So this was initially meant to cover the actual mission, but it ended up dragging on and I was having a hard time writing the action. So I rewrote this, cutting that part out. Sorry for those who were looking forward to it. But the Collector Ship mission is coming up and I promise that will be action packed!
Also, before people freak out over Revan's lack of knowledge on a basic term, or some things she mentions about body issues, please read my blurb at the bottom about my reasoning.
Enjoy!
"How old are you?"
The sudden question broke the silence that had spread between them for the past six minutes. It hadn't been an uncomfortable silence by any means. Revan found she enjoyed simply being in the redhead's company. While Shepard did have a tendency to ramble, the warrior had noticed she was beginning to allow silences between them more often lately.
Not that Revan minded Shepard's ramblings. They were rather endearing. She also liked the sound of the redhead's voice. She enjoyed watching how animated Shepard was when she spoke. The different emotions that would play across her face, flash in her pine green eyes. The smiles that would light up her face. Smiles that were becoming increasingly more common.
Revan also appreciated the silences, when she could just take in the aura that Shepard emanated. Her warmth, the overwhelming feeling of belonging, of acceptance. Shepard was not the sun. Everybody got to experience the warmth given off by the celestial body. No, not everybody had that privilege with Shepard.
Shepard was a warm fire on a cold night. Soothing, warming, comforting. But not everybody could be graced by its heat. One had to be invited, be chosen. Shepard was warm and caring to her friends, but like the flame, she would burn her enemies to ash.
Revan also appreciated the silences because it gave her an opportunity to simply look at Shepard. As much as she tried not to, it had always been a slight challenge. Now it was nearly impossible.
Since the moment in Shepard's cabin, Revan had become increasingly aware of the redhead's body, of her proximity.
It wasn't that she didn't notice these things before. She had always noticed how beautiful Shepard was. How her hair would glow in the lights of the mess, certain angles making it shine like a brilliant jewel. While in the dim lighting of her cabin it was dark like blood. In the warm light of the sun it looked like brilliant flames. And it always looked oh so soft.
She noticed the cut of Shepard's jaw. Her features were strong but still held a softness to them. Her pale skin shone in the light, giving her an almost ethereal appearance. Even her scars were beautiful, the soft orange glow giving her an exotic, dangerous look that Revan could only describe as utterly arousing. They were a testament to her strength.
Revan had also noticed the redhead's body. With how often they sparred it would be hard not to. Although during their lessons it was easy to ignore, surprisingly. Revan lost herself in the thrill of the fight. But after, during their talks, she certainly noticed. Revan had lost track of the times she had watched droplets of sweat claw their way down porcelain skin.
Shepard usually wore baggy sweats and a loose fitting tank top or t-shirt. It was clear she cared about her comfort. But this morning had been different. Her sweatpants had been tight, clinging to every curve. No shirt had been present. Only an expanse of glowing pale skin, a smooth, toned abdomen, and firm, plump breasts covered by the tight dark blue sports bra.
Revan had barely been able to control her staring then. She had failed on several occasions. She had wanted nothing more than to reach out and run her hands along those curves. To feel the smooth, likely soft skin beneath her fingers. She wanted to get on her knees and worship every inch of Shepard.
Revan had known in that moment that she would never get through the day's lesson. Her self control was good, very good, something she prided herself on. But a lesson in grappling? It would be slow, she would have to press their bodies close, hold them together, speak instructions slowly, carefully. It was the first time Revan did not have confidence in her ability to control herself.
Thankfully Shepard had provided her with the perfect out. The fight had been good, like usual. But it had been different. There had been a heat to it that was never present before. The air between them sparked with energy. Revan had been certain flames would erupt between them. It was different, and more than that, she knew Shepard felt it too.
Neither had spoken a word at the end, both breathing heavily. Revan knew for herself, it was only partially from the fight. They had both mumbled an excuse to leave. It was different, almost awkward, but not quite.
Then, something amazing had happened. They fell into their usual routine. Revan made them breakfast. They bantered, joked—it was like nothing was different. Yet it was. The heat was still there. Her eyes still lingered on Shepard's form. Shepard's eyes lingered on hers.
