#we came close with Sam Ryder. people liked him. he had a great voice. the song was catchy enough to stand out. the performance was FUN

[paverics]

“why doesn’t the u.k just send adele, or something?” is my least favourite eurovision argument and it only ever comes from people who fundamentally don’t understand eurovision

it’s not about who is more globally successful. it’s about who is most likeable, weirdest, sexiest, campiest, energetic, memorable, entertaining, moving, fun. who has the best vibes?

san marino sent fucking flo rida once and you know what happened? nobody gave a shit. they came 22nd. out of 26. it’s not about your achievements or success outside of eurovision

[ripley95]

To Be Someone With You

Rating: T

Pairing: f!Ryder/Reyes Vidal

Summary: When the fight for Meridian is won, Reyes is left wondering what Sara’s plans for the future are, and whether he has a place in them.

Read it on AO3

-

Sara huffed out a sigh of relief, glad to be done with the Nexus leaders. It had only been a few weeks since landing on Meridian, and yet they were still hounding her about something every chance they got. The most recent of which, was probably the most aggravating. They wanted her to choose a council member that would represent all of Andromeda. At least she could understand the importance of that, but she was more than a little upset that they were making the decision fall solely on her shoulders.

With that burden finally behind her, still a little perturbed by the interaction, she walked out into the habitation deck of the Hyperion. She could hear people celebrating, and she figured that might be just the distraction she needed.

As she walked further out into the opening, her eyes met with someone she least expected to be there. Reyes Vidal. Her heart skipped a beat, and she couldn’t contain the smile that formed on her lips. In all honesty, he was the only person she’d been thinking about for the last few weeks while she was shuffled between the medbay and meeting rooms, recovering from being detached from SAM and trying to figure out what the next steps were to settling here. That moment after winning Meridian where he smiled at her and disappeared into the crowd played in her mind over and over again, wondering where he went off to. She knew he was a busy man with a lot of priorities, so she figured he must have gone back to Kadara a long time ago now. It meant everything to her that he’d come to Meridian to help with the battle, but to find out that he stayed was something else entirely.

She walked over to him, excited to note that he looked as happy as she felt.

“Ryder,” he said by way of greeting. “Want to slip away? Found a great storage room. Sturdy crates, secluded, no interruptions.”

Sara had to laugh at that. “A storage room? You spoil me.”

“It’ll be like our first date… but better,” he said with a cheeky grin, referring to Sloane’s party. It was more of a sentimental offer than it implied considering their history. His smile suddenly began to falter, and it made Sara wonder what must be going through his mind. At any rate, it was clear that it was an offer that he wouldn’t actually be following through with. “Guess you’ll be heading out soon?” he questioned.

It looked like he was trying hard to seem indifferent to the idea, but she could see the disappointment in his face. Unfortunately, he was right. They likely wouldn’t have much time together. Sure, Meridian was won, but in a lot of ways, her job was only just beginning.

“Still a lot to do. Meridian’s just one step towards making Heleus our home,” she replied, her words laced with her own subtle disappointment. Their work was important, but it would have been nice to take a week off, especially if it could be with him. They wouldn’t get many opportunities like that. Perhaps it was the one downfall of being with him, not getting the chance to spend any substantial time together.

“Yeah, but a damn big one,” he said, proud of her achievement in finding everyone a place to live. “You deserve to celebrate. And I… deserve another drink. Cheers, Pathfinder,” he said, beginning to walk away.

She stood there momentarily, baffled by his choice of words, wondering what went wrong. She could hear the disappointment in his voice. And ‘Cheers, Pathfinder?’ Really? Why the formalities all of a sudden? Hopefully it was just for show, being on the Initiative’s turf. She figured he must be feeling pretty uncomfortable considering his history with the uprising, and it was yet another reason she wondered why he stayed here this long. She was hoping it was to see her, but now he was suddenly being so dismissive and trying to leave her to her own devices. She didn’t even care about the party going on, though, so after she regained her senses, she turned and ran after him.

“Reyes, wait,” she called out.

He stopped and turned to her, but didn’t say anything.

“Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

He let out a sigh. “This is your party, Sara. You should be enjoying it.”

“I’ve already made my appearances. Besides, I barely get to see you. I’d rather spend this time with you while you’re here.” she said, reaching out for his hand.

He hung his head low, as though he knew he wasn’t going to win this fight. She also noticed the glowing smile on his face, that let her know he didn’t particularly mind that fact.

“Are you not worried about being seen with an outcast?” Reyes asked with hushed tones.

“Never,” she said with a grin.

“All right. What exactly did you have in mind?”

“How about a quiet evening in? You still haven’t seen the Tempest. We could have a drink. I could show you around. I think we’ll even have our privacy since everyone else is here celebrating.”

“How can I say no to that?” he said, his own grin matching hers.

“Good,” she said, tugging on his hand as she led him through the crowd of people towards the exit.

The tempest was parked outside, so it took them awhile to reach it. When they finally did, Sara opened the doors to the cargo bay, and bypassed the general pleasantries of giving him a tour in favour of taking him straight to her cabin.

“So, this is it. Home sweet home,” she said with a smile, walking through the doors to her room.

Reyes followed her in, taking a look around. “And a good one at that. I see there are some perks to staying with the Initiative,” he said, impressed with her living situation.

“I guess you could say that,” she said with a smile.

“You’ve got a good thing going, here, Ryder,” he said, with a tinge of disappointment still lacing his words.

“I do,” she said, upset that there was clearly something bothering him. “Hang on. I’ve got something I want you to see.”

She went over to her desk and pulled out a bottle from one of the larger drawers, grabbing some glasses along the way, and bringing everything over to the small table by the seating area. She left the glasses on the table and handed Reyes the bottle. He turned it over in his hand, looking surprised.

“Mount Milgram? And a full bottle?” he questioned, eyeing her in disbelief. Sara maintained a large smile on her face, not giving anything away. “How did you manage that? I was certain that we had the only one in all of Andromeda, and I should know. Maybe I’m not as good at my job as I thought,” he said with a chuckle.

Sara let out a small laugh at that, too. “No, I think you’re plenty good at your job.”

He looked at her, still confused.

“I saw that bottle mixed in with your other drinks one of the times I came to visit you on Kadara. It was almost empty, so hopefully you didn’t miss it too much. I took it when you weren’t looking. I figured it would be a nice memory to have and I wanted to keep it.”

He looked at her with a genuine smile. “Hmm. Well, that certainly explains a lot. I figured one of my cleaning crew came in and threw it out,” he said, before opening it to pour some into the glasses on the table, and handed one to Sara.

She took the glass from him, and took a sip. “Hopefully I didn’t get anyone in trouble.”

“I’ll admit, I was disappointed, but it’s not worth losing someone that I trust and whose work I value.”

“Good. I’m glad no one had to suffer your wrath thanks to something I did.”

Reyes nodded with a smile and took a sip from his own glass and nearly choked on it.

Sara burst out laughing. “I refilled it with whatever whiskey I could find. It’s definitely not as good,” she said, her smile turning more serious, “but every time I pour myself a glass, I look at that bottle and at least get to remember sitting on that rooftop at sunset. With you.”

“Is that night not just a reminder of everything I’ve kept from you?” he asked after a pause.

She took his whiskey and put their glasses on the coffee table next to the bottle before she moved in front of him, leaning against the back of the couch.

“Of course I wasn’t happy with you keeping things from me, but I think you showed me more about who you really are that night than you might think. In fact, I’m willing to bet you showed me more about who you truly are than you’ve ever shown anyone before.”

“I suppose you might be right about that,” he said with a smile.

She nodded, already knowing she had him pegged. “Besides, I didn’t actually steal the bottle until after I already knew the truth about you. I wanted a reminder of that time on the roof.”

“Ha. And why is that?” he said, crossing his arms in front of him. His mood finally changing to a happier one at least. He seemed to enjoy being read so well.

“After I already knew the truth about you, I could better understand how vulnerable you were really being with me up on that roof, letting me know your deepest desires. You were already trying to tell me who you were, just not in so many words.”

“Hmm,” he said as he brought out his omni-tool. He toyed with it for a minute. Suddenly, music came on over the speakers. The same song that played the first time they danced together. Sara eyed him curiously.

“Hacking into my audio system? Reyes Vidal,” she said, sounding scandalized.

“Only when it’s for a good reason,” he said, holding his hand out to her as a way of asking her to dance. She graciously accepted, holding each other close, slowly moving to the music. He paused for a moment before continuing, knowing the conversation was getting serious. “And now that you know who I am?”

“Haven’t we already had this conversation?” Sara asked. “Sure, I see you differently, but that’s because I understand you more now that everything’s out in the open.”

“Well, that is very reassuring,” he said in his regular confident tone. “But what will the initiative think?”

“Ah,” Sara said, starting to understand his concern. “I suppose we really are a modern day Romeo and Juliet, aren’t we? A forbidden love?”

“You could say that,” he said with a chuckle.

“Is that something you’re really worried about? That you’re a bad influence on me or something?”

“Tann seems to know about us. He has already expressed his displeasure with me. I suppose I’m starting to wonder if there’s a ticking clock on this relationship.”

Sara rested her cheek against Reyes’ shoulder. “I don’t really care what Tann thinks.”

“Aren’t you worried that you could lose your position. Your reputation? You’re sleeping with the enemy, after all.”

“Tann likes to think he’s in control and has a say over these matters, but the truth is, he wouldn’t be able to get rid of me even if he tried. Especially not now. Not after finding Meridian. So screw him and whatever he thinks.”

Reyes laughed at that as they continued to dance slowly, holding each other closely. “Well, Tann is only one person. Do you really not care about what anyone will think of us?”

Sara lifted her head from his shoulder so she could look him in the eye, concerned as to why he would be thinking this way. “I really don’t,” she said with such conviction that it should have been enough for him to believe her, but there was still doubt in his eyes. “What is this really about?” she asked, with a softness in her voice, knowing that there was something more going on.

He let out a sigh, and looked away from her for a moment. “Look, Sara, you’ve managed to do something here that not many people will ever achieve. You’ve truly made a name for yourself.”

‘Ah, so that’s what this is about.’ Reyes’ deepest desire was to be someone. He’d managed to do that for himself, but now the fact that she had become a powerful name for the other side, she could see how he might think that their relationship would present some issues. Especially now that he was seeing the true scope of her work first-hand.

“You’re worried about my reputation? That people won’t trust me if I’m with you?”

“You’re a woman of the people, Ryder. I haven’t done much to instill confidence on that front, being part of the uprising. People don’t trust me,” he said, finally getting to the truth of the matter.

“I think you’re missing a big part of the point, and you give yourself too little credit. Even though no one else knows who you really are, you’re a strong presence with the outpost on Kadara. You’ve always showed your support for both sides working together. And you said it yourself, I’m a woman of the people. All people in Heleus,” she emphasized. “That includes the outcasts. My job is to find a home for everyone, not just the people still aligned with the Initiative. Just think of what kind of symbol we could be to everyone? I think they’ll look up to us more than you know.”

Reyes let out a sigh. “How are you always so positive.”

Sara chuckled at that. “I’m not really sure.”

 “Then how is it that you always see the best in me?”

She rested her cheek against his shoulder again. “You make it easy when you show who you really are. You’ve always had the people’s best interests at heart. Even though your methods of dealing with Sloane were underhanded, ultimately, you did it to avoid a war, and you did it in a way that put your own life at risk. You stand up for what you believe in. You may like to deny it, but you care. We have the same goals, you and I. We’re just trying to make the best out of what we have so everyone can call this place home.”

Reyes let out a soft, solitary laugh. “Maybe you’re a better judge of character than I gave you credit for,” he said teasingly, looking at her with a smile.

“Is that your way of saying that I’m right?” Sara looked up to him again, with her own cheeky grin.

“Maybe,” was all he was willing to admit to.

Sara got more serious with her tone. “Besides, I think we’ve both managed to become someone here, but there’s still something missing.”

“And what’s that?”

“You know what I was thinking about the entire time we were pushing for Meridian?”

He stared at her, waiting for her to answer, knowing it was more of a rhetorical question than anything.

“You. Being someone means nothing if I can’t be someone with you.”

Reyes stopped dead in his tracks, looking more serious than she had seen him in a long time. He moved the hand that was at her back up to her neck to pull her closer. He brushed her lips with hers gently before resting their foreheads together, both of them keeping their eyes closed.

“I feel the same way.”

[sugxrmotta]

Duet Dalliances || Ryder/Sugar

TAGGING: Sugar Motta and Ryder Lynn WHEN: 9th December WHERE: Ryder’s room GENERAL NOTES: Sugar and Ryder hang out and discuss karaoke options before getting distracted. WARNINGS: None

Sugar checked herself out in the mirror once last time as she got ready to leave for the evening. She had spent time doing her hair and make-up, spending hours to make it look like she'd spent minutes on it. After all, she didn't want to look like she'd tried too hard, whilst trying hard in the process. She quickly ran her fingers over the creases in her dress before deciding she needed to leave if she was going to make it on time. Sugar pulled some boots on, choosing the cutest practical pair she had since she was making her way across the resort and that involved a lot of snow. She shrugged on her coat and checked she had everything before heading out of the chalet. She made her way through the snow to the hotel, stomping the snow off her boots as she reached the door. Sugar smiled at the doorman as he pulled the door open for her before looking around the lobby for Ryder as she stepped inside.

Ryder was feeling a bit nervous about hanging out with Sugar that evening. He had even rushed back to his room after work to shower even though he took one earlier that morning and, if he was being honest, he didn’t do too much around the resort. Still he wanted to make sure he looked presentable and not like some handyman, so he made sure to lose the hoodie and t-shirt and put on a nice flannel button down and clean pair of jeans. Ryder’s eyes were on door of the lobby, waiting for Sugar to meet him. He got there a few minutes early because he figured better him waiting for her than the other way around. Never make a lady wait, he was raised. He spotted her instantly, and waved from across the room despite the amount of people in the way. Walking over with a huge smile on his face, he called out over the noise of the lobby. “Hey, Sugar. Ready to see my humble abode aka my room?” He asked, lowering his voice as he greeted her.

