Chapter Text
The calls came in one after the other.
"Sorry Shepard, something came up. Need to finish touching up these calibrations." - Garrus said.
"I don't do raw fish too well, sorry boss." - Joker.
Some of them didn't even bother calling, and just left text messages saying they couldn't make it.
Shepard sighed. Sometimes it felt like he was the only one trying during team bonding nights. They were on shore leave, for God's sake. They couldn't have made the time for one lousy dinner?
One person did show up though, just as he was contemplating calling it for the night and retiring to his cabin.
"Hi Shepard!" She said cheerfully, then paused, and glanced around at all the empty chairs in the waiting area. "Um... did I get here too early?" She asked, fidgeting with her hands.
Keelah, he's going to think I'm some kind of weirdo... And ugh, can't believe I slept through my alarm. My suit is totally not coordinated right now.
Shepard shook his head, "No, you're right on time." He flashed her a smile. "Thanks for coming."
Oh thank God someone came! I looked like a total jackass sitting alone. But why did it have to be her of all people?
Not that he minded, of course. But if it was just the two of them... Things might get weird. They were just best friends, having dinner. At a high end sushi bar. That's okay, right? Totally not unprofessional or a conflict of interest or anything.
Shepard gulped. She looked absolutely stunning in her skintight suit.
Those thighs are criminal.
Tali tilted her head. "Shepard, are you alright?"
He looks cute when he's focused on something. I wonder what he's thinking about? Tali mused idly.
Shepard shook himself out of it.
You idiot, what are you staring at her like a goddamned perv for? You're her Captain, better start acting like it.
"Oh uh, just hungry. Shall we?"
Tali blinked a few times. After a pause, "Um. Just the two of us?"
Is this a date? Wait, where is everyone else? She thought.
Shepard winced. "Yeah. You okay with that?"
Is the idea of having dinner with just me *that* repugnant? Shepard thought.
"Yeah! I mean- yeah. That's fine." Tali said, cringing internally at how that came out.
Yeah! Then afterwards, we can head up to your cabin, and take off that hoodie of yours and unzip- No! Bad Tali. Shepard is your Captain. Come on, they drilled this into you during Pre-Pilgrimage school. You do not sleep with the Captain- no matter how hot he is.
"Well alright then. Let's get going." Shepard relaxed a bit, and gave her a smile. Great! If she cancelled too I would have cried. In my cabin. With ice cream. While watching Blasto 3 for the sixth time.
But wait... Was it just me, or did she seem a bit too excited there? Nah. Just wishful thinking. Probably excited for the sushi.
"Yes. Let's." She said casually. Or at least her best approximation of casually.
Please stop smiling at me like that Captain. Also, praise be to the Ancestors for opaque faceplates. And self-cleaning suits. Tali thought to herself, as a purplish blush blossomed across her cheeks and across her face- her vibrant imagination working out all the possibilities of what a night alone with Shepard might entail after dinner.
The waiter, a prim and proper looking Turian in a tuxedo, nodded as they approached.
"I've got a reservation, but uh, change of plans. Can we make it a table for two, please?" Shepard asked, scratching the back of his head.
Human expression for nervousness. Tali noted. She'd been staring at Shepard the entire time, without realizing it. So much for the DoNotSleepWithTheCaptain rule.
"Certainly, sir. If you would follow me."
Sure glad the Alliance is bankrolling for all this. Never seen a posh Turian butler before. That can't be cheap. Shepard thought as he followed the waiter.
Shepard and Tali walked side by side, awkwardly keeping their hands apart from one another, though at times they had to squeeze in between tables, and the backs of their hands brushed together, sending waves of electricity through Tali's nerves, and sent Shepard's endocrine system into overdrive.
Her gloves feel nice... Is that velvet?
Shepard's hands are warm. Humans are so warm. I wonder how it would feel to have him wrapped around me. It would probably be so war- Stop. Stopstopstopit.
Tali was mercifully released from her budding fantasies of being spooned by her Captain when they finally reached their table. It was set in a corner booth, with artificial candles at the center of the table, and a large aquarium along the nearby wall. Neon signs of flopping fish were displayed, as well as Kanji- one of the scripts the humans used. Tali was always fascinated at the sheer variety humans enjoyed in terms of culture and language. The Quarians, on the other hand, had become largely homogenized, likely as a result of near mass extinction by the Geth.
All around them, were couples. The most common interspecies pairing were Asari and Humans. A few Quarian- Turian relationships here and there. Even a Krogan and Asari one. But as of this moment, the only Quarian- Human pair was her and Shepard.
... I think I know why Kasumi insisted on us having team dinner at this place. And why they all bailed on us. When will they ever learn she's not into me like that. She's my best friend, and I'm not about to ruin it by taking advantage. I'm her Captain, for God's sake.
