"Aww, look at this one!" Ami cooed, pulling an outfit off the nearest rack and showed it to Mira and Shepard. Grabbing the miniature leg, she kicked out one of the attached booties. "Isn't this adorable? It even has a tail!"
"Is that an Earth animal?" Mira asked, head tilted to the side as she eyed the green outfit.
Ami wagged the tail with orange spikes, and pushed the hood forward to reveal the consistency up the back. "It's supposed to be a dinosaur. It's so cute!" Ami continued to gush, wagging the tail again in clear delight.
Shepard chuckled and turned towards Mira. "It's an animal that lived on Earth before humans. They're extinct now. We only have records of their existence through fossils."
"Interesting," Mira responded. "Similar on Rakhana. We had animals that resembled something like your dinosaurs. Now, also extinct." Turning toward Ami she added, "Is this the sort of thing you are interested in making?"
Ami laid the outfit on the rack and took a picture with her omnitool before putting it back. "Nah, just messing around. I'm looking for something more practical to start off with. The dresses and little corduroy outfits we saw earlier gave me some good ideas." Closing her picture gallery, Ami looked up at the other two women. "I think I got a good amount today, but don't assume I won't buy the outfit for your baby, Mira. Tell me it's not cute!"
Mira giggled and smiled. "Perhaps a different color. Depending on the baby's scales, green might not work."
"Are you planning on finding out the sex of the baby? Or are you going to let it be a surprise?"
Mira purred thoughtfully before answering Ami. "Taran wants to know. He's already trying to find a color scheme for the babies room. Already looking at jewelry from the shop. He's very eager."
"He should be!" Ami raised her voice in excitement. "You said you guys have been planning this for awhile."
"When will you find out?" Shepard asked, remaining silent until then.
"A few more weeks. Not soon enough, according to my haru." Mira shook her head in exasperation.
"Men are impatient, worse than babies. He's only going to get awful if he hangs out with Lukas. You've been warned." Ami chuckled, her omnitool beeped with an incoming message and caught her attention for a second before she continued, "I just hope Taran's not put off by what happened the other day. I promise you that's not a normal occurrence."
"Kolyat and Lukas reassured us, too." Mira dipped her head. "They are planning another night to see one another, but just the three of them."
"Look at our boys all bonding and stuff. Adorable. Like babies!" Ami pulled another outfit from a rack on her other side, a yellow dress with white lace trimming and bows around the collar. After taking another picture she placed it back and turned toward them. "Did you see anything you liked, Mira?"
"A few things, yes."
"Did you make a list or take pictures?" Ami lowered her voice thoughtfully, as if trying to recall Mira opening her omnitool.
"Drells have eidetic memories, they can also use external stimulus to recall memories and relive a moment. Mira will be able to find every single outfit, without faltering, as long as the merchandise isn't moved." Shepard spoke up towards Ami. The look of amazement on the woman's face hinted to Shepard that Ami was not well informed of Mira's species.
Ami remained silent for several seconds, gaze far away as if she was thinking about something before her eyes drifted back towards them, and a coy grin planted itself on her lips, eyes half hooded. "I just took that to the dirtiest place possible."
Mira snorted and covered her mouth with her fingertips while Shepard returned the human woman's grin.
"It can come in handy for many things." Shepard continued to smirk. Mira's eyes falling back on her.
Taking a step into them, Ami lowered her voice. "Please tell me your men replayed, like, your dirtiest sex back to you. You know how hot that would be?"
Mira bit her bottom lip and dropped her head, frills blazed a dark pink while she remained quiet but nodded demurely.
Shepard, on the other hand, laughed in devilish amusement. "It's the equivalent of watching porn or listening to someone read you one of those fornax short stories."
Ami returned her impish laugh and clicked her tongue. Shaking her head she made a sound that was close to 'aw shucks' but kept her frisky spirit. "I should of dated a drell, or at least fucked one. Too bad your species is so scarce, but it's fine. Lukas is mine, and there is no way in hell I am letting that man go anywhere, and he knows it."
Shepard narrowed her eyes at Ami in fondness. She really liked her wild spirit and no apologies attitude. She was a woman who knew what she wanted, and went for it. She also made damn well sure to tell you exactly how she felt about it, too. Ami's omitool beeped again and that time the woman sucked her teeth and shook her head, clearly aggravated.
