Chapter 20: What Does It For Me

Whatever research Lucy was doing, she was absolutely not allowed to stop. Liara had even contemplated swallowing her own embarrassment and to do the same, later in private of course, to be able to keep up with the progression that the soldier had made in such a short amount of time. The best part?

"I'm going to try suckling on your tongue, so don't be alarmed. Try not to bite me, I read it happens often if I invade without permission."

Communication was definitely sexy, really doing it for her. Getting over squeamish feelings to give feedback took time, but the more mock-free questions Lucy asked, earnest in her endeavours to improve, the more comfortable Liara became. She wasn't the only one where all of this intimacy was new, and she wondered how more experienced couples would tackle it otherwise. It just seemed like communication was the only way to go - whether verbally or through body language. The heat pooling in the pits of her belly was trifling with her thoughts, and her core was intimately pressed against the soldier's hips. Every time she dove down to kiss, the shift in movement sent sparks up her spine.

It was maddening every time Lucy bit and pulled on her lip.

Liara suppressed a groan from the burst of tingles that shot through her when her tongue was suckled, and she was getting more desperate in trying to express her own feelings. Her hands had minds of their own when she sat up for them to catch their breaths, pulling to untuck the soldier's shirt. Guilt washed over her again, just like the showers, when she saw how much darker the bruises were, wrapping around Lucy's side. She gently skimmed her fingertips down until they'd been stopped by the belt.

"I'm sorry about this," she murmured, "I didn't have to throw you, but-"

"Nonsense." Muscles rippled as Lucy came up into half-sitting, stealing a peck on the lips. "You did what you had to to protect yourself, I'd accept no other solution." Another peck. "And what you did was pretty impressive." Her own hips shifted, her eyes darkening, fluttering half-lidded. "Powerful."

Liara gulped, hesitant and horrified, but she had to confirm it - and consequentially lay down some strict boundaries she refused to cross. "Are you... Erm... Aroused by me hurting you?"

"Of course not, but that doesn't mean I don't think about you in action now."

The asari blushed. "Are you going to be able to focus the next time I have to employ my biotics to defend myself?"

"No guarantees." A beat. "Not at all." Lucy looked up at the ceiling in contemplation. "I've tried to brainstorm things that would arouse me, as I read it's crucial to set the mood before engaging in coitus by both parties, in order to achieve maximum satisfaction."

"Not coitus."

"You holding a gun," Lucy blasphemed, "You in a military uniform, you shooting a gun, you shooting a gun in a military uniform, you flinging krogan around with your biotics-"

"Why all violent things?!"

"What? They don't have to be violent, it can be very peaceful in fact. After all, as you know, I am a firm believer of solving things peaceably."

"Yes, I also know you have a unique definition of what constitutes as peaceful."

"You can fire a warning shot, nobody has to get hurt. Or practice shooting at a gun range. Or put my marines through the paces in the gym, teach them how to defend themselves against biotics. I'm sure Wrex will have fun if you throw him at my marines. Maybe it will finally stop him from asking me if I can shoot him out the mako cannon."

Liara paled.

"Yeah," Lucy had a dreamy smile, gawking at the ceiling again as her imagination whisked her away. "Yeah, all those things really do it for me."

"By the Goddess... How are we actually going to make this work?"

"What about you?" Lucy asked, her hands tenderly running up and down the archaeologist's thighs. She leaned forward for a peck, pulling away with a lip. "Are you comfortable talking about it now? This is a critical mission for me, Liara, one where I will not accept failure nor abort it."

Heat seared Liara's cheeks, and her courage danced away. She clammed up and her eyes fell down, idly plucking the soldier's shirt and rolling it back up to watch the lean muscles ripple away in order to support Lucy's position. She shook her head, unable to bring herself to voice what she felt was silly: communication. She was all about it for this relationship, had felt a point of pride that she alone was the only person that could make Lucy 'talk' about things that didn't revolve around orders or missions or ordering missions.

Even if she was aroused by them - the insanity of it all.

But what would Lucy communicate about, were she to know? She would probably talk about violent things, and that just wouldn't do it at all. Liara shuddered when the soldier borrowed her idea and unzipped her suit only far enough to expose her collarbones. Her eyes fluttered shut and her head lulled back when lips pressed to the front of her throat.

"I'm sorry," Lucy murmured, the slight pressure antagonizing the aches of the bruise. "I wish I could take this away."

"It wasn't your fault, Shepard," she readily reassured.

"Of course it was, it was literally my hand."

