Chapter 42: Drama Ramen

-Thessia, Security Offices, later

Danger nearly ran up the stairs and through the door to her offices. She pulled off the repair coverall, and tossed it into the now growing pile of junk in a corner.

Wow, what was that all about? Holy macaroni, how is it that the very second I get back, I am right back into a situation that makes zero sense?

She nearly fell into the chair in front of her console, and absently flipped a switch to turn it on.

Good. There's a race on. That will get my mind off all of this.

Danger had just left Matriarch Terriana in her offices, after carrying her down a mountain and bringing her to the compound clinic to have her injuries seen to. The crazy woman had actually demanded to be treated while still in the mercenary's arms, and though it was amusing to see the medics scattered about, unsure at how to proceed, it was decidedly not amusing to Danger to have to parse through her own confusion. The last words the matriarch had said to her echoed in her mind; "I don't want that commando, Danger."

I'm just not sure how to interpret these signals. What does she want from me, and why can't she just say what she means?

It wasn't exactly a declaration of eternal love and devotion to the mercenary, but as Danger sat there and thought about it, the inflection with which she said it certainly implied that there was someone the matriarch wanted… just not the commando.

I don't understand. Snap out of it, Darla. You promised you wouldn't do this, not this time. You promised this time you wouldn't let it turn into some silly soap opera. It's strictly business! Stop it!

Her Omni-tool beeped, and she inwardly sighed in relief at the distraction. Tali had sent her some code to look over, and she had found a logic bomb in it that the quarian had overlooked. Apparently the young engineer had found it while hacking into some citadel security terminals looking for intel on that turian dude Jane was chasing. Now they were frantically sending snippets back and forth, trying to determine the origin of the code, and the purpose of the bomb.

Thank all the gods for Tali. She's the only one who makes any sense around this insane asylum.

But at that thought she paused in her typed reply, and looked up at the ceiling, considering.

Actually, check that. She doesn't make sense either.

Danger reflected on the last thing that Tali had 'said' to her before she left the Normandy. It had been just as cryptically suggestive as the matriarch's words were. Though the mercenary had assured Jane that neither of them had been getting any of 'those' vibes, as the days drew on and she spent more and more time with the quarian… well, she wasn't so sure anymore. Maybe she should have kept her distance, instead of throwing herself into number crunching with Tali every chance she got.

Still, that situation was just a bug in the code at best, and Danger didn't think that there would be much of a future with Tali, no matter how well they got along. Surely the quarian realized it as well, and was just passing the time with Danger's company until she met someone that suited her. There was just too big an age gap, even if it was only a perceived one, and eventually Tali would want to return to her people. At some point, they would have to say goodbye, and one of them would get hurt. Best to just not even consider that situation any further. Danger finished her reply, and sent it off.

Well, if Tali is a bug in the code, I guess that makes Terriana the logic bomb…

She closed her Omni-tool and looked back at the race. Her favorite car wasn't doing very well. She wasn't surprised though. The driver had recently decided to switch to a new brand of performance oil, and it was found that the manufacturer had been cutting corners to save on labor, allowing them to undercut the competition. The driver's crew chief convinced her to make the switch, and the second Danger heard about it, she knew that it was time to stop betting on the number 13.

You're certainly paying for that oil now, aren't you? You're half a tick behind everyone else, girl. You should have fired that idiot. I would have come and led your crew. You're probably the only racer good enough to make me consider leaving behind extractions to join a pit crew.

Still, it was an exciting race and it might be nice for someone else to win for once. She looked back at her Omni-tool, but Tali hadn't yet responded. Danger had sent her a fairly lengthy theory to consider, and it would take the quarian at least a couple hours to make sense of it. That was probably just as well. The human had some things to work out in her mind and talking back and forth with Tali would probably just confuse her more. She powered down her Omni-tool, and slipped it off her wrist. Standing, she placed it carefully in a lower filing cabinet drawer, and closed it up.

