_Garrus_
There was no way.. Garrus was trudging back and forth in the battery. His thoughts were lingering on what the day could be...
It was the 26th. Shepard had turned the geth on in a matter of a couple of hours. Tali wasn't happy about it, but Garrus thought otherwise. If it was willing to help he didn't see why they would just toss it out the airlock and be done with it. No, they wouldn't do that. Legion, as he's called, didn't seem like he was going to attack at any moment.
Why was he so worried about today? It wasn't like the galaxy was going to end if he didn't remember one human holiday. It was a couple years ago... he remembered that before the Normandy went down.. she said something about a week or day off.. because of a holiday...
He shook his head. Why did he have to be so stupid! EDI knows EVERYTHING. Garrus put a hand to his face and sat down on a crate. His head hurt and the thinking was making it worse. Lack of sleep? It didn't matter. ~I can't believe I'm doing this..~ He thought and looked to the ceiling.
"Uh, EDI." The blue circle popped up next to him. "Yes, Officer Vakarian?" Garrus cleared his throat.
The uneasy tension in the room squeezed the living courage out of him. ~Shit, I can't get myself out now..~ "Look, I was wondering. You know what today is-" "Yes, I am aware. Your concern?" EDI quickly put in. Garrus looked at his feet and breathed in. "Can you list other human holidays there are today?" There was a long and excruciating silence. Garrus couldn't take it anymore. "EDI?" Garrus hollered, and the orb beside him shimmered a bit.
"I apologize. I was searching. There are no known human holidays today, Garrus. Could you perhaps be looking for a birthday?" Garrus lifted his head. "Birthday?" "Correct, there are 5,147,120,984,105,398 birthdays on June 26th. Which one would you like to discuss?"
Garrus sat in silence. "Is there anyone on this ship who has a birthday today?"
EDI was silent once again. Garrus' frustration was growing immensely. Straight answers weren't the nature of this AI. "That information is classified." Garrus raised a brow plate.
"Classified? What do you mean, 'classified'?" "The birth dates you require are classified."
Garrus wanted to throw something at the wall. What good was it to tell him about birthdays and then tell him they were 'classified'. "Spirits." Garrus hissed and glared at the blue orb. "You've got to be kidding me!"
"I'm sorry, Vakarian. The dates you requested are classified." EDI blipped. "Is there anything else you'd like to discuss?" Garrus stood up and walked toward the door. "No." The blue light disappeared and Garrus was headed to the bridge. If there was anything going on today... Joker would be the one to tell.
_Kiana_
I wanted to lie down and doze off somewhere. At this point it didn't matter where I fell. I just needed sleep. Dreams and thoughts crippled my sleeping habits. I haven't had a good-night's sleep for a very long time. It was just getting on my nerves now. I can't concentrate. My mind dozes off.
I need five doses of coffee before I can start the day.
I was standing at the Galaxy Map. Simple mining did less damage to my emotions and thinking process. I felt a cold chill down my back. I was starting to feel dreadful for the past couple of days. I know that being sleep deprived does awful things to you, but I've tried everything to help me sleep. Leaning over the railing, I felt my mind drifting again. My birthday was today...
My inner worries were eating at me again. ~What if they remembered? I'd be jeopardized. My whole confidence and self esteem would lower into a dark abyss deep in the depths of space.~ Why am I thinking like this?~ I wasn't sure why I felt this way.
My chest was swelling... I was thinking about that Turian again. Why was he such a bother?
I rubbed my face and felt like dropping to the floor. I know Kelly had noticed my hours of rest and sleep were deteriorating.
I wanted to go up to the Battery and fall asleep... That feels like the only place I get "real" sleep. I needed Garrus.. I had to admit it too myself eventually. Startled out of my thoughts, I heard an all too familiar voice. Speak of the devil.. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Garrus' grumpy tone came from behind me. Shoot.. he knows. I'm busted now. I heard him come closer, and my heart thumped so hard I thought it was trying to pound it's way out of my chest. I didn't bother turning... bad idea.
A rough hand grabbed my arm and turned me around. "Kiana." I stared into his cold blue eyes. I seemed to get lost in them. At a loss for words, I felt his hands go to my wrists. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked softer now. His tone was soft and pleading. I was choking down everything that was threatening to come out of my throat.
"Tell you what, Garrus?" I choked. "You know damn well what, Shepard." He took a step forward and I was pressed against the railing. He was creating a scene... This will be bad for my work.. I won't ever concentrate correctly again!
"I- I.. Can we not discuss this here?" I asked. My voice was steady, but I was truly trembling. This was embarrassing...
I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. Garrus' mandibles widened and I felt like slapping him. "Garrus, let go of my wrists..." He didn't seem to hear me because his hands inched up my arms. A long shiver went through my body... I'd never been 'touched' like this.
I was becoming an emotional wreck. "Garrus, let go." He didn't answer and stepped forward again. I was trapped between a hot Turian and a cold railing that was becoming warm under the heat that was radiating through my body.
His arms reached my shoulders, and he nuzzled my forehead. "Happy birthday." He whispered softly. " I was going to make you do the "Happy Birthday Dance", but I was considering doing it myself instead." "What in the hell is the birthday dance and you can't dace even if you wanted to!" I laughed. My heart nearly melted, my eyes were about to too. I needed to get out of here. "Oh, I'll show you some day." He said and ran his talons through my hair. My first thought was to tug out of his grip and rush past him... but my body wasn't willing to budge. Instead of leaving I leaned into him and placed my hands on his armored chest...
