Chapter Six:
After a few minutes, Athena's breathing returned to normal. She kept her arm draped across her face, hoping her blush wasn't too visible. Even with her eyes closed, she could feel Lycoris staring at her. She wanted to look, to see whether the eyes boring into her were full of confusion, judgment, or concern, but she couldn't find the courage. Instead, she sighed and shifted on the couch, pulling away from the tempting warmth of Lycoris's body.
Her weak attempts at isolating herself didn't last. A firm arm hooked around her waist and pulled her back. Her hand fell away at the motion, but her eyes remained shut as she settled reluctantly into Lycoris's embrace. It was a comfortable position, but she was too embarrassed to enjoy it. She hadn't meant to share so much so quickly, and she was terrified that she had overstepped some hazy, undefined boundary and ruined everything.
She didn't have to speak first. Lycoris pressed a kiss to the top of her head, cradling her close and running a soothing hand up and down her side. "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you, did I?"
A long silence stretched between them. All Athena could hear was their breathing, perfectly in sync. It reminded her of the union, and a little of her fear retreated. Lycoris wanted her. Feelings like that couldn't be faked, especially in the middle of a mating meld. When she sensed that Lycoris was still waiting for a response, she forced herself to answer. "You didn't hurt me. I'm fine. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
"Are you kidding?" The urgent note of disbelief in Lycoris's voice finally convinced Athena to open her eyes. Lycoris was grinning down at her, still breathless and flushed. "It was hot. Super hot. I just didn't know you were into… you know. Although I suppose it's only natural for a kid with a human parent."
Athena's face burned, but she didn't try to hide again. Lycoris had already been inside her head and explored all the secret places.
Lycoris's look of joy quickly shifted to one of concern. "I didn't mean it as a bad thing, The. You must have been curious about how humans have sex. Wait, that didn't come out any better." She sighed. "Fuck, I'm sorry. I can't ever say what I mean."
The reminder that she wasn't alone in her awkwardness made Athena feel better. She laughed, pressing a kiss to the side of Lycoris's neck. "I, um, might already have some ideas. My parents try to be subtle, but…" When Lycoris snorted, she realized what she had implied. "Ugh, I can't say what I mean either. Actually, it was watching Amara Anjali's classic vids that inspired me so much."
"Amara Anjali?" Lycoris pulled a disgusted face. "Shit. You have no idea how embarrassing it is to know there's an entire award-winning series of vids about your parents fucking."
Athena rolled her eyes. "I know exactly how embarrassing it is. Haven't you seen Pornmandy 3: Assuming Direct Control?"
"Yeah, but everyone knows that's varren shit. Your parents were too busy killing Reapers and, you know, actually saving the entire galaxy to bang everyone else on the Normandy."
"So you have seen it?" Athena asked, pushing back further into the curve of Lycoris's pelvis.
"Like half of it, maybe. There were better adaptations. But none of them got as famous as Amara Anjali's vids. And the worst part is, my parents actually know her. She's bonded with my Mom's former assistant, so I've had to sit across the dinner table from her and pretend like everyone in the galaxy hasn't watched her pretending to be my Dad while naked."
Athena giggled. "You have to admit, your father has the kind of body most people would pay to see naked. The fact that you look like her makes me a very lucky woman."
Lycoris preened a little at the compliment, but quickly deflated. "Wait. Does that mean I'm just a substitute for your crush on my Dad?"
Athena reached up and pulled Lycoris's head down for a kiss. Their lips met softly at first, but the gentle contact sent warmth rushing through her entire body. Once it ended and Lycoris had a sufficiently dazed expression on her face, she continued. "It's you I want, Corrie. Only you."
It took a few moments for Lycoris to regain her composure, but when she did, her smile returned. "I have to admit, it's really nice to hear you say that."
A small wrinkle formed in the middle of her brow. "Was there ever any doubt? You know how attracted I am to you." Her cheeks flushed, and her lashes lowered. "You've felt how attracted I am to you."
