Chapter 5 - Longing

There was a sudden loud and harsh knock on the door that made Evfra instantly wary. The angaran was confident it wasn't Ryder; her knocks were light and pleasant. There was a brutish quality behind this knock and Evfra prepared himself as he opened the door, to come face to face with a hulking beast of a figure looming on his doorstep; the krogan from the Pathfinder's team, Nakmor Drack.

The plated and armored alien was just as menacing as Evfra concluded from reviewing Jaal's reports and visor vids. Being in its foreboding presence put the angaran on high alert. However, the leader made sure that his body exuded the calm, cool, and collect manner he was known.

They spent a solid minute just eyeing each other in silence.

"Heh," The Krogan sniggered displaying rows of sharp teeth. "You must be Evfra," he drawled.

The krogan's voice was deep and...grating. "General de Tershaav," Evfra snapped in reply as he crossed his arms and narrowed his molten blue eyes up at the alien.

"So I've heard; in fact I've heard alot about you from Jaal," Drack's rumbling voice disclosed.

Evfra stiffened at this news. 'What has Jaal been saying?' Hopefully his friend would have the sense not to go gossiping about the leader's plans to make the Pathfinder a thank you gift.

Ryder's voice suddenly echoed in the angaran's mind. 'I even told Jaal that the crew treats each other like family! I mean we are a tight bunch!' Evfra inwardly goraned. Jaal has probably told the whole crew by now... skkut.

"And, I've heard quite a bit about you from Sara," Drack added as his yellow reptilian eyes keenly watched the angaran before him.

At this curious tidbit Evfra blinked and his expression softened by a fraction as his interest was piqued. Ryder had been talking to her crew about him? What did she say? Certainly they used to be at odds...but what about now?

"Heh, I thought so," Drack snickered as he caught the flicker of change in the angaran's expression with just the mere mention of Sara.

Evfra's face immediately returned to its cornerstone scowl. What was the hulking boned beast's goal? "You don't seem the type to come all this way just to taunt me," the leader sneered.

"Nah, just wanted to see what all the fuss was about," Drack drawled, before remembering his true purpose. "Oh, and to bring this," the krogan remarked as he produced a sizable package. "From Jaal," Drack added as he offered up the box.

Evfra just stared at the package Drack was now extending to him. Remembering his manners the leader began to say, "I'd invite you in, but…" the angaran highly doubted the krogan would fit through the door frame.

"Heh," Drack grinned as Evfra took the package from him. "Don't worry about it, I've got errands to run. Sara's been having us help out with stuff since you guys are low on manpower."

Of course she had done so. Evfra found himself gazing down at the box with slight fondness in his eyes. Quickly he cleared his throat and looked back at the Krogan. "You have my appreciation," the angaran thanked in his usual gruff aussie voice.

"Don't tell me that, tell her that," Drack pointed out, though a smile curled upon his worn leathery lips. It was a knowing smile.

"I will," Evfra remarked as he gave a resolute nod, earning a mirror nod from the veteran Krogan. Something briefly passed between them; a sense of mutual understanding between two battle worn souls. Drack made to turn around, while the leader silently closed the door.

Well, Drack had to hand it to the resistance leader. For meeting a krogan for the first time, the angaran was reserved and composed. Based from Evfra's facial battle scars, the angaran was one tough son-a-bitch. But what Drack garnered from the leader's sour mood, he was a no fun all work curmudgeon. A complete opposite of his little Pathfinder, who bubbled with energy and joy.

But if what Jaal was hinting at was true then...

'What a pair those two would make,' Drack guffawed to himself as he headed back to the Tempest. 'Both their heads are denser than my armor. I won't get involved unless I need to...I'll probably end up involved.' He snorted. 'Ugh, I'm too old for this shit.'

Meanwhile Evfra mentally prepared himself as he carried the box over to the kitchen counter. He pulled off his gloves and opened the crate to empty its contents. There was a package of large ivory trumpet-like flowers that had been dried, several small vials each containing colorful swirling liquid, a large glass jar with screw on lid, and smaller packages of powdered thickeners.

Now to review the recipe… 'Massage the dried flowers.' The angaran paused at this. 'The flowers are dry, how am I supposed to 'massage' them? Wait, now it says to crush them...what was the point of the massage?' Was Jaal just messing with him?

