A Fanfiction celebrating the progression of Thane and Shepard's romance in Mass Effect 2, narrating the moments they shared between missions. Also illustrates how the couple spend their time between the collector battle and the battle of earth as Shepard struggles to find Thane a cure.
Jane Shepard: Spacer, Sole Survivor, Soldier. Mostly paragon, but slightly Renegade. Also, she saved the Ascension and let the Council die after the battle with Sovereign.
(Aite Dessert : After Suicide Mission)
"Siha." Thane parted his hazed lids to undrape the boundless enlightenment he uncovered the last few months from his lucid eyes. His thoughts shook from his gaze as a flower bud shakes when a fat drop of rain pushes it downwards. These thoughts were of Jane Shepard- the repose of her company shading an eclipse against his hapless fortune. He wished these thoughts would spill from his soul as a dozen polished gems he could drape around Jane's fingers and tie to her slender neck. He wanted to give her something to hold on to.
The camera beeped. Thane met the lens calmly, penetrating the impassive eye of the lens as though it were Shepard's own readable gaze. Her blue eyes were now as familiar to him as the thoughts behind them, and he wanted to give her the comfort of remembering their wordless discussions. He began speaking to his lover even before parting his lips to mouth his choice words.
"My dear, dear Siha." He grinned. "You've been complaining about by memory lately, about the unfairness of it. I am beginning to sympathize." He cocked his head to the side and slid forward in his chair. "I can at any moment relive my time with you, and you cannot." A heated memory of Jane seized him before he could continue. She tilts her head back, eyes aflame with determination. Hands press lightly against my back, her soft lips graze my cheek. The smell of her hair, vanilla and jasmine, hits me as I kiss her neck. She sighs. "Thane." He pulled back to the present, breathing and folding his hands together gingerly. His hands came together like poles reflecting the tension between all opposition: the past and the present, the light and dark, the body and the soul, the desert and the ocean.
"You enjoy taking advantage of my ability," he continued, "observing the pleasure that crosses my face as you trigger these vivid memories." Thane nodded. "You reminded me of our first night together today, just to relive it through my expression." He laughed lightly and then paused to steady his lungs. "I admit it is unfair. I might be… I might be gone soon, and you won't be able to recall our times together when you are alone, as I was able to when Irakah died. "
"Jane, don't misunderstand my motives. I want you to move on when I depart this world, but I cannot deny you your memories." He smiled as his eyes glazed over. "So I will remind you in these recordings of every moment we spent together Siha."
"I know how you will feel when I'm gone. You'll be lonely, remorseful. Yet I pray you will be spared the rage that seized me when I lost Irakah. You are trying so desperately to find a cure, but you mustn't blame yourself if… when you are unsuccessful. Please know Siha that anger is a poison, it will detach your soul from your form and leave you hollow, dead as I was." He shifted. "I want to leave you with a few recordings and letters. The letters may be scarce because I find it difficult to dictate my feelings in your language, and translating it is also proving difficult. However, I will make several vids when I find the time to be alone. You are so difficult to remove from my company; it will be a challenge to find the time. But I will find creative ways to distract you my love. "
He leaned his cheek against his fists "Now. Let's remember when we met. "
(Illium: Before Suicide Mission)
Shepard studied her new team member with a watchful and eager interest. He mirrored her placement in the tight cab, positioned across from her in his statuesque still. He was solemn, his black eyes pressed on the ground, hands folded in prayer. The position was measured, as though each joint and bone were carefully placed. She imagined the assassin's concealed thoughts were as carefully measured as his posture.
He had an atmosphere about him, his composure was like a translucent wave lapping gently at her conscience, and he seemed unaware of the pull. Shepard noticed her breathing had steadied and her posture straightened from observing him. She quickly hunched over, discomforted that his presence had manipulated her so unconsciously. Her teammates had succumbed to his stillness as well; Samara and Garrus were completely silent.
His calm aura had curled into the cab with them.
Thane noticed the commander's probing. His large black eyes caught hers.
Shepard refused to advert her gaze. "Praying?" she inquired.
"Thinking." His deep Drell voice rasped against his throat, projecting lyrical sounds Shepard had never heard before.
"I see." She didn't prod him further. Though she was intrigued by his ethereal voice and wanted him to speak more. "About our mission I imagine. Let me know if you have any questions."
Thane shook his head. "Nothing to question. The collectors must be stopped, that is all I need to know."
His voice cut at the air.
"And you know I am with Cerberus?"
Thane studied the darkening horizon through the window, his green scales catching the falling sun as though he had more claim over its warmth then all of Illium. "I have worked for many contacts, with various backgrounds. Their sins are their own to console. The target is what concerns me."
Samara dipped her head in understanding. "Untamed curiosity can lead one through dangerous paths."
"And so can ignorance." Shepard added.
"That is also true Shepard." Samara did not argue.
The commander turned back to Thane. His eyes hadn't left the window. "You're making debrief incredibly simple for me Assassin. Let me know if you wish me to complicate things."
"Judging by the last mission I assume that is a specialty of yours commander." He added.
"You could say that." She mused.
Garrus cut in. "Shepard is trying to sober you. Teaming up with her is… well it's a hell of a ride." Garrus thumped his talons against his assault rifle and nodded towards the commander.
"I suspected that much from the woman who single handedly defeated the Geth." Thane snuck a grin before quickly uncurling his lips.
"No one mentioned me in that fight? Figures." Garrus shrugged.
"Garrus helped a bit." Shepard cupped her hands over her mouth and whispered at the air.
"Thanks Shepard." Garrus retorted.
"Don't mention it." She scrunched her nose at Garrus before smoothing her sarcasm over with a friendly smile.
The cab was silent again. Shepard counted the cabs that laced between the cerulean skyscrapers as she surveyed the assassin from the corner of her eye. He was built like a human. Aside from his double eyelids and green scales he could pass as one. His throat and jaw line were lined with… were they gills?
Thane turned. Shepard felt his eyes land on her. He studied her with the same curiosity she had viewed him with only moments before. The Commander pretended not to notice, though she was tempted to understand the nature of his probing. He was smiling as though he had discovered something about her. Something she wasn't sure she had discovered herself.
The shuttle landed. Samara and Garrus seemed relieved to exit. Thane followed.
Shepard sighed as she stepped out of the cramped cab.
A cold hand gripped hers. Thane was next to her, his green-scaled hand supporting her own. The commander nearly tripped from shock, but Thane guided her step as her feet searched for the ground.
He offered an apology for his manors. "It is steep Shepard." She took it his action was automatic. His hand was cold and firm, she breathed as he released her.
"Thank you Thane, but I can take care of myself." She wasn't accustomed to chivalry from her own crewmembers. Men tended to be too frightened to stand by her, let alone offer assistance.
He bowed and walked ahead. Shepard smiled to herself. If he had the balls to grab her hand, he had the balls to join her team against the collectors. That was for certain. He was lucky she wasn't in the mood to punch him. If it had been anyone else she would have.
Her hand tingled for the next hour. Like a child pressing their fingers into soft clay, his touch had made a gentle dent in her palm. It wasn't a romantic feeling sliding in Shepard's gut yet, but she could feel this stranger's presence begin to unwrap her emotional barriers. He would soon pull her apart like lace. It was only a matter of time.