Regardless how Garrus thought this day would never end, it finally did. Walking up to his apartment door, he punched in the code on his omni-tool and entered. Letting out a big sigh, his body hunched over as he lumbered over to his couch and fell into it.

He thanked the Spirits that he at least had a flat to himself, away from prying eyes. That was one of the perks of belonging to the prestigious Vakarian name. His father was a highly respected officer on the Citadel, and he had pulled a few strings to allow him this luxury, regardless of him being a newbie. Honestly, he was surprised at his father. He would've thought his father would've wanted him to suck it up and go through what everyone else usually had to go through. But apparently he thought he could still become tough and a better man in the line of duty even with this accommodation, whatever that truly meant. And right in this moment, he definitely wasn't complaining.

Groaning softly from a hard day's work, he closed his eyes and silently mulled over today's events.

He had tried so hard for the rest of the day to forget what that human woman had said, but hard as he might have tried, he still couldn't burn it from his memory. Her words were so cruel, so angry, but in his heart, he still knew she was right. He liked to believe he wasn't responsible for all of this and wasn't like that, but could he really blame her for thinking that he was? He knew she had never known any different. A familiar wave of pity and guilt washed over him once more, and a part of him hated himself for it. He was supposed to be a good turian, in and out of uniform. His father expected it, as did everyone else. But he could never shake this feeling that all they had done, was so, so wrong. He felt sorry for her. For all of them. And he just wanted this to be over.

He shook his head and sat up quickly, putting his head in his hands. No. He had to stop thinking like this. True, no one could stop him from thinking these thoughts, but they were just eating him alive. It wasn't like there was anything he could do about all this. Right? At the very least, he just hoped he never had to see that red-headed woman ever again, to remind him of his inner turmoil, his guilt.

At that, he twitched in surprise as he heard the alarm go off, indicating there was someone at the door. He cursed, getting up groggily to answer it.

"What now..." He quietly said to himself in irritation. Without looking to see who was outside, he punched in his code once more and opened the door. And it was the last person he'd ever expect to see at his doorstep.

It was that woman again, from the commissary, accompanied by two other officers who had a tight hold on each of her arms.

"Good evening, Officer Vakarian. We have your new courtesan here, as requested." His eyes widened in shock. His new, what? They said it so matter-of-factly, and it was. It wasn't uncommon. But, it was? She was?

"I – what? But, I – I didn't..."

They looked at each other, puzzled, but now his full attention was on her. She looked, different. Much different. She was dressed in a skimpy, burgundy dress, the tight material hugging her curves, as well as revealing a big portion of her cleavage. Her red hair was pushed back in a messy, but somehow pleasant hair-do, and her face was painted, but not as he was accustomed. Her lips were rouged, her lashes long and black, and her cheek was bright red. It was red from the slap she received. And now that he looked closer, there were red patches marring her legs and arms. He glared at them, willing them to go away, wondering who had done this to her. Who had done all of this?

His eyes flickered to her face once more, and although she was obviously angry, she held a certain air of defeat as well, and a shock that matched his.

"We were told the opposite. There's no reason to be coy." The officer smirked.

"We have to be going now. Take good care of her." They both chuckled, pushing her into him as they walked off, his apartment door automatically closing shut. And then there was silence. They simply stood there, his arms automatically clenched around her waist, her body flush against his. As quickly as they were together, they were apart, as he took a large step back and looked at her incredulously.

"What the hell is going on?"

She looked up at him in disgust as she recounted the events in her head.

They pulled her down the hall away from the other poor souls and as quickly as they were gone, they pushed her into a nearby shuttle. Her hands shook furiously behind her back, and she tried her best to undo her handcuffs, but to no avail. She still couldn't believe this was happening. Hadn't she been through enough?

On top of all of this, she had no idea who she was being shipped off to. Not that it really mattered. Courtesan or not, she knew who ever owned her now would never show her any kindness. And she would count herself "lucky" for every day she remained alive.

It wasn't long before they arrived at a shop, one she knew was specifically for newly-made courtesans, which included degrading attire to fit your everyday turian sick-fuck needs. They settled down at a nearby landing pad, and they quickly got out of the car, opening up the back seat.

"Move." She glared up at them, knowing that if she ran, it would do her no good. She got out and stood before them, following them as they entered the store.

The store smelt musky, a fragrance she was sure smelled pleasing to turians, but not to her. If anything, it smelt like a doll house supporting slavery.

