Curious Jealousy- a F!Shenko Fic

Chapter Forty-One: Fifty Shades

Kaidan woke up fairly early- especially given the late hour in which he had finally fell asleep-, got dressed, and went to the mess to get his first cup of coffee for the day (he had a serious belief that it would be a multiple cup kinda day…most were since the attack on Earth).

Surprisingly, Shepard was already at a table with a cup of tea (he'd bet big credits that it was a steaming cup of green tea), a bagel, and a datapad in her hand. She was thoroughly engrossed in whatever it was that she was reading and didn't even look up- he found it mildly surprising that a N7 (not to mention Shepard herself) would be so oblivious to everything around.

He sat down beside of her and noted the small smile on her lips as she read the words.

Well, that ruled out mission debriefs.

"Hope," he greeted her quietly.

It was a shock to see her startle and quickly turn off the datapad with a blush. "Kaidan!" she gasped her greeting.

"Whatever you were reading must have been riveting," he said with more than a little humor.

Her blush darkened as she shrugged and took a bite of her bagel. "Something like that," she said nonchalantly. "How'd you sleep last night?"

"Alone," he stated matter-of-factly, but softened his words with a smile.

She reached out hesitantly and touched his cheek where she had slapped him. "Sorry I slapped you," she murmured.

"I deserved it," he acknowledged, covering her hand with his own.

"Doesn't make it any better. I could have seriously hurt you."

Kaidan thought about that for a long moment. "But you didn't- and, honestly, I don't think you could." As she opened her mouth to argue, he raised a hand to cut her off. "I'm not talking about you being physically capable. I meant that you couldn't because of who you are- who you were raised to be."

She gazed at him as she processed his words. "I had no right to- we never established any sort of relationship and she was drunk."

Kaidan rolled his eyes. "Would it make you feel better if I hit you?"

Her eyes glanced towards her datapad and then back to him. "Would you?"

"No. I just wanted to know what you'd say." He squeezed her hand and pressed it against his chest at his heart. "I'd like us to be exclusive...except you have to do one thing first."

"Oh?" she asked, surprised.

He smiled mischievously. "Tell me what you were reading that had you completely oblivious to the entire galaxy."

Shepard tried to hide a grin and lightly bit her tongue between her front teeth. "Fifty Shades of Grey," she murmured, leaning provocatively into him. "It was a very popular book back in the twenty-first among women."

He stared at her blankly. After a few moments, she stood- leaving her datapad on the table. "Feel free to read some of it while James, Javik, and I are planet side," she suggested. "Later, Major."

As the ground team began to go down to the planet, Kaidan made his way to the helm as was his normal routine when he remained onboard. He'd begin whatever story Shepard left him with after he saw the first few minutes of her mission.

He walked in just in time to hear her voice say (obviously happy), "Grunt!" and he watched as she hugged a Krogan that was nearly as big as Wrex and he greeted her by her last name- seeming just as pleased to see her.

Kaidan sat down in EDI's empty spot. "Looks like there's a story there," he stated.

Joker snorted. "That's an understatement. Those two are like surrogate mother and son. Ever since she 'gave birth' to him from his tank and she worked him through the beginning confusion, they made a strange...bond."