Even during the mission, Revan had noticed how things were the same, but also different. They operated flawlessly together. Each perfectly in sync with the other. Shepard would joke, smile and laugh. She made Revan smile and laugh. But the heat, it was still present. Revan could only marvel how so much could change yet the core of what was between them stayed the same.
It had sent her mind wandering. Was this merely a hint of what could be? How their relationship could evolve, become more than it was, yet still fundamentally remain the same? Could they move forward, towards something different, but still keep that level of comradery, of friendship that Revan cherished so much? Or would it all be destroyed?
"Revan?"
The warrior was snapped out of her thoughts, looking over to the redhead again. She was leaning against a wall, left ankle crossed over the right, arms folded just beneath her breasts. She looked utterly relaxed.
"Sorry, what?" She had removed her helmet while they waited, remembering Shepard's earlier comment. One which certainly did not make her blush.
"I asked how old you were." There was that faint, almost ever present smirk on her face.
"Is it not also considered rude in this galaxy ta ask a lady how old she is?" Revan arched an eyebrow at the redhead, letting a teasing tone enter her voice. She hadn't felt this at ease in years. Felt this ability to simply be, to not have to keep up a façade.
It was amazing how easily Shepard bypassed all her walls, all her defenses. She didn't destroy them, didn't make Revan crumble before her. Shepard circumvented all the walls she had up, found what was hidden at the core, smiled, and made herself at home. Did the redhead realize the power she held? Revan doubted it.
"Ah, not falling into that trap," Shepard answered with a growing grin. "See, if you make me guess, then I have two options. Guess obviously low, which just makes it seem like I'm sucking up. Or I guess what I really think and run the risk of offending you. Nice try!"
Revan chuckled softly. "Give yer best guess. I promise not ta be offended." She was curious what Shepard would think. She already knew the redhead's age, having gleaned it during her initial research.
Shepard gave her a long, calculating look, pine green eyes slowly scanning over her face. Revan had to repress the urge to look away, to not shove her helmet back on. She could see those eyes lingering, could see the stare become less calculating.
"Umm…" Shepard looked away, rubbing a cheek that had become faintly pink. "Well you're not old, that's for sure."
"Oh?" Revan looked over at the redhead, curious about her response. Most people over guessed.
"You've seen yourself, right?" Shepard chuckled, the colour in her cheeks becoming brighter.
"What does that mean?" Revan looked at the redhead, slightly confused. Sure, she didn't have any wrinkles and she had yet to find a grey hair. Oh, that must be what Shepard meant.
"You're fucking gorgeous!" Shepard blurted. Her cheeks quickly matched her hair in colour and her eyes went wide, like she hadn't meant to say that.
Revan blinked, still trying to process the words. She didn't understand them. Sure, she understood the individual words, their meaning. But not when they were directed towards her. They had never been spoken to her before. Most comments about her appearance had not been positive.
She had been called ugly, gross, freakish, too large, too muscular. She had often been accused of not even being a real woman. The vast majority of these comments had been uttered by men, but some women as well. Revan had accepted long ago that she was not physically attractive. She was an abnormality amongst women.
Only two women in her entire life had complimented her appearance. Her mother and Meetra. And her mother had not seen her grow to anywhere near this size. But Meetra…Meetra had complimented her appearance and been sincere. She had always used the word beautiful. It had been the one time Revan felt attractive. Even if it was only one person.
But now Shepard just blurted the words, like it was an obvious thing. But she also seemed embarrassed. Did she not mean the words? Was she embarrassed to be attracted to someone like Revan?
Shepard had commented on Revan's appearance before, when she first saw the warrior without her armour on. But at the time, it seemed she was simply complimenting Revan's physical fitness. Although even that had been rather nice.
As though she sensed the warrior's doubt, Shepard looked directly at her, the colour in her cheeks still high, but her voice was steadier now.
"How do you not know that?" She asked the question like her previous statement was obvious. She appeared genuinely confused.
"I've never been told that before," Revan admitted easily, as she often did with Shepard.
"You're shitting me right?"
Revan just shrugged her shoulders. "Most common term ta describe my looks has been gross." She was used to hearing it by this point in her life, she was fairly numb to the sting by this point. And the comments stopped after she became Sith and was never seen outside her armour.
