#poly dynamics

Length: 4,095 words

Ship: You/Reader/MC x StarCrow, POV is female. Reader has MC's Resonance Evol, but otherwise this has little to do with the canonverse lol.

Content tags: Implied OT6 Polycule, Xavier is a bunny-hybrid, Sylus is a dragon-hybrid, Threesome - F/M/M, Bottom Xavier, Top Sylus, implied vers/switch dynamics in the polycule, multiple orgasms, anal and vaginal sex, animal-hybrids' mating cycles, unrealistic sex, Reader lays on the cuck-side of the bed for a while, canon(-adjacent) petnames used all around

✨✨✨

Genes of powerful hybrids ran in Xavier’s family, so it hadn’t been a surprise when the doctor had announced that the boy would grow up to be a hybrid himself. The CEO of Philo Inc. had excitedly consulted various experts and had his firstborn’s fortune told numerous times, and each time he had been told that the boy would grow up to be a strong, fierce leader. A tiger or a wolf most likely, fit to represent the billion-dollar company like generations of men had before him.

Xavier himself had minded little when on his 16th birthday he had woken up with a pair of long ears and a fluffy tail. His countless hours of physical training under private instructors or his straight-A record from his elite boarding school hadn’t been affected by his newly found identity in the slightest. His classmates would certainly have liked to knock him down a peg or dozen, but each of them had found out quite fast that their own beastly genes alone were no match for years of discipline and hard work.

But no matter how many classmates Xavier proved wrong, it was never enough for his father. By his 18th birthday Xavier had had enough of the disappointed look in his father’s eyes, and instead of opting for a plastic surgery his parents had oh-so-subtly hinted at, Xavier left his family home and never looked back. If his family wouldn’t accept him, he would find people who did.

To say his wish had been granted would have been an understatement.

”Xa- Xavier, ahh—”

Xavier grits his teeth as he tightens his fist in your hair. His other hand on your hip is struggling to keep its hold on your sweat-slicked skin as he fucks into you. He lowers his head to mouth your neck as he feels you getting closer to your third orgasm, and you whine as his cock presses ever deeper into you. The smell of your vanilla body lotion makes him heady, and he can’t help nipping at your warm skin as he pushes the both of you closer to the edge.

”That’s it, Starlight,” he says and winds his arm around your waist, pulling you impossibly close, ”say my name, louder ”. Your eyes roll to the back of your head as you comply, his name escaping your lips in a pitiful whine.

The slapping of skin against skin gets even louder. Mixture of his earlier releases and your own essence escapes your womb and gathers around your entrance, a sight so filthy it would surely make Xavier cum on the spot if he had the willpower to peel himself off your back. Yet he merely cradles you tighter, pushing your face against the mattress as his shallow trusts bully your sweet spot almost torturously fast.

Him turning out to be a bunny-hybrid instead of a fierce predator had had little effect on his intellect or his combat abilities, but once he had found his pack, someone to share his intimacy with, Xavier had discovered that there were indeed aspects of his nature that separated him from the others.

Such as the call of the breeding season, or his rut , with all its perks and drawbacks.

The perks? Seemingly infinite stamina with no refractory period whatsoever.

”Going to fill you up again Starlight, can you feel it?”. You instinctively tighten around him, every muscle tensing in anticipation.

”That’s my girl, taking me so well. You are so full of my cum already, aren’t you?” Xavier caresses your stomach with tenderness that doesn’t match the brutal pace of his hips, and as he presses down on your womb you feel cum gushing out of your pussy, adding onto the mess between both of your hips.

”F-fuck, Xavier, so close, don’t stop, please .” You begin to shake, and Xavier slips his hand downwards, teases your oversensitive clit as he bites down on your neck. His cock pulses deep inside you, and soon you feel the warmth of his cum filling you up again. You sob against the mattress as another orgasm is wrenched from your body, leaving you boneless and out of breath under your lover.

When Xavier and you first met he couldn’t believe a person like you could exist: a human with Resonance Evol that she had harnessed to harmonize with all manner of different hybrids. Ever the persistent mediator, your goal originally had been mastering the art of conflict resolution between humans and hybrids, something you had been diligently studying in the university where Xavier met you. However, as him and the rest of your pack had found out, your Evol had also made you more… receptive and durable than the average human. Shared among half-human hybrids and one merman you weren’t much phased by their intense and often physically intimidating mating habits.

