Shore leave. 48 hours of blissful nothingness and carefree, drunken debauchery to distract their exhausted minds and bodies from the politics and bureaucratic horseshit of their recent missions.
Shepard could really use the break, Jack thought.
True, she had somewhat of a pristine reputation to uphold, but no one could expect her to be the pillar of perfection constantly, could they?
The biotic tilted her head, popping her neck and stretching out with a relaxed sigh upon the pool-side lounge. She cracked her toes and settled down into the warm shade, drawing an ice-cold beer to her lips.
Oh yeah. They all needed this.
Shepard slowly padded a barefooted path over to the edge of the water, balancing gracefully on one foot to skim her big toe across its glassy surface appraisingly. She nodded in approval and took a large swig from the amber bottle in her hand. The sculpted contours of her muscular arm flexed in the sunlight, shining almost radiantly against porcelain skin. Her red hair lit up like fire under the direct beam of soothing summer heat. Tugging at the bottom of her black N7-labled bikini, the fabric strained to keep the whole of her thick backside covered.
Jane Shepard: the only woman in the entire galaxy who could make picking a wedgie look sexy. Damn, if I were only gay, Jack thought with a chuckle.
"Hey, where'd you get the Lev/Dex Ale?" Vakarian asked, sauntering his massive bulk over to Shepard's side.
It was rare to ever see the turian outside his armor, much less stripped down to nothing more than a pair of swim-trunk-like fabrics. He, too, sported a striking athletic physique. Scars and all, most turian women turned their heads when he passed. What a couple they'd make. If only the fuck-tards could admit it to themselves - and each other - Jack could stop stressing about it. Shepard's sunglass-covered gaze found Garrus's face with a smirk. She tilted the bottle in hand, admiring its label casually.
"Yeah", she answered with blatant sarcasm. "It's from this great little place I found on the corner of Hands Off You Big Bum Road and Get Your Own Booze Lane."
His weight shifted in an all too familar way that Jack knew would mean mischief, and clicked one side of his mandible. "Really?" he challenged with equal playfulness. "I've heard of that spot."
She nodded and raised the bottle to her lips for a swig. Lightening fast, he gripped the bottle in one solid fist and used the other to shove her sidelong into the pool by a muscular shoulder. She managed to bark out a quick ACK before hitting the water with an impressive splash.
All that muscle, man. Like dropping a brick in a puddle.
Garrus a took long, refreshing swig from the bottle, sighing pleasantly as she came up for air with playful malice in her face.
"Good stuff. Want some?", he quipped, shaking the bottle at her.
She waded to the edge of the pool and lifted a toned leg over the ledge, pulling herself out of the water with graceful ease, dripping from head to toe like an irritated cat. A quick fist caught him with a smack in the ribs, making him squirm with an off-guard ooft. He chuckled and lifted the bottle effortlessly out of reach, holding her back with one long arm as she swatted at him violently with both of hers.
For fuck's sake, stop flirting and just fuck already.
Jack knew as well as anyone that, if Shepard really wanted to take something from you, she'd do it – and you'd be sorry. She was going to easy on the turian to be putting up any kind of real fight.
"Give it up, Vakarian", the struggling woman warned.
"Or you'll what?"
She stopped, hands on her hips. They squared off for a mere moment before one of her hands reached forward, slowly grating his waistline with blunt fingernails. Garrus recoiled with a somewhat strangled groan and immediately handed over the bottle, looking molested and mildly flushed.
"You play dirty", he muttered.
"Yep", she popped, kicking him square in the chest with lightning speed and sending him flying backward into the water.
Joker cackled loudly from his lounge chair, "Go easy on him, Commander. We're supposed to be on break, remember?"
Shepard's spine stacked with reassured confidence as she took another swig from her recovered beverage, but that soon faltered in the form of graceless sputtering and coughing when her gaze caught sight of someone approaching from the opposite side of the rectangular pool. A bronzy, dark-haired human with flashy hazel-green eyes glided up to her side with a wide smile.
"Do you need assistance, ma'am? I am a doctor", he said with a few unurgent pats on her back.
The red-head choked and gagged a few more times, catching her breath before addressing him with utter shock in her voice, "Kyle! Wow…um, how the hell are you?"
Garrus had lugged his soaking limbs from the water by then, eyeing the stranger suspiciously from the beverage cooler where he pretended to be picking out a drink of his own; since Shepard clearly wasn't sharing. Jack immediately took note of his bothered stance and folded her arms behind her head, watching the drama unfold.
This could get good.
Kyle, the doctor, shrugged and flashed his attractive, toothy smile, "Can't complain. Heard you made N7, Commander, your own ship, blah blah blah."
Shepard chuckled nervously, shaking spilled bear from her hand, "Yeah, something like that."
"Shore leave?"
"Ah, yeah. 48 hours." She turned to address the lazy group with a wave of her hand, "Me and a few of the crew. That there's Jack…" the tattooed biotic nodded with an amused grin. "Tali…", the quarrian hummed a quiet greeting, "Ash, James, Joker, Liara, EDI, and – "
" - Garrus Vakarian." The turian strode to Shepard's side, making a grand display of standing as tall as possible to tower over the human male's meager six-foot height. The two shook hands with a challenging squeeze that was tighter than really necessary.
Jack could have died laughing. Oh, this was fresh. Garrus: jealous.
Wait…
The wheels were starting to turn in Jack's head.
"Heard you finally finished medical school, surgical residency, neurology fellowship, blah blah blah", Shepard continued. "Only took, what? Fifty years?"
The charming human male laughed heartily, "Something like that."
The three stood awkwardly for a few beats as Garrus made a show of effortlessly popping the bottle top from his beer using nothing but a long talon. It flipped about and hit the hot ground before rolling way.
"So…" the Commander finally continued, scratching the back of her neck. "What brings you to the Citadel?"
"I work here", he answered simply, sticking his hands into his pockets casually. "I was walking home when I saw that red hair from all the way across the gardens. Only one woman in the galaxy with threads like that."
"Aha", Shepard flushed awkwardly.
He shook his head slowly, blinking as if in disbelief that he was really seeing her in the flesh, "It's been a lifetime. I can't believe I just ran into you like this."
