[u][center][h1] Strangely Like Brother and Sister[/h1][/center][/u] [center] Back on the Borealis, within the Medical Bay[/center] Serena woke up to the ever pleasant feeling over everything in her body hurting. She groaned in pain, before realizing that she wasn't laying in the mudstrewn jungle again. [color=hotpink][i]Thank fucking God...Wait. Where am I then?[/i][/color] She opened her eyes to see the reassuringly familiar face of Vellios. Giving a sigh of relief, she smiled. [color=hotpink]"I assume that because you look less fucked up than I feel, that we're not captured and the mission is still going."[/color] She frowned, wincing at the movement, at the nasally tone of her voice. She reached up to explore her nose only to scream as she tried to move her shoulders. [color=hotpink]"Ah hell. My nose is broken isn't it? Fix it quick before I get stuck like this."[/color] Vellios didn't say anything. Instead, when Serena lifted her arm, his own shot out and pinned it in place non too gently. His helmet was still on as he took his other hand then removed it to see better. Not a single sign of usual cockiness or lighthearted attitude was etched upon his face as he set the helmet to the side upon a table. His eyes narrowed on the swelled and dislocated joint, a single talon trailed down it then his palm pressed over the edge. He jerked it where it popped back into the socket without warning. It made a loud, fleshy pop as it slid right in. Serena screamed again. [color=hotpink]"FUCK. That wasn't my nose!"[/color] She complained, glaring up at him. He didn't reply, the Turian moved to the side then grabbed some strange forceps before turning to the stab wound. His talons pulled it open to examine the damage and if any tissue needed to be reattached, his head turned to snatch up some spare medigel for application. He pushed in a generous amount to stop the bleeding. As it clotted, he twisted to collect some bandages and stitching. Something seemed to click as Serena watched him work. She hissed in pain as he worked, gritting her teeth. [color=hotpink]"What happened Vellios."[/color] [color=rosybrown] "Don't worry about it,"[/color] Vellios said, half heartedly. He stretched the gauze under her shoulder then removed the tool to begin stitching. The medigel likely easily numbed the area as he pushed in the needle and worked on wrapping her up. Serena snorted, then bit back a scream. Her nose was in bad shape and did not appreciate her attentions to it. [color=hotpink]"Fuck. Fix my damn nose already. And bullshit it's a 'don't worry about it' situation. What. Happened."[/color] Vellios paused. His eyes narrowed on her expression and grinded his teeth quietly, his action in mid-stitch. [color=rosybrown] "Your nose can wait. It's not life threatening unlike your shoulder, neck and any possibly broken bones you gained." [/color] Inhaling, he returned to stitching her shoulder. [color=rosybrown] "As for what happened, I had a dispute with one of the crew and we came to a truce. Now, let. It. Go." [/color] [color=hotpink]"And my dislocated shoulder was life threatening?"[/color] Serena retorted, glaring up at him. [color=hotpink]"Like hell I am. Tell me what happened. Or I swear to God I'm getting off this table and asking Iosif and Tanya and you'll just have more wounds to repair."[/color] [color=rosybrown] "Considering if you kept moving your arm, you could ruin it completely!"[/color] Vellios snapped, anger flashed over his features briefly then vanished into defeat. He sighed then commented. [color=rosybrown] "It's over, drop it. Now Serena."[/color] [color=hotpink]"You know me better than that."[/color] Serena retorted. [color=rosybrown] "I do, and I'm firmly putting my talons down. Now you want patched or not?"[/color] The turian's stubborness showed in his expression while he glared at his friend, his hands paused in mid sew and waited for her reply. It was clear he would stop if she continued over this issue. Serena glared back, beginning to sit up. A small grunt of pain exiting her as she was pushed back down. [color=hotpink]"Only if you tell me what happened."[/color] [color=rosybrown] "Stop being stubborn. There's been a silent understanding and nothing you need more details when I rather not go into the matter again. Now, hold still or I'll pin you between my legs just to stitch you up!"