It was well into the early morning hours and nearly everyone was asleep—or passed out—throughout Shepard's new apartment. Miranda relaxed on the couch in the den, staring out the window onto the lights of the strip. She sipped at her scotch. Jack sat down next to her, a fresh beer in one hand and a double shot of tequila in the other. She downed the shot and sat back.
"You know, this is a really nice apartment." Miranda commented; finally getting a chance to stop and look at it.
"I've never been one for settling down, but if I was gonna pick a place, yeah, it's not bad. Open spaces, big workout room. Only thing is those windows. I don't really like people seeing everything I do. Reminds me of all the eyes I had on me as a kid. Watching through all those two way mirrors."
"For everything you went through, you turned out pretty well, Jack. I know how hard it is to not have control over what happens to you, and how hard it is to recover from that."
Jack snarled slightly. "Don't compare yourself to me, Ms. Perfect, you have no idea how hard it was for me, the things they did to me, the things they did to other kids in my name."
Miranda sighed. Maybe it was the hour, or the drinks, or something Shepard said, but she finally felt like coming clean. "Jack, you know I didn't have a mother. I'm a genetic clone of my father engineered to be as perfect as possible, and still my father never showed me love or support or even allowed me to believe that anything I did was ever good enough. He pressed me, constantly, to do better, no matter how well I performed. He…altered me, had doctors and scientists do things to me, to enhance my biotics, to increase my healing abilities, to make my muscles stronger and faster than they should be. I wasn't just grown in a test tube and then left alone. I ran away from home as soon as I was able. I struggled for years to accept myself, to not think of myself as an abomination. So yes, Jack, I do know what it's like to feel angry and alone, without control over even your own body."
"Shit." Jack stared at her for a second, processing everything Miranda had just revealed. Her posture softened. "I figured it must have been easy for you. Growing up rich, the best of everything. That you had a father who adored you for being so damned perfect."
"My father's only interest in me was securing a legacy to defeat his own fear of mortality. I was nothing more than a tool to him. And when it became evident that he was losing control over me, he created my sister. At which point I meant nothing to him; I had become expendable, and I knew it. So I took my baby sister and ran. I joined Cerberus to stay off the streets. I never had it easy, Jack. I knew the probability of them being into some bad things was high, but I had a skill set that afforded me only so many career possibilities. I thought if I was at least in on things, I could do what I could to help people. It gave me a purpose, for the first time in my life, a chance to feel good about myself. Eventually they gave me Shepard, and she gave me…a lot."
Jack looked down at her hands, "I'm sorry. I didn't know any of that. I might not have hated you as much if I had."
"No, you would have. And I don't blame you for it, Cerberus did a number on you. But I'm proud of how you came out. Making the kind of connections you have with those kids at the Academy isn't easy for people like us. They seem to genuinely care for you."
Jack laughed. "Yeah, who'd have guessed that I'd be teaching a bunch of snotty little teenagers how to control their biotics? That I'd give a damn about them. Or that they'd give a damn about me. I guess Shepard gave us both a lot."
Miranda ran her finger around the edge of her empty glass. "Do you…" She paused, was she really about to say what she was about to say? Fuck it. You only live once, right? Most of us anyways. "Do you think there's anything to what Shepard said about us?"
Jack looked up at her. "About what?" Miranda stared at her silently, a slight pink coming into her cheeks. Jack ran through everything Shepard had said throughout the evening. "OH." She took a long swallow, draining the full bottle of beer. Miranda watched as Jack's face flushed, the red running up her neck and across the back of her head. It was kinda cute how you could see the blush across her scalp. Or was it the alcohol? "I've always been the fuck and run kind of girl. Except for…" Her voice trailed off. "I'm not good at 'relationships.' Usually I just see someone I like, take what I want from them and when I'm done and they're boring, I leave them in the dirt."
"I'm not hearing a 'no.'"
"Shit, Miranda, I don't know." Jack was quiet for a bit, fidgeting with the bottle in her hand. "Maybe? Look, you're gorgeous, and…and I thought I knew how I felt about you, but maybe I don't anymore."
Miranda leaned into Jack, her body hummed all over. With her fingertips on Jack's jaw, she turned her face into hers. She looked into Jack's eyes; there was trepidation, worry, a little bit of anger, but nothing in them that wanted her to stop. Miranda's gaze fell to Jack's lips before pressing in close, kissing her. Electricity shot through Miranda's gut, and her limbs tingled.
