A YEAR LATER;
Kaidan was waiting, rolling his shoulders, trying to not look all too obviously nervous. He wasn't alone standing here on the platform waiting for the shuttle from the Yggdrasil to land. A human girl and an Asari were standing there with him, trying just as hard not to look like they were impatient and careful not to make eye contact. The Asari looked over at Kaidan briefly and smiled. Kaidan smiled back, guessing that she felt every bit as ridiculous as he did. He noted that the two others had things in their hands, presents, flowers. And he had nothing. He should have thought of that! He was quite sure that Shepard would not mind, or even notice. This just made him smile even wider. He had worried, of course he had. That what they had was a spur of the moment thing, and that now that Shepard had his freedom he wouldn't care, and that it would end up in awkwardness and tears. Maybe he had found someone else to fill the loneliness of space? He had talked with Shepard twice while he had served on the Yggdrasil, and both times he had seemed genuinely happy to talk to him, smiling and said that he missed him. So maybe he was just being ridiculous? He pushed his fears away and pocketed his hands, waiting for the shuttle.
The other soldiers were all wound up for shore leave, but Shepard couldn't really join their heated debate of where the best disco was, or who found the better hooker. He just wished that Kaidan would be on the Citadel. It was okay if he wasn't on the landing pad and all, he was a busy man. A budding career in politics ate too many hours of his life, and when he had spoken to Kaidan he had looked tired. Tired but happy and smiling, so they were good, right? Back when he had still been someone's property, he had never doubted Kaidan really. He had had a hard time imagining what freedom would look like. But now the more he fought to be someone who could stand next to Kaidan in his own right, the less he felt like he was good enough for it. What if Kaidan would get in trouble? What if his career would take a blow if someone got the wrong kind of gossip? What if Kaidan's mother was right? That he was nothing but a crude killer, and not a suitable match for her son? "Shepard!" Someone said right next to him, "Shepard to control" - Shepard turned his head and shook off his dark thoughts, looking straight into a pair of amused blue eyes, "So you think he's gonna be there with a big band and VIP tickets to the new Blasto?"
Shepard shook his head, amused. "You're an asshole, Parker,"
"Come on Shep, it's gonna be fine." He grinned and elbowed Shepard. "Maybe he even got a nice hotel room on daddy's dime."
"Do you ever listen to the shit that comes out of your mouth, man?" Shepard laughed softly. Knowing that of course they gave him a hard time about the whole 'generals son' thing, but mostly just in good humour. "So is your new girlfriend gonna be there with your newest five children?"
"I fucking hope not. Maybe she'd run into my wife." Parker grinned.
"Yeah, you wish." Shepard leaned over and looked out the shuttle window. "We're here," he said, thinking back to the first time he had docked the Citadel, Nudrel had been just as fascinated as he had been. He hoped that the Alliance was treating him well in whatever facility they kept him. He didn't have the clearance to track him down, but he had played with the idea, both him and Grunt. Or maybe the war would end, and – and maybe pigs would fly. What he knew was that they were hopefully all better off, and that the Citadel was still breathtaking when you entered.
The shuttle docked and Shepard grabbed his standard issue alliance army bag, just like all the others, and took a deep breath, trying to tell himself he would not be worried if Kaidan wasn't there. He would just call him up and tell him he landed and make an appointment for later. Maybe he could get some drinks with the boys or – Shepard looked up and saw Kaidan standing there, handsome as ever, and Shepard's worried semi-frown turned into a shit-eating grin.
Kaidan was trying to think of something to say, but if he had thought Shepard looked stunning after a shave and some clean clothes, it was nothing compared to how he looked in uniform. "You are..." Kaidan managed to say, "Hi..."
Shepard laughed, laughing all his little ridiculous, insecure fears away, and in two long strides made it to where Kaidan stood and wrapped his arms around him, holding him tight. "Hi." Shepard mumbled back.
Kaidan held on to Shepard's head with a hand on each side. He stared directly into those goddamn intense blue eyes and smiled, "I missed you."
"I was afraid you wouldn't be here," Shepard confessed, smiling and a little embarrassed, resting his hands on Kaidan's hips. "I mean it shouldn't be a biggie, but I guess it was." He blinked, and smiled again. "Maybe I just never had anyone wait for me like this."
"Anyone?" Kaidan raised a brow.
Shepard ignored him, and leaned in to kiss those lips, which he now knew were just as soft as they looked. "So did daddy pay for a hotel room?" he whispered against Kaidan's lips, smiling as he felt Kaidan's lips stretch in a smile against his.
"He did." Kaidan grinned knowingly. "Come on, let's get off these docks, you hungry or something? I passed this place that looked decent on my way here."
"I'm actually famished," Shepard admitted, pleasantly surprised as Kaidan took his hand and guided him through the chaos of people.
Pushing Shepard up against the wall, Kaidan pulled his shirt up to sneak his hands in under the fabric, touching the warm skin.
