Planning a party felt so unusual; it didn't even seem real. To Kaidan, parties were nothing more than a luxury afforded only by wealthy socialites and politicians looking to curry favour with each other. Even though the party was a small gathering, he still felt a little on edge. It was certainly out of his comfort zone.
Spending time with Kacey, intimately, was worth everything in full. There was something about her that just captivated him; Kacey always had his undivided attention. He had come to realise how mischievous she could be, how her calm and caring nature hid a witty, loving individual full of empathy. All the kisses, cuddles and intercourse tired the pair out, which made the party planning a lot harder than it needed to be.
It was during this intimate time that Kaidan had come to realise how cuddly Kacey could be, something he never thought he'd say about the scarlet-haired commander. While trying to set the apartment up for the party, Kacey seemed keen to stay close to him, something that he didn't mind. Setting up a party to cater to a multitude of different people with different types of alcohol and food kept the pair busy in the kitchen as Glyph floated around, doing what info drones do, or so Kaidan assumed.
"So, any bets on Wrex and Grunt breaking anything?" Kacey smirked.
"Anything? More like everything." Kaidan replied with a small laugh, "You do know there's a chance this place is going to get absolutely trashed, right?"
"Yeah, well that's a chance I'm gonna have to take." Kacey laughed, "Who knows? Maybe everything will stay intact."
"I wouldn't bet on it."
"Probably."
"So, after this party…" Kaidan said, placing bottles on the counter, "What's your plan?"
Kacey thought for a moment, before crossing her arms, "Probably go to the Armax Arena across the way. It looks like it could be fun. Plus there's the arcade too. Might be worth checking out. You?"
"I'm probably going to go and catch up with a few friends." Kaidan replied, "I'll be honest, I'm not sure what to do."
"Yeah, it's hard to think about it, especially after being on duty so long." Kacey replied, her tone a little anxious.
Kaidan didn't press the matter further, curious as he was about Kacey's sudden shift in demeanour. However the brief bit of tension was erased by a knock at the door and Kacey moved from the kitchen to check the door cam.
"Well, that's Joker and EDI here." Kacey called as she headed back towards the kitchen, "So, about that bet…"
…
"You know why Cerberus is gonna lose?" Joker said confidently, "Demographics."
Kaidan choked as Miranda shook her head; the wise-cracking pilot looked at Miranda, EDI, Jacob and Kaidan with a serious look as he continued with his line of reasoning, adding, "You recruit a guy who's twenty and got no life, he'll work his ass off for the cause. But do you see any old people in Cerberus? Any families? No. There's no future in a terrorist group."
"Sounds about right." Kaidan mused.
"And sure, they pay, but you ever bring up vacation time?" Jacob scoffed, "There was a brick wall. So how about you, Joker? How would you turn Cerberus around?"
"Oh here we go." Kaidan mused as Joker's eyes practically lit up at the suggestion.
"I'd make Cerberus popular!" Joker said, "Big propaganda campaign, like I was running for president. Fundraising dinners, shaking hands, kissing babes…"
"I think you mean 'kissing babies'." Miranda pointed out.
"I know what I said." Joker replied, a sly smirk across his face.
"Unfortunately." Kaidan quipped back, knowing all too well what Joker was referring to. Kaidan took another sip from his beer bottle as Jacob laughed and Miranda shook her head with a small smirk on her face.
"You know, I miss the days when Cerberus was just hilariously incompetent." Joker mused as Kacey approached the group, "You know, when you two were in charge."
"Excuse me?" Miranda replied, shooting Joker a sceptical look; Kaidan watched on, noticing Kacey's amused look as EDI tilted her head.
"What specific time period are you referring to, Jeff?" EDI asked.
"'Hey, Commander, this is Cerberus." Joker said in a sarcastic tone, his voice raised an octave, "We were studying some rachni, and they got loose and killed all our guys. Can you take care of that? It's one system over from where we hooked some guy up to the geth…who then got loose and killed all our guys.'"
