When he awakens; she's already gone, he opens his omni tool and pings her but gets no answer.
He grabs a quick shower, dresses in his BDU's and heavy boots and leaves the cabin.
It's still early enough to grab breakfast, so he sits down to eat.
Major Alenko joins him and he makes a joke about the amount of food the man is packing away.
It's usually something he does with Adan but she isn't here right now.
The major immediately begins to defend his appetite when Declan hold up his hands.
"It's a joke, Alenko. I've seen Adan put down two porterhouses with a three loaded baked potatoes, salad and all the other fixings and ask for dessert afterwards. I know you guys need the calories, I'm just trying to break the tension here," he offers.
The major takes a couple of bites of his eggs, his face reads that he's considering his thoughts before he answers.
"I didn't realize there was any tension between us. Anything I can do relieve it?" Alenko asks quietly.
Declan is unsure if what he's hearing beneath the words is there, so he ignores it.
"What I mean Kaidan...do you mind me calling you Kaidan?" He gives the man a wry smile.
The biotic shakes his head, as a ghost of a smile curves his lips and his warm brown eyes never leaves DeClan's.
"I've noticed that you and the crew seem more comfortable talking to Adan," DeClan says giving the man an opening.
While waiting DeClan takes a sip of his coffee before pushing the plate away, the utensils placed neatly in the center.
"Adan, I mean Commander … well, look it's just that the S1 is a more approachable then you. She engages us. I mean..she seems to go out her way to get to know us. She's even got the Spectre to laugh and stop hovering around Joker and I on the bridge."
The major shrugs his shoulders before continuing, "We know it's probably part of her job but she doesn't make it feel like part of her job."
Declan laughs, he really likes hearing that his hard as nails lover is well liked by the crew.
"So you're saying I'm unapproachable?" DeClan finally asks.
Kaiden holds up his hands, "Not at all, but we've noticed that you've taken on most of Anderson's duties, so there's a silent agreement not to bother you, that's all."
Declan laughs, "Got it, by the way, have you seen Adan?"
The biotic nods, "Last I heard she was down in the armory working on some mods. The entire ship is a bit tense about Eden Prime but no one can say why."
Declan nods as he slides his chair back and rises, "Nice talking to you, Kaidan. Let's do it again."
"Yeah, uh sure," the major answers before he resumes eating; watching as the man placed his dishes into the auto cleaner, long strides carries him around the divider.
He finds Adan exactly where Kaidan mentioned, except she's not alone.
The Turian is at her side, their heads bent together over the weapons bench; currently littered with weapons in varying stages of being dismantled and mods.
As he approaches, he hears her speaking, "I don't know who thought bullets were no longer needed but you can give me a .50 cal anytime."
"It's my understanding that bullets are expensive," the Turian's harmonics rumble as he leans over Adan.
"Bullets are expensive but thermal clips overheat, their load is low and despite them being interchangeable they're pieces of shit therefore making our weapons pieces of shit," she counters, quickly assembling the weapon with the new mods and opening her omni-tool to check the specs.
"Besides there is nothing like a round mushrooming and turning the back of your target's head into bloody mist." She laughs as she cradles the sniper rifle before fitting it into the pocket of her shoulder, dropping her eye to the targeting scope.
She scans the room landing on him as he leans against Mako.
"DeClan," she greets him before turning to hand the weapon to the Spectre.
The Turian mimics her movement.
He purrs appreciatively after pulling the trigger and handing the weapon back to her; identifying all the modifications made, "Lighter, reduced the f.p.s., on the trigger, upgraded the scope, increased thermal clip size."
She lifts a brow, "I thought Turian's were supposed to be first class when it came to weapons and mods, Nihlus?"
DeClan watches the interaction.
The Turian has obviously spent a lot time around and with humans because he's picked up some of our quirks, DeClan notes as the Turian's brow plate rises when he looks down on her.
His mandibles flutter, "Your point, Commander?"
She lifts the weapon again, her target is the Turian who laughs when a painting laser appears at his groin then slowly travels up to stop at his forehead.
"Heart rate elevated, increase in respirations, dilation of pupils..." The laser travels back down to his cod piece.
