5 weeks later.
If anyone would have told me a couple of weeks ago i'd be screwing around with the commander I probably would've punched them in the face. But ever since that night in the shuttlebay, screwing arround with her was pretty much all I did during the little down time i had. And I was loving every second of it.
I had to admit, I got a real kick out of going up to her cabin every chance I got. We were carefull not to get cought by anyone on the normandy, which was made easier by the fact that the elevator went straight up to her cabin from the shuttlebay. I do think Cortez was starting to notice something was up though, with me hanging around the shuttlebay so little anymore. He'd asked a couple of times where I was going and I'd mumbled something incoherend about training. I was going to have to come up with a better excuse soon.
Today, I was heading up there for a special occasion, bringing a bottle with me on the way up. I came in to her cabin carrying the bottle under my arm, placing it right in front of her on the desk with the label facing her. 'Talloch authentic scottish whisky' it read.
"How did you get your hands on that ?".
"I have my ways, even without you authorizing it". I said smiling.
I'd tried to get some whisky ordered in with our usual supplies many times before but I never succeeded in getting the order passed Fielding, the Normandy's senior supply officer. I'd hinted to Shepard before if maybe she could help me out on it, but she said she wasn't about to give me preferential treatment .
"It's a present to myself actually,' I continued.
"bought it the last time we where on the citadel with some of my winnings. Let me tell ya, real whisky doesn't come cheap down there and it ain't easy to find either. Most of what you find is that Batarian crap that gives you blackouts after just one glass".
"last time I drank that poison I woke up laying next to Aria on a couch in Purgatory, still don't know how I got there". she said
"Well, you wouldn't be the first and you definitely won't be that last ..Anyway, I couldn't think of anyone else to better share it with than you".
I grabbed a couple of glasses from the shelf behind her and put them down next to the bottle before I started to unscrew the bottle cap.
"So, what's the occasion?" she asked.
"Actually, it's a birthday present … as of about 3 hours ago, I turned 29".
I poured the glasses half full and handed one to her. she got up from her chair and raised her glass while she waited for me to do the same.
"Well here's to you then" she said as we toasted.
Taking a sip, I let the whisky make it's way down my throat slowly, severing the warmth it left behind. For a long time, drinking had been about the only thing that calmed me down. I had a reputation for finding the bottom of every bottle I could get my hands on all through the academy, though I always made damn shore it never interfered with my training. Looking back on it now I have no clue how I ever made it out of there, let alone how I passed with flying colors.
After the booze got a little old I'd turned to gambling or rather a combination of the two, which led to me racking up a lot of debt. I got lucky enough to kick the habit of drinking to much 3 years back while the debt followed me around for another year or so. Now I still play cards as a pastime but I've gotten good enough at it to never run up more loss than the amount of credits alliance pays me.
For the last couple of weeks though, I really haven't played all that much, Lola keeps me to busy for that. She just might be the newest edition to my list of bad habbits, but she's the sweetest one by far. Even while looking at her standing in front of me right now I still can't believe she's mine...
"I'm sorry, have to say I don't pay much attention to birthdays anymore". She moved her glass in her hand, making the whisky circle arround.
"Yeah, living out here will do that to you. You lose track of things. I remember from back when I was a kid, my mom was always big on birthdays. She used to throw the biggest parties. It's one of the few things I still remember about her… guess it's why I still try to celebrate it a little every year'.
"if I'd known I would've gotten you a present" .
I took the glass out of her hand and set it down on the table with mine before putting my arms around her waste , pulling her closer to me.
"You do owe me a little something Lola, and I think I know just what to ask".
"Maybe if you play your cards right I'll give you exactly what you want, but not right now. Unfortunately for you I have a vidcom with Anderson in 10 minutes.".
" Crap…".
"I'm guessing patience isn't something you'll develop with age". she joked. I tried to give her an expression like she'd just insulted me, but she wasn't buying it .
"I don't think I'll ever get old enough to become as patient as you. Just never had and never will have it in me… but speaking of age, getting older myself I was wondering how old you actually are, seeing as you never told me '.
"Are we talking technically or are we counting birthdays?' she asked
'Cause with me there's a big difference between the two. If we're talking technically, my body isn't even 3 years old yet, but including the year I spend mostly dead, I should be 32'.
I moved my hands up her shirt and along her spine as i started kissing her neck. Her body seemed to respond to my touch almost imediatly. I loved how she could give in to me like that. To the outside world she was one tough nut to crack but when it's just me and her, I could get her right where I wanned her with just my mouth and fingertips.
She let out a soft moan while I continued kissing her along her colarbone.
"James… there's no time for this right now". She muttered.
"Oh, are you sure? Cause I would kind of get a kick out of sending you down to meet Anderson on the vidcom still running up heat like you're doing right now, see if they old man would notice".
I 've wondered before what Anderson would think if he knew what was going on between me and Shepard. After all, he' d been the one that put us together. If he'd known my admiration for her would go this far, would he ever 've gotten me of off omega like he did? Geuss I didn't just owe the guy for saving my life, I kind of owed him for giving me a reason to live to. I was gonna have to thank him for that after the war.
"Stand down Vega" she said like she was ordering me. It didn't sound quite as convincing as it usually did but I took my orders like a good soldier anyway, stopping what I was doing immediately.
" aye aye mam!".
She laughed.
"And as long as you're taking orders; I want you naked and ready for me by the time I come back soldier".
"With pleasure mam!"
she picked up her jacket from her desk and downed the last of her whisky in one shot. How I loved a girl that could take her liquor...
" Oh, and James?" she called to me just before she walked out of the door.
"Before I forget; happy birthday ".