***Author's Note***
Another fluffy chapter...just because...awww :D
Thank you to Gamer072196 for the help you give me. Be sure to check out their stuff!
Enjoy and review!
Chapter 14 - Sparring and other medicines
Marie awoke to a rough rasping sound and frowned. What the hell is that?
There was a rustling to go with it, like fabric ghosting over skin and the rasping took on a panicked pace. She sat up slowly and look around the small room she shared with a drell.
Ugh, my dream.
She sighed and looked toward Thane. He was wrapped up in the sheets of his bed, arms and legs flailing in his sleep. It would have amused her and even been slightly endearing, were it not for the panicked breaths he took. And the fact that he had woken her. She hopped of her cot and began walking to the door, intent on getting tea before going back to sleep.
She took one more look at the drell in a nightmare and nearly jumped out her skin. He was watching her with wide black eyes, his mouth open as he fought for breath and clawed at his chest.
Shit! It's not a nightmare!
"Thane!" She rushed to his side, hands flailing as she panicked over what to do. "What do I do!?" I'm no medic! I'm an engineer!
"Neb..." Neb? The fuck? He rasped again. "Nebuliser..."
Nebuliser! She looked around for the small machine that would deliver drugs to his lungs. His rasping breaths ingraining themselves into her memory. She reached beneath his cot and pulled out the device and began flicking switches that would start it up.
She grabbed Thane by his shoulders and pulled him up into a sitting position. Wow, he's heavy...He leant his head against her shoulder and his panting breaths ghosted over her skin. She pulled the nebuliser into her lap and strapped the breather mask over Thane's mouth and nose.
The machine began to pump drugged air into the mask and his breathing calmed. He relaxed against her and his eyes fluttered closed, falling asleep against her.
Shit. Marie decided that she never wanted to hear those panicked breaths again.
"Ah, Marie. How are you feeling this morning?" Doctor Chakwas and professor Mordin smiled at her as she entered the med-bay.
"I didn't sleep a lot last night." She yawned and rubbed at her eyes, willing them to stay open. She had sat on Thane's bed after the attack as he rested on her shoulder.
Chakwas frowned and small creases formed on her brow. "Is everything alright?" She motioned for Marie to lay on the table and positioned a large machine above her.
Marie sighed and willed herself to relax. "Thane had an attack last night."
Mordin nodded as he began to switch the machine on, it would scan her muscles and bones and determine her rate of recovery. "Mmm. May have a technique he could try. With help of course." The machine worked its way up and down her body making small beeping sounds as it went.
"Like what?"
Chakwas went to a set of draws and began rummaging around inside it. Eventually she pulled out a small pot of a dark blue substance, its texture like the sticky wax her older brother would use on his hair. "This is a solid form of the corticosteroids that are in Thane's medication that he breathes. It will help with the inflammation the Kepral's is causing." Marie nodded and moved onto her stomach at Mordin's prompting. "Mordin developed it as an alternative to the nebuliser. Thane will need to apply it once a day and come in for tests at least once a week. It will go on his chest and back so, obviously, he'll need someone to help him." Chakwas cocked her brow at Marie who looked on at her with bemused eyes. "Will you do it?"
Marie's eyes widened. "Oh! Yeah, sure. I thought you were going to say he'd have to come her everyday for you or Mordin to apply it."
Chakwas laughed. "Yes, but ideally he wont have to reserve appointments everyday. I have other patients you know."
"Ohh, like who?" she hoped of the table and stood waiting for the results of her scan.
Chakwas smirked at the smaller woman. "Tut-tut, Marie. Patient-Doctor confidentiality!" Marie laughed.
"Ah! Excellent! Musculoskeletal integrity back into acceptable ranges." Mordin looked over his Omni-tool with a smile on his face and nodded at Marie. "Should be able to participate in normal activity."
Marie grinned. "Good."
She took the ointment from Chakwas and strolled out into the Mess where Shepard was waiting for her.
"Well?" The man grinned down at her and crossed his arms, putting his weight onto his right leg.
"Back to normal, commander."
"Shepard..."
"Shepard."
He laughed and clapped her on her shoulder. "Excellent." He strolled over to a comm system and pressed the ship wide calling button. "All squad members and Joker to the shuttle bay, all squad members and Joker to the shuttle bay." He turned to Marie. "Time for a touch of sparring, hmm?"
