Oblivious

Steve shook his head as James came into the shuttle bay, covered in red dust and sweat.

"Crash my shuttle and you think you're still allowed down here?" he teased.

"Aw, calm down now! It's not that bad!"

"Fine, but you owe me a bottle of tequilla for the time I spend fixing it!" James ducked into his corner, Steve right behind him, and started to pry off his armor. Usually, he made a point not to be around James while he was doing this, but at the moment Steve wasn't done yelling at him, and the look on James' face was off.

"You okay?" James pulled off his gauntlets, setting them down on his workstation with a heavy sigh.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He pried off his chestplate, revealing the toned muscles underneath. And that was why Steve usually didn't do this. He looked. He couldn't help it. Even when he was happily married he'd thought James was attractive. Who wouldn't? He was built like a bear.

"You don't look okay."

"Just... thinking about Earth. I want to go back but..." James stopped mid-sentence. Steve wasn't sure if it was because he wasn't sure what he wanted to say or if he knew and didn't want to say it.

"But?"

"Maybe Shepard's right. We have to deal with this shit before we can kick those sons-of-bitches off our planet." Steve had never seen James like this. It gave him hope that maybe James had a heart under his armor.

"Yeah, seems that way. How is the Commander anyway?"

"He's all right. Worried about Major Alenko though. I get the feeling they've known each other a long time." From what Steve had heard Shepard and Alenko were closer than James would have guessed.

"Old friends seem to be a common thing on this ship," Steve replied. James smiled and slid out of his boots.

"Sure do Esteban."

"So, what's he like anyway?" He asked changing the subject.

"Tough as nails. As badass as you'd expect. But when the Major got hurt... man... I thought heads were going to roll. But he just picked him up, and brought him to the medbay. He looked sad."

"He's still human," Steve added.

"Yeah. How are you Esteban?"

"Other than the busted shuttle I now get to fix, I'm fine."

"So... enjoying the veiw?" James asked. Steve laughed.

"I am Mr. Vega." James pulled on his shirt.

"James, get up to the bridge if you want to go to the Citadel," Shepard said over the intercom.

"On my way sir!" He turned to face Cortez.

"Commander likes you huh?"

"Guess so. See you soon Esteban."

Steve re-assembled an assault rifle, doing James' job again. The elevator opened behind him. Steve knew it was James, the footsteps were too heavy for it to be anyone else. James leaned against Steve's workstation, and Steve could feel his frustation. He tried to refrain from looking at James, but it was hard not to. He looked up, seeing James' strong jaw clenched, his eyes on him.

"Yes, Mr. Vega?" He finally said.

"Looks like I'm sticking aroud."

"Good. It'd get boring around here without you." James laughed, his demeanor softening.

"Don't overwork yourself Esteban."

Shortly after, Shepard came by, having a short polite conversation with Steve, feeling a slight twinge of guilt that his husband had died due to what Shepard felt was his neglegence. But Steve would never blame Shepard. He blames himself. Shepard went to talk with Vega while Steve got back to work. After a few moments, he looked up to see both men in the middle of the shuttle bay in hand-to-hand combat. He stopped his work to watch them.

"All the ladies on board, and I'm the only one watching this. Well, at least I have something to brag about at the mess next time." Steve found himself rooting for James. When he landed on the ground, Steve winced. He felt the ground shake at the weight of a bear hitting the ground. Shepard helped him up, and went back toward the elevator.

"You all right over there Mr. Vega?" Steve was genuinely worried about him, but tried to mask it with a teasing tone.

"Just wounded pride Esteban!" Less than an hour later, they arrived at Palavan. James pulled on his armor as Steve got the shuttle ready. Liara and Shepard got on, James right behind them. He got into the copilot's seat and they took off.

Steve landed, and they got off the shuttle.

"Mr. Vega! Be careful out there!"

"Got it Esteban!" Steve shook his head as he waited for them to return. After about an hour, Shepard called him to another part of the moon, and landed.

"Cortez! Come help me with James!" Steve stood and hurried out to see James's left arm covered in blood. He hurried to him, and helped Shepard to get James into the copliot's seat. Two Turians followed.

"Lt. Cortez, this is Primarch Victus, and my good friend Garrus Vakarian."

"Nice to meet you," he replied quickly out of courtesy. Really he wanted to get back to James.

"Get us back on the Normandy."

"Aye, aye." He sat down again, while Shepard talked with the Turians.

"James, are you okay?" he asked.

"Fine. Just a gash to the shoulder. I've had worse." Steve sighed and landed. Shepard brought James up to the medbay while the Turians got settled in. Steve returned to his work, worried about James.

He got back into the shuttle bay an hour later, his shoulder bandaged. He was combat ready again, but in pain.

"You look rough." Steve tried not to sound to worried.

"I'm fine. Chakwas patched me up." James returned to his workstation, and winced as he sat down. It wasn't as minor a wound as he was telling Steve. He'd almost got his arm torn off by a brute. It was only thanks to Shepard's recklass biotic charge that James didn't loose an arm. But he didn't want Steve to worry about him.

James heard something from Steve across the shuttle bay. They were the only two down there, and it was easy to hear. He looked over toward Steve, and saw him crying. He stood to go comfort him, but Shepard came through the elevator, and did that. James sat down again, and waited for him to go.

As soon as Shepard had left, he went to Steve.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine, Mr. Vega."

"You don't look it," James pushed a little. Steve looked up, he still had tears in his eyes, which James could see clearly. He put his hand on Steve's shoulder.

"Hey, we've all lost someone in this. I know Shepard said he was here if you needed him, but sometimes he's busy. If you need a shoulder, I'm here." Steve smiled, and laughed a little.

"You have far more shoulders than he does." James smiled.

"Exactly."

"I'll be fine, James."

"I know. How about you come with me to the Citadel next time we go?"

"Nah... my place is here."

"You sure?" Steve nodded.

"I'll be fine," he repeated. James nodded, and went back to his corner, thinking that he was a long way from making Steve actually be okay, but it was a start. Steve apperciated his concern, he'd always liked James. But, he didn't want James to worry about him.