"You cheated." Anya was gasping for air after target practice, she held her breath so long to keep laser focus. But for one of the few times in their relationship, she totally kicked his ass.

And boy, did her favorite turian hate it.

When they walked away from the shooting range and towards the practice mats (lucky them that second Normandy came with a bigger training gym), he was scowling. Anya had to admit, she felt fucknig great and he looked damn adorable when he was annoyed.

Giving his crossed arms a fake punch, Anya said, "I absolutely did not. Tonight's just my night, it seems."

Garrus just grumbled. "Another."

"Absolutely not, Vakarian. You lost fair and square." She tried to walk further onto the mats, maybe even get their dumb asses to bed. It had to be nearing 3 am. But he just stood there, stubborn and petulant like a damn toddler. Anya was baffled. "Are you really that upset about this?"

"I went into this all confident, and now it's squashed. Just feeling a little bruised over here."

Looking at the mats around them, she shrugged and brought her fists up. "Fine. Then fight me."

"What?"

Anya smiled, thinking of all the takedowns they pulled on each other and the old crew back in the day. Lately, she had to fight more in her weight class, since they had a larger crew. But she missed shaking things up, since the old mission crew didn't have a lot of options. She used to leg-sweep him all the time, and he used to toss her to the ground like a rag doll.

Maybe it was concerning that she found sparring endearing, but that was something to unpack another time. For now, she just wanted to enjoy old times. Anya cocked her head towards the mat below and goaded, "C'mon. We haven't properly sparred since the old Normandy."

"Actually-"

As she remembered the very embarrassing training session on the upper decks, she winced. "That doesn't count." Taking a deep breath, she stepped closer to him, put a hand on his chest. "Tonight was weird and stressful. Let's de-stress and do something more our speed." Then she pushed away from him, bouncing on her heels like all the other asshole kids in Academy. "Or just afraid to get your ass kicked twice?"

At her final taunt, Garrus' eyes narrowed.

"Fine. You did this to yourself." They both positioned themselves across the mat from each other, and with a wave of her hand, they went for it.

Unfortunately for her, Garrus had the more... obvious advantage. He went lower than her, and picked her up on his back like a sack of damn potatoes. Well that was annoying. The laugh that rumbled through his chest echoed up into hers. "You're strong, Shepard, but I'm nearly twice your size. There's a reason you use a tactical cloak and I don't."

Grabbing ahold of his underarm, though, she used the position as leverage to flip her legs over and land her on her feet, behind him. Then, she got to grab his arm and pin it behind his back. That's what he got for being a cocky asshole. "Never underestimate the flexibility of a small ex-ballerina."

"I never underestimate you." But just as she thought she had his arm pulled tight enough, he let all his weight fall down onto her, making them both fall to the ground. Before she could react, he flipped himself over and had both of her hands pinned, this annoying, stupid smirk on his face. "I just know how to get you where I want you."

Anya would just choose to ignore his hands on her wrists, his face above hers, and the way her heart like to double-time to that same stupid smirk.

After a slow swallow, she admitted, "Clever. Fine. You get this round."

They both got up and she rolled her shoulders before getting in position again. She had to appreciate that, since they both didn't have the right prep, they seemed to be preferring grappling over kicking and punching.

That, or maybe they both were doing a questionable job of trying to get close to each other without making a big deal out of it. After all, she hadn't done a leg sweep yet, and that was her signature move.

To give herself credit, the second Anya got close to him it was like her mind went haywire.

Cracking his knuckles, Garrus asked, "Wanna give up yet?"

"Absolutely not."

But she was panicking. In the first place, Garrus was right. At hand to hand combat, she was not an ace. She normally was a queen of being unpredictable and slippery. But without her tactical cloak and fire to lean on? She was just a small soldier putting herself up against one of the top hand-to-hand fighters on her crew.

And particularly one who knew her weak spots a little too well.

So, Anya's competitiveness settled for underhanded tactics with hopefully better pay-off.

With a quick step forward, she smacked her hand across Garrus' cheek. The turian looked understandably shocked. "Did you just slap me?"

Before she could chicked out, she took a step back and launched herself at his torso."Diversion!" Much to her surprise, the turian caught her by her thighs and was holding her up well, his arms cradling her ass. Ignoring the mild... intimacy of the hold, she frowned. "I expected you to fall to the ground."

"You really don't think I can handle how much you weigh?"

"Might've been an oversight on my part." Her elbows resting on his shoulders, Anya started to get a bit too aware of their bodies pressed against each other, and the fact it was kinda hot he was just holding her like this. Why did she think this was a good idea again? They were just supposed to be blowing off awkward steam from the club mission.

At her heart starting to do that fluttering thing again, and her cheeks getting warm and red and betraying her trust, Anya coughed and patting his shoulder. "Time to get down though."

Garrus smirked, the manipulative asshole he was, and his hold on her only tightened. "Nope. Tap out. This one's totally mine."

