Chapter 5

Early the following morning, Melina nearly flew out of her bed when she heard loud clanks in the next room. Her hand started out stretching for her Carnifex on the table when her brain clicked together that it was Teyshan, most likely cleaning his armor once more. Sighing softly the woman scuttled back under her covers an buried her face into her pillow. Teyshan was never quiet about dropping his armor off. The loud noises continued for a bit until the hotel room had grown too quiet. Her eyes shot open in unease, a dull feeling growing in the pits of her stomach. Reaching back out for her Carnifex, she slowly pulled herself out of her bed an kneeled down on the far side. Biting her bottom lip, her heart began hammering inside her chest. Teyshan would always made soft noises, she could sense that he was around, yet she felt nothing an she began to grow worried. Her door creaked open an Melina shot up from far side of her bed. Her Carnifex aimed at her intruder.

To her relief only the Prothean stood at her door looking a bit puzzled, one hand raised. Breathing a sign of relief, Melina slowly put down the Carnifex on her bed an shook her head.

"Sorry." she smirked weakly.

"Your memory still haunts you Melina." Teyshan noted.

"Yeah, hate to admit it but it does."

Walking up to the woman, Teyshan grabbed her by her shoulders an closed his eyes. This time Melina felt no memories slipping into her mind, though she felt very warm. Maybe it was due to the close proximity of the Prothean.

"You are afraid of being ambushed once again. You take extra steps to make sure you are safe. Your military training has helped this in a great deal, yet when something is out of its place of element you stress. Yet you are afraid that-" Teyshan spoke until Melina pushed him back away from her.

"Please, you should ask if you want to know things." Frowning a bit Melina took a step back away from him shaking her head no.

"I.. apologize." Teyshan's face was suddenly riddled with emotions. He pulled his hands down towards his sides, all four eyes looking down at the ground. For once Melina could read everything on his face. It scared her. He looked vulnerable.

"Hey… hey are you ok?" Melina inquired, stepping up to him.

It was like someone turned off the light and raised the walls back up. Teyshan looked up at Melina and nodded.

"Yes." he replied pulling away from her.

Wanting to lighten up the mood the woman bit her lip quickly before walking passed the Prothean and out into the living room. She reached out at the coat wrack and slipped her leather jacket over her shoulders.

"I'm hungry, do you want to get some of that salmon you like so much?" Melina asked.

The cold look on Teyshan's face finally warmed up a little. Not answering verbally the Prothean only nodded once before following the woman out the door.

#

Sitting at the restaurant, the Prothean had brought extra eyes over at the pairs table in the corner. People would turn around, whisper then hide their faces. Melina was not used to getting this level of extra attention so her nerves were beginning to rise. Turning away from the whispers and inquiries as much as possible her eyes looked up at her friend, a weak smile teasing her lips.

"Well it looks like you are the center of attention here." Melina made a weak joke. Looking at her with an empty glance, all Teyshan did was shake his head, not seemingly phased by it. A young Asari waiter walked up to the pair. A wide and obviously fake smile spread acrossed her face.

"What can I get you two?" the Asari asked, her light blue eyes blinking over at Teyshan a few times, trying hard to not be obvious that he looked different from anything she had ever seen.

"Uh. Yes can I get the.. fish and chips basket, and please no soda just water for me" Melina's brow rose as she noticed the Asari gawking at her friend.

"Yes and for you.. erhh.. sir?" The Asari asked not even looking at Melina.

"Salmon, Asari." Teyshan simply replied. The look on his face seemed dull and impatient.

"Uh, yes so fish and chips basket for you ma'am and a salmon for you sir. I will bring that right away." The waiter seemed hurried in her answer, before she skittered off to the back kitchen.

"Well… that was awkward." Melina snorted.

"No.. Yes" Teyshan's eyes looked out from the restaurant's curious guests over to Melina. She had gotten used to his habit of changing his answers. The Prothean never took to long to think about what he was going to say, sometimes he was a little to fast. He never wavered in the way he spoke though. His voice was always so rich and deep. His pronunciations clear and simple. Melina had often wondered what Javik was like. Did he speak the same way? Was he cold and closed off? Was his emotions always hidden? These were probably questions Melina would never have answered.