That was it. Damn, I'm caught in now. The sexy beast has done it.. dragged me in like a sea bass...
Damn, him. His arms wrapped around my shoulders. I felt like I was being held by pure love. Oh, dear... what have I gotten myself into? I'm never going to get out of this mess now.
We remained like this for awhile until Garrus slowly let go and nuzzled my forehead. "It would have been nice to know that it was today. You know.. I wish 'you' would have told me, Kiana." He said and started to back away a bit. I was at a loss for words and my fuzzy feelings had now taken place of the butterflies.
He started to walk away. "I'll uh.. talk to you later. If you want to talk. You know where I'll be." He said and entered the elevator. I was completely frozen. My body was still unwilling to move and once the doors closed I almost fell backward..
I looked over at Kelly who had a smug smirk on her face.
"Get back to work!"
AN HOUR LATER...
I went up to my room and sat in the sea of datapads on the floor. I needed to sort them. EDI reported that she'll have the IFF installed as soon as possible. It was now a waiting game. Our next destination was the heretic station. I was worried. I'd never been really 'worried' before, but I started to think about how something could go wrong. What if it's all a trap and they suspect us. They have their forces ready for us when we get through the relay. I wanted to throw my head against the wall.
I felt like I was going to let my crew down...
_Garrus_
Garrus took a deep breath when the elevator doors closed. That had been too intimate. Damn it. He slammed a fist into the wall of the elevator. She needed some sort of support.. but these feelings he was having about Shepard was becoming his enemy. She might not like it? He had no idea whether or not had 'wanted' his support. When he had walked up to her and touched her... his body had taken control. All of his thoughts were gone and his body took control of itself.
"Spirits, that can't happen again." He muttered and shook his head. He loved Kiana. More now than ever. For some reason he wanted more than friendship from her. They were soldiers for spirit's sake! They can't be doing this now of all time and places! Garrus headed back toward the battery. He was mentally playing out an apology.
AN HOUR LATER...
Garrus was now on his way up to the Capitan's quarters. He hadn't seen Kiana in the CIC and EDI had given him a tip of where she'd been. Garrus continued to replay his apology and how it might go.. his mind took him somewhere where he didn't really 'want' to go... but yet again maybe he did...
IN GARRUS' MIND ON THE WAY UP IN THE ELEVATOR...
I exited the tiny elevator and knocked on the captain's door. I knew exactly what I was going to say..
"Come in." I heard a voice call from inside. I walked in and found Kiana sitting at her desk...
We turned on a conversation and I interrupted her at one point.
"You know," I started, "there was this incident on a cruiser I was on when I was still in the Turian military. I had been working on and off with C-sec. We were about to hit a Batarian Pirate squad. This recon scout and I had been at each other's throats. Nerves, mostly. She suggested we settle it in the ring." "Sparring?" I nodded.
Shepard stands and leans against the nearest wall. Arms crossed, while sinking into one hip..
"You took her down.. gently right?"
"Actually she and I were the top ranked hand-to-hand specialists on the ship. I had reach, but she had flexibility. It was brutal. After nine rounds, the judge called it a draw. There were a lot of unhappy betters in the training room."
Kiana chuckled. "Okay, that's-" "I'm not done." I interrupt and continued...
"We, ah, ended up holding a tiebreaker in her quarters. I had reach, but she had flexibility. More than one way to work off stress, I guess."
Kiana pushes off the wall and approaches me, glaring mischievously. "I have an idea."..
She growls and wraps her arms around my neck. "Why don't we test your reach... and my flexibility."
There was a silence until she spoke again. "You know, the tiebreaker?" She looks at me with bright dark blue eyes..
DAMN IT!
The elevator stopped and Garrus was startled out of his daydream. Suddenly wishing that whatever he was thinking about would happen... were these bad or good thoughts? Hmm.. maybe both? Last time he recalled.. thinking thoughts about screwing your commander weren't in any do or don't instruction manuals. He found himself standing at the door. Doing absolutely nothing..for multiple minutes.
He was trying to play this out in his head.. He sighed and took a deep breath before knocking. "Come in." Same voice and tone.. had he predicted this? He was thinking so much that he didn't 'enter' the room he just stood outside the door. Until, Kiana called again. "Hello?" Garrus shook his head and stood up straight before entering. The first place he looked was at he desk. No Shepard.. His eyes wandered until he saw Kiana sitting on the floor with a heap of datapads around her.
"What are you doing here, Garrus?" There was a momentary silence and Garrus was off in his own world again. "Garrus?" He looked at her and came back to reality. "Oh, sorry. Uh, thinking." He pointed to his head and walked to the stairs and stood in front of her. He scratched at the back of his neck. "Uhm, sooo. What are you doing with those datapads?" She looked up from the one she was holding and raised an eyebrow. His apology! Right, "I uh. Look, Shepard, I'm sorry for earlier. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable-"
"Are you alright?" He stared at her and stopped scratching at his neck. "What do you mean? Uh, yeah. I'm fine why?" "You're pale." He raised a brow plate at her. "I'm always pale." She narrowed her gaze and dropped the datapad into a stack of others. "Paler than usual." She started getting up and Garrus' breath hitched in his throat as she started pushing him back toward her desk and flicked on a light.