Bring the boiling water to a simmer… 'wait, why didn't put this in the beginning?' Once simmering, sprinkle in the crushed flowers. 'Easy enough,' Evfra huffed. Curiously, he opened one vial of clear liquid and his nose was assaulted by a harsh alcoholic smell that made the angaran wrinkle his nose and sneeze. 'I have to add this to the flowers?' he thought with a grimace as he returned to the recipe. 'Slowly add thickener while solution simmers, don't rush this part Evfra,' the angaran rolled his eyes at Jaal's additional note directed right at him. The leader was one of virtuous patience.

An hour later…

'This is frustrating...no beyond frustrating! Why were there so many small vials and how did I get so sticky! Why is goo everywhere?!' Evfra growled as he paced back and forth in the kitchen. Arts and craft projects were never his forte. Why was he doing this again?!

'Oh...yes.' The thought of Ryder's playful smiling face flashed in the angaran's mind, diffusing his anger like a blown out candle.

Once the solution cools to room temperature, transfer over to the jar, Evfra read. Feeling more calm, the angaran turned off the stovetop and removed the pot.

Then a loud knock came at the door...

Was it Ryder? Had she returned from talking to the headache inducing Tann?

Evfra opened the door rather eagerly, only to sober up at the sight that awaited him. The two medical angaran from earlier were perched on his doorstep, though sans the protective medical masks this time.

"Are you going to probe me again" Evfra huffed with indignation at the interruption.

The younger purple skinned angaran shook his head emphatically, while the older dusky green speckled male angaran informed, "Not needed, just a quick scan to evaluate you for clearance."

Evfra sighed, but stood salk still as he was scanned.

"You are cleared of quarantine, temperature is back to baseline and your bioelectric field is acting normally. In addition, you are looking far better, apart from the...substance," The older physician indicated with a wave of his gloved hand.

"Ah, sir...why do you have goop all over yourself?" The younger angaran questioned.

Evfra knew he made quite a mess while making the lotion, but he didn't realize it was...all over his bare hands and loungewear, nor how it looked like a certain...bodily fluid. "I don't need to answer that." The resistance leader growled as he crossed his arms, wincing slightly as he felt some of the lotion smear into his clothes.

The two angarans exchanged knowing looks which caused Evfra bristle with annoyance.

"Sir, stress relief is a healthy outlet," The older physician added sagely, meanwhile the younger angaran was no longer making eye contact as he busied himself with his datapad

"It's not what you think!" Evfra growled.

"Of course sir," the tone indicated that's exactly what they were thinking.

Snarling, Evfra slammed the door in their faces.

"Be sure to take frequent breaks and stay hydrated sir!" Came the physician's muffled voice.

"Go away!" Snapped the resistance leader before he stomped off.

The angaran muttered darkly under his breath as he returned to the kitchen. Quickly, his soured mood sweetened at the sight of the solution thickening up nicely in the cooling pot. It was beginning to congeal into the familiar consistency of the lotion and ready to add color. Now here was the true tricky part...what colors should Evfra add?

Part of the personalization of angaran lotion was the scent and vibrant color of the creamy solution. But Evfra had no clue as to what were Ryder's favorite colors. The leader sighed as his eyes roved over the various vials of shimmering hues. He grabbed three vials: blue, teal, and purple. Before adding the colors to the pot, Evfra murmured a quick prayer to the stars above that Ryder would enjoy his favorite mix.

Finally, it was done. It wasn't easy, but the result was quite superb. It smelled just right and the colors swirled together to create a cool toned shimmering galaxy. The angaran was quite proud of his work.

Meanwhile Sara was inside the Tempest. She had hightailed it out of Evfra's house before the angaran could ask her anymore questions about the embarrassing sniffing incident. The young woman wasn't sure how she was going to be able to face him tomorrow. What if he thought it was a thing humans did and began to tell the rest of the angara that! Sara nearly groaned at the imagery of the angara visiting the Nexus, going up to various people, and sniffing them as demonstrated by the Human Pathfinder.

But, now Sara stood in front of Director Tann's hologram as he droned on and on about how her crew had spent enough time on Aya and blah blah blah...

