Who: Garrus & Caleb What: Meeting Techno, and Garrus getting a bit fatherly with Caleb When: Before the Breach Where: Caleb's apartment Rating/Warning: Low Status: Complete!
It had been a few weeks since Caleb had last seen Garrus. He’d be semi-avoiding him thanks to the looks Garrus gave him every time Caleb ordered another drink. He was twenty-two. There was nothing wrong with having a few drinks, especially with the dreams they had. And his new ability to see ghosts, which wasn’t all that new anymore but it still startled him every time one popped up.
However he did miss his older friends. He knew Neal was busy with his pregnant girlfriend. But he still invited Garrus over. He picked up a bit but there were still some empty beer bottles strewn throughout his loft by the time he heard a knock at the door. Techno barked wagging his tail in excitement to see who this person was. “Coming,” Caleb called picking up one last bottle and tossing it in the garbage on the way to the door.
Garrus was a little awkwardly tall now - not like the ex-bounty hunter ever had an issue with his height before, but the turian genes created a spurt that elongated his entire being. Arms, legs, torso, and still he could feel the aches and pains of bones and muscles changing beneath his current human skin. Prick him and his blood ran a deep blue, hear him speak and the flanging effect unique to his particular was was in effect - like a second voice, metallic in a way, scraping against his throat.
He’d be relieved when it was all over. It was that very awkward middle of the change, where he felt neither human or turian but was technically both, though he guessed slow was best. Last thing he needed was his body to go into some kind of shock due to all the physiological changes.
Caleb’s door frame wasn’t the highest; he actually had to bow his head down to fully enter his apartment. “I must have missed something,” he greeted, eyebrows raised in confusion. “You got a dog?”
Luckily for Garrus, most of Caleb’s apartment had a high ceiling. Well other than the doorway and where his bed was on top of the loft. But there was no need for Garrus to go up there anyway. However Caleb didn’t even know he was that tall. When the fuck did that happen? And what was up with his voice?
“Are you sick?” Caleb asked stepping back to let him in. Techno still following his new owner around like a puppy… well he was a puppy. “I think I’m the one that missed something,” Caleb added referring to both Garrus’ height and voice. “But, uh, yeah. It wasn’t planned. Got dragged into a shelter and ended up with this guy.” He nodded at the dog. “Named him Techno,” it was sort of fitting for Caleb after all.
Right, right. He’d been so occupied with other things he’d forgotten it had been awhile since Caleb had actually seen him - the added height, the change in vocals was all new to the man with the sixth sense. “Looks like we both missed major updates in each other’s lives,” he chuckled, like steel scraping against steel.
Garrus lowered to a crouch and offered his hand for the pup to sniff. “Nice name. Welcome to being a furparent. But no, I’m not sick. I’m turning into an alien and the transition’s just been…slow.” Physically irritating when the painkillers wore off. “It’s giving me time to prepare for my entire life’s adjustment but, fuck, I can’t wait until it’s over.”
“Ah yes, how is your cat?” Caleb really didn’t picture Garrus as a cat person, but hey he had one. Caleb didn’t think he was a dog person either but here he was. Techno had reminded Caleb of himself in a way, abandoned and alone like Caleb had been for so long. Hell he had even been compared to a stray dog that Hanna had taken in in the dreams. He’d also been compared to the Cat in the Hat but that was a whole other thing.
“So are you going to turn green?” In Caleb’s mind all aliens were green. But he knew from Garrus that there were some different kinds out there. Still he wasn’t exactly sure what Garrus would turn into if this was just the beginning of his transition. “You want a beer?” Caleb asked heading to the fridge while Garrus got to know Techno. Transitioning into an alien definitely deserved some alcohol.
It wasn’t a secret that cat and Garrus Vakarian didn’t mesh. Allergies didn’t play into it; every cat he’d met was a selfish dick, he couldn’t stand the stench of a litterbox and nor did he ever care to be at the receiving end of a decapitated mouse. Bigby had been found during that week of apocalyptic weather last summer, where everything was disappearing into some kind of metaphysical blackhole - he’d found him crying under a car, brought him home, and of course Cindy had fallen in love and begged with her baby blue eyes to keep the kitten.
And almost a year later, they still had him, and he was alright with that. Bibgy was the exception. It’d taken awhile to get used to the habits (it was dangerous to wiggle a toe in the middle of the night - the cat would assume it was time to play), but now that damn thing was a meowling part of the Vakarian family. Bowtie included.
“He’s a cat, generally not giving a damn and waiting for us to clean his litter box like the peons we are,” he snorted. Dogs, though, he liked them better, and when Techno came around he’d made sure to give him a rub behind his ears. “And I’m not turning green - can I say that’s almost racist? Try blue, though. Steely blue.”