"Well... Yes, but... You didn't mean to. I know you wouldn't - wouldn't ever mean to." Liara opened her eyes and smiled down at the soldier, who's face twitched and struggled not to construe in it's obvious frustration. She reluctantly let Lucy's shirt fall in favour of cupping her cheeks. "You always scold me for me hurting myself, I would hate to hear just how much you're scolding yourself in your thoughts." She stole a sweet kiss, mindful of the way those lips subtly trembled. "It'll heal. I'll heal faster if you forgive yourself." She smirked at the scoff pattering against her mouth. "I would very much rather focus on our priorities, Commander, and there is one way you could make it up to me."

"Name it. Anything."

"Kiss me," Liara put it simply. "And don't stop."

Lucy pulled away for a moment, searching her eyes. Then she nodded. "Wrap your legs around my waist. I'm going to carry you."

"Mm. Yes, it doesn't quite take a lot for it to 'do it for me' too."

Liara pushed herself up and unfolded her legs, feeling aches in her knees as she relinquished her long-held seat. She yelped when hands grabbed her rump and pulled her even closer, their hips pressed intimately as she straddled the soldier. Her cheeks flamed, her comfort derived from the calm rock-steady presence being ever so patient and dutiful, following each promise to the letter. She wrapped her arms around Lucy's shoulders as they begun to stand and leave the living room, squeezing her thighs when she feared to slip.

"I've got you," the words warmly whispered over her aural.

"Where are we going?"

"The kitchen. It's appearance is respectable and clean, far more worthy of you than here. I'm hoping you'll feel comfortable there."

True to her word, the kitchen was actually normal. Just a plain old, neutral-coloured kitchen, with regular tools that didn't also function for tawdry purposes. A wave of disappointment swept her when she was propped up on the counter, her legs gently pried away. A calloused hand skimmed under her jawline, fingertips brushing the edge of her fringe. She wasn't oblivious to the fact that the synthetic hand always stayed over clothes, only ever used in matters of strength to reposition her. She was dangerously close to the edge of the counter, her pillar of security firmly tucked between her legs as lips clasped over hers. She didn't at all mind the way Lucy experimented different techniques - but in pursuit of knowledge and skill, emotion and affection was left behind.

By the Goddess, but when her lips were bit and pulled, she swore there was a direct connection between her mouth and her groin. It was beginning to become a habit where she needed to press her thighs together, and the soldier's body prevented that. She had to keep issuing apologies between kisses when Lucy would hiss in pain, a knee drilling into her own bruises.

Content sighs tumbled out when other areas were paid tender attention, though mostly her throat. Her hands shot up in a desperate bid to hold onto something, finding fingers tangled in the human's hair when those kisses trailed lower, secretly wishing for them go past her collarbones and unzip more of her suit. She couldn't bring herself to say so, to unzip her suit as a hint, only able to think of holding on to Lucy's head for dear life. Liara inhaled sharply when a hand slid under and wrapped around her ribs, the warm friction of callouses rubbing against her skin was rapidly fogging her mind.

Every movement felt natural. The best part was that they still occasionally bumped teeth, both of them sharing little quiet chuckles as if they were passing secrets to each other. She shuddered when Lucy paved kisses up her jawline, but then panic seized her upon remembering the last time this evil trick was utilized. She abruptly pulled away and narrowed her eyes at the soldier.

"What?" Lucy cocked her head innocently, but she wouldn't fool anybody. "Did I do something wrong?"

"I know you were about to," Liara huffed. "If you're hungry, then it has to wait."

Laughter caught her off guard, and Lucy beamed an easy smile. "It seems I've traumatized you, Dr. T'Soni. I wasn't going to do that to you again. Honest."

"Oh..."

"May I try again?"

Liara flushed lightly, nodding in embarrassment. Her eyes slipped shut and she sighed happily as she focused on the lips that ghosted up her jaw again, a tongue slowly growing more bold as it traced the rim of her aural. An ominous feeling jolted through her stomach the moment Lucy's breath hitched, and the archaeologist could feel a smile growing against her skin.

"There's something you should know, Liara."

"Oh no."

"Oh yes," Lucy chuckled lowly. "I know that you know my full name, but, thing is, I've also discovered that it appears you've been misunderstanding it. Say it out loud."

Liara pulled away, her brow cocked up in confusion. "I thought you didn't want me to?"

"It's fine right now. I'd like to try. Go ahead."

