It wasn't that hard to find the Professor, but getting caught, or injured was entire another story.

She certainly could kick. Thane sat outside the door, peering into the gym, watching the woman pulverise a punching bag. Her stance was solid, there was no way she would be brushed away like a fly, despite her stature. The only thing he could really criticise was that she was still wearing that sarong from the beach. It obviously wasn't impeding her movements, thanks to the slit on the side, but who fights in a sarong?

He leaned back against the wall for a moment, taking a deep breath. He was tired as well, not that he's admit that, even to himself. He didn't notice when the sound of the bag being beaten stopped, and footsteps lightly echoed towards him.

"Spying, are you?" Ivy said, her hands on her hips, arms covered in sweat, and abrasions from where she had missed the bag, the seem of it having scratched her skin. "If I didn't know you better I'd call you a pervert, but I'll still call you a creep."

The Drell stood up, legs aching. This must be the recovery process he was hearing so much about. "I am neither such thing, just concerned for your well being. You said you were going to bed after you spoke to Kyre, of which you're doing neither." He could make out the small beads of perspiration on her forehead, the bags under her eyes clearly visible. Despite that, she still looked so put together. So in control. "Something is on your mind."

"Maybe it is. I won't tell you though. I'm kinda busy, if you couldn't tell." She turned back into the gym, feet falling silently on the mat. She tilted her neck to stretch, ignoring when she heard him enter the room behind her. "You don't have to babysit me, you know." She put her right leg behind her left, and began to kick at the bag with even more force than before. Thane was sure she would bruise her shin if she kept it up.

Bruised shins sucked.

He walked over and caught her leg mid-air, surprised when she didn't fall, and relieved. At least if she was in a fight and someone tried to block her by grabbing her leg, she wouldn't lose her balance. "You're going to injure yourself. And hitting a non moving object repeatedly won't help you long term. It's good for the basics, but that's it." He released her leg, and she simply crossed her arms.

"What are you suggesting I do then?"

"Other than go to sleep? Or at least talk about what's bothering you? I could spar with you." The response he earned was a near kick to the face, had he not ducked. "Well, slow down there. You'll sprain something." He smirked, letting her try to hit him.

"Maybe you should get a face guard so I don't injure that perfect little smile of yours!" She reached out of a solid punch to his face,but her grabbed her arm and flung her to the ground.

"Quick with words, slow with dodging."

She rubbed her shoulder and got up, "Well forgive me for preferring words to violence."

"Well let's at least test your defence." He swung out a punch, not full force, and she caught his fist, with her left hand, swinging for him with her right, which he dodged out of the way, having to fling himself to the ground, rolling back up. He swung around on his hands, kicking her to the ground from the back of her knee, and she did indeed fall that time.

She was on the ground for at least two seconds when she got up, going to kick for him again, determination in her eyes. He decided he would let her land a hit, when he saw her left leg slide out of her skirt to land a kick, and he couldn't help but catch it mid swing, staring at her upper thigh.

A black diamond.

She didn't notice how he was staring at her leg, and let herself fall to the ground, swinging her right leg around to the back of his knees, pulling him to the ground, making him lose his grip on her leg, but she didn't account for him pinning her arms above her head. She looked at him confused, surprised by the amount of force he was holding her down with, let alone with a single hand. "Thane?"

He closed his eyes, replaying the moment in his head, making sure he had seen what he had. "You worked… for Cerberus."

She struggled, kicking for him to let go, "Don't you bring that up! Don't you dare!" She glared at him, chest rising and falling rapidly in pure fury, but tears rose to her eyes, "Don't you dare." She stopped her futile struggle, not holding back her tears, whispering quietly from behind the sobs, "Don't…"

He shook his head as he opened his eyes, staring into hers, "You worked for that… Terrorist organisation. It just seems.. So unlike you. I can't see you doing that. You're on a ship with a Salarian and a Turian, and me. I can't see you as some kind of Xenophobe." He didn't let her go, and looked down to the tattoo on her thigh. It was really there. He hadn't been imagining it.

"I was young. I needed resources. Cerberus gave them to me, that was it… I got the lab I needed. Do you know what it was like? Growing up with on a poor colony, my parents died in a mine accident. In those colonies you can't go to school if your parents don't work. They wouldn't let me… They wouldn't let me learn any more. I couldn't even check a book out of a damn library. There was a teacher… who would let me into her class. It was way below my level, but I did with it. I tried everything… I never got above an elementary education… But… One day…" Her eyes fogged up, as if remembering something terribly confusing, something she didn't quite understand, "I made some formula I think… For the cellular breakdown caused by the lack of oxygen after death… And she saw it. I think she was the one who contacted Cerberus. They took me in, and gave me a lab, a team. I worked under some haughty German woman who thought she was everything, until I showed her up and got her job when I was fourteen. From there I had to figure everything out myself. I was twelve. I didn't know they were some terrorist group! I just had a clean bed, warm food, and books. I could learn for the first time in my life since my parents had died. I… I loved it. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for them. I might even be dead. My colony was one of those taken in the collector attacks…" She looked away from him, embarrassed to finally admit it all to someone, "That bastard is with Cerberus. I let him get away."

