As always, thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to read my story. Thank you even more to those who take extra time to favorite, review, or follow. It's a nice feeling to log on and see a different, higher number for each of those stats. This next chapter is pretty fluffy, but I think it has been long awaited. Don't worry, it's not the end. Enjoy!
Shepard and her shore party found themselves waiting at the entryway to the Med Clinic, where they were to speak with Dr. Michel regarding Garrus Vakarian's whereabouts. Against Shepard's will, the Turian male had snuck his way into the lonely recesses of her mind and burrowed, staying where few men had ever been prior. She wasn't one for relationships, which was made apparent to both parties involved on the night they met. It was supposed to be quick. She was about to return to the Normandy after leave, and her dimwitted Lieutenant could probably be held at least partially responsible for her brash and promiscuous actions. Alenko was a good soldier, but a horrible extrovert. It was only made worse when he attempted to counteract against his quiet, intro-personality by hitting on his commanding officer. A real charmer. So it wasn't a surprise when Shepard had made a target out of a lone Turian officer, sitting at his own table, people watching. She was already buzzed, and the fact that he wasn't even interested when she first sat down sparked a need in her bones from that moment on.
Outside of Shepard's clouded mind, she barely felt her hand push on the entryway button, granting the team access to the Clinic. They stepped inside, and there he was; crouched behind the front barrier, gun in ready position, finger over his mouth, and eyes locked on Shepard. There was no time to think, and in a spurt of mere seconds, pistols were drawn and shots were fired. In an instant, Dr. Michel's captors were floored and Garrus was inspecting the bodies.
.vVv.
Garrus Vakarian stared in awe at the newly appointed Spectre. Shepard had surpassed everyone's expectations, including his own. The first night they met had left Garrus with a poor first impression of the woman. Promiscuous and simple, just like every other female he's ever laid with. He couldn't have been more wrong about her. Here she was, proudly shining in front of the council, accepting one of the biggest honors bestowed upon any Citadel being. This prize is not awarded to just any one and his confidence towards her faltered as he wondered what she must think of him. If he had gained a poor first impression of her, he could only imagine what kind of self-image he had projected for her to judge.
So here they now stood, Commander Shepard and her newly found squad of Wrex and Garrus, awaiting entrance to the Normandy. "You guys ready?" Shepard turned around and flashed a beautifully excited smile before opening the hatch. They went straight for the command deck, where Shepard made a very moving speech to rally the crew behind her cause.
.vVv.
After Shepard's pep talk, Garrus Changed out of his armor in the Crew Quarters and proceeded to making his way to the Storage deck with a newly found purpose in his mind. Her words had filled his head and inspired him. He decided it was time to find a goal and make it his own – something for him to strive for. This goal was to help Shepard, no matter the cost. She had been nothing more than an acquaintance until now. After he boarded the Normandy, she became his Commander. And a Turian soldier is bred from a youngling to follow their Commanding officer into the depths of hell if he must. She was a true leader, born to cut through darkness and proven to pave the way towards victory; and he had fully realized it when watched her become the first human Spectre.
Her strength and courage towards the council sparked a fire inside him that he had never felt before. Her fierce justice was balanced with her merciful nature towards the weak; and it made his heart soar with inspiration and pride. Her leadership was what he had been waiting for.
Today he had finally found the courage within to call the one man in his life that he had ever been afraid of disappointing; his father. It was time to tell him where he was and what he was doing with his life. Garrus wanted to tell him everything, to let him know that he was fighting the ultimate fight for justice. He would be proud.
.vVv.
