Laughter floated up towards me from the living room as I walked towards my bedroom, running my hand casually along the walls, feeling the rough wallpaper under my fingers. The music was playing all round the apartment and was beginning to drown out the loud voices of my squad mates the further away from them I wandered, and I doubted they would miss my presence for five minutes. The drinking, joking, dancing... it was nice but I just couldn't forget the looming inevitably of the Reapers and the sense of doom that would suddenly wash over me without warning. It choked me. All of this responsibility resting on my shoulders, the fate of the galaxy... it was too much for any one person to take.
Entering my bedroom I shut the door and fell down on to my bed, looking up at the ceiling.
I can't believe this place is mine. It had been so generous of Anderson to offer it, despite everything that's going on. It felt nice to have a home other than the Normandy, regardless of how much time I might actually have left to enjoy it.
There you go again Shepard, so pessimistic.
Looking to my left I could see the corner of the hot tub in the bathroom and a small smile crept across my face. Time to stop being so pessimistic. Sitting up I quickly stripped off my clothes as I made my way in to the bathroom and gingerly dipped my foot in the bubbling water. The temperature was perfect.
Slipping in to the tub I rested my head back against the padded side and closed my eyes. The loud bubbling drowned out the music almost completely, and along with the dimmed lights I could almost imagine that I was just a regular soldier relaxing on shore leave.
The first instance I noticed someone else was in the room was when the bed creaked, and I almost jumped out of my skin. Whipping my head round water sloshed over the side of the tub. But I had nothing to be worried about, of course.
Liara sat on the edge of the bed, one leg crossed elegantly over the other as she leaned slightly back and rested on her left elbow. A small triumphant smile played on her lips.
"You're slacking Shepard, I've never been able to sneak up on you before," She purred in her soft voice.
"The one and only time you'll be able to do that, and you must never tell anyone," I replied jokingly. "Especially Vega, I'll never hear the end of it."
Liara laughed and nodded. "That much is true. May I...join you?" She asked nervously. Always the embodiment of confidence, this Asari.
My heart jumped in to my throat as I nodded and shifted over a little to make room for her. We never really had enough time to be alone in the past few years, with everything that has happened. But we still found our way back to each other.
Liara took her clothes off and promptly slipped in beside me, sighing at the warmth of the water. I glance at her sideways, feeling both comfortable and awkward at the same time. We had known each other so long, and been through so much, but it was rarely this intimate.
She closed her eyes and smiled as she leaned against the side of the tub. "I haven't felt a luxury like this in a while," Liara murmured, and I couldn't help but notice how her lips moved.
"Huh, did you not have the pleasure of a bathtub in your Shadowbroker lair? It was still probably better than the Normandy's showers. Sometimes I got lucky and get hot water."
Liara shot her an amused look. "So the Commander doesn't have all of the privileges I thought she had."
I laughed and flicked some water at her. "I'm pretty sure you remember my shower." I sure remembered it in detail, but thankfully I don't blush easily.
Liara, however, blushes very easily. "Yes, I remember."
I sat in a comfortable silence with her for a few minutes. She was one of the only people I could really just relax around. I didn't have to act strong and fearless whenever I was around her because she knew who I was. I try to be strong and fearless most of the time... But I'm also full of doubt and guilt, bowing under the burden of the decisions I have made. Liara is the only one I let openly see me vulnerable. She had never judged me for it, but understands.
I let out a soft sigh. "Liara-"
But her lips had already found mine as she straddled me, taking me completely by surprise. That surprise quickly turned in to lust as I crushed my lips against hers, knowing her rhythm and syncing ourselves in an instant. My breathing became ragged as I grabbed her hips and she let out a small gasp against my lips.
"I've been waiting a long time to do that again," she murmured.
"Am I just that irresistible?" I breathed out a laugh as I lightly kissed her jaw, running my lips along her jaw and down her neck. I could feel Liara tip her head back slightly as she sunk lower down on my lap, could feel her blue aura against my skin, warm and tingly. "What else have you been wanting to do to me?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," Liara replied and she brought her face level with mine and smiled, brushing a light kiss on my lips. I could see the worry in her eyes and suddenly sat up a little straighter, more alert.
"Are you okay?" I asked sharply, protectively.
Liara smiled sadly and glanced down, lost in thought for a moment.
"It's just...This could be the last time we are alone together. Who knows what will happen after this? Can we defeat them? The end seems so far away, yet so near..."
"Hey, shh, don't talk like that," I ran my hand lightly down her arm to soothe her, and put on a brave face. "We can defeat them, I know we can. We can't believe otherwise, or we might as well give up now. The crucible is almost finished, we just need to get the catalyst. We can do this."
Liara smiled her sweet smile again, one that seems so innocent and ignorant of evil in the world, yet has seen many horrors that I know she won't forget.
"I trust you, Shepard. I will follow you to the grave if need be. I love you."
"I love you too, Liara," leaning forward I kissed her again, softly at first but it became increasingly more desperate as we wanted to lose ourselves in each other for just a moment; to pretend that everything is okay for potentially the last time.
The rest of the squad didn't see us again until the morning.