Chapter 9

Full of Surprises

Cerberus was in shambles thanks to Shepard taking down the Illusive Man's base, his assassin, the Illusive Man himself and tons of his goons. It was still an ideal that wouldn't be destroyed easily, possibly never would be fully, but for now the terrorist organization was having trouble trying to get their feet under them.

The husked out Cerberus officers were dead as far as Kasumi knew. They didn't survive the Crucible with all the Reaper tech implanted or were killed back on their main base when Shepard decided to clean house and get the Prothean V.I. That didn't mean everyone was dead, though. There were still a plentiful amount of operatives like Petrovsky who didn't have that kind of tech implanted in them.

For these remaining members, trying to figure out current leadership and how to regain the structure they once had was now the issue. It was a classic disorganized frenzy where you had those who believed they were entitled to leadership breaking off from the main group in an attempt to reform the "real" Cerberus. Then you had those who believed it was time to change Cerberus from the ground up according to how they believed it should have worked.

All of the infighting really caused more confusion than they already had and by doing so they made for far easier targets. Until the remaining officers found structure they wouldn't be able to cause any real damage. And if Ghost's side comments were anything to go by then he's been personally making sure they don't get any control of their spiraling ship on the Citadel.

The purple eyed leader had given his crew shore leave after meeting with Hackett. Ghost believed they deserved a break but knew to keep Cerberus on defense they had to stay on offense. For that reason he took it upon himself to execute missions from the Admiral to keep Cerberus on the ropes. His crew hadn't taken this entire time off, they had been helping repair their ship or helping their leader keep Cerberus under their boot.

The current four members with him only made up half of his squad. With their leader included their ground squad was ten strong plus their miscellaneous crew members who helped to keep the ship running. The other five members of his ground squad consisted of a Turian pilot named Carson, two humans, a male and female named Brad and Whitney, a Drell medic named Grissom—and judging on the jokes he had once been an assassin—and finally another Asari by the name of Valera. She was Tara's sister and the other pilot but no one dared to call her co-pilot out of fear of reprisal.

Even though Carson and Valera were the pilots that didn't mean they couldn't fight as Ghost explained to Shepard and Kasumi. Both of them were fierce fighters in the field and had watched his back just as well as the rest of his crew. It wasn't that the women doubted him. They were just so used to having a pilot with brittle bones that it took a few seconds to sink in.

Brad and Whitney were the crew's resident hotheads. Even after serving with them for years Ghost wasn't sure exactly what their deal was, but he told the couple that his two crew members were constantly at ends with one another. Brawling was a common thing to find the two doing, but once they were out in the field they took that energy and put it against their enemies.

As for Grissom, he was a polite person and their medic but didn't take people harming innocents or his friends lightly. Kar had explained what happened rather simply, "He'll kill you." The Drell held those he cared for close to his heart and harming them was like signing your own death warrant.

Shepard and Kasumi had yet to meet any of them. All of their new knowledge came from hearing about them from Ghost once they had agreed to the mission. He had contacted them to take position outside of the casino and blend in until he gave word to move. The five of them were going to, as Ghost put it, "grab and drag" the operatives the squad inside the casino marked for them.

The Cerberus operatives in this casino had some sort of plan going and had managed to create a foothold secretly, well until now that was. Kasumi was unsure if they were part of the "real" Cerberus group or those trying to rebuild the organization to how they believed it should have worked but in the end it really didn't matter. Today the N7 Talons, Kasumi and Shepard were going to take them down. Hopefully if their group had more going than this casino they would spill the information to the Alliance before they gave Ghost and his squad sanction to pry the information from them "the fun way" according to Gallick.

Kasumi doubted it would be much fun for the Cerberus agents.

The last thing a human-centric terrorist organization agent wanted was to be stuck in a room with a Batarian, a Krogan, and a Turian who would likely be given full sanction by their human leader to do what they pleased. She doubted the torture would really work. They may give information up but it was unlikely that it would be fully accurate. Even if Cerberus was in shambles, they were all trained to resist torture. Only smarter agents, like Petrovsky, knew when to fold and take a sentencing. Cooperation with the Alliance meant they would be protected from their former cohorts and have the easy three meals a day and a free bed life. Cooperation with Ghost and his squad meant you were allowed to continue to live with your body intact and you would eventually be taken to an Alliance prison.

That threat alone probably wouldn't be enough and the threat of his men torturing probably wouldn't be either. For all the bad Cerberus was, the thief couldn't deny their stubbornness to not stop while they were ahead. She was sure their initial plan would be to use the cyanide capsule or the ocular flashbang, but once they were captured by Ghost they would find that option taken away.

From there it would be figuring out how to get the information. It was probable that Ghost would know that torture and threats of allowing his men full sanction without really caring if they killed them or not as a way to get them to talk wouldn't work. He would probably hope that self-preservation would win out or the promise that they would get a cozy cell instead of a broken body would cause them to give up information, but she knew him well. Ghost had plans for when those hopes failed.

Kasumi was no interrogator or a master of making people give up important information. It was a rough job that you either had the personality for or not. She wasn't someone who could play bad cop or one who could inflict torture knowing it probably wouldn't work. She could kill when she had to, but torture was way too far.

