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Plates quietly and utensils quietly clattered, stacked neatly in the middle of the small dinner table, cleaned of their dinner.
The food was…. good, not amazing, but Shepard was known for her fighting and less so her culinary skills, Liara told herself. She definitely would not be hungry, she was more delighted at the offer of a home cooked meal in the woman's quaint apartment than anything.
At least they were dining on something other than military approved mess hall provisions that did not always agree with Liara's stomach. A few weeks aboard the Normandy had not been long enough for her to acclimate to the daily calorie and nutrition masked as food.
“Thank you for dinner, Shepard.” Liara said, trying to keep the smile on her lips from growing any larger than they felt, if she wasn't plastered with an idiotic smile, she sure felt like it!
“Oh, uh- sure!” Shepard answered, pulling the wayward strand of short black hair back behind her ear. “You know, I - kinda figured it would be nice to - you know - spend some time together- get to know each other better - and not be on the ship!”
Shepard's dark eyes darted around, trying to catch side glances of Liara between bouncing off the emptied plates and any distraction that adorned her simple abode.
“Well, I definitely appreciate your kind offer. Your pasta was far superior to the Normandy's!” Liara offered.
Shepard tossed an awkward grin, laced with a hint of joy, as she shook her head, the human's soft, fair skin, layered by the odd scar and nicks, gradually turned the subtlest hue of pink. “Oh it's nothing! I don't know much about cooking!” Shepard pulled her loosened hair back behind her ears again.
Liara felt her nose crease as her stifled lips curled beyond their bounds. The poor woman was a heap of nerves.
“Well it was delicious!” Liara confidently stated and then pushed the short stack of dirty plates toward the furthest reaches of the small table, barely an arms length away, clearing the low barrier between them.
Liara and Shepard sat corner to corner, quietly trying to catch the other out the corner of their eyes whilst taking in the surprising amount of decoration and oddities Shepard had accumulated in her less than vast home on the Citadel. Awards casually displayed with pictures framed and prominent.
“This is quite the place you have, Shepard.”
“Huh? Oh! Yea-h. It's definitely a place to sleep when I need somewhere else to be other than the Normandy.” Shepard quipped.
The woman's attention now bounced off every item and distraction that hung from her walls or sat out.
“I am sure Ashley or Kaidan, or even Wrex commented the same when you gave them over for a meal.” Liara asked, probing Shepard and trying to corral the woman's attention.
Shepard snorted, “I don't have the credits or resources to feed Wrex!”
“Oh, then just the others?” Liara carefully inquired. “Though, I cannot imagine you would take the risk of cooking for Tali or Garrus?”
“Eh? Uh - no, I wouldn't. I - uh - never cooked for them… or asked to. I uh… yeah.”
Liara compelled her own gaze away, failing to will away the absolutely foolish smile on her face at Shepard's blundered admission. “Well, then I feel quite special indeed.”
“Yeah, you know - well, I know that all this running and running, military stuff is still new to you. And I thought you might like to get away from it!”
Liara hummed, “I'd like to think I am getting used to your way of life, Shepard.”
Her cheeky barb quickly poked, spurring the sputtering woman. “Oh gosh, yes! You fight so well! Your abilities are phenomenal! Watching you is quite captivating- I mean inspiring!”
The soft pink of Shepard's white fleece grew more bold and quickly obscured by dark hair.
Liara felt the blood rush to her aurals., answering with a meek, “Oh. Thank you, Shepard.”
Silence filled the apartment.
Shepard seemed robbed of words to trip over, while Liara reveled in what had revealed itself as a secret mission, Priority: A Date!
“Goddess! She is too much!” The mirth made Liara's head swim. An expert in all things Prothean and Archeology, Liara was; but an absolute novice to the world of dates and romance!
But. This had gone well! She would gladly do it again!
They sat quietly a pause longer before the silence got the better of Liara, not willing to let the moment become uneasy.
“Well, Shepard,” Liara spoke, breaking the human from her exile. “This has been a lovely dinner. And as much as I detest to; it's a long trip back to the ship.”
Freed from her self-confinement, Shepard popped back to her stumbling self. “Oh! Uh, are you sure?! You don't have to go if you don't want to! You're welcome to stay!”