"True." Lycoris shifted behind her, trying to find a better position, and Athena took the hint. She sat up and leaned back against Lycoris's chest. It was getting too uncomfortable to spoon, and she needed more air on her overheated skin. "So. The meld. You wanna talk about what you sent me, or…?"
"I'm not sure what there is to talk about," Athena said. A little of her shyness returned, and she nuzzled into the warm place where Lycoris's neck met her shoulder. The scent of fresh sweat and leather was actually rather pleasant, and she breathed deeply before continuing. "I just… I like them. I'm not sure why."
Lycoris was silent for a while, and Athena could sense the tension starting to build in her body. She couldn't bring herself to look up, afraid that she might find some recrimination or judgement in her friend's eyes. Finally, Lycoris spoke up. "Do you… do you wish you were with a male of some other species?"
Athena turned around. "No," she insisted, bringing her hand up to smooth away the worry lines that were creasing Lycoris's forehead. She swallowed past the lump of embarrassment in her throat. "I just think you'd look really hot wearing a cock. And I'd be lying if I said that I haven't fantasized about you fucking me with one."
Athena breathed a silent sigh of relief when Lycoris's arms tightened around her a little more. This was a fantasy she had possessed almost since she had first started thinking seriously about sex, but she was more than willing to go without if that was what it took to keep Lycoris happy.
"So, do you want to try it?"
While it was something she undoubtedly wanted to try one day, she wasn't sure if she and Lycoris were ready for a step like that. "You don't have to," she said, but a shiver raced through her body at the suggestion. She tried to push the images to the back of her mind.
"I know I don't have to," Lycoris said, the confidence in her voice growing. "But honestly, it's not just your fantasy. I've seen the Amara Anjali vids too, and what I saw in the meld was… yeah." Silence stretched between them as Athena tried to figure out how honest Lycoris was being. "So, do you want to buy one? We could order it off the extranet if you want."
"It would take forever to ship." Her cheeks flushed as Lycoris stared at her, mouth gaping open. Perhaps her information had come a little too readily.
"Wait, you've bought one before?"
"No. I'll admit I've looked into my options. Most of the sites I checked said that delivery would take four to six weeks. Besides, I'd like to see it in the flesh, so to speak. Just to make sure it's what we're looking for. Pictures can be deceiving."
A grin spread across Lycoris's face, and Athena breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I guess the two of us are going shopping tomorrow. There's gotta be a sex shop that carries toys somewhere in the Presidium, right?"
The wheels in Athena's head began turning as she gazed into Lycoris's soft eyes. "There is. I know just the place."
. . .
"Pandora's Toybox?" Lycoris whispered, her voice wavering as she stared up at the large sign. Her hand shot out, and Athena smiled as trembling fingers laced with hers, seeking reassurance. Lycoris was shaking, and despite the bravado she had adopted on their way down to the Presidium, she was clearly nervous. "Are you sure? What if they ID us? What if they kick us out?"
"Corrie, we're both of age," she murmured, giving Lycoris's hand a loving squeeze. "We're old enough to make purchases here."
"Still. What if someone recognizes us? Our parents are famous. If someone figures out who we are and what we're doing, it could get back to them."
Athena's heart sank, and she struggled to hide her hurt. Although she knew Lycoris didn't share her deep feelings, and their relationship was only an affectionate exploration, she hated the thought that her lover might be ashamed of her. "Would it really be so bad if people knew about us? My sisters already do."
That only sent Lycoris into an even worse panic. Her eyes darted from side to side, and she pulled her hand away, as if she was worried someone might spot them at any moment. "Wait, they do? Shit. I knew Benezia suspected, but I didn't know you'd told Diana. What if one of them tells your Dad? Oh Goddess, if Shepard finds out, I am so dead."
Strangely, Lycoris's fear made her feel a little better. "Is that the only reason you're afraid of everyone finding out?" she asked, pretending she didn't really care about the answer. "Because you think my Dad will be angry with us?"
