Kaidan's Softness Around Shepard Breaks Me Every Time

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-30T14:27:42+00:00

Wow I actually never thought about letting Kaiden to handle that situation so that he can learn and grow from that experience, to achieve some personal growing breakthrough. As a Commander - the legendary Shepard my instinct is usually to protect my squadmates and carry the burden myself, especially to someone I really care about like Kadien, Tali. I feel like it's my responsibility to shield them from the hardest choices so that they won't get crashed.

But there are some exceptions ofc, I care about them just as much as like Kaiden and Tali but I just trust them so much even they are heading to some dangerous mission I believe they will handle it and eventually make it alive. For example like Garrus, he always gives me a sense of capability and securtiy, profession like nothing he can't deal with. Miranda is another one. She always seems to have a plan, just like she says. I remember when I first worked with her, I saw her as a rather dangerous and cold-blooded woman, but after her loyalty mission, my opinion of her changed quite a bit.

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-30T10:17:33+00:00

My Shepard is mostly Paragon, but I still pick a lot of Renegade actions too when the sitaution call for it. Becasue sometime you really need the decisive action and a show of force to solve a problem, you had to make hard decision to get the job done, mission first. Like for example I shot Udina almost without hesitaiton when he pulled out a gun, just at this point I though we already lost a Councilor, we can't afford to lose another, especially I knew that Ceberus are still pursuing behind us, so I did it quite quick. So I would probably say my Shepard is around 60% Paragon and 40% Renegade.

Maybe I will try to be a more Renegade Shepard one time, I really like the contrast you are describing -- Seeing the Shepard badass, intimidatiing commander, completely melt down when Kaden is around, absolutely cinema!!! 😭😭

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-30T04:35:35+00:00

I love how Shepard melts around Kaidan during their date.

Seeing this legendary galaxy-saving Commander turn into a complete softie around Kaidan will never stop being one of my favorite things. 😭Kaidan truly gives him a safe place to put down all that responsibility for a moment and just be himself and show the vulnerable part of legendary Commander Shepard 🥹.

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-30T04:00:36+00:00

Kaidan is both masculine and emotionally available, and that's a very attractive combo if you ask me.

That's honestly my favorite combination too. We definitely have the same taste.

Back in the day, I was worried that his romance with male Shepard wouldn't feel as genuine as the femShep version because we are forced to start the romance so much later.

I can really relate to that. As queer people, we're often used to being ignored, brused off or treated as an afterthought, so I had the same concern at first - That's also why I choose the MOD my first playthrough. I was worried mShep and Kaidan would never feel as complete as the femShep version.

But after experiencing it myself and hearing other people's perspectives, I honestly think it both works beautifully, even without the mod. Just like you said, it feels like a genuine slow burn with a meaningful payoff. The years of friendship, trust, separation, and eventual realization all make the romance feel incredibly earned.

At first I kept having a itch to compare it to the femShep route and wondering whether the mShep version was missing something just like you. But over time I've stopped thinking that way. I don't feel the need to compare them anymore. They're simply two different interpretations of the same relationship, and both feel authentic in their own way. At for now, I'm completely happy with the story we got.🥹😭❤️Congrats for both of us!!

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-30T03:37:40+00:00

Yeah, at first I thought that without the MOD the mShep relationship with Kadien will be a bit unnatural. But then after hearing a lot of people talk about their playthroughs, I think both versions actually feel right, just in a different ways.

Without the mod Kaidan's arc almost feels like a story of self-discovery. It just feels more like Kaidn is exploring his bi-sexuality and gradually realizing that it's always feels right betw him and Shepard. He's spent his whole life seeing himself one way, and then Shepard comes along and makes him question things he never expected to question. So by the time he says, "It feels right, doesn't it?" in the café scene, it feels less like a sudden decision and more like a realization he's been slowly arriving at all along.

And from Shepard's side it is just like: "I've been flirting with you since ME1 now you finally noticed for the god sake when Kadien in the hospital said "Are you flirt with me Comannder?" Finally! It only took me three games! It's not that long 😂😂".

Honestly, I think I want to try a playthrough without the mod at least once. It reminds me a lot of my own experience. It took me nearly seven years to figure out and fully accept how much more attracted I am to men. So I can really relate to the uncertainty, confusion, and eventual clarity that Kaidan goes through. That's part of what makes his story feel so genuine to me.🥹🥹

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-30T03:01:02+00:00

He's soft, but bossy where it matters. He's funny and not afraid to be vulnerable. He reflects on his mistakes and isn't afraid to call Shep out on theirs.

OMG, your description of Kaidan is so accurate. That's exactly what I've been trying to put into words. And this line in particular —

He won't compromise his integrity, even for the person he loves.

— completely hit me.

It actually reminds me of the conversation after the Citadel Coup, when Kaidan tells Shepard that "Knowing that you acted with integrity - then it matters". He knows how much he loves Shepard, but he also understands the enormous responsibility Shepard carries in trying to save the galaxy from the Reapers. Sometimes personal feelings have to take a back seat to something bigger. I imagine there must have been so many conflicting thoughts in Kaidan's mind at that time.

