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Never Again	By : ArcadiaJones Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 5322 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or ideas of Mass Effect. They belong to Bioware, and I am making no money writing this story.

Chapter List
- 1-One
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 8
- 9
- 10
Author’s Note: I made up the name of the planet. Looked through a big database of the planets, and got really sick of reading about all the uninhabitable rocks and big gas giants. So just go with it!

Nine

Shepard awoke to a throbbing pain in her head and a nauseous feeling in her stomach. With a groan, she rolled to the side of the bed, waiting until her stomach stopped rolling.

“Here, take these.”

Garrus’s taloned hands appeared in front of her face, one holding a glass of water the other three little orange pills. Not even bothering to ask what the drugs were, Shepard downed them as quickly as she could. The pills didn’t take long to start working; within a few minutes, her head began to clear and her stomach felt a bit more stable. Sighing gratefully, she rolled over onto her back so she could look up at her turian. Garrus smiled and leaned over her, pressing his mouth to hers as softly as he could. His tongue gently slid over her lips, starting Shepard’s body into quivering. She tried to reach up and pull him down with her, but Garrus moved back a step, smiling devilishly.

“Hung-over, and still trying to jump me? You’re incorrigible, Shepard.”

She pouted. “And you’re mean! This is twice now you’ve denied me…don’t think I won’t get back at you for this.”

“I have no doubt of that. But hold off just a little longer. I have a surprise for you…”

Shepard groaned as Garrus headed towards her closet. “The last time you said something like that, I woke up like this!”

Laughing, he drew a long dress out of the closet and laid it on the bed in front of her. Shepard stared down at the beautiful garment, awed but confused. The fabric was a deep, emerald green and soft as silk to the touch. Shepard found that she couldn’t stop running her hands over it. There were little embroidered designs all over it, though she couldn’t quite tell what they were. Almost like…words, maybe…

“Turian lettering,” Garrus explained softly. “It’s…strange, but I hoped you would like it.”

“I love it, but…” Shepard drew her hand back, as if suddenly afraid to touch it; to dirty it. “I don’t think me wearing a dress is going to drive the right amount of fear into the Collectors.”

Such pretty things weren’t meant for someone like me. I’m a warrior, not a lady.

Garrus drew Shepard to her feet, holding her against his chest. “Won’t you wear it? Just once? I know it’ll look great on you.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, sure. Where did you get this thing, anyways? I wasn’t aware there was a mail-order system that hunted down traveling ships.”

“I picked it up the last time we stopped at the Citadel. You were helping Thane find his son, and I took the time to stop by a little shop I know.”

Shepard quirked an eyebrow suspiciously. “Oh? A dress shop that you know? Should I be angry, or worried?”

Realizing his mistake, Garrus blanched. “T-That’s not what I meant! I, uh, um, you see—“

Shepard silenced him with a quick kiss, her eyes laughing. “I was kidding. Thank you for the gift. But I still don’t understand why you want me to wear it. Unless…this is some kind of weird sex game you came up with?”

A low growl rose in Garrus’s throat at the images that assaulted him then. He reached out to grab at her hips, and it was Shepard’s turn to dance away, giggling. She waggled a finger at him.

“Ah, ah! I thought we had to wait?”

This human would be the death of him, Garrus was certain. But she was right. It was already early afternoon, and if he wanted to fulfill his plan, they would have to get moving.

“Ok, get dressed and I’ll meet you down in the CIC.”

Shepard paled. “Walk around…in this? But…what if the crew sees me? W-We’re on a mission!”

“Don’t worry about it. Most of the crew is still passed out, and those who aren’t are off the ship already.”

“Off the ship? Wait, where are we?”

Garrus’s mandibles flared in what could only be a smirk. “Just get dressed and leave the rest to me. One day of shore leave isn’t going to hurt anything.”

Before she could argue further, the turian was on the elevator and headed down to his own quarters. Shepard shook her head, turning her attention back to the beautiful dress. It had been so long since she’d put on something so delicate, Shepard wondered if she would even be able to force her muscular body into the finely-knit seams. Most likely they would all just rip open and she would walk around looking like the Hulk.

