CHAPTER 8

Captain Veracia, upon hearing of Rosemary's new venture as a coffee store manager, doubled her workload. Rosemary was in charge of directing construction while Imitha focused on shipments. Still, Rosemary hovered over Imitha, watching everything she did. She couldn't help it. Control was her thing. Between the doubled workload at C-Sec and working on the new Wakey Brews, Rosemary's energy was stretched thin.

She was even busy at night. She played with Keeya in the evenings, and fed and bathed Keeya and Oliver before tucking them in bed. Before he turned in for the night, Balint worked with Oliver on his homework. Oliver was doing well at his new school. He was making friends his own age again, but he still preferred spending most of his free time with Keeya.

As Keeya biotically levitated a set of blocks, Rosemary exchanged messages with Imitha, arguing over the color theme of Wakey Brews. Rosemary didn't want it to be exactly like the old one. She had refused co-ownership of the new store, and had only accepted the position of its manager. She had insisted on merging her tastes with Imitha's, but that was a struggle in itself. Rosemary liked cool colors, and straight lines. Imitha liked warm colors, and frilly, scalloped lines. And she was obsessed with periwinkle. She didn't know that Balint was standing over her, reading their back-and-forth until she set a block for Imitha's omni-tool for three hours.

"Do you two ever get along?"

Rosemary stiffened, suddenly aware of how close Balint was. "Um... yeah? I think so. We're best friends. We just need a little space now and then."

The tips of his gloved talons were touching her shoulder. Okay! Too close, too close!

The door to the townhouse opened and her father stumbled in. Balint raised his head, suddenly alert. "Hi... Rosie. I'ma off too bed. 'Night." Stinking of booze, John Fletcher shuffled past Balint, Keeya, and his children without even looking at them.

"Something needs to be done," Balint told her quietly.

She knew that. Ever since Balint had told her the truth, that her father spent his days in bars, drowning himself in whiskey – she realized that she was now officially the head of the family. At least on Earth, he had had work to do... an excuse to not drink himself to death. The responsibility of her family's well-being was all on her, now. Every time she tried to talk to him, to get him to do something with his life, he had waved her aside. "I'm fine," he would always say.

Rosemary was beyond sad now. She was getting angry, and more hurt. Her mother, his wife, would not have stood for the man he was now. He had stopped being a father the day her mother died.

"I'll talk with him tomorrow," she promised Balint.

XOXOXOXO

When Nuni invited K'Mohi and Rosemary to a new club in the Wards, Rosemary asked to bring Saeli and Imitha. It was going to be a girls' night out – because she seriously needed it. With C-Sec work, Wakey Brews work, her father, the worry about Oliver and Keeya... and the gigantic mess of sexual tension between her and Balint – she needed the time-out.

She should have known better. The stimulation unit in Nuni's suit was on the fritz, and the quarian was horny. Just a few days ago, Rosemary had heard moans that weren't Nuni's coming from Nuni's suit. "Yes," Nuni had told her. "I am watching porn vids. Now leave me be."

Rosemary shuddered at the memory. With Nuni's... situation being what it was, she couldn't have really been surprised by her choice in venue. She was standing at the exact spot Nuni had said they would be meeting – which was right in front of a strip club.

Rosemary was the first one there, but minutes later, Imitha joined her in staring at the building. "Oh... my," Imitha breathed. The skin beneath the turian's face plates pinkened. "I should have known," Rosemary lamented under her breath. She said to meet up across from the Flux nightclub. She had assumed that that would be their meeting spot, not their destination. In neon pink letters, the word 'Naughty' winked at them.

"Is this a strip club with males... or females," Imitha wondered aloud.

"It alternates," the turian doorman, or rather, doorwoman, told them. She was barefaced, and wearing quality armor. Did strip clubs normally see that much violence? Then Rosemary looked around, noticing for the first time, krogans in Blood Pack armor patrolling the streets. Gang violence was becoming rampant, she remembered, judging by the reports she'd been filing.

