Better Than The Tank 3/3
anonymous
November 3 2012, 21:01:42 UTC
Shepard returned about an hour later to tell him goodnight and make sure he had everything he needed.
“Will you read me that story about the samurai warrior?”
“The one you and Samara were reading?”
“Yeah.”
Shepard covered Grunt's tired form with a blanket before loading up the story and -thanks to EDI's bookmark- began reading where Samara had left off.
It didn't take long for him to fall asleep. It had been a long, hard day for them both. Shepard picked up the datapad from the foot of his bed, smiling when she read the chapter Grunt had been reading.
Bedtime Stories: Humans do it too.
-
“Stay safe!”
“I will, Shepard. I am just training new recruits right now.”
“I know, I know. Love you, kiddo.” Shepard hugged him tight before she nuzzled his head.
“I love you too...Mother.”
Then he was off being a leader again. She was so proud of him.
- - - - Post-War
“You will move or I will move you.” Grunt said tiredly.
“I'm sorry sir, you aren't on the list.”
“Check it. Listed under family, Son: Urdnot Grunt.”
“B-bu-but, you're krogan.”
Grunt growled, “Check it.”
The young Alliance soldier brought up his omnitool again, checking the list of people allowed in this section of the hospital. “I'm sorry, sir, it's just...I wasn't expecting it.”
“You will learn that where my mother is concerned, everything is unexpected.”
“Y-yes, sir. You can go in.”
Grunt walked quickly down the long hall before he finally came to a check-in desk. Before he could ask where Shepard's room was, a human female with an obnoxious voice began speaking.
“Krogan are being cared for two floors down.”
Was she stupid? This part of the hospital was blocked off. Kasumi reported that she had been contacted to help with security.
“Where is Shepard's room?”
The female snorted, “And you are?”
“Her son.” he growled at her. The kid at the door he could understand, but this woman...
Grunt could feel the blood rushing through him, preparing for a fight, while she smacked some pink stuff around in her mouth.
“Finger there. You have to be scanned.”
He wanted to headbutt her but he complied. When she tried to deny him access, the desk cracked under his hands.
“Is there a problem here?”
The nurse smiled, “This...krogan...claims to be the son of Commander Shepard.”
“That's because he is, Nurse Randels. Grunt, she is in room one sixteen, head on down. Randels, a word.”
“Thank you Admiral Hackett.” Grunt said, relieved.
-
Hackett must have fired the woman because every day since then, it had been someone else behind the desk.
Shepard was still asleep, the doctors unsure when she would wake up. He worked, digging for survivors, heavy lifting...whatever was needed during the day. But at night he came to the hospital. Every evening the same.
“Here for the night, Sir?”
“Yes.”
“Shepard is still asleep, your cot and datapads ready for use. Urdnot Wrex dropped of some food for you.”
“Thank you.”
After he ate his bland packaged meal, he would sit next to Shepard's bed and read to her. He talked aloud and asked questions before he would lay on his too small cot and fall asleep.
It was the same routine for several months. After the Normandy made it home, he was joined by Garrus. Friends and family were in and out everyday. Shepard was never alone.
It took another month for her to wake up and when she did, Grunt was the person she woke to.
Grunt was the one that got to tell Garrus that his mate was asking for him.
Grunt was the one to shout from the roof of the hospital that his mother is awake as the crowd cheered below, celebrating with him.
And Grunt was the one to read her a bedtime story each night in the hospital before bed and this time when he asked questions, his mother answered.
Re: Better Than The Tank 3/3
anonymous
November 6 2012, 18:51:52 UTC
I take my hat off to you A!A. This is a masterful piece of writing, Grunt and Shepard's relationship comes across SO DAMN WELL. Authors like you are the reason I started writing. So keep being awesome, and thank you for writing.
Re: Better Than The Tank 3/3
anonymous
November 9 2012, 04:36:19 UTC
My uterus! It aches! This was so beautiful and I wanted more of this in Mass Effect! I feel the maternal blood in me going. I need to figure out how to adopt a krogan now.
“Will you read me that story about the samurai warrior?”
“The one you and Samara were reading?”
“Yeah.”
Shepard covered Grunt's tired form with a blanket before loading up the story and -thanks to EDI's bookmark- began reading where Samara had left off.
It didn't take long for him to fall asleep. It had been a long, hard day for them both. Shepard picked up the datapad from the foot of his bed, smiling when she read the chapter Grunt had been reading.
Bedtime Stories: Humans do it too.
-
“Stay safe!”
“I will, Shepard. I am just training new recruits right now.”
“I know, I know. Love you, kiddo.” Shepard hugged him tight before she nuzzled his head.
“I love you too...Mother.”
Then he was off being a leader again. She was so proud of him.
- - - -
Post-War
“You will move or I will move you.” Grunt said tiredly.
“I'm sorry sir, you aren't on the list.”
“Check it. Listed under family, Son: Urdnot Grunt.”
“B-bu-but, you're krogan.”
Grunt growled, “Check it.”
The young Alliance soldier brought up his omnitool again, checking the list of people allowed in this section of the hospital. “I'm sorry, sir, it's just...I wasn't expecting it.”
“You will learn that where my mother is concerned, everything is unexpected.”
“Y-yes, sir. You can go in.”
Grunt walked quickly down the long hall before he finally came to a check-in desk. Before he could ask where Shepard's room was, a human female with an obnoxious voice began speaking.
“Krogan are being cared for two floors down.”
Was she stupid? This part of the hospital was blocked off. Kasumi reported that she had been contacted to help with security.
“Where is Shepard's room?”
The female snorted, “And you are?”
“Her son.” he growled at her. The kid at the door he could understand, but this woman...
Grunt could feel the blood rushing through him, preparing for a fight, while she smacked some pink stuff around in her mouth.
“Finger there. You have to be scanned.”
He wanted to headbutt her but he complied. When she tried to deny him access, the desk cracked under his hands.
“Is there a problem here?”
The nurse smiled, “This...krogan...claims to be the son of Commander Shepard.”
“That's because he is, Nurse Randels. Grunt, she is in room one sixteen, head on down. Randels, a word.”
“Thank you Admiral Hackett.” Grunt said, relieved.
-
Hackett must have fired the woman because every day since then, it had been someone else behind the desk.
Shepard was still asleep, the doctors unsure when she would wake up. He worked, digging for survivors, heavy lifting...whatever was needed during the day. But at night he came to the hospital. Every evening the same.
“Here for the night, Sir?”
“Yes.”
“Shepard is still asleep, your cot and datapads ready for use. Urdnot Wrex dropped of some food for you.”
“Thank you.”
After he ate his bland packaged meal, he would sit next to Shepard's bed and read to her. He talked aloud and asked questions before he would lay on his too small cot and fall asleep.
It was the same routine for several months. After the Normandy made it home, he was joined by Garrus. Friends and family were in and out everyday. Shepard was never alone.
It took another month for her to wake up and when she did, Grunt was the person she woke to.
Grunt was the one that got to tell Garrus that his mate was asking for him.
Grunt was the one to shout from the roof of the hospital that his mother is awake as the crowd cheered below, celebrating with him.
And Grunt was the one to read her a bedtime story each night in the hospital before bed and this time when he asked questions, his mother answered.
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Your comment just totally made my day and gave me so many teary eyed awesome feels! Thank you <3
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It is such a huge relief that this was enjoyed by so many.
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Even the Captcha agrees you excel.
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