Title: Survivor
Fandom: Mass Effect
Rating: PG
Length: 128
Pairing: Kaidan Alenko/male Shepard (pre-relationship)
Content notes: Spoilers for the opening scene of Mass Effect 2. Canon character death.
Author notes: This takes place not long after the opening scene of Mass Effect 2, prior to any acknowledged relationship between Kaidan and Shepard. It is Kaidan's voice.
Summary: No way to say goodbye.

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I can't sleep. Closing my eyes, I'm back there.

One last escape pod... Joker gasping that he's fine.

Shepard won't be. Only his hard suit and helmet between him and the empty vacuum of space... and it's venting air. Comm link open, his last moments are all too public. A last gasp... then silence.

The nightmare replays whenever I try to sleep. But sometimes it's me.

It should have been me. The galaxy needs him. I need him.

I don't know how to go on alone. Too much was left unsaid between us. Waiting for the right moment. There'd always be tomorrow, right?

Until there isn't.

I wake up screaming, or trying to scream but unable to make a sound. Space would be like that... silent.

Airless.

Alone.

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