"Yeah, pretty crazy", the Commander agreed with a nod. She was beginning to shift uncomfortably from foot to foot on the hot concrete. "Listen, I'm going to jump in the pool before my feet fry, but…if you're not doing anything later, but we all pitched in for a night-stay apartment on the other side of the Citadel. Just booze and poker…if you wanted to hang out…catch up?"
The guy nodded a bit too eagerly, "I'd like that."
Jack glanced over at Tali who appeared to be snoozing soundly. Hard to tell in that envirosuit, though.
"Spsstt!", Jack spat to get her attention.
Tali's head lulled lazily toward her, open eyes glowing beyond her protective mask. Jack threw her head subtly over toward the trio by the pool and Tali followed her path of focus with her head. It only seemed to take a quick few seconds for the quarrian to catch on to the situation. Sitting upright on her bench, she nodded to Jack with a knowing chuckle.
"Like a beer?" Shepard asked her guest.
"Sure, thanks."
She turned to make her way over to the cooler, Garrus giving the human one last downward glance before returning to the edge of the pool and, this time by use of the stairs, made his way down into the coolness of the water.
"Hey man", Jack called over to the doctor, standing from the comfort of her reclined seat to greet him with a less-aggressive-than-Garrus hand shake. "Jack."
"Kyle."
She nodded and folded her arms casually in her chest, "So, I overheard you work here on the Citadel."
"Yeah, it's crazy. I don't usually walk home this way. I was just passing by the pool for a change of scenery." His vivid eyes traveled over to the approaching Shepard with his beer in hand, "And there she was, kicking the hell outta some turian. Garrus, I mean."
"Small world", Jack smirked.
"Hope you like Asari beer", Shepard said, handing an amber bottle over to him. "It's cheap enough for us to buy in bulk when we know we're drinking for the buzz and not the flavor."
"I'm not picky", he grinned.
This poor guy really had it for her. Too bad he was just going to be an unwitting pawn in Jack's overall plan. She couldn't give two fucks about this stranger or his history with Shepard, but if it made Vakarian as unnerved as he was acting, she could use that to leverage her advantage for once.
"Man, you haven't changed a bit. Maybe a few new scars", the doctor joked lightly, fingering a few shiny, white places on Shepard's cheek and shoulder. "You look…great, Jane."
The woman's face glowed red. Shifting side to side on her feet, she dug at the hot concrete with a broken toenail, speechless. Jack had never seen her look so vulnerable. Uncomfortable. It was almost like he was shooting bullets she couldn't dodge, so she just stood there and took it, but desperately wanted out of the line of fire. Thankfully, Tali intervened.
"Hi", she greeted with and outstretched, three-fingered hand. "I'm Tali."
"I'll be…" Shepard backed away a bit, "I'm just going in for a quick dive. It's boiling out here."
"Hope you brought sunscreen", Jack called after her.
Garrus was making slow, graceful laps in the shallow end – where his feet could still safely touch the bottom and the water was no higher than his waist. Turians weren't known for their skills at swimming. He was consumed in the meditative repetition of the task and hadn't noticed the human woman sneaking up behind him. At the opportune moment, she leaped high in the air, tucked her knees into her chest, and came down with a powerful splash. Water leaped into his face and his shock made him gasp some liquid into his lungs. Wiping his scarred face with one hand, he gagged and coughed, reaching out with the other arm to grab the top of Shepard's head and shove her back under. She swam out a few paces along the bottom of the pool, coming up to break the surface too far out in the deep end for him to venture.
"That's right, you better run", he threatened with a choke.
"Come on, tough guy", she teased. "Scared of a little water?"
Jack shook her head, "Just look at them."
Tali nodded, "I know, it's really pathetic."
Kyle seemed intrigued, "Oh?"
"See that checkered-shaped patch on Shepard's right shoulder blade?" Jack pointed out. Kyle nodded. "Skin and bone weave. She took a literal bullet for him about two years ago."
"Yeah", Tali continued, "and then he took a figurative bullet to his career for her when he turned down the opportunity to command his own turian ship."
"But don't be fooled", Jack drawled in a mocking tone. "They're just friends." She fingered a set of floating quotation marks in the air.
"He could never see himself with a human female", Tali quoted Garrus.
"She would never ruin a good thing by bringing sex into the relationship", Jack quoted Shepard.
"They're just friends", both said in unison.
"But just look at them!" Jack exclaimed with an exuberant gesture of her arms, "They're like walking sex!"
Shepard had slithered her way back to the shallows along the bottom of the pool, taunting Garrus with a circular route about his feet. Predatorily, he studied her gliding movements with one arm held at the ready, like a fisherman catching carp with his bare hands. Jabbing his fist down suddenly into the water, he intended to pull her upward by her ankle, but she latched onto both his legs, yanking him off balance so that he teetered backward and submerged with a frantic gargle that sounded a lot like damnit, Shepard!
"Hm", Kyle grunted, amused.
"Exactly", Jack agreed.
"Well, that's definitely Jane's special brand of flirtation", he added. Jack and Tali's interests were suddenly peaked. "Sparring was always like foreplay to that girl – ah, woman. Not surprised she turned out to be a military idol."
The two women shared a glance.
"Have experience in that department, do you, Dr. Kyle?", Jack asked coolly.
His eyes were still fixed to the playful couple in the pool, grinning with a sense of fond reminiscence, "We ah…complicated friendship with sex a long time ago." Too fucking perfect, Jack thought excitedly. "And you see where that ended. So, I guess I can't blame her for wanting to keep things platonic with Gerald, there."
"Garrus", Tali corrected.
"Right."
Showered, dry, and liberally boozed, the crew relaxed about the round kitchen table at their shared apartment - Kyle included as per invitation - and enjoyed the early hours of the evening over a deck of cards. But as the night progressed, poker turned into strip poker, and strip poker turned into a comical game of Spin the Bottle – much to Shepard's protests.
"This is so juvenile", she argued as she and Kyle were targeted for the next smooch.
"Rules are rules", Jack sang, snapping her fingers. "Pucker up!"
Kyle took a long drink from his beer and shrugged casually, "Up to you, Jane. If you're scared…"
Her eyes snapped to him, brows furrowed.
Oh, he knows exactly what buttons to push, this guy, Jack thought gratefully.
