"Be careful, Commander. You keep feeding me like this and I'll follow you home..."
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A/N: Missed me? :) I'll just leave the chapter at that, too tired to change it... By the way: you're right, Leene, I sometimes do rush myself with the updates but that's mainly 'cause I've got most of the story written down already and there are a lot of parts I'd love for you to read immediately... Heh, too bad I can't let that happen while the rest of the chapter's not finished yet, right? But that's what sneak peeks are for...
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"Where are you going?" Miranda propped herself up on her elbows as she watched Shepard who was collecting her clothes scattered around the room.
"We are going to have breakfast together," Shepard announced while picking up her boots.
Miranda snorted but didn't make any attempts to leave the bed. "Shepard, in case you hadn't noticed but there's a war going on out there and Cerberus is still on the loose. This is hardly the time to-"
"And people still need to eat, believe it or not..." Shepard interrupted her while throwing Miranda's jumpsuit on the bed. After one last sigh (just to make sure Shepard understood how utterly absurd that idea was...), Miranda finally crawled out of the bed and picked up her outfit, always accompanied by Shepard's grin.
"I still don't see why we should stay in a place as public as this any longer than absolutely necessary. There could be Cerberus assassins everywhere around us and we wouldn't know it until it was too late." Miranda started rubbing her temples again while Shepard, who was sitting across from her, was studying Apollo's cafe's menu.
Without raising her eyes, Shepard gestured around them. "Don't worry, Liara's positioned right over there, overlooking the scene, I could call Joker for help if I yelled loud enough and Garrus should be positioned on one of those roofs up there with his sniper rifle ready."
Miranda, slightly irritated, leaned back in her chair, an eyebrow raised. "He's not really on a rooftop with his sniper rifle, is he?" Ugh, I don't even want to think about which inappropriate body part he'd be zooming in on right now...
Shepard finally put the menu back on the table, a smile on her face. "No, not really..." she admitted. And before Miranda could open her mouth, she added, "But he could be, if I'd call him. If that would make you feel safer..."
Letting out another sigh, Miranda rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling as Shepard reached over the table and took her hands in hers.
"Listen, I know you've got work to do and I'll make sure it won't take too long, but is it wrong for me to want to spend as much time with you as possible? Who knows when we'll get the chance to do that again..."
"You're right, I-"
"Surprised this place can still get supplies for a menu like this."
Both Miranda's and Shepard's head shot up as Kaidan pulled over a chair from a nearby table and sat down at theirs.
"Erm, Kaidan... I didn't know you were here... I believe you haven't met my-"
"I'm glad we're taking the time to do this. I could use a sanity check." Kaidan's eyes drifted off as he observed some passing skycars before he sighed and turned back to Shepard, whose mouth hung open in surprise at the sudden intrusion. "You know, my life flashed in front of my eyes on Mars – and there weren't enough moments like this, with people I care about."
Miranda's grip on Shepard's hand momentarily tightened before she quickly pulled her hand back, her eyes suspiciously shooting from a puppy-eyed Kaidan to a squirming Shepard.
"Maybe we should order, what do you think? Do you want something to drink, Miranda?" Shepard offered with an apologetic smile.
"If you're trying to butter me up, it might take a nice steak sandwich, too." Kaidan gave a short, nervous laugh while placing a hand on Shepard's arm, which she hurriedly pulled back, before he continued, "And to drink... Shot of whiskey and a good old Canadian lager. Think they have it?"
Miranda's grip on the table tightened while her eyes narrowed, still locked on Shepard who perplexedly started to brush her hand over her forehead. But before she could come up with a good answer (or signal Matriarch Aethyta to throw Kaidan off the balcony with her biotics just to end this uncomfortable situation), he happily continued, "At my parent's place in Vancouver, heh, drank more than a few beer on their balcony looking over English Bay." And without being asked, he added, "Yeah, beautiful view..." His eyes were on Shepard at that as he dreamily smiled at his commander.
Before the conversation could become even more awkward, Miranda shot up from her seat and announced "There's a lot to do, Shepard. Maybe another time..." before she turned on her heels and stormed away, accompanied by Kaidan's whisper. "Who was she?"
"I'm afraid there's nothing more I can do for you, Ms. Lawson."
"I understand..." Miranda weighed the received datapad in her hand, hoping it would hold more information about her sister's whereabouts than the apologizing look on her contact's face implied.