Sugar was glad that Ryder was already waiting for her, she didn't exactly want to be sat in the lobby waiting. It wasn't like she spent much time in the hotel at all, the Mottas had their own chalet after all, so it would have been a little suspicious for her to start now. "Hey." Sugar grinned as Ryder approached, letting her eyes run over his outfit. He looked like he'd tried, which she appreciated. Plus the flannel was definitely working for him.  "Yes I am." She nodded at his question. They'd been flirting with each other for a while, at least she had been, and it finally felt like she might be about to get somewhere. "Lead the way."

“Great. It’s just down the hall over there,” Ryder motioned with his head before leading them through the lobby. “They keep me on the first floor so I’m close and handy.” The keycard to his room was already out and in hand when they reached the door. “This is me. Room 18,” he flashed her a quick grin before letting them both inside and closing the door behind them. Earlier in the week, Ryder had decorated a little for the holiday. Since he was going to be here for Christmas, he figured his room should look the part, so he strung up some lights and had a tiny Charlie Brown type Christmas tree sitting on the desk in the corner. “I went to Sam’s for a little inspiration in decorations. I don’t have as much room to work with as he does but I think this works though, yeah?”

Sugar followed him through the hallways until they came to a stop outside of a door with the number 18 on it. She returned his grin before following him into the room. It was small, at least by her standards. It was probably around the same size as her ensuite bathroom in the chalet, but if she squinted then it was kind of cute at the same time. She looked around, taking in the Christmas decorations. There wasn't a lot but it almost made it sweeter - although part of her wanted to go and grab him some of her spare decorations to make it a little less sad-looking. "Yeah it works." She nodded. "If you want some more though then I can hook you up." She added with a smile. "Do you have anywhere I can put this?" She asked, looking around for a coat rack as she began to take her snow-dusted coat off. It was warm in the room, and she certainly didn't need all of her outdoor gear on.

Ryder was watching her glance around his room, and he was having the realization that she was the first person he was having over and these rooms weren’t exactly built to host. Hopefully she wouldn’t judge him too much on the kind of quarters he was staying in and maybe next year, he’d ask for a bigger room. “Really? Okay but only if you help me put them up,” he grinned at her. Reaching in front of him, Ryder held out his hand for her coat. “Yeah, I can take that.” He opened his closet door and grabbed a hanger, placing her coat beside his. “If you want to take off your shoes, you can put them beside my snow boots. They’re right there. And I’ll take off mine off so you’re not alone.” With one hand on the wall to help prop him up, he pulled off his shoes and dropped them to the side. He looked over at Sugar finishing taking off her boots, and waited before heading towards his desk. “So not really a lot of places to sit, but are you okay with my bed? I can grab my laptop and we can look up songs we might wanna sing? Or I could sit here at the desk. Whatever works,” he offered not wanting to make her uncomfortable in any way.

"Yeah, I have some spare ones left over." Sugar smiled. The "I" was maybe a little generous, her dad had been the one to pay and they'd had a professional decorator put them up so she wasn't involved in the slightest, but Ryder didn't need to know that. "And I think I can manage that." She nodded at his condition. "Thanks." She smiled as he took her coat before she turned her focus to her shoes. She pulled them off and dropped them next to Ryder's boots. "The bed is fine." Sugar shrugged, making her way over. She sat on the edge of the bed before pulling herself backwards, leaving her sitting cross legged in the middle. "You can sit here too, I can't see your laptop from over there." Sugar added, patting the spot next to her. Her plans for tonight involved being close to Ryder, and him sitting across the room wasn't exactly part of that.

The idea of having plans already set for the future excited Ryder. That just meant he’d be getting more Sugar in his life and so far he had been enjoying the few times he spent with her. So when Sugar patted the bed beside her, he didn’t hesitate and quickly grabbed his laptop to join her. He had been hoping she was going to opt for him sitting on the bed with her. Once sitting legged next to her, he opened his laptop and placed it in front of them. “Did you bring any suggestions along with you? Something more modern?” He asked with a small smirk as he pulled up Youtube and searched for a song. “We won’t do this song but this is the one I was talking about the other day.” He click the trackpad on his laptop, and Islands in the Stream began playing through the speakers.

Sugar grinned as Ryder decided to join on her the bed, twirling some of her hair around her finger as she watched him open YouTube and start typing. "Yes I brought some suggestions." Sugar nodded. "And of course they're modern, I'm me. I don't do old things. I like things new and shiny." She joked. Sugar sat and listened to the start of his song, about to complain about how old and boring it was when she caught the lyrics, hearing lines about her doing something to him, and having something going on and suddenly the song didn't seem so bad. "It's better than I thought it would be." Sugar admitted, a small smirk pulling at her lips. "It can go on the maybe pile."

"After this, you can show me those suggestions.” Ryder glanced over and smiled at Sugar playing with her hair. He found the act kind of cute of her. As the song played, Ryder made sure to keep his eyes on Sugar. He softly swayed next to her and mouthed along with the chorus, enjoying the song and he was happy to hear she hadn’t thought it to be so bad. “See.” He was feeling a little pleased with himself for showing her a good song. “The maybe pile it is,” he nodded. “Alright, you’re up. What’s your first choice for us?” He asked, slightly pushing the laptop keyboard a more in her direction.

Sugar couldn't help but smile as she watched him mouth along with the words. It was cute and she couldn't seem to tear her eyes away. "So I had a few ideas." Sugar replied, taking the laptop from him. "We could go like the Shawn and Camila route with Señorita or I Know What You Did Last Summer. Or there's Halsey and Khalid if we wanted to do Eastside. Oh, what about Close by Nick Jonas and Tove Lo?" She rattled off her ideas. "Or if you wanted to go down the classic route, there's this one." Sugar grinned, typing Promiscuous Girl into the search bar. "Do you know this one, and more importantly, can you do the Timbaland part?" She asked. Her definition of classic definitely differed from everyone else's, and she was curious as to what his opinion was of her song ideas - if he'd even heard of them all.

While she ran through he list of songs, Ryder tried to think of each one and how familiar he was with it. Before he had the chance to comment on knowing 2 of the 4, Sugar pulled up the video of what she called a classic song. He couldn’t help but laugh a bit at her view of the classics. “I think I’ve heard this before,” he said, his eyes turning to the thumbnail of the video. From what he remembered of the words and the song, it was pretty steamy. He wondered what it’d be like to sing, or rap to her, about wanting her. It wouldn’t be as though what he was saying wasn’t true so he figured it was something he’d should be able to do. He swallowed, and looked at Sugar before giving her a small, not-so-confident nod. “Yeah, I think I could. A little practice with you and yeah I could. Do you know all of Nelly’s parts?” He questioned.

Sugar was waiting for his reaction, figuring that it would give her a pretty good indication of how the rest of their evening was going to go. If he looked horrified by the idea then she would know that she needed to back off and if he didn't, well she would move onto the next part.  As he agreed to the song, she put that down as the latter. "Well we can have all the practice we need, but for what it's worth, I think we're going to be great." Sugar grinned, clicking play on the video. "Of course I do, it's a classic after all." She shrugged, handing the laptop back to Ryder as an advert played. "I figured I could do a dance too. Let me show you my parts - join in if you can, the lyrics should be on the screen." She said, scrambling off the bed just as the music started. The beat was catchy, and she did her best to keep her dancing sexy without bordering on cringey. All the comments about her singing from Santana had thrown her off though, and she stuck to lip syncing her way through the first Nelly parts. After all, she was trying to build the mood up, not kill it.

Ryder enjoyed Sugar’s confidence, and knew even if they didn’t practice much together that he’d practice on his own. When it came time to actually do the song, he’d want to pull it off without a hitch and impress her or, at least, he wanted to make the attempt to impress her. Taking the laptop from Sugar, Ryder raised an eyebrow at her mention of a dance. “Oh? Alright, I will,” he said, his eyes moving from the screen to Sugar getting off the bed. The song started, and Ryder’s gaze went back to the screen to read the lyrics. In the corner of his eye, he saw Sugar’s body moving along to the music and it became nearly impossible to look at the laptop. Eventually, he gave up on trying to pick up some of the song and put the laptop to the side. He brought out his feet from under him and slid himself to the edge of the bed to plant his feet on the floor. Ryder reached out and put a hand on Sugar's waist, hoping it wasn’t crossing any line by touching her, and stood up in front of her. He began dancing himself, but a little slower than she was in an effort to not make a fool of himself or turn things awkward. It seemed appropriate, though. “You’re a good dancer,” he whispered, looking down at her hips before bringing his eyes up to meet her’s.

Sugar noticed that Ryder's gaze had shifted from the laptop to her, and that only spurred her on. If there was one thing she knew how to do it, it was be sexy. Hell if he was having trouble keeping his eyes off her now then she could only imagine what he was going to be like when he saw her in her favourite lingerie set she'd picked especially to wear under her dress. She couldn't wait. She smiled coyly as she watched Ryder move towards the edge of the bed before his hands moved towards her waist and then he was on his feet. "Thanks, it's one of my many talents." Sugar murmured back, smiling back at him softly as their eyes met. There was a great line coming up and Sugar decided to use it for all it was worth. "Promiscuous boy, you already know that I'm all yours, what you waiting for?" She lip synced, taking one of Ryder's hands and holding it up to spin herself under. As she completed the twirl, she then used the hand to pull herself in closer to Ryder, their bodies closer than they had been a moment ago.

“You’re welcome. I can’t wait to find out what some of your other talents are.” Ryder watched her mouth the words, and gulped when she spun around in front of him. What was he waiting for? “I’m going to kiss you now, is that okay?” Usually, he would’ve just gone ahead and kissed someone rather than asking but Sugar made him nervous. He knew she was a guest of the hotel and while it was clear they were enjoying each other’s company, Ryder didn’t want to cross a line that she didn’t want crossed. Something told him, though, she wouldn’t have minded. Instead of waiting for her reply, he snaked his hand from her waist to the small of her back and leaned down to kiss her.

Sugar smirked at his talents comment, and she was ready to fire off a smutty comeback when she noticed the way Ryder was looking at her and figured there was no need, things were clearly about to get moving between them. The smirk turned into a genuine smile at his question, she was taken aback by just how sweet a gesture it was. Most guys just launched themselves at her, she had never had anyone stop and ask before. She was about to nod when she saw Ryder leaning in. Figuring her actions would give her answer for her, she leaned up to meet him halfway. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him back, closing the gap between them so her body was now flush against his. She kept the first few kisses light before tentatively getting bolder, each kiss getting longer and more daring than the one before it.

Ryder brought his hand up and rested it against Sugar’s cheek never letting his lips part with her’s. He took a small step, and slowly turned while guiding Sugar so eventually they switched positions, and he stood where she had previously. Based on the way she was kissing him back, he had no reservations about his next move. Ryder moved forward and held Sugar close to his body as he backed her towards the bed positioning it so they wouldn’t need to worry about falling onto the laptop. It was then his phone began ringing inside the pocket of his jeans. He opened his eyes for a second and reached down into his pocket to pressed the side button so he could silence it. He’d call whoever it was back later. “Sorry,” he mumbled against her mouth before bringing his arm back around her. He pushed her until the back of her knees hit the bed. Ryder opened his eyes and pulled back, breaking the kiss. He looked at Sugar and gave her a small smile, waiting for her to make the next move and fall back onto the bed.

Sugar happily let Ryder move her, enjoying the idea of him taking control. He was a good kisser, something she was grateful for. There would have been nothing worse than having all this build up only to be disappointed when they finally got to the good part. Sugar paused as Ryder's phone rang but was grateful when he chose to ignore it, more than ready to get back what they were doing. She returned his smile, hooking her fingers into his jean's belt loops so she could pull him down onto the bed with her. She slid backwards underneath him until her head reached the pillows. She leaned up to kiss him again, her fingers beginning to wander through his hair experimentally.

Ryder fell on top of Sugar, his hand reaching out to catch himself before completely crashing down on her. Moving with her, they reached the top of the bed where he was happy to find her mouth meeting his again. He breathed out at the feel of her fingers running through his hair - it had been one of his weaknesses and he loved when a girl played with his hair. Ryder placed a hand on her waist and bunched up her dress between his fingers to slide it up a bit. He then reached his hand down to her leg, pulling it up against him. Just as he was about to grind his hips against her, his phone rang again. He grunted out of frustration and let go of her leg so he could reach in his pocket for his phone. This time, he took it out and silenced it before lightly tossing it to the floor. “Where were we?” He smirked, closing the distance between them again and kissing her.

Sugar smiled against Ryder's lips as he reacted to her hands, making a mental note that he liked her playing with his hair. It was something that she hoped would come in useful at a later date, and this wasn't just going to be a one time thing. She felt Ryder's hand moving her dress and then her leg, and she was looking forward to seeing what he was going to do next when her thoughts were interrupted by his phone. She propped herself up on her elbows, watching as he silenced it before banishing it to the floor. "Someone's popular." She mumbled in response, but any following comments soon died on her lips as he kissed her once more. Bored of the interruptions, she decided to step it up a gear as she pulled Ryder even closer, adding her tongue to the mix as the kisses began to get dirtier.

Ryder didn’t know why his phone kept ringing, and he didn’t even bother checking to see who had been calling him. His attention had been solely on Sugar. Forget anything else. And when she deepened the kiss with her tongue, he knew ignoring the call was the right decision. Ryder returned his hand back to her leg and trailed his fingers up the outside of her thigh. He toyed with the hem of her panties then slipped his hand to her ass before pushing his hips into hers. Breaking away from her mouth, Ryder began peppering her cheek with kisses down to her neck. He pulled back and looked down at her, a small smile played on his lips. “Are you okay with me taking this off?” He asked, tugging softly at her dress. He wasn’t looking to get her naked, at least not yet, but the dress made it difficult for him to explore her body. Once it was off, it’d be a lot easier for his hands to wander like he wanted.

Sugar was thoroughly enjoying herself, it had been too long since she'd had sex and it seemed like her dry spell was finally coming to an end. She allowed herself to get lost in the kisses, each seemingly better than the last. A soft moan fell from her lips as she felt his hips push into hers, her own hips responding by rolling against his in search of friction. She opened her eyes briefly as Ryder pulled away before they fell closed again as he started kissing her neck and she tilted her head to the side to give him more room. "God yes." She breathed at his question. "As long as you take yours off too." She added, gently tugging at his shirt before dropping her hands to his waistband, running her hands teasingly over the fabric of his jeans, which seemed to be getting ever tighter.

