The first kiss had a hint of teenage awkwardness on it, as humans would call it. She knew quite a lot about human culture, but the complexities always eluded her. She wasn’t sure what worked and what didn’t, and Hawke wasn’t exactly the first person to ask for the truth. All she could get from anyone on the ship was that she’d know when the time was right. She doubted it, but Goddess, did she know. He had come back onto the ship with a hidden wound in the fold of armor just at his shoulder. It didn’t surprise her. She had seen worse long before she joined the Kirkwall. Treated worse, too. So Ellana didn’t even bother taking Cullen to Wynne when he started to complain about wearing a dressing. She simply took him to his quarters with a first aid kit and…recommended he take off the armor. It was hard not to stare. She always liked seeing the difference between human and Asari physiology. The wound was easily bandaged, and she placed a gentle kiss atop it. A weird habit she knew human parents did with their children. “To make it feel better.”

The second…well, that was a unique one. Ellana had found out that her aunt - her actual I’m your mother’s sister aunt - was the mysterious Asari that had worked alongside Pheus. It was a blow that she felt personally. She knew her mother would be far from proud. But it was up to Ellana to do something about this, as Deshanna was busy attempting to get some diplomatic measures in place. Why, Ellana couldn’t say herself. She merely knew it was important, especially if the Commander and his crew managed to get close enough to get things done. However, even with what Ellana had done, some members of the crew were questioning her loyalties. If her own blood made that choice, she could too! The Commander wasn’t always able to stop the talk. She tried her hardest to just accept it. It still annoyed her. Cullen could tell. He was the kind of leader who would go out of his way to make sure the people fighting with him were more than okay. He listened to her fears, her worries, her own anxieties over misjudgments. When she had finished, a final sigh expelling from her lips, all he did was place a gentle hand on her shoulder…and kissed her. She didn’t expect it, of course, and her natural reaction was to recoil. He felt that and started to himself. Her hands curled into the hoodie he wore during off hours to keep him near for just a moment longer. “Thank you.”

The third kiss was a memory she’d look back on with fondness. They were enjoying a moment on the Citadel. Almost required shore leave, of sorts. It was an excuse to get out of the ship and feel like there was a bit of land you could stand on without being attacked. And sometimes, just sometimes, the food was better too. It was a nice change, though Ellana couldn’t help the moments she listened to the voice in her mind nagging her about the work she had to do. It was hard to fully ignore it. Working was almost hardwired into her DNA. Still. Being at some little cafe with breathtaking view of the Citadel? That’s something anyone would take a break for. She had been busy staring out of the large windows that she hadn’t even registered the problems Cullen was having being his own translator. In fact, her attention hadn’t turned back until she felt a pressure on her cheek and almost didn’t even notice it was a kiss at first. Her cheek color deepened in response, a faint smile forming when the Commander turned to head towards their table. “Shall we?”

The fourth kiss came during a moment she honestly never thought would happen. When Cullen started showing true interest in being with her, out of regular crew checks, she was a little surprised. She was merely the historian of the ship, she knew her place, she was nothing special. When she told him, he promised her he’d help her see otherwise, how she was most of the valuable members of the crew. She felt a little honored, to say the least. He managed to steal her attention away from her work, just for the night. It was an experience she hoped others of her races would know. There was a lot of limbs bumping into each other, clumsy attempts as they learned, and laughter. There was also a lot of soft spots, gentle moans, certain words and sweet nothings that belonged only in moments like these. He found a soft spot just under her collarbone in the midst of all this and started suckling lightly. The mark wasn’t very dark, more a tester of limits. He practically sealed it with a kiss afterwards, leaving a trail up to her jawline. “Absolutely beautiful.”

The fifth kiss was during a tender moment, one of the last few they allowed themselves before a battle no one was ready for. He had thought it would be nice to ignore their responsibilities for a few hours and watch an old earth movie his siblings had also enjoyed. Pacific Rim. A movie where humans thought that building giant robots would help save the day. It was a ridiculous thing that only humans would create, but even Ellana had to admit she loved it. Cullen kept making lame jokes throughout, causing her to laugh harder than she had in a very long time. It was a break she had no idea she needed. She remained curled against him the entire night, her head resting back on his chest and his fingers moving back and forth on the soft spot at the back of her head that always relaxed her. Her head involuntarily turned towards his hand and he took the opportunity to place a gentle kiss at the curve of her throat. It tickled just enough to make her laugh against him. “Adorable.”

The sixth kiss was something that should have happened long before they had the chance. It had been a long time since they had seen each other, a long time since Ellana thought Cullen had died in deep space. She didn’t quite look completely confused, or surprised. That most likely surprised him more. She merely made some mention of how ghosts had a habit of coming back in the Alliance. It at least sparked a smile from him. They embraced with the sort of tenderness that they used to reserve for private moments. It was something the two of them needed more than they admitted. Fingers traced over jawlines and scars and curves that they almost believed they’d never see again. So much had changed and neither of them wanted to acknowledge it while they were around each other. Just for a moment, they wanted to ignore everyone and everything. A sigh of content in unison, bringing a smile to both their faces. “I love you.”

The seventh kiss had slightly more pain behind it than either of them wanted. It had been a long time since Cullen had helped Ellana take the former Shadow Broker’s base, and they hadn’t really had the chance to reunite properly in the midst of gunfire. Now that he had the Kirkwall back under his command, there was slightly more time. They each had more responsibilities than they ever thought possible, but Ellana learned early on that if you truly care for someone, you make the time for them, no matter what’s happening. And they did. Once there was a free moment for the two of them, they were together, gripping each other tight in Cullen’s Quarters. Neither knew if this would happen again after the Reapers were dealt with. Sure, they liked hoping, but Cullen was a soldier and Ellana was far from young anymore. Kirkwall’s entire crew accepted the fact that they may not see the next day. It was just a part of being there. Ellana’s lips crashed on his, and she swore she had a minor taste of blood in her mouth. It was worth it, and it seemed to be a mutual thought. “A gift, I swear.”