***Author's Note***
Hey, shorter than usual guys!
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Chapter 8 - Comfort
Thane deposited his ward on the freshly made cot in 'their' room. Shepard's people certainly do work fast, He mused. "I will see if Dr. Chakwas has any instructions. Excuse me." He bowed slightly and on silent feet, padded out of the room.
Marie's story was disquieting and a furious tide of emotions boiled beneath his calm exterior. He knew Cerberus were corrupt but to be so capable of such things 170 years ago was alarming. He silently promised Marie some form of justice and prayed to Amonkira that he would be succesful.
"Ah, Thane." He was pulled from his reverie by the Commander.
"Commander, I apologise. I am on my way to the doctor-"
"Are you okay? Is Marie okay?" Concern filled Shepard's features. For such a merciless individual he certainly cares about his crew. Thane's lips quirked upward in a ghost of a smile as he observed his Commander.
"We are fine. I was merely going to find out if there was anything in particular Marie may need."
"Oh. Good." He stood awkwardly for a moment, looking toward the forward battery. "Here, give her this. She might appreciate it...or she might break down into tears." He fished into the deep pockets of the sweat pants he was wearing and produced an old photograph of Marie and her siblings. "I'll leave you to it." He started toward Garrus' domain, only to turn "We're heading to Omega. I want Marie trained in some basics, let's see what she's capable of, hmm?" Thane nodded and Shepard swaggered away.
"Garrus?"
The room was quiet except for the continuous hum of the Thanix cannon. The red glow of the over lights cast long, dark shadows everywhere, and even with his modded sight it was hard to see anything.
"Garrus?" Shepard moved his way around the cannon, venturing deeper into Garrus' little bubble. The turian rarely had anyone in here with him, continuously sending people away and Shepard wanted to get to the bottom of it.
He searched through the long room and sighed in defeat. Turning to leave the room, he heard it.
A high-pitched keening echoed around the battery, followed by a light thump. The sound grew in intensity and Shepard followed it. "Garrus?" The sound deepened, turning into a menacing growl, laced with pain.
He stumbled upon a mound of blankets and pillows in the farthest deepest corner, tucked slightly underneath the giant cannon. The sounds were muffled, coming from beneath the quilts. "Hey, buddy. You okay?" He got no answer. Shepard sat on the grated floor beside the nest and decided to go digging for his friend. The sounds becoming more painful the deeper he got. What is wrong with him? Shepard bit his lips, worried for his turian.
He found him curled into a ball. Head nestled in pillows and blankets, his talons raking at his fringe. Shepard realised that he was sleeping. Nightmares. The keening was sad and heartbroken, breaking now and then into a vicious growl where he would kick against the walls of his nest. The commander sighed and let his hands hover over his friend. He debated on whether or not to console Garrus, worried on how he would react to a sudden touch whilst sleeping. He is a killing machine after all. He waited and watched Garrus' face. The Nightmare must have hit a crucial point as Garrus let out a strangled cry, calling out a name.
My name. Fuck it. He put his hands on Garrus' bare shoulder plates. The turian's arm snapped out and wrapped around Shepard and rapidly pulled him down. He landed on his side facing his friend. Their chests were pressed against each other, separated by the thin fabrics of their fatigues. Garrus let out a sigh in his sleep and rested his head in Shepard's shoulder, letting his arm relax on his waist. It had happened so fast, Shepard was stunned. He laid rigid, scared to moved in case the razor-sharp reflexes, and talons, deemed him a threat and decided to put an end to him.
He lay there and lay there, waiting for Garrus to let go. It was when the keening started again that he put aside his own wishes and held Garrus' head, stroking his fringe and feeling him relax around him.
Then Shepard allowed himself to sleep, nestled in with the man he had only dreamed about.
With the strange broth in a bowl, Thane entered life support and walked over to Marie's cot. Her eyes were shut as she sat with her legs crossed beneath her. He stood watching her, wondering what it was that she was doing. He watched her breath in and out slowly, her hair fallen over one shoulder. Is she meditating?
Not wanting to interrupt, he turned and set the bowl down on their desk and took his usual seat, facing the core of the ship. He looked over at her and watched for a while.
Her back was too him, her spine stark and bumpy through the gown she still wore. Her furrowed his brow and stood. Leaving her to her meditations, he left the room and went to the store-room in the Port Observation room.
He entered, being mindful of the possibility of encountering Kasumi.
The enigmatic thief was one of the crew members he was wary of. Her penchant for gossip had led to rumours spreading like wildfire throughout the ship. And him picking up female casual wear was one of those things she was sure to exaggerate and allow to explode around her.
To his dismay, she was sat on one of the many sofas that filled the room.
"Thane! I never see you around these neck of the woods." She stood, a coy smile on her face. Arashu, protect me. "Fancy a drink?"
"Ah, no. Thank you, I am here to acquire clothing. That is all." He stood straight, his hands behind his back as he bowed and proceeded to one of the many closets in this room.
"Thane, that is the women's closet."
"I am aware." He picked out some black baggy cotton pants and a shirt to match. "They are for Marie."
"I see." He did not appreciate the implications in her voice.
He left quickly.
He entered Marie's and his room to find her sat at the desk, slowly devouring the food before her. She grinned at him and the clothing he offered her.
"Thanks." She bobbed her head and sat in silence until she had finished eating. Then she stood suddenly and unfolded the clothing, holding onto the desk for support. "I think I might need help."
She looked at him, slightly embarrassed and pleading at the same time. He nodded and stood.
"Could you just...undo this gown." She gripped the corners of the desk, her knuckles going white. "And hold it up maybe?"
He stood behind her and popped the buttons down her back. His hands brushed her skin and she gasped, "Your hands are cold." she said with a small laugh.
He chuckled, "I apologise." The gown dropped and he was greeted by the pale flesh of her back. Skin taut over her bones and slowly regenerating muscle.
He gathered the shirt he had chosen for her, simple and black with the Cerberus logo emblazoned on the right breast. "You may need to let go of the desk now."
She nodded and released her hold. Her legs held her up for a few seconds before they buckled beneath her. Thane caught her and held her to his chest, hands grasped at his forearms.
"Thanks." She breathed.
"Your strength seems to be returning. You need to turn and hold onto me so I can put your shirt on, Marie."
"Right." She turned slowly as he helped her and pressed her bare chest against him for a small grasp at modesty.
Her arms wrapped around his waist as he pulled the cotton over her head and maneuvered her arms into it. It was large on her and fell to the tops of her thighs.
He bent and helped her fit her legs into the pants. He lifted her then and placed her onto her cot.
"Shepard gave me this for you." He handed the old photograph to her. Her brothers and sister looked out from it, smiling and happy.
She didn't answer, merely looked at them. Her bottom lip quivered as her eyes filled with water that fell over and left tracks down her face.
Thane pulled a chair up and wiped a tear away with the pad of his thumb and let her cry out her pain.
And there you go :)
Next chapter the action begins!
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
-Sophus xx