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CHAPTER 5
12-9-2183
[ PYLOS NEBULA | ILLIKAH SYSTEM | ULLIPSES | SSV NORMANDY SR1 ]
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Just under the tip of the Normandy's nose was a small crevice for a little hidey-hole big enough to berth three people to keep watch of the Normandy's northern perimeter. And right now, Tali and Garrus were taking their turn sitting watch.
Well… Tali was on watch.
The turian was busily snoring away from not sleeping the night before.
And since she hadn't had anything else to think about, she thought about the fever she had.
It was bad. But nowhere near as bad as she thought it would've been though. But the pressure behind her eye sockets and nose was starting to get the better of her. Add that cough and the bouts of sneezing to make everything worse, and it was a cultured party of bacteria.
Admittedly though, she could hardly complain.
What'd happened last night, sharing a special moment with John and falling asleep together like that...
Was everything she'd ever dreamed of.
Almost everything, actually.
The only thing she hadn't done was kiss him.
Damn.
Part of her (A fraction of a very, very, tiny, small part of her brain) was worried over why she wasn't worried about the potential consequences of mashing her lips against his.
Would she get sick? (As in really, really sick?)
Or not?
It's not like she had a professional to consult to (Chakwas didn't count). Even if she did, could they provide her with an answer adequate enough?
Would she even want to see a doctor for that kind of stuff?
Tali closed her eyes and leaned her head back.
These questions had been plaguing her mind a lot lately. And they weren't exactly helping her fantasies and romanticism with John.
Garrus, who'd been napping across from her, snorted obnoxiously and woke himself up.
"Hey Garrus." She greeted.
"Tali." He said tersely without opening his eyes.
She supposed it was probably because of her overwhelming love for him.
She was in love with John. She played with the sand in her hands and sighed.
Garrus peeped one eye open to look out of his nesting perch. "How long was I asleep?"
"Two hours." Tali replied without ever looking at him.
Garrus nodded and downed half of what remained in his canteen. "Anything I miss?"
"Shepard was here earlier; Left about half an hour ago to run a patrol."
She tossed him a permanent marker that'd been lying on a box next to her.
"What's this for?" Garrus asked as he knelt over to pick it up.
"When you were snoring, I had to convince John not to write on your face."
He looked past the marker in his hand to her.
"...What."
"I told him not—"
"No. I heard you… what convinced you stop him?" He felt for the sides of his mandibles to make sure she wasn't lying.
"You're pretty ugly Garrus. And John was inclined to agree with me. Thought he could make you a little more pretty."
He scoffed rudely at her before shaking his head and laughing. "Why's it then the ladies are always hitting on me and never him?"
She could hardly spare the effort to roll her eyes.
"How long till he comes back?"
"Soon, I think." Tali said.
"That's good."
"Yup."
They both watch the distant hills for a lengthy minute and Garrus shook his head.
"I know what you're thinking."
"What am I thinking about?"
"About how deep we're in this time." He murmured.
"We're in pretty deep, yeah." She agreed with a crass-sounding mumble.
"You don't sound too good. You okay?"
"I'm, uh... I'm sick."
"Really? When that happen?" His stare got a little narrow. "You get a suit breach?"
"You could... say that."
Garrus bristled. "Oh, man. So the rumors were true."
Tali reared her head at Garrus, the sand in her hands completely forgotten. "What rumors?" She spat acridly.
Unfazed by the sudden change in tone, he threw the pen back at her before setting his rifle aside and pointing at her.
"You didn't just sleep in Shepard's cabin last night."
Her jaw wanted to fall off her face. Eyes as big as the sun, she sucked in a breath. "That's not true."
Conveniently deaf, he felt for his fringe and looked off to the hills, "Damn."
"Garrus."
"Spirits, it's finally over. The worst hopeless romantics on the ship finally broke their dry spell."
The stare he received was nigh unreadable.
"This conversation is over," Tali said flatly.
"Aw, come on. Spill some tea."
"No."
"Please?"
"You said you knew what I was thinking?" She said with a little more force than necessary as a segway out of this pit, "And about how deep we were?"
He finally relented. "Right. Two things. Our provisions are low. Dextro no less." He shrugged, "—and I can't get the collectors out of my head. We're nothing but sitting cucks."
"Sitting ducks." She corrected, "Fat white bird. I think. Goes quack. I have no idea what a cuck is."
"You get what I meant. But I can't help but think—" What were flared mandibles suddenly cinched around his face. "...you know what? Never mind. Forget I mentioned anything."
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"I hate it when people tell me to 'forget they mentioned something', when they were just about ready to mention something." She said pointedly.
"Look, it's just an observation. I'd love to be wrong here, but I wanted to say that—" There was another brief pause from him, "...I'm not really seeing a way out of this."
She was quiet when she placed the marker back where it was.
"Have a little faith."
"Never pegged you for the religious type."
"I'm not. Just have faith the Alliance will find us soon."
"Yeah. You're right. I should."
There was a moment of silence and he eventually sighed, sensing the conversation was coming to a close. "Go ahead and rest. I'm sure last night with Johnny has you exhausted."
Her lips peeled into a frown and her eyes went into a vengeful glare. "You are just unbelievable."
"Ah, Tali. Just tickling your balls. Take a nap. And I'll let Shepard wake you up."
"Tickling my balls?"
"You sure tickled his."
She wanted to throttle his neck.
"Garrus. Look at me."
He looked at her. She prepped herself to use a word she never used.
"We didn't fuck."
He wasn't convinced.
"Okay." He said, tone never betraying his lack of conviction.
In a grumbled heap, she lay on her mat, curled up into her ball, and rolled her eyes. "Wake me. If you need me."
"Sleep well, Tali."
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11/27/2183
[ SERPENT NEBULA | CITADEL | BACHJRET WARD ]
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A giant gut wrenching belch of humid air exploded from the lizard's open mouth.
Anyone standing within the blast radius had shut their mouths, while their eyes, wide and unblinking, stared blankly at the krogan.
"Ha, HA!" Wrex boasted triumphantly as he held his bucket mug high into the air.
John's eyes squeezed shut when he felt the humid shockwave swallow him and several others whole. "Holy hell, I felt that from here. Why?"
