Shakarian


 * Note: Shepard's gender is player-customizable, but since Garrus is only able to be romanced by FemSheps this article will use she/her pronouns for Shepard.

Shakarian is the het ship between FemShep and Garrus Vakarian from the Mass Effect fandom.

Meeting and Recruitment
While investigating Saren, Shepard is approached by C-Sec officer Garrus Vakarian who wishes to help take down Saren but is restricted by red tape. Garrus wishes Shepard good luck on her meeting with the Council.

Led to the Citadel med clinic, Shepard and her squad mates arrive to find Dr. Michel being held at gunpoint, though Garrus is already there. He uses the arrival of Shepard as a distraction to take a risky but successful shot at the leader. The two groups fight and Shepard may either compliment Garrus' shot or rebuke him for potentially harming a civilian. After Shepard questions the doctor, Garrus officially joins the team.

Dossier: Archangel
Two years after Shepard's death, she is tasked by her resurrectors, Cerberus, to recruit a team to fight the Collectors. One prospect goes by the name "Archangel", a benevolent mercenary who takes down gangs in the lawless planet Omega. Shepard travels to Omega to learn Archangel has been fighting waves of mercenaries for several days straight. The team pretends to be part of the mercenary groups to rescue him. Upon entering Archangel's safe house, Shepard and Garrus recognize each other and have a brief but fond reunion, teaming up once again to stop the rest of the incoming fighters. At the end of the battle, Garrus is shot by a rocket, leaving a wound that looks fatal. Shepard immediately tries to revive Garrus and ends up calling the Normandy for transport.

Back in the ship's conference room, Shepard and Jacob discuss the situation when a recovered Garrus enters. The two joke about the new scars on Garrus' face for a moment before they privately discuss Shepard's new affiliation with Cerberus and he expresses his worries about her. Shepard states that she wants someone she trusts on their side, and Garrus remarks that it is just like old times.

Garrus: Eye for an Eye
Garrus asks Shepard to help him locate and take down the member of his vigilante group that betrayed him and caused the death of his teammates.

Menae
Following the Reaper attack on Earth, Shepard went to the Council for aid but the Commander was denied. After the meeting, the turian councilor approached Shepard with a quid-pro-quo offer; in return for turian help via an indebted diplomat, Shepard has to extract the Primarch from Palaven.

Shepard and her teammates travel to Palaven's primary moon, Menae, to rescue the Primarch. At a command center, a turian general informs the Commander the previous Primarch was recently shot down on his ship. While turian succession lines are normally clear, the identity of the next person in line is unknown as communications are down since a nearby radio was taken over by Reaper ground forces. Once the radio is clear of hostiles and repaired, the general tells Shepard to come back to base. Now back at the base, a turian soldier interjects as he walks over to the group, saying that he can take the Commander to the Primarch. The soldier is then identified as Garrus as Shepard exclaims his name. The two remain professional and only shake hands, but both state their happiness that the other is alive. Garrus says he wasn’t on Palaven because he is working as the foremost advisor on the Reapers. Shepard introduces James Vega to Garrus, mentioning his role in stopping the Collectors and how good of a soldier he is. Once Liara has said hello, the general informs Shepard Adrien Victus is the next Primarch. Shepard asks Garrus his opinion on Victus’ trustworthiness or Shepard comments that unconventional thinking, like what Victus is known for, will be the way the Reapers are defeated; Garrus agrees, noting that he reminds him of Shepard in that way.

Once Liara has left to take care of the situation on the Normandy, Shepard asks Garrus if he is coming, to which he responds, "Are you kidding? I'm right behind you."

Mass Effect

 * Shepard reassures Garrus they will succeed on their mission.

Mass Effect 2

 * When Shepard discusses Archangel with Aria, she has the option to say that he sounds just the kind of guy she's looking for.
 * Shepard visibly panics when Garrus is shot by a rocket.

Mass Effect
"I don't think I've ever met anyone like you, Commander"

- Garrus to Shepard talking after a mission gone wrong

Mass Effect 2
"Kelly: How is our newest turian crew member doing? His injuries looked painful." Shepard: "He’s been through a lot, and not just physically." Kelly: "There’s something about him. I just want to hold him close and whisper, ‘It’ll be alright.’" Shepard: "I know exactly what you mean." Kelly: "You two would be such a cute couple."

- Kelly and Shepard discussing Garrus

"I've seen so many things go wrong, Shepard. My work at C-Sec, what happened with Sidonis. I want something to go right, just once."

- Garrus to Shepard about their relationship

Mass Effect 3
"The scars are starting to fade. I remember they drove you wild.... but I can go out and get all new ones if it'll help."

- Garrus when he reunites with Shepard

"Well, when things are looking grim — and I am pretty sure they will — just remember…we’re in this together. And if it ends with both of us dying in a giant explosion taking out a reaper — remember I took the kill shot."

- Garrus at the end of his first conversation aboard the Normandy

"Garrus: "As charming as ever." Jack: "Bite me, Garrus. Better yet, bite her. Probably how she likes it."

- Garrus and Jack snark at each other upon meeting again

"Your best has my mandible on the floor. Damn!"

- Garrus to Shepard on their Citadel 'date'

"Shepard, sweetie, love of my life, indulge your crazy boyfriend. I need to know you’re safe." "If it’ll make you feel better, honey."

- Garrus telling Shepard he wants to booby-trap her apartment

"Forgive the insubordination, but your boyfriend has an order for you. Come back alive. It’d be an awfully empty galaxy without you." "Goodbye, Garrus. And if I'm up there in that bar, and you're not... I'll be looking down. You'll never be alone."

- Shepard and Garrus' goodbye

Fanon
Shakarian is one of, if not the most popular ship in the Mass Effect fandom. Garrus' individual popularity within the fandom likely contributes to the ship's.

On AO3, Shakarian is the most written ship in the Mass Effect tag. Naturally, it is the most written ship for both Garrus and FemShep.

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Trivia

 * Garrus was not initially planned to be romanceable, but fan reaction towards the character after the first game prompted BioWare to make him an romance option in the sequel.