Liara’s breath hitched at the words tossed out so unexpectedly. What was Shepard offering? A drink along with more circling chatter? How long could Liara stay? All night? Where?! Did Shepard want more? If Liara did stay - if that was what the woman was offering - would lead to… places?
The longer Liara ran through the scenarios the more questions she asked herself, none of which she felt she knew the answers to - Liara didn't know what that was like.
She felt her mouth begin to gape as she found herself firmly holding Shepard's full attention; those dark eyes piercing into her, imploring something Liara felt and had a hard time articulating into coherence.
“I-I, uhmm, I would not want to intrude-”
“You wouldn't!” Shepard immediately stated.
“And - and it's a long way. I have to get up early to catch up on… work.”
“You sure?!”
Liara groaned to herself as she let the air of words out. They were lame and she knew it. “We work in the same place!”
Goddess her excuse was awful! But prudent. Liara was in foreign waters trying to keep afloat. Shepard had often taken the time to talk with Liara since the team had stumbled onto Liara trapped in the Prothean security device that Ashley never let Liara live down.
They talked; a lot, now that Liara thought about it! Mostly about the mission, but more and more about Liara.
What was her life like? What were the Asari? How did her people function? More and more about Liara. What did she like? Passions, interests? And quickly, Liara felt her piqued fascination turn to attraction.
“Surely, it must be? Maybe? Yes? Yes! I am pretty sure. Goddess! If I had previous experiences to compare this to, I would not be so unsure! Goddess! She's staring at me! She's expecting an answer! Oh no, I must look like a fool! Answer, answer!”
“I-I probably should go! But thank you for the lovely evening,”
“You already said ‘lovely’ Liara, think of other words!” She chided herself.
“I do have a busy day tomorrow. But, I would love to do this again! If you want?”
Liara watched the relief wash over Shepard. Perhaps Liara's bid to farewell had not gone quite as the Human had hoped, but at least there was potential. “Oh, okay! Well, uhmm, you are always welcome to come by when the Normandy is docked,”
Shepard rigidity extracted herself from her chair and offered Liara a hand up, “and stay as long as you wish!”
Now it really was time to go! There was no way Liara could contact the elation welling in her chest and irrefutable blush that had crept its way onto her cheeks.
Shepard sweetly escorted Liara to the door. “I mean it!”
Bashful, Liara ducked her head, “Th-thank you, Shepard. I'll be sure to take you up on the offer, soon!”
They paused again at the apartment door, trying to catch one another's gaze, neither being too bold to take hold, but close.
So near, Liara could grab Shepard and go from there. But where to grab? And what then? Would the gesture be enough? Would it imply more to the Human?! Should she kiss? Is that acceptable?! Goddess, Liara didn't know!
“Well, uhmm, I was happy you came over, Liara. Please, let's do it again!” Shepard said, her own hand trembling as she reached out slowly as if making a decision which way to go.
“I was more than happy to be here, and yes, let us absolutely do this again!”
Shepard's unsure hand made its choice and committed; unlocking the haptic interface and opening the door for Liara, into the long hall of apartments and evenly spaced doors.
“Thank you for coming, Liara!”
“Of course, Shepard! Again, thank you for everything, the food, your amazing company! This has been an… illuminating evening!"
They stood in silence at the open door, stuck in limbo, neither wishing to say what had to be said. But if Liara was not prepared to commit herself to the tantalizing and terrifying of what staying could mean, she had to break their stalemate.
“Goodnight, Shepard.”
Shepard forced a smile on her face and nodded, “Goodnight, Liara. I'll see you in the morning.”
It was Liara's turn to nod in relegated acceptance and step out past the threshold.
“I'll have a coffee ready for you when you get back aboard!” She kindly offered a reconciliation prize for the woman to return to Liara as soon as possible.
Shepard quietly chuckled, “Thanks. First thing in the morning!”
Shy looks and awkward smiles slowly parted as Liara began the long trek and aircar ride back to the Normandy's berth.
Her feet never felt so heavy, having to depart the home of the wonderful woman who had given Liara a mountain to contemplate.
Liara nearly fell into making sense of the feelings, and what could Shepard and she mean to each other, when the familial voice cut in, “Don't forget! Anytime! Just say the word! Or don't and just show up!” Shepard called to Liara from down the hall.
