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You know what I was just thinking? "It would be great to visit a creepy, mostly abandoned colony right now." Because the first several times we had to answer a distress call or had a mission that took us to these outposts weren't bad enough.

That's not really why I'm typing this up. Correct me if I am wrong but it looks like most people here are human. That's a little bit of a problem for me. Love humans, honestly. Some of my close friends are human.

The whole "we evolved on levo-amino acid-based biospheres" is the deal-breaker. I can't exactly eat levo-based food. Well I could but I'd prefer a better death than that. So what I'm trying to ask is if there is, possibly, any alternatives.

I mean I'd really like to not starve if that's possible. Just throwing that out there for consideration.

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It is the reason that you've kept me on for so long. Wait. Was it that or my skill with a gun and one-liners? Or was it my dashing good looks all this time?

[ IF HE KNEW WHERE SHE WAS COMING FROM HE'D MEET HER HALFWAY. But Shepard is coming to him so he'll do ask she asks and stay put.

It's easy to bury his nervous energy under sarcasm and wit but chances are she's going to know that already. ]

Nah, telling would just swell your ego too much.

[ The thought does occur to her as she makes her way up. But then, she doesn't want him to get lost. That would be annoying. And awkward. So she runs, and she runs into the garage.

The only thing military about her is her boots. The rest is civilian. Civilian spacer casual, civilian ponytail bouncing out behind her instead of her normal, tightly controlled bun.

And not a single injury. ]

[ Yeah it probably would boost his ego just a little. Miss Commander isn't wrong about that.

It's not the first time Garrus has seen Rufina Shepard in civilian clothes ~~that black dress definitely needs to be found again~~ but it throws him off all the same. It really shouldn't because this isn't the Normandy and technically this could be something like shore leave.

She doesn't look harmed, no. It's a relief to be certain but Garrus isn't going to be satisfied with that. Not this Turian. ]

I hope you don't think you're allowed to go on any other adventures without me, Ru.

[ Garrus doesn't even think as he reaches for her. Someone is about to get a more thorough inspection. Just to be sure. ]

[ It throws her. What? All of it. His expression, the nickname that slips so easily from his mouth said like that, the reaching hand.

But it's welcome. It's been a long five months since she'd turned herself in, and the interrogations have been... tough. Even for her. She's missed him. ]

Hey, it's not as if I surrendered to the batarians.

[ She reaches up to take his armoured wrist. Not to pull him away, but just to hold. ]

You don't surrender to anybody.

[ Funny what a little thing like that contact can do. Suffice to say that he's always been rather fascinated by her hair of all things, so hopefully Shepard doesn't mind Garrus kind of fussing with that ponytail while she snatches up his wrist.

At least she seems to pass his assessment. For the time being. ]

That aside you and I need to have a very serious discussion about leaving people behind to go run off and play with Reapers.

[ She remembers his initial reaction to her unbound hair in those stolen hours before they invaded the Collector base. And then, later, the other stolen time before she'd turned herself and her ship over to the Alliance. She remembers his reaction to her hair but she doesn't remember him being so casual with it. Playing with her curls, fussing.

Like he was used to it.

It's nice. And it's odd. ]

Garrus...

[ Still, she doesn't pull away. Instead, she lifts her other hand to touch his face. ]

What hell are you talking about? If I'm going after Reapers, there's no one I'd have at my side more than you.

Edited 2019-10-04 10:45 (UTC)

[ And of course his immediate response is to lean into her hand. It's a learned action by now, with far more stolen moments on his end than what Shepard has experienced. Funny how much things can shift in a few months and with potential impending doom lurking around the corner. ]

Obviously and I would have likely tracked you down myself this time if you had even thought about it for a second.

[ Something isn't adding up, of course. There's a blankness, a confusion, to her gaze. It should be obvious what he means, right? And there should be no "if." ]

You said if. Rufina, we already were. We were fighting them in what remained of London.

