Chapter 4
A Turian in distress
Aboard the Normandy it was a frenzy.
A salarian (whom Aki now knew as Mordin Solus) and human doctor, Karin Chakwas, issuing orders of what to do for the now unconscious Turian being hauled aboard.
Brainstorming out loud what methods would work and what wouldn't work based on his physiology.
Aki stood helpless as he was rushed away into the Med-Bay, the doors locking behind the doctors, her mind replaying the look in his eyes as he lay in her arms and how terrified she'd been of losing him.
She swallowed hard looking to her bloodied armour, hands-stained blue, the medicinal smell of the medi-gel that had dried like glue tightening on her gloved fingers. Aki frowned at the red panel on the door and shook her head with a grimace hands balling tightly.
Goddamn it Garrus!
9 hours later-
Aki sat in the med-bay and sighed heavily looking to the cot in which Garrus rested on, his rough plated torso and arms exposed for the IV's to be attached to administer pain relief, fluids and blood.
His mandible had been torn as well as his shoulder and chest having been peppered with bullets, scarring would happen she had been informed but like all scars they would fade over time.
She ran her hands over her face and smiled softly watching his deep breaths, he'd spent hours drifting in and out of consciousness.
Chakwas thought it better to keep him sedated to allow for the fluids and blood transfusion to do their job.
Aki reached out slowly and ran her hand along the length of his rough arm before taking his taloned hand softly in her own, "you get yourself into some shitty situations Garrus" she whispered softly squeezing his hand.
The Turian groaned in response, his eyes slowly flickering open, he grunted trying to move before flopping back to his original position his head tilted to the side, mandible clicking softly, "Aki?" he rasped sleepily.
"I'm here" she soothed running her hand down his cheek, thumb brushing against his uninjured mandible as sleep took him once more.
Aki entered into Shepard's cabin and took a seat on the couch beside her sister whom had changed into her civvies and sat with her feet propped up on the table in front of her, "Jane" she smiled
"Aki" Shepard responded not looking up from whatever she was reading on her Data-pad, "you have questions i take it?"
Aki nodded "a few"
"okay" Jane put down the Data-pad and looked to her younger sibling, "what first?"
Jane brought her up to speed, she had died and Cerberus had brought her back. Aki was less concerned with back to life situation and more concerned with Cerberus's plans for her sister. Jane couldn't put her mind at ease over those questions as she simply did not have the answers other than she was using them as much as they were trying to use her.
She did not like working for them, but right now they were a necessary evil.
Jane sat for a moment judging Aki's response to all the information piled on her, she was sated or else she'd have bombarded her with more questions.
Jane motioned to the file on the table and frowned slightly, "I spoke with the illusive man, he wants you on this endeavour Aki"
Aki picked up the dossier and arched and eyebrow, it was extensive, there was definitely informant's within the alliance and ones in high places, half of this information was highly classified.
they knew almost everything about her, her feats and failures... some things she would rather forget.
she swallowed with a frown and threw it back onto the table "And work with Cerberus? do you know how many of them I've killed Jane?"
"i think you've only impressed them more to be honest" jane chuckled
Aki frowned thoughtfully, "if I come with you, my whole career could be jeopardized"
Jane rested a hand on her shoulder, "Aki, I don't want to ask you to do this, but i also know that you could drop out for months and no-one could question you" she soothed, "but if you decide to join us then just know that it's for the greater good, entire human colonies are going missing and we need to find out why"
Aki frowned again contemplating, "I uh- "she sighed shaking her head once, how can i let her do this alone? How can i let Garrus and her step into unknown hell without being here? she ground her teeth, "I could never say no to you" she admitted softly "I'm guess in"
Jane shook her head with a smug smile i knew you couldn't stand back.
Aki leaned back in her seat, "Anywhere you need to stop off for your belongings?"
"I can pick some up anywhere we dock"
"welcome aboard Aki"
"pleasure to be aboard commander" Aki saluted.
Aki had returned to the Med-Bay and back to her previous position, it had been another 6 hours, she watched him carefully, content in the silence, listening only to his breaths.