"With me," Lycoris corrected. "You know she treats you like a princess. She'll never be mad at you no matter what you do, but she won't hesitate to turn me into a smear on the wall. I've seen what she did during the war. I don't want to end up like that Reaper on Rannoch."
Athena laughed. It was a relief to know that Lycoris wasn't ashamed of their relationship, even if it was only a friends with benefits arrangement. "If Dad does find out, I promise to make sure she doesn't kill you. You know she thinks of you as part of her family. She might even approve once you give her the chance to get over her shock."
"I doubt it," Lycoris mumbled. She suddenly seemed to realize that they were arguing in the middle of a crowded walkway and stepped aside, heading toward the shop with purposeful strides. "Come on. If we're gonna do this, let's get it over with."
Athena shook her head indulgently and walked after Lycoris. Her steps began to slow and falter the closer she got, so Athena caught up to her outside the shop. Slipping her hand back into Lycoris's, she pushed open the frosted glass door and led the way inside.
The tension in Lycoris's body came back full force as they crossed the threshold, and as she looked around, Athena could understand her wariness. Although the layout was tasteful, there was no mistaking what Pandora's Toybox sold. Some of the merchandise distracted her at first, but soon, she spotted what they were looking for in the back. She tugged on Lycoris's hand, dragging her toward the section they were looking for since she seemed incapable of moving on her own.
As they stood in front of a wall that displayed a dizzying variety of dildos and strap-ons, Athena realized that they were woefully under prepared for this outing. She had a few ideas about what she wanted, but honestly hadn't figured on finding one in-store that they could purchase today. In fact, she had been resigned to ordering something on the extranet and risking the possibility that her parents would find out when it was delivered. But Athena had heard that Pandora's Toybox was the best – variety of stock and so many options that everyone could find what they were looking for – and she was pleased to find that it looked like the reality actually lived up to the hype.
She was still trying to figure out where to start their search when a friendly looking human approached them. "Can I help you find anything today?" she asked, glancing between them and the display.
"No!" Lycoris squeaked out, clearing her throat and looking slightly panicked. She glanced longingly toward the front of the shop and the only exit.
"Yes, please," Athena said firmly, overriding Lycoris's impulsive answer. If this woman could help them, she would be more than happy to accept the assistance. It would take forever to go through all the different options on their own.
"Okay," Lycoris agreed, a little sulkily. She still refused to look at the saleswoman for more than a few quick moments at a time. Athena sighed. It was obvious that she was going to have to do most of the talking. For all her bravado, Lycoris could be very shy and awkward in public when she was in a situation that made her uncomfortable. Luckily, she found Lycoris's embarrassment to be quite endearing. She loved that Lycoris tried to put on a tough front for her all the time, but was really soft, tender, and just a little insecure on the inside.
She thought for a moment about what they were looking for before speaking. "I guess we want a 'beginner' model. Something not too big–"
"Not too small," Lycoris interrupted before suddenly realizing that she'd spoken. She went back to looking at anything other than the saleswoman trying to help them.
Athena couldn't hide her smile at Lycoris's little display of ego and ran a soothing hand across her back. "Not too small," she agreed, sharing an amused, knowing look with the saleswoman. "And I'd really like it to match her skin tone." Lycoris jerked around to look at her, and Athena smiled back, letting her know she was pretty firm on that particular desire. While she had no desire to change Lycoris, the idea of seeing her with a cock that looked like a true extension of her body was too appealing to resist.
The saleswoman nodded her head. "Of course. That should be easy enough to accommodate. We have several models that change size and match flesh tones. Are there any other features you're looking for?"
"A sensation transmitter. I'd like Corrie to be able to feel everything."
Athena felt Lycoris tremble a little under her touch and she hoped it was because her lover liked that idea. Her fantasies wouldn't be nearly as satisfying if Lycoris wasn't getting as much pleasure out of the toy as she was, and she couldn't deny that she liked the idea of Lycoris being able to feel the heat and tightness of her azure.
