Chapter 21
Shepard walked back into his cabin, locked the door, and sat down at his desk. After he got into his message center, he sent Beth an invitation to a vid-chat. After waiting a few minutes, she responded, and her image crackled to life. "Hello, Beth."
"It's good to see you, Spike. How have you been?"
"Can't really complain." I probably shouldn't tell her about riding a Colossus 'til it exploded and threw me into a building hard enough to dent a high-strength alloy. I'm sure she'd just get pissed off about that, too. "How are you?" He saw her mouth waver and her eyes glisten, and cursed himself. You fucking moron. She obviously hasn't gotten over her parents yet, she told you that. How the fuck do you think she's been? You musta been dropped on your head quite a few times before mom and dad died, eh Spike?
"I've been, alright, I guess. Some days are harder than others. Sometimes I forget that they're gone, and I start to comm Mom for advice. And then-" She broke down, crying. After a few minutes, she sniffed and wiped her face dry. "Sorry, Spike. I know you don't like it when girls cry."
He shrugged helplessly. "It's okay. I know you're going through a lot." I fucking hate it because I can never do anything to make it better, but I'm sure as hell not gonna tell you that right now. Unfortunately, I'm fresh outta comforting words at this point. Please stop crying and change the subject, Beth. Right now, would be nice.
"So what do you want to tell me about Eden Prime, Spike?"
Ah hell. Any subject change but that one, damnit. And why does it sound so much nicer when Tali says "Spike" than when my girlfriend, my fucking girlfriend says it? Maybe that Colossus fucked me up more than I thought. Might have Chakwas give my brain a quick once-over; make sure nothing's too out of whack. Well, any more than usual. Oh fuck, she's still waiting for an answer. At least she stopped crying. Shepard scrambled to buy time. "Well, uh, what did I tell you last time?"
"You told me that you couldn't tell me anything but that the geth attacked Eden Prime, and you killed some of them. Then you got all defensive and hung up on me." She scowled at the memory.
Well I wouldn'ta had to get defensive if you weren't being a fucking bitch. Shepard drew a long, deep breath, trying to rein in his temper. Just think about going to dinner with Tali later. Happy thoughts, Spike. Happy fucking thoughts. "Well, that was true. Is there something specific you wanted to know?"
"How about what really happened?"
"That was what really happened. The geth attacked, I lost one of my men, I fucked up a whole bunch of geth in response, and then I got the hell out of there." He shrugged his shoulders and held his palms out, entreating her to stop asking questions.
"So did you see my parents at all? And what were you doing on Eden Prime anyway?" She demanded.
"No, I didn't see your parents. We were on the other side of the colony from them." That's a lie, we were not that far away from their house, but since it's little and white, I'm gonna go with it anyway. There's no way she'd know otherwise.
"But you were still on the planet! Couldn't you have stopped in to check on them before the mission? Or maybe after?"
"No. We dropped hot, so there wasn't any way to go sightseeing beforehand. And I wasn't really in the best of shape by the end of the mission, so I didn't really have any choice but report back to the Nor- I mean, to the ship." Nice going, fucktard. Almost let her in on one of the Alliance's fanciest new secrets. Although since I'm a Spectre now, and it's my ship, I probably wouldn't get in trouble. But I probably shouldn't be mentioning what it was doing before it came into my possession, I guess.
"What were you going to say just now?" Bethany demanded, her eyes intense with interest.
Fuck. "Just the name of the ship is all. Not important to the story. But like I said, I was in no condition to be making decisions about where to go."
"Why not? What happened?"
"Just got myself into a fight I couldn't win. But I'm not dead, so I don't consider it a big deal." Ha. That's a good one Spike. Can't win a fight against a fucking inanimate object. Damn beacon. Still, it blew the fuck up, so I guess I technically did "win" that one. Certainly not one of my finer moments, though, that's for damn sure.
"Then why didn't the other guy kill you, if you couldn't win?"