The Commander took a long drink from her own beer, set it down rather forcefully and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand as she stood to lean across the table at him. He chuckled quietly and stood as well, leaning into the table. Garrus sat at the other end, eyeing him with a malice that might burst the human man's head into flames. Shepard gripped the back of Kyle's dark, silky-haired head and yanked him into a teeth-crashing, tongue-tying kiss which lasted a good ten seconds longer than any of the proceeding couples had. Releasing him with a near toss, she sat quickly back into her chair and drank from her beer with a cocky glare as if to say there, you asshole. Kyle, however, still looked thoroughly amused and entirely aroused by her rough treatment. Everyone at the table, spare Garrus, guffawed and clapped loudly.
"Still the same old Jane", he whispered at her, slowly lowering to his seat with a wink.
Her milky skin flushed the palest pink, and it was obvious that she tried to ignore his comment as she took her spin on the bottle. It whirled for about five passes around the room before losing some of its momentum and slowing to a halt in front of the ship's fragile pilot.
"You're up, Joker", Shepard muttered, sitting back in her chair with a half-defeated sigh.
Her eyes avoided contact with anyone in the group, especially Kyle's. Garrus studied her face carefully from across the table, unaware that Jack watched his every move from the corner of her eye. His attentiveness to the Commander had always left nothing to desire, but blaming that on his turian nature would have been naïve. He cared for her beyond his cultural inclination toward service to others, whether either of them would admit it or not.
Joker sat forward, eagerly rubbing his hands together with a deep breath and a silent hand gesture suggesting that we prayed for a miracle before flicking the bottle about. While everyone else in the room chattered and rooted on at the center focal point in the table, Garrus shifted his weight ever so slightly in his chair. Jack guessed he must have brushed Shepard's foot with one of his long legs because her green eyes flicked up to meet his. They exchanged not a single word, but the passing of glances between them spoke in volumes.
'Hey, you okay?', he asked with his eyes.
She gave him a mild corner-of-the-mouth kind of grin and nodded lightly. 'I'm good', she seemed to answer.
His chin took a subtle jerk toward the sliding balcony doors, 'Need some air? Want to talk about it?'
She half-smiled at that, obvious relief in her shoulders, 'Nah, we'll talk later. Thanks.'
All of this transpired in seconds, but in those mere moments, Jack was secretly privy to the silent world glowing between these two very different creatures of the galaxy that no one else in the universe could possibly understand. They were like twin souls on and off the battlefield. She had joined them on enough missions to know how their actions synchronized in a way so flawlessly that it could be mistaken as methodical, but the biotic knew better. She was as far from religious as anyone could possibly get, but even an atheist knows soul mates when she sees them. Time was wasting, this plan had to work.
Tonight.
An obnoxious cacophony of cheers and jeers shook the trio back to reality, and the fact that the bottle had landed pin-point center on EDI. Joker clasped his hands together with a broad grin and pulled his delicate bones up from the chair excitedly.
"I'd just like to take this moment to thank God, The Goddess, The Spirits, Keelah and…" his gesturing stopped on Jack, "Idunno…The Devil?"
The biotic gave him a sarcastic smile and a vulgar gesture from one finger.
EDI stood apathetically, "Religious praise for such an outcome is likely not necessary, Jeff. The statistical likelihood of this pairing was high considering – "
"-Yeah yeah, whatever", he waved, leaning over the table toward her. "Just kiss me before I explode, EDI."
The AI complied, treating the action as mission or duty, while Joker clearly took his opportunity to enjoy this rare and nearly impossible occasion. After a few seconds, EDI returned easily to her seat, but Joker had to lower himself in such a way that suggested that he was both dizzy and uncomfortably restricted in his pants.
"This is just getting weird", Tali muttered.
"One more, one more!" Jack said, trying to hide her excitement. She had timed this occasion just right, and no one at the table had caught on that every single spin had been delicately controlled and altered by the subtle calibrations of biotic influence. "Just one more, then we can cut up the dancefloor…and laugh at Shepard while she tries."
Motions of amused agreement spread along the table. EDI nodded, spinning the bottle with graceful fluidity. Joker still looked dazed and couldn't take his eyes off her. The amber glass slowed its pace to rest upon Garrus for the first time since the game began. He rolled his shoulder, clearing his throat in that way turians do when they're annoyed. Jack concentrated every effort on making the bottle land seamlessly upon Shepard. She and Garrus exchanged a look of panic. The entire room erupted with cheering and hooting, clapping, stomping, and table slapping. Everyone emphatically supported this pairing, all except Kyle, of course. He continued to produce an amused grin as any good sport would, but shifted in his seat uncomfortably.
"Guys", Shepard was blushing furiously.
"Kiss. Kiss. Kiss", Jack started up a slow chant, which caught fire and was soon a roaring war cry.
"KISS! KISS! KISS!" the cadence became faster and faster.
Garrus was the first to take a drink of his beer and bravely stand to his feet with a bit of a sway. The excited chorus grew louder and faster. Shepard tried to tuck her embarrassed grin into a downward gaze.
"KISS! KISS! KISS!"
Tilting her head upward, she bravely finished off the remainder of her beer and stood with a roll-up-her-sleeves, lets-do-this kind of fire-eyed, mission-driven motion that made Garrus struggle on a swallow.
"KISS! KISS! KISS!"
The very ground shook with the pounding of fists and stomping of feet. Jack grinned wide, no longer joining in the chanting, and just leaning into her hip with arms crossed smugly in her chest. The Commander's eyes finally met with the sniper's; amber on blue. They stared at one another for what felt like an eternity, each challenging the other to move first. Just when Jack thought she might have to shove one of them into action, Garrus slowly learned inward, his massive body weight resting into both arms. The table bowed slightly under his pressure. Shepard swallowed, following suit until they were mere centimeters apart, breathing one another heavily. The Commander closed her eyes. Garrus followed. The shouting was a deafening and uncontrolled roar. She leaned forward. Soft lips touched mouth plates. Jack smiled. The room exploded with approving hooting and clapping.
Then something happened that Jack had not anticipated.
The kissing pair's steel nerves actually melted slightly, only just noticeable to someone watching close enough to catch the subtle changes in body language. Shepard's mouth parted ever so slightly, pink tongue venturing to sweep his bottom plate. His breath hitched, blue tongue making the lightest contact with hers. One of his hands left the table to cup her jaw, talons scratching gently at her scalp. The cheering quickly transformed into cat calling and whistling, jolting the pair out of their trance and back into reality. Their eyes shot open, bodies separating quickly with overt embarrassment.
