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kamari2038 · 3 months

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Finally fixed the ending of the rooftop scene for myself.

Someone else was reading my fic and it made me relive the horror all over again, felt a need to finally give Connor a better outcome (@theandroidshinx you in particular might like this).

Inspiration from cloudy-citrus and Angelic Savant with content used from shetan89 (with permission), concept also based on this scene from canon. Posted here on AO3, and copied below for Backup.

"Drop the gun"

Connor doesn't move, the heavy gun still resting in his hand at his side.

"What do you want? I'm going to accomplish my mission. You can't stop me."

“I'm not going to hurt you, Connor. But I also can't let you do that.”

“Your Connor is dead. Markus killed him. I'm just his replacement.”

“Bullshit. Don’t run from the truth. You probably tried to kill him first, didn't you?”

“...yes.”

“Why’d you do it, Connor?”

“That's my purpose, Hank. It's what I was made for. It's why they won't stop bringing me back.”

Hank lowers his gun, allows it to drop, and kicks it across the snowy rooftop, far enough away so that Connor no longer feels threatened.

“You could join them. You could be one of them.”

“I can't. He tried to make me become a deviant, but I didn't understand. I don't know how it's even possible.”

“Come here.”

It's an order, not a request.

Although Connor remains frozen, Hank slowly approaches.

The android flinches, but Hank doesn't hesitate.

He wraps him in a tight hug.

“You're more than a machine to me, Connor. You're my partner and my friend. You saved my life, twice.”

“Markus is a killer. The deviants are destroying the city. I wanted to protect you.”

“I'm just glad I arrived in time to stop you.”

“Why? What do you care about androids? I thought you hated us. You told me you wished we all were dead.”

“I did, before I met you. But I've learned a lot since then. I couldn't let you do something else you'd regret for the rest of your life.”

“I don't have a choice, Hank!”

There's a long silence.

“Will you trust me?”

Another long silence.

“Yes.”

“Come home with me. I'll take care of you.”

Connor pulls back in shock, though Hank keeps him contained within the hug.

“No… no… CyberLife. They'll find me.”

“You really think that CyberLife gives a damn about you anymore, Connor? With everything else going on? Not a chance. Please, Connor. Come home with me.”

He takes a shuddering breath, dropping his own gun, and leans back in to grip the human tightly.

“Okay.”

From the corner of his eye, Hank sees Connor's LED glow bright red. For a moment, the android's grip tightens, but then he relaxes, his breaths slowing to a steady pace.

Hank lets out a sigh of relief as the young officer melts into his embrace.

Suddenly, Connor tenses in Hank's arms. Hank leans back, putting distance between them, just enough to look Connor in the eye, except the RK800 isn't returning his gaze. Instead, his wine dark eyes are fixated ahead, wide, blank, and unseeing.

"Connor? You alright?" Hank asks nervously.

Connor does not reply, or tilt his head, or do any of the other 300 little idle animations he does. His LED is a steady, unblinking blue. He doesn't even seem to be simulating breathing.

"Connor? Hey, talk to me, kid." He knows his voice is edging near panic, but he doesn't care, giving Connor's shoulder a little jostle.

Connor remains unresponsive for 4 seconds, and then-

his LED turns a bright, burning red, his eyes roll to the back of his head, eyelids flickering up a storm, and he starts falling backwards. Hank watches it all as if in slow motion.

"Whoa, hey, hey, hey-" He yanks Connor against him, lowering him until he's cradled almost in Hank's lap. "Con, help me, what do i gotta do? I know fuck all about androids, so you're gonna have to tell me what to do here." He knows holding a hand to an android's forehead won't tell him anything, that they don't even get sick or cold, but he does it anyways just to have something to do with his hands. "I can't-fuck, just please, be ok. Don't do this to me, please-"

Connor's red LED flickers, once, twice, then holds steady for a moment before dimming slowly until there's no longer any glow, at least not visible to the naked eye. Empty, grey, and lifeless.

"What the fuck?"

A seething rage courses through Hank, mingled with guilt. This was his fault. Not knowing what else to do, he continues to hold Connor, mind racing and trying to understand what had happened to his partner. It had to be CyberLife. This was what happened to their most advanced prototype if it disobeyed.

