Under Better Circumstances 8 - Bending Protocol

Title: Under Better Circumstances - Chapter 8: Bending Protocol
Author: xRebel666x
Game: Mass Effect
Characters/Pairing: Commander Nevada Shepard (femShep) and James Vega

*****SPOILERS ARE IN THIS CHAPTER!!!!*****

Chapter 8 – Bending Protocol

  With the Normandy safely docked at the Citadel, the crew was taking a brief moment to relax before their next venture. Major Kaidan Alenko joined Lieutenant Steve Cortez, Garrus Vakarian, and Kenneth Donnelly at one of James Vega's infamous card games. The hangar was filled with the stench of hard liquor and the roars of their laughter.  

  "I would be winning if someone wasn't cheating!" Kaidan leaned back in his chair, throwing down his cards on the table.

  James hunched forward and collected his earnings, "No… you're just really bad at this game."

  "You're pretty bad, Major," Kenneth added, pouring another glass.

  "I give up."

  "Oh come on Kaidan," Steve reassured, patting his back, "Vega wiped me clean the first time I played with him. Come to think of it… he still does."

  "If you give up now, Gabby and I will make fun of you down in engineering."

  "Fine… one more round."

  "That's the spirit! This will help," Kenneth topped off Kaidan's drink.

  Just as Vega finished dealing the next round, a mysterious echo of footsteps could be heard. Trying to distinguish its whereabouts, they all paused and listened attentively. The closer the noise became the more it became distinguishable, sounding like high heels clanking on the metal floor.  

  Kaidan began questioning, "Heels? Who on the Normandy wears heels?"

  "Maybe it's that lovely Miss Lawson, returning back to the crew," the Irish engineer smirked.

  "I doubt it," Garrus inputted, "Her heels never echoed like that… these sound like stiletto heels."

  "Wouldn't it be something if it was the Commander," James Vega commented, grinning at the thought.

  The table burst into laughter. Kenneth slammed his drink down, shouting, "Yeah! She'll never do it! We have a better chance of seeing Tali out of her enviro-suit than Shepard walking around in heels!"

  Without any warning, a soft voice announced, "Gentlemen."

  They turned around and all came to a dead silence. Their eyes widened at the unusual sight. Commander Shepard was standing tall in a navy dress with an N7 and Alliance logo stitched into the right sleeve. It had a low cut neck line exposing the top of her cleavage. The bottom was only four inches above her knees and complimented the slender legs leading down to her matching high heels. The way the dress snuggly fit every curve of her body teased the bachelors sitting at the table.

  As she cocked her hip to the side and crossed her arms, it became quickly apparent that the players were distracted by her entrance. Garrus's cards slipped through his fingers and drifted facedown onto the table while Kenneth loudly gulped down the liquor sitting in his throat. Kaidan and James stared wide-eyed with their mouths open, waiting for their jaws to unhinge and drop onto the floor.

  "Shepard, you look…" Kaidan fumbled his words as he tried to stand up.

  "Can it, Major," the Commander playfully smiled at him, "I'm here to request the Lieutenant's assistance." Lieutenant Cortez began standing up but she held up her hand and stopped him, "Sit back down, Steve." Directing her full attention to the mohawked man, she purred his name, "Lieutenant Vega?"

  "Shepard?"

  "Are you fit for duty?" she raised her eyebrow, leering at the half-emptied glasses on the table.

  "Yes."

  "Good, I need you cleaned up and ready for departure in 20 minutes."

  "Yes, Commander," he stumbled up and saluted, "Ma'am."

  "At ease," she glanced at the other crewmates before taking her leave. Their eyes glued onto her as she walked away with a sway in her hip.

  "Holy mother almighty," Kenneth panted, "She puts on one hell of a show!"

  Garrus shook his head in disbelief, "I didn't even think Shepard would wear a dress after going to Bekenstein with Kasumi."

  "I'm glad we didn't bet on it," Cortez added, taking a sip of his liquor.

  James dismissed himself from the game and rushed to his bunk, anxiously rubbing the back of his neck. The vision of his commanding officer in a dress was vibrantly imprinted on his memories. He never thought she would remember his request from Alliance Command. Realizing this moment was crucial, he quickly prepared for whatever Shepard had planned for him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  The twenty minutes flew by quickly for the Lieutenant. Knowing he was running a little behind, he hurried towards the airlock and begged that Shepard was still waiting. A sigh of relief escaped his lungs when he saw her standing on the docking bay. He quickly brushed his shirt and straightened his mohawk before stepping out of the airlock.

