The turian heard the grumbling tone of the response, and hesitantly waited. Damn, I guess they were busier than I thought, great way to start, an annoyed Tali. Fantastic...
Back in the med bay, Tali almost squealed when she heard the door knock, but Aj's lips stopped the sound. When they parted, he looked at her eyes and calmly whispered -although it betrayed his inner worry-, "Relax love, the door's locked. Get your visor on please." He then looked towards the door and yelled out, "Just a second, Garrus."
Without hesitation, she obeyed. That idiot! I finally had some alone time and he tries to barge his way in. The det kazuat! The infuriated young quarian hastily resealed her visor, blocking her once again from her dearly beloved. I am going to throttle that turian! She felt a little bad, since he was one of her closer friends on the first Normandy.
Aj kept his focus on the door until he heard a soft hiss. He instantly relaxed knowing she was safe. I hope Garrus is rea- The fuming young woman he saw when his head turned confirmed his fears before they were even clarified. Goodluck Scarface. He smirked, and thankfully Tali didn't notice. Her glare was fixated on the door. Aj directly controlled his omnitool, the spark causing her eyes to momentarily dart to the tiny sparks. The door unlocked soon thereafter.
Aj held her hand gently, hoping she would calm down. It worked, only to a small extent. The door opened revealing a very nervous looking Garrus. The turian managed to stammer, "Hey, uh, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."
Tali was about to yell at the poor man, but his honest hesitations quelled her anger, temporarily. Aj felt her hand tense, so he began. "It's fine, so what's up?"
What's up!? Why does he have to be nice... just... nicely kick him out.. Please. Tali kept her thoughts to herself, however. She solemly added, "Garrus." With a slight nod. It was not a in a polite manner.
Crap, I've got to get out of here... uh. "Whenever you get the chance, I'd like to speak with you alone Aj. I'll leave." Before the couple could retort, he stepped back outside of the med bay in desperate retreat.
Both were silent a moment as their turian friend left as soon as possible. Oh keelah I was rude, he didn't mean to intrude...She quivered out, "Aj, uh, I...I'm sorry fo-" The bumbling quarian woman was stopped when she noticed his two hands were near her visor.
As soon as Garrus took a step back, he focused again on one of his allies as the doors closed shut. The red light followed seamlessly. EDI ca-
Resterilization complete Aj.
Thanks again EDI! He glanced over at the woman who was glaring daggers earlier. Tali was looking at the floor, and as soon as she began to speak, he began lifting his arms towards her face. She paused when her eyes made contact. He warmly smiled and continued, slowly reaching the seals. Again, Tali did nothing to stop him, nor said anything in fear. A low hiss confirmed his successful deactivation.
Only a small giggle was heard as she looked at him smiling. Aj was much the same, and quietly whispered, "Uno mas, por favor."
Tali had no clue what he said; human Spanish was not a galactic language. She was about to ask what he said when he softly touched her forehead, slowly trailing down to her chin. As he put his arm around her back, they both leaned in for another passionate kiss. They kept the entanglement for a while, maybe ten minutes give or take. They both tried to convey all of their love into one physical action, and succeeded admirably. They finally ended and released their lips, all while gazing at each others eyes.
Aj grinned at his beautiful quarian bondmate, and finally spoke up. "Don't worry about anything Tali, I'm just glad we had some time." He chuckled slightly, and she blushed smirking in return. Before she could answer, he added, "I could stay here all day, but we really should get back to work... lifemate." He said the last word hesitantly -he was still not used to it- but her beaming smile was a reward enough.
Keelah... that was... incredible. She sighed when her eyes drifted back to her ominous barrier to the outside world, her mask. "I love you Aj, and you're right. Ken and Gabby might be doing the same thing down there." She ended giggling.
Aj lifted her mask and put it back on perfectly. He softly replied, "I love you too, and I'm starting to learn how to work your suit."
She replied thoughtlessly, "Good, maybe you'll learn how to take it off soon." Oh keelah what did I just say? She blushed furiously, and almost began to wring her fingers when he grabbed both her hands. He was especially gentle with her injured one.
Oh.. well... He instinctively reached for her hands. She looked up, and he could tell she was blushing lightly. He grinned and responded coolly "Soon I will, mi amor." He always had spoken small amounts of Spanish on occasion, but only with people he knew deeply. Tali was definitely on that list, but he had nearly lost his old habit.
Tali tilted her head a bit, which Aj thought was very cute. She questioned lightly, "What does that mean before? You said something similar earlier."
Aj looked at her confused as well, and asked, "I thought your translators worked with human languages?"
