power comes with a price.

[standsfast]

Who: standsfast and renegadeparagon.
What: Dealing with the side effects of the return of Kaidan's biotics and attempts at reconciliation after the Canon AU event.
When: Backdated to the 12th.
Where: The Normandy SR-2.
Rating: Can't see it going beyond PG-13 at worst.

Comments

[renegadeparagon]

Shepard was considering the idea of installing a VI on the ship, at least until they could get a new AI. He wasn't sure EDI survived the whole ordeal on Earth, or him destroying all synthetic life in the galaxy. Instead, he had to rely on word of mouth for information to be passed around and it was surprisingly still efficient. The small crew was full of gossips and he overheard mention of Kaidan and something about the crew quarters.

It was probably a bad idea, there was no saying how things were between them anymore, but he wanted to see him, if only to just apologise for his behaviour. Still, it was no doubt going to be awkward. Heading down to the crew quarters, he braced himself before he went in, surprised to see the room empty even when so very few people actually live on the Normandy anymore. Spotting Kaidan, Shepard let out a faint breath and headed over, crouching down beside the bunk at a safe distance and offering a smile.

"Kaidan, do you have a minute?"

[standsfast]

He nearly covered his ears at the sound of the door sliding open, almost an assault all on its own with the state he was in. At least that meant someone had noticed he wasn't around; he had to be thankful for that, or would be, once he was in any sort of shape to focus on that kind of thing. He focused on breathing steady instead, keeping his eyes closed, and - oh.

Hell of a time for Shepard to pick to try and talk to him. Not that Kaidan hadn't been trying to figure out a way to approach the commander about what had happened that week, on both sides, but that had been before the migraine struck. Still, he took a steadying breath, collected himself enough to answer.

"Bad - bad timing, Shepard." The strained note of his voice should say enough.

[renegadeparagon]

Shepard wasn't an idiot. He could tell something was very wrong with Kaidan, and in an instant all of their issues meant nothing to him, not in the face of Kaidan's pain. He shifted forward, kneeling beside the bunk and reaching to settle his hand on Kaidan's arm, voice lowering to just a husky whisper as he spoke.

"Headache?" He didn't know how bad the migraines really got, he just knew they happened. Considering for a moment, he slid his hand down Kaidan's arm, squeezing his hand gently. "If you can make it to my cabin, you can sleep in the dark, if you want." The fish tank would still be lit up but it was ambient light if anything, and it would at least be dark enough to not cause many problems.

"If not, I can get the lights dimmed in here and put out a strict order for you to be left alone." Whatever he had to do to make Kaidan comfortable.

[standsfast]

The touch of Shepard's hand on his arm was a comfort, grounding despite the pain. There'd been experiences in the past where he'd spent time alone in pain like this, and it was easy to lose track of time that way. Minutes could feel like hours, not something that was pleasant when your head was pounding fit to split. So when Shepard took his hand, Kaidan was quick to return the hold. He let out a small laugh for the question, instantly regretting it

[renegadeparagon]

Shepard was willing to put off that conversation for as long as it needed to be put off. They hardly had to worry over it, considering the fact it wasn't really their fault that things were so strange during that week. Instead, he would focus on helping Kaidan now, when he could actually have some control over the situation, even if he couldn't just get rid of Kaidan's headache like magic. It'd be a lot more beneficial if he could, but they had to make do

[standsfast]

Once he was on his feet, Kaidan didn't hesitate in leaning on Shepard, at least somewhat. He could admit he needed the help, sure, but he was still going to carry his own weight as much as he could. He was a soldier through and through. Not to mention he didn't exactly want Shepard carrying him to become an ugly habit. He did crack open dark eyes, though, glancing over to the commander and offering a grateful, if tired, smile

[renegadeparagon]

Shepard took what weight Kaidan leaned on him, but there was no way he'd just lump him up off his feet while he was conscious and able to walk. He knew they all had their pride and the last thing he wanted to do was make another problem arise between them. He didn't want to become one of those couples who has a thousand problems they never sort through until it all explodes on them.

A light smile came at that comment, and he took the chance to place a light kiss in front of Kaidan's ear. "It was an invitation. You're welcome there whenever you want." It wasn't as though they spent much time apart now they had the chance to actually try to work out this place they'd found themselves in, this relationship that was started on the basis of wanting someone to love when they had nothing else. He was glad they'd talked about it at all, even if they hadn't gotten... here.

"About sixty eight," he answered amusedly, just supporting Kaidan towards the elevator and into it, hitting the button to get them to his cabin.

[standsfast]

He couldn't help his own smile at the kiss, humming softly at the words. "Might take you up on that, then." Which... felt nicer to think about than it should've been, maybe. It was a simple thing, moving into someone's room, but considering the kind of people they were, it was bigger than most would think it to be. Still, that was for later - for now, he had to get there first.

"Not even gonna try and correct that..." As the elevator doors slid closed behind them, he leaned back against the wall, letting out a breath and bracing himself as it shifted, heading upward toward Shepard's cabin. It'd be good to lie down and not move again, once they were there. "Thanks, by the way. For the help."

It went without saying, really, but Kaidan was never the type to let his appreciation go unvoiced.

[renegadeparagon]

"You should," he answered lightly, giving him a warm look as he helped him along. Keeping a hand on Kaidan's shoulder as they headed up in the elevator, Shepard was quiet until Kaidan spoke again, nodding a little bit to his gratitude. Honestly, it went without saying as well that Shepard would help anyone who needed his help, but that Kaidan was a bit more important than anyone else was, in the end. "You're welcome."

Once they were there, he helped get Kaidan to the bed and moved to turn off the lights in the room, squinting in the dark for only a moment before his eyes adjusted. After a moment of hesitation, he headed back to Kaidan. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

He was worried, that much would be obvious, but he didn't want to make things worse if he could avoid doing so.

[standsfast]

He let out a breath of relief once he was back on a mattress and wasn't required to move again, closing his eyes as Shepard went to turn off the lights, burying his face in a pillow. Only briefly, as he turned his attention back to Shepard when he spoke, offering a crooked sort of smile.

"Unless Chakwas's supply came with the ship..." Even then, he wasn't entirely fond of taking medicine for his migraines. They could be terrible, sure, but the fuzzy feeling he wound up with after taking the medicine was more than irritating. He shook his head. "I should be fine with some sleep." There was a pause, a considering sort of thing, and Kaidan hesitated on his words before he voiced his question. "... you busy today?"

Usually Kaidan wouldn't try to impose on Shepard's daily activities, but, well... between the migraine and the week they'd just gotten past, he felt the right to at least ask.

[renegadeparagon]

"There's plenty of medication in the med bay, Kaidan. If you need something, I can get it." He would need a name of what to get, but there was no way he'd just refuse to get it for him, even on the basis of it making him feel a little more fuzzy after he'd taken it. He'd rather Kaidan was a bit out of it than completely in pain. It was the lesser of two evils, he supposed.

The question made him hesitate, but he smiled lightly, and shook his head. Realising they were in the dark, even if the light from the fish tank put an eerie glow over the room, he sat down on the edge of the bed and slid his hand over Kaidan's back. "No, I'm not busy."

He wondered if they were going to ever talk about that week, or if it was easier for them to just apologise without words and try to get back to normal.