Mass Effect: A Shepard Matter.
Summary: Saren's gone. Sovereign's gone. The Reaper invasion has been stopped, and the Galaxy's safe… for now, at least. So, it looks like it's back to normal whatever that was and C SEC for Garrus Vakarian. To his surprise, however, life actually seemed to be going his way, for once… until his former CO makes her way back to the Citadel and promptly wrecks her usual havoc along the way. Now, as he clashes with his father for it and faces the rest of C−SEC's brutal scrutiny; Garrus is forced between them and Shepard when he realizes that it's not just his loyalty to both that's being called into question. But, when the dust finally settles (in more ways than just one), and then tragedy rips all he knows out from under his feet, Garrus is forced to decide where his loyalty truly lay once and for all.
Warning: So I'm trying to revive my love of fanfiction here. To be perfectly honest, this is a test to see if I'm still as good as I think I am. This story can be seen as a prequel to "A Family Matter" (which is another fanfic I haven't published yet), and "All for One," which comes after ME3, but can be read alone. This story is set just after Mass Effect (so, duh, spoiler alert!) and just before Mass Effect 2 (more spoilers!). Just so you know, this story will be Rated T, just to be safe, for the following themes: Language, implied "adult situations" and sexual innuendo, mild alcohol use, references to past child abuse/neglect, a major character death, and an overload of really bad jokes, sappiness, and feels.
Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or any of its supporting characters!
Author's Note: Just so you know, I'm borrowing some material from the Mass Effect comics for this one, for those of you who don't know – and for those who do but would have pointed it out anyway! Also, since I did (unfortunately) romance Alenko in ME1, no Shakarian... or is there?
N._.s._.S
Chapter One: Goodbye, Commander Shepard I.
"…I'm pretty sure you'd get away with staying."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you might actually miss me, Shepard."
Commander Joelle Shepard's bright, honey−colored eyes light up even more behind her thin, wire−rimmed glasses as she laughed, looking up from the meter−long, silver sword sitting in her lap. As always, her laugh was infectious, and soon Garrus joined her, quieting a few moments later again as she slid a well−oiled cloth down the sword's smooth, carefully sharpened surface, the corners of her soft mouth still curled in an easy grin.
"You kidding? Hell yeah, I will – who's going to patch up the ol' Mako now?"She teased, fondly patting the bed of the massive fighter truck they sat in, "And what about all those stupid jokes we can all groan at?"
"My days of cleaning and fixing this monstrosity – and putting up with your driving – are over, thanks!" Garrus shook his head in mock horror as he added, "And I remember you laughing at all those jokes the hardest, Shepard."
"Oh, thanks, Vakarian!" Shepard laughed again, "I certainly can't help that this thing has the same dexterity as a blind Krogan − and Ionly laugh to keep you from grunting like the spoiled brat you are."
"Spoiled brat? Why, I'm offended you would even imply such a thing, Shepard," Garrus pretended to huff, folding his arms and puffing out his armored chest in mock annoyance as she slid and jumped off the Mako, taking the sword and the smooth, pitch black sheath that accompanied it, "No, I'm sorry I can't stay seriously, I am. But I promised my dad that I'd give C−SEC another shot when all this started."
"It was the right decision, Garrus, don't worry I'm glad you did, honestly," She agreed with a nod as she sheathed the sword with one fluid motion, looking back up at him through her bespectacled eyes with another trademark wink, "You guys all do good work down there, and I wouldn't want to deprive Executor Pallin of his best detective any longer than I've had to already. Especially now, they'll need you after Saren's attack more than ever."
"Best? Maybe when hell freezes over, sure," Garrus shook his head, ruefully, as his father's hard, midnight blue eyes flashed in the back of his mind – along with the dark thoughts of what might await him the moment they docked at the Citadel early the next morning, "Now my dad, he can be called that and no one would laugh."
"What rank is your dad, anyway?" Shepard replied, curiously, "You never said."
"He's the Director of Special Forces. I think He got promoted in 2176," Garrus answered, "He worked all sorts of big cases back in the day with one of his partners − dealers, terrorists, black marketers, murderers, you name it. My mother once said he was one of the most decorated officers ever. Never broke one rule doing it, either."
"Wow," Shepard whistled, "So you must have heard all the goods stories growing up, huh?"
"Oh, yeah. Definitely." Garrus chuckled at that, his mandibles clicking lightly together has he jumped off the Mako himself to join her, heading up to the terminal that stood next to it to bring up a photo as Shepard looked over his shoulder – as best she could, considering their foot height difference, "He's the only reason I turned down the Spectres when I was 18. I thought nothing could compare to the chance of finally seeing how he did it."
"And now that you've had a pretty good taste of what they do?" She asked, as the familiar picture of his father, clad in his spotless, pitch black armor, tall and foreboding in the article that accompanied it, popped up, appraising them with his usual impassive, cool midnight blue−eyed stare and military−style, armored rigid shoulders and back, "… And Christ, he looks like one uptight old son of a – oh! No offense, Garrus."
