[ TOO LATE, he's zapped away with the tell-tale boom of displaced air, and within five minutes, the sound comes again, this time distinctly closer, his biotics making him a beacon even in the cloud of gas. ]
I'm here. [ Holding a surplus of plastic bags with sterile gasmasks inside, no less. ]
I can't believe you just charged through a hall full of --
[ He was running out of air, so he took a moment, to grab one of the bags quickly, efficiently, not event taking the time to grunt out a thank you, before he strapped it on --
And breathed. God, okay, that was better. A lot less trouble. And then he could actually take a moment, to look him over, lip twitched with the ghost of a smile. ]
[ He steps forward to check him with his shoulder pauldron, but gently, conscious of how hard his armor is against Kaidan's clothing. Shepard's own expression isn't so visible, not with the eerie helmet on, but Kaidan knows him well enough by now to hear the smile in his voice, before it becomes serious again, once he's satisfied that Kaidan's put the mask on and isn't trying so hard just to breathe. ]
We need to keep moving. There's still plenty of people to get out of here. Armstrong says Mustang's setting up a medical center to the north of here.
[ He breathed. Finally, he could close his eyes, and take deep pulls, for long enough to get his head wrapped back around sanity, before he reached out, to knock his knuckles against Shepard's shoulder, before he turned in that direction. ]
Right. We should -- has anyone -- anyone we know gotten hurt yet? [ Best to start with that. ]
[ A bit bashful, at that. He'd been more stubborn than he'd intended, but the machine inside of Jaime had been... well --
He didn't know what to think of the Khaji-Da. Better than he'd thought at first, a lot more reasonable than the being who'd tried to kill him, when he met him in a dream. ]
I've been doing the same -- get any imports who're hurting themselves, or anyone else. They're the ones I'm worried about.
[ Even through the mask, the look Shepard gives him is not impressed, but like Kaidan, he knows where their focus needs to be. ]
No telling when this gas is going to disperse, so evacuating's our only option right now. Wish we had imPorts with the power to just... purify the air, or something.
[ He laughed, a bit bitterly, and shook his head. ]
I'm pretty sure if I did, I wouldn't be seeing my partner, I'd be looking at something a lot scarier. [ He pressed a hand, to his shoulder, and held it there. ]
I worked something out. I promise, at the first sight of trouble I would've -- I wouldn't jeopardize anyone, you know that.
[ It doesn't stop him from worrying, any more than it stops Kaidan from worrying when Shepard has arguably survived many things that ordinary humans couldn't... ]
The sooner we can wrap this up, the sooner we can go home. Let's get back to work.
[ Impulsively and quickly, Shepard leans in, pressing their foreheads briefly together. Their gear stops it from getting too far, meeting with an almost gentle click. ]
no subject
Can you make it over to the west exit? Looks like Olivier came prepared. She had gas masks and everything.
no subject
I can --
[ A hiss. ] It'll be a few, but I might be able to get over there.
no subject
If you can tell me where you are, I can bring it to you. It'll be faster.
[ Aren't biotic charges great? ]
no subject
[ A pause, the tell-tale pings of his omnitool, while he tried to get his bearings. ]
South, east section.
How're you going to get here so -- [ No, wait. ] Shepard, I'm not sure that's a good... idea --
no subject
[ TOO LATE, he's zapped away with the tell-tale boom of displaced air, and within five minutes, the sound comes again, this time distinctly closer, his biotics making him a beacon even in the cloud of gas. ]
I'm here. [ Holding a surplus of plastic bags with sterile gasmasks inside, no less. ]
no subject
[ He was running out of air, so he took a moment, to grab one of the bags quickly, efficiently, not event taking the time to grunt out a thank you, before he strapped it on --
And breathed. God, okay, that was better. A lot less trouble. And then he could actually take a moment, to look him over, lip twitched with the ghost of a smile. ]
Looking out for me as always, Commander.
no subject
[ He steps forward to check him with his shoulder pauldron, but gently, conscious of how hard his armor is against Kaidan's clothing. Shepard's own expression isn't so visible, not with the eerie helmet on, but Kaidan knows him well enough by now to hear the smile in his voice, before it becomes serious again, once he's satisfied that Kaidan's put the mask on and isn't trying so hard just to breathe. ]
We need to keep moving. There's still plenty of people to get out of here. Armstrong says Mustang's setting up a medical center to the north of here.
no subject
[ He breathed. Finally, he could close his eyes, and take deep pulls, for long enough to get his head wrapped back around sanity, before he reached out, to knock his knuckles against Shepard's shoulder, before he turned in that direction. ]
Right. We should -- has anyone -- anyone we know gotten hurt yet? [ Best to start with that. ]
no subject
Hard to say. I've run into the Blue Beetle, but I've been focusing on taking the civilians out first, so I haven't really been looking.
no subject
Tried to get me to stay outside.
[ A bit bashful, at that. He'd been more stubborn than he'd intended, but the machine inside of Jaime had been... well --
He didn't know what to think of the Khaji-Da. Better than he'd thought at first, a lot more reasonable than the being who'd tried to kill him, when he met him in a dream. ]
I've been doing the same -- get any imports who're hurting themselves, or anyone else. They're the ones I'm worried about.
no subject
[ Even through the mask, the look Shepard gives him is not impressed, but like Kaidan, he knows where their focus needs to be. ]
No telling when this gas is going to disperse, so evacuating's our only option right now. Wish we had imPorts with the power to just... purify the air, or something.
You didn't breathe any of it in, did you?
no subject
[ He laughed, a bit bitterly, and shook his head. ]
I'm pretty sure if I did, I wouldn't be seeing my partner, I'd be looking at something a lot scarier. [ He pressed a hand, to his shoulder, and held it there. ]
I worked something out. I promise, at the first sight of trouble I would've -- I wouldn't jeopardize anyone, you know that.
no subject
[ It doesn't stop him from worrying, any more than it stops Kaidan from worrying when Shepard has arguably survived many things that ordinary humans couldn't... ]
The sooner we can wrap this up, the sooner we can go home. Let's get back to work.
no subject
[ A pause. ]
You're right, who knows how many people still need help but -- [ A pause. ] I'm glad you're okay, Shepard.
no subject
I'm glad you're okay, too. Be careful out there.
[ And off he goes. ]