"Hmm, turgid. Why? Nihlus, if I didn't know any better I'd think you were happy to see me," her voice is sugary and rich with a mock southern accent.
She lowers the weapon as DeClan approaches but it doesn't stop the Spectre from speaking his mind.
"I have a weakness for women who can handle weighty weapons. Especially a woman who does so with confidence and competence. You owe me Adan. I; unlike most Turians, am not fond of savoring the last heat sink. Two hours, no longer. You do not want to be my prey," his harmonics are dark with unsaid things.
His eyes never leave hers, "Commander Shepard, It's an honor to finally meet you. I look forward to working with you soon."
DeClan can see exactly why the Turian is attractive to his sister.
He notices a few of the traits he keeps hidden within himself and he wonders, just for a moment, if he'd be able to handle him.
"Commander," the Turian's voice pulls him from his thoughts.
He find himself face to face with the Spectre, bright jade eyes on his as he growls, "I'm sure I can help you work out your tension as well."
The Spectre's gaze drops to his crotch and back up to his eyes before the male leaves him and Adan alone.
"Wow," he laughs.
"I was wondering if the wood in your pants was for me, but," she wipes her hands on a towel before crossing her arms under her breast, "I'm sure it's for the Turian that just left here."
She leans a hip against the work bench, "Should I go and fuck your Navigator?"
He isn't sure what it is he hears in her voice, so he asks, "Is that jealousy I hear or are you being territorial?"
She gives a short jerk of her chin, "No, just realizing that the rules you impose apply to only me."
Her eyes bore into him for several minutes, then she walks away.
"What in the hell are you talking about Daron?" He calls out.
He grins as she's stopped in her tracks at the mention of her first name, her back stiffens and shoulders square before she turns.
"Aiden, this is about," she looks around to see the requisition officer leaning against the bulk head.
"You," she calls, putting the young man's head on a swivel that finally rotates toward her voice, "Yeah. You. Get the hell out of here."
The young man disappears onto the lift before she returns her attention to him.
"Calling me by my first name is not going to get you out of this. The last time we were separated was because of shit. Just. Like. This."
She jabs a finger at him while her legs closes the distance.
"Preston. Flight control. Citadel. Two year relationship. Then you and I started messing around," her voice is tight with anger.
"Our first rule was that we wouldn't fuck with each other's significant others. I left your girl alone, sent her home to you after that bitch climbed into my bed. The second was that our private lives and professional lives were separate. Third, who we dealt with outside of our relationship was off limits to either of us."
Her eyes shade to a hard blue, as her voice drops to a harsh whisper, "You changed the rules when you slept with Preston. One disagreement and you help her over it and me by fucking her and you didn't stop there. No, you kept fucking her and me. I'd be on duty and you'd be in bed with her..."
He is surprised when she dashes away the tears that darken her lashes before she continues.
"Now you want Nihlus too? I was just wondering if I that means the rules no longer apply and I can fuck your little Navigator. I mean really DeClan, if I fuck Alenko, are you going to want a piece of that too?"
Her voice is shaky, as it rises in her anger, "How does this work Aiden? Am I allowed to just fuck you and you can fuck whoever you want or do your rules apply to the both of us?"
He grabs her arms to shake her and realizes that it is a mistake much too late as her biotics tosses him away.
His back hits the wall and he uses every bit of strength not to fall to the floor as he grunts between clenched teeth, "So this is your plan?"
He braces himself, hands going to his knees, "You want to start a fight before we get to Eden Prime, so you can be pissed off and not worry?"
He has no where to go, as her fist descends and then stops so close to his nose that the nail of her thumb scrapes across the bridge.
Biotics crackle when she replies; "This isn't about me DeClan. This is about you not respecting the rules that we put in place and expecting me to do so without question. If you need to fuck Nihlus to have a piece of me, go ahead. But know that if you cross this line a second time, I won't forgive you no matter how much I love or am in love with you."
When she uses a charge to cover the area between him and the lift, he realizes that there is a line he hadn't known existed and that for the second time since they've found each other, she's broken his damn ribs.