Three Little Lovebirds
Chapter 5 – Where No Man Has Gone Before
"Don't worry, I understand..." Tali choked sadly, turning to go with an utterly dejected look on her face. Suddenly, she froze. "W-What did you say Shepard?"
Lucy was gaping like a moron. Has she really just said that? No, this had to be a dream...there was no way she had just uttered those words.
The silence hung painfully like the world's largest elephant in the room. Not a dream then...
The Commander realized then that what she'd just said had been one hundred percent true. When she looked at Tali, she felt nothing but pure, unadulterated love. That was it...it was that simple.
"I love you Tali, I love you." The words felt so right in her mouth.
The engineer stood mutely for a second, jaw hanging loose beneath her transparent visor. She mouthed something but only a small, strangled cry came out. Eventually, the disbelief rolled away to reveal a face that couldn't have looked more joyful if she tried. For the first time, Lucy could actually see the young girls eyes light up with excitement.
"I don't believe it..." she babbled ecstatically "I-I was so sure that in our time apart, you'd have thought better of it...of me. I mean...I...I...I don't know what I mean anymore."
The spectre treated Tali to her sweetest smile, before coiling her in again for another tender embrace. Lucy crushed her lips to the Quarian's mouthpiece as if she could push right through to the willing flesh beneath. Behind her faceplate, the young engineer followed suit, kissing against the metal with the utmost tenderness. Her long-lashed eyelids closed as Tali melted into Lucy's arms, pressing up against the Commander with passionate fervour.
They remained joined at the 'lips' for several minutes, revelling in their newfound mutual willingness. Lucy could have kissed that Quarian forever, and probably would have attempted it, had not the vast bulk of Wrex materialised nearby.
To his credit, the Battlemaster didn't even blink when he saw the two girls ardently entwined together. The Krogan made a surprisingly small amount of noise for a creature of size, and Lucy didn't really register his presence until a gruff voice sounded from no more than a metre away.
"You know...last time we were at the Citadel, I spotted your medical officer taking on some unregistered supplies. Now, I'm not paranoid or anything...but when I searched those crates, I found a cache of Quarian vaccine boosters. Could be useful if you plan on bumping hips with that girl of yours."
Both women nearly died of shock.
"Jesus Wrex!" Lucy exclaimed, more from surprise than anger "Don't creep up on people like tha...wait a minute, Quarian vaccines?"
Wrex simply winked before striding off towards the lift. Unpleasant sounds of a Krogan stomach rumbling echoed off the walls.
"Sorry Shepard," Tali gasped, still breathing rapidly "I'd forgotten how public this place is."
Lucy could indeed spy a number of the younger male crew surreptitiously glancing in her direction. The offenders quickly jerked away when the spectre looked up, suddenly very engrossed in whatever duties they were performing. One guy actually whistled nonchalantly as he walked by, eyes respectfully fixed on the opposite bulkhead.
"There's no need to be ashamed," Shepard chided, only half joking "Everyone on this ship knows my, erm...tendencies. Nevertheless, it may be wise not to make a...public spectacle of ourselves."
Tali nodded, and reluctantly withdrew from her lover.
"I need to go and see the doctor" Lucy said, "Share my bed again tonight...we have a lot to talk about. Besides...it was so much fun the first time"
"I'd love to," the Quarian beamed, shaking slightly with anticipation "Please, don't be too long."
Lucy smiled again and proceeded to the cargo lift with a spring in her step. Tali was left alone, staring doe eyed after the spectre. The Quarian shook herself briskly to clear her head, then hurried off to assist with repairs to the Mako, hoping the time would pass quicker if she was occupied.
Liara lay on one of the uncomfortably hard operating beds in the Medbay. It was just her and the doctor now; Garrus had been discharged a while ago. Her ankle still throbbed. Once the adrenaline had worn off, all the pain of running on an injury had caught up with her. Now the joint was swollen and tender, Liara cursed herself once again for being so stupid.
"How bad is it doctor?" she asked, looking to relieve the tension with conversation.
