#shenko

Using my bestie privileges to request a combination of the two plz kthxbye 😎

Ok I allow you to invoke bestie privileges, but it activates monkey paw mode 🫤

–

It's a summer evening in Vancouver, but the air on the balcony is growing cool with the sea breeze. She snuggles into his lap, and he hopes his arms are enough to warm her; this could be the last he sees of English Bay for quite a while.

"It's freezing," she says, hugging herself, "but I don't want to go inside yet. I want to stare at this view until I can never forget it."

He smiles, looking at her in profile. "I feel exactly the same way."

He settles his chin on her shoulder, looking out at the Bay. She reaches her hand up to cup his cheek.

"I can't believe it's almost over," she says softly. Sadly. 

"There will be other shore leaves," he says, dreading their return to the Normandy at least as much as she is. His time serving with her has been the highlight of his career so far, a dream of an opportunity even excluding their relationship. But having to work in such close proximity to her, having to pretend away this intimacy, feels like an especially sick form of torture.

"What was your favorite moment?" she asks. 

How can he choose? After months of bonding over their insomnia, every night they fall asleep together and every morning they wake up late; he can't remember the last time he's been so well-rested. And after months of not trusting himself to let a friendly pat linger too long, they've barely kept their hands off each other. After months of being in awe of how incredible she is, how superhuman, she's spent hours and hours being totally... normal, with him. Being vulnerable with him. And he's still in awe of how incredible she is.

"I don't know," he says, "I can't choose. What about you?"

"Getting high at the zoo," she says, without hesitation. "I cannot believe all the fucked up animals on this planet. Walruses? Giraffes? And the fact that my parents knew about them? And didn't tell me?"

"I'm sure they would have told you when you were ready to hear it," he says, kissing her behind the ear. He catches her little laugh just before it's carried away in a gust of wind.

"...When you told me you love me," he whispers shyly, kissing down her neck as if to conceal his flushed cheeks in the dark. "That was it... my favorite moment." He still can't believe it happened, and saying it aloud almost feels like inviting her to deny it.

She takes one of his hands in both of hers. "I do love you," she says, kissing his palm before entwining their fingers together.

"I love you too," he says, kissing her shoulder and hugging her tight, "I have for a long time. I just thought I'd be the one to say it first, I guess."

"You would have waited too long," she says, "you never would have said it until you were sure I loved you too."

He laughs. "Were you unsure? Whether I loved you?"

She looks back at him with a smirk, conceding.

He smiles against her shoulder, kissing his way to her spine. As she sighs, a sudden explosion of thunder makes them both jump.

"That doesn't bode well for our plans," she says, a drop of rain hitting her cheek.

2. Sex in front of a big window, where anyone could glance up and spot them

Fair warning, I got a little carried away... things get pretty explicit after the cut 😇

***

She's been staying in the apartment a few days before she takes the time to enjoy the view from the massive floor-to-ceiling windows. Coming in from a much needed night out, she doesn't turn the lights on right away. Something about the light coming in from the strip is so appealing; she walks straight to the windows, her stilettos clicking lightly on the hard floors.

Kaidan follows her over, wrapping his arms around her to pull her back against his chest. He kisses her lightly behind the ear, his evening scruff pulling a few strands out from her loose bun. They tickle her skin as they fall down her face and she shivers, turning her face toward him and resting her cheek against his chest.

She loves the smell of him. Not his cologne, and not his soap – although both are lovely; tasteful and inoffensive. No, what she loves most is the smell of his bare skin. His natural smell, at the end of the day. She breathes him in deeply.

"Beautiful place," he murmurs into her ear, "...not a lot of privacy."

She laughs. "When have I ever had the luxury of privacy?" she says, and he concedes her point with a soft chuckle. She feels so relaxed, so secure with him. She looks down on the strip, at all the people down there. So far away. He starts kissing her jaw softly, gently, working slowly down her neck. Her heart starts to pound.

"Do you–" she starts, her resolve failing before she can get the words out.

"Do I what?" he murmurs, his lips dragging across her shoulder. God, his voice drives her crazy at times like this. She turns her face toward his, studying his profile.