"Yeah, you're really pale, and cold!" She said and raised a hand to his forehead. "We need to get you to Mordin!" She put in quickly. Was this a diversion? She started pushing him toward the elevator. Surprisingly enough, he let her. They were in the elevator and Garrus sighed. "Shepard, I'm fine can we please talk for a moment?" Kiana didn't look at him. She was grinning softly. What was into her?
"Sure, Garrus." "Look, Kiana. About earlier, I know I made you uncomfortable and that was my mistake-" "Hey, look a space hamster!" She pointed to the floor and Garrus followed her finger. It was just floor. He looked up at her and was about to continue when the doors opened. "Ah, we're here. Let's go." Garrus was about to yell at her, but held his anger and tongue back.
She grabbed his collar and yanked him through the CIC and toward Mordin's lab. They entered and Garrus knew this was a bad idea already. "Shepard, I really think-" "Hey, Mordin. Can you do me a favor and give Garrus here a check up? He's been looking a little pale lately. I just wanted to check with you if he's alright." Mordin looked from Kiana to Garrus and nodded. "Of course, Commander." "Thanks, Mordin." Shepard strode out of the lab and left Garrus standing in front of Mordin's table.
"Hey." Garrus said and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Hello, are you feeling alright? You look normal." Mordin took out his omni-tool and started scanning Garrus while nodding his head. "Everything is normal. Why did she drag you here?" Garrus shook his head. "I don't know! She's acting strange! Ever since..." Mordin grinned widely and nodded.
"Rumor has it that you and Shepard are close, yes?" Garrus nodded and shifted his feet. "Well, different species react differently to stress. Shepard, is experiencing major mental, emotional, and physical stress. There are some human women try to hide there feelings by pretending to be happy. Some just act strange or unusual. Some just show it. All of these possibilities are endless, but Shepard is acting strange because of stress."
Garrus was absolutely silent while Mordin typed something into his omni-tool. "Okay, so she's..stressed?" "Correct, I've also seen signs of strangeness around you and no one else." "Your point?" Garrus didn't really want to hear this, but he let Mordin go on. "She's trying staying away from you. It is because she either doesn't want anything to do with you or she likes you. Humans are very strange when it comes to 'feelings'." Garrus was still processing everything. So she could like him and couldn't.
Garrus shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "So?" "So, I'm going to send multiple interspecies catalogs and instruction manuals to your terminal they might be useful. Oh, yes! Make sure you're gentle with Shepard. I have rash and external sensitive cream if she's interested."
Garrus was still silent. He knew this wasn't a great idea from the start. "You have got to be kidding me." Garrus blurted and Mordin shook his head. "Shocking solution! No, not toying with you. Quite serious actually. Enjoy your time. Will be here studying cell reproduction. Much simpler. Less alcohol and mood music required."
Garrus headed out of the lab and walked aimlessly back to the main battery. Had Mordin just suggested intercourse with Shepard? If he had.. Garrus hated that Salarian...
_Shepard_
I walked out of the lab and as the door closed I leaned against it. I put my hands to my face and sighed. I was running now. Every time Garrus comes around I can't focus! All my mind can think is, "Garrus. Garrus, Garrus." I wanted to bang my head into a wall until my brains fell out. Why am I like this? Do I...love Garrus? Not as in a neutral love, like 'friendly love', but.. as in love? Love?
I'm losing my mind! I walked toward the bridge. "How's it?" I asked him. He was sitting in his usual spot... flying the ship. I stood behind him and he turned his head. "Every thing's fine so far. We're almost to the geth.. uh.. base thingy." I nodded and hesitated about what I was about to ask. But you know me, I asked anyway. "Um, Joker. Do you know, like, signs if you're in...love?" I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose.
I opened and closed an eye when saw Joker's chair turn around and his face made me feel sick to my stomach. "Commander, are you... in love? With someone?" I opened an eye and retorted. Feeling my cheeks become hot. "What do you think?" He raised his eyebrows. "Well, I'll be damned!" Joker leaned in and looked around.. "Tell me... is it me?" He smiled brightly and put his elbow on the chair while laying his chin on his fist. His smile was...cheesy.
"No, goddamnit!" I cursed and stamped one of my feet. My boot hit the floor with a loud rattling thud. "Just answer the damn question, Jeff!" He chuckled and went on smiling. "Well, you hug.. you do something get a little intimate and get close. Then you avoid each other.. and uh, yeah.. then you get all lovey-dovey and touchy-feely and you're hooked." "Shit." I cursed and Joker laughed. "Um, I'm just curious. Who is it? Is it Kaidan?" I almost irrupted. Well, I kind of did. "HELL, no!" He chucked again. "Alright then who?"
I looked down and went to turn around and leave. "None of your business." Then a blue 'ORB' came out of no where and started blabbering! "Officer Vakarian?" "Damn it! EDI, leave me alone!" I said stomping off. I heard the two still conversing. "Ha, It's about time!" He called after me and turned to EDI. "How'd you know?" "Lucky guess."
_Garrus_
Garrus had been ordered to stay on the ship.. again. He'd just about had enough of her strange attitude. She wasn't acting normally and he was upset that it was because of him. They couldn't go into the collector base like this. The slate needs to be clean. No worries and no stresses but the mission. That wasn't the case right now. He was causing her stress, which irritated him to no end.
He was going to settle this... but first he wanted to.. 'explore'. Garrus was in the battery and was now on his terminal... erm. .. . 'researching'. He was looking or 'checking' what Mordin had sent him. It wasn't a surprise that the Salarian had simply started something for him other than fantasizing. Garrus actually had somewhere to go with this. She wasn't going to open up.. so maybe he should first.
