No One Knows You Like I Do - 1/?
anonymous
June 13 2015, 04:38:17 UTC
Forgive A!A if this doesn't meet all of OP's hopes and dreams...just tried to work with this prompt as best as possible. It'll be a fun little side project for me so thanks in advance!
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"Extranet has returned a total of 262,200,000 search results fitting the the key term "human marriage customs" - would you like to use a filter for better results?"
"No."
Garrus sighed and closed the extranet search page window from his omni-tool. It didn't matter what he put into the search bar - nothing relevant ever came back.
"You okay there, big guy?"
Turning his head, he was greatly surprised to find his human girlfriend standing at the door, duffel bag over her shoulder.
"Shepard," he said, standing and heading over to her.
She dropped her bag at the doorway, walking to meet him halfway.
Even three years after the war, there was still a small limp in her walk. He loved her all the more for it - it reminded everyone on a daily basis of the sacrifices she put herself through to save the galaxy. And if anyone ever forgot...well, he was more than happy to give them a 'friendly' reminder.
Once she was in his arms, he bent down and hummed in appreciation at the feeling of her soft lips placing a peck on his mouth plates. His mandibles fluttered and he knew that by now, she understood his body language enough to know it was his version of a big grin.
"What were you up to?" she asked once she lowered herself from tip-toe height. "Everything okay? I heard you sighing," she commented, her eyebrows furrowed slightly in worry.
"Oh, I'm fine, Shepard. Just the extranet refusing to cooperate with me," he joked, suddenly feeling guilty for making her worry over nothing.
"Don't tell me you're still "researching" after all these years?" Shepard asked, waggling her fingers in the air for emphasis on the word 'research'. "I thought we came to the agreement that any and all further research would be done in the bedroom?" she teased, folding her arms over with a smirk.
"Hmmm...didn't hear you complaining when I came across that vid a few months back." Garrus laughed when he felt her arm fist collide with his arm in a mock punch.
“…’sure do have a smart mouth, Vakarian," Shepard retorted. He couldn't get over the way her tough voice contradicted the blush dusting her face.
"You know you love it, Shepard," he replied, before leading her back to the couch, a hand at the small of her back. "So what happened? I thought you were supposed to be gone for a few more weeks? Not that I'm complaining or anything," Garrus mentioned. Hell, he'd been counting the days - he hated it when she was gone but work was work.
"Please, Garrus. I'm a big girl - and Admirals always get the job faster than a Commander," Shepard boasted as she took a seat on the couch with him.
It'd honestly been a surprise to all of them when Hackett promoted Shepard to an Admiral - not that she didn't deserve the promotion. Everyone was so used to calling her ‘Commander’ - hell, they still did. Shepard herself admitted she was used to everyone calling her Commander by now - Admiral just didn’t have that same impact on her. Though that was only for close friends - everyone else knew well-enough to respect her new hard-earned rank.
“Count on Admiral Shepard to just get the job done when everyone else runs around like a pyjack on Red Sand,” Garrus mumbled while lying down more and letting his girlfriend rest on top of him.
Re: No One Knows You Like I Do - 2/?
anonymous
June 13 2015, 04:39:39 UTC
“It’s fine…keeps a roof over our heads, doesn’t it?” she asked, her forehead pressing against his brow.
“You know damn well that your pension from the Alliance alone could keep you going until we’re old and grey,” Garrus reminded her. Not to mention several other rewards and pensions from other species in thanks for all her work during the Reaper Threat.
With a shrug, Shepard smiled. “Yeah, I guess. But I like to keep busy, y’know? Ending a million-plus year old galactic threat didn’t exactly stop everything wrong. It’s hard to end 50,000 years of evolutionary stupidity. I kinda knew certain people weren’t going to give up being asses just because there isn’t a threat of a Reaper shooting giant red laser beams at you anymore. Hell, the peace just probably made ‘em want to act out even more.”
“Right,” Garrus said with a huff. Slavers and extra-violent groups of mercenaries and criminals still ran amok - some even popping up just a few days after the Reaper-threat ended. They sure did like to keep the galaxy busy.