"Also doable. We've got a few models that fit those specifications. I'd be happy to show some of them to you, if you're interested."
Before she could walk away to get a couple of those options, Athena said, "There's one more thing." This time, she was a little less confident. Her gaze darted back and forth from Lycoris to any other spot in the store. She really wanted what she was going to ask for next, but she wasn't entirely sure how Lycoris would feel about it. "I've read that some models can… ejaculate. Using only the wearer's own… um." A fierce blush crawled up her neck to her cheeks, but she didn't back down. "I'd like to give that a try."
Lycoris stiffened when she mentioned it, and for a moment, Athena worried what her lover was thinking. She finally got up the courage to look up, only to find that Corrie was staring at her with a completely slack-jawed expression on her face. Athena couldn't tell if she was disgusted, or so happy that she couldn't find the words to express herself.
"No problem. I'll go unlock a few demo models to show you. If you could please wait here, I'll be back in just a minute."
Athena breathed a sigh of relief when the saleswoman excused herself. She was grateful for the space so that she could check in with Lycoris. "We… ah, we don't have to use that particular feature if you're not comfortable with it," she said so that only Lycoris could possibly hear.
"Not use it," Lycoris said, causing Athena's hope to totally deflate. "Why wouldn't I want to use it?"
"I don't know," Athena said, looking down at the floor and not meeting Lycoris's eyes. "Maybe because that would be taking it too far. Because it would make you too much like the male you thought I was trying to turn you into."
Lycoris closed the short distance between them, laying her hand Athena's arm. "First of all, I know you're not trying to turn me into something I'm not. You said you want me, and I believe you. Second," Lycoris said, a smile finally curving over her lips as she leaned close and whispered next to Athena's crest, "I think it would be incredibly hot to be able to come inside of you. My clit's hard just thinking about it."
Athena felt an answering smile start to tug on her own lips, but before she could say anything, or convince herself that it wouldn't be totally inappropriate for her to check the validity of Lycoris's last statement herself, the saleswoman came back with a package in hand.
"This is one of the two options that we carry with all the features you're asking about. I'd go with this one, because the other hasn't got the greatest reputation for lasting very long. And I can say with one hundred percent certainty that this one works like a charm. Personal experience."
The huge smile on the saleswoman's face was as good a selling point as any. Athena looked at the toy in the package and was about to raise a few concerns when the human seemed to sense her hesitation and spoke up again. "The toy comes with a chameleon feature that allows it to adapt to whatever the wearer's skin tone is, so that color you see there is just its neutral state. And if you're feeling goofy, there are some pretty psychedelic pre-set options. As for the pleasure sharing feature, it has a sensation transmitting plate that fits over the wearer, allowing them to feel everything that's happening to the shaft. And finally, the last feature you mentioned. The bulb end sits inside the wearer and has a reservoir that fills until they climax. I know you wanted a beginner model, but this one should serve you well at any level. The size is adjustable, another awesome feature that replaces a whole drawer of dildos, from below average to, honestly, ridiculously egotistical if your partner ever wants to try it out."
Athena didn't have to think about it for long. Everything she'd wanted and more came in this package, and now that it was literally in her hands, she couldn't deny herself. "We'll take it."
"Excellent choice!" the saleswoman said, spinning around and leading them back towards the front of the store and the check-out terminal. "Let's just settle up and get you a bag for your purchase."
"It had better not be clear," Athena heard Lycoris mutter under her breath as she followed behind them. Athena couldn't help but smile and shake her head, although she was fairly certain that she agreed with her lover on this one.
. . .
"Goddess, am I relieved that's over," Lycoris groaned as they exited the store. Her shoulders sagged, and she tilted her head back, staring up toward the Presidium's clear blue sky. "That was one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life."
