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commissioned artwork of Kristofer Shepard and Kaidan Alenko by xla-hainex on tumblr
There are benefits to being the first human Spectre. No one can question his comings or goings or motivations. When the Normandy is docked at the Citadel, not even his crew can stop him.
A factor that’s especially important today.
Of course, that doesn’t mean they won’t try. But today, Kristofer Shepard is in luck. He’s halfway through the CIC with his N7 jacket half on when Traynor spies him. Her jaw drops and her eyes go wide as she does a visible double take, no doubt shocked at his choice of dress shirt and slacks over his usual t-shirt and jeans. She looks as if she might say something...
He doesn’t slow down. There’s purpose in his step, a refusal to be delayed. He’s on a strict time schedule today, after all.
Passing the bridge, he calls out to Joker as he turns toward the docking tube. The helmsman is deep in conversation with EDI and replies with a vague wave of his hand instead of one of his wisecracking jokes.
He reaches the docking bay to find it as crowded as ever. Still, no one seems to recognize him which gives him a chance to reach the nearest skycab station without slowing down. Within minutes, a cab arrives and he’s on his way to the embassies.
Sitting back in his seat, he sighs.
So far, so good.
The drive seems to last forever, and Kris can’t help but fidget along the way, alternating between glancing at his chronometer and drumming his fingers along the outside of his thigh. Kaidan left an hour ago. Kris had agreed to meet him at the Spectre office. But... what if he’s not there? What if he got sent out on a mission by the Council at the last minute? What if someone stopped him along the way? They’ve been planning this for weeks. What if...?
He shakes his head firmly, cutting off that train of thought. No. Nothing is going to stop this from happening; not the Alliance, not the Spectres, not the Council. Well-placed friends have been lined up, friends who happen to owe Kris and Kaidan a favor. Or two.
This is going to work, he reminds himself as the skycab pulls to a stop. It’s finally going to happen.
He exits the cab and pushes away the butterflies fluttering in his belly as he walks past Udina’s old office. Reaching the door, he scans his identification and enters the Spectre office. As usual, the room is quiet and blessedly empty... save for one person standing off to the side. In that moment, relief settles over Kris and he finds his first easy smile of the day.
Kaidan returns it with a grin that is wide and bright, and his lips twitch with just a hint of the same nervousness Kris still can’t quite shove away fully.
Oh, good, it isn’t just me...
Stepping towards Kris, Kaidan reaches out as he says, “There you are. I was beginning to worry you’d changed your mind.”
Kris takes his hand in his and leans in for a quick kiss of reassurance, replying softly yet firmly, “Not in this lifetime... or any.”
As he steps back, Kris gets a good look at his fellow Spectre. It’s rare to see Kaidan dressed in anything other than Alliance issue clothing, especially when there’s a war going on around them, but today is different. Casual khaki slacks with razor-sharp creases, a dress shirt in a mustard-gold color that sets off his dark eyes, and a dark jacket.
More than pleased with what he sees, Kristofer whistles softly in appreciation. “Civvies look good on you.” Then, curiosity getting the best of him, he asks, “How the hell did you get off the Normandy dressed like that without being stopped by someone?”
Watching Kaidan battle back against a blush is adorable, and ultimately, it’s a fight he loses. Even so, he returns the grin. “I made sure Traynor was looking the other way.”
“Hah!” Taking Kaidan’s hand again, Kris threads their fingers together and squeezes once.
Releasing his hold, he inhales deeply, slowly, and asks the one question that’s been haunting him since he woke that morning. It’s the same question that’s been churning the butterflies in his belly on and off all day. “Are you ready for this?”
Kaidan’s response is immediate, as if he understands. “Hell yeah, I am. You?”
“Absolutely,” Kris replies just as quickly. To his surprise, the nerves finally settle, as if Kaidan’s words chase them off.
Kaidan pulls a small jeweler’s case from his pocket and hands over. “I picked these up on the way in.”
Kris’ eyes widen slightly as he takes the box and as he opens it. In theory, he knows what they look like. He and Kaidan have been planning this for weeks. But it’s been a challenge to get rings crafted without being present for a proper fitting, and he hasn’t seen them to give approval, trusting in Kaidan’s judgement.
