The Observer

Shepard had completely forgotten about the Cerberus Agent they had supposed to be meeting, only remembering when she felt something touch her shoulder on the way to the bar where Miranda had told her to go have a good drink so they could both steady themselves.

Her immediate reaction was to spin round and jab the butt of her pistol into her attacker's face however that soon was wretched out of her plan as an elbow came crashing down onto the back of her neck, bringing her to her knees with a howl of pain.

Both Kasumi and Miranda cried out her name and then them two were silenced when her attacker placed his own pistol to the back of her head, making Shepard growl at how she had been caught so off-guard in such a matter of moments.

"Are you Commander Shepard?" His voice was rich and smooth and it brought another ball of anger to Shepard's stomach at how smug it was. "I am the Observer sent by the Illusive Man. And I have to say, I'm disappointed."

Shepard jumped up and sent a punch to the 'Observer's' face, gasping in shock when the agent grabbed it and squeezed. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Stand down!"

Miranda was stuck in the middle of what to do, on one aspect this Cerberus agent was threatening her commanding officer and that meant she should honestly put a hole in his head but on the other hand this man was sent from Cerberus, the group she trusted and was loyal to.

Kasumi on the other hand knew exactly what she was doing and lifted her pistol to the man's head, breathing heavily and with narrowed eyes.

The agent turned to gaze at Miranda behind his Cerberus armoured mask, he was certainly an observer and not the one to be 'observed' as his whole body was covered in armour; not leaving an inch of skin to be looked at - it was almost unnerving but Miranda didn't dare show it and instead clenched her jaw.

"Miranda Lawson, the scientist who can't control the experiment right?" The Observer said with a hollow chuckle, releasing Shepard's fist to push the Commander back. "A pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise." Miranda retorted back with bitterness changing her tone, taking the decision to holster her gun back into its place on her hip. "Although if you knew anything about me, you'd know I'm no scientist."

Kasumi also lowered her gun and with a quirk of her lips she added, "and you think Miranda can't control Shepard? Look at the poor girl, she's completely whipped."

Miranda glared at the master thief sharply at that comment. "What?"

"What is it with you today?" Shepard squeaked out, gasping for breathing.

Kasumi pretended not to hear and instead shrugged her shoulders at Shepard's wide-eyed stare.

The Observer stared at all three of them for a long time before turning his back on them all to stroll towards Illium's port. "You'll find me on the Normandy when you return Commander, try not to get killed by your own bullets."

Shepard growled at his retreating back. "And what will you be doing if you don't mind me asking?"

"Observing." He responded back mockingly, waving a hand at them all as he merged into the crowd.

"Asshole." Shepard groaned out whilst rubbing her neck with bleary eyes. "Come on Miranda, you said you needed a drink and we're damn well going to get one."

Kasumi opened her mouth to speak, obviously going to slip in another tease before the day was out.

Shepard reached out to pinch Kasumi's lips together.

"Not another word."

Kasumi pouted miserably, moving away from Shepard's grip to stare bleakly at the commander.


Miranda stared at the empty chair in front of her at the dinner table where the Cerberus agent was supposed to be sitting at so that they could talk on the Illusive Man's intentions for this agent.

Rupert was preparing some ready-made meals for the human counterparts of the crew, this was another reason why Miranda liked this vessel more than her last one she had been upon; not only was it furnished to her style but the catering had different time schedules so something like turian food wouldn't manage to sneak its way into their time schedule and kill them all.

She didn't quite understand why she had to meet with this Observer anyway, if he was 'observing' then maybe he should butt the hell out of her business when she was trying to work with Shepard, trying being the important word of course.

Although lately it had become easier to talk with her Commander, at least this time it wasn't just Shepard teasing her mercilessly every time they talked; it had started to develop into a somewhat uneasy friendship between them both though they both would have denied anything of the sort quicker than a flash.

