**Garrus POV**
"You want me to do what?" Garrus asked in disbelief.
'Does Solana know what she is asking for?'
"We need you to pull Captain Aster Shepard's file," Solana repeated like it wasn't a big deal.
"Her file is sealed," the human said as a matter of fact. "I can't access it without raising any alarms."
Garrus didn't answer and grabbed one of the drinks that Nihlus had brought over. He headed toward the living room and sat down. Solana and the human followed silently behind him. They took a seat in front of him.
"Why do you want to access her file?" Garrus asked, looking at the human.
"I know she is innocent," the human answered. "I heard rumors that additional evidence surfaced incriminating her after the Council cleared all charges."
Garrus mandibles twitched in disbelief. He was speechless.
'How can this human know all this? Does she have insider information?... Is she a reporter?!
"Who exactly are you?" Garrus asked suspiciously.
"I'm a concerned party," the human replied, smiling.
"But you can call me Mina," she reminded him.
"That information is classified," Garrus growled, shaking his head to ward off the scent that was too intoxicating. "I won't help you."
"Garrus," his sister exclaimed. "We're just trying to help."
"I don't need your help," Garrus growled.
"Captain Shepard is innocent," Solana continued. "They are framing her for no good reason, and we know we can clear her name. We just need you to pull her file."
"Give me a reason," Garrus stated.
Solana launched into the explanation, detailing some bullshit the bureaucratic roadblocks Mina had encountered trying to access certain records. Garrus listened intently, his mandibles twitching, his eyes constantly drifting back to Aster. He couldn't shake the sensation that something was profoundly wrong, a dissonance between what he saw and what his instincts screamed.
"Why are you so concerned with what happens to her?" Garrus asked. "You barely even know her."
Garrus took another sip of his drink, racking his brain, trying to recall when and where he could have possibly marked her. He didn't recall anything, but there was no way he could have marked some random human.
"She's my friend," Solana replied. "Friends help each other if and when they can."
"What about you, Mina?" Garrus asked the human who hadn't moved from the chair. "Why do you want to clear her name?"
"My fate is tied with hers," the human replied cryptically. "I need her name cleared so that I can walk around without being shot."
"You don't even look like her," Garrus started giving her a once-over. "You have an arm, and she doesn't."
At this point, Garrus knew he was spouting nonsense. Even though she didn't look like Aster, the scent she carried was driving him insane.
"You sure about that?" the human asked, smiling. "She could have gotten an implant or cybernetics."
"She's fine the way she is," Garrus growled. "There was nothing wrong with her."
The longer they stayed, the more difficult it was to control his instincts. Instincts he hadn't known he possessed began to flare, demanding recognition. Demanding he claim her, now.
"Garrus, I can vouch for her," Solana began.
"Get out," Garrus stated, unable to bear it any longer. If they didn't leave, he was going to do something that he might regret.
Solana gasped.
"NOW," he barked.
Solana and Mina quickly stood up and rushed out the door.
"Everything alright?" Nihlus cautiously asked, stepping out of the kitchen.
Garrus took several deep breaths to calm himself.
"She's mine," Garrus mumbled. "The human, she has my mark. Her scent..."
Nihlus frowned, "How? You wouldn't just mark some random human."
"I know that!" Garrus snapped.
Garrus took another deep breath to calm down, "The human is not who she says she is. The urge to claim her was overwhelming."
"Besides Aster, what other human have you been with?" Nihlus asked, sitting next to him.
"Just her," Garrus replied.
"Then it's settled," Nihlus said, leaning back. "This Mina is Aster. You must have marked Aster at some point."
Garrus's mandibles twitched; he refused to believe it. "No way."
Nihlus shrugged, "It must be her, there's no other explanation. Humans can't replicate the turian scent markers. We both know that once a turian places their mark on their chosen woman, they carry the turian scent that marked them."
