Beating Like A Hammer 2/?
anonymous
April 20 2012, 01:21:50 UTC
“You okay?” Even as she asks it, she knows what the answer is. It’s carved in the set of his shoulders, in the way that he had to lean on the rifle in order to stand from his sniping crouch. It’s in the almost palpable waves of exhaustion flowing off of him. She knows the answer, but she can’t not ask.
“Been better. But it sure is good to see a friendly face. Killing mercs is hard work. Especially on my own.”
She asks questions, prods him for answers as to the how what and why of him being here on Omega. Last she knew (before she went and died) was that he was in line for Spectre training. Finding him here, a masked vigilante for all intents and purposes, is surprising to say the least.
The Q& A is all just a distraction from the almost overwhelming happiness she feels at having found him, however. It’s clear that whatever has gone down here has taken its toll on him, and it wouldn’t be right for her to shout out in glee at the moment, no matter how much she might want to. Hell, she barely managed to resist throwing her arms around him when he pulled that helmet off.
They were always close, from almost the very beginning, but they were never that close, and she has no idea if he would even welcome such a display of affection.
She thinks that she might just have to find out later, when they’ve cleared out the mercs and made it back to the Normandy. She hadn’t quite realized how much she’d missed him until he was standing in front of her again, and somehow she needs to make sure that he knows.
He finishes explaining the situation, sketching out a plan, tentative though it may be, in a subdued voice and she has to hold back a grin at the idea of fighting by his side again. “I didn’t like sneaking anyway. Time to spill a little merc blood.”
“Glad to see you haven’t changed.” His gaze, dark and hooded as it is, doesn’t waver from her. She feels a pang in her heart at the reality that she can’t say the same about him. The idealistic young turian that she knew is gone, and in his place is a battle hardened man. Then again, it’s been two years for everyone but her. It shouldn’t surprise her that the galaxy went on without her. But seeing the proof of it in her good friend’s face really brings it home. “Let’s see what they’re up to...”
When he passes her the rifle so that she can see the scouts, his hand coasts over the back of her arm, lingering a moment at her elbow. She can’t feel the heat of him through the layers of armor that they both wear, but the pressure - the presence - of him sends a jolt through her system.
It’s the first time anyone has touched her just to touch her since she woke up in that lab. Not so that they can perform a medical scan, not to pull her into cover or assist her into a hovering shuttle. Not for any reason that she can see except that she’s there, and he can. It makes her aware of him in a way that she’s never consciously been before. Maybe he wouldn’t be adverse to that hug after all...
The whole thing makes her hands shake enough that she doesn’t take the opportunity to pick off one of the mechs with a headshot when the chance presents itself.
She doesn’t have time to dwell on it though, as moments later they are deep in a firefight. Whatever Garrus did to piss off these mercs, it must have been damn impressive. Shepard’s just glad that she took the time to sabotage the heavy mechs. There’s enough heat on them without having to deal with that too. It makes things a whole hell of a lot easier. And it’s a hell of a bonus when they manage to take out Jaroth at the same time.
Of course since nothing is ever easy for long, while they’re regrouping after the first barrage - discussing exit strategies - a base shaking rattle announces that the lower levels have been breached. When Garrus makes his suggestion, something inside Shepard recoils at the idea of leaving him alone so that her and her team can deal with the new threat.
“Been better. But it sure is good to see a friendly face. Killing mercs is hard work. Especially on my own.”
She asks questions, prods him for answers as to the how what and why of him being here on Omega. Last she knew (before she went and died) was that he was in line for Spectre training. Finding him here, a masked vigilante for all intents and purposes, is surprising to say the least.
The Q& A is all just a distraction from the almost overwhelming happiness she feels at having found him, however. It’s clear that whatever has gone down here has taken its toll on him, and it wouldn’t be right for her to shout out in glee at the moment, no matter how much she might want to. Hell, she barely managed to resist throwing her arms around him when he pulled that helmet off.
They were always close, from almost the very beginning, but they were never that close, and she has no idea if he would even welcome such a display of affection.
She thinks that she might just have to find out later, when they’ve cleared out the mercs and made it back to the Normandy. She hadn’t quite realized how much she’d missed him until he was standing in front of her again, and somehow she needs to make sure that he knows.
He finishes explaining the situation, sketching out a plan, tentative though it may be, in a subdued voice and she has to hold back a grin at the idea of fighting by his side again. “I didn’t like sneaking anyway. Time to spill a little merc blood.”
“Glad to see you haven’t changed.” His gaze, dark and hooded as it is, doesn’t waver from her. She feels a pang in her heart at the reality that she can’t say the same about him. The idealistic young turian that she knew is gone, and in his place is a battle hardened man. Then again, it’s been two years for everyone but her. It shouldn’t surprise her that the galaxy went on without her. But seeing the proof of it in her good friend’s face really brings it home. “Let’s see what they’re up to...”
When he passes her the rifle so that she can see the scouts, his hand coasts over the back of her arm, lingering a moment at her elbow. She can’t feel the heat of him through the layers of armor that they both wear, but the pressure - the presence - of him sends a jolt through her system.
It’s the first time anyone has touched her just to touch her since she woke up in that lab. Not so that they can perform a medical scan, not to pull her into cover or assist her into a hovering shuttle. Not for any reason that she can see except that she’s there, and he can. It makes her aware of him in a way that she’s never consciously been before. Maybe he wouldn’t be adverse to that hug after all...
The whole thing makes her hands shake enough that she doesn’t take the opportunity to pick off one of the mechs with a headshot when the chance presents itself.
She doesn’t have time to dwell on it though, as moments later they are deep in a firefight. Whatever Garrus did to piss off these mercs, it must have been damn impressive. Shepard’s just glad that she took the time to sabotage the heavy mechs. There’s enough heat on them without having to deal with that too. It makes things a whole hell of a lot easier. And it’s a hell of a bonus when they manage to take out Jaroth at the same time.
Of course since nothing is ever easy for long, while they’re regrouping after the first barrage - discussing exit strategies - a base shaking rattle announces that the lower levels have been breached. When Garrus makes his suggestion, something inside Shepard recoils at the idea of leaving him alone so that her and her team can deal with the new threat.
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