Chapter Text
“Shep— Reagan,” Garrus looked up from his datapad as she approached. They stood in a companionable silence for a few moments as both gathered their thoughts amidst the sounds of blaster fire from the barricades and debris falling from orbit in the distance. “So, I guess this is….”
“Just like old times?” Shepard managed a small smile.
A nervous chuckle escaped him. “Might be last chance we get to say that.”
“You think we’re gonna lose?” Shepard’s heart fell just a little. She had to hold onto that hope, but she couldn’t just walk into this fight knowing Garrus didn’t believe.
“No,” Garrus smirked. “I think we’re about to kick the Reapers back into whatever black hole they crawled out of. Then we’re going to retire somewhere warm and tropical and live off the royalties from the vids.” A pause, as he considered whether to say the next part. “Maybe... even find out what a turian-human baby looks like.”
A laugh escaped Shepard. The thought had crossed her mind, but she hadn’t been sure his thoughts on the matter. Or the biological possibility. “I’m game. Though I think adoption is probably a better idea; biology may not cooperate.”
“Hmm… I suppose there will be a lot of little krogan around soon,” Garrus returned easily as he acknowledged the point and accepted the alternative. And she loved him for it. But even the half-joking half-serious plans they were coming up with on the spot weren’t enough to really distract her from the task at hand and the conflict looming before them.
“We just have to beat the Reapers first,” she stated quietly as a small sigh escaped her.
“James told me there’s an old saying here on Earth: ‘May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.’ Not sure if turian heaven is the same as yours, but if this thing goes sideways, and we both end up there… meet me at the bar. I’m buying.”
A smile tugged at Reagan’s lips. There were only a few people in the galaxy who could get her to laugh nowadays, and she’d served the last few years with all of them. And he knew what she believed in well enough to know she thought that was absolutely ludicrous, and worthy of a laugh. But she still couldn’t manage it in this moment. There was too much at stake, and this was too close to saying goodbye. “We’re a team, Garrus. There’s no Shepard without Vakarian, so you better remember to duck.”
“Sorry, turians don’t know how. But I’ll improvise. And Shepard…” he leaned closer and his voice got a bit lower. “Forgive the insubordination, but your boyfriend has an order for you….” He took her hands in his. “Come back alive. It’d be an awfully empty galaxy without you.”
She couldn’t stand the thought of never reaching that future, and she couldn’t find the words, and right now, the only thing she could think to do that would convey her feelings… she kissed him. Not long. But she hadn’t before, and if this was the end.... When he returned it and then pressed his forehead to hers, she had to fight the tears. There wouldn’t be time for farewells out there, if the time came. So here was as good as they were going to get. “Goodbye, Garrus. And if I’m up there and you’re not, I’ll be looking down. You’ll never be alone.” Her voice cracked.
He finally released her hands, knowing that she had to get to Anderson, that the window was short. That every delay cost lives. But it still pained him to do so.
“Never,” he agreed quietly.
Because despite all his assurances, and despite her own determination, there remained that lingering feeling that she wasn’t coming back.