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“C’mon,” Kaidan insists. “Just once? For me? It’ll only be an hour, maybe two. Is that too much to ask?”
Kristofer winces as he slowly eases into a t-shirt and pulls it over his head. The ache in his shoulder is a reminder their last mission out hadn’t been kind to him. Which is yet another reason why they are having this discussion. “What’s wrong with wearing fatigues?”
From the corner of the bed where he pulls on his boots, Kaidan snorts in amusement. “We’re both off duty. We’ll be out in public. You won’t be there as a Spectre Shepard or as Commander Shepard, N7 Alliance, you’ll be there as civilian Shepard, Alliance soldier on R&R per Hackett’s express orders. It’s a chance for a break. Why not make the most of it?”
Kristofer sighs. Express orders. That was an understatement, to say the least. Yet, a frown of consternation creases his forehead as he laces up his boot. “I guess I just don’t see the point. I mean, we’re only going to grab sandwiches to take to the apartment with us, right?”
“You’re deflecting again.” Kaidan walks over to the storage area. “You don’t have any civilian clothes, do you?” he breathes, shocked as realization sets in. Taking a knee, he searches the armoire shelves they now share. “No jeans, no t-shirts –”
While working on his second boot, Kris pauses to pluck at the t-shirt he wears. “What do you call this?”
The look Kaidan gives him is less than amused. “Alliance issue,” he replies flatly. Instead of arguing further, he opens another drawer and flings something black directly at Kris. “Here, put this on.”
Kristofer catches the soft cotton easily in one hand, huffing softly as it unfolds in his grasp. “Great. You’re dressing me now? That’ll surely make the crew talk.” Not that he’s really worried about that, though he doesn’t go out of his way to give them opportunity to speculate. He learned long ago to avoid that.
“Oh, stop arguing and change,” Kaidan insists as he wanders over to where Kris keeps his N7 jacket. “Please.”
This soon flies through the air in his direction. Kris snatches it, sliding it over his arms in a smooth move, but he stops short of following Kaidan across the room. “Um… this looks ridiculous with my fatigues,” he says, pointing to his pants.
Kaidan doesn’t answer, simply returns to the armoire and opens yet another drawer where he retrieves a pair of dark blue jeans. “You really need to do some shopping while we’re here this time.”
“Why?” Kris sits back down and promptly unlaces his boots, setting them aside. This isn’t really arguing – he genuinely doesn’t understand the need for civilian clothes. Still, he needs to investigate this new apartment that Hackett said Anderson wanted him to check on. “I don’t need them. All I’ve ever worn in my life is Alliance issue clothing.” Okay, maybe not quite as true as it sounds, but close. Some of his clothing when he was growing up did come from the Alliance, but the rest had been purchased from retail stores at various ports of call. And the months he spent with Cerberus just… don’t count.
“And unless you really want the crew to start talking,” Kaidan adds, “you shouldn’t keep borrowing from me.”
“Borrowing?” Kristofer snorts softly. “Like you’ve given me any choice!” He laughs as he says it, however, to let Kaidan know it isn’t an issue. Switching to the jeans in quick order and securing them at his hips with the t-shirt tucked in, Kris grabs the boots he normally wears with his dress uniform and pulls them on instead. He also doesn’t miss the smug smirk crossing Kaidan’s face. I’m never going to live this down. “You are enjoying this far too much.”
Kaidan chuckles again and saunters over, the smug smirk matched by a sudden fire in his eyes. Kristofer freezes for just a moment, staring at him. It isn’t a look he’s used to seeing there and he’s not quite sure how to define it. “What…?”
Kaidan laughs in that deep, rumbly tone, the one that leaves Kristofer’s stomach fluttering over itself repeatedly as a result. To distract himself as much as change the topic, he stretches his arms out and turns in a full circle. “There. Satisfied?”
When he comes to a stop facing Kaidan again, Kaidan grabs him by his dog tags and tugs him close, their lips coming together fast and furious. Kristofer doesn’t even have time to relax into it before it’s over, but it does leave him more than a little breathless when they break apart a moment later. Kaidan, he discovers as he watches his chest rise and fall rapidly, is no less affected. He has to clear his throat to find his voice again. “I-I’ll… take that as a yes?”
“Almost.”
For just a moment, Kris is confused. Kaidan steps away from him, giving them space, but before he turns away and before Kris can react, Kaidan reaches up to run his fingers through Kristofer’s hair. Kris groans. He should have expected this. It isn’t the first time Kaidan has messed with his hair. It looks so much better this way. The temptation to return the favor is real, and wouldn’t be the first time he’s retaliated. Kaidan must expect the move, however, because he hops back just enough to put himself out of easy reach. “There. Much better.” The smirk that slides across Kaidan’s lips leaves his eyes sparkling, too. Could be worse. “Now, come on. Before the Council or the Alliance really does find something for us to do.”
They exit through the CIC side by side while discussing the upcoming maintenance checks during the Normandy’s visit. Out of the corner of his eye, Kristofer notices a few double-takes and several more stares than usual as they pass by. Even Traynor, whom they pass as they exit the lift, is hard pressed for words, but nothing is said aloud and he leaves it alone. For now, anyway. Hopefully, by the time shore leave ends, they’ll have forgotten about it.
He and Kaidan make their way to the Presidium Commons easily enough, grabbing a skycab once they hit the docking bay. But when they arrive at Apollo’s, the staff recognize them and before Kris can say a word, they are seated at their usual table.
“I thought we were going to the apartment?” Kris says after their server takes their order.
Kaidan shrugs. A smile curves at the corners of his lips, his attention fully focused on Kristofer. “Beautiful view. Why not enjoy it?”
Beautiful view. Kris huffs softly and leans forward to rest his arm on the table. Resting his temple against his thumb, he returns the look. “If you wanted a ‘date night,’ all you had to do was say so.”
“I wanted to prove a point,” Kaidan replies as he reaches over to take Kristofer’s hand in his and squeeze. “And I think I finally got through to you.”
Kris shakes his head, bemusement making him smile. Kaidan certainly likes to over-think things; he should have guessed. “Is this still going to involve a shopping trip?”
The laughter that bursts past Kaidan’s lips is light and refreshing, and after the craziness of late, very welcome. Kristofer revels in the sound of it, as well as the sight of the man he loves enjoying himself. God alone knows when they’ll have the opportunity to do so again. Might as well enjoy it now.
“So,” Kaidan says as their server brings their food and drinks then leaves them alone, “tell me about this apartment…”