"Commander…?"
His fingers parted so his emerald eyes peeked out at her, "Hm?"
Liara swallowed the momentary nervousness down and spoke, "Are you here to check up on me?"
Shepard's eyes closed once again before he ran his hands through his hair and stretched in his seat, making that small noise that comes with a good stretch.
The Spectre started to speak once he had settled back into his chair, "In a way… yeah… I was coming to check up on you… But when I got in here, you were already looking much better, so I decided I could put it off for just a bit to rest…" he shrugged, then he gave her a slightly concerned look, "How are you feeling?"
The asari smiled, "I appreciate your concern, but Doctor Chakwas assures me I will be fine. I am impressed by her knowledge of asarian physiology."
He smiled, and Liara couldn't help but smile back, "The good doctor is the best in the Alliance, you're in good hands..."
Liara hesitated for just a moment before she spoke again, "I... never properly thanked you for saving me from the geth Commander. If you hadn't shown up..." she trailed off, trying not to contemplate the thought.
Shepard shifted from his almost relaxed position to sit up in his chair, "I'm just glad we got there in time..."
She smiled warmly at him, "So am I."
That wasn't everything though, and she knew it, so the asari continued, "Commander, I know you took a chance bringing me on the Normandy. I've seen the way you crew looks at me. They don't trust me," her voice grew gradually more frantic as she spoke, though she remained quiet, "But I am not like Benezia, I will do whatever I can to help you stop Saren. I promise."
The Commander gave her a warm, if small smile, "I know you will Liara, don't worry… I trust you."
"It means a lot to hear you say that Commander," her voice showed her appreciation, "Thank you."
Shepard's eyes widened almost imperceptibly as Liara smiled appreciatively at him, and he could feel a small pang in his heart, a little desire to see that smile again, and to know more about this curious young asari.
After a moment, he decided to give in to that desire, "Why don't you tell me about yourself Liara?"
She was surprised and almost disbelieving, and it showed on her face and in her voice, "Me? I am afraid I'm not very interesting Commander. I spend most of my time on remote digs, unearthing mundane items buried in long forgotten Prothean ruins…"
"Sounds dangerous…" he then added as an afterthought, "And lonely…"
The asari almost happily launched into an explanation, "Sometimes I would run afoul of indeginous life forms, or stumble across a small band of mercenaries or privateers," at the slight concern on his face shed added, "But I was always careful."
"Until the geth followed me to Artemis Tau, I never found myself in a situation my biotics could not handle…"
"As for the solitude…" her voice trailed off for a moment and she looked away, slightly embarrassed, "Well… that was one aspect that most appealed to me. Sometimes, I just need to get away from other people…"
He gave her a very curious look at that, "You don't like other people?"
"I suppose it comes with being a matriarchs daughter... People expected me to follow in her footsteps. They wanted me to be a leader of my people. Matriarchs guide their followers into the future; they seek the truth of what is yet to come. Maybe that is why I became so interested in the secrets of the past..."
"It sounds so foolish when I say it out loud. It sounds like I became an archeologist just to spite Benezia..." she shook her head sadly.
Mason chuckled softly, smiling at her widely, "Every child rebels against their parents at some point or another."
An honest laugh escaped her, "You share the wisdom of the Matriarchs Shepard. That is exactly what Benezia said when I told her my decision."
Liara's smile slowly faded, "But... there was more to it than that. I felt drawn to the past. The Protheans were these wonderous, mysterious figures. I wanted to know everything about them..."
Her cheeks turned a shade darker as she continued, "That is why I find you so fascinating. You were marked by the beacon on Eden Prime, you were touched by working Prothean technology!"
"It almost sounds like you want to dissect me in a lab somewhere," he raised his brows at her and gave her a small smile.
"What!?" Liara's eyes widened, shock and embarassment covering her face, "No! I didn't mean to insinuate--" She cut herself off, "Uh, I never meant to offend you Shepard. I only meant that you would be an interesting specimen for in depth study-- No! That's even worse..."
Shepard smiled, his cheeks tinting a light pink, "She's so cute when she's embarassed... I'm going to have to do that again sometime..." The Spectre unconciously brushed his hair behind his scarred ear before he filled the momentary silence, saving her from further embarassment, "Relax Liara... I was only joking..."
"Joking? Oh... by the Goddess! How could I be so dense?" the asarian doctor rapped her kncuckles against her head in reflex, shaking her head at her own foolishness, "You must think I am a complete and utter fool..."
She started to continue, but the commander waved her off, "No... I don't. I actually understand what you're talking about. I'm a sort of freak of nature, in more ways than just the beacon..." it was strange, he felt at ease talking to her about this, he usually didn't even mention things like this, "I've had a number of times where I just want to step out of my body and examine it, try and find out why I'm so different from everyone else..."
He shrugged, "Anyways, you're a scientist, being curious is part of the job description," his smile flowed into a cross between a grin and a smirk, "Though you definitely could have said that a whole lot better."
She flushed a deep shade of blue, looking away from him for just a moment, "I guess now you know why I spend so much time at remote digs..." She glanced back up at him, her face still turned mostly away, her own bright blue eyes metting his emerald ones, "I always seem to say something stupid when I'm around people..."
The Commander grinned, "Well, as long as you don't let something classified off the ship, there isn't going to be any problems... aside from you being immensely emarrassed of course..." Liara noted a small sparkle in his eyes as he said that.
She smiled, this time realizing he was teasing her, "I guess so Commander..." the asari, as used to silence as she was, just couldn't let the conversation die out like that, "Was there anything else you needed?"
He smiled and shook his head, almost sadly, "No..." he groaned some as he stood and stretched, "Welll... there's going to be an informal training session in the Mako's loading bay next shift, which is..." he activated his omni-tool for just a moment and glanced at the time, "...aaabouuut, ten hours... I'd appreciate it if you come."
Liara nodded, "I will, since I lack the military training of the rest of your crew I probably need the most help," the corner of her mouth quirked up.
"We'll see."
A.N.): Alright, here's the plan: after the training sesseion, (which will take up a sizable chapter with any luck,) they'll arrive on Ferros, (which I think will take a chapter, maybe two, depending on how it flows) and then move on to the Bring Down the Sky expansion mission (Which I've wanted to do ever since I got it!! And will probably take a chapter the way I want to do it.) Anyways, the poll is still on about the chapter length, I'll still update about once a week or two, but the chapters would be longer.