She swatted his chest playfully responding. "Your species has so many different ways to speak. We quarians only have Khelish."
Aj looked at her with a bemused look, "Quarian? I could've sworn you were krogan!" This earned him a more powerful, but just as playful repeat swat.
She seductively added, "So you really wish I was a krogan? You said you liked these... hips." Her face darkened a hint, but she contained her bashfullness. He'll see me soon enough... She was both excited and terrified at the prospect.
He chuckled, "Hey now, no teasing little dextro. I'll go all primate-like!"
She shook her head laughing, "No, you bosh'tets are more like Earth rats."
Aj raised an eyebrow at her joke, but coyly responded, "You know I still have that furry ancestor of yours saved, and I bet EDI would be interested..." He trailed off, satisfied at her gasp and sudden halt of laughter.
She murmured in horror, "You wouldn't..."
Aj kept it up smirking, "Probaly not, the pictures don't tell me how those hips came to be."
She grabbed both of his hands, then looked at his eyes with a warm smile. "I hope you like them." She snicked when she finished.
His eyes slowly gave her a one up, causing her to shuffle slightly and face warm immensely. He answered with a definite desire, "Absolutely beautiful."
She squeezed his hands, and in a sultry voice responded, "Good, because my body longs to be with you, to physically confirm our bond."
Aj had seen quite a few strange things in his lifetime. Hell, he was an oddity himself. Nothing, however, had prepared him for this. Being seduced by an alien... never thought that'd ever happen in my life. But... this is the alien I intend to marry, man I love her. Tali'Zorah, my quarian bondmate, I will do my best to make you happy. "I just hope I please you, my love."
She looked at her toes for a moment, then back up at him. I know he means it, and I just hope I can please him just as much. How will I describe a soul rejoicing from meeting her other half? Her whisper was happy, but had undertones of fear, "You're the first, and... the only person I ever will be with."
He smiled warmly at his mistress, "I'll make it special for you." He nearly mentioned she was only his second partner, but did not want to spoil the moment. She's the only person I'll ever love...a second chance.
She released his hands and wrapped her tiny, but long arms around him. "You will."
They contently held each other for a few seconds. I love this woman... finally, Aj released the young woman. "We should really get out now, Dr. Chakwas might think there's an emergency." He chuckled at the thought, gaining a small laugh out of his partner as well.
She happily responded, "You're right, ready to reconfigure the fuel outputs?" A normally arduous endeavor seemed as joyful as a carnival ride to her. She put on her mask, thoroughly hiding her disdain for the covering.
He chuckled at her enthusiasm, "I'd love to honey, but I'm going to check on Garrus, check on what he wanted. Don't get too far ahead without me." He lifted her good hand, gently kissing the tip of her index finger. The couple slowly walked to the door, hand in hand.
Once it released, Tali reawakened from her blissful dreamlike state. Oh keelah, I wish we didn't have to wait... Her excited spirit did not wane, however, "Don't take too long or I'll finish without you!"
He waved her off laughing, "I'll be there soon, relax." She smiled and skipped towards the elevator. Aj, however, turned towards the forward batteries and began walking with a spring in his step. Little did he notice the grinning doctor walking past him, finally regaining her post.
Garrus had left the room in a frantic dash for freedom. As soon as the door closed in front of him, it turned red. A sigh of relief escaped his mandibles, as he walked back over to the two doctors. When he rearrived, both seemed to be frowning at him. He carefully sat down near the human doctor; Mordin was more dangerous.
"Privacy required, nothing else. Will be in lab if needed further." Mordin said. He nodded to the turian and older human, then left back to his... home, the lab.
The two were silent for a moment before Garrus began to speak. "I didn't think I was interrupting a... romantic event." His shoulders slumped at his own vocalization. Damnit, Tali's going to kill me for this, maybe even Aj.
Dr. Chakwas chuckled before answering. "Whatever they were doing, it wasn't as intrusive as you may think. I'd advise you to be cautious around Tali, though."
Garrus got up slightly hesitantly. "Yeah, I know... All this trouble just to chat. Great." The expert sharpshooter began sulking towards the forward batteries.
Before he left conversational range, Dr. Chakwas added, "Don't worry, Aj doesn't get mad too often, he'll calm down his bondmate. I'll try to send him your way if I can. Alone of course." She smiled as he turned around with a surprised look.
Okay, sounds like a good plan... wait. Bondmate? What the hell, I thought they were just dating? He quietly responded, "Thank you doctor, but... bondmate?"
The doctor's warm smile turned quickly into a small frown. "Ask Aj when you see him, all I'll tell you." She turned away looking at a datapad, her hint to drop it.
