"Hey Kaidan," Shepard called out over the chaos surrounding them. She didn't have eyes on him, but was almost positive he was responsible for causing the high shrieking sound currently boring directly into her spine and wearing on her last nerve.
"Yeah, Shepard," he called out from around the corner. He sounded every bit as tired as she felt, and the day had just begun. It was only downhill from here if experience was any indication.
"Remember when people were afraid of us?" She shouted to be heard over the newest round of terror. One of the antagonists ran by, careful to remain just out of arms reach, with a second hot on his heels; their psychotic screams felt almost taunting in nature if they weren't so frantic. Shepard sighed. "And the only people dumb enough to scream in our faces got knocked out and we called it a day?"
Kaidan rounded the corner, the shrieks growing louder with his approach. Their eyes met and he grinned and shook his head. "Those were the good old days, weren't they?" he laughed as he slid down next to her on the couch with only slight adjustment. The angry little redhead tucked under his arm made her anger obvious to anyone within earshot, but he patiently waited for her temper to cool. He'd had years of experience already, but he knew better than to say so aloud.
"I blame your mother," Shepard whispered into his ear as she nodded at the older woman entering the room. The smell of fresh cookies followed in her wake as she danced merrily amidst the anarchy. Shepard smiled despite herself, knowing full well what her presence meant. Their adversaries had more ammo.
"Let her have her fun, Shepard. It's Christmas, after all." Kaidan leaned closer and his biotics tickled along her skin. His eyes darkened and he grinned at her involuntary shiver; he knew exactly what he was doing to her. "And then we can disappear while she deals with the mess she created. We could be gone all afternoon…." His voice dripped with unspoken promises.
"I like the way you think," Shepard breathed into his neck. "Merry Christmas to us, after all."