[ God, it's a relief to feel him under her hand. Him, as he should be. The roughness of the scarring over jaw and mandible, the texture of his facial plating. Feeling him alive, whole. Not a fucking husk.

But then he keeps on talking and the vague sense of wrongness sharpens like a shiv to the guts.

Shepard doesn't move away. But she's suddenly very, very still. ]

Explain.

Edited 2019-10-05 01:18 (UTC)

[ He isn't going to complain about her touch. Spirits... Why would he? She is only the fiercest and bravest person in the entire galaxy. The amount of respect that Garrus has for Shepard is - well he could talk about that all day and then some.

It doesn't take much for him to know that he's said something that doesn't add up. And maybe she doesn't move away, but Garrus takes her wrists in his hands and brings them both down. As much as the Turian loves the affection, this isn't quite the right moment for it. Not when she uses that voice. ]

You don't know what I'm talking about do you.

No. I don't. And I need you to explain.

[ Then, because it's Garrus, and only because it's Garrus, she adds, ]

I came here from the middle of a transfer to Vancouver. Been under house-arrest for five months, ever since I turned myself and the Normandy over to the Alliance. If there was Reapers on Earth, Anderson would tell me. They'd tell me.

I remember that. It's not one of my happier memories you realize.

[ Though he understands and semi respects why Shepard had done so. But the problem here is that it's pretty clear to him that they had been dropped here from two very different points in time.

That makes his uh familiarity pretty. Um. Awkward. It means that he's being very forward and taking certain liberties before it's been rightfully established that Garrus can and that thought makes him twitchy.

But so does the realization that whatever is going on here also messes not just with space but with time as well. That is not something that Garrus Vakarian is actually prepared to deal with. ]

Er. Rufi - Shepard. [ Mild panic? Mild panic. ] That happened a while ago. We were making our last stand against the Reapers. On Earth.

[ Now she shifts back. Not much, not really a step. Just a shifting of weight back on her rear foot as she pulls her hands free and crosses her arms. Last time she got news even remotely similar to this, there'd been things to do. Mechs to shoot. A station to escape.

There's nothing here. Nothing to distract her, force her to process and move on as fast as she can. There's just Garrus, looking at her like that as he keeps on talking. ]

So we've been pulled clean out of time, then. I was wondering about that. But if I'm not missing for you, that implies I get back. Okay.

[ She has the Illusive Man's voice in her head, talking about how she might have gained the Reapers' attention by killing Sovereign.

It's not. She can't-

There are other priorities. Right now. Other things. It's too big. So break it down, get through. ]

There's a biologist here, Cho. She might be able to help keep you alive. I mean, there's enough weird shit here to make any mad scientist weep for joy.

[ So much for touching reunions. Now Garrus can't even scold her proper for sending him back to the Normandy. Aaaaand it makes a few other things awkward. Of course that thought is placed on the back burner because even she seems to be having a hard time with this. Garrus knows Shepard well enough to see it. He also knows better than to call her out on it or to voice the fact that they may now be dealing with alternate timelines... ]

There is that. It's not like you haven't continuously accomplished the impossible either. Besides the best team in the galaxy is right here.

[ And that's something that isn't going to change just because their timelines are messed up. Shepard and Vakarian are quite a force to be reckoned with by his accounts.

Whatever the case, he hopes that thought at least calms whatever thoughts are causing her distress. ]

Look, I'd even take that nasty stuff Tali had to eat okay? I'm not about to be picky in this situation no matter how loudly I'll complain.

[ The change in expression is delayed, but it comes. A smile - crooked, faint, and there. ]

Best team in the galaxy. Damn right we are.

[ Shepard draws in a deep breath, shakes her head a little and glances to the side as she thinks.

Okay.

It's still too big. She still has to break it down. But she will. She always has and she always will. ]

Yeah, yeah, I'll keep the constructive comments under advisement. Okay. Look, the air on these levels isn't the best. The, uh, it's all dorms, but you're welcome to stow yourself in my room.

