Chapter 4

I blink and it's like a flash in a change of frames in an action movie. I'm suddenly out of Kahlo's lap, and I'm on my feet, stumbling into the side of the coffee table.

I look up as the sangheili's shadow falls over me, and I watch wordlessly as Kahlo moves away and towards Leanne with a swiftness that's startling.

The sangheili strides forward, shoulders broadening as he approaches my friend, who is now stammering something I can't understand, the vase still held up in her grip, but this time as if she is preparing to launch it at any given moment.

He's going to take her out. I don't question the absurdity of these words as they roll through my mind and I make a snap judgment decision to rush forward and save Leanne from getting herself knocked out by my sangheili bodyguard.

This burst of action only serves in causing me to spontaneously crash into the coffee table with one knee, and I slide across the smooth surface my head eventually meeting the arm of my easy chair.

Tears sting in my vision as I end on the floor. My head is in a thudding vice and tears blur my world as I roll onto my side, one hand on my forehead while I try and push myself back onto my feet with the other.

I can hear Leanne then, as if she is right next to me, and soon it's apparent that she is, and I can feel her grip on my arm and her concerned voice in my ear. I can also hear a sound like a growl in the background but I don't pay it much mind because it feels like my head is going to explode and I can only take in so much sound.

When I finally gain some amount of relief from Leanne's cool hand on my throbbing forehead I sit up a bit and she retreats.

Dammit I'm such a klutz.

"Are you okay Lacey?" She steps back and looks down at me with a frown.

"Yeah." No, it's a lie, my head hurts like hell, but it's nice to console your friends.

Once we're both on our feet I look around and try and find Kahlo and wince as I spot him in the doorway of the kitchen, mopping at his chest with a damp wash rag stained in spots of something purple. Uh…

It is at that moment I see my vase in scattered pieces across the hardwood floor. I step back in response, glancing around on the ground to see if I'm in danger of stepping on any of it.

"Sorry." Leanne says, her face flushing, "I uh, broke your vase."

"You." The voice is so scary that I literally hop onto my toes, ramming my butt into the side of the sofa. I manage to spill back onto the cushion as the very angry looking sangheili storms forward.

Leanne, staying true to her stubborn and reckless sense of character, merely crosses her arms as the much taller, much stronger looking alien male towers over her petite form. It could almost be comical if the atmosphere wasn't so serious.

"You're a fool." The sangheili says with a coldness that I can feel, and I can't help but hug myself, fingers digging nervously into skin. I look to Leanne and I feel surprise even though I shouldn't, that she is meeting the sangheili firmly with her gaze locked on his own, her confidence showing in the arc of her shoulders and the arms across her chest, chin tilted up almost defiantly.

"No, one I'm over protective and impulsive, two, you are freaking huge..." She quipped back, "And three, you need to learn some people skills, Mr., "I charge and talk later.""

"This crazy woman." Kahlo says, this time to me, his eyes narrowed, "She is your friend?"

Leanne's mouth opens to retort so I quickly intercede with a, "Yes." When I look back to him he has stepped a bit more under the light and I notice something I hadn't noticed before. The skin under the slight fold of his chin…

"You're hurt!"

The sangheili tilts his neck to the side and I can see the cuts very well under the light now, and the strange purple liquid—that's his blood?—shining on the copper armor at his neck. As I near him I can also smell something unpleasant, kind of like something you smell in a factory. His blood stinks, it's almost an acrid smell and I can't help but scrunch up my nose by reflex.

"Yes." He replies as I'm trying not to wrinkle my nose, "That tends to happen when a maddened female throws something sharp at you. I'll live." He releases air from his nostrils in a light snort, looking at Leanne with something like derision as she glares back, "Good aim."

"Thank you." Leanne gives him a smirk and I want to moan aloud in the sudden uncomfortable atmosphere forming around the two of them.

"Enough, please." I step forward, off to the side, still not comfortable enough to stand between them. Kahlo is apparently scary when he's annoyed, "This is all just a big misunderstanding, it's my fault, and I apologize for it."

