Time seemed to move differently on Kaeus. The heat and the monotony usually made the days seem to stretch on forever even with the planet's shorter cycles. For Marcella, between her work and her new beau, the next few months practically flew by.
Uneventful as it seemed to the inexperienced eye, the planet was a bounty hunter's dream. It was right on the edge of turian space which made it the prime destination for turians who were too cowardly to venture into the lawless voids of the galaxy such as the Terminus, but remote enough to still stay off the radar. Some chose to try to make a living by feeding off the traffic that came through daily and thus ended up congregating at Smugglers Slot, a narrow, labyrinthine canyon sheared into red stone located just a few clicks from the spaceport. The canyon walls were marked with intricate dwellings shaped into the stone, full of traders, depots, and workshops to service the more adventurous or more desperate travelers. 'The Slot' was wide enough in some places for small open-air bazaars full of junk and illicit goods, and so narrow in some areas that residents had to squeeze through one at a time. Even fleeting travelers usually chose to peruse the items offered there for a chance to score a good deal.
And it was the perfect hunting ground.
Fortunately for Marcella, "Blaze", for all his incompetence, was at the very least good at providing hits spotted in the system with decent prices on their heads. And every time one docked, she was there.
As her mark lazily milled among the stalls, she trailed him, musing on what this meek-looking salarian did to earn such a large price on his head. But in the end, it really didn't matter. She put her pistol to the back of his head and watched him stiffen.
"Torik Wellon, I presume?"
A pistol was nothing compared to a rifle but if it could be fired, she knew how to use it. Still, she almost regretted not stealing at least one rifle from Fort Audax's cache, it would make things so much easier. But even the small pistol felt heavy in her hands as well as her stomach.
So it wasn't a fluke, she really did feel guilty. For stealing. Well, not for stealing but stealing from him. How about that?
But it wouldn't be a problem for long. With all the credits she had accumulated, getting her old rifle back would be a cinch. Hell, maybe she could even get a better one. Then she would just sneak the pistol back, none the wiser, and finally be back on track and ready to move forward. It was just as well, between the various gangs, Sulla, Pyra, and her garbage brother - things were starting to get a little tense and she was doing her best to lie low. Cleaning house of the surrounding riff-raff didn't help her already dwindling reputation either, but the credits it brought in was definitely worth it. Yeah, forget the old rifle, surely she was warranted an upgrade.
Surely.
"Grak, I know for a fact this is more money than you've seen in years."
The krogans shop was even more cluttered than last time, there was barely enough room to maneuver to the counter. It seemed business had been booming for him as well, and of course, by 'booming' that meant there were a lot of sad, empty-handed saps out there who had to give up everything they had for the credits to survive. He bled them all dry like a leech. But they had no choice, in this section, he held all the cards.
And she just had to go and piss him off.
Grak said nothing. He just stared at her, large hands set on the counter, a twisted snarl formed by a mouth so wide that he would probably have no problem leaning over and swallowing her whole. Going back to Graks' shop definitely wasn't the wisest decision she could've made. She could only hope the credits she had were enough to throw her weight around.
"Well? Am I wrong?"
The look on Grak's face was pure murder. "...You must have a quad of steel to be in here right now."
Marcella was no stranger to facing down angry krogan but as she stared into his slitted, unforgiving eyes, she didn't feel so confident. It seemed even after staying away all this time, he hadn't cooled off. But she held her ground. "This is more than I owe you. Way more. When Grak only continued to glower, she smirked. "Aw, come on Grak, I know you like me, you said so yourself."
Grak leaned toward her, gripping the edges of the counter in barely concealed rage and a thunderous growl rumbled out of his throat. Fear raced up Marcella's spine but it didn't reach her face.
"What's the matter? Too good for my credits? I thought you cared about money more than anything." She flicked her mandibles in a smile but had to fight to keep her voice steady. "Come on. For old times?"
His eyes narrowed, searching her face for some ulterior motive. The sluggish gears of his greedy little mind were clearly turning, and she found herself holding her breath.
"...Very well." He said, finally. He gave a slow nod and turned, retreating through a tight door frame that led to the back of his shop. All the tension flooded out of Marcella's body and she let herself relax. See, credits always won out in the end when it came to the big lug.
After a brief moment, he returned, lumbering back through the door, and slapped something long and metal on the counter. "Here you go!"