Danger just couldn't figure these women out. It seemed like none of them could actually articulate a clear and precise request. Why was that? This had certainly never happened to her before. Before, women, and men for that matter, were very clear in what they wanted from the mercenary. Danger was actually somewhat of a legend back on Earth because of it. Every time she walked into a bar, she was immediately accosted by thrill-seekers, hoping to be the one to finally bed Darla Vance. No one was at a loss for words, or drinks, in those days. It got even worse when Jane came of age and joined the military. Whenever they would coordinate to see each other during Jane's shore leaves, the two of them would have entire dance clubs following them into the bathrooms.

I blame her stupid military uniforms, personally. She just had to go and join up with the Alliance, and then parade around in that ridiculously hot, form-fitting armor. She doesn't even realize how nicely she filled out, I bet. Damn it Janie, I miss you already. I should have stayed with you guys. It would have been so cool. When you went off on your big bad missions to save the universe with Ash, Liara and I could trash your room and just generally be a bad influence on Tali. We'd take her and Garrus to bars, and post pictures of your face on all the dartboards. It would have been so epic. Why did I come back here? I should have just stayed there, and then I wouldn't be trying to figure out this insane asari again. I mean, she's been alive for seven hundred years, right? Surely she's like… had stuff… or something… in that amount of time, right? It should be especially easy for her to articulate whether or not she is into me. Well... I'm probably just reading too much into it. The woman isn't interested in me, and never will be. I'm just creating imaginary opportunities…

She walked back over to her console and switched to another screen. There were a few messages, mostly from Alleria, some from unknown addresses, and one from Michelle. She deleted the ones from the garage manager and the other crap, figuring she already knew what was in them, and opened the most recent one from her turian friend's wife.

Danger

My car is making the clinky sound again. I need you to come and look at it. I promise I didn't hit anything this time. Well, nothing big anyway. Rolus wants to buy a new one but these turian children are already eating three times their weight, especially the girl! We can't afford a new car! Please come by soon.

I have a new recipe I have been dying to try anyway. My cousin got it from a diner waitress back on Earth. I'm sure you will love it; it's loaded with cinnamon. She also says her husband made something for you again. Some companion piece for some stick you have. She wouldn't be very specific, except about what I was to tell you. She said to tell you 'it's in that place where I put that thing that time' and to pick it up the next time you are in the neighborhood. Can you believe she made me memorize that?

Anyway, I also sent over a menu for you. There is a new restaurant in the city! Someone finally spotted the hole in the market and opened a place serving human food! They serve asari stuff as well, but who cares about that. It's bad enough Rolus insists on living here.

…

Don't tell him I said that.

Please come soon. I need to get to the space port to get that turian swill Rolus likes. He's a beast if he doesn't get his nightcap, and then I have to hear his grumbling for weeks. See you soon Danger! You're a doll.

Michelle

Danger couldn't suppress a smile. Michelle really was one of the sweetest women in the entire universe, and she had her hands full with those turian kids. Rolus helped as much as he could, but he had to be at the matriarch's beck and call, so most of his time was spent in the compound. The poor human was left on her own to try to contain the rascals. They had adopted twins, a boy and a girl, who had been orphaned after their father was killed in the line of duty. Their mother had died in childbed a few years prior to that, and so the two children were seized by the turian government until a suitable home could be found. Rolus and Michelle had talked about their options, and eventually settled on adopting one turian child, and her bearing one human one. However, when they traveled to Palaven to make their selection, they immediately fell in love with the twins and took them both.

Danger knew the woman was a little lonely, despite the full house, and she was sure that was the real reason the homemaker kept wrecking her car. The mercenary was the only other human within several miles, and causing damage for her to 'fix' was a good excuse to eat apple pie and chat away. The comment about not being able to afford a new car was probably just a little white lie. Terriana came from a very wealthy background, and paid her employees well. Rolus was the matriarch's advisor, and Danger was sure that he was paid more than an adequate salary to support himself and his family. If Michelle wanted a new car, he would get her one. However, she didn't want a new rover, opting instead to appropriate Danger as her own personal mechanic. For her part, Danger wasn't really complaining. She got free apple pie and cookies out of the deal, and it was nice to chat with another human every now and again.

The mercenary stood and turned to look at the coverall on the floor. She really should get her own rover put back together, especially since she left all of her tools sitting out on the ground and the weather here was unpredictable.