[/color] Vellios threatened. Serena rolled her eyes at Vellios, making sure he saw her exasperation. [color=hotpink]"Me? Stop being stubborn? That's like the pot calling the kettle black! Now tell me what happened or I'll squrim like a fish out of water!"[/color] [color=rosybrown] "Don't make me tie you up like I've been wanting to do to Dex..."[/color] Serena stuck her tongue out at him. [color=hotpink]"You wouldn't because I don't bend like her!"[/color] Vellios snorted then retorted. [color=rosybrown] "There's only one way to fix that."[/color] [Color=hotpink]"By telling me what happened, you're right!"[/color] She beamed at him through her bloodstained teeth and face. [color=hoptink]"I knew you'd agree eventually![/color] The turian tossed his arms in the air as he considered punching the nearest table, not caring he might sent delicate supplies into the ground. His talons bunched up into fists and trembling, his crested head twisted back toward his shitty patient. [color=rosybrown] "Why does it matter so much?"[/color] [color=hotpink]"Because I care about you and I want to know what's upset you."[/color] [color=rosybrown] "And you're an idiot for it."[/color] Vellios snapped. Serena shrugged, wincing in pain. [color=hotpink]"I prefer the terms idealist or optimistic, but we [i]are[/i] on this ship."[/color] [color=rosybrown] "And I finally came to an understanding with Tanya, which doesn't your nose in it. As long as we avoid each other, everything's fine. I don't need you opening that conversation again. Why can't you let things sit? It's over, didn't need you to patch up my fuck ups."[/color] Anger withered in his eyes, his figure instinctively leaned in and looked more like an aggressive animal than a well manner turian. His talons were gripping hard into the steel enough that they tried to pentrate through it without success. [color=hotpink]"Because avoiding your problems doesn't solve them. It'll just come up again at a nastier time. You've not reached a truce, you've done a more formal version of what you were going to do anyways."[/color] Serena replied quietly. [color=rosybrown] "If you've not noticed, I'm nothing but a series of problems piled on top of each other. Adding more isn't going to break me. It hadn't yet."[/color] The turian forced himself to relax, something difficult in his current mind frame as he sighed. [color=rosybrown] "I just did something stupid and I don't need to drag you down with me."[/color] Serena chuckled softly. [color=hotpink]"Oh Vellios. You should know by now that I'll always stand by your side. No matter how far you 'drag me down.' You leave this ship, I'll follow. And this entire crew is a series of problems piled on top of one another, me included. We just happen to see all of each other's problems.[/color] [color=rosybrown] "Serena..."[/color] [color=hotpink]"No. You listen to me. Whatever your problem, whatever your fuck up, I don't [i]care.[/i] It doesn't matter what you did, or if you think it's impossible to fix. I'm going to stand by you, even if I don't know why I am. I'm going to help you. That's what you do with family. So tell me what happened, so I at least know why I'm standing by you."[/color] Vellios scratched his neck, harshly as he looked back. [color=rosybrown] "You're not very bright, you realize that? You go off and nearly get yourself killed, then making demands. I'm half tempted to lock you up just save myself the trouble."[/color] His arm reached out to finish what he started. His talon stitching her back together while he watched her, daring her to move again. [color=hotpink]"I'm not bright at all. We've already figured that out. What you still haven't figured out is that I'm going to win this one way or another."[/color] Her eyes narrowed at him. [color=hotpink]"You wouldn't dare."[/color] [color=rosybrown] "Want to bet on that?"[/color] He asked with a smirk on his mandibles. [color=hotpink]"I don't need to bet on it. Because I'll win one way or another. I'm going to find out what happened. It's just easier if you tell me now."[/color]. [color=rosybrown] "I can either tell you now or patch you up... not both."[/color] [color=hotpink]"I can wait. this isn't the first time I've been beat up. Explain."