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Shepard walks into the Starboard lounge quietly, eyeing the man who is currently sitting on the couch with his head tilted back and eyes shut. Kaidan hasn't been in the room for very long so Shepard knows he isn't asleep yet despite the peaceful look on his face. Shepard stands there, two mugs of coffee in his hands, enjoying the way Kaidan looks. Sometimes he still can't believe he's even allowed to do so.
It's not until Kaidan opens his eyes and tilts his head back further to peer at Shepard, that Shepard starts moving again, leaning down and pressing a kiss onto Kaidan's forehead. He holds one of the mugs out for him. "Here."
"Thanks." Kaidan takes the offered mug.
"Don't thank me yet. You haven't tasted it," Shepard warns, walking around the couch to sit down next to him.
Kaidan is eyeing him curiously, taking a small sip of the hot beverage. It's not very often that Shepard actually sits down and relaxes with him in this room so Shepard can understand the confusion. "Everything okay?" he asks, after swallowing.
Shepard takes a deep, tired breath and sinks into the cushion, close enough to Kaidan to touch. The biotic is still watching him, both hands cupping the mug as if the content is liquid gold. Shepard shifts, getting close enough to Kaidan for their shoulders to touch. “Tired.”
“Hmm,” Kaidan hums, taking another sip of his drink and Shepard does the same. “Me too. That last mission was exhausting.”
Shepard holds up his mug. “Hence the coffee.”
Kaidan yawns involuntarily, using one hand to rub at his eyes. “I don’t think this coffee is going to be enough to keep me awake.”
“Well, in that case.” Shepard takes the mug out of Kaidan’s hand and sets it on the floor where he also sets his own down. “Come here.”
Kaidan watches him suspiciously but does as he’s told, scooting as close as he can get. Shepard then slings an arm around his shoulders, squeezing him to his side, and sliding down the couch until his legs are stretched out in front of him and his back is curved, pulling Kaidan along. Kaidan mumbles something about posture and this being bad for their backs, but he doesn’t complain long when Shepard encourages him to lie his head down onto his shoulder. Once Kaidan is settled, Shepard sighs and rests his head on top of Kaidan’s.
“Now this is nice,” Kaidan mumbles and when Shepard looks down at him, his eyes are shut.
Shepard smiles warmly at the scene. “Yeah, we don’t get to do this very often, do we?”
Kaidan shakes his head, ruffling his hair against Shepard’s shoulder. Shepard can’t wait to see how mussed it’ll be afterward, when they’ve fully woken up from their inevitable nap. “We should.” Kaidan’s voice is soft and low, soothing to Shepard’s senses. “We have to remember to take time for ourselves once in a while, relax.”
“Is that directed more towards me?” Shepard asks, playful.
Kaidan’s eyes open and he gazes at the window in front of them. “It’s for everyone. It’s hell out there right now but… if you don’t take time to unwind… well… you’ll just end up burning out, and no one needs that in the middle of a war.”
“I suppose we don’t.” Shepard tilts his head, buries his nose into Kaidan’s hair before kissing him on top of his head and then lying his own head back on top where he kissed him. “I’m glad we are able to do this, Kaidan.”
“Hmm, me too, Shepard.” Shepard can hear the wistful smile in Kaidan’s voice. “Sanity check.”
Shepard’s own smile forms on his lips, remembering their Apollo date and where everything started for them. “Sanity check.”
Kaidan closes his eyes, cuddling closer to Shepard, and they both lie there, half sitting, half lying down, enjoying one another’s presence and the feel of each other’s bodies pressed against one another. Kaidan is warm against Shepard’s side and he can feel the biotic starting to relax as he falls asleep, his breathing evening out, deepening. Shepard will never get tired of watching Kaidan sleep.
In another few hours, they’ll have to be back out there, fighting the impossible, but Kaidan is right. They should take these moments when they can because no one knows when they’ll get another chance. Anything could happen. One of them could die out on the field and as much as it pains Shepard to think about, it’s something they both have to accept.
With that in mind, Shepard shifts slightly to get more comfortable, feeling Kaidan’s hair tickling his nose, and closes his eyes to join Kaidan in sleep.