"I'm asserting my dominance." He said as he leaned in close to the commander to smile. John's smile waned as he leaned slightly away from the sight of food stuck between his teeth.
"Uh, yeah." John mumbled, "Right."
"Holy—I can smell that from here." Joker gasped, teary eyed with his hand plugging his nose shut as he walked away from the buffet.
Everyone might have clapped and laughed, but the Normandy's de-humidifiers were not impressed.
"U call tht gud?" Garrus slurred by pointing his beer at the krogan, "Watch dis."
Garrus tried to burp but looked more like he was about ready to heave his dinner. Anybody sitting near him stared worriedly at the turian before telling him to calm down and relax before doing something he'd regret.
Marcus pat the turian's back roughly. "Garrus. Calm down, bro. No reason for you to turn-up any more than you already have."
"ugnh."
Marcus fixed the cockle hat tied around Garrus' chin before looking at his beer. "You should stop drinking."
"No." The turian said as he resisted Marcus' attempts to fix his hat before reaching for a cookie and crumbling most of it in his hands.
"Can't eat that Garrus. Those are human cookies." Tali said aloud as she shook her head, "Not those either. That's cheese for humans."
Garrus gave Tali a twitching glare.
It was amusing, honestly, watching him like that.
But it wouldn't be when he'd be throwing up everything, save his brains, over the toilet (or anything but).
Ordinarily, getting as lost as Garrus was on the Normandy was prohibited.
But it was Thanksgiving Day for the humans. So John gave the crew six days of shore-leave to celebrate their victory of stopping the Reapers and time for some of the crew to see their families living on the Citadel. And two members, from a drawing pot earlier that day, had the lucky draw to get leave for a whole month. Both of them would be leaving for Earth that day.
It was the least Shepard could do for all the hard work the Normandy's crew had done.
John sat down by Tali and took a swig of whatever was left of his second beer. "He's a blast to be around when he's drunk, isn't he?" John said with a smile as Garrus tried (Tali stressed that word) stuffing his face full of human finger foods.
"He's kind of an asshole, actually." Tali retorted, "I mean, look at him."
Before Garrus brought whatever he had in his hand to his open mouth, Marcus snatched it away.
Garrus didn't even have the capacity to look disappointed.
"Yeah…" John panned slowly as he watched the turian mumble small insanities to himself.
Liara came by, nibbled on a piece of her cookie, and sat down next to Garrus before shaking her head at the drunken sot.
"One too many drinks, Garrus. You've really done it this time."
"Tell it to him, Liara." John praised, "But I'm thinking we should probably get him to lay down."
"That would probably be a good idea." Liara nodded as she started coaxing Garrus to stand up.
Tali couldn't help but stare on at the pathetic fool.
When Liara caught John standing up to help her, she rose her hands to stall him. "No it's okay, I'll handle it myself."
"You sure?" John asked, "Tali and I can help."
"Yes."
"Okay," John said with a shrug before sitting back down next to Tali and eating a cheese square, "He's all yours."
Propping up Garrus with an arm, she waved the two of them goodbye and left to go put him to bed.
When they were well out of sight, John watched his crew drink and eat with a crinkle nosed grin before turning his head to look at Tali.
"Hey Tali." John said with a tight smile as he uncapped a beer. He rose his bottle to clink with her can of dextro-ginger ale.
"Hey John." Tali laughed happily.
"How you doing?"
"Good." She said with a bright smile, "Best I've ever been."
"Like the festivities?"
"Is that even a question?" Tali asked with a feigned look of surprise, "Of course!"
"Yeah I know." He said after he took a sip of some beer, "Just making sure."
"Oh." Tali almost forgot, "Thank you lots for the food."
"Tell me the dextro-turkey was okay."
"Well…" Tali started factually, "I've never had turkey before. So I can't be a critic. But it tasted fine."
"That's a relief to hear. It's not like I could taste it for you to make sure."
Tali giggled and sipped on her drink, "No, it was fine. But I really liked the yams. Oh Keelah. Delicious."
John's pursed his lips together. "You know, it's amazing they have dextro everything now. Dextro Turkey, Dextro Yams, Dextro Cranberry sauce. Found it all at the turian grocery store across the street from Launkuu's ship supply."
Tali nodded happily. "Isn't it? I'm not complaining. How is Launkuu's? I haven't been there in a while to grab anything."
"Surprisingly well… though, uh, some of the stores right by it don't exist anymore... You know. Pieces of Sovereign still laying around some places."
"Lucky for Launkuu's I suppose. Less competition?"
John shrugged. "That's a good way to look at it I guess."
"How was the meeting with the Council today?"
"Easy." John said simply, "They've been amazingly pleasant to talk to lately… no doubt from, you know, saving their lives."
Tali snorted. "They feel indebted, John. Of course they're going to idolize you."
"It'll fade given time." John said between a swig of beer.
"Bask in it while you can then." She said before nudging him lightly on the shoulder with hers, "Because you'll miss it when it's gone."
Her stomach grumbled suddenly. Looking down at the offending sound, she rubbed her stomach and grimaced slightly.
As much as she enjoyed the wide variety of appetizers John had brought her for the party… she was still hungry.
She skipped breakfast for this. And a little sampler pack wasn't going to cut it.
"Hey, John…? Hate to say it, but I'm still kinda hungry."
John's eyes lit up. "Great." He said, "Come on. Follow me."
"What? Why?" Tali asked confusingly as they both stand up from the table.
"You'll see." He said as they headed to the elevator.
"Where you goin' commander?" A crew member yelled out.
"Yeah, where you headed to?" Ashley quipped.
"I'll be right back guys, I'm just showing Tali something."
"Ooooh." Ashley shot them both a kinky-looking wink and clicked her tongue.
Tali did her best to ignore Ashley.
"Get outta here, Ash." John breathed as they both entered the elevator.
"So, uh… where are you taking me?"
"It's Thanksgiving, Tals," John explained as the elevator descended, "Think I'm just going to let you get away with eating some sampling appetizer?"
She pat her grumbling belly and gave it a concerned look. "No…? I guess not?"
When the elevator doors opened, John crossed his arms smugly. "Why don't you go to your room?"
Tali took one step out and looked back to him.
"Not coming with to show me?"
"Well, I would, but I promised Callaghan and Geyer I'd say goodbye before they go home to earth to see their families."