But the drawbacks of Xavier’s rut were the same as its perks, and thus even your enhanced capabilities had their limit.

Xavier kisses along your neck and spine as he pulls out, earning him a tired mewl in response. He sits up and rubs your butt gently as he watches his release slowly spill out of your swollen pussy. He isn’t the gentlest lover on an average day, and his rut makes him downright feral. The sight of you being stuffed to the brim with his cum doesn’t exactly help with his self-control, either.

Xavier pushes his thumb into your sopping cunt and licks his lips as more white spills out, trailing along your shivering skin. His cock twitches against his thigh, and he almost absent-mindedly starts stroking himself. His thumb pushes further into you, and that is enough for you to snap out of your post-orgasmic bliss.

”Twinkle twinkle,” you groan and shift your hips away. Xavier instantly pulls his thumb out at the sound of your safeword and lays his palm on your butt instead.

”Sorry princess,” he murmurs. You curl up on your side and lay your own hand upon his.

”It’s okay Xavi. Would if I could,” you smile tiredly at him. ”It makes me sad too to see you like this and not be able to help you.”

Despite the lack of stimulation Xavier’s cock is again fully hard, a sticky mess against his muscular leg. Xavier keeps running his hand up and down the shaft, but he knows it’s a futile effort. Once he is deep into his rut he can’t truly be satisfied by anyone else but you, and your packmates.

Your packmates such as the hulking giant of a dragon-hybrid, who now knocks on the bedroom door before entering with two glasses of water.

”Sounded like you two are finished,” Sylus says with a lazy smile as he walks up to the bed. You thank him for the water and gulp it down greedily. Sylus hands the other glass to Xavier, who thanks him while avoiding meeting his gaze head on. Sylus isn’t deterred and instead lets his gaze roam over both your naked forms, unabashedly enjoying the erotic mess you have made of one another.

”How are you doing?” Sylus asks as you hand the glass back to him.

”Blissful, as always,” you sigh and flop back onto the mattress, ”but I don’t think I can continue further. Even if…” you trail off and turn to look at Xavier again. Xavier’s eyes are fixed upon you in favor of ignoring Sylus, who is looking amused by the bunny-hybrid's predicament.

”Rut still hasn’t gotten easier for our bunny? You should be lucky yours only last for a couple of days, unlike our mermaid’s heat cycle.”

Xavier finally turns to Sylus to cast him a withering look, but his resolve crumbles embarrassingly easy as he lays his eyes on his taller lover. Sylus is wearing nothing but a black silk bathrobe and matching black underwear, both of which do nothing to hide the outline of his arousal. His long tail swings lazily behind him, and his black horns shine in the dim mood-lighting of the bedroom.

Dragon-hybrids are notoriously possessive and territorial, and Sylus is no exception. His self-control in terms of sex is par none, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t struggling with the scent of desire that now permeates half of their shared home, courtesy of Xavier’s rut.

Sylus bends down at the waist to meet Xavier’s gaze head on. He takes the empty glass from the blonde and then places his index finger under Xavier’s chin, lifting up ever so slightly.

”Do you need my help, bunny?”

Xavier’s first instinct is to deny Sylus. Getting intimate with you had been easy since the beginning: they all had been borderline obsessed with you, so desperate for your affections that they had been willing to share you for it hadn’t been an option to stay away either. Getting intimate with each other had been, well, a bit more complicated. Even with your Resonance Evol there had been many boundaries to agree upon and many difficult discussions to endure before they had settled into this beautiful mess of a pack dynamic. A dynamic where you were the absolute leader, whether you realized it or not.

The rest of the hierarchy shifted as fluidly as sand in an hourglass, molded by their respective heats, ruts and other hormonal cycles as well as countless other factors. And it just so happened that Xavier naturally gravitated toward the more dominant role in the bedroom, with you but also with his other packmates. He liked to think that his background played no part in this, but the way his sharp, silent commands and muscles honed to perfection kept you in a short leash begged to differ.

He wasn’t overcompensating, that much was certain. It was just… easier to hold the reins himself most of the time. This rut was not one of those times.

You grin as you push yourself backwards on the bed, making more room for the men. Neither of them seem to notice as Xavier slowly sits upright and Sylus places one knee on the bed. Xavier’s chest rises and falls in sync with his deep breaths, and his cock bounces against his taut stomach. Sylus’ red eyes are fixed on him, dark with lust and affection, and his tail slithers onto the bed and around Xavier’s hip.