Jack couldn't be more please.
Garrus scratched nervously at the underside of his mandible with a sort of nod to her to suggest, 'There, happy?'
Kyle played along, clapping his hands, but otherwise cool and collected compared to the frantic crowd who patted, punched, and shook the pair in a congratulatory manner. They couldn't even look at each other now.
Somewhere in the background, bumping club music increased in volume and Tali screamed over the crowd, "Alright everybody, shake your asses!"
Drunken dancing, or something that resembled it, spread throughout the room. Jack, ecstatic with how the night was going, climbed up onto the table and proceeded to writhe on her knees; still keeping a close eye on her two friends.
They were not dancing, just shifting nervously in place and trying to catch their bearings, still breathing rather heavily. Garrus clenched his jaw, and his fists, at the sight of Kyle slinking his way stealthily over to Shepard's side to whisper something in her ear. She seemed to consider him for a moment's hesitation before following him out onto the balcony. No one else in the room seemed to notice, but Jack smirked her way through a sensual roll of her tattooed body along with the beat of the music.
"Well", Kyle chuckled, sliding the balcony doors closed behind them and buffering out some of the music. "That was…interesting."
Shepard scratched her forehead, "Just reminds me why I never get drunk on shore leave."
"Nothing wrong with some innocent fun", he shrugged. "That's all it is, right?"
She nodded, "Yeah, definitely. They deserve a night of debauchery after every they've been through lately."
"Some rough missions?"
She turned to lean over the balcony railing, pausing for a pensive moment, "Yeah."
He joined her side, leaning into the railing with his elbows, "Your team respects the hell out of you, Jane. You've done some really amazing things since…well, since the last time we spoke." She huffed at that with a small grin. "Do you hate me?"
Her eyes found his, "No. I don't hate you."
"I never meant to hurt you, Jane."
She looked away, eyes scanning the glowing sparkle over the Presidium waters, "I know."
He nodded, a bit unconvincingly, silence passing between them briefly. "I realize I've never been great with words, but…I really did…I still, really care about you. It's been sort of empty not having you around to laugh with, talk with. I never wanted you to become so distant."
She shrugged, "It was really hard, Kyle. I couldn't seem to reconcile being just your friend after what we…what I thought we had."
"Hey", he said softly, taking her hands in his and gently pulling her up to stand in front of him. "We did have something, and it was great. It just…wasn't the right time."
She snorted, "Yeah, not the right lifetime."
His lips found her forehead in an intimate gesture that made her heart shatter almost audibly. Her eyes tightened shut, desperately attempting to block out distant memories of their torturous love affair from what felt like centuries ago; back before military or medical school. Back when the promises of youth made everything sparkle.
Fuck.
Jack stopped dancing. This wasn't good. Kyle was supposed to be a means for upheaving turian territorial instincts, not a link to Jane's past that didn't need to be reconnected. Garrus hadn't been able to tolerate the sight of them, joining Joker at the bar to shout banter over the pounding music. He would steal glances to the balcony, but otherwise tried to ignore the human reunion. Jack needed to take the night into her hands again.
Leaping from the table she jogged to the glass door, pounding on it with a fist as she pulled it open. "Shepard! Shots, come on, you promised." It was true, and an even better excuse to cash in on an old pledge made months ago.
The Commander released hands with her old flame, taking a step back to shake off the familiar glow he was giving her and replace the walls she had used to successfully barricade out the pain of his memory years ago. Her spine stacked and she shrugged at him with a playful smile, "Promise is a promise."
He gave her a sidewise, knowing grin and nodded. The redhead retreated indoors toward the bar, Jack smacking her on the ass as she passed.
"No need to be a stranger, Doc", she mentioned to the man. "Come have some shots. We'll see how well you keep up with the riff raff."
"Alright, alright!" Ashley shouted, sloppily pouring out a round for each person using a vibrant blue liquor which was apparently levo-dextro safe. "Let's get shitfaced, people!"
Shepard joined Garrus's side with a playful jab at his shoulder. He made to fake-punch her in the cheek, pushing her head into a slight turn with a loving grin. It was a ritual greeting they used more than they realized, but Jack had noticed regularly. Kyle appeared to notice as well, but he was sly, this one. Too smart to blatantly challenge a territorial turian male, he was finding his own ways to play on Shepard's weaknesses.
This night could get very interesting, Jack thought.
The entire group each took a shot in hand, toasting the air with a unison NORMANDY before downing the burning liquid which resulted in some uncomfortable coughing and chest slapping. Jack drank hers down like water, keeping a close eye on the targets of her plan.
"Another!" Ash yelled, pouring out the drinks.
The group grumbled, but took up their drinks into another toast.
"To Shepard", Liara cooed with a smile to her friend.
"SHEPARD!" the group shouted as the Commander shook her head and smirked.
Two more shots later, the group was all thoroughly lubricated and dancing with erratic and inconsistent rhythm to the music again. Shepard, not typically the dancing type, had even decided to loosen up a bit. She was laughing and smiling again, a good sign for Jack. She knew what it looked like when her friend went into mental and emotional shut-down. It happened after most missions and was dangerously close to happening earlier when Kyle had kissed her, but the biotic's efforts had seemed to pull her back into a safe, playful headspace.
Soon, a circle had formed and dance-battles commenced. Jack went up against Ashley who tried to match her lithe enthusiasm only to fall hard onto her ass with a bursting laugh from the group. James helped her to her wobbly feet and Garrus went up against EDI. The AI had the unfair advantage of imbedded cultural software which allowed her access to the best moves of any race on two legs. The turian bowed out, accepting swift defeat. Liara dragged Shepard into the ring and used classic asari movements of her hips and spine to bring a highlighted glow to the Commander's already alcohol-induced blush. The circle cat called and instigated the women-on-woman spectacle which, given a more sober situation, Liara may not have indulged. But it was no secret that she adored the human, and took her opportunity to grind up against her, hands brushing her waist and hips.
Jack was surprised to find that not even Garrus opposed the attention his human was receiving from the asari. Other than cognitive joining for the necessity of mission progress, it had already been well established that Shepard was in no way interested in romantic endeavors with the blue woman. And with exception of the current moment, Liara had respected that boundary in their friendship. It was all in the name of light-hearted fun, but the turn had opened the flood gates for dancing to become a competition of which couple could be the sexiest.
