Author's Note
Censored version, exclusive for ffnet.
Find the full chapter here: archivofourownDOTorg /works/4939165/chapters/13064560
"Now, that was odd." Her eyes wide, Amalthea looked after them, and took a sip from her glass. Meyrani was looking over her shoulder until Arek and Mojo had disappeared, and turned back to her closed laptop. Barat was still standing, still gasping for air and at loss what to say.
"I'm sorry, Barat." Amalthea and the drell would never be firm friends, but she acknowledged his skill as an infiltrator. Also, to see this usually so confident man so befuddled and disappointed stirred her sympathy. "These two have still to sort some things out between them. But I'm sure Arek will get back to you once he has time. Do you want to sit down?" She was relieved when he shook his head; while inviting him to join them was the polite thing to do she couldn't imagine that an evening listening to him would have been very pleasing. Meyrani, too, had slightly shaken her head, her mouth forming a silent 'no' at Amalthea's suggestion.
"I'm grateful for your kindness, and as lovely as you ladies are, charming conversation and sweet drinks don't fill an empty stomach well. If you excuse me?"
Of course they excused him, as gracefully as they could, well aware and not caring at all that they could never rival his courteous act. Both women sighed when he was finally out of earshot.
"It's bad enough to share a room with him," Meyrani said, showing her teeth. "He talks and talks and talks. I swear, if he hadn't left I would have thrown all dignity aside and pretended to faint!" Amalthea laughed at the passionate declaration; it was more amusing as it came from the usually so collected young turian.
"So, what about us now, after three guys deserted us? Getting drunk?" She pointed at Meyrani's still full bottle. "You haven't even touched yours yet."
"I know, and it's just water anyway. But sure, why not. Give me a few minutes, I have to write a quick mail." She opened the laptop, waited for the screen to pop up, and began to type. Amalthea watched her face, sure she caught her smiling.
"Updating your source, right? Seems to be a nice fellow, judging by that smirk of yours." She pointed a finger at her, winking while she spoke with pretended shock. "Meyrani, if I didn't know better, I'd accuse you of flirting!"
"You're right with everything you've said. It's my source, he's charming, and you better believe that I'm enjoying a few flirty words here and there."
"Rani, but what's with Sellrin?! I thought you two were serious!"
"We are. But you know how Salarians are, and there are some things he cannot give me." She sighed and looked up from her laptop. "He's wonderful, and he said his brain, his heart and his hand to hold are mine. But for everything else… Do you have any idea how this is? Being with a great man like him, but never doing more than holding hands? By the spirits, it drives me crazy when Mojo undresses in our quarter, and more than once I was so close to hit on Arek! And I don't even know how a human's dick is like!" She ended her passionate speech with a groan, and fell back against the back of her seat, giving a growl of frustration.
"Meyrani! You sound like a horny teenager!" she scolded with pretended shock.
"I AM a horny teenager!"
"You… are right!" Amalthea chuckled, but put on a straight face. The meaning of the words hadn't caught her off-guard, but that they came from Meyrani, who was their squad's prime example of calmness and tactful reserve. that the broke out of her as though they had been boiling inside of her for some time was an unexpected change, but showed how young she still was, and what a good actress most of the time. Remembering her early maiden years very well, Amalthea saw the dilemma of the young woman. There wasn't much she could do except expressing her sympathy, and listening with amused delight. "I'm sorry. I've never been in a similar situation, I can only imagine it's not always easy. But flirting with others? I'm not sure if that's the solution."
"You see, sex isn't more than a body function to reproduce to him," she explained flatly, scratching the side of her head, where the fringe ended. "He doesn't connect it with romantic feelings and comradeship. He said, if I need it and do it with another man, he'd feel about it like I was shaking hands, or sparring."
"Makes sense." The concept of a whole race that was indifferent to the pleasures and emotional connections physical love could bring was still foreign to her, but it worked for the salarian while offering a solution for a sexual partner. "So, why don't you just do it? I mean, you're pretty and smart. I'm sure you'd find a man just for sex without a problem."