Miranda's eyes looked up from the surface of the table she was sitting at to latch onto Garrus and Shepard talking just near her office, she could hear most of it from where she was sitting but what surprised her was that the turian had a slab of medi-gel plastered onto his left mandible.

"Hell Garrus if you keep getting hit like that nobody will find you attractive anymore," Miranda heard Shepard tease, watching as the blonde-haired commander reached up to gently prod at the mandible. "But you said you don't remember how it happened?"

"No I just woke up with it broken," Garrus groused with a shake of his head, claws scraping at his fringe. "How the hell I didn't realize it was broken before I went to sleep I don't know, maybe I rolled over on it funny."

Miranda observed the turian coolly and the damage that had been caused to his mandible, from what she could see it looked as though his mandible had been bent so that it poked outwards; it probably made talking unbearable but Garrus was such a hard-ass Miranda doubted he even felt it or even cared if he did feel it.

"Garrus it looks as though someone has broken it, c'mon how else can you bend it like that without you feeling it?" Shepard voiced Miranda's thoughts as clearly as Miranda would have liked to voice her own words, surprising Miranda once more at how their minds seemed to work (surprisingly) in sync. "Go rest up, I'm sure your precious calibrations will be fine for today."

Miranda smirked at the on-going joke between the turian and the rest of the group, he was never going to live it down or so it seemed because Shepard always mentioned it every time she came back from the main battery with a teasing smile on her features.

"Hah, screw you Shepard." Garrus said in reply, punching Shepard forcefully in the arm and sending the commander back a few steps; although it didn't do really anything but make Shepard laugh harder.

Miranda forced her eyes to remain cold and calm when Garrus looked over at her with his right mandible twitching in amusement, his claws coming up to scratch at the scales below his mouth.

"Oh I get it Shepard…" Miranda watched as the turian pinched at the skin of Shepard's neck, making the blonde jolt and whimper to try and stop Garrus from practically piercing her. "You just want me to leave you alone."

It took Miranda two seconds to realise what Garrus is implying, it took five seconds for her to blush at what the turian is implying, it took twelve seconds for her to wish that newspapers hadn't died out in the late 21st century so she could at least try and cover her face and it took her about 25 seconds to realise she has hair so she covered her expression with that instead.

"HAH! Screw you Garrus you hilarious scaly-ass thing you!" Miranda heard Shepard shout out with that tone of embarrassment Miranda could relate to ten fold. "Get back to where you belong you! God I'm going to kill you…"

It isn't a second later that she hears a voice that sends a shiver down her spine. "Shepard, nice to see you not doing any of your duties today. Does Miranda let you get away with these things?"

Miranda's face sprang up to see that the masked Observer was staring at both Shepard and Garrus, his arms locked together tightly across his chest as he observed them both.

Miranda glared at the man being the mask, he called Shepard a disappointment but this was coming from a man who hid behind a mask; at least Shepard had the balls enough to show her face and not behind a black, vast mask.

Shepard's eyes hardened and she moved so that she blocked the Observer away from Garrus, mouth creased into a frown. "I don't have any duties today, maybe that's why Miranda leaves me to get on with it or didn't you think of that?"

Great if Miranda didn't intervene then it was going to be another fist fight again, she made a move to get up when Garrus stopped her with a look that clearly told her to sit back down again; let it play out first, see what happened.

"You have no duties? You're the Captain of this ship and you have no duties?" The agent sounded exasperated at such a thing, it made Miranda wince at how angry he sounded. "Maybe you should find yourself some duties instead of fraternizing with this turian, he is here to work with you but that doesn't mean you need to rub tongues with him."

Shepard's eyes flared in anger and she took a step forward, finger pointing directly at the masked Observer. "How about you piss off? This is my ship, I run it my way and not yours! And that turian is called Garrus, one of the people who were there with me when my team stopped Saren and the geth! It may not be much of a title as yours Observer but I'm afraid not many people remember terrorists in such a good light!"

