Post by Knightfall on Mar 18, 2009 4:55:13 GMT 1
Chapter Twelve: Interstellar
Kaidan made his way to the CO’s Quarters, nodding at Garrus as he entered. The room was dark and lit only by the computer terminal on the other end of the room. In front of the terminal, Shepard stared into flickering nothingness, consumed by her decisions that had led them to this point.
“Commander?” Kaidan politely called out.
Shepard turned away from the computer screen and offered a weak grin. “We’re a little past formalities, don’t you think?”
The Sentinel huffed in amusement. “We’re a little past a lot of things.”
It had been a busy day for the crew of the SSV Normandy. They had defied the Citadel Counsel, stolen their own ship back, and immediately jumped away to confront the ex-Spectre, Saren on the Prothean world, Ilos. There was much riding on their ability to accomplish this, their most important mission—and most definitely, their last. No one dared make light of the situation; even Joker sat silent in the cockpit during most of the flight.
Kaidan wasn’t intent on going down in flames without the Commander knowing how he felt about her. The woman had already proved time and time again that things left unsaid can have unspeakable consequences. He didn’t want these emotions to disappear as an echo. But that didn’t make the situation any less nerve-wracking.
“If things don’t go well,” he began, “I want you to know—well, I’ve enjoyed serving under you.”
Shepard picked herself up from her seat and walked over to the Sentinel, an amused smile across her face. “Kaidan, you stopped being a subordinate a long time ago. Don’t you think it’s time to act like it?”
Kaidan snickered. “You know what? You’re right—about everything.” He reached out to touch her shoulder, but held back. “I think about losing you and I can’t stand it.” As he pulled his hand back, Shepard caught it and held it in hers—gripping it lightly and caressing it delicately with her fingertips.
“The galaxy will just keep going,” Kaidan continued at a low murmur. “Everything, even the Reapers will come around again.” He moved his fingers over Shepard’s cheek and down towards her shoulder. “But you and I…we…are important right now. This will never happen again, Shepard.”
A tear fell from his eye, feeling a sense of completion he didn’t think he deserved. “You make me feel…human again…”
Everything separating them vanished, and Shepard pulled Kaidan into an embrace that could have only formed of a desperate and long-concealed yearning for each other. They kissed with a passion that only intensified, and they made love knowing that their destinies might not remain as one for much longer. It was more than they could ever ask for.
They lay together, the cosmos sweeping around them and the fates of the galaxy passing through their fingers. It was chaos—but their future had never been more clear. For the first time in Kaidan’s life, he could see where his path could lead him, and he knew he wouldn’t be facing it alone.
Kaidan made his way to the CO’s Quarters, nodding at Garrus as he entered. The room was dark and lit only by the computer terminal on the other end of the room. In front of the terminal, Shepard stared into flickering nothingness, consumed by her decisions that had led them to this point.
“Commander?” Kaidan politely called out.
Shepard turned away from the computer screen and offered a weak grin. “We’re a little past formalities, don’t you think?”
The Sentinel huffed in amusement. “We’re a little past a lot of things.”
It had been a busy day for the crew of the SSV Normandy. They had defied the Citadel Counsel, stolen their own ship back, and immediately jumped away to confront the ex-Spectre, Saren on the Prothean world, Ilos. There was much riding on their ability to accomplish this, their most important mission—and most definitely, their last. No one dared make light of the situation; even Joker sat silent in the cockpit during most of the flight.
Kaidan wasn’t intent on going down in flames without the Commander knowing how he felt about her. The woman had already proved time and time again that things left unsaid can have unspeakable consequences. He didn’t want these emotions to disappear as an echo. But that didn’t make the situation any less nerve-wracking.
“If things don’t go well,” he began, “I want you to know—well, I’ve enjoyed serving under you.”
Shepard picked herself up from her seat and walked over to the Sentinel, an amused smile across her face. “Kaidan, you stopped being a subordinate a long time ago. Don’t you think it’s time to act like it?”
Kaidan snickered. “You know what? You’re right—about everything.” He reached out to touch her shoulder, but held back. “I think about losing you and I can’t stand it.” As he pulled his hand back, Shepard caught it and held it in hers—gripping it lightly and caressing it delicately with her fingertips.
“The galaxy will just keep going,” Kaidan continued at a low murmur. “Everything, even the Reapers will come around again.” He moved his fingers over Shepard’s cheek and down towards her shoulder. “But you and I…we…are important right now. This will never happen again, Shepard.”
A tear fell from his eye, feeling a sense of completion he didn’t think he deserved. “You make me feel…human again…”
Everything separating them vanished, and Shepard pulled Kaidan into an embrace that could have only formed of a desperate and long-concealed yearning for each other. They kissed with a passion that only intensified, and they made love knowing that their destinies might not remain as one for much longer. It was more than they could ever ask for.
They lay together, the cosmos sweeping around them and the fates of the galaxy passing through their fingers. It was chaos—but their future had never been more clear. For the first time in Kaidan’s life, he could see where his path could lead him, and he knew he wouldn’t be facing it alone.