Mass Effect

Shepard Shuffle

* * *
Disclaimer; I do not own Mass Effect, or its characters.
Author's Note; I always liked the idea of Shepard teaching Joker the Shuffle. This takes place in ME1.
P.S. Please review; each review, no matter what is said, is special to me in its own way.
* * *

Shepard Shuffle

"And this, my good friend, is the Shepard Shuffle."

The Commander swung his arms close to his body, timing his steps to the motion.

"So... You named a dance after yourself?"

A short, sharp nod was his answer.

"Now, why exactly are you showing me this?"

Shepard halted mid-step, raising an eyebrow.

"You need to learn to dance sometime," was the answer.

Joker felt himself laughing. "You can't be serious, John."

"I am serious."

"So you enjoy the sound of cracking shin bones?"

Shepard's response was slow. "No… I don't."

Joker shook his head. "Then why do you need me dancing?"

The Commander's hands lowered, then swung down by his sides.

It took a moment for a wry smile to cross the man's lips before he spoke. "Joker… How else are you going to pick up ladies?"

"I don't plan on 'picking up ladies,' but if I wanted to, I'm sure the whole 'brittle bones' would work on someone."

Shepard's shoulders sank. "I don't want to go to the Flux alone."

"Then take Kaidan," he retorted.

"Migraine," John answered in a low voice.

"Garrus."

"Calibrating the guns."

He rolled his eyes. "Then take your-"

Crap. Once again, Joker's mouth had spoken before his thoughts could catch up to him.

"My girlfriend? Is that what you were going to say?"

Instead of answering, the pilot stood.

"Is it? Seriously, Joker, if you remember, she's dead. On Virmire."

He shuffled past the Commander, eyes downcast.

"Wait- Joker…? Where are you going?"

He gave a longsuffering sigh. "With all due respect, Commander, I'm going to the Flux."

"Hang on a moment."

He turned back- Shepard was grinning wildly.

The man brought his hands close to his chest before lightly shifting his weight from foot-to-foot.

"This, Joker, is the gentle Shepard Shuffle."

The pilot sighed; it was going to be a long night.