"Ummm . . ." Shit. How the hell do I answer that one? Damn. Stop fucking asking questions, Bethany. Just roll with it for Christ's sakes. Oh, I know. "Well, I just said I couldn't win. I didn't say he could, either. Guess we both gave as good as we got."
"Mhmm."
There's no way she believes that. I know that look. It's the same one her dad used to give me every damn time I opened my mouth. That motherfucker never trusted me again after Brian died. Asshole.
"Fine, whatever, let's say I believe you." Bethany's tone clearly conveyed that she didn't, but she continued anyway. "Why were you on Eden Prime in the first place? You said the Alliance didn't know the geth were going to be there, yet you arrived just in time to fight them?"
Once again, damnit. How the hell does she remember shit from, what, a month ago? Doesn't she have anything better to do than memorize every fucking word I've ever said, just so she can use them against me? "Well, um, I guess, if I did say that, then it's right. Nobody knew the geth were gonna attack Eden Prime, except probably the geth. As for why we were there, the mission I was on brought us into that neck of the woods. We picked up a distress call, because of the aforementioned attacking geth, and decided to help." That's not a bad story, actually. Most of it is true, with just the right amount of bullshit sprinkled on top. Damn I'm good.
"Oh really? You were a top secret mission that you can't even tell me about, but your Captain decided to stop in the middle of it to go answer a distress call?" Her voice was full of disdain, bordering on sarcasm.
Now that's uncalled for. She's making fun of my perfectly believable story. And not even for the right reasons. "Beth, you've been in the military for long enough now to know that protecting innocents is something we take very seriously. So yes, when we get a panicked distress call from one of the first human colonies in the Terminus, the Alliance takes that very seriously."
She appeared to be considering his words for a moment. "Fine. But what brought you into Utopia anyway? There's nothing out there of any use. Like, literally. So why would you be there? Were you going to Eden Prime anyway?"
Sometimes that girl is too damn smart for her own good. It really doesn't surprise me that she graduated with honors. She musta fucking memorized every damn word that ever came out of her professors' mouths. But there's no way I can tell her why we were there. I'm sure she'll just fucking love hearing that again. "Ah. Well, see, Beth, I really can't tell you that. The mission I was on is still classified. You know how the Alliance loves to keep their little secrets." He smiled wanly at her, trying to soften the impending explosion.
He was very surprised, therefore, when she just pursed her lips and looked down at her hands for a few long minutes. Finally, she spoke. "And you really can't tell me?"
Holy shit! She doesn't sound pissed off at all. Maybe she thought about what I said the other time we talked and realized there's nothing I can do about need-to-know. Halle-fucking-lujah, it's a miracle! Shepard fought to keep his face neutral. "No, I'm sorry honey. I really can't."
She was quiet for another long minute. "Alright. I understand." She suddenly looked off to her right. "I'm sorry Spike, but someone's outside the door. I'll have to go. I'll message you sometime, okay?"
"Yeah, okay. Bye Beth." He waved to her before she cut the connection. Well that went much better than expected. And I've still got enough time to shower and change before I have to meet Tali on the bridge. Bought some sexy new weapons, patched things up with my girlfriend, and gonna go get some dinner with a foxy lady-friend. Life might finally be looking the fuck up, Spike old boy.
"Hey, Tali." The pilot said without looking back to see who it was.
"Hi, Joker." She replied as she sat down in the seat to his right. "How did you know it was me? I didn't see you look over your shoulder."
"Didn't have to." He answered with a shrug. "You guys all sound a little bit different when you're coming up the hallway. So I can usually guess who's behind me based on what kinda noise I hear."
"Oh really?" She seemed intrigued. "What do I sound like?"
"Well, you and Garrus both have weirder feet than we do, so I can tell when it's one of you two pretty much all the time."
My feet aren't weird! She thought indignantly. Human feet are weird. It doesn't even make sense for them to be able to stay upright without a wide footprint like ours. "What about Wrex?" She pointed out. "His feet are different from human feet too."