After her interrupted breakfast in the Presidium Commons, she'd decided to skip it altogether and instead had set up a meeting with one of her last contacts on the Citadel before she would have to spread out the search for her sister to more distant locations.
She nodded once and left her salarian contact, heading back to the elevator of the Holding Area before she stopped dead in her tracks, almost dropping the datapad. There, to her left, almost hidden by all those containers surrounding them, were two familiar figures...
Bloody Chambers! Didn't waste any time meeting her behind my back I see... Aaaand she's all over Shepard again, why am I not surprised? Does this woman have no self-control at all? Don't you think that's long enough for a simple hug? And don't you even dare letting your hands wander any lower... Ugh, why do I always have to see all of this? But... since I'm already here...
Slowly approaching a nearby container, her eyes fixated on the two figures in front of her, Miranda only noticed the batarian lying on the floor nearby when it was already too late...
"Ey, watch where you're goin', missy!" the batarian yelled and accusingly pointed at his arm, now jammed under Miranda's heel.
She immediately recoiled and, after a quick look around, confirming that almost everyone around them had turned their heads in her direction, decided that it might be best to leave before Shepard or Kelly decided to join the spectators already scattering around them. And so, after an annoyed sigh, Miranda angrily shoved past a startled turian and stormed away, accompanied by the batarian's loud vociferation. "Did you see that? She attacked me out of nowhere! That's right, run away and hide, that's all you humans can do! Damn racists!" And noticing the increase of the curious audience now surrounding him, he started sobbing. "Oh god, my arm... I think it's broken! Oh god, the pain! I did nothing to her... Nothing! And she just... oh, my arm, oh god... the pain's unbearable!"
A couple of days later, Miranda was shoving her way through a crowded street on an (obviously) overpopulated planet. She'd known that being on the run wouldn't be as glamorous as it sounded, but having to meet her contacts on one shady location after the other did nothing to lighten up her mood.
So far, the search for her sister had turned up nothing of importance and her assumption that her father had something to do with Oriana's disappearance seemed to become more likely with every passing day...
"Commander, it's no secret that Council space has suffered some serious losses to the Reapers lately. Now Cerberus has struck directly at the seat of our government. If something as small as a human terrorist organization can hit the Citadel, is anywhere safe?"
"Cerberus has limited resources."
Miranda's head shot up at the familiar voice. She stopped her pace and turned to face the news terminal fully, deciding that her contact could wait a little longer...
Wait, is that Shepard's fish tank? Is she being interviewed in her private cabin?
"This coup attempt was likely the best they could do. And it cost them a lot of money and troops."
God, those eyes...
"A little fear is understandable, but it can't paralyze you. They've failed as many times as they've succeeded."
"But humanity has lost its councilor. The Alliance Parliament is destroyed, and the prime minister's dead. The line of succession is getting pretty short. How long do you expect any new Alliance administration to last?"
Shepard, where are your eyes going...? Did she... did she just look that reporter up and down? Is she flirting with her? Damn it, why don't they show the reporter's face?
"Leaders will rise. You can't lose hope. Our enemies won't rest until they've taken the last human being. Until then, we're not beaten. Right now, it's everyone's duty to step up."
She's actually using a paragon answer... She never does that! At least not in public... Ugh, is she just acting nice to impress that reporter?
"All right. Now a question from Thessia: 'Commander, during your tribunal, some said you had Cerberus ties...'"
Ha! Serves you right...
"Shepard. I saw your interview with Diana Allers!"
"It's nice to see you too, Miranda..."
Miranda's holographic image crossed its arms over its chest, observing the commander without another word before Shepard nervously started rubbing the nape of her neck.
"Did I say anything wrong?" she asked cautiously.
"I'm pretty sure you found exactly the right words to impress her..."
A smile spread across Shepards face then. "Wait, are you jealous? Again?"
Still, more likely... "This isn't funny, Shepard! She was in your cabin!"
"She asked me to call her up to my cabin for the interview..."
"And you didn't think that was strange? That maybe she just needed an excuse to visit you in private?"
"I wouldn't call that private... She still had her camera with her..."
"And I'm sure you could make a lot of extra credits releasing that video on the extranet..."
