Chapter 7 is up. Enjo
The Normandy departed the citadel on time after the crew's shore leave came to an end. Of all the crew on leave only Joker had to be found in his rented apartment to hung over to get out of bed, a stand in was handling the ship while he got some liquids in him down in the med bay. It had been hoped that the council after meeting with Jane would have somewhere to point them to about Saren. Instead they insisted that they had people looking into it and that they could handle some smaller tasks in the mean time. This basically meant they were given a list of things to investigate to keep them busy, pirates, angry colonists, and even a small Geth base that had been discovered. Jane had not been terribly happy when they came up with nothing on Saren in the meeting, she informed the crew though that they would continue to look into it on their own while they handled the tasks given to them.
If he didn't know any better the old locker he had been using since he came aboard the ship was getting smaller, flush with his books stacked high and stuffed with his other personal belongings. Matt was about to drag it all out again to start all over when he heard feet come to a stop behind him. The mess was awash with crewmembers coming and goings getting settled in for the next stretch of deployment, but this was not one of them.
"Mathew do you have a moment?"
Her voice was upbeat and full of energy at the prospect of heading out again, of course that was just Tali and ships.
When he pushed himself up to stand and brushed his hands off on his pants so that when he turned he would be more presentable Matt couldn't have possibly expected was he saw. There was a fish, or more correctly she was holding a fish tank with a clownfish floating about in it almost as happily by the looks of it as Tali's voice was encouraging.
"It's a clownfish!" she stated explaining the situation, "In my culture when one comes of age another cycle we give presents to our friends. I saw this and thought of you during our leave. There was not much time since I stayed aboard throughout most of the time off, but I did get some time to get shopping in. What do you think?"
At her question she hoisted up the small tank somewhat more so that she was looking through the tank at him and the comfortable looking fish. It was ironic to Matt that one trapped within a suit thought that a fish trapped forever within a tank was a fitting gift to give. Still, she was so excited about it he couldn't help it and smiled at the tank.
"Yes it is," he said reaching a hand up to tap at the glass gently, "Humans usually get gifts on their birthday so this is a little switched around."
With some concern she pulled back the tank from him when he tried to poke the glass again and shielded it from his experimenting index finger. Tali shook her head and gentled stroked the side of the tank like she was petting the creature. Again it reminded Matt of someone touching a Quarian's suit.
"You shouldn't tap the glass like that Matt, it stresses them out," she said in the best scolding voice she could muster.
The tempered biotic held up his hands in defeat and nodded his agreement, "Of course, I promise I will try not to do that. It is perfect, but I am afraid I don't really have a place to keep it?"
Quickly Tali held it out to him for him to hold, once he relented and took over the task of holding the weight she wrung her hands together unlike when she was nervous this was her excitement showing through.
"The Doctor has said that it would be alright to keep it in her area until the ship docks again. It has an automatic feeder and everything," the lit up Quarian said brushing her fingers over the top of the tank so that the small Omni menu came to life with times and feeding amounts, "I got one for Jane as well. Hers is red with blue stripes while yours is blue with red stripes…very different…completely different," This last part stated with some determination.
Waiting until she retracted her hand and the menus faded Matt held the glass tank up a bit higher so that he could be eye level with the creature. Matt studied the first for a few moments; it just floated about ignoring his presence entirely of course.
"Well the fish is going to need a name any thoughts?"
Tali turned her attention off to where some of the crew was piling food for the mess off on the far side of the room while she thought about it. There was a brainstorm going on behind that visor evident by the way she was taping the light that lit up whenever she had to speak. It was hard to read her expressions, hell it was hard to read any Quarian, but since she had come aboard he had the chance to get to know her body language somewhat. This statuesque pose was that of deep thought, usually struck down in engineering before she beat on a ship part because it would not work correctly. Looking at her he was reminded of Garrus and how the Turian had grown on him to become a true friend, Tali on the other hand, she felt a bit more like a little sister and Matt found he enjoyed that thought.
"Zeek," it was short for a name, Matt had been considering something lengthier, she seemed to like it a lot, probably since she had come up with it.