She leaned back in the chair resting her feet on the bottom of the cot and closed her eyes. She awoke a while later to shuffling on the table, Garrus attempting to move. She was immediately up and aiding him, "hey, take it easy" she warned, helping him into sitting position.
He groaned, the room spinning. Aki noticed him blink rapidly as he tried to focus, "How-" he rubbed his mandible clearly in pain "how long have I been out?"
"A while" Aki smiled "how're you feeling?"
"Okay considering" he looked to her grimacing at the swollen lower lip and bruising on her jaw. A Krogan head butt, not many people can still stand after one of those.
She smirked reaching out to brush her fingertips over the patch on his jaw, "it could've been worse Garrus" so much worse
"Yeah- well then I'm thankful to be in whatever state I'm in now" he looked over the small human and sighed softly, she still wore her armour, marked with his blood, "have you been here the whole time?"
"Yeah, apart from when i went to see Jane" she smiled softly.
Why couldn't she bring herself to move from his side? I just can't bear to see him alone
"Why?" He pressed curiously, "I would've been fine, Chakwas was here" he was trying to be nonchalant but inside, he could barely hold back the elation of this wonderful creature sitting at his beside waiting for him to wake up.
"Because I wanted to" she smiled sweetly, a loving tender smile that tore Garrus's insides apart.
He laughed softly, banishing the twisting she caused in his stomach, his voice husky from sleep and medication.
There was a moment of stillness, one that happened frequently between them, a quiet that was thoughtful before he reached out and pulled her in for a tight embrace. His mouth was in her hair, inhaling deeply, drowning in her scent. Aki! the smell of her hair and skin was intoxicating, her body soft as he held her against his rough plates.
Aki slowly moved to return the embrace, her arms wrapping around his frame, her chin on his shoulder. She had missed him, her fingers ran down his body feeling the rough plating of his back. She could feel his body heat radiating through her and into her, it made her senses flood with longing. She swallowed audibly and Garrus groaned against her soft flesh, the feeling of her fingertips running down his back, her scent euphoric he could've stayed here in this moment for an eternity, neither was willing to break the hold.
The doors to the med-bay opened with a shoom "ah you're awake" Chakwas smiled at the embracing pair as she entered in, quickly looking away, "how are you feeling?"
Garrus slowly, unwillingly removed himself from the human and nodded to Chakwas, "Sore- but otherwise i feel okay"
"I'll give you some more pain relief"
"Thanks"
Aki smiled to the Turian.
His eyes lay heavily on her, the electricity that had flooded his body moments ago lingered, he wanted to feel her against him, to have her press more than fingers to his skin. What the fuck?! he found himself shouting mentally, how long had he felt attracted to this woman? to a human! even as he tried to argue with himself he knew that this was nothing new, those feelings had been there for so long now.
"your test results came back" Chakwas explained administering more pain relief through his IV, "you're looking good to go, i just want to keep you here over night to give some more fluids then you're free"
"thanks Doc"
"glad to have you here" she smiled in response.
3 days later.
Aki found herself in the gym, the ear buds she wore thudded with the heavy bass of music, she tapped her hands against her thighs to the beat of "Simple man" before taking up her stance in front of a punching bag launching at it with heavy punches, quick, agile combo's that made the bag reverberate wildly, her pace never letting up.
She started incorporating her knees, stepping back and snap kicking the bag between the punches, her body flowing into a natural rhythm.
Aki glanced to the side, catching sight of the Turian entering in, he came to a halt on the machine directly behind her, staring.
Garrus took in the blonde, her hair fastened up in a messy bun, her training outfit exposed more than he was used to, the tattoos that mapped her body were damp with sweat, they ran down her arms and back, black against her pale skin, he noticed that some were nicked by scars others perfect in their intricacies.
His eyes ran down her toned back to the bulge of her backside in her shorts, his sight dropping further now down the muscle in her thighs that danced with every weaving movement.
Damn!
"Are you enjoying the view?" Aki stated with a frown continuing with her punches pace slower now.
Garrus snapped back, tearing his eyes away from the dip of her lower back and the sweat that dewed on her skin and laughed once gruffly, "who could blame me for looking" he stated playfully with a grin.
Aki removed her ear buds and turned to face him, hands on her hips playfully, "did you actually want something Garrus?" She mused, "or did you come simply to admire the scenery?"
