Sideways Part 4

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Chapter 28:

Imposter*

Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war

Pairing: FemShep/Kaidan Alenko

Rating: Mature

Available: AO3 (beginning, new chapter)

Summary:

Shepard, a paragon for galactic peace and devoted family woman, wakes up in another timeline. War-torn, brutal, and hurting toward destruction, it’s a timeline formed by renegade decisions.

To see her family again, she’ll need to do the impossible before time runs out. Powerful enemies and dangerous secrets stand in her way, but the alternative is worse than death.

Shepard tore the pistol out of her desk drawer.  She aimed it at the back of his head.  “Tell me, you bastard.  Or, so help me God, I’ll blow your brains out from between your eyes.  Is it that damned project in the Far Rim?”

Cicero’s back straightened.

“Is it?” she yelled.

He glanced over his shoulder.  “Tomorrow night.  That’s the deadline.”

“Tell me!  Stop!  Stop walking!”  She ripped him around by the shoulder and slammed him back against the wall.

“Don’t hurt him.”  It was Kaidan.  He came from around the bookcase.

“Ah, I wondered if he was here.” Cicero smirked.

“Shut up!  Tell me!”  She ground the barrel into his forehead.  His smirk only widened.

“Let him go.”  Kaidan took hesitant steps toward her.  “Give me the gun.”

“Tell me why you want the money.” She leaned her weight into the gun. “Tell me!”

“You won’t kill me.”

“Hell I will!”  Her spittle sprayed in his face.

“Kill me, worse things will happen.” He stared her cold in the eyes. “If I don’t have the reins, then no one does.”

“Reins to what?”

Kaidan put a hand over her pistol.  She tore it out from under his touch.

“Back off!”  She shoved him sideways with a biotic pulse.

He stumbled backward, but it didn’t deter him.  “Don’t make me stop you.”

“All bark, no bite, Councilor.”  Cicero’s lips pulled sharply into his cheeks.  “Let me go.  We both know how this ends.”

“You smug, condescending son of a bitch.”  He made her feel so small in her other life.  So weak.  Helpless.  Worthless.  She wouldn’t let him make her feel small in this one.  “You don’t think I’ll do it?  You want some bite?”

Sideways Part 4

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Chapter 26:

Rose Petals~

Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war

Pairing: FemShep/Kaidan Alenko

Rating: Mature

Available: AO3 (beginning, new chapter)

Summary:

Shepard, a paragon for galactic peace and devoted family woman, wakes up in another timeline. War-torn, brutal, and hurting toward destruction, it’s a timeline formed by renegade decisions.

To see her family again, she’ll need to do the impossible before time runs out. Powerful enemies and dangerous secrets stand in her way, but the alternative is worse than death.

She refocused on Kaidan. He was frowning at her hands. Diamonds caught the light, and she dropped her hands quickly. She hadn’t realized she was twirling the bracelet on her wrist. 

She turned to the door behind her, but he was already crossing the room.

“Well, I’ve got to …” She reached for the door’s button.

Kaidan caught her wrist. The biotic tingle of his touch sent a wave of emotion rolling in her chest.  

“Hell, Shepard,” he whispered and looked her in the eyes. “Is this from him?”

“It’s none of your business.” She tried to yank her hand away, but he held on with a light touch. 

“He gave this to you?”  

“Mind your own—”  

Kaidan’s thumb rubbed across the yellowing bruises on her wrist, and her voice caught.  The diamond bracelet hung limp on her arm like nothing more than background static to him.  His touch was gentle on the discolored skin.

“Let me see your neck.” He reached to move the hair off her neck.  

She almost pulled away, but she longed to feel the light tingle of his fingertips on her throat. It was gone faster than it came, and then he was backing away.

“At least, that …” he murmured, indicating her throat.

Cicero had never put his hands around her neck. He’d never even once feigned trying to choke her. He was rough, but not homicidal.

“Are you …” Kaidan sought for the words. “Is he hurting you? Restraining you without consent?”

“You should see his bruises.” Shepard pulled her sleeve down into her palm and over the bruised wrist. She felt naked and exposed suddenly.

Kaidan must have felt awkward too. He rubbed the back of his neck and studied her. “I just … I want to make sure. You’re okay with him …” He searched for the word and spat it out like a bitter taste, “hurting you?”

“I am,” she said sharply. “I’m not some cowering house wife with a shiner and a story about tripping down the stairs. Don’t judge me.”

“I wasn’t. I was just … worried.” He shuffled back a step. “That was invasive though.  I’m sorry, Shepard.”