The speed at which Leanne spins around prepares me for what I know is coming, and I can't help but flinch under her glare, "You cry like you're in trouble and you expect me to just calmly walk in here. What did you expect would happen when I walked in? Do you bring aliens often to your apartment Lace? I feel like this is a new trend, in which case, a heads-up would have been peachy!"

I feel lame, embarrassed…I swallow the knot in my throat. I know she's right of course, "Sorry, I was just feeling a bit overwhelmed." And I overreact, damn I'm such a baby, "You could have knocked…"

"Best friends don't knock, we break in," Leanne's face sobers, and she gives me this long look and I look away from the shine I see as concern in her eyes, "What's going on Lace?"

Kahlo intrudes on our conversation, stepping forward, and makes a sound like a gruff sigh. His shadow eclipses the both of us, "She is under my protection."

"He's kind of my guard, at least for the time being." I try and explain quickly as Leanne looks up at the sangheili, wrinkling her nose slightly, which is something she does when she's thinking.

Or maybe she can smell him too…? Okay, it smells kind of like that stuff that swallowed up some dinosaurs…tar, yeah, that. Wow that's heady.

She looks back at me, arms crossed, and I exhale softly. She'll want a solid explanation. Of course. I decide to just get it over with, and we take a seat on the couch, and I begin talking. It's hard, and my voice cracks. I'm still uncomfortable by the fact that even as these random things occur, my life is in very real serious danger.

The conversation actually takes around twenty minutes, of Leanne mostly interrupting to voice her concern, rage, apologies, and threats against anyone who would touch her best-best friend in the whole span of all-existence….

Something like that.

Leanne claps a hand against one of Kahlo's biceps, who had taken a seat on the sofa with us not long after I began explaining the situation to my friend. He has to sling one leg over the side of the arm of the sofa, because he's as big as the both of us put together. He doesn't move at Leanne's touch, but merely gives my friend a long look.

"Don't worry Lace, I've got your back." Leanne places a comforting hand on my shoulder, "I won't let any psycho freaks get to you, and it won't just be you and Kyle."

"Kahlo." The sangheili responds, insistent, a little annoyed.

"I don't care." Musical, practically a chirp. Leanne casts a mischievous smile towards the sangheili who just looks confused.

I sigh, he didn't seem capable of hurting Leanne, and still doesn't, he's just a bit irritated with her, I still feel a little ashamed that I felt he would have hurt her. I guess I'm not that great of a judge of character.

I'm surprised when I hear a hearty laugh, and both Leanne and I look towards Kahlo, but I feel Leanne practically bristle beside me, as if she is expecting him to quip something cynical back at her.

"You're just like Salou." His mandibles flex in his laughter, a long finger lightly rubbing at the wound on his neck as he regards us.

"Salou?" I question.

"My youngest sister." He says, and I feel a flush of warmth in my chest. His family, of course he has a family…

I'm curious, "You have a sister?"

Kahlo dips his head, "I have three younger sisters. Salou, Wen, Rusa.

I hadn't thought about his family, much less him having three sisters. I wish I had a sister, or even a brother, but mom seemed content with just me. Of course, maybe that's all she could afford having. When I was a preteen I remember having to stay home by myself after school. Mom had to work until late at night, so I usually had to reheat soup or fast food from the night before to eat dinner, and later she would come in and kiss me in the middle of the night. I remember feeling guilty that I couldn't help her, even as a teenager, mom hadn't wanted me to work, she told me education was far more important.

I guess that's what influenced my work-a-holic attitude where it concerns school work, or my career in general. Ugh, I'm going to have so much work to catch up on once work starts up again.

"Big brother huh?" Leanne laughs, snapping me away from my thoughts, and I smile, glad the conversation has changed to something light, something endearing even, "Lace and I are sibling-less, but she's pretty much my sister." She nudges me playfully with her elbow, "We still haven't sworn off that genetic test thing, we're probably at least cousins."

"Yeah, if black hair runs in the family." I laugh, reflexively running some fingers through the crooked part in my hair. Everyone in my family has either been brunettes or raven haired. Mom's a woodsy brunette, while my hair is a black as a crow. I think it looks almost fake, my hair. It's dense black, not one a strand a separate hue.

