The Conversation

Rookie feels exhausted, but he can't fall asleep.

Every time he feels comfortable enough to slip away, sudden mental images would bring him back, all concerning a certain someone. Or a certain Sangheili to be more precise.

He just can't wrap it around his head to accept what has happened a few hours ago. How could Rila have done that? At first he assumed it was because she was drunk and wasn't thinking correctly, but then when he saw the calculating and seriousness in her eyes he realizes she wasn't intoxicated. Maybe she was and she just sobered up quickly, he just doesn't know, Rila could have been the first alien to have a taste of alcohol so there's no real way of knowing what is normal for a drunk alien.

He is set to write this off and rest, figuring he can deal with it in the morning, but his mind is still buzzing, about what, he has no idea. There is the new fact that Rila has somehow developed a powerful emotion for him, it's almost overwhelming when he thinks back to the kiss they shared, if it could be called that. It was actually quite pleasant, but then there is the fact she almost used him for her own needs.

He covers his face with his hands and releases a muffled moan. Violated, kissed and finally making out…not the best encounter he have had with a Sangheili…but it wasn't the worse either.

Finally he decides to admit the fact. He can't get any sleep because his mind is buzzing, not about Rila and her secret crush, but because of him, what did he feel?

He shrugs off the covers and stands up before beginning to pace the room while sinking into deep thoughts.

It has been a long time, a very long time, since he last felt anything like this. The last encounter he had with a woman was his old girlfriend Clara Kitchens who had died along with his family when the Covenant had attacked. He didn't see her die, but he watched his family perished; his mother consumed in flames, his father literally torn to pieces and his brother…he didn't see what happened to him, but he should have done more. Should have prevented it.

His hands curl into fists and he releases an agitated growl. He is, angry with the Covenant, the Sangheilis, for what they have done and here he is confused with how he feels around Rila. He only knew her for three days for crying out loud, how could this have happened?

He finally sighs and runs a hand though his hair. As much as he hates to admit it, there is only one way of resolving this matter.

Rila releases another moan as a wave of nausea threatens to overtake her, but she holds it in again. Warriors don't get sick, but her body is telling her otherwise.

She has no idea what that accursed drink was or how it affected her so powerfully, but it did and it made her do unthinkable actions.

She lets out another pitiful sound as the memories of what happened in the previous units replays in her mind.

She has acted foolishly, no she acted like a complete, senseless, imbecile. She not only shamed herself but the very Sa'u name. She had advanced on a male, the very last thing any female should ever do and she took it a step forward. She shivers when she recalls her ludicrous thoughts; she was about ready to mate, with or without Rookie's consent.

She is overcome with sudden guilt and shame. Never has she figured events would spiral out of control this badly and now Rookie, the very man she is supposed to protect, probably hates her for what she has done. What she has come close to doing. Here she is ordered to guard him and instead she nearly…mated with him.

She couldn't belive this, out of everything that could have happened to her, to Rookie, why this? She'll never drink that strange liquid again, and if she so much as catches the scent that belongs to Azim, she's going to-

Rila suddenly stiffens when she hears a small knock on the door. She briefly panics before calming herself down, figuring that it must be an ally, no enemy soldier would announce their presence, correct?

The serenity though is shattered when the door creaks open and she smells a familiar scent invades the small living space. Her eyes widen in sudden horror as she covers her face with her hand and curls into a ball, dreading whatever it is he has come here to say.

Rookie silently closes the door and checks his watch.

0127; he has to be out before someone sees him and get the wrong idea about why he is in Rila's room.

One side of his conscious is scolding him for avoiding the patrols and not telling anyone where he is going to be. If they are attacked by the Covies than they will have no idea where to find him. Or, on a more embarrassing note, if Rila tries anything on him again then he can't expect to be rescued.

He shakes this last thought off and glances around the room.

The interior is dark, but his eyes adjust, helping him to see shadows within shadows. He can see no one else in the room, no window, the door is shut and his armor and torn shirt is still lying on the floor. But his main focus is on the lump in the bed directly in front of him.

Rila appears to have buried herself within the blankets and curled into a ball. He briefly wonders if she is asleep, but he then notes the uneven breathing and guesses she is awake, and from the sound of it she is hyperventilating.

"Rila," he says softly as he approaches, clearly seeing the covers shiver when he said her name.

He waits a moment, but when she doesn't respond he speaks again.

"Rila…I…" his voice dies as he wonders what it is he is supposed to say. Thanks? What's wrong with you? What's wrong with me?

Finally he hears the female alien sigh and she speaks, "Rookie...I…I-I'm really sorry," she says in a rushed voice, "It won't happen again, I swear."

She said all of this while hidden beneath the covers, making him wonder if she is either nervous or maybe even afraid. Afraid of what though? Of him? She is a small Sangheili but he knew she is still ten times stronger than him and can tear him to shreds if she wanted.

It sounded like she has just voiced everything he has come to talk to her about, but he feels that he needs to have his say on this matter.

He inhales deeply before saying, "Rila we need to talk."

