Kasumi was vexed. It had been cute at the beginning but it was already starting to exasperate her. After the initial attempts from Shepard's part she had assumed the task of examining Joker's afterthoughts. Cloaking, she had inspect his reactions after the Commander had left and that was how she knew that his nonchalant attitude was nothing but a façade.
She had witnessed his dispirited bearing once he was alone, his downhearted expression every time Shepard left his side. And she had to put an end to it.
"Sure, what can I do for you, sexy thief?" he asked continuing his masquerade
"Cut the crap Joker. I know everything" she said, short-fused already
"My, my, did Jaco-"
"Since when do you love Shepard?" she lash out evading his swagger
The bluntness of the attack made the blood flood abruptly to Joker's face, who was completely dumbfounded by Kasumi's question.
"Did the cat get your tongue Mr. Helmsman?" she said sitting in front of him
"What are you talking about?" Joker managed to stutter
"C'mon you don't have to lie to me. Cloaking you see? Very effective" she said enabling the mechanism in her suit
"Were you spying on me?! What kind of sick shit is this? Voyeur much? Is Jacob not enough?!" he bit back, yelling at the air around him
"Relax, Joker "she said appearing before him "Since when do you love Shepard?"
"That's none of your business" he said turning to face the controls, without contradicting her statement, "Now, leave" he blustered.
"Why do you shun her so bad?" she asked softly "I don't know what on earth you did to deserve her, but she loves you, you asswipe"
"No, she doesn't. She loves Kaidan, and don't talk about things you don't know" he replied with a grim expression
"No, she doesn't" she sighed, she didn't want to break Shepard's trust telling him what she knew, but she had to try her best "I watched you that's right, but I also observed her and I can assure you, you are wrong"
"Do you expect me to believe you entirely and just go and throw myself into Shepard's arms?" he yelled back. She had no right to tell him that, to lit false hopes in his heart. He was Shepard's friend, if she were interested in him, he would have found out by now.
"Maybe, yes" she said
"Hahahaha, you are out of your freaking mind" he said cackling hard
"Don't be such a jerk you ass and listen to me. I know for a fact that she loves you and I'm never wrong" she said with mischievous grin
For a moment he didn't stir. Looking intently at Kasumi, reflecting in what she had told him.
"Even if what you say is true, and I'm not saying I believe you" he said drawling his words "I'd never do that, and you know why? Because she deserves someone better than me, better than a cripple bitter ill-tempered pilot" he ended shouting, irked beyond limits.
"I'd agree with you, but that is her choice, not yours" Kasumi replied, relentless "Are you willing to let her go, despite what I've told you? Are you willing to watch her settle with another man?"
"It's what I've been doing since I met her" he said with a gloomy expression "Or do you think I felt nothing while she and Kaidan canoodled around the SR-1?"
"That was the past, in another life Joker. This is the present we are talking about!" Kasumi couldn't believe the man. Sensing that her efforts were futile, she stood up "She loves you Joker. For your own good, step up"
God knows you brought this upon yourself Joker.
She had to set in motion the Plan B.