Special Events
Chapter 2 – Bonding
“This has to be the
longest elevator ride in history!” Garrus Vakarian bellowed, “Not even the one
on the Citadel to the docking bay took this long!” He was overwhelmed by his
nervousness. Tapping his feet and fumbling with his three-fingered hands,
anxiously waiting to arrive at the top level. Usually he had no issues in
visiting Reblicah Shepard in her quarters, in fact he loathed leaving, but
tonight was different. Vakarian was determined to make Shepard his, if she
would accept. The elevator alerted him about his arrival and the door to the
Commander’s quarters parted open. ‘Spirits
guide me.’
Arriving early to
Reby’s invitation, he expected some playful resistance. But there was none to
be found. Only the deafening sound of her radio welcomed him. Garrus paced
deeper into her room, slowly bringing his human companion into view.
Shepard was sitting
on her bed, propped up against the headboard. She was so focused on the large
canvas displayed over her bent knees that she neglected to see the Gunnery
Chief’s entrance. She had a brush carelessly dangling from her fingers,
stroking aimlessly at the air. She must have been trying to visualize her
painting. But as he got closer, he realized the brush was actually in sync with
the melody and could hear the faint humming of Reblicah’s voice.
He caught her
singing once before, during their last shore leave at Illium. The Commander
persuaded that they all go to one of the smaller bars holding a karaoke night.
After coaxing the rest of the crew to take their turn assaulting the
microphone, Shepard stumbled onto the stage. Everyone covered their ears in
horror as another drunk human was going to attempt singing. But instead of
hearing the shriek of a banshee, the most angelic voice echoed the lounge. The
entire bar looked in awe, fastened to their seats, wondering how someone who
barked orders all day could sing like a siren. When the song ended, every
single patron stood and cheered. She took a bow and escorted herself off the
stage. Staggering up to Garrus, she asked to be carried back to the ship,
passing out in his arms shortly afterwards.
This time she wasn’t
under any alcoholic influence. Reby’s voice sounded even more hypnotizing.
Typically she listened to electronic music and would attempt to dance along,
failing horribly. But today she was a heavy metal rocker, which curiously
suited her persona. Garrus didn’t recognize the song but could easily see that
it was one of her favorites. Head banging with the rhythm, strumming along to the
guitar solos. Her body was gracefully accepting every transition, delivering a
pleasant performance. He leaned up against the pillar by her desk and contently
observed the Commander. Watching as she closed her eyes and passionately sang
along:
All the pain in the world won’t stop us now.For we have each other.All the hate in this world can’t tear us apart.This love is forever.
The lyrics seemed
fitting to Garrus’s intentions. He thought of the possibility that maybe the
spirits were finding ways to reassure him about his decision, and doing a damn
good job at that. Filled with the mad admiration for the woman sitting on the
bed, all his anxiety seemed to disappear. Garrus never felt so passionately for
anyone. He used to think that he would never find someone, cursed to be a bachelor for life. Miserably bound by the
red tape of Citadel Security and forced to feel cast aside for his ideals. Then
a human Spectre turned
his world upside down, giving him the opportunity to change his direction,
giving him… hope. He never imagined he would fall for anyone, especially
outside his species, but somehow that nymph made him
feel complete.
The song ended and
Shepard opened her eyes, sighing as she
brought her attention back to the canvas. Yet
something stuck out in her peripheral vision. Bringing her gaze towards the
anomaly, she noticed the Gunnery Chief standing at the top of her stairs. Based on
his smirk, she realized he witnessed the spectacle she was putting on.
In one swift move, she dodged towards the radio, turning it off and screaming,
“Damn it Garrus, you startled me!”
“I didn’t mean to,” he replied striding towards her.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Only for a few minutes, I promise,” crossing his heart with
his finger.
She looked at her
watch, noticing his premature arrival. A smile curled from her lips as she
playfully imitating a therapist, “Tsst tsst tsst, Mr Vakarian, you’re always so
early.”
“What can I say, I have separation issues.”
“We’ll have to work on that. Come sit with me,” patting the
open spot on her sheets.
“I’ve never heard of the song you were listening to. What
era are they from?” climbing onto the bed and situating himself with his back
to her very fluffy pillows.