"Is everything alright?" Mira asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Yeah, sorry. I have to go. It's from one of my seamstresses, she's in panic mode."
"Don't worry about it, we can reschedule lunch anytime," Shepard reassured, catching Mira's attention who smiled and nodded in enthusiasm towards Ami.
"Thanks, I'm so sorry. I'll message you both tonight, ok?" Taking a step towards Mira, Ami hugged her gently before turning to Shepard and doing the same. After a wave and another turn, she made her way out of the store.
"Mira, can I ask you for your help with something?" Shepard asked quietly. Placing her coffee cup down on the table, she bit her lower lip as anxiety trickled through her insides. She was a little nervous about what Kolyat had planned for her tomorrow night.
Her decision was already made, whatever he had planned, she would make sure to find an opportunity to tell Kolyat how she felt - wanting to express her love and get an opportunity to discuss their future together. To her dismay, Shepard would need to force herself not to give into screaming his name in pleasure for at least the first hour or so.
Maybe forty-five minutes.
No … damn, at least an hour.
Unless he gives me a new model ship, then all bets are off.
"Of course." Mira dipped her head, eyes sparkling in excitement, and her words pulled Shepard from her racy thoughts. "Is it something outrageous? Perhaps scandalous? Do you need me to punch someone in the face? Just don't tell Taran."
Raising her eyebrows, Shepard laughed but shook her head and sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately, nothing so exciting. I just need your help with finding a word."
"A word? What do you mean?" The woman stared at Shepard, clearly perplexed, dropping her fork down on the edge of her plate, she waited patiently for Shepard to continue.
"Kolyat planned something special for me tomorrow, and I wanted a name … something I can say, or call him. A word of endearment."
A slow smile quirked the corner of Mira's lips, her lavender irises catching the light and shone like amethysts as she looked around as if thinking. "Does Kolyat call you anything?"
"Kira."
"Really?" Mira's eyeridges raised, the smile now brightening her entire face. "You have no idea how pleased I am to hear that." Closing her eyes, she stayed silent for several heartbeats.
Shepard had a feeling Mira was trying to shut out the world and search her memories. Thane did it on several occasions. Sometimes on missions, when he recalled schematics and maps, or memories he wished to share with her. Waiting patiently, Shepard glanced around the small diner they occupied, scanning the crowd like she always did. You never knew when a threat was nearby, or someone trying to sneak a picture of her.
Most likely with food in my teeth.
"Drehan," Mira suddenly said, her eyes open and staring at Shepard with burning intensity. "You should call him drehan."
"What does it mean?"
"It means …" Mira looked away as if she tried to pull her words together. "... the translation … hmmm…." Closing her eyes again, she tilted her head down, and that time Shepard noticed the rapid eye movement below her dark lids before she stared back at Shepard again. "Have you told Kolyat that you love him? Forgive my candor, but I do not smell a claim. I know he is in love with you, yet his venom does not course through you, marking you as his. Why?"
Wow, just throw it all out there.
Shepard took a sip of her coffee and looked away from Mira, needing a break from the intensity of the other woman's stare. She kept her composure and tried to find the best words to explain herself to Mira. If she wasn't one of Kolyat's best friends, or if Shepard didn't care about having a relationship with her, too, than she would've automatically told the woman to fuck off and storm away.
Even if it was super childish.
But that was the problem and truth of the matter. She did care. She did want Kolyat, and she did want Mira and Taran in her life, too.
"Is it because of Sere Krios? You were in love with Kolyat's father?"
Shepard dropped her gaze into her pasta dish, still half eaten. Her eyes slipped closed as images of Thane pushed straight to the forefront of her mind. Was she that transparent? "Thane …" Shepard started, after she tried to piece together her words. "... I loved Thane, more than anything in existence. When he died … I died." Stones filled her throat and she raised her gaze to meet Mira's. With great effort, Shepard forced the budding emotion of pain back down into the small part of her soul that still remained with the despair of losing Thane.
The lavender drell watched her quietly. Mira's expression softened, most likely to sympathize with the anguish that Shepard knew showed on her face in the moment.