Shepard sliced through the thin skin of the delicate fruit she held. The fruit yielded perfectly tender, deliciously pinkish-purple meat inside. Her mouth watered, ready to taste the first bite. Ashley told her it was called a "fig". Williams claimed she bought it from a legitimate source, but Shepard knew otherwise. Most fruits bought anywhere in the Citadel were cloned from single, ancient seeds and grown in water tanks. Naturally, they tasted a bit watered down from the environment they matured in. They lacked the vibrancy in both pigment and taste, which Earth fruit had. It was only the experimental researchers who knew exactly how to grow their cloned fruits and vegetables. Most of them used a small alien bacterial agent, found on small asteroids in the terminus systems. The bacteria was deemed illegal, as it is lethal to Volar. That didn't stop people from using it. Those beings who weren't affected by the bacteria loved the fruit that was grown with it. And of course, high demand meant even higher prices. When Shepard commented that she must have given a pretty penny for it, Williams only replied that she had to pay her commander back somehow for saving her life. It was with a grateful heart (and hungry stomach) that the Commander had accepted the delectable item. But she wanted to share it with someone. Not knowing exactly where he had gone, she had wandered the first two decks of the Normandy, waiting to take a bite. When she reached the elevator to descend to the bottom floor, she couldn't help herself any longer, and divulged in its bliss. The small piece that she had cut was everything she had hoped and dreamed of. When the elevator door finally opened to the Cargo hold, she quickly swallowed and hid her hands behind her back. Garrus was in the far corner of the hold, talking to someone on his terminal next to the MAKO. As she took her first steps toward her new alien friend, her thoughts wandered to when they had first met.
The memories of that night were still fuzzy, and she wasn't sure if she would ever remember all of it. Shepard mentally crossed out that first night and replaced it with their second meeting, the one that she had never expected.
He had called her Commander Shepard. His tonal voice seemed to dig roots into her soul and she struggled to keep her mouth in a line, rather than letting it curl into a smile. Butterflies clouded her gut and she suddenly felt the urge to jump on him and shower him with kisses. – What? It was a one night stand, not a love show. She slapped her inner self and focused on what he was saying. His words blurred and meshed together again as his sub vocals vibrated through her suit and attacked her loins. She gulped as she fought herself for control. Logic told her that she was not supposed to be feeling this way about a Turian. She was a human, and she was drunk when she did it. But Emotion fought its way through and whispered sweetly to her that it meant a little more than that. It told her that the one night stand would never have happened if they didn't have chemistry. Drunk or not, it can't be faked. Shepard regretfully ended the conversation with Garrus on a dull note due to her internal struggle. She barely said a word when Alenko urged her toward the council, and regretfully walked on past the Turian.
Blinking her eyes to bring her back to reality, Shepard resolved with herself that her Emotional side was right this time. She was about to take her crew into the depths of the galaxy, chasing after a lunatic who had every resource at his disposal. It was suicide, and she owed it to her feelings to ignore her logical half and live a little. She playfully snuck to one side of the MAKO, making sure to stay hidden from the Turian's view. As she inched closer however, she realized with regret that it might not have been the best time to come down here. Garrus was in a heated argument with… his father? Shepard gulped and inwardly panicked. She didn't want to accidentally eavesdrop on him. She had turned on her heel and was about to take a step away from him when his strong, dual-toned voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Commander, what are you doing down here." The sentence had come out sounding more like a statement rather than a question. Shepard heard the anger in his voice and felt the vibration of his sub vocals lingering in his throat with frustration. Turning around, she smiled at him softly and decided against bringing up any instigating queries. Instead, her arm extended from behind her back, her hand revealing a small green and pink lump. Garrus raised an eyebrow plate and glanced thoughtlessly at the fruit. He wasn't interested in what she had, and disappointment reflected in the woman's face. Garrus noticed her expression with regret and forced himself to look once more upon the fruit with strained curiosity.
Even in his anger, he couldn't stand to see her facial features bearing a sad look. He gingerly plucked the fruit from her small hand and took a tiny, trying bite. It was sour and bitter, and he winced as his tongue flicked out in disgust.
"This isn't good, Shepard. It's… bitter; are you sure it's ripe?" Taking the fruit back from the ungrateful Turian, she stubbornly put a hand on her hip, and finished the fruit. She stared at him the whole time, exaggerating each bite and chewing longer than she needed to. Garrus huffed impatiently and turned away from the woman, opening the driver's door of the MAKO and climbing inside. Shepard realized that he didn't want to be spoken to, and that gave her even more of a reason to climb in after him. You might not want to talk, but that doesn't mean I'll let you do what you want.
The Turian rolled his eyes and crossed him arms when she climbed inside. He was becoming more and more irritated at her actions. Why couldn't he simply be left alone? He quickly opened his door and jumped out of the vehicle, slamming the door behind him.
