Coffee & Cigarettes – When Xora Met Lyrik

I was reassigned to the Department of Internal Naval Affairs to help recover from the injury I received from the Blitz. I was only in my new position for a few months before I was sent to the Citadel for an investigation on a Lieutenant selling classified Alliance vessel blueprints. Since I had never been to the Citadel before, it was so easy to get captivated by the sheer size of it. It was also easy to get in trouble there too.

Needless to say, I accidentally overstepped my boundaries at the Financial District. My actions caught the eyes of a certain C-Sec officer, a turian named Lyrik. He pulled me aside and immediately began scolding me. He was saying how all Alliance soldiers were the same and that we should all just go back to Earth. Anytime a human showed up on the Citadel, we apparently only caused him more grief. He actually called humans cockroaches who wanted to dominate everything they could get a hold of. Then he mentioned his seniority over me and calling me a FNG (fucking new guy).

First, I have an issue when people confront me… secondly, don't called me a FNG when I still have a wound fresh from the battlefield of the Blitz… and thirdly, an INA official outranks any Citadel Security officer. So yeah, I snapped and began yelling back. Our voices were actually becoming so loud that a crowd of people surrounded us to see the commotion. He made me so furious that my blood was boiling. Even my body was trembling in anger. I was fighting every urge to take my aggression out on him physically. Every word that came out of his mouth made me want to slug him even more.

Our argument kept going in circles, going back and forth and going nowhere. So I did something incredibly stupid… I punched a turian… directly into his chest… I learned very quickly about their tough plating. I hit him so hard that I actually fractured my knuckles.

Just your luck, Xora, you still haven't fully recovered from your previous injury and you are already getting another!

I immediately started cursing from the pain, clasping at my hand. Hoping that my obscene words would deter the ache… it didn't. Some of the people in the crowd laughed at me, bastards… the other spectators had a shocked expression on their faces, probably from hearing my expletives. Surprisingly, the turian I just punched didn't fight back. Instead he did something unexpected, his entire attitude changed. Lyrik actually became concerned about my wellbeing and tried to comfort me. He wouldn't stop apologizing. Every single sentence he said started with, "I'm so sorry." It was annoying.

Since he felt responsible for my brawler's fracture, he offered to take me to the medical clinic. I refused, telling him that I could handle it, and walked off. (More like stormed off, pushing out everyone in my way.) I just wanted to escape the entire situation. All I could think about was the lecture I would be receiving from my supervisors. Everything got out of control and this was only my first assignment on the Citadel!

The first thing I did when I got back to my hotel room was to tend to my injury. Once my hand was bandaged, I took off the jacket of my uniform and headed to the lounge chair in the corner of my room. I just wanted to put ice on this stupid wound, drink whatever I could find within arms reach, and try to forget this day.

As soon as I sat down, there was a knock on the door. I thought it was the hotel staff telling me to leave but it was Lyrik. Before he could speak, I shut the door. He started knocking on the door again. I thought about just leaving it closed and hoping he would get the message. But a little voice in my head told me otherwise. I let out a long sigh and reopened the door.

"Hey."

I didn't reply… I just stared at him with very cold eyes.

"I feel really bad."

I still didn't reply.

"Can I please just take you to the medical clinic?"

"As you can see, I already took care of it," I said showing him my bandaged knuckles.

"At least let me make it up to you."

He was obviously desperate. His head hung low, he was fumbling with his hands, even his voice sounded despairing, "Please? I won't leave until you let me. Can I just come in and talk?"

"Look, what's done is done and we should leave it at that. You really should leave me alone."

"No! I know I won't be able to deal with myself if you don't let me do something. I'll do anything…"

I was about to close the door but something in his green eyes begged me to change my verdict. My emotions were conflicting, part of me wanted him gone but the other demanded I give him a chance.

"Anything," he repeated.

"Fine," I gave in, shaking my head in disgust. "Get me coffee."

"Coffee?"

"A grande mocha, soy milk, no whipped cream, one shot vanilla, seven pumps chocolate. If you can get me that, we'll talk."

"Is there a place on the Citadel that does that?"

"I don't know. I'm not from around here, obviously."

"That's it? That's all you want?"

"Take it or leave it."

"Okay, I'll be back. I promise."

After closing the door, I headed back to the chair and sat down. I figured that would be the last I would see of him. The only place I have been able to order that style of mocha is on Earth, even Terra Nova didn't have a coffee shop that could do it successfully. I could never understand why. Everything seemed universal… alcohol, cigarettes, you would think coffee would too. Apparently everyone likes it black or with cream/sugar, yuck. Maybe since the Citadel is so vast there is a possibility that he might find a place that does… but would he even remember how I like it. If he actually succeeds, not only will I be shocked but I will hold my end of the bargain and have this "talk" with him.

About an hour later, Lyrik was at my door holding two cups. He handed me one and invited himself into my hotel room. From the moment he passed the doorframe, he wouldn't shut up. I went back to my chair and Lyrik sat down on the opposite side of the table. I'm not going to lie… I ignored everything he was saying, mostly because he was repeating himself. I figured I would just have to endure listening to him and once he had his fill he would leave me alone.