Shepard cleared his throat, and made a show of shuffling through the menus.
"Ready to order?" He said, scrolling through the options, trying not to stare at her chest.
"Hmm, you order for me. Sushi is human food, is it not?" Tali asked, trying to avoid staring at his massive forearms.
"Okay... Dextro California Rolls for you, and- Volcano rolls for me."
"Oh, and can you get them to send out a sanitizer please?" Tali asked. "I'd rather not have to suck liquefied sushi up through a tube."
"Yeah, of course." Shepard pressed a glowing blue button at the side of the table, and within seconds the Turian waiter arrived.
"Yes?"
"Sanitizer for the young lady here, please." Shepard said, gesturing to Tali.
"Certainly, sir." And he glided away.
Tali blushed. Something about how he said young lady made the recess of her inner thighs tingle.
After the waiter left, there were a few minutes of silence.
Tali began fidgeting with her fingers.
Shepard stared at her three digits clasping and unclasping one another.
His staring made her even more nervous, and she fidgeted even more, which caused Shepard to stare harder. He felt an instinctual need to reach out and hold her hand.
Then, he abruptly shifted his gaze, took a sip of water, and broke the silence. His face was red as a beet. Tali pondered as to why.
"S-So uh, how have you been? Enjoying the vacation?"
"Oh! Uh yes. I have been visiting the various tech stores around the Presidium, though they make it painfully obvious they don't want me there... thinking I'm some kind of thief."
Shepard frowned. "Next time, let me know and I'll come with you. I want all my crew members to feel safe when they're on shore leave." Especially you.
"O-oh okay! I will give you a call the next time I head out the ship then." Shepard's so nice...
After the initial awkwardness, they both opened up and talked about various things. Tali mostly talked about the latest tech and ship core models, while Shepard recounted stories from when he was an N7 commando in training. Tali hung onto every word, watching his lips move, and how his eyes glistened with empathy. And Shepard too, eagerly listened as Tali babbled on and on about technology- which he didn't really understand much of- but was happy to see her passionate.
The sushi was brought out, with a sanitizer to clean the foods - a mini clean-room environment - and they dug in.
"This is... amazing." Tali gushed, as she sank her teeth into the roll.
"First time having sushi?" Shepard asked, chuckling. He was enjoying the sight of her blissful rapture as she began to stuff herself with the rolls. He could guess her eyes were closed right now, behind the mask. Why is this so cute? He wondered.
She nodded. "Mhmph."
Shepard held up a finger to her mouth. "Talking with your mouth full is rude, Miss Vas Normandy."
Tali became flushed. "Ohph sorry!" She swallowed quick.
Shepard, calling me that is not fair.
Shepard's mouth spread into a grin, and he laughed that special laugh of his that always made her smile. "Just messing around with you. I'm glad you like it. I'm quite partial to sushi, myself."
Smiling at me like that is even more not fair.
God she's so cute when she's embarrassed. Shepard thought, watching her frantically swallow the chunk of salmon before continuing to speak. I wish... Shepard didn't allow himself to finish the thought. Selfish.
"Y-you know," Tali started, after they had largely cleaned up their plates. "I was meaning to head down to Silversun Strip, pick up a few things to send back home to the Fleet. I was wondering... If you had the time- if you were okay with it-" She stammered.
"Yes. I would love to take you out." Shepard answered before she could finish babbling.
Tali's heart skipped a beat. "R-really?" She asked, her voice squeeking a bit.
Uh, that came out wrong. Shepard thought.
"Uh of course- I want to keep you safe." He finished.
"Oh yes, of course, thank you." She said, slightly crestfallen. Of course that's what he meant.
"Okay then, see you tomorrow at the square... I want to say 6PM?" Tali asked, punching in the event on her omnitool calendar.
"Sure, it's a dat- sure, I've got the date set in my calendar." Shepard said.
Tali nearly choked on her water. Wait, was he about to say 'It's a date'?
"A-alright then, Shepard. See you soon! I... I had a good time tonight." She said, fidgeting with her fingers. Keelah. Could you make it any more obvious? She mentally chastised herself.
"Me too. I'll walk you back to the ship. Don't want those bigots harassing you." Shepard said as he placed a credit chit on the table to cover the meal. That's totally the only reason why I want to go with her tomorrow. Yup.
Tali smiled happily, though Shepard couldn't see it. "Thank you Shepard." I really like you. She thought. Even though you're my captain and you totally-don't-like-me.
God, she's so cute. Shepard thought again, for the umpteeth time this night, and previous nights, and the night before that. Even though she's perfect and totally-doesn't-like-me-that-way.
***