The girl watched from the shadows as the man sat beside the drell, talking. The drell had his hands on his chin, looking peaceful as they talked.
She smiled to herself. The drell named Thane Krios used to be one of the best assassins in the galaxy. But because of the disease he had, known as Kepral's Syndrome, he had decided to make the best of what's left of his life. She had watched him as he reconnected with his son, Kolyat, in the Citadel. Walking around with him, talking with him and laughing with him. Though Thane now resided at Huerta Memorial Hospital, he had privilege from the management to go around, as long as he returned in time for his medications.
The woman had been watching over Thane ever since he had decided to live in the hospital. She had not shown herself to him, but she feels like he knows she was there, lingering in the shadows. He would stop whatever he was doing and smell the air, taking in a deep breath that his lungs could allow, and he would smile.
She watched as the man finally left, heading towards the Intensive Care Unit, leaving the drell to sit on the chair, watching the windows. She slowly made her way to the chair the man had abandoned, and she stood in front of the drell, invisible.
The drell's attention perked, and he smelled the air again, before smiling. "Shiro." He whispered, the name like a caress on his lips, "I have been waiting for you to show yourself to me."
The girl smiled, before pressing a button on her OmniTool, and her cloak deactivated, making herself appear in front of the drell. Thane looked up and smiled at her, before reaching out his hand and grasping hers. She settled down on the chair beside him.
"I would know your scent anywhere, Shiro." Thane said, his thumb caressing the back of her hand, "My lungs may be ill, but my nose is perfectly fine. You have been watching over me like an invisible angel, haven't you?"
"A friend of mine named Kasumi Goto has upgraded my cloak and suit." Shiro said, "She has programmed it to become invisible, which is useful for my Order."
Thane chuckled, "And yet the scent of flowers still trail around you. Someday, someone is going to notice that and get to you. Do you still light your incense?"
"Always." She said, "Before, I used it for my prayers on my mission. And now… now I use them when I pray for you."
"It has been a year since I last saw you in Illium. And yet you followed me." Thane said, "How is your Order?"
"Our Order is doing well, though we have decided to do something different than kill Templars. We have been gathering intelligence for the Shadow Broker since the Reapers have come. Our intel has been valuable for those who needed it." She giggled, "My blade longs for battle, but I am quite happy doing this. I know that whatever little I can do can help save lives."
Thane nodded, "That is true."
Shiro was silent for a while, "Was that Commander Shepard?"
"Yes." Thane said, "He was visiting a soldier of his that got injured during a fight against Cerberus. A young woman known as Ashley Williams. He invited me to come back to the Normandy, but I refused. I am not the strong assassin drell I used to be. He needs everyone to be at their peak condition." He looked at her, "Why don't you join up with him? Since I had retired, you are probably the best assassin in the galaxy now."
"Assassins are not really needed now because of the Reapers. Shepard needs soldiers, those who are willing to fight in the front lines, not those who stalk the shadows." Shiro said.
Thane nodded again, and he looked at her. He pulled at her hand, and she stood, sitting right beside him on the chair he was occupying. He wrapped his arms around her as he watched the window.
"I am at the end of my life." Thane said, "I've grown weary of the wars, the battles. I want to just rest now, holding you. And being with Kolyat."
She reached up and stroked his hand in his embrace. As he breathed behind her, she felt her eyes water. She dropped her head to hide it from him, but he noticed it, and he lifted her chin to look at her. "Why do you cry, siha?"
"Because you are about to go where I can't follow." She said, "I don't know when, but when I think about it, I…"
But Thane stopped her with a gentle kiss, touching her face lovingly. "Our mission in Omega and Shepard's suicide mission had taught me that every moment is important. And you told me that as long as I draw breath, I can make a difference. I have done everything that I could for Kolyat, and for the galaxy. I wish I could fight in this war as well, but I know for a fact that Shepard will be the one to do that for me now. My life was spent well, Siha, believe me. If Kalahira does take me, I will have no regrets, and I know that she put me in a good place."
She nodded, "I know, Thane… it's just… I'm afraid."
"There is nothing for you to be afraid of, Siha." Thane said, "You… are the most amazingly brave woman I have ever met. If I go to the sea, I know that you will live your life well. And when it has ended, when your grand adventure comes to a close, I will be waiting for you at the shore."
Shiro nodded again, and reached up to kiss Thane again, and he pulled her to his lap to wrap his arms around her as she kissed him passionately. She stroked the red sensitive scales on his chin and cheeks, and he grasps and kneads the firm muscles of her back, down to her thigh. He breaks from her a little, their foreheads touching, as he wiped a falling tear from her eye.
"Siha… I…" Thane started, "I am not as fit as I used to be. My body often suffers from lack of oxygen. But… even after a year, I still want you. I still yearn for you." He stopped as he brought her eyes to his gaze, "I still love you."
Tears formed again on Shiro's eyes as she hugged Thane, "I love you too, Thane." She closed her eyes and kissed his temple, before kissing his lips again.
Thane chuckled, "We are making quite a spectacle here. Come, I have place we can go to where we can be alone."
They stood up and Thane took her hand, dragging her out the door of the hospital, smiling at a nurse who looks at them, as if scandalized. Luckily for Thane, he still had the apartment not far from Kolyat. His son would be busy at work, and he knows he would be busy for at least five hours. But he knew it was enough.
Enough to spend a little time with his love.