know? Haha..." She shifted, her small rant trailing off. She actually felt a little nervous. What if she accidentally damaged Kolyat's brain with the stunt she pulled? What if Kolyat never woke up again? Thane would never forgive her! She wouldn't beat herself up too much (the kid wouldn't be dead), but Thane would definitely be angry. "Should we try and wake him up? Shake him, yell in his ear, splash him with cold water...oh, wait. He's on my bed. Scratch that last one." Averil seemed to be thinking seriously about it, which made Thane give an amused smile.
"Do not fret, dear friend. He will awaken on his own," he said reassuringly. She was more worried about it than he was, and he's the kid's father. She scratched the right side of her jaw, a little embarrassed but also flattered that he called her his "dear friend".
"A-Alright. If you say so..." She sat down on her bed, near Kolyat's feet. "So...since we have no clue when he'll wake up and all...you don't have to wait here with me. There's no way you'd enjoy that...I'll just call for you when he wakes up." She avoided his gaze. She did that a lot around Thane. He just made her feel awkward and embarrassed...not in a lovey-dovey way. Ew. He was hot, but not really her type. Anyway, Averil really had no clue how to act around people who were "friends". Growing up, she had little to none...and even less after her father was killed, making her more bitter and violent than ever.
Thane bowed his head. "Very well. I will await your call." With those words, he walked into the elevator and disappeared behind its doors.
Averil rubbed the back of her neck, staring silently down at the young drell sleeping soundly on her bed. I hope this whole thing ends well, she thought. I didn't really think it through before I knocked him out and dragged him onto the Normandy...and I'd hate to see Thane sad. She sat down on the edge of the bed, starting to plot about what she'd do if things went downhill for the assassin and his son. While she was thinking, she didn't notice Kolyat roll over until he wrapped an arm around her waist. "Kyah!" Averil let out a small scream, face turning bright red at the sudden close contact, and shoved Kolyat away. In her flustered panic, she pushed him a bit too hard, and he fell to the floor with a loud "thump". She winced. Oops.
Kolyat woke with a start. "Wh-what the hell...?" He sat up and rubbed his eyes, looking around tiredly. "Where...?" Then, it seemed like everything came back to him. "Gah!" With a cry, he scrambled to his feet, suddenly alert. His black eyes landed on Averil, who was watching him with a tiny, amused smirk. "You!" he cried, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "You're the one who knocked me out!" He glanced around briefly, then glared at her. "Where the hell am I?!"
Averil rolled her eyes. "Can you keep it down a little? Seriously. Shoutin' ain't gonna get you answers any faster, kid." Only people like me get quick answers by shouting.
He fixed her with a glare. Ooh, scary. "Don't dodge the question! Where am I, and why the hell did you bring me here?!"
Averil rubbed her ear, pursing her lips. "Geez, why are you so damn loud? You're gonna wake the whole neighborhood." She sighed and put a hand on her hip. "Since you're gonna freak out like a kidnapped princess, fine. I'll tell you. You're on the Normandy, which is under the command of my older sister, Commander Audrey Shepard, and myself, the Spectre Averil Shepard." Her gaze hardened. "Now do you understand what you're dealing with here, kid?"
"The...the Shepard sisters?" Kolyat's teal complexion got a shade paler. "You have gotta be kidding me."
Averil face palmed. "I told you who I was before, dipshit! Try listening for once."
Kolyat shook his head rapidly. "But...but what do you want with me? And what were you doing with my father...?" It seemed the shock of Averil's identity sapped his frightened fury, and he sat down on her bed, eyes wide. "I am so confused..."
Averil grinned. "Yeah. That much was obvious." She climbed onto the bed as well, sitting cross-legged beside him. "You shoulda just come with me when I told you to," she scolded. "Then I wouldn't have had to knock you on your ass." Not that it wasn't slightly enjoyable... she added in her mind.
Kolyat threw his hands in the air. "How was I supposed to know you were actually Averil Shepard? You're supposed to be dead!"
"Yeah, maybe you should try watching the news sometimes, too. Or reading the paper. Or magazines. Or listening to people gossip...hell, my reappearance has been smeared all over every website and news channel and social media...I don't even think I've gone anywhere without hearing somebody talking about it. What's the matter kid, you deaf or somethin'?" she snickered, grinning when a scowl settled on Kolyat's face. Annoying him was gonna become one of her favorite hobbies in no time.
"Would you shut up?! Watching the news or listening to gossip hasn't exactly been on my list of priorities, lately!" They both fell silent at his outburst, with Kolyat clenching and unclenching his jaw and Averil glaring silently down at her bed, a little angry both at her insensitiveness and the fact that she was letting him make her feel guilty. She really had gone soft.
