Chapter Text
Ryder took the lift down to the lower deck of the Tempest, stripping off her helmet and rolling her neck with a groan. She could feel the dirt and grime gathered in the cracks of her envirosuit. If there was one thing to look forward to, it was a peaceful shower as her crew plotted their next move against the kett.
Walking into her room, she tossed her helmet onto her bed and began stripping off pieces of armor. She peeled off the chestplate, brushing sand off the undersuit as she dropped the shell to the ground with a clatter. It was only when she was half undressed when she spotted it – something small, yellow, and definitely not native to the Andromeda galaxy perched on her pillows – a rubber duck.
“Sam?” She saw the AI flicker to life on her desk.
“Yes, Ryder?”
“Why is there a rubber duckie on my bed?”
“Data not found.”
Ryder frowned and walked over to the bed. “What do you mean data not found? Don’t you keep records on who accesses my room?” She picked up the duck and squeezed it. The duck emitted a high-pitched squeak.
“Data not found.”
Ryder dropped the duck back on the bed. “Sam, this isn’t funny. If someone is sneaking into my room and leaving stuff, what’s to stop someone coming in and messing with you?” She turned around to confront the AI only to see an asari standing incredibly close to her. “Peebee!” she yelled, jumping backward.
“Hey Ryder.” She sauntered close, a slow grin spreading across her lips. “How you doing?”
“How am I...” She glanced from Peebee to Sam, and then back to Peebee. “Did you sneak that duck in here?”
Peebee shrugged and stepped around Ryder. “Well, yeah. Isn’t that what Bain called you, a little duck?” She picked up the rubber duckie and squeezed it in Ryder’s face. “You got so angry about the nickname I just had to look it up.”
Ryder grabbed the duck and placed it down on her nightstand. “So you’ll know why it’s such a terrible nickname.”
“More like the best nickname!” Peebee smiled and pinched her cheek. “Ducks are so cute! So small and squishy, just like you.”
Ryder pushed her hand away. “I am neither small nor squishy.”
Sam chimed in from his console. “Aside from Suvi, you are actually the shortest of the crewmembers, Ryder. This might lead to Peebee declaring that you are small.”
Peebe laughed and Ryder shook her head. She rolled her eyes, considering some words she would have with the AI later. “Thanks, Sam. That was really...insightful.”
“And they make such cute noises! How did the vid describe it? Quack.”
“Very accurate, Peebe.”
“Thanks, Sam.” She patted Ryder on the shoulder. “Don’t sulk. I thought it would be a nice gesture. Do you know how hard it was to find one of those?”
Ryder glanced back down at the duck. “I mean...couldn’t you have printed one?”
Peebee shook her head. “Too easy. I wanted an authentic earth duck. So I pulled some strings.”
“Really?” Ryder bent down and picked it up. The plastic felt a lot like the rubber ducks found back on earth. It even had the slight chlorinated smell of a pool toy. “Where’d you find it?”
Peebe shrugged and began walking toward the door. “Well, a girl has to have some secrets.” She shot a glance back at Ryder and winked at her. “I’ll see you around, little duck.” Ryder felt her face go hot and she looked down, avoiding Peebee’s gaze. To her embarrassment, she could hear Peebee chuckling even after the door shut and she was alone in her cabin again. Even more embarrassing, she could not help feeling a faint stir of something in response to the kind gesture, especially coming from emotionally distant, scared-of-commitment Peebee.
“Sam.”
“Yes, Ryder?”
“Run a cold shower for me.” She tossed the duck aside again and began shucking the rest of her armor.
“Are you suggesting you enjoyed being called a duck?”
“That’s not what I’m implying, Sam."
“I witnessed many creative terms of endearment exchanged between your parents-”
“Sam! Water!”
“Of course, Ryder.”