"I don't think you need to be reminded of this Pathfinder," Tann continued in his self-important tone. "But, we need you to establish more outposts."

"Yeah, got it, will get on it." Sara dryly responded for the fifth time. Her mind was starting to wonder about what was on the menu for dinner...

"Oh, and Dr. Carlyle mentioned that you may be able to talk to your brother through that Pathfinder AI of yours, or whatever. Contact Dr. Carlyle for more details," Tann added as an afterthought.

Sara was instantly roused awake by this shocking news! "Wait now you tell me? Couldn't you have lead with that news?!" She exclaimed as she leaned closer to the hologram while waving her arms about in exasperation.

Tann sighed ratherly painfully, "I have more important business to attend to Ryder. Farewell." And the salarian terminated the transmission, just before Sara could reach for his holographic neck.

'Scott! Oh my god!' She had to return to the Nexus right away!

"Kallo has soon can we disembark to the Nexus?" Sara asked into the speaker comm.

"Within the hour Pathfinder," Kallo replied confidently.

"We're getting the last supplies right now Sara," Vetra's disembodied flanged voice added.

"Thanks guys!" Sara replied before something else nagged at the back of her buzzing mind. Shoot! She should let Evfra know, right? The young woman quickly booted up her omni-tool and typed up a brief message to the leader, [Evfra, I have to leave. My brother is in a coma, but there's a chance I can talk to him.]

Evfra was staring down at the message that glowed on his communicator. She has a brother? Imagine that, two Ryders...complete and utter mayhem! But of course he understood completely, had his siblings still been with him...no...Evfra wasn't going to let the memory engulf him. The angaran knew all too well the depth of sibling bonds. [Ofcourse, when are you leaving?]

[ASAP] Blinked the reply and Evfra could image Ryder's many fingered hand furiously typing responses. Though...ASAP? The resistance leader didn't understand this...what was an asap? Was she talking in codes?

As if reading his mind another message flashed brightly on his communicator. [ASAP means as soon as possible, sorry]

Wait if she were to head out now...the gift! In his hast, Evfra nearly rushed out the door in his goop smeared loungewear. 'Skkut!' He cursed as he found a fresh suit, snatched his rofjin and hurried to catch her at the docks before the ship disembarked. Luckily his body no longer ached, allowing the angaran to purposefully stride down the path.

He noted that there were more angara out and about now in the marketplace. A good sign that the flu was waning, but it meant that the bustling commercial sector would be tricky to push through. Then again, there was a plus to being well known, and a bit infamous. Angarans hastily cleared out of the resistance leader's way and those who didn't let out a squeak when they were met by the scowling growling leader. A few angarans were curious as to what Evfra carefully carried wrapped in a delicate burgundy cloth.

Once the leader finally arrived at the docks it was to find the Tempest crew carrying crates of supplies into the ship. Off to the side was Ryder who seemed to be signing off on a datapad held up by the moss speckled trader, Sohkaa Esof. The trader was the first to notice the resistance leader's arrival and he quickly bade the Pathfinder farewell.

Sara was perplexed by this. Sohkaa was usually quite chatty, but he had scurried away like a mouse sensing a…"Ahem," announced a deep and familiar aussie voice.

"Evfra!" The young woman exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the resistance leader at the dock, let alone outside his house. "Wait, are you not under quarantine anymore?"

"Fully cleared," the angaran vouched as he straightened his posture.

Evfra did look far better, but that still didn't explain as to why the angaran was here and not back as the resistance headquarters if he had just been cleared. Sara appraised the leader, he held himself in a very official manner with hands clasped behind his back and an unreadable expression on his gradient blue face, though his molten blue eyes were focused on her. Wait was this some official check...did Vetra smuggle something illegal aboard again?!

"Is something troubling you, Pathfinder?" Evfra questioned as he raised one brow ridge at her sudden sheepish expression.

"Ah, no nothing," 'hopefully' Sara thought before adding, "Just wondering as to what I owe the pleasure of your unexpected arrival." Then a teasing smile played upon her lips, "You're not seeing me off per chance?"

Evfra snorted, though it was with slight amusement before his expression became unreadable again. Actually, now that she gauged his expression more thoroughly, the leader seemed anxious about something. Though Evfra...nervous?