Their lips pressed together. At first Jack didn't respond and Miranda worried she had made a mistake. Jack was stiff, her muscles tightened, ready to fight or flee or… She relaxed, the muscles loosening slowly across her body, and she kissed back. Miranda slid her fingers along Jack's jawline. She pulled back; watching Jack's face, she struggled to think of what to say. Jack sneered, "Don't be a pussy, if you're gonna kiss me, kiss me right." She climbed onto Miranda's lap, straddling her thighs.
"Oh." Miranda slid her hands over Jack's hips, fingertips grazing over her skin.
Jack wrapped her hands around the back of Miranda's neck, burying her fingers in her hair. She pressed her body against Miranda, kissing her roughly and pulling her nearer. Jack nipped at her lips. Miranda teased her with her tongue. Jack gripped tight, pulling on Miranda's hair, and pushed her closer as she claimed her mouth. Miranda ran her hands up Jack's sides, tracing the edge of her ribcage with her thumbs. She dragged her nails down Jack's back, digging into her ass and yanking her hips into her. A small groan rumbled in Jack's throat. Miranda smiled as Jack kissed harder and gripped tighter, pulling her hair. She traced her nails along the edge of Jack's pants, feeling the muscles in her ass flutter at the touch. Miranda slipped her hands inside the fabric, grabbing Jack's ass and pulling her into her. Jack tugged on Miranda's hair, pulling her head back and finally breaking their kiss. Jack groaned against Miranda's neck as she nipped along the curve of her jaw. Miranda moaned softly in Jack's ear.
"No, EDI, not on the bridge." Joker muttered into the bar as he dreamed.
Jack froze on Miranda's lap, looking down into her blue eyes. "We should—"
"Go upstairs." Miranda flexed her grip on Jack's ass.
"Oh, uh, really?"
"Yes."
"I was gonna say—"
"I know what you were going to say, and I think we should go upstairs."
"Alright, cheerleader, you wanna go, let's go." Jack didn't move; Miranda smirked. "What's so funny?"
Miranda traced the curve of Jack's butt. "You have to let go of my hair and get off my lap if we're going to do this."
A hint of red flushed Jack's cheeks. "Oh. Yeah. Well, you gonna let go of my ass?"
"Maybe. I kind of like the way it feels." She dragged her nails along the skin as she pulled her hands free from Jack's pants. Jack gasped a short moan as her hips jerked down against Miranda. Jack furrowed her brow. "You really wanna do this, don't you?"
Miranda rested her hands on Jack's hips. "Yes, I do." She raised a hand to the back of Jack's neck and pulled her close, kissing her soft and deep and slow. Jack's body was stiff again; unsure and off-guard, but as Miranda slid her arm around Jack's back, gently holding her; she relaxed. Jack's grip loosened in Miranda's hair as she melted into her. Miranda pulled back. "And I think you do too."
"Yeah," her voice was hesitant, almost confused. She took a breath and let it out slowly. Her tone was bolder when she spoke again. "Okay."
"Let's go upstairs, Jack. There ought to be a free bedroom."
Jack climbed off and stepped back. Miranda stood with the grace of a panther. She smiled at Jack, touching her fingers to Jack's hand. She followed Miranda, watching her hips swing back and forth. God damn, she had a fine ass. Miranda stalked upstairs; Jack stared at her ass, perfectly poured into her outfit. The curve of every muscle detailed in that fabric, flexing as she climbed each step.
'Am I doing this? Am I really fucking doing this? Jack, what the hell are you doing? You just made out with the woman you hate more than just about anyone and now you're gonna go fuck her brains out. And you actually want to.' Jack tilted her head as her gaze fell down the length of Miranda's legs. 'Shepard was right, wasn't she? God damn it.'
Miranda slipped into the spare bedroom. "Don't forget to close the door."
"I'm not gonna forget the door."
"Well, I wasn't sure if you'd be too distracted to remember, I know you were staring at my ass the whole way up here."
"It's a nice ass, but it's not that distracting."
"Oh? I'll have to try harder then." Miranda smiled. "Or would you prefer my 'fantastic tits?'" She came close to Jack, wrapping her arms around her waist. "You seem like a tits girl."
"Me?" Jack laid her hands on Miranda's hips. "You're the one who noticed my tits looked bigger."
