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scripts4dreamers · 6 days ago

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Just a headache

AN: I am officially Back on my Bullshit, writing for characters from a video game that came out in 2007 but, in my defence, I only discovered them like two months ago. Furthermore, I will never understand the Kaidan Alenko hate, I heard that man say "I'm 32 years old, Shepard. You don't live this long without coming to terms with yourself" and SWOONED. We love a man who doesn't need fixing! Characters: Kaidan Alenko, fem!Shepard Warnings: None Spoilers: None

The first time it happened it was so innocuous that Shepard barely noticed. She called for Kaidan to meet her in the cargo hold and instead got Joker in her ear.

“No can do, boss. Alenko’s a no-go. Gotta pick someone else.”

Oh well, it happens. She shrugged it off and hooked Liara into a quick Mako ride instead.

The second time it happened she was actually looking for him. Nothing serious was going on and she’d wanted his opinion on some readings they’d picked up coming from the Argos Rho cluster.

“Lieutenant,” she’d started, staring intently down at her datapad, “can you take a look at these for me? I think I-Lieutenant?”

There was an empty spot where the lieutenant usually stood. She had, in fact, been talking to air. Okay, a little embarrassing, but where was Kaidan? He was always there, like always. She knew he wasn’t on the bridge, she’d just come from there. They were in space, so he couldn’t have gone for a walk. He said the cargo hold made him feel claustrophobic, so he wouldn’t be down there. Maybe the engineering bay? She felt strangely off kilter not knowing where Kaidan Alenko was. He was something of a constant for her, a little piece of stability in her incredibly chaotic world. With him missing…

“Everything alright, Commander?” he asked, appearing at her right shoulder and making her jump.

“Lieutenant,” she said, with a little screech. Kaidan chuckled and she flushed, continuing, “I was just-I was looking for you and you weren’t here.”

Did Kaidan look…guilty? He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and avoided her gaze. Now that she thought about it, something was definitely off with Kaidan. His skin was slightly sallow and he was holding his body with a kind of forced stiffness. When he moved there was the slightest edge of gingerness to it, like he was afraid of something. They were subtle things, expertly hidden, but Shepard had spent too much time on the field with Kaidan to not notice. He was definitely hiding something.

“I’m here now, Commander,” he replied with a tight, but sincere smile, “can I help you with something?”

She opened her mouth to question him, but something kept her quiet. Kaidan had never pushed her, never forced her to be more open than she was ready to be. Maybe it was time she gave him that same respect. Still, if she did a little research when she was alone in her cabin that night, who would know?

The third time…well, the third time it happened, everything clicked. They had just cleared out a base on Luna whose VI had gone rogue. It had been more tedious than actually challenging, but the constant buzz of the drones, the hum of the kinetic barriers and the harsh glare of the grenades Ashley had been launching had left Shepard feeling irritable and overstimulated. Ashley was uncharacteristically quiet as they clambered back into the Mako, which was the only clue as to how tired she was as she stared listlessly out the window at Earth. However, it was Kaidan who was drawing her attention. He looked wrecked. She could see him clenching his jaw and then forcing himself to relax it. His hands were balled into fists where they were resting on his thighs and he winced subtly whenever he opened his eyes. She forced herself to drive slowly, trying to minimize the jolting as much as she possibly could and earning a few well meaning jabs from Williams as they made their way back to the Normandy. She took them on the chin and kept her mouth shut, her eyes flicking over to Kaidan in the rear view mirror, deeply concerned.

As they drove the Mako up into the Normandy’s open cargo hold and stepped out into the decontamination zone, Shepard felt herself cursing the number of bright lights. Had spaceships always been so shiny and loud? Did it always need to jolt like that? Kaidan looked like he was about to fall over. As subtly as she could, Shepard moved so she was standing in front of him and blocking him from view. Kaidan let out a small sound of relief that made her heart pinch as he used her cover to shield himself from the worst of the glare.

“Migraine?” Shepard asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper as they waited to be decontaminated.

“Not yet,” he answered, “but it’s coming.”

“Should I get Dr Chakwas for you?”