I envy Leanne's hair, blonde hair is always so beautiful and bright. The only thing we share in common is our blue eyes, but mine are dark, dark enough that they could probably count as brown at a distance. I recall as a young child that other kids said I looked spooky, because they couldn't see the pupil in my eyes.

"Your mane." Kahlo speaks up, "Is hair as dark as yours rare?"

I feel a flush of warmth come into my cheeks, which happens when anyone talks about my appearance. I'm not sure if it's just the uncertainty of my self-esteem or just shyness. I dip my chin, the subject of his query falling past my ears to tickle my nose.

"My mom has brown hair, but hers is pretty dark." I smile at him, tucking the strands behind an ear with one switch of my finger, "Not common but not rare either, not really. I guess brunettes are most common, err, earth colored tones."

I don't notice, because it's a swift moment and I'm awakened to his touch by his fingers suddenly brushing my cheek, digits folding to cup some strands in his palm. I hold my breath, uncertain of how to react. His skin is marred with lines, an alien texture, yet still smooth mostly, sleek. I can feel long strands slip free from his hand to fall onto my neck as his hand retreats.

"Fascinating." He says, and I stare at him. He's looking at me, and suddenly we meet eyes and his mandibles tuck in, then flare out, as if he wants to say something more, but then he looks away. I frown, confused. Is he embarrassed?

No one says anything after that, but Leanne is looking at Kahlo, and I'm opening my mouth to break the silence when I'm interrupted by a great clattering at the door, which sounds like someone generously clapping the door-ring hard enough to dent the wood. Is the whole neighborhood planning on checking up on me today?

I sigh as I hop to my feet. Leanne gets up with me, but it's Kahlo who is already up and walking towards the door before we can even step forward, "Wait," I say quickly, moving to follow.

He stops and regards me with a turn of his shoulders, mandibles folding in on themselves, "It is my job to keep you secure, allow me to answer the call." He faces forward, his shoulders shifting as he flexes his neck, "This time I will be better prepared."

"Ok." I nervously step back, arms folded against my chest, as I watch him move towards the door. I'm nervous, I mean, a sangheili, an alien, is about to answer the door, in a predominately human neighborhood.

Oh damn. I remember something very bad about that.

I can hear the door open and Kahlo's voice, and not soon after something akin to a very unmanly scream of surprise. Of course…

I know that sound. That pitchy, yet somehow masculine voice, that always sounds on the border of extreme disdain.

"I'm calling the authorities!"

I duck under Kahlo's arm and soon I'm pressing up against his hip with my rear, forcing a smile on my face that probably looks just as uneasy and un-confident as I feel, "Mr. Gregory! Hi!"

The small man looks up at me with a dark look on his pinched face. He's short, but stout, with a very pink head barely covered by heavily oiled brown hair that appears to be falling out faster than it's growing. He practically spits at me as he continues ranting.

"Ms. Drake, this cannot stand, will not stand, what is this alien doing in the building?"

I flinch about the same time as Kahlo releases a sound that sounds animalistic in its fury, mandibles flaring, revealing rows of very sharp teeth, "Your tone it's of blatant disrespect. You would do well to rethink your dialogue human." Kahlo practically hisses in his fury, and I step aside as spittle flies free from his maw.

The man makes a scared sound, almost falling backwards off the stoop, and I quickly step forward, past a vehement sangheili, who has both of his large hands folded into fists.

"Mr. Gregory, please! He is a government agent." I say quickly, practically blabbering, hoping I sound at least coherent enough for the man to listen and not freak out and call out the authorities…

Or kick me out of the building. I really can't afford for that to happen right now. Or ever.

"What?" His voice is still fearful, but also has a bite of incredulity.

I continue, "He's my security, he was hired, uh, to protect me! To protect the building!" That should help, I mean, I pretty much guaranteed the preservation of this establishment, so hopefully that is enough, and who wants to challenge the government?

Oh please don't kick me out, it's really hard to find a good place in the city…

"If you've gotten involved with drugs or criminals then you better explain yourself, I won't have you endangering my property with any foolishness."

"You." The sangheili's voice is a sudden presence and I shiver as a chill runs down my neck in response to the coolness of his voice, "You dare taint Lacey's name with your groundless accusations?" He steps past me, and I'm forced out of the doorway to wait behind his frame. He seems taller and I timidly hide in his shadow.