He sighed, loosening his grip on her wrists, "I'm sorry. It wasn't your fault, it still isn't. When did you leave them?"

"I was twenty-six when Shepard took them out, that was when I left. I saw what we did to the other council races, and I refused to stay. I should have known sooner. I had my nose buried too deep in my data to look at what was going on around in the galaxy around me. I barely knew what happened with the Geth, and then after that with the collectors, except for what could help me with my research. I regret that more than anything. I could have helped. I could have done something, anything." Her lips shook with the oncoming sob she tried to hold back, "I've always cherished my intelligence. But all it's done is get me into trouble. I-" She was interrupted by his lips on hers, Thane swallowing her sobs, able to taste the salty tears on her lips.

He parted from her when he felt her relax, the tears had stopped flowing from her eyes, "Your past makes you who you are. You didn't let it ruin you, it's made you stronger. I respect that." He pulled down the slit of her sarong to cover her thigh, and the tattoo, "Don't cry over your strengths. Don't worry about the things you could have done, that's over. Think about what you can do, what you will do, and what you're doing. You're going to stop that assassin, and you're very likely going to take down whatever is left of Cerberus." He reached up to tuck the hair that was sliding into her face behind her ears gently. "You're not a scared girl on a little colony any more, realise who you are now, how others see you."

Her heart fluttered, hearing nothing but his words, eyes searching his, as if that would give her any sort of deeper meaning. But at that moment she didn't want to analyse anything. She didn't want to study those words for more than what they were, and she wrapped her arms around his neck shyly, letting herself blush brightly, the hue almost matching the shade of her hair. "How exactly do others see me? How do… You… See me?"

"I have nothing but compliments to describe you, Ivy. You're a proud and intelligent woman who won't give an inch for what she believes in. You're very careful, and strive for nothing but absolute perfection, it shows in your work, and how you present yourself. You give everything you have to be an example to others, sometimes you give more than you're capable of, more than you can take, definitely more than it would take to break a normal person. Ivy… You're extraordinary." He couldn't take his eyes off of hers, as if he were swimming in her soul. He saw something this time that he had never seen in her eyes before, weakness. She was letting herself be weak in front of him.

"Thane… I…" She reached her hand up to stroked his face, wanting more than anything to kiss him in that moment.

"I admire you, Ivy-"

"Hey Professor-" Ra froze in the doorway, eyes widening in complete shock, "Oh my goddess I am so sorry. Wait, what are you doing?! EW!"

The pair froze in complete terror, not having any words to explain their position, or how they had even gotten into that position. It seemed like such a blur to both of them, it had all happened so quickly.

But that wouldn't stop Ivy from trying, and she flung a small weight at Ra, "Get your head out of the gutter, we were sparring!" That didn't hide the blush on her cheeks though, not only was she blushing from Thane's words, but now the embarrassment of having been caught.

"Yes, because that's exactly what sparring looks like!" He covered his eyes, "I'm going to have nightmares for weeks now!"

Thane quickly helped Ivy to her feet, shaking his head as if it would clear his thoughts. "We really sparring, you could check for bruises if you like. I would hate to have shamed the Professor's honour with a simple duel."

"No thank you, I'm no checking for anything, that's just gross. Get a room! I just wanted to let you know we were taking off for Omega." He lowered his hands from his eyes, not making eye contact with either of them, far too embarrassed. "Kyre is asleep. I set Emma up in a room too, she's likely asleep right now. You two should head to sleep as well, hopefully in separate rooms. Please, separate rooms. Please. That's just gross."

Ivy nodded, "Alright Ra, head on to bed yourself."

"I will, ugh, gross." He turned around and headed off down the hallway, trying to clear his head of the images popping up in them. Sentient species just had no self control it seemed to him, just like animals.

Ivy turned to Thane once he was gone, "Sorry, I'm ah… Gonna…"

"Why don't you go shower and go to bed, I'm going to do the same." Perhaps it was best that they had been interrupted when they had, or else it may have gone too far, and one of them, or both, would have ended up getting hurt.

"I mean… Thank you. The things you said… Really… really helped." She closed her eyes, taking his hands, "I should have been more honest with you. I'll… I'll talk to you later." She let his hands go, heading out of the doors, shutting them behind her. He watched her go, trying to block out the pain it caused him to see her turn her back on him. Shepard was right, he was falling for her.

He did get that shower, and headed to his room. The entire time he had been replaying the scene from the gym in his head, too trapped in it. He always stopped right before Ra interrupted them, wondering every time where it would have gone from there. He sat down on his bed, looking around at the room. He still had yet to send a picture to Kolyat as he promised. He turned around to look out the window, taking out his omnitool to snap a picture of the stars, writing a note as well.

"Kolyat,

Today, we almost caught the assassin that has been taking out the spectres. I'm afraid I can't say more that that, in case this message gets caught somewhere, you know how it is, working for C-Sec now.

But we did run into Shepard and the other members of the Normandy, well, some of them. It was really good to see them well. Chasing that assassin down with them brought back plenty of memories. It's good to know that they still have skills with their weapons, it let's me know they'll be safe. So you be sure to keep the Citadel safe.