“No, no I have meds in my cabin.”

Shepard nodded, looking forward to avoid drawing attention, “Seems like this is happening more often these days.”

Kaidan was quiet for a long moment, “I didn’t think-I was hoping you hadn’t noticed.”

“Kaidan,” she started gently, “I want to know when you’re struggling. I want to-”

The automated voice chirped that they were now free to proceed into the ship and, like an arrow fired from a bow, Kaidan shot past her into the elevator, gave her an apologetic look and vanished up into the main body of the ship. Shepard let out a breath and forced herself not to bolt after him. It was becoming a problem, this need to know that he was alright, this compulsion to check on him, to keep him safe. He was a grown man, she reminded herself, a capable man and he wouldn’t appreciate her fussing over him.

And yet…

When over a day had passed with no sign of Kaidan, when he didn’t show up for breakfast, lunch, dinner and then breakfast again, Shepard made her way down to the crew quarters. It was unusual for a lieutenant to have a room to themselves on a ship like the Normandy, but Dr Chakwas had pulled some strings. She had only been inside it once, on the first day of her first tour on the Normandy. The day she’d met Kaidan.

Slowly, she raised her hand and knocked.

—

Kaidan felt like his skull was going to split open, like someone was sending shockwaves directly from his brain into his cranium in an attempt to break him. His stomach roiled with nausea, but there was nothing left in his body to throw up. The strength of the migraine had surprised him. It hadn’t been this bad since he was a child, since those brutal days at Brain Camp when the instructors had pushed them past their limits just to see how quickly they could recover. Somehow, the pain was even worse than he remembered.

He couldn’t say for sure how much time had passed since the attack had started, but he knew that it had been too long. He knew his absence would have been noticed and his heart pinched at the thought of Shepard and his friends talking about him in hushed tones, wondering about his capability, throwing doubt on his fitness for duty and sighing with disappointment as they took on his jobs. A little part of him fought back on that narrative, reminding him that these were his friends and they were more likely to be concerned than disappointed, but he was too strung out on pain and exhaustion to be reasonable.

As a way to distract himself, Kaidan thought back to his last proper conversation with Shepard. It hadn’t been anything special, just trading ideas on what they were most excited to do when they next got shore leave. Shepard had said that the first thing she was going to do was find a cafe and order herself a proper cappuccino and Kaidan, with a confidence that was rare for him, and quipped back that if she came with him to Vancouver he knew a place that would blow her mind.

“Better than sex,” he’d promised, immediately realising that he’d never actually said the word ‘sex’ around the commander before and cursing himself for his lack of formality, “swear to god.”

She had just laughed in response and the sound was so intoxicating that Kaidan suddenly didn’t care about propriety, “Better than good sex or bad sex? Because that matters.”

He had made a big show of thinking it over when, in reality, he had been trying to keep himself from flushing. Shepard and sex were thoughts he usually fought very hard to keep separated, now that he had brought them together they were getting all tangled up and sweaty in ways that-

“Better than good sex,” he had said, proud of how normal his voice sounded, “but worse than great sex. I don’t want to give you false hope, Shepard.”

She’d chuckled, patting him on the back as she started making her way back to the bridge, “I’ll hold you to that, Alenko. You, me, mind blowing coffee in Vancouver.”

“It’s a date.” he’d said without thinking.

Shepard had almost stumbled. Almost. It had been small, just the briefest stutter in her usually fluid movements, but Kaidan had caught it and it made something flare in the pit of his chest. She hadn’t done anything but give him a shy smile but, as he had watched her walk away, he had felt something in their dynamic shift.

That had been what, two weeks ago now? It was hard to tell, but he thought about it almost every day. That shy smile, the briefest touch of her hand on his back, they kept him going. He knew it was inappropriate. He knew there were a million regulations forbidding him from ever-forbidding them from ever-

But God, nothing quite distracted him from the pounding in his head like fantasizing about Shepard, so he let himself dream. He let himself imagine holding her face, twisting a lock of hair around his fingers, bringing her home to meet his parents and kissing her on their patio. He imagined being happy with her, living a simple life where they would both be safe and comfortable. It was a pretty dream made even prettier by how impossible it was, but he felt just sorry enough for himself that it didn’t matter.