"Someone on the Normandy?" Shepard's eyes went wide, her voice raising an octave. Before an answer could be given her eyes narrowed and her voice dropped to a low growl. "I'll break their fuckin' jaw."
Revan blinked in surprise at the sudden hostility she could both see and feel from the redhead. All at once her aura shifted to become violent, dangerous. Revan had never felt such a dramatic shift from the redhead before. Even more shocking, it was because of her, because Shepard wanted to…defend her.
"It's okay Shepard." Revan tried to make her voice soothing, but she wasn't exactly practiced at that. She likely wasn't successful.
"It's not okay!" Shepard shouted, throwing her hands in the air. "Just because some dickhead feels threatened by a woman who can beat the fuck outta him doesn't give them the right to dig on her appearance! Especially when it's utter bullshit!"
Shepard was red in the face, only this time it wasn't from blushing or any form of embarrassment. She was angry, livid. Frankly, Revan thought the woman was severely overacting. She couldn't fathom why this had generated such a severe reaction. But she wouldn't deny it felt…nice, having someone defend her so vehemently. That had never happened before.
"Shepard." Without thinking, Revan reached forward, placing a hand on a tense shoulder, and she looked into pine green eyes, flecked with bits of red that seemed to be glowing brighter than before. In fact, all the scars seemed slightly brighter.
"It's okay," Revan said softly, unable to stop the smile from coming to her lips. "Really. I don't care what anyone else thinks." She hesitated for only a heartbeat before the truth spilled out far too easily. "Only you."
Shepard blinked comically, the anger fleeing from her within an instant. The colour remained in her cheeks, but now it was for a much better reason. The redhead began stammering in what could only be described as an adorable manner.
"I…well…wh…ummm…wow." Shepard broke eye contact, looking for an obvious distraction. "Is it like, super hot in here? Where's Thane? Is he crawling here? I mean, he might be trying to remain unseen, assassin and all. Maybe that's why. Can he not be seen in public? I should probably know that. We could get him a helmet or something. I really should ask him. If he ever shows up that is. Because it's taking him a while. Isn't it taking him a while?"
Revan couldn't be bothered to try and restrain her chuckle at the redhead's babbling. It was just too damn cute.
"Yeah it's takin' him a while."
"I should com him right? Probably good to make sure he's okay. I'm gonna com him." Shepard pressed a hand to her ear, a totally unnecessary yet also endearing habit of hers.
"Commander Shepard." The assassin's voice caused them both to look over. "I apologize for my delay."
"Thane!" Shepard greeted slightly too cheerfully. "Good to see you! Ready to kill the shit outta some Eclipse?"
"I am ready to do whatever I can to assist." He offered a polite tilt of his head. "It is a pleasure to have the chance to work with you."
"Wow, talk about a charmer!" Shepard grinned in good nature, even fanning her face a few times. "I don't even think you were that cordial at first." She gave Revan a quick wink.
"Revan, it is a pleasure to be working with you also." He gave another nod, which Revan returned.
"Tch, and here I thought I was special," Shepard chuckled, looking at Revan. "Told ya you were pretty." She flashed another wink before walking away in what could only be described as a saunter.
Revan felt the heat in her cheeks as the words slowly processed through her brain. She didn't even think twice about grabbing her helmet and putting it back on. How the hell could Shepard go from too flustered to even talk like a normal person, to saying something so…flirtatious, so easily.
That thought made Revan freeze. Had…had Shepard just flirted with her?
"You comin'?" Shepard called, a mischievous grin on her lips.
Revan shook her head. This was not the time. They had a mission to complete.
The evening mess was filled with laughter and warmth. Shepard was regaling the crew with the tale of their mission, c with wild hand gestures and a few very theatrical embellishments on a few details.
Revan sat back in her chair beside Shepard, arms crossed over her chest. At some point in their developing relationship Shepard had started saving the seat on her right for Revan, while the left was for Garrus. Even days she arrived late, nobody would have taken the seat. It seemed to have become an unspoken rule. One Revan didn't mind at all.