Ryder hadn’t anticipated that Sugar and his time would lead to this, but boy was he glad it did. Every kiss and every touch had made him want her even more. “You got it.” He said, his gaze following her finger. Just the slight touch from that, constricted him even more. Their clothes needed to come off and quick. As if on queue, once Ryder took his shirt off and it hit the floor, there was a knock on his door. His head jolted towards the sound then he looked back down at Sugar. Just as he had done with his phone, Ryder was going to ignore the knock. Maybe they’d think he wasn’t in. "Ryder? Are you in there?” *Another knock. “We have an emergency! A Christmas emergency! We need the handyman.” Ryder groaned, and shook his head. Perhaps it wasn't going to be as easy as pretending someone wasn't there. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I have to see what’s going on.”

Sugar watched Ryder take his shirt off, an appreciative smirk growing on her lips as she ran her eyes over his shirtless body. She had just reached for the zip on her dress when they were interrupted once again by a knock on the door. It seemed like no matter what, she couldn't catch a break. First there was the thing with Sam and now the universe had intervened once again. She looked towards the door and then back at Ryder before there was a second knock and someone was speaking. "Ugh, fine." She groaned, waving a hand towards the door as she collapsed backwards against the bed. "Tell them you'll fix whatever it is tomorrow." She added half heartedly.

“I’ll try,” Ryder said in hopes it would be that easy. Once standing, he adjusted his pants a bit in an attempt to make himself a little less uncomfortable given his situation. He walked over to the door, and opened it just enough so he was in view but not enough where for Sugar to be seen - he hoped. He found one of the girls from reception standing in the hall looking exasperated. “The Christmas tree lights are out and no one can figure out what’s wrong! We need you, RIGHT NOW.” Ryder titled his head back hearing about the Christmas emergency and rolled his eyes. “Okay, give me two minutes and I’ll be there.” Closing the door, he turned back to Sugar on his bed. It was going to take everything in him to put his shirt back on and go to work but he knew he didn’t have a choice. There wasn’t any way he could put this off until tomorrow, he knew that. The resort couldn’t be without a lit Christmas tree. “I gotta go.” He shook his head in disbelief as he reached down and picked his shirt up off the floor. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to but.. work,” he said as if the word work should explain it all.

Sugar honestly wanted to scream, it was taking everything in her not to just roll over and yell into his pillow. She knew already that he was going to leave and in all honesty, the moment had gone anyway. Whoever had been on the other side of the door had well and truly killed the vibe that they'd had going. "Work sucks." She pouted, watching Ryder for a second longer before sliding her way over to the edge of the bed. She wasn't going to sit around in his room by herself, maybe she'd go to the bar and see if Santana could ply her with alcohol to drown her misfortunes with. "I'm like their most VIP guest, surely they should care about customer satisfaction." She joked as she pulled her dress back down and got up to check her hair in the mirror, hoping it wasn't too messed up after their fooling around.

This was probably the worst way them to have to end their evening together. Now Ryder was going to have to go work, semi-hard, not thinking about anything but Sugar. “I care about customer satisfaction.” He stopped buttoning up his flannel midway to watch her check herself in the mirror. The dress she was wearing should’ve been off and on the floor along with his clothes. He had to shake his head of the thoughts, and he began buttoning his shirt again. “As the resort’s handyman, I can make sure to fix any problem you have.” It worried him that the interruptions might’ve screwed any future possibility Ryder had with Sugar and he definitely didn’t want that. Now more than ever, he wanted to make sure he’d be seeing her again. “Maybe in the future sometime soon?” He asked, hopeful.“I feel like we need to finish this.”

Sugar could see Ryder watching her in the reflection of the mirror, a small smirk playing on her lips. She wished she could stay and explore this thing between them further but some dumb Christmas tree lights had put an end to that plan. "Okay I'll make sure to remember that if I ever have a, uh, problem." She smiled. She smoothed her hair down one more time before retrieving her shoes from where they were by the door. "Maybe." She nodded at his proposal as she pulled the shoes on before finding her coat and shrugging it back on. She definitely wanted to see him again but she also wanted to be cool and aloof, and maybe be chased a little. Checking that she had everything she brought with her, she made her way over to Ryder. She reached up, wrapping a hand around his neck to pull him in for a kiss. She poured her frustration into it, letting it get a little dirty before pulling back. "Until next time." She shrugged before heading for the door, hoping it would be enough to keep him on the hook until they found a time to meet up again.

Ryder hoped Sugar would be having a problem soon because just their short encounter had him hooked. His eyes followed her as she got her shoes and put on her coat. He probably should have been doing the same since he had a Christmas tree problem to fix, but he was entranced. He was cursing work in his head because all he wanted to do was spend more time with her and she was really leaving him hanging with her ambiguous maybe. Ryder smiled, seeing her come his way. He kissed her back, wishing they could stay in his room a bit longer. "Yeah," he whispered, his eyes locked on her while she made her exit. His mind was already focusing on when and how he could make the next time happened.

[marvelstud10s]

Cupid’s Bullet | 02

Leading a life of mystery and quiet, she has everything under control in her impeccable life as an assassin. Except this one time.

Warnings: curses most likely, capturing, striking

A/N: hehe some feedback would be gr8 thanks :))) *endgame never happened here* ask to be in my taglist in my asks too

*can somebody find me a website where you can describe words you can’t think of ?? I saw a post about it but I can’t find it ??

3.2K words of complete shit writing

Chapter 2

“Holy shit,” Sam murmured through his comms, soaring through the sky, trying to locate his target. “She just, disappeared into thin fucking air, how’d you miss her Barnes?” Sam asked, disbelief in his voice. All he received was a grunt from the super soldier, waiting on the side of the highway for some new transportation, his motorcycle far from revivable.

Bucky watched the cars pass, the scene playing over and over in his head, trying to figure out one, how the girl managed to escape, and two, who she was talking to. The rest of the team didn’t know that she had some help, it wasn’t in the debriefing. “Guys,” Bucky spoke up with a raspy voice. “She was talking to somebody, like a partner,” he recalled slowly. “A car came out of nowhere, nobody inside, and opened the door for her, as if waiting,” he confessed. The rest of the team was quiet, going over this new piece of information. “Computer maybe?” Nat offered, driving in her fake delivery car to the highway. “That would make sense. Friday, figure out more about this woman. She’s more complicated than we thought,” he said, setting down the mechanical super suit on a random rooftop, not wanting to double task in the air.

“Tony, I don’t think we have the right idea about her, or any idea about her at all,” Steve finally said, looking throughout her apartment, trying to find something useful. “How so, Cap?” Tony asked, half distracted as he was shuffling through her files. “First off, her apartment is a little messy. Somebody wouldn’t leave a safe house a mess if they were on the run, but she has a list of people, names crossed off, which makes me question my first discovery. And two,” Steve bent over to pick up the little handheld box, turning it over to find his reflection staring at him. Weird place to put a mirror. “We didn’t even plant this. It was already outside her door. It doesn’t have an address, name, or anything. But she knew it would be for her. Should we open it?” He inquired. The team was silent, Tony letting out a huff at this new revelation. “Okay, back to the quinjet, we’re starting over on this case.” He concluded, turning Iron Man around, in the direction back to the ship.

Bucky was silent, feeling his long suppressed fear sneaking up behind him. This mission was too much for him, too soon. Bucky tried desperately to catch his breath, every breath he took in, seemingly escaping from his constricting lungs. Bucky clawed at his tactile suit, trying to get out of the trapping leather, whining at all the weightless guns and knives that seemed to suddenly weigh too much. Three months of therapy could never really save him from the thoughts that were already seeping from the cracks into his broken, but carefully placed together, facade. You did this. You failed this mission. Bucky shook his head, chest heaving, trying to block out the familiar thoughts. Bucky placed his hands on the side of his head, trying to follow what the therapist told him to do when he was feeling vulnerable. “Macy Jenkins, Ryder Quincy, Anthony Santos, Khalil Brown, Jeremy Seong, Maria Costa, Olive Brown, Joshua Finnegan,” he whispered. Bucky whispered more names, repeating them over and over in his head, slowly, but effectively, calming him down. As if on cue, Nat pulled up as he put his hands down, a small frown on his face. She jerked her head for him to get in, noting how off his body language was. Bucky closed the door carefully behind him, trying to remember his super soldier strength.

“You know, it wasn’t your fault, Bucky. She’s more advanced than we anticipated.” Nat spoke up into the silence. Bucky glanced over at her, shaking his head, not daring to open his mouth to spill his thoughts. “You’re skilled enough Bucky. We just weren’t prepared. You’re valuable to this team. You’re the one who managed to catch up to her, not us.” She said, not expecting a reaction, turning up the radio, tapping her fingers on the worn out leather of the steering wheel to a new Dua Lipa song. Bucky’s eyes shifted briefly to her face, a small smile forming. Nat always knew what to say, even if she was the most broken out of everyone else. Bucky played with a loose string of the seat, feeling like a little kid who just got told his pasta art was beautifully made. Even if he knew it wasn’t, he still had a small smile on his face.

Bucky could literally not frown harder if he tried. He could feel the strain on his face, the pull of his eyebrows, and the twitch of his right thumb on his thigh. The team sat in the debriefing room at the compound, going over the mission and files once again. “No, Friday didn’t find anything about her e-companion. And she couldn’t scan anything from inside the box, either. You guys got anything? Capsicle?” Tony asked, pointing his chewed pen at Steve, crossing his feet on top of the table and leaning back, unconsciously calling him by Steve’s nickname. Steve’s face fell just a tick, giving an annoyed pointed look to the famed superhero. “No, but I think the box would just give us answers we need. What do we know about her? That she shoots people but it doesn’t do anything to them? I don’t think we’re dealing with some bank robber type situation here, let’s just open the box to see what we’re dealing with.” He concluded, looking at the mysterious box placed carefully on the middle of the sleek table. Nobody said anything, silently agreeing to the Captain’s suggestion.

“Well then, let’s do it?” Sam said nervously, staring at the box with a little bit of fear. “Aw, is the pigeon scared?” Tony asked out of fake sympathy, pouting and smiling cockily, but sitting up quickly at the pen in his mouth blasting out ink from his over chewing. “Obviously no, squid. Stop putting stuff in ya mouth and maybe that wouldn’t happen,” he tsked. Tony wiped his face quickly, unknowingly making it worse, but nobody notified him, so he didn’t care. “Steve, open it,” Bruce spoke up out of the blue, crossing his arms a little tighter across his chest as he leaned farther back into the door frame. Everyone looked at Steve expectantly, waiting for him. Steve breathed in, refusing himself to let out the, “why me?”, bubbling in his chest, pushing down his scrawny and sickly past self, and bringing out the rebel’s bravery. Steve grabbed the box, taking the little knife from Tony’s offering hand, carefully cutting the colored cardboard. Steve put on a hard face, hoping to fool anyone into thinking that he wasn’t afraid of whatever was inside. Suddenly, the box shook, Steve quickly putting it, and the knife down, watching as it shook harder as the seconds passed. Everybody wheeled their chairs a bit farther back, watching in curiosity. The box suddenly stopped, a dead silence falling over the room. Nobody dared to breathe, watching as the box sat there. It seemed like almost an hour before a great boom, silent, but great, came from the box, the team quickly turning away and groaning at the bright light.

“I only open for the worthy,” came a booming voice. The light suddenly went away, and the box laid there, almost innocently, not a scratch on it’s exterior. The team started in disbelief. “Is this some kind of sick joke?” Sam asked angrily. “Where is that strange hunk of muscle,” Tony muttered, already trying to page him. “Wow, I knew Thor liked pranks, but this is a little much,” Bruce said, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. His heavy breathing fogging his glasses a bit. Everyone looked over in alarm, but seeing as Bruce’s breathing exercises calmed him down, it calmed them down a bit, too. Heavy footsteps suddenly walked into the room, a hearty voice following. “Hello, Midgardians! Needing my help once again, I see,” he smiled, biting into his stolen pop tart. Tony was a bit confused at how he arrived so fast, but quickly put that aside. Steve crossed his arms across his broad chest, giving him the famed ‘Cap America’ look, but adding a bit of a glare to it. Thor’s smile faltered, finally catching up to the mood in the atmosphere. “Am I in trouble?” He asked timidly, his personality not quite fitting with his stature. “What the hell is this?” Tony asked, rubbing a hand on his forehead, gesturing with his other hand the box. “Um, a box?” Thor responds carefully. Nat noticed his genuine confusion, along with Steve, Bucky and Bruce. “This is a dumb prank man,” Sam scolded, shaking his head, still oblivious to Thor’s innocence. “What prank? I haven’t been to Earth in months!” Thor defended, finishing his pop tart so he could focus on the accusation. “C’mon don’t lie, it literally said, “I only open for the worthy.”” Tony mocked, doing a terrible accent. “And that’s your trademark line, it doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together. And I am a genius, so,” Tony said, always remembering to add a little compliment for himself. Steve took in Thor’s body language, how he was gesturing wildly, as he tried to explain how he had nothing to do with it. “You really didn’t know about it, did you?” He asked the God. Thor shook his head frantically.

The team looked at the box with newfound attention, feeling something wrong in the pit of their stomachs. “You said a voice? Open it again, I want to hear it.” Thor said, now caught up with this mystery. Steve took the box and cut it open again, and it shook again, seemingly harder, and the blast seemed brighter than before. “I only open for the worthy.” It said again, maybe even louder, as if trying to drill it into their memories. Thor looked on with a confused, but shocked face. “Where did you get this.” He said, pointing a finger at the box. Steve took a step back from it. “From a mission. Why,” he demanded, breathing a little faster. “I need everything on that mission, now.” Thor said, taking a step back as well.

Steve hesitated. “The mission was about a target who was seen briefly, shooting a gun at two civilians at a cafe, but it never hurt them. She was spotted carrying a red gun, in a black bag, and was followed back to her apartment after months of trying to get to her. She was too stealthy for us to follow her immediately. She got away, but this box was left outside her door.” Steve explained. Thor slowly shook his head, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Yeah, no, you need to find her, and get her here, I don’t think this is a small ordeal.” Thor informed the team. Tony sat up. “But what’s in the dang box?” He asked, throwing his hands on the table. Thor shifted his stare to him. “That’s the thing. I don’t know what it is, but what I do know, is that it’s from Asgard, and that it’s dangerous. Everything that’s dangerous we put that whole “worthy” line. It gives that sort of ‘don’t mess with us’ vibe, you know, it’s kind of our thing.” He huffed a bit of a light laugh, but it quickly left. Tony gave him a blank stare, opening and closing his mouth at his loss of words. “So, let me get this straight. You don’t know what it is, even if it was from your own home planet. Can’t you tell from the packaging?” Tony asked, his frustration showing. “Well I suppose you don’t know every single box on your home planet, now do you?” Thor asked with a bit of attitude. Tony recoiled, a single hand to his chest. “Our planet isn’t one fucking city!” Tony exclaimed, throwing his hands up. Thor glared, opening up his mouth as if to say something, but glanced over at the box once again.