Licking her suddenly dry lips, Shepard continued, "I needed to be sure with Kolyat. I was worried he'd see himself as a replacement for Thane." Grimacing she shook her head and added, "You know Kolyat has been through a lot, and his self image…."
Mira nodded. "Yes, but he has also matured from when he first arrived on the Citadel. Kolyat is better now, and I know you are in part to thank for that. You helped him reconnect. You calmed his soul, and I know you will continue to do so. His kira."
"I love him," Shepard stated, her words silencing Mira. "I wanted to be sure it was Kolyat I was saying it to. I wanted him to know it, too." Shepard swallowed roughly again and pulled in her courage for admittance. "I want him to claim me … and when he does offer it … I want him to know for certain that it's him taking me, and not the memory of Thane. Never the memory of Thane."
Mira blinked both sets of eyelids several times. Her expression unreadable as she stared at Shepard's face. Was she searching for the truth in Shepard's words?
Eventually, Mira smiled and nodded as if pleased with what she found. "My heart beats for you. My life in your hands. That's what drehan means."
Shepard thought about the word and smiled in thanks towards the other woman.
Mira's gaze fell towards her salad plate, emotions flowed over her features, and Shepard waited patiently for her to voice them out loud. Shepard had a feeling Mira was about to tell her something that weighed heavily on her. Soon, Mira squared her shoulders and met Shepard's eyes again, determination shone strong. "I have a confession for you, Sarah, and forgive me if it jeopardizes our new found friendship, but Kolyat is important to me."
"And I'm happy about that," Shepard responded carefully as she tried to push down the sudden warning signs of doom that fluttered in her stomach.
"You must understand, Taran and I love him very much."
"Ok?"
What is she getting at?
Mira's frills rippled, and she sighed. Shepard knew she made a sound beyond her own range of hearing. It was times like those that Shepard hated her human restrictions. If she could've heard Mira's trills, she might've gotten a better idea of what the woman was trying to express.
"Before Kolyat started seeing you … Taran and I discussed asking Kolyat to join us."
"Join you? You mean like hara'trula'fura?" Shepard blinked in surprise. Did Mira just admit she wanted to marry Kolyat? Wait, didn't they joke about it when Kolyat and Shepard were on their first, official date?
Mira smiled and nodded. "Ka'mira first, but eventually, if Taran agreed to share as first husband, then yes."
"Oh …" Shepard replied lamely. What else could she say to someone who also cared deeply about a man she loved, too? "I didn't know you felt that kind of way towards him. I …"
Fuck, this is awkward.
"Sarah," Mira said, short of chastising, and giggled. Mira's reaction confused her further. "I did not tell you this to bring discomfort between us. I told you this to give you an idea of what Kolyat means to us and honestly how happy I am, from the depths of my heart, that Kolyat has found love and will be loved in return. Someone who will complete him, and he for them." Reaching across the table, Mira placed her hand over Shepard's, raw compassion and truth in her eyes rendering Shepard speechless. "I am so glad he found you."
Shepard smiled and watched the plethora of emotion sweep over Mira's face, her hands pulled back to catch the tears that escaped the corner of her eyes.
"Just make him happy. I beg of you, don't break his heart, because if you do … Taran and I will step in and claim him, and you will never get another chance."
Shepard's jaw dropped from the passion Mira showed towards her, a scoff instinctually leaving her throat. She had to admit, she never expected that kind of conviction from such a normally docile, gentle spoken woman. "Ouch." Shepard flinched before a slow grin pulled at her mouth. "Are you always this scary, or is that the pregnancy talking?"
Mira blinked several times, as if realization was sinking in, before she gasped and covered her mouth with her fingers, an expression close to horror blanketing her features. "Sarah, I'm sorry. I got carried away, I-"
Shepard dropped her head back and laughed in uncontained jubilation, not giving a fuck if people looked at her like she was a maniac. "Don't you dare apologize. I love your fire. I mean, I knew you had it in you, but to see it first hand…." Dropping her face into her palm, it took her several, deep breaths to calm the laughter barreling throughout her chest. She grasped her cup of coffee and smiled coyly at the lavender woman before her. "It actually makes me happy to know you'll hate me if I hurt Kolyat. That you will be there for him if anything …" Shaking her head, Shepard pushed away the thoughts of the bad that could happen and tried to focus only on the good. "I'm going to tell him how I feel, and I want him to be happy, just like you."