"Actually, I came down to train" he smiled "although now- I'm tempted by a sparring session" anything to feel her again the smell of her sweat was in the air it drove him crazy.
Aki rolled her eyes, "do you have a death wish Vakarian?"
"It's only a death wish if I actually thought you were better than me" his mandibles clicked, arms folded across his chest testing her, he knew she could probably kill him and that made it so much more intriguing.
"Okay Garrus- you're on" she beamed eyebrow raised as she flashed him a wicked smile.
"Winner gets all their drinks on the house for a month"
"And the loser?"
"Has to admit I'm the best" Garrus joked cockily.
"You've got a smart mouth" Aki laughed.
Garrus got into position in the centre of the room and beckoned her forward, Aki smiled following suite.
Damn Turian
She stepped in fast, launching a fist at his chest, he quickly deflected grabbing her arm in an attempt to throw it behind her back.
Aki broke the hold easily, stepped to the side and elbowed him in the ribs before flipping over his body swiping his legs from under him as she landed.
Garrus grunted, rolling back throwing a kick into her stomach before grabbing her arm and twisting it over her chest. Aki pushed her body back into him and knocked him onto his back, she quickly turned, pinning his arms above his head with a vice like grip, her thighs either side of his chest holding him down, they looked to each other and laughed.
This wasn't anywhere near serious for them both, after all Garrus was the best hand to hand in his previous squad and aki was paid to kill.
Aki slowly released her hold over his arms before shuffling herself down so she could lean over him, her face inches away from his, "holding back" he tsked
"Of Course" she smirked "i wouldn't want to hurt you"
He smirked threw his body upward and flipped their positions, so he was now leaning over her, she arched an eyebrow and chuckled "not bad"
She looked up to him, his hands on both of her wrists holding her arms above her head. She could easily break the hold but instead she lay there surrounded by her halo of silver waves, "Aki" he groaned staring deep into those pools of silver, her full pink lips slightly parted, cool breath against his face, "goddamn it Aki" he took her face in his hands, her blush wild as he stared at her mapping her fully to his memory.
Her knee came up between his legs as she reached out to hold him, her hand finding his fringe, softly tugging teasing him. it was a primal thing these moments between them. She'd felt this inclination since fighting Saren, they'd spent a lot of time together, talking, drinking, shooting ranges and sparring but none of them had ever ended like this.
A deep growl worked its way from the back of Garrus's throat, his heavy frame looming over her as he let his mouth trail across her neck, mandibles clicking as he tasted her dewy flesh with his rough tongue, her body arching up into him with every lap against her skin.
She curved up against his body, her skin burning, she wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything in her life but why now… what had changed…
Her stomach pooled with heat, heartbeat thudding so loud in her ears she could swear it was audible. She flushed wildly, "Garrus- stop playing with me" she moaned as his mouth kissed against her collar bone.
"I'm not playing" he growled nipping at her flesh making her gasp loudly...
"Knock-knock" the pair both glanced to the direction of the voice. Aki felt her stomach drop. Shit
She slowly sat up as Garrus adjusted his position allowing her to move, they got to their feet, "Jack-keep this to yourself" Aki stated, disappointment lacing her features.
"Take it Shep doesn't know then?" She stated crossing passed them "about your cross species fuckfest"
"whatever was happening here I can assure you is none of your business" Aki snapped
Jack flashed a malicious grin before turning her attention to the chin up bar "i'm sure Jane would love to hear about it" she nodded to the machines "maybe they'll need deep cleaned- really deep- balls deep cleaned"
Aki exhaled sharply as Garrus rolled his eyes heading for the door waving as he exited, "i'll catch you later Aki"
"sure"
Aki put her earbuds back in and continued with her assault on the punch bag whilst Jack used the chin up bar to her side smug smile still on her lips.
After a long hot shower Aki returned to her room.
She entered in and crossed over to the large bed at the far side immediately flopping onto the soft covers.
She could still feel Garrus on her, his heavy body pressing, the heat he radiated, the feel of his eyes on her face, the intensity.
I'm not playing his voice rang in her ears.