Marcella stared at the gun Grak had presented her. It wasn't her rifle and it certainly wasn't an upgrade. She didn't even know what model it was, it looked ancient. She looked up and scoured the back wall but her rifle wasn't there. "...Okay, very funny, now where is it?"
"Why, I don't know what you're talking about!"
Marcella chewed her tongue, choosing her next words carefully. "...Look, you got me, I messed up and I own up to that but this is more than I owe. Even you have to admit that."
Grak seemed to consider it. He lowered his large head and closed his eyes and released a reluctant groan.
Marcella stared intently. Come on come on come on come on!
"...Fine. He conceded, lifting his wide shoulders into a shrug. I'll give it to you He opened his beady eyes and they twinkled in a twisted delight. ..for double."
A sick feeling settled in her stomach. She had already given him all the credits she had. Months of work. Months. Why did she have to cross her only decent source of weaponry on the planet? When would she learn to keep her mouth shut? She took a deep breath and swallowed every ounce of pride she had. "Grak. Please."
The krogan gave out a long, beleaguered sigh and put a hand to his chest as though physically moved by her words. "Oh, alright he put his scaly elbows on the table, resting his chin in his hands, and gave her what could only be described as a shit-eating grin. "Triple.
Rage boiled her blood and set her limbs on fire. Her nails dug into her palms and she felt all the frustration of dealing with this disgusting bottom-feeder waiting to spill out.
Now, it wasn't particularly smart to insult a krogan to their face, in their own store, when they had already tried to kill you once and that thought flitted through her mind.
Just turn around and walk away before you earn yourself another headbutt.
And yet—
"You slimy - stupid - fat load of SHIT! I'm glad we - we bombed you back to the stone age - or - whatever you - you ugly - quadless - thick-headed fucking-"
Before she could finish her tirade, a pair of large hands grabbed her from over the counter and she suddenly found herself hoisted high over the krogans large head.
"W - wait - hold on - !"
Before she could even gain some kind of grip, she was hauled out the door and thrown roughly onto the hard dirt, her head bouncing painfully off the ground.
Somewhere behind, she could hear the krogan laugh heartily. "Oh, Marcella, all the money in the galaxy wouldn't be enough to put up with you. The laugh was cut short with a sinister growl. But seriously, if you ever come into my shop again, I'll snap your fucking neck."
Marcella slowly, painfully, twisted around to glare at the krogans wide, retreating back, wincing as the metal door slid closed and its alarm set. That seemed to be that. Her mouth had done it again.
Her limbs screamed as she carefully picked herself up, grimacing as she clutched her throbbing head and tasted blood in her mouth. At least he wasn't shooting at her this time.
It was time to move on, she couldn't deny it anymore. Which, honestly, was a shame. She actually kind of liked this place. Maybe not the planet itself, with its slim pickings and unsavory company, but its animals, its wide-open sky, and the feel of dirt under her feet. It was here she got to grow something, and feel its green fibers between her fingers for the first time.
But it didn't matter. As far as she could tell, she had worn out her welcome and there was no other reason to be here.
Except…
"Tell me about Palaven again?"
Flecks of sunlight flitted through the cracks of the ancient ceiling and dotted Marcella's face as she lay on her back, her eyes lazily trailing up the lines of the sand-colored stone.
"Hm…" Next to her, Cas rumbled thoughtfully. "I grew up in the capital but our house was outside the city. When I was young, my father used to take me to the field outside to practice shooting. There were these...large rock formations that spiraled upwards." He lifted both hands to draw their shape in the air. "You'd definitely like all the green." He folded his hands back onto his chest. "I still can't believe you've never been to the homeworld."
"Oh?" Marcella chuckled. "Another turian requirement I've missed?"
"...I - I didn't mean to imply—"
"Joking."
"...Right."
They were both sprawled out on the ground floor in various states of undress in one of the many ruins that dotted the landscape. The crumbling infrastructure shaded them from the light of the early evening but offered no reprieve from the heat. In the few weeks after their first night together (well, technically the second night, she mused), she had spent every night at his fort, talking for hours between his many laps after which they snuck into his room like a couple of teenagers skipping training. Complicated? Yes, but she had to admit, it really was worth all the sneaking around, the lack of sleep, the valuable time she could be hunting spent with him instead. It was an interesting arrangement, not just the short walks with Cas, who she found herself (alarmingly) liking a little bit more every day, but also falling asleep together nightly and waking up next to each other in the morning like some sort of domestic dream. Routine, normal, safe, and reassuring.
