Despite what Nora might've thought, Kaidan didn't care for clubs or bars like Purgatory. Too many people, too much noise, too many bright, flashing lights that set his implant ablaze with migraines. He winced as they entered the club and he was instantly bombarded with pulsating bursts of light and deep, pounding bass that rattled his teeth and made his head throb. He paused for a moment just inside the door and pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes shut tightly to fight the oncoming migraine. Something that did not slip past Nora's notice.
She turned back to see that he was hesitating, and came to his side. He barely registered the touch of her hand to his arm. She squeezed and he looked down at her.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
Kaidan gestured to the implant scar behind his ear. "Too many lights, too much noise. L2's get migraines at the best of times and this isn't doing much to help."
"We can leave if you –"
Kaidan cut her off with a gesture of his hand because he had looked up and now someone they recognized was approaching. And Kaidan didn't took happy to see him. His jaw muscle twitched and his expression grew dark. Nora turned.
Vega was sauntering up to them, looking entirely too smug. "Hey, Lola." He said with a smirk as she turned to face him. He cast Kaidan a challenging glance, and then he drew Nora into his arms for a kiss that might have been a little longer than necessary. She didn't fight him. Kaidan forced himself to watch for as long as he could but then he finally had to look away. When Vega finally released her, Kaidan was scowling off into the distance, trying not to think. While he was distracted, Vega discreetly slipped two more packets of red sand into her pocket with a knowing smirk.
"What brings you here?" asked Vega, his arm around Nora's waist as he guided her away from Kaidan. Nora gave Kaidan an apologetic look as she allowed herself to be steered away from him. Kaidan's anger suddenly evaporated, and now he just felt tired and defeated. He trailed along after them, staring holes into the back of Vega's head and wondering if his biotics could carve through that thick skull.
"We're here to talk to someone." Nora had gently extricated herself from Vega's grasp as they approached the bar. She accepted the drink that Vega pushed into her hands, but didn't take a sip. A moment later she set it back down on the bar as casually as she could.
Idiot. She won't take any drinks she didn't make herself, thought Kaidan viciously. It occurred to him that he knew more about her than Vega, and that gave him some comfort. He stood just within of earshot of the pair, arms folded over his chest and leaned against a wall. His eyes were scanning the crowds, searching for potential threats. Every so often, he'd look back at them, before returning to his ever vigilant staring.
Vega pulled her closer with a sort of feral, lopsided grin and leaned down to kiss her neck. "How about you and I talk instead?" he said, and it was obvious from the waggle of his eyebrows that he didn't mean having a deep conversation. Nora laughed and tilted her head to the side to allow Vega's mouth better access. And then she caught sight of Kaidan's face. He was watching them, his jaw taut with restraint, and his eyebrows drawn tightly together in a dark scowl. But his eyes betrayed a hurt there that made Nora's heart clench painfully.
He looked away from them. Nora straightened a little and smiled at Vega, who didn't look pleased at being interrupted.
"Sorry, Vega. This is important."
"What, your shit with Harbinger? Give it up already, Lola. You are never gonna find the guy."
Nora scowled at Vega and punched him on the arm as hard as she could. He barely moved. "Shut the hell up! We will find him."
"Yeah, you and Mr. Sunshine over there?" Vega snorted. "Look at him, Lola. You've got him wrapped around your little finger, haven't you?"
Nora pushed herself away from Vega angrily. He grabbed her wrist roughly to stop her and drew her back to his chest. She struggled a little against him, but he was unyielding.
"Are you fucking him, too?" Vega's voice was low and threatening now, and his expression was dangerously calm. For the first time since they'd met, Nora was afraid of him. "Come on, Lola. How else you get a cabrón like him to follow you around like he does?" Nora looked away from him as he leered down at her. She tried to pull away from him, but Vega wasn't done with her yet.
He reached down to grope between her legs, hard enough to bruise. She cried out and began struggling in earnest to get away from him, but he had a vice-like grip on her waist and wouldn't let go.
"Hey!" came a snarling voice from behind them. And then Kaidan was there, furious, the blazing azure corona of biotics swirling around him menacingly. Several people nearby screamed and ran for the exit, while others on the upper levels were leaning over the railing to watch curiously. Kaidan shoved Vega backward with all his strength, his biotics giving an extra push, and stepped between him and Nora.
"You touch her again, and I will break your goddamn arm off."
Vega had stumbled a foot or two back, but quickly regained his footing. He rolled his massive shoulders and flashed an unkind smile at Nora, who was standing behind Kaidan's protective outstretched arm, nursing her bruised side and stomach.
"Now you get to watch me smear your little Spectre puta all over the walls, Lola."
"Just try it." Kaidan's voice was deceptively calm, but the fluttering of his biotics told a different story. Suddenly Vega didn't seem quite so confident. The look in Kaidan's eyes was almost animalistic with rage. Nora came up behind Kaidan tentatively and pressed a hand to his bicep gently. She said his name, softly, and squeezed his arm. He glanced to her, then back to Vega and lowered his arms hesitantly. The blue flare of his biotics flickered out of existence.
"Get out. And if I ever catch you near her again…"
Vega muttered something in Spanish viciously as he walked past Kaidan, scowling. He cast Nora a disgusted look with a shake of his head and left.
Kaidan didn't move for a long moment, save for the deep rise and fall of his chest with each breath, the flexing of his fingers. The crowd lost interest in the altercation quickly, and soon everyone was chattering and drinking and dancing again.
"Are you okay?" Kaidan didn't turn to look at her. His voice was strained.
"Just some bruising. I'll live."