Mira smiled and nodded respectfully. Purring in thanks, the emotions that fell over her features were so genuine, Shepard knew no matter what, Kolyat would always have Taran and Mira. Friendship like that was hard to find, and she hoped Kolyat knew how lucky he was.
Shepard's omnitool beeped, breaking the moment, and she glanced down and saw Lukas' number come across her screen. Looking over to Mira, she waved her closer and mouthed that it was Lukas as they bunched together and waited for the screen to appear. Smiling coyly, Shepard placed her chin on her hand and opened the call - most likely, Lukas was checking up on their girl's day out. "Ami's not picking up for you? She just left a short while ago."
Instead of his usual smile, Lukas' gaze was dark and ominous, pain clear in his features. "Sarah …" he started, grimacing before he glanced away in a moment of hesitation.
Mira shifted beside her, a worried purr released from her throat. Shepard took a deep breath while dread gripped her gut like an uninvited guest. Nightmares became a reality just as Lukas' spoke again.
"It's Kolyat." Lukas continued, confirming what Shepard already suspected. "He's … he's been injured."
"Is he alive?" Shepard returned without a heartbeat, everything shutting down around her. The world fading to gray and silence.
Licking his lips, Lukas glanced away and and hesitated as if he caught himself in the midst of a silent breakdown, pain and uncertainty taking over before he looked back at her, forcing himself to blink it away. Shepard could tell he was doing his best to keep himself together, and by Lukas' reaction, whatever happened, wasn't good.
"Huerta Memorial is putting out a call to his emergency contact. He needs blood."
Red streaked Lukas' cheek, and there was more on his palm when he brought his hand up to rub the back of it over his sweaty bangs, hanging loose over his forehead. His white shirt held splotches by the collar, but she couldn't really see how much with the angle of his omnitool. The whole thing began to feel surreal to her, like she was floating away from the situation and glancing in from the outside.
Please … please, no. I can't lose him, too.
"Is that Kolyat's blood, or someone else's?"
"I was trying to apply pressure to stop the bleeding."
"Oh, gods …" Mira's voice quivered. "… Taran and I are his emergency contacts," she continued in wide-eyed panic, her omnitool rang not a second later. They both glanced down, Taran's name lighting up Mira's screen, the prompt like an impending attack. Moving away from Shepard, Mira opened the call, and Taran's frantic voice filled the line.
Looking back at Lukas, Shepard steeled her nerves. "We're headed there now."
"Wait …" Lukas stopped her from ending the call. "… he's going to need more blood, he didn't bank enough yet, and the emergency contact won't be enough."
"Fuck. How badly was he hurt?" Shepard asked through gritted teeth, her other hand wrapped around the edge of the table, knuckles turning white, the only thing to keep herself from losing her equilibrium in the moment. The dread that lanced through her stomach threatened to sink her soul into the floor.
"Sarah …" Lukas' dark gaze held her rooted to the spot. "… put out a call. If you know anyone else that can give blood, get them here as soon as possible … his life depends on it."
Thane stood frozen for a several heartbeats, his instincts reacting more than his brain, body tensing in uncertainty. Koji's tongue swept against his, and a familiar taste filled Thane's mouth. Comfort and sensuality mixed together, a distant voice, and the brush of a memory. Thane knew the taste, and it only intensified when Koji stepped into him and deepened the intrusion.
A quiet moan vibrated over Thane's tongue. His? Koji's? Thane wasn't sure, but the sensation brought heat to his body and an automatic response of his eyes to slipping closed. He allowed himself to ease beneath Koji's actions.
Thane brought his hands up and rested them on the man's shoulders, hard, coiled muscles strong beneath his palms. Another soft moan, that time from Koji, left Thane trying to decide whether to give into Koji's tempting or push him away. Another sweep of Koji's tongue gave the human a chance to swallow an unexpected moan that purred from Thane's throat. The unleashed reaction surprised even himself, and Thane released a frustrated gasp just as Koji started a fresh wave of strokes.
Still not ready to push the blond human away, Thane tried his best to pinpoint a hum that resonated in the back of his skull. The taste was so familiar, yet foreign, and Thane fought against the contradictory feelings as he tried to make up his mind. The submission of his body's want, or the truth of his missing memories that made it feel wrong.