"Oh."
"Don't worry, I'll be back later." He reassured with a toothy grin, "Just tell me when you're done."
"Okay." She said before nodding and walking to her room.
Before John pressed the button to bring him up a floor, he called out to her.
"Hey."
She turned back around to face him.
"…Happy Thanksgiving."
She beamed brightly at him. "Happy Thanksgiving, John."
And with that he closed the elevator door and ascended back up to the crew deck.
So what exactly did John bring down here for her? With little less than a shrug, she came up to her door and came across a post-it scribbled in…
Khelish.
...Huh.
She let the adhesive stick to the end of her finger, peered closer, and read.
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𝘏𝘪.
𝘚𝘰. 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦. 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.
𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘳, 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭. 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴.
𝘌𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺, 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘪.
𝘗.𝘚. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘶𝘶'𝘴 (𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦). 𝘈𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘩, 𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘱 𝘴'𝘩𝘫𝘰𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘪 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴.
𝘚𝘰 𝘐 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺, 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩. 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘪. 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦'𝘴 𝘎𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘬'𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘺𝘴𝘶. 𝘖𝘯 𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬.
𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺, 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯.
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Tali's cheeky grin couldn't have gotten any wider.
God, she loved him.
She folded the sticky note carefully into a square before sliding it into a pocket to keep for later.
Just as the note had mentioned, there, in the microbial suite, was a cart filled with a small tray of goodies that made her stomach grumble with glee.
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Hour and a half later.
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"Hey." John greeted quietly with a slight frown as he entered the infirmary, "How's he doing?"
Tali glanced behind her to see him walking up to her before speaking. "He'll be fine… Won't remember a thing…" She said through a sigh before staring at the turian, "A lot of dry heaving though."
On cue, the turian wheezed and coughed before heaving wet gurgles of spit and alcohol.
John felt his own stomach tighten.
Well that certainly wasn't nauseating to listen to.
"Who brought him in here? Was his bed not cutting out for him anymore?" John said to drown out the bubbling noise coming from Garrus' throat.
"Apparently not. Liara and a nurse carried him in." Tali sighed, "Nurse is washing her scrubs right now and my other Realk."
"Whoah, wait. He puked on you?"
Tali rubbed her arm awkwardly. "Well, no. I slipped in it and I, uh... Yeah."
He gave Tali a sorry look. "Damn… Why were you even near him?"
"Well I was on my way to get my laptop. Caught him wandering around looking for the bathroom. Thing is, the poor idiot passed by it already because there was his puke right around the corner. And I slipped in it."
"Wow. That's absolutely traumatizing."
"Ah, it wasn't that bad. I caught my fall mostly. Got on my boots and leg more than anything else."
"Well shit. Where's Liara?"
"She's with the nurse helping her. They're in the laundry room."
"Ah." He nodded as they both turned back to face Garrus.
"Yup." She mumbled as she shook her head at the sobering turian.
John crossed his arms and took a step away from Garrus. "You enjoy your surprise?"
Tali's eyes sparkled. "Yes. Keelah, John. It was absolutely wonderful. And it means a lot that you did that for me. I don't think saying thank you is really enough."
"Oh Tali. Ever the lady. You're welcome though." He said with a lopsided grin.
"So…" Tali began as she wrung her hands together in that overly cute kind of way, "The rest of the crew left to party… Wanna—I don't know… go out?"
"Tali?" John bristled, "Asking me to go out and have fun?"
"Oh Keelah, I know. How dare she do that." Tali spat mockingly.
The both fall into a fit of laughter before Garrus started yelling at them.
"Get duh hell Oooooooooouuuttt! ur… gonna make my head explode!"
And with that they walk out of the infirmary and into the dimly lit deck to the stairs that would lead them to CIC.
"I'd love to go out with you, Tali." John answered finally.
"I know." She said with a perky grin.
He scoffed at her and rolled his eyes, but the smile never left. "Well. Since you invited me to go out and have some fun, it's only fair that I buy."
"…But you always buy." Tali said as they take the stairs together, "That makes me look bad."
"Look bad?" John opened the door for them, "For humans, the guy is always supposed to buy for the girl. It's polite."
"Sounds like a good way for the girl to take advantage of you, I think." Tali argued as they passed the CIC.
John shrugged, "Just know Tali, that I wouldn't have it any other way."
When he smiled at her, she felt her heart melt.
"That'll change someday, John." She teased as she touched his shoulder.
"Is that a proposition?"
"Mmm… you could think of it like that, yes."
Hearing two more people come up from behind him, Joker turned around, took a sip of something from out of his mug, and smiled.
"Oh, Commander." He glanced at Tali before giving John a wink, "Why hey there. Who's your lovely date?"
"Her name's, uh…" John's brow furrowed as he gave Tali a long sideways glance, "…what was your name again?"
"Tali." She said with a smirk.
"Right. Ain't she the best?" John agreed before giving her another smile.
Tali's cheeks blushed into a hazy shade of cerise.
"Don't get too riled up." Joker said between a sip of "coffee", "I don't do priority pick-ups."
"Not to worry, sir." John joked, "She'll be taken well care of."
Joker waved them off. "Have fun, you love birds."
Tali's blush got darker.
John pointed at Joker's mug. "That coffee, Joker? Or rum?"
Joker took a deep whiff of his mug and smiled. "Yes."
"Drinking at the helm," Shepard shook his head with the barest hint of a smirk on his lips, "Ah. Ain't that great?"
"Ain't it?" Joker said rhetorically.
"Want a souvenir?" John thumbed behind him, "A flask maybe?"
"Boy would I. Our fatigues have a perfect pocket for 'em. Slip in a few sips while I'm flying."
"Do that, and we'll surprise the crew with the worst stuff you've searched over the extranet on the bulletin."
Joker raised his mug of mixed coffee and rum to Shepard. "Blasto Six Dick Sex: Asari sentenium edition. I'd choose that for the bulletin."
John gave Joker a concerned look before shaking his head, turning on his heel, and walking to the door with Tali.
"Christ."
"Keelah."
"Hey, yeah, I've got a souvenir I'd like!" Joker shouted just before the doors closed, "Some hookers!"
John smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. "Man. You can't ever offend him."
Tali nodded in John's defense.
"So. We haven't picked a place to go to yet. Anything in mind?"