Miranda flinched at the unintended insult towards her, ignoring Garrus's warning eyes and making a move towards the group of both alien and human and only stopping when Shepard snapped her head towards her; eyes ablaze with furious fire.

The Observer chuckled in amusement and patted Shepard's shoulder with deliberate force, pushing Shepard down an inch each time and making the blonde scowl angrily up at the masked Cerberus agent. "Humanity has you to present them Commander Shepard, if only they knew what you were really doing to prepare for the Reapers then they might not be so awe-struck by you don't you think?"

Shepard shoved away the Observer's hands with a growl, teeth bared with animalistic rage that made Miranda's face grow hot at the unbearable look in Shepard's eyes.

"I'd like to see you do any better," Shepard breathed dangerously, moving away from the Observer with her eyes catching Miranda's for a second (looking ashamed, but at what Miranda wasn't sure) and then moving to Garrus's, gesturing for the turian to get back to main battery. "C'mon Garrus, doesn't look like we'll be allowed a rest today. I'll help you."

Garrus shrugged and followed Shepard to the main battery, giving Miranda another look that makes guilt course through her stomach and chest as though it's a natural thing to feel when she manages to fuck everything up without actually knowing she's done so.

Miranda refused to watch Shepard go with such guilt on her conscious just because Garrus looked at her funny, besides what had he expected her to do? Go rushing in to defend her Commander? This was a bloody test, she just couldn't do these things and expect not to get the tidbits sent back to the Illusive Man, if he even found out that she had done such a thing than defend Shepard it'd be disastrous.

"Ms Lawson," she'd forgotten about the agent in her wandering thoughts and had to throw a stiff smile at his direction as he walked towards her, his masked face hiding every expression that he could possibly be throwing at her. "A word about your leash."

Miranda had to restrain herself from punching this guy in the face, not that it'd be a very good idea considering how he had managed to almost break Shepard in two the first time the two of them had met but still the urge was strong.

"Pardon?" She asked anyway despite knowing what he had said the first time, it was just one of those little mannerisms where you asked someone to repeat what they had said the first time to make sure they really were asking such a stupid/fucked up question. It was only to be polite.

"Your leash, the non-existent one you're supposed to have on the Alliance lapdog and the various number of aliens you have on the Normandy." The Observer says with disgust in his tone, his just another reason why Miranda hates some of the reasons why some people join Cerberus - out of xenophobia. "I was with the Alliance once, got sent to prison for defending myself from the alien filth on Omega."

"Interesting." Miranda replied in a voice she made sure didn't actually sound like she was interested, it'd give him too much power, power that Miranda did not want to give to him. "Why do you feel that I have such a loose hold on my leash?"

His gloved fingers curled up into fists and without warning he slammed his right his into the nearest panel next to him, filling the almost-empty mess hall with a sickening crunching sound. "This is not something to be amused at Ms Lawson."

Had she sounded amused? Damn it, she hadn't meant to sound it because she knew something like this would happen.

She arched a brow, hoping it'd be enough to coax the agent to at least try and calm down. "I apologize, I didn't intend to sound amused. Maybe we should sit down and talk?"

The Observer didn't move towards the seat Miranda had held out for him, instead he merely nodded before nursing his injured hand with the other; if Miranda had to guess his facial expression she supposed he'd look like any other injured man with his features scrunched up in shock and pain.

"The Illusive Man gave me a job to observe Shepard." He said solemnly, folding his injured hand behind his back. "This meeting is nothing but wasting valuable time; I don't speak to the monkey Ms Lawson but the person in charge."

The agent bowed his head at her then, turning his back and making his way towards the main battery with such a smug air around him that Miranda rolled her eyes in anger, what an arse. Who the hell did he think he was, talking to her like that?