The soft knock drew him from his imaginings. Probably Dr Chakwas coming to check on him and give him a scolding for not coming to her immediately.

“Come in,” he said weakly, his voice horse from lack of use, “door’s open.”

In the pitch darkness of his small, spartan room it took him longer than it should have to realise his guest was not, in fact Dr Chakwas. It was only when she’d gotten nearly to the bed that Kaidan could make out Shepard’s familiar form.

“Commander,” he said, scrambling to his feet as quickly as he could and gritting his teeth as his head responded with vicious throbbing, “I’m sorry, I didn’t-”

The movement was too much. His stomach revolted against him, white lights flashed before his eyes and, for a mortifying moment, he was convinced that he was going to pass out right there in front of her. Only years of experience working through the pain kept him upright and he fumbled for a lightswitch.

“If I’d known it was you-” he started, finding the switch and flipping it on.

The sudden brightness made him cry out and, in one fluid movement, Shepard leaned forward and flicked the switch back off, plunging them both back into darkness.

Before he could finish his sentence or do something really embarrassing, like throw up on her boots, Kaidan felt Shepard’s hands grip his upper arms softly.

She waved away his apologies with a simple, “At ease, soldier,” and guided him back down so he was sitting on the edge of his bed.

She took care to move him slowly, keeping her touch soft so as not to jolt him too much. It was tender and, even though his skin usually felt tender and sore during an attack, the contact felt like a soothing balm. He could make out her features through the darkness now, as she crouched in front of him. Her brow was furrowed with concern, her eyes traced his face like she was scanning him for injuries and she was worrying at the inside of her lip, a habit she’d had the whole time he’d known her. Suddenly, Kaidan became aware of how wrecked he must look to her. He had kicked off most of his clothes long ago, leaving him in just a pair of comfortable shorts. His skin was tacky with dried sweat, his room was a complete mess and he must smell-

“Are you alright, Lieutenant?” Shepard asked, her voice kind and non-judgemental.

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied automatically.

She pursed her lips, “Kaidan…”

“It’s just a headache, ma’am,” he insisted, repeating the lie he’d been telling since he was small, “I’m ready to serve, whenever you need me.”

Shepard sighed, sounding tired and, to Kaidan’s surprise, reached up to press her fingers against his throat. His heart stuttered in his chest. She was checking his pulse, that was all. It was a very normal thing for a person in her position to be doing, he shouldn’t be - The gentle pressure of her skin against his felt so good that Kaidan’s eyes fluttered shut involuntarily and he just managed not to whimper.

“You don’t need to lie to me, Kaidan,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, “I know you. I know you don’t make a habit of missing meals and spending days lying alone in the dark. Talk to me.”

“I-” he started to protest, before sighing, “I’ve been better.”

“Are there meds I can get for you?”

He shook his head, “Can’t keep them down long enough for them to work. Just gotta wait it out now.”

She made a sympathetic noise in the back of her throat, “Mind if I wait with you?”

Kaidan felt a flicker of something in his chest, a mix of anticipation and mortification. No one had ever-not since Brain Camp-but he was so sick of being alone with his thoughts, and Shepard-

“I wouldn’t want to bother you, ma’am,” he argued, half-heartedly, “I’m sure there’s a million other things that deserve your attention more than me.”

She smiled and, even in the darkness, Kaidan could make out the glimmer in her eye.

“Not today there isn’t,” she replied, “today I’m all yours, if you want the company that is.”

Kaidan silently thanked the lord for the darkness, because he just knew he was blushing something fierce. There was no amount of pain in the world that would have stopped him from feeling a lick of desire deep in the pit of his stomach at the phrase ‘today I’m all yours’. He would unpack that later, he promised himself.

“I-I would like some company, Commander,” he agreed.

The way Shepard’s face brightened at that was worth any level of embarrassment he might have felt, “Good.”

She immediately took a seat beside him on the bed and leant forward, untying her shoes and kicking them off. Kaidan opened his mouth to ask what she was doing but, before he could say anything, she pulled her legs up and crossed them.

