#but vehn still notices the hateful glares they give them from time to time but its alright

[wis121178]

I have a mini submas au in my head where after ingo's disappearance, they hired a new guy to essentially fill ingo's spot so the battle subway can keep running. Everyone low-key hates their guts for what they represent but they know they need them there.

[jozstankovich]

One Hell of a Party

@machatnoir gave me another great prompt and I just hope I’ve done it justice.  The idea was hers, I just put it into words.  ^^

It was nearing a week since the Archon had been defeated, and against Reyes’ better judgement he was still on Meridian.  Keema kept pestering him about when he was planning on returning to Kadara, but he kept putting her off.

The golden world was admittedly breathtaking, but that wasn’t the reason he hadn’t left yet.  No, for Reyes Vidal the allure of Meridian was Ves Ryder, and after everything the Pathfinder had been through - all the dangers and near death experiences, Reyes would be damned if he didn’t get to spend a little time with his girlfriend before returning to the Collective.

During the days the Initiative kept Ryder so busy he could only steal her away for a few moments at a time, but her nights were his, and his alone.  

Reyes was lounging on Ves’ bed aboard the Tempest watching her angrily pace the length of her quarters and back.  She was in the middle of a heated venting session; talking rather animatedly with her hands.  The topic of her ire was, as usual, Tann and Addison. 

“I can’t stand them!” she growled vehemently.  “I defeated the Archon and all I get is a pat on the head and a good job Ves, but now it’s Ves do this, or Ves your job’s not done yet!  I’m tired of them running me around like I’m their trained monkey!”  She threw her hands up and groaned loudly.

As she stomped over close to the bed Reyes caught her wrist before she could get away and pulled her down into his lap.  “You need to relax cariña.”

 She let out a loud huff and Reyes was sure she was about to argue, but her shoulders sagged and she collapsed back against his chest.  “I’m sorry, all I’ve done lately is complain.  I don’t know why you put up with me.”

“Because, believe it or not, I like you.”  Reyes chuckled, squeezing her tightly.

Ves sighed delightedly and reveled in the strength of his arms around her.  When he loosened his grip and nudged her forward she made a small whimper of disappointment.  However once he began massaging her shoulders the pout on her face disappeared.

“Oh god that feels good,” she moaned, melting under Reyes’ touch.  After a moment she stiffened and swore under her breath.

“What’s wrong?”  Reyes asked, but didn’t stop his ministrations on her muscles, digging his thumb into a particularly tight knot.

“I just remembered something,” she groaned.

“And what’s that?” Reyes murmured, leaning in to brush a kiss against the curve of her neck.

“Tann is throwing a party tomorrow night and he expects me to be there.”

“A party, huh?  Could be fun.”  He tilted his head to kiss the other side of her neck; her slight squirm against him was his reward.

“Reyes you know I hate parties.  It’s going to be awkward and boring and ohmygod you should see the dress Addison wants me to wear.  It’s this floor length satin gown that I just know I’m going to trip on.  Oh it’s going to be awful,” Ves cried with disgust.

“I’m sure you’ll look lovely cariña,” Reyes murmured trying to soothe her sour mood.

Ves spun around to look him in the eye.  “I wouldn’t hate it so much if you were to come with me.”

Reyes hesitated.  “You know I’d love to, but I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”  The Pathfinder pouted, looking up at him with pleading puppy dog eyes.  He persisted however.  “I’ve already gotten some strange looks.  Everyone is trying to figure out just who I am.  I don’t want to make things worse for you if they realize their Pathfinder is sleeping with an exile.”

Ves huffed, frowning.  “I don’t give a shit what they think,” she exclaimed.

“Ves.”

When she realized her tactic wasn’t going to work she shrugged and turned back around. “Fine.  No more sex then.”

Reyes made a strangled sound in his throat.  “Alright alright, you win.  I will go with you to this party,” he groaned.

Ves however perked up immediately, laughing delightedly.  “Oh good, I’m so glad you changed your mind!”

Reyes’ groan turned to a growl.  “You’re evil, you know that?”  She just shrugged and threw a smirk at him over her shoulder.  “I’ve half a mind to punish you for that little stunt you know.”  The dark look in his golden brown eyes coupled with his wolfish grin sent a shiver down her spine.

“I don’t think I’d mind,” she fired back with a sly grin of her own.

There was one thing that Reyes had been right about and it was that Ves looked absolutely lovely in the dress that Addison had picked out.  Although nothing he could say would make her believe this.  Every time she caught her reflection she would grumble about being too thin.  Reyes swore he even caught her mutter something about having the sex appeal of one of Lexi’s hypodermic needles.  He shook his head with amused exasperation and wound his arm around her slim waist, pulling her closer.  

The action had the desired effect because Ves looked up at him and smiled.  She leaned in to give him a small kiss on the cheek before they walked into the party.

Director Tann was watching the entrance and wringing his hands, but once he caught sight of the Pathfinder his large eyes relaxed.

“Ryder, I’m glad you made it!” was code for I half expected you not to show up.  Ves forced a grin and Tann turned his focus onto Reyes, eyeing him warily.  “I’m afraid I don’t know your date’s name.”

“Reyes Vidal.”  He introduced himself, shaking the salarian’s hand.

“Vidal… ah yes, the pilot who came to our aid during the battle for Meridian.”

“One and the same.”

“And how exactly do you know the Pathfinder?”

Reyes opened his mouth to deliver a smooth lie, but Ves barreled on ahead of him.  “Reyes was the Resistance contact who helped me get to Vehn Terev.”

“O-oh,” Tann stuttered.  “You’re from Kadara?” which actually meant So you’re an exile?

