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"Who the hell is that?" Zaeed asked Kate as she and Anderson re-boarded the Normandy with their new acquisition. The hulking mass of muscles who trailed behind Anderson looked like a human-heavy mech hybrid.

"Lt. James Vega. My... guard," Kate said quietly, letting Anderson and Vega pass them into the CIC. She had to bite back a laugh when she saw the furious look on Zaeed's face. "Oh my God. You're jealous!"

The mercenary growled. "I don't do jealous, kitten."

"The hell you don't. Remember Bekenstein?"

"That was... I wasn't jealous. I was... you were a goddamn tease in that dress."

She smirked. "Don't blame me. That was all Kasumi's fault. And so this, right now, is what?"

He faltered for a second. "Concern... for-"

They heard a snort of laughter behind them. "Face it, Massani," Joker said with an amused grin on his face. "You can't stand the fact that Vega's gonna get to watch Kate 24/7 for who knows how long and there's not a damn-"

"Zip it, fly-boy," Zaeed snarled.

Kate steered him away from the cockpit before they could do more than yell at each other. She still needed her pilot in one piece to get them back to Earth.

"Look, why don't you meet him? You'll see, he's really nice."

Zaeed glared in Vega's general direction. "That's what I'm afraid of, Kate."

She rolled her eyes. "Again I refer back to Bekenstein. They can flirt all they want; I'm never going to take the bait."

"What about Alenko?"

"That was different. That was me from the beginning. Didn't stop him from flirting back, eventually, but I started it."

He sighed. "Alright. Fine. I'll meet the giant."

Kate giggled. "Thank you."

They walked over to the elevator where Anderson and Vega were talking.

"Massani, why are you still here?" the councilor asked bitingly. "The rest of Shepard's crew left the ship a week ago."

Kate put a warning hand on Zaeed's chest, knowing he was about to start yelling at Anderson. "He's here because there's no reason for him not to be," she said, matching Anderson's tone. "This is still my ship until we reach Earth; therefore I still have final say who can and cannot be aboard."

Anderson balked. "I-"

"Don't worry, Councilor, I'll be off the damn ship before we reach Earth," Zaeed said. "Wouldn't want to put a kink in your perfect plans."

Anderson looked as if he were about to say something else; instead he turned and walked into the elevator, hitting the button for the crew deck with a little more intensity than necessary.

"Pendejos."

Kate and Zaeed turned to see Vega glaring at the closed elevator doors.

"Not a fan of our esteemed councilor, Lt. Vega?" Kate asked with an amused smile. He gave her a questioning look and she grinned. "I grew up in Dallas; I know my way around Spanish."

"Sorry, Commander. I just... this whole situation is messed up."

"No apologies needed," she said. "Anyway, Lt. Vega, this is Zaeed Massani. I just thought you two should... meet."

Vega raised an eyebrow. "Why is that exactly?"

"She's under the delusion that if I meet you I won't want to kill you," Zaeed said gruffly.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Sorry, LT. He's just having a little trouble adjusting to this whole thing."

Vega looked from one to the other. "I... am so lost."

"Oh right. Context would be helpful," she said with a laugh. "Zaeed is my... uh..."

The mercenary wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against his chest. "It's not complicated, Vega. Just keep your hands off my girl, and keep her safe, and we won't have a problem."

Vega looked surprised. "I... OK?"

"Anyway," Kate said after several moments of uncomfortable silence. "So, I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about. If you promise not to kill each other?" She glared at Zaeed and he shrugged. "Hell, maybe you could bond over your love of getting inked."

Zaeed laughed. "Uh-huh. Look who's talking."

The lieutenant looked intrigued. "Really Commander? You've got tats?"

"I have several," she said with a grin. "Including a few you don't have a prayer of seeing, Vega."

"Damn right," Zaeed growled. "My eyes only."

"Oh this is gonna be a long trip," Kate muttered as she walked away, leaving her old bodyguard to bond with her new one.