Pft, I don't really need that coverall to put the rover back together. The hard part is done now that the old piece is out, and I didn't spill a drop of gear oil. I'll just put on a different shirt and head back out there like this.

She walked over to the filing cabinet and pulled out a gray shirt. She took off the blue one she was wearing, and threw it in the pile with the coverall. Pulling on the gray shirt, she grabbed a datapad and downloaded her messages to it, smiling as the menu for the new restaurant appeared.

Wow, she was right. They have pretty much everything. I wonder how they are getting all those supplies here. Good find, Michelle. I'll have to make it a point to stop by tomorrow and get your car sorted out. Hopefully the matriarch won't make a habit of following me off site and making me carry her back to the compound. I might not have the strength for that long a trek…

Danger absently pulled off her beret, and scratched at the back of her head, dislodging her fastener. She looked at the corner of the datapad, and noticed it was about two hours away from the evening meal. It would be getting dark soon.

I better get moving. I can't leave that rover and my tools on the mountaintop to rust.

As she walked out of the security offices, she switched off the datapad, stowed it in a pocket, and tried to tame her unruly hair.

-Thessia, Matriarch Terriana's compound, evening

Matriarch Terriana entered the dining area and seated herself in her customary place at the head of the table. She may have been a little early for the evening meal, but she was eager to see Danger again and there had been no meetings to delay her today. In fact, she hadn't taken any meetings since the mercenary had left. There were, of course, a number of invitations to glamorous events held on the Citadel and presented by the legendary Hostess Jennestia, but she wasn't going to be attending any of them without Danger. She told Rolus it was because she was worried about security, but secretly she admitted to herself that she just liked being seen with the mercenary.

Her security guard was never there as her 'official' escort, of course, but everyone knew that Danger was there with Terriana and only Terriana. The matriarch enjoyed her presence and the attention it attracted to have such a tall and attractive human ushering her around and shadowing her movements. In fact, she found that she was actually starting to look forward to these outings, which were once such a chore. It just wouldn't be the same with a different security detail, and she didn't want anyone asking difficult questions about where her 'pet' human was and why they weren't together.

Danger even managed somehow to look the part, not exactly dressing up, but at least trading in her normal cargo style pants for dark slacks, and tucking her black security shirt in. She wouldn't carry visible weaponry to those occasions, as it was frowned upon, but she did have various small tools attached to her belt and Terriana felt sure that the mercenary had at least one hidden blade somewhere in her uniform and was prepared to defend her. Danger was the very image of beauty, efficiency, and utility, and the matriarch may have felt more than a little smug at having her complete and undivided attention.

She took a napkin from the corner of the table, folded it into her lap, and pulled a datapad out of a pocket in her robes. She may as well use the extra time to quickly go over some logs. Udina had sent her the names of the colonists who were to be in the first settlement wave, and she needed to do background checks on all of them to ensure that the humans weren't trying to slip her any of their criminals. It wasn't that she didn't trust Udina; she just wanted to make sure that nothing fell through the cracks and the transition went as smoothly as possible. This deal was too important; for what it meant to the asari nation, and for what it meant to her personally. She wasn't about to lose her security guard and the contract that kept her here over anything that could be easily avoided with a little extra effort on her part.

"Matriarch, pardon me please. I am so sorry this was not already done."

Terriana lifted her datapad and leaned back as the house girl, Larissa, set the plates on the table. She barely spared a glance for the child, who was forty five years old and working in the matriarch's household to earn money for whatever it was the young ones earned money for these days. The girl's mother was the clerk in the local government offices, and so Terriana saw the woman often. She was only too happy to allow the girl to work in the kitchens at the compound, after overhearing a passing comment from the matron stating that her child had started to become unruly and was threatening to leave home if she wasn't allowed to get a job.

Unfortunately, most of the jobs for maidens Larissa's age were either in dirty food dispensaries or dangerous door to door work. There weren't a whole lot of opportunities even on Thessia, as most maidens didn't typically start to get restless until around their hundredth year, and by then they would usually just leave the planet and travel the stars. Larissa was different than most, though. She had the gift of a brilliant mind and was wise beyond her years, and her mother knew that if she left the planet and her studies, she would forever regret it. They tried to come to many compromises, but the one thing they couldn't agree on was the child earning her own money. She had scoured the local city looking for work, but there weren't many places that would hire a maiden her age, and ones that would were not exactly savory. The girl had even come home once with an offer from a strip club at a nearby space station, who wanted a 'younger' look for some of their 'special' clients… which understandably sent her mother into a raging fury.

