James walked through the massive entrance of Afterlife. His palms sweaty the entire ride to the club. Wiping them on his pants he walked deeper into the entrance hall, the further he went the louder and less the mumbled the music became. Stepping through the last door the music hit him like a wave. He looked at the circular dance floor that was above the center bar. Multiple Asari dancers manipulating their bodies around the poles in rhythm to the music.

'All Asari…' None of the blue women were what he was looking for. Usually he would walk straight over to the bar and order, but tonight was different. His whole point in going there that night was to find her. He strolled around the circular bar, weaving between the patrons that staggered between the dance floor and the bar. Having to politely decline a few offers to dance he stopped finally, propping himself against the bar waiting to catch the bartenders attention. Waiting patiently he began to look across the crowds of people. Turian, Batarian, Asari, Krogan, and even an Elcor. All seemed to be enjoying the music. James nod his head to the beat. The batarian bartender came over to him.

" The usual I take it Vega?" James smiled.

"You know it Byrak. Nothing beats tequila and whiskey." Byrak began making the drinks and spoke.

" Heard about your little R rated fling that was happening on the dance floor the other night" James tensed up as Byrak continued making the drinks.

" Oh yea? Is there some kind of Afterlife paparazzi for the regulars?" Byrak laughed and slid James his drinks.

" Its only big news when someone gets with one of the girls that no one usually is able to get with. Shepard is one of the hardest to get anything going with besides a dance and conversation. She's got clients that ship in from neighboring mass relays and they don't get anything besides a smile and a dance." He wiped up some of the alcohol that he had spilled while making James his drinks. James raised an eyebrow.

" Your kidding right? She works here. Your telling me she never kiss and tells?" He took his shot, his face scrunching at the left over bite the tequila left on his taste buds. Byrak shook his head and let his body lean on the glass surface of the illuminated bar.

" No she doesn't. One of the first humans I've ever met that keeps her nose out of others people's damn business and doesn't put hers out to everyone either. She's one of the few women I can stand in this damn place." Byrak moved away to help another patron at the bar, leaving James to his thoughts. James knew he was smooth with the ladies but if Shepard was such a hardass what made her lose her cool over him? His ego inflated and he took his other shot, then grabbing his drink. He continued to stand at the bar, searching the crowd for the fiery red hair.

Minutes continued to tick by, and James had lost count on how many shots he had. He was beginning to wonder if Shepard had some sort of weird schedule. Well, no schedule was weird if you lived on Omega. The hallowed out asteroid was always busy. He looked to his left and his jaw dropped.

'Shepard!'

He finally got eyes on her. She was standing with a group of turians on the far end of the bar. There were three of them, and the way they swayed back and forth James knew they had been there for awhile. He narrowed his eyes as he watched Shepard traced the nearest Turian's crest. She slowly pulled her hand away and gave a smoldering smile. Her Omni-tool lit up, after looking down at it she looked back up to the group of men. James shifted, that should be him over there. He should be who Shepard was focusing on not the flock of birds that stood in front of her. His chest tightened as one of the turians stepped up and grabbed Shepard roughly, planting a clawed hand on her ass. James began to move, his legs moving on their own. Shepard began to fight against the Bird aliens invasive embrace, when he wouldn't give any slack she brought her fist upwards, crashing into the Turians lower jaw. James came in from the side and swept one of the others feet from beneath him, following him down he placed his knee on the aliens chest. Bringing his fist back he pummeled the downed turian. Before he knew it Aria's lackeys were around him and the other turian men, pulling them away from each other. Shepard took a step back and Aria's right hand man stepped up.

" What the fuck is going on her?" The batarian looked at Shepard and then back at James. His coppery skin darker in the flashing low lit lights of the club.

" I was with them at the bar and they got too close" Shepard spoke up and then looked towards James. Her breath heightened. Her blue eyes locked on to his earthy honey toned brown's. She didn't know if she still had adrenaline running through her from the thirty second fight that just happened or because James was in front of her. She looked at his arms, both biceps held back by two other bouncers. Heat began to pool in-between her thighs. She shook her head and looked over to the batarian. If she didn't say something to persuade him, they were going to make James look like someone took a meat grinder to his face.

" Bray the turian was told their would be no involuntary contact, when he made it, I politely remind him that he was not to touch. I tried to push but he continued his advance. James was trying to help me out, that's all."

James smirked. She remembered his name and who he was. That made him feel a little better and less like a stalker. Bray held his gaze on Shepard's a little longer, as if he was trying to see something. Shepard shifted uncomfortably under his gaze when he finally nodded towards his men.

" Get these turian asshole's out of here."

" Thank you Bray…" Shepard gave a small genuine smile. Bray scoffed and walked behind her motioning the other two that were holding James to follow. Letting go Of James roughly one picked up the unconscious turian from the floor, the giant krogan flipping him over his shoulder like he was nothing. Watching them walk away James began to straighten out his clothing and looked over to Shepard. One hand perched on her hip, she smiled.

