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After talking to Garrus, she didn’t have to pretend she didn’t know his name anymore, she kissed him. He kissed her back but broke the kiss before she could deepen it. “Not right now Jane.” The way he purred her name made her shiver.
“Why not now? Nihlus said we could use his room. So long as I wash the sheets after.” She teased.
“Tempting. Very tempting but we can’t right now.” He grabbed her hands and kissed them before he walked off. Leaving Shepard very, very confused.
She took to wandering the ship. It was the night cycle and everyone was off duty. Nihlus had gone back to his room after Shepard told him she didn’t need it after all. Garrus was in the main cargo area where she usually set up and she was too confused to see him. So she wandered the ship.
She eventually ended up at the cockpit where Saren was piloting the ship. She was about to leave when he turned to her.
“So congratulations are in order I see.” At her confused look he smirked. “On your new mate.” He clarified.
She sat in the co-pilot's chair and turned to him. “I guess. I don’t know what I did wrong but he doesn’t want to touch me anymore. It wasn’t like this with my old mate.”
Saren chuckled. “You don’t know much about turian mating.” It wasn’t a question.
“I had a turian mate before. He didn’t have any problems touching me.” Shepard told him testingly.
“Then he wasn’t a true mate.” He smirked at her again. “Your new mate is showing you that he values you more than just for physical release. We turians have no problems with casual sex but when it is serious between us we start to behave differently.”
“What can I expect now? Besides the lack of sex.” She asked him.
“Don’t worry Shepard, he will still have sex with you. Just not until he has proven himself worthy. Being your mate is something he aspires to be worthy of. It might take time but the sex will happen again. More than before if I’m not mistaken. As for what you need to expect, a turian will act differently around his mate. They will spend more time in close proximity, touching, the forehead thing we do, kissing in your case. They will get possessive and jealous more easily. They will introduce them to their parents as prospective bondmates. Dating becomes a thing.” Saren explained.
“You’re right. I didn’t have a mate before.” Shepard said a little sadly. “When can I get back to the whole sex thing?”
He laughed. “You act more turian than some turians I know. As soon as he knows he is worthy of you. Probably after he introduces you to his family. The Vakarians are a hard bunch to please and the Executor doesn’t like Spectres as it is. But I believe you are already working on him.” Saren gives her a knowing look.
“Maybe a little.” She says shyly.
“I would be worried about how your family is going to take it. Your mom isn’t known for her love of turians. I don’t know anything about your dad.” He says.
“I don’t have a dad. Not really. I mean I have one but mom never told him about me. I know about him but that is through my own digging, he doesn’t know about me. Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” Saren says.
“Did you have a bondmate?”
“I did once. She died giving birth to my son.” Saren tells her.
“Did you raise Nihlus on your own after that?” Shepard asks him.
“No. I was a Spectre and my life wasn’t really conducive to raising a child. Plus, if I am being honest, I was scared to raise him alone. I dropped him off with his uncle Laiel to raise instead. I still don’t know how you found out. Even Nihlus doesn’t know.”
“And for my silence I get free rides from my two favorite Spectres.” Shepard says smiling. “Why don’t you tell him?”
“That his father who abandoned him is the council’s favorite Spectre that is also his mentor? No, I don’t want to lose the relationship I have with him as it is.”
“He is older now, he might understand, especially since he is also a Spectre.”
“A life I never wanted him to have. Truthfully I wished he took his uncle's career. It’s less dangerous. He is all I have of his mother. Looks like her too. Some days it’s hard to look at him because of his resemblance to his mother.”
“Is that why you always go on his missions with him? To keep him safe.”
“Yes and no. I want him safe but he is a good Spectre so I don’t worry that much. I guess it’s also because I want to spend time with him. I didn’t see him much growing up and now I can see him all the time.”
“As someone without a dad, I think you should tell him. That way he knows he isn’t alone in the galaxy. As for me, do I have to tell my mom I’m dating a turian?” Shepard askes.
“It is part of the bonding process.” He tells her.
Shepard blows air out of her mouth to move some hair around her face. “Fine.” She says defeatedly.
Saren cuckles. “I’m sure your mother knows. You do have a reputation for your um turian preferences.”
“You give my mom too much credit. Can I ask another question?”
“Sure.”
“If Nihlus doesn’t know his clan why does he have face marking but you don’t?”
“That is a rather insightful question. Children born out of bond, such as myself, do not mark our faces. You have heard of ‘barefaced bastards’. Well that term is accurate, we don’t have a clan. Since Nihlus’ mom and I were bonded he could have markings. His markings are a mix of his uncle’s markings, since they are the same as his mother’s were, and his own design. He started his own clan and any future offspring of his will take his markings mixed with his bondmate’s.”
“I thought you didn’t have markings because you became a Spectre at 16 and didn’t finish your service to the Hierarchy.”
