Chapter 18

Anya groaned when she finally roused herself. She realized that they both must have moved in their sleep, because Garrus was now laying flat on his back, and she had somehow ended up on her other side, his arm trapped under her head.

"Are you awake this time?" the turian asked quietly, and she snorted.

"I think so. Have I had some false starts or something?"

"Two of them, actually. I was contemplating leaving the hand at this point."

She snorted and raised herself up, barely suppressing a groan. Her back and shoulders were clinging to residual stiffness, and she wondered how she hadn't been woken by her aches. "I think I'm getting too old for this shit, Garrus."

He laughed at that, and she grinned as he flexed his hand experimentally a few times. "Somehow I'm skeptical that your age is going to change a damn thing."

"Mmm, you know me too well. Want to hop in the shower with me? We could get the last of the grime off, and if the heat is kind to our muscles, maybe a round four?" She turned towards the edge of the bed, her smile turning hopeful as she glanced back at him.

"How could I refuse?" he asked as he swung his legs to the side and rose, stretching as he stood. She watched the way his muscles moved between plates, and she blushed when he turned, catching her in the middle of staring at him. "What?"

"Nothing major. I think I'm just partial to you naked," she admitted. He laughed at that before he made his way around the bed. When he reached her, he leaned down and touched his forehead to hers, a hand coming up to gently cup her jaw. His thumb caressed her cheek, and she almost shivered at the sensation of his talons barely touching her.

"I'm pretty partial to you, too, you know," he said softly, and she felt her heart speed up at the way his subharmonics deepened his voice.

"Garrus…" She swallowed, unsure of what to say next, but he pressed his mouth to hers before she could figure it out. She let out a small, approving noise, and when he pulled back, he seemed pleased with her reaction.

"C'mon. Let's get this shower going before I render you speechless again," he teased gently.

"I'd be happy with either," she joked, and he chuckled as he tugged her to her feet.

"I'm sure we'll get around to both." He smiled at her, and she found herself pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"You're probably right," she murmured with her own smile.

"I'm sorry, are we starting this relationship off with you admitting that sometimes I can be right?" He asked, feigning surprise.

"It's a dangerous precedent, I know, but I think it'll pay off," she said, keeping her expression serious. He broke into a grin a moment before she did, and he was quick to slide his arms around her when she stepped in close. She pulled him down just enough to touch his forehead to hers while she raised herself up to the balls of her feet to meet him in the middle.

"I could definitely get used to this," he said softly, gentle reverberations emanating from him, and she snorted.

"What? Being right?"

"That, too." Her heart sped up as one big hand came up to cup her cheek, and he barely increased how firmly his forehead touched hers. He slid his talons lightly through her hair, and she made a contented noise at the sensation.

She stayed that way for several long moments before the protesting of her already aching calves pushed its way to the forefront. She sank back down finally, slipping out of his arms, but threading her fingers through his so that she had her hand in his. "C'mon, honey. Let's go get clean."

"Honey?" he asked with a chuckle as he followed her gentle tugging.

"You already taking issue with pet names?" She flashed him a playful smile.

"I'm just wondering if calling me bee vomit is a warning," he retorted as they climbed the stairs together.

She laughed at that. "All I'm trying to imply is that I think you're sweet and I like you. Promise."

"Alright, I trust you. There are worse things to be called."

"That's true. I could have gone with pookie, or snookums, or baby cakes," she said, mischief in her eyes when she glanced back at him as they entered the bathroom.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I have heard real people use those."

"I promise I will never complain about 'honey' ever again."

She snorted, finally releasing his hand to brace herself against the side of the shower and turn on the water. "Don't worry, I won't get much more daring with it than that."

"The last time I felt this relieved, we'd just shut Sovereign down."

"Mmm, who do you think would win in a fight, a reaper named Snookums or Sovereign?"

"Snookums. My money's on it having something to prove," he answered without hesitation, and she laughed, causing him to shoot her a toothy grin.

"I'd watch that fight. Water's ready." She stepped into the spray, suppressing a hiss at the sudden heat. Garrus was already following her a beat later as she started to adjust to the almost excessive warmth, though the noise he let out was more akin to appreciation than discomfort. Anya stepped directly into the water for a few beats, running her fingers through her hair to help the water get to her scalp.

"I still can't get over your shower not being subject to hot water rationing like the crew showers," Garrus said as he reached for the soap.

"Mmm, it's a pretty sweet setup from my perspective. Not that it matters much, I'm in and out in under ten minutes unless we just returned from a mission. Even then, it's normally less than fifteen." Anya snagged her shampoo and quickly began to wash her hair.

"Why would you basically impose the ration on yourself?" he asked as he started to scrub. A few moments passed while she pondered how to respond.

"Because I shouldn't be above the rules you guys are supposed to follow."

"No one is down below, wringing their hands and bemoaning you having a little more hot water," he teased, and she laughed at the thought.

"I don't normally need much, and taking more than my fair share just because I can seems…" She rinsed her hair quickly. "It seems a little…I dunno. "

"I'm just saying that a nice, long, luxurious shower every once in a while isn't going to hurt anything." Anya scoffed at that, reaching for soap.

"You're funny, insinuating that I typically have that kind of time." She started washing herself, and he chuckled.

"I don't know, it seems like you have enough time to come by the battery two or three times a day," he said, feigning seriousness, and she snorted.

"I suppose if it's a choice between you and lingering showers, I pick bothering you."

"Well, don't you know how to make a guy feel special?"

"I'm just a romantic, I guess," she said with a laugh.

"Mmm, right there with you. Why do you think I'm here instead of off doing calibrations?" he deadpanned.

"You just want to abuse my hot water privileges," she teased, and he chuckled.

"I'm shocked and hurt. I would never stoop so low," he replied, not even feigning seriousness.

"When you put it like that, it makes me think I'm onto something." She stepped into the water, rinsing as she gave him a hard time.

"I just don't want you overly worried about the water halfway through."

"Halfway through what?" Anya was surprised when an arm snaked around her waist and pulled her in tight against the turian. He nipped at her lower lip once, and when her lips parted, he was quick to seek access with his tongue. She found herself arching into him, and her arms slid around his neck.

"What do you think we could do that takes more than fifteen minutes?" His voice was low when he finally pulled back enough to speak, his subharmonics sending more heat to pool in her belly.