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“Something the matter, Alenko?”
Kaidan coughed around his energy bar. The coarse grains of manufactured banana had become soggy as it hung in his mouth. He snapped his omnitool down as his CO came around him and thwacked his back, muttering a quick apology behind a laugh.
“’mfine,” he said thickly, clearing his throat. The last person he wanted to see at the moment was her—not because he didn’t enjoy her company, but, because…well.
He glanced back down at his arm to make sure his screen was shut off.
“Never seen you distracted like that before,” Shepard mused, and the chair squeaked beside him as she plopped down. “Bad news?” She angled her head towards his omnitool.
Kaidan flushed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Ah…n-no, not…” He muttered under his breath.
Shepard cocked an eyebrow and grinned at him. “I think I’ll leave you be then, Lieutenant.” She stood with her palms on the table, a thoughtful look on her face.
“Whoever she is,” she said with an unusual softness, “she’s one hell of a lucky gal to have commandeered your attention like that.”
Kaidan jumped and felt his neck flare again, but Shepard just gave his shoulder one firm squeeze and made her way out of the mess hall. He sighed heavily and brought up his messages again:
A.williams078: check your log
A.williams078: I already submitted it
A.williams078: if you stopped ogling our CO, maybe you’d have read it by now
A.williams078: Sir.
Kaidan groaned. The sass from Williams was palpable. His fingers froze over the interface.
Should he deny it? Reprimand her unprofessionalism? Ignore it?
His omnitool dinged again.
A.williams078: wow, LT, you really gonna leave me on ‘read’?
He sighed and opted for “professional.”
K.alenko23: Copy that. Thanks, chief.
A.williams078: ha! Ignoring the ‘ogling’ comment
A.williams078: bet you’re all hot and frazzled now, huh, LT?
K.alenko23: Williams…
A.williams078: word of advice? Subtlety
A.williams078: look it up
A.williams078: you suck at being subtle
A.williams078: sir ;)
K.alenko23: Chief.
A.williams078: you gonna just go through all my titles?
A.williams078: here, I’ll do you a solid
A.williams078: ASHLEY
A.williams078: there. Now meet me in the cargo bay
A.williams078: you need some tips on subtle fraternizing
K.alenko23: Are you being serious right now? Are you really—blatantly—suggesting…
K.alenko23: I am not entertaining this. Goodnight, Williams.
A.williams078: your loss. Goodnight, sir. May you have sweet dreams that rival your daytime fantasies
He should have left her on Eden Prime.
*—*—*—*—*
“Nice view, right?”
Kaidan glanced over his shoulder at Ashley. She wore a smug grin and tipped her chin forward.
“Sure, brown chunky sand, no tree or foliage in sight, mysterious animal droppings…” Shepard kicked at a compacted ball of sand. The wind sprayed the dust against Kaidan’s visor. “A desolate wasteland paradise. Stuff of dreams.” Her voice was thick with sarcasm as she planted her hands on her hips.
“Think your helmet’s a little foggy,” Kaidan retorted back at Ashley. “Might want to get that situated before it gets worse.” He wiped at his own visor passively.
Ashley hummed. “Hmm…I don’t know, LT.” She spoke with a frightening lilt. “You seemed pretty distracted by the view.”
Something in her tone made Kaidan grateful for the shield of his armor as his face heated.
“Was not.” He bit his cheek at his juvenile comeback.
“Was, too.”
“Was—”
“Oh, for—!” Shepard’s voice rose over the static in their ears. “You guys are worse than children.” The comm line crackled as she sighed. “Let’s keep moving.”
Kaidan shook his head and trudged up behind Shepard, per their marching order. His omnitool beeped.
A.williams078: no wonder you’ve never changed the marching order
A.williams078: enjoy watching her six?”
He looked up and over at Ashley, who was sporting another shit-eating grin. She tipped her head towards Shepard again. His ears flushed as his eyes involuntarily skimmed downwards, down the curve of Shepard’s—
He cleared his throat and walked a little faster. He came up to just behind Shepard’s right shoulder. A notification chimed again.
A.williams078: smooth, LT
A.williams078: nudge your hand to the left a cm
A.williams078: it’ll be just like those vintage Earth movies
A.williams078: if you feel a spark, you guys are meant to be
A.williams078: or your biotics reacting
A.williams078: but let a girl dream ;)
Kaidan inhaled sharply and muted his notifications. Shepard bumped his arm with her elbow. His skin prickled as her biotics reacted with his.
“Alenko, tell your girlfriend you’re groundside on a mission,” Shepard said, voice flat. She picked up her pace.
“It’s not—I don’t…” He fumbled for words and chased after her.
“Yeah, LT, tell her,” Ashley snickered.
Kaidan shot her a dark look.
*—*—*—*—*
The colors of Illium were beautiful at moonslight. Hues of blue, purple, fuschia, and gold reflected off of Shepard’s bare shoulders. Kaidan’s throat bobbed and he turned his head back towards the bar.
“Your order, soldier,” the Asari bartender repeated, wiping her hands on a cloth.
Shepard snorted into her glass and sat up on her stool. “He’s a manly-man.” Her words slurred slightly as she whirled her finger in the air. “Get him a whiskey, neat.”
Kaidan opened his mouth to protest, a blush climbing up his neck, but realized she got his order right. “Uh…yeah,” he mumbled. “What she said.”