As for when they captured these agents, the thief held no doubt they would talk. No matter how stubborn they were, there was no matching the patience and stubbornness Ghost had. Once that man was given a mission to get something like accurate Intel there was no way he would not provide. The purple eyed leader knew how to get people to talk with or without actually threatening to torture or torturing them. Kasumi knew he could play a vicious bad cop but she knew he could also play a superb good cop. He became your best buddy in the entire galaxy. The moment he slithered his way into your mind, you were done for.

Alas, the thief was getting a bit ahead of herself. They had yet to capture anyone so thinking about what was probably an inevitable outcome was pointless. First they had to go through with the job before anyone was faced with Ghost and his skills to get information.

What made it an inevitable outcome was the plan Ghost had come up with. It was a rather simple plan but it was still a plan that would make the Cerberus agents look like a bunch of amateurs instead of trained killers. He gave Shepard a set of contacts to wear that were programmed to scan faces and send him information about each one in turn giving him every detail he would need to pinpoint who was Cerberus and who was not.

Tara, Kar, Gallick, and Darian were spread out through the casino blending in as best as they could, each waiting for the word to plant a tracker on the Cerberus agents all the while placing hacking programs on anything that made credits from Quasar to Varren racing. They had yet to come up with a plan to get the leader of the group, but for now they were focusing on getting trackers on the ones they could find. This was a more immediate goal that way his other squad members could track them if they left during the job. If they did leave they were in for a nasty surprise from the remaining five members of his squad who were now waiting for them outside of the casino.

Ghost didn't say what kind of surprise it was, he just gave an amused smile and told both women that they would be "grabbed and dragged." The more detailed explanation of exactly how they would do said grab and drag were left for their imagination. Both women let it slide. He mostly remained cryptic because he found it funny to watch others furrow their brows in confusion so there was no hope of getting more information out of him.

At the moment Kasumi was behind Shepard with her arms wrapped around her waist as she rested her head on the redheads shoulder. She was taking in the moment and all her senses, imprinting everything from the feel of the redhead's skin and dress under her hands to the delicious smell of her thick red hair and taste of her lips.

It was amazing spending this time with her in such a normal state. They were still taking part in the mission, but Ghost had yet to give them the word to start searching for people. A little normalcy after everything that had happened continued to be some of the best kind of recovery possible.

Normal was truly the best revenge against the Reapers and Cerberus possible. Both were two evils who had caused chaos, pain and fear on everyone in the galaxy, yet here Commander Shepard stood perfectly content as she played a game of Quasar with no fear or stress. It added insult to injury that she survived and was happy, and it was an insult Kasumi was happy to continue to supply.

The Quasar machine began to ring and send off bright lights bringing Kasumi from her thoughts to the glowing twenty in front of the redhead. She kissed her bare shoulder as the woman gave a joyful laugh at her good luck. Calling her laugh lovely was an injustice to the harmonious sound. The laugh sounded like a harp being strummed in a melodic pattern, the sound of which flowed through her ears and into her heart to strum her own heart chords, making her heart flutter pleasantly.

Shepard had a strange brand of luck when it came to the game getting twenties for a while followed by a few eighteens and nineteen's before hitting twenties again. She had hit a few twenty ones which curbed people from thinking she was cheating, but overall she had scored a lot of credits without stealing them.

The lights of the machine began to flash as the victorious ringing sound penetrated their ears when she hit another twenty. Shepard turned her head to the thief with a smile on her face. Her smile was beautiful as always, it was something she looked forward to seeing every day now. There was just something about it that made her want to do everything in her power to make the redhead smile at every moment she could. "You must be my lucky charm," she said.

The thief gave her a kiss on the cheek as she smiled herself. "Maybe I am. Does that mean you're going to start rubbing my belly for good luck?"

She laughed again making the flutters in Kasumi's chest start again. "I was thinking more of kissing you for good luck but if it's rubbing your belly I'll do it." Her smile turned playful. "Or I'll go a bit further south for both ideas. Might be luckier."

Warmth began to rise up the thief's neck and suddenly it felt like someone had put a heater in her hood. Her imagination got off its chain and images that were distracting, yet still enjoyable, played through her mind. Shepard's bare body on top of her own as they kissed was one. Another was the redhead kissing her way down her body before she capped off the thoughts.

This was really not the place or the time to be having these thoughts. It would only fuel the urge to drag Shepard out of the casino by force leaving Ghost and his guys to do the job on their own. "Might be. Better not misplace me then," she teased, trying recover from all the thoughts that bombarded her.

"How could I misplace someone so precious to me?" The redhead leveled her with a loving stare as she brought her hand to the thief's cheek, cupping it and bringing their faces closer to one another. "I love you Kasumi Goto."

The look in Shepard's eyes made Kasumi's heart beat faster than it already was; her words made her knees nearly collapse out from under her. She knew that the N7 loved her but the way she said it and the way her eyes bore into her soul to fill her with all the love she felt for her, it made her heart swell to drastic proportions.

"I lov—"

"Sorry to interrupt ladies but this mission officially is a go," Ghost interrupted her.

Talk about a moment killer. Kasumi groaned inwardly. She had finally been about to say the words and Ghost interrupted. I know he's just trying to get us through this mission so we can enjoy ourselves. The thief groaned inwardly again, but damn it he could have given us a few more seconds before interrupting.

