It had all gone according to plan. They had all spent time gathering plants and flowers, then decorated the home with them, using the plethora of blue lights Heather had ordered last minute from a shop in Greenbank. She had seen Shepard approach from the window in her guest bedroom, she had seen her emotional reaction. It had all seemed to be the perfect set up. I would place the wreaths over her shoulders, and I would ask her…but she ran off before I could…why?
And so she moped. There was little else to do, with Heather and Faridah catching up on recent events, while Ashley and her family seemed to be conversing with Tali, which was admittedly nice to see. The marine hadn't been friendly in the past, and it was a relief to know that she was becoming more open to the other galactic species.
Perhaps it is because she did not know of Janiris…that she did not know about the festival, what it is meant for… she mused, frowning. It is bad enough that I was left unaware, until today, that there would be a celebration of Shepard and Heather's birthdays. Why did this have to fail? I was so close… she thought, feeling more than a little frustrated. The hug was tremendously nice, but she wanted more. Perhaps not in front of a crowd half filled with strangers, but at least the promise of more to come.
"Maybe she didn't like it." She felt herself say aloud, as she leaned forward at the dining room table, burying her head in her arms.
"Are you kidding? Of course she did." She heard Heather speak, though she didn't raise her head. Manners were the last thing on her mind at the moment, and she felt she had earned a moment or two of relentless worrying.
"How can you be so sure?" she asked, hoping the woman's answer would make sense of Shepard's reaction.
Liara heard a chair pull up beside her, and a hand gently press on her back. "She was just really overwhelmed, is all. I'll admit that it all didn't go according to plan…but those weren't tears of sadness or pain…I'm not sure I've ever seen her so happy before." Heather spoke, luring Liara's head up from the depths. "She's not used to things like this. Before she met me and Faridah, she'd only ever been given one gift. Hell, Faridah's gift was just letting her know that she could access the city's music archives for free. Even in recent years at our birthdays, we just bake for each other. Small stuff. You compare that with this...it's a big difference. She might just need a little time to absorb it all."
Heather's words made sense; she supposed that if used to tiny trinkets and food for gifts, one could be rather surprised to see something they built, that they loved, be transformed in such a way. "But…she is alone. Will she need distracting?" she asked, thinking back to the woman's previous advice given on the Normandy.
"Probably not. If she's not out in an hour though, I'll send Faridah in." Heather noted, eyes darting over to her and Shepard's old friend, who had joined the discussion in the kitchen with Tali and Ashley's family.
"Why her?" she asked simply, curious as to what reason would be given. She knew Heather was close to Shepard, so was Tali, and she hoped that she herself would be included in such a trusted group.
"They've known each other for a very long time, since Shepard was thirteen. Long enough for them both to have saved each other's lives, even." Heather answered, taking a small tart off of the plate on the table, biting into it.
Liara looked over to the woman in the kitchen, her brows furrowing in confusion. She is not a soldier…she is…well, a scientist. Without biotics as well.
"I was unaware. It seems that they have some history." She spoke, an inkling of doubt planting itself in her mind. "When did you first meet Shepard?"
"Hah, I was in high school, finishing up my final year. Faridah had invited me and my friend Katie to the pool…Faridah liked to swim and occasionally we'd join her and have some fun. It was early spring, so it was too cold to go to a beach or anything, but we were pretty tired of winter by that point." Heather spoke, smiling as she told the story. "We did what all teenage girls would do, just talked about random things, and eventually Shepard was brought up. I…Faridah was saying that she wanted to date this boy at our school, and I thought they were incompatible. Shepard had, since we'd gotten in the pool, been doing a stupid amount of sprints from end to end, and she looked kind of…toned, fit and small up top, I kind of said that the guy would find her more attractive than someone more curvy like Faridah. I think I called Shepard butch."
Heather took a moment to laugh to herself, Liara wishing she had an appetite for food while she listened, but she still wasn't feeling up to it. She wasn't sure what 'butch' meant either, though the way Heather had said it made her think it was something of a pejorative.
"Which prompted Faridah to valiantly defend Shepard, turning my words back on me and taking a few moments to describe Shep. Which led to a bit of a discussion." Heather continued, smiling. "I wasn't impressed with her… Shepard was being really distant, and I thought it was really rude and mean to do that to Faridah. But I could see that she looked at Shepard differently…there was something there, she was definitely crushing on her. So I convinced her to bring Shep to the party that was happening the next day."
Liara turned and couldn't help but look entirely confused at the woman beside her. "Crushing? I…fear I do not understand." She said, wishing she was more familiar with human idioms.
"Oh…um, well, she really seemed to like Shepard. Sure, she talked about wanting to date that guy, but he never evoked that look from her. Shepard did. I figured that bringing them closer at the party could make her act on her feelings. Inviting Shepard was probably one of the best decisions I've made." Heather spoke, a deep pit forming in Liara's chest at the last sentence. She couldn't help but feel strange about it all; she didn't particularly care to imagine Shepard with anyone else, and her heart agreed. And Shepard spent hours visiting her when we went to Luna…
"And…why is that?" she asked, anxious to hear more, hoping it would not bring further doubt.
"There ended up being some pretty bad people at the party…Shepard…well, she managed to take care of them for me." Heather noted, her tone a little darker, Liara noticing the woman's smile was dull, a little fake. "But also because it showed her that she wasn't all so different from the rest of us. She wasn't exactly socialized at that point…I'd argue she's still kind of iffy in some situations too…but then, she didn't know how to act around us 'normals'. That night helped, I think."
Liara sat silent for a moment, mustering up the courage to ask that question that had quickly milled its way into her mind. "Were Shepard and Faridah….were they ever paired?" she asked, shyly turning her gaze away, not entirely certain she wanted to hear the answer.
"Hah, well, I certainly did my best to make it happen. They were inseparable for a few months, the air was electric when they were close." Heather said wistfully, looking over to the kitchen as Tali called out for her. "Seems I've gotta show off the dextro processor to Faridah. Don't worry about Shepard, she'll be fine."
Liara had grown more certain of that, but less certain about her place in Shepard's life. Before the talk, she was rather sure that Shepard only had eyes for her, but her 'old friend' had since complicated that. She begrudgingly reached across the table, grabbed a tart and popped it in her mouth, frowning at the result. Nothing seems to taste good, not when I'm worrying like this…I just…I really want an answer…and I shouldn't let any of this distract me from what she's said and done with me, but…
She sat there in the dining room, lost in her thoughts more often than not, regurgitating the same arguments over and over again. It wasn't until she noticed someone moving in the living room, out of the corner of her eye, that she broke from those mental processes. Shepard…
The woman looked a bit drained, if she was to be honest, and it still seemed as if the woman was a tempest of raw emotion judging by her expression. Liara immediately moved from the table to the living room, crossing the distance before she realized she didn't know what to say.
