Instant Attraction.

By S.S.I

A/N: Sorry this took me so long to write. I hope it was worth the wait. This story is dedicated to all them peeps that have liked some Spicy JalapeƱo in your life but didn't get the happy ending.

Disclaimer: I don't own Mass Effect but if I did there would have been multiple times for Shepard to have their way with Vega.


Steve watched Edi with a wary eye. When she behaved that way, tilted her head, looked human. It was mildly disturbing to him. He was used to working with machines but some times when she caught him off guard all he thought was how unnatural she was. He scolded himself mentally.

At one point in time, he would have been the unnatural one. His sexuality would have been unnerving and disgusting to some people. The idea of a robot, with a nice bod, would have been more appealing than a gay man. He thought of this as he shook his head. Then he put a smile on for her. "Edi." He nodded, greeting her, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I asked if you had a moment to speak with me, Lieutenant Cortez."

"Uh, yeah, sure." He nodded again and gestured to his work station.

"I'm in the middle of something. So if you don't mind?"

He said this as he cracked open the cleaning kit.

"No, of course not. What I have to say will only take a moment."

"What did you need to say?" He asked as he resumed his task.

"This is about the Commander."

Steve momentarily paused before continuing his task.

"What about the Commander?"

A very apparent tell for Edi to read.

She knew Shepard must have spoken to him.

"From your pause, you know what I am here to speak about."

Steve paused, placing the cleaning fluid and rag on the work station. He placed his hands on the edge of his work bench and hunched over the station. Sighing heavily, he shook his head before looking to Edi. His expression was torn between anger and annoyance. Then he stood up normally before looking to the AI, fully facing her.

" Edi," He began, " Whatever happens between the Commander... Shepard... and Vega is none of any of our-yours, mine and anyone else's- business except her and his." He made a slashing gesture with his arm as she opened her mouth to speak. " I don't want to hear what you are planning Edi, Shepard deserves to work things out her own way." These words seemed to strike her. Steve crossed his arms, waiting for her calculated reply.

" I am... at a loss." She finally spoke. The tilt of her head, a quirk that she seemed to have picked up somewhere, told him she had not thought about this happening. " Nevertheless, " She began as she looked to him, " Shepard deserves happiness." She spread her arms wide and he quirked a brow as he watched her. It was odd for him to watch, needless to say.

" She gave you peace and me, happiness. Someone who, by most standards, does not have the right. So you tell me, do you believe your and my Commander, Shepard, deserves happiness as well?" Steve was taken-aback by Edi. Sighing once more, he rubbed his face with his hands. He dropped his hands to his sides before looking to her again.

" What do you need me to do?"


James stood in the airlock with Ashley. His eyes were half lit as he looked at the bomb shell. She was beautiful for sure, a nice body and a great personality, but she wasn't the woman he truly wanted. If Shepard hadn't been a woman, Ashley would be the woman he wanted so badly right now. He knew this as he looked to her face as she turned to face him.

Her lips were quirked in a knowing smirk, batting her long lashes and cocking her hip to the side. It was a second, a heart beat, before she closed the distance between them. Her full lips touched his, her hands on his chest. He was frozen for a second and it was a second too long for Ashley. She pulled away as she touched the side of his face.

Her thumb traced the scar on his lower lip and chin. " Kore is a lucky woman to have you." She whispered as she smiled. Vega blushed as she pulled away just as the decontamination process finished. " But, if that doesn't work out for you two, you know where to find me." She said with a sultry wink as she turned on her heel. The swing of her hips would have made any man weak.

In that moment, he was not and he knew he would never be swayed by her again. He stepped out of the airlock and looked around the CIC and the cockpit. It was like that moment so long ago. When he first met Joker and first stood on the Normandy. He smiled to himself as he took a deep breath.

He knew Ashley would always be who she was. Beautiful, loyal, pro-alliance. She was unchanging and that was fine and good. Shepard was these things too but she knew what needed to be done. She was what made the wind change direction.

She was change personified.

That's what he needed. That's what the galaxy needed. They needed hope and love and dreams. They needed to raise arms together, alien and human alike, and kick the Reapers back into the black. Shepard was the woman they needed and she was what he needed too.

All that time months ago, they entrusted her to him but to him it seemed like it was the other way around. If it wasn't for her, he would still be on Omega or even Earth. Dead or worse. He cringed, not wanting to think about that. Looking to the cockpit, he seen the familiar pilots chair and the man sitting in it.