"Well, it could have been a lot worse," Chakwas reassured, tapping away at a 3D radiograph scan, "You've fractured your fibula and a lump of fragmented cartilage has become lodged between the talus and the navicular."
"Forgive me but medicine is not my field," the Asari murmured "I'm afraid you'll have to explain it in slightly more colloquial parlance."
Dr. Chakwas chuckled slightly to herself, eliciting a curious glance from Liara.
"Sorry," the medical officer mumbled before continuing, "I'll give you a shot of oxiribel for the pain. As for the ankle itself, I don't think a full bone-knit is required, all it needs is a simple bio-scaffold."
The Asari looked suspiciously at the doctor "You're enjoying this aren't you?"
"One of the many perks of the job." the older woman quipped, withdrawing a wicked looking syringe gun. Before Liara could protest, the medic pressed the device to her swollen joint and the scientist felt a tiny pressure as the needle punctured her skin. It was uncomfortable, but the rewards were instantaneous as the pain quickly evaporated, washed away by the drugs.
Dr. Chakwas began cutting a sheet of polymer material down to size, occasionally holding it up to the 'younger' woman's foot for comparison. Something niggled at the back of Liara's mind. After a brief deliberation, she decided the medical officer could be trusted to keep a secret.
"Erm...doctor, can I ask you something?"
"Of course." came the curt reply.
"Well, um...I just wanted to ask...how well do you know the Commander?"
Chakwas glanced up briefly, cocking her eyebrow. Liara wondered if she'd overstepped her mark, after all the doctor's friendliness could just be a bedside manner. The other woman smiled warmly however and resumed her work.
"Not as well as I'd like, she spends as little time in here as possible. I'd take it personally, if I thought she was doing it out of personal pride. She strikes me as the kind of person who is strong for those around her, not for herself."
When Liara said nothing, the doctor continued.
"I've never seen a more selfless person...one would almost think she hates herself, judging by her willingness to sacrifice for others."
"B-But she doesn't does she?" the Asari interrupted, the very idea hurting her deeply.
"Of course not," Dr. Chakwas grinned, layering on some kind adhesive onto the bandage "Unhappy people don't generally inspire happiness in others, and the Commander does just that..."
The doctor cut herself off mid sentence to wrap the dressing round Liara's inured joint. The Asari winced at the initial contact, twiddling her toes nervously.
"I must say..." the medic muttered, concentrating on her work "You seem awfully curious about our spectre."
"Oh..." Liara stuttered, the familiar warmth of a blush touching her cheeks "I-It's nothing...I-I was just curious...that's all."
The doctor fixed her with a wry, knowing stare. The Asari gulped...she wasn't doing the best job of concealing her feelings. In fact, she couldn't really make them any more obvious if she tried.
"Well..." Dr. Chakwas said, being as diplomatic as possible "Not that I want to presume anything, but if you intentions tend towards the...romantic side, you've chosen the right woman. It's never been officially stated, but its common knowledge that she tends towards the fairer sex."
"She does?" Liara exclaimed with far too much obvious enthusiasm. The outburst caused her blush to deepen...how many more time could she be shamed in one day?
The medical officer laughed out loud, but stifled it into a coughing fit as the Medbay doors slid open.
"You know you're in trouble when your doctor starts wheezing." Lucy said, gliding into the room. Liara felt the familiar butterflies that churned in her stomach whenever the spectre was around.
"How's the foot?" Shepard asked, glancing at the dressing with a concerned face.
"Doctor Chakwas assures me I am going to be fine," Liara stated carefully, desperate to avoid a Freudian slip "I was impressed with her knowledge of Asari physiology."
"That's wonderful news," the spectre exclaimed with a cheerful smile before turning to the other woman "You wanted to see me doctor?"
"Yes, preferably before I died of old age but I guess we'll have to make do," the older woman teased, "Take some bed rest Liara...that ankle should be feeling much better after a good night's sleep."
"Oh...of course," the scientist mumbled, easing herself down to the floor. Lucy motioned to go and help, but was intercepted by the doctor steering her to a nearby bed. Liara limped to the back room with a deep feeling of regret. She'd been looking forward to an opportunity to talk with Shepard, maybe even sum up the courage to discuss what happened earlier that day.