"Haven't I already told ya not to shout?" she mumbled, folding her arms across her chest.
"Whatever." Kolyat sighed. "Would you just tell me why I'm here, already?"
"Uh…" Averil rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah...sure kid, why not?" She smiled sheepishly and tilted her head. "See...after you so blatantly refused to come quietly and have a calm conversation with your father, I decided that it would be the best option to knock you out cold and carry you onto the Normandy, where you have no option but to talk with Thane eventually, given the smaller size of this ship...which is already deep into space by the way, so don't think you can make a run for it when no one's watchin' ya."
Kolyat's mouth hung open in shock. Then, his expression quickly transformed into one of anger. "So, in other words...you kidnapped me?!" He jumped to his feet and glared down at her, fists clenched.
Averil scratched the side of her jaw thoughtfully. "Y'know...when you say it like that, you make it sound like a bad thing. I guess I coulda explained that a little better...but I ain't a criminal or nothin', I was just tryin' to help a friend out."
"Help?! How does knocking me out and taking me somewhere against my will count as helping?!"
Averil sighed. "Look, Lizard-Boy, all your dad wants is to make up with you. I know you're pissed at him, but if you just give him a chance, you'll see that he's actually a good guy." Wow, I'm being diplomatic now? There's a first.
Kolyat scoffed. "You obviously don't know him very well."
Her eye twitched. "And what do you think you know about him? According to you, he was never around. How well do you think you can know a guy you never talk to?" She pursed her lips, getting irritated once again at Kolyat's thoughtless words. "I'll bet I've learned more about him in the few weeks I've known him than you've learned your whole life." She regretted those words the second they came out of her mouth.
Kolyat's expression darkened. "...And whose fault is that?" he muttered, making Averil bite the inside of her cheek, her expression softening out of guilt. Looks like they both could say some thoughtless things when they were angry.
Averil stood up, facing Kolyat with a serious look on her face. Even if it took her years, she'd make the young drell see things clearly. "If you don't take this opportunity to sit down and talk to him, then that'll be on you." When he didn't respond, she shook her head and walked towards the elevator.
"Hey, where are you going?" he called after her.
"Down to the Mess Hall. I'm starving...when you're ready to be an adult about this, come see me. Until then, you might as well make yourself at home." She opened the door, paused, and looked over her shoulder at him. "Oh, and Kolyat?"
"What?" he snapped.
"If you mess up my cabin, I'm kicking your ass out the airlock."
With that, she promptly walked into the elevator, pleased when she turned to find him staring, pale-faced as she smiled and waved goodbye. Maybe she was going soft, but she still found it amusing when she scared the hell out of people.
When Averil made her way to the Mess Hall, she found herself under the gaze of more than just the cook. Miranda, Thane, and Jacob had gathered there as well, and they all had very different expressions when they looked at her.
"...What?" she asked, almost innocently. She had a feeling she knew why they were staring at her, and it had everything to do with their new teal-skinned guest.
Miranda was the first to speak. "What were you thinking, Shepard?!" she huffed, folding her arms across her chest.
Averil rolled her eyes. "Don't get huffy with me, Miss Perfect," she snapped, putting her hands on her hips. "It's not a big deal."
"Of course it is!" she argued. "Bringing Thane's son aboard the Normandy was a rash decision that you should have thought out more carefully! He's not a part of this mission, and you've just put him in danger!"
"Oh my, are you concerned about our alien guest?" Averil asked mockingly. "Or perhaps this concern of yours is just a cover-up for the fact that you really don't want another alien aboard. Am I right, Little Miss Pro-Human?" Miranda looked shocked for a moment, then she gave a loud "Hmph!" and strode into her office. Averil smirked. "What a diva," she snickered to herself.
"Averil." At the sound of Thane's voice, she turned. "How is Kolyat doing?"
"Well, he's awake, but..." She rubbed the back of her neck. "It would probably be best if you wait for him to come down on his own. He's not in the best state of mind right now."
"...Of course," Thane replied, somewhat reluctantly. She smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, don't worry about it. He'll come around, you'll see!" Thane returned her smile and gave a smile nod.
"You're right, of course. Thank you, my friend." He, too, turned and walked toward his respective area, leaving Averil with that nice, fuzzy feeling in her chest. It felt nice to be appreciated...maybe being soft wasn't all bad.
She was suddenly aware of Jacob's eyes on her, and she turned to him with a start. "Wh-what are you looking at?" she snapped, her cheeks turning a shade redder.