Hesitant, the archaeologist shrugged, the words tumbling out somewhat clumsily with how she'd gotten used to resisting it.

"Lucy Fair Shepard."

"Mm..." Lucy nodded, then delved back under the jawline as she paid more attention to mapping the bruise with her mouth. "The Fair part was not something my parents gave me."

"So you earned it? Because of your fairness?"

"God no," the soldier chuckled. "The opposite. Try saying it again. Not my last name."

"Lucy Fair."

"Again."

"Lucy Fair." Liara pulled away and framed the soldier's head, scrutinizing her suspiciously. "I'm confused now. Is this actually a hint that I'm allowed to say your name?"

"I..." Lucy's brow pinched in conflict. "I'm not sure about that yet. It's strange to hear it. Try again?"

"Lucy Fair." Liara squeezed harder. "Luce."

The soldier's jaw tensed, and her eyes shut off for a moment. Her tone lost it's expression and sounded robotic. "Yeah... No, I'm not ready. I'm sorr-"

"It's okay, don't apologize." She swiftly backpedalled to whatever the reason was for this exercise to begin with. "I'm still not understanding it even if I say it. You know, your full name."

"Lucifer," she still sounded robotic, but she grinded her way through it, the life slowly returning thanks to a tiny supply of trivia. "It's a play on my name. There's a lot of history, folklore and myths, even originating from planets and stars. But now, it's the name of the devil - once an angel, a light-bearer, who ultimately fell from grace. Soon as I was of age, I went through the legal system to update my name."

Liara digested the information, coming to a better understanding. That ominous feeling before? It expanded tenfold, and she was trying to ignore it, trying to stay away from the path that Lucy was mischievously coming back to. She pretended to be very interested in the human's hair, twirling strands around her finger in curiosity, marvelling in it's soft texture. She felt expectant eyes coaxing her, but she refused to be led down this malicious path. She cleared her throat.

"It still suits you. The angel part." She was flustered the moment that heinous chuckle made it's debut and pressed for what she so dearly wanted to be true. "It really does."

"You know it doesn't, Liara."

"I also know you have a tendency to be too hard on yourself, and-" Liara yelped when she was pulled right off the counter, legs flailing in a desperate bid to wrap around the soldier, who's evil laughter revealed itself without shame. "No! Don't do this, Shepard!"

"Oh, I'm doing it. I'm hungry and I can't wait another minute. It's imperative that we take excellent care of our bodies to remain in peak condition."

Liara groaned. "Why didn't you eat before we left the Normandy?"

"This is more fun."

The archaeologist buried her face in a shoulder and groaned. She weakly beat a fist on Lucy's back. "It suits you. You are evil."

"True to my name," Lucy's words subtly danced.

Liara huffed. "You are having far too much fun with this..."

Her cheeks ached with a smile regardless. This was nice, and it gave her hope that Lucy was willing to try to overcome her painful past. Even if they didn't get very far, she didn't expect it to, was happy just to be taking baby steps at all. It made it tricky when to broach the subject of all the recent slave raid missions, and she hoped to attain some kind of enlightenment as to when would be the right time, but right now?

She had to close their eyes and ignore the comments as she was carried through a cursed strip club.

"Ah... I was not aware," Shepard stabbed her fork into her salad, reflecting as she ate. She nodded. "It makes sense. I could sense there had been something off with the crew, but I had assumed someone would approach me if they had an issue. I wonder why people aren't approaching me? I do my best to encourage that they can be frank with me, when time permits it." She looked at Liara in hope. "You've been bonding with them. Do I still frighten them, or perhaps they think I will be responsible for them being dishonourably discharged for insubordination, or something like that?"

"I don't think it's necessarily that, I think the crew feels a... Disconnect to you. I believe what you suggested before - in building rapport with your crew - is the right path to pursue." Liara cut into her version of steak, and the soldier tried not to focus on it too much. She could feel the eezo emanating from it, making her teeth itch. "And I share their concerns, Shepard. I do hope you'll respect that I don't intend to spy for you."

"No, no, of course not. I had hoped that by placing you there, you'd find more people you could adjust to military life, people you can come to trust. I have memorized the dossiers of all the marines in those quarters. Petty Officer Chase has shown exemplary diplomatic skills to dismantle any possible tensions arising from misunderstandings, whether they be due to species diversity or a conflict of personalities. Servicemen Helen Lowe routinely receives praise from her comrades, well-loved for her natural ability to inspire with her enthusiasm." Shepard took another stab at her food, unable to tear her gaze from the eezo steak. "I do greatly appreciate that you've brought this to my attention, but I value trust above all. Those marines have your trust, and likewise vice versa. A unit cannot operate efficiently without it."