“These come from the turn of the 21st century. I found
them on the extranet recently. The musicians of that time were very poetic with
their lyrics. I find myself becoming easily lost into their melody, obviously.”
“I enjoyed the show. I love hearing you sing, you should do
it more often.”
“That can be arranged, depending on what I get in return.”
She enjoyed making bargains with him. Discovering it was a successful way to
get him to do whatever she wanted.
“I’ll see what I can do on my vigilante’s salary… So what is
this all about?” he questioned as he sat next to her, pointing at the array of
art supplies. There were cans of different colored paints and an assortment of
brushes scattered all over her night stand. Reaching for the canvas she tossed
aside during her spectacle, she placed on the floor, leaning against the table.
“Well, if you must know, the event we are attending has
asked for all the guests to bring in a piece of artwork. I figured we could
bring in a painting. Something we did together.”
“Simple enough, what kind of exhibit are we attending?”
“I cannot tell you, not yet. It’s a surprise.”
“You know how I don’t like surprises,” staring at the
Commander with his stern blue eyes.
“Yes, I know, but it’ll be worth it.”
“Fine, I’ll just tolerate it for a few more days. Just
curious, but wouldn’t it be logical to paint at your desk? You’re just going to
make a mess here.”
“It would make a ton of sense to move but do you see how
relaxed I am here. I mean look at all these pillows. I spend too much time in
uncomfortable places. I think I can deal with a little paint on the bed. Plus
painting over there would require me getting up, and I’m feeling really lazy
today,” digging her back deeper into her stash of pillows.
“What’s that old human saying? Oh yeah… stop the presses!
Commander Shepard is actually being lazy. Should I be concerned? Should I call
Dr. Solus?” Before he could continue, he was getting smacked by one of her
pillows. Alas, there was some resistance!
She pouted, “Can’t I
get a day off? I don’t have to be Commander all the time. I like to have
recreational hobbies too.”
“But painting?”
“So I’ve never painted anything in my life!”
“Can’t we just shoot something up and call it art.”
“I thought about it,” Shepard smirked at her turian
companion, “it would be a lot easier but it just wouldn’t be as personal. And
this event is really special to me.”
“Did you have any ideas on what you wanted to paint?”
“Absolutely none,” she sighed.
“Well, you have the crew fooled. They seem to think you are
in a good mood. But I know better than that, what’s wrong, Reby?” his raspy
voice pierced right through her smile.
“How can you tell? Maybe I really am in a good mood,” she
scoffed.
“Call it intuition.”
Shepard paused for a
moment, running through the rolodex in her mind. Turning her head away, she
responded, “I don’t know how you do it, Garrus. I try to disguise my emotions
but you can always see right through my masks.”
“You don’t need to hide them from me,” cupping her chin
between his fingers.
At that moment,
Garrus stared into Reby’s delicate brown pupils. They glowed, bearing the
fragile emotions hidden deep inside, desperately seeking shelter in the
protector glaring back. The Commander managed to keep a hardened disposition in
front of others, keeping these feelings from consuming her and driving her to
the brink of insanity. But behind closed doors, she was breaking into a million
pieces, typically finding empty comfort in the liquor bottles stashed in her
desk.
“It’s just been
another tough week. I can’t let it get the better of me or we both know what
I’ll do. I just feel like I give everything that I can but still get shot down.
By the Council, by the Alliance,
by Cerberus, nothing I do seems right anymore. I’m really starting to miss the
good old days. Hell, I even miss those on the spur missions from Admiral
Hackett. At least he appreciated my work,” her eyes welling up.
Garrus could see
every thread of hope Shepard had was being destroyed strand by strand. Losing
confidence in her quest to change the world for the better, her attempts seemed
pointless. No one understood why she was fighting for a Council who showed very
little concern for her since her death. Her last bits of energy spent clashing
against her radical revivers just to protect her progressive ideals. All
Cerberus did was remind of her duty to the organization, to repay the debt of
her resurrection by protecting human kind from the greatest threat ever
witnessed.
The presence of the
approaching Reaper army terrified the Commander. It was nearly impossible to
destroy one, yet everyone was still relying on her to take out an entire fleet.
