#Ezra occasionally has a habit of needling people on purpose.

[husband-steve-cortez]

"You never asked me about the relay incident."

"Figured you didn't want to talk about it."

"But I wanted to talk about Cerberus?"

"That was different-"

"Why? That's the real reason they kept me in lockup, not Cerberus. Why didn't that matter to you?"

"Because what I needed was to be sure that you were you, and that I could trust you."

"And blowing up a mass relay and a Batarian colony with it didn't seem out of character? Thanks for that, Ash."

"To stop the Reapers? The Ezra I knew certainly wouldn't have liked it, but if he really had to? Yeah. And if you were the real Ezra, you'd hate yourself enough for it already that bringing it up would be pointless. Why the hell did you bring it up?"

*laughs* "Because I hate myself."

"You did the only thing you could do, skipper. If I were in your shoes, I'm not sure I could've-"

"Oh, come on Ash, a bunch of Batarians? To stop the reapers?"

"Alright, fine, I could've done it. I probably wouldn't have even regretted it. Wouldn't have even hesitated. Are you happy? I'm Ashley Williams and I'm a xenophobic alien hater and you're a saint, does that make you feel better?"

"A little."

"Eat me."

...

"No one ever really brings it up. And if they do, it's to reassure me, 'You did what you had to.' Everyone says it. No one ever calls me a monster, says "how could you do that", no one really cares. Hell, I barely regret it. How could I? They were dead anyway. It just...feels like more people should give a shit. Feels shitty that they don't."

"Maybe people keep saying that because you actually did the right thing, and for once everyone's being grateful instead of giving you shit. You should enjoy it while it lasts."

"I tell you Williams, you're gonna make a better Spectre than me."

Ashley set her drink down and glared at Ezra, who smirked back at her, unfazed. It was clearly an accusation; one she wasn't sure how to answer, so she settled for the tried and true method of throwing her drink in his face.

"Well, we know Cerberus didn't take away your ability to ruin a fun night."