Chapter 12: From a friend, huh?

"Please, hold still" Said Lexi with a strict voice trying to patch Peebee's eye. An Asari's skin was stronger than a human one, but a fist from a Krogan would break even stones. One rude Asari's face was nothing compare to that kind of force. An irritated sound left Peebee's vocal chords as she was still clinching her fists together in anger. She was so close to find more information about Poc, she completely forgot to guard her body from a Krogan temper.

"You should be happy that your biotics protected you, so I don't need to mend your bones." Said Lexi. She was annoyed but in her own strict but caring manner. "What were you thinking?"

"None of your business Mrs Perfect." Said Peebee and tried to wave her hand to get rid of the doctor's fingers. That pissed Lexi of indescribably. She grasped Asari's hand by her wrist with force Peebee had not expected, and turned her to face her.

"Enough, Peebee! I don't care you hating me or playing jokes on me… But, in a second you become reckless and get yourself killed because … whatever… than it really becomes an issue!" She scolded her like a small child. Well, around 150 years were between her, so she had a right to do so. Peebee opened her mouth to say something but she could not bear the doc's stare. She looked at a side like she used to when she felt vulnerable. Lexi was scanning her for another moment when she let her hand go.

"Fine. I'm happy that we understood each other." She returned back to patching her up.

Peebee was looking away for a moment and scanned the room. She noticed a white lily on her desk. She saw her chance to win this small fight and turned her full-teeth smile at Lexi.

"Someone is having an admirer no one knows about…" Lexi's hands froze for a moment and Peebee knew she was on the right track.

"I don't know what are you talking about..." Lexi said and finished sewing her scar together. Only some medigel and she would be fine.

"Yeah, sure. White lilies are just growing around the Tempest. That's natural…" Peebee was enjoying this so much, because Lexi's face was turning darker blue. A sign of blushing.

"None of your business, Peebee." She repeated Peebee's line she uttered a moment ago. Peebee laughed.

"Shall I now hold your hand and threaten you that you are disturbing the mission with your lover?" No, she was too curious now. Someone was wooing their personal Matriarch and she wanted to know more. Lexi's lips were only a thin line when she finished applying medigel on Peebee's injury.

"I do not have a lover. Stop it, ok?" This topic was very unpleasant and she did not want to talk about what happened between her and Ryder. She was not sure what actually happened.

"Pshaa. Don't buy it!" Peebee was too fast. She jumped from the bed and came closer to the flower. Lexi had it right next to her computer. That was a sign of how personal it was for her. She could stare at it every minute of her precious working time.

"Isn't your work jealous?" She asked and raised her hand to touch the lily. But that was enough to feel that a biotic energy was growing in its intensity. She turned around and Lexi was surrounded by a blue energy. Peebee laughed and raised her hands in defence.

"Be cool doc. I'm not touching your precious plant. Just was curious who made you blushing. Must be a nice person. Got me?" Peebee smiled. There was something about her smile Lexi did not see there before. She cared for her well-being? Peebee was changing, she could tell. Lexi's biotic slowly faded away but kept looking at her.

"Yes.. got you.. well, I'm sorry I'll disappoint you. I don't have any admirer. It was just a gift, from a friend." She tried to say as convincingly as she was capable of. Well, she was not lying. It was just a gift from a friend. But if she was so sure about it, why she did not tell her it was a gift from Ryder? Did she think about her as a friend? Maybe she tried to protect herself and Peebee too. Lexi was not stupid, there was something between Peebee and Ryder and although it made her feel like wanting to jump out of the window, she needed to think about her own position at this ship and of well-being of everyone.

"Fiine, I won't push.. " She walked around Lexi to the door.

"Still, we don't usually crush others with biotics when its only - from a friend..." Peebee's voice was mysterious. She acted like a perfect psychologist and could even exchange position with Lexi right now. When Peebee finally left, Lexi just fainted on her chair and sighted. The white lily was there, more beautiful than ever, and was a constant reminder of an urge she felt in that moment. She needed to control herself better next time.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

It was their day off when Lexi left the Tempest docks to explore the market for some resources. She was wearing a black casual dress to blend in. No one needed to know she was a part of the Initiative. She was walking around the market when she felt someone staring at her intensively. When turned around she spotted a Turian with a face tattoo on his face, walking towards her.