As much as she despised dwelling over it, Reblicah would have to come to terms
knowing this upcoming war might be her last campaign, fully aware this may be
the end. Even after the death of the altruist, they would only award her
sacrifice with meaningless medals and hollow titles like “The World’s Paragon”
and “The Savior of the Galaxy.”
As bleak as
Shepard’s future was, Garrus was dedicated to standing strongly by her side. To
catch her when she falls, protecting her when things become too much to handle.
To being her outlet, sharing the burden she was carrying. Nothing would shatter
the devotion to the human he cared so deeply for. He committed his life to his
commanding officer, making sure she was not going to be alone.
“We all appreciate
what you’ve done Commander, we couldn’t do any of this without you and I mean
that. You may not receive the thanks you deserve, but as long as you just keep
doing what you believe is right, that’s all that should matter.”
“I know I cannot say
this enough but thank you for being here for me, Garrus. I’m a lucky woman to
have you.” Her smile returned to her face, making their brief appearance. A
twinkle of hope, like a ray of sun beaming through the heavy rain clouds
‘Do it now, Vakarian. This is the perfect moment.’
“Commander… Reblicah
Marie Shepard… Reby…” The Gunnery Chief took her hands into his, feeling the
soft touch of her fingers rubbing against the insides of his tense palms. “I want
you to know that you are the light that keeps me going in this dark world. I
lose my way when I don’t have you around. You have saved my life, in so many
ways, that I want to return my gratitude. I know I cannot offer you much. But I
will always be here for you, every step of the way. As long as I’m around, you
are never going to be alone. Nothing would please me more than to completely
devote my life to you, sharing your pain and victories, and to ask…”
’Come on, Vakarian. You can do this.’
“Will you… give me
the honor of making you mine?” Anxious, he could feel his piercing blue eyes
fixed on Shepard, anticipating her answer. The atmosphere in the room changed.
The air felt thick and seemed difficult to breathe. All of the ambient sounds
faded away, leaving a numbing silence in their absence.
Then her calming voice broke through the barrier, politely
asking, “You mean to mark me, right?”
Garrus responded
with a nod. Attempting to clarify, “I know it is a lot to ask. It’s uncommon
for humans and turians to bond, with us being so… different. Marking is
symbolic for my species and I would love to share that tradition with you. I
would understand if you want to wait until after a… oh what is it called… a
wedding ceremony. Or if you are against it, I can, I, uh, now I’m rambling like
a fool.”
“Garrus, it’s okay,” she smiled, “I would be honored to bear
your mark.”
Immediately he felt
the crushing weight of the environment dissipate. Her smile broke the spell
holding him hostage. With all his senses returning, one stood out the most. The
pounding of his heart echoing, ‘She said
yes.’
“I’m actually surprised you didn’t ask me sooner,” she
continued.
“I was nervous,
obviously. I didn’t know if we were even ready. The significance in marking
your mate shows your eternal bond to each other. Let alone I didn’t think you
would allow me, since it may hurt.”
“I’ve been shot,
stabbed, poisoned, kicked, thrown, hell I was dead. I think I can survive one
bite. In fact, I would gladly accept being bitten by you than be shot at again,
but that is inevitable with me. Bullets seem highly attracted to me for some
reason. All these damn implants must be making me a walking magnet.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” he chuckled.
Shepard composed
herself, “I do understand what this means. As far as I am concerned, we already
belong to each other. Why not go the final step and seal the bond? I want this,
Garrus. I don’t want to wait. We both know that my future… our future… is so
unstable. If we wait, it might be too late. But… we have this moment,”
squeezing his talons, pulling him down to her level. She waited until her lips
were brushing against his to whisper, “right now.”
Feeling his
instincts take control, Garrus freed his hands and brought them to her face,
passionately locking their mouths. Even though he couldn’t kiss back, he loved
the feeling of her dexterous lips on his. Allowing her tongue to trail against
his opening, to flick against his tongue and tease it. It drove tremors down
his spine, causing his mandibles to twitch.
Upon separating
their jaws, Reby’s breathing was heavy, every inhale expanded her chest. Garrus
brought his face to her bust, nuzzling against her fabric restraints, taking in
the familiar scent that defined Shepard. Placing his hand on the small of her
back, she arched her body towards the pillows, directing their bodies
down.