"They did rack up quite the body count." Kacey mused, "And at least, back then, it was usually their own bodies."
"We knew some cells were bad, but the Alliance and Council weren't doing anything, and we were doing good work." Jacob countered as Kaidan scoffed.
"And crunches." Kasumi said with a sly smirk, appearing in the middle of the group, "Lots of crunches."
"Hey! Not okay, Kasumi!" Kacey chastised as Kasumi vanished under her cloak.
"True. However, Cerberus did successfully revive Shepard from a near-death state." EDI added.
"And after taking down the Collectors, I cut ties with Cerberus, got loose…and started killing all their guys." Kacey added with a smirk.
"For which we thank you." Joker replied.
"Jeff, do you remember that I am also a Cerberus project?" EDI chimed.
"Aw crap." Joker sighed as snickers filled the air.
"Hey, Shepard. Thanks for inviting me." Jacob said as he turned his attention to Kacey, "It's nice to see you like this."
"Trust me, it's harder to get her like this than you think." Kaidan mused as Joker and Miranda snickered.
"You make it sound like I never relax." Kacey replied.
"You rarely do."
"You're one to talk."
"Touche."
"It's weird to see everyone together like this." Joker mused, drinking from his own bottle of beer.
"You think?" Kacey questioned.
"Well, weird but good." Joker explained, "Nice to know it's not always arm-wrestling Reapers with us."
"There's an idea for another day." Kacey replied, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go and make sure everyone's doing okay."
"She is such a mother hen, isn't she?" Miranda laughed once Kacey was out of earshot.
"Honestly, she worries enough for everyone here." Kaidan mused.
"Sounds about right." Joker added.
"So, Major…" Miranda mused slyly, "Mind telling us about the gun incident?"
Kaidan choked, "The what?"
"The time you put a gun in someone's face?" Miranda smirked, "From what I know about you, that doesn't sound like you."
"Wait, you did what?!" Joker howled with laughter, "No…no fucking way! When did that happen?"
"It was years ago." Kaidan replied, slightly embarrassed, "It was after we stopped Sovereign but just before we went out into Terminus Space."
"Oh, now I have to hear this." Joker replied, "Come on, Kaidan."
Kaidan sighed, "I went out drinking with Kacey and Garrus, tried to drink Kacey under the table."
"Well, there's your first mistake." Miranda mused.
"Not the only one." Kaidan replied, "Anyway, we left the bar, heading back towards the Normandy when Conrad shows up and hassles Kacey. So I…"
"So you shoved a gun in his face. Clever." Joker laughed, "That'll prove your manhood."
"Fuck off." Kaidan replied.
…
"James, what are you doing?" Kaidan asked as James wheeled around; he hadn't expected to see the Lieutenant poking around the fireplace, clearly looking for something.
"I'm trying to find the name of this song, it's hot!" James said, "I thought it would be here."
Kaidan raised an eyebrow, "In the fireplace?"
"He's called a meathead for a reason." Jack smirked.
"What is that on the table?" Kaidan asked; Jack picked up the small glass before handing it to Kaidan.
"Vodka and gin." Jack replied.
"Do I want to know?"
"Nope."
"Hey, Kaidan, back me up here." James called from the sofa, "The right music can make a hell of a difference at a party, can't it?"
"Probably." Kaidan replied, sitting down on the sofa, "Honestly? I couldn't tell you."
"See, Esteban?"
"Sure…" Cortez replied, "My parties are always a little hit or miss to be honest."
"Stick with me, bud." James said, nudging Cortez, "I'm a party legend. Back in school, they called me 'Party Vega'."
"That's a little…lame." Cortez choked, holding back laughter.
"I ran with a simple crowd."
"We know." Jack scoffed.
"Piss off." James replied, "So, how are we doing?"
"Ask me after five more of these." Jack smirked as she chugged down a full glass in one gulp.
"As long as you keep control of those biotics of yours." Kaidan warned; Jack simply shrugged her shoulders as she continued to drink.
