V.

The Citadel was bursting with life, and that would never change so long as the Reaper threat was taken care of before it was too late. Coming back to it was tiring, a little nerve-wracking, knowing it was the responsibility of the Alliance fleet to be preparing for the incoming attacks.

Even heroes needed a couple hours off, though.

The Presidium Commons was always the heart of it all, all the different people and species of aliens coexisting, going about their busy days, shopping, eating out, mingling and the like. Kaidan loved relaxing at Apollo's Cafe, a quieter corner of the Commons, sipping on some sort of alcoholic beverage that wouldn't destroy his insides, watching everyone just go about their lives.

It was the most relaxing thing he could ask for on shore leave.

"Major." A smooth, calm voice called out, of whom the owner stood opposite of him on the table. Kaidan flashed a warm, inviting smile in response, stood up, and pulled a chair, offering her a seat. "Dr. T'soni." He greeted, motioning for the young asari to join him.

"Thank you." She smiled, calm and quiet as she sat herself and scooted in. "How are you doing? You look lost in thought." She asked as Kaidan went to sit back down.

"Can't complain. Just trying to relax a little is tough with everyone so... Busy." He mused, swirling the batarian wine in his glass around. Liara smiled in response. "Everyone is awfully busy. I just got back from an intervention with lieutenant Vega, only because Cortez didn't think he'd listen to him. Trying to stop him from gambling away the clothes on his back took a little convincing." Kaidan smiled politely in response; not particularly caring, but enjoying having someone open up to him.

The crew had been distant towards him ever since he joined the Normandy. They probably had heard the stories, maybe from Shepard himself. And they'd probably felt the tension whenever both him and Shepard were in a room together.

"I don't mean to gossip" Liara began, averting her gaze, fidgeting her bright blue fingers together, "but Tali's been worried. About you. Are you and Shepard getting along fine?" She was biting her lower lip. Poor Liara, having to worry about everyone else for other people.

Kaidan shrugged, though, distant look on his face. "I'm okay. Shepard's opening up more and more to me each day, but... Well, you're one of his best friends, you should know how hesitant he's gotten being around me. He's just being cautious, for the most part."

Liara nodded, and placed a hand over Kaidan's, affectionately rubbing it with her thumb. "It was a strain on everyone during your absence, so I've been told, but he is getting better."

"Yeah..."

Pigeons tweeted overhead, a pair of elcor tromped along, talking loudly, droning on to each other. Salarians chattered away at customers in their shops nearby, humans and asari alike all munched on food at the same restaurant the pair sat at. Sipping wine and sharing a table with a cute alien girl. Not bad. It was a nice, quiet little moment, and he was cherishing it. So much that he felt he could finally break the news to the Shadow Broker herself.

"Shepard and I are seeing each other again." Kaidan announced, matter-of-factly, smiling at the table. He felt like a giddy schoolboy, admitting to having his first crush. "I think things are starting to look better for him and I all together. I know a relationship's not a priority at times like these, but with what Shepard and I have been through, it certainly isn't hurting. Plus I'm starting to think he'd be going crazy if I weren't there for him right now. I know we've had our disagreements in the past, maybe a bit more history than a normal, healthy couple should, but..."

"On Omega, you mean. Horizon. Oh, and those e-mails." Liara noted aloud. Right, the Shadow Broker.

"Yeah, all that. I think we've both grown from it. And once the reapers are gone, it's just going to get better. I know he said he never wanted to talk to me again at one point, but after he kept meeting me in the hospital, I think all that dissolved pretty quickly. That's a good sign, right?"

Liara made a noise in agreement. "I'm happy for you two. That tiny bit of optimism and hope is what everyone needs right now. But, as Shepard's friend, I just need to warn you in saying that if you are to hurt him again, you'll be punished accordingly." She quipped, playfully. Before Kaidan could laugh and sound off a 'yes ma'am', salute included, she motioned to the crowds behind him. "Speaking of Shepard."

Kaidan spun around in his chair, watching John Shepard, larger than life, walking about among all the normal citizens, head up, shoulders board, eyes on whatever his target was. He looked so good in his new leather jacket, scars almost completely healed up since Horizon and Omega, red glow in his eyes almost non-existent, unless you stared deep into them after a long, hard day.