"Do you want to fuck me," she says slowly, in her most alluring voice, "...right here? Now?"

This takes place immediately after Apollo's. Enjoy.

****

Accepting Kaidan's invitation for lunch at Apollo's seemed to be one of the best decisions Faith Shepard had ever made. Did she anticipate he would confess he was still in love? No. Did she hesitate in telling him that she still cared for him? Also no.

Did she feel like some love struck horny teenager who couldn't wait to get back to Normandy and relieve him of all his clothes? Absofuckinglutely.

Kaidan had deliberately taken his time eating and drinking, relishing in spending some much needed one on one time with her, but it wasn't the kind of one on one she was interested in.

Shepard all but dragged him to the elevator that would take them to the docking bay. As they stood side by side, she kept glancing over at him as she couldn't believe that they were being given a second chance at happiness.

“What is it?” Kaidan asked, frowning a little.

With a tiny shake of her head, Shepard just gave him a very enigmatic smile as she leaned in. There was no one else around and even if they did get spotted, she realised she couldn't care less as right now she felt like she had hit the jackpot. Pressing the gentlest kiss against his lips, she drew back a touch to look up at him.

“Thank you for lunch,” she whispered.

Kaidan smiled in response, looking down at her lips then back up to her eyes. Never in a million years did he ever think he would get this close to her again, not after everything. He had missed the way they sparkled when she gazed up at him. He had missed her.

“Thank you for coming,” he replied, his voice quiet and warm, like honey being drizzled over hot pancakes.

Shepard smirked. “I'm sure that'll come later.”

With a soft chuckle, Kaidan reached up and tucked a strand of dark hair that had escaped the messy bun. He couldn't wait to see her with it down as it had been far too long. “I walked right into that one, huh?”

Tilting her head towards his hand, she nodded and gave a low mumble before leaning in and kissing him again. It was chaste and then she drew back, eyebrows knitting together as she looked down at his lips then up again.

Kaidan swallowed hard, his chest heaving with anticipation. He'd spent so long dreaming about a reunion, but it had been nothing like this.

“Faith…” he whispered.

Her name on his lips was all it took for her to grab fistfuls of his shirt and pull her to him, lips locking onto his with a need that terrified her. Kaidan tasted like whiskey and lager, and she couldn't get enough of him. When Kaidan deepened the kiss, a little thrill slithered all the way down her spine and she could feel the underlying buzz of his biotics.

It was a sensation she hadn't realised she missed and she felt like a part of her was becoming whole again. The elevator came to a halt and she broke it off, letting him go and taking a respectful step back just as the doors opened.

Kaidan was flushed and with good reason.

“So…back to Normandy?” Shepard asked, smoothing back her hair as if she hadn't just laid one hell of a kiss on him. She stepped out and made her way to the docking bay, not even bothering to spare a look back.

His grin was dopey as he jogged to catch up with her.

Written by @ReformingClock

Following up on: Part 1 written by @chalkituptofate Part 2 written by @spacevixen2024

----------------------------------------------------------------- Kaidan and Shepard picked a back corner where the shadows gave them a little bit of privacy. A Turian waiter appeared almost immediately to tell them about the menu.

Shepard marveled at the atmosphere: So calm, so dark, so…unlike the Normandy. “I’ve never been here before. Looks fancy.”

Kaidan smiled. “So do you, by the way.”

Shepard felt the heat rise to her ears. The last time they went to a ‘fancy’ restaurant together was almost 3 years ago. She’d been in a coma for most of that but… “How many times have you been here?” She blurted out. And instantly regretted it.

Kaidan looked down at his hands. He knew what she was really asking. “You know, I have been here once before.” She couldn’t see his face but could tell his voice sounded strained.

“You don’t have to…”

“The second anniversary of your death I came here and tried to imagine what a date would be like. So I could say goodbye.” A shadow passed across his features. “It had mixed results.”

“Really, you don’t have to talk about it.” She felt a pang of guilt lance through her core, right past her heart.

