Chapter Text
Kaidan couldn’t help the grin that was spreading over his face as he looked over at Maric in the cockpit of their shuttle. It was still strange seeing Shepard with no scarring, only the gentle green glimmer of circuitry, but it was a sight worth getting used to.
The man was staring out the window and frowning, which wasn’t unusual in itself but the leg that wouldn’t stop bouncing was.
“Nervous Shepard? Don’t worry, my mom won’t bite.”
Maric paused, then turned to grin back at him, though the leg hadn’t stopped. “It's not your mom I’m worried about.”
“Then what are you…ah.”
Maric just raised an eyebrow.
“Charlie is gonna love you, just like he always did, Maric.”
Maric snorted. “Fuck, when did you get to be able to read me so well Kaidan?” He sighed, trying to relax in his chair. “I just wish Tali was here too.”
Kaidan nodded, then turned to input the commands to take them in for a landing. “I know what you mean Maric. It feels…strange not having her here, but with that business on Rannoch…”
The other marine waved off his concerns. They both knew the urgency that had accompanied the request for Tali’s return to her home planet. Maric almost wished to be with her, instead of going back to Kaidan’s family orchard. But he’d finally be able to see Charlie again. He swallowed nervously. What if Charlie didn’t recognise him? What if he hated him now? With the new…body, who knew what would happen?
Kaidan reached out and placed his hand on the other sentinel’s leg. “It’ll be okay Maric.” He chuckled. “Mom said she’d have some bourbon for you even. She knows how you feel about wine.”
Maric chuckled a wry grin in Kaidan’s direction and Kaidan’s heart skipped a beat. He still missed those gorgeous baby blues, but to have the man here with him, probably until the end of their days, well…that was worth it. He leant in to place a quick kiss on the man’s lips, pulling away when Maric threatened to deepen it on him.
“Come on, my mother’s waiting for us,” Kaidan rolled his eyes at his partner’s antics. He had already unclipped himself and was walking to the shuttle-door. Maric took a deep breath and then plastered his trademark smirk on, following the other biotic outside the shuttle.
He had a brief glance of Kaidan hugging his mother, when a flash of white came tearing from around the corner. The four little legs almost skidded as the small, solid dog ran directly to Maric.
And into him.
Falling to the ground with the small package of joy, Maric let Charlie happily licked and jumped around him. He didn’t mind the whiplash of the tail, or the accidental scratchings from the bull terrier’s paws. He was home. Charlie hadn’t forgotten him!
“See? Told you Charlie would remember you.” Kaidan smiled, then frowned. “Maric…are you crying? Are you alright?”
Shepard hadn’t even noticed, had assumed the liquid on his face was from the licks of his dog. Charlie remembered him. Even better, Charlie knew him! And it was stupid, but, the immediate acceptance from this little bundle of furry muscle had soothed him more than even the reassurances from his partners.
He was going to be alright.