" Thanks James, but I'm pretty sure I would have been able to handle those guys on my own." She turned back towards the bar motioning for Byrak to bring her a drink.

James Couldn't help but smile. The smile that spread across his face was so damn big it almost hurt. He put both his hands in the air on either side of him in a mock surrender.

" Whoa everybody watch out, we got a badass over here." James closed the distance between them and leaned against the bar next to her. The surface had a slight warmth to it. Shepard laughed and playfully punched James in the arm.

" Badass is right, I would've had it handled I promise you!" Shepard picked up the drink Bray brought over, taking a swig she pushed the other towards James. Looking up from the cup she inched towards James, she noticed the smile Bray was giving James. James returning the shit eating grin he dropped it cold when he saw that Shepard had caught it.

" What the hell is that bullshit about?" She raised an eyebrow and cocked her head in slight annoyance.

" Nada, Byrak is my usual bartender so we're cool." James took a drink of the strange blue liquor that was given to him.

" You better not roofie me asshole, I'll come to in the middle of your little perv-session and kick your ass too." She downed the rest of her drink. Slowly she realized she was beginning to get a headache. She needed a fix soon or her brain was going to end up feeling like it was going to explode. James almost spit his drink out, covering his mouth with his hand he began to bellow out in choked laughter. After a few moments he calmed down and leaned his elbow back onto the bar, facing Shepard.

" You got it all wrong, if I'm going to take you home I'm going to do it the right way. Drugs are a crutch for the weak and James Vega is not weak." He mock flexed his arms, his biceps lumping up into massive mounds of muscle on each arm.

Shepard flinched mentally. Of course he would think drugs were a crutch, she forgot the moment she laid eyes on James that night that he was part of Captain Gavorn's justice troop. He wouldn't view drugs as an escape. A getaway from reality when it was too much. The only thing that kept her breathing was her addiction. She needed it, and that need overwhelmed everything else and gave her purpose again. James began to notice the distant look in Shepard's eyes. Those beautiful blue orbs almost void of emotion. He cleared his throat and stood up straight. Shepard snapped back to reality.

'Don't fuck this up Shepard! Focus on the mission.' She smiled at him. His smile back was bigger than hers and a lot more genuine. He even had a dimple. She rolled her eyes and gave a more affectionate smile.

" Well since you came back just to see me should we get started?" She regained her posture and stepped back from the bar.

James raised an eyebrow and sized her up. He didn't remember her wearing thigh highs last time he had seen her, but he definitely was not complaining about it by any means. Her hair framed her face like red curtains, it canvassing not only her face but her breasts as well. His cheeks flushed. He propped his other elbow on the bar, the surface making a small support for the middle of his back. Trying to regain his cool, he chuckled.

" What makes you think I came back just for you? Maybe I came back for the drinks?"

Shepard took a step towards him, putting herself in-between his parted legs.

" Everyone on Omega knows the alcohol in Afterlife is the most overcharged, cheapest tasting shit around." She brought a hand up and began to play with the collar of James's shirt. The tips of her fingers slightly brushing against the skin at the base of his throat. It was warm and softer than it looked. James took a deep breath and pushed himself off of the bar, his body gently shifting against Shepard's. He looked down at her.

" Let's get it rollin' then mamacita."

Hearing James speak Spanish seemed to melt Shepard into a little puddle of sexual goop. The more they drank the heavier his Spanish accent became, making it increasingly hard for her not to imagine what it be like for her to ride the Spanish stallion. Listen to him whisper dirty things into her ears. Her body tingled and once again all her senses seemed to intensify. When James went to get drinks for them earlier she popped two. Two. She knew she was pushing it again but she handled it just as well she as she did the other day in her apartment. She felt the bass hits making what seemed every hair on her body vibrate. She felt it in her chest and….other places as well. James came back to their booth and set the drinks down and placed himself next to Shepard.

" Byrak made these for us free of charge, said he wanted to try something new out." He pointed to the two small shot glasses that sat in front of them next to their mixed drinks.

" Something new or did he slip something saucy into the mix to get this party really going?" Shepard slurred her words out, she bit her lip and winked at James. It may have been dark inside the club but she could almost guarantee she just embarrassed the hell out of James. He shifted uncomfortably for a second and grabbed the two shots placing one in front of Shepard. James brought his glass up placing it near Shepard's mouth motioning for her to do the same to him with hers. She smiled and grabbed the small glass in front of her and copied James. When she crossed her forearm with his her breath hitched and looked into his eyes. That huge grin she was given earlier played back out across his face. Bringing his glass up to Shepard's lips he began to tilt it so she could take the shot. Downing it in one gulp, Shepard puckered her lips and narrowed her eyes. Doing the same to James he downed his drink and pulled his arm away and covered his mouth.

