A/N: This story serves as the sequel to Memento Mori, one of my other stories that follows the plot of ME2 and the romance of Thane & Shepard. This story takes place post-ME2, and will keep the same choices/consequences that my ME2 stories have. Hope you enjoy!
The ME2 characters and universe belong to Bioware, I have just become ensnared and in love with all of it!
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"I trust I can still count on your confidence, Miranda?"
Miranda's hands tensed together behind her, and she refrained from looking down as the Illusive Man spoke. Shepard had done so much. She'd helped Jacob and herself, and so many others without so much as a pause. She'd saved nearly all the crew. People weren't expendable to her. It was a last resort. But what could she do?
"Yes, sir. Of course."
Now that EDI was unshackled though, she didn't know if she'd be able to pull off what was wanted. Would EDI even mention anything to the Commander? It was left to be seen if the AI would still report to the Illusive Man. The work would take all night. Luckily, apart from the justicar and the professor, the ship had emptied into the bar in Nos Astra.
"Good. I'll be expecting your reports."
The cigarette in the Illusive Man's hand flared bright as he inhaled, before he touched down over the holo-interface and cut their connection.
Alone in the dark room, Miranda sighed. For the first time, she didn't know if she wanted to do what Cerberus asked of her.
Shepard leaned onto the bar, and motioned to her glass, grinning at Matriarch Aethyla. Obliged with a smirk, the bartender filled the Commander's glass with the azure drink once more. Eternity was closed for a private function; for once, helping others take down criminals had paid off, with Shepard calling in a favour to the owner when they landed in Nos Astra.
"You really expect me to believe that?"
Shepard raised her brow, taking a sip of the drink as she looked at the matriarch. She cleared her throat, suppressing a grin.
"What? I am Commander Shepard, after all."
Aethyla laughed, shaking her head as her eyes swept down the Commander's form. Clad in civies, her curves were accentuated a good deal more than when she'd been there some months ago. The bartender almost didn't recognize her; the scarring on her face had healed, and there was a light in her eyes. That ass though.
Waggling her eyebrows, Shepard motioned for another drink. One in each hand, she turned around and leaned back against the bar.
In the private nook of the lounge, a few cheers rose up as a pulse of music swept out. There had been dancers entertaining the crew most of the night, and it was starting to get early. Kelly had already made it onto a table more than once, and tried to drag Tali with her. The quarian had escaped to cling to Shepard for more than an hour, hiccupping quietly as she kept up drink for drink with the Commander. Both she and the doctor each had claimed a couch in the back room, unable to keep pace any longer.
The current dancer had stripped down to the barest coverings, and a good crowd of crew lazed in chairs and stood around the table. Gabby hit Kenneth, his face lit with a devious grin, and they both ended up laughing and finishing their glasses.
Deeper in the shadows of the private lounge, Garrus clapped an arm around Thane, spinning an empty glass onto the table nearby. Thane kept his posture, drunk, but still more sober than anyone else there. Drinks had started with the moving speech that Shepard gave when they arrived, as sombre and uplifting as it had been true.
"For those lost, we must celebrate life and everything it offers. The greatest gift we can give their sacrifice is our smiles, our tears, and our perseverance to see this fight to the end. Tonight we sing for our victories, for the dawn brings another battle."
He'd been unable to escape Shepard's teasing encouragement, and there had been more than once she'd flat out ordered everyone to match her drinking.
The crowd groans. I take up the drink. Donnelly whimpers, "Come on, Commander, you're a damned cyborg. How can you expect us puny mortals to keep up?" She laughs. I shake my head and drink, smiling. We all do.
"Not one for asari dancers, Krios?"
Thane cleared his throat.
"Not really."
Garrus nodded a few times too many, his mandibles flexing in relaxation. He smirked in his way, and motioned towards the bar.
"Shepard on the other hand."
The turian clacked a soft sound, released Thane, and sauntered over to the Commander. Thane watched as Shepard and Garrus started to talk, her expressions relaxed with drink and relief. The bartender had her ear in the conversation, and Shepard leant an elbow on the bar to teeter towards the asari.