‘But it’s what I’m good at’, he remembered Shepard telling him once. And he knew it - the fire in her eyes when they were out in the battlefield - the rush of adrenaline that made her move faster after taking down a target. A warrior through and through - just the way he loved her. He understood that feeling exactly - they were soldiers - war was their resume - war was their lifestyle. But as he grew older and stayed with his partner, he couldn’t help but worry for her every time she left their shared apartment for a mission out in the Terminus Systems. He knew the feeling was mutual when he had to leave with his own platoon for an extended period of time. But somehow, they always made it back to each other in one piece - a bit ragged, but otherwise just fine. Besides, he had to keep the scars looking fresh for his lady-love, didn’t he?
“So what were you really looking up that the Extranet failed to deliver, anyway?” she asked, changing the subject.
He shifted in his spot, mandibles flicking lightly. “Uh, well, you know…just things…pretty boring, really,” he told her, hoping she’d buy his fib.
Shepard only gave him a look that told him that she didn’t believe him for a second. Lucky for him, he deleted his Extranet history before she came in - otherwise he’d have some awkward explanations to come up with.
“Uh huh.”
Her accusatory tone fell through once he ran his talons down the curve of her back. He chuckled when he felt her shudder against him. “Sure you want to know what I was looking up? I can think of some more…entertaining things we could do,” he purred, subharmonics trembling with desire for the human female settled on top of him.
“Mmm…I think I can indulge…only if they’re naughty,” Shepard teased back, legs wrapping firmly around his sharp hips and effectively locking him in place - not that he wanted to go anywhere, anyway.
“Do I ever have any other sort of ideas?” Garrus replied, mandibles parting to show off his sharp teeth.
Re: No One Knows You Like I Do - 3/?
anonymous
June 13 2015, 07:12:48 UTC
She leaned in to kiss him and he grabbed her by the hips, quickly flipping their position so that he was on top. Her eyes went wide and he knew from that sharp, little breath she let out, she was excited and at attention. Spirits, he loved her - even after all this time, choosing to be intimate with her left him feeling warm like the first time they ever did this.
“Take a picture - I hear it lasts longer, big guy.”
Shepard’s voice brought him out of his daze and his nose scrunched, mouth plates twitching in a turian version of a smile. “A picture of the great Admiral or having the real deal right in front of me…wonder which one I’m going to choose,” he told her, moving a hand to sift his talons through her hair. She moved her face so that her cheek would brush against his fingers, eyes fluttering closed.
“Hmm…I certainly hope it’s the latter,” she replied with a gentle smile.
They remained on the sofa just as they were for several minutes, simply content to be in each other’s’ arms once again. Shepard finally began to slowly remove her shirt. Garrus watched in silent pleasure as the skin of her waist was revealed, inch by inch, feeling his blood warm rapidly when her hips swayed just a bit under him.
“Shepard,” he breathed, voice ragged. He was embarrassed at how needy he sounded but dammit, if he wasn’t inside her within the next few minutes…
What he didn’t expect to hear was the sound of her omni-tool beeping, signifying an important call as in the past, Shepard modified all non-critical calls to remain silent. Her arms were still above her head, shirt not completely off. Her shoulders slumped as the ringing continued. “It’s Hackett.”
“Dammit,” Garrus snapped as he sat up and helped Shepard with her shirt before letting her take the call. That man certainly did have the worst timing.
Before taking the call, she shot Garrus an apologetic look. Pressing a few buttons on her tool, she brought up the face-view. “Admiral Hackett - is something wrong, sir?” she asked.
“Shepard, please - we’re the same rank now. There’s no need to be so formal,” the elder human told her over vid-com.
She shrugged. “Just a force of habit, sir. I don’t really mind.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything, Admiral. I’m aware that you’ve recently returned from another N7 assignment out in the Attican Traverse. I’ve read the mission summaries; nice work out there.”
“Thank you, sir. Just doing my job,” Shepard answered.
As professional as always, Garrus thought to himself. But he’d known and lived with Shepard long enough to know that there was an agitation in her eyes as she faced the digital image of Hackett. She was just as miffed as he was about having their privacy interrupted. Though she wasn’t the only victim - Victus often paged his own omni-tool with requests on Palaven’s behalf.
