With the last mission a complete failure and Shepard threatening the Illusive Man, her mood was less than ideal to play Poker. Kasumi told everyone they'd do it tomorrow as there was a two-day rest for them all as they travelled to the Earth-like planet 2178 Aeia. Jacob had been sent an odd message just days prior, the father he thought died over ten years ago is still alive, maybe. The ship he crashed on sent an SOS and only Jacob got it, it was odd but Shepard agreed to take him to find his father.

With a full day now passing since the crap of the Collector ship far behind them, Shepard arrived at Kasumi's room. The thief had somehow got her hands on a Poker table, Shepard didn't want to know how she did it. Garrus and Zaeed arrived, they just waited for Thane.

"You ready to lose again, Shep?" Zaeed asked as he sat down and slammed his beer on the table. Shepard chuckled at him, shaking her head.

"No, I have a secret weapon tonight," she replies. On cue Thane walked in, he smiled at everyone and sat down next to Shepard. Zaeed slammed his fist on the table.

"I ain't playing with the damn Drell, that's unfair." Thane looked at Shepard, her smug expression told him she was happy he was here to win for them.

Garrus got the cards out and started to spread them out for everyone. "Come on, Zaeed. Are you really going to put down the challenge? Not all Drell at that good," he explained. Zaeed just sat back with a slump and grumbled under his breath.

"I think having Thane here will be an excellent edition," Kasumi said from under her hood. Thane grabbed his cards and already knew he'd win, he studied the faces of the others around the table. There were mixed reactions, but the sly lift in Zaeed's lip told Thane he had a good hand as well. Shepard looked pissed off with hers, Kasumi was the hardest to figure out, her hood hid most of her face. He decided to study her hands, she was protective of her cards, he knew she must have a somewhat good hand.

"Alright, the Drell can start," Zaeed says as he smirks at Thane. He bows his head and begins the game, knowing it should only take him minutes to win.

Not less than ten minutes later Zaeed had thrown his beer bottle on the floor and slammed his cards on the table. Shepard and Garrus were laughing as Thane took the credits he'd won. "Fucking Drell, I told you, they are too damn good for this fucking game."

Shepard chuckled as she laid her cards down, "I invited him. I needed you and Kasumi to be knocked down a little, we have our new Poker champion," she laughs as she grabs Thane's hand and waves it in the air. He smiles but feels uncomfortable with the loudness and shouting.

"I believe I must still beat Kasumi," he says as he looks at her. His brow ridge narrowed at her, deciding on what move she would make, she called him and he took his turn. Garrus and Shepard had stopped playing as they watched them both.

Kasumi was a better Poker player than Zaeed, but it still wasn't enough for her to beat Thane. She smiled in defeat and took the loss as a challenge to win next time. They all ended up having drinks after that and spreading out throughout the room.

Thane was looking out of the window, counting the stars that were the only company he'd currently enjoyed. The shift in the air next to him told him someone was standing next to him. Shepard had come over with two drinks in her hand. She offered him one, he looked at it and raised part of his brow.

"It's not strong at all, I know drinking isn't your most favourite thing to do." Shepard on the other hand was drinking Asari wine, usually, humans couldn't drink too much without throwing up. But her biotics burned so many calories, she barely noticed the alcohol taking effect.

Thane smelled it before taking a sip, it was wine, a rose of somesort. It was sweet but nice. He carried on taking small sips, looking back out at the stars. "Thank you," he mutters to her. Shepard looks at him, she finds her eyes drifting to him with each moment they spend together.

"I... I," she stumbles badly over her words. Thane looked at her, his eyes sucked her in and forming words became even harder. Garrus and Zaeed had turned casual drinking into a game as they matched each other shot for shot, just Garrus's drink was dextro.

"Is there something on your mind, Commander?" he asks as he moves that bit closer to her. Shepard looked at the floor, her eyes drifting to both their feet. She had one question but wasn't sure if it was appropriate to say.

