A/N: ok, this popped into my head and I couldn't focus on my other story until I hammered it out. Just so you know, I do think that my Shepard has a bit of a feminine side. I know her hair is long because I made her wear a bun (which just doesn't work with hair that isn't longer than shoulder length—I've tried). I may add to it later, but I just felt the need for my Shep to display her girly side a bit. I love the contrast of this bad-ass marine being equally comfortable in silk and heels as in her armor. Who says she can't be both?
Of Laserguns and Lipstick
Mira Shepard had always had a slightly girly side. She didn't let it out often. Hell, she hadn't let it out since she died (It was Miranda's fault. Who'd want to compete with Little Miss Perfect?). But she still felt it, sometimes anyway, begging to be set free, if only for a little while. Her mother always taught her and her sister both that it's important to be properly groomed. Now, while she was always impeccable in her appearance, it didn't always satisfy her need to feel pretty. And sometimes, she just wanted to feel like she was just that.
She had concluded her business on the Citadel, and despite the Council's warning to stick to the Terminus systems, she took it upon herself to take a little break. It was only for a few hours, but she needed some downtime, a bit to get her head put back together—especially after Horizon. She knew that it was important for them to keep in the fight, but truth be told, the entire crew could use a little R&R.
Besides, she thought, sometimes, a girl just needs to put on her best heels and go out for a night. And all her heels were stowed away on the Citadel.
Had this been a few years back, and had she been back on Arcturus, she would probably have grabbed a couple of girlfriends or acquaintances. But tonight, she wanted just for herself, a little bit of anonymity for once. Besides, if Miranda found out, she didn't know if she would live it down. And the last thing she needed was Little Miss Perfect's attitude.
She was surprised to find that her small storage unit remained intact, since she was declared KIA. Fortunately, with the reinstatement of her Spectre status, she did have access to a small bedroom off in Spectre headquarters. After her things had been delivered, she proceeded to sort through them. It wasn't much: a few trinkets from home in a box and a couple of suitcases for a shore leave that never happened. She dug through the suitcases and smiled as she pulled a dark green dress and black strappy heels. Running her fingers over the soft fabric, she sighed.
Never did get to wear this for Kaidan, though I doubt it would have been on for long.
She set the clothing aside and stepped into the bathroom. After a quick shower and removal of her usual dark and severe Commander Shepard make-up, she slipped into the ensemble, relishing the feel of the silky fabric against her skin. She let her hair down so that it caressed her shoulders and hung freely down between her shoulder blades. It fell in crimson waves, but it also fell in her face. She rummaged around in the box and found an old hair clip. It was her grandmother's, a delicate mother-of-pearl antique, that she used to pin back a few of the offending tresses. She accented her face in natural tones designed to bring out her jade green eyes rather than the dark brown and black that she used to obscure them. She polished off the look and smiled to herself. She chuckled.
I look so much like Mom, she thought.
Slipping on her shoes, she stepped out the door and headed to the local club.
All I wanted was to have a couple of drinks and to feel pretty for once. Is that too much to ask? She thought as the fifth drunken lunatic of the hour hit on her. She sighed as she swirled her very colorful drink in the glass.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.
She downed the rest of the fruity concoction, settled her bill and turned for the door when she met familiar old eyes.
All of a sudden, she was fifteen again, flirting with the newly enlisted men while her parents were on rotation off station and she was trying to stay under the bouncer's radar. She ducked her head and tried to hurry to the door without being too conspicuous. She felt his eyes on her the entire time until the door slid closed behind her.
Yeah, definitely a bad idea, she thought as she hurried through the Ward and back to the Normandy, forgetting that she changed in her small room on the Citadel.