”You need to use your words, Xavier,” Sylus drawls as he plays with the knot of his bathrobe. Xavier’s eyes dart up and down the dragon-hybrid’s body as his self-restraint fights a losing battle. Sylus’ tail slides up Xavier’s spine, and the blonde draws a shuddering breath before swallowing harshly.

”Please,” he finally says, ”I need…more.”

Sylus’ grin widens and his pupils blow out until his irises turn completely black.

”Present yourself to me,” Sylus demands as he opens the knot of his robe and shrugs it off.

A strangled moan escapes from Xavier who falls onto his back and hooks a hand behind his thigh, spreading himself before Sylus. Sylus’ chuckles rumble in his chest as he strokes himself through his underwear, praising his lover in a hushed tone.

You sigh happily as you feast your eyes on their perfect forms. Your own arousal tingles in your belly, faint but painfully insistent. You are never left wanting in bed, and precisely because of that it is rare for you to just watch your packmates without really participating. Even more rare is to see Xavier being stalked like the prey-animal his genes determined he should be, something that would be concerning if it was anyone other than your mutual packmate doing the stalking.

Sylus bends down to open the drawer of the bedside table and pulls out a bottle of lube from there before climbing onto the bed with Xavier. The blond man waits for Sylus’ next move, his impatience betrayed by his darting eyes and shallow breathing. Sylus coats two fingers in lube and grabs Xavier’s raised leg by the ankle with his free hand.

”Has it been a long time?” he asks as he circles Xavier’s hole. Xavier sucks in a breath through his teeth and nods. Sylus focuses his eyes on Xavier’s face and slowly pushes one finger inside.

”Breathe, bunny.”

Immediately Xavier’s eyes screw shut, and he starts breathing slow and heavy. His hands fist around the sheets, not sure where to grab onto. Sylus turns to you and nods towards Xavier with a smile.

”You can help him relax, sweetie. Soon he will get impatient and start to demand I fuck him only half-prepped.”

Xavier opens his eyes ready to retort the dragon-hybrid's words but is cut off by Sylus’ finger curling into his prostrate. Xavier lets out an uncharacteristic ’fuck’ and Sylus adds a second finger as Xavier is distracted. You scoot over to Xavier’s side and stroke his stomach, easing the tension that’s built up there. As you feel him relaxing under your touch, you trail lower and curl your hand around Xavier’s cock. He throws his arm over his eyes and whines, and his other hand reaches for your head that slowly lowers onto his swollen member. You taste your combined essences on him, a strong and addicting flavor that you crave more the deeper into your mouth you take him.

You hear rather than see Sylus add a third finger as Xavier’s whines turn into incoherent babbling. You push down at the root of his cock as Sylus fingers him with increasing speed, and soon you feel his cock swelling in your mouth.

”Already?” Sylus hums as Xavier tightens around his fingers, the mean undertone in his words only pushing Xavier closer to his climax. ”Better hope this isn’t the last one you are giving me.”

You are lucky you have learned the telltale signs of your lovers’ impeding orgasms as Xavier’s hits him like a freight train with you pulling back at the last possible moment as not to choke. Still it fills up your mouth and escapes down onto your chin as you gasp for air. Sylus releases Xavier’s leg to grab your head and pulls you in for a messy kiss, taking his share of Xavier’s cum. When you part his lips are glossy and tainted white.

”You taste heavenly, little princeling.”

Usually the term makes Xavier bristle, but now he barely has the mental capacity to rise onto his forearms to catch his breath before his arousal is stirred up again. Sylus slips his fingers out of Xavier and hooks them under the waistband of his own underwear.

”Safeword?”

Xavier shakes his head, and Sylus takes it as a permission to continue. He slides down his underwear and his cock slaps almost violently back up to his abdomen. Its dark, hard skin matches Sylus’ horns, and its girth is the inspiration of the many fantasy dildos you owned before you experienced the real thing. You sigh wistfully at the sight even as the dull throb of your pussy reminds you that you have had your share for tonight.

”I’m so jealous, Xavi,” you whine playfully as you scratch your blond lover at the root of his furry ears, ”when Sylus fucks me it feels like he’s reaching my soul with that cock.”

Because while all your lovers are more than well-endowed, Sylus has always been in a league of his own. You all know he is endlessly gentle and patient when making love to you, but it’s still always intimidating to see him in his full glory. And despite of that Xavier crawls towards him on all fours without hesitation.