Shepard's smile didn't vanish as she ran a hand through her hair. "This may come as a shock for you, Miranda, but not every person I meet immediately wants to sleep with me... And even if they did, which in Diana's case may or may not be true, that doesn't mean I'd just give in... Hm, I actually suspect the Normandy to have something to do with that phenomenon... Maybe it's something in the air ventilation system... Huh, I should ask EDI about that... Or maybe it's just my mysterious aura..." she added with a wink.
"I'm sure Kelly couldn't resist your mysterious aura when you secretly met her in the Holding Area," Miranda mumbled, not in the slightest convinced by Shepard's speech.
"What does Kelly have to do with... You know what? Nevermind... So, what's next? Are you going to forbid me taking EDI on missions from now on just because her new outfit slightly resembles yours?"
"Which outfit?"
Shepard bit her lower lip, deciding that she would inform Miranda about EDI's newly acquired body another time, and hastily continued, "Speaking of Kelly... I did run into her recently and guess what? She took care of my fish while I was gone because, according to her, no one was going to take care of them, so she saved them..."
Now it was Miranda's turn to bite her lower lip. Her fish, of course... Didn't she have a space hamster too? Hm, maybe it's time to change the subject...
"I heard about the attempted coup." At least one thing that bloody interview was good for...
Shepard leaned against the railing in front of her, obviously as grateful for the changed subject as Miranda herself.
"Yeah. With Kai Leng's help, Udina nearly seized control," she answered regretfully.
"Kai Leng? That slippery bastard's still alive?" I swear, if I find even one little scratch on Shepard, I'll rip your bloody heart out with my bare hands, you bastard!
"He's alive and right in the middle of all this." Shepard took a step backwards, lowering her gaze at the memory of Kai Leng's encounter with Thane not long ago.
"That complicates things. I'll be on my guard."
Miranda sighed, sensing Shepard's unspoken offer to help with whatever problem she had. Am I doing the right thing? God, it used to be so easy before... Just relying on Shepard whenever there had been a problem... Knowing I didn't have to do things on my own anymore... But I can't drag her into this. Not with this war going on... "I better get going," she stated, averting her eyes.
"Be careful," Shepard implied once again while leaning forward on the railing.
"I can't promise that, Shepard. Could you?"
It almost broke Miranda's heart to see the look on Shepard's face as the commander answered. "No, I couldn't."
"It's going to be alright, Shepard. I'll be fine. I'm still superior in many ways, remember?" A cautious smile started tugging at Miranda's lips, knowing how easily Shepard's grim thoughts could be put aside by her teasing words. For a short time at least, but it should be long enough for her to muster the will to cut the connection...
Shepard's face immediately lit up at her words and Miranda, content with the result, turned to end the transmission. Just as her finger touched the panel and her holographic image started to disappear, she caught one last glimpse of Shepard's gleaming eyes as the commander grinningly added, "Oh, and Miranda... thanks for the warning. Now I know what you meant with your hints about Samantha..."
Miranda's head shot back up. "Wait, what? What happened? What do you mean? Shepard?" But the connection was already cut.
Damn it, how dare she? Miranda thought while she hammered at the control panel, trying to set up a new connection but receiving no response from Shepard's end...
A/N: First of all: Kaidan... STFU! (I apologize to all those Kaidan-lovers out there, I just couldn't resist... :) )
Oh and if you watch that first interview again (on youtube or while playing the game) you'll see that Shep's eyes actually wander a bit during that part, I didn't make that up!
Sneak peek... erm, let's see... which part...
"Chambers?" Or Kaidan...
"As you already know, and let me just add: you could have just come over and talked to us instead of hiding in the shadows like some creepy stalker... Anyway, I met her in the Holding Area. We hugged, we talked, she promised to send me back my fish and that's it."
"What kind of hug?" came Miranda's muffled voice from Shepard's neck where she'd nestled her head.
"Hm, let me think about it... I'd say it was a Hey-it's-good-to-see-you-again-let's-stay-friends-because-of-all-this-end-of-the-world-scenario-around-us-hug..."
Shepard felt Miranda smile against her neck before she went to the next name on her mental list, "Allers?" Or Kaidan...
"Might have been interested but I let her down gently..."
Miranda scoffed. "I'm sure you did... Was it before or after the second interview in your private cabin?"
"Is this a bad time to mention that, in fact, a lot of my crew members visit me in my cabin when they want to talk in private?"
"Like Traynor?" Or Kaidan...
"For example... Heh, she admired my shower..."
Miranda's head shot up, almost colliding with Shepard's chin.