He heard a muffled 'What the hell?!' from inside the tank and he sped his pace in an attempt to get away from the prying woman. He turned around and watched her stomp her way towards him. If he wasn't so angry, he would have been amused – she looked ridiculous. Preparing himself for another bout of yelling, this time from a female, he closed his eyes lazily and crossed his arms.
A few seconds passed and he slowly creaked open one eye, wondering why it was so silent. His gaze met hers, and he opened both eyes when he noticed how close she was. Shepard was standing directly in front of him, staring sharply with big eyes into his face. Instead of a chastising tone, her mouth opened and her voice travelled to his ears in a soft, reassuring manner.
"I want to give you a tour of the Normandy. I know you're upset about something, so maybe this will help take your mind off of it? Follow me." She reached for his arm and pulled him towards the elevator, ignoring his bewildered expression.
.vVv.
She was a good tour guide. Garrus pushed the anger in his brain aside as he thought of the possibility of her working in the tourism branch in a past life. But the thought was short lived, and his mind reverted to thinking upon the conversation with his father. Shepard's voice was drowned out by a replay of the disappointed and strict voice of the old Turian officer, rebuking his only son. Garrus had only wanted his respect, instead receiving nothing but contempt. His father yelled at him, hated him for quitting the family tradition of C-sec. He accused him of being weak and afraid, and called Shepard a vagabond and criminal for being a Spectre.
Garrus leaned weakly against the nearest wall, closing his eyes once more and clenching his fists in anger. His mind reeled and raced into thoughts of frustration but stopped when he heard his name escape the lips of the woman in front of him. Her questioning voice brought him back, and he opened his eyes as he determined that there was only one thing that he wanted at that moment; and it wasn't a tour of any ship.
Without thinking, he grasped her arms and moved her, backing her body against the wall. His heightened senses heard her voice quiver and felt her body tense. He was grateful when she sighed softly, allowing the Turian some time to grasp the words he was trying to say. Finally, he was able to piece them together.
"Shepard, I…" He kept his strong hands on her arms and leaned in to rest his forehead against hers. "I need a favor." His voice was low, making Shepard shiver under his touch. She swallowed and was barely able to find her voice in reply to him.
"I know you're upset with your father…I heard you-" Her words were muffled and stopped with Garrus's hand gently covering her mouth. Slowly uncovering it when he was sure she wouldn't say anything more, he spoke again.
"Please, Shepard…Just don't bring that up. All I've been doing for the past hour is thinking about that conversation. Your tour was great… and the Normandy is a remarkable ship," He paused, taking in a deep breath before continuing. His forehead leaned into hers some more, and he dropped his hands from her arms to bring them around her waist. He tightened his grip around her and pressed their bodies together.
"But I don't need you to help me think about things. I need you to stop me from thinking. My brain has been buzzing with anything and everything…and I just…I just need it to stop. Get in there, and stop me from thinking. Just for a little while."
He felt the woman's spine ripple and he felt her hot breath on his mouth as she sighed. She brought her arms up and over his collar, bringing her face so close to his that her lips brushed against the skin that covered his mouth plates. Garrus closed his eyes and thought back to their first date, trying to conjure the image of the first time she had pressed her lips into his. He could vaguely remember it, and he pulled her even closer to him. He needed to feel it again. They were sober this time, and all of Shepard's human quirks were very prevalent and obvious to him now. Despite her alien feel, he lost himself in her touch and let the woman take lead for him to follow.
Surprisingly, Shepard pulled away from him and leaned to the side. Ignoring the disappointed rumble from his throat with a smirk, she reached her arm around him and found the switch on the wall, opening a door behind them. Garrus questioningly looked around and realized that her tour had ended at the Captain's quarters, leaving them burning each other up with desire right outside her bedroom. He stepped in after her and watched with much interest as she typed at her terminal, keying in passcodes to lock the entrance. When she was finished, she returned to him and once more wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I didn't mean to interrupt. Where were we?" She whispered softly while pushing her body into him. His hands found their way around her waist again, feeling the muscles underneath the fabric of her clothing. His fingers reveled in the smooth feel of her human torso, but his mouth remembered what they really wanted and he returned his forehead to hers once more. Nuzzling his nose against her cheek, he rumbled his sub vocals in satisfaction. Shepard realized after much thought that he must have been putting his face on hers because he wanted a kiss. This body language must be universal. She closed her eyes and slowly pressed her lips against his mouth, giving him what he wanted.