But, eventually, his extra duty had been rescinded and they couldn't pretend what they had was anything but unconventional anymore. And she was so much more upset about it than she thought she would be. Although she was a little relieved her sleep schedule had recovered, it had created an upset in their nightly dates so they had resorted to meeting up wherever and whenever they could. The ruins where they first met was the usual spot, though sometimes they could be found on one of the plateaus or even back at her dilapidated grass patch to shamelessly roll around. It had been...fun. Truly.
But in the back of her mind, she knew their time was running out.
"I'll have to take you then." He said.
She squeezed her eyes shut. Damn it. Sometimes she wished he wouldn't say things like that. Sometimes she wished he was a little rougher, a little meaner. Sometimes she wished he didn't make her feel like this was anything more than a fun, romantic - but temporary - thing. It was just so different; she'd never had a relationship she could describe as 'healthy' before. She wasn't used to someone treating her like she was some precious thing that they adored. He was...so sweet. So genuine. It was a breath of fresh air, especially in a place like this. But his words were a little too optimistic and determined for something that clearly had no realistic outcome. The smart thing to do would be to establish clear boundaries.
And yet…she found herself going all in. It was like her mind and body were on two different wavelengths. As much as she told herself not to get too serious, to be prepared to let him down gently, to keep up that mental barrier so she didn't get too attached, she found herself acting like they really were going to make it.
Which was absurd and only gonna make the inevitable harder to endure. It was fun to pretend but they couldn't keep this up. He had to know that...didn't he? Maybe she should say something. She had been putting it off for far too long.
Listen, I like you, and you're a great guy but we both know this is just for fun, right? It's not that I wouldn't WANT something more, it's just...In another life, it would be a sure thing but you're...and I'm just...that's just not how this goes. But you know that, right? I know that there's no way...we can't just...You don't ACTUALLY think...
And yet, she hesitated. Spirits, why was this so hard?
She sighed and settled for a less direct approach. "You know...you're making a lot of promises I don't think you'll be able to keep."
His answer was both instant and sincere. "Watch me."
Her stomach flip-flopped so suddenly it almost made her wince. Cas was still a little shy, even after all this time, but whenever he talked about all the things they would supposedly do in the future, he was completely confident. It was torture.
Whatever. She was allowed to dream.
She rolled on top of him, pulling herself into his lap and feeling him gasp. Cradling his head with one hand and grabbing his chin lightly with the other, she pressed her open mouth to his and softly inhaled. She continued, gently breathing in and out against his mouth, and in a few moments, he had followed her lead, returning the affection.
Ah, yes, this old maneuver. What was it called? Spirit-bonding. Just like in those old vids. Huh, she really was acting like a teenager. In any case, she found herself doing it a lot, especially when he talked like this. Partly because the feeling that rippled through her was too much to take and partly to silence him before he said anything else that made her think that something more was possible. He was really good at that.
He started to purr contently. "Khat- "
Ahem?
I mean, uh, - "
She pulled away, mandibles flicking into a smirk. "Would it help if I told you nobody calls me that and it's not even my real family name?"
"...It's not?"
"I adopted it from my, uh...what was she...mentor, I guess?"
"Oh. Well then, uh..."
She tilted her head in wait.
"M...Marcella..."
She huffed a small laugh. "Yes...?"
"The...General...will be...gone...again...tomorrow… "
Amazing news. For him, she would settle for anywhere, but you couldn't beat a hot shower and a warm bed.
"It's a date." She purred.
There was a sudden crackle that made them both jump coming from the comm on Cas's wrist. A deafeningly loud voice filled the air
"Hey - where are you?!"
Cas shot upright, spilling Marcella from his lap. He scrambled to cover up as though to hide from the disembodied voice. "Fedorian, this channel is for emergencies and you're supposed to ping me first, don't just auto-connect
"I know but this is an emergency!"
Cas's subvocals rumbled loudly in irritation. "Is it really?"
"...Well, no. Not - not really, but -"
Cas scoffed, still angrily attempting to get dressed.
" I mean, you would think of it as an emergency, but, you think of everything as an emergency so I didn't know
"What is it!?"
"It's just - I checked today's reports and the digital mapping systems are still offline and when I asked Corinis he said you were supposed to work on them yesterday but...they're still offline so...did you…?"
Cas froze, eyes shot wide. "Oh...no. Damn it " He bared his teeth and shook his head, rumbling in embarrassment. "I'm...I'm sorry, Fedorian. I must have forgotten."