Thane stood beside Marie as he watched the two figures in the ring circle one another. Shepard, his legs in a wide stance and hands relaxed as he readied for an attack, and Grunt, his bulking size and intimidation enough to make up for what he lacked in maneuverability and grace.
"In the left corner! Weighing at approximately 1000 pounds, his speed counting for shit and his brute strength, the one true krogan in the galaxy! The one, the only Grunt!" Joker flew his arm out to the krogan as he stood in the middle of the ring, the squad and a few crew members cheered. "In the right corner! Weighing a measly 150 pound, not that fast and not that strong, savior of the Citadel and butt kicker to Reapers! Shepard!" No one cheered.
Shepard laughed and flipped them off, then the group cheered. Jack whooping and fist pumping th air. Marie clapped and laughed and Thane smirked.
Zaeed bent his head and whispered to Marie. "If you got a knife and jabbed in the front plate of Grunt's head, you could tear that shit right off." Thane nodded in agreement.
Marie looked at him through narrowed eyes. "Why would I need to know that?"
The mercenary shrugged and laughed. "You never know, small fry. You never know."
The fight began.
Grunt charged toward the commander who leapt to one side. Marie gasped. "He's going to get hurt."
Thane shrugged. "I wouldn't bet on it."
As it were, bets were being taken by Joker around the room. The vast majority tipping in the commanders favour. The fight went on as Shepard played with Grunt. Thane knew it was merely play because when Shepard was truly fighting he pulled his hair back into a tail at the nape of his neck, right now however it was falling free about his face and down his back. Grunt didn't seem to realise this as he charged again.
Shepard didn't dodge this time. Instead he used Grunt's momentum against him. Vaulting over his shoulders and swinging around his neck. The added weight knocked the young krogan of balance and brought him to the ground with a resounding crash. Shepard then proceeded to incapacitate him as he locked his legs and arms into a pin. Joker slapped his hands on the floor.
"Ding ding ding! The winner is Shepard!" Some members of the crew groaned and handed over credits to the various winners of the bet.
Thane looked down at Marie whose mouth was open in a small O. "It happened so fast!"
Thane chuckled. "Yes. Shepard seems to do that. The only two who can out match his speed are Garrus and myself...and Jack if she uses her biotics." Marie looked up at him with wide eyes.
"How fast are you?"
"Very." He smirked as she blushed.
"Hey, Marie!" She looked around at Shepard. "You're up! Let's see what you can do!"
Thane looked at her opponent in the ring and frowned.
Garrus stood, flexing his taloned hands and cracking his neck. Problematic. "Garrus is fast. Avoid his talons. Do not pull on his mandible; it will make him angry, avoid his fringe. Go for the carapace and his neck. His spurs are also a good spot."
"Hey! No helping the human, Thane. "Garrus called from the ring.
"Aww Garrus. You worried about a little competition." Marie jeered at him, earning a few chuckles from the crowd.
"Oh, bring it on, sister." Garrus stepped back into his ready stance and the bets were taken.
Marie stepped into the ring but instead of breaking into a stance or a defensive position, she simply stood and waited. Thane frowned, does she want to lose? Garrus chuckled, a low rumbling sound from his gizzard and lunged. Thane flinched in anticipation of Marie being struck, but surprisingly she brought her arms up into a loose cross and blocked. The crowd cheered and Shepard clapped.
"I thought you were an engineer?" The turian laughed as he kicked out. "Are you lying to us?"
She jumped away. "I told you I was trained. You scared of a tiny human, big boy?" Thane scowled at the trash talk.
She flicked her fist out but Garrus gripped her arm and flung her around him and onto the ground. The turian straddled her and rested his weight on her stomach. A small gasp of air escaped her as she was winded.
"You wish."
Shepard chuckled as Jack slapped him on the shoulder. "You worried about all the flirting, Shepard?"
Flirting? Thane clasped his hands behind his back and continued to watch the sparring.
Marie brought her knee up and it hit Garrus in his side. The turian hissed as the sensitive spot was overloaded. He rolled away from her and lowered himself again into his stance. Marie stood and rubbed at her stomach, her attention diverted. She didn't see Garrus as he lunged forward and pulled her against his chest, one taloned hand raised at her neck, the other holding her hands behind her back.
