Mistake
(Unrequited Love)
The conversation is a blur. It makes Dylan feel like he's going to throw up.
"You show up after two years and act like nothing's happened."
That's what it feels like.
"You're with Cerberus, now..."
It's not what it looks like, it's not that simple...
"There were rumors that you were alive...that you were working for the enemy."
It's not that simple, no one else will do anything about the Collectors...
"You've turned your back on everything we stood for!"
A thousand things go through Dylan's head right then. A thousand ways the world just isn't as simple as a good little Marine is supposed to pretend it is so falling in line is easier.
"I know where my loyalties lie. I'm an Alliance soldier, always will be."
It doesn't make Dylan feel better about suffocating to death in space only to wake up a Cerberus agent and not the serviceman he'd expected to be when he'd first shipped off for boot.
He remembers the long days on the SR-1 between systems, he remembers dropping into a chair at the table, head rested on folded arms, staring intently at the man he's two years gone from. He remembers his excuses, lost in thought or unable to relax in the captain's quarters after so long sharing space with other grunts.
Dylan remembers watching Kaidan at his station while "against the regs" and "he doesn't swing that way" drummed in his head constantly. He remembers making the call on Virmire.
"So long, Commander. Good luck."
Watching Staff Commander Alenko leave, Dylan thinks he'd rather be dead again than spend another five minutes on Horizon.