"Zeek huh?" Matt said looking at the fish again smiling somewhat, "Say what? You feel like a Zeek?" The two of them watched the fish float around a bit more then Matt spoke again, "Ah see he likes it." Of course he was just humoring the girl. Grinning broadly and honestly he lowered the fish back down so that he could see Tali and nodded slightly, "Thank you very much for the present. Still think it's a bit weird to give gifts on a birthday, but if that is the Quarian tradition I am more than happy to partake."
Off behind the girl Matt spotted Garrus stepping off of the lift to come into the mess hall carrying a box of supplies. The poor Turian had a blue scarf on, not a properly made one even, stitched from what looked like second hand thread wrapped a couple times around his neck to fall back over his shoulder. That had to be Tali's doing and suddenly Matt was much happier to get the fish. It was good to see that more of the crew had opened up to the lost girl. She had not shared with just the large Turian either, Ashley caught his attention out of the corner of his eye, she had some sort of bracelet on made out of engine parts that had been discarded. Again she was making no mention to hide the second hand gift and it caused his smile to grin. Mostly because now he was certain Joker had gotten something, Matt was betting on gloves for his console work. That would be something to see, the flight lieutenant would use them for a week just out of kindness he was sure of that.
"Come down and see me below decks sometime after we get on our way," Tali said hopefully that he could find some time to visit, "I have made a few adjustments to the core while some of the more stubborn engineers were off the ship. Need the chance to show time off to someone that won't scold me?"
"Of course, as soon as I get the chance I will be down," Matt said hoping the promise of his words filtered through enough, "Oh thanks again for the fish!" he said holding up the tank when she pulled away to head for the lift leaving him alone with Zeek. The biotic took a long look at the clownfish again and sighed now that the little Quarian had left it felt like he could take a breath from the buildup of energy, "I am glad you are not mittens…"
Across the mess Matt caught Garrus' eye and they both exchanged a knowing look about the presents that had been excitedly given to them mere minutes after coming aboard. At least he didn't get the scarf was all the expression was giving him. Inwardly he smirked and forcefully shut the packed locker he had been working on and tucked the fish tank under his arm so that he could go see the doctor about storing it. Matt rounded the corner into the med bay a short distance away and scowled at how cold it was in there. They had been taking on some medical supplies as well and the doctor had asked to lower the temp below a comfortable level so that some of the more sensitive supplies would be alright until she could get to them. Chakwas was hunched over a pack with a light coat on setting vials delicately into a storage cabinet when he came in.
"Have a good shore leave doctor? Tali said you might have a place for me to set…this…down?"
The doctor looked back from the cabinet she was filling and instantly looked confused at the sight of him holding off all things a fish tank. What was he talking about?
She frowned, but the hidden smile at the humor the sight brought forth crept forward when she spoke, "I am quite certain I said I would allow no such thing. Perhaps she meant the OTHER doctor?"
At first Matt furrowed his brow together not understanding the situation himself, "Oh Liara…right of course. Sorry to bother you. Would you like an extra hand after I set this down?"
Chakwas laughed and turned back to the case she was unloading shaking her head, "I am afraid you would break more than would safely make it to the cabinets Shepard, but thank you for the offer just the same. Go on in I saw her head back just a few ago."
That was actually probably a good idea, he had tried to help her once before, they ended up without antibiotics for much longer than they should have been out when he dropped an entire case trying to transport them from one side of the med bay to the other. There was one thing to be said about him, he was not delicate with his touch usually. With some awkwardness Matt made to step past her towards the back storage room that Liara had taken up as her own. Chakwas never even looked up from her careful organizing so the feeling he had was really unwarranted.
There was a real need to knock before he went in, but with how he was holding the tank he had a hard time getting a free hand so that he could. Carefully he balanced it on one hand and reached for the door, only when he did this it reacted to his movement and opened automatically. The switch much had not been pressed to make it disable that function since Liara had gotten back from leave. Inside it was somewhat dim because the only light came from the doorway and a little lamp T'Soni had set up beside her workstation. Although even with the lack of illumination he saw the quick snatch the Asari tried to manage as he came into the room.
"Wha…What was that?" Matt tried wondering just what he had seen Liara quickly reaching for.
"Ah Matt!," Liara said surprised to see him standing up at the same time with her right hand behind her back while advancing nervously avoiding the subject, "Is this the fish Tali was asking about?" She turned and motioned to her desk with the visible left hand and smiled with a small worry that he was going to find out, "You can just set it down wherever you find enough space. Have you named it yet? It is very lovely."