The slight embarrassment Liara felt was overwhelmed by the boisterous shouting echoing down the hall.
Liara giggled, unable to restrain how happy the woman's total disregard for the rest of the Citadel's inhabitants, made her.
Turning on her toes, Liara shouted back with a laugh, “You're so loud!”
“I know!”
“You're gonna rouse suspicion!”
“GOOD!”
“Stop shouting!”
“YOU'RE SHOUTING!”
“You!”
“I'LL STOP WHEN YOU COME BACK!”
“I WILL!”
Uncontrollable laughter erupted from Liara as she back away from the suddenly outlandish Human. “Goddess! GOODNIGHT SHEPARD!”
The echo of laughter and shouting faded, and in its memory was the faint, “Goodnight, Liara.”
****
The arduous walk was not as far as it could have been.
Every step felt like another mile separating Liara from Shepard, but she made it to the aircar stand. A quick 20 minute ride and another 1000 miles of separation and 10 minutes of walking and yet more miles between them and Liara would be back in her quiet, sterile lodgings aboard the Normandy.
No profoundly enthralling woman to keep Liara from her work and rest.
No attempts to catch sight of her dark eyes and the way the black hairs would slip lose and dangle in the woman's face, tempting Liara to pull them back with her fingers.
Just calm. Boring, unrequited calm.
The aircar silently pulled into place in front on Liara, doors gliding open to a peaceful tone, welcoming her to take her seat and off.
Back to calm.
Back to boring.
****
A chime went off behind the door.
There was a rustling beyond and inaudible mutterings.
The slid open open as soon as the interface flicked.
“Who the -Liara?! I - wasn't expecting you this fast! What's wrong?!” Asked a dressed down Shepard, clad in her black sports bra and skin tight shorts.
The sight was a bit more than Liara had expected. The curves. Toned arms and abs, muscular legs; her faced flashed hot!
Liara was not unfamiliar with Shepard's physique. She had seen hits of it every time they team stood at their lockers to suit up for each mission.
But to be presented such a gist and so close, Liara's legs wobbled under her.
“Oh! Uhmm… The - the aircar service. Its down for maintenance.” Liara vaguely explained.
“It is?! It does that?!”
“Y-yes! If there's a major problem with the VI. It does.” Liara sensed the queen look she was getting and cut off whatever questions that Shepard would definitely be ask with a timid request. “Is it okay if I stay here tonight?”
There was no hesitation to consider, just an instant, “Yeah!”
Shepard stepped aside, waving Liara back in to the apartment. If the woman was trying to school her emotions as Liara returned, she was doing a terrible job at it.
“Okay, lets see!” Shepard scanned Liara then the apartment, biting the inside of her lips as she scrambled together hospitality. “You didn't bring anything so lets get you something to sleep in. I normally just wear this to bed,” Shepard said, motioning to the equissatly fitted undergarments that made Liara swoon everytime she looked down. “Are you comfortable going to bed in your underwear?”
The blank look Liara gave the woman was accentuated by a bashful finger, Liara raised. “Underwear is not a thing Asari use… or evern make.”
Shepard's fair skin turned to snow then beat red. “But, but I've seen you wear something under your armor, tight black! That's not underwear?!”
Liara slowly shook hear head.
“Then what is it?!”
“A thermal layer… I get cold easy.”
“So under your armor and thermal layer, you're just…. you?!”
Liara slowly nodded, and watched the lights in Shepard’s eyes come to life with thoughts.
“Then how about a long shirt or sweater, I have pleanty,”
Liara chuckled and waved her hands in front of her, trying to keep Shepard's attention from wondering off and on to other - things.
“Shepard, do not worry yourself. I can wear my dress, it's fine, I just need somewhere to sleep!”
The distraction worked enough to keep the Human from running off to tear apart her closet for Liara. She paused and looked Liara over before giving Liara a serverly cocked eye brow.
“Alright, so first, I said it before but that dress is beautiful!”
“And thank you again!” Liara had opted for one of her nicest dress for the evening.
“And B, it looks very expensive!”
“Oh its not that much!” The dress was exceedingly expensive.
“And last, while I may not know everything about Asari; I do know they tend to be rigged as hell!”
