Chapter Text
The Beginning
Post Mission: Race Against Time [Sovereign]
“Oh, hey, Vakarian,” Shepard spotted Garrus in line for a beverage at the Apollo’s Cafe, and got in line behind him. She was delighted to run into one of her crew in a normal civilian setting, and her tone might have been extra breezy as a result. It seemed like it took him a second to register who had just spoken, like when a kid sees their teacher at the grocery store.
“...Shepard!” he said once he figured it out. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Getting some last creature comforts in, I suppose. We ship out tomorrow.”
“To fight the geth , I hear.”
Shepard shrugged. “Officially, yes. I have opinions about it, but it’s not as if they aren’t a problem. I’m sure a path to the problem will reveal itself eventually.”
“It usually does.”
“So. Can I give you one last pitch to join the crew?”
Garrus inched up in line. “Sure. Go for it.”
Shepard took her own step forward. “Join the crew,” she said. “That’s it, that’s my pitch.”
Garrus chuckled, feeling more than a little flattered. “You wouldn’t want me. Ask any of my ex-partners, I’m a nightmare on routine missions.”
“You don’t trust me to keep things interesting?” Both took a step forward.
“I trust you to find interesting things,” he said, not quite ready to give her the compliment. “Doesn’t mean you’ll be allowed to do anything with them. Uh, one dextro drip, black and,” he turned and gestured to Shepard.
“Oh! A Blasto Strawberry Blitz, please. With whipped cream. And those fizzy things.”
“And that, thank you. Both on my tab.”
They stepped aside while their drink order was prepared. “Can I get you back?” she asked, starting to scroll on her omni-tool. “I didn’t realize you’d be financing my shame.”
Garrus shrugged, “Don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks, that was nice of you.”
They both suddenly pretended they were interested in something out over the water. It felt weird to be normal people doing normal things. Both with each other, and in general. “But, if you do find something really interesting…” Garrus said, while still gazing out into middle distance. “Don’t hesitate to drop me a line.”
Their number was called at the counter, and Garrus presented the neon pink monstrosity with fizzy sprinkles and whipped cream to his Commanding Officer, who accepted it without a hint of embarrassment. She used her straw to spoon some whipped cream into her mouth, before jamming it into her drink. “Absolutely.”
“Or…you know,” he decided to hazard. “Anytime.”
Shepard grinned. “You mean like friends?”
“I sure won’t be using you as a reference,” he joked. Though ultimately celebrated, many of the actions they took during their time together would be better not discussed in any detail.
“Fair. Well, I gotta get going.”
“Same.”
“I’ll see you around,” she said, and then realized that was exactly what she would not be doing. “Or read your messages, I guess.”
“It was an honor and privilege,” he held out the hand that was not holding his coffee. Shepard shook it, but before either of them let go, they both felt a pang in the pits of their stomach. Something like panic, or sadness, or alarm. But neither of them understood what it meant, so they ignored it and went their separate ways.