Kaidan Alenko was, for lack of a better word, dumbfounded. Commander Shepard, the commander Shepard, first human spectre, and the woman he currently had a big fat juvenile crush on, was sitting criss-cross-apple-sauce on his bed. It was so ridiculous that he couldn’t help but chuckle, even though his voice was still weaker than he would have liked. She smiled, like the sound pleased her, and reached down into the satchel that, until now, Kaidan hadn’t realised she’d brought.

“I have supplies,” she explained, “so, head on my lap please, lieutenant.”

—

Jesus Christ what had gotten into her? Shepard’s face felt like a bonfire as she waited for Kaidan to react to her frankly insane request. It had seemed like such a good idea in theory; just show up and be so confident that Kaidan couldn’t possibly think she felt obligated or burdened, but now it was real. Now they were alone in his room with the lights off and Shepard who, up until this point, had been so careful to never offer Kaidan anything more than a friendly pat on the back to maintain protocol, had just decided to camp out on his bed and ask him to pop his head on her lap.

Inappropriate. Abuse of her power. Unexcusable.

But he looked so destroyed. When she’d checked his pulse she had been able to feel his pulse thrumming too quickly beneath his skin. For the few seconds that the light had been on she had seen the tremor in his limbs, the dark circles beneath his eyes. The man could barely stand let alone serve, but he had tried, he had tried so hard for her, just like he always did. She wanted him to be comfortable, she wanted him to know that he didn’t need to push the pain away with her, that she could be someone he could depend on. If he’d let her.

Only now he was staring at her like she’d grown a second head, and she’d almost certainly blown any sort of trust they might have had and she really didn’t want to explain to Anderson why she was being reported for harassing her lieutenant when he was ill and-

“That’s-” she cleared her throat, “I didn’t mean that as an order, by the way. I just-” she reached into her back and pulled out the ice packs she had brought with her in preparation for this terrible, terrible plan, “I brought supplies.” she repeated.

There was a look on Kaidan’s face that she’d seen glimpses of before but had never been able to identify. He looked down at the ice packs in her hands and then up to her face, holding her gaze for a long moment. His eyes reminded her of whiskey, smooth and unassuming with a kick that sent a shiver down her spine. She tried not to think about how little clothing he was wearing. The man was ill, she absolutely refused to be a pervert about this, but his eyes were fair game and damn, his eyes…

Slowly he moved up on the bed, lowering himself so that his head rested gently on her lap. His arms - more fair game - tentatively wrapped themselves around her knees and Shepard let out a slightly shaky breath.

“Where is the pain, mostly?” she asked.

“Besides everywhere?” He replied with a weak smile, “Base of my skull and my left temple. That’s where it always starts.”

She nodded and gently pressed one of the flexible ice packs to each of the spots he mentioned. For the left temple he could simply rest his head on the pack, but she had to hold the second one to his neck to make sure it stayed in place. The sound he made was somewhere between a sigh and a moan and that strange protective possessiveness flared to life in her chest again.

“Quiet, LT,” she teased, “people might get the wrong idea.”

He chuckled, his eyes fluttering shut as the coolness spread along his skin. She could feel his laughter against her legs, she could feel his sighs of relief and his gratefulness in the way his arms just briefly tightened around her knees. It felt good to help him. It felt good that he was letting her help him.

They sat together in silence for a while, but the silence was comforting rather than awkward. Despite being there for the express purpose of helping Kaidan, Shepard couldn't help but find some of her own relief in having nothing of importance to do. With Kaidan’s head in her lap and his warm breath ghosting over her legs, she could almost forget about Saren and the geth. There was no conduit, no secret race of sentient machines, no hellish past tattooed on the inside of her skull by the last remnants of the Protheans. There was no one counting on her. It was nice.

Shepard tentatively reached out and brushed her fingers along Kaidan’s temples, letting her nails scrape against his scalp softly. He sighed and pushed his head against her hands.

Eventually, Kaidan broke the silence, “I’m sorry I rushed off like that when we got back from Luna.”