When Terriana had heard about it, she immediately offered the girl a job. Her own mother once had a serving girl, but a few years ago that one had bonded to her longtime sweetheart and they were currently living in another city, presumably raising young. The house cook had been shouldering the extra duties, and though the master chef did it without complaint, Terriana felt it was the perfect opportunity to solve two problems with one action. The compound was close to the government offices, and so the girl's mother was able to drop her off in the morning for the day's duties, and the two would leave at sundown, after Terriana had taken her evening meal. It kept the child out of the strip clubs and close to home, and the clerk's productivity had increased tenfold because of it. The food seemed better as well, Terriana reflected, no doubt because the ornery old chef enjoyed having company in the kitchens again.

The young girl had also become fairly good at her job, which was an added bonus. She learned from the Cook how to fold the napkins, how to set the silverware, and she always kept the water chilled and lightly sweetened, just how the matriarch liked it. The master chef was even teaching her a little about cooking, and the child had been laying out her experimental sweets all over the compound, which delighted the rest of the household workers. The young asari performed her duties silently and quickly, which pleased Terriana well enough, and so the matriarch instructed Rolus to include the child in the monthly bonuses and allow her use of the private library for her schoolwork and studies. Overall, she was happy with the girl's work…

But one day the child unwittingly invoked the wrath of the elder asari. It was the only time Terriana had ever scolded young Larissa.

The day after Danger had left; the matriarch sat down for her morning meal, but immediately noticed something was out of place. The setting across the table, where Danger always sat, was missing. Matriarch Terriana slowly stood, and it seemed a shadow crept over the room as the woman's skin crackled with dark electricity. She demanded to know why the table was not properly laid out. The miserable child tried to explain that Danger had stopped by the kitchens to steal sweet rolls the previous night and told the girl she was leaving for a while, but Terriana wasn't listening. She was frantically pulling plates and forks and napkins out of a cabinet and piling them all up on Danger's side of the table. When there was nothing left in the drawers, she advanced on the terrified maiden and didn't stop until she was a breath away from the girl's face. Her voice quivered with rage and her speech slowed dangerously…

"That place setting is always set."

Rolus had heard the commotion and rushed in, rescuing the now crying asari maiden and ushering her out of the room. The shadow receded, and Matriarch Terriana left the dining hall, retreating to her offices, which was where she took the remainder of her meals… until today.

Today was different. Today her bodyguard would return and take her customary seat across from the matriarch, and they would speak of the day's events, and comment on the Cook's choice of the evening. Danger would complain that something was surely poisoned, and the matriarch would offer her wine to wash it down. The human would decline, and eye her suspiciously, and she would suppress a smile and hide the laughter in her eyes behind her own glass. When the meal was done, the human would stand first and nod to the house girl, and Larissa would come clear out the plates. Terriana would then stand, and produce her datapad, gesturing to the door; alerting Danger she had logs to go over. The human would grin that idiotic grin that lit up the matriarch's night, and they would sit outside in the garden until Terriana couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. It would be just like it used to be, now that Danger was back.

Yes, now that Danger was back, everything would be just like it was before and maybe a few things would even improve. She was considering moving the security center into her offices. If they knocked out the west wall, it could be rebuilt into a small command center for Danger to work in, and a soundproof glass barrier could be constructed to separate the sections for when the matriarch had classified meetings. It would actually work out better that way anyway, as right now Danger would sit outside the door and wouldn't be able to react very quickly if the matriarch was threatened. If she had a clear view through the glass, she would be able to see any threats before she heard them. It was a good idea, and would put Danger closer to her. Then she could convert the old security offices into proper chambers… or maybe by the time the new construction was finished, that would not even be necessary…

She also wanted to change the mercenary's uniform shirts. The human wore plain black short sleeved shirts that had the symbol of the asari nation on the shoulder, but the matriarch had decided it was time that another symbol was added. If she was going to continue working for the L'Niari household, she should be wearing the house crest as well. It could easily be added underneath the nation symbol, as all house crests were designed to augment it. She would have to sit down with Rolus and plan the changes the following week. For now, she wanted to catch up a little bit with her security guard, and make sure that everything was still… ok.