It didn't seem to matter, as Shepard pulled her into another hug, this one softer than the last, with less urgency. It was comforting to be in her arms, to breathe in her scent, to feel the woman's hair fur against her cheek and crests, to feel her heart-beat against her own.
"Are you alright?" she asked nervously, trying her best to sound put together, hoping she wasn't failing at remaining composed.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I…I would be happy…honoured to celebrate Janiris with you, Liara." Shepard whispered, as if her words were only ever for her to hear. She felt Shepard take her hand, slowly leading her toward the kitchen, where everyone fell silent; Liara suppressing a frown as the woman let go.
"I'm sorry for running off." Shepard started, grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. "I was just so thrilled with what all of you did. You made my little house a home, and it was just magical to see all the decorations lit up like that, it was an amazing, wonderful surprise. I can't thank you enough for doing this, it means the world to me."
Liara watched Faridah cross the floor, pulling Shepard into a tight hug. "We were very, very happy to do it, little miss teary eyes." The short haired woman said kindly, kissing Shepard on the forehead, which sent a pang of jealousy within Liara. She tried not to think of how vague heather's words were, but found it increasingly difficult. "Heather and Liara barely even had to convince us. We knew you'd be thrilled, and it was a lot of fun."
Shepard wiped her face once more, shaking her head as they separated. "I kind of lost it when I saw my sister's tree all lit up. I don't know how you did it." The woman spoke, her voice sounding a little strained again. Liara kept her feet still, wishing to show her affection in a meaningful way, though not wishing to compromise the situation.
"Tali let us use a copy of Chiktikka while you two were out on that long walk together. Gave us plenty of time to decorate." Heather added happily, looking over at the quarian engineer fondly.
"I can't believe all of you were in on this…thank you all again. Really, it's amazing." Shepard spoke, smiling brightly. "Now, vid marathon, anyone?"
Shepard sat nestled against the armrest of the couch, intently watching the vidscreen; Blasto had fought his way onto a prison ship called 'Perdition', which was orbiting Kahje in preparation to unleash an experimental weapon that would destroy more than eighty percent of life on the planet. 'Blasto 4: No Retreat No Surrender: Thunder on Kahje' was the newest in the line of films, following up the previous year's human-oriented 'Blasto Saves Christmas', and while it couldn't stand up to the classic original, it was still a very fun mindless romp.
"That turian guard is totally going to double cross Blasto, I just know it." Sarah, Ashley's sister, blurted out as the hanar and turian moved within the ship, weapons ready in case of danger.
Shepard smiled at the prediction, happy that so many series newcomers had lasted so long into the marathon. Ashley's sisters Sarah and Lynn, along with Tali and Liara, hadn't seen the vids before, and Shepard was only too eager to introduce them to the hanar Spectre. For what it's worth, Liara seems both amused and appalled at the same time, and Tali seems to be enjoying herself. The sisters are too, though Lynn looks pretty much ready to fall asleep. She thought, knowing Ashley, her mother, Abby, Heather and Faridah had already gone to bed.
"I still can't believe Zakharro, using this ship to transmit a neutron-plasmic radioactive blast…he's insane! What he plans to do is…it's unforgivable!" The turian guard Titus spoke to the Spectre, moving down another corridor.
"Forgiveness is between him and the Enkindlers. It is this one's duty to arrange the meeting." Blasto quipped, the line prompting a groan of disbelief from Liara; Shepard gave a little fist pump over how awesome and cheesy the dialogue was, unable to keep from smiling at the exchange.
Shepard turned to Liara and gave a cheeky grin. "What, Liara? Having a hard time appreciating the quality writing of this fine vid?" she asked playfully to the asari on the couch adjacent to her own. She'd initially wanted to sit next to her, but Ashley's sisters had quickly taken the empty spaces, so she had been relegated to sit by Tali. Certainly not a bad partner in crime for a marathon like this, but it would have been nice to be able to snuggle with Liara…
"Shepard I am astounded at how violent this vid is, and how poor its writing is, and yet…and yet I cannot help but find it entertaining. By all standards, I should not be enjoying this." The asari answered, still amusingly flustered. Shepard understood, Blasto had seemed to be a poor idea before she'd actually seen the first vid, but in practice it was so bad that it was good, and that sort of vid was a rare gem in their time.
"Shhh! A good part's coming up!" she whispered animatedly with a grin as she watched the vid-screen, Blasto descending into a pit of prisoners, Zakharro standing on a far-off platform. The hanar slowly moved through the crowd, his turian companion further back in the room cornered by a few thugs. The Spectre halted further through the room, a mob of prisoners surrounding him as Zakharro clapped.
"Blasto, so nice of you to join us in celebration. You're just in time to witness your stupid jellyfish homeworld be reduced to a nuclear wasteland." The villain spoke, his tone so entirely over the top and cheesy that Shepard had to suppress a laugh. "Do you think the council will finally respect me then? What do you predict for me, Spectre?"
"This one predicts pain." The hanar spoke, raising all of his weapons, most aimed at the crowd surrounding him, but his trusty Carnifex pointed right at Zakharro.
The villain gave off a laugh, one growing in intensity for a few moments before the turian went stone-faced. "I think you are mistaken, Blasto. I wasn't asking about your fate. We have you trapped here, at our mercy." The villain spoke icily.
"None of you seem to comprehend. This one is not imprisoned here with you. It is you that are imprisoned with this one." Blasto quipped, his weapons firing off in a storm of bullets as he dodged his enemies' gunfire, swiftly maneuvering around the room and using his spare tentacles to toss nearby inmates. Shepard was sure she heard Liara say 'Goddess' for what must have been the hundredth time that night, though Sarah's cheering drowned out any certainty she had.
"Blasto! I'm going to kill you! I'm going to fucking cook you, and then I'm going to fucking eat you, you stupid jellyfish!" Zakharro yelled from his balcony at Blasto, who was tearing through the turian's minions, and then quickly escaped out of scene.
The carnage was ludicrous, more than a few straight minutes of brutally violent fight scenes and comical quips. In the end, Blasto stood amongst the corpses of the inmates, his turian companion edging closer to him.
"Blasto…you're bleeding, man." Titus remarked, not receiving any physical reaction from the hanar, who seemed to be oozing fluid.
"This one doesn't have time to bleed." Blasto quipped, his cue to start chasing down Zakharro.
She felt Tali's arm nudge her, gaining her attention quickly. "Shepard…this is glorious! Terrible…but glorious!" the quarian exclaimed. "It is like the plays some quarians would put on during our annual festival, but…well, a lot more violent. And the writing is tackier, of course."
"So this hasn't been a mistake?" Shepard asked slyly, the quarian shaking her head animatedly.
"I…was skeptical, but this whole thing has just…what did you say early? That it would 'grow on me'? It has." Tali explained cheerfully.
"And you said some eight year old introduced you to those vids, Shepard? Kid must be hardcore!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes locked on the screen as Blasto finally caught up with Zakharro. "Shepard, are all Spectres this awesome?"