" Joker, Amigo, how are you doing?" Vega said with a charming grin. Said pilot turned in his chair to look at Vega. James' grin disappeared, replaced by a frown. " What's wrong." James only thinking the worst as the pilot hesitated.

The pilot took off his cap and ran a hand through his unruly hair. " Look man, I ain't gonna lie, but seriously..." He trailed off and Vega stood as straight as a board worried as hell. " Man, what's going on, is everything alright?" James asked, worry in his voice. Joker shook his head as he looked into his lap. He played with his cap before he looked up to Vega.

"Seriously man, you need to get your shit together." The pilot finished before he put his cap back on. Vega relaxed, exhaling a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Jesus Joker," He hissed, relief in his voice, "what the hell are you talking about?"

" What the fuck are you doing man?!" Joker hissed as he threw his arm in the air. " Whatever happened between you and Shepard the other night made Edi go on a rampage." He held up a hand to stop James from speaking, " Not on an angry rampage but one to make sure you and Shepard have the happy ending scenario, get what I mean?" James blushed as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I don't know what happened but you need to do something about it before Edi does." Joker finished as he crossed his arms. James held his hands up in surrender. "Fine," He breathed, the flush still on his cheeks, "I'll handle it bro, relax. That woman has you all worked up." Joker narrowed his eyes as he looked to James. "This is Edi and Shepard we are talking about here."

Joker had a point, James knew this. Edi would never stop until she got what she wanted. Even if it embarrassed the parties involved in the situation. Some of the social interaction's would always be lost on her, he thought. Then he seen the face Joker was still making at him.

"I know, I know." He said, "Shepard went out, so there isn't anything I can do about it right now." Joker opened his mouth to protest and this time James was the one to shush him. "I'll handle the situation as soon as the right time presents itself." Joker relaxed a little as he watched James nod to himself. James, seeming satisfied, turned his back to the pilot and retreated to the shuttle bay.

"Well, don't wait until the end of the galaxy to say something, you pussy." Joker shouted across the CIC.


"Good, Steven," Steve frowned, "I'm great you came around." Edi finished with a smile. He felt like he was going to regret the interaction between them now.

Edi was happy that Steve had agreed to help her.

"It is simple, Lieutenant."

He frowned at the tone of voice she used.

"How simple?"

He quirked his brow.

"Tell him what you know."

He choked as he watched her leave.

He took a couple steps after her.

"No, no, nonono, Shepard would kill me."

"Or she might thank you."

Steve was silent as he watched her continue her journey to the elevator.

"Consider my words, Lieutenant ."

Steve turned his back on her as he stomped back to his station. Betraying Shepard's trust would be like a criminal offense. She might kill him out right. He thought this as he imagined one of the guns on his table aimed at him and shooting him. He shivered as he picked up the pistol. The small thing opened automatically to him.

He looked at it, turning it side to side before he sighed and disassembled it. He picked up the rag, already wet with the cleaning fluid, and wiped down the parts. He was so consumed with his thoughts that he didn't hear the elevator door open or close. Didn't hear the loud foot falls of the built man coming towards him. The slap on the shoulder almost made him jump out of his skin.

" Esteban, whatcha doin' there buddy?" James said as he slapped his friend on the back. Steve looked over his shoulder, looking at the smiling James, and frowned. James' eye brows rose before he pulled his hands away from Steve. " Dude, what crawled up your ass and died?" James asked as he backed away and then walked around the work bench.

" Why are you workin' on Shep's guns?" James asked as he leaned against the lockers further away from Steve. Again, Steve looked over at James and frowned. " Come on, amigo, throw my a bone." James groaned and Steve looked back at Shepard's guns. Reassembling the pistol, Steve placed it on the work bench. He scanned it with his omni, to make sure the tech and calibrations were correct, before moving onto her shotgun.

James groaned again and Steve ignored him as he continued his task. " So, I noticed Edi was down here." James tried again, " What did she want." Steve disassembled the shotgun and nearly slammed all the pieces on the station. " I don't know Vega, I don't know why she was down here and I don't know why Shepard asked me do this." Steve grunted as he returned to his task.

James looked at Steve with a surprised look on his face before he disappeared into his area of the shuttle bay. Steve sighed in relief as he worked on the shotgun. Steve was at war with himself, he knew Edi was right but knew the things Shepard told him were her business to speak about. Would she ever, though? He knew he well enough to know what she would bottle it up inside for the good of the galaxy and the good of her crew.

It was hard to understand and balance the information he held. Edi gave him information about Vega and Shepard's exchange. Shepard gave him all the details that she would allow him to have. He's seen the exchanges between James and Shepard in the shuttle bay. Seen the way James acted after she left.

