I saw this OTP questions thing on Tumblr and thought it would make a funny collection of ficlets to make you all giggle. Hope you enjoy 😊
Q1) Who rocks the Ferris Wheel seat and who flips out and begs them to stop?
Kaidan blinked as he watched Shepard sprint headlong through the gates of the park, laughing and glancing back over her shoulder at him with a smile so big it made his heart flip. She dodged between kids holding a balloon in one hand and a parent in the other, making a beeline straight for the biggest rollercoaster in the place. He grinned to himself. Trust her to do that, ever the adrenaline junkie, even in an amusement park.
He hadn't quite gotten used to the jarring difference between her Commander Shepard persona and her Just-Shepard persona. They had snagged a few days of shore leave on Earth while the Normandy was undergoing its periodic top-to-toe structural check, and he had, after much internal debate, gotten up the courage to ask Shepard if she wanted to do something. With him.
He hadn't exactly said it was a date, but despite his desperate attempts to clamp down on the thrill budding in his chest, it was starting to feel very much like one. He had swung by her accommodation on base to pick her up, and then driven them into town, windows down and warm summer air rushing through the gravcar as they sped along the access lane. As the gravcar took off behind them to auto-park, he'd been tugged by the hand toward the gates of the park by a grinning Shepard until she gave up on him and, letting go of him, ran for the brightly colour two storey archway that welcomed them in. She turned her face back to him for a moment, hair swirling in the wind, laughter bubbling out of her as her eyes sparkled with joy and excitement. He'd stood there for half a second, just drinking in the sight of her happy carefree moment that sent a pang of longing through him. He wished he could coax that smile out at his beck and call. It illuminated her face and brightened her eyes, casting away the shadows of stress and anxiety that curved her mouth downward or knitted her brows together so often now. Her hair flashed golden in the sunlight as she giggled, mischief in her eyes before she turned and streaked away from him again to leave him dazed and alone in her wake.
A moment later, he'd snapped back to it, and was pounding the pavement after her as his own laugh burst from his chest.
-
It was late in the evening after dinner and the fireworks that they entered an open air pod on the Ferris Wheel. It was suspended from a single point above their heads and stretched them over the bay as they climbed up and up and up. The car was old fashioned with a steel frame covered with brightly painted wood until about hip height. After this, a kinetic barrier sealed the car up to the canopy without impeding the view.
It wobbled precariously as they entered and Shepard grinned as Kaidan's hand snapped out to find a support on the handrail. He wasn't totally comfortable with heights, and she knew it. And never let him forget it. He swallowed a little, but held on and said nothing as she watched. She had so badly wanted to come up here that he didn't have the heart to refuse her no matter how unsettled it made him. As they were lifted into the air Shepard stood with her nose pressed to the barrier so she could see directly beneath her, eyes roaming over the running, shouting, giggling figures that still filled the park. The car rocked gently in the breeze as they rose still higher. She glanced back at him where he was sitting on a side bench, then in one fluid movement, grabbed his hand and tugged him to his feet. The car rocked on its 360 degree axis, unimpeded by anything aside from the single strut from which it was hanging and Kaidan shuddered. Shepard grinned mischievously.
"How can you sprint headlong into a firefight, go toe to toe with a gang of husks and singlehandedly deal several of Omega's mercs at a time and yet also be afraid of heights of all things?" He swallowed, mouth dry and flicked his gaze towards hers.
"Um…I don't know. It's always been like this since I was a kid. Normally I can tune it out on missions, distract myself with whatever else is going on if we're somewhere high up. But when it's just us, and we're so exposed…" he trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. "I can't help it. It just takes over my brain. Realistically I get that it's silly and whatever but you know, you can reason with irrational fears."
She looked at him quizzically for a moment with her arms folded on her chest.
