The next morning, I woke up to a message from Joker, saying we'd docked at the Citadel, and Kirrahe's men were already off the ship. Along with several other messages from various people. After popping my morning pills, I went out to the kitchen and made myself a sandwich.

Garrus and Kaidan were there, mid-conversation. I didn't want to bother them, so I went to take it to my room, but Garrus looked up, and Kaidan followed his line of sight. The latter waved at me, an invitation to join them.

"Hey, Shepard." He greeted, giving me a nod.

The turian mirrored the gesture. "How'd you sleep?"

"Hey, guys." I said as I sat next to Kaidan. "I slept like a rock. Dead to the world. Joker sent me a message, some of my contacts sent messages, and I slept through it all. Guess I was just that exhausted."

"Glad you got some solid sleep."

"Thanks." I smiled at the man beside me, before turning the conversation from me. "What were you guys talking about?"

I took a bite, watching them fail. I raised an eyebrow. Interesting.

"What, were you talking about conquests or something?"

"No!" They both shouted.

"Come on! Tell meeee!" A whine, food forgotten.

Kaidan let out a defeated sigh, avoiding my eyes. "We were- We were discussing pickup lines."

"Oh? Like, comparing notes? Or seeing whose are better?"

It was honestly like early Yule, getting to see them so uncomfortable. Speaking of, my days were all mixed up. I'd have to check and see what day it was today.

Focus.

"It started out comparing, but then it evolved." The turian finally said.

"Oh?" What, was that the word of the day? "Have you tried them out, for someone to rate them?"

"No. I- It would be weird, to walk up to one of the crew and ask them to do that." Kaidan's face was so red.

I nodded, returning to my food. Once it was all gone, I leaned back, saying. "Try me."

They both choked on their food.

"I'm impartial, so you know I'll judge fairly. You've already explained the plot to me, so you don't have to go through that again. Plus, it'll be entertaining. For me."

They exchanged a look, reminding me of my family's mental conversations.

Kaidan gestured for Garrus to go first.

"Well, usually, I'd be talking to a turian woman. I'd compliment her fringe and her waist." He cleared his throat, mandibles moving with a nervous energy. "I like your- hair." How cute. The smile on my face was small, but genuine. It seemed to bolster him. "Your waist looks to be missing something- my arms around them."

Oh. Oh, my.

"Okay, that was smooth." I praised, turning to the man beside me. "Lay it on me."

"I'd walk up to you and say something along the lines of, 'I saw you from across the room, and I immediately knew I had to know you. How about I buy you a drink, and we can talk? Get to know each other'." He paused a second. "Then, I'd remember the conversation, to drop things here and there, to show you I'd paid attention."

"Huh. Yours is more of a relationship end goal." He nodded. How cute.

I took a few minutes to think.

"Okay." I began slowly. "I like how smooth Garrus' line was. It's an instant yes or know. You know immediately if you're wasting your time." He sat up straighter, a smug expression on his face. "I also like Kaidan's line, too. It shows that the connection can be more than superficial." He mirrored the turian, now. "That being said, I'll have to choose..."

Attention back on me.

"Garrus."

"No!" Kaidan groaned. "Why?"

"His made me feel giddy and my face warm. Yours was on the safe side. Sorry."

Money was exchanged, making me laugh.

I stood up, looking around. "You guys know if the others are onboard, or if they're on the Citadel?"

"Far as I know, they're off-ship."

"Thanks!" Saved me the time- wouldn't have to find out by searching all over for them. "I'll see you guys around."

...

I had multiple bags on both arms, basic, everyday items. Toiletries and such. Face wipes to start and end the day with. A few new shirts, some shorts. A ton of socks, because they always seemed to disappear. Annoyingly. And, of course, new hair ties. I was down to my last, and it was stretched out. I just kept forgetting to buy more. All these things just slipped my mind when I had the time to shop.

Garrus and I literally bumped into each other as we rounded the corner. He grabbed my arms to keep me from toppling over.

"Sorry, Shepard."

"You're-" A shiver of pain ran from my scalp to my toes. Oh, no. "What day is it?"

"Tuesday?"

"Sorry, I mean the date."

"November thirtieth."

I'd missed my dose. I'd completely forgotten it. Oh, fuck me. Another pain wracked through my body, this one making my double over. It wouldn't be long.

"Shepard? What's wrong? Do you need a doctor?"

"I need..." I took a deep breath, trying to think. "The closest room. A hotel. I need to go to a hotel."

"You sure you don't want a doctor?"

"I'm fine." Straightening, with some effort, I made to walk past him, heading for the Silversun Strip.

He fell into step beside me, hand going to my arm again when I, for the second time, doubled over.

"You're not fine."

"I need to get someplace without people."

"So, you're heading to the entertainment strip." Doubtful.

"I'm heading to a hotel. Now, please, just let me go."

"I'll walk with you. Make sure you don't collapse or something." It wasn't a request, and I didn't have the energy to argue.

Wait.

"You want to walk me there?" He tilted his head, curious at my change in tone. "Let me give you the credits and you make the reservation. I need to cloak, so I'm not gathering attention from passersby. Because I'm going to keep-" I grunted in pain, barely holding myself upright. "doing this."