She sighed. It made her uncomfortable to even think about wearing such a thing, but Garrus had asked her so nicely. And she knew it would make him happy if she wore it. Time to girl up, Shepard told herself. But first, a shower.

Half an hour later, Shepard was on the elevator, waiting for it to hit down at the CIC. She couldn’t keep her cheeks from burning; the dress had fit her perfectly, but it was still strange to feel so…free. Shepard only hoped that Garrus wasn’t lying and that there really were few people left on the ship; it would be even better if there was no one left. Being seen like this by anyone—especially someone like Jack or Grunt—would be too much to bear.

But sure enough, as the elevator doors slid open, her entire team was waiting in the lobby beyond. Jack took one look at her and began laughing; Tali shoved her, and the woman fell to the ground, still laughing. Shepard resisted the urge to bury her burning face in her hands, instead planting her hands on her hips as she tried to look tough.

“I fail to see what’s so funny!”

“Y-you…dress…ahahaha!” Jack continued to roll on the ground; the others were smiling, too, except for Grunt who looked as if someone had just ripped out one of his hearts.

“Battlemaster…this isn’t right! How are you supposed to fight in something so…frilly?”

Shepard rolled her eyes. “Exactly what I said.”

“All right guys! Time to disperse!”

They all turned to where Joker hobbled up, dressed in a casual suit that actually made him look a little handsome. He’d even taken off his hat and combed back his brunette hair. The pilot took a moment to appraise Shepard’s appearance before turning towards the male members of the group and grinning evilly.

“You guys ready? I found the perfect spot.”

“I’m not so sure that going anywhere with you will be a good idea,” Thane remarked. “Perhaps I will just return to my room—“

“Nuh-uh. If I have to get dragged into this crap, you’re suffering too.” Grunt turned the drell back around and the men shuffled off the ship.

Kelly stood with the women, waving to Shepard as she gathered them and left as well. Samara didn’t look very thrilled, but allowed herself to be dragged off, leaving the Commander alone on the command deck. She looked around, confused. Where was Garrus?

As if on cue, the elevator doors slid open and strong, turian arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against a firm chest. Shepard sighed contentedly and leaned back into the warm embrace. When he finally released her, she turned around to appraise his outfit: the equivalent of a tuxedo, only built for a turian structure. Smooth black cloth with a dark blue under shirt. The colors matched him well, bringing out the darker hues of his eyes.

As Shepard inspected him, Garrus inspected her in turn, his breath hitching. He had thought that the green would bring out the beautiful color of her eyes, and he had been more than right. Shepard’s eyes shone line jewels, her hair slightly curled as it draped over her shoulders. She wore no make-up, but it didn’t matter; she was still beautiful. The dress hugged her athletic curves snugly, reaching down just below her knees so that her shapely calves were bare—except for the pistol strapped to her ankle, which made him chuckle. A cut in the left side of the dress reached all the way up to a few inches from her hip, revealing even more smooth, pale flesh. Garrus had known this dress would be perfect for her, and he was glad that he had been right.

Garrus bowed forward slightly, offering her his arm. “Shall we, my lady?”

Cheeks still burning, Shepard managed a crooked grin as she slipped her arm into the crook of his elbow. The things she did for her crazy turian…

They were on the planet Debaas in the Crescent Nebula, on the colony Hras Anna. Stepping off the Normandy and heading into the landing bay, Shepard was surprised at how many different species she saw milling about. It was an asari colony, but there were plenty of human, turian, salarian, and even batarian faces in the crowds, too. She kept expecting people to stare at them—xenophobes—but realized that they weren’t the only inter-species couple. Mostly there were different species with beautiful asari hanging off their arms, but Shepard noticed a few turian-human pairings, too.

Garrus watched her gaze around, smiling at the look of awe on her face. He was a little surprised himself by all the intermingling, but then it wouldn’t have mattered if no one else agreed. Nothing could make him let go of her arm.

