Thirty Five

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Gabby had two full sketchbooks for Arbiter before The United Front had even begun the home journey.

After flipping through the journals with deliberate, delicate curls of a claw, Arbiter introduced her to Alpha and Omega.

They were to act as both models and a focus group for her designs. They would also be officially introduced to the public the day before the ball and would be attending said ball in her garments.

No pressure.

Ulys, Mia'tee, Geelet, and S'torn were the Sangheili portion of the mixed squads, and they weren't sure what to make of Gabby, it seemed.

"Okay, what about this design? It alters the neckline slightly, flaring out more."

"It's fine," Mia'tee, the apparent spokesperson, said.

"So you've said about every design I've showed you." Reining in her frustration, Gabby spread her hands on the table and asked, "Have I done something to offend you?"

"No," they all barked, bar Ulys, in what seemed a panic.

"Seriously," she said, utterly befuddled, "what is going on?"

Silence.

Again, it was Mia'tee that braved the terror of speech. "We do not know how to consider you."

Gabby blinked, and thought, and blinked again. Arbiter had seemed greatly amused the entire time she'd been with him this morning, and laughed quietly as he'd left her in a conference room with most of the two teams.

"For fucks sake," the woman with Stevenson inscribed on her chest muttered. "They think you're Chief's partner. They don't know what your station is and don't want to risk offending you."

Never in her life had Gabby seen four Sangheili look so awkward.

Blush scorching over her cheeks, Gabby cleared her throat.

"Scuttlebutt, Edwards," Stevenson shrugged, rolling a hand through the air.

"I figured," she croaked. "Look, John, Master Chief, and I are partners. However, I am a civilian and all I am doing is making you some clothes. Call me Gabby, and please be honest with me. Don't worry about offending me if you don't like a design, alright?"

"Wait," Haze – forehead still blotched with purple and red – yelped, "it's true?"

Gabby was not ashamed. Embarrassed to be put on the spot, yes, but never ashamed. Not of John. Not of what they had.

There was a very, very visible 'I told you so' expression on Locksley's face. Gabby chose not to see it.

"Yes," Gabby confirmed. "Now, the necklines?"

Mia'tee unfurled a long finger and tapped the design by Gabby's left hand. "I like this one."

With a rumble, Ulys gestured to the one beside it.

Okay. Now they were getting somewhere. For an hour, Gabby laid out the designs that Arbiter had approved. She made adjustments, listened to feedback, and made some more adjustments. Mostly, her fellow humans chattered at the far end of the table, with the occasional request to put their Sangheili teammates in tutus.

Gabby lost herself in the sketches.

Until,

"Why are you doing this?"

"Pardon?" Gabby cocked a brow. "What did you say?"

Ulys shifted his mass, a slow, careful movement. "I asked, why are you doing this."

"Not that. What did you call me?"

"…The Demon's Mate."

Gabby blew out a silent breath.

"Have I offended?"

"Nooo," Gabby drew the word out, "I was just surprised." She paused. "Everyone's already calling me that, aren't they?"

"Shut up." Stevenson cuffed two of her human teammates upside the head when they giggled. Haze and Yanks, Gabby remembered. "Scuttlebutt's a-flurry, Miss. It's mostly the Sangheili using the name."

"I assure you," Mia'taa intoned, "it is a title used with greatest respect."

"For me, or for John?"

"Both."

"Plus," Yanks sing-songed, "you taught Chief how to smash it at poker. Gotta respect that."

Everything was changing, even her name. Gabby withheld a hysterical noise and focused on the lines of graphite laid out on the dozens of paper sheets.

She'd said yes. She'd agreed to this.

Time to woman up.

Gabby inhaled sharply, pushed it out just as hard. "I am doing this," she responded, "because I was asked to. Because I want peace. Because I have loved, and lost, and I won't lose any more. If this is my way of helping, so be it."

In the past two days, Gabby had seen two things in the eyes of Sangheili that she had not expected. Kindness, and respect.

"Name suits you," Stevenson eventually said.

Gabby went back to sketching.