Garrus lifted Shepard's elbow. She raised an eyebrow.

"You have small arms," he said.

"In comparison to…?"

"Other humans." He touched his thumb and fingers together around her arm, just above her elbow.

She waited for an explanation but none was forthcoming. "Just an observation?" she said at last.

"I'd term it more of a friendly insult," he said. "I don't get how you knocked out that reporter in one punch."

"All about the follow-through," she said. "Gotta put your weight behind it."

"Plus she's a journalist, I guess," said Garrus. "Not a combatant."

She narrowed her eyes.

"I'm surprised you can even shoot a Carnifex, with wrists like this," he continued. "Hell of a kick on those things."

She pulled her arm from his grasp. "Are you angling for some sort of fist-fight? Serious question. I know you like your sparring partners feisty."

"Maybe I'm just trying to make you feel like the delicate flower of space that I know you really are?"

She looked at him critically. "What is this?" she asked. "What are you doing?"

"Just trying to get you to lighten up, Shepard," he said. "You're so serious lately."

"You think I don't have reason to be?"

Garrus shrugged. "No, you do. We all do. Just – you've been spending a lot of time in your own head lately. And I know that when you're just focusing on one thing, one really important, huge thing, things can get pretty, well..." he let the sentence trail off.

She blinked. "That's really... nice of you, actually. Your execution needs work though. Unless you were just planning to irritate me until I snapped."

Garrus looked away.

She punched him in the arm, none too lightly. "So you can give it but not take it? I'm just teasing you, Garrus. I appreciate it."

"Really?"

"Yes really." She stretched. "So. Elcor Hamlet?"

He froze. "Uh," he said, after a long pause. "If you like?"

She laughed. "You'd actually see that with me?"

"If you really wanted me to," he said, reluctantly.

"Oh, god," she said. "That's actually really sweet. But don't worry. I know you've got like, what, an eight-minute attention span? Nah, you're off the hook, buddy."

He looked at her cautiously, as if she were going to change her mind at any second.

She grinned. "So here's a question: what would you rather fight, Blue Suns or Blood Pack?"

"Well.," he said. "Krogans are a challenge, at least. But then again, who doesn't like killing Batarians?" He shrugged.

"Who indeed?" she asked. She checked her omni-tool. "I've got a couple pockets of each that need to be taken out. And I know how you appreciate the chance to show off in front of me."

"I take pride in my work, thank you very much," he said.

"Of course," she conceded. "So let's make this sporting. Loser buys drinks?"

"Why the hell not?" he asked. "You're on."

"And I expect high-fives each time I get a headshot. Got that?"

"You're the boss."

"Damn straight."