Quick note: I'm sorry guys, but I feel the need to say a thing or two real quick. I've gotten 0 reviews on my last two chapters. I understand that not everyone is going to review, but I need to know if you guys are liking the fluffy-goodness that's oozing from my mind. I have a lot planned for this story! But it's hard to write if I'm uncertain about my readers liking this or not. Please review! Likes, dislikes, grammar issues, I don't care. A review full of constructive criticism is better than nothing.
2nd thing I wanted to say; I'm thinking about finding a beta for this story. I'd like to see if anyone reading this wants to be a part of its production, before I go actively searching for one. Send me a pm!
For what it's worth,
You're worth it all
The familiar hum of the Normandy fills Shepard's ears, walking through the CIC to find Mordin. He has yet to leave the ship, and she wants to know why. Maybe he's discovered something important? Anxious hopefulness swirls in her stomach, quickening her steps.
"Ah, Shepard. Wanted to talk to you. Troubling news." Shepard's heart drops, disappointment obvious behind her jade irises. Mordin paces behind his desk, feeling a slight pang of guilt. He's honored that Shepard has trusted him with such a personal matter, intended to save only one person instead of a whole species. Much more intimate than being asked to save her kind. They could cure the rest of the drell as well, of course, but if the recent events are proof of anything, it would be... challenging.
"What is it?" She slips back into her Commander Shepard mask, oozing nothing but power.
"Have asked batarian traders to receive samples, current cure and bacteria from infected drell. No further contact. Assume they're dead." Mordin rushes, finally stopping to rest his weight against the desk.
"The hanar trade with batarians?" Shepard crosses her arms across her chest, a typical stance when in Commander mode.
"Yes. Asked the batarians to sneak into lab where Kepral's Syndrome cure is worked on. Should've heard from them days ago. Worried." He blinks, eyes darting as ideas invade his mind. Scenarios, possible outcomes, pros and cons of trying the batarian traders again...
"I want you to try again, with a more stealthy group this time around. In the meantime, you could gather bacteria samples from Thane, right?" The salarian's eyes light up, legs in motion once again as he slips back into his pacing pattern.
"Of course. Would require needle into lung however. Unpleasant. You certain you want that?" Shepard studies the salarian scientist, not used to him being so... moral.
"Are you going soft on me, Mordin?"
"Don't insult me Shepard. Looking forward to sticking him with giant needle. Human's dislike of seeing partner in pain very problematic, however." Shepard draws her bottom lip into her mouth, worrying it between her teeth. She really doesn't want to subject Thane to this, but...
"A needle to the lung is slightly more pleasant than suffocating, I'd imagine. I'll talk to him. Time to start planning ways to make up for the pain..." Shepard's gaze meets his, frowning at the twinkle she finds dancing in his eyes.
"While we're on the subject, have a few questions. How're the hallucinations? Any rashes?" His three-fingered hand rises to his mouth, forming a fist in typical Mordin fashion.
"I'm gonna go back to enjoying my vacation now... You know, you can leave the Normandy." Shepard mutters, ignoring Mordin's questions.
"Vacation waste of time. Could be doing tests. No, stay on-"
"Mordin. Take a day off." Shepard interrupts him, nodding towards the door.
"Tomorrow." Mordin smiles briefly, then buries himself back into his work.
Back on the ground, Lyn stands in front of her drell's room, palm poised in front of the green sensor. All of the other doors are red. It strikes Lyn as odd that Thane, of all people, is the one with an unlocked door.
Even more odd is the sight behind the door. He's sound asleep in his bed, blanket pulled up to his shoulders. Her lips twitch into a smile, nimble fingers hurriedly bringing her omni-tool interface up to take a picture. Thank god they did away with shutter tones a long time ago.
She slips back out of the room, silently hoping the lights and sounds won't wake him. What kind of... girlfriend would I be if I don't give him a little breakfast in bed before letting Mordin poke him with a needle? Girlfriend... Now that's an odd word. Is that really where they stand? Or are things still broken? One day, I'm going to laugh at this memory. Or cry, because I still failed to cure Kepral's Syndrome.
The restaurant in the hotel has a disappointing supply of alien food, though it really is no surprise. She orders the only drell option on the menu, and her favorite breakfast combination for herself; waffles, scrambled eggs, and bacon. The drell food smells far too ocean-y for her liking. She makes a mental note to ask Thane exactly what is in this dish, before heading back to his room.
She's greeted by darkness once again, unsure of what to do next. She's never woken Thane up before, and there's just something about knowing you're about to wake up an assassin that is terrifying.