"Seriously Garrus, you may be totally useless now." Shepard grinned over at her best friend. "Not only is Thane a crazy good shot, but he also isn't a bitch and scared to get into hand to hand. I saw him take down two Eclipse with his bare hands like it was nothing!"
The redhead had been raving about the assassin's skill for a good period of the evening. Revan supposed it was fair. Thane was quite skilled in his arts. His movements were always quick, precise, and calculated. It was something Revan could definitely appreciate. His skill was impressive.
Shepard may have been overselling it a bit though. Which was fine. She was prone to exaggeration, being easily excitable. It was endearing. And she had seemed to get along well with the assassin during the mission. She seemed to enjoy Thane's politeness, although Revan wasn't sure why. Shepard had commented that she had hated Revan's earlier over politeness to her. So why did she enjoy it from Thane so much? But it was fine.
It seemed the assassin had likewise enjoyed Shepard's company as well. He offered easy and regular compliments on her skill, his voice always perfectly sincere, even when Revan thought the redhead could have actually used improvement or done it a more efficient way. Shepard had seemed to beam under his praise. Which was fine.
"I mean, not to brag but I was top rated in hand to hand during my time in the military," Garrus answered easily, sounding totally relaxed. "I'm just quick enough on the trigger to not let anyone get close enough." His voice sounded slightly smug now.
"If the stories are to be believed," Thane spoke up, his voice low and kind, with that hint of a rasp it always seemed to carry, "you are indeed a better shot. Stories of Archangel are spread far and wide." He nodded his head to the Turian.
"Oh you guys totally need to have a snipe-off!" Shepard was grinning from ear to ear in excitement, almost bouncing in her seat.
"Ship wide shooting contest?" Joker seemed genuinely intrigued. "Yes! I'll start taking bets now!"
"Done!" Shepard snapped her fingers at the pilot. "Joker, set up the pool. Find us a nearby planet we can go shooting on tomorrow."
"I'm sure there are a few." The pilot seemed as excited as the redhead. "Aw man we should totally set up a fight club too!"
"Yes!" Shepard pounded the table, grin impossibly getting bigger. "Oh my god how have we not done this until now?"
"You're a terrible commander," Joker deadpanned.
"I am!" The redhead cried out, throwing her head back dramatically. "I have failed you all!" She threw an arm over her face before pushing her head down onto Revan's shoulder. "How I have wronged you all!"
The warrior froze in her seat. She could feel the hot puffs of Shepard's breath against her neck. She could feel Shepard's body shaking ever so slightly with poorly contained laughter. Her soft hair brushed the side of Revan's jaw ever so slightly.
She took in an involuntary breath, taking in the redhead's scent. Her body wash, a combination of lavender and honey, her shampoo, traces of oranges. Revan could feel her warmth radiating off her. It coiled around the warrior, wrapping her in its comforting embrace.
"So who's fighting?" Joker asked.
Revan barely heard the words, her heart was beating so loudly in her ears. It wasn't until Shepard pulled away, sitting back up, that the world came back. The warmth didn't leave completely though. She was still close to Shepard, still basking in her presence. But the space allowed her heart to calm. Allowed her to focus on something other than the redhead.
"Whoever wants to," Shepard answered with a shrug. "But I definitely think the main attraction should be Thane against Revan."
That got the warrior's attention, not like it ever really left Shepard in the first place. Excited murmurs spread amongst the few, along with a few surprised ones, that were given a voice by Joker.
"Really? Is that fair? Like magical powers and all?"
"Well obviously she won't be using those, right?" Shepard nudged her with a shoulder.
Revan just offered a nod in agreement, her eyes moving to the assassin. He would prove a good fight. His speed was astounding. And he possessed incredible skill. Yes, it would be fun to fight him.
"What about like, everyone against Revan?"
"All at once?" Shepard raised a brow at the pilot. "That seems a bit unfair if she doesn't have the force."
Without any use of powers, Revan was only concerned about three of the crew in a hand to hand fight. Thane,Grunt, and Shepard would provide the greatest challenge. Garrus was an unknown, so he may also provide a good fight. Everyone else she was confident she could disable within a few strikes. But if they all came at her at once…it would certainly be interesting.