Evfra cleared his throat and finally revealed what he had been hiding behind his back. The angaran held up an item wrapped in burgundy cloth that looked as soft and shiny like silk. "Oh!" Sara exclaimed as she realized that the angaran was offering it to her with his gloved hands.

Curious, Sara took the soft cloth which was actually a tote bag, snaking a gloved hand inside, she retrieved a medium sized glass jar containing a colorful thick creamy substance. The young woman gasped as swirls of glistening blues, teals, and purples shimmered in the sunlight. "Wow!" The young woman exclaimed as she held it up, appraising the jar from all angles. "It's pretty!" She raved as her mouth stayed agape in wonder.

"Smell it," Evfra gently prompted. He was greatly enjoying the young woman's reaction to his work. Now he was eager to see her response to the scent. The scent that she claimed 'smelled good' when he wore it. His bioelectric field buzzed in tune with the angaran's rare feeling of excitement.

"Huh?" Sara replied in confusion as she tore her gaze away from the beautifully sparkling solution.

"It's an angaran lotion," Evfra began to explain, feeling his fingers fidget and pulse with electricity within his gloves. "Jaal usually makes them for me, but...I made this one...for you...as a thank you." The leader really was not sure what to do with his gloved hands, so he clasped them behind his back as he keenly watched Sara look from him to the jar, then back at him with obvious confusion.

"You made this?" She asked with a surprised expression, as her fuzzy eyebrows raced up her forehead.

"Yes," Evfra grunted as he rubbed his gloves together.

"For me?"

"Yes," the angaran repeated with now his brow ridges rising.

"As a thank you?" Sara double checked that she heard him correctly.

"Yes," he echoed, growing impatient. "Now are you going to smell it?" Evfra added with slight exasperation.

Sara was quite intrigued as she quickly screwed off the lid and took in a deep breath. Her bright eyes widened in recognition of the scent.

The angaran watched with bated breath as Ryder silently screwed back on the lid, her eyes staring down at the gift as she continued not to say anything. Evfra felt his heart drop into the acidic contents of his stomach. Did she hate it? Was that not the scent she enjoyed? 'Skkut, I should have known this was a bad idea.' Maybe if he slowly turned around...and just ran for it.

But the angaran didn't get a chance to flee for Ryder had launched herself at him once again. Though this time she wrapped her arms around his chest, stunning the leader stupid with her sudden warmth as her body pressed tightly against his. Evfra hadn't felt anything like it in such a long time. His bioelectric field buzzed in response and enveloped the young woman like a blanket of gentle pulsing electricity.

Sara had been overcome with emotion at the gift and that it was the aroma she had commented on earlier. She couldn't believe it; Evfra, the infamous cold hearted resistance leader took the time to make her, an alien, this gift as thanks?! Stunned speechless, the young woman threw caution to the wind and gave the angaran the best hug she could muster.

Then, Sara felt a wave of warm tingling pulses wash over her causing her soft skin to break out into goosebumps as her body shivered deliciously at the sensation. 'Whoa there girl!' The young woman's eyes flung wide open as she caught herself and quickly let go of the resistance leader. Stay professional Sara, you know Evfra is!

Oh, if only the Pathfinder knew what she was causing the usually uncaring and distant General to experience…

Evfra's senses had been working overtime as he took in the delicious warmth that Ryder's embrace offered. It felt as if a part of himself was melting into her touch. And as he soaked up the heat of her body, the angaran became acutely aware of how her arms snaked along his back. Evfra could only halfheartedly reprimand his bioelectric field as it enveloped Ryder, beckoning her even closer to him and not to let go.

The angaran looked down to gaze at the top of her head and felt strands of her hair tickle his chin. With his nose fully functional again, Evfra breathed in something rich and heady...never had he smelled anything like it before; and now he could only know it as Ryder's scent.

The sensation of the young woman's shiver made it click in the angaran's mind to wrap his arms around her as one does with a hug, however Ryder had already pulled away. Leaving a lingering warmth in her place that made the winged creatures stir again in angaran's belly.