Shepard and Liara were replaced by Tali and James who grinded on one another for about 20 seconds before Ash grabbed onto Kyle and shoved her way into the middle ring, jumping up onto his back and riding him like a space cowgirl. That somehow devolved very quickly into a game of land-based chicken and bet-placing. Ashley now on the doctor's shoulders, Garrus moved into the ring and grabbed onto Shepard's wrist.
"C'mon, Sh'perd", he slurred.
The Commander looked panic stricken, but too unsure in her footing to resist, "Garrus, wait! Your carapace – ACK!"
Stepping behind her, he grabbed onto her hips and lifted her up and over his fringe, resting her rather uncomfortably over his shoulders and carapace where she had no choice but to hold onto its upper rim for support. Unable to sit balanced, she looked rather more like an awkward backpack and had limited to no use of her arms. The turian took a fighting stance, moving about Kyle and Ash in a slow, deliberate circular motion that screamed apex predator – and a great deal of alpha male. He held a tight grip onto Shepard's ankles to keep her in place while she struggled up top to stay upright.
All at once, Ash screamed out a war cry and Kyle lunged forward. Garrus took a defensive stance that a hurricane couldn't knock over, but Shepard was left to the mercy of her own upper body strength to keep her in place while Ashley's hands and arms grabbed, shook, and shoved her shoulder's and head. Garrus maintained an unwavering placement underneath the fray, challenging Kyle's infuriatingly smug smirk. His chest vibrated with a territorial warning growl. Shepard was far too distracted by palms in her face to notice, but Jack did. She could feel it vibrate through the floor.
This was getting juicier by the minute.
"Stand down, Garrus", Kyle grunted, struggling to keep his hold on the flailing Ashley above. "You've lost this one."
The turian gave a deep, malicious chuckle, "Funny. I've been wanting to say the same to you all night."
All the humor left the doctor's face, replaced by a challenging glare, "Jane's a grown woman. She can make her own choices."
Shouting and jeering covered up most of the conversation, but Jack made out just enough to know that the two men where now directly pitting against one another for Shepard's attention. The biotic had them both right where she wanted them.
Meanwhile, Shepard had finally taken enough abuse from her vulnerable position. Reaching up haphazardly with one outstretched arm, she grabbed onto one of Ashley's shoulders and yanked her forward. The turian had been so focused on his challenger, he wasn't prepared for the sudden shift in weight. Nearly three hundred pounds of solid bulk went stumbling backward, narrowly missing landing fully on top of the Commander. Instead, Garrus released her at the last moment to protect her from his crashing body weight. She hit the ground hard, bouncing the back of her head off the tile floor and knocking the wind from her lungs with a strangled yelp. Both Ashley and Kyle had been dragged along for the ride, landing in a heap on the floor, limbs sprawling. Garrus finally found the ground, skidding a couple of feet before slamming into the opposite wall which made the entire room shake. The excitement in the air suddenly turned to panic.
"Jane?" Kyle crawled over to her and hands found her cheeks, using his thumbs to push her eyes lids upward. "Jane, you okay? Talk to me."
The whole gang was now crowded around them as Garrus and Ashley crawled back up to their feet. The turian shoved his way into the inner circle and kneeled down next to his fallen Commander.
"Janie, look at me, baby. I need to see your eyes", Kyle demanded urgently. Garrus shifted nervously, but did not intervene with the doctor's assessment. "I need a flashlight", he called out to the worried crowd.
"I've got one", James removed a pen from his shirt pocket and clicked the end, handing it down to Kyle who used it to inspect the reaction of both pupils alternately.
Once he seemed satisfied with that, he dropped the pen and gingerly placed his fingertips on the back of Shepard's skull, palpating for any evidence of concern. She was having a difficult time focusing, but seemed to be trying to come round.
Kyle cradled her head and upper body into his arm and lap, holding up two fingers in front of her face, "Can you see? Tell me how many."
Her eyes wavered, blinking lazily and squinting in the light of the room. "This many", she responded, holding up two of her own fingers.
The doctor chuckled, stroking hair from her forehead lovingly, "That's a little inside humor. I think she's fine. No concussion as far as I can tell, but she shouldn't go to sleep any time soon. We'll need to keep an eye on her until she can get back to your ship in the morning and get another look over."
"I'll watch her", Garrus immediately volunteered, reaching out to take one of her hands. "This is my fault."
"Don't beat yourself up, man", Joker patted him on the back. "It was an accident. At least it wasn't me on your shoulders."
The turian didn't so much as smirk at the quip. All of his focus was on Shepard.
"I can stay the night, too", Kyle offered, "Make sure she remains lucid and stable."
Jack could read the jealous rage in the way Garrus pulled his mandibles tight to his face, but he didn't argue. Shepard's health and safety was more important to him than territorial squabbles with another male at the moment. Especially if he had a useful skill to offer in aiding her. In all honesty, Jack was also worried about her friend.
"Maybe we should just take her to the hospital", Garrus added.
"They'll just send her home and tell us to keep an eye on her", Kyle said. "She's better off drinking some water and sitting up with someone for a few hours."
"I'll get her some water", Tali said, rushing to the sink.
"Janie, can you sit up, baby?" Kyle cooed.
Jack hated hearing the Commander being called Janie as much as she could tell Garrus hated hearing her called baby. The turian still had a grip on her hand, using it to aid her into an unstable yet upright position. She swayed there for a few seconds, blinking repeatedly. Tali returned with the water and handed it over to Garrus who placed it into her hand gently.
"Drink some water, Shepard", he whispered to her.
He was wracked with guilt; Jack could hear it in his voice.
The Commander's amber eyes dazedly glanced down at the glass of water in her hand, then back up to Garrus. She had to crane her neck slightly to look all the way up at him even though he was seated on the floor with her. A goofy grin crawled onto her face when she met his eyes.
"Garrus", she said in a way which sounded pleasantly surprised to see him there.
"I'm right here. Drink some water, please." He helped her lift the glass to her lips where she gulped down a few mouthfuls before setting the glass back down onto the floor next to her. "Any pain?"
She had to think about it for a moment, then finally shook her head, "Nah."
Kyle brushed a hand over her hair gently and kissed the top of her head, "Tough as nails."