"I prefer lips, myself. And yours are pretty fantastic." Miranda traced Jack's lips with her tongue before kissing her.
Jack gripped Miranda's hips tighter and shoved her against the wall, grinding into her. She bit along Miranda's jaw, moaning softly with each press of her lips against Miranda's skin. "Don't tease me."
Miranda hooked her foot behind Jack's leg and turned her, slamming her into the wall. "I'll tease you if I want." Blue haze started to form around Jack's hands, her instinct to throw Miranda across the room. Instead, she dug her nails into Miranda's hips, spun her, and pinned her against the wall with the force she'd built up. Miranda cocked an eyebrow. "I'm stronger than you, you know?"
"Bullshit." Jack jerked into her, pressing Miranda harder against the wall.
"It's true." Miranda smiled, watching the fire build behind Jack's eyes.
"Fucking prove it."
Miranda leaned forward and purred in Jack's ear, "Another time." She kissed along Jack's neck, feeling her pulse race against her lips. Miranda slowly ran her hands up Jack's body, indulging in the flexing of her stomach as she breathed heavily. Tracing her fingertips along Jack's collarbone, she gently pushed the jacket off her shoulders. Jack relaxed and let the leather fall down her arms onto the floor. She kissed Jack deeply, running her nails up and down the freshly exposed skin of her arms. Miranda chuckled low in her throat as goosebumps rose along Jack's skin. She leaned back, searching Jack's eyes for any hint that this wasn't what she wanted—giving her one last out. There was the ever-present insecurity that was slowly fading from Jack's psyche, and a fire burning within those deep brown eyes. But there was not a trace of objection.
She kissed Jack's throat, her collarbone, between her breasts. Dropping to her knees, Miranda kissed down her stomach and unhooked Jack's belt. She popped the button on Jack's pants and tried to slide them down, but they stopped mid-thigh, caught on the straps of her boots. Miranda sighed in frustration. "Why do you have to wear so many straps?"
"I like straps, they keep things in place."
Miranda stood, resting her hands low on Jack's hips. "Oh, I remember. I have to admit though, I do prefer this look to those leather strips."
"You just like my tits."
"Maybe I am a tits girl. At least for you."
Jack blushed. "Are you gonna fuck me or what?"
"I've got plans for you. Sit on the bed." There was an innate desire to disregard any orders given by Miranda, but circumstances were not the norm; Jack fought against it and obeyed. Miranda followed close, her hand against Jack's lower back. Jack leaned against the foot of the bed, indulging in a small rebellion. "Sit, so I can undo these damn straps." Jack grabbed Miranda's hips, contemplating throwing her down on the bed. Miranda put her hands on Jack's shoulders and pushed her down on the bed. Her voice dropped, "I said sit." Jack smirked. Miranda kneeled between her legs to undo the straps of her boots. Tugging on leather and swearing under her breath, she pulled off Jack's boots and tossed them behind her. She smiled up at Jack. Hooking her fingers around the waist of Jack's pants, she pulled. "Lift up."
Jack braced against the bed and lifted her hips. Miranda slowly slid her hands down Jack's legs, enjoying the taut muscles as she stripped her pants. "Apparently every inch of you is covered in tattoos. So who did these?" She traced the lines that ran down her stomach, between her thighs.
Jack shivered at the touch. "Wouldn't you like to know?" She smirked.
Miranda kissed Jack's knee. "It didn't hurt?" She kissed slowly up the inside of Jack's thigh.
"Pain doesn't really bother me."
"Hmmm." Miranda kissed a spot of skin along Jack's upper thigh. A small chuckle vibrated her lips causing Jack's leg to tremble ever so gently. Miranda bit down. Jack howled, first in surprise, then in pain slipping quickly into pleasure. Miranda wrapped her arms around Jack's thighs, digging her nails in. Jack's cries intensified. Miranda let go and rested her cheek against Jack's thigh. "I'd say you rather enjoy it."
"So what if I do?"
"It just makes me wonder how you felt getting these." Miranda touched Jack softly; she jumped a little. Seeing Jack flutter at her touch caused a shudder to wash over Miranda's entire body. Her breath came out in a wavering gasp. She kissed Jack's thigh harder, caressing the warm flesh with her tongue. Pressing closer, she kissed and nipped up Jack's leg. She could feel the muscles in Jack's body twitch, see her grip on the mattress tighten, hear her breath start to catch as she gasped softly. "Jack, do you want me to touch you?"