Or right.
No. Wrong….
Maybe right?
Koji pulled away just enough to trail kisses from the side of Thane's mouth to his frills. Holding him close, one of Koji's hands slipped to the dip of his back, pulling them flush against one another. The other hand curved around the back of his neck, urging him to tilt his head, granting Koji access to the ribbing of his throat. Hot moisture slid over a sensitive frill, and Thane grit his teeth to stifle the groan that escaped.
"God, I missed you so fucking much." Koji exhaled on a moan, cradling Thane's body. He covered Thane's mouth again, silencing a chance for a response. His hand slipped below the edge of Thane's cotton shirt, fingers spread wide over his skin and explored the scales of his spine, pulling the material with the movement.
There was a comfort with the human's touch, his body, his kiss, and the room. They'd been there before, doing exactly what unfurled in the moment. As Koji had led him through the halls, knowledge sprang to life in Thane's mind, an awareness that there were no cameras or sensors to detect their presence. They'd walked the path countless times before.
Thane tilted his head back and gave Koji silent permission, the human's obvious arousal captured between them, digging into the front of Thane's upper thigh, his own on the verge of full bloom. Pulling back, Koji scraped his teeth over Thane's cheek, forcing a hiss of excitement from his chest. They became a tangling mass of hands and kisses while Thane grew bolder, grasping Koji's hair beneath the palm of his hand just as the human's tongue dipped beneath an oversensitive fold.
"Koji …" Thane tried to speak, his mind raced with bewilderment. His body wanted to keep going, but reality sank its poison filled claws into the situation. "Mitchiko."
"Fuck, Mitchiko." Koji spat, apparent frustration at the mention of the woman took over his expression. "Well, don't fuck Mitchiko. You never have anyway. Only me." Koji moved in to kiss him again, but Thane tightened his hold on the human's hair, preventing him from claiming Thane's lips again. "Ow." Koji grimaced in pain. "Easy."
"I don't understand." Thane narrowed his eyes as he swept his gaze over Koji's, hoping in vain for memories to come, searching the man's expression for the truth of Koji's words. Wasn't Mitchiko his wife?
There was no deceit as Koji stared back at him, gaze softened. "I know you're still having a hard time grasping everything around you, but you'll realize soon enough." His fingers came up to Thane's face, the palm of Koji's hands resting on his cheeks, eyes searching. "I know you're going to find yourself, Shun. I know you're going to come back to me."
"Shun?" Thane asked, the name familiar but just out of reach of recollection.
Koji smirked, and his face lit up playfully. "Your middle name, but it's not registered here. I was the only one who called you that. Does it ring a bell for you?" His voice was hopeful, eyes widened as if he was hanging on for Thane's answer.
Thane let his gaze drop, releasing his hold upon Koji's yellow locks, trying to search his recollections. Shun. He always called me Shun. "Yes," Thane admitted.
Closing his eyes, Thane let the word wash over himself. Koji's voice saying the name again, and the sound of it, filled in missing pieces of his memories. A fire igniting. One of Koji's hands curved beneath his jaw and angled Thane's face up, the tip of his hot tongue snaked out and traced over the base of his throat again, freezing Thane's train of thought.
A whisper of breath blew over his frills as Koji asked, "What about koiishi? Do you remember that?" His other hand trailed down Thane's chest as he spoke, over Thane's abdomen and lower, hand slipping below the waistband of his cotton pants.
Thane gasped in disorientation, the situation spiraling out of control just as Koji stroked him, cupping him in the palm of his hand, a shudder of pleasure shot over every nerve ending. "Koji, wait," Thane choked out, grabbing the man's wrist at his groin. His mind raced with so many thoughts, memories, and feelings, leaving him to grasp wildly at anything to give him an idea of the meaning for koiishi. Why he was allowing Koji to get so far with him?
Koji chuckled and licked his throat again before he bit the juncture of Thane's neck and shoulder in wanton indication. Koji knew exactly every spot to touch to bring him pleasure. "Please … say something. Anything to let me know you remember us."
Koiishi….
Hotaru….
"Watashi no hotaru," Thane replied automatically, the words leaving his mouth before he could stop them. Opening his eyes, Thane stared at the ceiling.