“I’ll get to the point then. We have a situation in the Terminus Systems that requires someone who can get the job done swiftly and without too much violence. I would send in a negotiation team but to be honest, I don’t trust them with this sort of deal.”
“I understand, sir. When do I leave?”
“As soon as possible - I’ve already sent instructions to Moreau and the rest of your crew to have the Normandy ready for departure once you arrive,” Hackett informed Shepard, looking down at a datapad in hand. “Again, I’m sorry for such short notice, Admiral but you know I don’t trust anyone else to get the job done correctly,” he finished with a shake of his head.
“That’s alright, sir. I’m honored you believe I’m capable of taking on this mission,” Shepard answered.
“Don’t know what we’d do without you, Admiral. Get it done. Hackett out.”
Re: No One Knows You Like I Do - 4/?
anonymous
June 14 2015, 03:28:49 UTC
Thank you for the comments! A!A is happy to continue!
--
When the transmission was over, Shepard sighed and ran a hand through her hair, leaning back against the couch.
“So…is it Alliance protocol to train units to be incompetent so that the responsibility falls on the same soldier all the time or is that relatively new?” Garrus asked sarcastically.
He ignored the small glare and frown she sent his way but he merely grumbled, moving back to hold her close. “Shepard,” he said, tone indicating disappointment.
“Don’t say it, Garrus,” she warned, not bothering to move from his arms.
“They’re taking advantage of you,” he said anyway. They had this discussion before; he didn’t think it was fair that they called on her so often for work that could’ve been easily allocated to other units and soldiers - let them get some experience for a damn change? She was gone for so long at times - it was a miracle she ever had time to stay at home with him and relax.
“I’m still a military resource, after all,” she answered in tow, in a voice that sounded like her reply was rehearsed.
Garrus placed his face close to the junction between her neck and shoulder, mandibles fluttering and placing small closed-mouth kisses on her warm skin. “Yes…but you’re a finite resource. I’d rather have you here with me instead of run out completely, thanks,” he argued.
Giving him a small smile, Shepard’s hand ran over the scarred side of his face, eyes locking with his. “I’m still an N7 operative…I’ve got duties to the Alliance.”
“What? Did Vega suddenly stop being an N7 operative, too?” Garrus questioned, the arm around her waist holding her even tighter.
“He’s got his own share of responsibilities…besides, I’m a Spectre, too…I’ve gotta-“
“Shepard,” he interrupted, using more authority in his voice than before. That always got her attention; the ever-in charge ex-Commander Shepard wasn’t used to hearing that tone from anyone other than the Council or Admiral Hackett. Looks like those days in C-Sec paid off, he mused to himself when her mouth opened slightly in shock.
“…It’s what I’m good at,” Shepard whispered after a few moments of silence between them.
“Too good, if you ask me.” Garrus let out an exasperated huff and pressed his face against the side of her neck. “I’m just worried about you,” he said, voice muffled.
“I know, big-guy…I worry about you, too. But it’s my job and I do it so that I can keep you safe, after all,” Shepard said, planting a small kiss on his scarred mandible.
“Keep me safe? Really? You do realize I have seven - no - eight sniper-rifles hidden in this apartment?”
“You know what I mean. Besides...it keeps me busy. Otherwise, I'd just stay here all day and jump your bones,” she grinned.
“Now you're just teasing, Shepard,” Garrus growled.
Laughing, she pressed another quick kiss against his brow and then looked at the time on her watch. “Guess I gotta get going. Good thing I didn't unpack,” she said, sadness entering her voice. “I'll be back as soon as I can, big guy. Love you.”
Before she could stand and leave, Garrus grabbed hold of her wrist. “Wait, Shepard...just wait. Hackett said as soon as you were able too, right?” he asked.
When she nodded, he continued. “Well...can't you just stay and rest for one night? Maybe we can finish where we were so rudely interrupted?” Garrus suggested, hope evident in his subtones.
“Aw, no fair. I can't exactly say no to the sexiest turian in the galaxy, can I?” Shepard teased, letting Garrus lead her to their bedroom upstairs.
