i'm still sane

“Style? What’s this style you speak of? Could I pick it up somewhere? Do they sell it where they sell your endless supply of fish?”

“Style? With my fish? You have seen my fish right?”

Her touch relaxes him, hands gentle on his shoulders. He snorts at her words, tipping his head back against her to give her his most skeptical look. “Well, most people must not know the Great Commander Shepard like I do. She’s usually kindhearted with me.” He straightens again, toys with his BDUs. “I think someone is selling her a bit short.”

“Do you remember that god awful haircut your mother gave you in seventh grade?” Laughter bubbles to life in her chest, and she can’t help the smile that slides across her face at the memory of it. Shaking her head, she finally worked the knot free and reached for her comb again. Taking a moment, she looked up at him, and laughed again. “I thought you were going to go school with a bag over your head the next day. But you didn’t. I’m not sure what was funnier, you knocking Harrison on his ass or you threatening to kiss me if I called you any names.”

“Yeah? So if I… pulled you a little closer… you wouldn’t say anything?”

“Not a single thing. Unless you did it with style, then I’d have to vocalize my approval.”

“Well… almost everything. I don’t regret that. In fact, I could do that again.”

“You wouldn’t hear me complaining.”

“Must be nice. Meanwhile I sit here regretting everything.”

“Really? Everything? Including kissing me in the mess hall this morning?”

She grinned, looking down at the commander from the corner of her eye. “Will do, commander.” Bec replied. Knowing how things usually went for her, she’d be the one carrying the step ladder for Shepard. “Wouldn’ dream of it. I’ve seen what its like to be on your bad side, on the news.”

A shiver ran down her at the breath against her ear, light and tickling as Jules whispered the words into her ear. Her head tilted, following the trail of her lover’s lips from her ear to her jaw, a soft moan escaping her lips. A grin dared play itself against Tanil’s own, her eyes playfully eyeing Jules. “Not as good as other things I’ve tasted.” She purred back, sticking her tongue out a little at the commander.

Shifting again Tanil, she ran her nails gently over the woman’s skin, her grip loosening ever so slightly as she did. Wiggling her hips against her partner’s torso she hummed thoughtfully to herself. “Cheeky. You’re extremely lucky I happen to like that, Officer Reynolds. Otherwise I might have started running in the other direction.” Leaning back in, she pressed a kiss to the taller woman’s mouth, her lips working slowly, teasing the other.

A grin found its way to her lips. “Especially from way down there.” She joked, looking down at the short commander.

Snorting, the commander stuck her hand back into her pocket and tilted her head up to the look at the sniper. “As long as you don’t mention my constant need for a step ladder, or use my head as an arm rest I promise not to consider biting your head off. Once the jokes start then we’ll need to have another talk.”

Del shook, her grip on Jules only tightening at the sound. “Dad was bleeding a lot.” she mumbled.

Readjusting her grip on Del, she looked away from the nurse after dismissing her with a nod. “It’s okay, baby. Your Da’s gonna be fine. I promise. Okay. I’m not going to let anything bad happen to either of you ever again. I promise.”

“I was hoping so.” Tanil replied, sticking her tongue out at Jules, squirming a little more to test how securely pinned she was. At the statement, Tanil licked her lips, savoring the lingering strawberry taste. “What about it? It was delicious, and I didn’t quite see your name on it.” She peered up at the woman, daring her to make a move.

Bending her head, Juliette pressed her lips to the curve of Tanil’s ear, the snarl dropped from her face to be replaced by a faint smirk. Voice low, she purred, “I hope the strawberry tasted as good as it looked.” Slowly, she dragged her lips down the shell of the taller woman’s ear towards her jaw. “Because you’re only going to have another second to enjoy it.”

“Oh yeah?” Some part of him highly doubts that. Most times he can tell when she’s lying. Mostly the smaller lies. But he also doesn’t want to deny her. They’re finally back together, back on the same page for the first time in a… in a long time for him. In no time for her. It’s hard not to let the guilt gnaw at him for that one. They’re okay now. He doesn’t want to waste any more time away from his best friend if he can help it. “Sure. Why not. I’d love to see how terrible you are at this.”

“You know most people would see this as the chance of a lifetime.” Her voice is light as she gently tugs the towel around Kaidan’s shoulders, her gaze firmly fixed to the top of his head. Smoothing th towel over his chest and shoulders, she offered the man a smile. “After all, the Great Commander Shepard’s never this kindhearted.”

“Yeah… that’s true. I remember my mom giving you looks every time you said it, too.” His mother wasn’t a fan of the teenagers throwing around curse words under her roof. But his father had joined Shepard half the time. “I know. Won’t keep me from pretending to be burt every time you say it, though.”

“It’s a good thing your mom loved me.” Running a hand through her thick hair in a desperate attempt to tame it, she let herself laugh one more time. Looking down at the ground, she paused and cleared her throat. “I’ll try not to hurt your male ego.”

Tanil’s brow arches curiously, glancing at the woman from the corner of her eyes, the new strawberry in her hand, close to being eaten. She leans back, holding the strawberry up as she leans over Jules’s laying form. “Just a kiss?” She asks, taking a spiteful munch of the strawberry as she gives the woman a defiant gaze. 

But it never arrives, and she’s instead forced to watch the other take a bite out of the fruit. A noise of frustration leaves her, and she scowls up at the taller woman. “You are so going to regret that.” With one smooth motion, the commander had her leg around Tanil and was pushing her down to the bed. Hands wrapping themselves around her lover’s forearms she pinned the other firmly beneath her.  “...So. About my strawberry that you just ate.”

“Apologize? For what?           Jules… if anyone should be apologizing for anything, it’s me.”

“There were... things I said that I still think about.           Things I shouldn’t have said.. Whether or not you were actually there to hear them.”

She motioned her hand forward, directing Shepard to follow her to the nearest bar. “I promise… but I can’t promise that I won’.. slip up. Just somethin’ I’m use to doin’, ma’-Shepard.” She adjusted her rifle on her shoulder and began to walk. “Feel like I’m still on duty, but I forget sometimes.”

“I’m the same way. Even when I’m off duty, I’m still working.” Humming softly, Juliette pulled a hand out of her pockets and rubbed the side of her neck. “Just relax. I’m not going to bite your head off. At least I have no plans to.”

@milwyr

Twisting and turning on the spot, she searched for anything familiar. When it finally came it wasn’t in the form she had been expecting it. Her wide panic filled eyes caught Delmira’s, and a shaky sob left her. Hurrying over to the young asari she quickly dropped to her knees and pulled the other into a tight embrace. “Del! Honey, are you okay?! Where’s your father?! Is she okay?! Are you?!”