He eyed her suspiciously all the way across the room to where he found a spot on the desk beside her workstation set up to set the tank down. Once it was set down he crouched down enough to look into the tank with a smile. With minimal effort the brushed his hand across the top of the tank and worked to set a feeding for the animal that would make sure that even if he missed a feeding the pet would be taken care off.
"Actually Tali came up with the name Zeek for the fish, I kinda like it, he looks like a Zeek anyway," Matt said stretching back up to his full height moving so that she was between him and the open doorway, "Was is it you have there anyway?"
Liara flushed brightly, the blush not even starting anywhere it just flooded her features completely. It had to be the gift Tali had given her, Matt desperately wanted to see it. Tentatively he snaked his left hand around her form to where she was clutching something out of sight. When his fingers met knit cloth she cut in quickly.
"Now don't laugh…she was worried about me," Liara explained unable to look at anything else other than the metal floor now, "Someone told her that the med bay temperature was going to be lowered considerably for many hours after we left port…"
The fabric gripped Matt tugged and pulled whatever it was from behind her, Liara held onto it so he brought hand back around with it until she held the gift with the both of her hands. Like Ashley and Garrus she had gotten a handmade gift from the Quarian, this one was a knit cap just big enough to fit over the whole crest atop her head comfortably. The skill Tali must have been fairly low in its creation because while it was finished completely there were little bits of yarn loose here and there in places.
"Ah it's perfect," Matt teased the Asari with a small smile," Come on let's see how it looks."
"I hardly think tha-…"Liara tried the heat strengthens in her cheeks.
"Come on…please?"
After a lengthy pause Liara sighed and relented lifting her hands up so that she could slip the handmade cap over her crest. It fit well enough with some left over so it was not uncomfortable. The front came down just above her brow and the red color of it only made the darkened color of her cheeks stand out all the more. Liara looked so self conscious at wearing the thing where he could see it, but Matt shook his head and smiled at her shyness. Without real issue he gripped the front of her uniform and tugged her gently a step towards him so that he could kiss the skin just below the edge of the cap on her brow above her left close lid. Softly he spoke against the point and released her from his grasp.
"I think you look cute, maybe not an everyday look though. If you get rid of it Tali will be heartbroken you know."
Liara shuddered under his gentle expression and stepped back when his fingers released that pleasured smile returning to her lips, she didn't know why she had worried about looking less than perfect to him, but she had. It was a feeling she was not totally familiar experiencing, only it had been happening more and more often since she had seen that memory. Still, he had brushed aside her concern and now her cheeks heated for a whole different reason.
"Never would I think of it," Liara said biting her lower lip idly considering those lips that had just brushed against her, remembering what they had felt like, tasted like, "All settled in?"
Retreated from her personal space Matt shrugged his shoulders and put his hands into the pockets of his baggy N7 sweater taking the chance to look around the small room Liara had made her own. Files were everywhere scattered where she had gone through them, there was a small cot in the corner for her to sleep on with a bundle of blankets on one in, but other than that there were no personal belongings to really speak of. It reminded him of how they had met that first time, so quick she had not been able to take anything of her own to remind her of happier times. That along caused him to faultier and forget for only a second what she had asked him.
"Uh…Oh yeah I am all settled back in. I might have to ask Joker if I can use part of his locker to store some books, but I am worried they might get mixed in with some of his extranet print outs," Matt said laughing a bit. It was common to poke fun at the overblown stories about the helmsman's habit of searching the seeder corners of the data stream.
Quickly Liara spoke like she was jumping at a chance, "You could keep any you need to store in here?...," realizing how fast she spoke up Liara recoiled just a bit and tried to save herself from sounding so obvious about wanting him to have a reason to come by, "If you would like, I have been wanting to read one of them myself. You seem to enjoy reading them and I know so little about Human literature."
"Well I will take you up on that offer doctor my locker thanks you," he said grinning at her eagerness , "Don't go picking one up at random though, let me find something I think would be a good one to ease into the genre with alright?"
She smiled softly, pleased that he had taken the unspoken invitation to visit her and nodded slightly, "I will see you around?"