He took the note, and nodded. "Thanks again, try to disarm Tali please." He was rewarded with a doctor's light snicker, and walked to the batteries.
Once he finally arrived, he sat there and awaited his expected 'doom' at the wrath of an angry quarian. Damnit, a simple talk, and I just so happen to find them on their little love fiasco. Who the hell does that in a med bay anyway? It's their fault... Ah who am I kidding. She's a quarian...visorless, and at.. shit. I probaly infected the whole damn room. Great, just great.
Looking at his terminal, he shook away his thoughts. Might as well calibrate this old puppy up. Kaiden would have loved this thing. I hope the turian spirits have room for the humans. Some of them at least. He felt like going to chat with Shepard, but trudged towards his work post.
Garrus hesitantly looked at the hologram interface. "EDI?"
She instantly emerged at the said location. "Yes Garrus?" He was about to answer, but the synthetic continued, "Before you elaborate, the room was resterilized moments after you departed. You did not endanger miss Zorah, and I would have kept the door locked if she was not ready."
Rarely was the marksman thankful to a synthetic. Shit, Tali dates a partially synthetic human, and now she's being looked out by a fully self-aware AI, on a Cerberus ship... And I'm a turian, and my closest friend is a human. Next we'll see Mordin cure the genophage or something, this is ridiculous. What did Aj say, 'normalcy is a distant goal?' or something. I agree. I wouldn't have it any other way. He noticed he paused for a long moment, and finally replied, "Is Shepard busy?"
She responded as quickly as possible. "He is currently resting. Would you like me to inform you when he's awake?"
Say what you will Tali, she's damn helpful... "Yes please."
"Understood." She blinked out as fast as she arrived.
He nodded in approval, and began to type into his terminal. Say what you will about calibrating, it sure as hell beats pondering what might happen in a Tali rage scene.
The turian became completely absorbed in his work, a common occurence. However long had passed since he began was unknown; it felt like an incredibly short amount for him, at least. In short range, I can optimize the Thanix to spread, much like a plasma ball? Hmm, it'd take a lot of power. Possi- His thoughts were interrupted by the bulkhead opening behind him.
When Aj reached the gun room, he was treated to the common sight of Garrus at work. Hell, he's almost at his terminal as much as Tali is on hers.. Well, time to see what's what. The calibrator had already turned around to face the new presence.
Aj started the dialogue after a short pause of silence, "So, you said you wanted to chat? Sorry, but I was busy earlier." Definitely busy... though I think my lips are going to be chapped.
Garrus scratched the back of his neck, and looked slightly bashful. "No need, I thought you two were just talking. I didn't expect such a... private... intrusion." That still sounds worse than I wanted it to.
Aj sighed, and looked away for a moment. He refaced the turian, not in anger, but in... sadness? "It's just... you know her suit. It's a prison if you think about it. I don't get to see her too often, and well... I really treasure the short time I can be with her face to face." He went back to a reassuring smile. "It's fine though, I got to spend quality time with her, before and after. But enough about that, I'll get her to forget about it. What did you need before that whole fiasco?"
Damnit, that makes it much better... He'll tell her to forget about it? I appreciate that he's on my side, but I highly doubt that. He quietly answered, "Well, I wanted your advice on something... private as well."
Aj blushed as soon as he finished. Does he think we've already...? This might get awkward... crap. I wish dad could see this, he'd have a good laugh. Smiling at the thought, he tried to act, well, like Aj. "Sorry, I don't swing that way. Already got a quarian for life."
For life? Maybe he really is her bondmate...The light banter had its effect, as Garrus felt less stressed out. Shaking the previous thought, he scoffed at the human's idiocy. "Yeah yeah, we all know. But seriously, I well..." He looked around the room for an invisible answer to nothing, "I need some help, and I think you'd have a little insight."
Aj took a seat on a crate, while Garrus did the same at his cot. The human answered, "Go for it. But anything about Tali, well... you know I can't tell."
The turian lifted his talons in surrender, retorting, "Shotgun, trust me, I know." He chuckled a little bit, "It's about human women actually."
Oh shit, so he's actually going through with that doctor lady Tali told me about? "So you think I'd be useful since I've dated human women, and now mar-" He quickly stopped himself. Crap crap I've got to keep it on the down-low for now. "with a quarian?"
Mar? Did he mean... marry? Oh by the spirits, Tali's seriously bonded to the human. I've never heard of anything like that... Again stopping his own thoughts, he went back to the subject at hand. "Yes, well, you've obviously overcome certain... obstacles. Do you have any dating advice? Human women are so strange, nothing like the turians."