Shepard smiled at him over the rim of her glass. Her eyes shined with a post-alcohol consumption glow. “See? I know you now.” She sidled up closer to him. His breath tightened.
“Hey! You guys started without me!” Ashley swaggered in, holding two bottles of beer between her fingers.
Kaidan watched as her brows lifted, noticing Shepard’s head on his shoulder. Ashley’s grin grew as she paused and balanced her weight on her hip.
“On second thought,” she crooned, a mischievous glint in her eyes, “I think I’m already getting a headache.” She feigned a stumble. “Yup, time to go back to my quarters.” She turned and disappeared from the bar.
Shepard mumbled something against his sleeve.
“What?” Kaidan carefully sat her upright in her seat. She slouched.
“Where’d Williams go?” she repeated, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands.
“She, uh…” Kaidan frowned, watching as Shepard swayed precariously on her stool. “I think you need some air, Commander.”
She harrumphed. “And I think you need to loosen up, Lieutenant,” she said mockingly.
“Alright,” Kaidan sighed, and secured her arm around his shoulders. She whined. He left a generous amount of credits on the counter and walked her out towards the balcony.
*—*—*—*—*
The air was fresh and the railing cool against his fingers as he balanced Shepard against his side. Her fingers toyed with the hair behind his ear, dangerously close to his amp. He shivered and tightened his hold on her waist.
“You were right,” Shepard said dreamily, gazing out towards the city lights. “I did need some air.” She pressed harder against him as she inhaled deeply. “This is nice.”
Kaidan glanced down at her, his heart racing. Her eyes had closed and she had a relaxed smile on her lips. He didn’t think he’d ever seen Shepard so calm before.
“Yeah,” he rasped.
He considered leading her towards the benches so that they could sit, but part of him—a large part of him—liked being so close to Shepard, and didn’t want to spoil the moment. A small part, though, reminded him of regulations and what the Alliance would think if they saw how close—intimate, even—they seemed.
His omnitool beeped. He cursed silently at it and peered at the small notification window.
A.williams078: you’re welcome
“Tell me about her.”
Shepard’s quiet voice broke through his thoughts. She was staring back out across the dimming city. When he didn’t answer her right away, she turned her eyes up at him. Large, green, clear. He could get lost in them.
“About, who?” he asked.
She dropped her arm and clung to the railing instead. He missed the heat of her already. She tapped on his arm.
“The girl who won’t stop messaging you,” she laughed, though the light didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You’ve been so distracted lately.” She licked her lips. “Must be special.”
Kaidan’s pulse quickened. “Oh, that.” He drew his palm along the back of his neck. “That was Williams,” he said carefully, eying her.
Shepard’s knuckles tightened over the glass. “Oh.” She swallowed and tapped her fingers. “I mean, I guess that’s—I mean…she’s cute.” She cleared her throat, her shoulders caving as she rocked on her feet.
Kaidan started. “That’s not what I—”
“I guess I should have seen it,” she continued, ignoring him. She twisted her body to face him. “I’m happy for you. She’s—” She hesitated. “You’re a great person, Kaidan.” Her eyes flicked to his for a moment, then dropped down to her feet.
“Commander, I…” He stopped when she turned her face away. “Shepard.” He pressed light fingers against her shoulder, forcing her to turn back towards him. She didn’t meet his eyes.
“For the record,” he said, clearing his throat, “there’s nothing going on between Ashley and me.”
“And…off the record?” Shepard blinked rapidly, her lips pursing slightly.
“There’s nothing going on between Ashley and me.”
Her breath warmed his bicep as she exhaled. Her lip tugged upwards. “Oh.”
She shifted again and rested her elbows along the railing. They didn’t speak for several moments, and Kaidan almost believed she’d dropped the subject.
“But there is someone special?” It almost came out as a statement.
He joined her against the glass, his elbow touching hers. He eyed her slowly. “Yes.”
She rolled her lips. “Off the record?”
“Uh…both.”
“That supposed to mean?”
“She’s, uh…special.” His breath plumed amidst a timid laugh. “For the record...and off it.” He shrugged. “It’ll be true no matter who’s asking.” He glanced at her quickly. "Except maybe the brass. Probably shouldn't tell them."
Shepard chewed on her lip. “Do I know her?”
His grin was crooked as his face warmed. “I’d hope so.”
Her lips parted, her green gaze meeting his. He held her eyes. He really could get lost in them.
“Oh.” She turned her face towards the glow of lights. The hazy, purplish-golden hue caught the corner of her mouth quirk up.
“Yeah.”
His breath trapped in his lungs and his heart raced as he felt her fingers gingerly slide around his elbow. Her temple touched his shoulder. Before he knew what he was doing, he’d already pressed his lips against her hair. Her fingers lazily stroked the inside of his arm.
“I’m glad we came out for air,” she said softly.
Kaidan watched their reflection on the glass.
“Me too.”
*—*—*—*—*
A.williams078: and not even a thank you
Kaidan chuckled and shook his head.
K.alenko723: Goodnight, Williams.
He brought his arm under his pillow and sighed. Quiet moments with Shepard will be cemented in his brain forever.
His omnitool beeped again. He jolted.
J.shepard810: For the record, I think you’re pretty special, too.