Chapter 36
The knock on the door was almost timid and not quite what he expected from Laelia.
"You can enter," Pallin barked a little too harshly.
After he had contacted his own personal physician and knew that the salarian was on his way, Pallin had asked Anne to send his sister to him.
The blonde had left quite contented with the fact that Pallin insisted on having this first conversation alone with Laelia.
The door opened slowly and his sister stepped inside.
She took a quick glance around at the room's contents but couldn't bring herself to look at Pallin who have covered his nakedness up with blankets on the bed.
"Could you shut the door please?" he asked.
Laelia nodded and did so quickly. She padded over and sat on the edge of the bed beside him.
"So..." Pallin began. "I wasn't expecting that even from you, Laelia."
"I have no idea what came over me. I mean I knew intellectually that the human would be here with you but... ugh."
Pallin shook his head. "You can't just barge into our room like that. We deserve some damn privacy! And don't get me started on what you did yesterday."
Laelia finally looked into her brother's face.
"How... how serious is this thing between you two?" she sputtered out. "I mean I am all for experimenting but-"
Pallin didn't hesitate and quickly interupted the rant he knew was starting.
"I'm in love with her."
His sister stilled. "You're in love... with the human?"
Pallin's mandibles flickered anxiously against his face. "Yes. Not that I have actually told her yet. She isn't ready for that sort of pressure and I have no intention of placing that on her shoulders until she is."
Laelia just shook her head in disbelief. "Oh Venari. You have walked into a huge mess! Please! Send her away for your own sake. It will hurt at the start but it will be for the best."
"No, Laelia. She is not leaving this apartment unless it is of her own volition. You need to start accepting it."
"But-"
Pallin immediately responded, "No buts! I mean it! You know I love you but you have really been incredibly rude and over-bearing from the moment you got here. Even more so than you normally are. I don't know what has sparked this off but you need to get over it."
They sat in silence together, the only noise being the faint ticking of the old human timepiece that Anne had found in a store and later paid a weeks wages for to Pallin's disbelief.
"Maerius is having an affair."
His attention immediately snapped back on to his sister. She was staring blankly at a wall.
"He's... what?"
"An asari," Laelia said dully. "He thinks I don't know. They met on a business trip a year ago and have been 'running' into each other at hotels since then."
Pallin couldn't quite process it. "How did you find out?"
"Just a day before we reached the Citadel. I found some messages on his omnitool. I... I didn't know what to do so I told him I was going to stay with you for a few days. I couldn't bear being in the same room as him."
"Laelia..."
His sister started keening. "I am so sorry, Venari. I didn't mean to do this to you or the human. I just... I am so lost."
Pallin ignored his dull throbbing pain that practically crippled his lower regions and dragged himself close to her. He yanked her into his arms and held on to her fast.
"You should have told me!"
"How could I?! I haven't even fully come to terms with it myself! My life is over, Venari!"
"No. It's not, sister. But I guarantee you that Maerius's one is by the time I am finished with him."
Laelia keened her heart out as her brother held on to steady her body as it shook violently.
Pallin glanced up as the door opened slightly.
Anne peeked in cautiously.
He nodded at her to enter and gave her a reassuring smile as she brought in a tray with a couple of hot drinks and some nibbly things for the pair.
Laelia broke free of Pallin's embrace and tried to quickly cover up the fact she had been falling to pieces in her brother's arms.
"I – ah," Anne started nervously. "I hope this is okay. I mean I know I am not the best at making stuff but Pallin told me that you love hoseik. I have tried to make it as good as Craxius does at the restaurant."
She carefully placed the tray on the side cabinet.
Laelia glanced over at Pallin who nodded at her. She reached out and took one of the cups, carefully sniffed it before taking a sip.
"It is lovely. Thank you, Anne," she said softly.
Pallin smirked as the little human beamed with happiness.
"T-thank you! I was wondering... I mean I hope it's not too much to ask if m-maybe you could teach me some cooking while you are here? I would be so grateful and-"
"All right."
"Really?"
Laelia looked up at the human from where she sat. "That is normally what is inferred when one replies 'all right'. Unless you don't really want-"
"NO! No no no no no no! I really want to! I just wasn't expecting you to say yes. Not that you wouldn't but it's you haven't exactly..." Anne gushed out before finally catching herself. "...I should probably just stop there actually."
Pallin chuckled."I think that would be very wise."
His human was pouring out joy from almost every pore. Pallin grinned at that. One small nicety meant more to her than all the material goods he could offer.
Pallin coughed a little. "Anne, my sister and I need to talk in private a little longer."
Her face went bright red. "Oh! Sorry! Sorry for disturbing you both and-"
To both Pallin and Anne's surprise, Laelia laughed a little before she said, "There is no need to apologise. Thank you for the drink. It is lovely. When my brother and I have finished talking I could show you a couple of simple recipes... just to begin with of course."
Anne was practically jumping on her feet. "That would be wonderful! I'll just pop out and clean up the kitchen. Made a bit of mess out there. Don't worry though! It will be perfect for when you are ready to start!"
The human bolted out the door.
Laelia glanced over at Pallin.
"Perhaps... perhaps her personality grows on you. I could possibly not hate her given enough time."
He grinned at her.
"That's how it starts. Don't get any further ideas about her. The ball of crazy that ran out that door is mine."