"Yeah, but he's so big and loud that it'd be impossible to mistake him for someone else. So it's really just you and Garrus who are different from everybody else, but close enough to each other to make me pay attention."
She giggled a little internally. He has a point. Wrex really does stomp his feet everywhere he goes. I think I can tell when he's in the mess hall just by watching the ceiling shake while I'm in Engineering. "Then how do you tell us apart?"
"Your footsteps sound a little bit lighter, more graceful, maybe? I'm not sure how to describe it, but Garrus is more prowl-y, and you're more dainty." He took off his hat and wiped a hand across his forehead. "It's hard to explain, alright?"
"I understand." She nodded her head. "Can you tell the humans apart?"
"Not really for most of the crew, since I'm not viewed as being the most sociable guy around. But Shepard, Ashley, and Kaidan all come up here pretty regularly, so I've gotten used to the way they walk."
She straightened up almost imperceptibly when Joker mentioned the Commander. "What do they sound like, to you?"
Joker failed to notice the hint of excitement creeping into her voice, as he was too busy trying to figure out how to describe what were, to him, minute differences in vibration and frequency that he felt, rather than heard. "Well, Ash and Kaidan both have, like, a military feel to them. It's like they're walking across the parade ground all the time, you know?"
She nodded her head in assent. I don't know what a parade ground actually is, but it sounds important. It's probably similar to the way marines walk while they're on patrol in the Flotilla. Maybe I'll ask Shep-, I mean, Spike, what it is during dinner. Oh good, Joker's speaking again.
"But Ash is a little more forceful. She sorta reminds me of a smaller Wrex. Moreover, I can tell when it's Kaidan because he walks with a little more bounce than Ashley does. Maybe he does it with his biotics, like, subconsciously or something, but he sounds like he weighs less than he does. Kinda creepy if you ask me." He looked to her for confirmation of his feelings.
"Mhmm." She said, nodding. That makes sense, I suppose. Ashley always seems angry, and so does Wrex. And Kaidan is a biotic, so maybe he can make himself lighter. I wonder what it would be like to be able to make things move with my mind. Hah. I bet it would make getting to some of the repairs on the Rayya easier. But what about Shepard? I want to know what to listen for! That way when I hear someone coming, I can keep my hopes in check. "Joker, how do you tell when it's Shepard?"
"Ah. Well, do you know that feeling, that sort of tingling that tells you you're being watched?"
"Yes." She said, very confused.
"Well, when you feel like that and you haven't heard anything in a while, it's probably Shepard." He grinned at her. "That guy's scared me half to death about a dozen times, and he's only been on the Normandy for, like, a month. Or thereabouts."
Darn! I was really hoping he'd be able to tell me that Spike always thumps one foot more than the other or something, so I could listen for it. Instead, all he contributes is "If you feel like someone's watching you, it's the Commander." Although I wouldn't mind if he were staring at me. But why would he do that? He probably thinks I'm still a child because I'm on my Pilgrimage. I wonder what it would like to be the one staring? If I could sneak up on him without him knowing I was there, I would just stand there memorizing every part of his body. I wouldn't even leave to eat. I'd just stare at him. Maybe I'd surprise him by reaching out and grabbing his butt and squeezing, just to see what it felt like. If I got to do that, I think I could die a happy woman. Oh, Joker's talking again.
"So why'd you want to know that stuff anyway, Tali? Can you really hear that sorta stuff inside your helmet?"
She bristled. "We have audio pickups, Jeff. So yes, I can hear. Probably better than you, or any other human, for that matter."
"Oh, hey, whoa now." He made a stopping motion with one hand. "I didn't mean it like that. I was just wondering how you guys manage in those suits. I mean, I don't have the most active social life, but at least I can enjoy the sensation of sliding into silk sheets buck-ass naked, or taking a nice hot shower. It sounds rough, is all I'm trying to say. I don't know if I'd be able to cope with being isolated from the real world. Well, anymore than I already am."
