Disclaimer: I do not own nor profit from Mass Effect and it's plot, characters or franchise.

A/N: this isn't much to add, but I'm heading out of fanfiction for a while and thought I'd throw it out there.

-o-o-o-

"Damn it, Shepard, why didn't you just stay put." Grunt snarled fiercely under his breath, the question reprimanded so harshly it became a statement.

The Commander gaped at his audacity for a moment, before sputtering sarcastically, "Well, why don't you just put me in a goddamn metal box?"

"Why don't I?" He growled in agreement.

"You better make sure you have the balls before making a statement like that." Shepard warned through clenched teeth. The fact that he probably had the stuff that would make reinforced steel seem like putty was not the point. The point was he was trying to tell the Commander what she could and could not do. And that sure as hell was NOT gonna fly.

Unfortunately, if it was a battle of wills, this Krogan was not one to be taken lightly. When he had gotten out of the Glass Mother, he had been searching for something. A purpose. A cause. The meaning of life. He may have been made perfect in every way, but he was not the robotic soldier that weasly Krogan scientist had hoped he would be.

The fact that he dubbed Shepard Battlemaster -HIS Battlemaster- was not a decision made lightly. Neither was her acceptance of him into her Krantt. There had only been one other Krogan she had allowed in her ranks. And that one was dead. Which was good, because Grunt did not play well with others.

His muscled arms tightened around her, a slight movement, but one that drew an unmistakable shiver from the lovely creature in his hold.

"Don't test me, battlemaster." He growled lowly, his voice so deep it resonated as a purr, rumbling through his core. In turn, massaging the fragile being in his hold.

Shepard felt a jolt of warmth down her spine at the sound. But batted away the sensation as she growled herself.

"Hmm, maybe I have this whole thing backwards. But aren't you a part of *my* krantt?" Shepard questioned, attempting to cross her arms, but flinching as she came across the one wrapped in a cast, "As in, you following MY orders?"

"I also have the honor of watching your back, even if you are so determined to forge ahead like a blind suckling!" Grunt hissed.

"Why you insubordinate-" Shepard started to snarl insultingly.

But her rage only ignited a fire in his blazing eyes.

Several things happened at once, interrupting her rant.

The silver Krogan expelled a burst of air as he was tackled, losing his grip on the hotheaded female. Shepard let out a surprised yelp as she was flung through the air. After a short period of being weightless and airborne, she was caught by Grunt's assailant.

It was the big red guy.

"What the hell do you think you're-" The Commander started to snarl, glaring into those beady black eyes from up in unwanted arms.

The crimson Krogan quickly utilized the element of surprise to kick the downed Grunt with a smashing blow to the head, a maneuver he hoped would knock the other out. Or at the very least stun him. It was only then that he answered, cutting off her shouted inquiry, "He does not deserve you, Battlemaster."

The sight of Grunt on the ground filled her with an unexplainable rage.

She reacted and spoke without thinking.

A rush of kinetic energy flared down her unbroken arm, raising it to aim at his face as she snarled, "Like hell he doesn't-"

But then her arms were pinned to the damned Krogan's chest, free palm folded down to her own collar bone. Should she become trigger happy once more, the target would unwittingly be herself. The big red muttered appreciatively, "There is much spirit in you. I see how it is you defeated a nest of the Thresher beasts. You will see things my way, soon enough."

"You do NOT know who you are dealing with." Shepard's fierce gaze could melt icebergs, her voice just as cold.

Her contact with Krogans still living and breathing had been limited until that day, but she was getting the strong vibe of their immense stubbornness. It was starting to wear down her last nerve.

She started to thrash around, growling. At that same moment, the silver-plated Krogan on the ground began to stir.

"Come, I will show you the error of your ways, human." The big red said with haste, taking off at a slow-starting jog to a full out sprint, "You will forget about Grunt soon enough."

She seriously doubted it. And even with Grunt temporarily out of it, she trusted the large Krogan to find her in time.