"No," Joker shook his head. "Like, one-on-one, but don't stop until she beats everyone or loses."
"Now that sounds interesting." Shepard looked over at her, smirking. "Think you can do it?"
Revan shrugged. "Guess we'll find out."
"Awesome!" Joker exclaimed. "I'll get people signing up and start taking bets on that too! Should we do it after the sniper competition?"
"Sure."
"Finally gonna have some fun on this ship!"
"Hey!" Shepard glared at the pilot, but her voice was filled with amusement. "Are you implying my stunning presence doesn't make everyday amazing?"
"I'm flat out stating it." Joker rolled his eyes as he answered, letting out a laugh.
"Ass." Shepard threw a scrap of bread at the pilot. "I'm fucking awesome."
"Suuuure."
"Revan totally thinks so." Shepard beamed a smile, eyes fluttering over at her while nudging her shoulder. "Right?"
"Yeah." Revan answered without thinking, not that she would have answered any differently. She wasn't going to deny her fondness of Shepard.
"Ha! See?" The redhead grinned triumphantly at the pilot.
"Or right," Joker rolled his eyes again, and he began to mutter, his words still loud and clear enough to carry. "Like it's fair to ask your girlfriend."
Revan saw Shepard tense as the words were spoken, spine going ramrod straight, and her breathing stopped. Her eyes widened, and she glanced at Revan, a panicked look in her eyes before she looked away quickly.
Revan looked to her in confusion. Why was she so alarmed? Did that word have some negative connotation? Revan thought it was a clunky word. Why did the gender of friends matter? She'd heard the term a few times since arriving in this galaxy. It had never earned a negative reaction though. Did Shepard not consider them friends? The mere thought stung.
"Revan, what will the terms of the fighting be?" Thane's voice cut through the sudden silence that had overtaken the table.
"Hand to hand would be the best. First ta submission, or inability ta continue fighting." Revan answered, still looking at the redhead out of the corner of her eye. "Are you proficient in any melee weapon?"
"I have trained in the use of various small blades. Nothing more substantial however. What are your proficiencies?"
"Besides my lightsabers, I can also use a double saber, an electro pike, a beskad, and a Mythosaur axe."
"You have an axe?" Grunt was the one to speak up, clear excitement in his voice.
"A Mythosaur axe, yes. Traditionally they're made of the calcified bone of the now extinct Myhtosaur. I had a traditional one and I had one made of beskar, the material of my armour." Revan raised her arm, activating her omni-tool, and she was able to quickly pull up a picture she had of the weapon. "I believe you could actually wield one quite well. I'll scrounge the materials together ta make ya one."
Grunt boomed in laughter, slamming his fist on the table. "Yes! I'll cut the Collectors in half!"
The conversation was easily revived with Grunt's enthusiasm and others shooting Revan questions about the axe and other weaponry she had mentioned. Shepard remained silent. The panic had left her, but her body was still tense, and she refused to meet Revan's eyes. After a few minutes she simply got up and left without a word.
Revan frowned at her departure. What had her so upset? She answered a question about the Mythosaur, with the table marvelling at their size. While they launched into a new discussion, Revan rose, collecting her dishes along with the ones Shepard had abandoned. After depositing them in the washer, she headed towards the elevator.
"EDI, is Shepard in her cabin?" With her being upset, there was a chance the redhead would go to exercise.
"Correct. Her heartrate and biometric readings indicate she is in distress. Should I alert Doctor Chakwas?"
"No, I'll handle it." Revan pushed the button for the officer's cabin, her mind racing.
What had Shepard so distraught? Clearly it was that term Joker had used to describe them, 'girlfriends'. Revan hadn't heard the term before. It seemed clunky and oddly descriptive. Clearly there was some other colloquial meaning behind it. It was either that or Shepard didn't think they were friends or didn't want others to think they were. Revan wasn't sure which option stung the most.
Revan didn't bother with knocking, knowing it was pointless. She simply opened the door to the cabin, as she had heard the music blaring from outside. She stepped inside, eyes scanning. She spotted a head of bright red hair through the display case which was slowly filling with models.