Skkut, he was touch starved that's for sure. At the loss of her touch, a growling whine nearly made its way out of Evfra's mouth, had the angaran not stubbornly clamped down on his lips.

Sara meanwhile felt a sudden shyness. The young woman said everything she needed to in the hug and hopefully it translated better than she could have with words. Sara was okay that Evfra didn't reciprocate the hug, she hadn't expected him to. It was a positive overall that the leader didn't push her away or zap her with his field. If anything Evfra looked absolutely stunned and Sara couldn't help but chuckle at his expression.

At her soft laughter, Evfra blinked and recalled himself to the present. "I...ahem...well then Pathfinder."

"Sara," the young woman stated with a smile as she returned the jar back into the tote bag.

Evfra tilted his head in slight confusion at her remark.

"Just Sara, will do," she echoed his own words from the prior night.

"Very well, 'just' Sara," Evfra remarked, his rumbling voice an octave deeper as his face softened, and a small smile spread across his scarred lips

The angaran's deep voice sent another shiver down Sara's spine. And his smile...god Evfra's smile made her want to hug him again. But the young woman could feel a few pairs of eyes watching them from the Tempest.

"Isharay, go to your brother," the resistance leader added with a warm note in his molten blue eyes.

"Stay strong and clear...and take care of yourself, Evfra," Sara added with a smile.

"Only if you don't go bulldozing down Kett," the angaran challenged, with amusement mixed in his tone.

Sara wrinkle her nose up at him. "Not a chance then?"

"Highly unlikely," Evfra chuckled as he shook his head.

"Well, I tried," Sara shrugged and sighed dramatically, but grinned before she made her way up the rampart. The young woman turned around one last time to wave back at the resistance leader, noting that he nodded back at her.

Inside the Tempest, Sara found herself leaned against the secured door. Evfra had smiled, genuinely smiled and it was something else entirely. The mission 'Operation healing grouchy face' was a success. Maybe one day he'd give her a hug back? Should that be her next mission?

Evfra quietly watched the Tempest take off and disappear into the atmosphere, before he made his way to the resistance headquarters. There was a moment of complete silence upon his entry into the building as all the present members paused in their work to stare back at him. The leader gave an acknowledging nod to his subordinates before striding over to his desk. Evfra then came to a complete halt. There, stacked dangerously tall and wide, was a mountain of datapads awaiting his approval. Everyone waited for the explosive outburst, but nothing happened, not even a single datapad went flying.

'Breathe' ...Evfra thought as he kept his anger under control and strode over to the desk. He knew this was going to happen, even though he was just gone for 48 hours.

The unanimous sigh of relief all the members let loose was audible. They were truly grateful for their leader's return. Evfra knew how to ensure that the organization worked like a finely tuned mechanical clock, even if that meant barking orders, shouting at anyone who didn't look busy, and a daily dose of dissatisfied scowling. The members went back to their work, filling headquarters once again with a hushed murmur of discussions, buzzing of monitors, and the gently rush of the waterfall nearby.

However, the members did begin to notice something was off with their leader. Frequently they found him standing with his hands clasped behind his back and an almost serene expression on his face as he gazed out the window. Or half listening to their reports, asking for the members to repeat what they said as he wasn't paying attention. Maybe he was still recovering from the flu? It must have been very draining. Surely that was it...

'Who would have known such a little being could give such warm caring hugs', Evfra pondered before realizing that he had just been blankly staring at the last stack of datapads. Sighing, the leader shock himself out of his thoughts, again, and resumed examining the wealth of information stored within each tablet. 'I wonder what her hair feels like?' Evfra thought, recalling how a few of the strands had tickled his chin.

Finally done, Evfra left for home. Hunger rumbled loudly in his belly and he was about to automatically reach for a nutrient paste when he recalled the leftover stew in the fridge. As the angaran warmed up a portion of the thick fragrant stew upon the stove, he recalled how painstakingly Ryder had cut the vegetables, then how she ordered him out of his own kitchen using a wooden ladle. The leader snorted with amusement at the memory. Truly Ryder was...a unique individual...unfazed, vivacious, and caring. Evfra found himself nodding in agreement with his thoughts.

He was in an unusually good mood and...it was obviously too good to last...

