The Renegade Adored

Disloyalty: "All the blossoms then are found / Downward fluttering to the ground / Hoping she may tread on them" (Fairy Tales, Traditional)

"Oh, Kelly, check out that guy!" Hayden leaned over the railing to get a better view. "It's like a grown-up version of Garrus!"
"Who?"
"That handsome old Turian, down there." Hayden pointed out a tall, elder Turian dressed in unfamiliar solid blue armor, decorated only with strange symbols down the right arm. He was talking to a Turian C-Sec officer. "I really hope Garrus looks like that when he gets older." Hayden looked closer, and could see a C-Sec insignia among the other markings on the strange solid blue armor. The old Turian was tall, held himself very straight. Moved like a warrior.
"Oh, wow."
The Turian elder turned slightly, still speaking. "Oh, neat," said Hayden. "They have the same face markings! In the same color, even." It seemed as though the C-Sec officer was giving the elder Turian directions.
The conversation appeared to be over, and the elder bent his head to the C-Sec officer, in regal dismissal. The C-Sec officer bowed his head in respect, and then knelt down as if to ask for a blessing.
"Oh," said Hayden in surprise. "What is all that about?"
Her communicator beeped, distracting her from watching the Turian elder.
"Shepard here."
"Shepard, something's come up. Is it okay if I meet you back at the ship?"
"Uh... sure, Garrus."
"Thanks, I'll see you there."
A thought struck Hayden as she watched the old Turian walk away. She tried to count all the symbols on his armor, but only got to twenty-four before he was out of sight.
"What a man," breathed Kelly. "He walks like a king!"
"Primarch."
"What?"
"I think that was a Primarch. The top rank in Turian society."
"So he's probably not interested in picking up a random Human chick, is he?"
"Probably not."
"Damn."
"But what is he doing on the Citadel?"
"Is being sexy not enough?"
Hayden stared at Kelly. "Heel."
"Oh, you never let me have any fun," Kelly pouted. "I'm going to head back to the ship."
"Touch Garrus and I will jettison you out the nearest airlock."
"You're soooo selfish!" Kelly whined with a laugh, then walked away with her bags.
Hayden shook her head and leaned over the railing again, but the Turian elder was gone. She walked down the stairs, looked around. He was standing at Rodam Expeditions, gravely discussing something with the shopkeeper. Hayden snuck around to the other side so she could see his rank markings.
He broke off the discussion and walked over to her. Calm, questioning. "Do I know you, young maiden?" he asked sternly.
Hayden blushed. "I apologize, sir," she said, knowing that the translator would use the proper term of respect. "I was just trying to see your markings. I did not mean to be disrespectful." She bowed her head, not sure if the gesture would come across correctly.
He smiled regally. "You seem to have knowledge of Turian culture, young maiden."
"Oh, I have a friend," she stopped, not sure what to say next, and fully aware that she was now bright red. It didn't help that if she closed her eyes and listened to him speak, she could mix the two of them together.
"Indeed?" His voice held a slight tinge of amusement, as well as touch of concern. "Well, young maiden, whatever my feelings are in the matter, I hope he is a good... friend to you."
Hayden smiled. "He's saved my life more times and in more ways than I like to think about."
"Then he is indeed a worthy man, young maiden," said the elder warmly. "Will you permit me to introduce myself? I am Demel Vakarian, Primarch of Palaven." He held out his hand, and she shook it nervously.
"Wow, you really are the Primarch. My name is Hayden Shepard." She hoped the name would go unmarked.
"Shepard? Is there not a Human Spectre of that name?"
Hayden nodded, then remembered her manners. "Yes, yes there is. Were you looking for Garrus, sir? Because I think he ran off when he saw you."
"What?" The Primarch looked at the slight, pale Human standing shyly before him. "There must be some misunderstanding. Is it possible that Garrus has been avoiding me all this time because of you?"
"I believe that might be part of it, sir."
The Primarch frowned in irritation. "Foolish boy. I may be traditional, but I am not hidebound. Please, young maiden, if you have any influence with him, ask him to contact me. I would clear his mind of all misperceptions as soon as possible."
Hayden blushed again. "I will do that, sir."
The elder Vakarian looked her over, the way fathers do, trying to see what it is their child sees in another. Suddenly his face softened, and he smiled slightly as he looked at her. "I must be going now, young maiden. It has been my honor to meet you."
Hayden blinked in confusion. That salutation hadn’t been in any of the texts she had studied.
The elder Vakarian laid a gentle hand on her head, stroking her hair in farewell, before he turned away. It was a comforting, paternal gesture, and it made Hayden want to run after him and beg him to do it again.