He put his hands on hers and raised his eyes. “I want to. I want to replace that weird mournful memory with one of us actually being together in the same place without any armor or weapons or enemies. I wanted to come here with the real you. Not the one I imagined.”

Immediately she felt the guilt replaced with a coil of desire. The familiarity of her love for him mixed with the sweetness of their reconciliation. When did it get so warm in here?

Kaidan got the fairytale dinner that he’d wanted for so long. They savored some Illium seafood and a dense dessert invented by Chef Urun, the famous Volus. The low tones of their conversation never stopped; the ease of their friendship falling back into place effortlessly.

Shepard closed her eyes, savoring the last bite. “So good,” Shepard fluttered her eyelashes. She found Kaidan gazing at her with burning intensity. “What? Is there something on my face?”

Kaidan reached toward her and brushed a thumb across her lips. He lingered on her cheek. Then he gave her a mischievous wink. “No,” he said.

Shepard reached up to cradle his hand against her face.

Kaidan continued, “I just really need to ask you for something.”

Shepard knew he could feel the blush radiating across her cheek. “Oh?”

“Please….” He took a deep breath, “Please. If you ever need to leave again, please, Shepard… Give me a chance to come with you.”

Shepard’s breath caught. The few moments they shared on Horizon & Mars playing back in her head involuntarily.

When she remembered to breathe again she said, “Are you sure about that, Kaidan?”

“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my entire life.”

Shepard closed her eyes and turned into his hand, landing a soft kiss against his palm. “I promise.”

****

Right as they stepped out onto the walkway, a shiny new skycar dropped from the top lanes through the traffic. Shepard & Kaidan heard honks and scrapes as cars tried to avoid the falling vehicle.

They both clocked the trajectory of the smoking car. It was headed for the restaurant they just left.

“Kaidan!” Shepard squeezed his hand.

“Go!”

They jumped away from the storefront as the luxury skycar careened into the glass. Smoke billowed out from the shattered picture window.

"I left my comm on the ship!” Shepard yelled at Kaidan, her eyes wide.

A goofy grin spread across his face. “Wowwww.” He drew it out. “No gun AND no comm. You must REALLY like me.”

Shepard smirked at him, “No shit, Sherlock.”

A small explosion went off inside.

“Everyone out!” Shepard dove back through the door, recalling the faces she’d seen as they left. The smoke was getting thicker, but her enhanced senses helped her find the coughing victims. She paired up stunned people with those who were more lucid and directed them to the door.

“Here! The exit is this way!” Kaidan bellowed from the doorway. Once the restaurant was clear, she turned her attention to the vehicle. Yes, there was fire, there was smoke, & the chasse of the skycar was twisted and bent; but there was a chance whoever was inside might still be alive. Gingerly she tried to touch the metal. “Ahh!” Her fingertips were burned immediately.

Kaidan yelled through the smoke to her, “Shepard? I think that’s everybody! You need to get out of there.”

“I have to check on the driver!”

She tried to see through the overly tinted windows but couldn’t make out anything. She didn’t hear anyone moving around. She folded up a tablecloth and tried to muscle open the emergency release for the car door. The latch wouldn’t budge. And then the tablecloth caught on fire. She threw it off to the side. “God, if only I had my armor!”

She bolted for Kaidan and pulled him out of the smoke with her. “The driver is stuck. I’m going to call Bailey.”

Shepard ran to a public comm access and dialed C-Sec. “Bailey, there’s a car sticking out of a building at this location. The driver could have survived, but there’s bound to be injuries.”

Sounds of alarmed people running and yelling came to him through the connection. “I’m sending a med unit and back-up. Can you get ‘em out of there?”

“Bailey, I don’t have my armor. This isn’t even my comm. We got the people out of the room, but the car is on fire and jammed closed. We need help to get the driver to safety. Not to mention the explosion and fires will spread through the building.”

“You don’t….you don’t have your armor?” He seemed to struggle with the concept.

“No. I’m on a date.” It still thrilled her to say so.

A beat of silence. Then: “With who?” suspicion in his tone.

“Oh my god Bailey! Send help! I’m with Major Alenko, and he doesn’t have his equipment either.”