"Wait.. Why are your hands gloved?" Melina noticed his hands were covered. He had always kept his hands ungloved over at her house or even in the hotel room. Yet when he went out he would cover them.

"So I am not reading everything." Teyshan only looked up at her like she was being a annoying child who asked to many questions.

"Yeah, right right. That makes sense" she shook her head. Things about him were beginning to come together. Then her mind kept racing over and over about it. Why did he keep his hands ungloved over at her house? Did he want to know more about her? Why didn't he just ask? Why did he want to know every detail about her? It was eating at the pits of her stomach.

"You look bothered.." Teyshan broke Melina out of her thought.

"Oh.. No its nothing." She shook her head trying to wave him off.

"Hmm." his voice rumbled, getting the sign not to press anymore.

Teyshan's main eyes focused in on her. The woman had her head buried into her hands. She looked deep in thought. Pulling up his top lip a bit he leaned back into his seat and crossed his right leg over the left. Resting his ankle over his knee. Back in Teyshan's time, it was never a new thing to receive so much attention. All of the fighting and the promise of an end had caused the lesser species to run up and begged for saving. That wasn't until things looked really grim. Closing his mouth the Prothean sighed softly. He was enjoying his trip so far. The Melina human had proved to be very accommodating for him and very knowledgeable. She figured out not when to press for answers an when she did it was never to much. Teyshan didn't want to reveal to much of his past to her at once. He understood Melina didn't like the process of sharing memories unless he asked. Outside of the two times he had never shared memories with her once again. Never tried to read her once more. He respected her wishes. He was staying in her home anyway. He did try to get an idea about who he was staying with by reading her home whenever he had the chance to. Melina lived a quiet life, though he wasn't able to read much of her past through her home. Those memories were well buried. Verbally communicating about pasts was still a new thing for him, something he was still getting a grasp on. It was very… primitive.

It didn't take long for the waiter to come back with the food. She was quick and a bit nervous. Placing the fish and chips in front of Melina then the salmon down in front of Teyshan she took a step back and bit her lip. The Asari looked scared like she had wanted to ask a question. Melina looked up from her plate over to the Asari, both eyebrows raising.

"Yes?" she simply asked.

"Can I ask something, if you don't mind?" The waiter inquired. Both of her hands rubbing together.

Teyshan looked up from his own dinner, his eyes narrowing, he nodded his head a little to the right, a non verbal cue for the waiter to continue.

"Are you the Prothean Javik we have been hearing about?" The Asari asked nervously. Her voice trembled, her fingers weaving together.

"No."

"No? You must be Pro-" she was cut off.

Focusing his four eyes onto the Asari, Teyshan dropped his fork down onto the plate.

"I am the soldier Teyshan Shek Athan Nirvak, warrior of the former Viran command. I am the avatar of Truth. I am Prothean. That is all you need to know Asari." His voice deepened. His eyes narrow and hard. The last time Melina had heard him that noble sounding was when he woke up. It was a grim reminder of who exactly she had become friends with.

"Uhh.." the waiter had gone pale. She was so nervous her body had refused to move.

"I understand your curiosity miss.. Now can my friend an I eat in peace please?" Melina gently asked, breaking the moment.

"Oh. Sorry! Thank you!" The waiter quickly scuttled away. Her hands crossing in front of her quickly, gripping her data pad in front of her.

"Sorry about that Teyshan, if I knew we were going to get bothered this mu-"

"No, you didn't know. It is fine. I am enjoying our time out." Teyshan interrupted. His face had grown more soft and gentle. His eyes gazing over Melina's form. She almost shivered from the sheer change of his demeanor.

Curiosity in the restaurant had began to wane down. Others had saw the stiff exchange from the Prothean to the waiter which had answered many peoples questions. No doubt though he was still probably the talk of the night. It didn't take long for the pair to finish their food. Taking a final bite of one of her fries, Melina whipped her mouth and fingers on a napkin before her eyes darted up at Teyshan.

"Hey I got an idea.. We should go to the armax arsenal arena to blow some time. It'll be fun." The woman suggested.

"And what does one do at this.. Armax arsenal arena to blow time?" Teyshan asked curiously.

"Ah.. You shoot virtual enemies in a arena for fun." Melina smiled warmly at Teyshan.