"Actually, yes." Tali said while the VI's proclamation of atmosphere distribution went ignored, "Flux."
The doors opened. "Flux?"
"Mhm. Don't know if you noticed, but they expanded." She said as they started walking through the aerobridge.
"Really? I would'n't have expected that."
They went into the elevator to take them down to C-Sec. "Private booths, vid screens, a bigger dance floor…"
"Huh. You'd think I would have remembered seeing it all last time we were there when we met Anderson."
"That's because we were there for all of two minutes John." Tali said.
He nodded as he finally remembered. "Good point."
"So it's that, or a taxi to one of the other wards."
"Up to you Tals. I'm fine with either."
"Flux it is then."
The doors closed behind them and they began their descent.
As a jingle started playing in the elevator, John took in one deep breath before looking out at the passing floors through the lift's large glass window.
The Normandy and her crew.
They saved this. Saved the Citadel.
Saved its existence.
That was something to tell your grandkids.
"We finally did it, Tali." John sighed as he reflected momentarily over the past year, "We finally did it."
She stood right up next to him.
"In saving the galaxy?"
"Yeah…" He faced her while his eyes crinkled from a smile, "It's been quite the adventure, hasn't it?"
"More than an adventure." She added quietly.
"More than an adventure." He repeated as he crossed his arms, "I think it's fair we've earned a break."
"I'm glad we're doing this." Tali nodded quietly.
"And I'm glad to be sharing it with you." John added with a sincere smile.
She grinned and shook her head on impulse.
"Me too."
The elevator doors opened up to the bustling commonplace.
"Whoah. C-Sec's busy." He said as he tried peering over the crowds of people, "Here. Grab my hand. Don't want you getting lost."
"Oh, please." She grabbed his hand and followed him, "It's like home."
"Yeah?"
"Mhmm. Just no aliens."
He rolled his eyes and smiled.
"Ah."
"I'm thinking we should go the back way?" Tali suggested.
"Excellent idea." John agreed. They turned back around down to a hall where another elevator would take them to the wards.
When they filed themselves into the elevator with twenty other people that were already waiting before them, Tali and John had to squeeze in together more than personal space would allow just to fit.
Not that either of them minded that.
And because of that, Tali's smile grew as she stepped in a little closer to him. Being 'nut to butt' with John wasn't something to mind at all.
"You know…" Tali whispered as she leaned closer into him to speak into his ear, "You'd think people would notice you more out in public…"
"Hey," John said with a shrug, "I'm not complaining."
"I couldn't even imagine what you'd do with all that fame." Tali thought aloud.
"Get fat and rich."
The elevator doors opened and the large uncanny group of pedestrians walk out with Tali and John not too far behind.
"Surprised we haven't seen any of the crew around here." John wondered.
"Oh, that's because they all took an air limo to one of the other wards." Tali replied as they took a right.
"An air limo." John said with a dead panned tone, "Who the hell paid for that?"
"They all pitched in money together."
John grinned. "Definitely sounds like our crew."
He shook his head. "So we're the only two on this whole wing?"
"Mhmm."
She hooked an arm around his and they continued down the large hall.
Soon enough the subtle beats of Flux become louder and more jarring.
"They always have the best music playing." Tali mumbled happily as they entered the club.
John could only smile as they walk in step with the bass and enter the club.
But they couldn't even make it two steps in without a human doing a double take in their direction and heading right over to them.
"Well, I'll be damned!" The human said to both Tali and Shepard before holding out his hand, "Commander John Shepard and Tali'Zorah!"
John smiled out of reflex and shook the man's hand while Tali stood rigid.
Fortunately, the harsh bass and dark atmosphere was enough to keep anyone else from noticing the Citadel's heroes had entered.
John kept his smile up.
"You have us at a disadvantage, mister…?"
"Kyle Seighr, sir." Kyle introduced hurriedly, "Look, just as an appreciative commoner, I'd really like to be able to pay for your drinks tonight, sir."
"Mr. Kyle, that means a lot." John said, "But I'd really hate to encroach."
"Commander…" Kyle faced Tali, "ma'am… it's only fair."
"What do you do for a living, Kyle."
The man rubbed the back of his neck, "Cargo loading."
"You got a family, Kyle?"
"Yes sir… two kids and a wife."
"What's a family man doing in a club at this hour? It's Thanksgiving."
"I like to eat here before my shift since work's a block down. Killer fish n' chips here I might add—but yeah, shift's in about an hour." Kyle shrugged, "And my boss is a turian. So no holiday for me."
"Tell you what Kyle," John handed him a credit chit, "You go home to your family and spend time with them. Take em out for some pizza. Or better yet, a fancy restaurant. Can you do that for me?"
Kyle reluctantly took the cash and pocketed it.
"Spectre authority, Kyle."
"Yes sir. Thank you sir."
As Kyle left the club with his take-out box of fish n' chips, Tali yelled out to the man: "Tell that turian boss of yours to take the pole out of his ass!"
Kyle smiled all the way out.
"Oh, Tali. You and your semantics."
"You love it. Don't lie."
"Yeah…" He shook his head as he took a seat on the bar with Tali doing the same, "I do."
"Oy! Pick your poison." The bartender called out.
"Slim tire for me." John dipped his head, "Tals? How about you?"
"Uhm…" She skimmed through the menu of drinks, "Dextro… Cooler?"
The bartender nodded. "Right away, love."
"Aw Tali." John nudged her shoulder, "That's for pussies."
"Well, I guess I'm a pussy then." She shrugged.
"We'll work you up then. Don't worry."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm so excited."
They both turn around in their barstools to face the large congregation of drinkers and dancers they'd been keeping their backs to and smiled.
Wow did this feel good.
Sitting here in the commonplace with what had to be over two hundred people, was humbling honestly.
She fought for them.
She saved these people.
Her eyes, mesmerized by the beating ambience, turned to face John's careless looking grin.
But in the end…
She fought for him.
For John.
"So," John began before peeling his gaze away from people watching, "You're still an alcoholic virgin."
"Y… yeah."
"Awesome."
"What? Gonna spike my drink?" Tali hissed sarcastically with a dumb looking smile on her face, "That's not kosher, John."
"If you don't shut-up, I might just do that." He shot back with his own dumb looking smile without missing a beat.
