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"Shepard!" Garrus called through the crowd of turians that had gathered to pick up supplies. His role was done and he was ready to just enjoy the Citadel with his girlfriend. Every last moment he could get.
He saw her turn into an open area where Vega and a few refugees were huddled around a table. It was strewn with playing cards and Vega was holding five in his hand.
"You know, the Alliance doesn't pay that well, Vega," he heard Shepard say.
"I know what I'm doing, Shepard."
A moment passed as Garrus pushed through the crowd and up the stairs. A huge groan carried over the loud whoop from a batarian.
"Wipe that damn smirk off your face, Lola."
Lola?
Garrus looked around the table as he was free of the crowd. There was another human woman at the table, but she didn't pay any attention to Vega, her face in a grimace.
Then his eyes found Shepard, who wore the smirk she so often saved for Vega.
"You might want to work on your poker face, Vega. Loser was written all over it."
"Next time you find yourself with nothin' to do, I'll round up Cortez and Alenko and you can put your credits where your mouth is, Lola."
There it was again.
That wasn't some Earth slang was it? He wracked his brain for anything resembling the word 'Lola'.
Lo and behold?
Lone wolf?
Looney Tunes?
No, nothing.
There was only one logical conclusion: Lola was Shepard's first name.
Why she would entrust it to Vega was beyond him, but now Garrus knew. He just had to use it for the first time ever in the perfect place.
"Garrus! Ready to go?"
"What? Where?"
Shepard crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head. "I had a surprise for you. Have to go up to the Embassies first."
"You two are the cutest thing in the galaxy," Vega said, sarcasm lacing his voice.
Shepard rolled her eyes but reached a hand for Garrus.
He gave her a smile, his mandibles flexing in contentment. He had a surprise too and he was sure she was going to love it.
*****
Shepard keyed in her Spectre code and dragged Garrus through the door.
"I've always wanted to visit these offices," he said softly, jogging to keep up with her.
"That's not even the best part." She led him away from the consoles and buckets of information to another door. It opened into a...shooting range.
"I ordered you every sniper in the book." Shepard gestured to the array of weapons that gleamed in the fluorescent light. "A Javelin, M-90 Indra, an N7 Valiant, among others..." She walked over to the final gun and picked it up, resting the butt of the rifle on her hip. "And a Black Widow."
The joy flickered into his expression, replacing the dumbfounded one he wore when he entered the range.
Shepard didn't know how he would respond. What she didn't expect was him crossing the distance between them in two strides and wrapping an arm around her waist. Garrus pulled her closer and a shudder traveled through her body.
He pressed his forehead against hers and she closed her eyes at the contact. The fire under her skin simmered. Shepard was very close to dropping the expensive Widow and locking the Spectre Offices to anyone else.
"I will not be outdone by this grand gesture..."
She smiled, before licking her lips in anticipation of what would happen next.
"...Lola."
Her eyes flew open and her body tensed at the word. Fortunately, the Widow was not pointed at anyone. Unfortunately, her finger was a little too trigger-happy and she sent a round sailing down the range.
Shepard looked apologetically at Garrus, putting the rifle onto the table.
Her turian looked concerned, eyes not willing to meet hers. "Garrus...?"
"Look, you still got it right in the heart." Garrus pointed to the target. Huh.
"You can't get out of this. Why'd you call me that?"
"Nope, not going to give you the satisfaction."
"Don't make me make it an order, Vakarian."
His mandibles twitched and she could see the internal war going on in him. He mumbled something.
"No, no, not good enough."
"Vega called you that. Thought it was your name. Didn't know why you'd tell him, but I wanted to surprise you."
"Are you jealous, Garrus Vakarian?"
He finally looked back at her. "Maybe. What do I get to call you?"
Shepard let out a small laugh before running a hand down his chest. "Isn't it good enough that you get to moan my name?"