Another long beat. “A date?” He seemed incredulous. “The guy who almost sided with Udina like, yesterday?”

Shepard pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yes!” She hissed, hoping Kaidan wasn’t hearing this.

Then she heard laughing. She looked around at the panicked crowd. It was the most incongruous sound to hear in this chaotic environment. Kaidan was valiantly trying to direct the crowds away to a safer distance. No one was laughing here. Then she realized: it wasn’t coming from the crowd.

“HahahaHAA! Is this whole call a prank? I already sent out the units, Shepard, but goddam… this is hilarious! There is no way you are on an actual date with that idiot HAHAHAHAWHOO…”

Shepard did not have time for this. “We are together!” She hissed into the comm.

Bailey’s laughter continued. “Sure. Sure! Look, whatever cover you need for whatever Spectre nonsense you’ve got going on…Just ask me next time. Hahaha…or, you know what? This has been delightful. Do this again! Pahaha…” The line clicked off.

She could practically feel the steam coming from her ears and not because of the fire she’d just run through.

Shepard looked down. Her outfit was a mess. Blood and soot were smeared across her, and the edge of her dress was singed. She picked a piece of broken glass out of her hair. “Garrus is going to have a field day,” she muttered to herself.

The nicest way to be distracted.

****

Brown eyes were narrowed in concentration, tongue flicking out between lips as Kaidan shifted his gaze between the datapad and the terminal screen.

From her vantage point on the couch, Faith Shepard-Alenko was meant to be reading but she found watching her husband so much more fascinating. His desk was deliberately situated in front of the window, a view of the ocean added to the inspiration.

Lowering the actual paperback, Shepard shifted and then slowly stood up, tossing it aside. The cover had been battered to hell and back, but it was a newfound favourite of hers and she had read it cover to cover.

Kaidan sat up and rubbed the back of his neck, mumbling to himself in the process as if he were completely alone.

Shepard smiled softly as she approached him, slipping her hands over his shoulders and massaging them gently. He gave a low rumble of approval at the unexpected contact.

“Hey…” he whispered, his gaze never leaving the screen.

Leaning in close to his ear, she perused the text for a brief moment. “You know, when I was carrying out crew evaluations, I never went into this much detail.”

His lips slipped into a smile. “Well, being a teacher is a lot different than being a commanding officer,” Kaidan reminded her. “And I'll have you know when I was in command of Normandy, my evaluations were extremely thorough.”

When Shepard had lost three years worth of memories after destroying the Reapers, Kaidan had been left in charge of the ship and although it was a role he hadn't wanted, he had excelled in the position. No one else could have filled her boots the way he had, and nor would she have wanted them to.

However, although he was still an Alliance officer, he dedicated a lot of his time to his students, helping mold the next generation of biotics. It was extremely important since thanks to Cerberus, albeit begrudging gratitude, human biotics were known to be able to safely carry pregnancies to term.

Their own child was proof of that, even if they did keep them on their toes.

“Dork,” she whispered, kissing a spot behind his ear.

Kaidan shifted his head a little, although she knew it was a weak spot. “Faith…”

“What?” she asked, her voice trying to sound innocent enough. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, kneading the flesh beneath and she was rewarded with a rumble of approval, deep and guttural.

“Stop distracting me,” he murmured as his eyes fluttered closed.

“I'm not doing anything,” Shepard retorted, dragging her lips down his neck with a devilish grin. Wherever she kissed made his skin feel like it was on fire and Kaidan couldn't get enough.

Despite his quiet protests, he actually tilted his head so she could access him more easily. This only spurred her on and she kissed back up his neck until she hit his jaw, the stubble tickling her lips.

“I'm trying to work…”

“Take a break,” she countered, eyelids heavy as she moved closer and closer to his mouth.

Kaidan brought up his right hand, tangling it in her hair and stopping her from distracting him further. “You're trouble,” he whispered.

Shepard offered a shrug. “You married me.”

Melani's biotics feeling like a warm tropical rainfall , unsure of what kaidan's would feel like rn !! All I know is they'd smooch and feel everything and more and both lost for words but in a good way :-)