Shepard watched over Isabella, wearing a new suit. Haku had patched him up, and they were now landing in the Citadel, though they couldn't leave the ship until Isabella gained consciousness.

"You know, Mike thinks bringing Isabella aboard was a pretty bad idea." Haku said, wearing jeans and a white shirt. She was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed.

"It was my decisions. I'll bear the consequences." Shepard said.

"You keep trying to be Atlas, Shepard. Trying to hold up the sky." Haku said, walking over to Shepard and running a hand through his hair. "I like the new dying technology. It dyes your hair until you use a machine that removes the dye."

"They didn't have that five years ago, did they?" Shepard asked.

Haku shook her head. "Sometimes I forget I missed five years. Then, something reminds me. Most of the time, you remind me."

Shepard was confused, something that happened rarely.

Haku sat on the side of the bed, looking Shepard at the ground. "Five years ago, you seemed like an untouchable demigod. The only thing that ever reminded anyone that you were mortal was when you were cut open and nearly died."

Haku blushed. "I might've...had a small crush on you."

That didn't help Shepard's confusion until he realized that Haku had gotten feelings for him due to his heroics, much like a living being getting feelings for a fictional character.

"Why?" Shepard asked.

"You were so brave, and you had such kind blue eyes." Haku blushed, holding her head down so her hair hid her eyes. "Your eyes are getting much warmer now, though when I first met you I was surprised. That's why I was staring."

"Hm," Shepard said, finding this reason odd. Haku didn't seem like the kind of woman to be obsessed with famous people. If she was a woman, anyways.

"I still think I like you. More than I used to, now that I know you, actually," Haku said quickly.

Shepard was surprised. His frown changed to a line, his cold eyes softened, and his eyebrows that, though usually pulled together, distanced themselves. Haku lifted her head, showing that tears were in the corners of her eyes, and she put a hand over Shepard's chest, feeling his heartbeat pound against his chest.

Shepard tried calming himself, but couldn't, finding Haku's slowly-approaching face able to increase his heartbeat more than any gunfight.

Haku was breathing uneasily, slowly moving forward. She had several doubts and worries. They were about if Shepard would really want Haku, if Shepard wanted to even date, or how he would receive the kiss.

Then, her lips met his. Haku closed her eyes while Shepard's were open, completely surprised and confused. Shepard hadn't seen any difference between male and female since Miranda left him, any romance whatsoever lost on him, but he still wondered that, if Haku was a man, how should he react? Though Shepard would've killed anyone who had kissed him in the previous years, Haku was a friend, and Shepard was- though gradually -changing.

'Do what you think you should do.' Shepard realized, and placed a hand on Haku's hip and, feeling Haku press her tongue against his lip, he met her halfway.

After nearly a minute of kissing, Haku and Shepard sat back, Haku gasping while Shepard returned to his normal look, though his eyes were now completely kind and warm.

"Well, you're a bit rusty," Haku blushed.

Isabella opened her eyes, and looked at Haku.

"Why are you blushing?" Isabella asked.

Haku shrugged, then said "Did I just answer Isabella's question like she was my Commander?"

"Yes, and for good reason. I'm taking over this-" Isabella saw Shepard, and hid under the covers.

"You won't be taking anything over." Shepard said.

"Why am I alive?" Iabella asked.

"I wasn't going to kill some stupid kid over bad live choices. This is your second choice. And besides, Mike needs a girlfriend." Shepard said.

"Did you just call me by my nickname?" Michael asked, sticking his head through the open door.

"Was that door open this whole time?" Haku asked, surprised.

"No. I said Michael. I don't call others by nicknames." Shepard said, and ripped the covers off of Isabella. "Haku, get her dressed."

"Why me?" Haku asked.

"You're the closest thing we have to a girl." Michael said. "Or are you a girl?"

Everyone looked at Isabella as she giggled.

"What?" Isabella asked. "That was funny."

Michael bowed, smiling like an idiot.