A monkey? Really? Like she resembled a monkey! Someone would need to think up better retorts if they were going to get somewhere in life, but it didn't matter anyway. Who cared what he thought of her? It wasn't as if he'd be on the ship for more than a week, and even if it was for more than a week then…

Miranda sighed and cupped her forehead, making her way over to her office door (which promptly opened) and slipping inside with a grunt. "If he stays here for more than a week then I'm going to consider counselling."

"No kidding." A voice came from further into her office and Miranda held in a groan at the sound. "Shepard looks like she's about to consider murdering someone at the rate his pushing her at."

"Kasumi!" Miranda snapped, storming forwards to grab at the master thief's wrist, pulling Kasumi off her king-sized bed. "How many times do I have to tell you? Stop coming into my office without my permission!"

Kasumi's laugh is magical and full of energy that Miranda doesn't posses, she'd almost say she's jealous but she doesn't know what she's jealous of when it comes to Kasumi; it's probably how Kasumi can make Shepard grin without actually doing anything and how Miranda has to actually work at it to make Shepard feel all cheerful and good inside.

It's at this moment Miranda realised that she was doing something she had sworn not to ever do, ever, ever, ever. Pining. For all the spirits, she was actually pining like a pathetic teenaged girl.

She slammed her hand to her forehead in hope that'd help. It didn't, it made her head hurt more. Brilliant plan. Why was she so hopeless at real life situations, yet she could tactically plan an assault in a matter of minutes? Where was the fairness in that?

"You don't complain when Shepard comes in without your permission!" Kasumi reminded her with that little mischievous tone that Miranda doesn't trust or like very much and she has no idea why, Kasumi's never done anything to offend her so why does she feel so wound up whenever the master thief is near her?

"That's because it's Shepard!" Miranda protested despite knowing exactly how that sounded and not caring anyway, it was nothing but the truth. "She's my superior, I can't exactly say no to her!"

Kasumi eyed her with even more amusement before, slinking into Miranda's office chair (Miranda glared at her and resisted the urge to pout mournfully because that's her office chair damn it!) with a lone finger resting on her chin. "So Miranda, if she told you to strip naked and swim the seven seas does that mean you would?"

Miranda has a tactic for things like this however, it something doesn't go her way the immediate thing is to retreat; or at least give an order one cannot refuse in case they were punished.

She outstretched her arm, pointing at the exit. "Out! Right now! And go find Shepard! Tell her I want that report done by tonight!"

"Which one?" Kasumi asked innocently as she got up from Miranda's chair, tip-toeing her way towards the exit of Miranda's office. "There's so many you know…"

"The one where she blew up an elcor's house on the Citadel! Yes I haven't forgotten about that, go tell her I expect it!" Miranda ordered with rising frustration, because yes while it had been an accident it still had cost Cerberus quite a bit to get the press to shut the hell up about it. "And if she even leaves that detail out then I'll make her rewrite it!"

Kasumi of course has to have the last line, Christ she's worst than Shepard and that's saying something. "You know something Miranda, this whole pretending not to want to sex Shepard up is not working out for you darlin'."

Miranda chucked the last two dossiers at Kasumi's face, pleased when she heard a whimper and the sound of Kasumi's feet moving away. At least she'd get some progress done before Shepard made her way in here, swearing at everything holy that it wasn't her fault that Kasumi had dared her to hit the red button and it made that elcor's house blow up in the process.

Miranda wasn't interested in excuses. She trusted Shepard now (she couldn't remember why she hadn't before) but maybe the Cerberus Observer was right at how much Shepard got away with things, maybe she did have to push harder to achieve success when it came to Shepard.

Or maybe she was thinking too much on it, god damn it she couldn't keep her head on the straight and narrow when it came to Shepard because no matter how hard she tried all she could think of was thoughts that weren't strictly appropriate at the time or place Miranda was at.

It was ridiculous, this whole thing was absolutely ridiculous and it wasn't as if Kasumi was actually here to help her anyway because it seemed pretty obvious Kasumi was eager to prove herself to Shepard as much as Miranda was.