{Commander, did you hear me?! This position is lost! Delta needs reinforcements or they'll be-}

Shepard cleared her throat, accidentally interjecting whatever it was the archaeologist had begun to say in desperation to keep the memories away. "I admit I have gotten distracted. As soon as the Normandy is finished it's maintenance and has stocked up on supplies, I'll set course for where I initially intended to go to continue the investigation: Noveria."

"Noveria?" Liara's head cocked in confusion.

"Cute. Everything about her is-" Shepard sucked in a small sharp inhale. She was getting distracted again.

"Yes. Now, this information is otherwise classified, so please do not tell anyone else of it. You may discuss it with Gunnery Chief Williams or Lieutenant Alenko, that's all. Understood?"

"Y-yes, of course." Liara lost interest in her steak, and the soldier tapped the dish to remind her. She needed to keep her strength up and seriously develop a habit to take better care of herself.

"I'm only telling you because it does involve your mother, Matriarch Benezia. Back at your university, Chancellor Epentha revealed that Benezia is also an investor in Binary Helix Corporation, and according to Alliance intel, so is Saren. That could be the connection between the two." At that, an embarrassing realization struck her - Benezia's daughter was sitting right in front of her. She could've very well asked Liara about these things, but judging by the asari's surprised look, it seemed to be news to her too.

"Binary Helix..." Liara mused thoughtfully. "Doesn't their work involve genetic engineering? Controversial work at that, if I remember correctly, with many protests."

"It depends on who you talk to - I'm biased and can't say much on the matter, as all Alliance soldiers receive gene therapy upon enrolment. There are strict policies in place to avoid abuse as natural abilities can be freely modified, but adding abilities is illegal. For example, increasing muscle mass is legal, but adding the ability to digest cellulose is not." Shepard finished her salad and delved into what she looked forward to the most: actual macaroni and cheese. Her eyes fluttered shut in pleasure as soon as she popped the fork in her mouth.

"So have you-"

"Wait, wait, shh... I haven't had this in ages."

"You're shushing me over food?"

The corner of Shepard's lips twitched upwards. She didn't have to open her eyes to perfectly visualize Liara's expression, and she nodded evilly eagerly. Her mouth threatened to crack into a grin when the archaeologist huffed.

"Fine," came the sullen mumble.

"Oh, now that's cruel, Liara." Shepard rushed to remedy her cruelty, extending her leg under the table so that she'd slid it beside the pouty asari's. It worked like magic to crack her determination to stay sulky, her lips quivering in a subtle smile.

With a critical issue solved and fatal disaster expertly averted, it was back to the discussion at hand.

"Certainly, Luddites - organic base-liners and fundamentalist groups - would oppose this work, and naturally, protest. But each government has its restrictions in place. If I remember correctly, I believe the Citadel government allows the creation of life for scientific or medical reasons, but forbid the creation of new sapient species. They also have the strictest laws compared to other governments. Then again, who knows how strictly these regulations are enforced? Technically, medi-gel is entirely illegal. No one seems to be doing anything about it because of it's beneficial properties, despite it utilizing biological nanides being a clear violation of the Council's genetic modification laws."

"Where do your feelings lie on the matter?" Liara inquired cutely.

"Why the hell does everything she have to do and say be that way? She's making it increasingly difficult to stay calm around her." Shepard shrugged. "As I said, I'm biased as I've received gene therapy. I believe it has it's merits, but I do agree that it poses an ethical issue that makes it hard to draw lines as to where to stop genetic modification - and that isn't even factoring in armies having an unfair advantage in war, were they to create super-soldiers."

This made her felt more at ease, though, discussing matters that engaged the mind, sharing information. It was easier to be confident over things she knew, things she had experience with, things she too could enjoy a thrilling debate over. She still looked forward to trying out different things in privacy with Liara later, though. She was absolutely riveted and hung onto every single word when the archaeologist shared her thoughts and feelings on the matter, agreeing it was indeed a very gray idea. Liara posed questions Shepard had never thought of, like: who decided what traits were good, or bad, or disabilities and handicaps? Would it's high costs make it only available to those financially well-off? What distinguished good and bad uses of it? Should gene therapy be used to improve basic traits like height, intelligence or athletic ability? Where would the line be drawn then?