The doors closed behind her, with a terminating whoosh. Liara did feel deathly weary, but her heart was still aching to be back in the other room. She dithered briefly, before deciding what to do. Nervously, she tapped the door control panel to switch to manual open. With that done, she edged up alongside, guiltily pressing her 'ear' to the metallic surface. It felt wrong to be eavesdropping, but the scientist longed to hear Lucy's voice for just a bit longer.
At first all she could hear was some nondescript mumbling, the words were too muffled to clearly distinguish. Liara began a brief mental focusing exercise, helping to shut out all extraneous noise and focus solely on what she wanted to listen too. By the time she was done, the two women were deep in conversation.
"You're a woman of the world doctor…" she heard Lucy saying with a note of…apprehension?
"I am old yes," came the sarcastic reply with a faint chuckle. Liara could just imagine Shepard's cheeky grin.
"That's not what I meant and you know it," she teased with false indignation. Dr. Chakwas snorted before continuing.
"Well, anyway, what did you want to ask me?"
"It's…um…it's kind of personal, you won't tell anyone will you?" Lucy said, sounding almost scared. Liara felt another twinge of guilt, but she was unable to tear herself away.
"Of course I won't," the doctor replied "Patient confidentiality et cetera."
"Well…" the Commander began, as if unsure whether or not to continue "Do you…do you think it's possible to love two people…I mean, at the same time."
There was a pregnant pause that lasted for about half a minute. Eventually, the doctor spoke again, so softly that Liara had to strain to make out the words.
"That really depends on who the two people are."
The Asari forced herself from the door, the guilt finally becoming too much to bare. Was this how she was going to treat the woman she cared for, by nosing into her private conversations? Liara felt lightheaded, and not just because of the drugs. She staggered the few paces to her bed, unable to make sense of anything she'd just heard.
Unbidden, memories of the brief kiss they'd shared together forced their way from the tangled mess of thoughts that clogged her mind. Had it meant as much to the spectre as it had done to her? Liara desperately hoped so, but the more she thought about it, the less and less likely it seemed that it had been anything more than the impulsive action of someone about to face potential death.
'I should just go out there!' she thought quietly aloud 'I should just go up to her and tell her exactly how I feel!'
The words sounded hollow and empty, even to her. There was no way she'd be bold enough to confront Lucy. It was stupid to even think that the other woman was interested...how could anyone love such a coward? The miserable realisation circled her mind like a plughole, mingling with a painkiller induced haze. Liara sighed fretfully, finally overcome by every single form of exhaustion simultaneously. Her body crumpled onto the camp bed as the Asari fell into a mercifully dreamless sleep.
Lucy left the Medbay with more questions than answers. Instead of helping her decide on a course of action, the doctor's answer had simply made the spectre more confused. At least it had helped her sort out her own feelings; there was now no denying that she was smitten with both the alien girls. What to do now though? How on earth was she going to resolve this without anyone getting hurt? There had to be a way…there was always a way. The most important thing was that no one be allowed to suffer because of her actions.
Shepard forced the images of Liara's face to the back of her mind. She'd find the time to talk with the scientist, but right now she had to make herself respectable for another special person. Lucy still wore her battle armour, having not had a free moment since she arrived. The assorted dirt from Verdus caked her clothing and exposed skin, having now congealed. The spectre tried not to think about what exactly was covering her.
Lucy locked the door to her quarters behind her, immediately stripping off the filthy polymer sleeve. The grunge had soaked through the joints and dried, leaving a mottled patchwork of browny greens over the Commanders toned stomach and chest. Shepard was used to being filthy; it came with the job, but that didn't mean she had to like it. Entering the bathroom, the spectre avoided looking at her messy reflection.
The wonderfully warm shower spray had never felt quite as good as it did then. Lucy closed her eyes and sighed contentedly as the deluge washed away all the horrible dirt. It was a personal pleasure of hers, cleaning up after a mission, watching the grime drain away down the plughole, leaving her refreshed and revitalised. The Commander glanced at a wall mounted time display...only another hour until her and Tali could spend some 'alone' time together. Lucy was glad that no one was around to hear the mighty spectre giggling like a little schoolgirl on her first date.
