"There's no way you're recruiting me to fight in a galactic war."
.
Shepard nodded, giving a heavy sigh. "Yeah, you've already said that a few times now..."
"And yet you insisted on me escorting you all the way back to the Normandy." Kasumi crossed her arms in front of her chest while her eyes gleamed from under her hood. "Do you think I'm that naive?"
Shepard's face lit up. "I think you're very smart, and that's exactly why we could use-"
"Shep, listen." The master thief sighed, holding up her hand to stop Shepard's poor flattery. "I really enjoyed having a couple of drinks at Purgatory while talking about old times and I didn't refuse when Aria asked me to make sure you reach your ship safely after attemting to climb onto a moving dance platform and almost breaking your neck in the process, but there's no way I'm letting you drag me along for another suicide mission."
"It's just Tuchanka! Besides, I hear the weather's lovely this time of year..."
"Not a chance."
. . .
"You're kidding."
Samantha sighed, tapping at her terminal half-heartedly while she shot a quick glance at the cockpit where Shepard had just exited the airlock and joined Joker. "I wish I was..."
"She actually did that? They made out in the CIC?" Diana's eyebrow rose in surprise and she turned towards the comm system just as Samantha's voice rang out again.
"Well, technically, my view was obscured, so it could have been a simple accident..."
"Traynor..."
"Or a kiss between friends. Friends do that from time to time, right?"
Smiling, Diana shook her head as she continued scrolling through the datapad in front of her, making a few adjustments here and there.
"Are you still there?" came Samantha's cautious voice after a short pause.
"Yeah, sure." Diana propped her chin in the palm of her hand while she studied her finished report. She sighed, rubbing at her tired eyes.
"Man, why couldn't I become a trashy gossip columnist like Al-Jilani... They're giving us gold here and I'm stuck writing about the war... Hey, is it true that the turian Primarch's son sacrificed himsel-"
Diana's voice stopped abruptly when Liara's forehead hit the terminal's keypad, a groan escaping the asari while she buried her face in her arms.
"Dr. T'Soni, is there-"
"Glyph, please create a list of all competent merchants on the Citadel and transfer it to my terminal. And set up a link to Barla Von on the Citadel, I need him to do something for me..."
"As you wish, Dr. T'Soni."
Liara's jaw clenched in determination. The gloves were finally off now...
. . .
"I am impressed by your continued existence, Shepard."
Scratching the nape of her neck, Shepard shot a quick, confused sideglance at EDI. "Erm... thank you...?"
"The probability of surviving as long as you have is low," the AI continued without interrupting her mobile platform's hands' movements on the controls in front of her.
"Right... I'll remember that the next time I leave for a mission..." Shepard's eyes narrowed before she leaned back over Joker's chair, gazing at the dark space outside as the Normandy steered away from the Citadel.
"Don't discourage her," Joker chastised his co-pilot without taking his eyes off the various ships flying to and from the space station, "We only have one Commander Shepard. Who's gonna face all those monstrosities when she's not around anymore?"
"Joker..." Shepard's eyebrow rose when the pilot's innocent eyes met hers.
"Yeeees?"
"Just focus on-"
Shepard's next words were drowned out by the sound of the elevator hissing open in the CIC and an enraged krogan storming out, followed by a quiet salarian.
"That's it, Shepard!" Wrex bellowed as he stormed towards the cockpit. "I swear, if this salarian cuts out one more piece of my... flesh, I'll carve out his eyeballs and wear them as a necklace!"
"Easy there, Wrex..." The commander raised both hands, which, surprisingly enough, seemed to soothe the krogan immediately. Wrex' shoulders visibly slumped down and he gave a heavy sigh as he leaned against the airlock's closed door, his narrowed eyes still following Mordin as he approached the small group gathered in the cockpit, a metallic object quickly disappearing in the salarian's pocket.
"Mordin?" Shepard crossed her arms in front of her chest, eyeing the salarian questioningly.
Mordin shrugged. "Simply need tissue samples, not my fault Wrex is so sensitive..."
"Sensitive?" the krogan yelled, throwing his arms up in exasperation. "I'll show you sensitive, you little-"
"Wrex, calm down."
Just like before, Shepard's calm tone caused the krogan to lean back against the door, shaking his head angrily. "You can cut off one of my arms if you need more tissue samples, but keep your damn scalpel off my... flesh..."
Biting her lower lip in an attempt not to grin when she noticed Wrex' fidgeting, Shepard turned back to Mordin, forcing a serious expression. "Mordin, is it truly necessary to constantly cut into Wrex'... 'flesh'? Don't you have enough samples already? I talked to Eve the other day and-"
"That's it!" Wrex interrupted her, pushing himself off the door and approaching Mordin with an accusing glare. "You just wanted to make me look weak in front of Eve, isn't that right, salarian?"
