Garrus Vakarian was suddenly very sure of exactly one thing. He would never quite grasp human culture. He looked up at a piece of Earth art with his head cocked to the side, mandibles twitching with the urge to either ask what he was looking at or to say something about it. It wasn't like he wasn't interested in Earth culture, but some things were just… odd. The one red dot was stark center of an entirely white piece of canvas that stretched across the wall. He stood next to previous Alliance Commander Cassander Shepard, who was also looking up at a giant white canvas. A sign not too far away swung slightly, yellow lettering blazed for the 'Earth-Palaven Alliance' section. They had decided to make a date of it to go see the recently built Art Museum on the Citadel. Supposedly it was to increase partnerships among the alien races, but both of them knew it was more of a political stunt by the Hanar trying to have their own voice among the Council. Besides, Shepard had to get her walking time for today and it seemed like a good place as any.
It took a while to get the Citadel even operational let along open the new shops and floors, let alone open entire sectors of it. Elcor's talked slowly around them at how interesting it was now that culture and inspiration had come to the Citadel. Garrus leaned slightly to look a few feet away at the 'Thessia-Sur'Kesh Alliance' section and let out a slow sigh, knowing he had a lot more exhibits left to go. He leaned back and crossed his arms with a glance at Shepard, who had a similar expression on her face. He cocked his head to the side, trying to see why a painting with one red dot on the canvas was supposed to represent the title: "War is Hell". Shepard let out a slow breath from her nose beside him and Garrus cocked his head the other direction.
He shook his head after another five minutes and Shepard drew breath beside him, "I can't tell if it's representing how we were incredibly outnumbered, or how we lost innocents. Either way, I think we've had enough of the arts." Garrus let out a pint-up breath, "And here I thought I was simply uncultured."
She turned to look at him, half-smile on her face with her arms crossing themselves. "Don't think so. Or at least we're uncultured together. Let's get out of here." Her hand found his as they walked out of the museum together, both enjoying the fact that their hands were halfway in each other's direction. Garrus walked beside her, doors sliding open and the noise of the repairs met them. The deck they were on had a large open view of most of the Citadel below them. A few steps later they were at the balcony, leaning up against the glass in silence. The Presidium stretched out before them so far it looked like it went on for miles. And it did technically. "It's even better than before." She hummed beside him, eyes directed at a group of Asari workers walking past them, talking about improvements to the deck they were on. Another group of Krogans stood not a few feet away, talking to their holographic mates about their children back home. Garrus hummed quietly beside her, resting his head on her's for a moment, then looking back out at where they had one of their first dates. It had drawn his attention and Shepard followed his gaze.
Shepard let her smile curve even more so, "You know," She flipped herself now she was leaning away from the view around them. "I remember a Turian that took me on a date to one of the most restricted parts of the Citadel."
Garrus leaned on the balcony, turning his head to look at her. "I do seem to remember a certain human who enjoyed herself on that outing too." He chuckled, "Guess you want a better view than this, huh? I don't have my sniper rifle with me."
She shrugged, elbows on the railing as she looked up at the lighting on the deck above them. Perhaps not their signature weapons, but the bulge in Garrus' jacket and her hip weren't for looks. A good soldier was always prepared. "Either that or break into some place even more restricted… Let's go back." Garrus knew the tone in her voice, cocking his head to the side. "Then let's go."
Her light eyes turned to look at him, eyebrows raising, "You're serious?"
Garrus clicked his teeth, "When, Commander Shepard, have I ever not been serious about taking the girl of my dreams anywhere? That is my favorite spot on the Citadel..." She grinned, standing straight again as Garrus took them to rent a transport. The line was short and they didn't take long to end up exactly where they had stood almost a year and a half ago. Shepard stepped to the edge and looked down, her toes were right at the edge of the landing. Another inch and there wouldn't be floor at all. Garrus stood not too far away, looking out with his arms crossed. They were quiet together for a moment; relishing the sounds of people and transports flying all around them instead of explosions and screams. Which this place had been full of too many times for both their liking; both of them had been soldiers most of their lives- perhaps on different worlds… but they knew what each other still went through at night. Garrus turned his head and saw that Shepard was still leaned over the edge now, eyes staring down into the depths below. Though her feet were firmly planted, legs slightly parted to keep her balance, she was still bent over the edge. The Turian reached over and took her by the shoulder, gently turning her away from the drop and into a hug. He took in a calming breath when she was in his arms, not knowing he was holding it. He felt Shepard do the same.