"You're dead, tiny human." His mandible fluttered against her face and Thane frowned again.
Joker slapped the floor and Garrus let go laughing. And the winnings were handed over to the betters.
Shepard laughed and clapped Garrus on the back and sent a wink over at Marie. "You did well...for a beginner."
She smiled and walked over to Thane. "Well?"
"You will win next time." He smirked down at her. "I will teach you."
She smiled. "And I'll teach you to dance."
His ribbing flushed. I didn't think she would remember that.
Shepard grinned as the sparring continued. He sat on a crate beside Garrus as they cheered on Jack and Samara who were testing their biotics on one another.
"You did well, Garrus." He nudged his knee against the turian's leg.
"Shepard, please. You're embarrassing me." He chuckled. "All this praise. People will start talking." The turian grinned at the human.
"Maybe I want them to talk." He said with a wink and smirked at the rising dark blue in Garrus' skin.
"Ah...umm...well, I'd hate to disappoint you." Shepard laughed again and the sound of a shockwave erupted around them, the waves it created made his hair shift around him and Garrus tensed.
"When shall we spar?" A certain look was in the commanders eye.
"Hmm? Maybe somewhere more private, perhaps."
Across the room Mordin grinned and his hands flickered on his Omni-tool.
"Garrus, you shouldn't scratch at the bandage..." The turian glared at his commander, "how many has Chakwas replaced?"
"Ugh!" He continued to itch at the white fabric, attempting to reach his mandible beneath. "It burns, Shepard! You get hit in the face with a rocket and try not to itch it!" He was frustrated and couldn't help his outburst.
Shepard blinked, unfazed by the unusual behaviour. "Why not ask for a cream or something, man?" He gestured to the medbay.
"Because..."
"Because?"
The turian dropped his hand and looked down at his feet. "I don't like taking the thing off." He looked up at Shepard who waited for him to elaborate. "It hurts when it peels away...and I don't like looking at it." He said it quietly but Shepard's upgraded hearing thanks to Cerberus could easily pick it up.
The commander shrugged and strutted over to the medbay. Garrus stared after him. Did he just...blow me off? He could hardly believe it, in all the time they had known each other Shepard had never so blatantly shrugged off Garrus' problems. Did I say something wrong? He began to itch at his bandage again and was grateful that the Mess was empty.
"Garrus! Stop fucking itching at it!" He dropped his hand quickly at the sound of Shepard's 'commander' tone. "Gods, man, you'll make it worse."
He had emerged from the medbay loaded up with fresh bandages and medi-gel. A cream sat atop it all, swaying precariously with Shepard's gait. "Come on." He began walking to the Main Battery and Garrus followed.
In the dim room they sat upon the cot that Garrus rarely used, preferring to burrow in to his pile of quilts and pillows. "I can't believe you took a rocket to the face, take bullets during missions, drink ryncol like it's nothing, but you can't take a fucking plaster off." He laid out the various sterile bandages and turned to look at the turian. "Sit in front of me."
"Why?" He looked at Shepard warily who had a small grin plastered on his face.
"I'll do it for you."
"Shepard, you don't have to. I-"
"Sit!"
Spirits, I hate it when he does that. He knelt before Shepard who began to disinfect his hands. What if he hates the scar? Damn, my own face could drive him away if I let him do this.
"Shepard..." The human looked at him then, his face serious. "Please, what if-"
"I'll show you mine if you show me yours." He grinned, the red glow that came from the small cracks in his face stood out in here but Garrus rarely noticed them.
"I don't get it."
"Garrus, I'm full of scars. And mine fucking glow. I can handle a scarred mandible and neck."
"Fine."
Shepard smiled then, his strange flat white teeth flashing. Humans are strange.
His long fingers reached and began to peel away the bandage on his right mandible and Garrus shut his eyes against the slight stinging pain on his sensitive face plates. A small hiss escaped him when he hit a particularly sensitive spot and his hands flew up to still him. The humans warm skin was soft beneath his talons and he could feel the muscles in his wrists flex as he continued to peel away the fabric.