"Well maybe you just need some practice," she said, eyes beginning to gleam roguishly. "I could help with that you know, it really would be remiss of me as a friend not to help you confront your fears—"
"Shepard, no!" But too late. To Kaidan's dismay Shepard darted toward him, upsetting the balance of the car and rocking it on its axis until Kaidan had to take a few steps to maintain his balance. She laughed at his horrified expression and pale face, watching his eyes widen in discomfort.
"Shepard, really, I don't think—" But she was gone again, appearing on the other side of the car and using her weight to swing the car along with her. Kaidan let out a strangled yelp and closed his eyes, trying desperately to keep his cool as the floor moved beneath him. He was hardly going to impress her by losing it in a stupid Ferris wheel of all things, but he really hated heights. There was only one thing for it, he decided. Waiting for her to begin her next swing he lowered his shoulder at the last minute and caught her around the middle, pinning her against the side of the car and forcing it to rock wildly. He kept her there trapped between his arms, while he breathed deeply as the motion began to slow, and finally stop.
She peeked up at him with an impish smile, all contrition now she'd been caught. Kaidan wanted to be angry her, but as he looked into her light, laughing face he just felt it slip away as if it were never there and he smiled back. Shepard could throw him out of a plane for all he cared, he'd still forgive her.
"Busted." She murmured, the corner of her mouth quirking upward some more.
"Totally." He agreed, holding his body close to hers to keep her there. "One more goof like that and the whole crew will be finding out that you sing show tunes while you make your midnight snack."
Her face blanched and a hand came to her mouth in shock, eyes wide.
"You wouldn't!" It was his turn to grin at her discomfort, and he thoroughly enjoyed the feeling.
"Try me. The best part? I have the footage as well. With audio."
Her hands rose in mock surrender, snaking up around Kaidan's outstretched arms.
"Ok, ok, big guy, you win! No one needs to see or hear that. Ever." Shepard looked thoroughly horrified at the thought. A few more moments of warning, watching her squirm in place, then his arms fell and she grinned back at him.
Kaidan flopped down on the seat to one side while Shepard stood, looking out over the lights winking across the bay and the distant shrieks and laughs of children echoing up from below. The brightly striped cap with little yellow propeller perched slightly askew atop her head and a floppy giraffe on the bench next to her that had been ceremonially named Fred because 'He just looks like a Fred, don't you think?'
She looked too beautiful to be real in that moment, as she was framed by the stars beyond her in the inky black sky. So stunning it took his breath away. He'd known for a long time that his feelings for his commander went a little (or a lot) beyond the superior/subordinate relationship, but Kaidan just couldn't help it. She brought out the best in everyone in exactly the way they needed, a word of encouragement, a challenge, a supportive gesture. Yet it didn't temper her humility or change her personality. It was simply her; uncomplicated, uncompromising, fiercely loyal.
He felt himself rise from his seat to stand nearer her, causing the car to rock a little with his movement. Shepard glanced back toward him and smiled, smaller this time, but infinitely sweeter. As if there were no place she'd rather be than standing there, floating over English bay on a cool Vancouver night. With him.
His hand slipped out of its own accord and brushed her waist with the very tips of his fingers, trailing along her back and settling on her side to pull him toward her. He was hesitant, nervous, unsure if this expression of his deeper feelings for her would be accepted. He held his breath for a few moments, exerting just enough pressure to move her closer if she allowed it. To his relief, she came a step closer and settled against his body to share her delicious warmth. They stood that way for a while, unspeaking, just watching be bay as the wheel reached its zenith. They watched the flags of the nearby moored boats flutter in the wind and the passenger cruisers glide around the bay beneath them. Eventually, she laid her head back against his shoulder, hair brushing his cheek as she murmured in contentment.
Kaidan gently rubbed his thumb across the span of her hip, revelling in the contact that was so frequently impossible on a warship. She felt so warm and solid and incredible against his body, like she was made to be there. She made him feel protective and possessive and as if he never wanted her to leave his side. She sighed a little and nestled her head closer into his neck. It was perfect.