The Turians were getting checked over, the small medbay already crowded with the Female Krogan and Mordin with his equipment. Tarquin stayed off to the side in the galley, insisting that his men get looked over first and that his injuries weren't severe enough to warrant attention. The Primarch had come from the War Room to observe the happenings, Tarquin very pointedly avoiding eye contact with him.
"He's going to want to talk to you eventually, you know." Persephone said next to him, having changed out of her armor into a hoodie and pair of sweatpants, her feet bare.
"I know, I'm just hoping he sees it how you did." Tarquin said, "I still feel like it was a bad call."
"That's because it's the only outcome you went through," Persephone said shrugging, but grimaced slightly in pain.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, looking over at her.
"I'll feel a lot worse tomorrow." She said and reached up slowly, taking her hair down from the twist, rifling through it a little with her fingers to loosen it.
"Spirits." Tarquin whispered and she looked at him.
"What?" She asked and he looked away, the thin skin of his neck darkening slightly.
"Nothing." He said, his mandibles twitching. She watched him for a moment before pushing away from the island they had been leaning against.
"I need to take a shower." She said, going to move away from him.
"Do you need help?" He asked and she whipped back around to look at him, a small smirk pulling at her lips as his eyes widened. "I mean, getting to the shower, not with the actual showering. Because you're a little stiff-sore, I mean you're a little sore and-Spirits I'm going to stop talking now." He said, putting a hand to his face as his neck darkened considerably.
"I think I'll manage." Persephone said, "But thanks for the offer?" He made a sound, still not looking at her and she chuckled, shaking her head as she walked away towards the elevator. When she was gone, he felt someone watching him and he looked around, seeing Lieutenant Vega staring at him, his expression carefully guarded. He must have seen the whole exchange. He didn't have the chance to think about why that seemed to bother him as it was then the Primarch came over.
"Tarquin, I need to speak with you about what happened today." He said and Tarquin gave another sigh.
"Yes, father."
Persephone was sitting cross legged on the cot when she heard footsteps on the stairs, looking up from the datapad.
"Hey." She said, seeing Tarquin standing there.
"The AI told me you stayed down here." He said quickly, "Is it okay if I…"
"Find a seat." She said and he gave her a grateful look, clearing off a crate and sitting down heavily. "What's up?"
"The Primarch and I had a nice little talk." He said.
"How'd it go?"
"He did see it your way." He admitted, "That taking the long way really was the best decision, despite the casualties."
"But?"
"But my role as the head of the Ninth Platoon has been altered somewhat."
"How so?"
"I will no longer lead them in a combat capacity, but in a non-combat tactical role." Tarquin said, "In a few days, once everyone is patched up and back to where they need to be, one of my men will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and will lead what's left on the field, while I coordinate with them on the Normandy as they scout the area around the bomb site."
"Okay." Persephone said, sensing there was more.
"But when the area is sufficiently mapped, I will be joining them on Tuchanka to help diffuse it as I have the most experience with heavy ordinance."
"How do you feel about this?" She asked, setting her datapad aside and he gave a deflating sigh, his shoulders dropping.
"Relieved? As bad as that sounds." Tarquin said, "I was never good at front line stuff, was always better in a tactical advisory role. Knowing all the information, seeing every angle of the board and how it all fits together. You know what I mean?" She made a sound, nodding. "And after this is over, I don't know what he'll do with me."
"I'm sure it'll all work out, Tarquin." Persephone said, reaching over and laying her hand on his arm. "Did you get checked out by the Doctor?"
"Yes." He said nodding, "She was very insistent. Honestly, there are Generals who could take a lesson or two from her."
"How do you feel about being on the Normandy?" Persephone asked.
"This is an amazing ship." Tarquin said, "There isn't a Turian on Palaven who hasn't heard of Commander Shepard or Garrus Vakarian. Stopping Saren Arterius, defeating the Collectors, they're almost legendary."
"I had no idea."
"How could you not know? They were all over the extranet last year and a couple of years before that." Tarquin said and she sighed, giving him a pained expression. "What?"
"I wasn't...around, a couple of years ago."
"What?"
"Tarquin, I'm only about a year old." Persephone said and he blinked at her.
"What?"
"I was genetically modified to fully grown and raised in a laboratory." She said, "Commander Shepard is my mother, biologically speaking, but I didn't meet her until a few weeks ago."
"Did she...know about you?" he asked delicately.
"She didn't even know I was her daughter until my father noticed physical similarities between us and she had our DNA compared." Persephone said.
"Who's your father?"
"Major Kaidan Alenko."
"The Second Human Spectre is your father."
"I have his eyes, apparently." She said with a shrug and he looked away from her.
"Spirits," He said, "Talk about a pedigree. I thought it was bad that my father is the new Primarch of Palaven."
"It's not so bad." Persephone said, picking at her nails a little. "The term Spectre doesn't mean anything to me, so to me they're just Madeline and Kaidan."
"That makes sense." Tarquin said, "Persephone, can I...ask you something?"
"By all means."
"Are you bonded with anyone?"
"Bonded?" She asked, her brow furrowing slightly.
"You know…" She continued to stare at him curiously, "Mated." The skin of his neck darkened again.
"You're asking if I'm seeing anyone?" She asked and his blush deepened.
"Yes." Tarquin said and her thoughts immediately went to James, but that was…
"No, I'm not with anyone." The corners of his mandibles lifted in what might have been a small smile.
"It's getting late, I should leave you to rest." Tarquin said and stood from the crate, "Goodnight, Persephone."
"Goodnight, Tarquin." She said and watched as he left. When he was gone, she fell back onto the cot, a goofy smile pulling at her lips.