"Order's ready mates. Drink up."
"Thanks." John said as he tipped his mug to clink with Tali's.
"To us, Tals."
"To us."
They both take a swig.
"Mm. This is one damn good beer."
"But you hate beer." She said as she leaned back.
"I do." He said, staring straight at her, "Beer tastes like shit."
"Oh, John." She sighed happily, "Don't you ever change."
"If I were a betting man, that's exactly where I'd put my money, Tali. Not changing." He took another swig.
She giggled.
He pointed his mug toward her. "You and I have killed enough reapers in our lifetime, I think, for it not to change."
He then rose the mug and let it hover near his lips. "I'm sure you'd agree." He added before downing half and smiling.
She tipped the tip of her drink at him as she sipped through her straw. "Nope. You're going to eat those words, John Shepard, believe me."
"Yeah." He stared at his beer's head, "You're probably right."
They both chuckle.
"How's your drink?"
"You know, I had high hopes for it. It hasn't disappointed at all." Tali answered with a grin.
"Ha! I'm about to change your mind."
He swiveled back around in his chair to face the bar again. "Hey! Four shots each. Kinley's Fine Vodka and some Turian Tamlet's for my quarian."
"Right away."
Tali leaned in close. "John?"
"Yeah?"
"What are you doing to me?"
"Getting you drunk." John answered with a smile. He downed whatever remained in his mug and set it down. "I mean absolutely wasted."
She stared dumbly at her cooler then at him. "…No better time than now, I guess." Tali said. She followed his example and downed her wine cooler.
She groaned.
The bartender handed them their shots. "'Ere you go. Tip them heads."
John lined them up for both of them.
"You ready?"
"Hold on." Tali said as she prepped her straw, "Okay…"
"Follow after me." John said.
He downed his four shots easy.
Smooth or not, Vodka would always taste and smell like rubbing alcohol.
Tali, on the other hand, stuck her straw into each glass and swallowed it all with a wrinkled nose and pouty frown.
This was nothing like her cooler.
She got slower more toward the end of her last shot.
"Oh… Keelah."
Her breath felt like rocket fuel.
"Hmmm." John rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Maybe I should've gotten you a chaser too, huh?"
"What…" She shivered, exhaled, and squeezed her teary eyes shut from the oppressive fumes spewing out of her own breath, "…the hell is that?"
"Juice or something to make this more bearable." He turned back to the bartender, "Second round. Add the poor girl a juicy chaser, please."
The man nodded, took away their empty glasses and set it up.
"Four MORE?" Tali asked disbelievingly, "Keelah."
"Yes." John said smugly with an adamant stare, "Four. More."
"Fine." She said through a glare, "But you know what we're doing after that?"
"What?"
Tali thumbed behind her and gave John a demanding look.
"Dancing."
John glanced behind his shoulder to the crowd of people dancing with their arms up in the air like they were praising the DJ.
"Whoah, what?"
She crossed her arms and huffed. "Yup."
"I'm a terrible dancer, Tali."
"I'm sure your vodka will help loosen those stiff hips."
John guffawed at her joke while she laughed at his expense.
"We're going to take these shots quick. Because I don't want to look like an idiot." Tali commanded.
"After you." He rose his shot up for her.
She turned back to her shot glasses and frowned the same way she would as if she were trying to climb some unsurmountable mountain.
"Keelah…" She stared hesitantly at her four little bombs of alcohol and closed her eyes.
"John. Count for me."
He laughed as she grumbled.
"I can't believe you're actually making me do this…"
"Believe it. I am."
She placed her straw in, closed her eyes, and waited.
"Okay, Tali. Ready…? Drink."
She took her shots, puckered lips and all, until the last one remained.
"Ugh…"
"Come on." John encouraged as he finished his last shot, "Just one more."
The air in her helmet felt more like gassy fumes than anything at this point.
"It tastes. so. bad."
"You do it for the buzz, not the flavor."
She downed the rest in one gulp and squeezed her eyes shut.
"There…" She groaned hoarsely, "I did it."
He pat her back. "Feel anything yet?"
"My throat burns and my neck feels funny."
"All normal." He said as he stood up before handing the bartender a tip, "Now… you said something about dancing."
"Mhmm." She downed her chaser and stood up herself. "Let's do this."
"Can I just watch?"
Her head cocked to the side while her stare started boring a hole in his head.
"You made me down eight shots. You're dancing with me."
He didn't even try hiding his grimace.
"John?" She grabbed his hand and yanked, "It'll be fun."
"Fun." He repeated with a frown as they make their way to the dance floor, "Right."
Tali forced their way through the dancing crowd until they were at the center.
"Now just follow my lead!" She yelled close to his ear over the beats.
He nodded dumbly.
And like that, she fell right into the beat, hands and legs moving like a graceful angel.
Wow. She was good at that.
Not only was she good, but really good looking…
He felt his face go numb at her beauty. Or maybe it was just the alcohol. It was hard to tell.
Shepard gulped before clumsily stepping into the rhythm.
She laughed as she continued dancing before stepping a little closer to him.
"How am I doing?" She asked, lowering slowly as the beat whiffed away into a low compress, "I'm a little rusty, I think."
"Christ Tali, do you see who you're dancing with?" He strut back in forth like an idiot, "You're a prodigy by comparison!"
"Keelah John! It isn't hard you dope! Just do what feels right!"
"I am!"
Oh, he hated dancing.
But, as much as he had to admit, he loved doing it with Tali.
Watching her dance with her cheeky and careless looking smile (figuratively of course) was everything John ever wished to see from the woman. It did him well to see her happy.
She twirled around in step with the beat before looking at John again and laughing at him.
"John! You aren't kidding! You are terrible!"
"Uh-huh." Was all he could muster to say between his crinkled eyes and wide smile.
The knot in Tali's neck eventually faded while her alcohol was beginning to loosen her hips, and more importantly, her lips.
She grabbed his arms, his awkward dancing and all, and leaned in. "I'm going to have to call your moves the Shepard Shuffle." She said, as they both started dancing together.
He flailed his arms a bit with her to add some flavor to his moves and she took them right in stride.
Damn she was good at this. And he couldn't help but glance every once in a while at those sweet curves.
"Why not." He answered with a beaming grin, "I've already got a dozen titles to my name. Why not add another one?"