Shepard looked back at him, their eyes meeting for a long moment that made Garrus shift uncomfortably in his spot.
"Let's get you onto the couch", he said.
"I got her", Kyle suggested.
Garrus didn't attempt to argue. He simply stood and reached down with both arms, hooking Shepard beneath the shoulders to pick her up as easily as a parent would a child. She clung gingerly to him as he brought her to his chest, and carried her over to the couch, sitting down with her cradled across his lap. Jack watched Kyle roll his eyes with an amused sigh and opt to simply bring her the glass of water. Shepard rubbed the back of her head and continued to blink hazily, finally appearing to come round a bit more lucidly.
"What…happened?" she asked hoarsely.
Garrus gently scratched her scalp with taloned fingers, "You hit your head, Shepard."
"Pretty damn hard, but no concussion", Kyle added, handing her the water.
She took it from him lazily, tilting her head up to meet his eyes, "Thank you."
"Sure, Janie", he answered quietly. Taking a look around at everyone, he heaved a deep sigh before sparing a glance to Garrus, then back down to Shepard. "You've got a pretty amazing crew here. I ah…I think you're probably in good hands for the rest of the night." His eyes met with the turian's directly, "I'm gonna go ahead and go."
"I thought you said you'd stay and watch her", Liara argued hastily.
Kyle grinned down at Shepard one final time, "Something tells me you guys won't let anything bad happen to her." The doctor headed for the door, "Make sure she gets well hydrated." He turned to meet Garrus with a knowing grin before closing the door behind him, "And no sleeping until she's cleared by your ship's doctor."
The door clicked shut quietly, leaving a heavy silence in the room. Shepard pulled herself up to sitting on Garrus's lap, aided by his large, steady hand on her back. Talons ran gently up and down the length of her spine. Jack noted the more relaxed state Garrus appeared to be in within the few seconds of his competitor finally taking forfeit – or defeat - and walking out the door.
"Well, it wouldn't be a night off the ship with Commander Shepard without at least a little drama", Joker quipped.
The room seemed to lighten a bit as everyone chuckled and nodded in agreement.
"Looks like you're on night watch duty, Garrus", James yawned. "Man, I'm off to hit the sack. Who's bunking with me? I'll warn you all: I punch in my sleep."
There were nine people and four queen sized beds in the apartment. The crew was already accustomed to sharing space for the sake of catching a few hours sleep on shore leave. Shepard knew she could trust her people to be responsible.
"Come on, Rocky", Ashley mumbled. "You don't scare me. You sure you're gonna be alright, Skipper?"
The Commander nodded, "I'm coming around."
James and Ashley found a room at the back end of the hall, and then there were seven.
"My power supply is connected with the ship, but I can take a few hours to undergo standard updates and system cleaning" EDI said casually. "Jeff, may I use space in your chosen quarters to engage sleep mode? I do not punch."
Joker looked like he wanted to jump and click his heels together, "EDI, you can do whatever you want in my chosen quarters. Night guys!"
Tali laughed heartily, walking over to Shepard to pat her on the back, "I should probably get some rest as well. Liara? Jack?"
"I'll join you", Liara volunteered quickly. "Jack has full conversations in her sleep…and they're a bit disturbing."
The biotic smirked, "So I've heard. Right, well I guess we'll leave you guys to it. Keep her awake, Garrus. We're all counting on you."
"I've got it managed", he said with a dismissive wave, his smile finally beginning to make a reappearance.
Doors clicked shut, leaving he and Shepard in blessed silence for a few moments. She sipped at the glass of water, grinning to herself over something Garrus apparently wasn't privy to. His nerves were raw and irritated from the events of the day, the entirety of which had been chalked full of new Shepard-related emotions: jealousy, rage…arousal?
Caring for her health was nothing new – she was his closest friend. Her safety meant everything to him both on and off the battlefield. But for the first time since he'd met her, the idea of another male with his hands on her drove him utterly insane; something he'd never actually considered a threat before. She sparred with Vega probably once a week, and sat alone with Joker for hours on end when she couldn't sleep. None of it bothered him.
So, why now?
And why for fuck's sake couldn't he get that kiss out of his damn head? He'd been with asari, they'd taught him about kissing on more than one occasion. But this kiss.
Spirits.
"Thanks for the lookout, Garrus", the sound of Shepard's voice pulled his attention back to the moment, to her. How had he never noticed how beautiful she is? "I think I'm okay, though. You can go ahead and get some rest. Maybe bunk with Jack if you can tolerate her sleep-talking."
He chuckled lightly, stroking a finger through her soft hair. So soft. "And leave you awake and alone with your thoughts? I'm not so sure about that one."
She took another sip of water with a wide grin, "Reading my mind again, Vakarian?"
"Wish I could", he smirked, resting a hand onto her thigh.
For all his sharp edges and hard plates, Shepard was surprised to find that the turian's lap was quite possibly the most comfortable and comforting place she had been in a very long time. His warmth soothed her both literally and figuratively. She felt safe with him; grounded and calm in a way that seemed so far out of her reach when he wasn't around. Kyle had been the love and heartbreak of her life all those years ago. Ancient history, now. Seeing him again hurt. Touching him was worse. It hurt with real physical pain deep in her chest, yet somehow, the rhythmic thud of Garrus's heart next to her shoulder dulled the pain in a way that made her smile quietly to herself.
He had always been able to transform her pain, her trauma, her sorrow. He blanketed her with a soothing energy that just…was. It felt so simple. So complete. It terrified her to try and imagine not having him in her life, the way that Kyle was now; just the passing memory of a ghost. Her smile faded, tightness gripping her chest again.
"Hey", Garrus whispered, guiding her face toward his with a finger beneath her chin. "You okay?"
His eyes. She'd spent how many endless hours with him. Surely, she must have noticed his eyes before tonight, but there was something in them, something new. Different. The way he looked at her; it sent electricity up her spine.
"Yeah", she said with a sideways grin. "I was just thinking that…"
He waited for what felt like an eternity, lost in her amber eyes, "Yes?"
"Thank you", she answered finally, "For always being there for me, Garrus."
His mandibles broadened into a turian smile, "You know I've always got your six, Shepard."