There were no answers, as the soldier was far more content with listening, observing the brilliant mind in front of her unfold. Then she felt that small familiar burn in her nether region, and she pressed her foot more firmly against Liara as she smiled. Unfortunately, it stopped the archaeologist's brilliance for some reason.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I need to find us somewhere private, ASAP." Shepard glanced around the grand food court, planning her route back to her apartment. Then she leaned forward. She lowered her voice, having learned this subject seemed to be one that was uncomfortable for the asari. She tried to restructure it in a compliment, feeling a bit of warmth lick her neck as she fumbled with it.

"Your intelligence... It's uh, I find it very, you know... Attractive. Rarely have I found persons of interest that I could engage in any topic with. You also teach me something, no matter what. Everything is educational with you." Her momentum was lost when she forgot her boundaries. "That really does it for me too."

Liara blushed fiercely. Her gaze immediately dropped on her food, to which she played with as she pushed the steak around her plate. "Th-thank you, Shepard. Likewise, it's enjoyable to have these kinds of conversations with you too. It's nice to be able to discuss things openly without it becoming heated." Her eyes lifted, but her head hadn't. "Do you think we might be able to have such a conversation in regards to batarians?"

A jolt of something hot seared straight through Shepard. She had to remind herself of her mantras immediately, to close her eyes as she fell to her breathing routine. She felt concern squeeze her wrist. She sighed.

"Sorry, but no. I've taken note of the concerns circulating the crew regarding the focus on the slave raids, but beyond that... I'm not sorry for pursuing to stop them. Batarians are a menace, a blight that needs to be purged from the galaxy." She opened her eyes, a molten hot fire burning the tip of her tongue, blinding her to the sadness across her. "That species is a fucking mistake. I learned early on - thanks to them opening my eyes - that my purpose in life is to rectify that mistake. After I stop Saren, I'll be filing a request to continue to commandeer the Normandy and refit it with the necessary technology to be better prepared in putting an end to slave raids."

"And you'll continue for how long?" Liara gently challenged. "Until the batarians are extinct, or your anger?"

"I'm not angry," Shepard pressed, baffled that her logic wasn't making sense to an individual who had proven to be able to comprehend the most complex of philosophies and theories. "Batarians need to die. There's no debating it, just like the Reapers. It is the only logical course of action."

Her chest was tightening, and even when she was taking in longer, purposeful breaths, it felt as though her nostrils turned into tiny straws to suck that air through. The fork bent in half in her synthetic hand. She'd been reminded of her mantras when Liara squeezed her wrist again. She closed her eyes and tried again, but it was getting harder to breathe. She absentmindedly touched her throat, then covered her eyes as she tried to suck in a deep breath though her mouth. She still couldn't. Her stomach was twisting, recoiling with nausea that she hadn't felt in the longest time, and she swore she was going to regurgitate all of this week's meals. She couldn't, it would be unappealing and a great insult to the good doctor sitting across from her.

"I can't breathe," she wheezed quietly, her mind racing with hundreds of escape routes as she frantically searched about on where to tactically retreat.

Eyes were on her, some people stopping what they were doing to stare at her. Why were they staring?

"Leave me alone."

Voices that thundered and ricocheted from the thick crowd around them fell to a silence, and one by one, more people were recruited in staring at her. What the hell was their deal? She looked to Liara for answers, forehead pinching in confusion over how scared the archaeologist looked. It was only then that Shepard realized she was destroying the table in her synthetic hand, just like the one on the Normandy, slowly crushing it. The asari's mouth was moving, but her voice was muted. Her eyes burned bright with fear.

Shepard moved. She ensured she used her normal hand to grab hold of Liara's, dragging them away from the commotion and to disappear from all the prying eyes. She still couldn't breathe, and there were dots clouding the edges of her vision - but her mission was clear: get Dr. T'Soni away from here. She didn't deserve this.

Their path was suddenly diverted, though not of her own volition. An invisible force pushed her down a separate corridor, then into another, then into a corner, free from other eyes. Cool hands clasped her cheeks and a forehead touched hers. Her gaze fell down to Liara's lips, angling her head, interpreting as the asari wanting a kiss from her - but those lips backed away.

"Did I misunderstand?" Shepard croaked hoarsely, her throat aching from the lump grating inside.

Those lips moved, but still, she couldn't hear them. She squinted in concentration, feeling as though she was underwater, everything muffled and blurred. The dots grew larger.

"I can't hear you," she hissed in desperation, her stomach roiling harder.