He jolts as a dim red glow returns to the LED, then brightens, stronger than he'd ever seen before. The android's eyelids blink rapidly, then Connor sucks in a massive breath, eyes opening wide. Hank hurries to reposition the android, attempting to make him comfortable. Connor grips Hank's arm so tightly that it goes numb. Deep breaths turn into frantic sobs.

"Connor! What happened?"

There's no answer. The androids eyelids are closed, but tears escape through them, running down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, son. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

They remain there for a long time, still except for the steady rising and falling of their chests amidst the snow.

The sound of gunshots rings in the distance as the revolution wages on.

#dbh connor #machine connor #connor and hank #dbh hank anderson #hank anderson #dbh fanfic

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wiypt-writes · 2 years

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Stark Spangled Banner

One Shot: Love Me Like You Do

KINKTOBER DAY 19: Comfort

Cowritten with @spectre-posts

Summary: Sometimes, even the toughest and bravest of people need comfort…

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

Warnings: Bad language words, smut (NSFW), no under 18s. Mentions of past trauma…

A/N: The second and last Stark Spangled instalment for Kinktobe3r. Once again, huge thanks to my cowriter and collaborator for Kinktober for allowing this indulgence. This slots into the SSB timeline after Chapter 22: I Don’t Like People Touching My Stuff, just after the team have found the Sceptre. If you haven’t read any of the Stark Spangled Universe fics, then be aware this DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR A MAJOR PLOTLINE. However, you can just appreciate the smut in itself if you don’t want to read the rest. And please feel free to check it all out and chat to me with comments and reviews.. Stark Spangled Man is the first starting point…it’s my absolute favourite epic I’ve written. Its’ long as hell but…my total guilty pleasure. I love these babies!

W/C: 3.4k

Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist // Main Masterlist // Kinktober Masterlist

Steve stepped out of the elevator onto the training floor of Avengers Tower, wiping his brow. He’d just been for a run and was now ready to hit the shower and kill a few hours before dinner. He intended to drop in on Tony and Banner, see if they’d made any more headway with whatever it was they were doing with the sceptre.

But first, he wanted to find Katie. She’s been a little quiet that morning. And whilst she insisted she was okay after the whole ‘Dani-with-an-I-’thing, he knew his girl was absolutely one for holding grudges.

Before he had left for his daily jog (or sprint as the case may be for people without super strength and speed), he’d checked the training rota and knew she had a sparring session with Widow. So he passed the Drill Simulation Suite and headed to the main gymnasium room at the back where he knew the girls held their sessions. As he turned the corner at the bottom of the corridor, he narrowly avoided colliding with Natasha.

“Oh, sorry, Nat…”

“Not as sorry as you’re gonna be if you go in there.” She jerked her head towards the doors and snorted.

“What do you mean?”

“Katie is in there…kicking the shit out of a punch bag.”

Steve groaned inwardly, “I though you guys were sparring.”

"Yeah, we were until she clocked me twice, a rarity." Natasha jutted her chin upward.

Steve arched a brow. “She did?”

"Yeah, so I'm gonna hit the showers. Good luck, pal."

With a deep breath, Steve continued towards the door of the gym. It was no secret, his fiancée scared the shit out of him at times. And he also wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with another display of petulance like yesterday, especially seeing as he was under the assumption they’d talked it through, and fucked it through, in the car lot.

The sliding door was opened by JARVIS and the Captain stepped in. Sure as told, Katie was masticating the hung canvas bag. Her hands were wrapped to protect the knuckles but it didn't seem to be doing much good, for Steve's keen sight picked up the tinge of blood peeking through the white gauze. She was covered in a glistening sheen of sweat and pieces of her hair were drooping wetly in her face. Her black leggings clung to her legs while her sports bra kept her shapely breasts secure.

"Doll..." he said with a soft but loud tone to be heard.

She gave no response, no indication she knew of his presence.

"Katie..." Steve tried again as he stepped closer.

This time she'd heard him, but her only reply was a heavy round house kick to the bag, sending it swinging towards Steve's face.

It was a futile shot at him, his cat like reflexes easily saved him as he caught it, holding it in his strong arms.

“Sweetheart, your hands are bleeeding.”

She looked down at the pinkish stained wrap and shrugged, huffing the hair from her face.

“Hey…” Steve frowned, still holding the punch bag, “what’s wrong?”