“They are not that bad,”
“Oh?! Touch your toes.”
The airy banter evaporated. Doom. “Wha?”
“If you can touch your toes, or he'll, touch knees! I'll drop it.”
Liara stood, paralyzed, while Shepard watched her, now able to hold her gaze for longer then a split second.
Defiant, Liara lunched forward, arms jutting out and fingers sprawling to reach as far as she could and win a prize that Liara wasn't even sure she wanted to win.
Momentum carried forward far enough for her high collar and the rigid rubber supports weaved into the fabric, giving the dress its fine shape, to jerk Liara back up and nearly toppling her over; caught by a wheezing Shepard, who hardly contained her laughter.
“See! I told you!” Shepard managed to say, between chuckles.
Shepard took the time to gingerly right Liara back on her feet, holding Liara at her waist, hand carefully placed. The warmth was - nice.
“It's just a change of clothes, Liara. I just want you to be comfortable. Do me that, okay?”
Liara placed her hand over Shepard's, at her hip and fainted reluctance with a slight huff, “Fine.”
“Alright, let's see what I have!”
The delicate sensation of the woman's hand slipped out from under Liara’s, leaving behind a warm spot Liara couldn't helps but touch.
More emotional chaos bombarded Liara's mind, scattered feeling that begged her to stop and collect herself. This was all new and frightening, and amid the maelstrom of thought was a calm center of growing clarity.
This was something Liara wanted; wherever the chaos led.
Shepard tore through her closet and dressers, lifelong through every piece of clothing, looking for something suitable for a sleep over.
The woman pulled drawer after drawer, scouring its contents and closing it when nothing was found.
Shepard pulled a drawer and just as quick, slapped it closed. “Not that drawer! Definitely not that that one.” She cryptography said, to Liara's confusion and now curiosity.
Shepard jumped back into her closet. “Okay, here! I got some longer shirts and a oversized sweaters that I think you'd be comfortable in!”
A few articles of clothing flew out onto the bed in a small heap. On to Shepard's bed… Shepard's not exactly wide bed.
“Uhmm, Shepard?”
“Eh?” called the voice in the closet.
“So, where I am I going to sleep?”
A dark hair head poked out of the closet, plastered with confusion. “What? On the bed! That's what they are for.”
It was Liara's turn to cock a brow mark and turn her head between the bed and the Human. “Do your bed? Your not very.wide bed? The both of us?!”
The absurd head sticking out of the door from hovered and thought. Lips pursed and skewed.
“You can have the bed.” Shepard casually offered, emerging from the closet.
“Shepard, no! Where are you going to sleep?!”
The woman shrugged off Liara's concern and stated as flatly as she stood in front “On the floor.”
“No-o, Shepard!”
“Ye-es, Liara!”
“But!-”
“NO ‘buts’! My house. My rules! You. Bed!”
Liara wound up to argue again to be shut down with a stern fingers silently ordering her to take the bed. As intimidating as Shepard was, and could be, her domineering posse and revealing clothes did more to set Liara's skin on fire!
“I am an Alliance Marine! I have slept on far worse places than my own floor!”
Liara relented with a kind ask, “At least put some sheets down so your not miserable, for me?
She put on a sad face and tried to give the Commander something Liara had come to know as ‘puppy dog eyes’.
Liara didn't actually know what face looked like, but it must have worked.
The stern finger and stiff posture deflated, softening with a sigh, “Yes. If it will make you sleep easy, of course.”
Liara put away her new found secret weapon against Commander Shepard. “Thank you.”
Shepard clicked off the closet light and joined Liara at the side of her bed, “Well, time to pick.” She said, nodding at Liara’s options for sleepwear.
There were a few long shirts, one or two looked brand new, along with sweaters, also lightly used saved for one that was so worn the black cotton fibers were fading to a dark gray.
This was the one! The logo that had once said ‘N7’ now heavily faded. This was the one!
“Oh, this looks comfy.” Liara casually remarked, trying not to seem overly eager to snatch the sweater up and hold it to her chest.
“That one?! Oh wow, that things is old! Think I got it right out N school.”
“Motherlode!”