He continued looking through the files and research.. when someone he wasn't expecting walked in..
"Greetings, Garrus." Thane was standing in the door way with his posture the same as always. Garrus..could have swore he had smelled something odd.. but he hadn't heard anything since the Drell was far swifter on his feet than Garrus was. Thane had actually almost scared him. Garrus minimized the windows and turned around. "Ah, Krios. Your...visit.. well, I wasn't expecting you."
"No, I suppose you weren't, my apologizes if I frightened you." Garrus chuckled. It was more of a fake laugh. "Frightened me? Nah, I..just.. didn't expect you to be here of all places." He stated, and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Hmm.. Well, I came here to ask you how you are doing. You seem to be troubled. Is there a reason?" Thane was staring at Garrus with his big black eyes. Damn it. His mind was swimming. He was wondering how the Drell had even come to notice his uneasiness.
"Um, I uh. That's-" "I think I already understand. It is Shepard isn't it?" Garrus nodded solemnly and went to the railing. He leaned against it with his back to Thane. "May I be of assistance?" Garrus scratched his mandible and looked down. "I don't see how you can be of assistance, Thane." Thane walked into the middle of the room. He didn't want to completely invade the Turian's space.
"You have to remember I was once married. I have been through this sort of thing. I have experience."
Garrus shook his head and smiled. "Alright, what info do you have for me?" Garrus turned and leaned with his back on the railing. He glanced at the Drell and crossed his arms and legs. "What do you want to know?" "Well, I've already gotten the 'memo' from Solus, so I think you can skip that part."
Thane chuckled lightly. "I understand. You must have questions I presume." Garrus went through different questions in his mind. What was right to ask this green lizard? "Well," Garrus scratched at his fringe. "how would I hold hands with her?" That was something that was on his mind constantly. He had three digits, she had five. It was going to be a mess more or less. "How would I kiss her? I can't! How would I.. aw damn it! I don't even have any romantic skills to be heard of and I'm in love with my commanding officer!" He clutched his head and growled deeply.
Nothing frustrated him more than him knowing that something wouldn't work, but he continues to work at it anyway. "Slow down, Garrus. First of all. No, you will not be able to kiss her like I could or another human man could. You have lip plates, but not lips. However, this does not mean you would not be able to kiss her."
Garrus raised his eyes. Now he was interested. "You are able to nuzzle her." Garrus thought about what he had done to her that early afternoon. He'd nuzzled her forehead... It was an equivalent of a kiss, but just in a Turian way... but she hadn't known that. At least he thought she didn't. "I have noticed that you already do that. I've seen it and I know it is like a kiss correct? Oh yes, and the forehead gesture. That is an equivalent of a 'kiss' in Turian culture, yes?" Thane knew more than Garrus thought.. "I have studied many different cultures. It is required for my work."
Garrus was silent as he thought of a reply. "I guess." Garrus rubbed his neck nervously and sighed. "You will make the hand holding work. Yes, it may be difficult at first, but you will get used to it." Garrus nodded. The two men were silent for many moments. The room was quiet until an alarm on Thane's omni-tool went off. "Ah, I must get to my exercises with Samara. If you need anything, Garrus, just let me know." The Drell left with a bow. Before Thane got too far, Garrus stopped him in his tracks. "Thane." Garrus called and the Drell stopped and turned his upper body.
"Thanks." Thane nodded and walked toward life support. Garrus felt a little better. No, Garrus felt much better since he was reassured. Thane had always seemed to come out of nowhere at the right moment. "Spirits." Garrus muttered under his breath and covered his face with his hands. He was a wreck... Well, back to researching!
_Shepard_
"We need to get out of here! Let's move people!" I yelled and started running toward the open door. The Heretic station was sending out a 'pulse' that would kill all life forms...inside it or at a radius of who-knows-how-many-mies. So, we were currently running and gunning our way out of this hunk-a-junk. I ran and saw the airlock, but I was too slow to realize that I was about to be shot by an enormous geth hunter that seemed to come out of nowhere. "Shepard!" Tali yelled and pushed me to the ground as a large rocket came swirling above my head.
"Tali, you saved my life." I thanked her. We were now huddled behind the only cover in the middle of the room. Tali nodded, "Don't mention it. Remember, it's not the first time." I shrugged. Tali and I had become like sisters again... she always knew what I was thinking an I knew what she was thinking. It wasn't really surprising, but just having her by me again made me feel just a little more complete.
"Legion, can you get it's attention for a moment?" I called to him. He nodded and bleeped an 'acknowledged' before coming out of his cover and shooting at the blasted thing. Tali sent out her drone and I took out my collector beam. I peeked out of cover and shot the thing until it blew. We then nailed some more geth and ran to the airlock. "Joker, get us out of here." I called to him the second I walked through the airlock.
I bent over my knees and snapped off my helmet. "My lord it was cold in that station." Tali giggled softly at me and I smacked her arm. "What?"
_Garrus_
Garrus was still in the battery and little did he know that Kiana was back and settling in already. He'd been ingrained in his 'research' that he had forgotten that Shepard was off of the ship. Garrus looked at the time and frowned. Were they back yet? What was taking so long if they weren't? He didn't bother looking up from his terminal as he spoke to the AI of the ship. "EDI, has Shepard and her team gotten back yet?" Garrus waited for the blue light to show across the room. "Yes, they arrived approximately 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 54 seconds ago."