“There is something a bit familiar about the packaging, actually.” Thor murmured under his breath, but a murmur for him was regular volume for everyone else. “What is it, Thor?” Natasha asked, leaning forwards towards the God. Thor never ripped his gaze from the package, leaning forward, he grabbed the box and turned it over, finding a mirror on the bottom, a carved, decorated silver border outlining it, a single carved apple at the bottom, and two carved doves around it. Thor gasped through his nose, putting it down quickly and moving back to his original spot. “That mirror,” Thor said. “Their from somewhere different than mine. Not my- our, universe,” He spoke quietly. Steve furrowed his eyebrows. “So she’s from a different universe?” Steve asked. Thor shook his head. “I’m not sure. But this box is. Those doves, that apple, that mirror, their a representation of Aphrodite, I’m not sure if you’ve all heard of her, but she isn’t Norse. She’s from Greek Mythology.” He explained. Tony snorted. “Aphrodite is not real, you are, Norse is real, Greek is not, end of story. Maybe she just likes birds, fruit, and staring at herself. I mean who doesn’t like staring at themselves, I mean, except for Sam.” Tony smirked. “You’d have to actually be visually appealing. Sorry to break it to ya,” Tony insulted, shrugging his shoulders. Sam shook his head. “Menace,” He whispered under his breath. Tony winked.

“Okay, guys, focus. You’re saying that Greek Mythology is real? Different mythologies can correlate with others?” Nat asked, looking up at Thor. “I didn’t even know that until now,” He confessed. “I need to take this to my father.” He said, grabbing the box. “I’m going with you,” Steve said, already walking in front of the God. “Me too, I’ve been there before, plus I don’t really want to be here with Tony,” Bruce whispered. “I don’t have to be a God or a super-soldier to have heard that Banner,” Tony said, standing up. Bruce smiled apologetically. “Okay, So, I’m going to go with Thor, Steve and Bruce, while Bucky, Sam and Tony are going to stay here?” Nat confirmed, standing up. “Yeah, I’m gonna get Lang and the Pym’s here. Could use some more brains here.” Tony sighed, already ordering Friday to contact the three. Nat nodded, turning around with the rest of her team to get suited up.

Bucky leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand, not knowing what to do. Tech really wasn’t his thing, obviously. Back in the day, he was actually very gifted intellectually, but it wasn’t really useful to know advanced mathematics in the 21st century. The five great minds, Janet Van Dyne, Hank Pym, Hope Pym, Scott Lang (who gave a very long handshake and a rather long speech about his vibranium arm), and of course, Stark sat a few tables away, talking. Sam sat along with Bucky, giving out a huff as he traced patterns into the lab counters, tapping his foot on the floor in impatience. The five discussed in hushed whispers, Tony explaining the situatuion. “What?!” comes an angry exclaim. The two veterans look up in surprise to see The oldest Pym going up to Tony’s face. “You made us fly all the way across the country because your stubborn ass couldn’t finish a small mission?! What a genius you are!” He yelled into his face, poking his pointer finger into his reactor. “Whoa, relax, will ya? This is extraterrestrial, I promise. Now can we just gather our horses, please?” Tony asked, raising an eyebrow and both his hands in defense.

Hank looked at him up and down, but was eventually backed away by Janet. Sam breathed a laugh, finally finding some entertainment. Tony turned and glared at the two. “Hey bird brain, Tin Man, would you two make yourselves useful and look back at the footage? We haven’t had the chance to yet. Thanks, too sweet, really.” Tony said, already turning back around. Sam rolled his eyes as Bucky got up as well, happy to at least be doing something.

The ride towards Asgard was silent, as Nat and Steve never rode to another planet, let alone outer space. Nat held her breath, then let it out slowly, but it came out shakier then she expected. Bruce smiled softly at her. “Nervous?” He asked, letting out a chuckle. “Well excuse me, but outer space really isn’t my forte.” She smiled back bashfully. Steve watched the two with a knowing smile, a twinge of sadness in his chest, a sudden longing for a feisty British brunette suddenly overcoming him. Steve averted his gaze to Thor instead, choosing not to dwell in the past. “Does your father know about the different type of mythologies existing too?” Steve asked him, the silent beeping of autopilot coming as calming to the hero. “I’m not sure, it would be like having duplicates of your own people, but not looking like you. Like there was another Captain America, except he was,” Thor paused, trying to find the right words. “Less-american-y.” He smiled, going back to gazing out the window. Steve furrowed his eyebrows. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Steve asked, looking at Nat and Bruce for support, who turned to listen to the conversation. Bruce looked away, but Nat smiled. “Well, for starters, you’re literally a walking version of patriotism.” She explained, gesturing to his whole body. Steve scoffed in disbelief and was about to fire back when the quinjet came to a sudden halt, making the four hurdle forward, but slowly land. “Can this ship even land on water?” Nat asked, watching as is landed near the walkway leading to Asgard. A broad shouldered man stood at the end, watching the jet. A walkway landed, letting the four walk down the ramp to the rainbow walkway. Thor jogged ahead, pulling the mysterious man into a brief hug.

“Heimdall! It’s so good to see you old friend,” Thor greeted, clapping him on the back. Heimdall smiled at him, turning his head to see the others. “Natalia Romanoff, Steven Rogers, welcome. Bruce Banner, a pleasure to have you again.” He winked at the latter. Bruce nodded, almost going into a bow, but remembering his mistake with Rhodes. “How do you know our names?” Steve asked, looking at him almost suspiciously. Heimdall politely smiled, knowing of the Captain’s hesitance. “I’m Heimdall. How could I not?” He raised an eyebrow playfully. Steve sat in embarrassment, letting the two Asgardians laugh at the foreigners expense. “Well, I have something I need to do. I’ll see you later, friend.” Thor said, giving him another hug. Heimdall nodded, already knowing what they needed to do. Heimdall turned, and with a goodbye, headed to the Bi frost.

“Okay team, how are we getting there? Carry one of you at a time?” He asked, throwing his hammer into the air and catching it with ease. Steve shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I’m okay,” he verified, not trusting the speed of the hammer. “Well, guess you’re walking Steve,” Nat said, already volunteering to go first. Steve gave her a confused look, looking at Bruce who just shrugged, who was waiting to go next. And with a burst of wind in Banner and Roger’s faces, the two were gone. “Wow, that’s a little um, fast,” Bruce said nervously. “Walk with me,” Steve suggested, nodding his head in the direction the assassin and God went, already heading on his way to the large castle. Bruce hurried to catch up to his long strides, already dreading the long walk.

Yet another A/N: i fucking hate this

but go in my asks to be in a taglist and/or to request a fic !

[northsidemarleyrose]

Fix You \\ Ryley

Who: Marley Rose and Ryder Lynn (@serpentlynn) What: Ryder comes to the “rescue” after Blaine leaves Marley alone in the apartment.  When: Monday, December 2nd, later night. Where: Blaine’s Apartment Notes: Ryder is BOLDED, Marley is regular. Too cute to handle. Hints at Marley’s eating disorder. Word Count: 1,741 

Ryder knew there was a chance that Blaine and Marley’s conversation wouldn’t end well. He still didn’t think Marley should try to force herself to try having sex with Blaine, and while he did manage to fall asleep that night while rewatching Teen Titans, he kept his phone next to him in case something happened and Marley needed him.

And that time came, because he woke up to his phone ringing and he answered as soon as he could open his eyes, “Are you okay?” were the first words out of his mouth, trying to not sound like he had just woken up. Marley’s voice came through on the other end, asking if he could come over, and once he said he’ll be right there, he hung up and got out of bed. He only pulled on a jacket over his pajamas and grabbed his keys, beginning to make the drive over to the Northside. But before he got to Marley’s, he made a stop for some movies, feel good ones to help him make her feel better, and some ice cream.

Not long after, he was there, getting out and noticing the door was unlocked, so he came in. Immediately, Ryder spotted her in the hallway and he frowned a little that whatever happened between his friends had to end like this.

“Hey, would’ve been here sooner but I thought I could bring some movies to help cheer you up. No superhero movies, just some fun, upbeat ones.” He spoke, moving closer to her and holding out a hand so she could get up, “So I thought we could watch one of these while you tell me what happened.”

Marley knew Ryder was coming but she couldn't stop herself from hoping it was Blaine who was going to appear when the door opened. To no one's shock, it was Ryder and she couldn't even meet his eye right away. She trusted he wouldn't pull an I told you so on her, but she felt it just by looking at him.

She forced out a small smile when he explained what'd taken him longer than planned, he was really too much. She took his hand and pulled herself up. She made her way over to the couch as Ryder put a movie on, Grease, and she smiled. Still her own personal Danny Zuko. Wiping her eyes she let out a quiet laugh. "You're ridiculous," she told him as he sat down.

After he put Grease on, he sat down on the couch next to Marley, grinning a little when he heard her laugh and say he’s ridiculous. “Oh, come on, Marley. It was right there, I couldn’t not pick it.” He put his arm around the back of the couch, kind of a silent almost invitation if she wanted to get closer, but not too obvious in case she wanted space after whatever happened between her and Blaine.

“I got cookie dough ice cream for you, and chocolate marshmallow swirl for me if you wanted to have some of mine.” Ryder told her, listening to the opening song play and giving her some time to relax before talking about what happened tonight. He didn’t want to bombard her with questions or anything, this was entirely her pace.

Ice cream and movies. For someone who'd never really dealt with a messy breakup before, he was sure pulling out all the seemingly right stops. Though, eating was the last thing she really wanted to do right now so she just shook her head. "I had a big dinner," she lied, scooting closer and leaning on her friend, happy he was there.

She watched as the movie played out for a few minutes, trying to ignore the fact that she could nearly feel Ryder's curiosity. She sighed and sat up a little so she could look at him, deciding to give him a short version of what had happened that night, minimal details about what had happened in the bedroom before she'd stopped Blaine.

He bit his lip slightly when Marley said she had a big dinner, because he remembered Thanksgiving at Pop’s and her not really eating at all, and high school when she didn’t seem to eat much then either, so he was a little hesitant to believe her. But he didn’t say anything. It wasn’t the night to bring up her not eating much. It was just the night for her telling him what happened and for him to help her feel better.

And he soon got those details, not too many, but he didn’t need the whole thing. “I’m sorry, Marls. That sucks. But hey, Jean Grey and Scott Summers broke up too, under different circumstances obviously but still, it’ll work out for you. Jean got with Wolverine, so now all that’s left is for you to eventually find your own Wolverine and you’re all set.” He didn’t mean to go on a ramble about superheroes again, especially not about the two he compared Blaine and Marley to, but he couldn’t help it. “It’ll be okay, you got me and Charlie and your other friends who aren’t as cool as me. You can get through this.”

Marley really didn't know who Scott Summers or Jean Grey were. Luckily, she did have a vague idea of Wolverine, and by vague, she knew he was played by Hugh Jackman in the movies. She'd never land a Hugh Jackman, but she thought the sentiment was cute.

"I'll probably text Charlie tomorrow," Marley told Ryder, leaning back against him and turning her attention to the movie. "See if I can stay there for a bit. I don't B'll want me around here..." Even if that wasn't true, she didn't know if she could be here after tonight. She knew she'd have a moment tomorrow morning where she just forgot everything. And then she'd remember and the hurt would happen all over again.

When she leaned back against him, he kept his arm around her. He didn’t think that B wouldn’t want her around here, even if they were broken up, he was still her best friend, but he didn’t say anything. “I wish I had room in my trailer, I’d totally let you stay with me.” But he still lived with his parents and the trailer wasn’t big enough to add Marley. “And we could have Lucky Charms for breakfast.” He added with a grin, knowing she wouldn’t agree to that since she didn’t agree that marshmallows were a necessary part of the morning meal.

Ryder wished he knew how to just make her pain go away, because he would do anything it took to make her not sad about this and hurt. But he couldn’t, he just knew that he had to be here for her and help with what he could do. Which was making jokes and watching movies, what he does best.

Marley couldn't help but roll her eyes at the mention of Lucky Charms. But, it was sweet of him to say he'd let her stay with him and his family. She didn't know how many other guys she knew would say something like that.

They weren't even halfway through the movie when Marley's began to flutter shut. She didn't want to fall asleep, especially not on Ryder or on the couch. She had a bed here ... or ... she used to. Trying to fight a yawn she focused on the TV. "They might be the best Danny and Sandy," she said quietly. "But I think we were a pretty close second."

Ryder nodded along to her comment, he could tell that she was getting tired, which was a good sign, at least to him. That she was okay enough to sleep for now. “We definitely gave them a run for their money, especially during You’re The One That I Want, you were so good.” He responded, doing Grease was honestly one of the best parts of high school for him. He met Marley, joined Glee club, it was awesome.

After a few short moments, he rubbed her arm a little, “You can sleep if you want, I’m getting tired again too.” He did wake up just to come over, not that he minded, because he was coming over for Marley. He’d do pretty much anything for her, out of the girls in town, the Rose’s were definitely the ones he trusted the most, Marley maybe a little more so.

"You were better," Marley quipped sleepily. Compliments were always served a plenty between the two of them, something she never really complained about. Ryder was ... special. It was different with Sam or Finn or even Blaine. He was just ... Ryder.

He was giving her permission to sleep, something she didn't realize she'd needed. "Okay," she answered, nodding a little and grabbing the throw blanket from on top of the couch and covering herself with it. Other people might make assumptions if they knew Ryder came over or that he was spending the night but it was Ryder. She couldn't help but be anxious, knowing Blaine could walk through the door at any second, but ... he wouldn't get mad, Ryder was their friend.