The loud voice sounded genuinely baffled. "You...forgot?!"
Marcella sighed impatiently and scratched a talon absentmindedly in the dirt as Cas fired back about other things he had been working on in a tone that was embarrassed, apologetic, and irritated. The loud voice answered with something else about their duties and she felt herself getting impatient and bored. Whoever this guy was, he was annoying, unbearably loud, and tended to call a lot. She remained silent, even though the urge to let the caller know that he was (ahem) interrupting something was unbearable.
"I'm - I'm just taking a break! I'll take care of it!" Cas was getting more flustered by the second, he didn't even seem to realize he'd put his chest armor on backward.
"And that's another thing - since when do you take breaks?!"
There was a loud irritated snarl as it seemed Cas had had enough. "This channel is for emergencies only! Do not use it for your inane inquiries again!"
He jabbed at his arm to disconnect the call. A slow, frustrated sigh escaped the sides of his mouth and he pinched the bridge of his nose. "...Sorry about that."
Your friend sure likes to chat. Marcella breathed a laugh but paused when she saw his expression. "...You okay?"
Cas looked miserable. His mandibles twitched anxiously and his eyes stared off somewhere vaguely in front of him. "I...I can't believe I forgot about..." He thrummed a low note of shame as he entwined his fingers.
She scooted towards him and wrapped an arm around his waist, humming in reassurance. "Hey, hey, it's okay...You deserve a break every once in a while, no matter what...that guy says." She barely tried to conceal her disdain.
"He's really not as bad as he sounds...usually."
"Mmm, I don't know...there's nothing worse than an annoying jerk who thinks they池e funny and takes up all of your time." She smirked, "That's my job."
Cas just shook his head slowly and squeezed his eyes shut. "...I need to keep better track of time, I keep staying away for far too long. There's barely anyone manning the fort with Faldos gone as it is - just - foolish." He was lecturing himself again. He did that a lot.
She felt her heart tug. "...This job isn't easy, is it?"
Another anxious rumble. "No. But don't worry about me. I can handle it, it's a...pretty small fort."
"Well," She poked him in the side teasingly. "You did say you wanted to come here, right?
An expression she didn't quite catch flashed across his face for a millisecond before he turned to finish putting on the rest of his uniform. "...Yeah. I did."
"...built for following orders, not leadership
"...too good to just follow orders..."
"...they won't go for this…"
Castis wrung his hands as the voices floated over to him from the other side of the tall, bronze door. Whether it was by accident, or that they actually wanted him to overhear them discussing his academic career as some sort of intimidation tactic, he couldn't tell. But it was certainly working.
He resorted to pacing back and forth, footsteps echoing along the walls of the white marble hall. Ortus Academy had long been considered one of the prime examples of turian architecture, its doors huge and wide, its hallways disturbingly long, and its ceilings intimidatingly high. The hall of the Commadant, the officer in charge of the institution, was even more freakishly huge as though to purposely frighten anyone who needed to enter it. Why Castis had been called to this particular all-important hall was very strange. Stranger was the fact that Fedorian was there as well. He was leaning against the door, grinding into the tile of the pristine floor with the heel of one of his boots. He didn't seem nervous at all.
"How long are they gonna make us wait here?!" He asked, his booming tone loud enough to send his voice echoing down the hall.
Castis whirled around. "Shhhhh!"
"What?" Fedorian gestured at the obscenely large and completely empty hall. "No one's here!"
"They'll hear you!"
Who? He splayed out his hands and looked around the, again, empty hall. Who, Vakarian?!
A sudden click of the large metal lock turning and the creak of the door silenced them both.
An older female turian swathed in regal greens and blues appeared on the doorway, regarding them both with a faint hint of arrogance. "You may come in now."
With a groan, the doors pushed all the way open as they both followed her into the commadant's quarters. Castis's eyes were assaulted by the stark white marble that covered every inch of the room, conflicting with the dark wood of the chairs and mantle. He immediately took to counting the large number of pictures and plaques that were mounted all over the walls, so high he had to crane his neck to see them all.
In the middle of the room was a curved desk made of the same white stone as the walls. Behind it stood a small but hardy-looking woman, her face striped red, her uniform practically weighed down with medals and ribbons. The carved plaque on her desk read Brigadier General Artanus. Castis almost trembled in awe.
She tilted her head slightly and greeted him with a reserved smile. "Mr. Vakarian. Our star pupil. I've heard many great things about you."