He continues, "You are a small man, with a large mouth." The sangheili makes a snarling sound and I imagine his jaws are open fully displaying the curved yellow fangs lining his mandibles, "You dare dirty my charge's name with your babbling nonsense? I will not take any more trespasses, human. Speak carefully with what you say next or I'll cut out your tongue!"

Oh no, oh shit, oh fu—he just totally threatened him… Can he do that? I'm going to have to search for a new leaser...why is it so hard to find a place to rent in the city?

I'm going to have to move back home with mom at this rate.

I can hear Leanne whoop behind me, "You tell him!"

Oh sweet—

Kahlo continues, "I work for a government agency that ensures the safety of its citizenry, and Lacey is my charge, if you have any problems with my presence, you can take them up with me, understood?" He flares those four mandibles open in something that feels almost like a smile, but it's a chilling one, his sharp teeth shining under the light.

I think Mr. Gregory gets it, and blabs out nonsensical words, throws something that sounds almost like an apology to me, and practically dashes down the steps and towards his car parked along the curb. We all watch wordlessly, except Leanne who I can hear laughing insanely behind us, as he races down the street, nearing running headfirst into another car whose horn blares loudly.

Leanne, still laughing, pops around Kahlo's side and throws an arm around my neck, "Wow, you really know how to pick them Lacey, can I borrow him? There's this little sleaze who won't get off my ass at the grocery store, maybe I can sic Kahlo on him."

"Sleaze?" Kahlo looks down at Leanne, his brown eyes widening slightly with something that looks like concern.

Leanne makes a face, looking disgusted, "Just this slight of a man who wants to get in my panties. A pervert." Classy Leanne.

I close the door and turn to see Kahlo following Leanne who is moving to take a seat on the sofa.

"Do you believe me poses a danger to you?" Kahlo stares intently at Leanne, who he is standing over her, arms crossed, "It is not enough for me to challenge him for infringing on your honor, although I would be pleasured to deal him pain for his impudence."

Leanne smiles, and I sigh as I move to sit by her, "As much as I'd like to see you beat him into a pulp, I think he's harmless…just annoying."

I'm not surprised Leanne has that kind of trouble, she's very pretty. I don't think that means she gets the best in any relationship though, she easily can get a boyfriend, but they don't last very long. Leanne once told me she thought that this fish bowl was steadily running dry, and that all the good men were either off planet, dead, gay, or aliens.

I could believe the last part. Nobody was quite like our sangheili. At this thought I watch Kahlo as he continues to converse with Leanne, saying something akin to 'assisting her readily if she believes herself to be in any sort of danger.' I watch his mandibles as they gracefully fold and part with each word that escapes his mouth, and the way his large dark almond shaped eyes reflect the light on the ceiling. I can see a little bit of a reptilian arc of his pupil in those dark depths…he's fascinating really.

I hear talking, and I blink quickly feeling a warmth come into my cheeks as I look to Leanne, "What?" And now back to reality.
I know I'm in trouble when Leanne quirks her rosy lips in an almost mischievous smile, "What are you thinking about Lacey? You were staring at Kahlo so long I thought his skin was going to catch fire." W-What? What does that even mean?

I feel my face redden, and press a palm against my mouth as Kahlo faces me squarely, "Is something wrong?" He asks, and I stammer under my hand.

Leanne laughs, "It's nothing Kahlo, don't worry about it." She meets my gaze head on, blue eyes shining with mirth, and I scowl back at her.

That's silly. I mean, that probably wouldn't even work, he's like so big. Okay—changing the subject. Leanne continues laughing as my face gets redder while Kahlo just continues asking what is wrong with my face.

This has been a long day.

00oo00oo00oo00

"Okay, since we're grounded from work—with pay." Leanne does a little dance, with a twist of her hips, hand and batter covered spoon in the air, "Seriously, this is a vacation, let's enjoy it as much as possible! Ugh, wow, I could get used to this!"