"So what does happen to a biotic when they're completely borracho?" James asked.
"You can tell him." Jack scoffed as Kaidan shook his head.
"Same as you, but we glow blue when we do it." Kaidan replied
"You're kidding, right?" James asked to which Kaidan shook his head.
"Know any good biotic party tricks?" Cortez asked.
"Maybe, but they're way more impressive if the audience is drunk too."
"Fair enough. Anyway, how are you doing, Kaidan?" Cortez asked.
"I'm about halfway there to feeling better."
"Halfway already? Who knew you were such a cheap date, Major?" Cortez mused.
"Kacey clearly does." James smirked.
"Kacey?" Jack said, looking confused.
"You know? The Commander?" James replied with an equally confused look. Jack scoffed as she put her glass down.
"Her name is Kacey? Are you for real?" Jack laughed.
"Ha ha. Very funny!" Kacey shouted from the upstairs landing, leaning over the railing where Wrex, Grunt, Zaeed and Javik were also standing.
"That is such a girly name!" Jack shouted back.
"Says you, Jennifer!" Kacey shouted back; Kaidan could hear James and Joker howled with laughter as Jack looked up at the balcony, her expression stern.
"I'm so gonna kick your ass!" Jack shouted.
"Gotta catch me first!" Kacey said as she bolted around the corner; Jack made a beeline for the stairs as she stormed off to find the scarlet-haired commander. As Kaidan, James and Cortez continued to drink, Wrex came toward them, almost surprised to see Kaidan sat down on the sofa.
"Are you not going to intervene with that?" Wrex mused as he approached.
"Nah, she'll be fine." Kaidan replied, taking another drink from the table, "If she can take on a krogan, she can take on Jack."
"True."
"Let me just say something while you're both here." Cortez said, "You two don't belong in any cockpit."
"What's his problem?" Wrex asked to which Kaidan shrugged.
"Esteban? Ah, he's just upset cause he thinks a shuttle is a finely tuned instrument that should never be mistreated or used as a battering ram."
"Huh. you should see what we do with them on Tuchanka." Wrex replied.
"No thanks." Cortez replied.
…
The party was growing more lively by the second; the atmosphere was calm, relaxing, lively and full of laughter. It was very reminiscent of a small high school party, something that Kaidan had long since forgotten about; those years were long behind him now.
He was thankful, at least, that Kacey and Jack's scuffle was nothing more than playful banter; probably for the best as having a huge brawl in an enclosed apartment would've been disastrous. It took a few minutes for both Kaidan and Miranda to intervene in the chase around the apartment, with the former Cerberus operative talking Jack into going into the mini bar by the sitting room while Kaidan steered Kacey away to the other side of the room, where Grunt was seen playing bouncer with the front door.
Then there was Garrus and Zaeed; suffice to say, Kaidan wasn't about to get involved in whatever they were doing as they were sneaking around the apartment, only for Kacey to tell them off like a schoolteacher telling off a naughty student. Even as the music picked up, the party still hadn't managed to get out of hand.
Kaidan found himself upstairs, with Liara, Jacob and James, slowly tuning out of the conversation with his thought's gradually going elsewhere. That is, until James' loud voice cut through.
"Absolutely, biotics are impressive." James mused smugly, "I'm not saying they aren't."
"You're just saying that they're not that impressive." Liara countered in an exasperated voice.
"I'm not saying anything!" James protested, "I'm just saying…aw shit."
"No, it's fine. I'm sure no one here is insulted." Liara replied.
"Only a little." Kaidan replied.
"Maybe." Jacob added.
James thought for a moment before replying, trying to find his words, "I'm just saying…what I'm trying to say is…I mean, look at these guns! Biotics can't give you the kind of fine instrument, the peak of physical form that you see before you."
Kaidan looked on unimpressed; he wasn't sure what exactly James' point was. Kaidan, himself, while not as bulked up as James, was still built up as was Jacob. Neither of the two lacked muscles themselves. Which was all the more reason for Kaidan to question James' point.
