006- Accidental Broadcast [video]

[renegadedriving]

[Today's broadcast is brought to you by Shepard's D-Terminal... But she's not on the screen. Nor is Monodramon. Instead, it's shaky footage taken from eye level, and it very rapidly becomes apparent that it's battle footage. From Shepard's helmet.]

[Of the first 7 and a half minutes of this. (Spoilers for the end of Mass Effect 2! Those who don't want to watch all 7 minutes can get the gist from the first thirty seconds and a quick glance at 6:10.)]

[Why? Well. Shepard figured out how to transfer files from her helmet's eyepiece to her D-Terminal, and determined that clip dangerously classified and disturbing enough to flat up delete, rather than risk anyone stumbling upon it.]

[And Monodramon has just broadcast it to the entire network by mistake.]

Comments

[action]

[renegadedriving]

[Shepard makes a noise that is halfway to a laugh when Cam gets into it, but the look on her face is fiercely affectionate. She doesn't think this is funny. Maybe it would have been if she'd been in the actual audience, but right now, she feels like she's looking at something you keep behind you on the battlefield so you can protect it with your life.]

[He's so happy here. And so is that girl.]

She loves you.

[It's not a question. It's an observation.]

[action]

[headup_stickontheice]

[On the video, all eyes are on Cam, but for Cam here? All eyes are on Maya. That's just how it is.]

Yeah. And I love her.

[It's the first time he's ever said it.

The guitar break soon ends and Cam turns back to Maya, who's holding on to the microphone. She's already ready with the next part.]

Touching youuuuuu, [Cam leans in and Maya lays a hand on his arm, subtle and natural.]

Touching meeeeeee,
Touching you, God, you're touching meeeeeeeeee! OOOOOOOOHH!

[The audience, not seen, is getting into it, clapping along and cheering, but Cam and Maya? They don't look away from each other.]

I believe in a thing called love!
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart~
There's a chance we could make it now!
We'll be rockin' 'til the sun goes down~
I BELIEVE IN THING A CALLED LOOOOOOVE, HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

[The rest of the song goes into guitar solos, and the two kids on stage dance along with them, swinging the microphone doing air guitar, the usual. At one point, Cam begins to "sing" along with the guitar solo and Maya laughs, getting the microphone close enough to him to pick it up.

As the song winds down and the applause gets louder, she's practically hanging off him, and now both of them are laughing. A sloppy, joy-filled hug, and softly, very softly:]



Thanks.
Any time, Cam.

[The feed cuts, and Cam's feeling warm and bright. He keeps the D-Terminal in his hand, to his credit not holding it to his heart like he'd like to do now.]

...I wanted to, show you something...good.