"Oh." I probably shouldn't have gotten angry. I mean, nobody on the Normandy has even been mean to me, let alone intentionally insulted me. I should apologize. "I'm sorry, Joker. It's just that everyone looks down on quarians because of the geth, but they either forget that the geth hurt my people worse than anybody else, or they think we got what we deserve. Sorry."
"It's okay." He said, smiling warmly at her again. "I get like that about my disease, too. I practically jumped down the Commander's throat the first time he came up here to ask me 'how I was doing.' All he was actually asking was if I was getting along with the Normandy." He paused, and then continued with a wink, "On a side note, how could I not? It's as if we were made for each other. But I got all angry at him because I thought he was implying I couldn't do my job. Really lit into him, too. He just stood there, let me vent, and then asked me what I was on about. I felt like a fool."
He hung his head, and she reached out and patted him, gently, on the shoulder. "I know how that feels, Joker. I think we've all been there with Shepard. He just never seems to do what is expected."
"Ain't that the truth. Maybe someday we'll figure him out." Tali nodded her agreement before Joker continued. "But anyway, back to my original question: why were you so interested in what people's feet sound like?"
She blushed deeply under her helmet. I can't tell him that I spend my free time in Engineering daydreaming about Spike coming down to visit me, and I just wanted a way to keep my heart from racing and then dying every time the Engineering doors open but it isn't him. "I was just curious, that's all. I never know who's around me just based on the way they sound when they walk, so I wanted to know more."
"Fair enough. So how long before you have to get back down to Engineering?"
"I have the whole afternoon off."
"And you came up here to spend it with me?" Joker asked, flashing a surprised smile at her. "I'm flattered. Not sure I'll be great company, but you're always welcome to chill out up here."
Her hands had started twisting nervously in her lap, and she looked down at them before answering. "Um, actually, I'm meeting someone up here, and then we're going to go and get some food, together."
"Oh really?" Joker waggled his eyebrows at her. "Got a hot date lined up and no room for the lovable pilot with a heart of gold? Who's the lucky guy?"
I shouldn't have said anything. What do I say? What will he think if I tell him I'm going on a date with the Commander? I don't know that it is a date, but he might assume it is, even if I say otherwise. Maybe I can lie. No, that isn't right. "It's not a date, Joker." She said firmly, not allowing any of her uncertainty to leak through. "The Commander just wanted to get some food, and I was the only person around for him to invite." But that actually sounds like a real explanation! What if it is, and I was just a convenient way to spend some time? I don't care. I enjoy spending time with Spike, and even if he's only going to dinner with me because he doesn't want to be alone, I'm still going to enjoy it!
"Uh huh. Suuure it isn't." Joker couldn't resist having a little fun at her expense. "I'm sure it's purely a platonic meal. Probably just to discuss battle plans, or improving the Mako, am I right? Because he wouldn't invite you to lunch, or just meet with you down in the Cargo Bay to talk about that stuff. Oh no, it has to be dinner. So tell me, you going someplace fancy?"
"Um, I don't know. We, uh, didn't talk about that. He just said to meet him up here and we would go out to eat."
"So he's surprising you? Damn, Shepard's got some mojo."
Before Tali could ask what "mojo" was, a voice from behind them answered Joker.
"Yes, Joker, I do have mojo. If you're good, I might use it to help you get laid someday. The way you're going, though, I doubt it."
Joker and Tali had both jumped in their seats when they heard Shepard's voice appear out of nowhere. They both turned around looking for him, Tali with a hand over her speeding heart and Joker picking his hat up from the floor.
"Christ, Shepard, don't do that!" The pilot moaned. "You're gonna to give me a damn heart attack one of these days." A sudden thought occurred to him. "Uh, how long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough, Helmsman." Shepard said with a toothy smile that would have made a varren turn and run for its mommy. "And there have been several times when you haven't noticed me at all. I'm surprised at how much the Normandy's controls resemble Galaga."