Kolyat, I think I may be in over my head again, but this time it has no connection to the mission. I don't want to say any more than that, but know that I am safe, and I'm doing my part to make sure the Citadel and the council stays safe. I never was one for a desk job anyway.

-Thane Krios"

He had just finished sending the message when he heard the soft patter of feet outside his door. The movement stopped and started again, as if the person on the other end was being indecisive. He got up to go towards his door to listen. The footsteps got closer to the door, and stopped, and he could make out the quietest tap, and the footsteps started to pace again. He opened the door slowly to see Ivy pacing back and forth, thumb in her mouth, seemingly in very deep thought. "Yes, Ivy?"

She practically jumped when his voice reached her ears, spinning to face him, "Ah, you're awake, I wasn't sure if you were… I just wanted to talk… I figured you deserve to know the truth… About just what had me so upset earlier…" Her hands were fidgeting nervously, not looking at him, "If you're not too tired."

"Not at all, I was just writing to Kolyat." He held the door open for her. leading her in, watching her sit on the bed as he leaned on the wall, studying her. She had obviously been thinking about coming clean with it, it was written on her face. He moved closer, sitting beside her, "If you don't want to say anything, you don't have to. You can talk when you're ready."

"If I don't do it now, I never will." She looked at her hands, which were now folded neatly atop her lap, "I was upset mainly because I let him get away, before I even knew he was Cerberus. I miscalculated. Had I not noticed my error then, if I was just a few seconds later, Garrus, Kaidan, and you would be dead. If I had noticed sooner, we may have been able to stop him from escaping, we may have been able to save even a few more lives. Now that he's out there he's going to kill a few more spectres, I'm sure of it. It'll be months before we're able to find him again, and it's my fault… Because I wasn't thinking clearly." Because she had been too petty to let herself fall for him. She did what she was willing to push him away, and even then it didn't work. "Because I was falling for you and I didn't want to admit it to myself."

He opened his mouth to speak, until her final sentence left his mouth, and he bit back his words. "If you hadn't noticed when you did, I would be dead, that's very true. Which is why I'm so unbelievably thankful that you realised when you did. Don't blame yourself for what happened, Ivy, our opponent is clever, very clever." He reached over to put his hands on top of hers, watching her eyes light up, "But given you came back to me after our little… accident… You're admitting it to yourself now."

"I am… I fell in love with you before we even met. Reading your files, trying to get an idea of who you really were. Hearing the stories Kolyat told… You're an even greater person than I imagined you'd be… I don't know what this is, or what we'll make this out to be, but what now, it means a lot to me… I want to be here, with you, more than anything in the world right now, and it's driving me absolutely insane. I've only known you for a few days! It's completely illogical… I don't understand. This is something I don't understand." She scanned his eyes for some sort of answer, something she could grasp to pull herself out of her pit of confusion, but all she found was more questions in his deep black eyes. "Thane I…"

"You really have me at a disadvantage here, you've known me longer than I've known you." He laughed as he kissed her for the second time, falling with her as she leaned back onto the bed, wrapping her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss with what little muscle she had in her arms. "But you have only showed me how wonderful of a person you are… It… It's hard to explain."

"You don't have to explain it, all I need to know is that you want to be here with me."

"I do, I do want to be here… And I also want to tell you that this night gown of yours is absolutely ridiculous, this shade of pink makes you look twelve and it's throwing my head in circles." He smiled, laughing slightly at her, kissing the growing smile on her lips.

"Perhaps you could help me take it off then, I'm sure you'll be far less confused then." She reached up to kiss his neck, sucking gently on it, leaving gentle bites, taking an arm off of him to pull her hair out of her bun, watching his eyes follow her hand. "Never seen my hair down?"

He met her hand in her hair, running his fingers through it, "I have not… It's so long…" He leaned in to smell it, kissing down her neck, exploring every little niche he could, feeling her humid breath in his ear. His fingers fumbled down each button of her dress, her hands guiding him, his head spinning in complete euphoria. When they finally got the last button he pulled her up to slide the dress off of her,his hands then wrapping around her waist to pull her as close as he could, as if he could swallow her entirely from his kisses.

His nightclothes were far for more simple for her to remove, she didn't need guidance to find the band tied around his waist that was holding it all together, and simply untied it, the cotton falling off his shoulders. She moaned as he nipped at her neck, throwing her head back to give him as much room as he could, wanting to feel him all over her at the same time, her skin burning with every touch, hopefully from lust and not a developing rash. "Thane…" She let his name escape her lips, soaked with her lust, blushing as it did.

Hearing his name in such a manner drove him wild, causing him to bite her collarbone, making her moan again, arching herself towards him, "Yes?" He asked, looking up at her face, meeting her eyes as he licked up her neck.

"I want you."

That was all she needed to say to tell him to give her the best night of her life, which he did, and he would consider that night he spent in her arms to be the best night of his life for the longest time. Because even if she forgot about them, he would always remember it, how she spoke his name. Every inch of skin that she clawed into with those perfect crimson nails of hers. Every kiss she planted on him.

He would never forget.