Feeling Something

In the cockpit on the Normandy, docked at the Citadel, just after the events of Virmire, is where Joker sat staring at the monitor as he desperately tried to think of ways to interrupt his commander, who was in the mess hall talking with Kaidan.

He had been listening intently to their conversation over the comm for several minutes now.

She was sat on the floor and leant against the weapons locker, as Kaidan stood in front on her, his eyes fixed on her at all times. Joker hated the way Kaidan looked at her, as Joker looked at her in the same way.

To him, she was this beautiful woman, so strong and brave, and yet so kind and gentle. She was smart and funny, and he made her laugh, and she made him laugh. She was like no woman he had ever met before.

He wished, oh how badly he wished, he was in Kaidan's place right now, offering comfort to his commander.

"The council can't do this to us! There must be a way to appeal!" Kaidan's voice shot through his thoughts over the comm, Joker's attention was suddendly back on the monitor watching their conversation once more.

"Don't you think I have tried? Official channels are closed! They were quite clear about that." Shepard replied whilst slamming her fisted hand on the floor in anger.

Joker watched closely, he could see the hurt and anger in Shepard's eyes, all he could do was reach out his hand and touch the monitor, stroking the screen image of Shepard's cheek, as the only way he could comfort her.

"So where do you think the best view will be when the Reapers come rolling through?" Kaidan's voice spoiling his moment again.

"We're not out of the game just yet." Shepard looked up into his gaze.

"Just know I'm here for you-"

Shut up, shut up, shut up Kaidan! Trying to flirt with her, she's just been rejected by the council and your saying shit like that to her!

Joker slammed his hand down on the mute button on the console, he couldn't bear hearing anymore of Kaidan's advances towards the Commander.

All he could do was sit there anxiously watching, hoping he could think of a good enough excuse to interrupt.

Beeeeeeep

Joker immediately jumped in surprise.

It was the console on his left beeping, pulling him away from his image of Shepard, he quickly answered the noise.

"This is Captain Anderson, please tell Commander Shepard I wish to meet with her in the bar named Flux, tell her it's urgent."

"Aye aye Captain."

This was it, Joker thought to himself, what he needed to break up the all too close conversation between Shepard and Kaidan.

He glanced back at the monitor as he saw Kaidan reach out his hand to Shepard.

Ha, perfect time to interrupt.

"Sorry to uh- interrupt Commander, got a message from Captain Anderson"

Kaidan immediately stepped back, lowering his hand, with a frown on his face. Shepard rose to her feet on her own.

Haha. Joker chuckled to himself noticing Kaidan's frown.

Shepard looked up at the camera on the wall, smiling at it she said in a soft voice.

"What's the message Joker?"

The smile almost made Joker melt, as he noticed there was some relief behind her smile at his call coming in when it did over the comm.

"The Captain said to meet him at Flux, you know that club down in the wards."

Decontamination complete.

Joker smiled hearing the voice over, as he knew Shepard was back from meeting Captain Anderson.

"I assume Captain Anderson has filled you in already, Joker?" The voice startled him, as he hadn't even heard her footsteps enter the bridge from decontamination.

"Yes Ma'am, just waiting for the green light." He gazed up at her with a half-smile.

She didn't reply, instead simply gave him a nod as she stood beside the pilots chair, her hands behind her back, waiting with him for the all clear to go.

Just her presence made him feel closer to her.

After every mission she would always come and chat to him, she seemed to enjoy his banter as he would make jokes she would giggle ever so slightly, before returning to her professional Commander role. He knew she enjoyed talking with him, and likewise him with her.

He could talk to her for hours, and could tell her anything. He had told her all about flight school and how he got his nickname. She evened showed genuine concern over his condition, and didn't look at him like some fragile cripple that was going to break any second. She looked at him like a proper man.

He recalled to himself a moment after coming from Therum, where they had picked up Dr.T'Soni.

"Too close Commander, 10 more seconds and we would have been swimming in molten sulphur. The Normandy isn't equipped to land in exploding volcanoes, they tend to fry our sensors and melt our hull. Just for uh- future reference."

He saw Shepard smile at his joke through his monitor.

His gaze at Shepard was soon interrupted by the sound of a delicate yet erratic voice, the newest member of the crew, the asari researcher.

"We almost died out there and your pilot is making jokes?"

"Joker pulled our asses out of there, I think he's earned the right to make a few jokes!"

She had defended him in front of everyone, he felt so special, he even remembered the look on Kaidan's face was priceless. He was not impressed to say the least.

"Commander, I...I-"

Before Joker could finish his sentence, the red light turned green.

"Let's get out of here Joker on the double!" Shepard bellowed, as she turned and moved off out of the cockpit towards the tail end of the ship.

He assumed she went to remove her heavy armour, and put her weapons back into her locker. He didn't want her to leave, he wanted her to stay by his side so he could tell her his feelings towards her, or at least before Alenko got in there first.

There was a lull aboard the Normandy, as they cleared the Mu Relay heading towards Ilos, most personnel aboard had gone to sleep, it was eerily silent, as Joker shifted around in his seat.

"Still up?" Almost a whisper of a voice came through the cockpit towards him, as he instantly swivelled around in his seat to the voice her recognised so well.

"Yeah, couldn't really sleep. What are you-"

She interrupted, as she moved closer, crouching beside his chair.

"Same here" She smiled, that almost magical smile that made his heart beat faster, her voice so subtle and smooth, not the usual commander tone she put on.

"Commander just so you know I'm here 'til the end of this. I want to see this through, with you."

He could hear the words leave his mouth, and knew it hadn't come out right.

"Don't get soppy on me now Joker." She laughed to herself.

He gave her a smirk before snorting.

"You know what I meant commander."

Her proximity was closer than ever before. She was stooped down next to him, within touching distance.

He couldn't help but stare into her beautiful eyes, he couldn't control himself as he tilted his head leaning forwards to Shepard. She was unaware of his movements towards her until she felt his lips on her own.

Startled she gasped ever so slightly, causing Joker to jerk away in embarrassment turning his head away from her.

"I- I'm sorry Commander, I didn't mean too. Ah shit!"

"Joker." She placed her hand on his chin to turn his face to meet hers.

She stared at him for a few seconds before her eyes lowered to firmly fixed on his quivering lips. She tilted her head and moved towards his lips, closing her eyes as she kissed him.

It was a deeper kiss than before, as her lips separated, along with his own, their tongues caressing each other's.

She pulled away to study his gaze, he looked at her with desire in his eyes,

"Shepard I've felt-"

"Shss" She placed a finger to his lips, she could see it in his eyes without him having to say how he felt about her all this time, she realised it in that one moment.

"I felt something too" She whispered in his ear.

This probably just going to be a one-shot Shoker ...as i'm trying to write a Shenko fanfic atm as well.

Hope you enjoyed, feel free to leave any feedback, good or bad, it helps for future writing.