"Seems like a foolish waste of time, we should go." Teyshan's voice grew quiet. A playful look grew acrossed his face. Seeing only this look once, Melina's eyes narrowed. The last time he gave her this look was when she lost to their shooting match a few weeks ago.

"Oh you are on." She snickered.

#

Exiting their taxi that lead them to the Silver Sun Strip, the Prothean looked around. The colors above them waved and stretched like the auroras back on the colony. It was a pretty sight to be seen. This part of the Citadel seemed to be more busy then back at the restaurant. Standing a bit behind the Prothean Melina stretched her arms out and sighed happily.

"I heard there was a sushi restaurant over here.. But some kind of accident lead to all the fish dying?" Melina blurted, walking up over to the Prothean's side.

"That's such a waste." His voice drummed with disappointment.

Shaking her head, Melina pointed over to where the Armax Arena was. Following behind her Teyshan ignored the brief gazes the people around them gave. Walking up to one of the V.I.s at the check in counter, Melina looked over her shoulder to Teyshan.

"Ok, so since we are considered new comers we don't have much of a choice as to what we can play. They will obviously supply weapons and armor. Not like you need armor.." Melina joked. "So.. Lets see do you want to fight the Reapers?" she then inquired

"No"

"Ok, Cerberus?" Her eyes growing more curious.

"No, I don't even know what this… Cerberus is." Teyshan gazed over her form, his eyes cold as he stared at the poor excuse of a VI.

"Collectors?" Melina was beginning to run out of options.

"Yes, to fight the indoctrinated of my kind will be a welcome distraction from the Reapers I had to fight." Teyshan's voice began sounding noble once more.

Upon checking in, gathering weapons and Melina collecting up some armor. They took the elevator up to the arena. On the slow ride up the woman looked over at the Prothean. He seemed stone cold, he held his rifle close to him. Eyes focused and ready. An aura about Teyshan always fell over him whenever he had to talk about his past, whenever he handled a gun. He became more focused and clear about his goals an it made Melina's heart flutter.

"We should fight as a team, see how far we make it working together." Melina suggested.

"I like that idea Melina, though the next time we should go up against each other in battle." Teyshan's eyes softly drifted over her form while he spoke. Taking a deep breath in Melina noticed her heart was beating heavier in her chest. A light blush kissed the top of her cheeks. Quickly looking away from him in confusion, the woman shook her head an cleared her throat. What had come over her?

Once the Elevator raised up to the arena. It didn't take long for the fight to commence. Collectors had appeared on the arena, shooting at the pair. Out of all the years Melina had spent fighting in the Alliance she had never known someone to fight as well as Teyshan had. The two had covered each other, taking out enemies that had possibly snuck on them. They worked together well, quick and precise. It had been awhile since the woman saw combat. Yet her skills had come back to her quickly. Each shot was sharp, her senses not delayed. One eye had kept on her friend. They moved through the arena taking out forces together. This level of preciseness almost made her miss fighting on the front lines. The points kept raising up on the scoreboard, an yet the rounds seemed to fly by they worked together so well. Melina was a bit disappointed when the battle was over. Teyshan stood by her side, a small smile spread wide acrossed the Prothean's face as the fireworks lit off over head.

"My commander would of liked you Melina!" Teyshan called over to her. His eyes brighter then she had seen them before. He looked truly alive.

Giving him a warm smile in return, she nodded. Her heart thumping hard in her chest once more.

#

The woman was back in her hotel room, Teyshan was spending time in the living room once more cleaning his armor. Though this time he was at least watching the news, so it wasn't so quiet. Sitting on floor in the shower, her legs pulled up against her. Water sprayed down over her, soaking her knotted curly hair. The woman's eyes were closed deep in thought. The hot water eased her tense muscles. Her mind kept going over and over at the feelings she had earlier in the day. The woman hadn't felt so confused before. Her brain was usually so clear. Yet that heavy thudding deep in her chest could only mean one thing.

Authors Note:

You guys are the beessssttt! I decided to read over my earlier chapters. Oh boy they were certainly lumpy but this story is turning into something beautiful. I will be taking a bit longer to get chapters out. I am really trying to make them longer an full of detail. To those that were wondering, yes this story is a romance J Feelings will develop soon so just a few chapters more. It will be worth the wait ;)