Shepard was sitting on the sectional, her head leaned back. When Revan moved down the steps, her steps masked by the music, she saw the redhead's eyes were screwed tightly shut. Shepard had a glass clenched in her hand filled with amber liquid, and a mostly full bottle sat on the coffee table.
Shepard took a large drink, not opening her eyes. Her breathing was heavier than normal. Her emotions were a whirlwind that Revan couldn't get a proper read on, not without seriously breaching the woman's privacy and trust. That was something she would not do.
Instead, Revan moved to the volume control and lowered the music. The action caused Shepard to jerk forward, her head shooting up, drink sloshing over the cup and onto her hand.
"Revan!" Her eyes widened, looking frantic and surprised. "What…What're you doing here?" Shepard stuttered as she spoke.
"Yer upset," Revan answered honestly and easily. There was no point in lying about her motivations or her purpose here.
"No!" The protest came far too loud and far too frazzled. "I'm not!"
"Shepard," Revan gave a doubtful look, crossing her arms. "Even if I couldn't read minds, I know you." She swallowed past the lump threatening to form in her throat, forcing the next words out. "And I care about you."
Shepard's eyes widened again, and her mouth opened and closed several times, but no words ever came out. Her cheeks did flush a brilliant red. Revan took it as a good sign. She crossed the room, sitting herself next to the redhead, enjoying their proximity.
"What's wrong?" she asked, gently.
"It's stupid." Shepard looked down at her glass, finally noticing the spilled contents. "Shit," she muttered, wiping her hand on her pants before taking another drink.
"Ya got upset when Joker said I was yer girlfriend."
The panicked look returned as Shepard looked back to her.
"Are…aren't we friends?" Revan struggled to say it, worried what the answer could be. Had she really misread everything so horribly? She had always been so adept at reading people. Had Shepard truly blinded her so badly?
"Of course we are!" The panic left the redhead, replacing it with confusion.
"Do ya…not want people ta know we're friends?"
"Why the hell wouldn't I?"
"I dunno." Revan shrugged, the words helping to ease her worry somewhat, but she was uncertain now. "Why'd ya get upset when Joker called us friends then?"
Shepard was silent for a long moment, the look of confusion never leaving her face, even as she spoke slowly. "Revan…what does the term girlfriend mean to you?"
"Admittedly I never heard it until I came to this galaxy. It seems like a clunky way ta describe friends. I don't understand the need ta put a gender label on it."
"Oh my god." Shepard slammed her free hand into her face, the open palm making a slapping sound. Her shoulder shook as the laughter began to bubble out.
Revan was still confused, but the sight of a laughing Shepard always put a smile on her face. The tension had completely disappeared from the redhead. It seemed this was all just a misunderstanding after all. But that still left the question of what Shepard thought the word meant.
"Does it not mean that?"
Shepard's laughter died down quickly and she immediately looked embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and both hands now fidgeted with the glass, which had earned a rather intense stare.
"Can umm…can we just say it was a dumb misunderstanding and I totally overreacted and leave it at that?"
Revan opened her mouth to answer, to push for more information. Then Shepard looked up, and there was something in her eyes, something Revan couldn't place. But her tone was soft, almost pleading.
"Please? It's stupid and I just don't wanna worry about it. Can we just forget it and like…just hang out or something? Please?"
"Okay." Revan smiled at the redhead, trying to reassure her. While she was still curious, she had no desire to push Shepard, to make her uncomfortable. She just wanted to make her happy.
"Thanks." The smile started hesitant, but within seconds it was full and bright, just the way Revan loved it.
"What do ya wanna do?" Revan asked, leaning back into the cushions to get more comfortable.
"Oh! I have the perfect idea!" Shepard bounced slightly in excitement as she set down her drink and began tapping on her omni tool. A minute later the lights in the cabin turned off, but a large screen was projected across from them.
"Movie night!" Shepard exclaimed with excitement. "I've been making a list of movies I think you'll like. We could start them tonight." Shepard looked at her shyly again. "If you want."
"I've never watched one before," Revan admitted. She'd seen the advertisements, heard others talk about them, but she'd never had the time.
Shepard was silent for a full minute. "Holy shit. You're not joking, are you?"