"Okay, you work for it. I get that." Jacob replied, a smirk on his face. Kaidan tried to hide his own as James replied.
"I mean it, check me out!" James said.
"Is there more to your argument?" Liara slyly asked, unimpressed.
"Come on in closer. Don't be shy." James smirked.
"Heh. Yeah don't be shy." Jacob snickered as he nudged Liara.
"James, is there a point to this?" Kaidan asked. James simply smirked.
"Just saying, physical strength is better than biotics." James replied, "I'm mean, look at all of us."
"You mean the three of us that have biotics and the one that doesn't?" Kaidan replied to which Liara laughed.
"No. I mean, look at Grunt, Zaeed, hell even Kacey." James replied, "She put a hole in the Normandy. With her fist."
"Yeah so?"
"Okay, watch this." James said as he leaned over the railing, "Hey, Kacey!"
"What's going on?" Kacey said as she reached the top of the stairs, "Everybody playing nice?"
"Of course, Kacey." Liara replied, "James was just explaining how physical conditioning trumps biotics."
"Really? You going there, James?" Kacey snickered.
"Come on, Lola! You have to go with me on this one!" James said to which Kacey responded with a sceptical look, "Biotics are strong, unpredictable…all that cooling down."
"Kacey, where did you find this guy?" Jacob scoffed.
"A person can improve their physique. But biotics? They are what they are." James said as he crossed his arms, "And what about our poor friends stuck with flawed implants?"
"James." Kacey said firmly.
"Wait, what?" Kaidan said, finally realising what James had said, "You're not talking about me, are you? I may be an L2, but I worked very hard."
"Okay, okay. Maybe it's not conditioning exactly." James replied, "Maybe it's just the condition of one James Vega. Hey Liara. Check it out. This guy here never has to cool down! In fact, the hotter the better."
"Wait. We're still talking about combat, right?"
Snickers rang out as Kaidan looked even more confused; Kacey walked over to Kaidan, a smirk on her face.
"Hilarious." Jacob remarked.
"Honey, I don't think James meant combat." Kacey said, placing her arm on Kaidan's shoulder before whispering the word 'sex' in his ear, "See what I mean?"
"Yeah and I kinda wish I didn't." Kaidan sighed.
"Just hush and do some sit ups." Kasumi said as she appeared by the railing, her eyes clearly trained on Jacob.
"Kasumi…" Jacob sighed.
"Just looking!" Kasumi teased before vanishing again. Liara sighed loudly, clearly disgusted.
"So, Kacey?" James asked.
"Why are you asking me?" Kacey asked.
"Hey, you're the one who punched a hole in the Normandy." James said, "Plus you kicked Kaidan's ass."
"I also kicked yours if you recall." Kacey added, causing James to go red with embarrassment, "Hey, there's a story I could tell."
"Come on! That proves that physical strength is better."
"Okay, I kind of agree with James." Kacey said, relenting, "Both are good but biotics are a little intangible when there's an example of physical excellence right here."
Kacey gestured towards herself, causing Kaidan and Jacob to snicker and even Liara let out a small laugh. James shook his head, with a smile on his face.
"Wow, did you really just say that?" Kaidan said as Kacey smirked.
"Don't worry Kaidan. Your kind of physical excellence is still my kind of physical excellence." Kacey said before kissing Kaidan on the cheek.
"So when guys were younger, did you ever throw people around for fun?" James asked.
"People?" Liara questioned, shocked.
"You know, people, things, stuff…pets, cars…whatever."
"Of course not!" Liara insisted.
"Oh yeah." Jacob nodded.
"As a kid? All the time." Kaidan added.
"Really? I'd like to hear about that." Kacey smirked.
"Maybe later." Kaidan said as Liara and James began to argue, "So, need me to do anything? Food run, change the music, check on ice?"
"Kaidan, I need you to relax and have a good time." Kacey smiled.
"Okay you're the boss. Except when you're not." Kaidan smirked, "In that case…find me later."
"You know it." Kacey laughed.
