John's Routine.

(Fanfic for Starfleetspectre. Pairing is Mshenko.)

Step One: Waking Up.

Shepard slowly wakes up to the feeling of the sun hitting hit face through the screen window. He instantly smiles at the sight of a certain biotic major snuggling with him with his arms locked around his waist. Shepard props his chin on his elbow as he runs his fingers through his boyfriend's hair. He suddenly sees the other man's eyes blink open as he takes a morning yawn. A morning kiss is shared, an instinctive morning ritual. The two men then take a quick shower, last night's passing washing off their bodies.

Step Two: Breakfast.

Kaidan always took it upon himself to cook breakfast, given the fact that the commander burns everything he "cooks". He always comes up with a good reason for the flaw. Kaidan's favorite was "I'm out of my element here. Now if I were shooting it.." Thank god he didn't. Sitting at the table, one next to the other, enjoying their breakfast with their varren, Shock Top, looking at her owners with a pleading look for scraps. Shock would immediately begin to devour the plate's contents as soon as the plates made contact with the floor. The pet would give a bark of satisfaction and approval to the men, getting a pat on the head in return.

Step Three: Walking The "Dog".

The thought of having a varren walking the neighborhood streets of Vancouver was rather unsettling at first. Wrex had to admire how well Shock Top adjusted to modern human life, as did Kaidan and Shepard. John has a red collar with a retractable leash attached as they make their morning walk down the neighborhood. Shock would do what all other actual dogs would: Go do their business on the grass, no one dared pick up whatever godawful...thing the Tuchanka beast had left behind. Luckily VI's don't complain. The walk takes thirty minutes, twenty if they don't run into any cats. Shock still had a fascination with felines. Returning home, John takes off the leash and collar and Shock Top makes her way to the cushion in front of the couch for a nap.

Step Three: Grocery Shopping.

The couple enjoyed making the trip to the grocery store down town. Kids running up to the first human spectre with a million questions. Did he destroy a reaper up close? Did he destroy the collector base? Was he friends with a Prothean? The kids would help, with their parents permission of course, with carrying the groceries into their car happily as their heroes continued to answer their questions.

Step Four: Dinner.

"The foods of his people" as Kaidan always called it, was usually consisting of steak. John would never be able to fathom the man's affinity of steak. It was with dinner at least four of fives times a week. Not that Shepard minded, much less complain. Man did the major make one hell of a steak. With a beer in each hand, it was the perfect combination for every dinner. Finishing their plates, Shepard snakes his arms around the other man's waist as he washed their dishes with his head on his shoulder. Once that was finished, they made their way to the living room for TV. Shock Top with the remote in her mouth and tail wagging.