Authors Note - So, it seems that a few people like this, so I wrote a second chapter. This one does not have a picture attached to it, but it is described below.

And since it needs to be mentioned, IP owned by Bioware, Idea comes from my brain spaces.


Returning from the mission, Shepard, Garrus and Liara headed for their lockers, before the crew deck to eat. Laughter filled the shuttlebay, as the three happily teased each other. As Steve Cortez got the Kodiak stored in its holders, Lieutenant James Vega sauntered over with a smirk on his face.

"Hey Lola, Scars." He held his breath for a moment, before turning to Liara. Grinning from ear to ear, the grunt added the next nickname to his list. "Doc. Looks like they struck again." James indicated over his shoulder, towards the elevator. Shepard smirked. She KNEW she was off the hook. Her mug shot was up there already. Unclasping her chest plate, and storing it in her locker, she chucked her assault rifle to the gunnery officer.

"Who wins the lucky slot this week?" She joked. Of course, she knew who it was, and also, who was posting their mugs on the wall, but she was keeping that information close to her chest. James's eyes once again flitted from Garrus to Liara, and back to Shepard's. So, she thought to herself, time for some pay back. Before James could answer any more, EDI interjected over the com.

"Commander, Specialist Traynor has requested your squad in the mess for celebratory drinks." Smirking, she placed the rest of her gear into her locker, turning to her squad.

"Understood, EDI. Inform the Specialist that I will happily tell the story when I get there." She quickly moved to the elevator, leaving both Garrus and Liara with crestfallen looks on their faces. Punching the number 3 on the elevator, she smiled. Payback time!

The elevator doors slid open to the crew deck 5 minutes later, and James, Liara and Garrus rounded the corner. Before them sat the entire crew. Every single person on the boat. Glancing at the wall, Liara visibily smiled, while Garrus let his mandables droop. His face was plastered there for all to see his blue tattoo line smeared with his blue blood, below Shepards bruised face. The Turian recognized the photo right away. It was only days old. Shepard gathered the crowd to silence, and passed out the beer.

"This, boys and girls, is the story of 'Archangel's Fall'." Garrus closed his eyes, his mind going back two days ago, to relive history as the story unfold.


* 2 days prior, at the Citadel *

Garrus was leaning against a skycar, waiting for Shepard to arrive. She had agreed to blow off some steam with him, and he had just the idea. Shepard strode over, a smirk on her face, as she absently minded chewed on one of her hoodie strings. Pushing himself off the van, he waited for her to aprocach.

"Shepard. Glad you came." She dropped the hoodie string from her mouth, and moved in for the conversation.

"What did you have in mind?" In truth, Garrus hadn't expected it to be this easy.

"Something that doesn't involve fighting Reapers." She couldn't help but smile at that comment.

"I don't think they've conquered the bar yet." Ah yes. Alcohol. Possibly the only thing Garrus was willing to admit that Shepard could beat him at.

"I already scoped it out. But, then I thought, if this WERE my last day alive, I'd like to remember it."

"So?" What was that human expression? Hook, line and sinker? She had fallen for the trap

"So, I had an idea." Garrus moved to unlock the car, and indicated for her to join him.

Garrus and Shepard engaged in a extremely lengthy debate about their shooting skills after his little contest was over. Shepard had conceded to Garrus, dubbing him the 'King of the Bottle shooters'. Of course, Shepard had interjected about a 'dip in the pool', which had caused the scared Turian to chuckle. Popping the top on another beer, Shepard closed her eyes.

"So, a monument right here?" She chuckled, sipping the beer.

"That's right. With a plaque to let everyone know that I beat Shepard right here." She smiled.

"Good luck with that, Vakarian." Finishing her drink, she added the can to the pile. "We need more beer."

"Taken care of already, Shepard." Garrus smirked, and pointed off the edge of the ledge they were perched on. Shepard leaned down, looking over the edge. Below, she could see Tali waving, pulling along a very large chiller.