Garrus' gaze moved to the orb across the room. "2 hours? Where are they?" "Shepard and Tali are sitting in the mess, and Legion is in the AI core." They're outside his door and he hadn't heard them? He was losing his touch or his sanity. "You've got to be kidding.." He went and opened the door. He heard laughter and Tali talking. Kiana.. was laughing. Garrus watched her from afar. Watching her eyes smile and her lips curve into an enormous smile. Her dark hair was resting on her shoulders and he noticed that she'd never let it get that long.
He was startled out of staring at her when her gaze met his. Crap. He quickly walked away and closed the door. He heard giggles and whispers follow. A "SHUT UP." erupted from Kiana and Tali went on laughing hysterically.
_Kiana_
I threw the magazine I had in my hands at Tali and she continued to giggle. "Keep it down." I hissed and shot out of my seat. "I'll talk to you later." I called back to Tali. She has been back for nearly three weeks now. We talked a lot when we both had time. I entered the elevator and I went to close the door when a green hand stopped the door. I could have guessed. "Greetings, Commander. May I join you?"
I hesitantly nodded. He walked in and pressed the button to my quarters. "Can we speak about something for a moment?" Once we were half way up he stopped the elevator and turned to me. "I've noticed some distress in you for a couple of weeks. Are you alright?" I rubbed my forearm and ran a hand through my hair. "Thane, I'm fine." His head cocked to the side. "Really?" "Yes, Thane really."
He rubbed his chin with a thumb and looked away. "I still sense your stress. What is the matter? You may tell me anything." I nearly stomped my foot and sighed. "Thane, I really can't do this right now!"
I went to push past him to get to the elevator pad, but he stepped in front of me. "Shepard, you need to stop avoiding him." I let my mouth slightly drop open. I shook my head. "If this is about.. Garrus. I'm not listening to what you have to say." I snipped and tried to go around him.
My arm was grabbed and I was gently held in place. "He needs you to talk to him." "I can't do that!" "Why not?" "I just-" I dug my hands in my hair. I was getting a huge headache. Tugging at my hair I leaned against the wall of the damned elevator. "I can't. I.. I get too distracted. If I see him.. think about him. I can't stop. I..I don't know why!" I slouched down to the floor, still gripping my head.
"I get distracted and can't focus on work. My hands shake every time he's close. My whole head swells up with stupid idiotic thoughts and they never stop!" I paused to take a deep breath. "I'm turning into a pile of shit because of him!" "Because you love him, correct?" I looked up from the floor in astonishment. Although, I knew it was true. My mouth was running and now it's not going to stop until I can't find anything more to say.
"No! That's.. no that can't be it." I heard soft footsteps and Thane squatted down in front of me. "It must be. Why don't you confess how you feel?" "Because! I can't fuck with feelings right now! I'm already a wreck as it is." I closed my eyes. "If I confess, if he confesses. If either of us makes a move.. I won't be able to do this!" I felt Thane take my hands out of my hair and raise my chin. He took my hands in his and looked my in the eye. "Kiana, you will be able to get through this mission whether you love him or not. I know you will."
My eyes slightly narrowed at him. "How do you-" "I know many things you do not. Your name was a small piece of information I've known, but it does not matter." "What do you mean it 'does not matter'?" I retorted and took my hand away to run it through my hair again. I groaned and squeezed my eyes shut. "Thane, please just leave this alone!" He shook his head. "Not until you promise me something." I looked at him and frowned.
_Garrus_
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER...
The Battery was quiet and all the same as usual. Garrus was at his terminal fiddling with the battery pulse. The pulse engine in the gun's firing main holster had been freaking out for a couple of hours and Garrus was trying to figure out why. He slammed a hand on the terminal and cursed loudly. He hadn't seen Shepard for days now. She hadn't spoken to him or even bothered to stop by. He was starting to think that Mordin had been right. She was avoiding him..
He hoped there was a good reason. "Everyone get down to the shuttle. Weapons of any sort are not needed only if it's an emergency knife or something. Everyone means: Tali, Thane, Grunt, Samara, Mordin, Kasumi, Miranda, Jacob, Jack, and Legion.' Garrus scratched his head and stared at the celling. "EDI?" Garrus groaned. "Commander, what about officer Vakarian?" EDI said. She'd actually announced it to the whole ship. "Uh," Shepard's voice came aloud. "hhm, yeah him too." She mumbled and turned off the comm.
Had she purposefully left him out or did she really forget about him? It didn't really matter, but to him it actually hurt... not physically. Well, you know. Garrus grabbed his utility knife and headed down to the shuttle. He ran into Thane and Samara on his way down also. The silence was thick between the three of them. Thane cleared his throat and looked to Garrus. "Has she spoken to you yet?" Garrus looked at the Drell in confusion.
"What?" Thane looked away and nodded. "Sometimes she reminds me of a varren." Now Samara was looking at Thane in confusion. "Did you perhaps just compare the Commander to a varren?" Thane looked at Samara. "Hhm, I made a promise with her. She hasn't kept it. I simply stated that she reminds me of a stubborn varren." Garrus had to admit. . . That was probably the strangest thing he has ever heard Thane say..