"Hello, officers. What can I help you with this evening?" A smiling, female turian addressed them. Her cheerfulness made her sick, just like the smell of this shop.

"This girl just became a courtesan today for our friend. We're looking for an outfit that'll make her the perfect new toy tonight." The turian woman smiled enthusiastically.

"Excellent! I have just the thing for you gentlemen." She gestured pleasantly forward, and they followed her, Shepard almost boiling over with humiliation and anger. She looked around, surveying her surroundings quickly, and her stomach turned sickeningly. In the shop, she found other turian shoppers, with their human "pets" forced to trail behind them. Turian males with human females, turian females with human males, turian males with human males, turian females with human females. Well, that was nice. At least there was no discrimination in terms of sexual orientation. Turians could be morally sound enough to allow anybody to be with who they wanted to, but not morally sound enough to realize rape and slavery was wrong? Courtesan used to mean a woman who had sex with rich or powerful men in exchange for money, but still maintained a good level of freedom and independence. Now? It was just a fancy word for owning someone against their will, allowing no freedom, no money, and if the turian happens to be powerful or important? Well, at least its definition stayed true to the latter. She felt like she would puke.

"I would highly recommend dresses from this area. With many different shades and styles, you can't go wrong." She smiled politely and they began to browse through them. Eventually, one caught their eye.

"This one." She glanced over and spotted the burgundy dress. It was tiny and skimpy, but surprisingly, not the worst one they had in the store.

"Oh, excellent choice! And it matches her hair so well." The shopkeeper smiled at her fondly, which she returned with a silent glare. One of the officers turned to the other.

"Don't want to give him too much at once. His poor heart couldn't take it. I'm sure he'll get used to her and seek out better outfits. More revealing. Spirits know she could have that self-esteem pegged down a few notches. Bitch deserves it." They snickered and glanced back at her. She clenched her fists.

Either the shopkeeper was ignoring them or she just didn't care, as she said.

"I'd also recommend a pair of matching heels, as well?" He smiled back at her.

"Sure, we'll take all of it."

She smiled happily and nodded, Shepard having no choice but to follow as they checked out. Once they had finished giving the necessary credits, they turned to look at her, their friendliness that was directed at a fellow turian now gone again as they spoke to her.

"Come." One of them said, thrusting the dress and shoes to her, which she took.

She followed reluctantly, fighting the urge to gouge out their eyes with her heels. They got back in the shuttle and continued on their way.

Next, they went to a salon of sorts, specifically for, yet again, dolling up courtesans. They made her shower, then did her hair and applied makeup for the first time in her life, which she honestly was surprised they knew what they were doing. And maybe she would've enjoyed herself, if it wasn't for the circumstances. All she could think about was various, horrific ways she would kill these people if she could.

Receiving the dress and heels again, one of the officers said.

"Now we didn't spend all these credits for nothing. Get changed and let's go." It was unlike her to be so silent, but she simply accepted the items once more and entered the changing room.

As she undressed and peered at her own reflection, she immediately hated what she saw. Red patches covered her body that she knew would eventually turn into a bluish-purple from experience. It wasn't the worst she had ever received, but they still disgusted her nonetheless. She should've just shut her mouth back in the commissary, and maybe she wouldn't be in this mess. Tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to cry. At the end of the day, as long as the underground resistance held without her and they succeeded, that's all she truly cared about. Sniffling curtly, she quickly changed into her new outfit, giving one last look. Disgusted indeed.

Wasting no more time, for she knew they would become impatient, she exited without her old attire, leaving them and her old life behind.

"Very nice." One of the officers said, and she could clearly see they were fighting the urge to take her for themselves tonight. She glared up at them, but they ignored her and one of them cocked his head for her to follow. When they entered the car, the other said.

"Now I don't want you being your usual cunt self to our friend. Not after all the time and credits we put into you. So be a good girl and please him for however long he finds a use for you. If you fuck up, or if you try to run, we'll know, and we won't hesitate to fuck you ourselves and kill your sorry ass. Is that clear?" Bitterly, she said.

"Crystal."

"Good."

Now at their final stop, they turned back at her.

"Now go. We've alerted two other officers of your arrival. They'll be escorting you, making sure you don't do something stupid." She said nothing and began to exit the car.

"Oh, and girl?" She turned back to them glaringly, watching as their mandibles flared in a toothy grin.

"Give him our best regards."