Castis snapped to attention. "Ma'am."
She turned to his companion. "...And Mr. Fedorian." Her subvocals were neutral but Castis noted the lack of any additional comments.
Fedorian didn't seem to notice. His mandibles flicked wide and he responded with what Castis thought was an embarrassingly informal salute. "Ma'am!"
"I'm glad I could see you both. I understand you've been acting as sort of a...set pair." Her eyes flicked between them. "An interesting arrangement. But not without results."
Fedorian spoke up. Out of turn. "I have certainly benefited ma'am! If that's any consolation-"
"Yes, Fedorian," her tone was agreeable though she flicked a mandible impatiently, "that's been apparent in your recent performance."
"Vakarian is the best." He nudged Castis roughly with his elbow and winked, flashing him a see-I-told-you-so! smile.
The Commandant tilted her head and observed them both closely. "Although...I find it a little odd you don't call each other by your first names."
"Ah, yes!" Fedorian chuckled loudly and jabbed Castis even more painfully in the side. "Vakarian insists on maintaining a very professional relationship."
Castis wrinkled his nose and crossed his arms. He didn't have to be so annoying about it.
She nodded. "In any case, word got back to your family about your recent improvements. Your father was pleased."
Fedorian's mood immediately shifted. The friendly look evaporated from his face and the teasing rumble ceased. He seemed to shrink. "...Oh. Good."
"However, you're both due to graduate soon. I understand you've already met with some career counselors who have set you up with some fine career paths...different career paths." Another quick look at Fedorian. "Which is unfortunate. Honestly, I believe you really do work best together. You both come from strong military families, both have clean records, both have very obvious complementary strengths and weaknesses. But, be that as it may, your counselors know what would be best."
Castis noted Fedorian looked even more crushed. So much for the deal.
She continued. "But...there is one thing I could recommend that's a little...unconventional."
Castis tensed as her eyes fell on him again.
"Vakarian, you are a fine student. One the best. You're smart, athletic, hardworking…" There was a lilt in her voice that indicated there was a downside.
Castis's mandibles drooped. But I'm also boring, insufferable, and have the charisma of a rock.
"...but your personable skills could use work. I'm afraid leadership isn't your strong suit."
Castis tried to not look disappointed. "Yes, ma'am."
"But with Mr. Fedorian...I have seen improvement. Minimal, but there is promise."
Castis deflated. After the fiasco that was the Founder's Ball, things had not fared much better - not for lack of Fedorian trying. He was better at maintaining eye contact at the very least.
"Clearly, he is in your best interests. And I may have found a solution. We have been presented with a...unique opportunity. I trust you know a General Andin Faldos?"
Castis's mandible practically hit the floor. General Andin Faldos!? Of course he knew, he was - Wait, what did she mean? Was he here? Was he observing them himself? She had to be joking. The pride of Palaven?
He swallowed back an encyclopedia's worth of knowledge and simply nodded. "Yes, I do ma'am."
She seemed to be choosing her next words delicately. "I'm not sure if you are aware but...General Faldos has been reassigned to a perimeter of comm stations that monitor the fueling ports on the edge of our borders."
What!?
Castis silently nodded again. His head burned with questions but he held them back out of politeness.
Fedorian did not. "Reassigned? What for?"
The Commandant quirked an eyebrow plate at the outburst but still continued. "His behavior lately has...not been indicative of what the Hierarchy Military represents. That's all that will be said on the matter."
Castis tried to mask his surprise. "Yes, ma'am."
"That being said, he has a crew working under him but is in need of an executive officer. He has requested we send him one of our own. Someone malleable. Someone smart, efficient and who can follow orders. We have even agreed that, if the officer performs his duties exceptionally, he could receive some sort of personal recommendation that could make them perhaps...not have to worry about some of their...personal shortcomings?" She held his gaze intently. "And we're thinking...that could be you."
Castis felt himself begin to shake. Me?!
"Fedorian," she turned to face him. "You would be able to be under his command as well. Though, I'm afraid you would be a rank lower than your companion." Her eyes with her eyes what she shouldn't with her voice - obviously.
Castis sucked in a breath, hands clasping and twisting behind his back. Working directly under General Faldos. The Hero of Sorinthus Rise, the Terror of Turfin Fields, the youngest man ever to leave the cabal and be promoted to-
"You don't have to decide right now, but-"
"I accept." Castis stuck out his chest and stood as straight as he could.