"Hey, beautiful. You are new here, I can tell..." Fuck. She thought. Problems. She just stepped out of the ship and there were problems. A horny Turian. She dated their species maybe twice. Always some mercenaries or other type of bad guys you could find on Omega. There was a lot of those kinds there. Her father was working with different assassins and bodyguards who protected Aria herself. They had power, but were mostly of brutish nature, especially when they tried to strip her dad from his position. She needed to patch him often from fights he needed to return from. She knew their physiology like her own.

"Get off, chunk. Don't talk to losers your kind. Find yourself a weapon to fuck." She needed to come back to the rules of survival so common on Omega. Don't show fear and never run when in danger. Better to threaten an enemy's ego. There were aliens around and if she could make him look like a complete fool, he would not dare to attack her or try something stupid. She travelled with her eyes on him, tracing his body with acted curiosity which turned later into disgust.

"Thinking about it now, I don't think you stand a chance even in that league, beautiful…" She uttered the last words with the utmost delicacy and sweetness of her voice. She even raised her hand and touched his mandible skeleton playfully to emphasise her disgust over his manhood. It got attention of the seller and some customers. Pity laugh made Turian growl with anger as he burnt more than he originally expected.

"Look at him there" Said the seller. "Growling like a small lizard. I should give a discount to this beauty." Lexi smiled at the seller and focused all her energy to look more interested in Krogan in front of her and to play on their both ego. She turned her attention to him completely, sending Turian away like an irritating bug, looking no disturbed at all by his presence or a gun.

"Please, darling. I need to hear a word from a real warrior to calm down." Krogan looked satisfied and amused. Now everyone at the stand were laughing and the Turian was forced to back down. There were too many guns who could kill him in instant. When he left, Lexi felt relieved. She had not noticed that she was observed by someone else as well.

"I will buy anything for the lady… She only deserves the best attention." Said a familiar voice and Ryder touched Lexi's arm. She nearly jumped but needed to play along, so the whole charade would not fall like a house of cards. She turned her head slowly as being bored towards Ryder…

"You? you think you are any better than that lizard?" All of the eyes were looking at them. They knew who Sara was, and for that reason, she could not stop playing. She needed to find a way how to let her win this fight in Omega style. And after that, she will kill Ryder back on the Tempest for getting involved… and for enjoying it! She could see on her face that Ryder was having so much fun.

"Well…" Ryder got very close and looked at her with confidence… "I just hate when some weakling disturbs such an… interesting and beautiful woman like you" Ryder knew she was taking an advantage of the situation, but this was too tempting to just let go. Maybe the only chance to flirt like two strangers. Lexi was going to throw her out of the Tempest.

Lexi was looking at her and nearly forgot that this was not a game. there were expectations from this bunch of criminals and this was similar to Omega. Sara's mission was to important than her urge to run away. Sara needed to be more badass than all of them. She knew it from the life of her Turian father. She raised her hand and playfully moved her finger on her chest armour plate touching the Initiative badge.

"Some proof of your dominance over that loser? I don't fall for words, pathfinder." Said she to remind everyone who Ryder was. Krogan laughed and punched the table with his hand like supporting that claim. Yeah, what was the Pathfinder going to do?

Sara felt so charmed by this small gesture. Lexi's fingers were burning even through her armour right into her heart. She remembered when they were so close last time and the unexpected dose of chemistry and desire in her veins she could not explain. Sara took the full advantage of this role-play and forgot once of her ethical and moral barriers. She just wanted to be a badass who enjoyed life.

She grabbed Lexi and pulled her close to her body. The other hand by which held Lexi, supported her back, and a strong kiss which suddenly appeared on Lexi's lips mended their bodies together so naturally like they always belonged together. She felt Sara's hand holding her left leg and raising it even closer to her hips in this already intimate position.

Lexi heard whistling, clapping and shouting. The hunger took over her too and she returned Sara's kiss with so much desire that she nearly bit her lips. One of her hands was resting on the chest plate, the other grabbed Sara's hair and pushed her more into that kiss.

This theatre was perfect for the audience. Lexi was sure that rumours about the Ryder's capability of getting what she wanted, would open more secret doors. It was always the same rules at places like this. However, what really bothered Doctor T'Perro's mind was how much she dared to stole from this experience. Despite she feared the consequences waiting for them back at the Tempest, now she was only an unknown Asari in a black dress enjoying passionate kissing with the Pathfinder.