Recruiting team members always left Shepard exhausted. Maybe it was the excitement, or the merciless amount of fighting they had to do, but she could think of nothing more tempting than a hot shower and good nights rest. The glass on the shower doors fogged as hot water poured from the shower head, Shepard cocked her head back and let it rain down on her face, washing sweat away from her hair and forehead. A relaxed sigh escaped her lips, this was pure bliss.
Wiping the back of her hand against the mirror, she could see the area underneath her right eye was slightly swollen and a little purple. Not bad, a black eye was nothing compared to a bullet to the leg. Thank heavens for medi-gel. Nassana's mercs had been brutal, and a brief tangle with a vanguard had been responsible for the bruises on her face. Nothing she couldn't have handled, still, she appreciated Garrus blowing a hole through the guy's head. Her stomach rumbled, and it was only then Shepard had realized just how hungry she was, when had she eaten last? It didn't matter, before bed she would sneak down to the mess and grab something to eat.
The elevator slowed at the second floor, the doors opening with a hiss. Thane joined Shepard's otherwise solitary ride down to the mess, giving her a small nod.
"Shepard." He said simply, placing his hands behind his back.
"How are you settling in, ?" She asked, leaning against the back of the elevator.
"Well. It is peaceful on your ship. And how are you, I see you've been injured." He motioned toward her face and Shepard laughed.
"Yeah, took the butt of a shotgun to the eye, it hurt, but not so much anymore. I think how hungry I am is more painful right now." She smiled and looked down. The elevator came to a stop and the doors opened, Thane raised his hand, offering her to exit before him. She did so and turned back.
"You could join me if you'd like, Thane." Shepard offered.
"Thank you, but I think I'm going to meditate for the time being. We've had a very eventful day." He exited and walked passed, stopping and turning to face her again. "Perhaps another time, good night." Thane bowed slightly and stalked into life support. Shepard watched as he left and shrugged, heading to fix herself something to eat.
Recruiting Thane was interesting to Shepard. The graceful way he moved, as if he was moving on air, the efficiency of his kills, the way the sun had caught the tone of his skin, those big, dark eyes, that deep, sexy voice...
Shepard stopped what she was doing. Had she really just thought that? She turned her head in the direction of life support, then looked down at the salad she had been making. 'No harm in just noticing...right?' She thought, taking her bowl and sitting at the table. She munched on her salad, forcing herself to think about other matters at hand.
"May I join you?" She stopped chewing and looked up, there he was, standing at the other side of the table, hands behind his back. "Sure. I thought you had to meditate, though." She said, swallowing her mouth full of food and smiling.
"I was, but I'm curious to know how the most famous member of the Alliance ended up working with a pseudo-terrorist organization. That is, if you don't mind my asking" Thane said, taking a seat and pressing the tips of his fingers together.
"Well..." Shepard began, pushing some food around with her fork. "First I died, then the Alliance declared me dead, and Cerberus spent a literal fortune to have me brought back to life. I don't work for them but we...we have the common goal of stopping the Reapers. They need me and I need them." He was staring at her intently. "Why?" She asked.
"Because reading of past decisions you've made, Cerberus doesn't seem like an organization you would associate with. They're far more...how should I say...sinister than you're known to be." She shifted uncomfortably, it was like he was looking right into her.
"Yeah well, like I said. I need them. They have the money and tech that's going to help us win. That doesn't change who I am." She stood up and placed the dirty dish in the sink before turning back and heading for the elevator. "Thanks for the little talk, company is always nice." She said, nodding at Thane. He stood, cutting her off and stopping her in her tracks. He was so close, barely inches away. He looked down at her, she looked up at him, her heart racing.
"Shepard." He said. She clenched her jaw. "Yes?" Shepard asked. There was a moment of silence as they just looked, she waited for him to say something, anything.
"I look forward to working with you." With that he turned and fluidly moved back to his room, leaving her standing in place, as if she had been frozen there. What was that? She thought. Her hands trembled, she went over what had just happened in her head again.
Seriously, what was that?
Silently she scurried into the elevator, a good nights rest, that was what she needed. Overreacting because she was tired. Over-thinking because she was tired. Still, she wondered what really had just happened.