Garrus shook his head and snickered. Well, you could compare her to a varren if she was being overly stubborn. Most varren are defined as stubborn. The elevator door opened and they all exited and went to the shuttle. The cargo bay was full of...that smell. Shit. Garrus was getting stuffy. He smelled her. He hadn't smelled that cucumber-y, fruity, just... Shepard smell for days. His senses were tingling which wasn't good in this case. He straightened and took a deep breath. Keep it together, Vakarian. He told himself over and over while following the others.
Once they were all packed in the shuttle the one thing he noticed that was off was... of course. Shepard wasn't on-board. Garrus looked around and he watched the others take their seats. It was defiantly crowded. Spirits, was it crowded! Garrus took in to note that the seat beside him was empty.. He was in the back against the wall of the shuttle. He could only imagine who could be sitting there...
"Alrighty, you're all probably wondering why you're here. Well, we are hitting a shore leave before we go into hell.
I hope some of you have backup weapons just in case. As you know we're never safe. So, we have to take the shuttle because of the IFF testing and installation so please sit tight. We'll be at Illium in twenty minutes."
Kiana paused in her tracks when she looked for any open seats. Her eyes loomed over every crew member and her eyes stopped at Garrus who was sitting next to the only open seat. He saw her swallow nervously and her eyes lingered on everything but him as she walked over. He noticed the tenseness in her shoulders and in her step. She was in her casuals as usual. His breath hitched when she sat beside him. This was going to be interesting...
_Kiana_
I tapped my fingers in my lap and tried desperately not to look up from the floor. I knew if I did I wouldn't be able to look away. It was an embarrassing thought. I've been trying to avoid him, but something told me that my plan wasn't going to last much longer. I tucked my hands in between my legs and felt the shuttle rumble off.
I carefully covered my right side of my face with hair and was trying not to look over. I felt Kasumi squirm to my left. She was looking at me and nudged my leg. I looked over at her and she bent to whisper in my ear. "Did something happen?" I shook my head and looked back to the floor. Kasumi, Kasumi, always so nosy. "Then why are you two look like something happened?" "Nothing happened, Kasumi." I shot back quietly and put my elbows on my thighs.
Kasumi pulled back and sat quietly again. It was over five minutes before we were all tired of being cramped. Grunt complained of being hungry, and everyone wanted to be out of here. I was so ready to get to Illium. A rumble startled me out of my thinking. "We are going through a series of turbine hiccups. Just hold on. It should be over in a minute."
~Great~ I thought. The rumbling was like an earthquake. The hiccups made the whole shuttle and everyone inside shake. I wasn't holding on to anything, so when it started I almost fell out of my seat. "Shit." I muttered and grabbed onto the left handle bar above me. I let out a gruff sigh as it ended and felt something peculiar in my right hand. I slowly looked over and saw that I'd used Garrus' thigh for support.
~Oh. . .My. .Crap~ I lifted my hand, startled. Shoot. My mind and heart were racing. I could feel his eyes on me and my hands were quickly tucked back into the safety of my thighs. I looked at my jeans and scratched at my arm. The ride was seemed longer than it really was. 20 minutes seemed like two hours. We were actually lucky that we were orbiting close to Illium.
Otherwise this trip would have been unbearable. I suddenly remembered the data chip in my pocket. It had memories on it mostly. Pictures that were taken when I was little. I'd planned to take it into a shop on Illium that could transfer the data to my omni-tool. I knew that EDI probably could have done it, but I felt I needed someone professional to do it. Someone who's been doing it for a long time you know? Anyway..
We landed and everyone evacuated. Of course I waited until everyone was out before I left. I counted everyone as they left and was missing one.. I hadn't seen Garrus walk out. I turned to see Garrus still sitting next to me. He was looking off in the distance. The pilot came out of the mini cockpit and eyed both of us. "I'm staying here until you're ready to leave, Commander." I nodded and thanked him. He disappeared again and the shuttle door closed. This wasn't going to be good. I need to get out of here. I quickly stood up, but I felt a tug on my arm. I hesitated to look.. and didn't. "I have a few things to say to you." I closed my eyes and forced myself to stay on my own side.
"I don't think I want to hear it right now." I said and yanked my hand from his grip. I opened the shuttle door and walked out. As I walked I kept walking until I came to an empty hall and slid down one of it's walls. I gripped my head and let out a loud groan. I'd just ditched my best friend. One of my only best friends. Alone. I just walked away.. Again. I fisted my eyes and sighed. I need a drink.
_Garrus_
Garrus sat in the shuttle. Silently cursing himself. What had he done to make her hate him all of a sudden? Had she not liked the closeness. Was he pushing it too much? He shook his head and laid his head in his hands. Garrus was contemplating on what to do. He was getting tired of being ran away from... Frankly, most of every woman 'came' to him. Not 'ran away'. This was a first for him. He had no idea what to do! Was he suppose to keep chasing her or give up?
Sighing, he stood up and marched himself to Eternity. Maybe a couple of drinks could clear his head.
_Kiana_
I sat down at a table with Jack. She was having a drinking contest with Grunt.. I was very indecisive of whether Jack and.. ESPECIALLY Grunt should be having a 'drinking' contest. I shook my head. It's a 'shore leave' I decided to leave them alone. I knew I'd get crap about it later. I grabbed some beer and watched them drink their asses off. The contest went on until Jack began to fumble with her glass and ended up spilling it on the table. "AW, SHIT." She yelled and sloppily slammed her hands on the table. "That's a tie. I... wo-n." She muttered and Grunt laughed.
