Chapter 30

Anya hurried to strip off her armor as Jack waited, placing her things with as much care as she could while rushing.

"If you want to catch up with Jack, I can take care of your gear," Garrus offered.

"I don't think the commander likes it when people touch her gear," she heard James mutter on the far side of the turian as if to warn him, and Anya snorted.

"It's fine, I'm allowed," Garrus replied quietly.

"Bullshit," James said with a laugh.

"Thank you, Garrus," Anya said earnestly, knowing that they didn't have much time before Jack and her students were offloaded.

"Woah, woah, woah. What am I, Lola? Chopped liver? How come he gets to touch your gun, but I don't?" James complained, and Anya snorted.

"If you got a problem with it, we can dance again, lieutenant. Just remember how that turned out the first time," she joke threatened, and he shook his head.

"I'm sorry, you danced with Vega?" Garrus asked.

"Wasn't pretty," James said solemnly, and Garrus choked on a laugh.

"Asses, both of you."

"For fuck's sake, Shepard, stop gossiping and let's go already!" Jack groaned.

"I'm coming, Jesus, woman," Anya shot back as she started to work on the plates on her legs.

"She always talk to the commander like that?" James asked.

"Jack talks to everyone like that. Let them get a few drinks in, Shepard gets just as rude. It's fun."

"You've been drinking with the commander?"

"Since the days of Saren," Anya answered, fingers flying.

"Oh. Shit. You guys must be pretty tight, then."

"Would you say we're tight, Shepard?" Garrus asked, his tone amused.

"I trust you more than anyone else in the galaxy. Is that tight enough for you?" Anya asked, trying to keep a grin off her face.

"I'm sure it's fucking tight enough for him, Shep, now let's get drunk," Jack butted in, and Anya felt her ears heat. She glanced at Garrus, noticing his shoulders shaking in silent laughter, with James on the other side of him, looking everywhere but the other occupants of the cargo bay, and she nearly sighed.

"See, Jack, this is why we never go anywhere nice," Anya muttered as she put away the last of her gear.

"All I'm saying is I have a very finite amount of time before I have to go back to being a relatively responsible adult, and I either need to get drunk or get laid after that bullshit," Jack declared matter-of-factly.

"I'm glad you're better at encouraging those kids than you are at encouraging me."

"Hey, my little shits are delicate. You're a big girl. You can take it."

"We're leaving before someone makes a 'that's what he said' joke," Anya muttered, grabbing Jack by the elbow and steering her towards the door. The other woman snickered as they walked, clearly pleased.

"You know I love giving you shit, Shepard."

"Yeah, yeah." They hurried onto the elevator together, and Anya pressed the button after releasing Jack's arm. A beat after the doors closed, Anya could feel Jack staring at her.

"So, jokes aside, how are things with tall, dark, and spikey? He still using you as a chew toy?"

"Oh, shut up," Anya scoffed, shaking her head.

"Oh, c'mon. Don't be a prude. I'm not asking for many details."

"Well, honestly, things are pretty good."

"Has he taken another chunk out of you?" Jack asked.

"He didn't take a chunk out of me to start with, but he doesn't...seem super comfortable with the idea of biting me again." The doors opened and the pair started towards the lounge.

"You sound...kinda disappointed."

"I mean, I am, a little. It was fun in the moment," Anya admitted.

"Please tell me you've told him this shit."

"I did, he's just...you know how he is. He always worries so much. And I get it, I know that it looked like I was bleeding a lot, from his perspective, so it makes sense for him to be anxious about it, I just...wish I could convince him." Anya knew she sounded glum as they passed through the door.

"Well...shit."

"That's pretty much my reaction, too."

"Okay, so...what are you going to fucking do about it?" Jack asked as they neared the bar.

"I don't know. I don't know if there's even anything that I can do."

"Don't you start with some defeatist bullshit now, Shepard. There's got to be something." Jack snagged a pair of glasses and placed them on the counter haphazardly.

"If you have any ideas, I am all ears."

"Alright, alright, give me a second…" The other woman started to pour them both a generous amount of whiskey.

"How drunk are you trying to get me?" Anya asked with a snort.

"I told myself that I am having one drink, I am making it count. Now shut up for a minute." Anya shook her head, smiling a little as she took a sip. After a few long moments, Jack spoke again. "I have an idea."

"What's your idea?"

"Alright, show and tell. Telling didn't work, so try showing."

"What?" Anya asked, her brow furrowed.

"I mean, initiate. Bite the shit out of him first. Words didn't do the job, but actions might."

"That's...not bad advice, actually."

"Alright, why does that surprise you? I gave you the pick-up line idea, too, and that shit turned out good, right?"

"It did."

"I still want to know what the line was," Jack said, feigning nonchalance.

"Nope."

"Shepard."

"Not happening," Anya reiterated.

"You suck."

"Still not telling you."

"I'm going to find out one day, you know that, right?" Jack persisted half-heartedly.

"We'll see."

"What if...I promise not to tease you about it?"

"You...would not be able to restrain yourself if you knew," Anya countered.

"You're killing me." Jack took a sip of her own drink.

"You're being dramatic." After a beat, Anya murmured, "Bullshitting aside, thank you, Jack. You're a good friend."

"Yeah, well." Jack shrugged, glancing down. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I don't have that many of those."

"I'm glad to be one." Anya offered her glass for a toast. "To...quality over quantity."

Jack cracked a grin as she let her whiskey tap Anya's. "You bullshit so pretty, Shepard, you know that?"