"Good." She joked tersely, "And when I'm done releasing my suit cam, it'll go viral on vid-tube."
"Uh huh."
"Hero of the Citadel: Dances! Shepard Shuffle!" She imagined, "I'd have to put it in all caps too."
He rolled his eyes, did a pathetically inept twirl of his own, and scoffed as he thought about it a little more.
"You wouldn't." He said all of a sudden.
"But would I?" She shot right back with a sly looking smile, she leaned right into him and buried her head into his chest before laughing. "I think I'm getting drunk."
"Taking eight shots of hard liquor does that. Empty stomach or not." He said back with a smile as he held her up a bit, all in the midst of the crowd of dancers.
But John couldn't exactly deny that he was feeling just a tad bit tipsy himself.
"Remember? They got new private booths." Tali mumbled, "Can you take me there?"
"You got it Tals. Booth comin' right up."
He lead her out of the dance floor, signaled the bartender for a booth, and stepped down a short hallway, slightly quieter than the main club, before yanking the thick curtains aside and setting her down next to the table.
John let out a low whistle. "Would you look at that? Sixty inch vid-screen…"
"I wouldn't mind having one of those in my room." Tali observed as she looked at the huge screen, "You enjoy dancing with me?"
"Only with you." He said, glancing back at her before looking at a menu.
"Keelah… still hungry, John? You ate sooo much earlier." She slurred.
Tali was getting worse by the minute.
"I don't think I could eat anything else. A cup of tea does sound good though…"
"I can't… feel my face… Or my feet." She garbled.
"Also normal." John said.
"Ugh…" She put her head into her arms and didn't move, "This must be what Garrus feels like…"
"You'd have to take eight more shots before you get on to Garrus' level."
John wasn't going to lie. His head was starting to feel a lot heavier. That, and it was difficult for him to read anything with a label on it.
"You're the best, John."
He turned around and gave her a gentle smile she couldn't see.
"Thanks Tals. I try to be."
She snorted and started laughing.
"I'm so drunk." She cooed to herself.
"Me too." He replied, "You think it's weird to drink some tea Tali when you're drunk?"
She tried to shrug before trying to smile dumbly at him. "No… I'd actually like some tea right now..."
"Got it. Green Tea, Dextro and Levo comin' up." He ordered the stuff on the screen and sat down right across from her before leaning in and putting a hand on her arm.
"Hey. You gonna fall asleep on me?"
"Nah." She slurred, her feet resting neatly atop of his unknowingly, "My head just… feels really heavy."
"You wanna know a game I like to play when I'm drunk?"
She moved her head slightly up so she could look at him. "What?"
"I call it sober mode. You pretend to be sober when you're drunk as shit."
"Ha. That sounds so stewpid."
Shepard shrugged while smiling, "Maybe. But I do it cause it's fun."
She giggled. "I'm too lazy."
"I don't blame you." He said, shrugging again, "Maybe we should go back after we drink our tea."
"Yeah. I guess you're right." Tali said rather somberly before remembering something suddenly, "I have a surprise for you too, John… when we get back to the Normandy."
"Really?"
"Yes." She slurred, "Really. If I, uh… can remember by the time we get back."
The waitress came with their hot pots of tea and gave it to them.
"It's hot. Be careful, hun." The waitress said to Tali before leaving.
"Well…" John clumsily reached for his cup of tea before sniffing the steam and taking a small sip.
Ah.
Delicious.
He watched Tali fumble with her straw.
"Need help?" He asked with a smile.
"Ehm…" She stabbed several times to no avail, "I'm… okay."
He gave her a worried glance. "You sure?"
"Yes."
"You're pretty wasted."
"Yeah…" She shook her head and laughed when she finally got her straw in, "I'm pretty wasted John… Let's finish our tea and then we'll leave."
"Think you can walk?"
"I'll crawl if I have to." She mumbled with a bubbly smile before sipping carefully on her straw.
"Uh-huh." John said with a smirk, "We can always just get a cab."
She stared distantly at her bladder of tea and nodded. "Good idea…"
John leaned in close her. "On a scale of one to ten; ten being highest, how drunk do you think you are?"
She closed her eyes tightly and thought. "Uhm… like… an eleven."
John nodded and poured himself another glass. "I'm a solid seven right now…"
"You're doing a good job of not looking like it…" She mumbled as she sipped.
"Sober mode. I'm telling you. Works like a charm."
"Maybe that only works for humans."
He chuckled. "Maybe."
"Keelah, I had so much to drink… I'm going to have to pee, like, a million times."
"That's the down-side." John admitted.
She groaned and sipped some more before folding her arms across the table and resting her head.
"John..." She whispered, "There's no way I'm going to be able to walk out of here…"
"Not even down the hallway?"
"…Nope."
He took a gulp out of his cup and stared at her expectantly. "What do you want me to do?"
She played with the end of her straw absentmindedly with her head still buried in her arms.
"I think you're gonna have to carry me."
"Carry you." He repeated.
"Think you can do it? That sober mode of yours looks… really convincing."
"I think so." He stood up and went to her.
When she finally forced herself to look at John, the man she loved, she smiled.
It wasn't exactly the most romantic outing, getting drunk like this, but Tali wasn't going to complain.
They were best friends.
And Tali was secretly wishing it was going to turn into something more than that soon.
"Come on. Climb on. Let's get to the cab kiosk and we'll get a ride back."
"Okay…" She said before finishing the last of her tea. She crumpled the bladder before scooting out of her seat and getting a ride on John's back.
"I look like an eediot."
"With a speech impediment like that, yeah. You do." He laughed as he walked down the hallway.
She tried laughing but nestled into his back and closed her eyes instead. "I'm actually kinda tired, John."
"Definitely normal when you're drunk."
"Are you tired?" She asked.
"A little."
"Don't fall asleep." She purred, "I don't want to fall over."
John grinned and walked out of Flux, down the hallway to a kiosk before hailing a cab.
"You enjoy drinking with your ol' pal, Tals?"
"Hell yeah." She slurred.
"Good. Next time, you're carrying me."
"Ha." She snorted and snickered, "Right."
She swayed her feet back and forth in his grasp and smiled with her eyes still closed.
She had to have been the happiest girl on the whole damned Citadel.