And then it was done. Shepard dropped the bandage between them, a slight blue stain on the used side. "See? No problem." He felt a soft wet thing on his scars as Shepard wiped away the dried blood and cleansed the slowly healing wound. Garrus opened his eyes to look at Shepard, his face was set with concentration as he perfected his cleaning skills on Garrus' face. The tip of his pink tongue was poking out slightly as his brown eyes observed the scar. Garrus really wanted to taste his tongue.
His neck flushed blue and he was sure Shepard noticed. The commander grinned and Garrus mentally kicked himself. Stop it, idiot.
Then his finger tips were dipped in a white cream and he warmed it by rubbing it between his palms, the soft wet sounds it made in this close space were definitely distracting as Garrus' mind wandered.
And then a marvelous cooling sensation was on his neck and plates as Shepard rubbed the cream into the scars and healing wounds. His nimble fingers dipping into the spaces deftly and quickly. Garrus sighed with the relief it brought and tilted his head unconsciously into Shepard's touch. The smell of medi-gel and more rubbing and Garrus was feeling oddly relaxed. A fresh bandage was applied and Shepard leant back to admire his handy work.
"All done."
Garrus nodded. "Thanks, Shepard."
"I'll do it everytime...if you want?"
Another nod. "I think I'd like that." A turian grin.
They were meditating together and Thane smiled at the comfort it brought him. This was the time of day where nothing could disrupt them. Their door was locked and their Omni-tools were disabled.
The familiar scents surrounded him as he relaxed into the thrumming of the ship. The slow breathing of his companion and the complete stillness of the place.
He reflected on memories of various times in his life.
His first kill at twelve. The asari looked at me with eyes as blue as Kalahira's seas, "Who are-?" I jab her in the neck. She stills and slumps forward onto my knife. Her larger size providing good cover from possible witnesses. The hanar are pleased. There were no witnesses. His wedding day. Sunset eyes off set by the turquoise in her skin. Bare shoulders carefully pressed at with the bone knife. A blessing from Arashu. The birth of his son. A wailing bundle held tight against Irikah. Small arms waving in the air. "He has your eyes, Thane." A funeral. Her body, bound tight in silks and laces. Lowered into the heaving sea and given back to the Deep. Her soul has departed and joined the Gods across the sea. "Kalahira, whose waves wear down stone and sand. Kalahira, wash the sins from this one and set her on the distant shore of the infinite spirit..." His departure. The abandonment of his son. His revenge against those who stole his wife from him.
And then, the Normandy. People he could call allies and friends. People who respected his views, made him comfortable, kept him fed and gave him a place to call home. All in exchange for the skills that had been honed into him. Skills that they accepted him with, they didn't fear and shun him. The commander, who helped him with barely a second thought. Helped him save his son from a path of sin.
And then a woman. Her face smeared with grease as she climbed out of the engine. Wet hair dripping down bare skin. Her look of determination as she launched herself at a dangerous asari and saved the commander. Her narrowed eyes, dark with concentration, as she built and modded armor to keep the crew and squad safe. A swift elbow to his son's face as he held a gun to her. Siha...
"Thane."
He opened his eyes and looked at the woman sat opposite him on the pillows they laid out on the floor.
"Yes, siha?"
"It's time." She stood and went to the shelf that now held his medication. She demanded it be so. "I'll be able to get it straight away if it happens again." She crossed her arms. Her face set with determination.
He sighed and stood before sitting on his bed. She approached him with a pot of cream for his chest and back, the nebuliser, and a small injection needle that contained the serum that prevented his Kepral's from spreading into his other organs. He scowled at said needle as she swabbed his bicep.
"Ready?"
"No." She didn't care. She swiftly inserted the sharp point beneath his scales and he growled. "At least let me prepare myself, siha!" He rubbed at the spot with a look of betrayal on his face.
"What? And let you work yourself up?" She shook her head and prepared his nebuliser as Chakwas had shown her. The mask fitted to his face as the machine pumped drugs into his lungs, he took deep breaths and watched her time his treatment to the second. He suspected she was more vigilant than the doctors were with his treatment. He grinned. "What are you smiling at?"
He couldn't speak so he merely shook his head. The minutes ticked by and he felt himself becoming drowsy as the drugs took effect.