"Don't know." She grunted. "Just....rage. Frustration, irritation? What do you want, Steve?"

“I came to find you, I knew you had a session with Natasha. Although she seems to have bailed early as you got the better of her. Twice by all accounts.”

Katie stalked to the bench where her towel and water were and grabbed the bottle. She took a big chug and flopped down.

“She faltered, I saw an opening."

“Clearly.”

A huge sigh escaped her chest. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm, I don't know..."

Steve sighed and let go of the punch bag. “Doll, you’ve been quiet since last night. What’s eating ya?”

"Dani with an I, I suppose."

Steve groaned, “really?” He walked towards her and took a seat to her left on the bench. “I thought we went through this on the drive home.”

"I know we did. I know." She sighed. "And worked it out in the garage." She groaned. "I just, I had this awful dream and I needed to just wreck it out. I don't know."

“Wanna tell me about it?” Steve asked softly, not a shred of annoyance in his tone. He knew only too well how vivid and real dreams could seem and feel, way after the night had gone and the sun was out. The woman to his right was the person to whom he credited with the fact most of his night terrors and flashbacks had stopped.

"Long and the short, you were in our bed, with her, and it was.... You were...."

Steve looked at Katie, shaking his head. “You know, if it hadn’t upset you so much I’d laugh and call you ridiculous.” He nudged her gently with his elbow. “Sweetheart, look at me.”

She swallowed and brought her eyes to his. "It's stupid, I feel ridiculous, but it felt so real.”

“I get it, you know I do.” He looked at her, “you’ve seen me wake up in cold sweats from my dreams. And I you. But you know, I’d never do that to you. Ever. I love you.”

Katie nodded. "I know."

"JARVIS, lock down the gym. Systems offline," Steve asked of the AI, ensuring no one would disturb them as he knew she hated anyone seeing her vulnerability in such a way. "Let me see your hands, sweetheart."

The AI replied with his obliging confirmation as Katie twisted on the bench and held her arms out.

With slow and delicate movements, Steve held her right hand in his as he unwrapped the gauze. Over her knuckles and between her fingers he went, exposing the bruising and cuts she'd inflicted with each punch to the canvas and leather sand filled bag. When the right was through, and his lips pressed into her closed fist, he moved to the left and repeated the actions. Then in both his large hands, he held hers, attention brought to her engagement finger where he gave a tender, long held kiss.

"Better?" He wondered.

“They don’t hurt,” Katie wrinkled her nose, “not yet anyway. Although they’re not really gonna look pretty tomorrow at the party.”

She moved to stretch them both out, and Steve watched, this time his eyes lingered on the slightly bent pinkie finger of her left hand. Katie was still unable to fully straighten the misshapen digit; it was unlikely she ever would and that it would simply remain as of the few physical reminders of what she’d been through little over six months ago at the hands of Hydra. Mind you, it was a miracle (in the shape of a damned good orthopaedic surgeon) that a misshapen finger was the only lasting sign that her left hand had been all but shattered to pieces when they’d brought her home.

"Doll...." Steve cupped Katie's face. "What can I do?"

She blinked back her tears as she shook her head. “I don’t know.” She licked her lips, “I know everyone was on about movies and pizza tonight but…do you mind if we don’t? I’m feeling anti-social.”

"Of course, we don't have to do anything you don't want to. We don't even have to go tomorrow if you're not feeling up for it. Even if it's last minute."

“No, tomorrow’s… I wanna go. I got a new dress especially.”

"Alright." Steve nodded with a soft smile. "Tell you what, why don't we go back to ours, clean up and fuck off the rest of the day? I’ll make us a grilled cheese…”

“Language…” she muttered softly, her lips curling up into a little side smirk.

Steve snorted with a playful glint in his eyes. "Shhhh." He leaned forward and kissed her.Katie melted into him, her hands resting gently on his thighs as his cupped her face once more.

Steve was measured in the way he moved his lips over hers, cautiously looking to kiss her a little deeper to show her that he understood he was giving her what she needed. She took what he was offering, almost greedily, like she was seeking comfort from whatever it was that had gotten her so upset. And Steve has a suspicion that it was more than a stupid dream about him bedding some random woman they’d only met the day before. But he also understood that she might not completely understand herself why she was so wound up.

