As Shepard meandered down the corridor towards the mess hall, she felt the familiar weight of fear creeping up on her. She had been grappling with the thought of taking action and the potential repercussions it could bring. Would it be worth it? Would she be able to handle the fallout? Most importantly, what would it cost her? What price would she exact in her future for the joy of her present? But other parts of her grappled with the thoughts to dismiss them, reasoning that inaction also carried consequences, and she had accrued more than enough positive karma. Besides, she thought, she didn't do half-measures - even if things didn't work out, she couldn't say she didn't try.

Before she reached the mess hall, a comforting aroma reached her – star anise, ginger, and the faintest hint of soy. It reminded her of Earth's Asian cuisines, and for a moment, she was transported away from the ship's metallic confines to bustling night markets of a world long gone.

As she arrived, the galley was alive with the scent. Vibrant green bok choy, mushrooms, carrots, and fat shrimp had been meticulously prepared and waiting to be added to the simmering pots.

Taking a bowl filled with glistening, silken noodles crowned with these toppings and generously ladled with hot broth, she joined Arius at a table. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, and for a while, she allowed herself to be lost in the moment. The sound of the dishes clinking together, the hum of conversation from the crew, and the good food momentarily eclipsed her worries, but the nagging feeling of apprehension refused to go away.

He must have noticed something was off, for he paused, looking at her with a concerned tilt to his head, "Shepard, is something on your mind? I sense some unease."

She put her half-eaten bowl down, the steam still rising from it. "Arius, do you mind if we continue this conversation upstairs? There's something I need to talk to you about."

.

Arius sensed the palpable tension as they made their way silently to Shepard's cabin. He pondered whether the concern was work-related or if a grave incident had occurred, though he reckoned he would've been informed by now. Perhaps it concerned another tragic loss, but he found that unlikely; she would have confided in him earlier.

Settling on the cabin's sofa, Arius watched Shepard closely. It was evident she had something weighing on her mind, and she was mustering the courage to voice it. After a prolonged silence, she finally spoke, "Arius, can we talk about… us? I've been thinking about it a lot lately, and I need to get this off my chest."

Arius felt his stomach knotting itself. The conversation he had indefinitely avoided was now at the forefront. He had been evading this topic, unwilling to risk damaging the bond they had formed, but at the same time, unable to pull away. They worked together seamlessly, and he wanted no disruptions. Nonetheless, some boundaries had been crossed, and they had shared things with each other that perhaps they only shared with those closest to them. This, to him, meant that their current relationship, whatever it was to be considered, was deeply appreciated. It was rare for him to find someone to confide in, rarer to find someone who understood.

"I know there's something between us," Shepard continued, her voice soft but resolute. "And I'm not just talking about our work partnership."

Arius's sighed, expression growing serious. "I know," he said, finally acknowledging his feelings. "I feel it too."

Shepard took a deep breath before continuing. "I've been putting off talking to you about this for a while now, and maybe for the same reasons you have. We're both complicated people, to say the least, and we're in the middle of a war for our survival. Everyone depends on us, and introducing another potential complication seems like a bad idea."

Arius understood her concerns. "I agree. Close military relationships are always tricky."

"Wait, I'm not done." Shepard unexpectedly reached for his hands and squeezed them gently. "Despite my head wanting to keep some semblance of a status quo, my heart has betrayed me. I can't ignore my feelings any longer. You mean a lot to me, Arius. Obviously, the present time isn't the best, but it may never be, and I don't want to regret not taking a chance on us when I have you in front of me now."

Arius closed his eyes, savouring the warmth and pressure of her hands around his. "It's not that I wouldn't want this," he said, his voice barely rumbling above a whisper. "But I'm not sure if I'm the right person for you. I'm not…" he began to plead, wanting to explain all the reasons why a union between them would be difficult, but given their current circumstances, most rang moot. "Don't you want someone… a little closer to home?"

Shepard leaned in closer. "Arius, you are home to me - more than anyone has ever been. You understand me like no one else does, and I trust you with my life. I know you feel the same way. I'm not saying it'll be easy, but I'm willing to take that risk with you."

Arius had once thought that his long life would have hardened him to the affairs of the heart, but he had yet to know it to be true. He took a deep breath to calm the surge of emotions running through him, feeling his beating heart quicken at her words and as he looked into her eyes. "I appreciate that, Eden," he said, his voice soft with emotion. "And I feel the same way about you."

The ambient lighting of the cabin subtly reflected off her face as Shepard gifted him a smile so brilliant that it could have sparked an entire generation of stars. It was one of those rare moments of pure expressive joy in another that one wishes could be captured for posterity, a snapshot of a time when everything seemed perfect and as it should be.

Overwhelmed by his affection for her, Arius leaned in, capturing her lips in a delicate, evocative kiss. Shepard reciprocated eagerly, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him closer. They parted only when their shared breaths grew shallow, and for a brief moment, Arius pressed his forehead against hers, soaking in the serenity of the moment before reluctantly pulling back.

She grinned as she pushed a wayward strand of dark hair away from his face. "I'm glad we talked about this. I feel like a weight has been lifted."

Arius smiled at her, feeling the same sense of relief. "As do I," he said. "Truthfully, you've occupied a place in my heart for some time now, but under no circumstances did I want to ruin what we had. You simply mean too much to me, especially at this point in the war."

"I was thinking the same for a while," she admitted, "but I don't know how much time we have left, and I'm sure as hell not repeating the same mistakes I made in my last life."

Arius chuckled softly. "Even Asari matriarchs might envy your wisdom."

The two sat in companionable silence, reflecting on their shared revelations before Shepard broke the quiet. "Funny, it doesn't feel like anything's changed between us."

"That's because nothing has," Arius replied. "We'll keep working together. You'll keep leading us, and I'll keep supporting you. You'll continue to live in my heart as I do in yours."

Shepard hummed softly. "Well, there is one new thing," she teased, drawing him in for another passionate kiss.

The room's ambient lighting shifted to a soft blue, and the voice of EDI interrupted them, the AI's tone measured and professional. "Commander, we are approaching Rannoch. Estimated time to arrival is thirty minutes. Your presence is requested in the war room."

They parted reluctantly, trying to catch their breath and return to the reality of their situation. Arius brushed his thumb gently against Shepard's cheek. "I suppose duty calls," he said straightening.

Shepard smiled, her eyes still heavy with emotion. "It always does. But I'm glad we had this time, Arius."

They shared one last lingering look before she straightened her posture, her commander's mask slipping back into place. "We need to prepare for landing. Join me in the war room when you're ready."

"Of course, Commander," Arius said, reverting to his formal tone but with a bright shine in his eyes that was new.

"Let's go get the quarians back their homeworld."