But why should she be so eager? Hadn't she already proved herself to Shepard a thousand times over? Couldn't she get a bloody rest around here? It was all these little niggles that made her bite at her lip in anxiety, opening up her terminal and messages before logging into Shepard's personal account.

It's just one of her dirty little secrets including Shepard (she doesn't have many in spite of what her mind taunts her with) at how she reads every message the commander receives, it's not because she doesn't trust Shepard it's just because she's simply nosey and besides she's doing Shepard a favour most of the time by dumping all the junk in the trash.

Miranda reached for her mug of coffee and sipped at it. Before spitting it everywhere and retching with a cough, thumping herself in the chest at the unexpected assault of alcohol in her system.

She slammed her mug down and scowled at it angrily. "Lambrini, I should have known Kasumi was in here for a reason."

Well if that wasn't karma then she didn't know what was, not that such a thing would stop her from looking through Shepard's inbox; she could handle a little karma now and then, it wasn't as if it was a crime or anything.

Miranda coughed again to try and get rid of the left-over tang of the lambrini before clicking on the newest message for Shepard, disregarding the name for a flicker of a moment before her eyes widened at the realisation that it was from none other than Oriana.

The subject was named 'guardian angels' too. God damn it, why did Oriana have to butt into her business? Was it one of those annoying little sister things? Miranda didn't really know, she'd never been a little sister before. Or had enough time to develop the knowledge of being an elder one.

The message read:

From: Oriana (Lawson)

I hope this is the right Commander Shepard. I'm Oriana. My sister only told me a little, but I don't think it occurred to her that I'm as smart as she is. I poked around a little and found an information broker who got me this address.

I got to thank her, but I never got to thank you for helping me. My parents don't really understand it, but I know how much Miranda did, how many little things over the years were her looking out for me. I'm not going to tell them. I still want to go to school and get some degrees. But I wanted to say thanks for saving me, I know it can't have been easy.

I had a guardian angel all these years but I don't think Miranda has anyone. I'd like to think you could be hers for a while or maybe more than a while, I know you're her superior and all but I think you could both benefit in being friends.

Just. Make sure she comes back okay? Or I'll do some serious ass-kicking, I'm quite the fighter if you didn't know.

- Oriana

PS: Don't tell her I sent you this. It would just make her angry.

PPS: Miranda, quit looking at Shepard's messages. Oh, don't act like you don't. It's what I'd do.

Miranda pushed away from her desk with a defeated look, allowing herself to sink further and further into her own mind before she snapped her head up to attention, allowing her biotics to flare and for her room to shake.

She heard the murmur of Shepard's curse and then the sound of someone falling with another yell. Miranda didn't know if she was smug or if she was slowly losing her mind.


Shepard licked at her dry lips, shuffling in her slippers down the mess hall and towards the fridge; rubbing at the kink in her neck that had reappeared when she had woke up from another nightmare of husks, Collectors and Reapers. A brilliant thing to wake up from.

She needed something to wet her appetite so she could try and not focus on the undeniable fact that her dreams were starting to slowly become reality, she just couldn't let herself think of such things and so to shut her own thoughts up Shepard went to the fridge and got out a yoghurt, ripping the little plastic spoon from the lid and sitting herself down on the counter where Rupert normally prepared the food.

Shepard spooned the yoghurt into her mouth with dark, narrowed eyes; looking out for the damned Cerberus agent who seemed to follow her everywhere like a bad itch that she had no idea how to get rid of - she had tried so many times to lose him, even going as far as trying to shake him off by going near Jack's hidey-hole but even then he followed her.

Man she doubted she could have a shower without that damn agent following her, unless that was against the rules of being a super-stalker although Shepard didn't really have any idea how to stalk people; maybe she'd ask Kasumi later, her friend had been rather sneaky of late. Sneakily sneaky…

A sound behind her made Shepard jump and drop her plastic spoon, spinning herself round to see that Miranda Lawson had joined her in the mess hall and was making herself a mug of hot cocoa with nothing on but a very large shirt.