It was unfortunate for him that slapping wasn't her only close-quarters ace up her sleeve. Especially with his forehead so close.

Hopefully it wouldn't piss him off too much. But she couldn't let him win so easily. That would be very un-Shepard of her.

"Not quite yet."Rearing her head back, she did the best thing Wrex ever taught her: the powerful, classic Krogan headbutt. And with that, Garrus finally staggered back and fell on his ass.

Anya took the opportunity to straddle him and put her forearm against his throat. "Guess who's on top now, Garrus?"

He had this glint in his eyes that she did not like. "You are, Anya."

"Oof, using my name mid-spar. Not cool. Don't use special weapons."

"Don't think you're going anywhere so quick. I can use this position to my advantage, too."

"Not nearly as much as I can."

"No you can't-" Feeling the pressure build up, thinking about him and her and- fuck it. Anya lowered her face and pressed her lips to his mouth, shutting him up and ruining the spar, but she didn't give a damn.

When she finally pulled back, Garrus sucked in a breath and sat up to look her straight in the eyes. "Damn. Call me corrected." But the second her mouth disconnected from his, it felt like a mistake.

She said, "Shh," before putting her hands on his shoulders and going in for another kiss. Hell, her competitiveness was fierce, but the way she felt when she remembered his hands, his shoulders, the way he shot a damn gun, and the sarcastic asshole of a wonderful man that wrapped it all together, the one who was always there for here...

Well, all she wanted to do was get closer.

And here they were, alone, and real fucking close.

His hands went to her hips and grabbed on like he was desperate for her to stay. She tried to make it clear, with her hands, her mouth, that she never wanted to leave.

They only broke apart for air. Garrus asked, "In your room, do you have-?"

"Yes."

As she kissed down his neck, he started to ramble. "Should we talk about how maybe things work or what you like or-" Anya could feel his beating heart against her ear when she reached it, and it was flattering and terrifying all it once. It wasn't like she knew what she was doing either. "Or any pointers on where the hell to put my hands, because sometimes-"

But she wanted this. And she didn't want them to fuck it up by being afraid.

Holding his face in her hands, she said, "Garrus. Please shut up. If you keep talking nervous, I'll get nervous."

He chuckled, uneven. "Right."

All his awkwardness didn't stop him from picking her up and walking out of the training room with her, though. He dropped her when they exited the metal doors and she held onto his talons, tight, as they walked to the elevator.

This was happening. This was really happening. She was sweaty and messy but for the love of god, she was holding onto her best friend's hand, this man she adored, and she was taking him upstairs to-

She put her mouth on his to try to help get her brain to shut the fuck up.

When the elevator doors slid open, they both stumbled into her room. It felt so different from when they left it a few hours ago. The electricity that kept sparking at her fingertips each time she grabbed him probably helped.

Anya's hands were shaking, and unfortunately Garrus noticed. He held onto them, like they might slip away at any moment, and asked, "Are you sure?"

That was hardly what Anya was shaking about, those handsome, insecure eyes that was afraid of fucking things up. If anything, she just didn't want to scare him away.

But being with him was worth the risk.

Kissing his shoulder blade, she tucked her hands under his shirt and pulled it off him. Anya stared at every ridge, every scar, every alien thing she didn't understand about his skin. But it wasn't scary or surprising. It was him. That's what mattered to her. She put a hand over his heart and smiled up at him. "I don't want something easier or closer to home. I've never wanted anyone but you."

Putting his arms around her, Garrus said, "And with that I really will shut up."

"Good."

...

When Anya woke up, there was an alien hand on hers.

And she loved that.

Raising her thumb to rub it against one of his talons, her eyes and voice were still slow and groggy when she said, "Good morning."

"Morning." His blue eyes opened like slow, metal gates. The second he finally looked straight at her, he laughed. "We really did that, didn't we?"

"Unless I had a frighteningly vivid sex dream while we innocently slept in a bed together, I think we did."

His laugh petered out and Garrus looked at her very seriously. The kind of serious that wasn't so confident and sure anymore. "Sorry if any of it was-"

Anya snorted. There was something adorable about making a cocky turian "bad boy" so awkward and unsure, but she was finally getting to a point where even the "sexy, romantic" stuff was as it should be between them: comfortable. She interrupted him and said the truth, "Weird? Of course it'd be a little weird. We're different species and both certified idiots."

"Fair." He looked to the ceiling. "I hope when I touched you it was fine."

Okay, that question made her feel a little awkward. "Garrus. It was more than fine. I barely touch me right half the time."

"Don't lie to make me feel better."

"Would it be worse if I was giving you a nice lie or if I was admitting how much I fumble around without your help?" Anya sat up and hugged her knees, but couldn't help but graze his shoulder with her hand. He winced. "I hope I didn't fuck up either, y'know. I mean, your shoulder-"

"It'll heal." Garrus copied her, sat up, leaned against her wall, and just looked more stunned than anything. "I still can't believe we did this." But at the end he started staring at her, this smile on his face that made her feel special and embarrassed all at once.