”You sure about this bunny?” Sylus asks as Xavier lolls his tongue out and places kitten licks on the reddish tip. Sylus’ cock feels white-hot on Xavier’s tongue, courtesy of the dragonblood pumping through his veins. Xavier ignores Sylus’ question and closes his eyes, lips wrapping around the cockhead as he lets his mind turn on the autopilot.

Sylus sighs and pets Xavier’s head while you coo praises into the bunny-hybrid’s ear, scratching it again in a way that you know makes Xavier’s cheeks heat up. Sylus’ tail coils behind Xavier, and the hard scaly tip rubs against Xavier’s hole, making him whine around Sylus.

When Sylus decides the smaller man has had his fun and pulls Xavier off his cock, he is met with a gaze of cloudy azure blue, beautifully accentuated by the rosy cheeks underneath. Sylus taps his cock once more on Xavier’s lips and tightens his hold on Xavier’s hair enough to make his lover focus.

”On all fours. Place a pillow under yourself.”

The reality settles in again and Xavier blushes dark crimson as he hesitates for a moment. Sylus raises a single eyebrow at him and you tsk in mock disappointment.

”I thought that was your favorite position, Xavi.”

It is, and that’s why he knows just how deep inside you he can reach. Xavier is painfully hard, but he can’t help his limbs from shaking as he moves into position. You brush the blond strands from his face and stroke his lips with your thumb.

”You know Sylus won’t hurt you, right?”

To emphasize the same point Sylus bends over Xavier, his cock resting on Xavier’s rear, and turns Xavier’s face gently towards him for a kiss. On instinct Xavier ruts against Sylus, his small tail perking upwards to give even half an inch more room for the dragon-hybrid to mount him. Sylus winds his arm around Xavier’s upper chest and nuzzles his neck, much like Xavier had done to you earlier.

”Relax for me, love.” And then he starts to push in.

You swallow Xavier’s moans and hiccups with your mouth and rub his scalp as Sylus sinks in inch by inch. His replaces his arm around Xavier’s chest with his tail and spreads Xavier’s ass cheeks wider apart with his hands. He watches in silent awe as his blond lover takes him in, stretching to his limit. Soon it is impossible for Sylus not to rub against Xavier’s prostrate, and the bunny-hybrid starts rocking his hips against the pillow.

”He’s in so deep, princess,” Xavier gasps against your lips. ”I’m—I’m gonna…”

”Not yet Xavi, he isn’t even all the way in yet,” you tell him and wipe away a stray tear from his cheek. ”You are doing so well for Sylus, such a sweet little bunny.”

Xavier keens from the praise as Sylus finally bottoms out. Sylus growls as he lowers himself flush against Xavier’s back. He starts to rock back and forth minutely, and you release your hold on Xavier, giving him another pillow to hug as Sylus’ weight pushes his upper body down into a mean bend.

”Such a tight little bunny,” Sylus groans as he places his other hand onto the nape of Xavier’s neck, ”so hot, so perfect. Tell me, will this be enough to satisfy your rut?”

Sylus punctuates the question with sharp, shallow thrusts that make Xavier sob into the pillow. His legs keep trying to spread more apart, his poor tail shakes as his body struggles to accommodate all of the cock he is given. He feels so full , so complete, so---

Then Sylus’ hand tightens around his neck, and the next thrust on his prostate makes stars explode in Xavier’s vision. His comes into the pillow below without a warning, his body jerking violently. Sylus grits his teeth as Xavier tightens around him, keen on making him cum on the spot as well. Sylus slows down his pace but doesn’t stop completely. Instead straightens up onto his knees and pulls Xaviers hips flush against his, making his lover scramble for purchase with his forearms.

”Not enough,” Sylus rasps, ”how many times you made her come tonight? Four?”

”Only three,” you muse as you lean back against the headboard, enjoying the show your lovers are putting on for you, ”but maybe you should aim to top that.”

Xavier shakes his head but makes no move to wriggle away from Sylus, nor does he utter a single coherent sound as Sylus picks up his pace. He holds Xavier under him like Xavier had done to you, his massive frame towering over the bunny-hybrid who can do nothing more than take, take and take. True to his word Sylus doesn’t stop when Xavier comes for the third time, completely untouched and drooling onto the pillows. He does pull his blond lover up against his chest, holding Xavier up and open with his tail and other arms, while his free hand cradles Xavier’s jaw.