“No need to be sorry,” she replied, “I understood.”

“No, I want you to know that I don’t usually let my headaches get in the way of my work like this, ma’am,” he continued, his voice taking on a slight edge of tired desperation, “I usually manage it better, it’s just-”

“It’s just that the work we’re doing is full of endless triggers?” she suggested, “Bright lights, bombs, gun fire, constant life or death pressure, high stress, chronic exhaustion-”

“It sounds like you’re describing being a soldier, ma’am,” he interrupted, but his voice sounded fond.

She snorted, “I’m describing war, Lieutenant. There are soldiers who go their entire career without seeing the level of combat that we see in a week. You and I are more prepared than most with our service histories, but there’s no way to really get your body ready for what we’re putting ourselves through. Every single member of this crew is seeing wear and tear of some kind, this is just yours. You’ve done good work and we all see that.”

He was silent for a moment, “The others are struggling too?”

“Oh yeah,” she agreed, “Garrus works on that Mako all hours of the day because if he stops moving he’s worried he’ll never start again. Ash runs drills until her body physically gives out because she can’t sleep otherwise. Tali can’t stop checking the engine because some part of her is convinced that it’s just going to give out while we’re sleeping, Wrex had broken three shotguns in fits of rage and Liara-” she shook her head, “that poor woman is so overwhelmed that it’s a miracle she’s still moving at all.”

Kaidan hummed sympathetically, “And you, Commander?” he asked gently.

She pressed her lips together to keep from immediately giving one of her prepared, comforting lies. Kaidan had trusted her, he was being vulnerable. She owed him at least that much.

“I haven’t gotten a full night’s sleep since Eden Prime,” she admitted with a sigh, “I try, but I just end up lying in bed awake for hours and then, when I do eventually doze off, I wake up screaming like an hour later. Dr Chakwas thinks I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and the lack of sleep is slowing the healing process for all the damage my body is taking.”

“Well, maybe if you let me put barriers on you before charging right into the middle of every firefight we come across-” Kaidan replied teasingly.

She waved him away, eternally grateful to him for not forcing her to linger in her moment of vulnerability, “Save your barriers for yourself, LT. I’ll be fine.”

He chuckled before continuing, “Thanks, Commander. It-it doesn’t make the pain go away, but it’s good to know I’m not the only one.”

Shepard took a moment to turn the ice packs over, earning her another relieved sigh from lieutenant Alenko, and studied his frame intently. His brow had smoothed out, his breaths were deep and even. The tension he had been carrying in his shoulders and neck seemed to have leached away. He seemed better, or at least more relaxed than he had when she first arrived and she fought the urge to run her fingernails along the smooth expanse of his back.

“I’m glad,” she smiled, “how is the pain now?”

He sighed, “Still there, but-” she could just about make out the pink flush that spread along his cheeks, “but it’s a lot better with you here.”

He was fighting to stay awake, she realised, a fight that he was rapidly losing as the sheer exhaustion that came with being in constant pain dragged him closer and closer to sleep.

“Good,” she replied gently, feeling herself softened by something deeper than mere fondness, “get some rest, Kaidan. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

She could see him trying to think of some sort of protest but, eventually, the pull was too strong.

“Thank you, Shepard,” he said softly, “for everything.”

She was saved from having to answer. Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko was already fast asleep.

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sol-consort · 1 year ago

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Early morning Cuddling

[Fluff, suggestive, shepards reader, nb!reader]

[Ashley, Kaidan, Joker, Garrus, Wrex, Tali, Liara]

Ashley

Safety is a feeling you'll never lack in her strong arms. Securing you close to her chest so you can feel the drum of her heartbeat, slowly picking up speed as she stirs awake from her slumber.

And she smiles at you, sleep in her eyes and all, the first thing she ever thinks to do is express her happiness at you being by her side.

Tightening her hold for a moment so she could give your forehead a tender kiss. She looks at you as if you were something fragile, as if it was her duty to protect you. No matter how strong you might be, at that moment, you have no doubt she'll take a bullet for you and more.