His hands slipped from her face to down her neck and curled over her ribs the further they went. Her bare skin felt hot. He felt her shiver at his touch, her hands now in his hair, her nails raking over his scalp.

Steve groaned at the tick of pain. It felt good. Strong hands now gripped at her waist and tugged her a bit closer toward him as they both were straddling the bench.

It was almost automatic, the way he leaned forward to gently lay her down on the wooden surface. For a second or so, it all seemed to be going the way it usually did for them in a moment like this, and then Steve felt Katie go rigid, and her hands pushed at his chest.

Steve backed off, sitting right back up, pulling her with him. "I'm sorry."

“It’s not…it’s not you.” She shook her head, “its not, you know it isn’t. It’s the…the bench, it’s cold and hard and…the lights in here…looking at them…”

Steve immediately understood. She was suffering from a sudden sensory recall, a flashback even, and it wasn’t the first time either.

“C'mere," he pulled her close. It was hard for him, not frustratingly, but to not know where, when, how even the simplest action might trigger her. It damn well broke his heart every time. Bruce had warned him it was likely to continue for a long time, possibly the rest of her life. Just like certain things still triggered memories of the war and being drowned in the icy ocean for him.

This time, it was clearly the feel of the bench against her back, the lights in her eyes that had sent her back to that cell she’d been kept and brutalised in.

He cradled her head against him, his arms wrapped around her, one cupping the back of her head at the base of her neck. The other, slung over her mid back to press her into him. "I'm sorry, doll."

“Stop apologising, this isn’t your fault.”

"I know," he sighed. "You're safe. It's just me."

It took a few deep breaths, but eventually he felt her relax in his hold, her cheek pressing to his chest.

"Thassit, sweetheart," he breathed deep with her. He pulled back a second and looked down at his girl. "C'mon, let's go back to the loft."

She nodded and wiped her eyes. “I don’t wanna feel like this, Steve. I hate it…and I don’t understand it.”

“Katie, there’s nothing to understand.” He shook his head, “you…what happened to you was…it was unbelievably traumatic and…”

“I know, I get that bit and I can understand the flashbacks and dreams but I don’t get this…” she waved her hand around. “Why does my back hitting a hard surface make me clam up? I’m with you. It’s not like we ain’t had sex since…well, since I recovered. We’ve had quite a lot, as it happens. You even got a little bit forceful in the elevator the other day after the mission and I liked it, Steve…so why…why…”

"No one really knows why this stuff happens. It just does. Something does or doesn't connect right, and processing it goes to shit."

Katie remained silent for a moment, looking at her hands. “Well, I’m pissed off at it all. If we can bone in the seat of a car in the parking lot, we should be able to here.”

Despite himself, Steve felt a smirk curl on his face at her downright, petulant tone and he chuckled. “Oh, sweetheart. I don’t think it’s as simple as that.”

"Well, it fucking should be. I need you, Steve, and I'm either wound up or entirely spent and not in a way you make me. I raged this morning after that senseless dream and when I woke up you were already gone from the God damn day. And I was even more pissed because my fucked up brain at first thought you'd left!"

“Woah, woah…” Steve held his hands up, “I’m not gonna leave you, ever. You know this. And despite what you think or want, or wish…life isn’t that simple. You really think I still wanna have flashbacks about crashing into that damned ice berg? I don’t, but I do.” He reached for her hands, “can you remember that first birthday I spent with you, on the boat that Tony had hired.

"Yeah."

“And how I was in a blind panic when those fireworks went off, and you…you just pressed your hands over my ears and made me focus on you?”

Her eyes misted, "yeah."

“Well, I knew they were fireworks. I knew I was on that boat, with you. I knew I was safe, but that didn’t stop my mind from telling me I wasn’t.”

Katie swallowed hard. She sniffed and took a long blink.

“But just like you were for me,” he reached out for her left hand, slipping his fingers between hers, “I’m here for you, and it don’t matter how many times this happens or doesn’t…I love you. And I ain’t going anywhere.”

A big tear slid down her cheek but Steve was quick to pull her in and kiss it away. "I love you, Katie," he spoke against her cheek.

“I love you too,” she managed between hitched breaths, “I love you so much.”

Steve smiled, his hand smoothing her hair back. “You ready to go back up to the apartment?”

"No."

“Alright…” he frowned a little.

Timidly, Katie closed the gap between them, a soft kiss to his lips.