Your arousal comes back with vengeance as you gaze upon Xavier’s wrecked state, his poor cock still half-hard as his eyes struggle to remain open. Sylus pushes his thumb into Xavier’s open mouth and the blond sucks on it with a pitiful whine.

”Has our bunny finally been fucked silly, hmm?” Sylus chuckles breathlessly as he tries to fend off his own inevitable orgasm. Xavier has loosened around him and is beautifully compliant when Sylus kisses him. Sylus delights in the small ‘ah-ah’ sounds that Xavier makes as his prostrate is mercilessly bullied by the inhuman cock.

As Sylus ends the kiss he notices you writhing in your place, and sighs as he sees you pleasing yourself with your fingers. Xavier must see it too, as he licks his lips and whines in a high pitch only reserved for his ruts.

”How about next time you think ahead, and ask one of us to join you from the start. Wouldn’t it feel good to be taken at the same time as you take her? Or maybe you’d prefer for her to sit on your pretty face as my fingers force orgasm after orgasm out of you.”

Xavier exhales an expletive and nods furiously, not really caring what he’s agreeing to. Sylus knows his words have hit the spot as his lover starts to tighten once more around his cock. You call out both their names as you speed up your fingers to sync up with Sylus’ thrusts, feeling just as aroused by his words as Xavier is.

”Come for us, Xavi, you know you want to, let me see your face when you come,” you coax, and Sylus finally wraps his large hand around Xavier’s cock.

”I will fill you up like you filled her. You’ll be dripping cum well into next day, long enough for the others to notice. Do you want them to notice, love? Would you like the attention?”

The sinful words from both his lovers make Xavier’s head spin and he trashes in Sylus’ hold, his body protesting the overstimulation as his climax inevitably grows closer. He can’t breathe properly, he can’t think straight, and yet he wants more, wants everything his lovers ever offer to him.

”Yes, Sylus, princess, please —I’ll do anything, please…”

His words make no sense to anyone but him, but Sylus rewards him nonetheless by pumping Xavier’s cock tightly and biting into the junction of his neck. The world grows dark and then white-hot as Xavier cums for the last time, screaming hoarsely as Sylus and you follow close behind. Sylus thrusts into Xavier twice more before stilling, and despite being impossibly deep inside there isn’t nearly enough room for all the cum Sylus spills into Xavier. The thick white liquid gushes out from around Sylus’ barely softened cock and slides down Xavier’s thighs, making him almost as wet as you are.

”Beautiful,” Sylus whispers against Xavier’s soft hair and gently slides out of him while pressing kisses onto his lover’s temple. Xavier grabs one of Sylus’ horns for leverage as he kisses the other man back before collapsing next to you on the bed. As you wait for Sylus to bring you towels and a water bottle, you stroke Xavier’s face and watch as his tired body finally settles down.

After Sylus returns you gingerly clean your exhausted lover as well as you can, although the sheets prove to be a lost cause. You toss the towels onto the floor and lay behind Xavier’s back while Sylus faces him, curling his tail around both his lovers.

”Everything alright, Xavier?” you ask and as Xavier nods, you reward him with kisses on his shoulder blades.

jean and eren bicker constantly about the restaurant. jean wants to wear the same red button-down that eren's already got on and claims he's called dibs. eren wants to have sex but you're all already fifteen minutes late for the reservation

all that to say jean gets to show off his cooking abilities a lot considering how many dinner reservations you miss

it turns out jean is the only person that can dom eren. eren loves to talk shit to you, but jean can shut him right up. sometimes jean's in the mood to play good cop/bad cop (like we've seen in the fics), but other times, your sex life just goes in a cycle of jean pulling the strings and you and eren smiling up at him with hearts in your eyes

eren finds out that he loves giving head. neither you or jean can get out the door without eren trailing after you begging to "just give it a kiss goodbye"

jean teaches you how to help him make eren cum without anyone touching him (you didn't even know guys could do that, and neither did eren)

when it finally happens, eren's eyes are as big as saucers while jean and you just smirk at him

"what just happened?" "you came." "i-i- but, i know, but-" "i think we broke him."

birthdays are a HUGE deal

especially since two of you can gang up on whoever's the birthday princess (regardless of gender, the birthday boy/girl has to wear the "birthday princess" crown that eren got you for your birthday a few years ago)

you've come home on several instances to find the air in the apartment chilly and jean and eren not speaking only to find out one beat the other in a video game

even once they're comfortable and mushy and in love, jean and eren still insist on you sleeping in between them