The ole' angry bristly Evfra was back, and he was worse than ever. His glares had a new menacing gleam, his growls were deeper, and his crackling bioelectric field sent members running for cover.

Not a word, not even a peep from Ryder over the past week. Even something brief to let him know she was alright at least! Going for that long without news left the leader highly irritated. Had she not thought of him? Not even a little bit? Did she not care at all...

It didn't help that he received no word from Jaal either. They must still be at the Nexus for none of his Resistance cells throughout the galaxy reported sights of the Tempest. He was left in the dark with no information or news...and Evfra loathed it.

The resistance leader's drills took on another hellish level, until he was the last angaran standing. To the perceptive eye, one could see that Evfra was doing his best to keep his mind off of something...or someone. Unfortunately the members were too focused on staying alive.

"Alright, who majorly pissed off the General this time?!" Leesha, an orange speckled female angaran and long standing member of the resistance, groaned as she dragged her sore body out the training ring. Five other members were still sparring with Evfra, while two downed angara were crawling out of harms way.

"No one!" Orvark, an amber-brown speckled angaran, hissed in between breaths as he tried to rest his bruised ribs by laying completely still on the floor. "Everyone's been on their toes since he returned to work."

"Someone tag me out!" Urza, a fresh new recruit with lemony speckled skin, cried out as his body came to a rolling halt next to the two angara. "The General is going to kill me!" He wheezed.

"Well," Leesha snorted as she moved out of Urza's reach, "You shouldn't have suggested that the leader needed to get laid!"

"I didn't think he heard me! Oh stars I'm a skkuting fool!" The angaran yelped as he tried to get to his feet and make a mad dash for it.

"And where do you think you're going?!" Evfra growled dangerously as he grabbed Urza by the back of his suit and dragged the recruit back into the center of the ring.

Sore aching muscles distracted the leader quite nicely for most of the work day...until he returned home. Evfra's house still smelled of Ryder. Now that he came to know her scent, it haunted him since that day at the dock, when she hugged him...

Evfra half growled half groaned, torn by the maddening yet pleasant sensation the memory produced. Making up his mind, the angaran stomped over to the nearest window to open it and finally be rid of Ryder's teasing scent. Down below, the angaran watched the bustling Taveteen. Now that the angara were fully recovered, the nightlife was more merrier than ever. Maybe...maybe a drink would ease him.

Evfra took the furthest bar stool and quietly sipped his Tavvum, not caring that there was a zone around him in which no other angara dared to enter.

However one angaran did take interest in the resistance leader. Roaan, the Taveteen bartender kept sneaking appraising gazes over at Evfra. Finally Roaan couldn't help himself as he sidled over to Evfra's lonely spot. "I believe I have you to thank for the sudden influx of resistance members," Roaan began as he wiped a nonexistent smudge on the counter with a worn rag.

Frowning in confusion, the leader set his drink back on the table. In no way had he directed his members to come here.

"Your furocious training has been sending members to come drink their woes and sore muscles away," Roaan added as he stopped wiping the counter, and leaned his elbow on the wood as he gave the leader a sly grin.

Evfra's confused expression morphed back into his namesake scowl. "I'm not in the mood for your jests Aabel," he growled as he swiped back up his drink.

"Pfft, you're never in the mood so why does that matter," Roaan chortled at the leader's classic remark.

Evfra just snorted as he nursed his drink, and stared out into the nighttime view of Aya.

The bartender remained leaning against the counter as he examined the lonely angaran. He couldn't place his finger on it, as Evfra acted like his same old irritated self, but there was something different about the angaran. Then it clicked in the bartender's mind as he began, tactifully, "Such a longing look in your eyes dear leader. What is it that you pine for?"

"Quiet, so that I may drink in peace," Evfra snapped as he rolled his eyes.

Roaan was at first taken aback by the leader's rolling eyes before he laughed, "My friend you didn't come to the Taveteen for peace, you came for a distraction."

Evfra glared at the preceptive bartender. The leader was now remembering why he didn't frequent this venue.

"Now, tell me what...or shall I say who...is troubling you?" Roaan continued for this juicy tidbit was the best piece of gossip he had fished out of the Taveteen for months. But, Evfra was no longer biting the bait as he had returned to his drink. But that wasn't going to deter this nosy bartender.

