Chapter Text
Garrus tries and fails to stifle a yawn. He shakes his head to try to wake himself up a bit and then peers around the crowded auditorium, hoping none of his bosses at C-Sec notice him falling asleep on the job. Not seeing anyone who saw his break in decorum, he lets himself lean back against the wall. Then he hears a chuckle to his right.
He turns and looks down. There he sees an Alliance officer sipping a champagne flute. He cocks a brow, and she smirks. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that you find babysitting the diplomats to be boring.”
Garrus snorts. He is only here because he owed Chellick for covering his last shift when he was too tired from a stakeout he did on his personal time. His friend always signed up for guard duty during political events to help him network. However, today the other turian preferred going on a date with the new receptionist in the precinct lobby. Realizing that he should respond to this human, he nods to her. “Thanks. I am covering for my friend. I never volunteer for these assignments.”
“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t be here either if I didn’t have to be.” The purple haired woman shrugs. “I’d much rather be doing my actual job.”
“At least you get to drink,” he says as he surveys the room before turning his attention back to the officer.
“You have to cover the entire event?”
“Yep. Until everyone leaves or I am dismissed.”
“Me too.”
“The Alliance has to order its soldiers to attend functions?”
“Only the ones they know will try to skip it.”
Garrus finds himself chuckling. “You sound like most turians.”
“Really? Maybe I should look into changing militaries.”
“We always do the ceremonies or presentations at the beginning of the event, then people can get back to work if they need to or get drunk if they want.” He turns his head to do another pass over the gathered group of officials. His visor not making note of any perceived threats.
“The Alliance could really learn a thing or two from the Hierarchy.”
“Don’t let your bosses hear that.”
“Maybe if I am ever asked to say a few words, I will add it to my speech.”
A laugh erupts from his mouth, and his subvocals rumble in mirth before he can tamp down on the noise. A passing turian official gives him a sideways glance as they continue through the room. “Do you know what this event is even about? I have seen no signage or itinerary to tell me what is going on.”
“I think they are giving some award and promotion to some jackass who just does the job they tell them to do. You know how politicians are, they think they need to make a big deal out of a grunt just doing her job.”
He takes in this information. “I can see why they have to order you to be present.”
“Yeah, well, some of us have a reputation for being a bit unconventional.” A server stops by to take her empty glass and she sets it on the tray. “You like working at C-Sec? Is it better than being a soldier?”
“It isn’t that different, really. More restrictive, more rules and regulations to follow. You have to use standard issued equipment, so that makes the job harder most of the time.”
“Is that visor standard issue?”
“No, one of the few things that they will let me use that isn’t.”
Lights on the stage come on and the room quiets. Someone comes out to announce Admiral Hackett. Then the man himself begins talking about sacrifice, courage, and ingenuity. The crowd claps and gasps at all the correct moments. The Admiral finally comes to his announcement, “For acts beyond the call of duty and showing the galaxy what a single human soldier can do, tonight we honor ‘The Hero of Elysium’, Lieutenant Commander Shepard.”
Garrus is momentarily blinded as a spotlight falls upon his new acquaintance. She mutters, “Sorry, didn’t know they had a spotlight.” Then she begins to make her way to the stage, and the audience clears a path for her. He watches with his jaw nearly hanging open to a ludicrous degree.
She walks across the stage and shakes the admiral’s hand. He pins her new bars on her Alliance uniform and hands her something. She approaches the podium to address the crowd. “Don’t worry, everyone. I am a true soldier and will keep this brief. Thank you for coming tonight to my very fancy promotion ceremony. I accept your thanks and applause for all soldiers who get up and do their job every day. It does not matter if you are on vacation, a soldier will heed the call to service. Though I would appreciate my holiday time back.” The crowd laughs with her. “While I know the Alliance wants to prove what we humans can do, we need to remember we are now part of the galactic community and there is much we can learn from other races or other militaries that have existed far longer than ours. Did you know the turians put these ceremonies at the beginning of their events, so people can leave or get drunk afterwards? We should start implementing this change immediately.” The audience chuckles and hollers at this idea. Shepard raises her arms to calm the crowd. “I need to wrap this up before they take away my promotion before I even get a paycheck. Thank you all for coming. Have a good night and remember that any single person can make a difference.”
Garrus catches himself still standing slack-jawed and quickly corrects his posture and behavior while checking again to make sure none of his superiors saw his display. He begins to quickly survey the crowd, looking for any concerning behaviors while people are on the stage. The Lieutenant Commander is talking with the Admiral on stage as they slowly walk off together. Over the next hour the party begins to wind down when he hears a now familiar voice. “Still stuck here?”
He turns to his right again to find Shepard standing there, nursing another glass of champagne. “I suppose they do not want anything to happen to the ‘Hero of Elysium’.”
An obnoxious snort escapes her. “Are you trying to say this is my fault that you are still here?”
“Well, if you hadn’t bothered to save Elysium, I wouldn’t have to stand here and you wouldn’t have to stay here.”
She laughs, and he finds he likes the sound of her laughter. “I suppose that was pretty rude of me. Let’s start over. Kara Shepard.”
Garrus looks down to find her holding her hand out to him. He grasps her forearm as turians do, and her eyebrows raise. “Garrus Vakarian.”
An annoying chirping in his ear, and he takes his hand back to accept the incoming call. His other hand holds a finger up. “Vakarian.” He listens and hums along with his orders. “Affirmative, thank you, sir.” Tapping on his omnitool, he cuts the connection. “Now I have been dismissed.”
A smile spreads across her face. “Well, since my heroics were an incredible inconvenience for you tonight, would you let me buy you a drink anywhere but here?”
“Definitely.”