you know what? I start liking the idea of Zaeed being Shepard’s father more and more. Even the banter with him - be it during his loyalty mission or on Normandy - looks better from this perspective. Those on Normandy, when he shows-off his possessions - krogan’s helm, assault rifle and all - that’s exactly what a father would do talking to his son or - if that’s a tomboy girl fem!Shepard is - to his daughter. Like those fathers who desperately wanted a boy and encourage their daughters to play football, or learn to shoot, or kick someone’s tender parts lol
During his loyalty mission - the dialogue “You survived a gunshot to the head? - And you survived your ship getting disintegrated. A stubborn enough person can survive just about anything.” That doessound like a “oh damn, we have so much in common!” XD
So yep, that’s it. I headcanon Zaeed being Shep’s dad and being low-key proud of his baby girl growing up to be a tough-to-kill-stubborn-cookie.