Mordin's dark eyes blinked a few times, his mouth remaining shut.
"Wait a minute!" Joker turned in his chair, a wide grin on his face, "You and Eve?" He gave a short laugh. "Wow, Mordin, didn't think you had it in you..."
"Eve seems to approve of my singi-"
"Stay away from my female, salarian!"
"Guys, keep an eye on the testosterone level in here, please..."
"Speaking of..." Joker had turned back to a blinking light on his controls and he started chuckling after a few commands. "Oh, you're gonna like this..." he announced before he hit a button and all heads turned to the door of the airlock as it opened.
A smile quickly replaced the confused expression on Shepard's face at the sight of a nervous Feron, clutching a bunch of flowers in his hands. The commander placed a hand to her chest and sighed. "Are these for me? Aw, but I haven't even saved the galaxy yet..."
Feron's eyes widened and he opened his mouth – but closed it again quickly when he noticed five curious pairs of eyes on him. Knowing how intimidating and confusing an enraged krogan and still quiet salarian doctor – not to mention a leering human with his synthetic co-pilot – could be to others, Shepard patted him on the shoulder and nodded towards the elevator. "Liara's in her office on the Crew Deck, just follow the beeping and endless sound of tapping."
"Th- thank you, Commander." The drell turned and hastily approached the elevator Shepard was pointing at.
"Go get her, tiger!" The human crossed her arms in front of her chest and smiled as she watched his retreating back, turning around when she heard Joker clear his throat behind her.
"I know it's none of my business but... are you just gonna let him visit your girl with a bunch of flowers?"
Mordin nodded eagerly. "Humans aren't the only species aware of the symbolic meaning of plants as a gift, not to mention the aphrodisiac powers triggered by certain floral scents..."
"Go get your woman, Shepard!" Wrex summed up all their advices as he roughly patted her on the shoulder.
Shepard's brows furrowed when she felt a sudden sting in her chest she'd already felt once before...
'So, you and Feron...'
Her eyes widened and she spun around on her heels. "Don't kill each other while I'm gone!" Accompanied by a few encouraging shouts – mostly Joker's wolf whistles – she sped towards the elevator, slipping into the cabin just before its doors could close completely.
"On second thought, I think I'll escort you to her," she announced to a confused Feron, still panting lightly from her race. "It's a big ship," she added, "Wouldn't want you to get lost..."
Feron nodded cautiously and then quickly averted his eyes just as the elevator started its ascent.
After a few more seconds to catch her breath, Shepard turned to the fidgeting drell to her right, a threatening gleam in her eyes.
"So, Feron... how's work?"
. . .
"Feron!" Liara exclaimed as she turned away from her terminal, a surprised expression on her face.
The drell entered her office, nervously searching his pockets until he found what he'd been looking for, and handed her a datapad. "I... I brought you my report..." he stammered, noticing the flowers he was still clutching with his free hand and quickly shoving them towards a startled Liara. "And these are for you."
Liara took the offered flowers, her cheeks darkening immediately as they looked at each other for a moment, both smiling shyly.
"I... Thank you." Liara swallowed once. Goddess, she wasn't used to situations like these... She had never had many admirers aside from Shepard... and the commander had never brought her flowers, now that she thought about it... Shepard! Her eyes shot to the door where said commander was leaning against the doorframe, observing them with watchful eyes.
Obviously embarassed, Liara cleared her throat and nodded at the commander. "Thank you, I... can take it from here."
Shepard's eyes narrowed in suspicion but she still pushed herself off the doorframe and left Liara's office without another word, the door hissing shut behind her.
Was it just her or did the door to Liara's office close even faster than usual? Shepard turned around and was satisfied to see that at least the lock on it was still green. She could get back in there at any time... And who knew? Maybe there suddenly might be something that needed Liara's immediate attention, something she'd have to show her- Stop it!
Grabbing a random liquor bottle and a glass from the kitchen in the empty Mess Hall, Shepard sat down on the chair with the best view on the still closed door and poured herself a drink, leaning back with the glass in her hand. Taking a first, slow sip, she settled her eyes on the door to Liara's office. There wasn't anything else to do at the time anyway, so she could make herself comfortable here while she waited for the drell to leave Liara's office again... and she'd be damned if she'd miss any suspicious wrinkles on his clothes...
Feron... Shepard's eyes narrowed again as she downed the drink in her hand with one large gulp, refilling her glass without taking her eyes off the door. She didn't even care about the liquor she spilled in the process...