He was in his mission mode though. He was here to help them, but with the mission to get these Cerberus agents ready to go he wasn't going to waste any precious moments. Waiting could mean missing a mark and then they'd have to go searching around the Citadel for someone who would become aware that they were coming.

Shepard smiled lovingly to her knowing she was about to say the words and really mean them. Even with the interruption the words had meaning to them in her eyes. It was the first time she had ever said the words aloud. Kasumi knew she loved her Shep now, but she hadn't verbally told her yet. She had planned to tell her during this date and mission when the words would mean more than a simple statement. It had almost worked out but she felt if she flat out said it now it wouldn't mean as much as it would have.

The words I love you had been used too much and in the wrong circumstances through history that simply saying them no longer expressed the true feeling in her heart. She also believed love wasn't something that was said, it was something you showed. If you were in a relationship where you only said the words but did little else to show that you truly meant them then you weren't in love.

Despite the interruption and Kasumi not finishing her declaration, Shepard still gave her a passionate kiss. Instead of speaking the words, the thief poured her love for the redhead into the kiss. It was the least she could right now. She would find a better moment to say the words when they would express exactly how strong the feelings in her heart were just as Shepard had.

The mission was going to be interesting yet Kasumi couldn't wait to get back to the apartment. She wanted to be able to taste her lips longer, she wanted to strip her out of the dress right now and show her precisely how much she loved her. Unfortunately getting kicked out for making love at the Quasar machine wasn't a good idea.

"So you just want me to look at people?" Shepard questioned once they parted.

"Yup. I thought you would want the easy job being all dainty and stuff," he answered.

There was a chuckle from his Turian second-in-command. "Ghost, even in a dress I'm pretty sure Shepard would kick your ass."

"I'll let him slide. Don't want to embarrass him in front of you all."

Kar barked out a laugh in response to Shepard's retort while Gallick chuckled softly before speaking. "You'll have to do a lot more than kick his ass to embarrass him in front of us. You should see the way Tara and Valera toss him around for the jokes he makes."

"It's how I show my love," Tara joked.

"Yeah, I definitely feel the love," Ghost replied sarcastically. "Anyway, make sure you scan the areas slowly that way I can get a good read on everyone. Also if you can't see their faces you'll have to re-position. According to the old man, there are five guys excluding the leader in this place. Once we find our marks I'll call in one of my guys, we mark them with a tracer and once we finish with that I'll figure out how we get to the leader."

It sounded simple enough. Shepard began scanning the area around them slowly as she intertwined her fingers with Kasumi's and guided her away from the Quasar to a better vantage point. "And we're live," Ghost said to himself. "Hmm. Not Cerberus but definitely a bad guy. I'll have to come back for you later you little shit," he commented while they walked towards the waterfall.

"Stay focused Ghost," Kasumi scolded. He could bring in all the bad guys he wanted after they were done with Cerberus.

"Yeah yeah, you two can't say much anyways."

"Says the Pyjak who loses focus by staring at his little blue Asari," Kar said with amusement in his tone.

Silence followed making the rest of Ghost's squad and Kasumi and Shepard chuckle to themselves at the purple eyed leader's silence. "That…isn't inaccurate."

"No need to be jealous Kar. I love you as well," Tara said.

"I know you do, just not as much as you love Ghost. I understand, though. I won't stand in the way of true love, but it breaks one of my hearts that I can't give you little blue babies," the Krogan joked.

"Here we go again," Darian groaned, feigning irritation.

"Oh Kar, you'll always be my forbidden love," the Asari responded, her tone sounding almost serious except for the little laughs escaping her.

Kasumi and Shepard stifled their laughs trying not to burst into laughter in the middle of the casino like two lunatics. "I'm connected into this comm too you know?" Ghost reminded.

"You know I love you."

The redhead and the thief stopped at the waterfall as Ghost let out a sigh of defeat knowing he wouldn't win in this banter. Now it was time for their first real search. Shepard tugged Kasumi into her so they were chest to chest. "Kiss at my neck," the N7 whispered.

"On your order, Commander," Kasumi teased. She had no objections to this plan now. She leaned forward to bury her face into the woman's neck. While she surely could have just acted like she was, the thief couldn't help but wonder where the fun in that would be.

Kasumi nibbled down on the redhead's neck getting a surprised gasp from the woman who hadn't been prepared for the love bite. She then released her teeth and began to suck on the area trailing her tongue across the N7's luscious skin and her own bite mark as she did. "Let's see…not you…definitely not you with that Elcor mistress you have. Unless you have some weird fantasy…hmm. Nope you just liked Blasto banging Bubin's sister."

"Wait, that human has an Elcor mistress?" Shepard questioned surprised at the notion and humored by it. That would certainly be a strange occurrence but stranger things had happened.

"Yup. Seems someone has a little Elcor fetish, even has a mating totem. Oh wait stop." Shepard paused as best as she could with Kasumi starting her biting and sucking process on her shoulder. She couldn't help it, for now this was as close as she could get to doing anything and it helped to tease the N7 who couldn't do anything back.

"There's our mark. Tara, that one is yours."

"Aye aye, Love," the Asari responded seriously but still managing a playful tone.