“While that is true since I left the Hierarchy to become a Spectre, something that only strengthens the turian people, they asked me to take a marking. I didn’t though. I guess I wanted to be an inspiration to my barefaced bastard brethren.”
“Being the best Spectre that ever lived would be an inspiration all right. Showing that without a clan or a father you can still accomplish the best. I guess we have that in common.”
“My father was there in my life. Even if he and mom never bonded he still knew about me. I’m sorry your father is missing out on knowing you. It’s his loss that he will never know the pride that having the first human Spectre will give him.”
“Thanks Saren.” Shepard said. She hid the fact that she was tearing up from him but he probably knew it.
“I’m going to turn in for the night. Fly the ship. Don’t fly us into a black hole.” Saren said, standing and leaving her.
“I won't. My mate is on board.” Shepard tells him and takes over the piloting. Soon she gets a message on her terminal. She checks it with a smile.
Shepard,
Cure for Corpolios is finished. Ready to administer to patient. Just need package from my lab on Omega before I can cure it completely. When you can, go to Omega assistant knows you are coming and will give you the package. Bring it to Sur’Kesh when you have it. I can get patient started on treatments in the meantime.
Mordin
Mordin,
On my way to the Citadel now. Then grabbing my ship and going to Omega for the package. Estimated time to Sur’Kesh with the package is about three days from now. Thank you for doing this.
Shepard.
~~~~~
As the Executor of the Citadel Castis Vakarian is used to C-Sec holding cells. He routinely makes trips to inspect them or talk to the ones being held for processing. This might be the first time he had to go to them at 3 am though.
He walks up to the bars holding a battered turian inside. “Well this isn’t how I expected this meeting to go.” He tells him.
“Hello dad.” Garrus says behind the bars. He stands up from the cot, a little unsteady, and walks towards the bars to face his father as much as he can.
“What happened?” This was not spoken to Garrus but to Officer Chellick who was reading the paperwork on the datapad in front of him.
“Subject engaged 6 Alliance Marines in a bar fight.” Chellick reported.
“Did you win, son?” Castis asked Garrus. There was humor in his subvocals that surprised the other two turians with him.
“All six humans were sent to Huerta Hospital and one of them to the ICU. So based on the extent of injuries it appears as though the subject won.” Chellick said.
“What happened son?” Castis asked Garrus directly.
~~3 hours ago~~
After leaving the ship Garrus called on some old friends from his days on the Citadel. It was late but he knew where to find them. At Flux there was a table set aside for members of C-Sec and Garrus walked right up to them.
The turians at the table were surprised but greeted Garrus happily. Buying him rounds of drinks while he told them stories from his time in the terminus system. It was nice catching up with old friends.
The Vidscreen started to show a news report on Shepard, along with Nihlus and Saren, apprehending Hock. Garrus’ name was left out of it. He was fine with that.
The table next to him also noticed the news report and like any group of battle hardened marines, they were not quiet about what they thought.
“I can’t believe humanity got HER as our first Spectre.” One said.
“Riding turian cock must be a requirement for Spectre candidate.” Another said.
“How many do you think she had to fuck to become a Spectre?”
“Oh at least three. Their counselor, the one who recommended her, and the one training her. But knowing her there is no way she stopped at just three.”
“Disgusting. Now humanity will be known as the Spectre who is just the turian whore.”
“What a shame too. She has a nice pair of–”
“Gentleman!” Garrus said, putting his arms around two of their shoulders. “I couldn’t help overhearing your comments.”
“Garrus, leave them alone.” Whispered Chellick, who was there getting drinks with the rest of C-Sec and Garrus. The other turians at the table agreed with Chellick.
“Do you want in, Turian? You fucking her too?” One of the marines asked.
“As a matter of fact I am. See I am her mate and I don’t take kindly to jealous man babies who won't shut up about my mate.” Garrus tells the group of human male marines at the table.
~~~~and now~~~~
“Bet they didn’t like that.” Castis said.
“They did not.” Chellick said. “He fought them all and we arrested him after we got the humans medical attention.”
Castis made a hmph noise and waved his omnitool to open the cell door. Garrus and Chellick looked at him strangely. Castis held out his hand to Chellick and Chellick placed the datapad into it. But before the datapad made contact with the Executor's gloved hand it turned and grabbed Chellick by the uniform. The other hand grabbed Garrus by his shirt cowl and flung Garrus out of the cell and Chellick into the cell. Then Castis closed and locked the cell door.
“First of all. When your comrade gets into a fight you have his back OFFICER Chellick. You don’t let him go up against overwhelming odds without backup. Most importantly we Vakarians defend our mates.”
“That isn’t his fault dad. Shepard is my mate not his. He shouldn’t be locked up for that.” While grateful that his dad was on his side for the first time in forever, he was confused at his odd behavior.
