Shenko
Kaidan Alenko/Shepard
The biotic lieutenant from the original Normandy crew is one of Mass Effect's first romances and its most fraught: Horizon's confrontation, the accusation on Mars, and the gunpoint standoff at the Citadel coup all test the bond before it can heal. Kaidan's trilogy-long arc from subordinate to equal gives the romance real scar tissue. His male Shepard option in ME3 made Shenko an M/M cornerstone too.
What is Shenko?
Shenko is the fan-given name for the romantic pairing of Kaidan Alenko and Shepard from Mass Effect. With over 5,000 works on Archive of Our Own, it's one of the most popular ships in the fandom.
Why fans love Shenko
Three games of doubt, betrayal, and one rooftop sanity check later, he still says you make him feel human.
Most Popular Shenko Fanfics
The highest-rated Shenko stories on AO3, ranked by kudos.
Four Years Later
Completeby orphan_account
Four years after the events of Mass Effect 3, Kaidan finds Shepard at the Citadel, brushing dust off of his sleeves and carefully stacking a box of fish food on the shelves above him.
You've Got Mail!
Completeby Loethlin
In the aftermath of Horizon, Shepard is stressed out and sad. Normandy's crew is trying to take care of her, in quite a roundabout way.
Downtown Eastside
Completeby Lemon (lemon_sprinkles)
There are three rules to a one-night stand: Wear a condom, don't stay longer than necessary, and most importantly, don't get attached. Too bad Shepard was never one for following all the rules. In fair Vancouver, where we lay our scene... Featuring artwork from the amazing Dakotaliar! (Chapter 1)Fea
Shepard Sees the Sky
Completeby orangeflavor
"'Garrus…' 'You can't tell me you haven't thought about it before. Getting her back.'" - Garrus and Kaidan finally get down to the barebones of loving Commander Shepard when they think she isn't listening. Hint: she is.
WARM UP
Completeby spicyshimmy
Set during Mass Effect 1. Kaidan and Shepard get snowed in on Noveria, and biotics run hot. When the carburetor started failing them, it was only a matter of time before the planet’s unfriendly temperature—just one of the hostiles they were dealing with—started to freeze the fuel.
HEAVY FIRE
Completeby spicyshimmy
Actually based on the merc!Shepard and Spectre!Alenko prompt on the kinkmeme. Earthborn Shepard never makes it into the Alliance. Merc life suits him just fine, as does teaming up with C-Sec officer Garrus Vakarian every now and then. And then he meets Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, poster boy for doing
THE STEPS AND THE SHORE
Completeby spicyshimmy
When Shepard died the first time, Cerberus specialists implanted a graybox in his brain—and, when it was destroyed by the blast on the Citadel, his memories of the year since his resurrection were destroyed along with it. Kaidan keeps his distance in order to keep Shepard from feeling trapped by the
30 Day Pairing Porn Challenge
Completeby DashRenders (Cydney)
A challenge taken on Tumblr; a 30 Day OTP NSFW challenge. Only, because I'm cruel to myself, I decided to make it 30 different pairings instead. Updated as they're produced.
Break of Dawn
Completeby comefeedtherainn
When Kaidan Alenko met John Shepard, he'd like to say that their eyes met and it was all inevitable from there. The thing was, John was kind of an ass. And Kaidan was kind of stubborn.
She Who Walks Alone
by skyelyr_shepard
Love is a pleasure Shepard has denied herself, for her sake and the sake of those closest to her. This doesn't stop them from loving her anyway. "She Who Walks Alone" is a collection of thoughts from those who knew her the best and—more importantly—loved her the most. Currently featuring Garrus, Lia
The Difference between the Sea and the Sky
Completeby bagog
Commander Shepard is a legend: First Human Spectre, Hero of the Citadel, Savior of the Galaxy. In the middle of the war, he finds he'd rather be less legend and more human. Stealing time between missions to build a relationship, neither he nor Kaidan can imagine how much their time together will aff
Sonata
Completeby swaps55
After the Battle of the Citadel, the Alliance calls the Normandy home to Vancouver to face an inquest. Things get...complicated. On every possible level. Especially when Kaidan discovers an unfortunate misunderstanding with his parents. ~“Have to admit though,” Shepard says, swallowing the rest of h
Aftermath
Completeby Scutter
The galaxy tries to find the way forward, in the wake of the destruction of the reapers.Post-ME3, destroy ending, but completely ignores the whole ‘destroy all synthetics’ thing. Basically, the reapers are destroyed and everyone else lives. Also assumes that Kaidan and Male Shepard had a romantic re
Your mama’s got plans and your daddy’s aim is true
Completeby storm_petrel
There was no Alliance manual for trying to drag two trillion people fighting and screaming through absolute certain death, and there was nothing about what to do when you unexpectedly got spat out on the other side, either. And there was *definitely* nothing about what to do if your hot, older-than-
Sentinel
by Tovaras
Kaidan’s life has never been easy. BAaT nearly drove him to madness, life after was a struggle, but now… Now he is ready. For whatever life tosses at him. Or so he thinks.
A Land Not Mine
Completeby theprosefool
After being dead for two years, there’s only one person Shepard wants to see. So he writes a letter.
forged in blue fire
by Lunarflare14
You would think having your soul mate's name appear on your body on your eighteenth birthday would make it simple and clear cut.Nothing in John's life has ever been that simple.
A Mess You'd Wear With Pride
Completeby wook77
Desperate times call for desperate measures and there isn't much more desperate than a Reaper Invasion. Anderson does what he has to and so does Kaidan.
Long Train Runnin'
Completeby captainshakespear
Shepard is just some guy Kaidan sees sometimes on the subway home from work, all the way up until he isn't.
Let Your Mercy Spill
Completeby Niki
I think I was just hit with some sort of... alien aphrodisiac. And that's how Major Kaidan Alenko found himself on a medically sanctioned mission to fuck the Commander's brains out. Literally.
Best Shenko Fanfic Rec Lists
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Shenko mean?
Shenko is the ship name (portmanteau or nickname) for the pairing of Kaidan Alenko and Shepard. It's used by fans to tag and search for fanfiction featuring this relationship.
How many Shenko fics are on AO3?
There are over 5,000 Shenko fanfiction works on Archive of Our Own.
How can I read Shenko fanfiction on my phone?
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