Matt moved to step past her and shot her a smile as he did, "It's an awfully small ship and I don't sleep a lot."
Liara turned to watch him go, nearly bumping into the medical doctor as he went drawing a small smile to curl her lips.
Two weeks since they left port at the Citadel and they had done nothing, but run errand type missions for the Council. Effectively they were sitting on their hands until new information was drug up. Jane hated it, the whole crew hated it, especially Wrex. She was certain if they did not get something more substantial about Saren that the Krogan might jump ship at the next possible port. This evening, like every evening since they left the Citadel Jane sat at her terminal in her private room aboard ship looking through mission logs and extranet messages hoping to find something new, something she might have missed. Of course there was nothing yet and it just added to her growing frustration. The Commander wanted to find the rogue Specter as much as the rest of the crew and she just hoped that they knew that.
Unable to look at the screen for another second her eyes drifted away to the only other item set on her sparse desk. A vase holding a single lily flower within it, still fresh thanks to some special treatment given to it. Soon after they shipped out Garrus had come to the cabin flustered about something and had all, but shoved the vase into her hands. There was something of a gap between Turian and Human customs for sure. Mainly she guessed that he was just nervous the way his mandibles had been flaring about and how he was rubbing his fingers together in a very Tali sort of way.
It was not like she had not appreciated the gift. She had! Now that she had it though she was confused on just what to do about it, at the time she made certain that the C-Sec officer understood that she was flattered, but the mission was going to have to come first. Instantly his expression drained into one that looked like someone had kicked his rifle and she regretted her wording. Jane was interested, it confused her that she was admitting that, but they needed to wait. Luckily even with the gap in customs patients evidently was not lost. The professional Turian understood well enough and looked less disappointed leaving knowing things were only on pause between the two of them.
Idly Jane stroked one of the petals of the flower with her fingers and sighed, this whole trip was going to get a lot more complicated before the end that was for sure. Hunting down Saren was going to be only part of the problem in the long run. Already Alliance had started to hound her about having none human crew members, up to this point she had been able to brush them off quick enough, but it was going to come to a head soon. Ashley certainly made no one question how she felt about it. Jane didn't have anything against the Staff Sergeant she knew she had reasons for how she felt about non humans and the Commander was pleased with how she had kept it all in check thus far.
Checking the clock it was two hours after ships lights out, of course there were still crew up and around at this hour, it just meant that it was 'Night' on the ship. Helped keep the lot of them sane while they were away from a real star. Earlier in the day they hit a Geth stronghold, she had been surprised to find out through Tali that the group was not a part of the ones helping Saren. The young Quarian had all, but begged to download information on the group to take back and Matt had backed her up that it could be useful in the long run to the Alliance as well. Best to probably not tell the brass that a little Quarian had a share of that recon, that could be left out.
After pushing back from her desk and dragging on her leather jacket, a little cool at night on the ship, she headed out into the mess for a snack. If she was going to be up might as well not go hungry. It was usually Matt's thing to be up this late, but they were family after all. Like always on the mission during the day her brother pushed further than he should have. The plate of pasta he had when he got back to the ship had been massive, a certain blue doctor's eyes had widened in question of where he had been putting it all.
That was actually something of a rumor around the ship, Liara and her brother being more than just shipmates. There was no confirmation of course, it was not like Matt to come out and say something like that, Liara seemed to be just terribly shy or reserved…hard to tell. Still, snagging a handful of celery the Commander headed for the med bay and knocked on the door that the Asari had made into her makeshift quarters.
A small shuffling sound of a chair being moved somewhere inside the room then the door opened revealing a Asari scientist wearing a red knit cap, "Jane! What are you doing up this late?"
Jane somehow withheld her smirk at the sight of the present Tali had gotten Liara, to her credit she was wearing it much longer than anyone else had theirs.
"Couldn't really sleep, got hungry," she offered with a tired smile just the same, "Seen my brother? Matt is usually up way later than this?"
A light flush covered the Asari and she gave a small nod, "I have actually…"
With her standing in the doorway Jane had not been able to really see past, but after Liara stood aside so that her friend could see into her little room Jane smirked unable to hold it back. There on the back wall, where Liara had her cot, Matt was set up against it covered up with a warm looking blanket lightly snoring away. He looked exhausted; she guessed the biotic fatigue had caught up to him.