Shepard let out a laugh, and then another. She didn't have the heart to tell the girl she really didn't know any others aside from Nihlus, who was a serious creeper before he died, and Saren, who got kicked out for plotting to destroy all galactic life.
"I suppose I will vouch for her awesomeness, Sarah. On more than one occasion, I have been in awe of her while in the heat of battle." Liara spoke up, her words bringing a fierce blush to Shepard's cheeks. She did her best to hide them by turning to face the screen again, but she'd caught the sly smirk on the asari's face out of the corner of her eye.
"I'm pretty sure Tali's got me beat, finishing that krogan battlemaster off, and all." Shepard said offhandedly, pulling Sarah's attention from her to Tali for much of the duration of the rest of the vid. She liked putting her favourite quarian in the spotlight, though that night it was equally as much from pride as a wish to just not be the centre of attention. Well, at least with the possible exception of one lovely person.
The group made it through the last of the newest Blasto and the first third of Dark Goddess, screened again because neither Shepard nor Liara finished it, before Sarah dragged Lynn off to bed with her. It only took another twenty minutes for her to find Tali's feet lightly kicking as the quarian slept, Liara quite asleep herself.
Well, I can't say that marathon was anything less than great. Shepard thought to herself, turning the vid off once its credits rolled. Though I doubt I'll be able to rope Liara into watching that vid for a third time…not sure we'd be able to get through it, to be honest. Something would probably happen midway to either interrupt it, or someone would fall asleep. I guess this means movie marathon afternoons would probably be easier…
She quietly slid off the couch, grabbing her sleeping clothes and moving to the washroom as an idea formed in her head. Temperature's not bad tonight…water shouldn't be too cold… she mused, grabbing a towel before tip-toeing through the house, first turning the living room lights off before sneaking out the kitchen door.
The air was crisp, but not particularly cool; Shepard wasn't surprised, the cool days of Amaterasu's spring never lasted long before shifting into the warmer seasons. The water, she knew, never had long enough to cool down to the point where it was unreasonable, and the light fog the lake emitted on nights like that only served to mesmerize her.
The path was a bit of a trek, but she'd marked it with stepping stones, smooth on the feet and more or less tools to keep wet feet from getting too muddy on the way back. Some of the stones had come unseated from where she'd placed them, the fault of the cooler temperatures no doubt, and they made a slight 'thunk' as the off-balance slabs shifted under her weight.
As she reached the small lake's edge, she had a good stretch, enjoying how the moon hung in the clear night sky. The satellite wasn't all that large, resulting in a strange effect where most bodies of water pooled near the poles, leaving the equator a barren, dry, uninhabitable wasteland. Not that it mattered to Shepard, as most of the planet was more than habitable, and she liked where she'd ended up. With so much water everywhere, and so much lush scenery, she didn't see herself leaving Amaterasu for much of anywhere, especially with the nice climate. She just wished the town would clear her request for developing a few metres of the lake's edge, so she could set up hammocks. Spending time by the tree was great, but sometimes she just liked resting by the lakeside, and it was always annoying having to haul a chair out there.
Shepard spotted her usual rock and placed her towel onto it, and her change of clothes to the side, before removing what she had on. In all of her spare time before the mission to find Saren, she'd gotten used to swimming as she had when she was a child. That she often had the privacy to do so without any raised eyebrows was simply a bonus.
The water was merely cool, if anything, as she stepped into the water, slowly wading further in until her feet were a few inches from the bottom. Nice to be back in the water again…makes me wish the Normandy was big enough for a pool. Or that I was allowed to swim on the pools in the presidium. I hear Kithoi ward has a beach…though I'm sure it'd be too busy for me… she thought, smirking to herself. Funny…I can take a busy home…I revel in it…but put me in water, and I tend to just want to be a little more isolated.
She'd enjoyed the company that night, Ashley's family cooking them all a tasty fish dinner, a local species called the Epping Trout, which was fabulous alongside the roasted potatoes and greens served with it. Heck, cleaning duty was worth it…I love making food, but sometimes it's nice to kick back and relax. She thought, having enjoyed the playful banter throughout the kitchen earlier. They seem like a great family. Ash must be so proud of them, and I know they're proud of her. Especially Sarah, those two are so close.
In truth, she wished she had what they had. Not that I feel that what I have is worse, but…when this chase is over, Tali's going to leave. Liara's going to leave. Garrus is going to leave. Wrex will too. Hell, the Alliance might decide that I can't have the Normandy anymore, and I'll lose Heather, Ash, Joker…everyone… Shepard mused, wading around in the water, enjoying the faint chirping of birds. She at least has somewhere to come home to. If this is my home…it's just me and the ghost of my dead sister. What do I come home to when this is all over? I mean, Ash's sisters all live on the colony, even if they're not always in the same house, but if Tali's off in the migrant fleet, wherever that is, and Liara's off in Thessia, Garrus back on the Citadel with Wrex, Faridah on the moon…
Shepard slipped into a casual backstroke, closing her eyes. Eh, I'm just moping. Family is family, doesn't matter how far away they are. I just…I know I'll miss this, because chances are I won't have this opportunity again. So what the heck do I do? What happens when this damn chase is over and I still have to keep the damn galaxy safe? Hell, IF we catch Saren at all, that is…
Feeling a little annoyed with herself, she kicked her legs up, propelling her down into the depths of the lake, quite dark that night despite the moonlight. I just…I want Tali to be happy and return to her people with proof that she's the best damn engineer they could ask for. I want Garrus to return to C-Sec, knowing that the balance between the law and justice is difficult, but worth striving for. I want Ash to know she's made her family so proud, not just because of who she is as a person and how she's grown, but because she's worked for every inch of success that's come her way. I want Wrex to realize that his people aren't totally lost, they're just astray. He's a damn smart krogan, and even if we have our differences, he'd be good for them. I want …ah, fuck it.
Shepard came up for air, taking a deep gulp as the far off mountainous shoreline came into view. I want Liara to have her mother back. I'd love to see her and her mother enjoy time together, celebrate Janiris, make up for all the time that was robbed from them…she mused, flipping her wet hair out of her face. I want all these things for all of them…but what do I want for me? I don't want to be selfish, but… Her thought processes stopped as she turned to wade back toward her own shoreline, spotting Liara standing on the path by the rock with her towel and clothes.
"What are you doing?" she heard Liara call from shore, a curious expression on her face as Shepard made her way closer.
"Taking a late night swim." She answered simply and cheerfully, cocking her head to the side with a smile. "Care to join?"
Shepard couldn't help but love how the asari's gown looked in the moonlight, the purples and reds shifting hues with each slight movement; the silken material wrapped itself around her torso and arms majestically, as if it were crafted specifically for Liara's body, which Shepard assumed it was. The numerous layers of thin fabric flowed loosely across her lower half as Liara slowly moved further down the path a few steps.