Because nothing beat getting carried by the dashing commander.
Ha.
Keelah, she was drunk as shit.
"…And the cab's here Tali." John said as it reared the corner.
"Already?" She pouted slightly, "I was just getting comfortable."
John laughed as the cab slowed down and opened its doors.
He slipped her into the back seat and sat down next to her.
"Presidium. Docking bay B13." John said to the VI driver. The air car took off back to the Normandy.
"Thanks for taking me out, John." Tali said, staring lazily out the window.
"Uh, pretty sure you took me out."
"Oh yeah." Tali remembered, "I forgot."
"You're welcome though."
She huffed and shook her head. But the smile on her face stayed.
It didn't take long for the cab to come around a corner and drop them off at the Normandy.
When the doors opened for them, Tali stared outside longingly.
"I… think I can walk." She said as she stood up clumsily.
"You sure?" John gave her a look as they both clambered out.
"Yeah." She said smugly before watching the cab leave, "Sober mode."
He couldn't help but laugh. "That's the spirit Tali."
Tali, with as much concentration and carefulness as her drunk brain would allow, made her way to the railing to lean on.
When she finally felt the reassuring touch of the metal bars, she gazed at the Normandy and felt a sudden rush of memories and emotions come up all at once in the span of seconds.
She was in awe of the Normandy.
And in awe of herself.
She'd spent a year of her life aboard this amazing ship.
Spent a year with her friends and crew.
Done things most would never accomplish in a lifetime.
Drunken Tali or not, the emotions she felt hadn't felt any more clearer than now, and she swore she could feel a tear well in one of her eyes, even though she'd readily admit that she couldn't even feel her face at the moment.
She was quiet for a long while as she stared at her home, their home, and at this moment, they both knew they were sharing a moment.
He stood right up next to her and leaned on the railing himself before staring at his ship while his eyes glossed over.
"You know…" He began as his smile waned into a small grin, "A year ago we did this. Right here, before it all began."
His voice fell into a pensive whisper and he faced her. "…Remember?"
She nodded and graced the Normandy with another long and nostalgic stare. "…Of course."
"Was it a hard choice?"
She shook her head idly. "No. Didn't even hesitate."
He laughed a little bit and nodded.
"We've changed a lot, haven't we?" She whispered before looking at him with a tired and crinkled eyed smile.
Everything looked fuzzy.
"Yeah… We have." He mumbled happily, "For the better."
He wrapped an arm around her and hugged her from the side.
She leaned into his embrace, partly because she wanted to, and partly because it was another thing to lean on.
They stood like that for a minute and took the sixty seconds of their time as a way to appreciate the view and self-reflect over the past year and the opportunities it brought.
Kinship.
Family.
Sacrifice.
Even love.
"I'm glad you decided to stay with us." John said as he pat her back to get them to go back inside.
"Keelah, I'm glad I did too." She said before finally working up the courage to stand completely on her own, "And to think we all thought the Reaper part was some dumb joke…"
"I know." He said before finally stepping off the railing himself and helping Tali walk.
She was doing a really crappy job of it.
"…Keelah, you don't realize how wasted you are until you start moving." She gasped disbelievingly as they entered the aerobridge.
He laughed and stumbled a little bit too. "Fun ain't it?"
Tali kept an arm tightly around his waist to keep herself from falling while the other lightly touched the wall closest to her.
The entered the microbial suite and anti-septic jets start spraying them down.
"Back so soon, huh guys?" Joker called through the PA. John and Tali both glare at the camera in the corner.
"Man, you guys look wasted as tits."
"That's cuz we are." Tali affirmed with a wave.
"Don't tell me she's as bad as Garrus."
"Nope. I swear." Tali reassured, "I'm not that bad."
The doors opened and the two walked through to see Joker as they left him.
"Man, looks like you went to one hell of a party."
"Best ever." Tali nodded, "Would totally do again."
"Okay, Tali. Come on." John said as he carefully guided toward the Normandy's neck back to CIC, "It's time to retire for the night." John waved Joker good-bye.
"Thanks for making sure I don't fall."
"Of course."
When they started making their way down the stairs, Tali suddenly remembered the surprise she was supposed to give him.
"Could you take me to my room?"
"That's exactly where we're heading."
They stepped into the elevator and went down to the level where her room was at.
"How're you feeling?"
"Drunk." Tali's head lulled to the side into his shoulder, "It's okay though, I don't mind it."
"Don't feel like, uh, hurling now, do you?"
"No. Not at all. I'm totally okay."
Cheap love music from the 2080's suddenly started playing on the Normandy's PA.
"Uh, sorry Commander." Joker said through the PA system, "I'm a sucker for the eighties, and nothing's better than playing some love tunes through my baby."
John rolled his eyes. "Uh-huh."
"I've still got to show you my surprise." Tali said with a slight smile when the lift's door opened.
"Oh yeah. What is it?"
They both started walking down the hallway to her room.
"You'll find out." Tali answered as she keyed the door to her clean room.
"Should I wait out here or…?"
"No," she waved him into the anti-microbial suite, "Come on."
"You sure Tali?"
She put her hands on her hips. "Yes, I'm sure. Get in."
Without any further argument, he stepped in right next to her and waited for the suite to spray them both down.
"So what's the surprise, Tals?"
"Well… it's not exactly a surprise." Tali mumbled as she stared at her feet, "I just… wanted to show you my room."
"What seriously?" He leaned in and smiled, "Wow Tali, I'm actually flattered."
"Flattered." She snorted a little, "Please John, you make it out to be like it's a big deal."
Tali knew it was a big deal.
But was it really? After everything he'd done for her?
Apparently so.
"It is." He said simply when the jets stopped spraying, "I think it's a really big deal."
A glint of a smile passed her lips when she finally opened the door to her room and walked inside.
It'd been a year since he'd seen the inside of the Normandy's cleanroom, considering Tali lived in it.
And personally, it wasn't a surprise it hadn't been used, other than it quartering a quarian.
"You absolutely sure it's okay with you?" John asked with a murmur as he gazed at what he could see just from the doorway.
"Yes…" she answered timidly, "Come on." She laughed slightly before having John help her take a seat on the bed.
He sat down next to her. "Should I cover my mouth or something?"