"That was quick Liara, sleeping with m-," Jane teased eyeing the woman suspiciously.
Liara shot out of the room and slammed a hand on the control so it would close behind her, a face full of worry, "No! I wouldn't!"
She wouldn't? "What are you talking about T'Soni?"
Those wide panicked blue orbs stared at Shepard for a second or two longer than she lifted a finger to point at the other woman just as suspiciously as she was being examined, "You are…pulling my arm…"
Jane laughed and backed away to lean against one the medical beds there in the bay, Chakwas had gone to be with the last shift change for the time they had the room to themselves. The Commander had to admit that Liara was catching on quick to Humans after being around them for such a short time, but her sayings still left something to be desired.
"It's your leg actually…"
"Why wouldn't it be arm, that would be easier…" Liara mused hand up covering her lips in that scientific pose she used when something baffled her, "Humans are…confusing. Still Shepard I am not sleeping with your brother! I know some humans have the idea of Asari…" she started to ramble off into her little speech about how overblown Asari rumors were, sure some of her kind were like that, but really that could be said about just as many races that dotted the stars.
Shaking her head though Jane caught her while she was trying to wind up into it with a smile and a raised hand for pause, "Relax Liara I know you are not. I know all about the rumors about Asari guys cook up around ship, but I also know well enough to find the bulk of them nothing more than just that, rumors. Otherwise I might think that you are also engaged in a relationship with my…brother," she drove this point before going on, "That is the rumor aboard. It's against Alliance regulations."
Right then the blue skinned woman did something neither of them expected her to do; she opened her mouth and spoke with a backbone two hundred years her elder.
Back straight, lips parted with rattled authority, but authority none the less, "Matt Shepard is not an Alliance officer…he is a hired Specialist just like I am, or Wrex,…or even Garrus."
One of those terribly rare Asari brows raised at the end of her statement hinting at something the both women knew happened between Jane and the C-Sec officer, a feeling of challenge behind it palpable. It was not like either of them had shared it, but Jane had a pretty good idea Matt had suggested a flower otherwise it was just a terribly lucky shot in the dark. Hardly possible.
"Specialist are not held to the same regulations on board Alliance vessels as members of the military are Commander," Liara said with a growing strength behind her tone, " If it helps at all...Matt suggested we wait because of the same rules, but I insisted."
For a second there was silence, one Asari with a stiff frame, and one relaxed officer looking on. Then all at once Jane broke out into a fit of laughter. Infectious as it was Liara soon followed suit when she realized she was not going to be thrown out the nearest airlock. They went on like that for a while laughing and if most of the ship had not been asleep they were sure to be noticed.
"Really Liara…"Jane fought to say while brushing some tears from her eyes brought on by the laughter, "Where did that come from?"
The blue skinned women did not quite tear up, but the smile she wore was so wide it would probably hurt in the morning, "I…I am not sure…just slipped out?"
Again shaking her head Jane leaned up off the bed and stalked over to where her friend was standing so that she could take her into a welcoming embrace. Hugging her tight the Commander set her chin on the woman's shoulder and eyed the door to the small room behind her where she had seen her brother sleeping. If what Liara said was true Matt had voiced the same concern she had just now and Liara this…cute…for the lack of a better term scientist convinced him otherwise? Jane couldn't remember the last time someone changed her brother's mind once it had been set on something. Maybe this blue alien would be good for Matt after all.
"So what is he doing in your room anyway?" Jane asked drawing away then finally remembering her celery crunching on a piece of it once brought to her lips, "Usually he roams down in engineering for something to break this time of night."
The smile Liara wore softened some, but it never fell, "Ah, he does tend to make a fuss for Adams in the mornings doesn't he?" she gave Jane a sideways glance out of the corner of her eye while moving to look out of the med bay window while they talked, "He came by sometime after lights out, wanted to ask about some of my research on prothans, maybe work out more of what he had seen."
Confused by this Jane finished her stick of celery and considered a second one eyes not following Liara while she paced, "That does not sound much like my brother. He usually hates history."
Unseen the Asari's lips curled just slightly at the edges at the questioning tone her future bond mate's sister made at the statement, "five minutes into one of my papers I turned around to find him snoring. Seemed he wanted something to put him to sleep."