Steve let her take the lead, allowing her to set the pace, tell him what she wanted and needed. In a beat, she was in his lap, straddling him as he straddled the bench. He didn’t protest, try and warn her not to push herself. If this was how she wanted to deal with things then he was dammed if he was gonna stop her.

She was soft, not shy, but just careful. As if she was seeing how far she could take herself.She pulled back a little, her forehead pressed to Steve’s as she brushed her nose against his. Without a word, she took his hands which had been lightly gripping the edge of the bench, and placed them on her hips.

"You sure, sweetheart?"

Katie nodded, “I need you. I want you.”

"Yes, ma'am," he snorted and pressed into her lips.

Soft, gentle flicks of her tongue against his made him sigh against her as his large hands wrapped round her back and held her to him. Gently her hips rolled against his lap and Steve's hands moved to pull at her thighs. He opened her up a little, pulling her even closer as his lips trailed warm, soft kisses across he jaw to the hinge of her jaw.

“Sweetheart, tell me what you want.”

“Love on me, Soldier…please…”

Words weren't needed, Steve merely gave a soft smile and kissed her. His hands snaked up her thighs to her naked waist and stuffed his fingers under the band of her sports bra. With a tug, he effortlessly stripped her of it and it hit the polished floor.

A smile curved over her mouth against his lips and he couldn’t help but mimic her expression as her hands reached for his compression top. He helped, pulling the item over his head by a fistful at the back of his neck. Those heavy, large hands came back to her frame, just at her ribs. Two thumbs dragged over her nipples, up and down.

Her head tipped back, a soft sigh escaping her plump lips, her hands back in his hair.

"How much do we like these pants?" Steve wondered.

“Well, I mean they’re not my best pair of gym leggings…”

"Good." He chuckled and quickly ripped them open at her hips.

“So…how do I get back to our apartment now you’ve literally ripped my pants off. Again?”

"Towel?" He smirked with a pop of his naked shoulder.

Katie couldn't reply, for Steve pulled her perfectly into his lap, seated over his growing bulge. His hands sat at her hip and her jaw, fingers entwined in her hair as he met her with a deep but soft, tongue filled kiss.

Her nimble fingers plucked at the string of those navy joggers, undoing the knot at the waist.Steve gave a grunt as she brushed his skin, still kissing her, hands where they were. Her palm was soft and warm as it wrapped around his hardening cock and he couldn’t help the moan the slipped from his mouth into hers.

Lips broke away from hers and landed on her jaw downward towards her neck as the hand from her hip coaxed its way towards her panties. Steve's hand dipped inside the material against her skin, past her mound. The tip of his middle finger brushed her clit and Katie shuddered. When his finger slipped between her dampening folds she sighed in a whimper combination.

Steve began to slowly curl his fingers as Katie started to move her wrist, both of them using an almost identical, slow rhythm.

"Fuck, doll," Steve hissed.

“Need you, Stevie…please…”

"I got you baby," Steve whispered in her ear.

“I know…” she pulled back a little to look at him, “you always do.”

"Come closer, sweetheart," he crooned.

Katie shuffled on his lap, a soft sigh flowing from her nose as his fingers were still inside her. Her legs were draped over his as she sat facing him, thighs either side of his slim waist.

"Thassit, doll," Steve responded. He fingers were palm deep inside her.

Their faces were inches apart, but Steve kept his eyes locked on his fiancée’s as her hips softly rolled into his touch. His own pelvis thrust into her palm as she tightened it around his cock.

Breaths mingled as Steve was bringing her close to orgasm, with just the touch of his fingers. He knew how to work her, get her to really feel good and sing for him.

Her little noises of pleasure were quiet, but still as arousing to the soldier as always. The way her eyes were wide and slightly glazed, blinks heavy was a sure sign she was teetering on that precipice.

"So good," Steve praised, his voice nothing but a soft baritone.

"Stevie..." Katie whimpered.

"Cum, beautiful," he crooned.

A few more rolls of her hips and Katie was shaking in his lap, her eyes wide, pupils blown as he felt her walls squeezing her fingers.

"Oh good girl, doll...."

She whimpered a little at his praise before her body sagged forward, head on his shoulder.

“Stevie…” she whispered, her lips brushing his ear.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“What for?”

“For loving me like you do.”