.vVv.
She had succeeded in stopping the Turian's thoughts. His mind went blank, and all of his senses seemed to pour their feeling into that one spot on his face. Blood rushed to his groin and his stomach turned with nervous excitement as he felt her smooth, soft lips against the plates of his mouth. The rough skin that covered the hard bone of his face still had many nerve endings, and this fact was very quickly making itself known to him. Garrus never imagined that Shepard's lips could feel so good against his own. He barely became aware of more feeling, happening all over his body. Her hands had moved to the back of his head and neck, evoking shivers. She pushed him more into her lips, deepening their kiss. The pressure felt even better than before, but she didn't stop there. Slowly, she opened her mouth, moving her lips in circles around his. Garrus was curious, but afraid of messing up their chemistry. After a few more circles, her lips paused, then resumed their hypnotic motion, beckoning him to follow. He hesitantly obeyed, very cautiously opening and closing his jaw to mimic her movements. He thought he was being punished when she pulled her head away, but realized that it was a reward as Shepard jumped up, wrapping her calves around his waist and resting her thighs on the ridged joints of his hips. Garrus had no choice but to catch her before she fell, and he let himself chuckle when he realized which part of her body he had grabbed. He quickly changed his chuckle to a growl however, when he watched her face turn from a smile to a seductive luster. She grinded her pelvic bone against him and motioned for him to take them to the bed.
Vakarian happily complied, carrying her light form to the other end of the room. He lowered her gently underneath him and crawled on top of her, letting some of his weight relax against her body. Small hands found their way to his face, and he sighed contentedly as he allowed her free roam. He watched her eyes move around with longing. She's driving me crazy.
Garrus swallowed the need to pound her hard and fast right then and there. This was a special moment, and he refused to ruin it with Turian lust. Sex was a casual affair among his people, and this was the polar opposite. The human kisses and human touching were so different for him, but he loved it. He was curious, and every question he thought of about a different human action was answered with an alien feeling that sated his desire. So far, the remarkable woman underneath him had showed him why kissing was so great. No wonder humans took part in it so often. This next lesson of facial caressing was just as satisfying for him.
He closed his eyes and relaxed into her touch, allowed a low, steady rumble to emanate from his chest. One of Shepard's curious hands reached for the source of the rumbling, resting on the center of his chest to let him feel the warmth of her palm. Her other hand continued to move around his face, finding sensitive areas and rubbing with small amounts of pressure here and there. He let her know when she reached a spot that felt good by intensifying his sub vocal. Garrus opened his eyes to look into hers when he felt her hips push against him. He returned the pressure, and leaned down for another kiss. He mentally congratulated himself for knowing the body language to indicate wanting another kiss, and continued with his learning endeavor. Feeling more confident this time, he applied pressure against her mouth and began slowly opening his jaw to illicit movement from her lips.
Shepard once again surprised him when he felt her tongue slip inside his parted mouth, feeling and moving around the inside. This new feeling was invigorating for him, and he pushed his pelvis into her even more. The woman felt his interest in the newly taught human action, and she continued to gyrate her tongue around. Garrus finally got the hint, and touched his tongue to hers. Hesitant at first, he began to get used to the feeling, and they started moving their tongues more fervently against each other, taking turns exploring the other's mouth before fighting playfully for domination. Garrus finally pulled away, taking a breath before speaking.
"Does this have a name? Is this…normal for humans to do?" Shepard smiled and pulled his head into the crook of her neck. She affectionately stroked his fringe and answered his question while nuzzling her cheek against his mandible.
"It's called French kissing. As much as I would like to take credit, apparently people in France created it a long time ago." Garrus lifted his head and touched his forehead to hers, laughing quietly. His voice was low and husky, the primary vocal chords twisting around his sub vocals, vibrating his chest against her.