“Well I am sure it can serve well tonight, if you do not mind my scent getting on it?” Liara asked, pretending to be worried for the fate of Shepard's heirloom sweater.
“Scent? Oh… no. Feel free.” Shepard answered, suddenly lost in thought. “Uh, yeah! Sorry, here - you can change and clean up in the bathroom!” She stepped toward the narrow door and flipped the light on to a fairly small bathroom, enough space for a toilet, sink, and standing shower.
There are some hand towels there. Make-up wipes, poke around, there may be a spare toothbrush in one of the pullouts.”
Liara followed wherever Shepard pointed, finding all she needed with only one question, “What are Make-up wipes?”
“You know, for removing make up - do you not wear any make-up?”
Liara stared at Shepard, not quite sure of the question and shrugged.
“So you always look like that?!”
Liara looked around the room, searching for answer that simply did not compute. “Yes? Am I supposed to look any other way?”
Shepard let out a nervously astonished guff, “No. Please, no!”
The exchange seemed awkward, yet not in a bad way. as far as Liara could tell.
Shepard quietly reached for the door and with a skittish smile pulled the handle. “You go ahead and change. Do whatever you need to go to bed. You can drape your dress over the shower door, its clean.”
“Okay.”
“Yeah” Shepard closed the door with along sigh and muffled words as the door closed. Liara could just make out the woman's unbelievably sweet words from the other side
“Oh my God, she always look that beautiful!... I'm never washing that sweater again!”
****
Changed, face scrubbed, and teeth at least a bit cleaner than they were, Liara emerge from the bathroom in the sweater that hung down to her thighs, sleaves down to her fingertips.
The bedroom had been pr3pared in Liara's br3if absence.
Shepard's bed turned down and ready for Liara.
The floor beside the bed at least covered in some sheets and the clothes Liara had rejected.
“I still think it's silly you're sleeping on the floor.”
“Yeah, I hear ya.” Shepard commented with a grin, rolling her eyes. “Your bed is ready. Let me go finish getting ready for bed myself and we can cut the lights.”
“Okay.” Liara replied, sitting on the bed, ready to wait patiently for her host.
The bathroom door closed and the faucet rushed on.
Liara looked around Shepard's bedroom, noting the simple furniture and few personal items placed on stands and the dresser.
There was less decore in this room compared to the main living/dining room that doubled as a kitchen. Liara wondered if Shepard simply didn't bother with more, or did was the human doing what she could with her military pay?
Ultimately, Liara didn't care! She was excited just have the opportunity to be in the same room with Shepard and have it not be about the mission; and get to sleep in the same room! Goddess what a night!
It could have been the same bed if Liara wasn't terrified at what sleeping in the same bed would mean to the woman.
The same clothes, the same -....
Curiosity.
Liara slowly turned her head to the dresser, layering in on the drawer that Shepard had so readily closed.
What was she hiding?
Liara's eyes darted back to the bathroom door. Light peaked out the bottom with the movement of shadows and the sound of the running faucet.
Back to the drawer.
Cautiously Liara lifted off the bed and slowly walked the short distance to the dresser; conscience of how she stepped and rolled her feet so as to not make any noise.
Curiosity.
Her eyes watched the dancing shadows under the door and made her way to the drawer.
She stifled her breath as she took hold of the dresser knob and carefully pulled the drawer open to spy it contents.
Liara nearly gasped and face turned burgundy. “Oh. My. Goddess!” She hissed to herself.
The rush of water from the bathroom shut off! Shepard was almost done!
Liara fought the urge to panic and slam the drawer shut! “I'll get caught and she'll hate me for snooping!”
Liara stilled and closed the drawer as quietly as she could and tipped toed back to the bed.
Liara was mid stride when the woman in the bathroom called out from the other side, “Almost ready! Coming in a second!”
“Oh Goddess, I do not think that is the first time those words have been uttered here!”
“No rush!” Liara gleefully answered back then made a few bold strides toward the bed. Embedding her backside right where she had been.
The bathroom door swung open and light flicked off, “Alright, you ready to get some rest? Liara are you okay?” Shepard asked, furrowing her brow.
“Huh?” Was thr best Liara could think of in the pinch.
“You look flush. Are you okay?”
“Ye-yeah! Just a bit cold!” Liara replied, which was not entirely untrue, the was definitely cold than it had been.