Slamming the door shut, they began to fly off, as two other officers came up behind her and took each of her arms.

"Let's go."

Shepard glared at the ground, fighting herself not to sucker punch this Vakarian in the face, even though he clearly not only didn't know this would happen, but that it would be her, just as she didn't.

"Take a wild guess. I'm your new courtesan. You can thank your friends for that."

He looked at her, still shocked.

"My, friends? What do you mean – oh. Spirits..." A look of realization flashed across his face, which was soon replaced by anger.

"Look, I didn't – I'm so sor-" he stumbled, sighing incredulously as he struggled to find the right words. She peered up at him, trying to figure him out, and why he was acting like this. It was common, after all. What did he have to gain for being so flustered? It wasn't like his life had been ripped away. Her anger was fueled by not only the circumstances, but her confusion. But she said nothing.

"I didn't mean for this to happen."

He looked down at her, pity flickering across his features once more. And once more, she fought herself not to slap that look off his face. There was no turning back now, and although this wasn't a life, she still didn't want hers to be cut shorter by going back on what they had so elegantly warned her of.

"It doesn't matter. I'm here now. And I'll be here as long as you need me to be." She bowed her head again, screaming internally at being forced to submit.

His eyes widened, surprised by her words. She was nothing like the woman he encountered before.

"I...see."

Flustered and angry still, he sighed heavily and went over to the kitchen, grabbing a small glass and pouring himself some turian brandy. He downed it in one swallow, hands shaking in fury. Damn them! He didn't think they'd go this far, let alone pick her of all people. I guess now he had given them too much credit. What was he to do? He knew they'd ask about what it was like to sleep with a human, and he wouldn't know what to say, because if he had his way, he wouldn't sleep with her. There was just nothing sexually appealing about human women to him. He was perfectly content with his own species, and he didn't know why that was so hard to understand. Sure, he understood other species sleeping with asari. Asari were made for that. But humans and turians? They just, weren't. I mean, it must work because it happens, but, shouldn't there be complications? How did they even...oh, Spirits!

He poured himself another glass and downed a second shot. Shepard look at him, surprisingly curious. She would've thought by now he would've been all over her. But he wasn't. He just looked like he wanted to drink himself into a stupor and forget this was happening, and she couldn't really blame him. She had never tasted alcohol, but if it did what turians said it did, she could really go for one herself.

No. Fuck that. You don't need to sympathize with this bastard. He's still just like the others, remember? Stop misinterpreting signs.

Regardless, he wasn't approaching her. It sickened her to think she'd have to make the first move. It was no secret that she knew what to do. Being raped on multiple occasions, shown what to do and forced to do it would do that to a girl. But if she were to survive, she had to sleep with him, and she had to do it right, at least by those fuckers standards.

She knew it wasn't healthy, but she couldn't help it. Was this all she could expect? Fucking him as best she could so he would hopefully keep reporting it back to his friends, walking on egg shells, and being actually raped once he discovered he liked it like all the rest? Or was there a way out of this?

And then it hit her like a sack of bricks. Maybe there was! If she could manage to seduce him, even if it really did seem like he curiously didn't want to sleep with a human, maybe, just maybe, she could cleverly pry key information from him that would be incredibly valuable for The Resistance. Gain his trust. Maybe even sneak back and relay enough information to Anderson. Or at the very least, hack his terminal, take the necessary procedures to keep it truly private for her benefit, relay info back to headquarters and cover it up like nothing ever happened. And if it was enough, if she could help, she could escape in the ensuing chaos and take back her life. Take it all back, for everyone. She repressed a giddy smile, finally retrieving purpose in her life again. She knew what she needed to do.

It no longer seemed so sickening if this was the end result. But how would she do it? Not only was he seemingly disinterested, but she had no seducing skills whatsoever. If she would've known they'd come in handy one day, she would've learned from someone, anyone. Shepard didn't do seduction. Shepard was all about training, fighting in hand-to-hand combat, shooting guns, and planning on kicking some serious turian ass. Not...this. Especially not this. Lying down and taking it was one thing, instigating it was another.

But she had to do this. She had a clear motive.

Mustering up her courage and pushing her disgust deep down, she slowly began to approach him. He was still hunched over the kitchen counter, downing yet another drink. Tentatively, she reached up and put a hand on his large shoulder. He flinched, looking down at her in surprise and fear. Fear of what, she wondered.

"Hey. It's alright. You don't have to drink the night away while I'm here."