"Miranda, stop fucking around and eat my god damn pussy."
"Well, when you put it like that…" Jack was about to protest with a smart ass remark, but Miranda tugged her closer to the edge, pressing her face into her and ran her tongue across Jack's clit.
"Fuck."
Miranda moaned into her as she flicked her tongue, gripping Jack's thighs. She didn't realize how much she had wanted this, how much she wanted to bring Jack such pleasure. But now that it was finally in front of her, it was the only thing she wanted in the entire galaxy. She buried her mouth in Jack, flicking her tongue in quick patterns, long flat strokes, and slow circles; trying to discover what elicited the strongest reaction. Jack moaned, gripping the bed hard, swearing oaths and cursing as Miranda explored her. Miranda gently pushed Jack's legs open wider, pressing harder into her as she fluttered the tip of her tongue across Jack's clit.
"Fuck." Jack moaned. "Do that." Miranda obeyed, and Jack's moans deepened. "God damn it." Miranda ran her shaking hands up Jack's thighs to her trembling hips, scraping her nails across her skin. "Shit, Miranda," Jack cried, a desperation in her voice. Miranda squeezed tighter on Jack's hips, groaning with each shake and thrust. Jack pressed her hips into Miranda. She grabbed at Miranda, grasping her hair. Jack moaned and quivered as she pulled Miranda closer, her body begging for more. "Fuck, Miranda. Don't stop." Miranda cried urgently as she lapped feverishly. Jack's body trembled and her moans deepened; she cried out as she came, bucking her hips into Miranda and pulling her hair. "God damn," Jack panted.
Miranda leaned against Jack's thigh, watching her stomach rise and fall as her breath slowly returned to normal. She licked her lips, tasting Jack, wondering at the vagrant thought of hoping this wouldn't be the last time. Jack's fingers fell from her hair, brushing her cheek. Miranda wanted more from her.
She stood up and reached to undo the zipper along her torso. "No." Miranda stopped. "If you're gonna get undressed, I'm gonna be the one to do it." Jack jumped up; her legs wobbled beneath her and she leaned hard into Miranda.
Miranda held her around the waist. "I got you."
"I'm fine." Jack grabbed the zipper and tugged. Miranda's breath caught in her chest. She put her hand on Jack's, holding it, forcing her to pull slowly. Jack could feel the tremble in Miranda's fingers. Could she really cause that in a person? In this person? Miranda leaned forward to kiss Jack's neck. She pulled Miranda's top down and pushed her back to take her in. Miranda stood before her, clothes hanging loosely about her hips, wearing a black lacy bra. "Well, that figures." Jack laughed derisively.
"What?" Miranda cocked one hip up.
"Black lace? That's a bit cliché."
Miranda crossed her arms over her chest. "I like it."
Jack took a breath, taking a moment to readjust. She wrapped her arms around Miranda, pulling her close. "You look good in it." She kissed Miranda deep, tasting herself on those soft lips. Jack ran her hands up Miranda's back and undid her bra. Pulling it away, Jack grabbed her breast, running her thumb over the nipple. "You really do have fantastic tits."
Miranda smiled at her. "And what are you going to do about that?"
Jack grinned wickedly, "I'll think of something." She pinched her nipple and chuckled with pleasure as Miranda gasped. Squeezing her breast, nails digging into her back, Jack leaned in close. She bit and tugged Miranda's earlobe. "Strip." Jack sat on the bed, leaning back on her hands.
Miranda smiled to herself, 'She does love her games.' She kept eye contact with Jack as she slipped out of her clothes. Staring into her deep brown eyes and watching a desire grow in them. How long had she wanted Jack to look at her that way without realizing what it was she needed? She stepped forward, naked before Jack, leaning over her, and crawled up her body, kissing her passionately. There was nothing left to hide behind, she was giving herself over completely to Jack. And she wanted it more than anything.