An hour later and we somehow found ourselves in the kitchen with my overly excited colleague throwing boxes and kitchen ware around in abandon. A spatula clattered on the countertop along with the flour sifter, "Frowns need sweets, to bring the smiles out. Eventually we'll get cavities, but for now, let's just live it up."

Leanne had determined that the best way to make up for her earlier intrusion, breakage of vase, and the situation of them being off work in general, was to make lots of sweets.

And Leanne is seriously good at cooking, especially the sweeter things. I made a promise to never tell, but she used to like cooking as an outlet. Unlike my mom who worked hard and wasn't shy in her love of me, Leanne's mom wasn't nice.

She was a drunk and a mean, selfish sort of woman, and had often left Leanne to her own devices, which meant scrounging in the cabinets for a bite to eat, and Leanne told me of her common visits to the kindly old woman next door for company, and eventual guidance. Leanne had fortunately busied herself with more positive distractions and had learned how to cook a variety of foods, gotten a job to support herself, and had eventually earned a scholarship through her work and graduated from college.

She's a good strong friend, and I'm both happy and proud to know her. Especially right now, with the scent of chocolate chip cookies drifting across the kitchen from the first patch in the oven. Ugh, I think heaven must smell like cookies. It should…

After an hour in the kitchen we sat around the dining room table, my seat on the other side with Leanne, as Kahlo requires more leg room. He looks silly on the too small metal stool, and I can see how he Is leaning forward a bit, distributing some of the weight onto his toes, trying to preserve the seat under his bulk. He glances a bit under him as the stool creaks under his weight and I hide a smile as I move to open the stove for Leanne who has oven mitts on and ready to collect them.

Once they're cool enough to snatch, I don't hesitate to reach for one of the chocolate cookies at the center of the table on a large blue serving plate that, humorously enough, had been given to me along with the vase Leanne broke by my mother.

I slide a cookie into my mouth, and bite down, nuts cracking under my teeth crisply, crumbs slipping down my lips, and chocolate practically oozing onto my tongue. I moan out loud, and I'm feeling embarrassed again as Kahlo stares at me, probably wondering how a food item could make me sound like I'm orgasming. Ok, but seriously, Leanne makes some amazing cookies.

"You know." Leanne's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, "You could always stay with me, and we could be roomies? Just you, me…and Kyle." I didn't miss the wry grin that Leanne flashed at the sangheili who looked a bit slack jawed at her audacity.

"Kahlo." He said firmly, and he presses his mandibles against his mouth. He looks stern. Also kind of scary, because he is pretty big, his shoulders are wider than my table almost. I realize then just how small the table is, and that it's decked in a flower print table cloth. I feel myself giggle. It's stupid, I know…but the armored sangheili warrior, floral print. Cookies.

We stare at him for a long time, at the total seriousness of his expression, and I'm not sure if it's the sugar, or just this shared craziness, but we start breaking into laughter.

I clap a hand over my mouth as cookie crumbs fly free, but I'm still snickering, and Leanne has her head planted on the table, shoulders shaking.

Kahlo stares at us as if we both had suddenly mutated and attached to each other to form one big ball of crazy, "What is so amusing?"

We can't stop laughing, and I see tears spring to Leanne's eyes as she jumps up from the table and leans against the counter, shoulders shaking in laughter. I lay my head on the table, trying to catch my breath.

Eventually we quiet, both of us breathing hard, working to wipe the wetness from our eyes. Kahlo is standing now, towering over the both of us.

"Are you ill?" He asks.

Leanne splutters with laughter again and I smile apologetically at Kahlo who is now looking quite severe in her direction, "Is there no cure for your insanity?" He asks.

He doesn't get an answer, and Leanne quickly flees the kitchen, snorting with renewed laughter as she makes her retreat.

I grab the tray of cookies as Kahlo turns to me, mandibles flared open as if he is prepared to ask another question. I just smile and hold up the tray, "Cookie?"

I'm sorry this has taken so so long to get out. Honestly I've been really busy and just today managed to finish editing his chapter. I hope it has enough content to satisfy you guys. I tried my best for the time being. Let me know what you think. Thanks for being patient with me, hope you guys are having a lovely Spring so far.

Anyone else looking forward to Mass Effect? I wish we had a romance option that looked like a sangheili, now that would be hot. ;3