Shepard held his arms up for Kaidan to pull off his shirt. "This has been a very strange year," he muttered against Kaidan's lips. "Perfectly strange."
Kaidan grinned, as he worked to pull his own shirt off without breaking their kiss. "So will I have to salute you the next time we meet?" he teased, finally tossing his shirt to the floor.
"Would you like that?" Shepard asked, arching a suggestive brow. "You can start now, if you want."
Kaidan laughed, kissing Shepard again. He took his hand and guided him to the bed, sitting him down. "I had other things on my mind, honestly," he admitted and opened his belt, letting his pants drop.
Shepard reached out and pulled Kaidan close, kissing his hipbone. "I see that," he teased, licking a wet trail up Kaidan's hard cock. Shepard didn't hear Kaidan's reply as he wrapped his lips around Kaidan's erection. He had dreamt about this, most of the dreams he had had while in his cell, or alone in his cot on the Yggdrasil had been about Kaidan's cock, that and having the time and freedom to enjoy it. And so he did, using every trick he could think of to reduce Kaidan to a panting mess.
"Stop." Kaidan pushed Shepard gently on the forehead, looking down at his own cock lying flat against Shepard's tongue. "Or don't." Kaidan experimentally moved his hips, watching as Shepard opened his mouth to grant access to the tip of his cock. Kaidan pulled out and did it again. He ran his fingers down Shepard's face, across his lips that were stretched across his erection. He looked Shepard straight in the eyes, seconds before he pushed himself further into the welcoming mouth. And about then Kaidan was almost sure he heard angels singing.
Kaidan reached for the corner of the blanket on the bed, and gently wiped off the mess he had made on Shepard's face. Kissing the corner of Shepard's mouth, he could taste the aftertaste of himself on the skin. "How is that back of yours?"
Shepard looked up at him with his blue eyes slightly unfocused.
"Need a back rub?" Kaidan smiled, kissing Shepard again. Shepard shimmied out of his pants and let himself fall back on the bed. "Turn around," Kaidan grinned. Kaidan sat down between Shepard's thighs, pushing them out so he'd fit there. Starting with one thigh, he worked his way up to the lower spine.
"Oh shit, you are so fucking good at this, you should consider a career change," Shepard sighed blissfully.
"If I had a career, I might," Kaidan grinned. "From politician to concubine." He snickered and leaned over to kiss Shepard's shoulder blade.
"Kaidan?" Shepard whispered with a lazy smile on his lips. "Did you even for a moment think that -"
"Shh," Kaidan put more weight in his backrub, which made Shepard squirm. He leaned down to kiss Shepard's tattooed neck, grinding his pelvis against Shepard's butt suggestively. "We're here now, that's all that matters," he whispered, biting the thin skin gently.
Shepard bit his lip, trying not to rub against the mattress under him.
"Hey, wait a second." Kaidan slid off him and turned to the black sports bag on the floor, beside the bed. He returned with a tube in his hand. "The luxury." He snickered. Kaidan's monitor on the side table let out an insisting beep. "You gotta be shitting me." He sighed. "I have to... uhm... hang on." He leaned over to pick up. "This had better be life or death, Ashley," he said, as the image of the caller flickered to life.
"Not really, no," Ashley smiled. "What are you? Oh... OH!"
"Do you mind?" Kaidan huffed.
"Why are you even picking up the phone?" Ashley asked, shaking her head, amused.
"I thought it was important. It's not like you usually call me," Kaidan argued, amused by the fact that Shepard was curled up and hiding from Ashleys' view behind him.
"Actually yes, I mean it can wait. Till you are, uhm I don't know, like wearing clothes," Ashley said, but when Kaidan didn't move, she just sighed. "All right, James asked me to marry him, and I wanted you to be the first to know."
"Really, that's great!" Kaidan smiled. "But can I call you back?"
"Yeah," Ashley chuckled. "See you, loverboy." - And then she disconnected.
Shepard pressed his face down into Kaidan's neck. "Do you think you can wait for a year or two?" he said softly. "For me, I mean."
"Of course." Kaidan turned to lie down and pull Shepard down on top of him, running a warm hand down Shepard's side. "I waited for you for twenty-five years."
Shepard laughed helplessly. "Kaidan, stop." He pulled back just enough so they could look at each other. "I mean it."
"Can I tell my friends I have an Alliance army boyfriend?" Kaidan smiled sweetly.
Shepard's lips became a fine line of worry. "Sure. If you think that -"
"John Shepard, Alliance serviceman first class, that has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" Kaidan whispered.
"Can I tell people I have a boyfriend on the council?" Shepard grinned, licking a wet trail down Kaidan's jawline.
"I'm just an intern." Kaidan laughed, "But sure."
"Mine," Shepard purred in Kaidan's ear.
"I was yours since the moment you ruined my shirt," Kaidan sighed blissfully, loving that Shepard kissed and nipped his skin randomly.
"Really?" Shepard looked up at Kaidan in all seriousness.
"Really."