Koji's hands fell limp against him and Thane released his hold, letting the man take a step away. The human put distance between them, and with it, an empty void around Thane, already missing Koji's touch.
Koji's eyes were wide, eyebrows raised high, his mouth slightly ajar as Thane dropped his gaze to the man before him. Something like relief fell over the human's expression and Koji raised his arms and embraced Thane roughly. Almost as if he was the only thing that mattered to Koji. The movement was so sudden, Thane barely had a chance to hug him back.
"Look at me." Koji yanked himself away, his deep brown eyes hardened as he grabbed Thane's cheeks once more, peering into his face. "Say it again," Koji demanded. "I want to make sure I heard you correctly."
Thane was confused by his desperation. Was Koji that worried about him not regaining the memories back? Placing his hands over Koji's, Thane said the words again.
A wide smile took over Koji's expression, his eyes filled with tears, a sob escaped his throat. "I thought I would never hear that again."
Overwhelming emotion ripped through Thane's chest, and he moved his hands from Koji's, letting them fall to the man's sternum. The pounding of the human's heart beneath the palm of his hand gave more evidence of the sincerity and truth of Koji's words. What he felt for the human in return, real and within his grasp. "I'm sorry," Thane apologized. "I didn't realize … I didn't intend to cause you so much pain. Why didn't you say anything? Why did you let me think that Mitchiko-"
Koji shook his head violently and licked his lips. "She's not! You're not married to her. Don't even mention her right now. I don't give a shit about that woman, or what she wants … I promise I'll explain everything, but right now … this is about us. I just…." Koji rested his hands on Thane's shoulders and leaned into him, dropping his head down to hang from his neck. He shook his head in denial a few more times, and Thane thought it was an attempt to try and find his words. Thane released a breath of relief with everything Koji just told him, as he tried to piece together what he could.
He wasn't married to Mitchiko, but was in a relationship with Koji.
Thane closed his eyes as quick flashes filled his thoughts, image after image before he opened them again. His childhood, koku-shi, Koji, Cerberus….
Years … we've been together for years...
"Hotaru," Thane said softly.
Koji picked his head back up to look at Thane. Need flooded Koji's expression so profoundly, the emotion couldn't be interpreted as anything else. "I just need to feel you again, Shun. I've missed you so much."
"I … I missed you, too," Thane responded, his heart skipping a beat at the depths of pure emotion Koji showed towards him.
Koji's gaze turned fathomless, and Thane nodded in acceptance, wanting nothing more than to ease the look of torment on his lover's face.
Thane kissed him softly, a gentle sweep of lips and tongue, of taste and touch, remembrance and new discovery, all balled into one. Koji's body pressed against his, and slowly they became nothing but perception and touch. Sounds and emotion. A new memory being made.
Watashi no hotaru…
My firefly.
Kolyat stared down at the ground. Cool, gentle waves, lapped at his bare feet. The edges of his white linen pants just grazed the waters as they pulled back and forth into the ocean. He shifted, and his feet sunk further. Hot sand, perfect and soft, barely moist from the currents touch. He glanced up and looked out towards the sea. The horizon stretched endlessly, and the scorching sun wrapped around him like the soft cocoon of your favorite blanket you never wanted to leave the depths of.
He closed his eyes and tilted his head up, basking in the feel of the blazing, invisible hands on his scales, nothing but tranquility surrounded him. Wherever he was, he felt free and at peace. Not a single thought in his mind, other than the moment and the feeling of belonging.
"You have become so handsome and strong," a voice spoke from behind him, pulling him from the moment of serenity.
Kolyat glanced back, shifting on his feet, the sand moving comfortably beneath him. A figure stood several yards away, a yellow and gold toned drell woman with sunset colored eyes, wearing a gold dress, more see-through than solid. He stared at her in curiosity, ready to ask who she was, until the weight of the memory hit him like a falling building.
He gasped and turned towards her, tears filled his eyes while he took a shaky step forward. The woman smiled, her own tears falling from her eyes as she stared back at him, unmoving.
Kolyat ran to her like a lightning storm.
"Mother," Kolyat keened. He wrapped her in his arms tightly, scared she would slip away like a dream. Burying his face into her neck, the smell of her was exactly how he remembered - her soft venom and the smell of her favorite flower. Tears streamed down his cheeks, and Irikah held his face in her palms, ushering him to step back to look down at her.