Her worries slowly drifted as she started dozing off. Instinctively wrapping her arms around his middle section. "G'night," she mumbled moments before her eyes flickered shut.

Ryder grinned, though he didn’t think he really agreed that he was better. Seeing her on stage that night was incredible, she was such a good Sandy and just a great actress and singer in general. She was a great person too, always complimenting him and just being amazing. He was really glad he was lucky enough to be friends with her.

Even though moments like this, sitting on the couch and watching a movie while she was leaning into him, made him wish they weren’t just friends. But he pushed that thought out of his head quickly, she called him here because she broke up with her boyfriend, he didn’t need to be thinking about having any sort of more than platonic feelings for her. Not now anyways, not while she was hurting.

He fixed the blanket she put over herself a little, grinning when he felt her arms around him, “Night, Marls.” He responded, shifting his position a bit and laying his head back, closing his eyes while the movie kept playing in front of them.

[witch-of-letters]

WITIWNU - Part 3/?

Chapter Word Count: 3161

A/N #1: Once again a HUGE ‘Thank you’ to my wonderful Beta (who so generously offered to help me with this) - @team-free-will-you-idjits-67  ! I’m forever grateful for your help.

Chapter Links:  (Prologue)  Chapter 1  Chapter 2

Stonehenge, England, 1999  

If an artist or a philosopher were to be asked whether or not the meadow was beautiful, the answer would be ‘Yes, it is.’ Being away from your home was something that occurred quite often. Satisfying your wild spirit and yearning to be free from everything. If it were up for your mother, she would most definitely leave you all locked up inside your bedroom. She never liked you running about in the open.

Alec, on the other hand, was more willing to see you enjoy nature and sunlight, sprinting here and there with glee like you would usually see when kids are being given presents at Christmas. He was calm and cautious by nature, never doing anything reckless unless the situation demanded it. While he was happy to be there for you, loving you like he had never loved anyone before, even your mother, he was sure as hell worried about what the future had in store for you.

The deal your mother had made did a huge blow to your family, the Ryders. It should never have happened and yet, she still did it for reasons unknown. That was one thing Alec would never forgive her for. Still, he could never have been more than happy to see you here being the only ray of sunshine in his dark life. He was tired. Tired of being hunted by people he had once called ‘friends’. Tired of being an attack dog, held back by the British Men of Letters’ tight leash. And he was sure as hell tired of being a good-for-nothing of a father to you, his only daughter. This life, a lifetime hunting of monsters, was not something he wanted to give you, but he had nothing. His custom-made M1911, his code of honour, and his undying love for you were all he had.

And that love? It was love that would eventually get him killed.

*****

You were out of breath when you reached your father. He gave one of the warmest smiles you had ever seen him give, opening up his arms for a hug. Alec felt as though a cannonball had crushed into his chest.

“Woah there, little one! Don’t break your pops’ ribs!” Your smile was one of mischief.

“As if I would be capable of actually doing that!.”

“Oh, one day you will be. Just you wait!” This was enough to send you into a fit of giggles, which may or may not have dragged him into a fit of his own. Such moments of happiness were rare for you. The main ‘issue’ being your mother, who didn’t seem to allow you being happy at all, wanting to keep you inside your mansion and train you in the ways of witchcraft. Her tyranny caused you to refuse to speak to her, undoubtedly giving her another headache with your antics. This didn’t mean you didn’t enjoy learning about magic with her though.

Your father poked at your side, pulling you from you back to reality.  

“You still there, Y/N/N?”

“Huh, what?”

“Your eyes got all misty all of a sudden. Thought you got lost in thought or something,” he spoke quietly, like a thief trying to share a secret.

“I was just thinking about us,” you answered with a shrug.

“Us?”

“Yes.”

He pulled you closer to him, your head resting under his chin, “What exactly, little one?”

“The way we are never really happy, papa. We move around a lot, some people always come knocking on our door and asking about whether or not you have finished your ‘job’, and mother still behaves like a cold-hearted bitch towards me-”

“Where did you learn these words?!” Alec was immediately alert, thinking about what could have happened between you and your mother this time. He just couldn’t bear hearing about another one of your spats, that usually force him to become the ‘ultimate peacemaker’ between you.

“It’s what she does, papa. What she  always does...” Alec contemplated telling you a comforting lie, but he knew that you would recognize it as one the moment he uttered it.

“I can’t believe her!” he whisper-yelled, “Why can’t she accept you?!”

“I don’t know.”

“It is not like her to be so cold-hearted,” he murmured to himself.

“When was she ever happy? Oh, let me guess, before I was born. Right?”

He didn’t know how to answer your question, instead just letting it hang open in the air. Indeed, when was the last time he had seen his love happy? She’d lost that spark since they had to go on the run from the Men of Letters back in the US. He had no idea how to reignite it. She had closed herself off to both himself and you entirely. While, sure, it didn’t do you any good in any parenting terms, at least she was still alive, or so Alec liked to think.

As the sun continued to beam down on you both, you fell into a semi-comfortable silence, each in your own thoughts. Life -  your life - wasn’t easy. For hunters and witches like you it never was, and yet you had to carry on, for the sake of other people who didn’t believe in supernatural. But the blood on Alec’s hands did not make it easy - for  him.

He despised killing people. Sounds simple, right? But it’s not.

Not only did his hands shake when he pointed his gun at people, he also couldn’t look in the eyes of his ‘victims’. Killing was messy. Killing was heartless. Killing was inhumane. But those were not the words of his new ‘comrades’ because their preferred term was: ‘It isn’t killing when it comes to monsters - whether human or not.

He didn’t want such life for you, but he knew that you would get thrown into it anyway, even if he were kicking and screaming like a madman.

Present, 2015

Darkness. It was all you could ‘see’ in front of you. The moment the cloud’s dark tendrils engulfed you, you could only feel its coldness and stare at vast nothingness. While normally you weren’t afraid of the dark, hunting having made it impossible to feel that way, it still felt unnerving to you. Nothing  about this was normal.

Trying to remain calm, you wailed your arms around, hoping to touch something -  anything that might calm your nerves. You needed to be grounded, no matter if what you touched would turn out to be a tree or a rock. You knew you were at least standing on solid ground.

But then you remembered those strange few words that echoed inside your head just before you lost consciousness. The voice belonged to a woman. It was both calm and soothing, like a fluffy blanket that you wrap around yourself when it gets cold. And yet, when you try to squint your eyes in the thick dark smoke, you see her standing there - tall, shoulders relaxed, and her own gaze fixed on someone beside her, who was looking around rather wildly.  ‘Dean! ’ your mind whispered, trying to see what was happening. When you looked at him more closely, you saw him staring at the woman in confusion, not knowing who she was or what she was doing.

“Hey! The hell's going on?!” he shouted at her, already feeling for his gun that wasn’t there. She said nothing, only looking into his eyes, with an emotion you couldn’t quite place. Suddenly, her head snapped towards you, cautiously approaching them like a hunter would approach its prey. Dean’s face lit up in surprise, happy to see you there but confused at your presence at the same time. You kept your eyes on her, observing and calculating your next move. Something in the back of your mind told you that doing anything rash would only anger the stranger in front of you. Without a word, she turned around and walked back into the darkness. Before either you or Dean could utter a word, you blacked out.

*****

Sam woke up with one hell of a headache. The only thing he saw before something knocked him out was an enormous dark cloud, heading towards the Impala at a great speed, engulfing everything in its way. All three of you tried to get away, but the car had hit a damn pothole. He groaned when he touched his face, feeling a cut that wasn’t there before. Maybe he hit his face against the car door, he thought as he slowly looked around, not spotting neither you nor Dean. The only thing left to do was to get out of there.

Everything seemed normal. A slight breeze was blowing, both the car and the bar were still there, and not a soul around, except for him. Figuring that it was useless to drive around in search for both you and his brother, he went south towards the rolling hills. He prayed that he would find you there.

The next thing he saw, when he finally came up the hill, were your bodies, lying on the ground unconscious. He ran as fast as he could.

“Hey! Hey! You two okay?“ he asked as knelt down to touch your shoulders, shaking them a little.

You slowly opened your eyes, feeling relief when you recognized Sam’s baritone voice.

“Yeah...we’re okay, or as okay as we can be, I suppose,” you whispered because your throat felt like you’d just swallowed sandpaper.

“Where's the car?” Dean spoke from beside you, already on his feet. He put out a hand to help you up, which you gratefully took. He gave you a reassuring squeeze.

“I-i-it's . . . About a mile that way.”

“What?”

Sam stared at him indignantly, “Seriously? The -- the darkness hit. You disappeared. You remember none of this?”

You gave him a look, “Of course we remember, Sam. We’ve just been there!”

“She saved us.”

Now it was Sam’s turn to look confused.

“What? Who?”

You and Dean looked at each other, “The Darkness.”

*****

“Hold on, so what happened back there, exactly?” inquired Sam as you all hit the road again.

You looked in the rearview mirror at Dean, silently asking for help. You wanted to tell him yourself, but your throat still felt too constricted to speak.

“She saved us, I told you that already.”

“Wait a second. What do you mean, she saved you?”

“You were there. When the storm hit, everything went dark.”

Sam waved his arms around, as if emphasizing how incredulous that situation was, “Yeah, but you just disappeared from the car.”

Dean glanced at him, shaking his head in denial, “I don't even remember that.”

Then Sam looked at you but you shook your head as well. You were too out of consciousness to remember any of it, but if you were to take a guess, and you were sure that you’d be right, you’d say that she had just teleported you out of the Impala.

“Well, I don't remember some woman pulling you out.”

“Well, what do you want me to say, okay? Y/N and I were in the car, and then we weren't in the car. We were in the field, and she was there. Just standing.”

“She was observing us,” you croaked, sitting up in the backseat. You cleared your throat before continuing, “or maybe assessing us even. From what I could gather, she was looking at us with both familiarity and curiosity, as though she knew who we were.”

“And she told you she was the darkness.”

Dean was quick to deny such a claim, “No. She was wearing a nametag. What do you think? She thanked us.” Now that was something you didn’t quite hear her saying. Her? Being grateful to you? Perhaps there was something in it because Death had explained to you how the Mark was tied to her and vice versa, and after removing it, she was released from her confines, undoubtedly ready to rain destruction upon the world.

Sam brought you out of your reverie, “For what?”

“Setting her free.”

“You didn't set her free.  I  set her free.” You frowned at Sam’s response. Indeed, it was his idea to use the Book of The Damned, but there simply was no other choice. For a witch of your calibre, you were sure as hell frustrated when you couldn’t find a solution to that problem. But, what’s done is done, and you have to continue playing with the cards given, even if they’re stacked against you.

“Does it matter? I mean, yeah, you said the spell, but Y/N had the Mark, so lock and key.”

“But then there’s the question as to how both you disappeared. The Mark was on Y/N’s arm.”

You answered him before Dean could, “Dean was the bearer of it before I was, Sam, so my guess is that both of us were simply connected to it, and subsequently her. What that means for us exactly, however, I don’t know.”

“So, what, now she feels indebted to you or something?”

“I don't know. She's a Darkness. Does she feel anything?” mumbled Dean.

”And that's all she said? Thanks?”

”Yeah. She was weird. But she had this energy about her, this -- this focus. But, yeah, not a talker.”

“So, we know Jack.” For some reason, you found Sam’s response funny, smirking in the backseat. Boy, were you glad that they didn’t notice it.

“Well, we know what she looks like, and we know that she's evil. The question is, what does she know? I mean, she's been locked away since the beginning of time. Does she even know what a cheeseburger is? All I know is that we set her free, and we're gonna put her back in, no matter what it takes,” said Dean, just as Baby hit another pothole, “What the . . . ,” he got out to take a look at the car. “Well, that’s just awesome !”

You couldn’t help but let out a snorting laugh.

After Dean’s statement, it got quiet in the car, with you occasionally asking them where you three were, seeing as you were laying on your back in the backseat. During your ride, Dean checked upon you several times, even with Sam offering to drive Baby to let him turn around without putting them all in danger. Of course, the only response he got was a grumpy ‘I got it.’

Soon though, the car stopped.

“What, is there a roadblock or something?” you inquired while slowly sitting upright. Sam glanced back at you.

“Yeah, actually.”

All of you got immediately out of the car. The road seemed eerily quiet with no sound reaching your ears. When you got a little bit closer, you saw dead bodies strewn all over the road. It wasn’t a particularly gruesome sight as you didn’t see any blood around them. Instead, you noticed thick black veins on their arms and necks, that for some reason, reminded you of the late Croatoan virus.

“You all seeing what I’m seeing?” you turned around to look at the brothers. Both of them had their guns out, in case of danger. You weren’t  so sure that the bullets would stop the infected though, as the ‘infection’ itself was obviously unnatural.

“What the hell happened here?”

There was an unmistakable sound of footsteps ahead of you. It didn’t quite help that the cars obstructed your vision and made it harder to see the person approaching. As they got closer, it turned out that it was a construction worker. ‘ At least it is not a cliche teenager or something…,’  your mind supplied.

Dean cocked his gun at him, “Oh, that's not a happy sight. Hey, easy, buddy. Just stay cool till we figure out what's going here, okay?” The creepy guy continued to approach you, “Kind of narrowing my options here.”

“We don’t even know what he is.”

“You don’t say, Sam!” you retorted. You knew how he was holding himself back from giving you his ‘bitch face’. Y/N 1, Sam 0.

Suddenly, a shot rang out from behind of the cars, making you focus your attention again. Slowly, a woman walked forward towards you, shotgun raised.

“Weapons on the ground. Slow.”

Dean tried to diffuse the situation, not wanting to accidentally get you, him, or Sam shot, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy, officer. We're FBI, okay? We got badges.”  That made you give him an incredulous look. He didn’t notice it, the bastard…

The deputy only pumped her shotgun, “Don't. Show me some skin.” She was only met with the brothers’ confused ‘Huh?’ and ‘What?’. You, however, didn’t hesitate to pull down your collar, exposing your neck.

“Is this, like, a "Magic Mike" moment?” asked Dean enthusiastically.

“Your throats!”

“Oh, you think we're -- we're . . . Look, we don't even know what these are.”

“I need to know you're not one of 'em.”

You narrowed your eyes at her, “One of what?”

Before she could answer, you heard moans from all around you, indicating that the infected were still very much around. She pointed her shotgun down a little.

“Let’s go!”