"I was... When I got your dossier it only had one sentence... Thane Krios, Drell Assassin, approaches with caution." Thane nodded, he had so many different names and accounts around the galaxy, he wasn't sure how sometimes he kept up with them all. "Anyway," Shepard says, pulling him from his thoughts. "There was nothing about your personal life... I wondered... What was your life like before all this?" she asks as she waves her hand in the space between them.

Thane stepped back, he wasn't about to tell Shepard about his past, she'd hate him for it. He looked at her as her face dropped, she'd told him so much about her and even went into great detail about her death. And here he was, not giving even a drop of information about himself.

"I don't think it will be a good idea if I told you about myself, you would not approve," he says as he backs away, putting his glass on the table. Shepard follows him, she looked so upset his stomach tightened at it.

"But... You don't know that, I want to know you properly, Thane," she whispered, not wanting the others in the room to hear. Thane turned to leave like he always did, but she stopped him. Shepard wrapped her hand around his arm, pulling him back. "Don't shut me out," she begged.

Thane looked at her, sighing and pulling his arm free. "This cannot happen," he mutters as he leaves. Shepard stares at the closed door, tears forming in her eyes. Garrus looked over and quickly joined her at her side.

"What's wrong? Where's Thane?" Shepard turned and let a teardrop down her cheek, she didn't care anymore. She trusted Thane so much over the short time they'd known each other and he would constantly shut her out, breaking her each time he did.

"He left, I doubt we will see much of him anymore." She then leaves herself, letting her body sway in sadness. Garrus growled under and stormed out of the room, waiting for Shepard to get in the lift before he hacked Thane's room door and stormed in.

Thane already knew Garrus would come, he was waiting. "Garrus, this is not the best time," he says calmly. The Turian on the other hand wasn't calm, he tried to swing at Thane but it was easily dodged. Thane could smell the alcohol on him.

"I told you not to hurt her," he growled as he grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall. Thane kicked himself free, trying to not use his normal skillset to easily kill the Turian.

"Just stop," he snarled and slumped down in his chair, his usual calm demeanour was now gone. "I had to stop her, she can't let her feelings get in the way of this mission or my short life. I am not good for her."

Garrus stopped being so aggressive and leaned against the wall, he raised his brow plate. "Why? it's not like she hasn't killed people either." Thane slumped his shoulders, his back now aching from the wall he just hit.

"I have a past, one no one other than the Shadow Broker knows of," he explains. Garrus waits for the full explanation and he gets it. Thane tells him everything, all in full detail and it did change his perception of Thane as a person. He let him finish before sighing, he felt as if he'd held his breath the entire time.

"Okay... I get your concern, but you need to tell Shepard yourself." Garrus knew Shepard would be in a bad mood for days to come now and she won't be taking Thane on any missions for some time.

"I know," he replies, leaning into the table. He did feel something for Shepard, but that is what confused him, he'd never been attracted to another species before. His feelings distracted him and brought back emotions he'd long buried with his past. "I will give her some time and explain myself, I owe her that."

Garrus nodded, space was best for them all right now. "Just be careful, after what Kaidan said to her, she'd been on the edge since. You seem to be the only one who could truly calm her down.

Thane knew that name... Kaidan Alenko, Staff Commander of the Normandy SR1. Also helped take down Saren with Shepard. "Was this man something more than just her subordinate?" Thane asked. Garrus chuckled and shook his head.

"No, he tried to form something more but Shepard never liked him like that. He said some... things on Horizon after seeing her coming back from the dead two years later. He broke her with each word and the accusation he threw at her." Garrus was there, he even stood up for Shepard, he wanted to kill Alenko for what he said. "Shepard has forgiven him since then, they spoke and buried the hatched, so to speak. But she never recovered from it."

"I see," Thane says as he looks down at the floor. "I will speak with her soon, thank you, Garrus." The Turian nodded and left the room, Thane had a lot to think about. He knew he wanted something with Shepard, but it was complicated. He took his jacket off, neatly placed it over his chair and sat back down to meditate. Hoping that will help him build the confidence to finally reveal himself to her.

A/N: I know I didn't get into detail about Thane's past, but those who played the game already know and you'll be getting a proper explanation when he finally tells Shepard. until next time :).