…
Kaidan liked to think he had a lot of self control, particularly when it came to alcohol. Nobody could drink Kacey under the table, but damn if many in the apartment were trying to. Kaidan knew to stop the moment James tried to goad him, Liara, Jacob and Miranda into lifting him up and over the railing, something that would likely end with an injury for the bulky marine. Kaidan made his way downstairs towards the kitchen for a glass of water to sober up a bit while Liara and James' arguing got more intense. Everyone was dancing wildly around the apartment, while Kacey walked into the kitchen, her hand across her face, exhausted.
"You okay?" Kaidan asked, having a feeling he knew what the answer was.
"Who knew socialising would be so tiring?" Kacey replied, "And everyone is tipsy, very close to being drunk so everyone's going nuts."
"Except you." Kaidan replied, "Have you anything to drink tonight?"
"I did, not that it would matter." Kacey sighed, "Alcohol doesn't work on me the way it does you. Hell, I've never been drunk and I've certainly drank more than everyone else here."
"So there's no way you could get drunk?"
"Not without drinking an ocean's worth, probably." Kacey replied, "That…thing makes it hard for it to stay in my system."
"Sounds to me like we need to do something to calm everyone down." Kaidan said, taking a sip of water.
"I might have an idea." Kacey said, "You know where I could find an empty bottle?"
"You're not suggesting spin the bottle are you?" Kaidan asked to which Kacey shook her head.
"I was going to suggest either Truth or Dare or we could play a round of twenty questions."
"Twenty questions might be better to calm everyone down." Kaidan replied, "You don't want someone daring Wrex or Grunt to wrestle."
"Bet that would be Joker." Kacey replied as Kaidan handed her an empty bottle.
The hardest part was getting everyone down to play the game; Liara and James couldn't see eye to eye and confusion over what exactly the game was made things difficult. However, Kacey made things clear with an explanation and soon the game was underway, with everyone fully immersed in the game.
"That is a load of bullshit." Jack quipped as Joker chugged back another bottle of beer.
"It's true!" Joker protested, "I managed to outfly a volcanic explosion, just ask Kacey and Kaidan."
"Why us?" Kaidan asked.
"You were there! It was Kacey's fault!"
"Fuck off!" Kacey quipped, "Just spin the bottle."
Joker leaned forward and spun the bottle fast; as it slowed down it avoided Samara and Kasumi and went past Traynor and James before eventually settling on Kacey.
"Fuck." Kacey sighed.
Joker snickered, "Perfect! So, Kacey…"
"Spit it out, Joker." Kacey said, unamused.
"Okay, so…" Joker said, a sly smirk plastered across his face, "Who is your favourite person here? And you can't say Kaidan and Garrus because that's not fair."
"Well shit, there goes my answer!" Kacey said, much to the group's amusement, "Uh, eeny, meny, miny, Tali."
"Yes!" Tali squealed as Joker sighed.
"Really, Kacey?" Miranda said.
"I don't have favourites, despite what Joker thinks." Kacey replied.
"Oh bullshit!" Joker shouted, "Kaidan is your favourite!"
"Well I'm her boyfriend so I'd like to think so." Kaidan said as Kacey snickered.
With the discussion settled, Kacey spun the bottle around, with it landing on Garrus. It was Kacey's turn to smirk as the turian sat uncomfortably on the chair.
"So, Garrus, when can we expect you and Tali to make it official?" Kacey asked as both Kaidan and James choked.
"You are not going to drop this, are you?" Garrus asked.
"No, not when its so obvious." Kacey replied.
"I don't know. Tali?"
"I'm open to it." Tali replied.
"Happy, Kacey?" Garrus asked.
"Yeah." Kacey nodded.
Garrus spun the bottle, with it landing squarely on Jacob; followed with a question about a childhood mishap. Once Jacob spun the bottle, it landed on James, with a striking question.
"So, James. How did Kacey kick your ass?" Jacob smirked as Joker howled with laughter.
"Look I just walked in and she came out of nowhere and floored me." James replied, "I don't know what the hell was going on."
"Basically, she got the jump on you." Zaeed snickered, "Why's that?"
"Ask her."
"I'm not saying shit unless that bottle is pointing at me." Kacey replied.
"James; spin that bottle!" Jack shouted as James spun the bottle fast; unfortunately hopes were dashed in the moment as the bottle missed Kacey and landed on Kaidan.
"I'll take it." James said, clapping his hands together, "So Major, what convinced you to break regs?"
"Excuse me?" Kaidan questioned.
"You know, you and Kacey?"
"We're back to this again?" Kacey sighed.
"Maybe it had something to do with the fact we were on a trip to Ilos and were about to take on a Reaper." Kaidan replied, "That tends to put things into perspective."
Kaidan spun the bottle with it landing on Samara; while he initially struggled to find a question, Samara was at least patient enough to wait and her answer to a simple favourite question was humbling enough. The bottle then moved to Kasumi, who dodged the question before the bottle turned to EDI, who answered with a detailed response before the bottle finally landed on Kacey.
"Time to spill, Kacey!" Joker laughed.
"Fine." Kacey asked, "In my defence, I thought James was Cerberus."
Confused looks were painted on everyone's face as they looked at Kacey, unsure on how to react. It seemed that even Miranda and Jacob were confused.
"Why would you think that?" Kaidan asked.
Kacey sighed, "A bit before James arrived, I was attacked by Cerberus operatives. They disguised themselves as Alliance guards to the apartment. Unfortunately for them, I don't need a gun to kick someone's ass."
"How'd you manage that?" Garrus asked.
"I …broke a lot of dinner plates." Kacey replied, "Not my fault the wet plate slipped out of my hands and conveniently landed in the guy's face. James was replacing the previous guards, and since I didn't know you, I decided to be cautious."
"So you pinned me up against the wall out of caution?" James replied with a sceptical tone.
"Yeah, basically." Kacey said before spinning the bottle.
…
"So, Kaidan." Joker smirked, "I've never had the nerve to ask…the hair, man? Is that product or are you just naturally that, uh…whatever that is?"
"Actually, it's because of static electricity." Kaidan replied, "Biotics build up charge the same way a ship does during FTL. the L3 implants minimise the effect, but with L2s, it can be pretty painful."
"Wow. I was just screwing with you. Now I'm that asshole." Joker sulked.
Kaidan spun the bottle, with it landing on Cortez, "So, Steve…you think Joker is an asshole?"
"Yeah pretty much." Cortez laughed, before spinning the bottle again, with it pointing at Garrus.
"Garrus, if you could stop the Reapers with anything, anything at all, what would it be?" Cortez asked.
"I'll just record Kacey dancing and send it to them." Garrus smirked, "They'll either run away, melt down, or fall in love."
"Fuck off, Garrus!" Kacey said, burying her face in a cushion, her face flushed red with embarrassment.
Garrus spun the bottle again, as Kacey continued to hide behind the cushion. As the bottle came to a stop at Kacey, the turian had a more grim look on his face.
"Okay, so this might bring the mood down a little bit." Garrus said, "Kacey, I just wanted to ask…"
"Ask?" Kacey questioned with a sceptical look. Even Kaidan was curious about what the turian wanted to ask that warranted such a grim expression.
"Back at the Archives…what the clone said about you." Garrus said, sounding more hesitant with each word, "What was that about?"
"Wow Garrus, way to kill the mood." Joker scoffed.
"But you all still want to know, yes?" Kacey asked; while Garrus, James, Liara, EDI, Tali, Javik, Joker, Wrex and Cortez nodded, the rest looked confused, meanwhile Kaidan was unsure of how Kacey would respond.
"What is this about?" Miranda asked.
"Well, I might want to watch what I say, considering there's a Justicar here." Kacey said.
"It would be better to confess, than to continue hiding the truth." Samara said calmly, "Anything you say here, will be kept in confidence."
"So, spill." Jack added.