“Okay, all right, look. Huh? See?” Dean pulled down his own collar, with Sam following his action. Once they did so, the deputy gave a satisfied nod.

“Good. Let's see those IDs.”

“Yeah, whoa. All right, take -- take it easy, okay?” he pointed at her own wound, still bleeding profusely. “Bad guys?”

“Rebar. I sought cover. I fell,” she explained rather offhandedly. Another person not caring about their own injury. Just what you needed to see that day.

“Okay. Why don't you tell us what happened here?”

“911 reported a family in distress. I arrived to find several hostiles attacking said family. Oh, God, it was horrible.” The Winchesters put their guns away, and Jenna, as she gave you her name, put away her own shotgun.

“How long you been on the job, deputy?”

“Uh . . . Okay, three weeks.”

“Well, that’s not long,” you quietly remarked.

“Yeah…”

Dean was quick to take over again, “Okay, ah. I'm Dean. This is Sam and Y/N. Just breathe. Okay? Speak plain. What happened?”

Jenna took a deep breath, “They killed them all.”

“Who?” questioned Sam.

“Roadcrew. It was -- they were like rabid dogs. I fired off a warning, but they didn't stop. They…”

“You killed all these?” Dean pointed at the bodies. Jenna nodded.

“I knew some of the boys, but they didn't look -- something was wrong. They were...“

“They're not human.”

Jenna looked on the verge of collapse, and Dean stepped forward, in case she fainted, “Hey, look, Y/N can stitch that up, but, uh, it's gonna be ugly, seeing as we have lost our own first aid kit. You got a hospital around here?“

“Up the road.“

“All right. Here we go.“

You gave one last look at the bodies before all four of you piled back into Baby. You knew that it was only a beginning of the Darkness’ trail of destruction.

 Tagging: @waywardrose13 // @waywardnerd67 // @assassins-and-hidden-blades // @angelkurenai // @undertastic-dork // @unreadpoppy // @snffbeebee // @coffee-obsessed-writer // @spnhollis // @storminwomanform // @queen-of-deans-booty // @impala-dreamer

[amassingeffect]

Ficlet Prompt Friday - Popcorn - mReyder

@trajektoria asked for: Reyes and SAM plotting something together behind Scott's back?

Reyes and SAM plot with a little help from someone who’s done this before.

Warnings: post-Meridian

Reyes didn’t think it would be this hard. He was used to being able to source pretty much any and everything. It was Kadara Port after all, everything could be bought for a price.  

Anything except this one thing.

All his sources, all his contacts came up with nothing. It was mystifying. If he could get a cat, why were dogs so hard to find? He still remembered Scott talking about the dog he had back on Earth, the one he had to rehome before journeying to Andromeda.

He knew the Tempest had just docked, it was hard to miss that distinctive black, white and red ship. Scott had been gracious enough to give him a connection to SAM. How he swung that, Reyes didn’t know, but he accepted it and kept his mouth shut about it. But it was certainly useful now. If he knew Scott, he had about thirty minutes before he came to Tartarus.

“SAM, if I could ask you something?”

“Of course Mr Vidal?” SAM’s measured tone was crystal clear.

“How are dogs impossible to find?”

“The canid DNA banks are still in cryo storage.”

“Cats aren’t.”

“The felidae DNA banks were illegally accessed by a tech and felis silvestris catus were propagated before the action was caught.”

Reyes had no doubt someone caught a ton of shit for that. But it did tell him that if someone had done it once, another person could do it again. And given how things had settled down a bit after that madcap battle with the Archon on Meridian…

“How would one go about getting a dog then?”

“Species propagation paperwork should be filed with the DNA bank director as well as Directors Tann and Addison to ensure that proper care is taken with the introduction with a new species to the Heleus cluster.”

“SAM, that is not what I wanted to hear. What I want to know is what it would take to get a dog for Scott.”

“The Pathfinder’s clearance would expedite the process. Shall I—”

“No,” Reyes wanted to shake his head. “I don’t want the Pathfinder to know. Surely there are other avenues to pursue to see this done.”

There was a prolonged silence from SAM and then, “As the Pathfinder is outside your door, this is a conversation we shall continue at a later time Mr Vidal.”

“Wait—”

That was all Reyes got out before the door slid open and Scott stalked in. He flopped down on the seat and snatched up Reyes’ glass of whiskey to drain it in one gulp. Then he filled it up again and sagged back into the seat.

“One of these days, I’m gonna shoot Tann. Do know what he actually said to Morda’s face? I don’t like her, but I damn near let her fight him.”

Even Reyes had to admit, when Scott told him, his eyebrows rose. Tann was definitely an idiot and if he could pull this off somehow. If anything, he would go to the Nexus himself to give Scott the dog in front of Tann.

The first part was easy, he didn’t really need a particular breed of dog. Scott had said he adopted his dog from the pound and it was as much a mutt as a mutt could be. SAM was suspiciously quiet until one day, in the middle of a firefight with Roekaar, SAM piped up.

“Are you busy at the moment, Mr Vidal?”

“A bit,” he returned fire, catching a sharpshooter that was trying to reach the high ground. “What is it?”

“Connecting you to Sidera Nyx. One moment.”

What the hell, was this SAM’s idea of a joke? Seriously, this fight was nowhere close to wrapping up and—

“Hello?” a flanging turian voice came on. A young sounding one. “I was told you’re looking to get a dog and— Is that gunfire?”

“Yes, SAM has terrible timing,” Reyes grunted as he lobbed a grenade and ducked back behind cover. “But I am indeed looking for a dog.”

“Hm, I can’t do it. I got into so much trouble with the cats and…” Sidera paused as the grenade went off with a loud boom and yells and screams following after the split-second of silence. “But I can put you in touch with someone in the DNA bank. Who exactly is this?”

“SAM can get me in touch with the person— One moment.” Reyes dashed to new cover, firing bullets at a Roekaar attempting to set up a turret. The invasion program he fired at it worked quick and the turret identified the enemies and opened fire. “SAM can contact me when the person wants to talk.”

“Oh no no no,” Reyes could practically see Sidera shake her head. “That’s not how this goes. No name, no contact. Take it or leave it.”

Of course it was. “Reyes Vidal, a pleasure to talk to you Miss Nyx. Are you perhaps related to Vetra?”

“She’s my sister!” Sidera sounded delighted now. “And I know all about you Mr Vidal. No worries, I’ll see about that contact for you, if this is for who I think it is,” there was a moment of swearing from Sidera and then, “Gotta go!” before the line cut out.

At least now Reyes could focus his attention on the fight. Once the last Roekaar was dead, and they were sweeping through the bodies and base for info, Reyes managed to slip away to a quiet spot. However, SAM did beat him to the punch.

“I apologize for the hasty connection Mr Vidal. She was quite insistent on speaking the person wishing to procure a dog.”

“It couldn’t have been at any other time?”

“No. I was only able to secure the connection for that small window. Her activities are monitored ever since the ‘feline episode’.”

Reyes barely smothered a snicker at the delicate tone SAM used. “Understandable then. Are there any other problems you foresee?”

“Only one. While species propagation and the DNA banks fall under the purview of Tann, Addison and the DNA bank director, the recently formed Andromeda Council takes great interest in what is revived from the DNA bank. We may have to field a representative with questions.”

“Direct them to me and I’ll handle it.” Reyes said. “Pretty sure we can pull this off.”

In all honesty, Reyes expected to be dealing with Tann or Addison when the call came through. SAM sounded very urgent when he finally called Reyes.

“I have the krogan Council member insisting on speaking to Pathfinder Ryder about the revival of canids from the DNA bank,” SAM paused for a moment. “They are not pleased.”

Thank god Reyes was at home when this came through. And at least SAM gave him some warning this time. But damn, Sidera worked fast. She hadn’t even gotten in a return call.

“All right, put her through SAM.”

“Acknowledged. Ryder and Morda have an acrimonous and tense relationship. I will be masking your speech with the Pathfinder’s. Please endeavour to approximate Ryder’s speech patterns as best as possible. Connecting you now.”

It was just a few moments and then, “What the hell are you playing at Ryder, wasting resources on pets?”

“It’s called diversification of resources,” Reyes snapped. “Did we plan for cats? No, but they’re helping with morale where they are and some people are training them to hunt small game. Dogs can be used in the same capacity and to assist in hunting as well as guarding. Be glad it was dogs I approved because geese are far worse. Now I’ve put in the approval, so quit wasting my time when I have better things to do.”

“Pathfinder Ryder,” Morda sounded like she was in full bluster.

“It’s approved and I’m done here.”

Reyes disconnected the call as he heard an angry growl. After a moment, he sighed and rubbed at his forehead. “How much worse did I just make things for Scott?”

“Scott usually is sarcastic with Morda unless he has reached a point that he refers to as ‘done’. Given their recent interactions, Scott is officially on the verge of ‘done’. Morda should suspect nothing.” There was a moment of silence and then, “Sidera Nyx is requesting an immediate call.”

“Patch her through.” Reyes waited until he heard the soft beep of a connection. “I understand you wanted to talk to me?”

“Man, you work fast. My contact in the DNA bank wants to know what kind of dog you want. She wants to get it started and some out before they try to shut her down.”

“Give me a mutt.” Reyes said.

“I know, but what kind?” Sidera asked again.

Nothing like a translator to take some things literally. “Just a mixed breed dog. When you look at the dog, you can’t quite tell exactly what breed. You can guess some, but don’t really know.”

“Okay,” Sidera sounded hesitant. “Can you arrange to smuggle it off the Nexus?”

“I shall do you one better: I’ll be there in person to pick it up.”

“Oh,” Sidera said with a knowing thrum in her voice. “All right then. I gotta go now. I can hear Morda stomping into Tann’s office, so gonna get this going. Call you later, bye!”

“Kids.” Reyes chuckles as the line went dead. “SAM, if they get this started today, how soon until we have dogs?”

“Approximately two weeks. Once the process is started, it’s inadvisable to halt it. While yours is first in the queue, I do see some requests for dogs now too.”

“How many exactly?”

“418 and increasing.”

Reyes couldn’t help but smile. That wasn’t precisely a number to shrug at. And if they tried to cancel it, it would be like the cats all over again.

“SAM, is there perhaps an urgent reason for the Tempest to come to Kadara?”

“You have given me numerous reports of increased Roekaar presence and there have been rumours of kett presence. I shall bring it to the Pathfinder’s attention.”

“Since you mention it,” Reyes pulled up his omni-tool. “I just sent you some copies of reports I wrote up on the last few Collective missions I ran where we encountered Roekaar. Does help to have something backing you up. Embroider where you need to.”

“Acknowledged. Can I assist you with anything else today, Mr Vidal?”

Reyes laughed. “I think I should be asking you that. But no. And thank you SAM.”

“You are welcome, Mr Vidal.”

“You can call me Reyes, you know.”

“I know Mr Vidal.”

That was the last thing SAM said and Reyes felt fairly sure the AI was pulling his leg.

Scott was really damned confused now. They’d spent the past two weeks on Kadara weeding our Roekaar hideouts. They were winning points in Evfra and Keema’s books, which was never a bad thing. But he’d had some words with Morda before coming to Kadara that left him more puzzled and pissed because what the hell was she going on about him lording it up and making such massive and arbitrary decisions.

Once they were done, Reyes announced he’d come back with him to the Nexus. That alone left Scott wondering because Reyes had also once said he’d be damned if he set foot on Tann’s little kingdom again.

All Reyes had done was shrug and say, “There’s a Council now, right? So they’ll bicker about what to do with me and I’ll be gone by the time they decide.”

Then he’d smiled and winked as he strolled onto the Tempest and Scott felt like he really missed something massive. Not that Reyes said a damn thing about whatever it was.

“I feel you,” Vetra had commiserated with him one night in the galley over dinner. “Sid’s up to something but damned if I can figure out what. I just hope it doesn’t involved another trap.”

“Hell, I’d take a trap. I have no idea what Reyes is up to.”

Setting foot on the Nexus… he was desperately confused. Everyone was so damned nice, high fives, grins and waves and shouts of ‘Thank you!’ He had zero damn idea what he supposedly did. Reyes seemed entirely unruffled by it all and Scott finally narrowed his eyes in suspicion as they walked along.

“This have anything to do with you?”

“Me? I’ve been with you on Kadara this entire time.”

“That doesn’t sound like a denial.” Scott pointed out.

“I think we should get to your apartment.” Reyes just smiled and kept on walking.

“What did you do?” Scott hurried after him. “Reyes!”

All Reyes did was turn and wink at him, a wide smile on his face. Scott followed after him, the door to his apartment on the Nexus closing silently behind them. There was Sidera half vanished behind his couch, talking to something.

“C’mon you little cutie, they’ll be here any moment.”

“Or they already are.” Reyes chuckled.

Sidera yelped, jumping up and knocking the couch out, something furry and wriggling in her arms. Scott looked around, eyes settling on a carrier and his heart leapt into his throat.

“Reyes,” he asked weakly. “What kind of cat did you get me?”

“It’s better than a cat.” Reyes’ smile softened as he tilted his head to Sidera.

Scott looked over as she came over and he could see floppy ears, paws everywhere and a tail wagging a mile of minute. Sidera was laughing as she was vigourously sniffed and then she deposited the wriggling bundle in his arms.

“You’re welcome Pathfinder.”

Scott could barely see through his now blurry vision. He blinked, seeing golden fur splotched with black with clear blue eyes looking up at him. Then big paws were scrabbling at him as his face was licked.

“You got me a puppy?!” he managed to ask, holding the animal tighter.

“First one in Andromeda.” Sidera grinned as she headed for the door. “I’ll just go now and can one of you please tell Vetra that it was a good thing I did.”

All Scott could do was nod as he held the excited puppy in his arms and looked at Reyes. Once the door was shut, he was walking over.

“You are impossible, you know that,” Scott hauled him in for a teary kiss. “How the hell did you pull this off? Is this why everyone suddenly loves me again, because you somehow got us dogs?”

Reyes shrugged, suddenly looking sheepish. “I wanted to get you a dog. Everyone else is a happy byproduct. I’m very much willing to be the unsung hero here.”

“Is this why Morda was so pissy with me?”

“I had words with her.”

“You’re my damn hero,” Scott kissed him again only to have the puppy break it up. “We have to name him.”

“That’s entirely your honour.”

