Ok, finally got around to writing again (I'm embarrassed to say it's not that big of an update)
I just had a little burst of inspiration and this is what resulted.
Enjoy! Any comments/advice welcome!
Shepard chuckled as the gun pressed harder against his head.
"He's got quite the temper." He said with a grin, not seeming to care about the seriousness of the situation.
"What's going on here?! Why do you look like me?" the clone demanded.
"Why do YOU look like ME, you mean." Shepard said calmly.
The clone looked about ready to explode.
"Commander, I don't think it's wise to carry on in this way."
"You were always a bit of a spoil sport, Kaidan." The commander said with a sigh.
Shepard tried slowly to get up but the clone was stronger than he was he noted with slight surprise. The clone did not say a word. He only glared intently at the commander. Shepard looked over at Kaidan.
"Would you mind?"
Kaidan frowned before walking over. He moved slowly, not wanting to appear as a threat towards the clone. He was afraid what might happen if he was startled. He steadily reached out and placed his hand on the clone's shoulder. Purple eyes met his.
"Shepard... you're a... a clone." Kaidan said softly as he looked deep into those confused eyes.
The fire in the clone's eyes faltered, replaced by shock. He briefly looked back down at the man who wore his face before slowly stumbling to his feet, dropping the gun. Shepard huffed as he stood, rubbing his left shoulder to try and alleviate some of the pain that had been caused by his hard impact to the ground.
"How can I be a clone?" 'Shepard' asked as he looked back at Kaidan. "I'm Commander Jonathan Shepard. Always have been." The pain and confusion in his voice made Kaidan ache.
Kaidan sighed softly.
"We found you in an abandoned Cerberus research station. You're part of what they called Project Gemini."
The clone looked away. Kaidan could see he was struggling with this news.
"Why would Cerberus want to create a clone?"
"We think it was one of their back-up plans." Shepard said from where he stood.
"For what?"
"For bringing me back."
"From where?"
"Are you really that dense?" The commander snorted.
Kaidan turned to glare at him.
"Are you just about done, commander?"
The authority in Kaidan's voice made the commander's attitude disappear. For a moment he looked a bit sheepish.
"This could have gone completely different if you hadn't decided to be such a dick. A while ago you were in a similar situation, or did you forget? From what I hear, you weren't so chuffed at what had happened either, but instead of trying to help him," Kaidan said pointing at the clone, "you act like a dipshit just to show that your gun is bigger than his."
Shepard, who was looking like a kid being yelled at right up until Kaidan made the 'gun' comment, smirked.
"So, you think my 'gun' is bigger that his?"
Kaidan gave him a blank look.
"Really, commander?"
Shepard chuckled.
"Ok fine, I'll admit that that might have been a dick move. But when I walked in and saw you two-" he trailed of suddenly, as if he realised he had said that out loud. Kaidan raised his eyebrow at this and felt his heart beat a bit faster. Was Shepard jealous? Before he could ask, EDI's voice rang out over the comm-system.
"Commander?"
Both Shepard and the clone looked up.
"Yes EDI?"
"Commander, Liara and I have been talking and we want to make a suggestion."
"Um, sure."
"After thorough analysis we have determined that the clone-" she stopped suddenly as if she had said the wrong thing. Kaidan smiled at this human reaction. EDI was becoming more 'alive' by the day.
"Forgive me, I did not mean to sound insensitive."
It took the clone a few moments to realise that she was talking to him.
"... it's ok um EDI? That's what I am, I guess..." the clone said blankly.
EDI remained silent for a moment before continuing.
"We have concluded that project Gemini was not fully completed, the fact that he only has memories up until the accident further proves this. We can thus assume that further tampering with his mind did not take place. He does not seem to be a Cerberus agent then."
"Your point, EDI?"
"Her point," Liara interrupted , "is that with two Shepards on board we have double the shot at winning."
"Liara, are you-"
"You saw what he did to those scientists. His biotic powers are extraordinary." Liara said, appealing to the side of the commander that couldn't resist turning away a powerful ally.
Shepard paused.
"You have a point there..."
"If anything, you could send him on the missions you don't feel like doing." Joker added to the conversation.
The clone looked slightly flustered, but smiled at the sound of Jokers voice.
"Glad you're still here, Joker." He said, forgetting for a moment that he was the clone.
"Where else would I be, Comman- Um I mean, Jonathan. Why Jonathan? I thought your name was just 'John'."
"It's always been Jonathan." The clone said confused.
"But my name has always been John." Shepard added.
"Hmmm." Joker mused over the comm line. "At least now there won't be an issue on how to distinguish you two."
Kaidan glared at the comm speaker.
Shepard sighed.
"Fine, he stays... for now."
Kaidan smiled at Jonathan. The man gave him a small smile in return.
"We don't know what the Illusive Man might be up to. I want him under constant surveillance. He is never to be left alone."
"I'll stay with him." Kaidan said a little too quickly.
The commander flashed him another look that added to the 'jealousy theory' while Jonathan gave him a warm smile.
"Very well. He's your problem from now on then." Shepard said sharply before turning towards the door.
Kaidan walked o
ver to where the clone, no he corrected himself, to where Jonathan sat. He helped the man lay back down on the small bed.
"You should get some rest. You're still a bit drained." He said softly before turning to fetch a glass of water.
"Kaidan?"
"Yep?"
"Thank you, for staying with me."
Kaidan gave him another wide smile.
"Where else would I be?"
John stood outside the med bay, leaning against the wall. Inside he could hear the two men laughing. He scowled at the sound of his own voice coming from inside. Kaidan was too trusting he decided. He just saw a confused lonely man, who coincidentally had the same face as the man he confessed to having feelings for, and didn't see past that and the potential for danger.
Another laugh came from inside. John clenched his fists.
No... That wasn't the real reason he was angry.
He sighed, looked sadly at the door before walking away, the sound of laughter ringing in his ears.
Jealous Shep is quite... sexy... I must admit.
Anyway.
Ok, so I liked all the name suggestions you guys gave me but I didn't quite know how to bring in such a huge name change. 'Jonathan' was quite close to 'John' so that's what i settled on. Also 'Panda' suggested that I bring in some inconsistencies between the two Shepard's back stories (as in the whole 'spacer, colonist, earthborn/warhero, ruthless, sole-survivor' thing.) which I would really like to bring in.
Thanks for all the reviews and follows and favorites and likes and loves and whatever ;P I really appreciate the support!
Please feel free to make any suggestions, I'm open for ideas!
Stay tuned!