A disgusted noise came from Gallick on the comm. "Don't start flirting over the comm again. I barely kept my lunch down the last time you two did it during our undercover Omega mission." An evil laugh made its way out of Tara which only served to make the Batarian groan in disappointment. The sound of him slamming his head into the bar counter resounded through the comm. "Ughhhh. Why didn't I let Carson talk me out of this? Damn Turian told me the mission would turn out this way."

"Yeah but if you didn't come then who would keep me company? Am I just too much Krogan for you to handle Gallick?" Kar egged on the Batarian.

"Ugh. Kiara another drink please. Make it a double actually."

Kasumi giggled into Shepard's shoulder listening to the banter of Ghost's squad. It was how they all sounded with one another during missions or when they were hanging out at the apartment in recent times. Throwing jokes and reminding one another of previous missions where they had bickered or when they had tag teamed Shepard with their banter making their commander, like Ghost, sigh in defeat while keeping a smile on her face. All of it was in good fun and she had to bet Gallick was probably smiling to himself even if he sounded like the moment had scarred him. He seemed to be a very serious person but with Ghost and the others he lost that seriousness and threw jokes around just like the rest of them.

The bartender he called on, Kiara, was a human who worked up at the bar where Gallick was "keeping watch". She also happened to be an insider in C-Sec. Much like Liara's father, she received the post for the sake of the mission and to keep a close eye on the goings of the casino. She had enough Intel to help them figure out areas where the agents could likely be found in and probably had some way to get to the leader. For now she was feeding them the information on the regular agents while feeding Gallick more drinks.

Being a friend of Ghost's also meant that now that they had a mission to take down the agents it was time to get her the hell out before Cerberus caught onto her. Ghost didn't leave his friends in a lion's den carelessly and he wouldn't leave them behind. He was diving in head first to make sure she got out safely.

Kasumi kissed her way up the N7's neck until she met the woman's lips with her own. She sucked in the woman's bottom lip taking it as her own and persuading the redhead to kiss her back with a small nibble when she didn't kiss her back right away. The thief wasn't going to let her become too focused on the mission, after all this was meant to be a fun date. "He's marked," Tara stated.

Shepard smiled after the bite and captured the thief's lips with her own the moment she released. "Good work. He showing up on your radar, Carson?" Ghost asked.

"I've got him Captain. Four left."

"All right. Shepard, head to the roulette— and you two are kissing again."

"Mmhmm," Kasumi responded mid kiss.

The purple eyed leader let out a sigh. "Right. When you two finish head to the roulette. Next guy should be there."

Both women reluctantly parted from one another knowing for the sake of Ghost and his crew that they shouldn't delay too much. They were there for a mission and to get home while Kasumi and Shepard were there for fun. Still, both women understood wanting to finish the mission to go home, especially right now.

Things were going smoothly so far and with luck it would continue that way. Granted they had only found one guy so far and knowing Ghost's usual brand of luck they were bound for some kind of trouble somewhere down the line.

With luck we'll finish without any type of problems. With more luck I'll get to kiss Shep more as a way to look like she isn't searching around. Each kiss felt like breathing in air after having no air to breathe. It reminded you how desperate you were for that oxygen once it was taken away or why you couldn't live without it.

Shepard guided Kasumi in front of her once they reached the roulette and wrapped her arms around her waist, taking up the same position she had at the Quasar machine just reversed. "Well my lucky charm, let's see what we can win," the redhead whispered into her ear.

"Might want to rub my belly," the thief whispered back.

Roulette had never really been her specialty, then again she had never really gambled that much. She preferred her own way of getting credits instead of just placing credits down and hoping for the best. The N7 let out a light laugh before actually rubbing her belly while letting the very tips of her fingers trail past her waist briefly as she kissed her cheek.

Feeling lucky already, Kasumi placed two chips on double zero and one on a red fifteen. The roulette spun going through the assortment of numbers as she felt Shepard's head pivoting slowly on her shoulder. Hopefully they would find these guys soon. They didn't need a shootout in the casino or have them use their cyanide capsules or ocular flashbangs. That would really kill the great mood everyone was in.

The roulette rolled to a stop on double zero but then moved and landed on red fifteen.

Well, at least it wasn't a complete bust.

She felt Shepard's lips press against her cheek. The N7's lips were curled in a smile though Kasumi wasn't sure if it was for her slightly good fortune or because she was happy to be spending time like this. They were on a mission but their part in the mission allowed them to be with one another like they weren't. Kasumi found herself smiling as she leaned forward to place her chips down again. The peaceful music in the background mixed with being held by Shepard made her feel like she was in a nirvana.

A shiver ran down the thief's spine on more than one occasion so far just by being held back to chest with Shepard. The way her fingers rested on her lower abdomen and glided a little bit further down now and then, teasing her for all the times she had done it herself at the Quasar station, made her knees quiver under her.

Her special plans for after the casino couldn't come soon enough.

"Uh-oh," Ghost's concerned voice came over the comm.

Kasumi watched the roulette spin hoping for a two which she put two chips on. "That doesn't sound good," Darian said, the concern in his voice rising substantially. If Ghost ever held concern in his voice or said "uh-oh" there was bound to be a problem.

I knew there would be a hiccup. I wonder how bad this one will be or how many more are left.