And he always had. Kyle had loved her so intensely, but he had never been able to be there for her when she really needed him. He was career-focused; not that it was a bad thing, so was she. But in the end, career mattered more to him than she did. She could never have asked him to give that up, but it didn't make his decision hurt any less. Garrus didn't know it, but Shepard had learned about his career decision to turn down his own command. She had wanted to approach him on the matter, but had greedily kept it to herself, afraid she might actually be able to talk him into leaving. It made her sick with guilt.
"Why didn't you take the offer?", she blurted without thinking. "To…to command your own ship?"
He looked absolutely dumbstruck for a few moments, "You knew about that?"
She shrugged, "I heard a rumor."
He didn't have a real answer. Not anymore. For years he told himself it was because he was a turian, and honor bound him to continue serving Shepard, his Commander and friend. It wasn't in his culture or his nature to consider himself or his own needs or desires.
But that's exactly what he had done.
Selfishly, he had stayed on board with Shepard, not because he felt an obligatory service to her, but because he secretly and genuinely did not wish to ever leave her side. He'd follow her to hell, and not because honor required it, but because he…
Realization hit him like bricks of cold steel in his gut. He felt his heartrate quicken and his hands begin to tremble lightly.
"Garrus…", he expected her to ask him again for an answer, but instead she simply said, "…I'm glad you didn't go." Her head came to rest lightly upon his chest, making his heart race even faster. It felt swollen inside his body – much the same way something else was becoming. His arms wrapped about her small frame, pulling her into him. Oh, Spirits help him, he was so lost to this woman. So lost for so long, and only just now realizing it. "Please…don't ever go", he heard her whisper against his neck. The sensation of it shot electric heat straight through his body and down into his groin plates.
Arms held her tighter, sealing his vow, "Never. I swear, Shepard."
His heart was beating so strong and loud in his chest, she could feel it actually jostling her head slightly. The thudding rhythm both soothed and stimulated her. His touch. The kiss they had shared. Kissing Kyle again had hurt, reopened some old wounds, but kissing Garrus…
No man had ever made her feel the way they described in the old Hollywood vids: like fireworks.
Not even Kyle.
But Garrus.
Garrus made her feel…volcanic eruptions. No, nuclear explosions. So, what in the hell did that mean? Things had been so much easier when they were just friends. It was simple. Friends might be affectionate from time to time, but this was suddenly deeper, more heated than that. Her head spun from the intense pulling in her core. His arms encased her in warmth, strength, protection. She didn't have to be strong for him. She didn't have to pretend that the nights weren't long and cold, full of visions and ghosts. She didn't have to keep a stiff upper lip or brush off an injury just to settle his worry. She could just…be. For the first time in her life, she found someone who would hold her late into the night and simply allow her to exist with all of her intricate flaws. And she believed him when he swore that he would never leave her side. It was a tremendously selfish thing for her to ask of him. She had nearly taken it back immediately after saying it, but his vow came so quickly. Without hesitation. No deep sigh or moment of profound consideration. No 'I need time to think about this.'
He had promised himself to her long before she ever asked it of him, and the truth was, she knew she needn't even ask. She was human, and a woman, and needed to hear the words for herself. But everything that was Garrus Vakarian had already made that promise a hundred times. Hewas here for her, with her, on her six.
Forever.
The sheer intensity of his arms around her, the way he smelled, the furious and frantic thudding of his heart, the rapid rising and falling of his chest as he matched his breath with hers, all of it made her eyes burn. They burned and ached in a way she hadn't felt since she was a child. Her throat tightened and hot liquid filled her bottom lids. Silent tears streamed down her face, chin, and neck.
Dampness spread into Garuss's tunic where the side of her head still rested. His eyes opened at the sensation. Humans cried when they were upset. He hated the idea that Jane Shepard would ever feel anything but joy. He lived for her happiness, to see her smile. It gave him life to hear her laugh.
"Hey", he whispered, hand reaching into her hair, scratching lightly at her scalp. "Where are you, hm?"
She smiled against him, "I'm here. With you. The only place I ever want to be."
His heart skipped a beat. She lifted her head from his chest, tilting her chin to look up at him. Their eyes met, breath quickened, synchronized. His hand cupped her face the way it had when they had kissed. Her hand fisted his tunic, and that was the last thing either of them could clearly recall. Suddenly, somehow they were exquisitely and entirely enveloped in one another.
Tongues tangled and massaged. Hands caressed and pulled on fabric, buckles, hair, fringe, skin, plates. Every sensation fueled a frantic need, a pulse to be closer, deeper. His chest purred. Her breathing hitched inside moans and hisses, precious little sighs that drove him further down into the dizzying high of her body, her scent, her delicate skin. So close to his. He needed more. Needed to be inside her, more than anything he'd ever wanted in his entire life.
The roughness of his hands seared her skin in the most incredible way possible. He couldn't stop touching every inch of her. Amber eyes in their sockets. His actions were rough, boarding on harsh, and she loved it. Teeth threatened her skin. Talons left raised, angry streaks in their wake. She moaned. He growled. Fingers tightened in her hair, pulling on her scalp, forcing her head back, exposing her vulnerability to him, and she accepted him. She could climax like this. Anymore and she could go tumbling right over the edge.
Somehow, they were completely naked and kneeling before one another on the plush carpet in front of the couch, clothing tossed, torn, and scattered around them. When had that happened? Neither of them could remember. Neither of them cared. The only thing that mattered was seeking more. More.
Blunt teeth found his neck and he keened, digging talons into her waist, her ass. She hissed. The pain was delicious. She wanted his markings. She wanted to feel them, see them for days. She wanted everyone to know she belonged to him. That he was hers.
Enough. He pulled his neck away from her, but she held on by his carapace with both hands. Spirits, what she did to him. His hands gripped her wrists with tremendous strength. She gasped at the pain, the incredible electricity of it. Talons gripped her hips and spun her toward the couch, throwing her down onto her elbows. His knees moved between hers, spreading her apart forcefully. She gasped. He growled. Huge hands gripped her waist like a corset. His teeth nipped hungrily at her shoulder, the solid thickness of his arousal brushing her inner thighs. She sighed with need, reaching back to dig blunt nails into his neck. A dark, sinister snarl and hot breath beat against her ear. Fear mingled with excitement. She smiled. She trusted him. He wouldn't hurt her, she knew that, but she wanted it to hurt. She wanted him to claim her, take her. She'd give him what he already knew was his.