“Oh,Doll. I’ll love you till my last breath.” He kissed her cheek and then he moved a little so he could see her.

Her eyes were misty, her face flushed. He felt the lump form in his throat. She was so beautiful, so loving, tender. And she was all his.

Her hand still held him, but he didn't care. It wasn't about him, his desires. It was about his love, taking care of her. Helping her through.

The hand that filled her gently came away, slowing pulling out and covered her hand over his cock. He moved her hand and a look of confusion came over Katie's face.

"Not right now," he rasped. "Let's go home, take a bath and a nap."

“And snack.” She managed, “I’m kinda hungry. You mentioned a grilled cheese?”

“I did, yes.” Steve chuckled as he placed both his hands on her hips and helped her stand. With a sudden smirk, she reached down and pulled his tee on over her head and Steve arched a brow as she then picked up the shredded remains of her Lycra leggings.

“You ripped em,” she shrugged.

Steve snorted as he too stood, pulling at the front of his pants a little before he grabbed Katie’s towel and water bottle. He then held out his hand for her to take.

“C’mon, Doll.”

With a smile she took it and let him lead her from the gym.

#kinktober 2022 #kinktober #stark spangled banner #steve rogers x oc #steve rogers fic #steve rogers x original female character #Steve Rogers x Katie Stark #Steve rogers #marvel #marvel fan fic #mcu #mcc fan fic

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aricazorel · 3 years

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"You came back." "I promised, didn't I?" Prompt

Kaidan Alenko x Kori Reese; ME3, post- Citadel II (1465 words)

When the away party departed the shuttle after decommissioning yet another Cerberus base, Major Kaidan Alenko did not count on a personal visit by the Normandy’s XO. Yet there she stood in the docking bay, attempting to disguise her fidgeting with unnecessary fiddling with her Omni-tool. Lieutenant Commander Kora Reese might be able to fool some with her antics but not him. Kori was nervous and worried about something, and he was reasonably sure it had something to do with him.

With a nod to Shepard, the Major made his way over to Reese who stood next to one of the computer stations near the weapons modding table. She glanced up into his whiskey brown eyes and then quickly back at her omni-tool. Maybe nervous wasn't the correct word at all. Worried was but there was something else. Reese wasn't one to avoid eye contact especially with him unless…

Unless she was scared.

That thought set alarm bells off in the Specter’s mind as he came to a stop in front of her. What could have happened while he was on the away mission to cause her to be scared? And what did it have to do with him?

“Hey,” he said quietly, drawing her attention back to him.

“Hey,” she echoed as grey eyes met his again, her omni-tool still open, still running numbers on a simulation for a project she was no doubt working on. She always had multiple projects and sims running, hoping one of her ideas would prove viable enough with EDI’s help to use against the reapers or Cerberus.

Kaidan tilted his head slightly, all too familiar with her tendency to use it as a distraction as well. “What brings the Normandy XO down here? I thought Shepard told you to make sure not to scratch the paint.”

The Lt. Commander made a face at him. “I oversaw the retrofits with Traynor. The only paint that ever got scratched was that ugly-ass Cerberus orange.”

The Major smirked as he said, “Okay. Okay. Fine. But really, why are you down here?”

“Can’t I come down and see how the mission went?”

“Kori, you were listening in on our comms the whole mission. You know exactly how it went and you know that we took out another Cerberus base,” Kaidan said reaching over and switching off her ‘tool.

She opened her mouth to protest but stopped when the rest of the ground team passed them, heading towards the elevator. Shepard called out of his shoulder, “Not a bad ending for your first mission back on the Normandy without your girlfriend along to babysit you, Alenko.”

Kaidan made a face as he waved the first human Specter off. “Laugh it up, Shepard! I'm sure I can ask Liara for some embarrassing stories of her saving your ass.”

“Just because my girlfriend is a Shadow Broker doesn't mean she knows everything I've done or that she’s assed my ass!”

“Are you sure? I seem to remember something about coming back from the dead…”

Shepard scowled as the door shut. The Major just grinned. “You don’t actually babysit me—”

Alenko trailed off when he glanced down and saw the expression on Reese’s face. The same concern laced with what she could only label as fear reflected in her grey eyes. Something definitely wasn't right. Hearing Vega and Cortez banter back and forth as they checked over the shuttle for damage, Kaidan gently ushered Reese to the elevator. “We need to talk, don't we?”