"Yeah, uh, you know that reporter Al-Jilani? She's kinda here and I think she sees you Shepard."

The roulette came up with a three which wasn't one of Kasumi's numbers like it knew the bad news they heard and just couldn't help but add on to it. "Crap," both women said in unison. Not only was a reporter coming their way but she missed both her numbers.

Talk about unlucky.

"I'll head her off. Hopefully she'll stay quiet and leave." Ghost suddenly appeared next to the Varren racing and cut off the reporter who had been making a B line towards them but thankfully had yet to shout any name. "Listen, I know you probably want some story and want to talk to Shepard because the galaxy is in need of repairs and she hasn't been seen that much, but if you go over there you'll blow her cover."

"Cover? She looks like she's on a date," the reporter stated accusingly.

"That's her cover. We are on a high stakes mission involving Cerberus. If you want a statement I'll gladly give you one as the leader of the N7 Talons after we're done, but if you go over there and speak to her this mission will be a bust. She can't have unnecessary attention drawn to her…Darian, blonde-haired human with the tan skin next to the bathroom is a target. Mark him."

The reporter seemed to suddenly catch the hint and gave a small nod to the hooded man before turning to leave. "So was that a serious order or part of your attempt to get her to leave?" Darian questioned.

"A real one. Once you have him marked I need you to regroup with Kar and get another target that Shepard saw," the leader stated.

"Aye aye."

Well at least she's learned not to pry when there is a mission at stake. Took her two interviews with Shepard where she stonewalled and bull rushed her but it seems even a hound can learn its lesson. It only took a war to make her learn some manners and privacy but hey, better late than never. Mentioning Cerberus probably really made it sink in, that and Ghost saying he'll give a statement. Kasumi placed two chips down on nine and another on three. Hopefully this time I'm a bit luckier.

Darian marked his target while the roulette wheel began to spin, according to Ghost that left one guy that they already knew of that needed to be marked plus two more that they still had to find. As for the robbing the casino part his squad had already handled setting the hacking devices. All that was left was to activate them and this casino was about to become a great funder of many charities and recovery efforts.

It felt kind of lame to do considering they had originally planned to make it a lot more fun than planting hacking devices, but this mission took precedent and it still allowed her to steal away her Shep's time. In the end that part of the plan worked so Kasumi couldn't complain.

The roulette rolled to a stop on five making the thief sigh in disappointment for a moment only for it to tick over one more and become a nine. Kasumi couldn't help but cheer in joy, with the luck she and Shepard had at Quasar and now this roulette wheel they might as well have been stealing the credits they were winning.

Shepard chuckled behind her. "I'm never going to play poker against you. You'll probably keep all this luck to yourself and steal all our credits."

Kasumi turned her head back to the N7 with a smile. "Of course I would. It's what I do."

"Not to mention the hearts you steal. You just sneak right in and take them without the person knowing."

"Hey!" Kasumi turned herself all the way around to face Shepard. Hearts was an over exaggeration and saying she intentionally stole any at first was false. She had only unknowingly stole Shepard's heart but now she held it with pride as did Shepard with her own. "There's only one heart I proudly stole and it's the only one I plan to keep." She intertwined her fingers behind the N7's neck. "And that would be yours, Shep."

Shepard smiled; her fair colored cheeks began to tint pink at the declaration. The redhead rested her forehead on the thief's both forgetting for a moment they were in public and on a mission. "Flatterer," the redhead whispered.

This seemed the perfect time to finally get the words out that had been interrupted last time. Kasumi opened her mouth to say the three words but another voice interrupted her. "Oi! Ladies I understand you are really here on a date and just helping us as you go along, but I really don't need this kind of close up in my eyes," Ghost the moment killer interrupted again.

Both women let out sighs and separated from one another. Ruining the mood again, I hope you aren't like this with Tara. "Ghost, you are such a moment killer," Darian said while chuckling to himself.

"Love, you and I do the same things on missions all the time," Tara reprimanded.

"Hey I may be one for public display of affection and I know we do the same on missions but we've got two guys to go. The sooner they get this done, the sooner I will gladly leave them alone and let them do what they please."

"In that case, where do I need to go next?" Shepard asked.

Kasumi could tell the longer they spent together the more the N7 wanted to get back to the apartment and pick up where they left off before. Can't say I'm not in the same boat. The thief had the same feeling welling up inside her; it was how she noticed the look in the redhead's eyes. "Ummm…hmm. Well we've got one unknown and the other looks to be a guard here. He's going to be difficult but it also presents us with an opportunity to get the leader. Brad, you read me?" Ghost asked to one of his crew members that weren't in the casino.

"Loud and clear, Boss."

"I need you in here. We're going to pull a switcheroo with a guard and you're the closest match to this guy for body and hair color."

Switching out the guard would definitely make getting the leader of this group easier. With his guard down, all they would have to do is use voice changing tech after recording his voice and use it to bait the leader to open his door. "Shepard, head up to the dance floor. That's where you'll be able to find the last guy. Gallick will mark him. Kar, Brad, wait in the restroom for me. I think this guard needs to go have a look at a red sand addict."

There was an evil laugh from Brad. "Can't wait, Boss."

