#vince and kaidan are barely

[solstheimtxt]

I brought Liara on Noveria bc thats what I have Vince canonically do and oh boy

She has not taken down a single enemy 😭😭 poor bby

That benezia fight is gonna be ROUGH

[tiny-banana-time]

first lines

Rules: post the first sentence of your last ten fics. If you haven't written ten fics, share as many first-sentences as you have.

Tagged by @dandenbo​! Thank you! I’m gonna mostly just stick to fic titles and not chapter titles so we’re not just listing off parts of the same fic lol.

Tagging uhhhhhh... oh man, @urdnotflexthejedibard, @miniature-space-hamster, and @scribblesdg if any of you wanna join in. Open tag otherwise!

Of All the Bars (T, mShep & Kaidan Alenko - how they met, the non-canon way)

Shepard sits at the far end of a bar, in a dump of a club, on the complete opposite side of Arcturus Station's B level from the temp barracks he was staying in.

Steady Hands (M, mShep & Kaidan Alenko - Akuze, the time leading up to it, and the aftermath

"Hey, hey- look!" Murray's incessant slapping of Kaidan's arm sends his glass off course enough to partially miss his mouth-- whiskey dribbling down the corner.

My Serene  (M, mShep & Kaidan, eventually mShep/Kaidan Alenko - the years before the Normandy)

“So Klaus, are you allowed to tell us what this is about, or do we just get to sit here and twiddle our thumbs until they get back?”

A Little Birdie Asked Me (T, V/Kerry Eurodyne - Kerry hates interviews, but loves Vince)

V was the one that had insisted they watch the interview together when it was released, and as much as Kerry would prefer a hole in the head to reliving the experience, V pulled out his excited face... 

A Time and Place  (T, mShep/Kaidan Alenko - you can’t always choose what you remember)

From the oppressive confines of an escape pod jettisoned out the hull of the SR1, he’d watched the final explosion through a tiny window at the back, barely large enough to showcase both his home and its destruction within the reinforced rim lining the edge.

You Will Always Have a Pillow Here ( T, V/Kerry Eurodyne - sleeping is easier when he’s around)

What had it been? Maybe 10 minutes?

Where There's a River  ( M (T?), V/Kerry Eurodyne - he loves that shitty car)

Kerry jumped slightly as curses echoed off of surrounding rocks over to where he lay, sunbathing in rays of light that were coming from a different angle of the sky than he last recalled.

Lives, Intertwined (T, mshep/Kaidan Alenko - a first kiss AU)

Heart pounding in his chest, Jay tries not to focus on how dry his lips might be – how chapped they feel despite being fine this morning – how his throat is abruptly parched and his stomach has turned the spin cycle on high.

[miniature-space-hamster]

Lay Me Down to Sleep

My @masseffectholidaycheer fic is finally complete, with a gift for @solstheimart  Hope you enjoy a little bit of Mshenko hurt/comfort inspired by the beautiful piece he made right here. Anyway thank you nightmarestudio606 for the Beta and thank you all for reading!! ^^

Summary:  After Facing Leviathan, Shepard overworks himself to the point of exhaustion before Kaidan drags him off to bed. Link on AO3

Shepard slouched over his desk, heavy head collapsing on a palm as he struggled to focus on the report sitting in front of him. His eyes burned from the light of the datapad. Tired hands fumbled for his eyedrops on the desk, administering a single drop in each eye before shutting them tightly and forcing in a deep inhale to stave off a yawn. He should’ve gone to bed hours ago, but the tasks seemed endless and time was a luxury he knew he didn’t have, no matter how many people he could recruit to fight the Reapers. 

The Despoina report had been sitting on his desk for two days now, as many days since he’d barely escaped with his life from the planet's frigid depths. Something about seeing Leviathan in person had shook him to his core. He’d experienced indoctrination in its original form as Leviathan forced its way into his mind. A shiver wracked his body as he felt his chest tighten, remembering the encounter vividly. Teeth chattered as he furiously rubbed his arms for warmth, certain that the icy chill of Despoina’s waters would never leave his body. 

His eyes grew unfocused as the words on the report slowly lost their meaning. A yawn, louder than he intended, broke through the silence. Another pause, though this one less deliberate. The world grew blurry as exhaustion overcame him. Before he could become aware as he slumped over onto the datapad, and slipped into a deep sleep. 