She took the machine away and he swayed slightly in his seat.
"Take your shirt off."
A small laugh escaped him but he couldn't help it. "So eager, hmm?"
"Jeez, you're such a druggie."
Her fingers were too warm on his scales as she removed his loose shirt. Her pale skin seemed to glow as his senses were pounded against. It would only last a few minutes, he knew, but the effect made him uncomfortable. "Hmm.." He tried to push her away, but in his impaired state he only managed to nudge her.
"Take a few minutes." She sat before him whilst she waited for the drugs to acclimatise to his body. Her hair brushed against his legs and he caught a few strands in his fingers. He stroked at them between his finger and thumb. So...soft...
After awhile, he felt his senses clear. He nodded to her and she smiled, handing him the cream for his chest so he could apply it himself. He did so quickly before laying on his stomach and hiding his face in the sheets, embarrassed by his actions whilst under the influence.
He heard her rub her hands together and then felt them on his shoulders.
She slowly rubbed the cream into his shoulders and neck. The rasping sound of his scales on her skin made him smile and the warmth of her touch relaxed him. She ran with the contours of his muscles and fine rib bones, pressing firmly but gently. Her fingers brushed his sides and it made him jump.
She laughed. "Thane?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you ticklish?"
His eyes snapped open and he looked over his shoulder at her. "No."
She prodded him again in his ribs, making him squirm. "Ah! You are ticklish!" She prodded him again.
"Stop!" He had meant to sound serious but it was ruined by the bark of laughter that escaped him. "Please. Siha. Stop!"
She sighed and slowed back into the gentle rubbing before. "You're a terrible liar, Thane."
He didn't care as her hands reached his lower back and made him squirm for new reasons.
They were a day out from the quarian fleet and Marie was in the shuttle bay as she worked her newly regenerated muscles.
"Marie." His gravelly voiced travelled down her spine and made her face flush.
"Hey."
"Would you like to spar?"
"Huh?" She turned to look at him and her mouth nearly hit the floor.
Loose cotton pants that hung low on his hips and ended at his knees. The black setting of the green of his scales. A wide necked shirt with no sleeves that left his arms bare and revealed his chest and shoulders. He's beautiful...
"I...umm...ah-"
His brow furrowed. "You do not wish too?" He looked disappointed and she felt an idiot for her excellent eloquence.
"No! Of course. You just surprised me, is all." Wow, you're so lame.
He grinned. "Excellent." He gently began to stretch and warm up his body before the fight. It was very distracting, the loose fabric of his clothes clinging to certain areas as he bent and stretched his lean legs. Oh, man. You're so screwed.
He bowed to her and stepped into an easy stance, his black eyes scrutinising her every move as she circled him.
"Widen your steps, siha." She did so and he nodded in approval. "Always keep your fists slightly clenched, always be ready to defend." He showed her and she copied him. He wasn't teaching her to fight him, he was teaching her to fight like him. He lunged suddenly and tapped her lightly on the neck. So fast! "Now you are dead. Defend." He lunged again and she barely missed catching his arm before he knocked her back with a small punch to the stomach. "Good. Again."
It went on for nearly an hour before she got the hang of it.
And then suddenly she was beneath him. His legs tight on her hips as he looked down at her with a smirk. "Dead again, siha." She frowned at him before bucking with her hips in an attempt to dislodge him. His smile merely widened. She moved to punch him but he caught her arms and pinned them quickly above her head. His face close to hers.
She stilled and he relaxed slightly. The pink on his cheeks and neck darkened and her face flushed.
"Ahem."
They looked around to see Shepard and Garrus stood by a tower of crates, quietly observing them. Garrus sniggered into his hand as Thane stood quickly and helped her to her feet.
"Sorry for interrupting your...fight, but we need to prep the shuttle for tomorrow...so..."
Thane donned his cool mask of indifference. "I see. We apologise." He left without another word, the flush still clear on his ribbing.
Marie glared at the commander and his second in command. "I hate you two."
Garrus laughed again. "Aww! But we love you, Marie!" He flung his arms wide as he chuckled openly at her.
"Such an arse, Garrus."
"You love it."
Shepard's shoulders were shaking as he walked over the shuttle.