Jane grinned and glanced up towards her friend with a nod, "Now that…that sounds like my brother."
Liara was already better for him. If he was getting to sleep at a decent hour, though she guessed that trick was not going to work to many times. This proud scientist could only allow her papers to be used as a lullaby so many times Jane surmised.
Boots stopped and Liara ceased her pacing, "Forgive me if I am prying where I should not, but Matt told me about Garrus. I am to understand there is something…." She spoke softly letting the end stay open unless she had crossed some boundary.
A week before this Asari came board there was not a person on ship that Jane would have opened up to on the topic now being posed, but there was something to this friendship, something that couldn't really be explained just yet. Jane felt it was progressing at an alarming rate, she hardly cared to be worried.
Those lips fell into a small frown though, "Matt told you about the flower then I am guessing?" Jane met those blue eyes just long enough to get her answer in a small nod, "It's just not the right time is all. Once all of…this…is out of the way maybe. Hell's bells Liara is not like I don't feel something for that bird," the Commander offered using the Alliance slang for Turians, "Maybe after we catch up and take down Saren. We pull that off I am sure we will get medals, a bit of extra time off, and we will generally just be big damn heroes. If the feeling is still there after this then we will see."
A small twitch, that's all that showed Liara knew something she shouldn't share and with some Goddess watching it was ignored by the Alliance officer. The expression of worry could not be hidden though. If Liara was going to start to really believe what she had seen in the bond it also meant that those around Matt and her had just as much time left before the end. Should she say something? What could she say? The Galaxy is going to be threatened with being wiped out? No, Jane was just starting to trust her, Liara couldn't drop something so unbelievable right now.
"Perhaps you should…reconsider…," Liara pleaded with a small voice, she did not know if Garrus and the Spectre connected in her future, but if they did shouldn't she encourage that?
Again Jane looked confused and shot her a look.
Liara held up her hands defensively and quickly gave something of an answer, "Vakarian is C-Sec…after Saren is taken in he might not stay aboard for long."
The redhead toyed the idea, Liara was right, Garrus could be off ship very quickly after they bring down Saren, worse yet, permanently even. Did she want to stand behind regulation and ignore this…whatever it was? It was just strange, how would they even kiss? Or…other things…That idea had her face reddening and she turned away from the blue skinned friend the started for the door.
"Tha…Thank you Liara," she managed to get out behind a clouded and confused state, "I will have to think about it.
Behind her Liara looked on her brows knit with worry under the cap made by Tali, "Of course Jane. If you need to talk, my door is open."
Jane hit the release for the med pay door, the metal of it pulling away loud on the quiet ship, but did not go through it right away.
She sighed, tired, and nodded, "Take care of my brother Liara."
The door slid closed behind her leaving the scientist alone in the cool med bay, still even left behind Jane got her answer.
"It will be my pleasure."
0800 After Morning Workout.
The water felt amazing on his skin, so much so that Matt wanted nothing more than to stay right there in one of the two ship showers set aside for the men and just not come out for days. His whole body hurt from the morning sparring, but that's what he gets, at least that is what anyone would say after seeing it.
"I still can not believe you asked Wrex to spar with you Matt, you got a death wish?"
Beside him in the neighboring stall a taller Turian who had not been stupid enough to take the battle master up on his offer made to the ships marines earlier that morning tried to suppress a laugh at his discomfort.
"Yeah, well... I admit it was not one of my better choices," Matt responded while holding his sore left side that was already starting to turn a purple color in a couple of places, "I should have known he was going to go all out like a real fight. He is a Krogan after all, they do not exactly have a half setting when it comes to fighting."
Garrus gave a slight nod and ran his fingers up over his Turian plume thinking back to how minutes before their conversation Matt was unsuccessfully trying to wrestle with a creature four times his weight with about five hundred years of experience on him.
"Well did you at least learn anything while you were getting beat to a pulp?" Garrus mused while starting to get ready to get out.
Matt laughed, wincing some as he did, but smiled over in response, "Hell yeah, use a gun and don't get close to a Krogan."
The sniper laughed and shook his head stepping out of his own stall looking for a towel muttering something under his breath about how he could have told him that without having to get beat up. Instead after snatching his towel to pat himself dry he decided to change the subject.