Anyway, as for the beer, Garrus straightened back into his towering stance and shook his head. Usually he’d say yes, he fucking loved beer, but the stray bottles that hadn’t made it into the trashcan spoke volumes about how Caleb needed to tone it down a bit. “I’m good. You ever try water every now and again? You’ve been hitting the stuff pretty hard lately, kid.”
“At least he cleans himself?” Caleb offered. He would have to give the dog baths, which honestly sounded kind of fun. But really a cat seemed so much more low maintenance. Oh well, he wasn’t bringing the guy back now. Caleb had grown kind of attached. Okay more than kind of.
“Sorry. It’s just all I know about aliens.” He was definitely no expert. Not even close. Hell he wasn’t even close to an expert on talking to the dead and that was his thing or whatever you wanted to call it. “Blue doesn’t sound much better,” he added which probably wasn’t making Garrus feel better. Whoops.
Caleb grabbed a beer for him and a bottle of water for Garrus. He had mentioned water although it was more of a suggestion for Caleb to drink than anything. “When I’m at work,” Caleb replied honestly. He wouldn’t drink on the job, although Tony had given him a scotch once or twice. “It’s not a big deal,” he said handing the water over to Garrus.
Garrus didn’t mind, was the thing. As long as Cindy didn’t care to be married to an extraterrestrial being? He was fine with it - he’d lived an entire lifetime as a turian, and while the circumstances were clearly different, he also he knew that he would be at home in this new skin. Someone was working on a device, anyway, something of a magical nature to ensure he would be presentable to the everyday public. Most wouldn’t even know a thing except for the fact that he was rather…
Tall.
A brow rose, but the water was taking appreciatively. “Means your free time’s soaked with booze? That’s not exactly reassuring, Caleb. What’s the matter? Copious amounts of drinking happen for a reason.”
Caleb kind of wanted to see this blue version of Garrus, so hopefully he’d let Caleb see him without the magical device. Not that Caleb even knew about that but still. But clearly the alien conversation was over and Garrus wanted to focus on Caleb’s alcohol intake.
“Isn’t that the norm around here?” Caleb asked popping the top off of his beer. “The more you dream, the more you drink.” Didn’t help that his girlfriend was being all distant either but whatever.
“To an extent,” he tacked on because, alright, this place had the ability to take things far. Really far. Every person on the network was an example of that. It had killed his wife, it had gotten his best friend possessed, it had taken the love of another - yet those situations never stuck, not permanently, thank fuck to all the bendy laws of metaphysics that ran this place. “I’ve done my own fair share of drinking, I won’t deny it. But this -”
A motion to the stray evidence left behind. “I don’t know, Caleb. You’ve been hitting it hard for a while now, and this is enough bottles for a party. If it’s social drinking, it’s one thing, but if you’re knocking all this out just by yourself - you’re beginning to have a problem. Beer gut won’t be a good look for you.”
Caleb frowned. Garrus was supposed to be his friend, not his father. Caleb didn’t have one of those and he didn’t need one. He had gotten by just fine on his own for twenty-two years now. Well granted there were some issues in there and yeah Garrus had helped out but still. Drinking was nothing compared to the other shit Caleb had been through. This was also beginning to sound like his dream intervention. Which he really didn’t think he needed.
“People come over,” he defended himself in reference to all the empty beer bottles still around the apartment. “Not everyone only wants water,” he added. Techno sat in between the two still looking at Garrus for more pets. He was used to Caleb by now. “It’s really not a big deal,” he said again.
Garrus wasn’t convinced. Especially with how defensive he’d come across - no, Caleb had a blooming problem that needed addressing before it spiraled out of control. “If I didn’t think it was a big deal, I wouldn’t bring it up to you. Sometimes you need an outsider looking in to tell you you’re on a slippery slope,” he warned, and fine, Techno, have some pets. He wouldn’t deny the dog.
Not many people took someone confronting them about a bad habit (though this was borderlining a serious addiction) well, he was aware. But regardless, it needed to be said.
“Just think about it. Watch your own behavior. That’s all I ask. I can’t force you to do a damn thing, Caleb, but don’t expect me to be quiet.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Caleb replied. It was meant to be a joke but it came out a little harsher than he meant. Yeah he was a little annoyed with Garrus, but deep down Caleb knew it was just because he cared. And he didn’t want to completely push away the people closest to him. Besides Garrus was doing a much better job at talking to Caleb about this then Toby had in the dreams. So yeah, maybe he would think about it although he wasn’t going to admit that just yet.
“Speaking of. When are you gonna have some actual kids?” Caleb asked his tone light once again, a small smirk on his face. “You’ve been married for almost a year now.” Well in October but still Caleb remembered the date it had been his first real introduction to the OC after all. Spaceship wedding. “It’s about time some little half alien half fairytale babies started running around.”