Thane's thoughts were sluggish. It had been years since he'd imbibed anything more than a few sips. Had Vakarian meant he was one for Shepard, or Shepard was one for asari dancers? He had never seen her act amicably with any asari. Though, they had hardly been in the company of many.
A light sheen of sweat on her brow as she steadies the pistol. The shot cracks off. In the distance, the asari Eclipse spins under the force of the hit, right cheek shattered, leaving a spatter of blood on the wall behind her. She crumples and the Commander pops the sink.
Closing his eyes, Thane took a deep breath. This was why he didn't drink. A chorus of appreciative whistles tilted his head, and at the table he noticed the dancer had taken off the last of her garments. Edging sideways, he looked to Shepard by the bar, and realized her eyes were on the dancer.
"She's pretty good, hey?"
Shepard bit her lip, a flush on her cheeks. The feast of liquor was taking its toll. Leaning more heavily on the bar, she looked to the turian.
"I guess you'd know for comparison, huh, Garrus?"
Head lolling side to side, Garrus shrugged and rolled his shoulders back, sucking in a breath.
"I don't know, you might be more experienced than me in that department, Shepard."
Lips parting, Shepard seemed unable to come up with a reply, and almost blushed before she laughed and pushed Garrus. The turian chuckled.
"You're an ass."
"Whaaat? I was there when Liara kissed you in her office, or did you forget that."
Shepard concealed her words with the drink in her hand, draining it away and prompting Garrus to smirk at her. Smacking her lips, she looked back to Matriarch Aethyla.
"He's cut off."
Garrus made a sound and put down his ale as he looked at the Commander. The bartender laughed as Shepard stood up.
"Poor form, Shepard, poor form. I'm hurt! Cutting off your best competition."
Smirking, she pushed off the bar and moved with care along the wall, eyes sweeping from the dancer until she saw Thane. Breathing deep, she strode the few steps to be near him, putting a hand on the wall as soon as she could.
"Enjoying the party?"
Thane's dark eyes turned to her.
"Not as much as you."
Shepard laughed a breath, strumming her fingers once on the wall as she looked away.
"I have to keep up appearances, right? Need to be the best."
"Mm."
The look Thane gave her prompted another laugh. The sound was beautiful and lackadaisical. There was colour on her cheeks, and her lips were reddened in the most tempting way. Some of her hair had come loose, hanging around her cheeks . Her eyes were half-lidded.
"Some have started to creep back to the ship though. I think dawn is coming."
"You're very hard not to kiss."
A grin quirked the edge of Shepard's lips as she met Thane's eyes, and he chuckled, offering a smile of his own. She traced a few fingers over the collar-flap of his jacket.
"Here I thought you said something about appearances."
"Yea, yea, I know. Even if I drink all of you under the table, I still have some sense left."
Shepard lifted the last glass in her hand, sipping the hazy pink drink within. Thane mimicked the motion with his own, before taking both their empty glasses and putting them down. She was looking at the dancer again.
"I couldn't have imagined your fascination with asari, siha."
Thane's hand pressed the small of her back, and Shepard's head turned, unsteady with the quick movement. He held her, the light touch concealed by the darkness behind them. Shepard licked her lips and tried find words.
"Oh... I - well. They're very beautiful. Who wouldn't enjoy the view?"
Nearby Garrus teetered and clumped across the bar, past the table Grunt and Jack sat at, to the white-lit back room. Behind him the soft pinks and purples of morning light seeped into the sky. Chits clinked on the table and the crew clapped and hooted as the dancer finished, fingers over her lips and a wink offered before she stooped to snag the tips. She slipped off the table, nimbly avoided her drunken admirers and disappeared through a sliding door in the wall.
Clearing her throat, Shepard adjusted her clothing and stepped forward.
"Dear crew of mine, I am beginning to think we've harassed Eternity enough for one night. And morning."
Jacob was one of the first up, and he wavered. Shepard reached a hand out to steady him, and he snorted. Shaking his head, he offered a quick salute, prompting a laugh from the Commander.