  "Reporting for duty, Shepard," he saluted, "I hope this is enough."

  Nevada eyed the Lieutenant from head to toe and confirmed, "It'll do."

  "What are my orders?"

  Before he could react, she wrapped her arm around his and began walking, explaining, "You are escorting your commanding officer to dinner."

  "Like a date?"

  "Did I say it was a date?"

  "No. I'm just… a bit confused."

  "Consider this as nothing more than your Commander giving you orders."

  "I can do that," he agreed, "So where am I escorting you?"

  "A little place my mother told me about. It's a bit of a walk."

  "I don't mind, especially with how stun…" he caught himself mid-sentence. Pausing a brief moment before requesting, "Permission to speak freely?"

  "Granted."

  "You look stunning, Shepard."

  "I know," she gloated.

  "I'm surprised you even remembered this. After all, I'm just a soldier," he admitted.

  "Well… I could never forget anything about you," she repeated his words, adding, "And this is the least I could do after all your kind actions."

  "So I take it you liked the chess set?"

  "I'm all dolled up, aren't I?"

  He nodded, his memory capturing the beautiful sight of the woman attached to his arm, "I knew you would look good in a dress… even if it's on the verge of breaking protocol."

  "In that case, I guess we should head back so I can change back into my military attire."

  "No!" he blurted, his hand instinctively clung onto her wrapped arm in an attempt to prevent her from leaving.

  Her lips curled on one side, "Don't worry, James, I won't take my dress off. Not yet at least."

  "Yet?" he gulped, hoping she wasn't tugging on his emotions again, "Why are you suddenly disregarding protocol?"

  "I'm not… I'm simply bending the rules a little. I believe the end of the world permits me to start being more lenient."

  "I may regret saying this but don't get too lenient… otherwise who is going to save the world?"

  "As long as I'm alive, the world is not going to end."

  "And what if something happens to you?"

  "I have you to bring me back to life… Plus this is just for tonight. I haven't had a shore leave since the SR-1 so I deserve one night."

  "Then I'll make sure to make it memorable."

  "You always do, Lieutenant," she gently nudged her escort and directed him to look forward.

  James eyes lit up when he saw their destination - a family-run Latino restaurant. The glow in his face confirmed his overwhelming euphoria. Shepard guided him towards a booth in the corner and pointed out how they were the only diners, explaining how she purchased the establishment for the evening. When the owners visited their table, Vega immediately began chatting with them in their native tongue.

  Without consulting with his commanding officer, he ordered arroz con pollo for their meals and a large bottle of tequila. Together they began tackling the tall bottle, pouring shot for shot and recollecting their evening back at the Detention Center of Alliance Command. As soon as the food arrived, he mentioned how much their dinner reminded him of the fond memories he had of home. Rambling about how great his family's cooking was and how he would love to share his cuisine with Nevada.

  When their meal ended, the owner bought out a single glass with a white liquid. A single stick of cinnamon stuck out with a mint leaf at the top. He placed the drink in front of Shepard and advised, "Compliments of your Lieutenant."

  "What is this?" she asked, examining her glass.

  "Dessert."

  She shook her head, "I figured that much out. What is this drink, James?"

  "Coquito," he slurred with his Spanish accent, "think of it as rum eggnog."

  "More alcohol? I already had half of that tequila bottle."

  "You deserve a treat."

  "You already have given me so much."

  "I know… but I can always give you more."

  Using the rim of the glass to congeal her words, she muttered under her breath, "Tonight was supposed to be my turn to spoil you, not the other way around. At least he makes things memorable."

  "What was that, Commander?"

  Her sly grin casually hid her confession, "I was merely relaying how wonderful tonight has been."

  "I agree… and it's not over yet," he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table.

  "We've finished our meals, Lieutenant. What makes you think there's more?"

  "Give me a chance and I'll show you."

  "Just one chance?" Nevada raised her eyebrow and stared into his deep brown eyes. They were hungry for her affection, longing for any sign of her surrender to his advances.

  "Yes," he nodded, anxiously waiting for her reply.

  "We'll see," she teased. As she leaned back in her chair, she noticed one of the owner's daughters cheerfully walking towards them and goggling at her hulky companion, "Looks like you have an admirer."

  Dressed in a light pink dress and only looking about 10 years old, the little girl nervously held her hands behind her back as she asked, "Senor, Papi said you were a nice man. I was wondering… would you dance with me?"