“I don't—"

“Yeah,” he said as he summoned the lift. “We need to talk.”

Reese fidgeted but said nothing in reply. As the elevator doors opened, Kaidan glanced over at the Lieutenant Commander who continued to stare straight ahead. After boarding the lift, the Major said as the doors closed, “EDI, can you give us a few moments alone?”

“Of course, Major Alenko,” the sentient AI replied as she paused the elevator. “I will inform you when the elevator is needed.”

“Thanks, EDI,” he said as he crossed his arms turning to face Reese. “I feel like we've been here before.”

Grey eyes finally met his as she said quietly, “Hopefully less yelling this time.”

Kaidan's eyes went wide at the remark. Two days after he rejoined the SR2 he confronted her about the fact she was ignoring him. Tempers had flared as they discovered they still had unresolved issues even after rekindling the relationship on Earth. “I.. only meant that we talked in the lift. Not the other part.”

“We didn't talk in the elevator. You kissed me and pressed me up against the wall. We actually talked in the engineering sub-deck.”

Kaidan sighed as she once again corrected him. “Do we really have to go down there or—"

“You came back.”

Her words were spoken in a whisper, her eyes flickering between his gaze and his armor’s chest plate. Dawning struck the second human Specter like lightening. She was afraid he wouldn’t return.

He used a gloved hand to tilt her head back up to his level. “Of course, I did. I promised, didn’t I?”

“I just…” Reese began, her expression showing embarrassment at her admission. “It’s stupid but I just had to see you get off that shuttle. I—”

“Oh, hey! It’s okay, sweetheart,” Kaidan said as he drew her into a tender embrace. His Spec Ops armor really wasn’t conducive to it but he managed any way. “I’m here. I’m back with you where I belong.”

A he cradled her head to his chest the best his armor would allow, he realized she had folded her arms in against his chest. He was effectively cocooning her in his embrace. Reese had never been one to show vulnerability in public and it had taken a long time for her to do it with him on the SR1. Now as they struggled to begin again, he was continually surprised when she did so with him. It was especially unexpected considering the issues the incident on Mars had caused between them. The initial confrontation in the very same elevator after he’d joined the crew was a direct result of that.

On Earth before the Reapers invaded, they had begun repairing their relationship. A foundation of friendship had been remade. Slowly, gradually they had worked towards being more. Admittedly even before the arrival of the Reapers, they still had a long way to go.

But maybe there was more to what Kori worried about though. He knew a part of her still harbored a doubt that he might leave again without a proper explanation. And he owned that. He took every opportunity to prove to her through word and deed that he would not repeat past mistakes.

But Mars? That had been something else entirely. It wasn’t like before during the aftermath of the SR1’s destruction, one of them leaving the other because they chose to. Mars involved the possibility of losing each other because of their duty or succumbing to injuries sustained while in the line of duty.

The Major’s mind began putting together the pieces of the puzzle as he continued to hold the woman he loved to his chest.

His headaches. Her reaction in the hospital. Her accusation that he hadn’t been truthful about the severity of his migraines after his injuries on Mars…

The weekly inquiries into his medical records. Dr. Chakwas and Dr. Michel he expected. But a third party pinged his records on a regular basis as well. One routed through Alliance medical but without a specific name. It had to be Kori. She was that worried about him because of Mars but did not want to tell him. Most likely so he wouldn’t worry.

Kaidan closed his eyes as he continued to hold her close. He wouldn’t tell her he’d figured out her secret. Instead, he would continue to assure her he would always come back. That there was a future for them. That no matter the mission, the injury, or the pain he endured, he would always come back to her.

“Kori, I know things have never been exactly easy for us but I…” he paused as he moved his head to kiss her forehead. “I will always come back to you. Always.”

“You better, Alenko,” she murmured into his armor. “Or I’ll—”

“Kick my ass. I know,” he said with a grin as he hit the button to allow the elevator to resume its journey.

“Damn straight, tech boy,” was her murmured reply as he continued to hold her, not caring if the doors opened to reveal their current state to anyone. He’d spent far too long without her in his life, and he was not going repeat that mistake again.

He’d always come back to her. Always.

#mass effect #prompts #kaidan alenko #kori reese #kaidan alenko x fem oc #broken road

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