Miranda eyed her with amusement for a second before she flicked the kettle on, waiting for the water to boil with feigned disinterest.

Shepard said the first thing that came to her. "That's a very large shirt."

Miranda shrugged her shoulders at her, crossing her arms against her chest and crossing legs to hide the underwear that she was wearing underneath from her Commander - it was obvious to Shepard that Miranda was not comfortable in wearing such attire in front of her, well…How very amusing.

"It keeps me warm. It used to belong to Jacob." Miranda said casually with an arch of her eyebrows, silently challenging Shepard to ask the question that immediately popped into her head.

Fuck she hadn't expected that little twinge of jealousy to sting so much, seriously what the hell had she expected? She had the hair whilst Jacob had the pecs! It was like comparing his penis size to her shoe size, two very different things.

Shepard averted her eyes from her XO, taking a lick around the rim of her yoghurt once before answering Miranda's unspoken challenge. "So…You and Jacob hm? Gotta say, really didn't expect you to go for him."

"Shepard." Miranda cut in before Shepard could make an even bigger fool of herself. "It didn't work out alright? Doesn't mean I can't keep a shirt off his when I'm cold."

Shepard held up her hands in mock surrender, folding her lips together as tight as she could to keep the plastic spoon from falling out of her mouth.

Miranda took the act as acceptance and turned away to fill her mug of cocoa powder with hot water and sugar, reaching for a spoon and starting to stir as she poured the water into the mug.

Shepard finished her yoghurt with a pop of her lips, dumping her carton in the bin and using her now free time to stare at the side of Miranda's face; forcing herself not to look away when Miranda's eyes locked with hers again.

"What?" Miranda snapped with a look of exasperation crossing her face, turning her face away from Shepard to stir her cocoa more slowly.

"You're not normally up this late," Shepard observed coolly, folding her arms and taking a step towards her XO so that she could just about see Miranda tense up slightly at the sound of Shepard's boot scuffing the floor. "What's up Lawson? Don't tell me you only came out here to stalk me."

Miranda's eyes flashed dangerously and Shepard took a step back, not really feeling up to being used as Miranda's punching bag. "Maybe I should go, you look like you're about to kick a puppy again."

Miranda sniffed sulkily and placed her spoon into the sink with a careless flick of her wrist, bringing the mug to her lips and looking at Shepard through half-lidded eyes.

It made Shepard's stomach squirm at such an unintentional ardour stare and instead of retreating like she had planned to, she took a step forward until she was just a breath away from her XO - practically invading Miranda's personal space.

"What do you want from me?" Shepard hissed through her teeth, suddenly feeling as though she was as high as a kite and that the adrenaline from her training session with Garrus today start to pump through her veins again at the memory. "I don't understand it, you're the only person on this vessel that I can't get my head around."

Miranda stared up at her with piercing blue eyes, the cold look never leaving yet still making Shepard feel weak in the knees; it was truly the most pathetic thing Shepard had ever allowed herself to feel. "The feelings mutual Shepard."

Shepard felt herself grow more irritated, feeling as though Miranda was nothing but a rash that had managed to wrap itself all around her and the only way to get any satisfaction was to scratch it, damn the consequences.

She slammed her hand on the counter, making Miranda flinch and for her eyes to harden. "I've got a name Lawson, use it!"

Miranda didn't miss a beat. "You seem to forget my name almost all the time Shepard even though I told you I wanted us to start again on better terms than last time. Damn it Shepard, I trust you but you don't seem to feel the same way."

"You're Cerberus!" Shepard roared with her hands gripping at her blonde locks, tugging at them in different directions to make them stick up even more. "What do you want me to say to you? Oh hey Miranda you're great and all but you work for the damned Illusive Man!"