“Oh, well I keep it cool at night. Just get under the covers and you’ll stay warm.”
Liara quickly nodded, hoping the heat in her face would die down, and the famed Specter none the wiser.
Liara shimmer her way under Shepard's covers, wrapped in the soft worn fabric of Shepard's sweater, that had years of lifted smells which soothed Liara's mind with each inhale.
“You good?” Asked the floor.
Liara bundled up the sheets fighting back the dropping temperature.
“I am, thank you. Are you going to be okay, down there, Shepard?”
“I'll be fine. Get some rest.”
“Are you sure?!”
“Yup. I'm good. But I appreciate your concern.”
“O-ok~ay.”
“Goodnight, Liara.”
“Goodnight, Shepard.”
****
“Goddess, this rock is like cement!” Liara griped as her handheld pick stuck the ground over and over, trying hard not to strike the delicate fossil jutting from the rock walls.
The more she struck the more the rocks and pebbles chattered and fell.
“I don't even like paleontology! Why did I agree to come?” She complained again and more flecks of pebbles and gravel fell, chattering more.
“Come on, you stubborn piece of - gahh!”
Liara struck the rock again, harder, demanding the wall give up its quarry.
“This isn't even Prothean! Why am I here?! And why are the rocks here so insipidly loud?!”
Another strike and another chip in the solid rock.
“Goddess, this noise! Will it ever end?!”
****
Liara snorted as she snapped awake in the pitch black room, wrapped comfortably in a bed. Shepard's bed. She fell asleep in the woman's bed, in the woman's sweater. She was comfortably warm, save for her nose that was freezing!
Liara snaked her hand out from under the sheets and felt the frigid air blowing in the room.
Then came that chattering, it filled the room; the same as it had in her dream.
Liara looked but saw nothing in the dark, “What is that?!” She whispered to herself.
Her hand probed the dark, reaching blindly for the table stand light.
She felt her fingers tap the base and trailed up the stem to tap the switch, bathing the room and a soft glow.
Liara hardly looked around when found the source of the noise, lying curled up on the floor, trying to sleep through the near arctic cold.
“Oh Goddess, Shepard! You're freezing! Oh my Goddess!” Liara panicked, tossing the sheets off and stumbling onto the floor at Shepard's side.
The cold floor felt like a solid slab of ice, sucking the heat out of her legs.
“Shepard?!”
“Ye-ye-yeah, its its a bit c-c-cool! I th-h-hink the heat is b-broke!” Shepard weakly said, her jaw trembling in the low light.
“Goddess, your lips are blue than mine! You are so stubborn!” Liara admonished and wrapped herself about the human ice cube.
“Ye-yeah, but you like m-my per- per- persis- .. tance!”
Liara balked, “And dying of hypothermia will undermine all the ‘like’ I have for you! Come on, we need to get you warm!”
Liara pulled the flimsy excuse for sheets off the woman, small patches of faint blue were starting to appear on Shepard's pale skin. “Oh no. We need to hurry!”
She worked her arm under Shepard's body and hoisted the shivering woman up against the bed, “Try to push with your legs! I need to get you under the sheets!”
“The bed isn't - big enough.” Shepard whispered under her quivering lips.
Liara shook her head, “No it's fine! Come on and push!”
A pale leg extended and provided just enough leverage to hoist Shepard onto the bed along with Liara who pulled every sheet available up over them.
Safely under covers, Liara wrapped her arms around Shepard and pulled her in close, rubbing as many muscles as Liara could, feeling how Shepard's freezing bare skin shook uncontrollably.
“Th-that feels b-b-better.” Shepard stammered out.
“I am glad, but it is not enough!” Liara countered. She could massage for hours trying to warm the Human.
Or think of a more efficient way.
“Oh Goddess! Okay, I have to be a bit drastic!”
“W-wha?”
Liara pulled the neck of the sweater, pulling the fibers and breaking many of them. “Please close your eyes!”
“Wh- why? Wh-what are you-”
“Shut up, Shepard, and listen! Please close your eyes!” Liara ordered.
Once Shepard complied, Liara went for broke. Lifting the bottom hem of the sweater up and over Shepard's head.
“L-liara?!”