"Nothing," Jacob chuckled. "Nothing at all." As Rupert handed Averil her meal, Jacob turned and walked towards the elevator, waving at her over his shoulder. "You enjoy your meal, Shepard." She grumbled in response. He's a cheeky little bastard, isn't he?
"Uh..." Averil pursed her lips, still standing awkwardly in front of the cook. "...Hey, Rupert, mind making me another one of these? I figure our reluctant guest might be a little hungry," she said slowly.
At that, Rupert grinned, doing as he was asked and handing her another plate. "I didn't take you as the considerate type, Shepard."
"I-I'm not!" she protested, trying her best to look indifferent. "I just don't want the stupid kid complaining about how hungry he is, that's all!" Without waiting for his reply, Averil turned on her heel and strode into the elevator, using her elbow to press the button to take her to her cabin.
When she arrived, Averil wasn't all that surprised to find the Kolyat hadn't moved from his spot on her bed. "Oi, Lizard-Boy," she called, immediately getting his attention. "I gotcha a little somethin' to eat." She set the plates down on her desk and dragged it over to her bed, sitting down next to Kolyat and beginning her meal without another word.
Kolyat seemed shocked. For a moment, he just stared at her, dumbfounded, but then he snapped out of it and slowly began to eat. "...Why did you bring this up to me?" he asked after a moment of silence.
"Hm?" Averil blinked. "Because I thought you'd be hungry, why else?"
"O-oh." Kolyat looked away awkwardly. "Then...thanks."
Averil blushed slightly. "Wh-whatever. Not like it was a big deal or anything."
"No, it's just that...I mean, my first impression of you was that you were a complete and total bitch. But I guess you can be nice, too."
Averil have him a deadpan look. "Wow, you don't hold back at all, do you?" she muttered, continuing to shovel food into her mouth. "J-just because I brought you food...that doesn't mean I won't just as easily shove you out the airlock!" she huffed, avoiding Kolyat's gaze. "...That said..." Her voice was suddenly quiet. "I may have dragged you here, but you should know that you're not a prisoner or anything. I already told you that you could come out of here any time."
"Yeah, I know. I've just been...thinking."
Averil decided to leave it at that. She may have been kind enough to bring the guy food, but it was obvious that he didn't trust her yet. Good man, she thought, pleased that he wasn't as naive as she had expected him to be. The two of them spent the next ten minutes or so eating in silence. When they were both finished, Averil pushed her desk back to its original spot and laid down on her bed next to where Kolyat sat, closing her eyes.
"Uh...hey, can I ask you something?" Kolyat suddenly spoke up, causing Averil to open one eye and stare up at him.
"You just did."
Kolyat rolled his eyes. "Besides that, smartass."
"Yeah, sure. What's on your mind, Lizard-Boy?"
"...What exactly is your relationship with my father?"
"My relationship with Thane…?" Both her eyes were open now. "Well...I guess I could call him my close friend. Hm. That feels nice to say...close friend…" she mumbled the last sentence to herself, almost getting lost in thought until she caught herself, shaking her head to get rid of the off-topic thoughts. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason…" He frowned down at the bed. "It's just...I've never seen my father around anyone. It's kind of hard to imagine that he's capable of making friends." Damn, this guy really doesn't hold back. "You must be a really special person, to make friends with a guy like him."
Averil almost got angry with the last statement, but the words "you must be a special person" make her heart skip a beat. "Wh-!" She sputtered, face turning red. "What the hell?! You tryin' to flirt with me or somethin'?!" she cried, her body jolting upright.
"Huh?" He blinked in confusion. Then, a look of realization slowly came to his face. "N-no! Don't be stupid! As if I'd ever flirt with you!" Averil folded her arms across her chest, her expression gradually darkening as Kolyat continued his hasty, embarrassed rant, his own face darkening in color. "You're not my type at all! Violent, rude, bull-headed, loud-if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were a man!"
Kolyat stopped himself too late. When he actually realized what he said, his eyes widened in horror. "Ah...w-wait, I didn't-"
"Get the fuck out of my cabin," Averil said, voice frighteningly calm and eyes closed, as though she would explode if she opened them.
"H-hold on a minute, just let me-"
"Out!" she yelled, lunging at him and making him scramble towards the elevator. "And don't show your face to me unless you're ready to apologize!" Kolyat flew into the elevator like hellhounds were at his heels, hastily pressing the button that would take him somewhere-anywhere-else.
What a complete and total fucktard! Averil thought bitterly, pulling her covers up to her chin and pouting like a child. Here I am trying to help him, and the bastard has the nerve to insult me like that! Hmph!
If there was one thing Averil knew...it was that she wasn't saying a word to that brat until he told her he was sorry.