Chapter Text
Shepard pivoted in front of the bathroom mirror, trying to reacquaint herself with how her reflection looked in civilian clothes. She couldn't tell if it felt almost wrong because she was unused to it, or because she was nervous. If it was he latter, she hoped Kaidan wouldn't notice.
EDI's voice broke into her thoughts: "Garrus Vakarian is requesting entry, Commander."
"Send him up," Shepard answered. She was almost finished getting ready, and she had a few minutes to spare.
She heard the elevator doors open, but when Garrus saw her he abandoned his greeting and looked at her, incredulous. "Why are you dressed like that?"
Shepard's face fell. "Is it bad?" She asked, trying to catch the reflection of her back.
"No! No, you just look like you're going…somewhere not here."
"I'm going out with Maj— with Kaidan."
"Oh, something for Anderson. Got it."
Shepard held the back of her hand to her face to check if she was blushing. "Uh, no, it's actually just a date."
"Right," Garrus said, elongating the word and inclining his head conspiratorially. "Top-secret Spectre assignment. Message received. I'll find out from Liara."
Shepard laughed. "No, it's true! We both took the night off."
Garrus chuckled. "So you want me to believe the only two human Spectres in the whole galaxy are 'Just going on a date.'"
"That's… what I said!" Shepard answered brightly.
"Come on, Shepard. You can tell me. Is it part of the investigation into Udina?"
"No, we're… getting drinks?"
"Kind of like the last time we 'got drinks' with Anderson at Flux and then stole an Alliance ship?"
Shepard grinned. "I promise we're not stealing the SR-2, although maybe I'll bring that up as an idea for our anniversary."
"Shepard." Garrus was suddenly serious. "I was there on Horizon, remember? Saw the whole thing."
Shepard sighed. "I said we patched it up, Garrus. We talked about it at Huerta."
Garrus leaned against the doorframe. "I just… I know it must be really hard for you two to work together after everything that happened. I don't think everybody would be able to put their feelings aside for the sake of the mission. I really respect that."
"We're not putting anything aside." Shepard edged past him out of the bathroom, opened the closet doors, and started pulling out shoes. "Did you need something? I'm going to be late."
"It's just about the weapons loadout, it can wait until you get back." He gave her one last searching look. "I just want you to know that you can talk to me about anything."
Matching shoes found, Shepard stood on one foot, then the other, and braced herself against the wall of the entryway as she put them on. "You're obviously beyond convincing, but as an act of friendship, I think I'll keep the gory details to myself. You'll thank me later." She hit the elevator button.
"I understand," Garrus said as they stepped inside. "Unwavering committment to the assignment, as always. Well, I'm here if you change your mind."