"Of course I would, but the problem is that I'm a horny teenager with morals. I want to care for the whole package, not just a dick." She had returned to her email. There was something grim about how her mandibles moved as she stared at the screen with narrowed eyes. "Don't misunderstand me, I don't mind what others do, but it's just not my thing." With a sigh, she finished the mail and sent it. She closed the laptop, and picked up her water.
"That's good, for a second I feared you're looking down on our frivolous biotic."
"Not at all! As long as Arek doesn't hurt anyone, I don't care with whom or how many he sleeps. Well, I admit that I'm maybe a little jealous that he can enjoy himself so freely." She smiled, and put down her water after hardly drinking any. "Didn't you say something about getting drunk?"
"So drunk until we can't stand anymore. And, young lady, if you want," Amalthea offered her a hand to help her up, "You can flirt with me all the way you want." They were both laughing as they walked to the bar, Meyrani holding her laptop under her arm, Amalthea patting her friend's back.
x x x
Mojo was dragging Arek through the corridor, blind to the people they encountered, and to the questioning looks he was getting. They were standing in the elevator, the doors had just close, when he let go of Arek's arm.
"Boy, it's impressive what strength only three fingers have." Arek rubbed his arm, grinning at the turian.
"Sorry."
"I'm hearing that a lot from you these day - or rather, this day. If you keep it up I'm getting used to it." He was joking, but Mojo didn't pay any attention to his words. He was staring at the panel with the deck names. After a second of hesitation, he selected one of the upper decks.
"Where are we going?" Arek tried again. A hint of unease tinted his easy-going voice when he didn't receive an answer. Mojo looked down at him, studying the pale face with the lively green eyes. Now he had done it. For one moment, he had stopped thinking and brought himself into this grotesque situation. He could continue to beat around the bush, but if he did, matters would become worse.
"Are you still serious about your suggestion? The one you made in that office?" There, that wasn't that difficult. Whatever had gotten into him when he saw Barat touching this human, it still hadn't left him. Maybe it had just been too long since the last time he had been with a human, that would explain a few of the things that were shooting through his mind since the moment he had let go of his prejudiced grudge against Arek.
"What - oh!" The sudden smile on Arek's face was reassuring, and a lot better than being laughed at, as Mojo had feared for a moment. He froze when Arek took a step forward and raised his hand. The delicate, slim fingers glided along the turian's throat. The other hand glided down his waist and rested on his hip.
"Sure. Wouldn't say something like that if I didn't mean it." He reached for Mojo's face, but he turned his head away. "Nervous? Hey, it's just about a little fun. Turning negative energy into positive, remember?"
"I remember, and I'm not nervous." The elevator saved him from explaining his thoughts to Arek and to himself. He shoved Arek's hands away and walked outside. "Come."
"Where are we going," Arek repeated the question. They were in the part of the deck that was called the 'office wing' by most of the crew. Working here, or being called here, was boring to most people on board. The more interesting things happened on the engine or cargo deck, the labs and of course the training and leisure time facilities. Even navigation was more exciting, although the working shift was rarely up for a conversation.
They were walking past a large office, the only one they caught voices from behind the closed door, and the only one that was occupied 24 hours a day. It was one of the administrative office that handled incoming and outgoing paperwork, reports, orders. Otherwise, this part of the ship was empty, with nobody present to wonder what business a turian had to do here, hurrying through the corridor, followed by a human who had to pay attention to keep up.
"Wait, isn't that…" Arek caught his breath when they walked down another intersection that led to only one single door.
"Hackett's office. Stay over there." He activated his omni-tool, typing blindly while he stared at the camera at the upper corner across the door. A moment later, a small light flickered, and turned back to green. "It will loop the recordings of the last few hours. Got that trick from the kid. You'd think she's the one who lived on Omega for years. There, the door's open."
They sneaked into the office. It felt larger and more empty without the presence of the Admiral. The few furniture were spotless, and no book or folder was out of order. The simple, dark desk was empty, and the office chair behind it looked forlorn and deserted with its polished leather, as though it had been used before. Mojo looked around, checking the place for more cameras, but as it seemed, the admiral valued his privacy during his rare visits on this ship. Good, if there was anything good about the situation he had brought himself into. Arek chuckled behind him.