"None taken, Shepard. You have no idea how many people would agree with you," Garrus added with a smirk, turning back at her as the holo disappeared again, "And I'd say it depends on who I was working with if I stayed on the Normandy, there'd be no question. If it were anywhere else, I'd take getting lectured by him any day."
There was a brief pause, and Garrus wondered if he said the wrong thing, but Shepard only shook her head.
"Thanks, but I'd say my sentiment's worn off on you a bit too much, Vakarian," She chuckled (much to Garrus' embarrassment), as she ran a hand through her rich, short dark brown hair, gently pushing the errant, curly tendrils out of her bright eyes, "But don't worry. If anything as big as Saren happens, you'll be the first I'll call back."
"Thanks, Shepard. I'd really−"
"Joelle!"
"Huh?" Shepard turned on her heel, surprised by the unexpected interruption, but she relaxed and waved enthusiastically as none other than Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, wearing his usual blue−and−black Alliance fatigues, appeared out of the elevator shaft across the Cargo Bay and quickly made his way toward them, "Oh, what's up, Alenko? Come sit with us − I was just shooting bull with our very own Turian sniper."
Garrus rolled his eyes at her grandiose, but it must have meant something to Alenko, because he smirked.
"Tempting, but I was actually looking for you, Commander," He answered, his dark eyes glancing at Garrus for a fraction of a second before returning to Shepard's, "Admiral Hackett's on Comm."
"Hackett? Must be another Alliance op, then. I'd better go check it out," Shepard answered over her shoulder, without missing a beat, putting a hand on Alenko's briefly before quickly walking away, throwing loudly over her shoulder as she called the elevator, "Stay here, you two and play nice! I'll be right back."
The elevator opened and closed, and, just like that, Shepard was gone and the Bay was silent.
"… Was that an order?" Alenko wondered aloud, turning to Garrus after the silence had reigned for a good couple of minutes − just as the former thought the same thing, "Garrus?"
"No idea," Garrus answered, honestly, "But how did you know she was down here, Alenko?"
"It seems like every time she makes her rounds, Shepard comes down here and shoots bull with you first, Vakarian," Alenko shrugged, suddenly sounding a little too defensive for Garrus to like, "Well, either here or in the Mess with me, but since she hadn't been up there yet, I just figured she'd still be down here with you."
'Shooting bull' − that damn expression again, Garrus thought, And don't tell me you're jealous, Alenko?
"Really?" He shrugged, surreptitiously rolling his azure eyes again as he watched Alenko's harden as he added, as indifferently as he could manage − as though he didn't actually look forward to Shepard making her rounds almost every night for the past couple months, just like everyone else − "I never noticed."
"Right," Alenko said, tightly, turning away, making Garrus roll his eyes again behind his back.
He was! What the hell?
Of course, it was uncouth to speak ill of the dead, but Alenko at least been better than Williams, especially groundside, where he could feel the human woman's hostility towards him on every mission they'd gone on together – so thank the Spirits she'd screwed up and eventually admitted her xenophobia to Shepard, who, quite vehemently, put her in her place in front of everyone, and then grounded her until Virmire, when she'd had no other choice.
Understand my problem here, ma'am?
No, Williams. She'd barked, startling everyone, including Williams, who jumped, No, I don't think I do.
I'm sorry, ma'am?
You heard me, Shepard had snapped, banging a hand angrily on the table and drawing the attention of everyone around – including Tali and Wrex, who'd been listening to the whole exchange at the doors of the Main Battery, and Garrus, who'd folded his arms angrily, barely able to contain his anger – which had seemed to evaporate the instant it was clear Shepard was having none of her bull, If you ever so much as suggest that our non−Human crewmates might be up to something just because they're non−Human, I'll have you out of the Alliance so fast your grandfather and father will turn in their graves−
Ashley's mouth had fallen open, but Shepard hadn't been done with her yet.
− And if I hear one more bad word from anyone – anyone − about you I swear to God I will do it, without hesitation – no warnings next time, either! Shepard had added, furiously, Is that understood, Chief?
Yes, ma'am! I'm sorry, I'll get back to my duties now, ma'am!
I'm sorry, Vakarian, She said, her voice lowering back to its naturally charismatic and softer tone as the elevator closed behind Ash's humiliated, quickly retreating back, God, what the hell was that? I can't stand people like her. If you want me to report her to the Brass, I will. I'll still probably report her if I can…
I'd really rather you didn't, Commander. It's not worth it. You should see what we get in C−SEC.
Seriously? Damn, She'd put a hand on his shoulder and smiled kindly, Well, don't worry about her anymore – and I'm sorry, I should've noticed it sooner. No wonder you were always so quiet when she was around. None of you guys deserved that.
Thanks, Shepard, but it doesn't matter.
It does to me, Vakarian, She answered with a dark look, I hate it when people push others around for no good reason, and the fact that she thinks all that just because you're not Human just pisses me off more. I had to deal with that back on Earth.