  "Lo siento, little senorita, but I'm on duty right now."

  She hung her head in disappointment.

  "Unless… you can convince my commanding officer…" James suggested, hinting at the lady in the navy dress.

  The little girl hopped over and grabbed onto Shepard's hand, pleading, "Please, oh please!!!"

  The Commander rolled her eyes, "Fine."

  "Yay!" the little girl squealed, running back to her Lieutenant and tugging on his large hand.

  "I'll be right back," he reassured, "Maybe later I can pull you away?"

  "We'll see."

  "I'll teach you how to dance."

  "I know how to dance."

  "Shepard, I've seen you dance… it looks like a varren mating dance."

  "Varren have a mating dance?"

  "They didn't… until you showed them," he joked, grinning as Shepard shot him an appalled look.

  Nevada watched idly from her seat, sipping on her dessert. She found the way her Lieutenant towered over the little girl amusing. Everything about him overshadowed her… even her tiny hands disappeared into his. Shepard was about to gaze away when something caught her attention. The way James was looking at the girl reminded her of the same look a father gives their daughter.

  Her thoughts began racing with the ideas of her future. When the war finally comes to an end, what will she do? What would fill the void after everything was over? Would she settle down?

  One by one she tried to dismiss them. Trying to come to an understanding that her future was already bleak and that anything she planned now would further worsen her untimely demise. Repeatedly reassuring herself that dwelling on it would prove nothing more than a distraction and to keep her mind set on the actions needed to conquer the Reapers… and nothing more.

  But her heart disagreed. She knew what she wanted… what she desired… what she needed. She needed a man who would always accept her even after her anger reared her scars, a man to keep her company on the loneliest nights even when she refuses, a man whose very purpose is to protect her even against the worst possible outcomes. The Commander needed her Lieutenant… the queen needed her knight. Even the constant nagging of her ingrained etiquette couldn't relinquish the fact how every one of her pains seemed to vanish the moment his arms wrapped around her.

  As James Vega continued dancing with the owner's daughter, Shepard finished the last bit of her drink. Anxiously sitting at the table, her fingers skimmed the rim of her empty glass. The more she stared at him, the more she craved his loving embrace.  She impatiently waited for his return…

  The Lieutenant kneeled down and whispered something into the little girl's ear. Her big brown eyes locked onto the Commander, jealous of her competition. In a blur, she ran into the kitchen and the music abruptly stopped. The soft hum of another song began playing, an acoustic version of "Europa" by Santana.

  Walking up to the lonely woman at the table, James held out his hand and suggested she join him. Without any hesitation, Shepard took hold and followed him onto the dance floor. Turning her to face him, he planted his free hand on her waist and guided her body closer.

  His warm eyes glowed when Nevada wrapped her arm around his neck and leaned her chest against his. Resting her cheek over his heart, she closed her eyes and listened to the melody playing. Their bodies shifting slowly, stepping lightly to each forth beat.

  "See... I'm not that bad of a dancer," she muttered.

  "That's because I know how to lead."

  "Are you questioning my abilities as a leader?"

  "Only when it comes to dancing, Lola… although…"

  She leaned away in protest, glaring at him, "I may be in heels but it won't stop me from kicking your ass."

  "I'm only joking with you, Shepard."

  "You're lucky I like you."

  "Is that all?" he stared at her, aching for a thread of hope.

  Shepard brought her hand to the side of his face and traced the frame of his jaw with her fingertips. Her touch influencing him to move closer, stopping when they noses grazed each other. Vega's breathing quickened, his heart pounded against his chest, his mouth eagerly waiting for hers. His ravenous gaze yearned for their distance to shrink even more.

  Yet instead of tempting him with her usual tricks, she shut her eyes and purred, "You will get your answer… later tonight… but first, let's finish this dance."

  Without saying another word, she returned to the comfort of his chest and left him confounded. He was expecting some sort of tease, some sort of lengthy performance that would lead him on and leave him desperately aching for more. But there was none… All she did was continue pacing with him on the dance floor.

  Taking hold of the brief opportunity Nevada provided, James embraced her lovingly in his arms. Breathing in her wonderful scent and wishing the moment would never end. Nuzzling his chin against her hair, he confessed, "Thank you for this night. It means a lot to me, Lola… You mean a lot to me."

  "I think we both know it's going to be more than that," she whispered, her ear pressed against his chest. His beating heart lulled her into a comforting trance as he slowly shifted their bodies to the song.