Kasumi and Shepard left the roulette table and headed up to the dance floor. Now was definitely her chance to be persuasive enough to get the woman on the dance floor with her. While it was known that Shepard wasn't much of a dancer and definitely had never danced in heels, this was likely the thief's one and only chance to get her to do it just for fun.

There would be a lot of persuasion needed to get her in a dress again. Although Kasumi had teased about Shepard not being the only one who had a tongue that could work wonders, deep down neither one of them were the type to use sex as a bargaining tool. It made for fun banter and neither would ever stop making teases with it, but actually using it to get their way wasn't how Shepard or Kasumi worked.

Though I won't rule out puppy dog eyes. She will never be able to resist that.

Still, the time they had spent together so far had been fun from before the mission started at the Quasar machine to now. To end the night by dancing with the woman she loved, who looked absolutely gorgeous tonight in her dress, would make it one of the most memorable nights they had spent together thus far. Whether that would be for better or worse would depend on how well their dancing was. It could end up a night that they reflected on and laughed because of how bad they danced. Either way she wasn't above using the puppy dog eyes on her Shep if it got her to dance.

"We should use the dance floor as cover," Kasumi offered offhandedly like she hadn't been planning to dance with her.

Shepard looked to her with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smirk. She was already onto her line of thought. "Really?" The thief nodded with a smile making its way to her own face; she really had to work on keeping her cover up with the redhead. She would never be able to surprise her again if she couldn't keep the smile from coming to her face. Surprising her with the crew had gone remarkably well, that time was the exception though. "Dancing?"

"Come on Shep, I promise I won't step on your feet," she pleaded ready to initiate the dreadful pleading eyes that the redhead would never be able to resist.

"Fine, but only if the music is good enough to dance to."

Kasumi couldn't help but feel slightly shocked at the easy agreement. She had expected at least some form of fun debate yet Shepard offered no restraint. Then there was the odd part that she had a preference to music she danced too. What exactly did she enjoy dancing too?

If she had secret dancing capabilities not only would the thief be shocked but she would have to tell the crew. They would probably never believe her without video proof and even then they would still probably not believe her. Facts were that Shepard was not a dancer. She had a strange dance move at the party that was really hard to describe in words and then there was the two step move she used back during the suicide mission at the Dark Star Lounge, but that was the extent of her dancing abilities, if you could in fact call them dancing abilities.

The redhead having a certain taste in dance music got the thief thinking, back on the Normandy Kelly and Shepard had been friendly with one another and Kasumi knew Kelly had once been a dancer. Did Kelly teach her any moves? Images of Shepard in a very revealing and very skin tight outfit played through the hooded woman's thoughts.

It was strangely an enticing thought and one that she had to fight from making her blush. She knew better than to really believe Kelly had taught her any moves knowing that the two were only friends, but that didn't stop her imagination from breaking free again. She had to get her mind off it to stop any sort of blush from showing. "I didn't realize there was certain music you danced too. The only dancing I ever saw you do wasn't very enthusiastic." The thief paused for dramatics knowing she had seen her dance moves. Shepard was already starting to roll her eyes knowing what was coming. "Actually that's not true. Back at the apartment the dancing you did with the others was very enthusiastic. I remember Garrus saying that we should have sent it to the Reapers."

The N7 shook her head with a smirk forming once more as they reached the top of the stairs. "Make fun all you like. I've just never had a partner to tango with." They moved to the dance floor, scanning the area as they strolled together.

"Well, that's convenient," Gallick commented.

"Right next to you?" Shepard questioned.

"Yeah," the Batarian answered. He reached over the counter, grabbing a large bottle of liquor then as he came back over he slammed it right into the face of the Cerberus agent. The glass cracked across his face and knocked him out of his seat and back onto the floor.

Gallick sat back down and opened up his omni-tool as the Cerberus agent got off the floor with blood pouring from his face. "What the fuck you four eyed bastard!" the agent shouted.

The Batarian ignored him. Instead of responding verbally, he aimed his omni-tool at the human and waved Kiara over with his free hand. "Can I get one last drink, Kia?" He launched a submission net out his omni-tool, ensnaring the human within and shocking him into a paralytic state.

"Kia now, hmm?" The brown-haired woman asked with a smile on her face. "I like it. Care to take a girl out sometime, Gallick?"

He chuckled to himself as she poured him another drink. "Sorry Kia, I have— I hopefully still have a wife out there waiting for me. I appreciate the thought. If I wasn't married I would not hesitate to take you out."

She gave him a sad smile at the revelation of his wife. "I understand Gallick. If you weren't married I would have rocked your world." Both chuckled to themselves at the attempt to lighten the mood. "I hope she is okay," Kiara said caringly.

"As do I, but thank you. Omega and the Sol System are too far apart for reliable communication with comms still screwed. I'll keep hope until I hear her voice again or see her in person. Otherwise…I'll meet her again someday," he said solemnly.

Kasumi's heart out went to the man. While she was here enjoying her time with Shepard, he had no idea if his wife was okay or not. She sent a prayer out to the deities of every alien race she knew in hopes that one of them made sure his wife was alive and they would get reunited. "I wish the best for you Gallick."

He gave the brown-haired woman an appreciative nod. "Thank you." He finished his drink then looked down to the Cerberus agent who was still being shocked by his submission net. "Tara, we've got one racist bastard wrapped up and ready to depart. Where should I bring him?"