Don't think I don't see what you're doing there, buddy... At first you're just the good, reliable friend, the shoulder to cry on, but as soon as you see your chance, BAM! you go in for the kill...
Another glass was emptied, another pool of liquor formed on the table.
You spend a lot of time with her, make her trust you first until you start with a few, well-placed compliments. Nothing to make her uncomfortable, but enough to make her smile at you, to make her feel special...
Again, the empty glass hit the table, remaining there only for a second before it was lifted once more, leaving a new rim at its place on the table.
You use your geeky superpowers to impress her with all your knowledge because hey, she's an archeologist turned information broker, so she must like science and all the useless information you've gathered over the years... Make her forget all about that lame soldier-girlfriend she has, who doesn't even know how to erase her own extranet-search...
Shepard refilled her glass, not caring about the lightening bottle in her hand, and downed it again, sighing heavily as she propped her chin in the palm of her hand, her tired eyes still on the closed door.
She trusted Liara, sure, but the thought that she and the drell had spent an awful lot of time alone on a deserted ship no one except the Normandy crew even knew where to find had always bugged the commander... It had made her wonder what had happened on this ship whenever she hadn't been around to coincidentally check all the terminals Liara had set up for her – finding excuses to do so every other week.
What scared her the most though was the thought that, should Liara choose the safety Feron offered her over the uncertain future she'd have with Shepard – which was exactly what would expect them both – there was nothing she could do about it, nothing to change that simple fact or give Liara any guarantees that they'd make it out of this alive, no matter how much Shepard wished she could... The truth of the matter was: Liara would be better off with Feron...
Another sigh escaped her as she held the bottle over her glass once more and paused when she didn't hear the familiar sound of liquor filling the glass. Forcing her eyes off the (still closed) door, she looked down at the now empty bottle in her hand. Huh, she hadn't even realized she'd emptied it already... Must have been halfway emptied already, she concluded.
Sighing, she got up from her chair and walked over to the small kitchen to put the glass and the empty bottle away. She'd have to find something else to pass the time and she couldn't afford passing out at the table – which would probably happen if she kept on drinking... Her eyes wandered around the hall in thought. Distracting Garrus from his calibrations was out of the question, he was too far away from Liara's office... Visiting Dr. Chakwas normally involved needles (and she really didn't like those...) or more Serrice Ice Brandy (which she, sadly, really didn't need right now)...
She started walking back to the table, a cloth in her hand as she set to cleaning the liquor she'd spilled beforehand. Once she was finished with that, she shot a quick glance over her shoulder just to groan a second later while she walked back to the kitchen. Still no sign of Feron... She threw the cloth into the kitchen sink and turned back around, starting to aimlessly wander around the mess hall.
Just as she was about to start rearranging all the tables and chairs out of boredom, she heard the familiar hissing sound behind her. She immediately spun around and saw Liara standing in the doorway to her office, smiling at Feron who stuttered his goodbyes. Liara's eyes wandered past the still nervous drell and settled on Shepard who quickly turned away, activating her omni-tool and tapping a few random commands to give the impression of being busy.
Soon after, Feron walked past the commander and turned the corner to summon the elevator.
"Have a nice day..." Shepard raised her head and followed him with her narrowed eyes – just to make sure he was actually leaving – until he was out of sight. She tensed briefly when she felt arms snake around her waist only seconds later, but relaxed when Liara pressed herself against her back.
"Have you waited out here the entire time?" Liara murmured, amusement audible in her voice.
Shepard shrugged her shoulders. "Ah, you know... I had this... thing to do..."
Liara peeked over her shoulder, glancing at the still activated omni-tool. "Skeifjnsdfk," she read and nodded in feigned seriousness. "Sounds like a very important mission report..."
"Yeah, I... erm, I wasn't finished yet... and it's top secret and... encrypted..." Shepard cleared her throat and quickly shut down her omni-tool before she turned in Liara's arms.
Liara smiled, raising a playful eyebrow. "Is that jealousy I see there on your face, Commander?" And without waiting for Shepard's response – which would have been an open mouth without any words to come out anyway – she added, "My, I didn't think the great Commander Shepard could get jealous of a simple Shadow Broker agent..."
"A Shadow Broker agent bringing flowers to his boss," Shepard grumbled.
Liara shrugged, clasping her hands on Shepard's back as she pulled her even closer. "You have never brought me flowers..." She slightly tilted her head to the side, an amused smile playing around her lips as she added, "Why's that?"