Despite the flush of embarrassment and anger, she felt the stirring of something else. A feeling of warmth blooming in her chest. He worried about her? No one worried about her. 

Sideways Part 4

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Chapter 25:

The Verdict

Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war

Pairing: FemShep/Kaidan Alenko

Rating: Mature

Available: AO3 (beginning, new chapter)

Summary:

Shepard, a paragon for galactic peace and devoted family woman, wakes up in another timeline. War-torn, brutal, and hurting toward destruction, it’s a timeline formed by renegade decisions.

To see her family again, she’ll need to do the impossible before time runs out. Powerful enemies and dangerous secrets stand in her way, but the alternative is worse than death.

“Need … real doctor.”  Kaidan’s head lolled to the side.  His eyes closed.

“Little late to go over my CV now.”  Quigley watched the time on the wall and dropped Kaidan’s wrist.

“Can you do anything for him?” Hackett studied Kaidan’s face with a pained frown.

“We have the whole Parliament waiting on this,” Cicero said idly.  “Again, the timing is impeccable.”

“Timing?”  Quigley pulled off the stethoscope around his neck.  “Was it really so impeccable?  Keep blowing into a balloon, it pops.  It only surprises those who aren’t watching.”

“Meaning, the stress of the trial was inevitable in dropping him?” Cicero chuckled.  “Perhaps.  Alenko was never resilient, even before the red sand.”

Quigley listened on his stethoscope a moment then frowned.  He curled it back around his neck and met Shepard’s eyes.  “They should go.”  Quigley turned his back to Cicero and Hackett, referring to them with a backward wave of his hand.  “They’re causing stress.”

Cicero snorted.  “Look at him.  He’s taking a nap.”

“I didn’t say for him.”  Quigley pulled a syringe out of a drawer. 

Sideways Part 4

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Chapter 23:

Deliberations

Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war

Pairing: FemShep/Kaidan Alenko

Rating: Mature

Available: AO3 (beginning, new chapter)

Summary:

Shepard, a paragon for galactic peace and devoted family woman, wakes up in another timeline. War-torn, brutal, and hurting toward destruction, it’s a timeline formed by renegade decisions.

To see her family again, she’ll need to do the impossible before time runs out. Powerful enemies and dangerous secrets stand in her way, but the alternative is worse than death.

Kaidan stared at the screen of ‘Tool. “Maybe things between the Federacy and the Alliance can be fixed.  The governors hold more individual power than the Federacy’s collective central power.  If they’re trying to contact me behind Rice’s back …”

Shepard checked the time on the wall.  “Call them.  Now.”

He followed her eyes to the clock.  “Break’s almost over.  Cicero will beat down that door.  And, I still feel … I don’t know.  I could say the wrong thing, make it worse.”

“They’re at war.  It can’t get worse.  Let me take care of Cicero.”

“Shepard.”  Kaidan touched her arm lightly to get her attention.  “If they tie me to the Federacy leaders, it will be conspiring with the enemy.  Treason.  A true traitor.”

“They’re already seeking capital punishment, Kaidan.  Can they do worse?”

“Sedition, misuse of authority, endangerment.  But conspiring with the enemy?  I don’t want traitor with a capital T on my epitaph.”

Shepard considered it. “I don’t want that either.” She snatched the Omni-Tool back from him.  “Let’s go out there and finish this.”

Kaidan didn’t move.  His eyes rested on Shepard’s fist curled around the Omni-Tool.

“Come on, Kaidan.  We better–”

“Wait.”  He seized her hand and took his Omni-Tool back.  “There’s a war.  A lot of people are going to die.  The Alliance could end up at the bottom.  That should matter more than my epitaph.  I’ll try it.”

“You’re sure?”

Kaidan nodded.  “Keep Cicero away.”

Shenko Hands

We’re good together.

Mass Effect: Rannoch

Just another day at the office …

@romanticallyterrible (300Polygons on Twitter, LeaRiley on AO3) surprised me with this gorgeous cover she made for my fShenko fic “Sideways”!

I can’t articulate how much it means to me to see the Shepards captured with this much care and thought. It’s crafted with so much detail and emotion!

Paragon Shep has her eyes wide opening, gazing upwards, at peace. Meanwhile, Renegade Shep is tormented, her eyes squeezed closed, and face turned down. I love the subtle freckles. The contrast between their hairstyles and expressions are perfect.

This artwork is breath taking, and I love it so much! I’m so honored that romanticallyterrible dedicated her talents to creating this amazing piece for my story.  Thank you!

Mass Effect: Geth Consensus