Disclaimer: The Mass Effect realm doesn't belong to me. I'd've found myself a nice turian otherwise.

Taking Names

Part Two: Trust

The shuttle ride from Menae to the Normandy was a silent one as the soldiers inside watched the burning planet fall behind through the vid screen. It was a dire silence, but he welcomed it.

Victus was no expert on reading human expressions, but there were some things that translated well enough across species and he soon noticed that grief and hopelessness were sentiments easily recognizable. As was anger.

That was why, even though he had a heavy heart for the necessity of leaving his home behind – leave his men and the fighting behind – he could still appreciate the sincerity displayed by the humans' demeanor. Their sympathy was genuine and he knew that for, just a few days before, they, too, had to abandon their own planet.

'Survive today to fight tomorrow,' he thought and his eyes were curiously drawn to Vakarian, seated beside him, and he didn't fail to notice the look of pain on his face as he kept his gaze locked on Palaven. Garrus' mandibles were flat against his face and his subharmonics were thrumming unconsciously with uncertainty – such a weak sound that was almost hidden by the shuttle's thrusters. Looking at the way the young turian was bearing himself, Victus suddenly realized that up until now – in spite of his decision to let Garrus rejoin the Normandy – he was actually a little wary of his motives.

'Even if he actually feels something more toward Shepard, the decision of leaving with her clearly was made because he believes it to be the best for the present situation and not because of a whim,' he sighed just a little relieved and, at that thought, discretely turned his eyes to the human female seated across from him in the vehicle, and started when he met her trained eyes locked on him as if studying and gauging him.

"Commander, we're docking into the Normandy," the shuttle pilot announced and just like that the silent bubble enveloping them had suddenly popped, urging the passengers to move away from the weird stillness that'd temporarily held them captive. Yet, the commander's eyes remained still on her target a second longer – 'A very long second...' – before she'd gotten up from her seat.

"Copy that, Cortez." her head tilted in an almost inconspicuous nod when her eyes overlapped with Garrus' as she turned to the door and took her fingers to her ears, activating her sub dermal comm. "Joker, as soon as the Kodiak is secured on the bay, head to the Mass Relay and take us back to the Widow System."

...

When the door opened after the shuttle's decontamination process was concluded, Victus could feel the ship's increasing momentum as it initiated the travel's proceedings even before he stepped onto the hangar.

"Commander, we'll be engaging the Mass Relay in forty. ETA to the Citadel one hour and thirty-five minutes," the pilot's voice sounded through the ship's speakers. "Also, we received a priority message from Admiral Hackett. He's requested a prompt mission report as soon as we can connect to any comm. buoy..."

"Of course he has", she muttered. "How long till the nearest one?"

"We'll be within transmission range of the Trebia Relay in T-minus twenty-five minutes, Commander..." EDI helpfully informed.

"Thanks, EDI," she sighed, turning to the Primarch. "If the circumstances were different, I'd welcome you to the Normandy with a tour, but, as things stand, we'll have to leave pleasantries for later. Priorities, first..." she then looked to Garrus. "Can you help Primarch Victus settle in?" He nodded and she offered him a little appreciative smile, before focusing on Victus again. "We also need to arrange you a working station, give you clearance through our systems and set up a secure connection so that you won't be completely cut off from Palaven while you're here..." she continued and Victus was pleasantly surprised by her quick thinking and the immediate way she started planning adjustments to accommodate him. "I'll have our Comm. Specialist to meet you at the War Room and help you integrate with the systems. Second deck, just past where Mordin's Lab used to be..." she added keeping a steady stare on him and Victus almost jumped when he heard Garrus answer.

"Got it!" her eyes slowly shifted towards Garrus and Victus noticed how her whole face seemed to soften up and – do humans even do that? – glow.

"Now, if you excuse me. I have a report to put together..." she gazed at the Primarch again.

"Of course, Commander." Victus nodded mildly, watching her turn on her heels and leave the cargo hold. The elevator doors closed behind her with an unprecedented thought sneaking around and growing on his mind.

Vakarian's partiality to Shepard had been wildly whispered and spread between soldiers and officers ever since he first got in charge of the Reaper Task Force, but was mostly considered a one-sided kind of crush, for, as much as humans are different from turians, they're actually very similar to the asari and, therefore, being attracted to a human wouldn't be completely unconceivable. Now, the other way around...

"You'd like to see your quarters or rather head to the War Room first?" Garrus' question broke his line of thought and the Primarch allowed himself to spend a few seconds considering his choices – even though both men already knew what the answer would be – there were just too many pressing issues ahead of them.

"I'd rather have the comm. link to the Hierarchy patched in before meeting Sparatus on the Citadel," his answer came out unintentionally strained by the diplomatic weight of his new position. Garrus nodded once and turned away heading to the elevator with the ease and confidence of someone who's home. 'Which he probably is...' Victus followed and, while they were inside the lift, he couldn't help but comment: "The Commander must really trust you..."

Garrus' face showed an utterly surprised expression for just a moment, before he started grinning, his mandibles wide open. "Of course she does!"

A/N: Forth chapter posted. Just clarifying: I haven't found anything that indicated the Kodiak has a decon mechanism, but I was wondering how do they keep unknown organisms from infiltrating the ship after ground missions and that was about the best answer I could come up with that actually made any kind of sense. So there it is...

Again, thanks to everyone who commented and started following this story.

See ya,

Yoru.