"At ease, soldier. Get back to the Normandy before Matriarch Aethyla has to mop you up."
"Thanks, Commander. Just like we said, huh?"
"Not quite the Citadel, but it did just finely, mm Mr. Taylor?"
Kelly stood up to catch the man as he wobbled again, and Shepard crossed her arms, shaking her head. The yeoman showed a zealous little grin before they slunk away. More of the crew smiled and offered words, leaning on each other for support. Shepard acknowledging each as Thane stayed close at her side, expression amicable as she smiled and laughed.
Most of the crew gone, Shepard strolled towards the open sky to check on the remnants of her squad. Garrus was trying to convince Dr. Chakwas and Tali to get up, rather unsuccessfully. There was the quiet clunk of glass and a grunt from the turian as Tali slung her empty glass at him. Shepard snorted, back of her hand over her mouth as she looked to Jack.
Jack smirked, standing up before the krogan. She made to punch him, but Grunt just laughed. The tattoooed slid her hip over the table to get out of her seat.
"You're alright, Shepard."
Shepard raised her chin, grinning as Jack pushed through her and Thane, moving towards the door.
"Can you make it back alright?"
"Fuck you." Jack flicked her off. "Though - maybe I should leave that up to the drell."
Shepard coughed a laugh, the sound met by Grunt's rich chuckle. Thane looked down, shaking his head.
Rising by Shepard's side, Grunt nodded and offered a simple, "Shepard."
"Get out of here. What was I thinking letting you drink. Underage and all."
The krogan scoffed, stomping off with ease to meet up with Jack beyond the open door.
Looking sideways into the backroom, Shepard put a hand up to Thane.
"I've got to watch this."
They sat down in the booth, heads tilted sideways as the voices filtered through in the relative quiet.
"Get, "A hiccup clipped in, "...your hands off me."
"Shepard wants us back on the ship."
"Can't you just leave the poor girl? We were so comfy till you came."
"I'm helping."
"Bosh'tet, you're groping."
"Helping?"
Shepard rested her head back, closing her eyes.
"Should we intervene?"
Rolling her head aside, Shepard looked at Thane through half-lidded eyes. The sky was warming behind him, brightening. Her body was singing, the dizziness in her senses growing. She'd never been able to drink so much and keep standing. Mind you, she hadn't drank like that since before Cerberus rebuilt her.
"Be my guest?"
Head lolling the other way, Shepard couldn't help but grin as Thane got up with a certain wobble, though in an instance it was gone. She could only see limbs and armour through the door at the angle she sat.
"Allow me."
"Ohhh, always such a gentleman Mr. Krios."
There was quiet muttering and the sound of movement.
"Course, leave the one in the enviro-suit with the guy who's all claws. I'll be fine."
"Fine, fine, fine."
Garrus swaggered through the doorway, mandibles flaring as he muttered. He waited as Thane guided Dr. Chakwas out on his arm. A soft, accented whimper followed him.
"Shepard."
Breathing deep, the Commander pulled to her feet, a cheeky grin on her lips for Garrus before she ducked in. Tali was strewn half-way off the couch, trying to get up.
"I knew you'd save me."
Shepard just grinned as she bent to gather the quarian into her arms, hoisting her up. Tali's head lolled heavily against her.
"You're always saving me."
"Glad I can."
Tali kept speaking as Shepard supported her, and the pair sloughed out to join the waiting trio. The Commander waved to the bar. Matriarch Aethyla smiled and waved in return as they headed for the door.
"So much goes wrong, but you're always there. Picking me up. Making me feel better. Taking care of me."
"You're family, Tali. I'll always try to be there for you."
Walking out from putting Tali to bed, Shepard ran a hand through her loosening hair. She wavered slightly, senses still numbed from the long night of drinking. Her arms ached from carrying the quarian all the way back to the ship, and amidst a lengthy blink she almost ran into Miranda.
"Commander. How was the party?"
Offering a cool smile, Shepard nodded and continued walking to the elevator. The woman kept up with her.
