Hello, everyone! I've been listening to a lot of Journey lately and the song Separate Ways oddly coincided with my currently playthrough of Mass Effect. Thus this story was born.
*Disclaimer* Mass Effect is owned by BioWare and all characters and settings within. I do not own anything.
All of the Normandy was quiet. Most of the crew had retired for the night or hovered in darkened corners. It was never said aloud but this mission was taking a clear toll on everyone.
This was especially true for Garrus tonight. He fiddled with the settings of the Thanex cannon absentmindedly while he mused over the past few hours. He sighed heavily and rolled his neck in weariness, fighting to stay awake.
Rina Shepard had come back to the Normandy in a right foul mood. The scars on her face were glowing molten red as she stormed down the bridge and through the CIC. She angrily punched the elevator button, each jab becoming more vicious as the doors remained closed. She was about to downright slug the wall when the doors whooshed open revealing a surprised Garrus. Rina withdrew her coiled fist and stepped inside silently, discreetly directing to him that she wanted to head up. He obliged and remained silent. He'd learned long ago that when Shepard was in such a black mood it was best to let her engage you.
Rina sighed and pressed her fingers to her temples, rubbing slow circles in an effort to alleviate the headache that her biotics formed. She appreciated Garrus not attempting conversation. With what just happened she didn't know how she'd be able to explain without either erupting into tears or tearing a hole through the wall.
The elevator finally arrived at the top floor. She stepped out and looked back at Garrus with a slight nod towards her door. He took her cue and followed her inside. He'd been inside her suite on a few occasions, mostly for strategy discussions or reminiscing over drinks. The times they'd shared there were precious to him for many reasons, least of all being that they'd spent one incredible night in the very bed that she sat on, head in her armoured hands.
He stood awkwardly by her side and simply waited. Finally she stood and began to remove her armour, keeping her eyes strictly away from his.
"I'm sure you're waiting to hear what happened," she said under her breath as she removed her breastplate. He simply waited until she turned and looked at him with an expression of both frustration and loss. She sat down on the couch and gestured for him to join her.
"You probably know that Kaidan was with me," she started. Garrus nodded. "I thought that after Horizon we'd move past the judgements. I thought he'd look past my connection with Cerberus once the Collector base was destroyed. I thought he knew I wasn't with them from the beginning. But out there, he questioned me again." She looked into his striking blue eyes and he could see the flood of tears that threatened to spill from her beautiful red eyes. "He accused me of lying, of deceiving everyone. He said he didn't know if the woman he loved was still there." She wiped angrily at the drops that fell on her scarred cheeks. She sniffed and scoffed, looking down at her hands. "For someone who claimed to care so much he certainly doesn't show it. He can't see past the scars." She looked back up and the corner of her lips twitched with a half-assed smile. "You did, though." Her eyes met his and he thought he could see the attraction she'd shown him once more. He shifted self consciously in his seat and suddenly felt too warm in his heavy armour. She fought to stifle a giggle as she watched him. "Say something, Vakarian."
He cleared his throat loudly and faced her. "Shepard, surely you can understand that when you died no one thought we'd ever see you again." Rina nodded. "When I saw you through my scope on Omega…at first I didn't believe what I saw. When you found your way to me and mentioned who you were with, I found it difficult to grasp. But as I watched you fight and issue commands to your team I realized that it didn't matter whether or not you worked with Cerberus. I was just so happy to have my friend back." He gently touched her hand and his mandibles fluttered slightly. She laid her other hand atop his and squeezed gently, urging him to continue.
"It never occurred to me to question your motives, Shepard," he said. "To me, you hadn't changed at all. You were still the hard-ass I knew you to be on the SR1. You still let people know exactly where they stood and bolstered the crew's loyalty with action and results. And when you started coming to see me in the Battery, I began to realize what I should've realized long before then." He took his other hand and gently ran his fingers through her black hair. "But you already know that bit. But in case you've forgotten with all this stress, let me remind you."
He pulled her head gently towards him and rested his forehead against hers, rubbing gently and purring.
"I love you, Rina Shepard. I've loved you since the moment I met you on the Citadel all those years ago. I loved you when you helped me track down Dr. Saleon. I loved you when you died. I loved you when you appeared on Omega. I loved you when you destroyed the Collectors. I love you now even when another has a hold on your heart." He backed away slightly and held her gaze for a few silent moments before continuing.
"If you choose to go back to Kaidan, I won't fight you. I would rather remain your close friend than push you away from rejection. If he ever hurts you remember that I'll always love you. Our night here will forever be a cherished memory. Even if we go our separate ways you'll never be without Vakarian." He stood and gently pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his narrow waist and pulled herself as flush as she could against him.
His heart beat bitterly at the thought of her going back to Kaidan but he needed to respect her decision. She backed up and gently laid a hand on his mangled mandible. She stroked it with her callused thumb and laughed lightly.
"You'll always be a part of me, Garrus. You're my closest friend. Hell, we even resemble each other." Garrus gently touched her facial scars and she leaned into his hand, sighing. "I don't know what I'm going to do, but whatever happens, you matter so much to me. There is no Shepard without Vakarian. Thanks for listening and being there for me." She leaned up slowly and pressed a soft kiss to his hard lips. He hadn't forgotten the feeling of her lips. He returned her kiss as best he could and left the cabin without a word.
He still couldn't shake himself of the prickling doubt in his mind but it didn't matter now. What did matter was that he gave everything he had to this mission. He continued to run the calibrations when he heard the door open behind him. He looked over his shoulder and was surprised to see Rina standing there in a white T-shirt and her BDUs. Garrus turned to face her and saw her eyes were puffy and glistening. He motioned for her to come inside and he locked the door behind her. She stood silently before him and took a shaky breath.
"I've made my decision," she said in a barely audible whisper. Garrus strained to hear and leaned down closer. When she looked up his face was mere inches from hers.
"And what have you decided?" he said lowly, his sub-harmonics vibrating in his throat. Her eyes flicked from his to his lips and quickly lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him more forcefully than she ever had. He blinked in surprise but quickly held her close, lifting her off the floor with his strong arms. He let her down gently and stroked her hair.
"I talked with Kaidan," she said. "No matter how I tried, I couldn't get you out of my head. If being with Cerberus wasn't reason enough for him to distrust me, he held you against me." Rina gently stroked Garrus' fringe and he sighed. "I knew then that I couldn't stay with him. His mind and ideals are too rigid for how much our world has changed. You and I have adapted to this insanity and you never judged me for a single second. I love you, Garrus Vakarian and I never plan to stop."
He lifted her up again and kissed her with unbridled happiness. Her face was flushed pink as he set her down again and he found her then to be the most beautiful than she'd ever been, scars and all.
"You've made me the happiest turian alive, Rina," he whispered. "I want so much to show you how but we need rest." He laughed as she made a pouting face. He nuzzled her forehead with his and gently patted her rear as he escorted her out the door.
"I'll get you yet, Vakarian," she said with mock menace. He growled quietly and watched as she walked away, swinging her hips in a deliberately hypnotising fashion.
"I'll be waiting," he answered.
Maybe I'll continue this if anyone calls for it. Please review and have a lovely day, my dearies!