Chapter Text
Liara had learned a lot about human behavior since joining the Normandy. Her academic brain soaked up and catalogued the information, fascinated by the differences between their species.
She knew she didn’t understand human social interactions that well – sometimes she didn’t understand asari - and some of the crew were less understanding than others.
The looks. The whispers.
She knew why. It wasn’t so much her otherness as the situation with her mother. All she could do was prove them wrong.
Chief Williams and Lieutenant Alenko were different, as was Shepard. They generally seemed more welcoming, and Liara supposed that was due to working with them more closely.
However, Shepard was so task focused Liara barely felt like she knew them, and Chief Williams was still a little prickly, but seemed to be thawing each time Liara spoke to her.
Kaidan was different. He went out of his way immediately to make Liara feel welcome. He showed her around the ship, introduced her to various human foods – including tricks to make the mess rations more palatable – and helped load her personal data-pad with research materials and classic human literature he thought she might enjoy.
He was kind. And brave. And honorable. Liara respected him immensely. She liked him even more.
She had just finished reading Alice in Wonderland, and she was filled with questions about the book. She found Kaidan in the lounge, staring out at the stars.
“Good evening, Lieutenant,” she said when she entered, her data-pad clutched to her chest.
Kaidan huffed, not turning to face her. “I told you, Liara. No need to be so formal. Please call me Kaidan.”
She shook her head, approaching the sofa where he sat. “Of course, I apologize. I’m still learning the ins and outs of human customs and I- “
He was smirking at her, one side of his mouth curled up. She hummed, ducking her head as her face heated, and took a seat next to him.
“I finished the last book you lent me, and I had some questions about talking mammals…”
She looked up from her data-pad to his face and paused. He smiled, but it appeared forced. There was a tightness around his eyes and a pallor to his skin.
“Are you all right?”
Kaidan hummed, slouching a bit. “Yeah, sorry, just a headache. Not a migraine, but it could be if I don’t get ahead of it.”
“Did you see Dr. Chakwas?” she asked, lowering her voice.
They’d spoken of the headaches he received due to his implant. Liara was horrified, but also impressed with Kaidan’s resilience. She sometimes forgot that the other species weren’t as adept of living with biotics as the asari were.
“I did,” he said. “I just need to take it easy for the night.”
Liara went to stand. “I will leave you to it then.”
He peered at her curiously. “You don’t want to talk about the book?”
“I should let you rest. I do not want to interfere, or to make your pain worse.”
Kaidan smiled again. Such a nice smile. “You’re not interfering, Liara. Your company is always welcome.”
She grinned, her cheeks burning. “Well, perhaps we can discuss the book another time. However, if you are not opposed to it, could I perhaps try something that may help you with your headache?”
Kaidan’s brows popped up to his forehead. Liara put the data-pad aside and shuffled closer to him. This close, she couldn’t help but pick up on his scent. There was something she didn’t recognize but reminded her slightly of a tree on Thessia. But underneath that was the crisp, familiar scent of eezo.
“In comparison to humans, the asari have perfected our use of implants to enhance biotics,” she explained, and Kaidan huffed softly. “However, some of our commandos still experience some discomfort after having their implant placed. There is a massage technique used to alleviate some of the pain. I had a…friend that became a huntress and she taught me. I could try, if you’d like?”
Kaidan eyed her skeptically. After a moment, he nodded. “You’re sure this will work on a human?”
“No,” Liara admitted, nudging him to turn so that his back was to her. “But it cannot hurt.”
Kaidan chuckled, a deep, rich sound that made Liara smile.
“Fair enough,” he said.
Liara reached her hands up towards his neck. Human anatomy wasn’t so different from asari, but it was still different enough. Human hair, for instance, fascinated her when she came aboard the Normandy. So many colors and textures and styles. She felt envious, and said as much to Ashley, who just laughed and told her it could be a ‘pain in the ass’ and that some days she wanted to just shave her head.
She pressed the tips of her fingers into the base of his neck, near the amp jack. It appeared crude to her, and she felt another wave of sympathy for him. To be the first generation of human biotics seemed very difficult.
She began to massage the area around the implant site, recalling the techniques that Sani had taught her so many years before.
Kaidan’s skin was warmer than she expected – though she had heard him say he tended to ‘run warm’ as a biotic – and far softer, too. He didn’t move as she worked, though she did spot his reflection in the windowpane and saw his eyes drift shut.
She pulled forth a sliver of dark energy around her fingertips, enough to radiate warmth against his skin and ease the muscles underneath. He made a soft, pleased sound and Liara’s heart flipped end over end in her chest.
“How is that?” she whispered.
He hummed. “Good. It’s helping. Feels like the tension is easing. Maybe you missed your calling, Liara.”
She smiled, moving her fingertips up and into his hairline. She realized then that this was the first time she’d touched human hair. She’d thought about asking Ashley if she could touch hers, but she had expressed that idea out loud to Joker and the pilot laughed so hard Liara wondered how he was able to breath.
It was thick. Softer than she imagined. A little prickly where it was shortest, but smooth and silky where it was longer. She massaged the area at the soft spot at the base of his skull and he sighed, shoulders relaxing.
Once she was satisfied, she moved closer to the crown of his head, her fingers buried in thick, dark hair. No wonder humans put so much stock into it. It was so… intriguing.
She enjoyed the feeling of the soft strands between her fingers as she continued her ministrations, surprised to discover that Kaidan’s normally perfectly styled hair had curl to it.
It was endearing. She bit back a smile.
“I swear if anyone on this ship finds out I let you play with my hair I’ll never live it down,” he said, voice a relaxed rasp.
Liara huffed softly. “Humans have a saying about secrets. Keep them in a safe?”
He chuckled. “Close enough.”
Reluctantly, Liara removed her hands from his scalp when she reached his hairline. She sat back, folding her hands in her lap.
“There. How do you feel?”
Kaidan shifted in his seat so he was facing her again. He ran a hand over his scalp to straighten his hair and Liara’s heart clenched. She’d wanted to do that.
“Much better, actually. Sleepy, but some of the pain is gone.”
She smiled, nodding. “Good. You should get some rest.”
She stood to go, snagging her data-pad off the sofa. Kaidan caught her wrist as she turned, his touch warm against her skin. She turned back to face him, curious.
“Thank you,” he said, smile bright and not forced. Her stomach flipped. “We’ll talk about that book tomorrow, ok?”
Liara nodded, clearing her throat of the lump that had formed there. “I am…looking forward to it.”