"What the fuck! My mouth is on fire!" James wiped his mouth and took a large drink of the other liquids they had on the table.

"I didn't want to give it away! As soon as that shit was in my mouth it felt like my tongue was in the middle of a nuclear war." Shepard spoke as she placed her empty cup on the table. " That's the last time I ever get anything new from that batarian bastard." She looked over to the bar and flipped Byrak off as he watched the two laughing.

" If that's what only a drop of ryncol does then I definitely don't understand how krogans down that shit by the gallon." James shook his head.

" Fucking ryncol? James your fucking kidding me right? You brought us a drink knowing it had ryncol in it?" Shepard turned back towards James her eyebrows furrowed with anger. James blinked, confused with how upset she was suddenly.

" uh…yea didn't think it would be that bad." He placed his arm behind Shepard on the booth.

" James we're about to be completely trashed, and there's probably no way in hell we're going to be going anywhere that even has a trace of light tomorrow." Shepard stammered the last few words out. The ryncol was already kicking in. James leaned towards her his movements wobbly.

" It's worth it though, got to *hiccup* spend the time with a badass chica." His breath smelt like alcohol and spice. He leant back and continued staring at her. His facial features were soft like a boy but yet hardened like a mans with the scars of previous battles scattered across his it. Shepard focused on the one by his lip. She moved closer, halfway crawling into his lap she wrapped her arms around his neck. James's body tensed. The burn from the alcohol in his stomach turned down and it seemed as if his groin seemed to ignite with a sudden urge. Closing the distance Shepard leaned in a gently pressing her lips against his. His chin stubble grazing her. At first she thought she had fucked up, he didn't kiss back he just sat there. Pulling back she looked to the side and apologized.

"I'm sorry I just thought…you know…ah fuck-" James crushed his lips back against hers cutting her off.

His tongue pushed through her lips, teasing the tip of hers. His heart was thundering in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her as close to him as he could without hurting her. This is what he had been waiting for all night. The taste of her sweet, with heat from the drinks from earlier. Deepening the kiss their tongues fought for dominance. Shepard's brain was spiraling. The heat radiating from his body was indescribable. It seemed to seep into her body and she wanted more. She brought her hands up to the back of his head raking her nails through the short cropped hairs. James hands shifted from her waist down to her thighs massaging them gently, slowly creeping up to the creases that met at her hips. Shifting his head slightly James was able to deepen the kiss. His thoughts numbing and blank. The only thing he felt besides the lazy feeling the booze left in his brain was the need to consume Shepard anyway he could. Why did this woman affect him so much? He felt a constant pull towards her.

Breaking the kiss to catch their breath James quickly began to go back in for anything. He began to press his lips against her neck as Shepard took in deep gulps of air. Trying to regain some sort of straight train of thought. Her eyes half lidded barely made out a figure approaching her and James. Her blurred vision lacking focus and the heated kisses James was planting on her neck made it even harder. Suddenly the figure was beside them reaching for them, grasping James by the sleeve of his shirt. Everything was in slow motion. Opening her eyes all the way, Shepard tried to make out the figure again. Taller than her and darker than James. She looked back to James, he looked like he was arguing with the man. Between the music and the fog that was creeping into her brain she couldn't make out what was being said. Her body began to numb and what little she did make out became increasingly dark. She couldn't stay awake.

" I told you I would be fine!" James slurred out swatting Tito away with the arm he had tugged on.

" James its been 6 hours! Your beyond hammered puto!" Tito yanked on James again then stopped. He looked to the red head that was now slumped against James's chest.

" Mida look! Dios! How fucked up are you two?!" Tito stepped forward placing a finger beneath Shepard's chin lifting her head up. Her head was heavy and eyes were closed. Her ample lips slightly open. James looked down at the passed out woman in his lap, he quickly wrapped his arms around her gently shaking her.

" Shepard? Shepard!" He began to scoot to the edge of their booth, Tito moving a step back to give them room.

" Amigo just what the hell have you two been doing?" Grabbing Shepard from James's embrace, he gave the younger man a stern look when he began to fight off the help he was offering.

" James your drunk, I know you want to help her but how are you going to help her if you can barely manage to put one foot in front of the other?" Tito spat the words towards James like venom as the younger man shuffled his feet sloppily.

" Let's get out of here then we can talk more, either one of you need to be drinking anymore." Tito shifted Shepard's limp body in his arms for a better grip. James followed the older man towards the exit. Wobbly with his steps he kept his gaze aimed towards the floor, he felt like he was scolded like a six year old using a magnifying glass on an ant hill. Suddenly he felt as if someone's eyes were burning holes into his back. He lifted his head and sluggishly looked around.

" VEGA! Get your ass moving!" James shook his head and tried his best to quicken his pace to catch up with Tito without tripping over his own drunken feet.

James felt like an asshole.