Curious Jealousy- a F!Shenko Fic

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Date Pt. 1

The first day of dock had been filled with meetings and errands (just like every other time the Normandy docked on the Citadel). Shepard had told the crew that they would have the following day for leave.

As it was, she was dressed up in the black dress that she had purchased while Kaidan was at Huerta and she made a quick stop on the Crew Deck.

"Liara," she interrupted the Asari from whatever it was that she was doing.

"Shepard," Liara responded, looking over at her and nodded appreciatively. "You look nice- hot date?"

That made Shepard feel a tad uncomfortable. While it was a date she didn't know if it could be classified as a hot date. As it was, she was kind of treating it like another mission (she didn't get to date much since she joined the Alliance when she was 18).

"I'm not sure. That's not why I stopped by."

Liara smiled and shrugged. "Need something?"

Shepard stared at her with a hard, probing expression. "I know it was you."

"I don't understand." Liara seemed genuinely confused.

"Only three people in the galaxy had access to the file that you sent to Kaidan the other day- the Illusive Man, Miranda, and you."

A sly smile slowly crept its way onto Liara's face. "And you don't suspect Miranda?"

Shepard ignored that. "Why would you send it to him after all this time? Why the hell wouldn't you delete the ending?"

"It was for him to hear- and he needed to hear it. The ending was just as much for him as it was for you at the time. I understand that you didn't want him to watch and hear you die, but he needed to really see. All the written facts and testimony mean close to nothing- but seeing…that's where true understanding and acceptance come from."

"That was not for you to decide," Shepard started tersely before turning on her heel (quiet literally since she was wearing heels) and made her way to the Citadel.

Shepard leaned against the railing at the observation point that had been the beginning of the whole romance with Kaidan...almost.

It could be said that it had all began on Eden Prime when she saved him from the Beacon, or on the SR-1 in the medbay (and just outside of it)...or, maybe, when she first walked onto the SR-1 and was introduced to her Lieutenant.

As she looked out at the station, she liked to believe that this was the true turning point- the true beginning. He had spoken a bit too openly- not as a Lieutenant was to speak to his commanding officer.

She had felt the twist in her heart as she thought about what he had said all those years ago.

"Big place." His warm voice filled her entire being. It took a minute for her to realize that it wasn't a ghost memory voice, but actually Kaidan.

She didn't look over at him but, instead, straightened out. "This isn't a station, it's a city," she murmured, feeling his eyes flickering between her and the view just as he had done four years prior.

"There must be millions here. It can't be possible to track everyone coming and going." There was a smile evident in his voice and she fought to keep her expression straight.

Shepard enjoyed that he was playing one of her games- except, this time, it was him that initiated it...this was his game. "The council represents more races than I thought, no wonder they're careful with newcomers."

She admired the new, confidant Kaidan- Major Alenko.

He had finally grown into himself.

Kaidan fell silent for a moment and then said, "Maybe they just don't like humans."

That hadn't been what he said- Ash had said that...cynical, racist Ashley. Shepard pursed her lips as the feeling of grief filled her. "Why not? We've got oceans, beautiful women, this...emotion called love. According to the old vids, we have everything they want." She struggled to figure out what to do with her hands, and settled for resting them on the railing of the observation point.

"When you put it that way," he murmured, wrapping an arm around her waist and then leaned to whisper- in her ear-, "there's no reason they wouldn't like you."

Shivering, she looked up at him with a cocked eyebrow. "That's not quite how it went." His face was so close and she fought against the urge to lean up and kiss him.

"Ahh, but, back then, we were so focused on following protocol and regulations. Things have changed."

That had Shepard stiffening, stepping out from his arm and looking him up and down- suspicion darkening her eyes. "Things have changed."

Kaidan frowned, trying to figure out what he said wrong. After a few seconds with no luck, he gave her an easy, appreciative smile. "You look amazing, Hope," he said, trying again. He took a step towards her and lowered his voice (enough so that she had to lean into him to hear) saying, "What I can't figure out is where you strapped your gun because it's not at its normal place on your waist."

He knew her too well.

She glanced around before raising her dress a little to show him the pistol holstered to her inner left thigh. It took all of her self-control not to laugh when his eyes lingered on her bare thigh. "And I bet yours is tucked into that handsome coat of yours." He smirked and showed her his.

Wrapping his arm around her waist again, he began walking her through the wards. "If we keep this up, we'll never get there in time for our reservation," he informed her, his voice just rough enough for Shepard to reconsider her questions about him.

In response to him, she wrapped her arm around him and leaned against him lightly. "And we wouldn't want that- would we?"

They arrived five minutes late, but were granted their seats none-the-less. Perhaps it was out of charity, but, given the amused expression of the greeter, it was probably from a soft heart.

She wasn't sure whether to be grateful or annoyed.

Shepard had to admit that it was a pretty nice place. All around her, women wore dresses (a lot more frilly and feminine than her simple black dress) and the men wore tuxes. She took a moment to feel insecure until she realized that it didn't matter. She wasn't the kind of woman to dress up in elaborate, over-feminine outfits that showed way too much skin (even though she had contemplated a very different- very revealing- black dress). And, from the way Kaidan was acting, he didn't even care.

As they skimmed the menus, she looked at him studiously. He really was handsome in his suit- it couldn't really be considered a tux. She had never before seen him in any kind of civies- though they had talked about going on leave together...but they were put on Geth search duty, and then she had died. He was always in his BDUs or his armor. Well, of course, she had seen him out of those before too, but that was a different story. He was the kind of man that caused women to stop and stare- much more so since he had (very obviously) been working out a lot.

How could she not be jealous when a perky, pretty brunette wanted him?

"What're you staring at?" Kaidan asked, not looking up from his menu.

"How do you know I'm staring?" she asked curiously, looking down at her menu if only to prove him wrong.

He looked up at her and grinned. "Because I've been staring at you- only difference is, is that I'm a little more discreet."

Shepard bit her bottom lip and lightly touched her key necklace- drawing his attention down her neckline. His expression softened as he realized that she was wearing his gift. "I like how you look in that suit."

"I don't even come close to you in that dress-" he broke off. "Adria!"