Athena laughed, threading her elbow through Lycoris's. The bag was draped across her other arm, and she couldn't help feeling a little thrill as it brushed against her thigh. Part of her couldn't believe they had done it. Going into a sex shop and making a purchase with her lover had been awkward, but also exhilarating. "I enjoyed it. The saleswoman was very helpful, and there were several other interesting items on display."
Lycoris stopped and turned to stare at her. "Wait, you want to go back again? We just got out of there! Let's start with one sex toy at a time, okay?"
A smirk spread across Athena's face. She slid her arm back, breaking the link so she could grab a firm handful of Lycoris's ass. The gesture made her flinch and gasp in surprise, but her smile gave her away. "I think this one will be more than enough for now. The hard part will be finding some private time to use it. Your parents should be home by now, and so will mine. We might need to wait a few days."
Lycoris's face fell at the thought of waiting, but she shrugged her shoulders. "It's okay. We had sex yesterday. It's not like I'm being deprived..." Her voice trailed off, and a strange look crossed her face. She narrowed her eyes and turned, looking over her shoulder to scan the walkway behind them. "Athena, try not to freak out, but I think we have company. Look back and to your right."
Trying to be subtle, Athena stole a quick glance over her own shoulder. She had to whip back around quickly to hide her surprise. A familiar and unwelcome observer was hiding behind one of the decorative trees. She groaned, resisting the temptation to slap her forehead. "Goddess, this is so embarrassing. Dad taught her how to use cover better than that."
Lycoris looked at her in disbelief. "Really? That's what you're embarrassed about?" she asked, her voice rising in pitch with every word. "Your little sister is spying on us again. She probably saw us walk out of Pandora's Toybox! Doesn't that bother you?"
Athena stroked the dip of Lycoris's spine, trying to offer reassurance. "She's not going to tell, Corrie. She knows I can warp her inside out. And we were old enough to be in the shop. It isn't as though we did anything illegal."
"That isn't the point," Lycoris insisted. "She knows. What if she tells Shepard? I do not want your Dad to know we were shopping for sex toys."
Athena sighed. There was only one way to resolve this. "If it will make you feel better, I'll go talk to her. But just so you know, I'm doing this for you." She shoved the bag into Lycoris's arms. Lycoris held it far away from her body, as if she was afraid the contents would leap out and bite her. "Come on, Corrie. You're the one who's going to wear it, so you need to get over your embarrassment."
"Yeah," Lycoris said a little defensively, "but only you're gonna see me with it on. Your youngest sister is over there watching us, so I think I'm entitled to feel a little freaked out."
"I'd better be the only one you plan on wearing that with," Athena said with narrowed eyes. "After the amount I just shelled out for that little toy, I'll take it out in blood money if you dump me."
"I would never do that," Lycoris said, her eyes going adorably soft for a moment, in a way that made Athena believe her words unconditionally. But before she could get too lost in those eyes, panic once again overtook them, reminding her what had gotten this conversation started in the first place. "Shit. Your sister's still staring at us."
Athena sighed and turned around, walking back along the path and stopping directly in front of the tree Benezia was still trying to hide behind. "I see you, Nezzie. You know, Dad would be ashamed of how poorly you chose your cover. I can see at least six other places that would have been better." Benezia actually seemed a little ashamed of herself as she stepped out from behind the tree, but Athena didn't let it distract her for long. "What were you doing following us?" she demanded, resisting the urge to put her hands on her hips and pout, just like Benezia always did. It wouldn't help to provoke her sister any more.
"I wasn't following you," Benezia insisted, apparently so used to lying about whatever she was accused of that it had become second nature. Athena continued staring at her in disbelief until she relented. "Fine. I just wanted to see what you guys were up to. Lycoris was all twitchy when she picked you up at the apartment today, so I knew it had to be good."
"Goddess, why can't you hang out with your own friends?" Athena asked.
A sly smile crossed Benezia's face. "Because none of my friends could even get into Pandora's Toybox. Not that any of them would want to. It's for old people. Grandpa always teases Mom about keeping the place in business. So, what did you buy?"