The Commadant's brow plates rose in slight surprise. "...Excellent. And Fedor-"
"Yes ma'am! I accept as well!" Fedorian bellowed.
She blinked slowly at both of them, somewhat taken aback by the immediate response. "...Very good, then. Vakarian, in the coming weeks, you will receive your orders. Fedorian, you will meet with General Malta," She tilted her head toward the blue and green female in the corner, "to discuss your own orders." After that, she gave a curt nod. "Then it is settled. Dismissed."
Castis and Fedorian both gave duel salutes and turned to leave. Fedorian was bouncing on his toes. Castis mind whirled with these sudden new thoughts.
"And Vakarian-"
Castis pivoted automatically to face her again. "Ma'am?"
"This is an incredible opportunity." The rumble in her subvocals was deadly serious. "I wouldn't waste it."
Castis's posture somehow became even more rigid. "I won't, ma'am."
Bringing Marcella back to the base after Castis had promised himself, after night duty was over, that it wasn稚 worth the risk and it would never happen again was absolutely unconscionable. Idiotic, foolish, completely and incredibly dumb.
"Don't be so nervous!" Marcella chirped. "C'mon, we've done this before, we won't get caught..."
And yet, here they were, going down the same dingy halls they had in the beginning, heads low, walking fast, jumping at the slightest noise, careful to avoid whoever decided to roam the halls at this time of night. If someone had told him just a few months ago he would be actively and consistently breaking the rules... Castis tightened his jaw.
I guess this is who I am now.
Someone willing to risk it all for any opportunity to be with her, apparently. Whatever it took. But...it was worth it. Of course it was. It always was.
Castis hummed in uncertainty. "All it takes is one time…"
She had joked before that she was a bad influence but he couldn't pin all the blame on her, he was actively choosing to do this. He knew it was wrong, he knew it, but he found that he just...didn't care. At least not as much as before, he wasn't completely far gone, this just...mattered more than busywork. ...And now he was referring to it as just 'busywork', spirits.
He always tended to be a little...extreme. He had never been very good at taking things in moderation and for so long it had been the same fixation. Work. But then...she came. And she was worth investing in. With everything he had. How could he not? Marcella had already opened his eyes to so many things!
Like how much he hadn't actually done and how truly inexperienced he was. She was so worldly and it made him burn with envy. All her stories about the ships she痴 been on, the planets she explored, how knowledgeable she was about the underbelly of the galaxy and the people and how it all actually worked, and how none of this stuff was in any of the books he had read.
Like how it felt to be in a real relationship, to be solely devoted to someone you cared about and wanted to see thrive. To feel comfortable, to feel safe, to listen and be listened to, support and be supported. To know that you can be yourself fully. That she liked him fully!
Like how sex was supposed to be enjoyable, not something you just got out of your system with someone you didn't actually like, going through the motions until you look over at your workstation, realize how much you still need to do, and try to wrap it up as fast as possible. The usual outcome. But with her...The way they meshed was...incredible, perfect, passionate, like a creature that had been split in half and was desperately trying to come back together.
"Now you got me paranoid. What if he decides to come by unannounced or something?"
A chill ran down Castis's spine at the thought. "Highly unlikely, but...I guess we could just...hide until I sneak you out...?"
She flashed him a look. "We could always make out in the closet?"
His mandibles flared at the brash suggestion, but at the same time something hot and bold raced up his spine. He heard himself rumble. "Don't tempt me."
"Ooooh-!" Marcella's eyes lit up and she let out a soft trill of excitement. "I like this side of you!"
Um - ahem! He gave his head a hard shake, throwing himself back into a mode that was more appropriate. The lines he was willing to cross these days were becoming blurry and his lax attitude was starting to catch him off guard. Stupid and risky. He chastised himself under his breath.
The door to his quarters clicked behind them and Marcella already started making herself comfortable, tossing her bag on the bed and settling in on his pristine pillows. She let out a light, suggestive hum. "Sooo"
Castis looked a little sheepish. "Actually, uh...I thought maybe we could watch...I mean...there's this vid I've been meaning to show you." He cleared his throat a little awkwardly. "Uh, a real vid. My favorite. If you want."
"Oh! Uh, sure!" Marcella flashed him a smile and trilled excitedly. "Let's do it!"
Yes, finally. He was gonna do it right this time. He opened his omni-tool and selected A War To Remember before sitting down next to her.