"I…am afraid I must decline. I have no swimming clothes available, and if I have learned anything of human customs, it is that the vast majority of you prefer coverings." Liara noted, looking regretful as she cast a glance down at her dress.
Shepard bit her lip, smiling as she swam close enough to the shore that her feet touched the ground. Her legs slowly carried her up the sandy, rocky lake floor, her body revealing itself as she emerged from the lake. "I'm not most humans, Liara." She said in her best saucy tone, enjoying the attention Liara was giving her. Shepard stopped as the water came flush against her hips, and from the deep blush on the asari's cheeks, still visible even under the dim moonlight, she had a good idea that Liara may have wanted her to leave the water entirely. She endured the cool night air as Liara hopefully worked on making a decision, and took a moment to tuck a long curly strand of hair behind her ear.
"No…No, Shepard. You are not." Liara finally spoke, smiling shyly as she pushed one of the gown's straps off her shoulders, enough for Shepard to get the signal to turn around and give her privacy, and perhaps a look at what she was getting into. I still can't be sure how she felt about my scars but…she's still been interested, so…
It didn't take long to hear tiny splashes of water as Liara's feet dipped into the lake, prompting Shepard to dive further in, hoping Liara would wade in after her. She wasn't disappointed to hear a larger splash soon after, though when she came up for air and looked back, the asari was gone. Now where could she… she thought, before a splash to her left grabbed her attention, Liara erupting from the water.
Shepard turned to face her and waded closer, both curious about what Liara was doing out there, and also wanting to get a better look. Liara had always been able to take her breath away with her beauty, but the light seemed to be catching her differently that night. Maybe it's just that she's blue…and it's night time and everything's kind of blueish, and…hell, her skin…you know, I've never really noticed how different it is from mine, but…it's like she's shining right now…
"This lake is wonderful, I cannot believe how warm it is! I thought it would have been much cooler." Liara spoke, smiling at the surroundings before turning to Shepard. "Do you ever take Faridah out here?"
Shepard cocked her head to the side, wondering what exactly brought along that train of thought. "Yeah, a few times, though we don't really get to spend time together all that often anymore." She answered, wishing she could turn the asari's growing frown into a smile. She knew it wasn't a bad thing that Faridah was busier, she had her own life. She was doing great.
"I apologize…it must be difficult for you." Liara noted, looking a little downcast. Shepard couldn't help but be confused at the shift in atmosphere between the two in the past minute or so, and was determined to work through it.
"Liara, I joined the military to make sure she was able to live her own life safely and peacefully. I'm not about to feel bad that Faridah's doing great and is as happy as she is. That's what I wanted for her…if she was spending more time around me, I'd be worried. That she's not… it puts me at ease." Shepard replied, drawing a delayed thoughtful nod from the asari.
Liara opened her mouth to speak, no words coming for a moment, as her gaze shifted to the shoreline. "It is just that…Heather said that you two were together once, and you have professed on a number of occasions how devoted you are to her, you have said she is the closest friend of yours…and you visited her on Luna…" Liara spoke, appearing quite confused, enough for Shepard to interrupt her. She had an idea what Heather had told her, and she felt she had to correct it.
"Liara, trust me…Heather may have been exaggerating a little bit. We've been close friends for a long time, yeah, but while there was a brief time when we might have had feelings for each other…hell, I know I did…it never amounted to anything. We never even dated. Our time 'together', if you can call it that, was a five or ten minute span of time in a pool at Heather's parents' place when I was a teenager. I care about Faridah a lot…she's my oldest friend, of course I'm devoted to her. But if Heather made you think, for whatever reason, that we had been 'together', in any meaningful way, that's just her imagination playing tricks on her. First and last time I actually dated was about five years ago." She said calmly and quietly. She still liked thinking back to her time together as kids with Faridah, there were plenty of good memories, even though the times were rather hard.
"What happened then?" Liara prodded, wading closer, clearly interested as usual in her history.
Shepard let out a hard laugh, letting old emotions riase to the surface for a few fractions of a second, before stilling her mind, trying to prevent the impact that the woman had on her in the past from overwhelming her there in the lake. "Her name was Lee Riley. I met her in the N program, when I was training for N7 status. After the first trial or two, we were the only girls left, and we started spending more time around each other. We'd eat lunch together, dinner too…we'd share tactics and jokes…and eventually we kind of started flirting. By N5, we were spending all our bunk time together, keeping each other company and…well, more, I guess." Shepard said pausing to collect her thoughts on how venomous she wanted to portray the woman. She…damn it, she's not worth the effort, not worth that kind of importance…
Noticing the asari nearby looking at her expectantly, she simply continued to spin the tale."I thought I was in love, but it turns out she was probably just using me to get N7 status. I was always kind of hauling her around, keeping her safe, spotting targets, that kind of stuff. Word of advice, don't bring her up with Heather." She added, drawing a quick nod from the asari. "Anyway, we finished the program, spent a day together before we were assigned elsewhere. We met up a little while later, and I was hoping to keep things going. I…well, I'd had this little physical hang-up and I had needed some time to get over it, and because I was so love drunk, I didn't see she was clearly manipulating me to get what she wanted from me, intimately. When I confronted her about it, she said some things and tossed me out and I was pretty messed up for about a year. I thought I knew her, I thought I understood her, but it was all a lie."
"Goddess…Shepard…I had no idea. She should not have behaved that way, she….it was cruel of her." Liara said, frowning, the intensity in her eyes growing as Shepard re-arranged her hair, some wet strands having fallen across her face. "Is that who you were talking to me about a while before Noveria?"
"Yeah, she was the one. It's kind of embarrassing how much of an impact she had on me…I've only ever been ashamed of my body for two relatively short periods of my life, but both were really hard. Even today, I'm pretty comfortable, but if someone looks at me the wrong way when I'm exposed, I can't help but feel a little…inferior, I guess. Even when I'm covered up…it's tough sometimes. She's kind of why I don't jump into relationships easily." Shepard said with as honest a smile as she could muster, though the regret over her own past unwillingness to open up because of Lee was still more than a little aggravating.
"Thank you for sharing that with me I…I was simply curious…your reaction today when you came home with Tali…you said that you were sorry…" Liara spoke, gathering her thoughts as she was speaking them, it seemed.
Shepard waded a little closer, getting within a foot or two. "I still feel guilty about that. It was just…it was so amazingly wonderful, but…" Shepard wished her voice hadn't trailed off, but she couldn't find the words to explain it. Not with Liara's space-magic eyes boring into her soul.
"But…" Liara said, clearly hoping she would elaborate. Shepard gulped back her worries and nerves and decided to air it out.
"Shiala shared a memory with me a while back…after you were shot on Binthu. It was her first time watching over you during Janiris…it was a really nice memory." She said, the imported memory still fresh in her mind. "I saw those decorations, and I couldn't help but think of the fact that you have centuries left to live. I was so happy to see all the effort and love you all put into the home, but…Liara, at the back of my mind I couldn't help but feel that I nearly stole numerous human lifetimes' worth of good memories from you and your mother. And that here I was, having an amazing one while the most important person in your life was missing out. That was hard."