A small beep alerted Lucy to the fact someone waited to come in. The spectre quickly fumbled to put away the makeup she'd been applying, sliding it conspiratorially into a draw. Looking at the time, there could be no doubt as to who it was. She felt her heart skip a few beats as she approached and reached out a trembling had to open the door.
No sooner had the metal barrier parted than Tali had blurred into the room and was in her arms once again. Lucy staggered a step backwards, before clasping the Quarian girl to her, sliding eager hands up underneath the engineer's makeshift shawl to caress the back of her neck. Despite all the turmoil, the feeling of Tali's warm body held so tightly against her own simply felt...right.
"Oh Lucy, I've missed you so much!" the young girl cried, running an elongated finger down the other woman's spine. Lucy laughed heartily, revelling in the tingles that the delicate contact sent pulsing through her nerves.
"It's only been a few hours..." Shepard giggled, disentangling herself from the Quarian.
"Without you Lucy, a mere second is like an endless eternity."
The spectre felt a blush crawling up her neck; she wasn't used to such shameless flattery.
"That's the corniest thing I've ever heard!" she teased, although in reality the words meant a huge amount more than she let on.
"I-I'm sorry," Tali said "I just get so swept up...you make me feel so special Lucy."
"You are Tali...you're so, so special to me."
It was the Quarian's turn to blush, but she did not look away. Instead, she held Shepard's gaze for a long, long time.
"There's something I have to do..." she said eventually "I need to do it before I lose my nerve but I...I'm scared."
Lucy gently guided the agitated girl to a seat at the table. Tali rested her hands awkwardly on its surface, fidgeting with her fingers.
"Shepard...hold my hand, please."
The spectre complied, interlacing her fingers amongst Tali's. The engineer was drawing deep, steadying breaths, as if preparing to leap into an abyss.
"What's wrong? Let me help you..." Lucy said, helplessly giving the Quarian rapid squeezes of reassurance.
Tali shook her head, clearly pained. She glanced nervously around the room, before fixing her gaze back on Lucy's face. Her eyes settled on the spectres moist, slightly parted lips. Shepard knew longing well enough to see it etched in every muscle of the young girls face. Suddenly the Commander knew what she was trying to sum up the courage to do.
"Do you want me to help you?" Lucy asked, breathlessly anticipating the engineer's next move.
A single tear leaked from Tali's eye, rolling down her flushed cheeks and disappearing from view.
"No Lucy!" she cried with a strained note of panic "If I am not strong enough to do this, I don't deserve a woman who is."
It happened in the space of time it takes to blink. Tali's entire body stiffened as she jerkily slid her hands from Shepard's grasp. In one swift motion, she'd depressed the recessed release switch, and the entire front portion of her helmet fell away, landing with a tinny clatter on the table.
Lucy inhaled sharply. The move had been done in time for the tiny teardrop to fall from Tali's chin. It landed with a tiny 'plip' on the tabletop. The Quarian paid it no heed. Her eyes were fixed unblinkingly open like a deer caught in the headlights of a truck. The girl's chest rose and fell at an alarming rate and her entire body shivered uncontrollably. All the signs pointed towards one fact. The young engineer was going into shock.
"Tali? Tali!" Lucy yelled, morbidly transfixed by the strained gasps of hyperventilation that forced their way from the Quarian's lungs.
In the heat of the moment, the Commander could only think of one thing to do. It wasn't in any first aid manual, but the spectre was too distracted to recall her training anyway. She violently shoved the table to one side and extended a hand to lightly cup the young girls faintly pointed chin. Then...as softly as she could manage, Lucy touched her mouth to Tali's trembling lips.
Nothing in her entire life could compare to that moment. After all the anticipation, the kiss most definitely didn't disappoint. Shepard's heart melted instantly, as the feeling of Tali's moist skin consumed her every sense. Closing her eyes, Lucy deepened the contact until the girl's nose brushed electrically across her cheek. The spectre's arms auto-piloted their way to encircle the petrified Quarian and pull her in deeper.