They started their afternoo by walking down the promenade, looking at all the little shops along the way. Mostly, they joked about the frivolous junk that was the new “Must have!” object of the year. When they passed by a weapons shop, the pair spent a good hour just drooling over the guns. Shepard’s eye caught on a new SMG model while Garrus looked through a line of sniper rifles, testing the scopes. When he realized that he was doing exactly the opposite of his intentions for the night, Garrus gathered Shepard and left the shop—though he had to practically drag her out.

“But—but!! The shiny!”

It was thoroughly amusing to watch a woman dressed like Shepard begging like a child. Several passersby watched them with raised brows, snickering behind their hands. Garrus finally managed to keep her moving, though the despondent look on her face made him feel like laughing.

Moving closer to the downtown area, they spotted Thane leaning against the entrance of a building, head bowed and eyes closed. Curious, they paused in front of him.

“Thane? What are you doing out here? I thought you were hanging out with Joker and the others?”

The drell glanced up at her, a tormented look in his eyes. “Yes, well, that didn’t work out.”

He pointed up, and Shepard finally noticed the glowing neon sign above the door in the shape of a naked asari. She threw back her head and began to laugh, sympathetically patting the poor man on his shoulder.

“Aw, loosen up, bud! You never know…it could be enjoyable!”

Thane smirked at her. “Perhaps. But I think I’ll stay out here for now.”

Shepard shrugged. “Suit yourself. See you back on the ship!”

Garrus nodded at Thane, who returned the gesture, and then Shepard’s arm was back in his and they were walking once more. A little while later, they found themselves seated at a little table in a fancy restaurant. Asari waitresses flitted about in their skimpy outfits, taking the couple’s order. A bottle of fine green wine was brought over first, and after a while their meals arrived. Shepard went all out with a steak smothered in a garlic sauce and mushrooms with a side of steamed asparagus. It wasn’t often that she got to eat good food, and so she allowed herself the moment to pig out. Looking over at Garrus’s food, she cocked her head to the side in confusion. There were so many bright colors on his plate, and even though it looked sweet, the smell wafting off it gave the sense of something spicy.

“What are you eating?” he asked, giving her plate the same strange look.

“Steak. Rare and delicious.” She licked her lips. At his persistent, confused look, she continued: “Back on Earth, we have these creatures called cows that you can kill and eat. All kinds of foods are made from them.” She nodded at his plate. “And, uh…what’s that?”

“Some native flora and fauna species from Palaven. Kind of the same as your cow, I guess.”

They smiled at each other and began eating. Shepard tried to be ladylike—partly so she wouldn’t ruin her dress and partly so Garrus wouldn’t think her an animal—but it was hard to eat slowly after years of military service where you ate when you could. Food was food, no matter how ugly or pretty it looked, and she had spent too many nights hungry because rations were low. And so, after a few tries at small, delicate bites, Shepard gave up and began shoving heaping helpings of steak in her mouth, chewing and savoring the juices with relish. Garrus chuckled and joined her, scooping a large mouthful of blue meat into his mouth. They shared another smile in between bites, heedless of the disgusted looks the restaurant’s other patrons shot in their direction.

With the meal devoured and the plates cleared away, Garrus pulled a small box out of his pocket. Shepard paled; surely he wasn’t…?

He caught her look and quickly shook his head. “No, no! Nothing like that, don’t worry!” Garrus had studied enough about human culture to understand the significance of such a gift presented in this situation; too bad he hadn’t thought of that earlier. Garrus placed the box on the table in front of her, waiting for Shepard to open it. Carefully, she lifted the box open on its hinges. What lay inside took her breath away.

A tiny flower with blue petals in the shape of a bell.

Shepard still remembered the tiny flower he had picked for her after the destruction Sovereign had wreaked on the Citadel; she remembered how it had been utterly destroyed in the attack that had taken the original Normandy. The sentiment had meant so much to her back then, and the fact that Garrus had remembered it—and had taken the time to pick her another—touched Shepard in such a profound way. She looked across the table at him, her eyes filling with tears.

Garrus panicked. “I’m sorry! I thought you would like it—“

“Shut up,” she whispered, rising to her feet so that she could circle the table towards him. Gracefully, Shepard sat herself in his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips to his in a tender kiss. Garrus hugged her close, wishing the moment could last.
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Never Again