"Thane?" She whispers, eyes searching for any movement.
"You're back." His voice is tired and muffled by something, most likely his pillow.
"I should've known you wouldn't sleep through me entering your room." Shepard flips the light switch, filling the room with incandescent light. Doing so reveals his bare back, black markings tracing his figure beautifully. The blanket now rests lazily at his hips, giving Shepard's greedy eyes plenty to take in.
"I've been awake for a while. Bed is comfortable. I'm taking this vacation very seriously." Shepard places herself on his bed, quickly discovering that there isn't much room.
"Indeed you are. I never thought I'd be blessed with the sight of a lazy assassin. I must say, you're not very assassin-like at the moment." But definitely sexy.
"One that is truly dangerous doesn't act like they are." Thane stays sprawled out on his bed, head resting on his pillow in the opposite direction of where Shepard is sitting.
"Yes, well, I brought you some food to swiftly murder. My options were limited, I hope you like it." Thane voices his displeasure at having to move, knowing it'll go unheard. After thinking it over for a few seconds, he rises onto his knees and propels himself into a sitting position, back flush against the wall. Much to Shepard's disappointment, the blanket stays neatly in place, despite the abuse.
"Siha, that was kind of you." He reaches for his food and utensils, pausing when he notices the food she brought is actually one of his favorites. "This is Kibashu, one of my favorite meals. Highly inspired by sushi from your culture, we just adapted the idea to Kahje's food."
"That explains why it smelled so much like the ocean." She smiles brightly, proud of her unintentional success. They both busy themselves with their meals, silently enjoying the others company. Shepard catches herself glancing at Thane, smiling sheepishly when his dark eyes fall on hers. Such a simple gesture, but so full of intensity that her heart flutters. Yeah, things are definitely on the mend. At least, until Mordin gets a hold of him.
The needle is much longer than Shepard expected, the lights in the lab reflecting off of each intimidating silver inch. As it disappears into green flesh, Shepard flinches, clenching her eyelids shut violently. She's had her fair share of injuries and patch-up jobs from Dr. Chakwas, but this is... different. She wishes more than anything that Mordin could make progress without a sample from Thane. In order to save the one she cares about, she has to push that emotional weakness aside. It's incredibly exhausting.
"Next time, I get to plan our day." Thane jokes, trying to lighten the mood. He makes it look easy, talking with a giant needle probing his lung. Adrenalin begins coursing through his veins, easing the pain as his lung slides along the silver instrument with each breath.
"We'll do whatever you want for the rest of the day." Shepard covers one of his hands with her own, sympathy and regret pulling her eyebrows together. Mordin hovers behind the drell, quietly humming the scientist salarian theme. Finally he pulls the sharp instrument from between Thane's ribs, relieving most of the discomfort.
"Need to make sure hole closes properly. Lung could collapse." Mordin places the needle in a container full of sterilizer, eyes trained on the drell's breathing pattern. Minutes pass, Thane's rhythmic breathing showing positive signs. "Looks fine so far. Will be here running tests if you need me." The salarian ushers them out, eager to get to work.
"Are you alright?" Lyn's worried emerald eyes search Thane's, not knowing what exactly they're looking for.
"I've endured worse." He folds his hands around Shepard's, relishing the warmth. "Besides, I'd let him stick me with needles anywhere he wants, if it gives me one more day with you." He smirks as she adverts her eyes, rosy tint gracing her cheeks. She never blushes, but she can't deny the tremble in her legs that his words cause. It's a good thing they're already sitting on the luxurious couch of her large hotel suite.
"I hope that happens." She winds her fingers through his, using her other hand to gently caress his face. He leans into it, joyful rumbling coming from his chest but remaining silent to the human's ears.
"As do I." The assassin turns his head to leave a sweet kiss of the inside of her palm, enjoying how her skin feels against his lips. The awkwardness, the tension... with every brush of his lips against her skin, it fades into nothingness, the two lovers content to slip back into the comfortable routine of falling in love. Content to ignore the disease preparing to wreak havoc on said routine.
Author's Note: I've found my muse, and I think my writing style is back in check. The last 5 chapters were written while listening to totally different music genres, as evidenced by the shifts in their overall tones. Who else listens to music while writing? I find it very, very helpful. I tend to put a song on repeat and just, type away. I'm starting to include lyrics from the song I have on repeat at the start of a chapter, cookies to whoever can guess the song and artist! It takes skill, writing a fluffy chapter ending while trying to drown out a pissed off boyfriend that swears every time he dies in call of duty.