Instinct made her double over, and she dry-heaved. She felt lightheaded, ready to faint. Soothing circles were drawn between her shoulder blades, and she shut her eyes in embarrassment.

"Look away, please. I don't want you to see this, Dr. T'Soni."

The circles never stopped. She couldn't bring herself to look and see the eyes she most didn't want on her right now. This was humiliating, and the biggest do-not's that much of research told her not to do. She couldn't take the dots anymore. She blindly engaged her omni-tool, issuing the protocol to shut off her optic implants. The world turned blurry and all she could make out were large fuzzy circles of colours and lights. It had surprisingly brought comfort, though not the colours she could recognize as part of the archaeologist's suit.

"I've shut off my optic implants, I can't see," she explained, "Can we go back to my apartment? Will you be okay leading me?"

Why ask questions when she couldn't hear? At the very least, the silence was over, but the words were muffled and garbled as if Liara was speaking an entirely different language.

"Had I shut off the audio-implants and translator too, by accident? I won't be able to turn it back on without seeing what I'm actually doing. This was stupid. I could engage something dangerous, turn on my jets, or activate the grenades in my arm. What an idiot I am... No way this does it for Dr. T'Soni."

Pressure gently pushed on her lower back, and an arm gently slid under hers, hand intertwining over her knuckles. It was unsteady, when they first took their steps, but soon she fell into the rhythm of Liara's pace. The lightheaded feeling gradually went away.

"I'm sorry," Shepard grumbled, "Even if we can make it to outside Chora's Den, I should be able to take the lead then. Maybe. Sorry, doc..." She kept apologizing, sorry after sorry after sorry.

And was stopped short when sweet lips pressed to her cheek.

Warm words were whispered in her ear, and she knew for a fact she'd turned her translator off when the alien language was all she could hear - but she understood the tone. It was... Nice to hear this, actually, even if she didn't know what was being said. The forehead pressed gently against to her temple, lips occasionally bumping into her earlobe. Now, more than ever, she was made aware of the intricacies of the emotions that flowed in Liara's voice. It soothed the fears and the nausea, returned her breath to her, and gave her the strongest hint of what really did it for her.

Liara's compassion.

"I don't think she's hearing me still," Liara crossed her arms as she mused on solutions, watching the soldier as Lucy laid on the gaudy heart-shaped bed with a forearm slung over the eyes. "She seems significantly calmer. She said she's turned off her optic implants, but I'm beginning to suspect she may have turned off more than that. Her synthetics didn't seem to be operating fluidly either."

She grumbled away the muscles aches burning in her shoulders. The stairs were a nightmare, especially with lifting such a heavy leg.

"No wonder it gives her back pain."

Everything Liara had already tried, had failed. There had to be a reason why Lucy wasn't engaging her omni-tool in order to turn everything back on. The asari decided to send a message to Dr. Chakwas and briefly explained the situation, omitting a large portion of details as she kept it short and sweet. The implants were turned off, and she didn't know what to do to help.

Fortunately, answers came quick when the doctor pinged her in a call.

≤Dr. T'Soni, are you receiving this clearly?≥

"Loud and clear, I'm here. You've read my message already?"

≤Yes. In order for the Commander to navigate her omni-tool and safely turn all her implants back on, she'll need to be able to see. You'll have to return to the Normandy and I can give you her prescription glasses - or I can see if there's still someone that stayed behind and ask if they can meet you.≥

"N-no! That's not necessary," Liara chuckled nervously, "I'll meet you. I'll definitely meet you. Please give me 10 minutes. Will you be in the infirmary?"

≤Affirmative. Or try the Commander's quarters - I don't seem to have her glasses here, so I'll look in her drawers. I'll see you soon.≥

The call disconnected, and Liara looked worriedly over at the soldier, who seemed to fluctuate between being contentedly still, and not. She sighed as she went over, knowing she wouldn't be understood anyways, but maybe by some miracle, Lucy could still somehow figure out her intentions. She knelt by the bed and gently slipped her hand in the soldier's, squeezing it.

"I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise. I'm just going back to the Normandy to get something from Dr. Chakwas."

Please let her at least hear and understand 'Normandy' and 'Chakwas'.

Liara had a hard time tearing herself away. More than anything, she wanted to stay by Lucy's side - somewhat to ensure the soldier won't bump into anything and injure herself, but mostly out of guilt that she was the cause for this disaster to begin with. She was insensitive and thrust her hope on someone she knew wasn't ready to open up, causing an anxiety attack.

