Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Mass Effect 3." No one; they all belong to BioWare.
Author's notes: A short story about the moments after a dream in Shepard's cabin. Enjoy.
"A moment, please"
A Mass Effect 3 story
She could still hear his voice.
Having been urged to finally rest, Shepard had tried to sleep. Truly, she needed the rest. Staring at herself in her bathroom mirror and gauging the black circles under her eyes told her that her efforts had been thwarted.
Shepard knew her dreams were bordering on tenaciously relentless. That damned child that wouldn't allow himself to be saved, so on she ran through swirling leaves beneath trees to look for him. Where was this? Maybe a park in Vancouver. The greenery was a sharp contrast to the impending doom that permeated her dreams.
This time, the dream came back with a twist that made her feel like she'd been punched in the gut. Black swirling shapes formed like mist and as Shepard pushed through to reach the child, she heard them.
Mordin. "Had to be me; someone else might have gotten it wrong."
And then, from the fog of her dream-state, the words that never failed to chill her limbs and root her to the spot. "Belay that, we can handle ourselves! Go back and get Williams!" Shuffle shuffle, whisper. "It's the right choice and you know it, Ash….."
Ashley had had to live with the guilt. Same as she did. Even now. Kaiden….
Shepard pulled her slacks back up and played with her belt, trying to avoid the haunted stare in her eyes as the mirror caught her shame and reflected it back. In the small sterile washroom, her fears could manifest instantly in the enclosed space.
Shepard swallowed. She buttoned her uniform shirt but tucking it into her slacks was beyond her. She leaned against the sink, staring at herself.
A knock at the cabin door. Shepard straightened, and fiddled with her uniform. "It's open!"
"Shepard, there's something you need to hear." Liara. Shepard eyed herself in the mirror and swallowed back any self-recrimination. It was a bitter swallowing.
"Alright." With the door closed, her lover gave her privacy, but Shepard almost wished she'd just push in.
"is this a bad time?" Liara's sweet tone continued. The unspoken 'are you alright' hovered between the door and the pair. Shepard got her shirt tucked in and fastened her belt into place.
"Thinking of some friends….who aren't around. Thanks to this war." Well, it was the truth.
A slight shuffle as she leaned against the wall, or maybe the door itself. "That's thanks to the Reapers, not you." A pause. "Are you thinking about anyone in particular?"
Shepard leaned her weight on her hands against the sink. "Kaiden…back on Virmire." She didn't have to say much more. Liara had been there. She went on anyways. "Seeing us now…..he might think his sacrifice was in vain…."
"You know Kaiden would never think that." Even with the galaxy falling apart in a seemingly never-ending war around them, Liara's assurance touched something inside Shepard. A small blossom of warmth, that started in her chest and moved outward.
Shepard gave a dry laugh. "Yeah….well… that's one more reason I miss him." She slid the metal door open, her tired eyes somewhat glad to settle on her lover's blue visage.
"Didn't you have something for me?"
Liara's eyes sparkled at her choice of wording, but her tone was all business. "The salarian councilor has an urgent matter."
Shepard crossed her arms, the daily level of irritability crashing back down on her. "Let me guess, he called the comm room."
Liara adopted a martial stance she had to have gotten from the military in her crew. Hands clasped behind her back, shoulders straight. And involuntarily putting her breasts on display. Even encased in her white and blue lab coat and top, Shepard had to blink. "The Council must be taking the Crucible seriously. I'll….see you downstairs."
Without thinking, Shepard reached out a hand. "Wait….please…." When she caught Liara's wrist and held her in place, the wide eyes of the asari met hers in bewilderment. Then Shepard was leaning in to kiss her and she could feel the smile on her lover's lips.
"Oh," was all Liara could say. Shepard found herself kissed back and she closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around her.
"Just a moment….please. That's all I want," Shepard murmured against her. Liara ran a hand up her back, stroking her through her shirt, and her other hand wound through the short hairs at the base of her neck. Shepard shivered.
"I….I wish we had more time, Shepard…" Liara whispered. Shepard parted from her lips and continued her stream of kisses across her face. "Downstairs…."
"Right…" But they remained in the cabin, leaning against her desk and kissing. It was warm and her arms felt too good to separate from too quickly.
Eventually, they did have to separate. Liara stepped back, spots in her cheeks flushed purple. Shepard squeezed her hand as Liara led her to the cabin door toward the elevator. As they waited for the lift to take them up to the CIC, Shepard leaned and stole another kiss.
No matter what happened, she had to be near Liara. They had to win the war. With a brighter note in her heart and her mind, Shepard exited the elevator, Liara trailing behind, stopping to chat with Specialist Traynor. Shepard flashed one last glance over her shoulder as she made her way to the door on the right and waited for the guard locks to register her biometric signature before allowing her movement forward.
For Liara….she'd do anything.
The end
End notes: Just a short drabble thing. Like it, please let me know and smash that review button.
Pen 2/24/2019