The next 3 and a half hours practically flew by in a rush of incredible storytelling - thrilling highs, gut-wrenching lows, friendships forged everlasting in the war room and on the battlefield. A tale of courage, friendship, and most of all, strict rule-following, based on the true heroics of the infamous Caltrik-Saronis War. It never got old.
As the vid ended, he turned toward her, feeling more than a little smug. "So...what did you think?"
Marcella stared at the screen.
"It was...um…" she tapped her wrist nervously as the credits for the worst vid she had ever seen in her entire life rolled by. "...there sure was a lot of just...talking."
"Oh, well, that was actually the extended version. I probably shouldn't have shown you that first. But It really goes into detail in that version, that's why it's the best. They actually referenced the real transcripts!"
Oh. Neat." Marcella squirmed in her place on the bed. "I just...thought there was gonna be more battle scenes, not just talking about...battles.
"I know, isn't it great? Did you like it?"
She looked into his eyes, shining with hope. His mandibles twitched in anticipation.
She took a deep breath and lied through her teeth. "I... loved it."
A small, self-satisfied smile crossed Castis's face. He knew she would like it. No one could resist a war epic. He was getting pretty good at this.
He checked the time and his heart sank, it was much later than he anticipated. Another disadvantage of watching the beloved extended version.
"...Damn. There was some work I wanted to get done tonight."
"From today?"
"Uh...yeah." No, from yesterday and the day before that and the day before THAT. Piled up due to my irresponsibility.
Marcella laid back on the cot and stretched. "Alright, fair enough."
Castis felt himself start to get worked up as the previous anxieties reached through and grabbed him, pulling him under. The mapping systems. How could he be so stupid? And it certainly wasn't the only thing he had forgotten about or had been putting off. In the back of his mind was a list that was slowly getting longer and longer as he neglected it. No more. He had to buckle down. He got up off the bed and moved toward his desk. He could get started while she went to sleep.
"Ahhh, soft bed...hot shower..." he heard her purr as she stood up and walked beside him. "You know I'm only using you for your shower, right?" she shot up her hands immediately. "I'm kidding of course..."
Castis scoffed. "Honestly, I wouldn't blame you."
"Speaking of," She jerked a thumb toward the bathroom. "Mind if I…?"
"Of course not, go ahead. "
"Thanks." She made for the bathroom but paused to look back, a sly smile crossing her face. "...Care to join me?"
He looked at her, nicely silhouetted in the frame of the bathroom door then back at his desk, a disorganized mess of datapads, files, and half-completed projects. An abhorrent sight that was now was commonplace. It couldn't be ignored any longer. He shook his head and rumpl6ed in a truly disappointed tone."...Sorry, not this time."
Alright, your loss. the bathroom door shut behind her with a sharp click.
Castis sighed and slumped down into his chair. His to-do corner was piled high and he felt a bubble of anxiety. Enough! No more messing around, get something done at least! He willed himself to grab a datapad and struggled to read the words in front of his face. It was difficult to concentrate on anything else with the muffled sounds of the running water coming from the room to his side. Maybe he could join her just for a minute-
NO DAMN IT.
He shook his head violently, His thoughts moved at a glacial pace whenever he stared at his work. He used to love filing reports, doing paperwork, mindless analytical tasks. A part of him still did, he supposed, but they were completely eclipsed whenever she was around. And when she wasn't around she was still constantly on his mind, like a vid playing loudly in the background. Spirits, is this how it is with everyone? How does anyone get anything done?
"Vakarian?!"
A loud voice followed by an equally loud knock at the door ripped him out of his thoughts so violently he accidentally flung the datapad across the desk, where it clattered noisily against the others.
Castis jumped to his feet, the chair falling back onto the frame of the bed.
Oh no. No no no no NO.
He shot a look at the door to his room then to the bathroom where he could still hear the rushing of water. A thousand terrified, conflicting thoughts filled his head. Don'tanswer it. Pretend you're not in. Tell him to go away. Jump into the bathroom and hide. That last one wasn't the best idea, Fedorian had no problem walking in on him in the bathroom before. He had no shame.
There was another sharp knock.
Tell him to go away! Act like you're in the middle of something! Just don't panic!
"Vakarian!" Even behind the door, the voice was thunderous. "I know you're awake, I can hear yoooou!"
He was running out of time, drowning in panicked thoughts.
The knock turned into a loud bang causing the door to slightly rattle and making Castis jump. He had to do something - he couldn't risk her hearing it. Castis launched himself at the door and manually slid it open, trying his best to keep from shaking.