"She'll surely be upset, especially if she hears about how much of a commotion she'd caused at the cafeteria. Goddess, this is all my fault..."

She had to go, though, and the sooner she did, the sooner she could return and make her apologies. She already had begun her prayers back at the cafe that Lucy would still be open to hear her out and forgive her for this. She leaned down and swiftly gave a peck on the lips, squeezing the soldier's hand one last time before she slipped away. She kept her eyes on Lucy and her heart fell apart upon seeing that hand reach blindly in the air for her.

Liara forced herself to turn and run, but not before wedging something in the door to keep it open for her, since she wouldn't have a way to get back in otherwise. Hopefully nobody would break in.

"Time to run."

She nearly broke her ankles when they rolled as soon as she started slamming down the stairs, grimacing and wheezing when it wasn't long before she'd found out just how out of shape she was. She blamed the heavy cybernetic leg. She tore through the strip club, hailing apologies over her shoulders when she crashed through the bodies, and made a mad dash for the Normandy, cursing the long elevator trip up. She nearly collapsed with relief when she saw Dr. Chakwas waiting outside the airlock.

"Thank the Goddess," Liara gasped, doubling over with hands on knees. She caught on to how there were C-Sec officers nearby, some shooting her glares over her loud intrusion, others trying to warn her to go away. There was a woman at the end of the bridge, but right now, her frantic mind was only focused on Shepard. She had practically torn the glasses out of Chakwas' hand and begun her desperate trek back, slewing prayer after prayer in panicked thoughts.

"Please don't let her wander out, or someone wander in, and me about to wander in a bloody murder scene. Please let no one take the wedge out the door, because what will I do and how will anyone get to Lucy then? I'd have to hunt down a human and then the nature of our relationship will be exposed, the Commander will get in trouble, Helen and Addison and Talitha and oh, everyone's going to lose trust in me! They'll think I'm spying on them for Lucy! If only they knew she really was fair, and-"

This was too much. She was going to induce an anxiety attack herself. As soon as the elevator rolled to a stop, she pushed her jelly legs to run as fast as she was no longer able to. She bit the bullet and dumped what little credits she had left to hail a cab, thundering through Chora's Den and apologizing her way through. She hadn't put any thought into it when a muscular human had grabbed her elbow, and instinct called on biotics to push him off. She threw another sorry behind her, but never stopped running.

It was the final stretch, and she almost collapsed on the stairs in exhaustion. She gasped and gulped for air, doing a mental victory dance when she saw the door and the wedge undisturbed. She ripped the door open and charged inside, the rest of her prayers answered when she had seen the soldier sitting up at the edge of the bed. The body tensed as she rushed closer, probably feeling the vibrations, and Lucy's head turned to her. She expertly slid the glasses on and beamed a proud grin over her accomplishment. She furiously tapped her forearm to signal that the Commander should engage her omni-tool now.

Instead, she was grabbed and thrown, tumbling inside a closet. She'd scrambled out with an indignant cry over the hostility, until she'd seen the cause of it.

The muscled human, fury twisting his features, a small knife embedded in his thick forearm muscles - courtesy of Lucy, who twisted it as she kicked him away with her synthetic leg, sending him crashing against the wall. Crimson flew in the air and the soldier flicked her knife to remove the excess blood.

"You fucking bitch," the muscled man seethed, "You'll pay for that!"

Before he could get up and charge at her, Lucy had unholstered a pistol - wherever the Goddess she'd even hid that - and pressed the barrel between his eyes.

"I'll pay with a bullet. But I'm not unreasonable, I'm willing to negotiate. Alternatively, you may find it in your best interest to leave and get that arm looked at by a doctor. I'd rather the latter - peaceful solutions are the best solutions, after all. How about it?" Lucy rapped her barrel against his temple and gestured to the door. "Exit's that way. I'd be happy to escort you out."

The man's glare fell on Liara, and she shivered from the murderous intent in his eyes. All this trouble, just because she shoved him off? But he grabbed her first! She apologized too, and-

"I promise you'll pay for this," he threatened her.

He paid with his consciousness when Lucy pistol-whipped him across the head.

"He really should have taken my offer," she sighed, "I was so sure it was generous. Oh well." She glanced over at Liara. "Sorry, I still won't be able to understand you until I turn my implants back on. Give me a moment to drag him out of here."

"How... Is she okay with this?" Liara was dazed, feeling as though this was all some surreal dream as she watched the Commander pluck the massive human away and drag him by the leg behind her. She heard the door hiss shut in the distance, a compliment of something being clever and how it made sense, and then feet thudding softly on the carpet on the way back to her.