Matriarch Terriana turned off the datapad and placed it face down on the table. She had barely gotten through the first words of Udina's message, much less the names she would have to research. She couldn't concentrate on that right now. Too many thoughts were flying through her head, and all of them somehow seemed to center on Danger.

She closed her eyes and thought about their interactions earlier. The human had seemed cold and distant, but she hadn't complained when the matriarch demanded that her injury be treated while still in the creature's arms. In fact, Danger had looked decidedly amused as the medics scratched their heads, looked at each other, and shrugged before setting to work on medi-gelling the broken ankle. That was to become one of the matriarch's favorite memories, and she was glad she went up the mountain after her bodyguard.

Terriana had then been tempted to order the confused woman to carry her into her private rooms, but thought better of it. This would require small steps, not giant leaps, and truth be told… She wasn't sure if she was ready just yet. She trusted Danger, of course, putting her life in the mercenary's hands every day… but this was a much more… delicate… matter and would need to be handled very carefully.

In addition, the matriarch still wasn't sure what had happened while her human was away, and she needed to clear that up before putting herself in any position of weakness. Humans were not known for their loyalty, and it didn't escape the matriarch's notice that the very second Danger's arms were free she started pecking away at her Omni-tool, clearly in a conversation with someone. It was most likely her friend Shepard, and Terriana was not at all comfortable with that. Shortly afterward, the mercenary had departed with barely even a goodbye.

No, she would have to tread lightly, and take small steps to improve their old routine and build the level of trust she needed. The matriarch was a patient woman, and if it took another few years before she could claim Danger as hers, then so be it. She just needed to keep the human alive, and here on Thessia, until then.

She drummed her fingers on the table, glancing at the house girl, who was doing her very best to look busy.

"What time is it, girl?"

The child turned around, and her light blue skin had gone nearly white. "It's… it's almost thirty past the hour, Matriarch."

Thirty past the hour… They always dined on the hour, and somehow she had managed to waste an entire thirty minutes daydreaming. She looked across the table, and narrowed her eyes. Danger was not there, and nothing had been disturbed. She turned her gaze back to the miserable young asari, who was aware of the impending Terriana storm and trying to make herself as small as possible near the cabinets.

"Where is Danger, girl?"

"Matriarch… She's… Um… She said… Well… I ah…"

Terriana was losing her patience. "Spit it out, Larissa!"

"Shesnottakingmealshereanymore!" the poor child rushed the words out and then rushed herself out the door, leaving the fuming matriarch alone.

She's not taking meals here anymore? What nonsense is this? Where will she take meals if not here? We'll see about this.

The asari matriarch pushed away from the table, and took several controlled breaths. After she was satisfied that her anger was sufficiently mastered, she left the dining hall and walked down the hallway leading to the security offices.

-Thessia, Danger's Security offices

Terriana arrived at the door, and lifted her hand to knock. She hesitated for a fraction of a second, and then lowered it again, instead punching her override code into the console next to the door, and walking in unannounced.

"What is going on in here?" she demanded as she stepped inside, but she stopped suddenly, and had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. Danger, and her office, were both a complete mess… and something about it struck the matriarch as incredibly cute.

The human was seated on a chair, reclining slightly with one booted foot on the console table and the other stretched in front of her on the floor. She was watching some kind of vid with cars driving in long circles, and she was wearing her typical cargo pants with a sleeveless gray shirt that had some grease stains across it. Terriana had to consciously force herself not to stare. The human was extremely well formed and the shirt accentuated the light muscles that adorned her arms and shoulders, as well as her… other… assets. Her hair was only half pulled back, leaving the rest of it flying in random directions, and she was eating some sort of stringy food from a cardboard carton with a couple of sticks. Slowly, Danger looked at the matriarch, and replied around a mouthful of noodle, "I'm having dinner and watching a race. Is something going on? Do you need something?"

