Fiona

"What were you thinking?"

It was the first thing Solidus said to me.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I can't help thinking I did something really bad?"

Solidus laughed as though I had made up that excuse off the top of my head.

"No…Really what were you thinking?"

I drew a blank. My mouth hung open as I searched for something to say. After useless stammering Solidus spoke again, "You really don't know do you?"

I shook my head in agreement on the subject. "So are you going to tell me?"

Solidus answer was not what I would have expected from him. He had always explained things to me when ever I had a question. Dr. Kesler's scientific dialogue was usually the result of the question, but this time was different.

"You're really not going to tell me?" I pleaded.

Solidus expression was hard to place. I couldn't tell if it was embarrassed or mortified. "Noooooope."

That was his final answer. Silence passed as if we were waiting for something. Solidus still staring at me occasionally as if in doubt of my earnest innocents on the subject. And sometimes shaking his head before looking away from me to laugh.

Finally Dr. Kesler entered the room as if he was the reason Solidus had been waiting.

"Dr. this human has no idea what she has just done."

I had never heard Solidus take a tone like that with me before. Dr. Kesler thankfully came to my aid. As he pulled an Omni-tool from the cabinet that held the spares, he explained, "Had data on the event. It's lost now. Agree with Fiona, she did what she did not understanding the implications of her actions within your culture."

"See," I said defiantly like I had won the argument, "I bet I did something offensive."

"Only if you think acts of affection are considered offensive?" the doctor continued.

"What…! You're joking again right?" I looked toward Solidus for conformation and when his eyes hit the floor in avoidance that's when it came to me. This wasn't a joke.

"Oh this is bad… bearing your teeth is an act of aggression in my culture."

Dr. Kesler continued the conversation, "So how do humans express affection?"

"Well…We kiss."

As the doctor activated his omni-tool he responded, "Show me a kiss."

I laughed loudly, "I can't really show you that. I've got no one to kiss."

Without a twitch of emotion the doctor motioned to Solidus on the far side of the room while still tampering with his omni-tool. "Solidus will suffice as a partner."

"Oh there is so much wrong with this."

With my last comment the doctor gazed up to look at me, "like what?"

"I don't even know how I would kiss a turian… I'm sorry, doc."

"Just try your best so that I can monitor social response for further study."

I bit my lip. I wish I had said nothing. I even thought that this might be easier if I had a thimble like in the childhood vid I had seen of Peter Pan. I chocked down a chuckle as I thought about explaining that to the aliens.

I motioned for Solidus to sit in a chair to make him more accessible to my height. I placed both hands on his cheeks and kissed the top of his head on the flat plate before his fringe.

As I pulled my self away, I smiled down at him. I took my hands away from his face and turned to the doctor arms across my chest.

"There you have it."

I began to walk to my cell to avoid any additional comebacks on the subject, but the Dr. Kesler's tongue was quick to answer back.

"Not the response I needed. I am more interested in a response similar to the one witnessed in the combat training room today. I need to see a kiss equal to the incident."

"Sorry doc, that's all you get."

There was a slight pause in the conversation. Kesler seemed unphased by my refusal to participate further.

Dr. Kesler cleared his throat, "I dare you to kiss the turian."

Never in my life would I have expected the Dr. to care about a stupid childhood game I once explained to him. I was even more surprised by the fact that he was now using it against me.

"You can't do that!"

"I believe I have not contradicted the rules."

"No… You can't do that because it's stupid and I'm not playing."

"Shall I proceed to the double dog dare?"

"No… When did this turn into a fifteen year olds slumber party. Just knock it off."

Now the doctor seemed to be enjoying my misery. Smiling like he had just won a battle of wits the continued, "I triple dog dare you to comply with the predetermined experiment in which I need you full participation."

Not to be out done I countered with the stupidest defense I have ever uttered. "Well I quintuple dog dare you to… not have me do what it is you want?"