The blend of gold and silver that greets Kris now leaves him nearly breathless. They are exactly what he’s hoped for. Glancing over at Kaidan, he asks, “What do you think?”
Kaidan’s eyes are locked onto Kris’ face as he replies, “Look good to me.”
Kris closes the box and slips it into his jacket pocket. “Me too.” Taking another steadying breath, he runs a hand through his hair, tousling it awkwardly. A longish piece falls into his eyes and Kaidan laughs softly. Kris shoots him a sheepish grin before blowing a puff of air to push it out of his eyes and back into place. “All right, I think we’re good. Let’s go get this done, shall we?”
He’s halfway to the exit when he realizes Kaidan isn’t with him. Turning, he watches his partner hesitate. The nerves return tenfold, and for a moment Kris feels like he might be ill. But before he can ask what’s wrong, Kaidan finds his voice. “You… really want this, right?”
Kris blinks at him, stunned. “What?”
Pulling his lower lip between his teeth, Kaidan worries it back and forth. “I didn’t… all I mean is, you’re agreed to this because you want to, right? Not because I… forced you to or –”
It only takes three quick strides to reach him, and as Kris stops in front of Kaidan, he reaches out to cradle Kaidan’s cheek with his hand. Gently tilting his head so their eyes meet, he says in a voice low and full of promise, “If you hadn’t asked me, I was going to ask you.” A soft smile spreads across his face. “You only beat me to the punch. And you know what? I can live with that.”
It’s impossible to miss Kaidan’s sigh of relief. “Okay, good. That’s... that’s good. Just wanted to make sure there’s no room for regret later.”
No room for regret. Never. Not after all they’d been through to get this far.
Lacing his fingers with Kaidan’s again, Kristofer lifts their joined hands so he can brush a kiss across Kaidan’s knuckles. “I love you, Kaidan Alenko. For now, for always. Never forget that. We’ve been through hell and back,” another kiss, this time over his bare ring finger, “but we’ve made it. This has been and will always be worth it, I promise. All of it. Understand?”
Kaidan’s smile is back. “I do,” he promises. “Right. Let’s do this.”
Together, they leave the Spectre office. Their destination isn’t far. Councilor Tevos’ office is but a short distance away. When they arrive, they are immediately escorted inside.
Councilor Tevos’ warm greeting chases away any last butterflies as she leads them out to the balcony. And it’s here, overlooking the Presidium, taking in almost the same exact view they had the first time they came to the Citadel, that Councilors Valern and Sparatus wait, along with human Ambassador Osoba.
It doesn’t matter that the ceremony is in the asari fashion or that they only have four witnesses to the deed. Kaidan’s smile assures Kris that his soon-to-be husband isn’t bothered by that fact, either.
The ceremony itself is short, simple, but beautiful. Promises made. Vows exchanged. Eternity given. That’s all that matters.
Afterward, and on the tail of Ambassador Osoba’s promise to see that the marriage is properly recorded for the Alliance, if kept quiet, Kris and Kaidan offer their thanks and leave.
They decide to spend some time walking through the Presidium, and a short while later Kris spies the Relay Monument as they near it. Leaning against the railing, he spares Kaidan a quick look and asks almost breathlessly, “Did we really just do this?”
Kaidan, also leaning against the railing, lifts his left hand and uses his thumb to spin the ring on his previously bare finger. “Seems real enough to me.”
Kris mimics the action with his ring. “Yeah.” Sighing softly, he lowers his hand and returns his gaze out over the Presidium. “The others are going to be upset when they find out.”
Kaidan shrugs. “I doubt they’ll begrudge you some happiness after the past couple of years.”
“Us,” Kris interjects with emphasis. “After what we’ve been through. This isn’t just about me, and you know that.”
Grasping Kris’ hand, Kaidan’s thumb strokes the back of it soothingly. “I do.”
They spend a few more minutes there in silence, each to his own thoughts, before Kaidan finally straightens. “We’d probably ought to head back to the Normandy. No knowing who’s been looking for us while we’ve been gone.”
Kris follows after him with an inelegant snort. He’s unwilling to release hold of his husband’s hand, though he knows he’s right. As they near access to the Wards via skycab or the elevators, Kris tugs him towards the latter. “But let’s take the long way back,” he suggests. “If this is all the time we’ll get today, I want it to last as long as possible...”