* 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗟 .

we’re old soldiers,  you and i.

“  somewhat productive ?  i,  and several galactic unions,  would argue that shore leave is a requirement for any galaxy-saving marines.  ”    kaidan replies with a smirk,  gently prodding garrus with a familiar brand of sarcasm.  fighting against killer ai bots didn’t exactly spell out vacation for him.  sightseeing,  movie watching,  fine dining,  he found himself drawn to the more mundane aspects of interplanetary travel.  the citadel,  despite the number of times he had been on-board,  still felt so alien to him.

before he can suggest otherwise,  garrus closes the distance,  ghosting kaidan’s skin with a slightest of touches.  what a tease.  kaidan’s arm instinctively reaches forward,  hand soon affixed at the back of garrus’  head.  his neck craning upwards,  brown eyes meet blue for a moment.  a rare confidence embeds itself into his movements.  maybe wearing that luxe asari cologne was the right move for tonight.  pulling himself upwards,  kaidan closes his eyes as his lips meet garrus’,  a soft kiss bequeathed before he leans back.    “  mmm...  you make a convincing argument,  vakarian.  just remember you’re playing with a spectre.  ”

❝  ARE  YOU  SUGGESTING  we  end  our  drinking  and  …  what’s  the  phrase  …  run  the  town  ?  ❞  close  ,  but  not  QUITE  .  at  least  he’s  trying  .  ❝  i’m  interested  .  it’s  been  a  while  since  i  actually  went  for  a  walk  around  the  place  ,  especially  post-sovereign  .  some  places  have  changed  quite  a  bit  .  ❞  garrus  finishes  his  drink  and  pays  for  both  of  them  — —  whatever’s  left  of  his  vigilante  money  comes  in  handy  for  moments  like  this  .  ❝  you  never  visited  the  citadel  before  shepard  ,  right  ?  showing  up  ,  hunting  down  saren  …  that  was  your  first  time  ?  ❞  𝚑𝚎  𝚊𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚜  𝚝𝚑𝚎  𝚋𝚊𝚛  ,  guiding  kaidan  away  and  back  out  into  the  semi-crowded  wards  .  though  the  turian  certainly  feels  the  affect  of  the  alcohol  the  longer  he  stands  ,  he’s  comfortable  walking  around  .  maybe  he  bumps  into  kaidan  once  or  twice  ,  but  is  that  garrus  being  TIPSY  ,  or  hidden  flirtation  ?  done  on  purpose  ?  ❝  imagine  having  to  be  an  officer  in  this  place  .  too  much  ground  to  cover  .  ❞

MAYBE  BEFORE  ,  garrus  would  have  replied  with  playfully  puffed-up  words  ,  try  and  impress  kaidan  with  facts  and  legends  about  his  stint  on  omega  (  all  the  stories  ;  liara  had  already  brought  a  few  to  his  attention  ,  trying  to  verify  their  veracity  )  .  maybe  before  he’d  have  leaned  back  ,  proud  ,  acting  casual  about  the  whole  ordeal  as  if  it  DIDN’T  affect  him  like  it  does  .  but  with  kaidan  ,  now  ?  here  ?  the  two  of  them  are  alone  ,  and  there’s  a  camaraderie  between  them  that  drags  the  turian  into  true  honesty  .  arrogance  doesn’t  suit  this  time  of  war  .  ❝  𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝  𝚍𝚒𝚍  𝚢𝚘𝚞  𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛  ?  ❞  he  chooses  to  ask  ,  eyeing  kaidan  as  he  sips  his  drink  .  ❝  sorry  about  the  emails  .  i  wanted  to  …  truly  disappear  ,  and  you  can’t  very  well  do  that  if  the  alliance  previews  your  messages  .  figured  you’d  go  off  and  do  some  good  ,  too  .  you  didn’t  need  me  .  ❞  it’s  not  a  NEGATIVE  remark  — —  in  fact  ,  𝚒𝚝'𝚜  𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝  𝚊𝚜  𝚊  𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝  .  garrus  knows  his  ally’s  strength  ,  his  capabilities  .  he  didn’t  need  a  washed-up  c-sec  officer  tying  him  down  .  ❝  as  far  as  i’m  aware  ,  you  did  pretty  well  during  those  two  years  .  correct  me  if  i’m  wrong  .  ❞

𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙲𝙰𝙻𝙻: @biotek​

“𝑵𝑶𝑵𝑬 𝑶𝑭 𝑼𝑺 can move forward without a backward look.” 

OUCH. kaidan’s always been quick on the draw             wit sharpened by a life of hardship. he’s never given shepard an inch, even at her most stubborn moments. in the past, her superiors had always lamented her poor attitude, her readiness to fuss and fight. they’d usually recommended pairing her with someone who’d reduce some of those caustic impulses. that someone had been kaidan alenko, it seems. to this day she hates that they weren’t wrong.

she digs through her mental vault for a snappy comeback, something slick to say that’d earn a snort from vega. but he’s very pointedly looking anywhere but at either of them and her search is coming up dry. damn it. shepard sighs, leans back into her seat             eyes forward and focused on the pneumatic door in front of her. a bit of atmospheric turbulence jostles her legs, accustomed to solid ground during her six months of incarceration. she should be happy to be back in action, but any joy she might get from flying is SUCKED out of the moment like air from a punctured bulkhead. 

    “  good idea. not much oxygen where we’re going.  ”

the rest of their ride is uncomfortable at best.  the tension is different from their last time flying together,  not treading the line of treason nor directly life-threatening.  for the moment,  whilst the reapers laid waste to human civilization,  their friends,  their families,  they were safe within the confines of the shuttle.  the quiet gives kaidan several moments for reflection as their interactions,  past and present,  replay in his mind:  his response was emotional,  juvenile,  he knows that.  technically,  as her superior in the chain of alliance command,  as james’ superior,  he’s ought to show a bit more tact.  there’s a moment where he thinks to apologize,  but logic dictates that he’s in the right.  if anything,  he won’t antagonize the situation any further.

when the shuttle doors open,  claire leading the trio out onto the crimson surface of mars,  it’s almost as if they’ve traveled back to three years ago.  she takes point,  without missing a beat,  and he’s right behind her.  this nostalgia doesn’t feel all that good,  especially upon encountering cerberus troops.  with multiple vehicles,  they’ve absolutely arrived in force.

❝ THAT’S A COMPLIMENT.  –  I THINK. ❞  comparison to higher officers of the republic military is something alike being compared to champions.  once before,  they had been enlaced so deeply into these ranks,  however now the two shared an experienced outlook upon their home.  though a planet’s agony deeply resounded in her lungs,  a smile arose followed by an airy laugh.  ❝ I HAVEN’T MET HIM,  THAT MUCH,  REALLY.  –  IF WE SEE HIM,  I’LL TELL YOU. ❞  kinship is found in the wounds they bare,  the bleeding power of her own cosmic ache,  it pulls him in.