"I noticed the Pathfinder hasn't been around lately," Roaan casted his next bait. "It was quite nice having her here on Aya," the angaran sighed as he made to wipe another nonexistent smudge, all the while noticing that Evfra's nose had ever so subtly twitched. Hmmmm...

"I do hope she will return soon. Have you heard anything?" Roaan added tactfully.

"No," Evfra snapped as he slammed his glass onto the counter angrily, at first, before he released a deep sigh and added, "I haven't heard anything from her…" His gloved fingers trailed shapes into the condensation upon the glass.

And the fish had taken the bite, now to reel him in. "I'm surprised," Roaan continued, knowing that he was now treading in dangerous waters...but the bartender couldn't help himself. He lived for these moments, and Evfra needed all the help he could get!

"I was sure you two had become, close…" Roaan carefully remarked.

'So did I,' Evfra thought as he continued to stare down at his drink. The leader had enjoyed Ryder's company, he could no longer deny it. But the fact that she had been radio silent all this time sorely wounded him.

"Have you tried messaging her?" Roaan inquired as he paused in his wiping.

"No, why?" The leader responded with a confused frown.

Oh stars, this angaran was a lost cause. "Evfra, am I correct in thinking that the only times you've contacted the Pathfinder, was either for a mission or because she had initiated the conversation?"

Evfra mulled this over as he quickly reviewed the holographic comm sessions and messages in his head. Roaan's assumption was correct. "Yes," Evfra replied, but with some hesitation as he felt that the bartender was guiding him to some sort of point.

"Oh stars above!" Roaan blurted out, unable to contain himself as he whipped his wet rag about. "Just message the Pathfinder!"

Evfra's mouth hung open as he stared at Roaan, as if the bartender had grown another head. Then the leader snapped his mouth shut and gave the other angaran a nod. Clearing his throat, Evfra activated his communicator and pulled up Ryder's contact. But what should he write?

"Just ask her how she is doing," Roaan advised gently as he watched the leaders fingers hover apprehensively over his glowing communicator.

"Yes, of course," Evfra acknowledged. [Path- , He quickly scratched that one and started again, [Sara, how are you?] With a rare sense of trepidation, the angaran pressed send.

The silence lingered, even though Evfra stared at the communicator, willing a response to materialize with the power of his mind.

"Give it some time," Roaan started gently. "It's not like she's been waiting to hear from y-

PING!

'Huh, guess she was waiting on Evfra afterall!' The bartender mused as he rubbed his chin.

[Evfra! You'll never believe it! I'm sure you'll get the news soon. Either way, we are heading to Aya in a week. See you soon!]

'She's coming back!' The thought of Ryder's return made the angaran's pulse quicken. Evfra looked up to see that Roaan had been craning his neck to read Ryder's message. "Ahem!" The leader coughed loudly, earning a sheepish look from the bartender.

Evfra rose from his seat and was about to transfer credits for his drink when Roaan raised his hand to halt him. "It's on the house," the bartender announced.

The leader was momentarily quiet before he gave a nod, "Thank you, Roaan."

"Ha, don't mention it. You did cause my profit earning to skyrocket this past week!" The bartender jested jovially as he crossed his arms.

Evfra snorted as he rolled his eyes at Roaan. But as he walked away, the bartender noticed a spring to the angaran's steps. Maybe their dear leader wasn't that much of a lost cause after all...


[Author Notes]

Alright! Part 1 of In Sickness and In Health, 'Operation Healing Grouchy Face' is complete! I truly hope you've enjoyed this story! Likes and Follows are super appreciated, plus comments fuel my writing fire, especially now with part 2 underway!

Yep, get ready for Part 2 of In Sickness and In Health, 'Operation win her over' ~ Evfra tries to woo Sara with his practically non-existent romance skills. Meanwhile another angaran enters the ring for Sara's heart. Can you guess who it is? Stay tuned as our Pathfinder stumbles through the intricate art of angaran courtship, only to finally realize that one ever grouchy angaran has had her heart all along. There will be spicy sparing, a heated rivalry, an ill fated hike, and oh did I mention that Sara can't swim?

Translation - Isharay = Goodbye (Mass Effect Andromeda Wiki)