That was the only time she'd ever even mentioned her past – and then she'd gone and personally apologized to each member of the crew herself before he could question it. After that, Ashley hadn't even given him – or any other non−human – a second glance, and on the rare times she did, during the rest of her time with them, when their eyes met across the Bay or during one of Shepard's all−crew meetings once a week or after a major breakthrough on the hunt for Saren, she'd simply given him a short, polite nod before quickly turning away again.
Never seen a Human get taken down a notch by one of their own so fast before, Wrex had observed once, quietly, when Ash had finally gone on another (minor) groundside assignment, One of a kind, that's Shepard all right.
Garrus had turned away from Alenko, back to the rest of minor repairs for the Mako by this point, letting the memories of Williams fade away as he set back to work. The Lieutenant seemed to have gotten over his minor jealousy, too – though what he'd possibly had to be jealous about in the first place, Garrus could only wonder – during the long, oddly comfortable silence that followed, and actually started to help him, and before they knew it, they were casually going back and forth, like Garrus and Shepard had before.
"How long have you been calling Shepard by her first name?" Garrus asked as he flicked through his datapad, looking over at Alenko curiously, "Isn't that some kind of Alliance reg?"
"During downtime we can, usually. I don't think she minds much," Alenko shrugged, offhandedly, "Did you know her name before you met her, Garrus?"
"Well, yeah. Of course I did," Garrus answered, somewhat offended at the question – though he didn't really know why, since it was a pretty valid one, "My dad sent her personnel file to me before I even left the Citadel the first time and even if he hadn't, I knew her name from the Blitz."
"Joelle mentioned that," Alenko replied, apparently not noticing Garrus' changed tone, "C−SEC, right?"
Garrus had a sneaking impression that Alenko had known that before Shepard had even told him.
"Yeah… why?" He asked, hoping he didn't sound as cautious as he suddenly felt.
"No reason," Alenko shook his head, "That's why you're going back, right?"
"Did Joelle tell you that?" Garrus demanded, sharply.
"Well, no. She said you wanted to give it another try," Alenko shrugged again, looking genuinely surprised at Garrus' assumption – and Garrus suddenly felt horribly guilty for thinking even for a split second that Shepard would have betrayed his confidence, even for the man she was supposedly bedding, "But I figured if your father is involved in C−SEC, he might have had something to do with it. Hell, I joined the Alliance because of mine."
"Yeah," Garrus nodded slightly, mulling that over as he turned to the Mako again, plated brow furrowing as he watched the diagnostics run, "I guess it's a common theme, Turian and Human children following in their parent's footsteps. I'd bet Joelle's had something to do with her going Alliance, too."
At that, Kaidan actually snorted, dark eyes flashing.
"Yeah, I wouldn't bet on that, Vakarian," He answered, quietly, after a long, suddenly tense moment, his dark, heavy brows knitting together a little as he added, "Pretty sure it wasn't them."
At that moment, before Garrus could ask what he meant by that, the elevator doors banged open again.
"Suit up, you two!" Shepard called out to them, as she headed toward the weapons lockers across the room from where they stood, waving an impatient hand, "We've got groundside! Hitting the Sol Relay in ten!"
"Yes, Commander!" Alenko had already crossed the room by the time Garrus put away his Omni−tool.
"Sorry, big guy," She told him, ruefully, as he approached, handing him his rifle as he closed the gap between them, "The Citadel's got to wait a few more days. Want to send a message to your dad before we head out?"
"Don't worry about him, Shepard." He instantly replied, "He won't mind."
Classic Shepard. Garrus thought, rather fondly, as he shouldered his rifle, I'll miss this and her when I'm back.
… Wait, what?
N._.s._.S
Yeah, he's crushing – big time, if you couldn't tell.
He just doesn't know it yet!
Anyway, Garrus was always a little "headcannon" of mine. I crush on the guy SO FREAKING HARD during every playthrough of ME1. I figured that the reason he never caught on to me, story−wise, was because he was so in awe of Shepard – especially Paragon Fem!Shep (specifically one of my Shepard's background Earthborn/War Hero/Infiltrator), and never realized that she had taken a liking to him – but since he felt like he was "under" her in some kind of way, he decided to step aside and let her choose Kaidan or Ashley out of respect, since she never made a real move on him and then only realized what was going on after she died after someone finally let him in on it. Of course, it got worse in ME2, after you propose romancing him, because of Omega and Archangel and that's where his nervousness comes into play. But, anyhow, if you really want to know my whole story on that, PM me later − we all love Garrus, anyhow, right? − so even if I'm wrong, that's why I treated you to some flirting, even though neither of them realize that's really what it was.
So I hoped you guys liked this one – it was actually enjoyable to write, compared to most of the others I've been trying to continue for a while. The two companion pieces to this, "A Family Matter" (it's unpublished so don't freak) and, more importantly, "All for One," will also (eventually) be added, hopefully soon.
Till next time! XD
− NothingSoSpecial.