"Alternates," Imitha repeated, looking confused.

"The entertainment," the turian confirmed, smirking. "Today our strippers are male. Tomorrow, female."

"Ooh, excellent," K'Mohi said, clapping her hands. Yadai K'Mohi didn't look like a Spectre today. She looked ready for fun, in a slinky, clinging red dress.

Saeli was the last to arrive. Her dress didn't expose as much skin as K'Mohi's, but it was alluring all the same, in glittering plum-colored silk. Rosemary and Imitha looked at each other, both suddenly feeling underdressed. Imitha's tunic dress was at least black, and form-fitting. Rosemary had just worn a modest blouse under a leather cropped jacket. At least her skirt was tight-ish.

The inside of the club was bathed in flickering, hot pink light, and rumbling with low, synthetic beats. It was also packed. Males and females were crowding the stage, shouting and shrieking at the human male stripper wearing... a skimpy C-Sec uniform?

The sight deeply amused Rosemary and Nuni. The four of them found a table in the corner of the club, where they could at least hear each other talk. Rosemary had grown close with Nuni, and kind of close with K'Mohi in the short time she'd known them. She was still intimidated by the Spectre, but seeing her like this... relaxing, enjoying the view, made her seem more... not-terrifying. Still, K'Mohi was presently eyeing the human stripper with a predatory grin on her face, like she could leap across the club and bite him.

Rosemary introduced Saeli and Imitha to K'Mohi and Nuni. K'Mohi smiled at Imitha. "I've heard about you. You're the one who dyed her squad's uniform purple."

"I-It was wine-colored," Imitha protested. "And how...?"

"One of my fellow Spectres, a new recruit, was in that squad. He said that you were an... unusual turian."

Imitha groaned. "I'll never live that down..."

Saeli took pity on her friend and gestured to the stripper that had just come on stage, a batarian. "Like the view?"

K'Mohi's mouth curled in a smile. "Very much so. Mm, he is built!"

"Ignore her," Nuni apologized for her friend. "She hasn't had sex in three days, so she's feeling a bit randy. Yes, I'll have whatever's cheap, and strong," she told the server standing by their table. The rest of them gave their drink orders and leaned back in their seats, trying to get comfortable.

"Hey, three days is a long time for me," K'Mohi defended herself. "I have a high-stress job!"

"Turians are the same way," Imitha said. "To get rid of the stress, we either fight or have sex. We're pretty casual about relations, compared to most species, at least."

Rosemary didn't buy it. "You haven't..."

Imitha shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "No, not recently. But hey, that's what's porn for. And... toys."

Nuni patted Imitha on the back. "I wholeheartedly agree! I think I like you already!"

The server came back with their drinks. Rosemary felt out of place with her beer. Why couldn't she have ordered a girly drink, like her friends?

"Keelah, I can't wait until I can take off this mask! Until this suit is optional! It kind of limits one's sexual partners."

Rosemary couldn't believe they were talking about this. Then again, considering where they were...

Imitha had to ask. "Okay, I need to know. What are everyone's preferences? I mean, we all know Rosemary's."

Everyone laughed. Rosemary made a face. "Hardy har har."

Saeli shrugged and picked up her flute of champagne. "I've always been partial to quarians." She winked at Nuni.

Nuni blinked. "Uh... I'm not sure I roll that way...?"

"Your loss," Saeli winked. "You know... There's male, there's female, and then there's... asari."

"Here, here," K'Mohi agreed. Saeli and the Spectre clinked glasses. Imitha, Nuni, and Rosemary all scoffed.

Imitha sipped her drink. Rosemary didn't know what she was drinking, only that it was green, and smelled fruity. "I think I'd like anyone that showed any interest. I kind of scare guys away."

"Aw, sweetie..." Rosemary felt bad for Imitha. Sure, she was crazy emotional for a turian, and she had done very, very badly in the military... but she was a beautiful person. She liked soft, warm colors and flowers. There was nothing wrong with that.