As he positioned
himself above her, Shepard’s wandering hands began tugging the zipper for his
uniform, exposing his plated skin underneath. The cold air rushing in, striking
against his body’s rising temperature. Taking hold of his shirt, he pulled his
arms through the sleeves revealing his upper half, and tossed the cloth away.
Bringing his
attention to the overdressed Commander, she needed out of her constricting
uniform. Garrus slid his talons under her shirt, feeling the warmth of her skin
radiate against his claws. Pushing the cloth up her torso, it began bearing the
flesh hidden underneath. Reblicah rubbed her hands from his shoulders down his
arms, following the ridges in his plates. When she reached his hands, she
grabbed the tail of her shirt, pulling it over her head, and cast it aside.
Studying the
uncovered human that lay cushioned below him, Garrus memorized every curve her
body held. Even though he explored every bit of her body before, it still felt
like an adventure, each time becoming a new experience. He loved her smooth
skin. It was so delicate, so… sensitive.
Grabbing the sides
of her waist triggered her to squirm, wildly making his mandibles fluctuate.
Guiding his hand up her stomach and around the contours of her chest, every
movement on her figure had a reaction. The response elevated around her collar,
her weakness. When he rubbed his finger down the traces of her neck, it sent
shivers down her spine, causing her hair to stand on end. The sight of her
vibration triggered him to growl. Reby wrapped her arms around the neck of the
turian, feeling the rumble. She began massaging the base of his fringe, clawing
her fingers into his skin, pushing her tips around his plates. His neck tensed
at her fingertips, growling louder.
Garrus could no
longer resist. He leaned into her neck, nestling his nose faintly against the
location of their bonding. The heat escaping her neck, welcomed his arrival.
“Are you ready?” motioning his lips lightly against her
skin.
“Yes.” She closed her eyes, her heart beating against her
ribcage, harder and harder, anticipating him.
“With this mark, we will be bound. We will belong to each
other, loyal to the end. Our spirits, our minds, and our hearts, linked as one.
Never breaking the bond between us, this is our promise,” his words echoing,
purring.
His mouth wrapped
around the side of her neck, breathing her in. Closing down and allowing his
teeth to scratch the surface, feeling her pulse pounding through her skin. Reby
let out a quiet moan as his sharp teeth dug deeper and deeper, the pressure in
his jaw increasing gradually. Then they successfully broke through, thrusting
through the surface. A strong burning sensation beckoned, causing her head to
jolt back. Moaning louder, she felt her blood rushing through the new openings.
Tasting Shepard’s
livelihood being summoned into him, Garrus’s instincts urged to continue. He
clenched his eyes shut, sinking his teeth further into her flesh, pursuing to
seal their bond. Imagining their hearts beating together, their spirits
binding, their two bodies mended into one. Embracing his mark, he persisted,
imprinting Reby mentally, physically, spiritually. The intense connection made
his body tremble, sending out a muffled growl.
 |
| Artwork by Krubbus |
Reaching what felt
like an orgasmic peak, Reblicah’s body quivered uncontrollably. Her heavy
breathing made her moans sound like whimpers. She never felt such a fierce
exchange. The ritual consumed more than she expected, not even their sexual
encounters drained her energy like this. This was a new experience entirely.
Her senses tingled, even the way he felt at her finger tips seemed intensified.
The burning from her open wounds faded away, being replaced with a strong
impression. Becoming highly receptive to any separation from the turian she
bonded with, making any time apart intolerable.
Garrus slowly
brought his teeth out from her flesh, careful to not irritate the damaged area.
Panting through the gaps in his mouth, he took a look into his companion’s
eyes. There was a new shine, a look that will stay etched forever in his mind.
They looked broken yet whole, confused but somehow
confident, peaceful and wounded, all at once. She went through a ritual
very few humans endured.
Noticing the red
droplets filling up the open holes on her neck, Garrus grew concerned. He
attempted to move but felt her hands grip him firmly.
“Please don’t go,” she pleaded, wheezing.
“I just want to get you some medi-gel.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine, I promise.”
“But…” he immediately got interrupted with her finger over
his lips.
“Just lay here with me.”
Garrus didn’t put up
any more resistance. He brought his forehead to meet hers. She responded by
gently rubbing the tip of her nose against his, looking exhausted from the
ordeal. He closed his eyes, taking in this moment. She was his.
