Shepard stormed out of the Council chamber, expression livid with rage. It was pretty clear that the meeting with the Council had not gone well and the squad, even Wrex, was apprehensive to ask her details. It was not difficult to guess what happened when they returned to the Normandy to find locking bars had been put on the ship and the dock was crawling with C-SEC officers.
"Fucking' arseholes." Shepard hissed between clenched teeth. "They grounded us."
"What?! Saren's still out there!" Ashley immediately protested before anyone said anything.
"They don't believe or care about the whole Reaper thing or that Saren's still got an army of geth. He's out in the Traverse… that's good enough for them." Shepard spat.
"But if he finds the Conduit…" Liara chimed in.
"Can't fucking do anything about it now." Shepard growls, just growing more frustrated. "We're all on leave. Just… don't go far."
Liara had to jog to catch up to Shepard's long strides, the woman storming away from the docks and C-SEC. Just being near the grounded Normandy was blackening her mood and she needed to clear her head. She was aware that someone was following her and glanced over her shoulder, surprised to find it was Liara.
"Where are you going?" Liara huffed, short of breath.
"Just… a walk I guess. I need to clear my head."
"Then I'll join you. I know a nice tea place along this stretch."
They had never gone on a date before and Shepard, honestly, couldn't recall when she last had before signing up with the Alliance at eighteen. As promised, Liara pointed out a small tea shop on the edge of the Presidum. It's menu seemed to cater to all species and numerous cultures but Shepard defaulted to what she knew she liked; Thessian tea with generous amounts of sugar and milk. Liara ordered something she wasn't even sure what was in it but sipping the drink as they continued their walk helped calm her nerves.
Their path, eventually, ended at one of the wide, manicured parks. There were people here, completely unaware of what had happened beyond the arms of the Citadel. The Normandy's exploits weren't widely advertised. Shepard sat down in the grass, splaying her legs out before her. She said nothing for a long while, just sitting beside her and patiently waiting. She seemed calmer, her face no longer vermillion nor veins standing out against her temple.
"It's too peaceful here." Shepard said, staring up at the space beyond the arm above.
"What?" Liara questioned, having not been paying attention.
"It's too quiet here, too… perfect. The Citadel's always set my teeth on edge more than any warzone ever has."
Liara placed her hand over Shepard's and squeezed gently, leaning into her so they were shoulder to shoulder as they sat. Shepard let out a deep breath and turned to look at the asari, the anger gone from her expression and a warmth in them that made Liara blush a little. Realizing she was staring, Shepard turned away, cheeks turning pink.
"Sorry. I'm probably causing a scene." She mutters, glancing around.
"I don't think so. This is… nice." Liara replies bashfully.
"It is." Shepard blushes. "We've… I guess we've never had time to go on a date."
"Never crossed my mind to be honest. I've never… dated before."
Shepard chuckles, the both of them blushing. The awkwardness hangs in the air between them thickly. Liara thinks of kissing her but the lack of privacy freezes that thought in its tracks. The asari is snapped out of her thoughts when the human makes a loud sigh and gets to her feet. Liara follows suit, question on her tongue but Shepard seems to know the answer before the words are even on her tongue.
"I think we should head back to the ship.
The walk back to the taxi station and the ride back to C-SEC was an awkward silence bewteen the two. Shepard's mood blackened when they came upon the tethered Normandy. Liara found herself following Shepard through the ship and to the lockers on the second deck. Shepard wasn't even aware she was being followed until she spun around and found her face mere inches from the asari's. They stared at each other, lost in the depth's of the other's gaze. Liara wasn't sure who leaned towards who first but an electic spark raced from her lips and down her spine.
Liara wanted more… so much more.
She pressed against Shepard, inexperience leaving her unsure of how to fulfil this spike in desire she was experiencing right now. Shepard made a small noise against her mouth before responding in kind. A slight tilt of the head, lips parting…
"Sorry to interrupt, but… ah, Captain Anderson's looking for you, Shep." Joker says sheepishly over the intercom, breaking the spell.
An irritated sigh escaped Shepard as she pulled away. Liara mentally cursed the timing of Joker's ineterruption, feeling as if her and Cait had been about to start down the road to… the asari wasn't sure but was disappointed she wasn't going to find out now.
"I swear if this more Council nonsense…" Shepard growled as she walked away.
Was on a long hiatus due to life circumstances and writer's block but I should be back to it now.
I've been on a bit of hiatus due to writer's block on irl circumstances but things will start moving along again now.