"Seeing as how we are still at a standstill on this whole Saren thing and we are waiting for word from the council," Garrus started while Matt rest rested his forehead against the wall of the shower giving a small nod in response while he enjoyed the water, "I was wondering how things were going with the good doctor."
There in the shower Shepard's shoulders stiffened and he reached for the handle that shifted the water in the shower somewhat hotter. Not taking this as a sign to back off Garrus pushed just a little more with one of those flaring smiles of his.
"Just because you two have been trying to keep quiet does not mean that the rest of the ship has not been talking about it Shepard," Garrus said starting to get dressed in his casual Turian attire, a mix of blue and grey fabrics.
Matt turned under the shower and looked over at his Turian friend from over the wall of the shower stall with a question he wanted to ask.
"Garrus are Turians attracted to Asari?"
The plain nature in which the question was asked left little doubt to if it was a joke or not leaving Garrus to blanch and stare back at the biotic wide eyed.
"O...of course," Garrus tried to comprehend why Matt had suddenly asked him that now of all times, but he couldn't figure it out just yet, "Sure most of my kind keep it within our race, but some of us do like our women...softer...if that make sense? Its something that is hard to explain."
Matt gave a silent nod at the confused answer given by the Turian and turned back to the shower content to stand there enjoying it for just a minute or two more. Garrus on the other hand reached for his exercise bag and set it over his shoulder still considering why his friend would have asked such a strange question. Surely Matt had to of known what the answer to that was going to be, he had been to the citadel, there was not a race in the galaxy that did not find Asari attractive on some level. At least that was how he understood it.
Blinking in realization Garrus, near the door, stopped and looked back towards where Matt was finally starting to shut down the shower going to reach for his own towel, "You knew the answer to that question. What you were really asking is if its the other way around as well were you not Matt?"
Matt ran the towel all over his messy hair and grumbled something under his breath to the effect, "I thought you quit being a detective."
Garrus raised a hand and opened his mouth to go in for the kill, but was for Matt's sake it seemed cut off by the ship's intercom and met by Jane Shepard's voice.
"Crew alert. Specialist meet in the conference room for mission briefing. Drop what you are doing and get up here Joker is already plotting in the new course now, we got a lead on Saren from the Council."
The intercom went to static then cut out after that leaving the two soldiers looking at each other with blank expressions for about half a second. Garrus moved first smacking his hand against the release for the washroom door while Matt drug on his regulation cargo pants and hung his towel around his neck, his shirt and boots were there as well, but excited as the two of them were at finally getting a crack at Saren neither of them hesitated making their way out of the door.
Garrus was already two steps up the stairs to the next level when Matt got to them and was nearly knocked off of his feet colliding with someone else. His body bounced off the far bulkhead wall and he reached his hand up to rub the pain away.
"Gah! Ouch...what the?" he growled in a pained reaction to being nearly shoved out of the way. That attitude dissipated quickly when those hazel eyes of his saw just who it was who bumped into him though.
Against the other bulkhead wall there at the bottom of the stairs Liara held her head in a similar fashion to Matt although she looked far more apologetic after the fact riddled with worry, "I did not see you! Terribly sorry I was rushing aft...after the..."
The words seemed to die off in her throat after just being thought up and at first Matt did not totally understand why, but after seeing how she had lowered her eyes and his state of dress he got his answer. Between the two of them he doubted either could have blushed any brighter another time.
"Ex...Excuse me!" the Asari scientist got out somehow and darted up the stairs quickly like a shot out of a cannon trying to escape the awkward scene.
What could Matt do? He just laughed and reached for the stair railing to make his way up the stairs, but he was met with a wide Turian grin, it seemed Garrus had not moved from that second step and had seen the whole thing.
He tilted his head to the side and in a very human like way of sarcasm he offered, "Oh yeah, I think you might not have reason to worry on that front after all Matty."
With a heavy sigh Matt started up the stair and pushed his friend against the railing making him get out of the way shooting him a deathly glare taunting him to try and get another word in. Luckily the Turian was kind enough to leave it there and headed up the stairs after him into the conference room. There they got the news, Saren had been found, and he was on Vermire.
That's it, hope you enjoyed the chapter.