Aki groaned her stomach aching, her sex throbbing almost painfully, the smell of his skin, get out of my head for fucks sake!
Aki moaned forcing her face further into the pillow, begging the intensity to go away.
She scrunched her eyes shut and ground her teeth, wedging the duvet between her legs as she tried desperately to sleep.
Aki awoke with a start the nightmare had subsided and now there was nothing but a hazy darkness. She couldn't remember what it was that had startled her so, she inhaled deeply as she swung her legs over the side of her bed and perched on the edge rubbing her eyes, she glanced to the clock on her bedside table and sighed.
03.15. Are you fucking kidding me?!
Deciding sleep was more than likely gone she reached out and grabbed the data pad off the table to her side, quickly scanning the contents of her messages before sighing heavily, might as well go to the mess.
She grabbed a cup of coffee before settling herself at a table, the ship was silent. Nothing but the humming of the Normandy's engines.
Aki glanced up as the doors to the main battery opened with a shoom.
Garrus looked to her as he sauntered down the walkway into the kitchen area ducking down to take a bottle of water from the fridge for once he was out of that armour instead wearing a loose fitted top and bottoms.
"Hey" Aki smiled sweetly, taking a glug of coffee.
"Hey" he nodded, crossing over to her, taking a seat opposite, cracking open the water to take a drink.
"Couldn't sleep?" she asked
"No" he rubbed the bandaged side of his face, the scorched flesh peering out from the edges, "too much on my mind" he admitted with a soft chuckle, "i'm finding it harder to sleep now than ever- after Omega"
"Yeah- you've been through a lot" Aki smiled sadly at him.
"I-"
"Garrus- what happened?" she reached out and touched his hand softly, "you still haven't told me- I didn't want to push but I can't help if you won't tell me"
Garrus told her his story, of his plans, the betrayal, his loss.
Everything.
From his crew to the traitor Sidonis.
"I'm so sorry Garrus" Aki bowed her head unable to watch that pain in his stunning blue eyes, her silver hair falling over her features concealing the grimace, "you should never have went through anything like this"
"If Jane- if she- If you- hadn't shown up when you did"
"Don't say it"
"I don't think I would be here right now" he admitted "you're right. I do get myself into some situations"
"you heard that huh?"
"yeah- i wasn't completely out more like drifting"
"what are you going to do Garrus?" Aki pressed with a small frown "that pain- it won't go away- at least not for a while"
Garrus's mandibles flared "it will- once I track down Sidonis and finish this"
"What do you mean finish this?" Aki pressed
"I lost all but one of my crew that day- I'm going to find that bastard- and kill him" he growled "an eye for an eye"
"Okay Garrus" Aki murmured squeezing his hand, the years after Shepard's death had not done him justice, they'd hardened him, then again that trauma would've hardened anyone, "have you told Jane?"
"Yes"
"And?" Aki pressed
"She is fully supportive"
Aki nodded "use me this time, will you?" she sighed "I'm here for these things"
"When I find him. I'll take you up on that offer" he assured her
"Good"
"I never asked" he frowned "how'd you end up here?"
she smiled softly looking to her cup, "she asked me to stay, I can't leave Jane not again, not after knowing what she was up to"
"That's it?" He laughed "Going AWOL for Jane, huh?"
Aki looked to him with a grin, "I'm on official leave- so long as I keep a low profile, I should be okay" she sighed softly looking to him, "I'm really glad you're here"
"Me too" he swallowed hard "about earl-"
Aki smirked a little taking a mouthful of coffee "we don't have to-"
"no-i-"
"it's okay" she shrugged "sparring makes things a bit intimate"
"no- its not that" he coughed and cleared his throat "listen this is weird as hell for me"
"what is?" she asked with a raised eyebrow
He cleared his throat again nervously, what should he tell her? That she makes his plates throb? That he had tipped from friendship into something further… something that made him question his feelings? He swallowed hard and frowned "uh- nothing" he looked away "I better try and get some more shut eye" he stood up and began to walk toward the battery, he glanced over his shoulder meeting her questioning frown before he entered inside.
Aki watched him disappear into the room, the doors closing behind him and sighed quietly, enjoying the stillness of the ship as she drank the remainder of her coffee.