Lucy appeared back in the doorway with that subtle confident smile of hers, her weaponry stowed away and appearances fixed as if nothing had ever happened at all. She pointed at her glasses. "Thank you very much for these, I apologize for the trouble - as well as losing my composure, earlier. It won't happen again."

"You're not angry?" Liara blurted, and the soldier simply stared blankly at her.

"Yeah, still don't have a clue, I'll turn the translator on soon. One moment, I have something else I need to get out of my system." Lucy came and knelt in front of Liara, cupping her chin and encapsulating her lips in a soft kiss. She paved that sweet tormenting path up along the jawline, finding more comfort and confidence each time she had, her hot breaths skirting over the asari's aural.

"When we engage in coitus-"

"Not coitus."

"I'll be turning my translator off again, then. It really did it for me to hear your language, and not understanding a single thing you were saying." Lucy stole little butterfly kisses on her way back to Liara's lips. "It made me focus more on your tones and your emotions, helped me realize how lucky I am. I am underwhelmingly lacking in the passion department-"

"Very, very debatable with how much focus you're investing into being the best that you can be, for me."

"-and I have somehow captured the interest of a passionate individual, a unique personality, and very diverse intelligence encompassing many attractive facets. Yeah... I've finally figured out what arouses me most."

Lucy gently bit and tugged on Liara's bottom lip, pulling a hiss and a shiver from the heated emotion in the soldier's voice.

"You, Liara. And I finally know just what to do to make you feel good and happy." She pulled back and set aside her glasses on the nightstand, for a moment, relinquishing her shirt. She donned her glasses and sat on the edge of the bed with a sultry smile.

It was enough to combust Liara's brain in flames.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Oh, right, the translator. One moment. I'm keeping my optic implants off, technically I'm supposed to do a daily reset and leave them off for a couple hours, but I never have the time." Lucy engaged her omni-tool, plugged away at it, then looked at the blushing asari. "Try saying something now?"

"What are you doing?" Liara squeaked pathetically.

With a nonchalant pat on the bed, Lucy gave a sort of half-shrug. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Yes, no, I don't want it to be, I'm not ready for it, can she please just-" Liara steeled herself with a breath. "Could you please clarify, just to be on the safe side?"

"Meld with me," Lucy answered as if it was the simplest and most obvious conclusion in the galaxy, the only one to be drawn.

Here we go all over again, this was beginning to establish itself as a pattern where Liara thought she could confidently say she understood the soldier and her logic perfectly, only to be proven horribly wrong.

"And... And why did you have to take your shirt off for it?"

"Because the ethernet said that melding is an intimate process. I assumed it was like engaging in intercourse. Should I remove my pants as well?"

"What does she think intercourse actually entails if she's still dressed? Didn't she say she knew it 'requires' one to be undressed?" Liara paled, before heat came crashing back to pulse hard against her cheeks. "Nevermind, I don't actually want the answers to those questions right now." She adamantly shook her head as she pushed past her aching muscles to come up on the bed. She plucked the soldier's hands in hers. "It is an intimate process, Shepard, but... N-not like intercourse. It's a different kind of intimacy. I'll be establishing a direct connection with your mind and soul."

"Understood." Er... Did she, really? "And you can only see things that I want you to see, right? Are you able to do that? I just want you to see the Prothean visions."

Oh, stab an archaeologist right in the heart! Lucy had ushered the most vital term as if it was as casual as her death threats and 'peaceful solutions'. Liara's throat constricted at the prospect of just how close she was to realizing everything she had been searching for for a majority of her life. She nodded lamely.

"I do owe you that, after all," Lucy shrugged, "Since you figured out the meaning behind the minerals. It's long overdue. So..." She glanced over her shoulder at the bed. "What must I do? It won't put me to sleep, will it?"

"No, it's nothing like that. You'll be there with me, experiencing what I'm experiencing. You'll feel my presence - you may even feel my essence."

Lucy's eyebrows pinched adorably in confusion. "Your essence?"

"There's no simple way to explain it, I'm afraid. Every experience is wildly variable and unique." Liara eagerly squeezed the hands in her lap. "I promise you we'll be safe. The only thing required of you is to trust me. I won't take it personal if you don't-"

Lips silenced her. The soldier smirked.

"Saying such stupid things is beneath you, Dr. T'Soni. That really doesn't do it for me."

Liara laughed.