He sees her stiffen from her feeble cover and Rookie suddenly has a strong urge to comfort her. She may be his bodyguard but she is here with them, the Marines, and as the leader he needs to look after their welfare. That's his explanation for the feeling within him, but he knows that's not it, there's more to it.

"Please Rookie," Rila says in a weak tone, "I know you are angry, but…just don't inform the council, or my Keep," she shivers again, "I beg you, I've caused them enough embarrassment as is."

Despite the seriousness of this talk, Rookie couldn't help but get sidetracked.

"What do you mean?" he questions and moves closer to the bed, "what embarrassments? You are probably one of the most sensible person I have met, well at least here you are."

Suddenly she sits up and looks at him, and he is surprised to see hostility in her eyes.

"Do not mock me," she hisses, "you know what I speak of, you know how…how foolish I can be," she breaks off and looks to the floor.

He studies her silently; her near blue skin casts off a light sheen while her mandibles move in complete cohesion with her breathing. What makes him feel anything towards her? What makes her special?

He gulps once before saying, "Rila, that was alcohol," she looks up at him and he sees the confusion in her eyes, "the drink, the one you guzzled down, it can put someone at ease, but it also make their minds hazy."

She shakes her head sadly with her downcast eyes, "it still does not make up for my actions."

Rookie shrugs, "True, but at least you know better now."

She nods and they fall into silence.

"Why are you here if not to gloat or to make me feel horrible?" She finally asks, "You have more than enough reason to, and yet here you are trying to comfort me."

He offers a smile before saying, "I honestly have no idea, but I know the blame is not entirely your fault, and I don't know what these other 'embarrassments' you speak of are, but I'm sure there's a sound reason for each."

She snorts and locks her eyes with his, "I embarrass my Keep with my size, true I am tall compared to humans, but among my people I am seen as puny."

He couldn't argue with that, almost every Sangheili Rookie has encountered was over seven feet tall, Rila appears to be about six foot eleven.

"You're unique, that's all," Rookie says in light encouragement.

"I'm strange by our standards," she retorts, looking away from him, "people would come and laugh at me while elders of neighboring fiefs believe there is something wrong with our breeding and considers any female, particularly me, to be abnormal."

"Well by my standards you are special," Rookie barely registers the shock when he realizes what he has said when Rila looks up, confusion and shyness in her gaze.

"You do?" she whispers.

Rookie couldn't speak, here's the moment of truth and he's tongue tied.

He finally groans and covers his face with his hands before saying, "Rila I just don't know."

"Oh," he hears the slight hurt in her tone and he forces his limbs from his eyes and looks at her again.

"Rila I don't know what to think," He admits, "I know I like you and…maybe more," he sees her eyeing him suspiciously as if trying to see if he is trying to deceive her.

He sighs before collapsing on the bed so that he and Rila are at eye level, "I don't know what it is that makes you feel the way you do when you look at me," he sees her grow fidgety, "I saw it Rila, you were drunk but I saw the truth in your eyes; you have feelings for me."

He never thought he would see a Sangheili look so flustered, but Rila does. Her breathing seems to have increase and her body has started to twitch uncontrollably. He would have found the reaction amusing, maybe even along the lines of being adorable, but he doesn't say it, not now.

"Look," he says with what he hopes to be a voice of confidence, "Rila, you don't want to get involved with me," he sees her eyes growing wide so he hurries with what he is saying, "you are a wonderful and very animate person to be with, you really are," he then gestures at himself, "but I'm your opposite. I'm quite, reserve, and I have killed thousands of soldiers, hundreds of Sangheilis." He sees her shy away slightly at this last remark, he didn't want to scare her, but he figures it's best if she knew what kind of a man he is and what it is that he has done.

"There has to be," he starts again after a second of silence, "I know there are, people, men, who can offer you more than I ever could, who will really make you feel loved." He thought he saw her eyes growing misty before he finishes, "I can't be that person Rila, I have seen too much death, been exposed to too much violence to even be considered…courtship material."

She is silent as she takes all of this in while altering between looking at him to glancing over him, clearly in deep thought.

He cares for her. He doesn't say it, but she detects it, he does care for her.

She gulps as she beholds the human, her charge, before her.

She is unsure if he is considered "attractive" among his kind, however she does know for a fact that no sane Sangheili would take him as a potential mate. He is smaller than her, but he is cunning, strong, tough, and has a deeply buried consciousness that he only uses around her and his men. A good tactical commander and the only one who she would go as far as to call a friend, perhaps even farther.

But what of her family? What of her sister Fila? Their mother? Uncle Lax'e? What would they make of her desires should they ever discover them?

She tries to push these thoughts away though when she looks at the human before her, wondering what to say next before she asks a question that she must say, an answer she must know.

"Do you," she begins, "feel anything for me?"

He doesn't respond until after a unit has passed, but he doesn't meet her gaze.

"I don't know Rila," he is quiet before looking up at her, "You have no problems or doubts about this at all?" He looks her in the eye with his brown orbs, "do you honestly believe you love me Rila? A human?"