Joker gulped and turned pale. "Well, you know how it is, Commander. You ground-pounders are so easily impressed by the flight controls up here. Doesn't surprise me you mistook it for something else."
"Oh really?" Shepard said, delighted that Joker had dug himself an even deeper hole. "Huh. I guess I should ask the Brass about what part of the Normandy uses 'high scores.' I'm sure they have some scientist types who can explain all the complicated tech stuff to me, since I'm just a poor, easily awed ground-pounder."
"Uh, yeah, see, I don't think you need to do that, Commander." Joker stammered.
"And why is that?" Shepard responded, smiling even more dangerously.
"Umm, well, I can just give you some private lessons. You know the Alliance always tries to overcompensate by overcomplicating. Let me help you, Commander."
"I'll think about it, Joker." Shepard said, and then finally broke into a real, friendly smile. "Just shitting you. I might have to come up here and see if I can't kick your ass at that game sometime, though."
"Oh thank god." Joker rubbed his face enthusiastically. "You really had me going there Commander. Remind me never to play poker with you."
"I can't guarantee that." Shepard said, before turning to Tali. "You're awfully quiet over there, Tali. Ready for some dinner?"
She nodded, then got up and walked away, waving good-bye to Joker as she went.
Joker continued to sit motionlessly, except for the one hand that was slowly rubbing his chest, trying to slow his raging pulse. "He's gonna freaking kill me." He said quietly to himself, before pulling up some diagnostics to run on the Normandy.
Tali and Shepard were riding the elevator down to C-Sec from the Normandy's docking bay. "So, Tali, anything in particular you feel like eating?"
"Umm, no, Shepard. Wherever you want to go is fine." She said, without looking up at him.
"Are you ok, Tali?" She doesn't seem to be in a good mood. She didn't even laugh when I was taking the piss outta Joker. What happened to her earlier excitement at the idea of going to dinner? "You didn't say a single word the whole time I was yanking Joker's chain. What's wrong?"
"I'm fine, Commander." She said, still not looking up at him.
Alright, now I know something's wrong. She hasn't called me Commander since, shit, I don't know. Come on, Tali; tell me what's going on. Don't ruin my mood like this. Maybe she doesn't actually want to go to dinner with me, but she thinks she has to since I'm in charge. Yeah, that's probably it. Oh! And it explains why she called me "Commander." I should make it clear to her that I only want her to come with me if she wants to. "Tali, I know something's wrong, because you never call me Commander. I want to make it clear that I only invited you out to eat because I thought it would be nice to spend some more time getting to know you. I think your people are fascinating," One specific example of your race in particular, he managed to keep from saying, "But please, I don't want you to come with me because you think I'm forcing you too. I just enjoy your company." A lot!
"That's not it, Shepard." I shouldn't be taking my feelings out on him. It's not his fault he's so beautiful that he makes me want things I can never have. Well, perhaps it is, but I certainly can't blame him for it! And I didn't actually say anything awkward to Joker, praise the Ancestors, so there's no way he could have any idea of the way I actually feel for him. If he did, he would never have followed through with this dinner. He wouldn't be able to feel comfortable, knowing I wanted to run my hands over every inch of his amazing body, and – Keelah! What's wrong with me? He's standing right here, and I'm daydreaming about things that would make a bonded couple blush! Pull yourself together, Tali. She realized that he was still waiting for her to answer, and trying to read her emotions through her faceplate. I have to come up with something to say, and it can't be the truth!
"It's just that talking to Joker made me think about some assumptions that I had previously made." Yes, that's a good response. Vague enough that he can interpret it however he chooses.
"Like what?"
"Like," She stopped midsentence, having finally realized why she was so distracted by Shepard's physique. "Shepard, you're not wearing your hardsuit!"
"I'm well aware of that fact, Tali." He said, chuckling.
"But why not? What if something happens to you?" Her voice was tinged with worry.