"I'm not a very good turian," Imitha sighed. To lighten the conversation, she asked Rosemary, "So... why are you so into turian guys anyway? You always change the subject."

Rosemary squirmed. "I know, it's just... I've been feeling grossly unattractive in front of turians lately. It's put a damper on my fetish, honestly." It also made handling Balint's advances easier, she admitted quietly to herself. In her mind, he wasn't really flirting with her. He was just a flirtatious guy. It didn't mean anything, she told herself. Rosemary told her friends about the conversation she had heard between the two turian officers.

It was Imitha's turn to look sympathetic. "Aw, sweetie," Imitha soothed.

"Do not assume that all turians don't find humans attractive, Rosemary," Saeli ordered her. "To each their own, as humans say. Are most humans attracted to turians?"

"No... I don't think so."

"But you find them sexy," K'Mohi pressed.

"Yeah..."

The Spectre grinned. "It's the ridges, isn't it?"

R-Ridges? Turian... things are ridged? Just thinking about it turned Rosemary's face beet-red.

Saeli chuckled. "What I'm trying to say, Rosemary, that there might be turians that are partial to humans, even soft ones."

Rosemary wasn't convinced.

K'Mohi shrugged, and glanced at the stage. The batarian had finished his routine, and an asari came out to clean the stage for the next act. "Why not? Take human men for example? They may not be ridged, but damn, their muscles can be damn sexy. Most turian men are lean and muscled, but the human I sexed last week? He was big, muscular, and mm!"

Rosemary was already impressed with the man, whoever he was, knowing he could keep up with the Spectre.

K'Mohi didn't stop there. "Now that human was really into azure. Damn, what was his name? Weyga? No, Vega. The Normandy's captain. Wouldn't mind bumping into him again..."

All the sex talk was embarrassing Imitha and Rosemary. Saeli looked at them, her mouth quirked. "Sorry, hons. I forgot you two were almost virgins."

Nuni and K'Mohi laughed. "We're not virgins," Rosemary grumbled. "It's just been a... long time."

Nuni snorted. "You're what, twenty-nine? How long has it been?"

"Mm... just over a decade," Rosemary mumbled.

K'Mohi was astounded. "Seriously? Do human parts just close up shop after that long? … You sure you can get it working again?"

"Shut up."

XOXOXOXO

The next morning, the conversation of the previous night lingered in Rosemary's mind. As did the memory of her co-workers talking... Balint was unaware of her mood, and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Morning, Rosemary. Sleep well?"

Rosemary grunted.

"Bad night, hm? You should have told me; I would have helped," he teased.

Rosemary snapped. She whirled on Balint, eyes flashing green. "Just STOP IT, okay?! I know I'm not attractive to you, so stop teasing me!"

Balint's mandibles flared with surprise at her angry outburst. "Wait, what?"

She wasn't done. She jabbed him in the chest with her finger, railing, "I know I'm too soft! With... two huge fat globs on my chest! So stop with the flirts, ALL RIGHT?!"

She hadn't yelled like that in a long time. Balint blinked. Then he put down his coffee. He leaned forward on the counter towards her. "What brought this on, Rosemary? Something you heard," he asked, his voice calm.

His calm was catching. Rosemary didn't answer him, though.

"I do happen to find you hot as hell. You're a very attractive woman, and I know you find me attractive," he said, his expression unchanging. "To be honest, I'm surprised we haven't done the deed already. Or are you just a tease?"

Rosemary's heart started beating faster at his words. "I..." She hadn't been ready for this directness. How could she answer him when she herself didn't know the answer? Was she a tease? Rosemary grabbed her key card and side-stepped around Balint. "I... I've got to go."

Flustered, she hurried off to work.

XOXOXOXO

Veracia hassled her all morning, criticizing a stack of reports she had filed. She barely listened. When he finally left her alone, she went to the kitchen to make coffee. She needed some serious de-stressing...