The Asari let out a sigh, he hadn't marked him exactly as the others had but he had certainly eliminated the threat. Now the problem was getting him out without the others alerting anyone which was likely the reason Tara let out a sigh. "You are one of the most impatient Batarian's I know Gallick. Just carry him out and meet up with Carson. Also, I know this may be asking a lot, but try not to spook his companions."

"Yeah yeah. I'll wait with Carson so I can bust the heads on the remaining bastards."

"Sounds like a plan. I know Kiara already said it, but your wife will be fine. She's one of the toughest civilian women I have ever met," Tara said soothingly.

"I know. I'm not crying myself into a drunken stupor or hitting everyone I see or blaming all the other races for my problems so I'd say I'm doing well. No pep talk needed. Shepard." The Batarian deactivated the submission net and picked up the paralyzed human slinging the man over his shoulder before looking to the redhead. "It's been an honor." He bowed his head.

She bowed her head in response. "Take care of yourself Gallick." He nodded and left the bar with the Cerberus agent in tow. Keep hope Gallick. It's the one thing we all have to hold onto when faced with the unknown.

The thief had been in a similar circumstance when she had watched every night an unconscious Shepard hanging onto what little life she had left after the war. Hope had been the one thing to help her get through it, hope that tomorrow she would wake up and if she didn't then it would be the next day.

Neither Shepard nor Kasumi moved to the dance floor. Both were too lost in their own thoughts on everything they had heard from Gallick to proceed. They both knew there were many more like him all hoping that the people they cared about were still alive. Kasumi counted herself lucky that almost everyone she knew and cared for now survived the war; all except Mordin, Legion and Thane who she wished peace upon each night and hoped were still looking down now and then to see that everything they had sacrificed for had not gone to waste.

But if they hadn't…if everyone I care for had died and I didn't…Shepard gave her hand a comforting squeeze seeing the thoughts that crossed her mind. Kasumi looked to her and saw similar thoughts on her mind. The thief gave the redhead's hand a comforting squeeze back and a small nod. We did though and we have each other. We'll do our best to help others at least find peace, it's the least we can do for the happiness we were granted.

She tried to communicate her thoughts through her look and it seemed to get through based on the nod Shepard gave her. They were lucky only to lose three friends as terrible as it felt to say that. Others had lost everyone they had cared for, others weren't in a casino taking the person they loved on what could be considered a normal date for them. It wouldn't be right to not help others in Gallick's position to find their loved ones or at the least help them to find some peace.

They would pay back their good fortune by helping others anyway they could.

"So uhh…love birds, mind giving us a distraction? We might have, you know, messed this guy up pretty badly annddd—"

"He means that there is a lot of blood and we need to move fast," Kar finished.

"…Right." Shepard sighed. "What kind of distraction do you need?"

"One that captivates everyone up there. We don't want anyone leaving for the next minute or two, especially not to come to the bathroom. Tara I need you to get over here now, we're moving in on the leader. Carson, get Hackett on the comm and tell him we're moving in. I want you to coordinate with the others and grab the other four guys since Gallick did us a public service. Kar, Brad, let's move."

Kasumi began to smile as she opened her omni-tool. "Oh I've got an idea to captivate an audience." She hacked into the music and suddenly tango music began to play. She stepped in front of Shepard and put her hand out bowing a little as she did. This would be the only chance she had and she was going to take it. "May I have this dance?"

"Oh Spirits, we're doomed if the stories are true," Ghost groaned.

"Oh hush, Love. Let them have their moment, I'm sure they will pull through for your mission and for their date," Tara responded.

Shepard had a timid smile on her face as she grabbed Kasumi's hand and allowed her to bring her into the center of the mostly empty dance floor. "I- it's been a while since I tangoed."

Well she was definitely better off than the thief was; at least she actually had tangoed before. "We'll wing it like we always do." In truth she had only ever watched a few tango vids just to see what it looked like so winging it was her only option.

Definitely since she was going to lead.

Kasumi brought their held hands up as she wrapped her free arm around the woman's waist. They began stepping to the music with Shepard focusing on trying to remember the movements she knew while Kasumi was enjoying her close proximity to the N7.

Their torsos were against one another; their faces were merely inches away. The intoxicating smell that was Shepard took over her senses; the small love bites on her neck and shoulder were visible at this distance with the redhead making no attempt to cover them with her beautiful red hair.

She looked like a goddess.

"Just let it come natural, Shep. I've never tangoed before so I'm letting the music move me."

She gave a barely noticeable nod before Kasumi spun the slightly awkward commander away from her. She had clearly never done this in heels before but the N7 was doing her best as the thief pulled her back and wrapped her arm around her waist.

They stepped around a little longer garnering attention as the thief twirled the commander again. After she came out of the twirl and got her hands back into position they came to a stop and Shepard brought her right knee up Kasumi's side resting against her hip. That's it, now you're getting into it.

Both women smiled at one another at the gasp they received. You think that's good, let's show how flexible you are thanks to all that stretching Miranda had you do. The thief kept her right leg in place she took a step back causing the woman to lean with her.

Shepard's bent right leg stayed rested on her side and leg while her other leg remained stretched back holding its position. She showed no sign of trouble at holding herself up making Kasumi make a mental note to thank Miranda and Jack for their separate boot camps.