"And what difference does that make?" Miranda snapped back with annoyance, taking a step forward until she had to tilt her head up to glare into Shepard's eyes, her own eyes flaring in rage.

"It makes a hell of a difference!" Shepard spat with such ferocity that her scars seemed to brighten with the red eerie glint Shepard still hadn't figured out. It had something to do with her mood, or so Chakwas had informed her. "You want to know why? Because as soon as this mission is over, I'm dropping Cerberus because despite what you want to believe Lawson I'm not working with Cerberus because I want to."

Miranda took a step backwards away from Shepard, tracing her forefinger around the angle of her chin and grimacing when Shepard merely growled at her silence. "So that's it then? You don't want to give Cerberus a second chance? After everything we've done for you?"

Shepard snarled and curled her fingers into fists, glaring directly at her XO. "How do I know you're not just messing around with me? Eh?" She took another step forward towards where Miranda had decided to rest herself against the kitchen's counter, looking arrogantly relaxed about the whole thing. "How the hell do I know?"

"You don't know." Miranda answered in such a simple tone, eyes shining in defiance and something else Shepard couldn't quite work out.

It made Shepard lose it completely and with a laugh she planted both palms of her hands on the counter at each side of Miranda's hips, resting her forehead on Miranda's own and shutting her eyes tightly to block out the shock that crossed the brunette's face.

Shepard breathed heavily against Miranda's face, feeling her body start to sag until she felt every single part of her torso mesh against Miranda's own; her forehead still clinging to Miranda's own like a lifeline.

"I helped you with Oriana." She mumbled ruggedly, lips caressing the skin of Miranda's nose. "And now you trust me? Why? I'm Alliance and you're Cerberus."

Miranda moved away from her slightly, tilting her head back so that Shepard's nose grazed her XO's neck instead; surprising Miranda when Shepard moved in closer to bury her nose into the crook of Miranda's neck.

"Shepard you've been at the alcohol again I think," Miranda murmured in a low but commanding tone, allowing her fingers to tighten around Shepard's wrists to squeeze at the skin roughly. "Come on, let go and we'll forget this happened."

"No!" Shepard barked angrily, ignoring Miranda's hot puffs of breath against her ear and shuddering to keep herself under control and not let her emotions get the better of her. "I'm not a fucking idiot. I know how Cerberus works, once we're finished here then we'll be back to being enemies again. Alliance and Cerberus."

Miranda snorted and attempted once more to pry Shepard off her, while the closeness was somewhat tempting (more than tempting) Miranda would not speak to Shepard when she was this way.

"I don't want to go against you," Shepard rumbled against Miranda's throat, making her XO shiver and for Shepard's sleep-addled mind to growl in want. "I don't want to fight you or Jacob. I don't want to fight anyone on this vessel. But I really don't want to fight you."

Miranda tilted her head down and pushed up Shepard's chin, running a hand against the bright red scars and allowing her eyes to latch onto them; examining them to stop herself from letting her mind wander onto the subject Shepard was mumbling sleepily about.

"Shepard I…" Miranda started but was cut off by a cough from the other end of the mess hall, making her quickly shove Shepard away from her with a cough and a flash of guilt when Shepard grunted and glared at her.

Shepard followed the sound of the cough with her eyes, her skin bristling and spurts of anger pushing through the fog of sleep, making her more awake and leaving room for the emotions that she had kept muted when with Miranda to spurt out in every direction.

"I can't even go to get myself a snack without you following me?" She snapped at the masked Cerberus agent, pushing away from the counter Miranda had shoved her against and walking bristly past him, expecting the agent to follow her.

When he didn't she turned right to head towards Kasumi's room, she needed someone to hold her for a while so she could have an easier time going to sleep.

This left Miranda alone with the Cerberus agent and the snakes in her stomach just seemed to wriggle harder when he bowed his head and walked away from her, heading back from wherever he had just come from.

She rubbed at her forehead with a sigh. It looked as though tonight would be longer than she had expected.