"How pretentious of them to name it after themselves." He flared his mandibles out in surprise that he had gotten a very girly giggle from Shepard. When she quieted down, she brought her hands to his face again and locked her eyes on him.
"Do you like it?" She searched his face for a clue and sighed with relief when she found it in his relaxed mandibles. She had come to figure out that clenched jaw muscles meant virtually the same thing in almost every sentient species. Shepard gave a small peck to his mouth and readjusted herself, opening her pelvic muscles to him as she re-wrapped her legs around him.
Garrus knew this display of body language well and shivered as heat gathered in his groin at the feel of her openness to him. He showed her more silent language as he tugged lightly on the hem of her shirt. Together they stripped themselves of their clothing and returned to their positions on the bed, sighing and relaxing at the feel of their warm skin against each other.
They had done this before, but this time was different. Garrus stroked and caressed Shepard's soft body, memorizing every dip and curve, every bone and blemish. He drank in the light hue of her perfect skin. His fingers moved up to cup her face, and he mentally made note that his favorite part of her was her cheeks. They were soft, and warm. It was amusing for him to think that even when Shepard was fully clad in armor and on a mission, her cheeks stayed the same. Your eyebrows, eyes, and mouth together on her face made for a menacing look when she was angry. But Garrus realized that all he would have to do is picture only her soft cheeks and he could never possibly be intimidated by her. He brought his now unburdened mind back to the woman as he buried his face in her hair. He let his hand wander down to her breast, fondling and squeezing lightly. Soft moans escaped her perfect lips as he felt her body curl and tense under him.
His hard groin was fully erect by the time he finished teasing the mounds on her chest. He prodded the surface of her opening, purposefully lingering at the outside. He watched as she grabbed at his arms, begging in short, breathy whispers for him to please enter. Garrus couldn't handle her any longer and slowly pushed his member inside her, groaning at the tightness of her lips around him. She gasped at the girth and pulled his body back to her, wrapping her arms around his neck. Garrus inhaled the sweet scent of her hair deeply before pushing his hips more and more until he was completely inside her.
Shepard released exasperated mewls and moans into his ear. He used both vocals to whisper fragmented sentences in reply to her moans. His hips continued to alternately push in and pull out, increasing in speed. Shepard cried out in ecstasy when Garrus began pounding his hips hard into her. He relished the sound of her cracking voice and focused only on holding back his release. Her vocal responses to every single one of his actions was enough alone to make him come.
"Garrus…I…I'm going to come!" Shepard whispered to him in between his thrusts. He moved his hand to her clit and rubbed slowly, smirking when she writhed at his touch. He felt her teeth bite into the skin on his shoulder and he clenched his mandible in elation at the mixture of feeling throughout his body. He let out a low groan as his climax was reached, exploding his seed into her quivering lips.
Garrus relaxed on top of her and asked into her shoulder if he was too heavy. Shepard's only reply was one last moan as her vaginal muscles clenched and pulsated around his cock, orgasming from the small thrusts that he had continued even after he came.
Garrus opened his eyes after listening to their breathing for a few minutes . He cupped Shepard's cheek and clicked his teeth at her teasingly.
"Will you be here when I wake up this time?" Shepard squinted her eyes at the Turian before enveloping him in a comforting hug.
"Only if you promise not to take over so much of the bed," She kissed his mandible, then his mouth, then his nose, and finally his forehead. Her mouth lingered against his skin before she turned her head downward to press her forehead against his, as he had done to her so many times.
"Does this have a name? I see Turian couples touch their foreheads every once in a while," She whispered as her eyes closed, and she gulped down her nervousness at the question. Butterflies floated into her stomach again, as she anxiously waited for her companion's response. She knew the answer already and couldn't understand why it made her so nervous. She resolved that it was more the anticipation than anything.
.vVv.
Garrus took a few seconds to gather his thoughts. He didn't know if she would be put off by the answer to her question. He took her lead and closed his eyes as well, deciding that it still wasn't time for him to think yet. So he spoke, fearlessly saying exactly what the woman wanted to hear, unbeknownst to him.
"It's a sign of affection. Turians do it when…" He paused briefly to gather more confidence before revealing the answer.
"It doesn't have a name…but...it's an action that Turians do when…when they love eachother."