“Popcorn II,” Scott didn’t even have to think about it. “In honour of the long passed Popcorn, back on Earth.”

“The first dog ever in Andromeda is named Popcorn.” Reyes looked like he was trying to not laugh. “I do like the lack of gravitas.”

“And you got everything for him too!” Scott could see a dog bed, a leash and feeding bowls. He set down Popcorn to let him run about.

“Mr Vidal wanted you to have as little to worry about as possible initially.” SAM’s smooth voice interrupted.

“SAM’s lying, that’s all them. I worried more about the logistics of getting the dog.” Reyes stepped in close, wiping the tears away on Scott’s cheeks. “Please tell me you don’t want a horse. I have no idea where to even put one.”

Scott sputtered with laughter. “No horses. Popcorn is more than enough. We’re in another galaxy and you got me a dog. Never let anyone tell you that you’re not incredible.”

Now Reyes was quiet, a blush coming to his face. “Anything you want, Scott.”

“This. It’s more than enough,” Scott took his hand, giving it a quick squeeze. “C’mon, let’s take Popcorn for his first walk.”

[tinyfierce]

Your canon Ryder pairing, “I know it hurts, I’m sorry.”

[promptsfrom thispost - still open!] 

—-

Ryder stared wistfully at SAM’s scan of the plant as itflashed across her visor. “It’s so beautiful,” she sighed. “Reallydisappointing.”“You are not the first to have thought so,” Jaal said, chuckling to himself ashe knelt in the feathery grass at the base of the rock Ryder had proppedherself up on. “Tershae Flowers have claimed many victims.”

The flower itself produced a magnificent red-and-fuchsiabloom nearly a meter across, long silken tendrils emerging from the center likethreads of silk couched in a thorny yellow crown. A crown, Ryder learned toolate, that spat venomous barbs at anyone who came too close.“And now we know,” she hissed as the latest burning sensation flashed acrossher calf. “This is what a Pathfinder does. Make all the mistakes so no one elsehas to.” Labels began to pop up on the self-generating diagram. “Though I haveto say, I didn’t think that a plantof all things would attack me for scanning it.”

“Havarl has become as dangerous as it is beautiful,” theAngara agreed, inspecting the damage. “It was not always so.”

“I concur, Pathfiner.” SAM’s voice chirped aloud. “Datasuggests that this species is a relatively new development.”

Ryder frowned. “How new?”

“Centuries, at most. It is impossible to estimate furtherwithout more information.”

“Hm.” She braced herself on the heels of her palms, tappinggloved fingers against the rock thoughtfully. “Centuries means that theresearch team we encountered definitely knows about them. And probably more. Wecould have really used thatinformation before wandering out here blind.”

Jaal’s hands paused. “I will… speak to them,” he saidslowly. “The Angara cannot afford to endanger our allies, no matter our –“

“Don’t,” Ryder cut him off. “Don’t apologize. Your peoplehave been through hell, and actions speak louder than words, so –“ Sheshuddered at another burn. “Trust is earned.”

He looked up at her for a moment, studying her face intently.“Yes,” he agreed. “It is earned.”

A quick swell of heat forced a yelp out of her throat,bringing him back to the task at hand.

“How is the pain,” he asked. “May I touch you?”

“It comes and goes, and yeah, go ahead.” She watched himadjust her leg, noting his low hum of disapproval at the sight of a half-dozenneedles sticking out of her flesh. No one had ever asked her permission totreat her wounds before, especially not in a combat zone. She wondered if allAngara were this respectful, or just the newest addition to the crew. “What’sthe prognosis?”

“I can remove them here,” Jaal said, leaning back on hisarches. “But you will still require medical attention back on the ship. And itwill be painful.”

“And if I leave them in until we get an evac?”

“I do not know,” he admitted. “One of your kind has neverbeen stung. This may be the worst of it, or…”

“Or I could lose my leg without help,” she breathed. “The joysof being Pathfinder. SAM?”

“Your skin is swelling in response to the foreign body,” theAI informed her. “Delaying removal will increase both difficulty and pain.”

“Understood. Thanks.” She always thanked it, though she didn’tknow if it was necessary. She wasn’t sure she could stop, anyway. “Looks likethey need to come out now.”

Jaal nodded his agreement, taking hold of her ankle andresting it on his thigh so that her leg kept taut and straight. He pinched thebase of the lowest needle about an inch from her skin, and Ryder could feel thevibration through to her muscle.

“On the count of three,” he began. “One. Two.”

She took a deep breath –

“Three.”

- and bit back a scream as the pointed barbs exited her skinand likely shredded the entry wound on the way out. One hand slipped from therock as her vision blurred, and Jaal’s free hand immediately caught firm.

“I am sorry,” he offered, squeezing tightly. “I know thishurts.”

“I’ll be fine. We need to keep going.”

Counting, she discovered, made it worse. Jaal seemed tocatch on after the next few, and he pulled the final three out in rapidsuccession. As Ryder fought down a wave of nausea, she was vaguely aware ofJaal’s hand holding hers tight, the other resting firmly on her leg as he murmuredwhat she assumed to be soothing noises in Angaran. They remained that way asthe shaking in her limbs subsided and her breathing evened, signaling hissuccess.

“Lesson learned,” Ryder managed, and Jaal’s laughter was agreat relief.

“I, too, have learned something,” he said, releasing herleg.

“What?”

He lifted his hand – the one gripping hers – and brought itto his eye level. “Our races share this instinct. We seek comfort through our hands when in distress.”His gaze was warm. “It is a great reassurance.”

Ryder’s face flushed. “Well, if you needed any more proofthat we’re not Kett –“

“You are proof enough for your people.” He stood and offeredhis shoulder to help her, the touch barrier between them broken.

Ryder leaned against him, making their way to the closestflat space for evac.

“I appreciate it,” she muttered, “but I’m still mad aboutthat flower.”

[ladyinthebluebox]

So, @gondowan here is one of the prompts you asked something about ... a month ago? Sorry, it took so long, but hey! I managed!

It was supposed to be the “184 - Can I touch you?” one and I’m pretty sure you wanted something at least a little bit kinky ... I wanted it to be but as I started writing I got carried away into the complete opposite direction ... It takes place in bed tho! I’m so bad at this XD SORRY!

And many thanks to @dothedonut for helping me polish this thing. You’re the sweetest Donut on the block :*

Anyways, here it is - a perfect example of how not to answer prompts!

Reyes groaned under his nose with a squeak of the mattress, stretching his body through its whole length. Disgruntled, he thought that he needs to get rid of this damned thing once and for all and find himself a proper bed, at the same time knowing damn well that once he leaves his flat he won’t have the time to worry about it anymore.

The Smuggler spread his arms throughout the width of his makeshift bed, feeling only the cool material of the sheets against his skin.

As per usual, Ryder was awake before him, and the quiet but closing sound of bare feet on the floor only confirmed this hypothesis. The mattress moaned again and shifted in a way that indicated she sat on its edge by his left side. A few seconds later a couple of rustling packages fell onto the ground.

Slowly opening his eyes, Vidal turned in the said direction, as expected, seeing the completely naked figure of the young woman, bathing in the warm light of the Kadara sunrise. 

With a pleased smile he slid his gaze up from her strong legs – one folded under her other, restlessly bouncing one that hung off the bedding – to the fetching curve of her firm ass up to the straight line of her lightly muscled back ending at her neck adorned with the intricate lines of a tattoo – clearly visible now as she knotted her wet hair into a messy bun.

He couldn’t, however, see her pretty face because she was turned into the direction of her injured arm.

Absorbed by the thought of how rude it was of her to take a shower without him, Reyes hadn’t spotted the short glance she threw over her shoulder to check if he was still asleep.

He wasn’t, just as she presumed.

Instead of saying good morning, however, Ryder patched up the good healing burn on her arm with a cooling bandage borrowed from his first aid kit and adjusted herself on the mattress so her partner could have a better view of her.

She had grown accustomed to the fact that sometimes Reyes just liked to observe her. Sybil had never opposed indulging this voyeuristic part of him because she found it a compliment that among other things, he considered her pleasant to look at. Furthermore, whenever their eyes met after such episodes, with his amber irises and the subtle arching of his eyebrows, Vidal usually expressed more than a thousand words ever could.

Words he most likely never dared to say. Words she wouldn’t want to hear be spoken idly.

Sybil might have doubted some of the things coming from Reyes’ lips, but she trusted in what she saw in his eyes - blindly.

Resisting the urge to turn to him and see what they might be saying now, she instead directed her gaze to her palms, slowly starting to take the wet bandages off from them.

Reyes watched her throw them onto the floor and clench her hands into fists a couple of times. Her knuckles were swollen and, just like the joints of her fingers, colored with bruises of all possible shades of purple and green – a painful consequence of those reckless, close-quarter biotic combat techniques she liked to use so much.

Sybil rarely let anybody look at her hands like this, usually hiding them under her leather gloves. He was probably the only person, beside the Tempest’s doctor that is, who has ever seen them bare. And with each time, he grew more worried about her.

Using her teeth she carelessly tore open a packet of medi-gel, and with slow, circular movements, massaged it into the skin of her fingers, hissing from time to time due to the pain it caused.

Not wanting to just lay down and watch her like that, Reyes kicked the sheets off himself and sat next to her. In an instant he was splaying one of his palms over the thigh of her bent leg and stretching out the other in the direction of her hands.

“Can I touch them?” He asked with a low, slightly sleepy voice.

Ryder instantly turned her gaze to him, surprised by the sudden intrusion.

His amber eyes looked at her with care and his usually mischievous lips were curled in a subtle, encouraging smile. Combined with an aureole wreathed by the bright rays of a waking sun that surrounded his tousled hair, Reyes looked almost like some sort of holy figure.

Immediately Sybil shook her head and deep down laughed at herself because of how ironic that connotation was. Reyes Vidal was probably the last person in Heleus who should have ever been described this way.  For more than one reason.

A little hesitantly, she placed her bare, mangled hand inside his, and not wasting a second Reyes lifted it to his lips, placing a soft kiss on the top of her metacarpus.

“Chivalry? Really?” She uttered.

“You deserve nothing less,” he stated, his calloused thumbs gently massaging the previously kissed spot.

“Oh? That wasn’t the message I received yesterday …”

The man chuckled darkly.

“As far as I remember, you were asking for what you got,” he pointed out, looking at her from under his eyebrows. “And you were damn pleased with it,” he added with a self-satisfied smirk.

“I hate it when you’re right,” she just said, pressing her full, pale lips into a thin line in a quite adorable expression of discontent.

Another chuckle escaped his lips as he continued caressing her palm in a rather comfortable silence, interrupted only by muffled sounds of growing shuttle traffic among few others that indicated the port was slowly waking up to life.

Vidal turned his gaze back to her hands, looking at them with clear concern about their condition. Sybil observed how his expression shifted, how he visibly clenched his teeth and frowned. When he looked back at her, his face was serious. Deadly serious.

“Do I need to borrow Lieutenant Harper for an honest talk about you?” Reyes’ voice was sharp, almost like the edge of her Asari sword, completely devoid of that playful note that danced between his words just a few minutes earlier.

“Absolutely not. It’s nothing.” Ryder firmly denied and tried to take her hand from the man, but he didn’t let her do so. “SAM helps-”

“No.” He cut her mid-sentence, his fingers locking with hers. “It doesn’t matter what SAM does. You need time to heal, Sybil.” Ryder opened her mouth to say something, but Reyes continued, “The Archon is gone, your brother is safe and there are no immediate threats to any of the Initiative outposts… You’ve earned a solid break.”

“Mr. Vidal is right, a few days of uninterrupted rest would be highly advisable, Pathfinder,” The AI’s polite voice spoke through her omni-tool that was left on the floor on the other side of the mattress, cutting the tense atmosphere in the room.

“Brutus,” Ryder huffed under her nose, shooting a killing glance into the direction from which the suggestion came from.

“How much time are you suggesting, SAM?” Vidal inquired.

“Calculating …”

Reyes’ triumphant grimace was an unbearable sight. It reminded Sybil too much of Scorpius’ whenever he managed to win at something with her.

“Three days at least, Mr. Vidal.” An electronic voice answered him.

“Great, I would love it, but there is just one, small problem with your marvelous idea, boys … According to the Nexus I can only take leave in two hundred and fifteen days,” she parroted the VI from the station’s Operations Centre. “There is also a whole crew of people that will seek for me, ring and eventually get bored or antsy without anything to do for the span of three days. That might end up terribly for your precious port … Umi might want to poison someone-”

“We will find them something to put into the reports.” Reyes cut into her rambling. “Catching escaped chickens in Diteaon before they all get eaten by a bunch of hungry adhi and counting them afterwards for example …”

“You can’t be serious!” Sybil expectorated with disbelief.

“Try me,” he dared, raising an eyebrow at her.

Reyes smirked devilishly, gently pushing the young woman down onto the mattress. Sybil didn’t resist, letting him easily do so. He supported himself on his forearm over her for a short while, just savoring the most pleasant sight of her naked silhouette spread under him.

“Besides, who said anything about an official leave?” He murmured right above her ear. “As the ruling power here I will just take an overly heroic Pathfinder into custody and sentence her to bed rest until she won’t become at least a little bit wiser.”

Ryder choked on her laughter.

“What’s the charge?” she asked playfully, tilting her head a little when he placed an open-mouthed kiss right under her jawline leaving behind a prominent hickey.

“Mostly not caring about herself enough, but if I dig a little more I could surely find more dirt on her.”

Reyes cupped her breast, at the same time gently nibbling the pulse spot on her neck. Ryder sighed with pleasure in response with her strong leg en-lacing his waist so tightly that her heel dug into his buttock.

“I swear, I’m clear as a newborn’s tear.” She swore with a weakening voice when the man was busy leaving a wet trail of kisses on her sternum.

“And somehow I just don’t believe you.” His hot breath tickled the sensitive, tattooed skin between her breasts as he spoke, not moving too far away from her body.

Sybil laughed friskily at those words.

“I hope you realize that I wasn’t made for lying in bed …Will you appoint guards to keep me here? One for each side?” She continued joking.

“No.” Reyes sounded like limits of his patience were slowly coming to an end. “I will take care of this smart-ass prisoner myself-”

“I’m honored,” Sybil interjected him.

“-and keep her in bed by any necessary means.”