"Has anyone told you lately that you're remarkably gorgeous in a dress?" Kasumi asked, a joyful smile on her face.

Shepard smiled back. "Just you." More people began to crowd around watching them dance around the floor taking up everyone's attention and taking the floor for themselves. The longer they danced the more fluid they became. Shepard's tango knowledge was coming back in full swing and Kasumi was going with the music and the flow her Shep had.

Their footwork on the battlefield and their ability to synch up with one another so easily really helped here. Shepard, who didn't dance if she could help it, was really getting into the dance and both women were grinning widely as they did. Whether the distraction was really working or not, Kasumi wasn't sure and she really didn't care at this point.

This was too good of a moment to let other thoughts cloud it.

Kasumi spun Shepard away again, both women letting go of one another to create some distance between them. The N7 came out of the spin and then brought her hand up with a seductive smirk and beckoned her to come back over with one finger. The thief grinned and made her way over to her Shep, taking her hand in her own again and wrapping her arm around her waist.

They moved fluidly back into their dance, taking no notice to the shouts and scuffling in their comms or the even larger crowd that had formed to watch the galaxy's hero dance with her mysterious squadmate. The crowd would soon find out that this was more than a distraction to them and definitely more than a commander and squadmate relationship.

"Didn't know you had this in you Shep," Kasumi said, her voice relaying the bouncing happiness in her heart. This was more amazing than she had ever thought it would be.

"I told you." Shepard allowed her left heel slide along the ground as they turned, her leg extended out while timing her move to the ending of the music. "I never had a partner to tango with." She slid her left foot back across the ground and brought it up against Kasumi's side. The thief dipped the N7 and bent over only slightly with her while Shepard allowed her head to ease back and her red hair to flow behind her.

The crowd began to cheer and woot for them but she didn't really hear them. From Kasumi's position she was staring down at the most beautiful woman in the galaxy. She watched her chest rise and fall as the music ended, her eyes trailed up her chest and all the way up her neck to her lips which were curved in a smile. They were so luscious and she couldn't wait to taste them again.

"So Shep, does this make up for me not noticing your feelings right away?" Kasumi teased.

"Oh hell yes," Shepard, replied humor and desire in her tone. She lifted her head up to look the thief in the eyes with a wide smile on her face, her leg still rested against her and if the look in her eyes were any indication she wanted to get the hell out of here and go back to the apartment. "You're full of surprises Kasumi."

"You're one to talk," Kasumi retorted. Never would she have guessed that Shepard knew how to dance. She would have bet against that possibility in an instant. Yet here they stood after such a great dance staring lovingly into one another's eyes. "No one will ever believe me when I tell them you and I tangoed together and it went fantastic despite me never tangoing before and your history with dancing."

Shepard laughed her beautiful laugh. I should have recorded it then they'd have to believe me…or they'd think it was forged. We've all seen too much of her dancing to really believe it without seeing it. I sure wouldn't have.

The thief rested her forehead on Shepard's. This was definitely a date worth remembering and one she couldn't wait to continue when they got back to the apartment.

Until then there was something that needed to be said.

"I love you Anastasia Shepard." Kasumi didn't hesitate any longer to say it but she also didn't say it really quickly. She allowed the words to come out naturally and said them with all of the love that rested in her heart. "I may have unknowingly stolen your heart but you knowingly worked the chains off mine. I never thought I'd truly love again, but you proved me wrong as always. Thank you for that, Ana."

She saw in her eyes how much finally hearing the words really meant to her. Tears began to glisten in the N7's eyes and her grip on Kasumi tightened. "I love you too, Kasumi. I love you so much."

Her voice was shaky, she was nearing happy tears but the thief wouldn't let her cry now. That wasn't her intention so she nudged her nose with her own receiving a smile from the woman. "Don't cry. I know you do. Now kiss me you gorgeous woman."

Shepard smiled bigger before capturing her lips with her own. Neither woman listened to the whistles or the clapping they heard being too lost in the moment of their own kiss to notice.

"Love birds, I doubt you're listening being so involved in your grand moment but we've got the leader and robbed this place. The other four guys we'll get so you two go enjoy your evening. Contacts are on me. I'll send Kasumi the program I use in case you ever want to use them again. Are you happy now Tara? I waited,"" Ghost came over the comm.

Shepard parted from Kasumi with a smile on her face. "Thanks for the fun Ghost. I hope we cross paths again somewhere down the line."

"I'm sure we will. If Hackett ever has a joint op we'd be honored to fight alongside you and your crew. I know I gave you two a hard time today all in the name of my own brand of fun, but it is truly an honor to meet you and once again thank you for defeating the Reapers. Kar, get that piece of trash out of here. Carson, commence the sting operation and get those other sacks of racist trash out of here," the leader ordered.

"Good luck Ghost. Don't hurt yourself," Kasumi said.

"I'll do my best Kasumi. Don't be a stranger. Stay safe and have fun."

The comm cut leaving both women to leave their final position of the dance. "Let's get the hell out of here," Shepard said with a seductive smile on her face.

Kasumi smiled and walked with the redhead back through the casino. She had finally told her what she had been trying to all night and it made her feel giddy on the inside.

Now it was time to show her exactly how much she meant it.