Reluctantly, because he wouldn't be able to see me, he agreed. On the condition that I kept a hand on his arm to let him know I was still with him. I transferred the money and vanished from sight, finding it easier to breathe, now that I wasn't worried about someone calling an ambulance for me.

Liara crossed our path as the hotel came into view. "Garrus?"

"Liara."

"Have you seen Viridian anywhere? I wanted to ask her a question, but when I sent her a message a little while ago, she didn't respond."

"She's, ah."

"Liara." I whispered, reaching out and touching her arm. She was so used to me being invisible, she didn't jump at the contact. "Sorry. I'm- I'm busy."

"Who are you hiding from?" She kept her eyes on Garrus, making it seem like they were having the conversation.

"No one. Everyone. Look, I need to get to a hotel. Now. Immediately."

"Oh!" A glance behind her. "Oh, no. I stopped you. I'm sorry. I'll go with you."

"Garrus is getting me there." I pulled my hand back from her, covering my mouth as I stifled a scream. Tears started pouring down my face. "Please."

She fell into step beside him, and we all went into the building. I hoped no one else from the ship happened to be passing by and saw them. Going into a hotel. Together.

We barely got to the room, before the next attack. He'd just opened the door, and I fell to my knees, clutching my middle. The bags showing themselves as I dropped them.

"Viridian?"

"Shepard?"

I crawled to the far end of the room, the bathroom too far, and too small, hiding behind one of the beds.

"Viridian, where are you?"

"Get out." I snapped, everything burning, feeling like my body was rearranging itself. Which, it was.

"No." She said, adamant.

"Get out!" A groan, almost a howl.

They looked at each other, helpless in the situation. Started whispering.

A keen escaped me as everything reached a peak. The shadows left me, magic a near impossibility in this state.

The sudden silence was roaring loud, almost overwhelming.

"Is that... a wolf?" He asked in disbelief.

She gasped out. "Oh, goddess."

I buried my nose in the corner of the room, hiding as best I could. This had not been on the agenda for today. Why had I skipped my morning vision? I could have avoided this!

Someone, Liara, judging from the weight of the footsteps, slowly approached. The fur on my back shook as a shiver ran through me. It had been a few years, and even longer before that, since I'd been in wolf-form, and I didn't want to accidentally lash out and hurt someone because my instincts told me to.

Plus, I didn't know what they were thinking, how they were reacting to the transformation, since they were pretty quiet. I didn't want to face them. See the fear I could smell on the air. It wasn't very strong, but would it strengthen when they got a good look at me?

"Liara, wait. Give her some space."

The steps paused, before she sat on the edge of the first bed. A sigh of relief left me. Until he also started coming closer. Close enough to sit on the edge of the second bed. The bed I was on the other side of.

"Viridian? Are you comfortable there? Do you want to come out?"

"Can you understand us?"

I slowly raised my head and nodded, answering his question. Huddled up closer to the walls.

"She's told me stories of her people before, but never about this."

"It's understandable. Who would believe it, without seeing it firsthand? This is..." A pause. "She was in a lot of pain, on the way over."

"The transformation must be very painful. I'm worried for her."

"Well, if she wants to stay there, let's let her." A click, and the tv turned on.

After the show had changed several times, I slowly turned to look over my shoulder. Which caught the turian's eye. A glance at the asari, who was absorbed in the show that was on, he shifted his eyes to me. Really looked at me. His mandibles moved, but he didn't say anything. Just returned his attention to the tv.

Carefully, I fully turned, resting sprawled out on my stomach. Chin on paws. Watching the show with them. Honestly, I couldn't say what was on or what it was about, but it was relaxing. To just spend time like this.

All that was missing was scritches.

I didn't have that thought. Nope. Not at all. I hadn't been petted in years, and I definitely didn't want it right now.

The next show came on, and Garrus got off the bed, coming over and crouching down. Giving me another look over. My chestnut fur, my large emerald eyes. The lupine form I'd taken.

"Can I pet you?" Liara blurted, looming over his shoulder.

I slow blinked at her, cocking my head to the side.

"I'm sorry. I just... Your fur... I want to touch it. It looks so soft."

Stretching my neck out, I showed my permission by butting my nose against her cautiously outstretched hand.

"Ohhhhh! It is soft!"

His mandibles moved again, and he looked like he wanted to do it, too, but was holding back. I shifted, guiding her hand to between my ears, and lightly pressed my nose against his arm. After a moment, he carefully patted my head. When he was more comfortable, I felt his fingers card through my fur. My eyes closed, content, as they pet me like I was a dog.

Back when I'd first gained the ability, I'd loved it when someone ran their fingers through my fur. I'd loved being petted.

"Can you speak?"

I let out a quiet yip. Not the kind of talking he'd meant. I let out an amused noise when he just blinked at me. Liara laughed, and that was enough for me.

She spent as long as she could petting me, but eventually, she had to leave, because she had plans.

Garrus offered to stay with me, to make sure I was okay, and I hesitated. I didn't want to wake up human, without clothing on, in front of someone. But at the same time... there had always been someone with me throughout the duration of it. So, I slowly nodded.

And that was how I ended up curled up on the second bed, him taking the first, the covers pulled back for after I became human again. He stroked my fur until I fell asleep.