1. "because you're our princess!" 2. "because jean snores." 3. "yeah? well eren kicks." you wind up both the body pillow and the punching bag for them

you and jean love to get eren all flustered by telling him how pretty he looks before you head out. little cheek/forehead kisses make him scowl and blush without fail.

alternatively, you and eren love to rile jean up by sending him nudes and nasty videos while he's at work. you both pay for it later, but it's so worth it.

i feel like they just pick you up 24/7? like they've absolutely swung you back and forth with one holding your arms and one holding your ankles just to piss you off while you're reading on the couch

when you get your period, the boys secretly call it your "monstruation" period. jean chastises eren for it all the time, but he's the one that slips up and clues you in on it

eren's in charge of snacks and movies to keep you comfortable, jean's in charge of medicine and keeping the tampon/pad drawer stocked

eren absolutely buys stupid "his/hers/his" things for the house like mugs and matching towels. denies being the one that bought them when they show up in the mail

"we must have a secret admirer- i mean, not like i blame them or anything. we're hot."

i have so many more i just didn't want this to be an absolute MONSTER of a post lol. like yes, is poly!erejean a smutty dream? sure, but the FLUFF potential!!! that's what gets me! i just love them <3

1. Albedo/reader/Childe

So, I think we can all imagine Childe being the chaotic one of the group. Like he would tease the both of you constantly and tries to get his way all.the.time. He’s kind of a brat but he knows the two of you loves him and can’t live without him. He doesn’t show it much but he cares for the both of you a lot and really gets annoyed when Albedo over works himself. He also brings small little presents from wherever he was.  

Albedo on the other hand...is kind of the motherly one of the group? Always taking care of both childe and you. He’s tried 24/7 but he tries not to let it show and tries to take care of you both. He knows how upset you get when Childe is away so he also tries to make you feel better in the other’s absence 

Overall I feel like they would have a nice balance and have a mutual understand of each other, Albedo understands why Childe needs to do the things that he does and vice versa. In that aspect the only concern they would have would be you since both of their works are so time consuming and they don’t want you feeling bad when they’re gone. 

2. Kaeya/reader/Zhongli

Alright so I kinda forgot where I was going with this buut I feel like being in a relationship with Zhongli and Kaeya would be interesting to say the least. I feel like (pun not intended) Zhongli would be the rock of the relationship, he would be the one to calm the tense situations and overall I feel like Kaeya would be able to trust him to just be there. 

I feel like Kaeya would be the troublemaker of the three, I usually hc Kaeya to have super duper trust issues and learning to trust you and especially Zhongli would be difficult. In that situation I can imagine reader playing the role of a bridge, technically zhongli betrayed you as well by not telling neither of you that he was the geo archon. And archons + kaeya’s past don’t mix well. 

In the end, after all the secrets have been lifted, I feel like being in a relationship with the three of them would be rewarding and satisfying. Despite their different ways they have so much love to give. 

3.Diluc/reader/Xiao 

Soooo I also agree with you anon, this would be a good dynamic as well but I feel like it might be a bit problematic at first, that is until everyone gets used to each other. My personal opinion is that Diluc and Xiao are a bit too similar and that might cause a bit of a problem for reader. I feel like neither of them would be great in sharing feeling and actually being open about it. 

“Hey! Let go.” He reached for his pistol.

Fat chance, big guy. Shepard took a breath, channeling her adrenaline towards her eezo nodes. Her eyes glowed, and she lashed out with just enough force to knock his pistol out of his hands. It barely moved. Shit.

___________________________________

“What would you like to talk about today, Shepard?” Her therapist leaned back in her chair, balancing a datapad on her lap.

“I need you to authorize a new biotic amplifier.”

“Mm. Are you ready for a new amplifier, Shepard?”

Narrowing her eyes, Shepard tried to keep her voice level. “I’ve been ready for months, Doctor.”

“Please, call me Susan.”

“Authorize the damn amp, Susan. We’ve talked through everything—“

“About your military service, yes. Your recent personal relationship with Major Kaidan Alenko, even. Your brief association with Thane Krios. But what about your childhood?”

“I dealt with that shit years ago. No need to bring it up.”

“Your insistence on avoiding the subject is telling, Shepard.”

_____________________________________________

Shepard stared down gun’s barrel, bracing herself as she heard the safety click. Maybe next time don’t pick a fight with only half your body working, dumbass.

“Your amp short out, freak?” The thug’s finger slid towards the trigger.

