Chapter 1:No Need
Disclaimer: I don't own anything cool, much less Mass Effect.
Jericho Shepard looked like a man on the warpath. But then, he always had. He was a warrior, a hunter, a predator; his walk shouted that fact for the galaxy to hear. His stance never changed.
It hadn't changed on Mindoir, as he'd stalked through the smoke and the fog, a teen-aged demon with death in his eye and shotgun in hand.
It hadn't changed during the Blitz, when his overheated weapons lie scattered about him as he strangled batarians with his own hands.
It hadn't changed when he'd left Alenko to die, striding through the gunfire after Williams like a wrathful god smiting the wicked.
It hadn't changed on the citadel, when he abandoned the fools who had refused to heed his warnings in favor of the lives of men and women who had not only believed him, but trusted and supported him.
His stance never changed, and it was many years of disappointment before he found a stance that mirrored his own. It spoke of hardship and loss, of iron will and a mind as sharp as a blade. It carried the heavy walk of one who knew crushing loss, and struggled anyway. It was the walk of one who fought with the utter conviction that what they did was right, that they traveled the path of the righteous because any other way would be to admit defeat to the despair and hopelessness that surrounded them. An eternal path, without luxury or ease.
But it was not without comfort. Never did they feel so complete than when they were together, whether on the battlefield or sitting side-by side to watch the stars.
As was Jericho's custom, he entered the observation room and seated himself next to her, silent as the grave. Neither said a word. Jericho held his hand palm up on his knee, and a slight smile played across his face when he felt a warm hand slide gently into his.
Neither said a word.
Although those most important to you know what you want to say without you needing to say it,
The most important things don't need to be said.
One-shot that's been floating around in my head for a while. Reviews would be greatly appreciated, if you could spare a moment for them.