“Shut up!”
“B-but you're -”
“I know! Shut up!”
Liara worked the sweater down, “And if you look now, you’ll never get another one!”
“Oh? D-deal!”
Liara wanted to grin at Shepard's persistent wit even in the worst situations, but for now, she could only concern herself with getting the woman safe and warm!
Dark popped out from the stretched out neck and Liara pulled the bottom down as far as she could and yanked the Human into her embrace and against bare… Liara!
She put the sensation of utter dread to the back of her mind. There would be time to never live this down, later; right now, Liara needed to keep Shepard close, arms and legs entwined. Going as far as to place her cheek against Shepard’s, anything that would help.
“She is so cold!” Liara began to shiver just from holding Shepard.
“Th-thank you.” Shepard muttered, still shaking but less violently.
“You're very welcome, Shepard.” Liara soothed in a low voice.
Chilly arms worked their way around Liara's body and hugged.
Shepard clung to Liara, weary and cold, she whispered, “Stay like this.”
Liara gently nodded, “All night.” Whatever it took to keep Shepard safe, Liara would do it - even if it meant something horribly embarrassing as holding a woman that you've only known for a few weeks, and undeniably attracted to - why ignore it at this point? - against her bare skin. If this is what Liara needed to do for her Human, it was all worth the price.
Even if that price was killing her inside.
“N-no.” Shepard's faint voice barely came across Liara's aurals. She was still cold, but the shaking had subsided. The woman's breathing slowed to shallow, rhythmic puffs “always.”
Liara's eyes cracked open, trying to look at the Human so intimately close; Shepard nearly passed out, eyes shut.
Liara held her closer, “Goodnight, Shepard.”
A slur of just coherent words slurred out, “Night, Liara.”
****
So very comfy.
Warm.
Soft.
Safe.
Thoughts slowly trickled back to consciousness, “I could get used to this.”
The sheets were so incredibly warm.
The worn sweater she had borrowed was indescribably soft.
The arms wrapped around her made her feel safe.
“Arms?”
The sweater she wore was no longer cohabitated. Shepard had worked her way out in the night.
Steady breaths rolled over the ridges of Liara's neck. Arm rested over Liara's side and cupped her abdomen over the sweater.
She felt the soft pressure of being held from behind, a body pressed against hers, mimicking every twist.
Liara flash, flustered, She had become the little spoon to Shepard’s big.
She turned her crest, trying to catch sight of the Human holding onto her.
A creek in the bed led to a weary murmur, “Nng, no. More sleep.”
“Shepard when did you?”
“Mm, hours ago. You sleep heavy.” Shepard took a few slow breaths, far from awake, “Don't worry. Didn't look. Promise.”
Liara’s brow pinched in the early morning gaze, “Look?... Oh. Thank you.”
Liara laid in the bed, held by Shepard, flushed by such a simple act, sleeping in the same bed, the closeness, the connection. Every second was a Goddess send.
“Hungry?” asked the drowsy woman.
“Y-yeah - yes.”
The presence loosened and pulled away to Liara's profound loss.
“Coffee?”
“I do not know. I would try some.”
“Mkay.”
Shepard lunched her way up and crawled over Liara, mumbling about the artic floor, “Shit thats cold.” As she shuffled across the bedroom and out into the living area.
Liara was alone in Shepard’s bed, and as tempted as she was to just curled back up and sleep the day away, she had work to do back aboard the Normandy, intel to prepare, and soon enough - another mission to pull them away to far reaches of the galaxy, far from the comfort of Shepard's bed.
Liara willed herself up and immediately noticed how much she had stretched out the neck of Shepard's sweater. The prize had been ruined, weighing heavy on Liara's mind.
She ran her fingers over the wrapped neck line. Saying to herself I had to didn't make her feel better about the damaged she had caused.
Liara rolled her legs over the side of the bed, and as sure as Parnitha rose over the horizon, nature called Liara's name.
“Oh, Goddess!” She sucked in the the words when her bare feet hit the floor, still insanely cold. The frigid air pricked at her exposed legs as she made her way to the bathroom
“She needs to report this to the Citadel environmental controller,” Liara spoke aloud as she walked past the thermostat anchored to the wall, next to the bathroom door. “This temperature is so un…”
The readout on the tiny plate read an unreal 3°C!