The two of you have to get up soon before Joker's announcement calls for your required presence. But Ashley can't help but linger on you, steal a few more moments of peacefulness before the blaring of shotguns is all that she may hear for the rest of her day.

Her hair is a mess, black strands sprawled on the pillow below her. Framing her face and giving her a more gentle look than her usual tight bun hairstyle does. Her upper body bare with her chest pressed against yours. She smells like that one soap she keeps stocked on the Normandy since she has joined your crew.

You feel lucky being one of the few able to see her in this intimate state.

☆

Kaidan

He has an alarm that he ignores, preferring to cling more into your body and bury his face against your neck and shoulder. Leaving the alarm annoying beeping.

With a sigh, you reach over and turn it off. Except it's one of those alarms that require you to solve a simple equation to turn off, simple by Alenko's standards. The same one cuddling into your body and refusing to let go from the warmth.

So the poor alarm ends up thrown across the room, or stuffed under the bed with a pillow to muffle its sound. You wonder why does he keep buying them when he keeps ignoring them.

Running your fingers through his hair gently, you pry him off of your neck in an attempt to get him to wake up. He's always groggy in the morning as he attempts to blink the tiredness away from his eyes.

A clear contrast to his usual disciplined self, freshly out of sleep, Kaidan is not someone you want to come across on the Normandy. The morning is around the time when he needs to take his required medication for L2 implants and migraines since he'll not be granted another opportunity of free time until the day is over.

Your presence during it has been helping him in more ways that he cares to admit, your warmth chasing away the stray nightmares that used to plague his mind each night.

☆

Joker

The two of make it work, with a lot of patience and being mindful of his osteogenesis.

While cuddling, he is the one on top to avoid any pressure on his bones. He's the one hugging into you with his head resting on your strong arms. He tries to lighten the mood whenever he notices how careful you're being, a part of him hates his hugs not being reciprocated but he understands why.

Still, this is vastly better than sleeping alone on his bed. Feeling you underneath him, listening to your calming heartbeat. It almost makes everything worth it, every sleepless night spent studying during the academy, every day spent alone, every empty bed.

He trusts you with himself, with his genuine vulnerability hidden under his witty jokes and sharp mind. He is aware of how much effort you're putting in. How you truly see him as a person and not a charity cases.

He's usually the one waking up first, pilot training and all. Quietly leaving the bed to not disturb you as he goes and checks to the helm to check on the ship's states. Him and Dr.Chakwas are the first early birds aboard the ship and they've grown into a comfortable routine of doing the opening shift as the rest of the crew stirs awake one by one.

By the time he's done, he makes sure to prepare a hot morning drink for you and take it back to your quarters. Sitting on the edge of the bed.

His smirking face behind the steam from the hot cup is the first sight you see in the morning. His voice telling you an awful pun that has you almost choking on your drink with a groan is the first thing you hear.

And you wouldn't have it any other way.

☆

Garrus

He's unsure of this arrangement at first, of if this is who you really want to cuddle up to.

Human skin is squishy, fragile and soft, unbelievably so when compared to Turians' hard plated shells. Humans are just bare with nothing to protect them whilst having fuller bodies than other aliens with soft skin. Yet somehow, Turians are supposed to believe these soft creatures are the apex of their own planet, evolving from predators with their forward facing eyes rather than prey.

Garrus has always wanted to feel a human up close, their soft fragile throats that any Turian could squeeze so easily in their large clawed hands. Break with their talons like an eggshell.

Yet this race was incredible resilient, quickly stealing the Turian's reputation of being the most hostile race in the galaxy, the humans and their temper and fight or flight adrenaline responses were quickly making a name for themselves.

That's why he almost can't believe it when he gets to hold you in bed. Allowing him to almost pin you down so easily, to wrap his large claws and long arms around you. Nuzzle your bare neck with his sharp mouth and enhale your scent.

Turians would battle for dominance amongst themselves, a play pretend sort of fight that comes from deep natural urges to top the other even in relationships. So from his view, you allowing him to hold you so close and sleep next your defenceless form is you surrendering to him.