Dad? Garrus could have almost choked on his water a little, because he hoped to never have an intervention for his own flesh and blood in the future when it came to alcohol addiction. But if so, he had some practice. Thanks for that, Caleb. “Weird change of subject,” he coughed, clearing his throat before settling on edge of his couch. He hadn’t thrown a tantrum to kick him out of his apartment; how fortunate.
“After we go to war with aliens, if you’re so curious. We can’t do it the old fashion way.” No, his sperm would soon change and be non-compatible when it came to reproducing with a human. “No half-alien babies. I need to jerk my load into a cup and freeze it until she’s ready for the joys of pregnancy,” he smirked and held the bottle to his mouth. “Since you’re so curious.”
Caleb was just glad to get the subject off his drinking. That was until Garrus went into more detail than Caleb cared to hear about the baby making process. “Uh, I wasn’t that curious,” Caleb replied. He almost took another sip of his beer but refrained. Not while Garrus was around he didn’t need that topic to come back up.
“I guess the slow transition is good then? You have time to prepare.” And no Caleb didn’t want to hear anymore about the preparation and Garrus’ sperm. Although he was curious about one thing. “Are you still going to be able to practice the old fashioned way once you’re all blue?”
Still deeply curious, though, especially what his next question insinuated - Garrus chuckled enough to have it transform into a full blown laugh. “I can practice the old fashioned way. Turian and human romances aren’t uncommon in my dreamworld, though chafing tends to happen. More for the humans. It’s fleshy skin up against reflective plate-like skin.” Their hide wasn’t some kind of natural armor to protect them against firepower or other projectiles, but it it was thicker and harder than human flesh.
“We’ve already experimented for that phase anyway, back when our first Halloween together turned me into one.” Cindy had been curious and boldly went for it. A princess after his own heart, unashamed of human-alien relations. “My biggest thing was how she’d adjust to all this, and she’s...really alright with it, actually.”
More concerned about his changing diet than anything, but they had that part covered. Vakarian had considered himself damn lucky to find someone who wasn’t scared off by what he was going to become.
“Thanks for the tips in case I ever decide to leave Hanna for a Turian,” Caleb joked. Were there even anymore around? Caleb knew there was someone else from Garrus’ dreamworld here. He mentioned it when he first brought Caleb to the Normandy. But that was about all he knew.
“Cindy doesn’t seem the type to scare easy,” Caleb commented. He didn’t know her all that well but he couldn’t imagine her having much of an issue with Garrus changing species. It was just how this place worked.
No other turians around aside from him, Garrus would promise, as long as his family also remained human - but he highly doubted they would hang around these parts until they contracted the dream plague. “Nah, she doesn’t,” he smirked. “Hanna doesn’t either, it looks like? You two seem to still be going at it strong despite that hostage situation.”
And the whole ‘I can see the dead’ debacle, too, which seemed like an odd turn for Caleb’s dreams. It was an interesting skill to have, and hopefully something that he could make more good use from.
Funny Garrus should mention that considering Hanna was currently in one of those situations in his dreams, along with three of her friends. But that was not the point. Plus if he got into that he’d just want to drink again and that didn’t seem like the best idea around Garrus right now. “Yeah,” he agreed. Hanna was the bravest person he ever met. “We’re good,” for the most part at least. Hanna had been distant lately thanks to finals and essays, they were slowly getting back on track now that it was summer.
“No clue how we both got so lucky to be with girls that stand by us despite getting kidnapped.” He knew Garrus had gone through the same situation awhile before Caleb moved to the area. As fucked up as it was, it was nice to have someone around who got what Caleb had gone through.
“Means they’re a keeper, doesn’t it?” Garrus mused, eyebrow raised. At that time Cindy could have just gone the fuck away while it blew over, when they first discovered the entire wave of criminals thirsting for vengeance were coming right at him - the fact that they’d made the effort and the fact that she stayed right by his side were both flattering. But two weeks of being held hostage, she didn’t break.
It made her stronger than ever, even if he wished she had never gone through it to begin with.
Now well over a year later they were stronger than ever, married, and united no matter what the next threat would be. “They’d do the same for us if the roles were reversed, and that’s what matters. Hanna’s probably got better manners than you, though, she would have made a rescue mission a lot nicer.”
“Is that why you put a ring on it?” Caleb joked. Although maybe he shouldn’t be teasing that with how much Neal and Garrus teased him about marrying Hanna and having babies. Maybe one day in the very distant future, but for now they were both too young.
“Well, hopefully neither of us are ever kidnapped to have to find out.” Though he knew Hanna would do the same for him. But still he’d like to avoid that situation if at all possible.
One of the reasons. Garrus could make an entire list if he really wanted to make Caleb puke his insides out, but he’d spare him the details. “We’re in good hands if we became the damsels in distress, real good hands.” But who knew if that’d ever happen - the possibilities around here were limitless.