Excellent. She thought she was off to a good start. She tried to look at him seductively and suggestively, cocking her hip slightly to further emphasize the slim curve of her waist. Granted, his eyes did flicker there briefly, but his expression still remained disinterested, looking down at her in pity, and now, hints of skepticism.

She wanted to sigh angrily. Ok. Maybe he was a bit different. But that didn't mean he was a good person. Of all the turians she had to get stuck with, it couldn't have been one that was a dumb xenophilliac? This wasn't working. But damned if she was going to give up. She was going to try to really talk to him, and hoped he wouldn't become offended.

"Look, I get your nervous. Judging by your attitude and what I've been told, you've never slept with a human before. I was wrong. You are different. But this is where I am now, and I've accepted it. I know how to please turians. So why won't you let me just try? You might be pleasantly surprised, and finally understand what all the fuss is about." She said, wearing her most convincing face of seductiveness and sympathy, trying not to crack as she slid her hands down to his waist.

Unfortunately, his skepticism became more apparent, and as steadily as he could, he took her wrists gently and removed them from his waist.

"You're lying. Nobody just switches so quickly from how you were earlier today to how you are now. You're hiding something."

Damnit. He was too smart and perceptive for his own good. More correctly, hers. However, she continued.

"I'm hiding nothing. Am I wrong? Do you really think there's an alternative except to do what your friends told me to do? I'm bound to you now, whether you want it or not, or think that I want it or not."

He looked down at her, studying her with a conflicted look on his face. Eventually he turned away to face his brandy again.

"They're not my friends." He said bitterly.

"And... You're not wrong. I can't...get rid of you. Not for the reasons they want. They would suspect something was amiss. And if they've given you to me, and if what you're suggesting is correct and they've threatened you, then things have become more precarious now."

Now she was genuinely shocked. He seemed so...concerned. So thoughtful of her well-being. And more importantly, that he would risk revealing himself in this way, even to someone like her, regardless of her position. But she simply nodded, now feeling truly confused.

They obviously weren't going to sleep together tonight, that much was clear. But she wasn't going to give up yet, nor would she reveal her true intentions. If she were going to survive, and if he were to survive with her, at least long enough to fulfill her carefully laid plans, he needed to survive tomorrow. And in order to do that, he needed to sound convincing to his comrades. He needed to convince them he had fucked her.

"Yes… So as you can imagine, you can't walk in tomorrow without at least some knowledge of what it's like to have sex with a human. And if you won't experience that for yourself tonight, you should at least allow me to tell you what it's like, from my perspective at least, or what humans are like sexually." She was bewildered that she was helping him like this, and she knew why, but it still felt strange, helping the enemy is general. But she would push it aside for now.

He looked her up and down, and she could've swore he was embarrassed, but he simply nodded.

"Good."

She looked over to the couch, knowing this would take a while, and this being the first time she had worn heels, she felt clumsy, and her feet were hurting like a bitch. He followed her gaze and gestured to it.

"Then please, sit."

Strange indeed. His polite attitude continued to catch her off guard. Real or not, she had begun to appreciate it. It wasn't like she liked being pushed around verbally and physically. She nodded and advanced towards the couch and he followed her, and they sat on opposite ends. She spread her legs comfortably, perhaps a bit un-lady like, but she had never really known manners. She turned to him, but he was already staring down at her with a piercing gaze, patiently waiting for her to begin. It was awkward, and she never would have thought she'd use the word while in the presence of a turian. Painful, aggravating, rage-inducing, but never awkward. The word was unpleasant still, but it seemed so innocent compared to all of that. She cleared her throat quietly, focusing on the task at hand.

"I guess I should start with human anatomy, but of the sexual kind. I gather you know the basics, but not in these regards." She pointed to her chest.

"These are breasts, obviously not found in the turian anatomy. They have other purposes than just sexual, but you don't need to know that right now. They aren't highly looked upon by turians for obvious reasons as well, but for some, the exoticness of it can still be a turn-on. It's up to you whether you want to say you liked to the explore them or not."

She paused, making sure he was still catching on. He nodded for her to continue, but his face was screwed up a little as he tried hard to concentrate. She continued.

"By turians who do like them, they can be licked and groped, and in general, this is usually arousing for human women, some more than others. A key spot is the middle, right here." She pointed to the middle of her breast, but without touching it.

"That's called the nipple, and it gets hard when a person is aroused or cold."