"Is… Is something… Excuse me?" The matriarch looked around again and noticed some things were out of place. "Danger, where is your bed? What happened in here? These offices are a mess!"

Danger just looked at the carton of noodle, stirring it. "I threw my cot out. I don't think that your pet commando was ever potty trained."

The matriarch blinked a few times and shook her head, completely confused at the situation. "Danger, what is all this?" She gestured to the mess of datapads and tools all over the floor.

Danger just shrugged and said, "I'm a merc. What do you expect?" as if that explained everything.

Terriana was stunned. This had not been at all what she was expecting. "What do I expect? For a start, I expect you to be present at the evening meal, properly attired, and ready for the regularly scheduled events."

Danger barely reacted, instead looking back at the race. "I thought Udina covered all this with you." She chewed another mouthful of noodle.

Terriana brushed some datapads that were showing pictures of brightly colored cars off a nearby chair and sat down. "Udina and I went over the terms of your contract, yes, but I didn't think that…"

"That's your problem, Matriarch," Danger said, absently pointing at her with a stick full of noodles. "You don't think anyone else has a say in anything, and this time you're wrong. I had the contract drawn out this way for a reason. I wanted to make sure that my duties didn't interfere with Yhamira's, and so Udina and I sat down and worked out a plan."

"Yhamira is no longer in my employ, Danger."

"I get that, but that's not really my fault."

"Of course it's your fault! It's your fault I even hired her!"

Danger took her foot off the console and sat up, depositing the cardboard carton onto the table. "My fault? How is any of this my fault? I've only ever done what you asked, Matriarch, and let me tell you it's a hell of a lot more than any other merc would put up with. Just what exactly do you want from me?"

Terriana was speechless. There it was: Her opportunity. She looked into Danger's pleading emerald eyes, and all of her thoughts from earlier came rushing back to her; thoughts of moving the human's security center, thoughts of adding her own house name to the security uniforms, thoughts of being safe and secure in Danger's arms, as she was carried slowly down the mountain, thoughts of not converting this room into proper chambers... All the fear and questioning could end right now, right here, in this room, if only she had the courage to speak, and lay out all her secrets.

Terriana closed her eyes and took a breath…

…

…

…

And then let it back out.

She couldn't do it. Not yet, not so soon after the reunion. She needed more time to contemplate, and reflect, and calculate. She mastered herself again, and when she opened her eyes, she saw that Danger was nodding, in a knowing, but almost disappointed way.

"Yea… yea that's kinda what I thought, Matriarch." She shrugged her shoulders in defeat and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "So tell me. Why are you here?"

Terriana closed her eyes and rubbed her temple. The moment was gone, but she still wanted to at least get Danger back on board with their schedule. "I came here to find out why you were not at the evening meal."

"I explained that."

"I don't accept that explanation."

Danger raised her eyebrows, but did not respond.

Terriana reached across the table and grabbed the cardboard carton Danger had been eating out of. She stirred the noodle substance a couple times, and then took a bite of it, scrunching up her face.

"This is disgusting, Danger. You cannot possibly expect to live on this. I need you fully alert and prepared for anything." She closed the container and dropped it in a nearby canister.

"Hey! That's my dinner! What was that all about?" Danger stared at the matriarch, who merely crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.

"That is completely unfit for consumption. What is it, anyway? Some kind of cobweb?"

"No, it's… it's a human dish. Ramen. It's all the rage back on Earth, and Michelle found a guy who is working down in the city as a specialty chef. He's trying to bring a little culture to you poisonous wine guzzling asari."

"I forbid you to ever have that in this compound again."

Danger's jaw dropped and she shook her head, feeling a particularly nasty headache coming on. Terriana had always been a little eccentric, and Danger kind of liked that quality in her… but today she was acting just plain crazy.

First she chased me up a mountain, then she wouldn't get out of my arms, even for her treatment, and now she's in here pitching a fit over ramen… Ramen! I should have been more specific in the contract, stating she was not to stalk me during down time or something.

She shook her head in wonder at the stone cold asari staring at her from across the room. That contract was supposed to simplify matters, but instead, it seemed to be adding more complications than anything. The matriarch had actually come to the security offices, and thrown away her ramen. Terriana had clearly lost her mind.