Liara further closed the distance, resting both of her hands on Shepard's shoulders. "Shepard…you may have saved her. Even if she hadn't died, and had gotten away, she would have been lost. Tevos will ensure my mother will return…I will ensure it. We have this opportunity because of you." The asari said softly, her eyes uncomfortably piercing Shepard's, forcing her to look away.
"Look, I get that, but…if she doesn't make it…if she isn't cured…the last memory you'll have of her conscious is me beating it out of her, and that's horrible." Shepard reasoned, hoping Liara would understand. She knew they'd discussed it before, but it still ate at her.
"Shepard." She heard the asari speak, before repeating herself with a slightly firmer tone, drawing her attention back reluctantly. "Shepard. That may have been difficult to watch, but watching her die would be worse. We have hope now. She will return to us."
Liara let go of Shepard, wading effortlessly to circle her. "Do you know why Janiris is celebrated, Shepard?" Liara asked, running a hand through Shepard's curls as she passed. "It marks the start of a new year, of new life. You have given my mother this, I am not…cannot be upset with you over that. I am thankful to you, and if you need to hear it from my lips…I forgive you."
Shepard decided to rotate, keeping Liara in her sights as the asari gracefully glided through the water. "Thank you. I…I'm not sure it'll be that easy to get it all out of my mind, but it'll help." Shepard spoke shyly, feeling utterly comfortable talking to Liara, even if looking at her posed a significant distraction. "I just…I always try to focus on what I can do as long as I'm around. Seeing a challenge like solving indoctrination…that seems like it could take a while, is all, and I get to worrying."
Liara's pace slowed as her expression shifted to confusion. "You're leaving for somewhere?" the asari asked, picking up her pace again.
"I'm not going to live forever, Liara. I'm already a human, with low life expectancy. A third eezo exposure could kill me quickly. I could die on any mission in the foreseeable future, and perhaps even outside of that. I've already escaped death a lot in my life. It'll happen. I just want to do as much good as I can, while I can." She elaborated, drawing a frown from the asari. "Hey, look, I'd love to live a good long life. I want to enjoy life while it lasts, too…I just wish I knew I had more time, is all."
"Shepard, you are still young. In the context of either of our species, you are young. You have more time than you probably think you do, missions or not. There is still plenty left in life to experience, to enjoy." Liara spoke softly, though firmly enough to let Shepard know that such negativity wouldn't be tolerated. And for good reason…I mean…there are appropriate times to be negative….tonight is not one of them…
"I know, I just…this Saren thing has shown me there's still so much I want to experience, and now I'm actually worried about time and everything. It might be limited, if Saren does what he's planning." She noted, interrupting Liara as the asari opened her mouth. "But we'll stop him. We have to. I wouldn't be able to do it alone, Liara…I'm glad you're here with me."
Shepard expected a response of some sort. A smile, a nod, a sentence or two; anything to acknowledge her words. Liara instead just kept swimming, her eyes having moved their focus to the area of water between them. After at least a minute of simply waiting and watching Liara swim circles around her, Shepard waded to intercept, slowing Liara to a halt. "Liara, are you alright?" she asked, feeling a little worried. Normally the asari was quite responsive, not so distant.
"I…well, it is getting much colder out. Perhaps we should head inside." Liara noted, a hint of blush arriving in her cheeks.
She just nodded, hoping she hadn't overstepped some boundary or said something that made Liara uncomfortable. Shepard knew she had a tendency to freely talk about some rather negative things, she didn't quite like hiding it all away from those she trusted. She didn't ever want to be dishonest or hide her thoughts or feelings from the people she cared about, though she was feeling the urge at that moment.
Shepard made her way to the shoreline first, in time to gather the towel and hand it to Liara. She turned her back, quietly humming some tune that she couldn't recall the name of as her nerves took over. Liara is like…a foot away…is she looking at me? Is…is she not interested in me anymore? Was she at all? She mused, before internally correcting herself for such a terrible train of thought. Shush, Shepard just…see this through and try not to worry…it's been a good night…make sure it stays that way…
She soon felt the towel be lightly hung over her shoulder, perhaps a slight lingering finger of the asari trailing down her spine for a purposeful second, perhaps an accident. Deciding to take motivation where she could find it, Shepard silently dried herself off slowly, first bending over and drying her legs and feet, working her way up from there, not once peering behind at her guest. It was an odd feeling for her to mentally digest; for years, she had become insecure over her body once more, but she felt comfortable around Liara. She'd noticed her staring at her during the sparring session, after stepping out of the shower that one night, and on a few other occasions since. The confidence she drew from the asari's behaviour just made her more accepting of her body, flaws and all, and she didn't mind putting on a small show for her in thanks. Although she put her clothes back on regular speed, because she didn't really see much appeal in slowing that down.
When she turned around with her best innocent smile, she swore Liara's face had never been more purple, though the asari was turned away at the time, breathing perhaps a little heavier as Shepard led the way back. At times, she could have sworn that Liara was directly behind her, feeling a sort of warmth against her exposed shoulders, but when they reached the kitchen doors, the doctor was a few paces back, politely nodding her thanks as Shepard held the door for her.
"So, heading to bed now?" she asked Liara, who yawned as she stopped by the island. Please no, please no, please no…
"I…am still quite awake. I will likely still be for some time, I suppose. I had been hoping that a late night walk would allow me the opportunity." Liara explained, sitting down at the small piece of counter space.
Shepard smiled and gave a quiet laugh. "Yeah, that swim was supposed to do the same for me. Seems like it's one of those nights." She noted quietly. "Just gonna toss these in the hamper, I'll be right back."
She tip-toed her way through the dining room and foyer to the storage room, quickly disposing the towel and her old clothes into the laundry hamper, grabbing a blanket as she headed back. She returned to the dimly lit kitchen, silently offering Liara the blanket, which was accepted with a smile, before moving over toward the fridge. Her hands found the container she was looking for, and quickly found a pot to empty the contents into. Shepard lastly activated the burner and turned back toward Liara, who was looking at her with an amused smile.
"What are you busying yourself with at this time of night, exactly?" Liara asked curiously, trying to peer over Shepard's shoulder.
"At this time of night, in these temperatures, there's only one thing I can put on the stove to busy myself with. Hot chocolate." Shepard noted cheerfully, seeing the asari's eyes brighten.
"Chocolate?" Liara asked, wide eyed, frozen in place at the table.
"Yep. A nice little mixture of milk, cocoa, a bit of both dark and milk chocolate, and with a bit of cinnamon. And perhaps if you're lucky, I'll add marshmallows. Wish it was fresh, but it would take longer and it's cool in here." Shepard explained, a smile widening on Liara's face.
"That sounds wonderful." The asari said, clutching the blanket tighter around her shoulders.