"Did we just break into the Admiral's office to fuck? Dammit, Mojo, that's gold!"
He cringed at the choice of words, but Arek was spot-on, and it was funny. A fraction of his sense of humor sparked up, and he calmed down a little.
"Are you really sure about this?" He turned towards the human, the grin leaving now doubt about the answer. For Arek, this was less about sex, but all the more about curiosity.
"Maybe I should ask you that question." Arek closed the distance between them. Mojo shrugged, remaining silent when Arek reached for his face, the fingertips touching his mandible so lightly he hardly felt it through the plating. The hand wandered down, over the turian's chest, but hesitated. As a nervous twitch weakened Arek's grin, Mojo felt himself relax.
"I'm… a little lost here. How do I, you know, touch you the good way?" There was a genuine look of helplessness in the human's face that was touching. That was the moment something of Mojo's inner defense broke, as he finally was able to grasp that he had been in the wrong before, beyond just knowing it. That had led him here, standing in front of a human whose skin looked so soft and whose unusual hair he wanted to touch.
"So, I guess you haven't found much time for some… research?" he couldn't help teasing. Arek tensed, his eyes following Mojo's hand as it came closer to his face. The talon of one finger touched the blushed cheek, and moved along the throat, careful not to hurt the white skin.
"Eh, I guess I haven't. I'm sorry. You won't rip me to pieces because of that, will you?" he laughed, but Mojo noticed the hint of nervousness.
"Looks like you have to trust me here." He chuckled as he let his fingers glide over Arek's neck, and finally, through his hair. It was soft, and smoothed and Mojo wished it was longer. He felt how Arek shuddered when the rough skin of his fingers moved back to the human's neck.
"Well, sounds like that settles the question who takes it." The jest was back to Arek's laugh, as he relaxed under the turian's touch.
"That was never up for discussion." Mojo grabbed Arek's neck and took a step forward, pushing the human back until he hit the wall behind him. He leaned closer, slowly breathing against Arek's ear.
"If you're up to the challenge," he whispered, letting the flanging in his voice linger. Once Arek nodded, he moved down, his teeth grazing along the slender throat. Arek tilted his head, exposing more skin. Mojo was tempted to bite, but didn't dare to leave marks. Instead, his tongue liked along the curve, warm and rough against the softness. He breathed against the thin, moist trail, growling when Arek shuddered.
This part could be filled with smut if the rules allowed it ~
They stood in silence, waiting for their breath and their hearts to slow down.
"Don't get a wrong idea, we're still not friends." Mojo recovered his voice as soon as his mind began to work again. He let go of Arek, looking around.
"Aren't you romantic. Hey, what are you doing?" Arek's chuckle broke off when Mojo reached for his foot and lifted it enough from the floor to pull of the sock.
"Teamwork. I do the work, you provide the materials." He wiped Arek's back clean from the result of his climax. The scratches were burning red from sweat and the friction between the bare back and Mojo's shirt, and the hard chest beneath. A bruise was already taken shape where his sternum had pressed into the skin, right beside the spine.
"I'm sorry." His fingers lingered above the marks as he apologized for them, and for his helpless struggle to cover his insecurity of what to say with his usual rude ways, turning them into the act of pretense he didn't want them to be. He threw the soiled sock to the floor, took a few steps back and pulled up his pants.
"Come on, shut up about that already. A good fuck is worth a few bruises. God damn…" With a groan, Arek lost the strength in his legs, he collapsed against the wall, gliding down to his knees.
"What's wrong?" In honest alarm Mojo knelt down by his side. Dammit, if he had pulled out too late, if Arek showed an allergic reaction, or even went in shock… Could there be a reaction from his semen because of the scratches?
"It's my legs. Guess that's what the doc meant when he said I shouldn't overexercise my muscles for at least a day."
Mojo looked at Arek's upper legs. The dragoon's whip had left two deep cuts that had been closed by the doctor, but the scars and the skin around them glowed with an alarming red. He had forgotten about his own injuries, intuitively choosing a position that didn't hurt him, smart and selfish as he was, and Arek's wounds had slipped his mind. His eyes searched the floor, and he picked up the tube with the medical lotion.
