AN: Well, how about that, another chapter after like what, two days? I just figured I should keep this story rolling since I have a lot left to post. I forgot to give a warning to Jacob-lovers before the last chapter that I would be hating on him severely. So for this time: beware, Miranda-lovers, for I do not like her and her ridiculous outfits!
Chapter Two: Attraction
Commander Shepard watched in awe as Thane nimbly leapt over the crate they had been previously using as cover, dodged fire from Eclipse mercs, and swiftly lodged several bullets into their skulls at an extremely close range, all within seconds. It was their first mission together, and Shepard was ashamed to admit that she'd been staring at her newest team member with an odd mixture of respect and… well, she wasn't entirely sure what the other component was, but she knew it was inappropriate.
"To your left, Shepard," barked Miranda, jolting her out of her musings and back into her position as commander.
Way to go, Kar, she berated herself as she gunned down her attackers. It wouldn't be the first time you've daydreamed during battle, a small, sad part of her thought. But she pushed away those thoughts with more gunfire. Besides, she couldn't help herself―the man was amazing in battle; that was an obvious fact. It was strictly professional admiration, nothing more.
At least, that's what she was telling herself. Right up until the moment when she found herself pinned underneath him, his muscular body pressed enticingly against her own.
"My apologies, Shepard," Thane breathed, his delightfully rasping voice tickling her ear. "You were standing directly in the path of a rocket launcher."
Karina just nodded wordlessly, hoping that her face would not remain this red permanently.
A small "ahem" came from Miranda. "Shall we move on, then? I wasn't aware it was naptime."
Bitch, Shepard thought darkly as Thane's weight lifted off her. She privately reconsidered if the condescending Cerberus agent was worth all this trouble. It's for her long-lost sister, you jerk, reminded her conscience, and her fury subsided slightly.
The assassin offered his hand to assist her and she took it gratefully. "Sorry you had to save my ass," she grinned sheepishly.
A small smile crossed his face, one of the first she'd seen on him. "It was no trouble at all, Shepard." He continued through the now clear area and Shepard was amazed at his ability to act like they had not just been in an altogether too intimate position.
Probably because his mind isn't swimming around in the gutter, her mind chastised herself for the third time in a row.
Miranda glanced at Shepard's shocked expression and chuckled. "I'm sorry, perhaps I was interrupting playtime," she grinned mockingly.
Unbeknownst to most people, there is a small part of Shepard that occasionally flares up when she is provoked and offers deliciously devious options, such as telling someone to kiss her ass or pushing someone against a wall with a pistol to get information. At the moment, this aggressive alter ego imagined what it would be like to punch the stuck-up bitch in her perfect face. Then the real Shepard reemerged from the rage and told herself to calm down.
But she did allow herself to dole out one stinging remark: "I don't know why I'm bothering to hunt down another Lawson girl when one perfect little princess is bad enough."
Yes, this chapter is a bit short. The next one's pretty long though. And hilarious! It's one of my favorites, really. Many thanks to my reviewers, you guys really know how to make a returning author feel welcomed! :)