"You're beautiful, Kolyat. So tall, like your father," she purred, looking over him.
Father.
"Where is, Father?" Kolyat started to look around, the empty sand stretching for miles behind them, nothing else in sight. Shouldn't he be there, too?
"Look at me, my son," Irikah said, grasping his face harder, forcing him to look down at her. "I'm so sorry I had to leave you."
"What? I'm the one who should be apologizing. I failed you. Father failed you. If I'd only been older, braver-" Kolyat shook his head violently, too many words he wanted to say spilling out at the same time. "-I could've-"
"Stop."
"But-"
"No." Irikah shook her head, strengthening her hold to prevent Kolyat from looking away. "You have never failed me. I am … so proud." She stressed her words before smiling, almost sadly. "Thane never failed me. I chose my life. Just like he chose his. He failed you, Kolyat … but he will make up for it."
Kolyat stared at her in wonder, and her hands fell from his face, eyes blazing past him towards the waters. He wanted to question her words, but his voice froze in his throat as a sinking feeling took root in the pit of his stomach. He wanted to see his father, too. Why wasn't he there with them? Why did he feel as if he was forgetting something?
Shifting his stance, Kolyat felt something sharp brush against the side of his foot, a sparkle capturing his attention, and he glanced down to see what caught the shine of the sun. Irikah moved away from him, walking towards the water's edge, leaving him with his focus enthralled by the object beside him. Bending down, he placed his hand in the sand, grains falling through his fingers as he grabbed his prize.
Clutching the small stone between his fingertips, Kolyat held it up in the sunlight, green tones igniting the jewel into the brightest greens he'd ever beheld. The swirling hues struck everything within him, and nothing could tear his gaze away … something … sharp and meaningful … pulled at him….
Sarah….
Kolyat gasped and clutched the stone, allowing it to fall into his closed fist. He glanced around frantically as the red-headed human rushed into his head like a raging elcor. Where was Shepard? Where was he? Memories overwhelmed him, and Kolyat reached his other hand up to clutch at his chest, his palm running over the fabric of his sleeveless white linen shirt absently.
How did he end up there? He closed his eyes and tried to focus, forcing himself to remember. He was in a storage facility, Marissa, Hodges pulled his gun, loud eruptions of gunfire, and Lukas holding his chest as blood soaked his hands.
He'd been shot.
"Oh, gods," Kolyat groaned, looking around again in dismay as despair filled his heart. Was he at Kalahira's Shore? Did he die? "No. No. No." Kolyat fell to his knees and dropped the stone. He covered his ears and shook his head in denial, a sob wretched from his throat in realization.
He'd promised her. He swore he'd never leave her. She'd already been through so much. Kolyat wanted to hear Sarah admit that she loved him. He wanted to start planning a future with her.
He wanted...
"Kolyat," Irikah called. His name bringing his attention to her.
He turned on his knees and looked over towards the water's edge, the sparkling calm waters turned harsh and crashed their waves against one another. Rising to his feet, Kolyat approached Irikah, her gaze fixated upon the skies, clouds started to darken overhead. He stared at her in determination, the atmosphere beginning to match the turbulence in his heart.
"I can't stay here," Kolyat stated. "I need to get back. Tell me I can go back! This can't be it!"
Irikah smiled sadly and turned her face towards him. "Your window is closing. Disconnection cannot remain much longer. Make your choice, but make it now."
Lightning cracked overhead, ripping Kolyat's attention toward the sky, black streaks like angry vines threading through the heavens above. He looked back down at his mother, the woman who he'd wanted to see again more than anyone in his life … suddenly felt miniscule to the pull of where his heart currently laid. Irikah smiled serenely, as if she was holding a secret she wasn't willing to share, eyes made of sunsets and rising dawns, safety and childhood dreams.
But he was a child no longer.
"It's a mother's duty to know when to let her son go. I look forward to the day I meet the woman who has taken both of your souls."
"Mother…." Kolyat trilled in remorse, his gaze pulled back to the turbulent waters.
"Live well, my son," Irikah purred, her words barely heard as Kolyat turned and bolted into the waves.