Danger leaned forward and buried her face in her hands.

This can't be happening.

After a few seconds, she lifted her head.

"Matriarch, what is it you require?"

"I require my bodyguard to actually guard me. That's what I require."

"There is no threat in the dining room, Matriarch." Danger was starting to get a little exasperated, and it was just adding to her already painful frustration at their confusing relationship. She couldn't read Terriana, and she was beginning to wonder if asari her age were even interested in… that level of involvement. Clear this one wasn't, and instead seemed more engrossed in tormenting the mercenary every chance she got.

I was right Jane, these asari do live just to make individual humans miserable. You better watch out for Liara. I bet that 'innocent and inexperienced maiden' act is just that, an act. She's fucking with you.

"I don't feel safe. What if someone tried to drug the food or the wine, and then came in to kidnap me as I slumbered at the table?"

"Well," Danger considered, "That is a very good point, except if you had gotten drugged from the food or the wine, ten to one, I was too… So, you should actually be happy I'm in here eating ramen instead. If someone poisons and kidnaps you, I can be immediately on the trail."

Terriana opened her mouth to retort, and then closed it again. Danger actually might have the better of her on this round. Time to try a different approach.

"What happened to your face?"

Danger narrowed her eyes. "Exactly what are you trying to say, Matriarch?"

Now she's going to tell me I'm ugly, to boot. Lovely. Go for it. Kick me while I'm down. I like it.

"I… What? I am not trying to say anything, Danger. You clearly were injured while you were away."

"Right. Well, I'm a mercenary, and mercenaries get into fights sometimes."

Terriana wasn't buying it. Danger was a mercenary, yes, but she wasn't the kind that went looking for trouble. "Did Shepard do that to you? Is that some sort of… human… mating thing?"

"Is it… What? Matriarch, what are you talking about? Mating?" Danger shook her head. That question had just come completely out of nowhere. "No, I got my face bashed in with an assault rifle. It's not a big deal, and no I didn't 'mate' with Jane. Are you crazy? Because you know, you can tell me if you are. Really."

Wow. That's just… I don't even know what that is.

Terriana barely flinched. "When did you get attacked?"

"Look, it's not a big deal. It won't affect my performance here, and I'll deal with it when my contract is up."

That time the matriarch did flinch. She didn't like the way Danger talked about the contract being up, as if she was really considering leaving when it was over.

"Obviously it is already affecting your duties. You are in here instead of guarding my evening meal. You never know what threat could be present. Perhaps they would use a poison that does not affect humans in the same way as it affects asari." She smirked a little at Danger, almost challenging the human to retort.

Danger closed her eyes and tried very, very hard to keep herself calm. The matriarch was really reaching with that one. The asari were about as similar to humans as an alien species could get, and generally both would succumb to the same types of neurotoxins, though the asari tended to have a more pronounced sensitivity due to their natural telepathic and biotic abilities.

"Matriarch…"

"Damn it, stop calling me that!" Terriana closed her eyes and clenched her fists. Every time Danger used that word to address her, it reminded her of her position in asari society and made her painfully aware that she was no longer a young and attractive maiden. She wanted the human to think of her as her companion and someday, lover, not as an old political windbag with one foot in the grave unable to pursue romance.

The force of the woman's words pushed Danger back in her chair. She had never before heard the matriarch curse, and it was actually kind of scary. The room seemed to darken, and the mercenary thought she saw the beginning glows of an almost black biotic field radiating from Terriana's skin. That was unusual. Up until now, Danger had never seen the asari call forth biotics.

"I… I don't understand. I'm just… being… respectful I guess. I don't know… I mean… I'm not trying to make you feel… I… um… yea." Danger raised her hands in defeat, and wished for the first time she was an asari herself. Maybe if she was and could read Terriana's mind, they wouldn't be going back and forth like this. At the very least, maybe she would know when to stop talking and not end up sounding like a complete idiot.