He thought this as he finished cleaning and reassembling the shotgun then scanning it as he did the pistol. Then like he did before he hunched over the work bench debating whether or not he would say anything to James. " Cortez." Steve looked up at James, noticing James had return. The hulking man stood next to the work bench and he too hunched over it. " There isn't a mission on the board, what aren't you telling me?" James said, seriously.

" I don't know why she wanted her gear prepped..." He started before standing up straight. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he placed a hand on his hip. " I do know why Edi was down here, though." James nodded and pushed away from the work bench as well. " So, that was what Joker was talking about." James said and Steve quirked a brow.

" She intends to get me and Lola together..." James said as he rubbed the back of his neck. Steve's brows shot up into his hairline. There was a moment of silence between the two of them before Steve over came his shock. " Are you gonna stop her, then?" Steve asked as he crossed his arms, watching James' expression all the while.

James dropped his arm to his side as he looked away from Steve. " I don't know..." He said, looking unsure. " I don't know if what we do," he gestured with his hands, " the flirting, if it means anything, you know?" Steve almost laughed at Vega. The man looked so lost in that moment, like a kicked puppy, Steve almost felt sorry for him.

Then he remembered the same expression on Shepard's face. Both of them are so gone, it's not even funny, Steve thought as he unfolded his arms. " Look, Vega," James slowly looked to him, embarrassment written on his face, " Shepard, as complicated as she can be, isn't complicated in this matter." Steve clapped a hand on the bigger man's shoulder. " Just talk to her."

The bigger man pulled away as he nodded. He took a breath before giving Steve a reassuring smile then disappeared back to his side of the shuttle bay. Steve went back to cleaning Shepard's selected armour. He checked to see if the armour pieces and suit were damaged in anyway before doing some minor repairs.

By the time he finished his task, Shepard had returned. " Shepard." Steve greeted her and she nodded with a tight lipped smile. " Everything in order?" She asked, Steve nodded. " Good, prep a shuttle." Steve quirked a brow but the look on her face made him cringe and flee from her impending wrath.

James came around the corner, noticing Shepard unbuttoning her fatigues. " What's going on, Commander?" She paused and looked up at him sharply. The quick inhale of breath didn't go unnoticed by James but he chose to ignore it. " Commander?" He said, waiting for her to speak.

" It's a solo mission, " She said as she continued, " I need to strengthen our forces, this is the only way." She finished. He narrowed his eyes as he waited for her to continue. She didn't, merely continued under dressing. Shocked by her lack of modesty, he turned his back to her. It was only him, Steve and her in the shuttle bay so there wasn't anyone else to watch her.

He leaned on the side of the lockers as he looked over his work station. Then noticed his jacket, the same one that he gave to her the other night, he wondered if she brought it by earlier. " What's the mission." He asked, she didn't respond, instead she closed her locker. He could hear the echo of her foots steps away from her. " Come on, Shepard, talk to me."

He heard her sigh and he heard the zip of her suit. He turned to look at her and she was fully suited up in the skin tight material. " I'm going to take back Omega." He nearly choked as Shepard continued to put the rest of her armour on. " What!" He shouted.

He came up to Shepard and grabbed her arm, forcing her to look at him. " Are you kidding me, why aren't you taking me with you!" She looked up at him and he remembered the way she looked at him the first time they met. Wary, coy and dangerous. In that moment, he wanted to kiss her as he thought this as his eyes flicked to her lips. She looked away as she pulled herself from his grasp.

There was a tense moment between them. He could see the faint blush on her scowling face before she wore her blank expression. She took a deep breath before she looked at him again. " I'll be fine, Aria asked me for this. I've done business with her before..." She trailed off, " She's good on keeping her word."

James was not reassured by that but he knew Aria too. He knew Shepard had to play by her rules or else there was no deal. James also knew that Omega right now was a strong fortress under Cerberus' control. If Shepard could take out that fortress, that would take out a major supply. Making Cerberus less of a problem for them.

He groaned and rubbed his face. He knew what she had to do and she was making sense but his whole being was unsettled by this mission. " Damnit." He said before he looked to her, " Did you tell Joker or Hackett what you are up to?" She looked at him with a quirked brow before nodding slowly. Then he walked up to her again and placed both hands on her shoulders.

"I'm one call away, if you need me. You know that... Kore..."


A/N: There is this Chapter, let me know how I'm doing. c:

Read.

Review.

Love,

S.S.I

FIN