How about 5 or 22 for Shepard/Ashley? :D
5. “you’re jealous, aren’t you?”
Shepard stews over a drink, twirling the mixer around idly with one hand while the other curls around the cold glass, eyes flickering from the bar to where he can see Ash across the casino, looking fucking incredible and pandering to a damn security guard.
It’s necessary, Shepard’s fully aware of that, but it doesn’t do much to quell the growing unease sitting in the space between his ribs, curling ugly green fingers around his bones and pulling until it’s too uncomfortable to watch.
Garrus hums next to him, talons clasped around his own beer as he takes a seat, a careful eye passing over the casino to ensure their cover is still in place. Brooks is rattling around in one of the vents overhead, and he turns the comm to standby mode when Shepardlooks at him with a weary sigh.
“Somebody looks cheerful tonight.” Garrus flicks his mandibles before he takes a swig of his drink, shooting Shepard a pointed look before the man turns away, eyes landing back on Ashley.
Garrus sets his beer bottle back on the bar top, following Shepard’s line of sight with a low rumble that Shepard equates to something like laughter. He’s not sure, and right now, he doesn’t want to know.
“A vorcha. I know, Tali uses that way too often.” Garrus nudges Shepard’s arm gently, prompting Shepard to look back at him with a stony glare.
“Heh. You’re jealous, aren’t you?” Garrus cocks his head, fixing Shepard with a knowing look. He shifts in his seat, obviously uncomfortable, and Garrus lets out another low rumble.
“No offense, Shepard, but you humans are awfully easy to poke.”
Shepard bristles at that.
“What do you mean?” he grouses, pushing his drink away to fidget with his hands instead.
“Hell, Shepard, you and I both know Ashley isn’t looking anywhere else.” Garrus states simply, and nods his head in Ashley’s direction. Shepard looks over to find her walking over, expression set in exasperated lines as she meets Shepard’s gaze.
“I think I’ll go and find Liara.” Garrus rasps, taking his beer and passing by Shepard with another twitch of his mandibles as Ashley reaches them, sliding easily into the seat by Shepard with a sigh. Shepard catches a quiet greeting between Garrus and Ashley behind him, before Garrus’ footsteps recede into the low pulsing of the music.
“This has got to be one of the worst missions we’ve ever had.” she groans, a hand coming up to rub at her temples, but Shepard catches it gently, pulling her attention to him.
“Hey. You’re doing great.” Shepard brushes a thumb over her knuckles, smiling quietly, and Ash returns the gesture with a smile of her own.
“Aw, thanks. Being a Spectre comes in handy, sometimes.”
Shepard doesn’t respond outside of a faint nod, and Ash frowns.
“You were looking pretty damn pissed, a few minutes ago. Is everything okay?” Ash finds the unspoken words behind his careful guise, and it’s Shepard’s turn to let out a heavy sigh, shoulders rolling as the tension pulls over them.
“It’s nothing, I’m being an idiot. A grumpy, sleep-deprived and girlfriend-deprived idiot.” Shepard manages a quiet, tired smile, but Ash isn’t convinced. She slides off her seat, moving closer to Shepard, a gentle hand resting at his cheek, thumb ghosting over his cheekbone as her fingers curl around his ear.
“Cade?” Ashley presses, and Shepard relents.
“I might have been a bit jealous of the attention that bouncer was getting.” he admits shyly, glancing away from Ash for a moment. Her quiet laughter bubbles up, and he looks back at her with an indignant huff, and Ash just shakes her head, laughter subsiding into a teasing smile.
“Oh, you’re so cute when you’re jealous.”
Ash presses her forehead to his for a quiet moment stolen from the busy night, and Shepard feels the tension ebbing away as he breathes in slowly, taking solace in her presence for as long as he has it.
"Cade, I don’t want anybody else. Trust me.”
Cade grows quiet, pulling away to look at Ash, properly, finding no hesitation in her gaze at all. It fills him with a close confidence, and he manages a smile, leaning in to steal a sweet kiss from her before he has to turn his attention back to the rest of the night.