Jack wrapped her arms around Miranda's waist, holding her close. Their bodies pressed together as Miranda sank into her. Jack gripped her tight and rolled her over, mounting astride Miranda's hips, pinning her in place. She growled low as she ground her hips into Miranda, eliciting a soft sound of pleasure from her. Jack licked her lips, "You're mine now." She ran her hand down Miranda's body, down her leg, digging her nails in as she dragged them up the inside of her thigh. Miranda shivered, her hips writhing of their own accord. Jack pushed Miranda's legs wide with her knees against her thighs. She nipped roughly at Miranda's neck. Tugging on her ear, she growled low, "Mine." She thrust her fingers into Miranda. Miranda cried out, clutching at Jack's back. Jack delighted in the desperate moans as she fucked Miranda. She groaned as Miranda clawed at her back, bucking her hips as Jack thrust deep into her. Jack snarled and growled, biting small purple marks up and down Miranda's shoulder. She slammed her hips behind her hand with each thrust, their bodies colliding.
Miranda tugged at the white fabric still stretched around Jack's body. "Take it off."
"No." Jack growled, she was not taking orders now.
"Please, Jack, I want to feel you."
There was something about Miranda begging that Jack couldn't resist. She tugged at the strap behind her neck and pulled it over her head. The rest of the fabric loosened and she slid it down her body. Miranda pressed her legs close. Jack snapped her teeth and shoved them wide again and growled, "Did I say you could close your legs?"
Miranda pulled Jack close, to feel her nipples brush against her skin. "Please, Jack. Make me come for you."
Jack crashed into her, kissing her rough, biting at her lip. Fucking her hard and fast, her hips hammering into Miranda, fingers curling deep inside her. Miranda's thighs began to shake and she tightened around Jack's fingers. She was close. "God damn it, Miranda, come for me." Miranda jerked her hips, scratching across Jack's shoulder blades, crying as she came. Jack collapsed beside Miranda self-satisfied and confused, still struggling to integrate her diametric emotions over the past few hours. But she had enjoyed the hell out of fucking Miranda, she'd wanted it. Would harmony come with time? Did she really want to try? She looked over at Miranda lying next to her, eyes closed, lips casually parted, her wild breathing coming to a calm. Maybe.
Jack roused slowly at first, but snapped awake when she realized there was a body wrapped around her, holding her. Miranda. It was Miranda. You slept with Miranda last night. And now she's…cuddling you. A habitual panic set into her and she tossed Miranda's arm from around her waist. She jumped up and scrabbled to collect her clothes. The commotion woke Miranda. "Jack, what are you doing?"
"I should go. I have to go."
"Jack." Miranda waited for her to stop and look at her. "Stay."
"No. I'm not good at this shit. I need to leave."
"Jack. You don't have to run. Stay with me. Please."
There was that word again, damn it. Jack was quiet, her body cocked and ready to go. Finally, her shoulders dropped and she returned to the bed. "I don't know…"
Miranda pulled her close. "It's okay." Jack leaned back against her and tried to relax. Miranda smiled, idly stroking her skin, careful to avoid any scars.
"I suppose this is kinda nice."
Miranda took a deep breath. "Jack, do you want to make a go of it?"
Jack was silent for a long moment. "Sure, what the hell. If the world doesn't end, we'll give it a shot." A thought occurred to her. "Just don't tell Shepard."
"Tell Shepard what?" The mellifluous notes of Liara's voice wafted from the doorway.
"Shit."
"You forgot the door." Miranda quipped.
"God damn it."
"So you don't want Shepard to know that what she said made you two finally get together. I think we can probably work something out." Liara leaned casually against the doorframe, grinning like a cat with a mouse between its paws.
"Are you blackmailing us?" Miranda asked calmly.
"I'm an information broker, Miranda, this is my trade."
"You're a bitch. But I'm honestly impressed, I didn't think you'd have the spine for that. What do you want?"
"You don't know who her mother is do you?" Miranda joked.
"Oh, I'll think of something." Liara purred. "You should hurry downstairs, everyone else is waking and they'll be curious if you two are absent after too long." She pulled the door from the wall and slid it closed. 'I owe Shepard 50 credits,' she thought as she made her way to the kitchen.
"I really didn't expect that we'd end up in this spot when hated each other so much." Jack sighed.
"I never hated you, Jack."
"Then why were you such a raging bitch to me?"
"Everything I did and said to you was to make you a better person. I knew the potential you had if you would just get over your past and stop acting like the universe owed you something because you got screwed early on. If you'd just stop acting like a victim, you would have been a force to reckon with. So I pushed you as much as you'd let me."
Jack smiled and sank into Miranda. "Fucking cheerleader."