"Here, there's still some left." He pushed it into Arek's hands. Then, after a short moment of hesitation, he shoved his arms under Arek's knees and around his back, and lifted him up. He was light in his arms, and through his own clothes, Mojo felt he naked body shivering.
"What…?" Arek looked up at him in confusion. Mojo refused to answer, or to look back at him. He walked over and around the desk, and gave the office chair a little kick to turn it around.
"Take a rest," he muttered, lowering Arek into the chair. Then, he walked back to fetch Arek's clothes, bundled them up and put them on the desk, propping Arek's feet on top of them. Finally, he pulled the second sock from Arek's other foot.
"Wow, Mojo, that's actually-"
"Put that stuff were the doc told you to put it. If it doesn't get better, see him. Spirits, you left a bit of a mess here. Imagine Hackett decides to visit later." He laughed as he cleaned the wall and the carpet as good as he could with the sock, and tossed it to Arek's shoes once he was done. To his relief, Arek didn't say another word, but he sensed that he was watched with those bright green eyes, and, worse, probably with a grin on the face.
"I know this was just sex and nothing sweet and schmaltzy. I prefer it that way anyway, as you might know," Arek said after Mojo returned to him. "It was damn good, and I want to do it again sooner or later. What do you think?"
Mojo sat down on the desk, crossing his arms and stretching his long legs. He glanced at the cuts, certain that he had been right earlier this day when he assumed an infection. He should insist that Arek checked with the doctor, just to be safe.
"Sure, why not," was all what he said in the end. The human's well-being wasn't his concern, unless while they were sleeping with each other. A hint of doubt nagged on his mind, if it really was a good idea to agree to a sexual relationship with Arek. Sure, he didn't need an emotional bound to enjoy himself once in a while, and yes, it had been good. Yet, something in him warned him to stay away from him, to leave now before any other word was said, to forget about all this and to go back to his every day business.
"I guess that's kind of a stupid question, but you've been with humans before, right?" Arek shook his head with a smile when Mojo only chuckled. "Obviously. Would never have thought you were into humans, not after how you've treated me all the time."
"That had nothing to do with you being a human."
"Just with you thinking I was an asshole." Arek dismissed that old debate with a wave of his hand. "I'm surprised how different you were while, you know. Damn, now even I have a problem to just say 'while you fucked me with that hot cock of yours'." He laughed, and stretched his arms and back in the comfortable chair, avoiding to move or tense up his legs more than necessary. "Guess I saw - or better, felt your true self, eh?"
The smile vanished from Mojo's face and from his mind, his shoulders stiffened at Arek's words. That was what he got for staying - stupid talk that smashed all the wrong buttons. Well, whatever illusion Mojo had entertained about Arek since they closed the office door behind them, it shattered and returned him to the world as it was.
"It's called facets. Just because I behave differently when I sleep with someone it doesn't mean the way I am during a mission or, you know, when not having sex, isn't true. It means not having a one dimensional personality, understand? Nah, of course you don't get it. I'm done wasting my time here." He pushed himself from the desk and turned away. He had caught the hurt looked on Arek's face and didn't want to care.
"It's better when we don't sneak out here together. Make sure to put the chair back where it was and close the door when you leave." Fuck this. This wasn't the outcome he had wanted or hoped for, hell, he didn't want to hope for anything in the first place. It was just… Mojo had thought he had known better, of course a guy like Arek would only understand what or who was like himself. Of course Mojo had to expect that, if he didn't keep his distance, Arek would take that as an invitation to somehow squeeze Mojo into his narrowed view of the world, accepting no other explanations or ways that didn't mirror his ideas. What surprised him was how the fact hurt him when he had been so sure that he didn't care. This wasn't good, that wasn't good at all. He had to get out of here.
"Mojo, wait! What did I… Hey! That's not fair!" Arek called after him, but Mojo walked through the door and closed it behind him. So what if it wasn't fair, that was life, it rarely was fair. He straightened his clothes and headed for the elevator.