“Well, you could, but there's a 99.9% chance that said turian would find a way to work around that issue anyway,” Garrus replied, closing the door behind them once they were inside.
“He'd calibrate the odds to be in his favor, huh?” Shepard joked, letting him set her on the bed and climb on top of her.
Re: No One Knows You Like I Do - 4/?
anonymous
June 22 2015, 03:00:03 UTC
Probably one on the umbrella rack, one on the towel rack behind a (permanently) used towel, on in the actual armory of the house and one under the pillows, because Garrus would probably do that.
Re: No One Knows You Like I Do - 4/?
anonymous
June 15 2015, 00:44:47 UTC
“So…is it Alliance protocol to train units to be incompetent so that the responsibility falls on the same soldier all the time or is that relatively new?” Garrus asked sarcastically.
--
"Extranet has returned a total of 262,200,000 search results fitting the the key term "human marriage customs" - would you like to use a filter for better results?"
"No."
Garrus sighed and closed the extranet search page window from his omni-tool. It didn't matter what he put into the search bar - nothing relevant ever came back.
"You okay there, big guy?"
Turning his head, he was greatly surprised to find his human girlfriend standing at the door, duffel bag over her shoulder.
"Shepard," he said, standing and heading over to her.
She dropped her bag at the doorway, walking to meet him halfway.
Even three years after the war, there was still a small limp in her walk. He loved her all the more for it - it reminded everyone on a daily basis of the sacrifices she put herself through to save the galaxy. And if anyone ever forgot...well, he was more than happy to give them a 'friendly' reminder.
Once she was in his arms, he bent down and hummed in appreciation at the feeling of her soft lips placing a peck on his mouth plates. His mandibles fluttered and he knew that by now, she understood his body language enough to know it was his version of a big grin.
"What were you up to?" she asked once she lowered herself from tip-toe height. "Everything okay? I heard you sighing," she commented, her eyebrows furrowed slightly in worry.
"Oh, I'm fine, Shepard. Just the extranet refusing to cooperate with me," he joked, suddenly feeling guilty for making her worry over nothing.
"Don't tell me you're still "researching" after all these years?" Shepard asked, waggling her fingers in the air for emphasis on the word 'research'. "I thought we came to the agreement that any and all further research would be done in the bedroom?" she teased, folding her arms over with a smirk.
"Hmmm...didn't hear you complaining when I came across that vid a few months back." Garrus laughed when he felt her arm fist collide with his arm in a mock punch.
“…’sure do have a smart mouth, Vakarian," Shepard retorted. He couldn't get over the way her tough voice contradicted the blush dusting her face.
"You know you love it, Shepard," he replied, before leading her back to the couch, a hand at the small of her back. "So what happened? I thought you were supposed to be gone for a few more weeks? Not that I'm complaining or anything," Garrus mentioned. Hell, he'd been counting the days - he hated it when she was gone but work was work.
"Please, Garrus. I'm a big girl - and Admirals always get the job faster than a Commander," Shepard boasted as she took a seat on the couch with him.
It'd honestly been a surprise to all of them when Hackett promoted Shepard to an Admiral - not that she didn't deserve the promotion. Everyone was so used to calling her ‘Commander’ - hell, they still did. Shepard herself admitted she was used to everyone calling her Commander by now - Admiral just didn’t have that same impact on her. Though that was only for close friends - everyone else knew well-enough to respect her new hard-earned rank.
“Count on Admiral Shepard to just get the job done when everyone else runs around like a pyjack on Red Sand,” Garrus mumbled while lying down more and letting his girlfriend rest on top of him.
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“You know damn well that your pension from the Alliance alone could keep you going until we’re old and grey,” Garrus reminded her. Not to mention several other rewards and pensions from other species in thanks for all her work during the Reaper Threat.
With a shrug, Shepard smiled. “Yeah, I guess. But I like to keep busy, y’know? Ending a million-plus year old galactic threat didn’t exactly stop everything wrong. It’s hard to end 50,000 years of evolutionary stupidity. I kinda knew certain people weren’t going to give up being asses just because there isn’t a threat of a Reaper shooting giant red laser beams at you anymore. Hell, the peace just probably made ‘em want to act out even more.”