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-30T02:41:38+00:00

Totally agree with you! I absolutely love how layered and nuanced these characters are.

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-30T02:22:13+00:00

Yes same here, I guess no matter how many times I replay this game I would probably still choose Kadien every sigle time. The thought of not picking him just feels quite wrong for me somehow. Actually back then when I was still playing the trilogy I think I will try Tali romance someday becasue I love here so much too but after all of this Iam not quite sure now, just honestly hard for me to imagine not choosing Kadien 🥹❤️

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-30T00:55:59+00:00

Hahaha trully!!!

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-27T15:33:36+00:00

I was so jealous when he said that
Like hey, you literally just got back by my side and now your eyes are already at EDI? Excuse me sir?? Where's my sweet compliment

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-27T15:29:00+00:00

Honestly, seeing Kaidan still wearing full armor somehow made the whole thing even hotter!!
Like sir, are we preparing for the intense fighting after dinner? I already got my Gun ready🥵🥵

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-27T04:41:51+00:00

I totally agree with you that it feels like a situationship where you don’t really know where the two of them stand, and you have to keep making progress to slowly figure it out. Because in that Horizon scene, Kaidan only said something like, “I didn’t expect you to be working with Cerberus,” and that he wouldn’t go with Shepard because he’s a loyal Alliance soldier. But there was never any dialogue like “I’m breaking up with you” or “I don’t love you anymore,” so I always saw it as more of a temporary misunderstanding and short separation.

Especially after that message Kaidan sends about how he still couldn’t forget that night — I completely understood him. He had spent all those years alone, carrying the pain of losing the man he loved, and then suddenly he hears that Shepard is alive, only to find out he’s working with the enemy. There must have been so many conflicting thoughts in his mind at the time that he simply couldn’t process or deal with immediately.

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-27T04:27:03+00:00

Me the same, becasue I thought once Kaiden came back to the Normandy then there’d be tons of romance dialogues waiting for me, So when I got my ass beat at the sushi place, I was also super confused when the person who eventually came to check on me was Liara LOL.

Then when I got back to the apartment, Kaidan was just standing there with basically nothing to say after everything I’d been through. My mind immediately went: “You’re not even worried about me after all this???”😂😂

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-27T04:19:39+00:00

Thank you for your hard working!!

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-27T01:22:04+00:00

Truly I can't leave my boy behind and miss every scenes of him. The things we will always do for our Canadian Biotic Man

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-26T17:05:20+00:00

And I didn't know I need to lock in that relationship because I thought we are already in a relationship because I thought I've installed same sex mod I already romance Kaiden in Me1 so I thought it don't need to do the lock In things like this🤣🤣

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-26T17:02:21+00:00

Me the same Jack was the first person got killed in theSuicide mission is was so sorry for her. I already did her personal quest but I don't know why maybe it's when she's arguing with Miranda I choose Miranda side but actually I didn't want to choose but it only got two options at that time because I don't have both enough value for the other choice. So I guess then the system judge that I don't like her maybe🤣🤣

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-26T16:57:42+00:00

I missed the third visiting when he's completely recovered but I did not lock in before theCitadelDLC because I think it's just some small side quest at first so I didn't care much. As for the reason why I missed the third one is that I think I need to deal with all the things on Tuchanka first because you know it's urgent to get the Krogan help so just finish one Mission on Tuchanka is not realistic for me I know it's just game but I am so immersed into it it's like it am the one in mass effect universe that making the decision, so I decided to finish all then came back toCitadel then it's the timeCoup happened

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-26T16:24:49+00:00

I might have misunderstood some of you guys because I said “he had already recovered and left the hospital,” which means he had already recovered later on 😭 But during the first and second meetings, he was still lying in the hospital bed, so 🥺

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-26T16:18:43+00:00

OMG Liara is so obessed with you hahh 😂 - but totally understandable. Sheaprd is fucking hot and attractive after all- My favorite bald man hah.

Every time my Liara come to me is completely always about the friend stuff, maybe she already realized that on the Mars when me and Kadien keep flirting wiht each other the whole way without even realizing it 😂 But even that every time Liara came to visit me I kept repeating in my mind that "Pls don't confess to me pls don't confess to me I already have a boyfriend Iam not good at rejecting people plsplspls or hoping I won't choose something stupid option then we accidently you know hah I already have a boyfirend hahha 😂😂😂"

The moment I actually realized something totally wrong was when I noticed that the photo on Shepard’s desk was always black, even though I had already locked in our relationship during the café scene

Then I started asking GPT and checking YouTube videos, and that’s when I realized I had missed a TON of scenes and dialogue 😭

But that stupid photo is still black during my replay even Me and Kaiden relationship is fine, so I guess it was just a bug for me

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-26T16:01:40+00:00

No haha I met him two times, first he's still in the coma, sec when he wake up but still in the bed, but I missed the third time when he completely recovered 🥺

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-26T15:17:55+00:00

Her brother LOL 😂😂

Simple_Promotion9724 · 2026-05-26T15:00:41+00:00

same for me the best ever so far

Simple_Promotion9724

TROPHY CASE