Shepard looked from the stove to the island and the vacant seat across from her person of interest. Patience, it'll be ready soon enough… she thought, gently tugging her tank top down that had somehow rode upward slightly. "It'll at least help us warm up." She spoke, drawing a thankful nod from the asari. Truth be told, she was hoping for the distant possibility that Liara would bring up another way to keep warm. Shepard had never felt too comfortable bringing up the subject, having generally only been rejected in her past. She knew that Liara had some interest in her, but didn't want to approach that in a way which put the asari off or jeopardize that interest.
"Shepard, may I ask you a question?" Liara asked, drawing an immediate nod from Shepard. Liara swallowed hard and took a moderately deep breath before continuing, the asari's nervousness quickly rubbing off on her. "I'm curious…human relationships are more monogamous and strictly committed, and generally where…well, sensual touching only tends to happen between such intimate partners. I know you may have been nervous around the consort, but you didn't turn away her touch."
Shepard glanced back at the stove's timer, knowing she'd eventually have to keep an eye on the liquid magic that was heating up. Shepard let out a sigh and shrugged, unsure exactly if she could provide a reasonable answer. "I didn't turn her away, no. There were times where I wanted to, but just couldn't find it in myself to do so. I've had weak moments, and some were tied to how I was treated by Lee. I know you asari live for centuries, but for humans, a few years can be considered a long time to go without intimacy in any form. I had gone a long time without anything sincere. I was weak, but it didn't mean I had any feelings for the consort, and she certainly didn't have any for me. I just needed guidance, and she gave me it, even if its vessel was a bit…confusing and hard to understand at first." She rambled, stirring the mixture, smiling at the delicious aroma that wafted through her nose. Deciding it was done, she took it off the heat and poured two large mugs with it, plopping in a few marshmallows for good taste.
Liara's attention shifted a little from her to the wonderfully aromatic beverage she carried over to the table. "Thank you, this smells delicious." Liara noted with a smile of her own as she accepted a mug, a wordless hum of satisfaction emanating from her as she sipped the hot chocolate.
"You and Sha'ira really helped me though all of that. I needed that, I never wanted to treat a friend, or to see a friend in such a shallow way just because I, for some stupid reason, linked that asari myth and Sha'ira's touch to the thought that all asari could and would do that… which pretty much conflicted with my own little personal hang-ups, and I got pretty skittish. You deserved better than that, you deserved to be known for who you are, and I just…I don't know. I'm just really happy it all turned out." She finished, taking a sip of the hot, velvety smooth drink, letting the marshmallow be caught by her tongue as a bit of delicious debris, before swallowing it too. As she returned her cup to the table, Liara's hand stretched out, her fingertips gently making contact with Shepard's, still clinging to the cup.
"I am sorry for all of these intrusive questions. I…fear at times that I get nervous and return to what Heather has called 'scientist mode'. I apologize." Liara spoke, looking a little remorseful, her head lowering slightly.
"It's alright, Liara, I trust you. You can ask me anything." She spoke softly, smiling warmly as she gazed into those brilliant blue eyes, hoping to reassure her.
Liara instead turned her gaze away to the nearby window, looking out at Melody's tree for a number of minutes, each passing silently. Shepard found herself nervously sipping away at her hot chocolate, even the warm tinge of cinnamon unable to soothe her growing anxiety. She wasn't quite sure what questions were popping up in Liara's mind, and she could only hope it would be one she could answer. After another minute of silence, Shepard got up again to pour herself another refill of hot chocolate, and heard the asari stumble off her own stool shortly after. She froze in place, turning her head to look at the blushing, clearly anxious asari. Shepard wasn't sure she'd ever seen eyes so blue as in that moment, and nearly dropped her mug, all of her attention on the asari before her.
"I…I know it has been sudden, only a few months, but in the past weeks…I have sensed us growing closer. And this vacation away from the madness has only reinforced what I feel…Goddess, you once told me that I was only here to help free my mother, and that I would be gone afterward." Liara started, her voice shaking. Shepard went to speak, but the asari held up a hand, offering a kind smile that quickly shut her up. "I may have felt that at the start, but not when you said it then, and I know you didn't mean it then either. I just didn't know how to put it into words. When I argued with you that night, I had been so worried for your health. Not because you were leading the mission, not just because I couldn't find my mother without you, not because you had prothean memories in your brain…but because you were you, and that was important enough to put all my other worries aside."
Liara took a few slow, trembling steps forward, Shepard turning to meet her. She wasn't sure when she had put the mug on the kitchen counter, but her hands were free, able to lightly grasp Liara's own, intercepting them as she went to speak again.
"Shepard…I feel a connection between us. Do…do you?" Liara asked shyly, her anxiety billowing out across her facial expression as her final words came out.
Shepard couldn't help but take a moment to bask in the moment of confirmation. She wanted to speak to the fact that as a commander, her duty was to be this template of a resolute, certain woman who leads all of her crew equally, friend or stranger. That she had to be a brave, moral figure for others to follow and that she strives to be that, in a way, because making a difference in the galaxy mattered to her. She wanted to bring up her woeful inexperience in relationships, how clumsy she knew herself to be in regards to intimacy, and how consistently uncertain she felt in such situations. Mostly, she wanted to say how drawn to Liara that she'd been in past weeks, that the asari had brought up a plethora of new thoughts she'd had difficulty wrapping her mind around, and how she'd need Liara's help with that.
But she saw Liara growing considerably more anxious and uncertain, and knew that she had to do or say something soon, or she could end up tormenting the lovely asari in front of her. It didn't take long for her to realize that merely kissing Liara's hand wasn't enough; quickly, she let go of those soft blue hands, her own cupping Liara's blushing purple cheeks softly, her fingers lightly grasping the folds at the back of her neck.
The asari's unsteady breath washed hotly against her face as they both drew near, Liara's arms wrapping themselves around Shepard's waist and holding both of their bodies snugly against each other. Liara leaned in first, Shepard gladly matching her approach, their lips nervously glancing, the touch enough to elicit a slight gasp from her throat. Her half-lidded eyes caught sight of Liara's lips curling up slightly before their lips met each other gently, the kiss soft and tender as she had dreamed it would be. As she reluctantly pulled back, she couldn't help but smile, feeling as if the blood flowing through her body were made of a physical manifestation of excitement. "Yes." Shepard whispered, lovingly stroking Liara's cheek before backing away until her spine touched her counter, Liara slowly walking after her.
"Pardon my potential narcissism, though, but what the heck is a gorgeous, noble asari like yourself doing coming after a poor, worn out orphan like me?" she asked, blindly grabbing a refill and taking a sip.
"Am I chasing you still? Do I not have you tangled in my web by now?" Liara asked playfully, moving within a foot of Shepard, the look in her eyes a little too intense for her to look away from.
"Liara…spiders and intimacy…not the best pairing." She noted with amusement, taking another sip, too elated from the kiss to really think or focus too hard on anything.