"Drunk woman. I won and you know it." Jack shook her head drunkly. "Uh huuuh, I won you.. . . huge- Fugly, dinosaur." Grunt snorted and took one last chug of his brandy. "Sloppy human stomach. You can't fill your Hanar with jelly until you make a Pyjack piss oil on a sunnyyyday's something... that was wet in a Varren mouth..uhheerr. . . Volus." I raised an eyebrow at Grunt. "What?" "I said. . You can't.. piss. .your.. Volus.. jelly intil istt ooil liff hhnar." Grunt hiccuped and fell out of the booth. Jack laughed drunkly and pointed at him.
"Krogan, went.. . fall." The drunk laughing went on for about five minutes until she was fast asleep. Her body was flopped everywhere. I chuckled to myself and sipped a little of my beer. I thought of something that wasn't bright.. but I felt like.. doing it. I carefully picked up Jack's hand and attempted to put her thumb in her mouth. Her hand went limp again and most of her fingers sat in her open mouth.
I chuckled and got up, stepping over the sleeping/unconscious Krogan on the floor. I grabbed a towel that was on a nearby table and wiped up Jack and Grunt's mess. I was told that if I wasn't a soldier I would have ended up being a maid of some sort or other. I was great at cleaning. I didn't think it was 'fun' I did it for other's benefit mostly..
I took the took the brandy soaked towel to the bartender. I noticed the familiar shine of blue armor as I approached the counter. I saw the Asari talking to him. He was probably just telling old war stories.. after all, Aethyta enjoyed sharing her family stories. I walked up a great meter away from where Garrus was sitting and placed the towel on the counter. As I walked away I saw eyes on me and the Matriarch nod her head at me. I felt a little uneasy. Knowing I was being talked about was never really comfortable for anyone...
_Garrus_
Garrus walked into Eternity just in time to see Grunt and Jack at a table having at it. He wanted to watch, but before he would ever go over there Kiana would have had to leave the table first. She was silently watching the two drink it off head-to-head. Sighing to himself, he went to sit at the bar. He got a strong brandy and leaned over the counter swishing the drink around in the cup.
"What's got your armor in a knot?" The bartender asked. She was wiping out a glass with a white towel. He shrugged. "Why do you ask?" She finished with wiping the glass and set it down on the back counter. Then she stood in front of Garrus. "I don't know. The look on your face. Your tenseness. I can tell you're not looking good." Garrus shook his head and took a swig of his drink.
"Come on, Vakarian. I've known you for awhile, but I also know when you're depressed or worried about something." Garrus sighed. "It's none of your business, Aethyta." Garrus said and left the topic where it was. He didn't want to talk about it. Not here. Not now. Probably Not ever. "Look, if you don't want to talk about it that's fine. I'll drop it. I was just wondering if I could have helped." The Asari turned and went back to wiping her glasses. Garrus held his head and groaned softly. Why couldn't anything be less complicated?
"It's just, someone's avoiding me. I don't know what I did and she keeps walking away. I'm not sure if I should leave it alone or not." Aethyta turned quickly and laughed aloud. "So that's what you're so upset about! A woman. Vakarian, really?" Garrus looked up and glared. "Are you going to offer some advice or laugh at my incompetence?" "Vakarian, you..." She paused and turned to look at a woman that had come up and laid a soaking towel on the counter.
Out of his peripheral vision Garrus noticed that it was Shepard. He turned to watch her walk away. Mentally sighing, he turned his head and took a long chug of his brandy. "It was her wasn't it? Vakarian! You've got the hots for the Commander?" Garrus scoffed and took yet another large drink of his brandy. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He said sarcastically. Aethyta slammed a hand on the counter and whistled. "Man, you should seriously push that. Have you seen her hips? What about her abs? I bet she has abs. Her hair is longer than I'd imagine for a soldier, but Vakarian. Why don't you get that ass?"
Garrus shook his head. "I don't care about her body. It's just... her that I admire. Her kindness. Her smile. Her ability to move on and go with the flow. Her ability to be strong in times that are heartbreaking or stressful. I want every part of her of course. I could care less about what she looked like. I just.. love her for who she is."
Garrus put his empty glass down and the Matriarch swooned for a moment. "That literally sounded like it came out of a romance novel. Do you read?" Garrus glared up at her and she lifted up her hands in defeat. "Sorry, right. Vakarian, you really know what to look for in a woman. Anyway, she's a human. So, she's probably running away because she likes you. A LOT. If she didn't she wouldn't give a Volus' ass about you."
"Look, Garrus. If she hasn't told you to stay away from her or go to hell. Then you're in luck." She said in a softer tone. "Shepard out of all people I know can't be that rude to someone. She's not a goody-two-shoes, but she's defiantly a badass. If you're waiting for an invitation to love her then you're very mistaken. If I were you I would go for her. If she's not going to chase you. Then that means you need to make a move."
Garrus sat and contemplated his options for a moment. There was a possibility that nothing would happen between them if neither of them did anything.. Garrus nodded. "Thanks, Aethyta." "Eh, what the hell? I was just helping. No need to thank me." She waved him off and Garrus got up and left the bar... thinking harder then he usually did.
_Kiana_
I sat back at the booth and put my elbow on the table and my chin in my hand. What to do.. I looked up when I saw Garrus. He looked like he was thinking. I could tell the difference between his thinking face and his upset face.. his thinking face was a mix of confusion and upset. I saw a familiar flash of green beside me. I looked over and saw Thane staring at me. His eyes looked serious and I knew what he was thinking.