[/color] Vellios glowered at her, knowing she was right, his figure moved forward and gripped Serena's head in his hands. His talons pressed against the sides and held it there despite her struggle. With his thumps, he made a quick, decisive movement over her nose. CRACK! It slipped back into place with a painful flare as he braced himself for her reaction. [color=Rosybrown] "I'm not willing to wait though."[/color] Serena screamed again. [color=hotpink]"FUCK!"[/color] She howled, tears streaming down her face. [color=hotpink]"Why the [b]fuck[/b] does my nose being fixed hurt way more than my shoulder?"[/color] She hissed, peering up at Vellios through slitted eyes. [Color=hotpink]"You'd best get good at multitasking then."[/color] She gritted out through clenched teeth. [color=rosybrown] "Cause there's more nerves there and I am."[/color] His talons resisted the urge to tighten though he knew she could feel them shaking slightly. [color=rosybrown]"Now, I'm finishing the shoulder but you have to hold still.Or you'll never be able to work on Barat properly again.'[/color] Serena glared at him, but held still. Begrudgingly. With that, he applied the last remaining medigel to the wound and finished the sew job. [color=rosybrown] "We had a pest issue on the ship earlier, Tanya and I got into a dispute which was worked out moments ago. An understanding was met and I'll be avoiding her presence for a few days while I heal up. Happy now?"[/color] He turned to place the needle and thread left overs into a sterilizing solution, it hissed and cleared off the blood. His eyes peered at her to study her reaction. [color=hotpink]"See? Was that so hard? I don't even need to know the details."[/color] Serena replied, grinning in triumph up at him. Vellios shook his head in disagreement knowing she wouldn't let this rest. He pulled his helmet over his head, fastening it in place and before Serena could get out of her seat on the table, he reacted. He turned back then gripped her left arm. His other arm easily removed her omnitool, though it was pretty well banged up, then set it aside. He then raised her up, without any care for dignity, to push her and over his shoulder. He gave a heay grunt as his ribs screamed briefly, but ignored it as he twisted about toward her quarters. Vellios carefully treaded along the corridor while his other arm stretched out to steady himself along his path. [color=rosybrown] "One last thing... because I don't trust you to leave things alone..."[/color] He was careful not touch in a place he wasn't suppose to, his mind on one thing: putting Serena somewhere safe. Serena squealed as she was thrown over his shoulder, in a mixture of pain and surprise. [color=hotpink]"What are you doing?!"[/color] She demanded,not bothering to struggle as she was already in pain and experience taught her it would be useless. She looked behind her, seeing his room come up, and it suddenly clicked into place. [color=hotpink]"Oh no you don't! I can still be of help on this mission! Don't you fucking [i]dare[/i] lock me in there!!"[/color] [color=rosybrown] "No...you won't be. You need to heal, stay out of trouble and if you keep moving, I'm going to break something again."[/color] Vellios grunted as he moved closer to his room then flopped her down on the bed he rarely used. He then turned on his heel and strolled to the door, knowing Serena would need time to recover. As Vellios strode away, Serena struggled to a sitting position. [color=hotpink]"You're one to talk you bastard! Look at your ribs! What about Del and Sarah! Come in here you son of a bitch and answer me!"[/color] Vellios ignored her, heading back towards the door. His hand snaked out and slapped Sarah back into the hallway like a naughty dog. [color=rosybrown] "No, bad bot. Git back!"[/color] She managed to get to her feet as he approached the door. Within a few seconds, he was on the other side and paused long enough to speak his final statement.[color=rosybrown] "Get some sleep and recoop. Also, if you break my stuff, I'll return the favor..."[/color] [color=hotpink]"[i]DON'T YOU DARE CLOSE THAT FUCKING DOO-!!!![/i]"[/color] A devilish grin crossed his lips before he shut the door with a hiss. Pausing there, Vellios gently touched his side. The hurt spread from the area causing him to inhale deeply as he walked off to attend to his own injuries.