Shepard shrugged. "I just never figured you for a flower girl... Had I known, I would have mowed the entire Citadel Commons for you," she quickly added and Liara had no doubt she was speaking the truth. After all, if the great Commander Shepard wanted something, she usually got it – as many flustered waitresses frantically searching the extranet for a thing called "vanilla coke" could confirm...
"Well, you have nothing to fear from Feron. After all, you did leave quite an impression on him during your elevator ride... I don't think he'll ever show up on this ship again..."
"He better not! You know, I think I've been too nice to him when I first met him... Should have asked him a few more questions while he was strapped to that torture chair..."
"Shepard!" Liara slapped Shepard's arm, feigning shock. Her expression softened quickly however and she gently cupped Shepard's cheek when she noticed the serious gleam in the other's eyes. "Feron is important to me, but there is nothing to be concerned about."
"You know he's the safer choice, right?"
Liara's brows furrowed for a second as she contemplated Shepard's words before a warm smile spread across her face. "You safe me every day, Shepard. I couldn't feel more safe or protected or cared for than when I'm with you. And Feron is simply..." She gave a sad sigh. "He reminds me of the time you were gone, the time I've been forced to..." Liara averted her eyes, biting her lower lip. "There were things I've done while I was working as an information broker I'm not proud of... Feron... he helped me get back some of my old self while we worked alongside on the Shadow Broker ship when you were out there saving the galaxy and I'll always be grateful for that..."
"Don't worry." Shepard tightened their embrace, placing a soft kiss on Liara's forehead. "I'm back to make all those future renegade decisions for you again. You don't have to be the person you were back on Illium."
A second passed before a mischievous smile started tugging at Liara's lips and she raised her head, challenging, "I'm not going to go back to the shy archeologist persona you met three years ago on Therum if that's what you're hoping, Commander..."
Shepard shrugged. "Or we can both be badasses from now on, I don't mind. Actually, you were kinda sexy threatening that contact on Illium..."
Trying to hide her smile, Liara sighed heavily and, while nodding, patted Shepard's arm lightly. "I know."
She shot another glance at the woman holding her, a content smile on her lips. She hadn't known about Shepard's insecurities, but it seemed the time had come to finally take a stand in this regard...
I hope the first bit wasn't too confusing... Anyway, one more listened-in conversation between Traynor and Allers as well as Traynor still in denial, especially for you, Gemini1179... :)
Thanks a lot everyone else for reviewing, etc. and a special thank you to all silent/anonymous readers (if there are any), I love you too... :)
Next up: Liara's project... aww...
On another note: I've recently discovered some kind of music-shuffle-thingie I've started during my absence from , hoping it would help me finish all those unfinished stories (which it didn't), but since they're too short and unimportant to create a new story or even chapter for them, I'll just randomly add them to the end of some of the future chapters for no apparent reason...
I should warn you though, most of the time they've got nothing to do with the song itself, its lyrics, etc. Mostly they're just ideas that came to my mind while listening to the songs and please don't ask me why or how... :) Anyway, they're not in any way important for the story, it's up for debate if they even could happen during this story, but I just didn't know where else to put them, so that's why they're here...
"Jump On It" Tonto
.
"You sure you don't want to join?" Shepard shot Liara a gleeful smile, her red hair flying around her head like fire.
The asari vigorously shook her head, her eyes wide in shock.
"Come on, it's fun!" James chimed in, smiling from ear to ear.
Liara's eyebrow rose in disbelief. "Absolutely not!"
Shepard shrugged. "Suit yourself."
A scream could be heard behind the small group and the commander turned her head to James, her eyes gleaming. They both grinned at each other before nodding in silent understanding. Careful not to slip on the slimy content covering the floor, the two stepped off the remains of a battered husk and charged at the next unsuspecting creature unaware of its fate.
James lunged forward and his fist collided with the creature's head, sending it flying backwards. With a scream that could only be described as primal, both humans rushed to the still struggling husk lying on the floor and jumped, starting their feral display of, as Shepard had called it 'creative enemy-decimation', once again.
Becoming aware of the feeling of nausea starting to take over her body, Liara covered her mouth with her hand and turned away, heading out of the cave where she hungrily inhaled the fresh air, stopping only when she couldn't hear the awful sounds behind her anymore, forcing a smile to Cortez as she crawled back into the shuttle waiting to pick them up again.
The pilot shot her a concerned look. "Are you all right, Dr. T'Soni?"
The asari nodded, closing her eyes and resting her head on the wall behind her. "Just fine."
"Where's the rest of the squad?"
Liara swallowed hard, still keeping her eyes shut. "It still might take a while, I'm afraid..."