"I think it was good for people to let loose. Wish you'd joined us."
"Oh, I'm not sure I could have kept up." Miranda laughed a little, looking away.
"Would have been good to have you with us either way, Miranda." Shepard put a hand on her shoulder, unbeknownst as much for the Commander's own balance as anything. "You're a vital part of this crew, and you've been through a lot. We all deserve to let our hair down."
Shepard made a sound in her throat, free hand touching to the bun at the back of her head before she snorted a moment. Miranda looked unfazed, and she raised her brow.
"Well. Either way, I put together a report on the recording devices and spy hardware that I know Cerberus has on the ship. I don't imagine the Illusive Man will be much of a friend anymore."
Taking the data pad, Shepard's lips fell open, and she was silent as her thoughts moved sluggishly.
"Thank you, Miranda. I... will have to look at this in the morning - er, later in the day. Not really of the mind to do it right now."
"Of course, Shepard."
Shepard squeezed the operative's shoulder.
"I'm glad you're going to stay with us, Miranda. To help. This is more than all of us."
"It always has been. I think you did right by destroying the base. You'll need my help with the fallout."
Chuckling, Shepard released Miranda and teetered towards the elevator.
"I need all the help I can get."
Slinking out of the elevator, Shepard looked up to see Thane leaning back against her desk, stripped to just his pants, and it brought a smile to her lips. The edges of the bandage on his upper back poked over his shoulder.
"Hey."
The Commander swayed a bit, and smacked a hand against the wall to steady herself.
"You been here all this time."
Thane offered a hand, and Shepard slipped her fingers into his grasp, letting herself be drawn forward. Sighing a smile, she braced her other hand on his chest, her fingers slipping away down his abdomen.
"I.. thought you might like it if I were here."
"All me, huh?"
Blinking slowly, Shepard 's lips parted in a lubricated smile, leaning to kiss the corner of his lips. A low sound vibrated in Thane's throat, and he slid his hand up her back.
"Mm... no."
"Then help me outta this."
Kissing him more earnestly, Shepard dragged Thane's hand up her thigh and under her shirt. His fingers followed with ease, and he broke their kiss to gingerly pull her shirt off. Tilting his head, he ran a hand down over the bandages on her side and hip. They were still intact.
She gasps in and presses her head back, eyes fluttering to find mine. I take her hand, tearing my eyes from the wound. Seeping blood, metal and bone. She pulls me to her eyes, her breath shuddering again as one of the doctor's instruments touches into the implant.
Oblivious to Thane's attention to her injuries, Shepard snaked her fingers up the reddened ridges of his neck. Tilting her head into the other side, she traced the tip of her tongue over them, strumming almost, and it brought Thane's focus back. He dropped her shirt over the brightly lit terminal on her desk, hands firm at the small of her back to pull her against him.
Pulse fluttering in her chest, Shepard sighed out, and let her tongue trace up till it flitted over Thane's lips. Meeting in a kiss, his hands snagged her thigh and picked her up. Leaning off the wall, she wrapped her legs round his waist, and Thane turned towards her bed, taking the steps in one go.
Grinding into him, Shepard's fingers coiled up the back of Thane's neck, catching on the ridges that descended his spine. His breath hitched in her mouth, their tongues entangled, and he lifted a knee onto the mattress to press her down into the bed.
Colour bleeding and whorling at the edge of her vision, Shepard lay her head back, breathing in deep as Thane's hands and mouth trailed down over her breasts and skin. She squirmed as his fingers danced over her sides, laughing at the ticklish caress. His smile met hers, dark eyes to hers, quickening her pulse and exacerbating the flush on her cheeks.
Liara sighed and put down the data pad, looking away from the vid recording frozen on it. Her eyes rimmed with fatigue, and her markings faded with stress, she resisted the urge to fling the pad across the room. She gazed over the buildings of Nos Astra, the morning light filtering between the tall buildings. There was no way to see the ground from the vantage point of her office. Even if her feet weren't on solid ground, there was no way to pretend her head was in the clouds.