Liara seemed to shift gears a little, turning down the sauciness, though her eyes remained just as intense as she took another step forward. "It is clear as day you are not a human noble…but you have a noble heart that you allow to shine brightly through."
"Flatterer. Is that how you wooed all of the other maidens back in University?" Shepard asked a little playfully, Liara immediately growing flustered at the assertion, confusedly blurting out random syllables as words failed her. "You say these sweet words and work your way into their heart?" she added, hoping to steady the asari's mind, thinking that perhaps what she said was taken the wrong way initially.
"Shepard, I…Goddess, I was not exactly the most popular person in University, and I certainly kept to myself more often than not. I could hardly imagine developing anything with most of them. I meant what I said Shepard." Liara noted exasperatedly, appearing a little lost. Feeling she may have made light of the asari's words, she held out her hand. Liara didn't delay in taking the offer, allowing Shepard to pull the hand to her lips, kissing her knuckles.
"I know Liara. You've been honest with me, patient with me, even when you had no reason to. You've been there for me, and I spent weeks trying to foolishly pretend that my heart didn't beat faster when you were around, that I didn't melt at your words, that I wasn't in awe of your intelligence, that I didn't go weak in the knees from your touch. That I didn't find happiness and strength just by looking into your eyes." Shepard said reverently, kissing Liara's hand once more before letting it go. "I don't know how this will work out, but I want it to. I want to be with you, Liara T'Soni."
Deciding she had entirely exhausted her ability to use words, and was still too hazy to do much else but show affection, she closed the distance, turning Liara's head with a hand and giving her a soft peck on the cheek. I can get used to this… she thought cheerfully, moving past the asari to the table to grab Liara's surprisingly empty mug, before moving over to the kitchen sink.
Shepard turned on the water, filling the sink partway so as to wash the dishes, but also to see if Liara was true to her choice of words. 'Chase' seemed like a fairly literal word to Shepard, and now with formalities out of the way, she wondered if the asari would indeed act on such aggressive words. To add a little spice to the game, she tossed her hair up in a messy bun, showing off her neck a little, while visually committing to the task before her. She knew there were better, more efficient ways to clean the dishes, but she felt this would add a little fun and play on Liara's patience a little. As she added soap, Shepard sneaked a peek over her shoulder, Liara a few paces away, blatantly staring at her with more than a little bit of intense longing. She quickly turned her focus back to the dishes and smiled to herself, wondering when Liara would take her bait.
After probably a minute of scrubbing, Shepard's hand reached for a plate, not quite crossing the distance before she felt her bun be unceremoniously untied, her hair tumbling down loosely, blocking most of her peripherals. Shepard spotted Liara's hands lower on either side of her, pressing hard against the counter in front of her, the asari's breath hot against her neck. I suppose I'm trapped in… she mused, her smile growing as she pondered over her situation. Let's see where this goes…
Shepard's hands went to work, scrubbing the dish clean and rinsing it. As she released the plate onto the rack, Liara's hand swiftly caught her wrist; the asari's other grabbing the remaining free hand as well, before wrapping both sets of arms in front of Shepard's waist. Liara slowly increased the pressure, pulling Shepard's body closer against her, the heat radiating from the asari a pleasant and comforting sensation.
She felt her hair part near her right ear, Liara's breath hot against her cheek as the asari leaned in. Shepard could tell her lips were mere millimeters from her ear, and had to stifle a request for Liara to do terribly wonderful things to it, biting down hard on her lip to maintain her focus.
"I have been waiting to make up for my mistake, that night when you showed me Torfan." Liara whispered, her words turning Shepard's legs to rubber, though Liara immediately compensated, holding her in place. "I was a fool then, and…and you have earned the right to a request." The asari finished, stumbling slightly, but her delivery made Shepard feel that she was being lured by a succubus. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, like a trapped animal trying to escape by ramming itself against the walls of its cage. Her breaths shuddered out unsteadily, gasping as Liara's hips pressed against her own.
"You can ask me anything, Shepard." Liara purred, planting a kiss over her sensitive scar, sending a jolt of pleasure rushing through her body. "Anything." The asari reiterated, feverishly nipping at Shepard's neck before she could recover. All that she could manage was a breathy moan of sheer pleasure, her entire body feeling like an erogenous zone as Liara continued kissing and nipping away.
She felt another moan slip out, alongside a devious giggle from her captor. "Shepard, that wasn't a word. You must concentrate." Liara whispered, letting go of Shepard's arms, which simply flopped to her side, as blue hands sought out more interesting targets, one finding a hunting ground under the tank top, slowly creeping upward.
Shepard knew she wanted her more than anything. Her body felt like it was on fire, and she wasn't sure that she could wait much longer before she'd yell out for Liara to just take her then and there.
"God, Liara, I want you…" she spoke, receiving a hum of amusement from the asari, who turned Shepard's face a little in order to kiss the corner of her lips, once again reducing Shepard to a shuddering mess. She fought her body to stay upright, flipping around to face Liara, only for the asari to lift Shepard onto the countertop and bury her face into the commander's neck, her skillful blue hands exploring the small of her back. That Liara didn't hesitate, didn't flinch as her fingers and palms weaved their magic across her network of scars, only made Shepard want her more.
Shepard's hands found themselves playing with the folds on Liara's neck, apparently sensitive from the muffled moans voiced against her neck and collarbone. As she felt Liara's head slowly venture south, she heard a door shut off in the distance. She wasn't sure which door, or who was around, but she quickly moved her hands and held Liara's head still, panting out what she hoped sounded like a 'shush'.
Both remained still and silent as footsteps became audible, someone moving near the foyer, before another door shut, presumably the washroom. Liara slowly, reluctantly put distance between them as Shepard sat there breathing heavily and doing her best not to make any noise, her heart still racing, her body still yearning for contact. Christ, I can only imagine how red and purple my neck's going to be tomorrow… she thought, biting her lip lightly as a smile curled at her lips, earning an amused expression from the asari.
After two sets of doors shut again, and the footsteps were gone, Shepard let out a light laugh. "And that, Liara, was what I was trying to tell you while you were busy dining out on my neck." Shepard said quietly, a giddy smile still present on her face.
"Then why did you…oh." Liara started, flustered at first before realizing Shepard was just joking. "I suppose it would have been poor form if someone came into the kitchen for a late night snack."
"I'd have to turn them away, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have any neck left if anyone else joined in. Not that you'd let them, of course." She noted playfully, Liara rolling her eyes at the mere notion.
