Shakarian Compendium Here if you need me (Part 3 ... - deviantART

“Is that a joke?” she asked, seemingly amused whether it was a jokey reference to turian flang or
not.
Garrus rolled his eyes, but before he could respond further a crewman appeared with a brusque,
‘Commander?’ drawing Shepard’s attention as she was handed a data pad.
The young ensign stood rigidly straight, trying to keep his eyes focused on some indiscriminate point
over Garrus’s shoulder. At first Garrus thought he was to blame for his apparent discomfort till it
turned out he was simply trying not to stare at his Commanding Officer. A battle he lost after no
more than 15 seconds. Lucky for him, her attention remained diverted whilst he openly ogled.
On realising Garrus’s scrutiny, however, the crewman snapped his attention to the wall, and didn’t
even look at Shepard when she handed back the data pad with an equally brusque, ‘Carry on.’
With a shake of the head Garrus chuckled to himself; falling into step with Shepard as she continued
through the CIC.
“Best not make this dress code standard, Shepard,” he said, taking in the continued passing interest
that she seemed to be blind to, or rather didn’t choose to acknowledge. “I’m not sure any of the
crew could concentrate well enough to function adequately.”
“Don’t make fun of me Garrus,” she replied sternly.
“Who’s making fun?” he asked, pausing briefly so she could walk up the steps to the bridge first.
“Looking good Commander,” Joker praised with a grin, having spun round in his chair to greet them.
“And don’t you start either,” Shepard reprimanded, pointing a finger at him threateningly before
turning toward the airlock.
“What did I say?” Joker called after her, looking up at Garrus for an explanation.
Garrus lifted his palms in the universal - if dismissive - sign for ‘don’t ask me’ and rounded the corner
too.
“See what I mean?” he asked, stopping beside Shepard as she adjusted some settings on the airlock
release.
She glanced up at him in response, her brows drawn together in a scowl at first, yet slowly, under his
prolonged gaze - which she stubbornly refused to meet - her features smoothed into a small smile.
His mandibles flexed as he smiled in return, finding himself quite taken by her ‘different’ visage once
again. Her scars were all but vanished behind whatever minimal make up she was wearing – not to
mention her positive mental attitude stimulating her already astonishing ability to regenerate.
Cerberus certainly hadn’t skimped on the upgrades in that department. Something Garrus had
already been very thankful for in the midst of their more bloody encounters.
“I don’t like this, Shepard,” he began earnestly. “You shouldn’t be going in there alone.”
“I’m not overly fond of the situation either,” she replied, turning toward the exit.