She keeps her gaze steady before saying, "I know that we have done both of our people wrong, but what matters to me is the fact that you are trying to make amends for it."

He shrugs at her and gives a small smile; "It's something my father taught me, to never hate otherwise you'll lose yourself…" he becomes slightly downcast as he says, "which sort of happened to me during the war."

She nods her head in appreciation, "Your father was a wise man."

He is silent for a moment, "Yeah he was…what about you?" He glances up at her, "what's your father like?"

She blinks in response, "My father? Why do you ask?"

He shrugs, "I don't know…I just want to know more about you so I can…make a decision."

She could have sworn her hearts have stopped beating in that instant, but she tries her best to keep her head leveled.

"Very well," she wrings her hands nervously, the thought of Rookie learning more about her makes her feel rather…nervous. "I know he is a good swordsman and must have some power…but that's it."

Rookie has a distant look on his face, but he focuses on her when she said those words.

"What do you mean that's it?" he questions.

"I do not know who my father is," she says simply, "I am aware it is common among humans to know who your parent are, but on Sanghelios such information is forbidden."

Rookie frowns, "So how is it that you know your bloodline then?"

"Through our Keep," she explains, "we only know that whoever helps give us birth is within the walls, either a guard, an elder or maybe even a direct descendent of the Keep lord himself."

"If you are descendent of a Keep Lord, doesn't that make you, like a special case, to inherit something maybe?" Rookie questions in interest.

Rila nods her head, "Indeed, if the the young is of the same blood as the Keep lord, he or she isn't told of this until they reaches maturity, then they can be trained and prepared to rule the fortress as the next Keep Lord."

"Like a monarchy," comments Rookie, "only the person knows who his parents are from the beginning…why aren't you told who your family is? I know you have a sister, Fila, but how do you know she is related to you?"

"We are told who are siblings are," she replies, " as well as our mother, and sometimes we have a uncle who helps raise us, in our case we had our uncle Lax'e, who told us mostly who are father is. His identity is kept secret from us so each youngling has a equal chance at achieving their own personal destiny and glory."

"Can't your mother tell you who your father is?" Rookie asks next.

"Yes, but she isn't allowed," Rila releases a sad sigh, "I try to tell myself that it is of no consequence, but…deep down…I think everyone on Sanghelios would like to know who their father is."

Rookie nods in sympathy, "I guess I was lucky to know who my dad was."

"Dad?"

"A human word for father," he informs her, "mother can be mom, brother could be called bro, and sister can be called sis. All depending on who raises you or what region you are from I guess."

She smiles for a moment before it falls again as she remembers what they have spoken of a long while ago, back at his home. He had treasured his family, and it was the Covenant who has taken them away from him. Does he hold her responsible for it? Blame her for what has been done to their race? Is that one of the reasons why he hesitates? Why is this so confusing?

"I don't blame you."

Rila leans back in slight shock at what he has just said cut off guard.

"What?"

He looks her in the eye again, "I don't blame you for what happened Rila, I know you are the last person in the whole universe who wouldn't do such a thing," she is surprised when he grins at her, "I doubt you would even consider starting a war even when you are drunk."

She gapes at him for a moment before he gives a small chuckle, which evoked a smile from her in turn. She knew he wasn't laughing at her, more like he is laughing with her.

They sit in comfortable silence until Rookie stands, "I need to go before they realize I'm not in my room."

Rila nods in understanding before becoming embarrassed when she watches the human stoop down and picks up his armor that she has torn off of him. He catches her eye and smiles as he makes his way to the door.

Rila starts to shift around to get more comfortable when she hears Rookie coming to a halt.

Curious, she looks back at him and sees that he has stopped in front of the door, staring at it as if waiting for something to happen.

She watches him for a moment, a little concern and is about to speak when she hears him say, "Urquidez."

"What?" she asks, baffled and wonders if he just spoke gibberish.

He looks over her shoulder and she is surprised to see his eyes, they look suddenly tender and filled with a kind of emotion.

"My family name, it is Urquidez," he says in a voice barely above a whisper as if he is revealing a deep secret.

His name…it is not his first, but it reveals a little about him. But that's not what captivates her, what catches her attention is that he has chosen to tell her. To reveal a part of his life that he has kept guarded from the rest of the world. He trusts her…more than anyone else in this entire building, probably in this entire world.

Rookie gulps a couple of time before saying, "good night," and with that, he opens the door and slips out without a sound.

There is silence in her room, but Rila feels exhilarated, an emotion riled by the amount of trust he has now placed on her, and she will never betray it, she will keep this secret as carefully as he has. A feeling that is almost as wonderful as the contact of her mandibles on his lips when they performed that unconscious action a couple of units ago.

"Urquidez," she whispers softly into her pillow, an odd name, but for some reason it strikes her very being. She has fallen for a man of the Urquidez family line.

This sentence alone, for some reason, causes her to smile.

AN: If you are reading Halo An Unexpected Alliance, I am sorry to say I have yet to begun working on it and the chapter I have in mind will be a long one so it won't be up until probably March, sorry but I am really busy at the moment. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed.