A/N: Liked Rising Tide? Check out the sequel, Vae Victis, and follow Jade Shepard's story into ME3! Here's a preview of the story's start, find the link on my profile page! Thanks for reading :)
It was another morning of running with the dawn.
Shepard's feet hit the treadmill hard, her eyes focused on the data screen before her. Her body moved in a familiar sway and gait, breath long and deep to fuel the endurance. The headline was there again – The Disgraced Commander Shepard. They were looking for a weakness to lock their jaw and rip, but the Alliance somehow kept them aloof. Gritting her teeth, she tucked her head down to push harder.
The door on her confined quarters cycled, and Shepard slowed to look.
"Don't let me stop you," James Vega said, and lifted the mugs in hand. "Wasn't sure you'd be up – thought you might like a cup."
"I'm always up by now," Shepard replied, and hopped off the treadmill
"Yeah, I know," Vega replied. He leant back against the door frame as she took her cup and drank down. "Off to save the world today?"
Shepard cast him a glance over the edge of her cup, and licked the bitterness of the black coffee from her lips. She shook her head and set the cup on the counter beside the treadmill, and gained pace. She ignored the monitored extranet feeds and inquiries from the Alliance and press, settling her gaze on the window that overlooked Vancouver Harbour. She ran.
The sweat on her brow was trickling past her ear when Shepard glanced to the other marine. "Enjoying the view?"
With a shrug and an arched brow, Vega nodded. "Yeah, but nothing I ain't seen."
Shepard huffed and shook her head at the routine. Because it was routine. "Don't you have something better to do than watch me?"
"Nope."
"Could always go to the aquarium," Shepard said, half out of breath. "Give you something else wet and glistening to watch."
Vega snorted and drifted across the room, putting his cup down on the edge of the small sink in the sterile suite. "I'm sure the hanar protesting there would just love it."
"They were approved passage? I'm impressed." Shepard looked over the mountains across the harbour. The stark shadows of morning light gave them a haunting depth, contrasting sharply with the peristeel archologies that blocked them. The air streamed with the early morning rush of sky cars.
"Political bull crap," Vega murmured, walking back towards the door. "Besides, I'm not sure I could sneak you out the front door."
"Ah, that's a pity," Shepard replied, losing her breath as she sprinted hard.
"They'll be another guy at the door," Vega interjected, as he looked at his omni-tool. "Been summoned by the tribunal."
"I see," Shepard said without looking at him. He was gone without another word, like always. Useless chatter about anything but themselves, anything but what was really going on. Like always. While she ran on a wheel in her cage.