While the coffee brewed on the stone, she looked out the kitchen window, at the buildings across the way. Absentmindedly, she brushed crystals of sugar off the counter, and accidentally brushed some on herself. Then she saw it. A red dot of light on her chest.

Acting on pure instinct, Rosemary fell to the ground just as the glass shattered above her. She winced and grabbed her arm. Her hand came away red. Damn it.

Officers ran into the kitchen, guns drawn. Veracia, holding up a pistol, glared down at her. "What did you do, Fletcher?"

Rosemary glared back. "I just shot myself, Veracia. What do you think happened?"

Veracia's eyes flashed with anger. Ignoring him, Rosemary stayed on the floor and connected her omni-tool to Balint's. "I got shot, Balint. I... might need your help."

XOXOXOXO

An hour later, a woman came to escort Rosemary with an emergency meeting with the asari councilor. She was fully armed, a fact which comforted Rosemary at the moment.

"Call me later, Rosemary," Nuni told her, sounding worried. "That's an order."

"Yeah, okay."

"Ms. Fletcher?"

"Yeah, I'm coming." Rosemary's arm throbbed. One of the officers had slapped some medi-gel and a bandage on the graze, but it still stung. She examined her jacket and almost moaned aloud when she saw the tear. No, no, no...! Her favorite jacket. Ruined. She folded it over her arm. Then she saw her boots and almost cried. Blood! On her favorite boots! She knew it was ridiculous to get so emotional over a pair of shoes, but... Oh...

Rosemary didn't know why she needed an escort. They were in the embassies, for crying out loud. It was packed with Citadel Security officers. There was even a Spectre here and there. Granted, she had just been shot at, but that had been from a building across the way!

Rosemary tried not to groan when she realized that the escort was taking her to the Citadel Tower the long way, down alleys and side-streets, like the worst sort of shortcut. Her mind paused. Wait a minute... She knew they were heading toward the Tower, but this shortcut was taking a lot of unnecessary turns. When the asari guard glanced back at her, she maintained a bored expression, all the while her mind was buzzing with suspicion. She had assumed that one of councilors would summon her, but had she asked for a badge? Any sort of identification? … No. No, she had not. Stupid, stupid Rosebush, she cursed herself mentally.

They were passing a back-alley bar when a loud, rumbling growl got Rosemary and her escort's attention.
"Get off of me!" A very large krogan, even large by krogan standards, was growling at a salarian hanging off of his arm, obviously drunk.

"Nnnoooo, noooo... tell me again, your name," the salarian hiccupped.

"None of your business, slug," the krogan snarled.

"I heeeeard your pal sssay your name... isss Mordin. That's a salarian same. I mean... 'name'." The salarian hiccuped again, and giggled.

"My name is Jogh," the krogan gritted out. "My nephew's name is Mordin. A lot of krogans are named Mordin these days."

"That's... f-f-funny," the salarian giggled into the krogan's armor.

"That's it!" Roaring, the krogan threw the salarian against the wall of the bar, where he slumped, unconscious.

Rosemary's escort shook her head at the display and turned back to look at Rosemary. She shouted when she realized she was gone.

Right in the middle of the krogan and salarian's altercation, Rosemary had side-stepped behind a stack of crates and crouched down. She jumped when the krogan threw the salarian, and froze when her eyes met the krogan's. He towered over the crates looking at her. Panicked, she put a finger to her lips and shook her head.

"Bad news," her 'escort' talked into her omni-tool. "I lost Fletcher. I don't know where she could have gone. I turned around and she'd just... vanished! Yeah, I know. No, I don't know how she knew I wasn't legit!"

From between the crates, Rosemary could see the asari pacing. She glanced at the krogan, Jogh. "What are you looking at, tiny," the krogan grunted. The asari quickly walked away. Rosemary let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding.

Jogh stared down at her. "You're welcome, human."