The matriarch buried her face in her hands and tried to master herself. This was all going so wrong. Danger was acting like a… like a… like a mercenary. This was not at all how this night was supposed to go. They were supposed to take the evening meal, and sit in the garden, and life was supposed to go back to normal. Danger was supposed to want to slip back into the routine, but it seemed like the human hadn't missed being here at all. Terriana blinked back a tear, and channeled a small biotic field to focus on, so she didn't have to feel the pain in her chest.

She looked back up at her security officer. "Danger, I requested your presence here instead of another mercenary because of the unique service you are able to provide me. If you are no longer interested in performing the duties I request of you, then I will release you from your contract, and I will settle for a lesser security team."

Danger picked up on the hurt in Terriana's voice as she finished the statement. The human turned her head slightly to the side, and studied the matriarch's face. She now felt a small bit of regret for being so cold when carrying the woman down the mountain, and so glib with the discussion here. The asari's face had aged since Danger was here last, and she hadn't even noticed until now, because she was being a stubborn jerk. It wasn't an obvious aging, and chances are, no one but Danger would even notice, but the human had made it a point to memorize every detail of the matriarch's skin when the woman was distracted, and so she now had a detailed roadmap.

The matriarch had changed during their time apart as well, and it was all her fault. For the very first time in her life, Danger was starting to doubt herself.

There's something there. There's definitely something there. I should just walk over there and…

Danger closed her eyes and nodded slowly. When she opened them, the look of fear on Terriana's face immobilized her.

She thinks I'm saying yes to being released. Please, any god that might be listening, don't let me fuck this up when I open my mouth!

Danger inhaled, and said, "So, uh…" she wiped her hand across her greasy shirt nervously a couple times. "I hear that Cook has improved her handling of Earthen tomatoes. Rolus told me she's even stopped setting them on fire in protest of their texture. You don't suppose she'll be mad at being kept another hour, do you?" Danger absently tried to push back a particularly unruly lock of hair and held her breath, hoping beyond hope that she didn't just make a complete idiot out of herself. The matriarch looked at her for a few moments, processing the words, and then her face visibly relaxed. Danger exhaled the breath she had been holding, and grinned idiotically.

"No, Danger, I don't think she will be mad. I will have Rolus compensate her."

Danger nodded once, and then stood, walking over to the filing cabinet. She pulled out one of her security shirts, and without thinking, pulled off the gray mess, threw it on the floor, and pulled on the black uniform. Terriana raised her eyebrows and told herself to look away, but Danger's stomach was just as subtly chiseled as her arms were, and the sight of the human's pale skin and the way her cargo pants sat low on her hips awakened flames in the matriarch she had never felt before. She closed her eyes, and shook her head to clear it, only opening them again at the sound of the human's voice, this time somewhere behind her.

"You coming, Matriarch? I'm starving." Danger was leaning against the doorframe, pulling her hair back into a much neater and more manageable tangle at the base of her neck. She crossed her arms, and grinned idiotically.

Terriana stood, unconsciously adjusted her robes, and slowly walked toward the door, trying to compose herself. She stopped just in front of the human, and as she was not able to wear her heeled shoes today due to her injury, she actually had to look up at her bodyguard for once. Quietly, she said, "Danger, I am just Terriana to you."

The matriarch bit her lower lip, and for a split second Danger thought it actually was going to happen… but after a moment the woman seemed to yield to some inner struggle, and she turned away and walked down the hall. The human slowly let out the breath she had been holding.

Well, I guess that's about as close to an 'I love you' as you are going to get out of her, Darla. It's a start I suppose, and hell, you didn't really want to live on ramen for the next three years, right? Right.

Danger nodded to herself in satisfaction, and followed the asari diplomat out the door. That night, after the evening meal, she took her place next to the matriarch on 'their' bench to guard her studies. Danger sat like she always did, leaning back lazily and crossing her arms, and Terriana fussed at her datapad, like she always did.

It wasn't quite the same as before, and the mercenary decided it might be best to keep a little physical distance between them so the matriarch could work out internally whatever it was she needed to, but in the end, it still felt like home. Even the glimpse of an unusual shadow in the distance couldn't ruin Danger's mood tonight. She just mentally logged it for future reference, and kicked her left foot a few times to loosen a hidden blade.

Matriarch Terriana didn't have to negotiate with the Alliance to amend Danger's contract, and Danger didn't have to live on ramen.