"But Shepard…" Liara started, blushing furiously. "You…did like that right? I mean…I…I noticed that you seemed to enjoy that sort of tone during our time in Port Hanshan, and…well, the resources Heather gave me weeks ago helped me understand, but I was unsure, and…"
Shepard hopped off the counter, slinking over to Liara, wrapping her arms around the asari's neck and pulling her into a tender kiss, hoping her answer would be as clear as the emotions coursing through her body. Liara had made her experience something she never had, each heartbeat pumping more excitement, more passion, more of that scary four letter word she'd long since written off as a possibility. It had been a while since she'd come to terms with how hard she had fallen for the prothean expert, but now that she was free to fully live that reality, to have it reciprocated and be able to be affectionate, she wasn't sure what would come next. She just wanted terribly to reassure Liara, to show that she wasn't about to take her for granted. As their lips hesitantly parted, Shepard leaned her forehead against Liara's, opening her eyes to find those wonderful blue orbs looking back at her. "You have nothing to worry about. I…kinda really like it." Shepard said, chewing her lip nervously. "But I suppose there's a time and place for that around here, and…while you are so incredibly good at it…maybe it's not the best foot to start our relationship off on. You're so much more than just that role to me…you, Doctor Liara T'Soni, archaeologist with a specialization in prothean architecture, lover of chocolate and overworking her curious mind…you are all I desire."
Liara's cheeks blushed bright purple as she gave a shy smile; it was obvious that she had put a lot of thought into the gesture, and Shepard didn't want her feeling unappreciated. She angled her head up slightly and kissed the asari on the tip of her nose, and then her cheek, before separating.
"I'm just glad I could concentrate through it. I think Tali would probably have heard us if we got any louder, same with potentially any of the under-agers." Shepard added with a smile, glancing over her shoulder toward the dining room and foyer.
"I…am not certain I understand the importance of age in this…and Tali is not a light sleeper, from what I understand." Liara retorted, seemingly uncertain about Shepard's point in saying what she did.
"Well, humans can be modest, like you said, and I'd rather avoid an awkward situation with Ash's family if I can. And Tali…I just see her as a little sister, and that makes me kind of flinch when thinking about exposing her to this kind of stuff…even if she most likely has already." She elaborated, noticing a look of relief on Liara's face.
Liara let out a small laugh, turning away for a moment to collect herself. "I once thought that you were…interested in Tali. Even up until just recently…I cannot deny I was envious of her when she broke into your room on the transport here." The asari said with some amusement, her past worries clearly dissipated.
"I thought you were interested in Tali and Kaidan as well, for a while, but patterns started to click in place, and both Heather and Faridah pushed me back toward you when I was really confused after that whole Torfan deal." Shepard added, drawing a wide-eyed look of surprise from Liara.
"Whatever had you thinking I was attracted to Kaidan and Tali?" she asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest as her brow furrowed in confusion. "I…cannot think of any time where I have acted intimately around them in any way."
Shepard blushed, realizing that sometimes words really were able to be taken at face value, her previous reason for avoidance shattered. "You said something once that brought me to think that, I guess. I think it was the day you asked about my cinnamon bun aroma." She noted, looking over to her oven, wondering if she should make a batch to take back to the ship.
"Oh! Hrm. I was rather…distracted that day. Between smelling you and…well…staring at you…I can hardly recall anything all that important." Liara spoke, prompting Shepard's cheeks to grow red once more from blushing, her eyes darting off to the side. She'd had no idea that Liara had been interested as far back as then, and while it was flattering, she also recalled what little clothing she was wearing for the most of their talk.
Shepard immediately found her body stiffening as a hand firmly gripped her bum, her eyes finding an amused looking asari culprit nearby. "Can you blame me, when you practically paraded your hair fur and your premium assets in my quarters in front of me?" Liara asked, Shepard laughing at the pun at first, before falling silent, seeing the growing frustration in the asari's eyes.
"I suppose not." She whispered cheekily, running her hand down the sensitive folds of Liara's neck, preempting a more urgent kiss as her lips collided with a very willing blue pair. Shepard felt one of Liara's hands clench her bum harder as the other reached up and grasped at her back, pulling her closer, as if her body could devour her with compression alone. She knew they couldn't get too out of control, but she held on for as long as she could as their bodies entangled up against the countertop. Deciding to try a trick she'd been practicing after meditations to increase her focus, she lightly flared her biotics around her fingers, tenderly massaging her hand within the folds, drawing a pleasurable moan from Liara as they kissed. The asari quickly separated, both greedily breathing in air.
"Shepard…" Liara spoke breathlessly, before she could press a finger to the asari's mouth.
"Amber." She whispered in response, smiling brightly at Liara, once again wrapping her arms around the asari's neck. "Call me Amber, please."
Liara's eyes widened slightly before being overtaken by mirth, the asari nuzzling against Shepard's cheek in acknowledgement, yawning out a breath soon after. "Mmmm, we should probably start preparing for bed." Liara spoke sounding tired for the first time all night. Shepard nodded, starting to feel the familiar pull of slumber at her mind's periphery.
Quietly, they made their way to the washroom, only caring enough to do the most basic cleaning rituals before heading off to the dark living room. Without a word, Shepard noticed Liara move away from the couch she'd been offered earlier in the day, instead taking residence in the comfy reclining chair near the fireplace.
Seeing she wanted some space to herself, Shepard grabbed the blanket from the couch and went over to Liara, carefully covering the asari. As she went to try and tuck the blanket in somewhat at the sides, she felt Liara's hand gently grasp her forearm. Her attention moved promptly to the asari maiden, who had entirely unfair, manipulative space-magic eyes, as far as she was concerned.
"Amber… I would prefer company, but…I would understand if it is too much, too soon for you." Liara whispered shyly, curling up by one of the armrests, leaving a small opening. A nice little Shepard sized nook, if I say so myself…
Shepard merely smiled, and climbed in, covering them both with the blanket before wrapping her arms around Liara's waist, holding her tightly as the archaeologist snuggled in closer. Between the warmth of Liara and the sheer comfort of knowing the asari was near, she quickly fell into the realm of slumber, not a care in the world left on her conscience.
A/N:
:O
Welp, I couldn't leave you all hanging for much longer, realistically. :P I'm kind of sad that the awkward courting period is over, but it had to happen eventually. I remember when I wrote a number of outlines for that last scene, I had WANTED to make something so incredibly romantic and touching and everything…but I kept floating back to this. Because really…neither of them are entirely suave, even if they have their moments, and an extended super romantic bit just didn't feel right for them. Certainly not enough mindless ranting and rambling and indecision. :P Though at least there was a steady helping of affection. :3
If I have things planned out properly, there will be probably one other big chapter of fluff (or two if it gets a little too long) before they head back to the Normandy and get back on track with the main canon plot. It'll be sad when the fluff ends, but hey, it's been a nice detour, no? Haven't started on the next one yet, school's been keeping me busy, but I'll find time soon enough.
Anywho, I want to thank everyone for being so awesome this month, I've been super busy and trying me best to get all this out on time, and you all have been endlessly patient and incredible. So thanks go out to every reader, reviewer, follower, etc. because you make this whole process more enjoyable than I initially thought back when I first started :)
So thank you all again, and I hope you're having a great weekend! I know I'll be spending all Sunday running a Game of Thrones Season 2 marathon, before the S3 premiere, so I hope you'll be having as much as I'll be :D
Have a good one!