Curious Jealousy- a F!Shenko Fic

Chapter Sixty: Promise

Some of his favorite moments on the Normandy occurred in the mess with the crew. Kaidan loved relaxing with a cup of coffee and a heaping plate of food listening to the jokes between the engineers and the subtle flirting between Tali and Garrus. This was where the entire ship relaxed and become lively….where they became people.

That was what he was doing when he felt a light touch on the back of his neck. Jerking his head around, he was greeted with a soft smile that went all the way up to tired, blue eyes.

“Hey, you,” she murmured, just for him, walking around to take the chair next to him.

He caught her hand under the table and gave it a soft squeeze. He looked her over- realizing that he hadn’t seen her since the night before. “You look tired.”

She leaned against his arm briefly before returning to her own space. “I am tired.”

“Isn’t that right, Shepard?” Garrus broke into their quiet moment.

“Hmm? What was that?”

Garrus gave a Turian version of a smirk and nodded to a few of the engineers at the table. “How many times did we go vertical in the Mako?” He looked back to the engineers. “You don’t know fear until you go into a Mako with the Commander.”

She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Oh, so now you’re complaining? I don’t remember you doing that when you were manning the gun of the Mako. I distinctly recall a certain Turian whooping with joy as we doing it,” she pointed out.

“Those were cries of fear.”

She shook her head and snatched a chip from Kaidan’s plate. “Really?” she drew out incredulously. “And when you told me to hit the thrusters to send us flying down backwards- what was that?” Everyone chuckled as Garrus tried to find some excuse for that. “Check mate.”

Kaidan shook his head. “That was usually the other people screaming in fear. I distinctly remember you needing to stop and let a few of us so we didn’t puke inside of it,” he stated matter-of-factly. He looked at the engineers. “She’s an excellent commanding officer, but a good driver she is not.”

Shepard rolled her eyes and snagged a few more of his chips, earning a light swat from him. He, of course, wasn’t upset- it was beyond wonderful that she was eating. She pursed her lips together to hide a smile, but couldn’t quite manage- especially when he slid his plate over to sit between the two of them.

“I am a perfectly decent driver,” she insisted, rubbing her nose irritably. “Why shouldn’t I have used every advantage I had. The Mako could go up a mountain- I was going to go up the mountain.”

Garrus chuckled as Tali moaned. “I was never so happy than the days when you didn’t take me on the missions in the Mako.”

They all fell into quiet conversations after that.

“D’you want to go up to bed?” Kaidan murmured.

She smirked at him. “Are you flirting with me, Major?”

Rolling his eyes, he shook his head. “We still have about ten hours before we reach the planet- why don’t you try to catch some sleep?”

Shepard closed her eyes, but took a deep breath and nodded.

It was true that his favorite moments were in the mess. That was only because time seemed to stand still when he was alone in the Captain’s Cabin with Hope.

He was most at peace when he was in bed with her. No, it didn’t have to involve them being naked. He was completely thrilled to just hold her as she was falling asleep.

“I talked to my dad,” she murmured against his chest, fighting sleep with every fiber of her being.

He glanced at her and waited for her to continue. When she didn’t, he prodded, “And?”

Her fingers traced nonsensical patterns. “Asked me how I was doing. How you were doing. How we were doing.”

“You’re kidding,” he chuckled, running his fingers through her hair.

“Shouldn’t have been so scared to introduce you two.” She turned her head to yawn against his chest. “Surprised he didn’t propose to you on the spot at the Citadel.” After a pause that she left him to respond, she murmured, “Glad you two hit it off.”

“I know what you’re doing, Hope Ann,” Kaidan informed her, pressing a kiss onto the top of her head.

“Telling the guy I love about my day?”

“Trying not to go to sleep.” He reached under her chin and tilted it back far enough for her to look at him. “Hope, you need to sleep. This is bound to be an intense mission- I mean, locating a Reaper killer?”

Her smile was small, but still managed to reach her eyes. “You coming?”

“There’s no way I wouldn’t be groundside for that.” He kissed her forehead. “Go to sleep now, Hope. I’ll wake you up when we get closer.”

She was struggling to keep her eyes open. “Promise?”

“Promise.”