Kaidan visibly relaxed a little and finally turned around. There was still rage in his eyes, burning brightly and ferociously, and she didn't want to admit to herself how much it frightened her. She touched his cheek gently and saw the fury melt away slowly, replaced with frustration, concern, confusion.
"Hey. I'm okay, Kaidan," she said, but he didn't look very reassured. Suddenly, his arms came around her waist and crushed her against his chest in an awkward, silent hug. To say she was taken by surprise was certainly an understatement. It was nice, though, to be enveloped by his strong arms and warmth, his chin resting along her temple. She pressed her forehead against his shoulder.
They stood there for a few seconds, her arms crushed beneath them, her hands curved at her throat and Kaidan's arms around her back, until he seemed to collect himself. He withdrew slowly with a clear of his throat.
"Um… Let's go see if your stripper friend is still here. Or maybe I scared her off and we can leave!" He seemed a little too hopeful.
She smiled beatifically at him. "Exotic dancer! Better mind your manners, I hear she has temper."
"Oh, great. You don't suppose she'd had a pistol stuffed up her –"
Nora cut him off to speak to a male dancer standing by the bar. "Excuse me, but can you tell me where I can find the Cheerleader?"
The dancer turned to her, arching a thick eyebrow curiously. He was a well-muscled man with dark brown skin, a buzz cut, a goatee and a mustache. He was wearing a pair of skin-tight leather slacks and boots. Nora could tell from one glance at his stomach that he did a lot of crunches in his spare time. Maybe even more than Kaidan.
"Why? Getting a dance for him?" The dancer jerked his head in Kaidan's direction. Kaidan sputtered indignantly, but Nora interrupted him.
"No, I need to speak to her. Please, can you tell me where she is?"
The dancer eyed Nora appreciatively and smiled. Nora had to admit it was a very nice smile. "I'll do you one better. Buy a dance from me and I'll show you where she is."
Kaidan was about to turn away in search of another employee, but then he saw that Nora wasn't following. She was standing there, finger on her chin as if she was seriously suggesting taking his offer. Kaidan glowered at her and she winked.
"Can you make it a quick dance?" asked Nora innocently, and Kaidan's head just about exploded.
"Nora!"
"What? I was just asking!"
The dancer was smirking between them, his arms folded over his chest. He chuckled and shook his head. "Forget it. Not worth getting punched out." He gestured for them to follow and started walking towards the employee's break rooms. They followed him through the door and entered the changing rooms for all the dancers. They were greeted with bare breasts and cocks, and Kaidan was so mortified he wanted to die right there.
Nora, however, seemed almost placid. She followed behind their escort until he led them to the back of the changing rooms. A slender woman with skin as white as milk was seated at a large mirror, pulling on a pair of strappy patent leather heels. She, at least, was wearing a deep maroon bikini, adorned with rhinestones. Kaidan opted to keep his gaze directed to the floor and nowhere else, just to be safe.
The dancer that had escorted them into the changing rooms gave them a little bow, gestured to the seated woman and left them.
The stripper known as the Cheerleader looked up at the pair of them expectantly.
"My name is Nora. I was the one that contacted you?"
"Ah, yes," said the woman, and she stood. She spoke with a distinct Australian accent, which was unusual In this day and age. "I do have what you're looking for, but it has a price." The Cheerleader leaned into her mirror and began applying makeup over her already perfect features.
"Name it."
The woman halted in her application of mascara and stared at Nora's reflection in her mirror.
"20,000 credits."
Nora glanced at Kaidan over her shoulder. Kaidan begrudgingly opened his omni-tool and began tapping away. When he finished, he nodded tersely at Nora.
"Done."
The Cheerleader's omni-tool flared to life on her wrist and she stared incredulously at the interface. Her gaze flicked uncertainly to Kaidan, who was staring resolutely at the floor with his hands locked behind his back.
"There's a woman, an asari, who can give you the information. She's hosting a gala tonight to celebrate her newest Prothean discovery."
Nora scowled at the other woman and folded her arms over her chest. "And how, exactly, is that worth 20,000 credits? That's been on the news for weeks."
"Because, idiot, I am giving you a ticket, with a plus-one attached."
"Oh." Nora's omni-tool flashed and she lifted it in sync with the Cheerleader. A screen came up and she stared at the little animated fireworks as they exploded across the interface.
"Congratulations!" squeaked the little voice, reading the words that scrolled across her screen. "You have been cordially invited to the Prothean Archaeology Gala, hosted by Doctor Liara T'Soni, of Serrice Academy!"
Kaidan had sidled up behind her to watch the invitation's animation play across her omni-tool. "Dr. T'Soni? I know her. There's always a big to-do at C-Sec when she comes to visit the Citadel." He suddenly sounded irritable and bitter. "Bailey always made me and Ash show up to her galas. Apparently it's good for C-Sec morale to have Spectres there."
The little voice on the invitation was continuing. "Please come to the ballroom on the Presidium tomorrow night with your plus-one and be dressed to impress! Black tie is required!"
"Oh no!" moaned Nora, and Kaidan looked down at her sharply, as if expecting her to burst into flame. "What am I going to wear?" He couldn't have rolled his eyes any harder.
The Cheerleader had finished dressing and applying her makeup by now. She gestured towards the door.
"A pleasure doing business with you, now I have to get out there, so if you don't mind…" And she walked past them. Nora couldn't help herself. She stared shamelessly at the woman's receding backside, her head tilted to one side. Kaidan took notice and gently smacked her arm with the back of his hand.
"Nora!"
"What! She has a really big ass! It's not as nice as yours, though," she said with a wink and sauntered from the dressing room.
Kaidan didn't think he could find anything else to say. There were no words. With a hot flush blooming across his neck, he followed her. As he always would.