And knowing that this man knew what she looked like naked now didn't help.

"Me neither." The staring got too much, and Anya covered her face. "Jesus christ stop looking at me like that. It feels so invasive."

"I mean, I've already seen you naked, so-"

Damn mind reading turian.

Pursing her lips, Anya crossed her arms. "Don't get all smug, Vakarian."

"How can I help myself? I just woke up next to Commander Shepard, hero of the citadel." His laugh at the end only made him more annoying and charming.

"Don't be an ass about it."

But then he nuzzled into her neck. That was something she'd have to put on the "only do in private to keep her sanity" list. "More importantly, I woke up next to Anya Shepard, my girlfriend."

"That was so cute and I hate you for it." Even though there was something so sweet about him so close, and the hint of wandering thoughts with him towering over her in bed, she rolled out from under him and stood up.

Unfortunately, for their flirting, she was still Commander Shepard at the end of the day. "But now, we have to get up. Debriefing and strategy meetings today."

"No. Stay." She had already gotten out of her sheets, but the stubborn turian was leaning off the edge of the bed, trying to drag her back. Like a toddler, Garrus grabbed the ends of her hair and tugged lightly. "I like your bed. And your soft hair. If we close our eyes the rest goes away, right?"

Oh how she wish it did.

She detangled his fingers from her hair with a gentle hand. "I'm afraid that's not how it works."

Garrus groaned, falling back on her bed. She liked how comfortable he looked, in her room. Well, he'd always looked pretty comfortable, but there was something special about the way he splayed himself across her bed like it was his. The turian pouted up at her, something she didn't really know turians could do. "Fuck."

"I know, I'd love to stay in bed with you saying "fuck" all day if I could."

"That's how you sounded last-"

"Finish that and you die."

Chuckling, Garrus sat up and started pulling on his clothes. "Don't tempt me like that."

As she was already so behind on her morning routine, she put it on fast forward. But that meant that by the time she meant to be answering him, enjoying the damn conversation, she already had a wet toothbrush in her mouth. Through foamy paste, she said, "I've already died more than enough for both of us. You're not allowed." Shepard leaned on the doorway to her bathroom, watching him sort through their messy, discarded piles of linens to find the rest of his clothes.

Didn't help that they both wore black training outfits.

Hands deep in a pile of shirts, he snorted at her comment. "Should I tell that to the next merc trying to shoot my face? My girlfriend says no?"

"Damn straight."

"They'll love that." When he finally pulled on his shirt, he stood straight and just glanced around her room, like he was still missing something. Shepard spit out her toothpaste and was going to ask him if he needed help, but he got to talking before her. "I better head down to the battery, shouldn't I?"

She understood his hesitance now. Anya knew her duties here on this ship, but she didn't really want to go either. "Unfortunately."

Just as she started to peel off her sleep shirt to go grab a real sports bra and other daily clothes, he sighed real deep, like there was a new weight on his lungs. "Damn. And watching you get ready was just getting good."

This was not the time to look at him, or she might get sucked in by the way he looked at her. Quite the intoxicating experience. "Next time bring a toothbrush or something. You'll be able to stay a little longer."

"I'll think about it."

Just then, her omni-tool pinged with a message. Anya scrunched up her face and opened it, because everything about this morning was abnormal, but that was really abnormal. "Who the fuck is that? I'm not even late-" When she opened it, she groaned. "Oh for fuck's sake."

"What?"

She leaned towards him and covered her eyes. "You read it yourself."

Garrus did: "From the torn and sweaty state of the training room, I assume you and the turian finally consummated your relationship. Please come to my lab later for questions and testing. Salutations, Mordin." Looking at her face, he tried to stifle a laugh. But he didn't do very well. "Well, that's an email for you."

"It's not fucking funny."

"It's kinda funny."

Fighting her own will to laugh, Anya pointed to the door. "Out."

"Fine, fine." Garrus followed her orders, all the way until the doorway. Then, he did an abrupt turnabout which ended in her running face-first into his chest. She wished she didn't, but tragic as she was, it made her cheeks flare. He just smirked, smug asshole turian. "See you later, Anya."

Using her hand to push him out into the hall, she sucked in a breath. "I better. Because last night was- should we do it again sometime?"

"Definitely." After a long glance up and down her body, he swallowed and shook his head. "Now I need to go before I awkwardly spend all of my day outside your door like an idiot."

Anya snorted. "Please, before I start saying awkward things that make me the idiot."

With a tip of his head, Garrus gave his normal, half-assed salute. The same one that used to break her heart when he used to walk away at night, when all she wanted was to ask him to stay.

But now it was morning, and he did. So Anya just smiled.

/

Sorry for being a little late, it's been a weird week. Figuring some stuff out In other news, though, the desktop is finally INBOUND so hopefully I can have my Twitch streaming up and ready by June. Prayers Thanks as always to my patrons: Danyell Jones Amy Connolly I am very tired but I hope to see you next week!