Chapter #5Accidents Happen, You Have to Learn to Accept That by: MightyHalberd   "Alright, we'll get your paperwork all sorted out and you'll be discharged, Miss T'soni," the Asari doctor said brightly as he scrolled through the data on her omni-tool.
"Thank the Goddess," Liara muttered, albeit gratefully considering she would at last escape this dreary hospital. She couldn't imagine how it must have been for Shepard to spend months in a hospital bed with her innards barely held together, after the Crucible explosion. Liara had only been here for a week and she was starting to feel a bit stir-crazy.
"Now, you'll need to stay off your feet and leave the cast-shielding on for a month or so until your legs are fully repaired," the doctor explained, gesturing towards the hard-light constructs functioning as casts for her mangled legs. "I assume you have transportation home?"
"Yes she does."
The doctor gave a start as the Prothean spoke up, revealing himself after entering the room stoically and patiently waiting behind her.
"Javik!" Liara pushed herself off the bed, wincing slightly. The doctor stood there, shocked at the sight of the legendary alien species as he walked up to her bedside, resting their foreheads against one another in a show of affection. "Have things been busy?" Liara asked as they broke apart.
"Yes, I've hunted down the individual responsible for the shuttle accident and inflicted vengeance upon him," Javik reported. "His suffering was legendary and it can be assured he will not make that mistake again."
There was a deadly silence as the doctor turned pale. Javik's stoic expression cracked into a slight smile.
"I'm kidding."
Liara giggled as the poor doctor breathed a sigh of relief. At long last, the Prothean had developed a sense of humor, albeit a dark one.
"Right, I'll...go get you discharged. And find the wheelchair..." the doctor said, hastily making her exit.
"Thank you, by the way," Liara said as her giggling came to an end.
Javik looked puzzled. "What did I do?"
"Reminded me of how much I missed you."
Javik, deeply touched, reached out to take her hand as she held it out. The Prothean wasn't one to wear his feelings on his shoulder, but the remarkable gentleness of his hand in hers betrayed his feelings. He might as well have been singing love songs on the roof of the hospital.
"And....you're sure there won't be any lasting damage?" Javik asked wearily.
"None so long as I stay off my feet for a while. I'll be back to sitting behind my desk in no time."
"Ah, so this is the stage of 'pampering' then."
Liara raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled.
"The 'pampering'," Javik explained. "I was speaking with the wild human Jack, and she insisted that while you are recovering I should and I quote, 'pamper' you. Setting you in a comfortable position, preparing you meals, activities to that effect."
"Of course she said that," Liara chuckled. "So you're actually going to cook for me then?"
"You would be surprised," Javik said. "Now that my service as an Avatar of Vengeance is unnecessary I've found I had plenty of free time to devote to such recreational activities. In addition, I figured you would appreciate sampling some Prothean cuisine I have knowledge of."
Liara's eyes lit up at the idea of sampling what the ancient Protheans would have eaten. Ever the enthusiast of the ancient culture, Liara's only familiarity with their diets was archeological evidence suggesting their bodies had a higher then average metabolism and needed extra calories to function. Years ago she would have laughed it off if someone suggested she'd be eating what the Protheans ate millennia ago, and yet here she was, being told that's exactly what she'd be doing.
Javik once again cracked a smile. "I figured you would enjoy that."
---
Liara stirred as the light from a Thessian sunrise touched her face. Her legs felt heavy and numb, the light-casts keeping them securely in place as she slept. Cracking open her eyes, she saw the empty spot on the bed where Javik had been.
Pushing herself up to a reclining postion, Liara stretched out her sore back muscles, still recovering from the stiff hospital bed and the first night back on her more comfortable mattress. As the tantalizing thought of a day spent doing absolutely nothing stretched out before her, she caught scent of something on the air. Something delicious.
"Good morning, Liara," Javik announced, shouldering the door open with a tray in his hands.
"Good...morning," the Asari responded, trying to stifle a giggle at the sight of Javik in, of all things, a cooking apron and a chef's hat. She couldn't fault him for being dedicated, that's for sure.
"This is my first attempt at the Prothean cooking," Javik explained as he set the tray down. "I had to improvise as a few spices seem to have gone extinct since the last cycle, but I think I've recreated it as best as possible.
"Well it smells delicious," Liara complimented, looking over the meal. It seemed to resemble the human delicacy of pancakes but visibly thicker, speckled blue and layered like a cake with a red butter-like substance melted on top. Liara took up the silverware and cut herself a piece, eyes widening as the flavor hit her. "Incredible! I want to say it's sweet but...there's a body to it I haven't experienced before, like nothing I've ever tasted. Amazing!"
Javik smiled slightly. "It's one of the simpler dishes I admit, but it has a kick to it that a lot of cuisine from this era lacked. If you'd like, I can make some extra."
"Mmmf...yeth, PLEATHE!" Liara said through a massive mouthful, her cheeks bulging as she nearly reduced the Prothean dish to half. As Javik gave her a quick peck on the side of her face before leaving to make some more, a nagging voice in the back of Liara's head warned her of the dangers of no physical activity combined with a heavy Prothean diet, only to be quickly drowned out by the voice of the Prothean enthusiast screaming in excitement.
This was going to be the opportunity of a lifetime for her, she wasn't going to let fears about a couple pounds spoil that for her.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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