Tali'Zorah vas Normandy.

Welp, if we have one ME2 fan-fic, we might as well have two. I had to add my own interpretation, with Tali as opposed to Miranda. Not as good as Ghost, but I needed to make this happen regardless. Enjoy.

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Heavy Breathing. Tali'Zorah vas Normandy stared at her reflection in the bathroom of the Normandy as it sped through the cold, dark void of space, infinite as it was. She listened to her own heavy breathing through her suit that protected her immune system from the environment around her. As she stared in the mirror she couldn't help but to wonder, "does he even think of me that way?". Commander Shepard had too many things to think about aside from her, how could she possibly be noticed by him as more than just a crew member, a subordinate, a friend? Even if he had time to develop an interest in someone, there was competition. He had only just barely escaped the loving temptation of Morinth, Samara's seductress daughter, bent on murdering any and all of her victims.

She wanted to steal him away, at least before they lost everything to the collectors, or even the unrelenting threat of the reapers. She didn't know how, she was lonely without anyone but Shepard himself to go to, but she knew if she had to confront him, she wouldn't be able to contain her feelings.

Intercom: "Tali'Zorah, Shepard is looking for you. Please report to your post in the Engineering Bay as soon as possible."

Her heart raced, could this be her moment? Maybe he had picked up on her feelings and wanted to clarify that nothing could come of them. Hundreds of thoughts raced around in her head as she worried whether or not the situation could end badly or if she would even have a chance to open up to Shepard.

As she walked out of the bathroom and into her normal work area, Shepard was waiting for her impatiently.

Shepard: *laughing* I never thought I'd see the day when the great Tali'Zorah was away from her post when I needed her.
Tali: I'm...s-sorry Shepard.
Shepard: Oh relax, at least I get to talk to you. Garrus won't let me speak a word before he rambles on about "calibrations, calibrations everywhere!".
Tali: Thank you Shepard, I just needed some time to think about something that has been on my mind.
Shepard: Oh? If theres something you need to clear up, now would be the best time before we reach the collector ship.
Tali: Well, its just...nevermind, Shepard.
Shepard: Is that your favorite word? Nevermind? Any time a personal issue comes up with you, you seem to shrug it off as if you don't have the confidence in yourself to ever reveal anything. Hell, maybe its me you lack confidence in. Am I that bad of a commander?

Tali stepped back, she was afraid now that she had pushed Shepard too far and now he was drifting away.
​

 

Tali: N-no Shepard! You are the best commander I could hope for. It's because of you that I'm not still in trial with the rest of the Quarian fleet. It is me, I get nervous often, especially--
Shepard: Especially what?
Tali: Around you, Shepard.
Shepard: Should I be blushing right now or am I just that intimidating?
Tali: I don't think I've ever seen you blush, Shepard, why would you for me?
Shepard: If you think I haven't noticed your glances, your quivering speech whenever I'm around, the way you stand in my presence and all of the other indicators of your desires, you're wrong. Even if I hadn't, I'm sure EDI could easily pick up on your hightened level of hormones around me. She's probably listening to us as we speak, come to think of it.

The ghost-like appearance of EDI materialized in an instant.

EDI: Don't worry Shepard, I lost my com line to Emily Wong during the encounter with the Geth ship a few hours ago.
Shepard: *laughs* As I was saying though, Tali, I can tell you have feelings for me, and if I had a problem with that, I would've brought it up to you a lot sooner.
Tali: Y-you know?! Why didn't you mention anything! I've spent long hours waiting to talk to you, afraid that you wouldn't be interested in me, never knowing that the entire time I could've been by your side!
Shepard: *smiles* You're the only one I even want to take on my missions anymore, wouldn't you say you have been by my side?

Underneath the mask, Tali blushed brilliantly. Shepard couldn't tell, but in Tali's heart she felt the feeling she had been waiting for ever since their chance reunion on Haelstrom.

Tali: *giggling for the first time in their conversation* and I thought your speech about the IFF was inspirational. I would never leave your side Shepard, but now...now I can't even explain how I feel.

Gasping, Tali realized that because of the immune system that Quarian's naturally possess, she wouldn't be able to feel Shepards touch against her skin. She grabbed Shepard's arm and began to cry.

Shepard: What's wrong?
Tali: I want to feel your touch Shepard. I want to feel your strong arms against my body, but this suit makes it impossible, and taking the suit off--
Shepard: Don't worry, we'll figure something out.
Tali: You had better go check with Joker and see how the Normandy is going, I think I'm going to stay here and research what I can do to make it happen.

Hours passed. Tali had found various methods for a Quarian to have cross-species relations, but she was afraid. She was more than willing to take a few immune system boosters, but what if the worst scenario were to happen? On any given day Tali has a high risk of dying during a mission, but this was different. She wasn't afraid of dying, she was afraid of leaving Shepard behind at the critical moment of their overall mission to stop the collectors.

She was afraid of losing her one love.

Time was up, they would be arriving at their destination too soon to wait around. She took off her suit and took a glance in the mirror, one last glance at her body before any wide array of things could happen. She couldn't risk waiting and letting anyone else comfort his bed before their arrival, so it was time to make her last desperate move. Heavy breathing.


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I am Commander Shepard, and this Shepard is a douuuuccchhhe.

 

Hurrr hurr =o


/impressed.