"None of your business," Athena said, trying not to blush. Benezia was observant enough to pick up on it, and then she'd never let it go.
"Come on," Benezia said, leaning forward to intrude on her personal space. She peered over her shoulder, trying to steal a look at what Lycoris was holding. "What did you get, The? You don't want me to tell Mom where you were shopping, do you?"
Athena was grateful she had already passed off the bag, because she suspected her sister would have made a grab for it otherwise. Thankfully, Lycoris remained hovering a few yards to the side, well out of reach. "I don't care what you tell her," she lied, ignoring Lycoris's increasingly frantic looks. "I'm old enough to visit Pandora's Toybox if I want to. And I'm sure she would be thrilled to know you were following me around the Presidium instead of training."
Benezia's face faltered, but only for a moment. "Fine," she said, tossing her head in an effort to pretend she didn't care. "Be like that. I won't tell Mom and Dad, but only because I'm a good sister."
Athena snorted in disbelief, but Benezia ignored her, whipping around and preparing to stalk off. Before she did, however, her fists flared blue. There was a ripping sound, and Lycoris let out a strangled squeak as the bottom of the bag tore. Both of them made a frantic dive, but it was too late. The plastic package fell onto the walkway, its contents clearly on display.
Benezia's eyes widened in shock. "Athame's ass, you got a-"
"Fuck," Lycoris hissed, trying to scoop the package into her arms. Unfortunately, she slipped in her haste. It dropped to the ground again, skidding several feet in the other direction.
Athena sent it flying back toward them with a snap of her wrist, nearly hitting a shocked salarian's head in the process. She grasped the plastic in a flickering hand and whirled on Benezia, ignoring the stares of several passers-by. "That's it. You're getting warped inside out, you nosey little..."
A large shadow and the sound of a throat clearing behind her made her swallow down the rest of her threat. Her biotics died out, and she turned to face a tall, somber-faced turian in a C-Sec uniform. "Excuse me, Miss. Do we have a problem here?"
"No!" Lycoris clutched the broken bag, blushing and stammering as she twisted the remains. "Uh, no problem at all, ma'am..."
Athena suddenly realized that she was still holding the strap-on in plain sight and hurried to shove it behind her back. Beside her, Benezia remained completely silent. Her mouth hung open, and she stared at the turian with a mixture of horror and embarrassment. "Girls, I'm afraid I'm going to need to see some identification. This isn't the Wards. We can't have fights breaking out in public places."
"We weren't fighting, Officer," Benezia tried to protest, but Athena shot her a glare. Arguing with a C-Sec official was the fastest way to get booked, and then there would be no way to prevent their parents from finding out what she had been up to.
Athena's brain raced as she tried to figure out what to do. To show the C-Sec officer her identification, she'd need both hands, and that would once again put her most recent purchase in full view. There was nothing illegal about buying a strap-on, but she was still embarrassed about getting caught with it. Luckily, Lycoris seemed to snap out of her petrified stupor. She stepped forward, the confident, cocky grin of her public persona firmly in place.
"It was just a little sibling rivalry," Lycoris said, stepping up next to Athena and passing her the bag before sliding an arm around her shoulder. It may have been broken, but the bag was still big enough to wrap around the toy and at least hide it from curious eyes. Lycoris threw a disinterested glance over her shoulder at Benezia. "They both want me, but the younger one can't get it through her head that she's not old enough for me yet."
"Am not," Benezia spluttered. "I mean, I do not!"
At first, Athena wanted to elbow Lycoris right in the ribs for her cocky attitude, but she knew that her lover was just trying to help. It also didn't hurt that Lycoris had landed a blow to Benezia's ego. So, instead of smacking Lycoris, she slung an arm around her waist and cuddled closer to her, playing the part of the adoring girlfriend.