She held up her right hand. The left remained stubbornly at her side. “Must’ve left it at home.” Shepard put on her most winning smile. I’m so sorry, Kaidan.

BANG!

Shepard fell to the ground. The door slammed behind her, and Shepard caught herself with her right hand. She groaned as her wrist cranked under the full weight of her body. A twitch in her left arm.

“What the fuck is going on out here?” Jane shouted from over Shepard’s shoulder.

The thug dropped his pistol, backing off. “N-nothing Jane. I—we—”

“That’s Ms. Doe to you, asshole. Now get out of here before someone calls the cops.”

“Yes Ms—“

“I said out.”

The thug scrambled out of sight. Shepard looked up, half-expecting her to offer a hand. Of course, she had forgotten who she was dealing with. Jane glowered down at her, folding her arms. “What are you doing here?”

Grabbing onto the door, Shepard dragged herself up. “We need to talk.”

“If I wanted to talk, I would’ve returned your calls.” Jane turned around, ducking back inside, but leaving the door open.

Shepard followed, rotating her wrist. “Could we talk somewhere else? A park? A different bar? Hell, we could even go back to my therapist’s office and I wouldn’t even—”

Jane stopped, looking over her shoulder with a smirk. “This place not good enough for you?”

Shepard clenched her fist. Oh no, this place would be perfect. Discreet. Dim lighting. Loud televisions. Full of private rooms for its loyal customers. Well compensated and well armed bouncers in case shit hit the fan. Plenty of alcohol. If only Shepard could breathe in this fucking shit hole. “Too many memories,”  she managed to spit out.

“That’s one thing about not having a past.” Jane stepped inside one of the private rooms. Shepard noticed with relief that it had a desk, not a bed. “No baggage.”

Despite all the alarms needlessly blaring inside her head, Shepard followed. “Jane, please. I can’t—”

Jane whirled around, her eyes dark with hate. “Do you have any idea how many people begged the Alliance to send you back to Earth during the Invasion? But you were too busy kissing alien ass to even bother.”

Shepard knew she should keep her voice down, that Jane only knew how to push her buttons. “You think it was easy for me to leave? I had to! We couldn’t fight the Reapers on our own!”

“You owed the Council nothing! They covered up your death. Conveniently forgot about Sovereign.” Shepard’s pulse pounded in her ears.  “Ignored the Collectors. Allowed the Alliance to arrest you after Bahak.” Shepard’s throat closed in on itself.  “And then,” Jane jabbed her finger in Shepard’s face, “they all came groveling, asking for your help when the Reapers showed up. Not once lending a hand to our system or its colonies.”

Shepard backed up into the door closed behind her. Her body shook. “Is that what Brooks told you?” Something flashed in Jane’s eyes. “Or what did she call herself at Cerberus? Rasa?”

Jane’s arm collided with Shepard’s throat, pressing her up against the door. Not enough to cut off her breathing, but just enough to hurt. “Don’t you dare talk to me about her.”

She should’ve probably held up her good hand in surrender. She should’ve backed down. Instead, Shepard stared down her clone, even as she started to see stars in her eyes. “What did she do to you?”

The clone dropped her so she could storm off to the other side of the room. “What’s it matter to you? She’s dead.”

Taking a few gulps of air, Shepard rubbed her throat. That’ll leave a bruise. “Shit. Jane...whatever...whoever Brooks was, I’m sorry you lost her.”

Jane snorted, pulling a small rubber ball from her jacket pocket, and bouncing it off the wall. “You’re a real trip, you know that?”

“What are you talking about?” Shepard must have hit her head on the way down.

Her clone spins around, her eyes flashing with rage. “You kill my...partner, and then you have the nerve to say you’re sorry??” She stretches out the O, as a reminder of just how different their origins were. Streets and a lab. A womb and a test tube. A homeworld and a space station. “Is that how you won over the tribunal? By apologizing?”

“Cute.” Shepard rubbed her face, trying to think, replaying the Clone’s words in her head until they made sense. “Hey. Look. This may be hard for you to believe, but if Brooks is dead, I had nothing to do with it.” She snorted, using her good hand to gesture at her body. “I mean, look at me. I can hardly dress and feed myself as it is, how the hell am I taking out hits on people?”

“You didn’t kill her after the war, genius.” Jane leaned against the wall, bouncing the ball harder and faster. Her fists started to glow. “Guess it was hard to notice her body with all the other mercs.”