"Don't sneeze." She teased as she took a deep breath, "So. What do you think?"
"Like the bed sheets." John noticed as he pat them, "Purple. Not surprising there."
She stared at the comforter and giggled. "Yeah. I'm original, I know."
She hadn't really taken the liberty of changing too much. The room was the same for the most part.
Other than the iconic Clan Zorah draping she'd hung up on a wall and the holos on her desk, it was bare.
"Here. I wanted to show these to you." She groped for the nightstand's handle, pilfered through some of the stuff in there, and retrieved a picture album before handing it to him.
He accepted the book and gave her a look. "What's in it?"
"Pictures." She answered sarcastically.
"No kidding." He rolled his eyes and opened it up to the first page.
"When I first left the flotilla, I took a picture out of one of the Rayya's port windows." Tali explained, "And the one below is after I left the Rayya."
Just as Tali said, there were two photos, one inside the Rayya, and one of the Rayya.
"Wow." John mumbled, completely entranced by the two photos, "You actually paid to get these printed?"
"Mhmm. Turn the page. I want you to see my mom."
He turned the page and felt his face go slightly numb.
"I told you she never liked wearing her suit." Tali said quietly, "It's my favorite picture of her."
Tali's mother stared idly back at John with a faint smile.
Her eyes told him everything.
Intelligence.
Driven.
Daring.
Determined.
Brave.
Everything John could see in this woman, he could also see in Tali.
Maybe even more.
Tali's mom was beautiful, to put simply. And John didn't have to stretch his imagination at all to think Tali's was equally or more so.
"She's gorgeous, Tali." He murmured.
"Isn't she?" Tali drifted off.
"First time I've ever seen a quarian without a mask too." John added.
"Is it surprising?" Tali wondered.
John gave her a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"
"How similar we look?"
John thought about it for a moment and finally nodded before turning to her and smiling. "Yeah... but I can kinda see your eyes and nose already. So it's not too much of a surprise."
"At least you don't think we're ugly." She joked.
"Yeah, I know. You could've had a giant maw-thing like Garrus in place of a mouth."
"Keelah," Tali gasped with a giggle, "I'd hate to be that ugly."
John shook his head and chuckled.
"Go ahead and flip the page."
When John did, it was a picture of the Normandy in dock with John and Garrus standing in the foreground with Ash somewhere in the back with Kaidan and a crew member.
"I remember this." John said as he looked closer to the picture, "This was almost half a year ago."
She nodded. "Yup."
The picture next to it was just of the Normandy's drive core, Adams, and the other members of engineering.
"Wow, Tals. You really put a lot of thought into this."
She shrugged. "What we did was probably the most important thing we'll ever do in our lives, John. I want to be able to remember all of it when I get old."
He nodded at the well-put-out sentiment and smiled before turning the page.
"And this page is of us." Tali whispered as she sat a little closer to him to get a better look, "A selfie of myself, Ashley, Wrex, Garrus…"
"Me..." John pointed himself out.
"—Yes, you of course,"
"And Kaidan." John finished, "Damn. I wish he were here with us now." John said with a small smile.
The pages were blank after that.
"Still seems like you have to finish it." John said as he closed the book, "What do you think you'll add?"
"Not sure yet." Tali said as she tried rubbing her face.
He bumped her shoulder. "Still drunk?"
"Oh, very much so."
He set the book down and suddenly remembered he was supposed to give her cash.
Like, a lot of it.
He should've done it earlier, but John guessed now was better than later.
Might as well give her something else to gawk over.
"I've got something for you too. Hold on a second."
"You got more stuff?" Tali asked disbelievingly, "Are you kidding me?"
"It's a small fortune." John said as he wired her account to transfer the funds, "And it's all yours."
Before she could even voice an objection, he put a finger up to her mouthpiece to shush her.
"No. I don't want a peep out of you. It's done."
"John…"
"Tali? It's done."
She didn't even want to try and guess the number.
"…How much?"
"You're a millionaire now, Tals." He answered timidly before staring distantly at a wall.
Tali didn't have to guess much to think he was self-reflecting and trying to come to terms with the fact that she was eventually going to leave the Normandy.
He almost looked… languid. And kind of bitter…
John sighed and stared at his feet for a long moment. "...I'm going to miss you, Tali."
His tone confirmed her guesses and she frowned. If only he knew how much it tormented her dealing with that feeling.
She stood up as best she could and motioned with both her hands for him to stand as well.
When he did, she wrapped her arms around him and buried her head into his shoulder.
"Don't worry, captain." She slurred with a sad smile, "We've still got a couple of adventures to go on."
He smirked and bobbed his head. "That we do."
They held each other at arm's length and their eyes locked tightly.
Tali didn't feel like letting go.
And neither did he.
Her subtle and shallow breaths. Her delicate hands that held him.
The sturdy frame of his wide shoulders. The bold eyes that stared lovingly at her.
Then the Normandy's PA wailed and squawked.
"G—Garrus? Wh—what the hell are you doing up here?" Joker yelled exasperatedly, "You're supposed to be d—wn in the Med-bay!"
"Turn that dammmmed music offff… you sonofabitch! it's… killllling my head!"
Some fumbling could be heard through the PA.
"Damnit Garrus! Hey! Uh… I need help? The damned turian just keeled over in his own puke!"
John grit his teeth.
God. Damnit.
"…I— should go and check that out." John muttered as he separated from her reluctantly.
"Yeah…" She mumbled disappointingly as she hung her head low, "Good idea… Go, uh, go see if Garrus is okay."
"Yeah."
He gave her a nod, a small smile, and turned on his heel to the room to the anti-septic suite.
"John?" Tali called out in a small caring voice.
He turned around. "Yeah?"
"I had a great night." Her hands met at her waist, "Thanks for going out with me."
His small smile turned warm. "No problem, Tals. I had a lot of fun. We'll plan another."
And with that, he waved her goodbye, closed the door behind him, and walked back out into the hallway to get to the elevator.
He'd be lying if he wasn't fuming inside.
It was funny how fate did things like that.
One second you're sharing a pivotal moment in a relationship with the woman you've fallen deeply in love with… and then you're walking away from her because your sorry ass of a friend couldn't keep his goddamn liquor in check.
He took a breath and swallowed his frustrations away.
Well.
There was always next time right?
Always next time.