“Right,” Garrus said with a huff. Slavers and extra-violent groups of mercenaries and criminals still ran amok - some even popping up just a few days after the Reaper-threat ended. They sure did like to keep the galaxy busy.
‘But it’s what I’m good at’, he remembered Shepard telling him once. And he knew it - the fire in her eyes when they were out in the battlefield - the rush of adrenaline that made her move faster after taking down a target. A warrior through and through - just the way he loved her. He understood that feeling exactly - they were soldiers - war was their resume - war was their lifestyle. But as he grew older and stayed with his partner, he couldn’t help but worry for her every time she left their shared apartment for a mission out in the Terminus Systems. He knew the feeling was mutual when he had to leave with his own platoon for an extended period of time. But somehow, they always made it back to each other in one piece - a bit ragged, but otherwise just fine. Besides, he had to keep the scars looking fresh for his lady-love, didn’t he?
“So what were you really looking up that the Extranet failed to deliver, anyway?” she asked, changing the subject.
He shifted in his spot, mandibles flicking lightly. “Uh, well, you know…just things…pretty boring, really,” he told her, hoping she’d buy his fib.
Shepard only gave him a look that told him that she didn’t believe him for a second. Lucky for him, he deleted his Extranet history before she came in - otherwise he’d have some awkward explanations to come up with.
“Uh huh.”
Her accusatory tone fell through once he ran his talons down the curve of her back. He chuckled when he felt her shudder against him. “Sure you want to know what I was looking up? I can think of some more…entertaining things we could do,” he purred, subharmonics trembling with desire for the human female settled on top of him.
“Mmm…I think I can indulge…only if they’re naughty,” Shepard teased back, legs wrapping firmly around his sharp hips and effectively locking him in place - not that he wanted to go anywhere, anyway.
“Do I ever have any other sort of ideas?” Garrus replied, mandibles parting to show off his sharp teeth.
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“Take a picture - I hear it lasts longer, big guy.”
Shepard’s voice brought him out of his daze and his nose scrunched, mouth plates twitching in a turian version of a smile. “A picture of the great Admiral or having the real deal right in front of me…wonder which one I’m going to choose,” he told her, moving a hand to sift his talons through her hair. She moved her face so that her cheek would brush against his fingers, eyes fluttering closed.
“Hmm…I certainly hope it’s the latter,” she replied with a gentle smile.
They remained on the sofa just as they were for several minutes, simply content to be in each other’s’ arms once again. Shepard finally began to slowly remove her shirt. Garrus watched in silent pleasure as the skin of her waist was revealed, inch by inch, feeling his blood warm rapidly when her hips swayed just a bit under him.
“Shepard,” he breathed, voice ragged. He was embarrassed at how needy he sounded but dammit, if he wasn’t inside her within the next few minutes…
What he didn’t expect to hear was the sound of her omni-tool beeping, signifying an important call as in the past, Shepard modified all non-critical calls to remain silent. Her arms were still above her head, shirt not completely off. Her shoulders slumped as the ringing continued. “It’s Hackett.”
“Dammit,” Garrus snapped as he sat up and helped Shepard with her shirt before letting her take the call. That man certainly did have the worst timing.
Before taking the call, she shot Garrus an apologetic look. Pressing a few buttons on her tool, she brought up the face-view. “Admiral Hackett - is something wrong, sir?” she asked.
“Shepard, please - we’re the same rank now. There’s no need to be so formal,” the elder human told her over vid-com.
She shrugged. “Just a force of habit, sir. I don’t really mind.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything, Admiral. I’m aware that you’ve recently returned from another N7 assignment out in the Attican Traverse. I’ve read the mission summaries; nice work out there.”
“Thank you, sir. Just doing my job,” Shepard answered.
As professional as always, Garrus thought to himself. But he’d known and lived with Shepard long enough to know that there was an agitation in her eyes as she faced the digital image of Hackett. She was just as miffed as he was about having their privacy interrupted. Though she wasn’t the only victim - Victus often paged his own omni-tool with requests on Palaven’s behalf.