The turian started to say something before shutting her mandibles and taking an extra long look at Lycoris, as though trying to place her. Athena searched her mind for a reason the long appraisal would be warranted. Lycoris had been a bit of a troublemaker in her younger days, but nothing bad enough to involve C-Sec, and she'd calmed down in the past couple of years.
"You… remind me of someone," the C-Sec officer said, bringing her right talon up to stroke across the side of her face and down her chin. "Should I know you?" Before Lycoris could answer, a look of recognition came over the turian's face. "Spirits, you look just like Aria T'Loak! Although you're a little young to be her... You're her kid, aren't you?"
A cocky smile that Lycoris had undoubtedly copied from her father stole across her face. "That's me. Lycoris Tevos." She held out her hand, and it was quickly taken up by the officer. Athena was familiar with this kind of behavior, particularly with people they just met, because she had famous parents, too. But in Lycoris's case, she looked so much like her father that she was often mistaken for the Queen of Omega, and it was very obvious what her parentage was.
The turian's expression became nervous, and she dropped Lycoris's hand a little too soon. Her eyes darted between the three of them, as if she was trying to decide whether it would be worth it to question them further. Athena held her breath, praying that the officer wouldn't ask her to reveal what was behind her back. She could see the scrolling tagline already: 'Commander Shepard's daughter and junior crime lord caught terrorizing Presidium with dildo. Details to follow.'
After what felt like the longest pause in the universe, the turian took a step back. Thankfully, she seemed reluctant to bring the Queen of Omega's daughter and her friends in for disturbing the peace. "Well, it doesn't seem like the three of you were breaking any laws." The officer looked from her to Benezia, who was still pouting with her arms folded petulantly over her chest. "If you and your sister need to work out some aggression, I suggest Armax Arena. You can blast each other with biotics to your hearts' content."
Benezia opened her mouth, probably to protest, but Athena started talking over her before she could get a word out. "Thank you, officer," she said, giving the turian a grateful smile. "We're sorry about this. It won't happen again." She nudged Benezia's side with her free elbow, trying to ignore the way the bag crinkled behind her.
"Yeah. We're sorry," Benezia parroted, although she didn't look happy about it. Even she wasn't spiteful enough to get them all arrested.
"Well then, have a good day, ladies." The turian tipped her head and continued along her route, leaving the three of them standing in the middle of the walkway. The small group of onlookers that had watched the confrontation dispersed, and Athena rounded on Benezia.
"If you ever pull something like that on me again, I'll make sure none of your friends can recognize your face the next time they see you."
Benezia paled to a sickly shade of blue on the edge of white, and her smug expression dropped from her face. "Hey, no need for violence," she said, holding up her hands in a defensive gesture. "It's none of my business how the two of you..."
"Don't even finish that sentence," Athena snapped. "You're right that it's none of your business. Go straight back home, and if you breathe a word of this to Mom and Dad..." Instead of making a threat, she simply glared until Benezia backed down.
"Okay, okay, I'm going," she muttered, scurrying off toward the nearest rapid transit station.
Athena kept watching until she was certain her sister wouldn't be coming back before finally turning to Lycoris. All her cockiness had vanished, and she looked like she was about to be sick instead. "Are you all right?" she asked, squeezing Lycoris's arm through the leather sleeve of her jacket.
"I just got clocked in public by a C-Sec officer while holding a dildo," she said in a tight, shaking voice. "What do you think?"
Gently, Athena began leading Lycoris in the opposite direction. She needed to get her spooked lover home safe before anything worse happened. "I think that this toy had better be worth everything we went through to get it." She took the bag from Lycoris's trembling hands so she wouldn't drop it, smiling when she let out a sigh of relief. "Don't worry. Benezia won't tell, and the last thing that C-Sec officer wanted to do was call your Dad. It's the only reason we got off so easy."
"It's not my Dad I'm afraid of," Lycoris mumbled, but she seemed to relax as they made their way to one of the lifts. "Let's hope you're right about Benezia, or I'll be dead before I even get to wear it."