He had aged, too, his face looking more worn by the day, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening, his natural, authoritative fire beginning to burn out now at the cusp of the war, the weight of the galaxy bearing down on him. The only time he would see him look younger and happy is when Kaidan was in his cabin, sitting on the bed, helping him organize data files, feeding his fish, or falling asleep in his lap.

"I'll catch up with you later, Liara." Kaidan bid goodbye as he stood up, finishing his drink. She responded with a wave of her hand. "It's great to hear you're both doing well. I'll see you back on the Normandy in a few hours."

And with that, Kaidan was off, pushing through the busy crowds of the Presidium, careful not to bump into a turian, or a vorcha, or something that would slow his journey down, or otherwise assault him if he crashed into them in the flurry of bodies. He had to catch up to Shepard, he had to be with him. Seeing him alone on the Citadel never happened; he was always trying to talk someone out of a debate, or help some individual down on their luck by fixing all their problems before moving onto the next.

Kaidan seized little moments when they weren't busy and held onto them for all he was worth.

He finally came into a clearing, watching Shepard talking with a delighted looking woman at some small, miscellaneous shop. Shepard was smiling, too, talking enthusiastically back, but Kaidan couldn't quite catch what they were saying. The woman disappeared into the back, though, just as Kaidan caught up, standing by Shepard's side.

He looked so damned good.

"Alenko." Shepard greeted him, reaching out a hand that Kaidan immediately laced his fingers through. "What are you up to?" Kaidan asked, looking at the store counter. It was a jewelery shop. Interesting, since Kaidan had never seen him wear any in his life. Shepard shrugged, a mischievous little smirk on his face.

"Just thinking about stuff." Kaidan looked back to Shepard, getting lost in his eyes. Those big blue eyes.

"What kind of stuff?" Kaidan couldn't contain a grin as their foreheads touched. He would never get sick of the butterflies in his stomach, the contact they shared, the gazes they stole.

"Secret." Shepard's nose was bumping Kaidan's, faces so painfully close, lips ghosting each others.

"Tell me." Their mouths were already touching; not kissing, just breathing, almost desperately as Kaidan wanted to devour him there in the marketplace, despite the press undoubtedly watching from somewhere, ready to do a story on 'Shepard's Day Off' or how the first two human Spectres were 'hooking up''.

Shepard wouldn't say a word, though. He captured Kaidan's mouth, their lips pressed tightly together, almost as tight as the grip they had on each other's hand. Shepard moaned, one of his soft, desperate, and happy moans, as he swiped his tongue over Kaidan's lips, begging access.

Kaidan complied once he stopped grinning, letting go of Shepard's hand to wrap his arms around his neck as their kiss deepened, tongues intertwining, as they both sounded off quiet, meaningful groans. Kaidan almost found himself pulling away as Shepard's groin moved up against his, the sudden rush of blood to his nether regions shocking him.

They stayed there, mouths dancing over each other's, hips swaying in unison, Kaidan's hands now comfortably rested upon Shepard's stocky shoulders, Shepard's firmly on Kaidan's hips. Nobody even did a double-take at them. It was like they weren't even there and Kaidan could have melted, right there, content with life as John Shepard kissed him back, loved him even during the Reaper War.

Pure bliss.

They separated after hearing a coughing noise, the girl at the jewelry store holding a tiny box. Kaidan laughed as he saw her face, shaded pink in embarrassment from witnessing their intimacy. "Uhmn, Mr. Shepard." She tried to remain composed, showing off the contents of the box.

Two platinum engagement rings.

"Was this about what you were looking for?" She asked, unable to make eye contact as Shepard slipped a hand into the back pocket of Kaidan's pants. Their heads knocked together, Kaidan wordlessly agreeing with the implication of what Shepard was doing here by nuzzling him with his hair.

"Perfect. Keep them in the back for me, will you?" Shepard asked, turning his head to kiss at Kaidan's brow. His eyes fluttered shut as Shepard's lips dragged down to his eyelids, his nose, his cheek, his mouth once more.

"Perfect." Kaidan muttered before the girl left to the back of the shop once again.

"I know." Shepard smiled much too happily.