Garrus has never been the aggressive type, even by Turian standards he was too nice at times. Yet something about you is digging at these buried ancient instincts of his, the low deep growls each morning when you try to pull away, the tighten of his sharp claws around you.

It comes so naturally that he does it unconsciously, not realising the growling sound is coming from the back of his throat in the morning until he clears his throat in embassment. Unaware of the soft squecks and caws he lets out each night when you scatch behind his neck and he melts into your touch before falling asleep.

☆

Wrex

He prefers short naps throughout the day so he may stay alert even through the night, it comes naturally for his species to be on their gaurd through most hours, that's what makes them such great fighers.

But you're a bad influence on him, coaxing him with you into this bundle of soft sheets and blankets that you humans call a bed. Making him lay on his back, a position so intimate for Krogans to be in, and cuddling to his side.

You're...warm. the skin and meat seperating your heart from his hand is so thin in comparison to his. Are humans not afraid? How could they have evolved to have their heart at such an exposed location for all to see and touch.

And to think you were supposed to be the predetor and him the prey, so why does he get this urge to protect you. To keep your bones intact and never allow any harm your way.

A wolf in sheep clothings, that's what humans are. He has to remind himself constantly not to get tricked by your seemingly harmless appearance. Tantalising lips or mesmerising eyes. That you're as dangerous as him if not more from what he has seen of you throughout the years. Terrifyingly cunningly at times and overrun by basic rage instincts at others, a volcano of emotions that's constantly erupting.

That's why laying next to you in the early morning is such a strain on his instincts. He can feel himself changing, his body relaxing around you and his mind resting for once. He can feel his gaurd lowering and he hates it, hates not being on his toes, not being on constant alert.

But you hug him so sweetly, cuddle his arm so tenderly and tell him to stay by your side. How could he refuse, is he even strong enough to refuse when your touches are the most intimate thing he has had during his whole life? When the feeling of a human sleeping next to him made him feel more safe than he ever did in the best of armours, and here he was supposed to be the one protecting you.

Wrex remains by your side until it's time to wake up, until it's time to start the routine he grew so familiar of.

☆

Tali

The hum of the engine used to be what lulled her to sleep, and with how eerily silent the Normandy gets around this time, it leaves her restless.

The early morning is her respite, when the chatter and clinking of soldiers outside getting ready for the day is audible through the walls. Tali finds herself drifting off to a comfortable sleep, reassured that she is safe and alive with the sound of life around her.

She becomes incredibly cuddly in the early morning, as much as her restrictive suit allows. It's not the same one as her shore one, yet it is still as effective in protecting her immune system.

She wants to feel your warmth, your soft human skin and run feel your hair. But both of you know it's not possible yet. So you settle for hugging her waist closer to you, running a hand down her covered back and hoping it will make her feel something.

That maybe, just maybe, a sliver of your warmth will slip through.

By the time she is dozing off to dreamland, it's your turn to walk out the door and face your responsibilities. Leave the wamrth of your bed and ready your team for another survey of a freezing cold planet in the vast empty space of the universe.

☆

Liara

Her fingers are soothing as they run over your body, encouraging your muscles to relax and your eyelids to flutter open. Her melodic voice humming in your mind.

She manages to wake you up as peacefully as she can, eyes wide and full of wonder as she is ready to greet a new day with all the discoveries it may bring.

You wonder where she gets all this energy from, and why isn't it infectious. She seems the most awake of everyone in the morning, and yet she stays by your side in bed until you get all the rest you need.

You never had to tell her to stay either, she did it by herself. Claiming it feels like the right thing to do, how doting she can be on her loved one at times.

Liara is always curious about any dreams you may have, admitting how sometimes they can be like a window into a person's inner psyche. How much she wants to understand you better, on a deeper level than anyone before her ever did.

As if she wants to merge her soul with yours, and maybe to her own kind that's what true love is like. To liara, the mornings you share together remain the highlight of her day until nightime when she gets to feel your embrace again, hear your voice and listen as you tell her about how your day went.

There's so much to admire about her curious nature, her genuine love for knowledge and exploration. The way she likes her coffee especially sweet and the way she hums each morning to stirr you awake.

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