“The cell is to protect him from you, son.” Castis says as he looks at Garrus. This statement did not help his confusion. Castis turned back to Chellick. “Do you want to tell him or should I?”
“It’s ancient history.” Chellick whines.
“Before Shepard was your mate Garrus she was Chellick’s” Castis explained.
“That can’t be. Why would anyone stop being mates with her?” Garrus asked.
“It doesn’t matter.” Chellick said.
“Oh it does. See one day I got a call that the entire detective branch of C-Sec was fighting. I had to go and break up a brawl that spanned the entire department. When no one told me what caused it I had to call in Shepard to get the whole story.” Castis started.
“No, it doesn’t matter anymore.” Chellick pleaded.
“Turns out Chellick here was mating with a human but wasn’t serious about her. She discovered him and another lady turian out on a date. Chellick told Shepard he was going to be her bondmate but never introduced her to his parents and continued to seek other bondings on the side. When his family found out they admonished him for being involved with a human.”
“Like you would do any different? You can’t tell me you are happy with Garrus’ choice in mates.” Chellick screamed at them.
“I am actually. Shepard is different from any Spectre and she cares greatly for my son. In fact she makes him happy and as a parent that is all I could want. Human or not, Spectre or not.” Castis explains.
“Wow thanks dad.” Garrus says shocked. “What Chellick did was horrible but why did your entire department fight?”
“Chellick? No? Okay then. After they stopped being mates Shepard did a very turian thing to get over him. She slept with a different turian. Turns out though C-Sec is crawling with turians and this one didn’t shower her scent off. Chellick noticed and proceeded to attack him.”
Garrus got mad and rattled the bars of the cell. “You have no right. You have no right to stake a claim to her after what you did. You hid your mating and treated her with contempt and you still wanted to claim her? And tonight you did nothing when those marines spoke lies about her. You didn’t defend her even after trying to claim her as yours?”
“Were they lies Garrus? You know as well as I do she has a turian fettish.” Garrus bent the bars on the cell.
“We Vakarians defend our mates. Either from marines who should have kept their mouths shut or from their exes that only want to hurt them.” Castis said. “Stay in there for the night Officer. Think about what makes a turian and turian.” and with that he grabbed Garrus by the shoulder and led him out of the precinct into the Citadel proper.
After they walked for a while Garrus asked his question. “Did you mean that dad? About Jane?”
“Of course. I think she is a great mate for you son. You know what she did when she found out Spectres have unlimited power and no accountability?”
“No, what?”
“She asked me to look over all her missions and hold her accountable. She wanted me to do it, because as she said I am a ‘Hard Ass’ who wouldn’t let her off if she did something beyond the pale. She is remarkable and quite unlike anyone else.”
“She really is.” Garrus agreed. “Was she dishonorable in her dealings as a Spectre?”
“Spirits no!” Castis laughed. “She always did things the right way, not the easy way. It was sometimes hard to come up with something she did wrong and even those were minor things. She probably is the most honorable Spectre I have ever heard of.”
Garrus was relieved. A lot has happened today but it was ending up a good day. That is when Garrus noticed where his dad was leading him.
“Oh dad, It’s okay I can get a hotel-”
“You will do no such thing. Once your mom and sister discover you’re back on the Citadel they will demand to see you. Better to do so over breakfast in a few hours back at the house. You still have a room there. And no son of mine is going to waste good credits on a hotel room when I have an empty room for him back home.” Castis ordered.
“Alright dad. Thanks.” Garrus said. He wasn’t thanking him for the room and they both knew it.
Just then Castis omnitool went off. “I swear who is calling at 3 am?” He answers it anyway. “Castis Vakarian here.”
“Castis sorry for waking you but I got great news and I couldn’t wait for office hours!” Said the voice on the other end.
“Dr. Anikar? Is that you?” Castis asked.
“Oh yes, I should have said that. But no time. Remember that Salarian I told you about? The one who was going to single handedly cure Corporlis in a year? Well he did it! He actually did it! He is on Sur'Kesh and called me to tell me to get your bondmate over to him for treatments right away.”
“How is this possible doctor? It’s incurable.” Castis said.
“Not anymore! All he said was that there was a generous donation from a Spectre to get this done but the only patient he wants to see is Volena.”
“A Spectre ordered a cure just for Volena?” Castis said and traded a look with Garrus.
“Apparently! Who cares? The medicine works out! It's a cure and he is waiving the fee for Volena as well! I couldn’t believe it. I mean I couldn’t believe it, I had to pinch myself to prove I wasn’t dreaming.”
“Spirits.” Castis mumbled.
“I’m packing up now to head to Sur'Kesh. They want me to stay on as the primary doctor for treatments but I will be working with Dr. Solas to get this done. A Cure! In my lifetime!” The call ended.
Castis looked towards Garrus. “Son, if you don’t bond with Shepard I'll make Solana do it.”