“I’ll get to the point then. We have a situation in the Terminus Systems that requires someone who can get the job done swiftly and without too much violence. I would send in a negotiation team but to be honest, I don’t trust them with this sort of deal.”
“I understand, sir. When do I leave?”
“As soon as possible - I’ve already sent instructions to Moreau and the rest of your crew to have the Normandy ready for departure once you arrive,” Hackett informed Shepard, looking down at a datapad in hand. “Again, I’m sorry for such short notice, Admiral but you know I don’t trust anyone else to get the job done correctly,” he finished with a shake of his head.
“That’s alright, sir. I’m honored you believe I’m capable of taking on this mission,” Shepard answered.
“Don’t know what we’d do without you, Admiral. Get it done. Hackett out.”
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--
When the transmission was over, Shepard sighed and ran a hand through her hair, leaning back against the couch.
“So…is it Alliance protocol to train units to be incompetent so that the responsibility falls on the same soldier all the time or is that relatively new?” Garrus asked sarcastically.
He ignored the small glare and frown she sent his way but he merely grumbled, moving back to hold her close. “Shepard,” he said, tone indicating disappointment.
“Don’t say it, Garrus,” she warned, not bothering to move from his arms.
“They’re taking advantage of you,” he said anyway. They had this discussion before; he didn’t think it was fair that they called on her so often for work that could’ve been easily allocated to other units and soldiers - let them get some experience for a damn change? She was gone for so long at times - it was a miracle she ever had time to stay at home with him and relax.
“I’m still a military resource, after all,” she answered in tow, in a voice that sounded like her reply was rehearsed.
Garrus placed his face close to the junction between her neck and shoulder, mandibles fluttering and placing small closed-mouth kisses on her warm skin. “Yes…but you’re a finite resource. I’d rather have you here with me instead of run out completely, thanks,” he argued.
Giving him a small smile, Shepard’s hand ran over the scarred side of his face, eyes locking with his. “I’m still an N7 operative…I’ve got duties to the Alliance.”
“What? Did Vega suddenly stop being an N7 operative, too?” Garrus questioned, the arm around her waist holding her even tighter.
“He’s got his own share of responsibilities…besides, I’m a Spectre, too…I’ve gotta-“
“Shepard,” he interrupted, using more authority in his voice than before. That always got her attention; the ever-in charge ex-Commander Shepard wasn’t used to hearing that tone from anyone other than the Council or Admiral Hackett. Looks like those days in C-Sec paid off, he mused to himself when her mouth opened slightly in shock.
“…It’s what I’m good at,” Shepard whispered after a few moments of silence between them.
“Too good, if you ask me.” Garrus let out an exasperated huff and pressed his face against the side of her neck. “I’m just worried about you,” he said, voice muffled.
“I know, big-guy…I worry about you, too. But it’s my job and I do it so that I can keep you safe, after all,” Shepard said, planting a small kiss on his scarred mandible.
“Keep me safe? Really? You do realize I have seven - no - eight sniper-rifles hidden in this apartment?”
“You know what I mean. Besides...it keeps me busy. Otherwise, I'd just stay here all day and jump your bones,” she grinned.
“Now you're just teasing, Shepard,” Garrus growled.
Laughing, she pressed another quick kiss against his brow and then looked at the time on her watch. “Guess I gotta get going. Good thing I didn't unpack,” she said, sadness entering her voice. “I'll be back as soon as I can, big guy. Love you.”
Before she could stand and leave, Garrus grabbed hold of her wrist. “Wait, Shepard...just wait. Hackett said as soon as you were able too, right?” he asked.
When she nodded, he continued. “Well...can't you just stay and rest for one night? Maybe we can finish where we were so rudely interrupted?” Garrus suggested, hope evident in his subtones.
“Aw, no fair. I can't exactly say no to the sexiest turian in the galaxy, can I?” Shepard teased, letting Garrus lead her to their bedroom upstairs.
“Well, you could, but there's a 99.9% chance that said turian would find a way to work around that issue anyway,” Garrus replied, closing the door behind them once they were inside.
“He'd calibrate the odds to be in his favor, huh?” Shepard joked, letting him set her on the bed and climb on top of her.
“You know it.”
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Same, Garrus.
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