[ At least that makes Garrus relax a little. If she can smile, even just a little, she'll be okay. Shepard will process it in her time and if she needs a shoulder. Well hey. He's here and always will be.

In whatever capacity. ]

Yeah, I sort of guessed that it wasn't. Actually I might have tried to get a look at the Armory but apparently that's sealed off.

[ Garrus does have places he likes to hang out at. Without his little niche in the Normandy even he feels a little lost in all of this. Then Shepard has to go and tell him to stow stuff in her room and that brings him up a little short. ]

You know you don't have to go that far.

[ Like put up with him in her living space? ]

Lots of places here are like that. I've been trying to get the medical and storage bots to talk to me, and it's slow going.

[ This smile is stronger: ]

Guess who is the most qualified medic here.

[ Hint, you're looking at her. ]

And, hey, it's no trouble. We've got each other's backs, and there's limited sleeping berths. They are pretty much all humans here, and I know you.

'Sides.

I noticed that familiarity back there.

Given enough time I might be able to break in. Tali would work faster, obviously. Kasumi would probably get it in record time.

[ Garrus is good with tech, sure. But Tali and Kasumi are in a league of their own. But then Shepard has to go and say that. Garrus coughs, obviously a little flustered due to being caught. ]

Thaaaat's because of a discussion we had after you picked me up on Menae. I didn't really know where we stood and well. You set that record straight right away.

Yeah?

[ She stops before the steps and turns back to face him, tiling her head up slightly. ]

Well. I reckon I stand the same place as I will in the future. You?

[ That makes things a little less awkward then. Though if Shepard really wants to press the issue, then Garrus is going to be a little bold himself. Which means there are definitely hands going to her waist. So he can pull her in. ]

First of all I'd like to point out that you came onto me first. I know I'm pretty irresistible, but I can't say I thought about an inter-species liaison before that.

[ Oh there had been plenty of admiration. Admiration and respect. But this isn't about that. Garrus gently rests his forehead on hers. Because he can. ]

To put it bluntly there's never been anyone else for me other than you since.

Hey, if you see something you want, go after it.

[ Shepard lets herself be pulled in, putting her own hands on his waist in return. The armour between them is annoying, but a familiar irritant. You get used to armour in their situations.

He rests his forehead against hers, and it feels more intimate than any kiss. ]

Good. Because there's no one else for me, either.

[ If it's kisses she really wants, he would be happy to oblige. He had thought the human gesture weird at first, but he has since grown used to it. Maybe Garrus even looks forward to it a little.

Though right now? Right now they really should head further down. But it's really hard to let Shepard go. ]

Oh? You're getting a little ahead of yourself, Ru. I don't mind, but you could always change your mind.

I mean... Yeah, I could...

[ Doubtful, though. Super duper doubtful.

She stays where she is for a moment, and then shifts to kiss his cheek.]

C'mon, I'll give you the grand tour on the way down, then we can rustle up the scientists so you don't die. Because I gotta tell you, Garrus, you're not getting out of this that easily.

[ It's not the first time she's kissed his cheek - well maybe a first time for her right at this moment - but it is familiar enough to Garrus that all he can really do is chuckle. ]

When have I ever wanted out of anything you've gotten us into?

There's always a first time.

[ She's never gonna take him or his acceptance of the utter batshit she brings to everyone's lives for granted, okay. ]

So, the tour!

[ She leads him down the levels of Anchor, explaining the levels and the dangers in each. As promised, the air-quality improves with each staircase down. The dangers don't. There are monsters - mutated animals in the agriculture, as an example - which.... Yeah, that's kind of typical of the shenanigans Shepard brings. But at least there are other people around who know how to deal with the monsters.

Her narration is thorough, military-precise, but once she's got the information, snark bleeds through. It just has to, with the lives they lead. ]

And here's the dorms. Mix of two bunks and four bunk rooms. I've grabbed a two bunk. I think there's a couple of people who don't sleep here because they're twitchy.

Like the Normandy, really.

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