Shepard’s face jerked up to look at her. “On the Normandy?” She blinked. Jane nodded. “She didn’t...Oh. Of course you don’t know. You didn’t see anything after you...fell.” She swallowed hard, the look of horror on the clone’s face after she dropped from the Normandy still burned in her brain. Breathe. “We arrested her. Sent her to some top-secret facility with other terrorists...I don’t even know where it is.”

Jane finally deigned to look at her, her mouth hanging open. “Brooks is alive?” The ball fell from her hand, bouncing several times before skidding to a stop. “Rasa is alive?”

Shepard took a deep breath, rubbing her bad arm. God, it was cramping so bad. Like pins and needles. “As far as I know, yeah. I mean, for all I know the Reapers took out the facility along with everything else. But I had nothing to do with it. I can swear to that.”

Stepping towards her, Jane asked softly. “Do you know where she is?”

Shit. “I...I don’t. Even if I did….I I don’t have the authority to release that information.”

Snorting, Jane nodded her head, unsurprised. “You don’t trust me. That’s...fair.”

God, she wanted to. “Two spectres and a councilor have to approve visitors. Doesn’t happen to often.

“You’re making that up.”

“Nope. Read that section of the Spectre manual the night after we...ran into each other.” Shepard swallowed, the taste of her still in her mouth.

“Repeatedly.” They both snickered. Jane kicked her foot back and forth. “What do I need to do to get that information? Money? Information?” She took Shepard in slowly, reading her, probably. “Sex?”

Shepard turned abruptly to hide her blush. “Bribery? Really?” She scratched the back of her neck. “I’m not even sure I count as a Spectre anymore.”

“Bullshit. You saved the galaxy, how many times? They’re not going to fire you over an injury.”

“I’m not exactly battle ready, Jane.” Shepard sighed. “I’ll talk to Kaidan about, okay? He’s still active. He’s on better terms with the politicians, anyway.”

Jane watched her closely, arms still folded.

“You don’t believe me.”

“Trust is hard to come by these days.”

This room really could use a few windows. Anything to keep the walls from closing in. Shepard cleared her throat.  “Is...is this about the other night?”

This time, Jane blinked at her. “What?”

“...I thought you were mad.” She could feel the heat burning in her cheeks. “Me and Kaidan….Kaidan and I...we...we kind of lost track of you after.”

“After we fucked, you mean.” Jane smirked at her discomfort.

“Well, yeah.” Shepard chewed her lip. “You didn’t get any aftercare from us and---”

“I’m mad about Brooks, not being your unicorn. Because I’m. Not. Anyone’s. Unicorn.” Jane pulled the ball back into her hand biotically, passing it from hand to hand. She shook her head. “I’m mad that you never brought up Brooks.”

“...With the way things went down...I didn’t realize you--”

“--Cared? Please, Shepard. I’m not the monster you think I am.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” Moving towards the desk chair, Shepard slipped and out of her pockets fell two small boxes. As she fumbled to get to the floor, Jane picked one up.

“Dental dams? Latex gloves?” Jane quirked an eyebrow as she watched Shepard turn as red as their hair. “You sure know how to charm a girl.”

“This sounded way more smooth in my head.” Shepard leaned against the back of the chair, sliding her index finger across the lid of the box. “What I’m trying to say is...I don’t want to use you. I mean...if you want to be exlusive with us, that’s fine. But if you want to see other people, that’s cool too.”

“So smooooth.” Jane traced her fingers across Shepard’s, laughing softly, only to frown when she saw the whites of her knuckles. “Shit. This place...it really fucks you over, doesn’t it?”

“LIke the underside of a thresher maw.” Shepard said quietly, starting to pull her hand back.

Jane grabbed her wrist. “Hold on.”

Looking up at her, Shepard swallowed hard.

“You uh...have plans tonight?” With Kaidan? She asked without words.

“Well...Kaidan’s out of system right now.” Chewing her lip, Shep pulled out her phone, shooting Kaidan a text.

Hey.

Got time for a vid call?

Jane leaned her chin on Shepard’s shoulder. “You flirt like this with everyone?”

Shepard glanced at her with narrowed eyes. “You want to fuck or not?”

Both of them stared down at the phone, waiting. “What if he’s on duty?”

Chewing her lip, Shepard brushed her nose with hers. “How about dinner?”

“Sushi?” Jane smirked.

“Are you going to blow up the fish tank this time?”