"So, how do we get it up here?" She mused. Garrus shook his head.

"We don't, Shepard. We go down there. It's getting late, and C-sec will probably be on their way to arrest us soon." Glancing through the crowd once more, Shepard spotted Liara moving towards Tali.

"Garrus… Did you call them here for a date? Need me as a wingwoman?" Garrus coughed. "Just ask her out already. She's crazy about you." Sighing, she pushed herself up, and turned to the Turian, offering him a hand. "Better get to OUR girlfriends." Garrus pulled himself up, and gathered their things, before heading below.

* A few hours later, Presidium gardens *

It had all gone so wrong, so very quickly. Shepard and Liara had been happy to join them for lunch, and the beer was good, but the people passing by couldn't keep their mouths shut.

"What's a Quarrian doing here?" Just ignore it.

"Eew. A Quarrian and a Turian?" Just let it pass.

"Suit rats shouldn't be allowed on the Citadel." Just SHUT UP ALREADY.

Garrus saw, as if from outside his own eyes, as he flew across the presidium in a fit of rage, his closed taloned fist connecting with the jaw of the Batarian who had made the comment. Shepard and Liara were on their feet, and converging on them, Tali was hanging behind. Garrus felt Shepard pull him off the Batarian, and felt the cold, wetness of his hand. Looking at the Batarian, he noticed that the man's jaw was ajar.

"Goddess, Garrus. You've broken his jaw." Liara spoke in a whisper, kneeling down next to the man and applying Medigel. Shepard pulled Garrus back further.

"Stand down, Vakarian." The commander's 'scary voice' he lowered his fist, turning to make eyes at the Quarrian behind him. He couldn't see her face, thanks to the visor she had to wear, but he could feel the anger and pain coming from her eyes.

"Shepard, I…" He was cut off by two armed men approaching, wearing the blue of C-sec.

"Garrus Vakarian. You will have to come with us." The officers made to move to seize him. Shepard had a short smile on her face.

"Officers, I'm Commander Shepard, a Spectre. Garrus Vakarian will be coming with me. I will be sure that he is properly… Punished." The officers had no answer to that. A spectre did out rank them. The bleeding man on the floor was helped up by the officers, who offered to take him to the hospital.

Garrus hung his head. He could picture the fumes coming out of the Commander's ears. Trying not to chuckle at that thought, he was visibly shocked when he felt a new set of hands on his shoulder, spinning him around. Even with his head hung low, he couldn't avoid Tali's glare.

"You… You ANIMAL, Vakarian! I'm a big girl. I can look after myself." She spat the words at him, before slapping him across the face with her gloved hand. Garrus's face went reeling at the power behind her blow. He felt cold blood drooping from a cut her hand had opened.

"Tali, I…" He tried to speak, but the Quarrian's fury wasn't done yet.

"Save it, Vakarian. I don't want to talk to you. Just… get out of my sight. Bosh'tet." She stormed off. Garrus stood there, not sure what to do.

"She'll calm down, Garrus. Come on, let's get that face looked at."


* Present *

"So, I call him the 'king of the bottle shooters', and…" Shepard glanced at the Turian, who's mandibles twitched nervously. "The fool trips over his own feet, falling head first onto the bridge. We both got carted away by C-sec for questioning as to why we were up there, but they let us all go." She smiled at the Turian, who twitched his mandibles back in response.

The crowd started dispersing slowly, many unsatisfied with the story's ending. Garrus and Liara moved closer as the last people left.

"Why did you lie, Commander?" Garrus asked. Shepard frowned.

"Because, you old bird, telling the second part of that story is more embarrassing for Tali than it is for you. Now, get your 'calibrations' done, then head down to engineering and 'kiss and make up'. That's an order, Vakarian." Garrus saluted curtly, heading to the gun battery, leaving Liara and Shepard alone in the mess. Liara turned to face Shepard, a glint in her eye. "Liara…"

"Just wondering who's going to be next, Shepard." Shepard chuckled again, thinking inwardly, That would be telling.