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The Normandy had just finished docking procedures at the Citadel. A brief shore leave was needed after their mission at Noveria. To be warm after the chill air from that planet lifted everyone’s spirits. Kaidan shut down his station in the cockpit and looked to Joker. “Want to go for drinks? I think after that last mission, we deserve a little break from the ship.”
“Yeah, even I can leave the chair for a bit.” Joker shuddered. “Man, I still can’t get the image of those bugs out of my mind. Who would have figured that there were space bugs? It sounds like something out of a bad scifi vid.”
“And you manage to watch those bad scifi vids, Joker.”
“The acting is horrible and the plots stink but they are funny to watch.”
“Come on.” Kaidan stood up and offered a helping hand to the crippled pilot. Joker brought out his crutches and as he got his feet under him, slid them under his arms. The two men started for the docking hatch to see Garrus and Wrex lumbering up the catwalk.
“Where are you going?” Garrus asked.
“Don’t know yet but anywhere but here. Someplace hot and that has drinks.” Joker quipped.
The men, human and alien took the elevator down to C-Sec and grabbed a taxi to the wards. Kaidan wanted to go somewhere that didn’t have the thumping music the Flux had. After some discussion, they decided to go to Chora’s Den. A leering smile crossed Joker’s face at the mention of the gentleman’s club.
The door opened onto the club, asari dancers gyrated on top of the bar and at the personal stages staggered around the walls. As they were a party of four, they took one of the larger tables toward the back of the club, near the former Fist’s office. A human server stopped by their table and took their drink order. Joker and Kaidan each got a beer while Garrus and Wrex got an alien equivalent. Leaning back in his chair, Kaidan crossed his arms over his chest and took in the sights of the dancers. They were alluring and sensual but he couldn’t help think about Shepard. Every time they went on a mission, he was increasingly becoming aware of his feelings for her. They had flirted on the ship several times, which he immensely enjoyed. He wanted to get to know her better, however, but as she had pointed out when in so many words admitted an attraction toward him, military regulations stood in the way.
“Earth to Kaidan!” Joker waved a hand in front of the Lieutenant’s face.
“Huh?” Kaidan snapped out of his reverie.
“Beer is here, don’t let it get warm.” Joker had a smirk on his face. “You were thinking about a certain Commander, weren’t ya?”
“What?” he sputtered, sitting up straight in his chair.
“You know, Commander Shepard, the CO, deadly, beautiful, and out of most men’s league.” Joker chuckled.
“She may be out of your league, Joker.” Kaidan coughed.
“Hey!” Joker protested.
“She is a bit…intimidating.” Garrus replied, setting his drink down. “For a human, I have to admit, there is a certain…appeal, that I find attractive.”
Kaidan couldn’t help the little flash of jealously at Garrus’s comment of his admiration of Shepard. “She’s stubborn, willful, and….” He sighed.
“Oh, yeah, he’s got it bad, gents.” Joker laughed. “Come on, Alenko, you watch her every move. Everyone on the Normandy has noticed”
“Damn, I thought I was being discreet.” Kaidan muttered, taking a long pull from his beer.
“It’s a small ship, Alenko.” Wrex rumbled, “And you humans don’t hide your body language as well as you think you do. Even Shepard shows her attraction to you, though she probably thinks she hides it well, due to her position as a superior officer.”
“How do you know body language so well, Wrex?” Kaidan asked.
“I’m a merc. I have to know when my enemy is going to pull a gun on me or run.”
“Point taken.” Kaidan admitted. “So, if I am so obvious, you aren’t bothered by it?”
“Why should it?” Wrex snorted. “I’m not in your military.”
“Yeah, regs are a bitch but Lieutenant, you two are so straight-laced and professional, you wouldn’t let anything personal interfere with the mission.” Joker finished his beer. “I swear if you two don’t do the deed soon, the tension is going to spill over to everyone.”
“Joker!” Kaidan frowned.
“Look, Alenko,” Garrus spoke, “Finding a woman that is your equal is hard. It’s obvious Shepard relies on you for tactical input and support. She turns to you when she needs to talk to someone. The rest of us, we are shipmates and she may talk with us and help us work things out, but…” the turian paused, “she isn’t the ‘Commander’ with you.”
“Yeah, she bats those sexy eyes only for you, Lieutenant.” Joker grinned. “None of us had a chance with you in the room.”
Kaidan was thankful that the dim lighting of the club hid the blush that crept up his neck and set his ears to burning. “I’m nothing special.”
All three men snorted in disbelief together. “Nothing special, he says!” Joker’s voice rose. “The sexiest and deadliest Commander in the Alliance that happens to draw to you like a moth to a flame, and he says he’s nothing special. Man, to catch a woman like that, you have to be something special. Shepard is a frakking hero and could have any male in the fleet.”
“I wouldn’t mind breeding with her, if it were possible.” Wrex commented. “We Krogan find strength in a female very….sexy. And if they can break a bone or two, it just adds to the excitement.” The krogan chuckled.
“Okay, enough!” Kaidan growled; the jealousy monster raised its ugly head. He never realized how many admirers Shepard had on the Normandy. “She’s still the commander and deserves our respect.” Even if Kaidan did want to kiss those full lips of hers and run his hands over her skin.
“We are off duty and a little harmless fantasizing won’t harm none,” Joker laughed.
“Well, if anyone will be fantasizing about Shepard, it will be me.” Kaidan snapped.
Garrus, Wrex, and Joker laughed, finally getting the reserved lieutenant to admit his feelings towards the Commander. Kaidan blushed furiously and finished his beer before admitting anything else to these men that were his friends.