Fedorian beamed down at him, filling the entirety of the door frame. "Hey!"
"What!?" Castis's subvocals clanged out in a violent discordance. He cleared his throat and tried again. "W-what is it?"
"Okay, you're gonna laugh..." Fedorian gave his own robust chuckle. "...buuuut I, um...I was trying to connect to the extranet and I, uh, somehow connected to a few shady networks and I, um, accidentally on accident may have downloaded some sketchy things and...you know what, it's not important, can you just fix it like you did last time?"
"...It's the middle of the night."
"Okay, well, can I borrow one of your physical vids or books or something, I have to guard the Generals quarters again and it's so boring-"
Castis gripped the door frame anxiously. "Fine - just stay here and I can grab something - "
"Can I pop in real quick and see what you have?"
Castis's entire body tensed and he shot a look behind him. The bathroom door was closed but the sound of the shower running could be heard. Her things were still in his room. His mandibles practically vibrated in fear as he tried to think of an excuse, any excuse.
"C-can it wait for a bit? I'm in the middle of some -"
"I'll just be a second!" Fedorian laughed and bodily moved through the door, sweeping Castis effortlessly aside. In a few short steps, he had reached the bookcase on the other side of the room and was already haphazardly manhandling all of the various datapads and discs.
Castis stood rooted to the floor in fear. Every single one of his nerves was on edge as his eyes darted from the bathroom door, to Marcella's bag sitting on the bed, and to Fedorian, who was taking his sweet time perusing his physical media. Marcella probably didn't hear anything over the sound of the running water which Fedorian thankfully hadn't seemed to notice.
"Hmmm. Hm. Hm. Hmmm..." The larger turian hummed an annoying tune as Castis almost tore his palms to shreds. "Maybe? No..."
Castis's neck swiveled between the shelf and the bathroom door so fast he thought it might snap. "Just - pick - one!"
After an eternity, Fedorian picked one up and turned around. "Do you think this one is -"
Yes - good - great, now you need to leave. Castis hissed, digging his claws into Fedorians bicep and yanking him toward the door. Fedorians large frame tilted violently off-kilter and he bumbled into the desk, jostling all the neglected datapads.
"Ow - hey - fine - !"
"Now!"
"What's with you-?
"Get out!"
"I'm going-!
There was a sharp sound of sliding metal. The bathroom door slid open, steam from the hot water cascading through. Castis felt his heart stop.
Marcella's head popped out of the bathroom door, water dripping down her bare torso. "Hey, what's with all the noi….."
The word squeaked and died in her throat. Her eyes went wide in silent horror and her mandibles clapped tightly to her face.
At the sound, Fedorian turned his head toward the open bathroom door and Castis watched his large frame stiffen in shock. There was a moment where everything seemed to stop, the sound of running water the only indication that time was moving at all.
Finally, Marcella spoke. "...Ah...hah ha...oops...!" She squeaked out a weak laugh, and slowly stepped back, shutting the door with a light click.
There was a moment of agonizing silence as the two men just stared at the bathroom door.
And then it started to happen. Castis felt Fedorian slowly pull his arm free from his now slack grip, place his hand on Castis's shoulder and squeeze, painfully, all while they were both still transfixed on the door. He heard a rumble of pure joy start to slowly start to reverberate out of his friend's throat. It was coming. From the corner of his eye, he saw the excited, almost feverish twitching of Fedorians mandibles. It couldn't be stopped.
Castis had never heard of anyone dying from embarrassment before but surely he would be the first. By the time Fedorian finally turned to face him again, he already knew exactly what he would see. And he was right. That face. That horrible face.
Fedorians eyes were lit up, he had balled his hands up under his chin, excited, shocked-
Smug.
Castis felt his embarrassment turn into outrage and blind fury.
Fedorian opened his mouth, wide, dual tones practically shrieking in insufferable delight. "Oooooh - !"
Castis couldn't take it anymore. "GET -"
" I can't belie -!"
" OOOOOOUT!"
Before he could even realize what was happening, Castis had somehow managed to grapple the much larger turian and physically lift him, hauling him out of the room, subvocals still wailing in rage. He shoved him violently out the door and punched the console to bring it to a shuddering close.
He panted furiously, whole body quivering as he stared at the now-locked door, a horrible feeling clawing at the walls of his stomach.
Behind him, a muffled voice came from the bathroom door.
"...Do you think he saw me?"
