Perfect Weapon
A thunder of steps, that had come to remind him of the endless storms of Kahje, sounded along with the whoosh of the doors to Life Support. Also like Kahje was the stream of humid air that followed until the doors were sealed once more.
A crisp, clean smell not unlike fallen rain pervaded his senses. The gentle pull of the drive core was the final addition to the illusion that he would have to break.
"Do you need something?" He'd hoped to be alone with his meditations, back in Irikah's arms with Kolyat's laughter, and he couldn't help the gruffness of his voice. The rest of the crew was enjoying their shore leave on Bekenstein. A beautiful planet, to be sure, but it couldn't compare to the beauty of his memories.
When no reply came, he turned his head and was greeted with Shepard fully dressed and slightly wet. Water droplets clung to the myriad of scars that lined her face, further illuminating the crimson cybernetics beneath her skin. That explained the smell. She seemed much more at ease, out of the dress she'd had to wear, and was running a small hand towel through her ebony hair.
Something about her seemed off. More off than seeing her in formal ware, which had nearly woke him from his battle-sleep in shock. He gestured to her seat.
Several things happened at once. Her hand dropped with the towel to her side, encasing a glint of metal in her jacket which she proceeded to pull forth. His body reacted instantly to the perceived threat, twisting from his seat and around the table. One hand encased hers; the other grasped her waist and spun her around, slamming her against the window. With a twist, he disarmed her, and pressed the gun to the back of her head.
The silence was loud. The drive core, the vents, all the usual sounds a ship alive around them went dark. Even their breath seemed to have stilled, when at last Shepard hissed, "I need you to get your hands off me."
Thane's soul seemed to hear her, and forced the instincts of his body to relent. He stepped back and set the gun, still encased in the towel, a safe distance from each of them.
Shepard turned to face him, cybernetic hellfire glinting and shifting beneath her eyes. The spiderweb of scars that line her face, and the rest of her body, he reminded perfectly from the dress, glowed red hot. She was trembling, not with fear, but indignation. "How dare you," he could almost imagine her whispering. He pushed the memory of his wife away, unnervingly aware of how similar the two seemed at this very moment.
"X-12e Locust, Kassa Fabrications," She said instead, forcing him back into the present. "Gun that killed two Presidents. I gave Kasumi the copy," Thane imagined Kasumi had switched them already, "So I could give you this." The explanation ended. Shepard shook her head almost bemusedly and stared up at the ceiling, as she often did when she had trouble believing the situation.
"Shepard, I-" He started, when she silenced him with a glare.
"Perfect weapon for an assassin," She snapped bitingly, and turned on her heel and left.
He let the sigh escape him when the door to Life Support slid closed. Drifting slowly around the table, he sank back into his seat and spread the towel out to observe the gun it held. It was an elegant piece of weaponry, with an internal floating bed to minimize recoil, auto-targeting, and an antique ivory-handle. He took it apart twice and put it back together twice.
Despite the bitterness of her parting comment, it seemed accurate enough. It was the perfect weapon for an assassin. … The perfect gift for him. He stilled another sigh and stood to add it to his weapon rack.
He blinked, staring at the space she had occupied, and let himself slip back into his memories. Not of years ago, but moments ago.
Inner fire glows through cracks in pale skin. Eyes glint, light of mischief in sunset orbs. Muscles move, map of wrinkles over scars, expression long-forgotten, never used.
Sliding back into his seat as the memory faded away, Thane pressed his palms into his forehead as he realized why she'd looked different when she came in. Arashu forgive him, she'd been smiling.