Tali froze for a second, eyes bulging alarmingly wide. Then...it was as if something clicked deep inside. Her breathing slowly calmed to a less dangerous level and the convulsions that wracked her body transformed into shivers of pleasure. Lucy continued to medicate the girl, using her own lips to softly part the engineer's. Shepard's tongue slid from her mouth and began to slide across Tali's teeth, seeking to penetrate the pearly white barrier.
The young girl gasped involuntarily, allowing her eyelids to close as she too was swept up in the passionate moment. That was all the invitation Lucy needed to slip inside, delighting in the glorious feeling of tasting her lover for the very first time. Tali began to respond, cautiously licking the tip of Shepard's tongue with her own. The electrically charged contact made the Commander whimper, encouraging the other girl to continue.
The Quarian parted Lucy's willing lips and returned the favour, quickly learning what to do. Shepard whimpered again before shifting her mouth to capture Tali's bottom lip between her own. A rhythmic sucking motion elicited more surprised cries of joy from the young engineer as she discovered all the glorious new feelings of her first proper kiss.
Eventually, the two were forced to part. Heavy panting filled the air as both girls recovered the breath that had been so lovingly stolen from them.
"I'm so sorry Shepard…" Tali hastened to say as soon as her voice returned, "I should have warned you about the emotional block we have about exposing ourselves to the outside world."
"Why didn't you?" Lucy hissed. She felt momentarily furious at the Quarian for scaring her so badly. The emotion dissolved as quickly as it arrived, letting relief flood in to fill the void.
"I didn't want you to think I was weak." Tali said in a tiny voice, "You're so strong, I-I just wanted to prove to you that I could be too."
Shepard blinked, processing what the young girl had said. Is that how she saw the spectre? The thought was so touching; Lucy had to bite down hard on her bottom lip to hold back a stream of tears.
"Tali, you don't have to prove anything to me. I've seen for myself how brave you are, hell...you're barely an adult and here you are making your own way in the universe." she said, just managing to suppress the frog in her throat, "No one can be strong all the time, especially when confronting their deepest fears. I cried for hours after what happened to you on Therum, the thought of losing such a close friend absolutely terrified me. Now I...I..."
Lucy trailed off, lost in thought as her eyes roamed over the Quarian's face. Without her mask, Tali looked even younger...and even more heart-wrenchingly pretty.
"Kiss me..." the young girl whispered, tilting her head back and parting sweet cherry-blossom lips, eagerly awaiting the return of her partner's tongue. Shepard didn't need to be told twice, Tali's moist breath was already fluttering across the spectre's cheek as she angled her head down to softly nibble at the engineers offering. Taking her lover's bottom lip between her teeth, Lucy lightly fretted at the purple-hued flesh, taking extra care not to clamp down too hard. Her reward was a little gasp of startled arousal, followed by tiny whimpers of ecstasy.
For the next several hours, the two explored their newfound love. They talked at length about their pasts, both marred with tragedy and loss. Kisses and cuddles were given when comfort was needed, and many times when it wasn't. Tali was insatiable; the feeling of actual contact with another being was such an unexpected pleasure and now she couldn't get enough of it. By the time the two were lying in bed, preparing for sleep, Lucy felt lightheaded from lack of oxygen. It didn't matter though, not when the Quarian's shapely body was nestled against her side, sucking sweetly on her fingertip like a newborn. The feeling was quite exquisite, not to mention frustratingly erotic.
It wasn't fair; her body was on fire with need...she'd never be able to sleep. The covers were stifling on top of her feverish form, trapping all the heat generated by the two in an oven of arousal. At length, Tali spoke with a tentative voice that pierced the heady haze that surrounded the Commander.
"You know Lucy..." she whispered innocently "I don't feel particularly tired."
Shepard started slightly; she hadn't realized the girl was still awake. The spectre gulped, comprehending the hidden proposal. Were they both ready for this? Then Tali closed her little pouting lips around Lucy's fingertip once again and all doubt was driven from her mind. They were ready.
"No Tali..." she rasped, struggling to force the words from her dry throat "Neither am I."