"Tali, I'll be fine." He said reassuringly. "First off, we're on the Citadel. The seat of galactic power. I'm sure C-Sec is very good at their job." I'm not, really, but I don't want her to worry about me. "Second, I'm never unarmed or unarmored. I mean, you can see my pistol. That alone probably makes me one of the more dangerous men on this station." Hell, with my bare hands I've gotta be in the top ten. With a pistol and knives, top five, easy. "I wear a kinetic vest anytime I go anywhere without armor. I learned that lesson the hard way on Elysium. Attached to said vest are two holsters which contain my fighting knives and several throwing knives." He lifted up his shirt and showed her. "Oh, and third, if anything goes wrong, I can just hide behind you. Your suit's shields will protect me." Plus, I would get to stare at your lovely ass the whole time. Sounds like a pretty good deal, actually.
She laughed. "Alright, Shepard. I guess you're right. But try to keep things from going wrong." Now I know what those black metal pieces were that he attached to his armor in the marketplace. It's just his version of my boot knife. I wonder what exactly happened on Elysium. I should try to find out more about his past the next time I have some free time.
"I'll do my best, Tali." He smiled down at her. "And feel free to call me Spike out here, as long as we don't run into any of the crew."
"Okay, Spike." I love saying his name. It makes me feel so special, knowing I'm one of the few people he trusts enough to be able to call him that.
"Good. Now that that's settled, where do you want to eat?" Shepard gestured to the variety of shops and stands in front of them.
I hadn't even realized we were already at the Presidium Commons. I blame Spike. I can't keep my eyes off of him, even to look at the surroundings, whenever he's not in armor. It doesn't help that he always walks just a little bit ahead of me, as if he's clearing a path. On the other hand, maybe he wants me to be able to stare at his butt. I find that explanation highly improbable, however.
She sighed as her thoughts returned to the much more depressing matter at hand. I don't know if any of these places will even let me in. Most places don't serve quarians, because they think we're all thieves and beggars. I should have thought of that before I agreed to come to dinner with Spike! I don't want to embarrass him, I would never want to embarrass him, but they probably won't serve him if he's with me, and I know how mortifying that is! "I don't know, Spike." Despite her bleak thoughts, she still smiled as his name passed her lips. "Wherever you want to go is fine." Just please, please don't go to one of the fancier places. I know they'd never let a quarian in.
"Well, you can eat turian food, right, because it's dextro?" She nodded her head, so he continued thinking aloud. "And I need levo-based food, or I'll probably get really sick. So we need a place that serves both kinds." He looked around, before spotting a restaurant that looked promising. "Let's go check that place out."
Oh no. I know that place won't even let quarians near it. I heard from someone who had gone to the Citadel during their pilgrimage that this place would call C-Sec if a quarian sat down on one of the benches within a six-meter radius. We can't go there! Tali thought frantically of a way to dissuade Spike, but couldn't come up with any reason that would stand up to scrutiny. Resigned, she continued to follow him closer and closer to the restaurant.
"Hello. Welcome to D'Allezaro's Restaurant." The turian maitre d' said as Shepard reached the doorway.
"Hi there." Shepard answered. "I was wondering if you have both turian and human food?"
"Of course, sir. Will you be meeting someone here?" The turian responded, pointedly ignoring Tali.
"Nope. Just the two of us."
"Pardon me, sir, but what two? I only see you?"
"Oh, sorry, I musta been standing in front of Tali." Shepard said, taking a step to the side. "It's just me and her today." He gestured back and forth between the diminutive quarian and himself.
"You mean you intend to dine with a quarian, here?" The turian's voice betrayed his disbelief.
"Yes." Shepard's eyes had hardened. "I do intend to dine, with my friend. Although it may not be at your establishment if your tone doesn't change."
"I am afraid my tone is of no consequence to you, human." The maitre d's face took on the turian equivalent of a sneer. "Her kind are not welcome here. This is a quality establishment, and we do not cater to the dregs of intergalactic society."