Solidus had been listening in confused silence to the doctor and I argue. Wanting to rejoin the conversation he chimed in, "Go ahead doctor, quadruple dog dare her."

"Ah Ha… you can't quadruple dog dare me because there is no such thing."

More confused than ever Solidus remarked, "So you people don't count past five?"

"Yes, we count past five. It's just that numbers are infinite and you have to draw the line somewhere so you know when to quit."

"What's a dog?"

I hadn't had time to answer Solidus's last question before the doctor spoke again, "I infinity dog dare you."

"Infinity?" I repeated. "I guess that settles it?"

"I thought you said it stops at four?"

"But infinity is the largest number ever. Nothing beats infinity."

Solidus frowned, "I think you're making this up as you go along?"

"I am not! There are rules… somewhere?"

Kesler cleared his throat. "I believe the conversation has side tracked."

"Fine let's get this over with."

I approached Solidus once more. I stopped him from sitting down and made him stand in front of me. "Close your eyes."

"Why?" He asked softly.

"Because it's not polite to stare."

Solidus closed his eyes. I leaned into him. When my lips felt the rough hard plates where is mouth was located I shut my eyes.

I opened my mouth slightly and Solidus mimicked my movements.

I tried to forget the awkwardness of the situation as I bravely pulled my self in closer. I glided my tongue forward to touch his. It definitely seemed like an alien situation as I explored his mouth. To my surprise he once again mimicked my behavior.

I slowly lost myself in the kiss as his needle like teeth became more familiar. Along with the unaccustomed taste of turian. For a few brief seconds nothing else existed except the kiss.

As I came to my senses I realized I had placed one of my hands at his jaw touching his mandible it my fingertips. The other hand was at the back of his neck reaching for his fringe. A low deep rumble could be felt in his chest. As I pulled away from him I realized one of his hands was placed at the small of my back the other was just a little higher. He had to drop his arms to let me go.

I stepped away and could no longer feel his heat. I couldn't remember him being so warm. He hadn't been this warm during our sparing match, had he?

I didn't look at his face like I had the last time. Instead I fixed my vision on the exuberant salarian doctor as he went over the omni-tool data he had taken.

I couldn't tell if Kesler was talking to us or mumbling loudly to himself. I kept my sight on him even though I could feel Solidus's eyes burning holes in me as he stared in my direction.

"Yes…Yes…Yes. Exactly what I was looking for. Increased hormonal response… endorphins. Good…hummm… seems activity was enjoyable for both species.

After the doctor uttered the last sentence I snapped my head to look at my turian friend. He looked away from me just as fast.

I bit my lip as I stepped toward him somewhat crouching to bring his attention to me from the floor.

I was never good at hiding my emotions and I couldn't stop the smile that came to my face when I finally got his attention. "Please don't do this. You don't have to be embarrassed. I know this is going to sound strange, but… I think you're my best friend in the entire universe right now and I can't have you feeling awkward around me."

He lifted his chin back to level as I stood strait. "Besides… I thought you would have hated it."

I saw Solidus's emotions change, but I'm not sure to what. It was nice to feel the tension in the room melt away.

Solidus spoke next, "I've got to get going. I have things to take care of."

I crossed my arms nodded my head and glanced at the doctor still enjoying his apparent bounty of data.

To my surprise instead of just heading out the door as usual when ever Solidus had to leave he came to my side first. He placed both hands on my shoulder and touched his forehead to mine.

I didn't want to cause another cultural taboo and it was obvious that this was a gesture of some kind. I decided not to say anything to him when he released me. I had just gotten my friend back and wasn't about to upset him again so soon.

I watched Solidus leave before questioning the doctor about my suspicions.

"Correct Fiona, gesture of friendship, compassion, trust, and love." He looked up from his data and added, "Much like the first kiss you gave to Arterius."

I said nothing else. I made my way back to my cot and laid down thinking about the doctor's explanation.