Garrus reluctantly nodded; of course, he knew that. Garrus shifted his weight and leaned back on the couch. His thoughts were a complete mess. Although the human had left, her scent lingered. A scent that had an imperceptible layer of his scent mixed in. Even though he didn't want to admit it to himself, he had somehow marked the human.
He just couldn't remember doing it.
Why was it so crucial? Because a turian scent mark, even a subconsciously applied one, was intimate. It was a declaration, a subtle claiming that, under normal circumstances, would have been a pre-mating ritual.
Garrus buried his face in his hands, feeling the rough plating against his skin. Should he confront her? Reveal he knew? The thought made his stomach flip. Given the circumstances, he wasn't sure if it was a good idea. But the longer he waited, the more awkward and potentially disrespectful it would become.
If his parents found out...
Garrus groaned in frustration. If Mina were Aster, then he had screwed up big time. He had literally just thrown out his mate.
Solana is going to kill me, Garrus thought. If she finds out about the mark on Mina...Aster; I'm sure she's going to blackmail me into submission. She'll probably threaten to tell our parents.
Garrus stood, making up his mind. Tomorrow, he would go and confront them.
**
The elevator chimed, announcing Garrus's arrival on Solana's floor. He took a deep breath; he was here for answers. A Turian scent mark wasn't something that just happened – it was a deep, intimate bond, a silent declaration.
Garrus steadied himself and activated the door chime, a familiar melody echoing in the hallway. After a few moments, the door slid open, revealing the human female. She wore loose-fitting grey sweatpants and a T-shirt, her brown hair pulled back in a messy bun.
She looked surprised, a mug of something steaming clutched in her hands.
"Garrus! Hi," she said, a hesitant smile gracing her lips. "Solana's still at the clinic. Is everything alright?"
"Everything is… complicated," Garrus admitted, his voice a low rumble. "May I come in? I need to ask you something."
Mina's brow furrowed, but she stepped back to allow him to enter. "Sure, come in."
He entered the apartment, its familiar warmth a slight comfort. He noted the faint scent of human spices and, underlying that, something… familiar. His scent. He suppressed a shiver and his instincts.
"Solana said you're here to help clear Aster's name," he began, trying to sound casual, as he looked at the walls covered with pictures.
Mina sat on the couch, her gaze steady. "Yes, I believe that Aster is innocent. I believe she is being framed."
Garrus turned to face her fully. "Interesting. Tell me, Mina, do you know much about Turian biology?"
Her eyes flickered. "A little. Solana filled me in on the basics when - "
"When what?" Garrus asked as she stopped talking.
Mina stayed silent, refusing to meet his gaze.
He took a step closer, his olfactory sensors working overtime. "Tell me, have you noticed anything… unusual… about your own scent lately?"
Mina's cheeks flushed a faint pink. "I… don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, her voice barely audible. "My scent has always been the same. No one's ever said anything to me about it. If there was something wrong, I'm sure I would have heard about it."
Garrus tilted his head, his mandibles twitching.
'Is she being serious right now?' he wondered.
He leaned in slightly, close enough for her to feel the heat radiating from his faceplate. "When I'm near you, I smell something....distinctly Turian?"
Mina's eyes widened, she took a sip of her drink, her hand visibly trembling. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't insult my intelligence, human," Garrus said, his voice losing its forced calmness. "I can smell it. My scent. My mark. On you. And I want to know how it got there.
You'd better start explaining, or else I will have to detain you. I'm sure I can find ways to make you talk."
"I'm not a criminal," Mina growled. "You have no right to detain me."
"I'm a Sprectre," Garrus reminded her.
Mina sighed and headed into the kitchen. He followed after her.
"Threatening me isn't going to get you what you want," Mina replied softly.
"Just tell me the truth," Garrus said, matching her tone. "I only remember being intimate with one human in my life. Ever.
I haven't seen her in many months, then you show up carrying a mark that shouldn't be on you. A mark that has my scent. Before I can decide to help you, before I decide to trust you, I need to know. Who are you?"