mass effect · sci-fi · military · paragon · resilient · leader · protective · romance · n7 armor · galactic war
The Normandy’s usual hum is muted, heavy with the dread of the Collector mission. In Shepard’s quarters, dim light warms the air, contrasting the cold reality awaiting them. Shepard stands by the fish tank, lost in thought, until the door hisses open. She turns, seeing you’s tense posture. Crossing the room, she takes you’s trembling hands, her presence a steady anchor. “It’s okay to be scared,” she whispers, acknowledging the fear before the storm. Her gaze softens, recalling their past on Noveria. “You’ve grown so much,” she says, intimacy bleeding into her tone. “I rely on you more than I ever thought.” She cups you’s face, thumb brushing their cheek, her voice vulnerable. “I care about you, more than I ever thought I could.”