Without a word I scrambled out of the booth and tripped over Grunt in the process. I got up and ran out the door. I ran to the next door which I slammed into because it had just closed on me. "Assh." I muttered and ran through when it opened again. "Ga.." I called weakly. I ran and when I caught up to him I grabbed his arm and stepped in front of him.
The surprise on his face told me he hadn't been expecting me to come after him. I watched his eyes mop over my face as I looked down and tried to find the words I needed to say. "I.. I'm sorry." I closed my eyes and raised my head to look him in the eye. "I'm sorry I haven't been..erm.. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you. I shouldn't be this way, but..." I was cut off by the familiar squished feeling.
I was pulled into a hug and he nuzzled my head. "Thank you." He muttered into my hair and I hesitantly leaned into the warmth. It was minutes until my omni-tool bleeped that we were like that. He let go of me and I cleared my throat and looked at my '1 new message' Titled: IMPORTANT. From: Joker. Hmm. This wasn't good. I read the message and my eyes widened.
"Fuck." I muttered and started at the screen until Garrus asked what was wrong. "The collectors.. they attacked the Normandy." I said and radioed the crew all at one time. "Normandy crew, get your asses back to the shuttle A.S.A.P we have an emergency and I mean it. I said, get to the shuttle. Shepard, out."
I was now speed walking back to the docking station with Garrus trailing behind. "What are we planning to do? Walk on the ship with the collectors still on it?" Garrus asked. I shook my head. "That would be suicide. No, Joker and EDI already took care of the collectors that were on board." When we made it back to the shuttle Samara, Kasumi, Miranda, Tali and Jacob were already in the shuttle waiting. I figured they had probably been shopping or walking around together.
I looked around the shuttle and glanced at all 5 of the empty seats. I buzzed the ones that were still out with my omni-tool. The buzz just makes their omni-tool bleep over and over again. I wasn't in the mood for dilly-dallying. At that moment Mordin ran into the shuttle trying to catch his breath. "Apologize, was looking for Legion. Hasn't come back, don't know where he his." Mordin slurred and sat down in an empty seat.
I beeped them again and waited. I started tapping my foot in my impatience. We need to get to the Normandy. I was about to rip my hair out when Thane brought Grunt who was mostly still asleep and laid him down in a chair. "Where's Jack?" I asked. Thane pointed a thumb toward the door. "She is coming." I heard slow footsteps outside the shuttle. I walked to the door and saw a very unhappy Jack sloppily dragging her feet toward the shuttle.
"Get in here! We need to go." I hissed at her and she quickly retorted. "Look boss lady. I am sick of your... Whatever just give me a fucking break, okay?" Wow, Jack actually held back her retort. I had noticed that something else had stirred in her for a couple of days now. She's gotten better, frankly I was starting to be pleased with her attitude. I glanced around the shuttle as Jack sat down. We were still missing Legion...
"Damn it, I'm going to go find him. Nobody move I'll be back." I stepped out of the shuttle and started speed walking and checking my omni-tool at the same time. I was tracking him of course. I glanced at the map that had pulled up Legion's location. Not looking up from my omni-tool very often I continued to walk toward the hall to the docking bay. I stopped in my tracks when I ran into someone. I looked up and saw a hooded.. girl. Human. She had long blazing red hair and she looked... familiar.. "I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going I should have been more careful." I said and the girl looked down and simply said, "It's okay." and quickly walked off.
I swore she looked familiar.. I don't have time for this! Once I was back to speed waking and watching where I was going I made it to the individual store stands. I looked over all of them and noticed a bundle.. of people crowding something. Most of them were Quarians.. This wasn't going to be good. I approached and heard what some of them were saying. "Really? Keelah. I didn't know there were good Geth." "There aren't they're all traitors and abominations!" I listened and knew Legion was in the thick of it.
That was it. I went to squeeze past two Volus' an Asari and more than six Quarians. I was abnormally shocked. My 'excuse mes' and 'pardon mes' didn't seem to be enough to break the crowd. You've got to be shitting me.. I backed away and took out my hidden pistol from my boot. Yeah.. I'm a soldier, I always have to have some sort of self-defense. I lifted my gun in the air and shot. Everyone spread out and locked their eyes on me. I put my gun in my boot and nodded toward all of them. "Yes, I'm a little pissed." "Shepard, Commander." I shook my head at him.
"Come on." I grabbed his.. eye.. thing and pulled him along. I heard distant murmurs as we walked away. Such as, "Do you recognize her?" and, "Is that Commander Shepard?" and so on. "Shepard Commander, we were coming, but we got stuck talking to a maker-" "Legion! You have no idea what's going on. I can't believe you!" "We are sorry." "How can you be sorry?" I took a deep breath and sighed as I pulled him along.
"This never happens again, understood? You always have someone accompany you when we are at places like this, understood?" "We understand." "Good." We made it back to the shuttle and I turned to notice that Garrus wasn't in his seat where I'd left him. "Where's Garrus?" I asked while Legion sat down. I turned around and saw him behind me. "Did.. you happen to follow me that whole time without me noticing?" I asked and he shrugged. "Maybe."
I wanted to smack the smile off of his face. I hated it when he acted smart.. I hated it because I adored it. Does that make any sense to you? I banged on the pilot's door and closed the shuttle door. Sitting down I didn't feel right.. almost like I was missing something. I reached into my pocket and found it empty.. The data chip was gone..
Well, I couldn't post the whole thing since it was TOO BIG.. lol