After a few sips, I took one of my vanilla cigarettes from the pack on the table. I attempted to light it but my bandaged hand was making it very difficult. In one smooth move, Lyrik took out his own lighter and held the flame in front of my cigarette. I gave him a puzzled look as I puffed in the smoke.

Why the hell does he have a lighter? I'm over thinking this. Just about everyone has a lighter in their pocket, even non-smokers. Come on, Xora, at least thank him.

"Thank you."

"She finally speaks!"

"I could go back to being silent."

"That would make having a conversation difficult."

"Indeed it would," I said before taking another sip of my coffee.

"So your name is Xora Patrone?"

I froze… "How the hell did you figure that out?"

"It was on the uniform you were wearing earlier."

Thanks. Now I feel stupid. Maybe he has a name tag on or some sort of identification… Nope. Damn.

"You have me at a disadvantage."

"I'm Lyrik Castius."

"That's quite a name."

"So is yours."

"True."

He dug into his pockets and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

He's a smoker? Turians smoke?

He noticed my confused look as he lit one up and asked, "What? Never seen a turian smoke before?"

"No, can't say I ever have. But in all fairness, I haven't spent a lot of time around turians."

"Well, not many of us smoke. They find it too distracting."

"It's still… odd. That's a human vice."

"So?"

"I guess I still have so much to learn."

"You really aren't from around here," he leaned forward and flicked the ash into the tray, "So where are you from?"

"Officially or currently?"

"Whatever you are willing to share."

"Well, I was born on Earth, spent most of my time between there and Terra Nova. Joined the Alliance at 18 and have been living on their stations ever since. As of right now, this hotel room is home."

"That explains a lot. Have you even talked to someone who wasn't human?"

"Like had a conversation? I can't say that I have. Most of the aliens I met were at the other end of my barrel or under some sort of interrogation." Since he gave me a concerned look, I added, "I fought in the Blitz."

"Oh."

"I know there were a few asari families in my neighborhood in Scott, never really talked to them though. Apart from that, I would have to say that you are first one that I actually ever had a conversation with."

"Quite the first at that."

"Thanks for reminding me," I said showing him my bandaged knuckles again.

"Again, I am so sorry."

"I'll get over it."

"I hope the coffee helps."

"It is," I sighed and took another sip from the grande cup. It was perfection. Every detail of my mocha was right. With the addition of my vanilla flavored cigarettes, the harmonious blending of the two was making every ache go away. "Nothing beats coffee and cigarettes."

"I agree."

"I'm actually surprised you were able to get me this."

"Why?"

"The only place I have been able to have my perfect concoction is on Earth."

"Welcome to the Citadel, we pretty much have everything here. Granted, it did take me some time to find a place that would make it the way you specified. But I did find one."

"You have no idea how comforting this is," enjoying my weakness, "This isn't fair."

"What?"

"You now know my Achilles heel and I don't know yours."

"I think it's pretty obvious."

"I'm dense… you're going to have to tell me."

"I want to spend time with you. If all I have to do is bring you coffee, I think it's a fair exchange."

"But you just met me… and we spent most of it clashing. You don't know me."

"True but there's something about you that makes me want to."

"You are very odd, Lyrik."

"And so are you."

I slumped over the side of my armrest and grabbed the backpack lying a few feet away. His eyes carefully watched me, curious to see what surprises I hid. I pulled out a bottle of coconut flavored rum and unscrewed the top.

"What are you doing?"

"Well… I'm injured and aching. I need my pain reliever," I popped the top off my coffee cup and poured a good 3 shots into the mocha.

"Right into the coffee?"

"Why not?"

"I've never seen anyone do that before."

"I find that difficult to believe."

"Really, I haven't. Maybe I should try it."

I pushed the liquor bottle towards him and he refused, "Its okay, I have my own."

He pulled out a flask hidden in his side leg pocket, unscrewed the top and poured the blue liquid into his coffee cup. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"What?"

"A flask? Really?"

"What's wrong with that?"

"You work with liquor in your pocket?"

"Yes."

"You're my kind of man… turian… oh you know what I mean."

He takes a sip, hesitantly. After letting the mixture settle down his throat, he looked at me as if I just told him he won the galactic lottery.

"This is amazing! How come I never thought of this before?"

"Maybe you were missing the right human touch."

"Possibly. How did you ever come up with this?"

"I don't know what exactly started it. All I can say is that it did help me tolerate some of my colleagues."

He laughed. I don't think I've ever heard a turian laugh before. I found the raspy sound and the way his mandible twitched intriguing. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was the fact that this was my first real encounter with a turian, either way I was enjoying his company. We spent the rest of the night talking about our scars, our jobs, and the battles we fought it in. I shared with him a bit of my past, not the entire details, and he replied with his. Our chat lasted all the way to midnight. When he noticed how tired I was getting, Lyrik said goodbye and quietly left.

I went to bed hoping I would see him again. In fact, I spent my entire day at work thinking about him. He left that much of an impression on me. When I came back to the hotel, I was delighted to see he was already there. He was waiting by the door holding two cups of coffee. From that moment on, I knew we would be the best of friends.