Nearly an hour had passed before the cabin door hummed open. Kaidan stepped through quietly and took a deep breath, finally finished with his shift. His eyes first drifted towards the bed, hoping to see Shepard getting some much needed rest, but to his disappointment he instead saw an empty bed with untouched sheets. A sigh escaped his lips as he brushed stubborn strands away from his brow. It was late, even by Shepard’s standards. Kaidan turned the corner, ready to tell Shepard to go to bed, but instead saw him asleep on his desk, surrounded by coffee cups gone cold, with his face pressed against a datapad.

Kaidan made his way over quietly, brows knit with concern. He started to wake Shepard gently. Beginning with light touches, massaging tense muscle with practiced motions, he watched and felt for signs of wakefulness. Kaidan wasn’t sure how long he’d been sleeping at his desk this time, but he knew from experience Shepard’s back was going to be killing him when he got up.

Shepard awoke with a start to the feeling of warm hands softly gripping his shoulders as a tender kiss grazed the top of his head. “You should go to bed, Vince,” Kaidan gently coaxed as he massaged the back that must’ve been aching from the prolonged angle. His thumbs gently pressed into the knots in his muscles as Shepard sat up slowly, rubbing his face to orient himself. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck, each motion punctuated with a popping joint.

Leaning into Kaidan's warm hands, Shepard groaned as he picked up his datapad, giving it another glance over with furrowed brows. It was still only half finished and cut short by thirty two pages of the letter ‘g’. His posture stiffened as he clenched his jaw. He tapped his pockets, looking for a cigarette to light before realizing they were still on his nightstand. A sigh escaped his lips as he pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling the frustration rising in his chest. He wasn’t sure why he was finding this so difficult at the moment. 

“Gotta finish this report.” His words were more of a grumble than a sentence. 

The hands on Shepard’s shoulders dropped forward to rest on his chest. Kaidan brought his lips to Shepard’s ear as he embraced him. The low rasp of Kaidan’s voice tickled delicate skin. 

“The report can wait, you need to sleep. You’ve had a long day.” Kaidan followed up with a kiss just behind Shepard’s ear as he placed a reassuring hand on his chest to support Shepard’s weight, keeping him from falling back asleep on the desk. Kaidan took a deep breath, filling his senses with the man in front of him. 

Shepard started to speak, brows knit with a protest at the tip of his tongue, but the words were lost in a yawn. Shepard rested his head on Kaidan’s strong biceps. Kaidan’s warmth kept the chill in his body at bay. He could feel himself on the verge of falling asleep once more. 

“You can thank me later,” Kaidan mumbled to himself as he readjusted his grip. Looping both of his arms under Shepard's as he held his chest tightly, Shepard’s head fell back against Kaidan’s chest. His eyes were still open but his eyelids were heavy and his glowing, crimson gaze lacked its usual razor sharp focus. Kaidan held back a laugh, realizing he had already fallen back asleep. 

Kaidan widened his stance before he stood, lifting Shepard with him and nearly sending the chair toppling over. He looked down to see Shepard startled awake with a sleepy scowl that was only further highlighted by his glowing, red eyes. Kaidan hid his smile with a kiss on Shepard’s temple. Though he’d never dare to admit out loud, he found the expression cute.

Carefully stepping away from the desk, Kaidan both carried and dragged Shepard in equal parts off to bed. Being much shorter than Kaidan, Shepard’s legs dangled just above the ground, swaying slightly with the momentum of each step. Kaidan took extra care going down the stairs as he gently stroked Shepard’s collarbone with his thumb. 

The scowl had softened once they made their way to the bed, as Shepard was comforted by the warmth encompassing him. Kaidan let Shepard down, motioning for him to sit at the foot of the bed and he complied without a word. Kaidan quickly got to his knees, looking up with a sideways smile as he let his hands momentarily dance on Shepard’s thighs before moving down his legs and gently taking off his boots, tossing them to the side. 

Kaidan stepped away to reach into a drawer, pulling out a shirt and pants, gently placing the pair of pajamas on Shepard’s lap. His voice was low as he gave Shepard another sideways smile when they locked eyes. “Gonna go shower, I’ll be back in a few.” He leaned forward, reaching for Shepard’s chin before placing a tender kiss on his lips. 

As if on queue, Shepard’s hands instinctively wrapped around Kaidan, gently tracing his sides and pulling him in by his hips. A sigh escaped Kaidan’s lips and Shepard chased the breath, kissing him deeper. With an arm wrapped firmly around his waist, he traced a familiar path up Kaidan’s spine, sending shivers in its wake, eager to get tangled in his dark curls. 