“NO wonder she nearly froze to death!”
Liara tapped the small interface, that lit up with settings.
Up.
Down.
Current Temperature: 3°C
Set Temperature: 3°C
Liara stood and pondered the small gage, scrutinizing it for answers, and indulge in her pontificating.
Tapping the small Up arrow.
Current Temperature: 3°C
Set Temperature: 4°C
She tapped the arrow again.
Set Temperature: 5°C
Again and again.
6… 7… 8!
Liara adjusted the thermostat to a far more pleasant and rational 20°C.
The air vents hummed to the tune of a warm blast of air and curiosity turned to epiphany.
“That cheeky woman!” Liara huffed, balked!
“That asinine woman nearly killed herself to sleep next to me?!”
“She went through all that just to sleep… with me!”
Liara wrestled with whether to feel severely annoyed or incredibly flattered at what Shepard had put them both through just to share a bed.
Her time to stew on her revelation was cut short as the sound of footsteps were accompanied by the rousing voice of her trickster coming towards the bedroom door.
“Food will be ready in a moment, I made small sample coffee for you to try.”
Liara turned on her heels and faced the doorway, planting her hands on her hips.
“I have some other clothes you use if wanna change -”
Shepard froze in the doorway, still clad in her night time underwear and gave the firm faced Liara a perplexed look.
An ‘eh?’ was Shepard was able to udder before Liara pointed a finger squarely at the woman's chest and tapped into her bitoics, holding Shepard in a weak stasis.
Liara dragged Shepard across the floor with a slow rotation of her hand, placing Shepard at the side of the bed.
“Sit.” Liara ordered, releasing the stasis.
Shepard complied and dropped her butt on to the bed.
With a flick of her fingers, Liara pushed the unaware woman, back flat on the bed, palm down holding Shepard in place while she casually strutted over.
“Yes?” Shepard asked, pinned down, Liara towering over her. “I'm not gonna lie. There are much easier ways to keep me in bed.”
“Ahaha!” Liara chortled, “Is there?... I repaired your heat for you.”
“Oh… th-anks!”
Liara loosened her hold on the woman, bending down and placed her palms on both side of Shepard's head, leaning over the mischievous Commander. “I cannot decide if I am royally pissed off at you, or … thankful.”
“It wasn't that bad.”
“I would argue giving yourself hypothermia and sending me into a panic, is pretty up there with bad.”
“It worked though, mission accomplished not matter what.”
“I am not a mission to beat, Shepard.”
“Then what do you want to be, miss ‘the aircars arn't working'?”
“Uh.” Liara's thoughts stumbled over her own ruse being outed.
“Yeah, you thought you were slick too! I may not be all that familiar with Asari and the Citadel, but I'm pretty sure the aircars never stop… Not even for a minor VI bug.”
“They may!”
“Mmm. I don't think so!”
Pressure took hold of Liara's wrist and spun the room. Her head coming to rest on the bed, pinned, reversed. Shepard leaning over her.
The woman's dark eyes peered down at Liara, black hair swaying with the rocking of the bed. “So I ask again. What do you want to be Liara?”
Shepard's question drove through the haze of Liara's thoughts, striking at her core, imploring an answer Liara hadn't voiced.
“Earned. Pursued. Romanced. The truth!”
Shepard nodded with her grin, “The truth? The truth is… I like you, Liara. Everything about you is irresistible.”
Her heart banged in here chest with each syllable spoken.
“And if all this hasn't turned you away, and I do not believe it has - I want to spend more time with you, here; or anywhere we can be together, just us. More than friends.”
“No more ‘broken’ ACs?”
“No more broken ACs. No more broken aircars?”
Liara shrunk a bit at the question, offering an timid, “No more broken aircars.”
“So? Yes? Maybe?”
She took hold of Shepard's arms, her fingertips taking in the feel of toned muscles, “I would like that, Shepard.”
The confident grin faded to a sweet smile that closed the gap between them, and in a silk soft voice, Shepard asked, “Would you mind if I kissed you?”
Liara let out a gentle huff in disbelief, no one ever asked to kiss her.
She breathed the words and pulled Shepard closer.
“I would love to.”