Reyes cleared his throat and threw a glare at Ves.  The Pathfinder grimaced.  Oops she mouthed.  Luckily just then Kesh appeared at Tann’s side to tell him he was needed elsewhere.  

“Ah, I’m afraid duty calls.  Ryder, I expect you to make the rounds tonight.  There are some important people I want to introduce you to.”  And with that he moved onto another cluster of guests.

“Thank you,” Ves exclaimed to Kesh whose deep laugh rumbled through her.

“You’re very welcome.  Try to enjoy yourself Ryder.”  The krogan winked at her before moving away.

Ves looked around the room nervously.  “Let’s go get a drink,” Reyes suggested, holding out his arm for her to take.

“A drink sounds like a good idea right now,” Ves gasped and clutched at his arm, pulling him toward the bar.  

Reyes ordered two whiskeys and Ves downed hers in one shot.  He raised an eyebrow at her, but thought better of the remark he had ready on his tongue.

“Hey Reyes, do you wanna know a secret?”  She suddenly giggled and leaned over to whisper in his ear and Reyes flashed a grin back, intrigued.

“Tell me.”

Ves bit her bottom lip playfully and lifted the hem of her dress, revealing a pair of worn combat boots instead of dress shoes.  Reyes threw his head back and laughed.  She let her skirt fall and leaned against his shoulder, shaking with silent laughter.

“Only you would be so bold, Vanessa Ryder.”  Reyes rolled his eyes, grinning.

“Addison would pitch a fit if she knew.”

Without warning Foster Addison descended on the Pathfinder as if her confession about her footwear had summoned the woman.  “There you are Ryder!  You need to come with me.”  The director of colonial affairs proceeded to snatch her away, presumably to talk with important party guests.  Reyes helplessly watched her go.  Her wide eyed plea for help made him feel guilty, but she knew this was going to be expected of her.

Reyes decided to meander over to the general area the Pathfinder had gone and began to scan the crowd collecting bits of information from the snippets of conversation he overheard as he passed.  With Ves finally back in sight he leaned back against the wall to sip at his drink.   The Pathfinder was being introduced to a group of angara and she looked extremely nervous.  Reyes barely noticed when a turian with white markings took up a spot next to him, until he spoke.  “So that’s the human Pathfinder, huh?”

Reyes glanced at him and then nodded.  “That’s her.”

“I’ve heard some amazing stories about her.  I wonder if they’re true,” the turian mused.

“Most likely,” Reyes snorted.  “She’s quite tenacious.”

The turian watched her with a dreamy look on his face that made Reyes suddenly feel a twinge of jealousy.  Hadn’t Ves once mentioned that one of her more serious exes had been a turian?  Did that mean she had a thing for them?  The smuggler frowned, feeling just the tiniest bit insecure.  

“You seem to know a bit about her.”  The turian’s tone was conversational, but Reyes was already on edge.  “Tell me, is she single by any chance?”  

At this Reyes bristled and his voice came out harder than intended.  “No such luck I’m afraid.  I’ve heard Ryder’s in a rather serious relationship with someone already.”

“Damn.  Figures.”  The turian sighed before nodding to Reyes and ambling away.

Reyes exhaled slowly and took a sip of whiskey in an attempt to calm his aggravated nerves.  Over the rim of his glass he noticed a small cluster of people nearby talking in hushed tones.  He caught some of their conversation and moved closer to hear more.

“That’s Ryder?  The human Pathfinder?  I imagined her to look, I dunno, different.”

“Yeah, I know right?  I find it hard to believe a tiny slip of a thing like her could take out so many kett, not to mention the Archon.”

“She’s really not much to look at, if you ask me.  So plain and thin.”

“You know she was only made Pathfinder after Alec Ryder died.  Apparently he bypassed the chain of command in doing so.  She shouldn’t even be Pathfinder.”

The flippant remarks coming from these people that didn’t even know her made Reyes’ blood boil.  “How can you stand there and hurl such insults at a woman who not only destroyed the Archon, but made a successful first contact with the angara, and braved the Remnant vaults to make the golden worlds golden again?  She’s the reason you’re all probably out of cryo already on this gorgeous planet and you have the audacity to criticize her looks?” he asked incredulously.

The group turned to regard him with wide eyes and open mouths at his tirade.  Reyes was trying to reign in his emotions, but the whole thing just tipped him over the edge.  If they’d been on Kadara, these people may have ended up dead for the cruel things they’d said.  Perhaps not right away, but eventually they’d all die of mysterious circumstances.  A few of them stuttered apologies and excuses, but Reyes was done.  He needed to be away.

He pushed through them and strode over to Ves who was now blessedly alone again.  She opened her mouth to greet him, but Reyes spun her into his arms and dipped her low for a dramatic kiss, literally sweeping her off her feet and taking her breath away.  He kissed her so thoroughly that when he brought her upright again it took a moment for her to register what had just happened, her heart was beating a hundred miles an hour.

“What are you doing?” she hissed looking around the room quickly.  There were several people watching them and Ves’ face turned bright red.  “Reyes Vidal you better have a good reason for that, or I swear I’ll strangle you in your sleep!”  She proceeded to smack his arm as hard as she could.

Reyes just pulled her in close.  “Ves, I have a million good reasons for kissing you, but right now the only reason that matters is that I wanted to,” his voice husky.

The way he looked at her made all thoughts of the other people in the room disappear and Ves found herself smiling despite the burning in her cheeks.  “I guess that’s a good enough reason,” she muttered.

“Are you done here Pathfinder?”  Reyes asked cheekily.  “Because honestly I think it’s time for us to return to the Tempest, and damn the rest of the party.”

Ves nodded enthusiastically, a large grin splitting her face.  “Oh god yes, let’s get the hell out of here!”