"I've been meaning to talk to you about something." He said softly into her flaming red hair that ruffled in the wind.
"What is it?" She looked up at him, fingers finding his and wrapping them together. Garrus was quiet for a moment, taking in a deep breath.
"I got an e-mail recently. A few actually. I know- I know you haven't wanted to really leave the Citadel… Or go back to London since…"
He grew quiet for a moment, flash backs of their kiss goodbye and their declarations of love, finding her barely alive underneath the rubble- that small inch of life he had been so despite to save. And if Miranda hadn't been there they very well could of have lost her… The hours waiting outside surrounded by those who they could spare for a moments to check on the progress. She had spent almost the entire year afterward learning how to walk again- writing and reading had come a bit later. And even then, the scars that covered her body now were as bad as his were after taking a missile to the face. "I know you've been recovering. More out of doctor's orders but… my family wants to meet you. And tomorrow they'll be unveiling the wall. The Alliance wants you there."
Her eyes went down to the world below them. The wall building wasn't easily forgotten, even by someone trying to forget it. The council had thought it was an honorable idea to list the names of the fallen they had gathered. Both missing and killed were going to be etched into the strongest material the council could get a hold of. Shepard nodded, letting out a slow sigh. "I know about the wall. No matter how hard you and EDI try to stop me, I can still access my e-mails." She gave him a small smile, finally moving to sit down on the plating where they were standing. He moved down beside her and she took in a breath. "Admiral Hackett wants me to put Anderson's name on the wall. Give the final speech as a sendoff." She admitted softly, which was something rare in Garrus' opinion about the woman. There were very few things she did softly, and somehow even when she spoke in that gentle tone she still commanded the attention of everyone who could hear her.
"-It's about time I saw if my mother's grave is still there." The latter was said more offhandedly than to the Turian holding her hand in his. Her father was in the Navy, but she had never met him. Her mother had fallen into poverty after her father had died, and her job couldn't support both of them with a roof over their head. She had grown up in the worst side of town, in the worst circumstances. They told her it had made her strong young, but she didn't feel any way about her past. Her mother had died when she was eleven, and she had run with gangs and the wrong people until... Shepard's eyes tightly shut as she turned her head to Garrus, asking without seeing his reaction to her. This was going to be difficult. "Come with me?"
It was such a simple question. Three words that even Garrus found nearly more dear than 'I love you' when it came to her. When she had first met him after the Council had shut down his investigation into the Turian Spector, Saren. Even his father had told him to drop the search… Then she had showed up, out of the blue with her squad looking ready to kick shit and take names. Against all advice, she helped him take down Saren. She stayed by his side when he was injured, and helped him again going after Sidonis. Shepard had earned his respect, and his loyalty. He nodded once, then put his forehead against her's. Their breath mingling for a moment they were so close. "Yes." The answer would never change, "I'm behind you all the way."
She seemed to calm at the words, taking a slow breath. "I'm gonna have to get my uniform washed." Shepard turned her head to look out again, "Wait-" Her head turned back to him, "Your family wants to meet me?"
He barked a laugh, such a serious moment broken by her reaction. "Yeah, obviously. They want to meet my entire galaxy." He tilted her chin upward and kissed her slowly, only pulling back to breath, "Plus it's been a while for both of us. We'll start with Earth, get your… planet legs? -back…" He leaned back, "Then we can take as long as you want to get to Palavin. We don't want to do too much too fast."
Always the worrier about her health now days, and Shepard found it one part annoying and one part completely endearing. She was the same way- having bandaged each other more than once in the past. Shepard nodded again, popping her neck. "Next fight. Just not with guns." And yet, she looked more like her old self than she had months. She got to her feet and the Turian's head followed her movement. Garrus looked up at her, head cocked to the side like a curious cat.
"Ready?" He asked, and she offered her hand, "Always. Let's go pack and get whatever I need from the doc our trip."
Garrus stood, "I'll contact the others. They'll want to be there." They walked back to their vehicle and Garrus smirked, "You know I think I'll put a plaque up here."
She laughed, getting in when he opened the door for her. "I'm Garrus Vakarian and this is my favorite spot on the Citadel?" She asked and he slipped into his side.
"I'll tell you later."