Shepard clenched his fists and ground his teeth together to keep from punching the turian purely on instinct. Count to ten, Spike. Calm down. It won't do any good to knock his fucking teeth down his throat. Won't change shit. Alright, there's no way I can make it to ten. Five, maybe. Ok. One. Two. Fuck, this isn't working. Maybe if I just count to three? No, then it feels like a countdown. A countdown to beating this bastard to death with his own fucking skull. Oh, that would be fun. No. Not three. Count to five. Come on Spike, you can do it. What would Tali say if she watched you kill a man in cold blood? She's seen you kill hundreds of geth and mercs and pirates, but not maitre d's. Do it for her, god damnit.
Breathe in, breathe out. One. Breathe in, breathe out. Two. Breathe in, breathe out. Three. Breathe in, breathe out. Four. Breathe in, breathe out. Five. There, I counted to fucking five. I still want to beat the everlasting shit outta this motherfucker, but I'm in control. I won't do that. Not right now, anyway. "You and your restaurant can go to hell, fuckface." He said, then turned on his heel, grabbed Tali's hand, and walked away.
Thank you, Ancestors! Tali sent up a quick prayer while they walked. I was so afraid he was going to attack that turian. He obviously deserved it, but I wouldn't want Spike to get in trouble. He looked so angry though! I've never seen him that furious. It even made me a little afraid, and I was the one being championed. However, I also felt strangely attracted to him, even though I was afraid. That doesn't make any sense. And I know this isn't the right time to be feeling like this, but I'm so happy right now because he's holding my hand! It feels so nice. His hands are so big and strong. And warm. I don't want him to ever let go. I'm sure he will, though, once he calms down. He still looks angry, though. Maybe I can help relax him. "If looks could kill, I believe that turian would be dead, Spike."
That stopped Shepard in his tracks. He turned to look down at Tali, an expression of curiosity on his face. "Do quarians say that too? Because humans have a saying just like that."
"No, it's not a quarian saying." She smiled up at him. "I did some research on the extranet into some of the idioms you use, and I've been dying to try them out. I used it correctly, then?"
"Yes. You were spot on, Tal." She's totally smiling under there. I'm getting a lot better at reading her emotions. So, yay, I guess?
Tali struggled to keep her emotions in check when she heard Shepard call her "Tal." "Did you mean to call me 'Tal' just then, Spike?"
"I did." Oh damn, she may not be asking because she enjoyed it. Damage control, Spike! "I just thought it sounded kinda cute, sorta like a nickname, and wanted to try it out. But if I offended you or pissed you off or something, I'm sorry, and I won't do it again."
She smiled. I guess he talks too much when he's nervous, too. "It's okay, Spike. I like it." I don't think "like" is a strong enough word for the way I feel right now, knowing that he accepts me on his crew and as one of his own. He even gave me a nickname! Yay!
Shepard took a big sigh of relief. "I'm really glad. I was worried there for a second that I'd done something wrong. I'm not the smoothest person when it comes to inter-species faux pas. Speaking of which, do you just want to go back to the ship? I'm really sorry for what that asshole at that restaurant said about you. I wanted to defend you, but I tend to use violence rather than words, and I didn't want to get arrested for beating the crap out of some random racist jerk."
"It's okay, Spike. I could tell that he made you angry, and that's more than enough for me. I don't expect you to fight every person who insults quarians."
"Yeah, I'd probably have to give up hunting Saren to do that. Seems to be a lot of 'em." He grimaced. "But I should defend you. You're one of my crew, which means I have to look out for you."
Too bad I can never be more than just a member of your crew. She thought sadly. But it's more than what I would ever expect from a non-quarian. "Thanks, Spike. And I don't want to go back to the ship. We might be able to get something from one of the more low-scale food places. Do you want to try?"
"Hell yes. I promised you a dinner, and a dinner you will get. Even if I have to traipse all over the Citadel to find it."
"That means a lot to me, Spike." Probably more than you can ever know. She thought to herself somberly, as she followed him to the other end of the Commons.