A/N - Australian / British standard English. There is a good chance of reading the following: lots of profanity, characters drinking, typos, and bad grammar at times.
Proofreading and editing suggestions provided by OhDave1. Any mistakes are still mine.
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Shepard returns to the Citadel and handles a few issues.
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I was sitting next to Garrus at the bar of a tavern. It was on one of the Wards of the Citadel, this one catering to a mostly turian population though seeing the other species of the Council wasn't unusual. I wasn't the only human in the tavern, and they served alcohol that I could drink. Garrus was nursing his fifth or sixth drink... Maybe it was many more. I'd already lost count. I didn't drink much, and half a dozen or so would knock me out. I'd long lost my tolerance. I guess dying didn't help.
Our mission had been successful. We'd taken a small team, unsure as to what we'd be dealing with. We ended up fighting Blue Suns mercenaries, mechs and anyone else who was keen for a fight. We'd been looking for someone by the name of Fade. It turned out he was a now-disgraced ex-C-Sec officer, Harkin. I remembered that bastard well.
I ran fingers over my bruised knuckles as our reunion had not been friendly. Garrus hadn't been a fan of his either, and after Garrus got the information that he needed to find Sidonis, I got to work on Harkin. Garrus waited outside as I made sure Harkin would spend a good week or two pissing blood before I called in Captain Bailey, someone we'd spoken to about Fade when we'd arrived on the Citadel. He was a human who'd done well for himself, finding himself promoted up the rankings. Bailey and C-Sec had been after Fade for months and were delighted that I handed him over. They asked no questions as to why his face was a battered, bloody mess.
As for Sidonis, Garrus found somewhere to get comfortable while I waited for Sidonis to make contact. He was a turian though not what I expected. Skittish. Scared. And nothing but a fucking coward. I did speak to him, wanting to hear his story. But it disgusted me. I had little time for cowards at the best of times, but his cowardice led to the deaths of everyone but Garrus. To me, it was unforgivable. Living with guilt or whatever he wanted to say, I didn't care. Garrus deserved his shot.
I stepped aside and the head of Sidonis exploded in blood and brain matter. He collapsed to the ground. I checked to make sure that he was dead before I turned and walked away.
"Righteous," Garrus muttered to himself, "That felt good, Shepard. Finally nailing that bastard. I can now believe that they've been laid to rest. I knew they wouldn't let me rest until I killed him."
"Cracking shot. He didn't stand a chance." I lifted my glass and pointed. "And he was a fucking coward too."
Garrus gave me a look and realised that I was a little drunk. "He wasn't while we fought. But they got to him. And he fucking sold us out. Glad he's fucking dead."
Yeah. We were both drunk and I knew Garrus would be nursing a sore head the next day. I was promising myself it would be my last as I joked that I was on the Citadel to also get laid in addition to dealing with the shit the galaxy spat out. Garrus suggested that he'd go and catch up with Chloe. They were still messaging constantly, and I knew Garrus really liked the woman.
Given his inebriation, I put Garrus in a taxi and gave the address, so he'd get to Chloe's place safe and sound. She lived on a separate Ward. I caught my taxi and had it take me to the Presidium. I had it land close to the Consort's Chambers as I was in two minds as to who to visit first. I knew that my next recruit was on a Ward and that I'd easily locate her during my stay.
"I should visit Naira," I muttered to myself, "I should have seen her last time I was here."
Despite the rumours about Sha'ira, her establishment was still open. The greeter was an asari though not the same one that I remembered. But she recognised me immediately and I was escorted in without delay. The décor and layout had barely changed despite what I'd read about the extensive damage to the Presidium. I was barely halfway in when Naira appeared around the corner and stopped a few paces short of me.
She promptly burst into tears as I walked quickly and scooped her up, making her giggle as I spun her around. That first kiss was something else and I heard plenty of comments from the other acolytes around her. I placed her feet back on the floor and continued hugging her as Sha'ira appeared. The smile that lit up her face was something else, Naira letting me go so I could greet Sha'ira.
"I'm so glad to see that you're alive, Shepard," she stated softly, greeting me with a kiss on each cheek.
"Sorry that I didn't visit during my last visit, but given my current circumstances..."
"No explanation necessary as you've always been a busy man. Would you care to join me and Naira in my chambers for a drink and catch up? I know Naira will then take you to her quarters afterwards."
"Totally need to make love all night," Naira stated softly. I met her blue eyes and the absolute desire for me in them had me immediately smiling at her. I took them both by the hand as we walked into Sha'ira's quarters. It had been redecorated since my last visit. What amused me was that there was a photo of me on one of the dressers. It was my official Alliance portrait.
"It's one photo, Shepard," Sha'ira explained, "Naira has... Well..."
"I have a lot of photos," Naira told me, "It's not quite a shrine, but after you died. Well, after you were reported as dying..."
"Guess it's a little weird having me back?"
Naira cuddled me ever so tightly. "Not weird. The best news ever."
Sha'ira filled me in with some gossip about what happened on the Presidium after the attack. She had considered leaving the Citadel due to the rumours of what happened with General Septimus. But although those rumours dogged her, she refused to abandon her place on the Presidium or her acolytes. She would endure. I offered to help though she waved that off with a kiss on the cheek.
"You've done more than enough for all of us, Shepard," she insisted, "But thank you for offering."
"I'd happily punch a face or two to help you both."
I enjoyed a drink with Sha'ira, but that's all it was with her. We'd been intimate once, what was a lifetime ago in one regard, before she suggested that Naira take me to her quarters for the remainder of the evening. The door was barely shut to her quarters before Naira was eagerly working on getting my clothes off. I heard the door click shut, at least.
I gently took her wrists and that earned a smile. "Let's take our time getting naked. It's been a long time for me since I've seen your body too..."
