“The gentle knock of their helmets is all they get sometimes. A whispered “stay safe” or “thank god.” rasped from the suit comms. “I love you.” said so softly it might be an illusion to anyone else listening in. Layers of ceramic and polymer and carbon acting like skin (and Kaidan swears he can feel Shepard through all of it) as he pulls the black helmet towards his. And they stay like that for just a moment - unmoving, breathing together.
This was a man, dressed as a plant, making pigeon noises at people walking by. I said hello, asked if it was okay to take his picture, and then asked why he was dressed as a plant. He said, “I’m just working through some stuff. Thank you for asking. No ones asked yet.”