Six months of boot camp, three months of biotic training, and an additional three months of Vanguard training, Ella finally got a shore leave that lasted longer than 48 hours. She had spent the past two weeks enjoying the sights and drinking her way through Irish pubs with her biotic training squad. She watched from the bar as her friends began pairing off with each other or other patrons.

It wasn't that she lacked for company herself, but she had rules. Most civilians were wary of her biotics and she wasn't stupid enough to get involved with someone in her own squad. She'd watched a few of those relationships blow up spectacularly in the past year and had no desire to be part of that. Her shore leave was often spent in the company of other biotics, from different squads. Both parties left mutually satisfied with no expectations. Ella finished off her beer, slipped her newly purchased black fedora on, and said her goodbyes to the group before heading to a little hole in the wall they had found the second night there.

The bar was half empty when she arrived. Taking a seat at the bar she ignored the rippling conversation and pointed looks, and ordered herself a bottle of scotch and a glass. Biotics were great, but they made getting a buzz twice as hard. She pulled up her omni tool, glancing through the messages. Again. She had messaged Zaeed at the beginning of her leave, hoping he might be in system. He hadn't responded and Ella had to finally admit to herself she was disappointed she wouldn't get to see him.

They had messaged each other on and off through her training. Hackett had reluctantly handed over Zaeed's contact information after months of Ella hounding him. Her simple thank you message morphed into him checking in on her every few weeks and care packages. They arrived un-named, but she figured it out when he sent a mod for the Pinnacle and a bottle of whiskey. His packages, along with Hackett's, had made training seem a little less lonely.

She glanced up, irritated when someone took the seat directly to her left. The man was bulky, his skin a dark brown and hair a bit unruly. Ella recognized him immediately.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Looking for you little one."

Her eyes rolled and she twisted to look at him. "I'm not your little one. Never was and never will be. So, if you're here to repeat your offer from last year, you can shove it V."

"Ahh, you're a smart one little Ella. You're positive I can't. . .persuade you?"

"Yes." Her response was flat and she returned to her drink. "I'm not going back."

"Have you really left? All you've done is trade one gang for another. The alliance is no better than we are. They just have pretty uniforms and shiny toys.

At least we don't hide behind smoke and mirrors."

"Says the man who only refers to himself as 'The consultant" or 'V'.

"Who I am is not a secret little one. My friend's call me Vido. I hope you will as well."

She sighed and pushed away from the bar. "I won't be calling you anything. We're done here." He moved as if to follow her. "I wouldn't," she warned. "I doubt you want to walk into a bar full of marines." His eyes narrowed, but he sat back down. "Good call V."

Ella left the bar, hand pressed against the pistol tucked under her leather coat. She hoped he wasn't stupid enough to follow as she tracked down a sky car to take her back towards the hotel. Drinking alone in her room was not how she planned to spend her last night of shore leave, so she made her way to a bar Hackett had suggested in his last message.

A few pints and numerous shots later, Ella pondered Vido's words. Had she traded one gang for another? Wasn't her job in the alliance to take orders without questioning? To kill and maim for some unknown "greater good"? Was she destined to follow orders blindly for the rest of her life?

Her omnitool sounded an incoming message. Ella gave it a brief glanced before typing a response and ordering another bottle. She ignored the bartender's protests she had enough and poured two fingers into a glass, setting it across from her. The abrupt change in the bar's atmosphere let her know Zaeed had arrived.

He was an imposing picture. Apparently fresh off the transport, he hadn't changed from his armor. His eyes racked across her and for the first time she realized how much the last year had changed her. Ella had never been soft exactly, but her figured had tightened and trimmed. The long purple tank and black jeans clung to her skin. Paired with the black leather jacket and knee high riding boots, she was theoretically covered up to her neck, yet she felt oddly exposed to his gaze.

With a nod to the bartender, he sat across from her and threw back the whiskey. "Been awhile sweetheart. You miss me?"

"Everyday Massani. Don't know how I survived without seeing you." Her overly sarcastic delivery drew a grin from him.

"Good to know." He poured both of them another drink and cocked his head when she threw it back without a second thought. "Trying to forget something?"

"And what would give you that idea?" He motioned to the empty bottles on the table. Ella sighed and settled deeper in the chair, her hat tipping forward, so it covered her eyes. She didn't answer until he shifted impatiently in his seat. "Did I trade one gang for another? Am I destined to always be a cog in someone else's battle?"

"Where the bloody hell did you get that idea?"

She leaned forward and pushed the hat back. "On the street I followed orders and did what they asked. In return, they fed and clothed me. Am I doing anything different now?" She didn't want to admit to herself that Vido's words preyed on thoughts she already had.

"Look sweetheart, I can't tell you what to do, but I know what you're doing now is a hellva lot better than being a merc or in a street gang."

Ella sighed and threw back another shot. He pulled the bottle away and took a drink from it. "You're so bloody drunk you probably won't remember this conversation in the morning."

She shot him a sloppy grin. "I don't know about that. I usually remember conversations with you long after they're done."

Zaeed muttered something that sounded like "bloody tease," under his breath as he stood and pulled Ella to her feet. "You need to sleep this off, seeing as you ship out tomorrow sweetheart." He went to wrap an arm around her waist when she pulled away.

"I'm not that drunk Massani. I can walk by myself. Besides, you smell like sweat and blood. It reminds me. . ." She trailed off. Ella was almost certain Zaeed didn't know she had been there the night he was shot in the alley and planned to keep it that way.

"Reminds you of what?"

"Nights I want to forget." She headed towards the door, effectively cutting off his next question. Zaeed kept pace with her, their arms occasionally bumping as he told her about his last bounty; a turian smuggler who pissed off the wrong asari. He followed her up to the room Ella had called home the past two weeks. Her bags were already packed.

Ella flopped down on the bed and pulled at her boots. She pulled one knee towards her chest to unzip a boot and toss it towards her bag. Zaeed muttered something under his breath as she finished the second one and scooted up the bed. "Sweetheart, you can't sleep in that."

"Says who?"

Not answering, he covered the distance between them and pulled her upper body off the bed. He pulled the leather jacket off and threw it behind him. Without thinking, Ella wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled him closer. Her lips met his in a surprisingly gentle motion. Zaeed's arms slid around her back, anchoring her to him. Ella's lips parted under his, a silent invitation to continue. Tongues dueled, tasted, and explored until they were both breathless.

Ella moaned in disappointment when he pulled away. His forehead dropped to hers as he lowered her back on the bed. "I am not doing this when you're bloody drunk Ella." His hands tightened around her once before letting go.

"Okay. Yeah. I get that." He began to move away from the bed when she caught his hand. "Stay." Ella cut him off before he could argue. "I mean to sleep. Go shower and come sleep next to me." Her eyes pleaded with him and she knew the moment he caved.

"Fine you bloody manipulative woman. Now go to sleep."

Ella curled up on her side and listened to him rummage around in the bathroom. The running water lulled her towards sleep, but it wasn't until he settled in next to her that she fully relaxed.

Zaeed woke the next morning to an empty bed. Ella's bags were gone and so was she. A check of the time confirmed that her transport had probably already left. He cursed under his breath. His plan had been to see her off since she had no one else with Hackett stationed on Arcturus.

He found a note tacked to the bathroom mirror.

Zaeed,

You looked, and sounded, like you needed the sleep.

Thanks for staying last night. Maybe we can do it again next

time I'm on leave. I'll be in touch.

~Ella