abraxaslogs | {Darude Sandstorm Intensifies}

Steve immediately recognizes what Garrus is doing when he enters the room, and how that sort of habit is ingrained in soldiers like them. It frankly feels more normal than anything else, and he'll find that other than the door they came in through, there are a few windows that serve as entry or exit points in the room.

"Well, Sam and I just sort of ended up sharing the suite," he explains as he takes a seat in a chair the sits opposite of the couch. "He had it before I even got here, and since we were used to sharing space back home, it was an easy choice."

The two of them were on the run together for a while alongside Natasha and Wanda, but usually they had split up the rooms by gender, so it was often Steve and Sam bunking together. That's just how it went, and so it felt like a natural extension here in Abraxas.

"The whole inn was recently renovated too," he explains with a glance around the space. Jesper and company did a good job. But then he glances back to Garrus, one eyebrow raised curiously. "Come to think of it, where in the city do you stay?"

As far as Steve is aware, Garrus has never lived at the inn, which means he must have found lodgings elsewhere. But where?

He nods. That makes sense. You stick by the people who are most familiar, when you're in an unknown place, a place that doesn't always follow the rules of... well, anything logical. "He's the one who's run a lot of meetings, and things to help the locals, yeah?"

There could be more than one "Sam". He's fairly sure that's a common human name, but he could be wrong. It also doesn't hurt to verify, if he is right. "Is he the only one from your world here?"

And then he's scratching idly at the scarred side of his face. It's not really a nervous gesture, just old habit. Partly for something to do with his hands, and partly because the answer kind of outs the whole reason they're here to talk. "Shepard and I have been in the barracks," he answers, with a surprisingly easy drawl. "Old habits die hard and all."

Steve nods. It's fair for Garrus to want to confirm, given that Sam is a pretty common name and Steve's pretty sure there's another Sam among the Summoned. Honestly, it's hard for Steve to imagine that there's anyone here in the Free Cities who doesn't know Sam well by now, but Garrus isn't as entrenched in the inn and Sam's other projects, so it makes sense.

"Yeah, that's him. And there are a few others from our world too. Matt Murdock here in the Cities, if you've met, but also Stephen Strange in Thorne and Wanda, Rocket, and Nebula in Solvunn." Will Garrus recognize any of those names? Maybe not, since he does tend to do his own thing from what Steve has gathered, but at least it's all laid out now.

And yes, he does pick up on the implication in Garrus' response, even if he's pretty casual about it. While Steve couldn't imagine staying in the barracks himself, even with his background (or rather because of it), he can understand why Garrus and Shepard have made that choice. He leans back in his seat, his fingers interlacing on his lap as he raises a careful eyebrow. "And she's the one you mentioned earlier?"

His someone.

Steve's familiar with Shepard, though they haven't had any in-depth chats. She seems like someone who wants to do things her way, for better or worse. Steve can relate, but it does mean their paths haven't really crossed.

"Wanda. Makes..." Garrus gestures in little circles with his hands. "Light? Into things?"

He'd met her in one of the meetings in the Horizon. They'd had a riveting discussion about pigeons and ravens. So that's two people he knows from Steve's world. And a whole lot more besides. That's good to hear. He wondered, sometimes, if he and Shepard's situation was echoed by other Summoned. The only ones from their world.

And then he sort of sinks in his seat. He looks embarrassed. Like it shouldn't have been that obvious.

"Yeah. Yeah, she is." But then the affection creeps into the echoes of his words, in the vibrations. "We've been through hell, more than once. I don't know what a woman like her sees in a guy like me... but. Wouldn't change it. She's one hell of a person."

Steve frowns at that description of Wanda. It's not wrong, exactly, but "makes light into things" is kind of vague. The gestures that Garrus makes seem familiar enough, though.

"Yeah, she's a pretty accomplished magic-user." Or a witch, if that's the term someone preferred, but he's pretty sure that Garrus will also find that descriptor kind of strange.

However, everything in Garrus' tone and body language notably shifts when he speaks of Shepard. The embarrassment only lasts for so long before the obvious affection comes in, and Steve can't help but chuckle.

"You could always ask her, but to be honest, I think you're selling yourself short. Pretty sure she'd agree." There's a beat before he indulges in a sneaky smirk. "Also, you make a point of taking care of your hygiene for her. That's gotta count for something, right?" He can't help but tease him a little.

"Right. Magic. Was that from here, or...?"

Most places here seem like they're more acquainted with the stuff than he is. Or anyone else from his world, for that matter. Biotics make sense, far more sense, to him, but they just don't seem capable of the things all this magic does.

He ducks his head again, definitely flustered. "I mean... yeah. Yeah, sure. It's true, but..."

But how is he supposed to explain everything she's done? How incredible of a person Shepard is? Without someone being there to see it? Steve heard about the Reapers, back when he was telling the story those months ago. But just the way she didn't let a single damn thing stop her - the way she just sidestepped death and spat in the face of a mission supposedly doomed to failure...

"The weight of the galaxy is on her shoulders," he says, finally, instead. "And she holds it up. Always has... That's what I mean, I think. You want to make things easier on someone like that." Not weigh them down with your perceived shortcomings.

Steve shakes his head at the question about Wanda. No, that magic is something that she achieved back home, and even "magic" feels like a pretty basic way of putting it. It's not really his story to tell, so he leaves it at that for now.

Especially as Garrus moves on to describe Shepard in his own words. Again, the affection is there, but it's also admiration, respect, even awe. Steve knows people like that — so many of his own teammates are the exact same.

He smiles, something more genuine than his previous teasing one, at that final statement.

"You're right," he admits. It's what he tries to do for Sam, if he's honest, and he knows that Sam always wants to do the same in return. "And I'm sure that you do, every day. The fact that you're both here together, that must count for a lot too." He can't imagine what it's like for those Summoned who are stuck here without a single familiar face from home. It can't be easy.

"It's helped," he admits. Something loosens up in his shoulders, in the flex of his mandibles. Relaxing. "Situations like this, it's always good to have someone you know at your back."

Where the world has been pulled out from under you, and you're left trying to make sense of something that just... doesn't make sense anymore. A place like this would be an absolute fantasy in Citadel Space.

He spreads his hands, a sort of giving up gesture. His talons need trimming. They always seem to, here. "But you see where I'm coming from, yeah? Someone... someone like that doesn't need more pressure."

"You know, I think you've answered your own question." It feels like they should be sharing a drink all of a sudden, though Steve will have to be the one to brave the crowds down below to see if there's still anything left. He doesn't usually keep any secret stashes in their room, for better or worse.

He stands to do that without immediately explaining, crossing the room to settle a hand on Garrus' shoulder. They're both still caked in sand and he's in serious need of a bath, but he can worry about that after he's bid farewell to his guest — when the storm has abated slightly.

"You want to make things easier for her. You understand the burden on her, and you're there to lessen it, even if it's just a little bit. That means... a lot more than you might think." He gives Garrus' shoulder a final sort of pat, and then heads toward the door.

"I'm gonna grab us a drink and some food. Sit tight."

{Darude Sandstorm Intensifies}

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