"I never had the chance growin up'." Revan shrugged her shoulders, not upset or embarrassed. "And then the rest of my life was war."
"Okay, you officially don't have a choice anymore." Shepard's voice was serious as she tapped on her omni-tool and the movie began to play. "Now I feel bad for waiting this long."
"Thank you for doing it at all." Revan smiled over at the redhead.
The smile she received in return was simply breathtaking. It was warm, kind, slightly shy, and utterly beautiful.
"So what am I about ta be subjected to?" Revan inquired, propping her feet up on the coffee table.
"Only one of the greatest movies in human history!" Shepard exclaimed, her smile illuminated by the screen. "Possibly the greatest!"
"Is this official, or in yer opinion?" Revan asked with a smirk.
"Is there a difference?" Shepard chuckled, grinning in that playful way of hers.
Revan just chuckled, shifting slightly in the cushions. "How, uh…how long are these movies?"
"Varies drastically. The average movie runs between an hour and a half to two hours. This one is around two I think."
"I shouldda changed," Revan muttered, shifting slightly again. It wasn't that her armour was uncomfortable, or that she was unused to wearing it for long periods of time. But sitting in the soft cushions for multiple hours could get uncomfortable.
"Revan," Shepard gasped, holding a hand in front of her mouth. "Are you admitting you don't want to be wearing that ungodly heavy armour?"
"If I'm gonna be immobile fer two hours, it's just logical," Revan huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
She didn't want to admit that part of her desire came from not wanting a barrier between her and Shepard. It was foolish and selfish. But their proximity…their…intimacy, she didn't want any barriers.
Shepard tapped her omni-tool, pausing the movie. "Well it's not like you're naked under there right? Take it off." As soon as the words left her mouth, the woman flushed bright enough to match her hair. "Your armour I mean," Shepard stammered. "Not—I didn—to get more comfortable!"
Revan laughed at the redhead's stammering, and admittedly she could feel her own cheeks heating up. Thankfully her complexion hid all but the fiercest of blushes. She rose from the sofa and began removing her armour as quickly as she could, trying very hard not to concentrate on the eyes she could feel watching her.
The process only took a few moments, but Revan was sure her blush would be visible by now. She had kept her back to Shepard the entire time. She bought herself a little more time by pulling her overshirt off, leaving her in a black tank top.
She stacked the armour neatly beside the arm rest. The task allowing her to concentrate on something other than the eyes she could still feel on her.
Task complete, Revan sat back on the sofa, finally looking over at the redhead.
Shepard cleared her throat, face still bright red. "Better?"
"Yeah." Revan didn't want to speak any more than that.
Perhaps this had been a terrible idea. Before she had already been acutely aware of Shepard's proximity. Now it was almost overwhelming. Their arms brushed together as they both leaned back into the cushions. Revan didn't comment on it and neither did Shepard.
She could feel the skin of the redhead against her arm. It was soft, and just slightly chilled. Their thighs didn't touch, but Revan's eyes fell across the expanse of pale flesh exposed by the baggy shorts.
With a few taps on an omni-tool, the movie was playing once more. Revan heard Shepard take in a shaky breath, something the warrior had to do herself. As new and overwhelming as this was, she couldn't ignore the sense of warmth and comfort it brought. Revan knew, were it not for their responsibilities, she would gladly spend all her time like this. Nerve wracking as it was, she wouldn't trade this feeling for anything.
Okay, so Revan not understanding the term girlfriends. I have never heard that term used in Star Wars. With so many species and radically diverse cultures, I feel like they would use a much more neutral term like 'partner.' I mean, if you think about it, 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend' are pretty clunky terms to refer to the person you are romantically involved with.
Also, for Revan's body issues, a bit of it was based on personnel experience. I am a larger, more muscular woman myself (nowhere near Revan's level unfortunately.) But I have been called some pretty rude things because of my appearance. And I am not launching an attack on men here, I realize a good number of men are genuinely good people. But almost all the insults hurled at me have been from males. I mean, I had multiple people message me saying they thought Revan was gross when I first started this. But I sincerely intend no offence, and I do apologize if anyone was offended.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Stay Classy!