Kacey sighed, "So the clone mentioned that I used to be…pretty violent. No hesitation, no mercy kind of thing. Keyword: used to be. Back when I started, I only really cared about the results; as long as I got the job done, nothing else mattered."
"Not even civilians?" Zaeed asked.
Kacey shook her head, standing up and making her way to the kitchen, "Collateral damage. If they didn't want to get hurt, they shouldn't have gotten involved."
"That doesn't sound like you…at all." Joker said, surprised, "You're the one Hackett calls up when hostages are involved."
"And your behaviour at the refinery wasn't that." Zaeed added, "What changed?"
Kaidan watched as Kacey's expression grew grim, "I got caught between a rock and a hard place…I had to make a decision and it all went wrong. I learned a very hard lesson that day and I came to the conclusion that ruthless efficiency like that…its not worth it. Honestly, it does more damage than good."
"Wow, I didn't expect that." Tali mused.
"What happened?" James asked.
"I don't want to talk about it." Kacey replied, "Suffice to say, if anyone here is pissed that I rained on your violent parade, I have my reasons and if you don't like it, I'll kick your ass. And that includes you two, Wrex and Grunt. I'll floor you both."
"Well, that's you told." Joker snickered.
"I'd like to see you try!" Grunt laughed.
"Real tempting." Wrex snickered.
"You didn't seem surprised by it, Kaidan." Garrus added.
"I'm not." Kaidan replied, "Nobody that can shoot a bullet through a mail-like slot and get a perfect headshot learns that on a whim."
"True." Kacey added, "See that? That's called being observant."
"So, how about we lighten the mood?" James said as he made his way towards Glyph, "Let's get some music on!"
Loud upbeat music began to play as everyone spread themselves out and began to dance. All aside from Kacey, who didn't look so keen. Kaidan headed over to the kitchen, worried about the scarlet haired commander.
"You okay?" Kaidan asked.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Kacey replied, "Just not so keen on dancing."
"Cause you're bad at it?"
"Maybe."
"Come on, it'll be fine." Kaidan said, taking her hand, "It's a party, no one is going to care."
"No one except my ego and pride maybe." Kacey replied, following Kaidan out of the kitchen.
"Just humour me." Kaidan said.
"Fine." Kacey relented.
Kacey couldn't hide her nervous smile as Kaidan twirled Kacey around to the beat of the music. While initially hesitant, Kacey did seem to slowly grow more confident as Kaidan encouraged her more.
"Hah, go for it!" Tali shouted as the music picked up.
"Captain on deck!" Cortez added as Kacey turned bright red.
"Has she always been like this?" Traynor asked.
"Kacey is saving the galaxy, you have to forgive a few…eccentricities." Tali explained.
"Oh my God." Kacey said absolutely flustered. She leaned her head against Kaidan's shoulder, who couldn't help but laugh a little as Kacey laughed nervously.
"Well, I like it, Commander." Cortez said in a reassuring voice, "It's good to see you cut loose every now and then!"
"I appreciate it, Steve." Kacey mused.
…
"So that's everyone absolutely wasted." Kacey said as she looked over the railing.
"Good thing you got that picture done before everyone got rowdy." Kaidan laughed, "This was a good idea."
"Yeah, I'm glad we did it." Kacey replied, "I'll be honest, I wasn't sure how this would go, but I'm happy all the same."
"Yeah, although I get the sense someone isn't as happy." Kaidan said as he looked over to the sofas, where EDI and Joker were chatting, "Not drinking, Joker? Can't handle anymore?"
"Yeah, I'm afraid I might get tanked and then pull on gun on Kacey to protect Udina!" Joker shouted back drunkenly, walking towards the railing, "Wait, hang on you did that sober!"
"Alright, that's it!" Kacey snickered as she vaulted over the railing and landed next to Joker. Joker, surprised by Kacey's sudden appearance, began to hobble away, shouting for EDI as Kacey chased Joker. As Kaidan watched on, with the room full of laughter, he had never felt more at home.