Even aliens agree. Women are as simple as a quantum physics, what a pleasure. He replied grinning, "All you can do is be yourself, that crosses throughout all species. Unless you're talking about things a bit more serious." He ended laughing at the turian's expense. A certain mandibular click had been deciphered as a blush. It was no secret gesture now.
Garrus shook his head quickly in denial. "No, well, maybe someday. But seriously, I'm going on a 'date' with one." He looked at Aj, then stared down at his legs. The voice what followed was a quiet, nearly desperate whisper, not common for a hardened turian war veteran. "I've known her over four years. She's been a hell of a friend. Everytime I'd find someone who needed help, she'd always volunteer. Chloe even did some of it no charge." He made eye contact again with his human advisor. "She means a lot to me, and I want this to work, or at least not completely screw things up. I don't have many old friends besides Tali and Shepard."
Four years? That's a long time..."Think of it this way. She's stayed loyal to you for four whole years you say. Obviously she likes whatever you do. Like I said, be yourself. Enjoy your time, don't overthink it. It's the same as any day, any species of women, just different superficial qualities."
Garrus paused, thinking about what he said. Makes sense, she seems to like me. I don't think I'm a good actor, anyway. "So does Tali act like a human woman? That's my big issue, the whole species barrier, not the person behind it."
Aj looked at him with a rather amused look. "It's not like its a big secret, you're a turian, she knows that. I bet she feels the same way about you. It doesn't seem like your kind is much different than mine, I mean how you act." He grinned and added, "If a human can love a quarian, why not a turian?"
The word love caused the male dextro to flinch a scale, but he regained his composure quickly. "I guess your right, nothing will really help until the date, I suppose." He didn't know why -none of the information he'd received was really new- but he felt a lot better. Just talking about it, even if rather briefly, helped immensely. Garrus was confident he would be fine, as long as he did not overthink things. That's one hell of a task though.
Thank goodness it was just about dating, he probaly doesn't want to keep digging a hole. "Whatever happens, don't lose a friend in the process."
Garrus seemed to agree silently, and stared for a moment. "Do you know the human doctor I'm talking about"
Aj seemed startled, answering, "Not a clue, seems a strange question to ask. Galaxy's not a small place."
Garrus grinned in agreeement, continuing, "Did Tali ever tell you how she got on the first Normandy?"
Aj was still lost, but responded vaguely, "She acquired geth intelligence Shepard needed, he saved her, and then joined the crew. That about sums it up for me." He also added, "Also, she got shot pretty bad between the whole acquiring and saving stage."
Garrus chuckled, "Dr. Michel was the doctor who fixed her up. She really wants to see her most famous ex-patient."
"Ahh, that's pretty neat. She didn't give me the doctors name. Guess it is a small galaxy after all." He smirked, but questioned, "So haven't you asked her about it?"
Garrus's nervous demeanor returned with one small sentence; "I was about to but, well, you know what happened." He stammered awkwardly, "She wanted to uh, go on... well a double date. Wanted to meet you too."
Huh, another doctor. The one who helped Tali all those years ago? Sounds like fun, and we haven't even had our first date. He withheld his blush, only darkening a fraction. "I'll ask, but I don't see a problem with it. Just... don't piss her off, I claim no responsibility for enraged quarian actions." His tone was both joking, but had a hint of seriousness. "I take it you're going to a bar?"
Garrus had a loud guffaw, waving him off. "Not this time, but it does serve alcohol! Doesn't cost much either, and even had food sterilizers for Tali."
Aj stuck out his hand. "Sounds good Garrus, I'll go talk to her now."
Firmly shaking it, the turian responded, "Yeah, tell her I'm sorry, save me a few scales."
"Maybe, it'd be more fun to make something up." He mocked with a smirk. "Anways, I'll let you know, take it easy up here. You don't have to be so nervous."
Garrus shuffled around a bit hesitantly, and nodded. "Fair enough, and goodluck down there, you'll need it."
Aj snorted his agreement, leaving the room with a grin. Three species, two humans, one date. Tali we need to do this, I just hope Garrus doesn't piss her off. Good o'le...violent quarian babes. He began the short trek to the elevator, trying to return to his 'home' with his bondmate beside him.
Det kazuat: Term of curse, considered especially crude. Literal Translation: Living sack of excrement. The Otquer, a large predatory lizard, will pass its meal neatly wrapped in a membranous tissue. Inside the sack, the enzymes used to break down the meat of the prey while still in the lizard continue to act as a stimulant keeping the indigestible brain synapses of its last meal still working until the sun dries the sack out.