She bit her lip, knowing they might want him to describe it. She knew they wouldn't just ask him if he had done it, they'd ask in detail, one, because they were perverted fucks and two, they'd want to know she had truly lived up to her side of the bargain and given him the time of his life. But damned if she wanted to show him. Sure, she was going to show him and do a whole lot more a minute ago, and her plans hadn't changed, but if she truly had a choice in the matter, she wouldn't. This felt civil, even if she still felt apprehensive about him, and rightfully so. She would do it, eventually, but tonight? It was the last thing she wanted to do. She felt she could still safely explain without showing him yet.

"It's, uh, pink. Just so you know."

He raised what could be called an eyebrow, eyeing her pale skin as he clearly contemplated why there was such a contrast. Regardless she focused, and continued.

"Now to the main event, the vagina, or the pussy as some would so elegantly put it. It's similar to what you're used to, but still vastly different. Obviously, we humans have no hard plating, and as I'm sure you're well aware, a turians vagina is rigid, but still accommodating to a turian males penis. But humans? We're more flexible than that, inside and out. Our vaginas stretch and are designed to fit snugly around a penis, to a realistic extent. Squeezing it can feel very pleasurable to a woman and to the male, regardless of the species. It self-lubricates when aroused, or in some circumstances, to make entrance easier." She tried not to relive the instances when she had been raped and was clearly not aroused, but her pussy had still held on tight and lubricated to an extent by itself. Her face must have showed her discomfort and pain at such an unpleasant memory, for he looked at her in sympathy. She ignored him, and moved on.

"The outside of the vagina has fleshy lips, concealing the true vagina, sort of like how you have your own protection. The inside of the vagina is pink as well, but we have something else your species doesn't have. A clitoris, clit for short. There's the clit, then there's the exposed part, the hood of the clit, located right above the lips. This is very sensitive when it is licked or rubbed, and can usually help a woman get off. Are you getting all of this?"

His grogginess and the fact that he was buzzed from the alcohol was really starting to show. But he looked like he was still attentive as ever. This was important, after all, even if it felt like she was teaching some sort of fucked up sex-ed class. And now that she thought about it, she was exhausted herself. She was silent for a moment, thinking over if she had left anything out. Not really, she figured.

"Just, you don't need to really remember all the names, just remember what I told you what we look like and feel like and you should be fine. As for the rest of me? Soft and squishy, just stick with that." She sighed, leaning back and closing her eyes briefly.

"Just say I'm a beast in the streets, but a minx in the sheets, that oughta shut them up." She still didn't want to let her guard down out of habit, but she just so tired, and this couch was easing her in all the right places, especially on her tired bones and muscles, and her steadily forming bruises.

He chuckled awkwardly, obviously finding her crude joke to be amusing, but somehow misplaced.

"Yeah, uh, thanks. For that, uh, interesting lesson. I'll keep it in mind and tell it all to them tomorrow. Try to be as crude as possible."

He leaned back as well, both of their eyes closed as they shared in the silence together. They almost fell asleep together on the couch, before he muttered, glancing over at her with tired eyes.

"I'll be uh, going upstairs now. To my room, unless you...um, want to take it." She fought the urge to scoff.

"No. I'm fine here." She said quietly. She knew she had to stay here, but it gave her ease to be as close to an exit as possible, not trapped in a room where a turian usually slept.

"Do you want, uh...a change of clothes? I don't have any human clothes, and mine will be big, but -"

"I'm fine." She repeated.

"Alright." He slowly got up and turned to her.

"By the way. I never got your name."

Her name. No turian had ever asked for her name before. She blinked up at him, then slowly said.

"It's Shepard." He smiled down at her kindly.

"It's nice to officially meet you. You can call me Garrus." She nodded. Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, eyes flickering to the floor then back at her, he said.

"Well...goodnight, then. Shepard."

And with that, he left and lumbered upstairs, his door softly sliding shut. Shepard slowly laid down on the couch, peering out the window at the blurred lights and the fast-moving shuttles, eyes slowly beginning to droop. Garrus Vakarian, huh? He was interesting, she'd give him that, seemingly so unlike the others. She had fought herself to jump to conclusions that he truly was different than the rest, and she wouldn't fully believe just yet that he was. But one could dream. One could hope. It might make her life and her mission that much easier. Unable to ponder no longer, her eyes eventually closed as she fell into a deep, dreamless slumber, not even bothering to take off her shoes.