Shepard smiled into the kiss as Kaidan cupped his face with his hands, his thumbs lovingly tracing over the glowing scars on Shepard’s brow and cheekbones. They stayed locked together until they were both desperate for air. Shepard pressed his forehead against Kaidan’s as their eyes met. Shepard gave Kaidan a soft smile that made his heart melt, but Kaidan managed to pull away nonetheless. “I won’t be long, Vince. Just make sure you’re out of that uniform by the time I’m back.” 

Kaidan stumbled out of his boots on the way to the bathroom, leaving a trail of clothing in his wake. Shepard watched him go until the door closed behind him. He stared into the distance for a while, towards the empty space Kaidan left behind before his eyes trailed down to the clothes resting on his lap. He absentmindedly rubbed the soft material between his fingers. 

The weight of the universe had only grown heavier on his shoulders as the war dragged on. He was responsible for so many lives, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that each one was a singular grain of sand slipping through his fingers. Regardless of the success at Despoina, he was only seconds from losing everything all over again. Trapped and helpless in the depths of another cold, dark, and equally unforgiving void. 

Vince changed slowly as he was trapped in his own thoughts. His limbs felt impossibly heavy as he crawled into bed. Without Kaidan’s presence, the bed was cold and unwelcoming as his body shivered violently in protest to his absence. He curled up in the center of the bed, resting his head against Kaidan’s pillow, comforted by the scent that lingered. 

Kaidan was eager to return to Vince’s arms, washing quickly as he struggled against the urge to linger under the hot water of the shower head, regardless of how it soothed his aching body. Prepping for bed in Shepard’s cabin was an adjustment he found himself getting comfortable with quickly. Shepard did his best to make Kaidan feel at home. Everything in the bathroom seemed to come in sets of two now. He’d placed an extra towel on the rack as well as a second toothbrush that rested besides Vince’s on the sink. The cabin felt like their own personal oasis, far away from the war they faced every day. It was a taste of a simpler life. A life that Kaidan hoped they may one day share when the war was over. 

The chill of the air conditioning was a shock to Kaidan’s system as he stepped out from the bathroom, leaving goosebumps in the wake of skin still pink from the heat of the shower. He padded quietly towards the bed wearing only his underwear. He tried to pull back his tousled, towel-dried curls as he watched Vince, not quite asleep, curled up in bed shivering. Kaidan crawled into bed slowly, attempting to not disturb him. But before his head could even hit the pillow Vince was practically on top of him. He was still half asleep and nuzzling his chest with a content sigh. Violent shivers racked his body as he eagerly warmed up beside Kaidan. 

Vince was so cold to the touch. Had been for the past two days. The number of blankets on the bed had doubled since Despoina and Kaidan quickly became the heat source that got him through the night. Vince curled himself against Kaidan, greedy for warmth, but his body was rigid and unyielding. The tension in Vince’s muscles was evident in his back and shoulders. He felt like a rubber band on the verge of snapping. 

“Something bothering you, Vince?” Kaidan’s voice was a soft whisper against his scalp. He already knew the answer. Kaidan always seemed to see through that protective shield Vince held against the world. He carefully combed his fingers through his hair, pulling strays away from his face and shoulders, letting his fingers trace delicate lines along the way down his back.

Vince answered with a forehead pressed firmly against Kaidan’s chest. Vince’s embrace tightened as Kaidan pulled him close and he gently stroked his back. No words were shared as a silent understanding was communicated with touch alone. Every day there was a new set of impossible expectations for Vince, and Kaidan could see it was taking its toll. The weight of the galaxy was far too much for any one set of shoulders, even if the ambassadors continued to ask for more from him without a second thought. Kaidan knew he would continue forward without a second thought. He’d never seen him hesitate or flinch on the battlefield. He was always so good at shutting his emotions off on the battlefield, but right now he just needed to feel.

Kaidan continued stroking Vince’s back absentmindedly, watching his breathing settle. His eyes grew unfocused once more, without fully closing, as his features finally relaxed. The muscles of his back and arms went soft and pliant to the touch. Kaidan kissed the crown of Shepard’s head once he was certain Shepard was finally sleeping. 

He spent a moment watching Vince sleep, waiting for the content smile that always tugged at the corner of his mouth as Kaidan combed his fingers slowly through Vince’s long hair. “This war will be over soon.” Kaidan whispered to himself, barely audible above the hum of the fish tank and Vince’s rhythmic breathing. He needed to stay confident in the moment, even if just to himself. 

The world seemed to be falling apart and all he could do is tell himself whatever helped him sleep. Kaidan’s gaze turned towards the ceiling as he watched the shadows dance from the azure light of the fish tank before the exhaustion also overtook him, a promise for better times to come on loop in his mind.