Breath left her skin, replaced by a forceful hand in her center back, crushing her upper body down into the cushion of the couch. He tried to enter her quickly, but found it impossible. The length of his shaft bowed against the resistance of her firm core. Slow pressure dilated constricted muscles, progressing him into her enveloping heat. She was so wet. Pleasure stole her breath, thickness stretching her to the very limit, his generous size painful in the best way. Hands gripped onto her shoulders for stability when he finally made his way to the hilt. They moaned shamelessly, neither one concerned that they might be overheard by any of the other people in the apartment. She felt so full she didn't dare move. Every breath she took seemed to massage his aching, throbbing length. Steal hard will power was the only thing preventing him from slamming into her. One long arm slinked beneath her abdomen, yanking her upright and back against his chest.
"Fuck", she panted, the new angle creating pressure in places she didn't know existed.
"Oh, I will", he promised, hot in her ear. She trembled. "Let me know when you're ready."
His long, blue tongue stretched out to taste her skin, drawing a long, scorching line from shoulder to nape.
"Garrus, I need you", she keened.
The arm about her waist tightened. His other arm wrapped around her chest, finding purchase on her muscular shoulder, "Hold onto me, Shepard."
Pleasure and anticipation mingled in her abdomen, causing the muscles to flutter beneath his steadfast hold. She reached up to grip the arm crossing her chest with both hands and held on tight. Hot breath fogged her neck as he buried his face into her, pulling his hips back slowly. The first thrust snapped into her so hard she saw stars behind her eyelids; deep, aching pleasure shot down her legs, into her toes. Her sharp moan drove him on. He needed her with his soul. The second thrust was harder, deeper. He found a pace, a phenomenal rhythm. Not too fast, not too slow. Perfection. Deep, hard, each one pressing into her, pausing for only a moment before falling back into another cycle, intensity building into a crescendo.
Her nails dug into his arm, head falling back against his shoulder. Every harsh thrust earned her a deep, flanging grunt that vibrated through her entire body. He could feel her muscles pulling him in, tighter, verging on the edge of tetany. Her breath came fast, in quick little pants.
"Garrus…", the sound of the moan warned of her impending release, begging him for it. Growling against her soft, sweaty flesh, his rhythm kicked up a full notch, pounding into her with fervor and need. "Oh…fuck", she whimpered, arching back against him.
Her contracting muscles gripped him so hard he nearly had to stop moving, marveling at her sheer strength. Arms held her tighter, pulling her spasming body against him until she could barely breathe. Electric sensations pulsed through her entire being, pulsating down her spine, numbing her extremities. He couldn't hold back any longer. Her body forced his own release from him, yanking it away like air being knocked from his lungs. Their bodies writhed together, no longer holding any semblance of a rhythm, now only a trembling, exhausted, dance that was slowing to a lazy end.
Shepard tried to open her eyes, but the world was spinning the way it had when her skull had bounced against the kitchen tile. She let them shut, breathing into him. His death grip loosened on her, but did not release completely. The purring in his chest reverberated pleasantly down her spine. Hips pulled backward, but took her with him as he sat back onto his heels. She rested against him, basking in their afterglow. The arm across her chest peeled away painfully, leaving behind angry indentations from his plates digging into tender flesh. The hand cupped her jaw gently and pulled her face back to him in a tender kiss. As certain sensations ebbed away, others began to surface. Her entire body was raw, chaffed, marked, burning – incredible. She loved it all.
The door to Jack's room clicked and opened with a swing. Shepard and Garrus froze in place as their biotic friend stepped out, face plastered with a thoroughly pleased smile. Sinking into a hip, she crossed her arms in her chest and studied them for a long, awkward moment.
"Well, 'bout fucking time", she stated boldly. Garrus brought his hands up to cup Shepard's breasts in an attempt to provide her with some sort of modesty. His cock, still fully erect and buried deep inside of her, was at least hidden from view. "Seen 'em, dude. Now come on." Her head jerked toward the open bedroom door. "You two take the bedroom. I'll stay out here and clean up a bit. Smells like booze and pussy out here."
Shepard snorted a short laugh.
"Ah…thanks, Jack", Garrus responded. "Mind giving us a sec?"
The biotic rolled her eyes, "Fine. Keep it to yourself. I can always check out Fornax if I really wanna know what turian dick looks like, I guess."
He laughed heartily at that, burying his face sheepishly into Shepard's warm shoulder.
In another three hours, the sun was bleeding in through the windows in pinkish hues. Garrus had successfully – and repeatedly - fulfilled his duty on night watch, ensuring that Shepard remained awake and alert. When they finally emerged from the bedroom, a hungover chorus of cat calling and lude whistles announced their presence at the breakfast table. Jack had cleaned, EDI had cooked, and no one had gotten any damn sleep.
"Well, good morning", Joker greeted them groggily.
Shepard's pale skin flushed a bright pink as she took a seat, the fresh markings of her lover's passion visible here and there. Garrus kissed the top of her head in a rather humanly gesture of affection before sitting next to her, unable to contain his grin.
"I seriously thought Kyle had come back until I heard her say Garrus's name", Ashley admitted.
James shook his head, "No fuckin' way. We would have heard Garrus rip his lungs out first."
They all laughed.
"Who was he anyway?", Liara asked.
The Commander graciously accepted a cup of black coffee from EDI's hands, "Thank you. Ancient history, guys."
"He was nice", Tali said, earning a disapproving glance from the turian. "What? He did make sure she was going to be okay before he left."
"You mean before Garrus chased him out with his alpha male pheromones", Joker corrected, earning chuckles and nods of agreement.
"So, does this mean we gotta stop sparrin', Lola?" James asked in all seriousness.
She deferred the question with a look to Garrus who appeared perfectly relaxed, drugged out on sheer bliss. He crossed his arms in his chest and shook his head, "And give up my weekly income on the winnings? Forget it. She can keep kicking your ass until we retire on a beach somewhere."
They all laughed heartily at that, poking at Vega playfully. Jack had been in the kitchen with EDI, sipping coffee and leaning smugly against the counter. She watched her two best friends pass loving glances and knowing smiles to one another throughout the morning's lighthearted conversation. It probably would have happened on its own eventually, but she was glad to have had a hand in expediting the process anyhow. No one ever found out and she never told her secret.
Besides, it was more fun this way.