[kestrelsansjesses]

What Might Have Been

[Prompt: This is for @meflashfanwork based on the theme ‘what might have been.’ What if Alec had survived and Wren Ryder wasn’t the Pathfinder, but just one of the companions? How would her relationship with Jaal changed? It’s a series of vignettes, essentially, because anything else would be ungodly long.

Jaal x Ryder]

Alec Ryder. Pathfinder, hope of the Initiative, pseudo-leader of the human ark. All titles he wore with ease, carrying hopes and dreams on his shoulders as if they weighed nothing at all. Things he could not include in his list of titles: diplomat, which made meeting the angara an interesting complication, a wrinkle in his plans that he clearly didn’t approve of.

Thus, the angara representative, Jaal, had ended up more or less dumped in the laps of Scott and Wren Ryder. “Babysit him. I don’t have time for this,” Alec said, already turning and stalking off. Wren and Scott exchanged a look and both shrugged simultaneously.

“You know I’m not much better than dad. I leave this in your capable hands.” Clapping his sister on the shoulder, Scott left her with Jaal.

“Your father- he is always like this?” It was the first thing Jaal said to her, and Ryder couldn’t determine if he was serious or not. A beat of tension, and then Jaal smiled at her, hesitantly, and Ryder let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding and smiled back.

Bashful in the face of having to confront Alec’s dubious charms, Ryder nodded reluctantly. “Pretty much. He takes getting used to.” It was unfortunate that this was Jaal’s first real taste of humanity, but it wasn’t as if there was much she could do about that. As usual, she could only pick up the pieces and try to smooth out Alec’s rough edges, making sure he didn’t offend too many people in his wake. It was, after all, the main reason she was even allowed on his precious Tempest in the first place. Everyone had to pull their own weight, and though it never went said out loud, it was understood that the Ryder twins were there to be the charm and charisma that the Pathfinder lacked.

***

From the start, Ryder had alternative reasons for playing nice with Jaal. She couldn’t help but notice he was good looking, even if he was alien. Maybe it was the fact that he was so incredibly alien that made him appealing; either way, six hundred years of no action could do things to a girl.

Jaal didn’t trust her. That much was clear. He trusted Alec even less, and while he seemed to get along with Scott, he also held himself aloof, refusing to answer certain questions about his family and about angaran culture until some mythical proof of trust could be earned.

“I’d like to get to know you better. Privately,” she stuttered out one afternoon, and to her surprise Jaal looked her up and down appraisingly and finally replied.

“I would like that,” he said, a smile touching the corners of his mouth. That’s where it all began.

***

It wasn’t until they rescued the Moshae that Jaal truly began to warm up to any of the crew, and Ryder hadn’t even been along for the ride. “It’s too dangerous,” Alec told her. “You and your brother are staying behind and staying put. No arguments.” All this before she could even open her mouth, stuck on the ship and fuming as her dad left with Jaal and Drack, leaving behind a restless ship that could only try and communicate with comms.

“I have utmost faith that your dad will pull this off,” Cora said, trying to sound reassuring and trying not to look annoyed that she hadn’t been brought along.

“Of course he will. Dad is perfect.” Rolling her eyes, Ryder stalked off to her bunk to flip through an old-fashioned, physical book, flipping the same two pages back and forth for an hour before giving up and trying to watch a vid instead. She should be there. What if Alec was hurt? What if Jaal was hurt? Was it wrong that the second thought made her more worried than the first? Damn it, she was going to fall into this too deeply if she wasn’t careful. It was time to distance herself, to not think about what the angara looked like as he smiled, how good of a shot he was, how he had helped her take apart her sniper rifle the other day, holding intricate pieces between two fingers with surprisingly delicacy. Definitely don’t think about his hands.

Damn it.

***

“We have to deal with this Aksuul figure before he causes any further trouble. Wren, you’re coming with us.” It was a tacit admittance that he was diplomatically challenged, the closest Alec would ever come to admitting weakness. It was also the only time he had been willing to drag out his daughter and Jaal on a mission at the same time, preferring to keep them separated.

“Remember not to fraternize with the angara, Wren. Keep your head.” That had been a few days ago, a frown etched onto his features, permanent lines creased downward. Wren could only blush and shrug, muttering polite deferrals that sounded half-hearted even to her own biased ears.

“Ryder, you must listen and trust me about Aksuul. I can’t trust that Alec would,” Jaal whispered to her as they finally left the Tempest, ready to face whatever the steaming jungles held.

She nodded but bit a corner of her lip, doubtful. “I’ll do my best. You know what dad’s like.”

“And that is what I’m afraid of.” There wasn’t time for them to say more; already Alec was moving forward, SAM propelling him into feats of athleticism that Wren couldn’t possibly even contemplate.

With Alec leading the way, there was no time for quiet contemplation or examining their surroundings. A cursory look, enough to establish that Jaal’s family wasn’t there, and they moved on, Aksuul’s voice a distant, booming background whenever they entered a building. Every time she wanted to stop to look more closely at something, Alec pushed her onward, and though Jaal shook his head, there was nothing either could do to stop the Pathfinder once he had a mission firmly in mind. This was what he had trained for and he was a man of action, not of contemplation. Putting the picture together didn’t matter as much as getting results, and he was determined to do that much. Ryder strongly suspected that Alec didn’t even care about rescuing Jaal’s family so much as he did getting on the angara’s good side; his attempts at placate them still weren’t going well, and few of them trusted him.

Every angara killed felt like a blow to Ryder. How did Jaal feel, killing his own people? He and Alec had identical facial expressions; calm, determined, though Jaal’s was underwritten with a current of worry. Bullets flew as all three sought cover behind some crates, pushing ever closer to their goal. “Wait! I know those voices.” Jaal held a fist up to halt their fire.

Alec kept firing in steady pulses, either having not heard or ignoring it entirely. “Dad, stop!” Once again, there was no response until Ryder physically shouldered him, causing a shot to veer off wildly. Alec turned to look at her angrily, scowl only deepening.

“Dad. Jaal knows them.”

“Lathoul! Wait! Stop!” What followed was a terse exchange of words, a stray shot that rang out… and then hugging. A great deal of hugging, none of which involved Alec and all of which left Ryder faintly bemused. Yet when Jaal sought out a human to show his family that humans weren’t all bad, he didn’t reach for Alec, instead grabbing Ryder by the arm and dragging her into the spotlight, showing her off with an air of faint pride, making her feel Alec’s glare radiating heat through the back of her skull.

Another flash of action- shooting, defusing bombs while Alec watched over her shoulder, shouting out terse commands. A bullet slammed into her shields, sending Ryder back, but she shook it off, fingers shaking as she pressed levers and flicked switches, trying to save this piece of angaran history, knowing that if she didn’t, the failure would rest squarely on her shoulders. They would never blame their Pathfinder, but it was too easy to blame his daughter.

And then Askuul, pointing a gun at Jaal, and Alec pointing a gun at Aksuul. Jaal’s earlier words, his emphasis on trusting him, came back to mind, but Alec’s finger was already hovering near the trigger, and he rarely missed. Ryder could only do something incredibly stupid, something Alec would yell at her about back in the Tempest- she stepped in front of his gun, preventing him from taking the shot, and in doing so, she had to watch Aksuul shoot a single bullet at Jaal, skimming the surface of his flesh and passing on.

A tense moment, and then diffusion. How could everything have possibly turned out okay?

****

Later, she and Jaal leaned against each other, her hand reaching up to touch where he had shot.

“You stopped your father,” Jaal finally said to her.

“I was so worried.” Even now, she could feel Alec staring. Screw Alec. Right now, her dad was the least of her concerns.

“All wounds heal.” They leaned forward, and then Jaal broke away, arching the approximate region where brows would be to gesture at Alec. “I should let you two speak.”

Maybe it was then she realized she would weather any storm for him- even a storm of angry fathers.

[writingismyhappytime]

There is no Ryder Without Jaal Ama Darav: Part 2

Part One, Part Three

They didn’t immediately tell anyone, except for Moshae Sjefa since Lexi needed to know about Angara pregnancy, but she agreed to stay quiet until they were ready to tell. It took two weeks for them to tell Scott, who had only meet Jaal twice before then.

“Preg-!”

Sara clamped a hand over her brother’s mouth. “What part of don’t tell anyone am pregos means yell the word in the cryo bay?” She hissed while looking around to see if anyone heard. No one had. Good. “Sorry, sorry.” Scott moved his sister’s hand. “I’m just shocked. I’ve been awake for like 2 weeks and you hit me with that. It’s a bit much to take in.” “Are you not happy?” Jaal, who was standing close behind Sara with a protective hand on her back, looked as if he may cry at the thought that the man that he now conceded his brother wasn’t happy at the life growing inside his sister. “Of course I am.” Scott gave the angara a smile. “From what I know about you Jaal, your gonna be a great dad.” Jaal smiled wide before giving a deep rich laugh and pulling the twins into a hug. “You’re making me blush Scott Ryder.” Sara couldn’t help but laugh with him. Before Jaal, she never cared for dated. The thought of being with someone seemed, bothersome. She loved her dad but he was rarely around, even when her mother got sick he was there but spent so much time working on SAM that it was like he never came home. She didn’t want to be with anyone if that’s how it would be. But then she meet Jaal and he showed her that people don’t just disappear one you. Even when he got offered a better position in the resistance he turned it down, telling her she was stuck with him. And gods, she hoped she was going to be stuck with him forever. - Not even a day after she told Scott before the resident old man, Nakmor Drack, told Sara she wasn’t hiding it very well.   “How old man?” Sara asked sliding into the chair opposite of him in the tempest kitchen. She had been getting such fierce headaches lately, that when she smell anything, it made her empty the contents of her stomach. “I’ve lived a long time kid. I know the signs.” He pulled out a pack of crackers from his bag, laying them on the table. “Eat these.” “Awe, did you buy these especially for me?” She joked opening the bag and taking a bite of the crackers. They were bland but stayed down. Drack was silent for a moment. “You’ve really care for Krogans, kid. Need someone to kill something for you, I’m your guy, but the only kid I ever raised was Kesh.” “She turned out great.” “That’s becomes she’s smarter than I ever was, kid.” Sara placed a hand on Drack’s arm squeezing it slightly. “Just be there for my squishy baby, old man. She’s gonna need someone to teach her how to hit things. Plus You’re gonna have to make sure the baby doesn’t hurt any of the little Krogans that are gonna be running around.” Drack shook his head laughing. “Just don’t make me change a diaper.” - The second one to find out was Gill. During a routine check up with Lexi, he walked in right as she was discussing the possibility of having a baby that is bio electrically charged. He was shocked and excited, asking how far along she was and what it would look like, would she and Jill be do around the same time. After swearing him to secrecy, she went to Jaal room, ranting about how two people already know only for him to say Kallo had asked him about it. “SAM!”   “ Yes pathfinder?” “Call everyone for a meeting, now.” “Of course, pathfinder. Jaal stood up from his bed, wrapping his arms around Sara from behind. She had told him how touching him made her feel better physically and mentally, so now Jaal made a point to touch her whenever he could. “Calm yourself darling one.” “I am calm.” She crossed her arms, but leaned back against him. Jaal nuzzled her neck, moving his hands under her shirt to press against her stomach. “You are making your mother moody little one.” Sara laughed smacking his arms “Everyone has assembled pathfinder.” “Thank you SAM. I’m sorry I yelled earlier.” “You don’t need to apologize Sara.”   She felt his understanding through their connection. Taking a deep breath, Sara walked up to where everyone was gathered around the table. Jaal stood beside her a hand pressed against the small of her back. “What’s going on Ryder?” Cora asked from where normally place on her left. “Anything we are about to discuss stays here do you understand?” Everyone nodded, they were at full attention. “Some of you may already know but I want everyone to be on the same page.“ Deep breath. "Jaal and I are expecting.” “What? Like expecting a baby, expecting?” Liam joked with a laugh that quickly vanished as he looked back and forth between them. “Oh shit you’re not joking.” “Nope, I’m not.” Sara’s face went red. “This won’t interrupt the main mission.” She felt Jaal’s hand press harder against her. “We have to find a home, a safe home for everyone. If you have any questions ask now, cause I need a nap.” Sara ran her hand over her face suddenly very exhausted. And they all talk at once. “Eh, one at a time.” “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” PeeBee asked, arms crossed over her chest. “I didn’t want to be questioned about it. Tann’s already breathing down my neck about why it’s taking so long to track the surge. What if he tries to play down my command when he finds out, saying I’m just doing things with the baby in mind and not the initiative?” Sara hands tightened into a fist. “So many still think I am not qualified to be a pathfinder. I will not have my judgement questioned just because I am pregnant.” “None of us would question you Ryder.” Vetra gave her a smile, to which Sara gave her a smile back, before Vetra added. "Do you need anything? Chocolate? Candy? I know a guy who can make baby clothes.” Jaal cleared his throat. “That would be helpful Vetra. Sara says she has been wanting this white chocolate and I’ve been looking at the baby cloths humans,” “You have?” Sara interrupted the purple man. He kisses the top of her head. “Of course i have, but they are so different then Angara. So many pink ruffles on the female’s clothes. Why?” Suvi giggled. “ I had this dress when i was five covered in white ruffles with this clear heels that my parents bought for me. I went looking for rocks and had it covered in mud by the end of the day. My parents to keep the ruffles very far away from then on. Oh, how long are Angara pregnancy?” “They are normally 6 months of your time, though we are not sure how long ours will be.” Jaal answered. “Lexi is monitoring everything closely.” “Do you give birth the same?” Cora asked this time. “From what Moshae Sjefa told me, yes they do.” Lexi answered, though she left out the part that that they dilate even bigger than humans do so there maybe a change of extreme tearing. Yay. “What about a baby shower?” Kallo asked from beside Drack. “Oh that would be awesome!” PeeBee yelled. She then opened her omnitool and began making notes. “Vetra you’ve gotta get a cake, some balloons, ohhh maybe we can get Reyes to get something good to drink! I know you won’t be able to enjoy it Ryder, but that doesn’t mean we can’t.” “Not yet PeeBee. We’ve have to deal with the Archon first then you can go ham.” Sara turned to press her forehead against Jaal’s chest as, she suddenly began to feel as if there was a angry Krogan swinging a malt in her head. “Why don’t we left Ryder go lay down. If you have any more, medical, related questions I’ll answer what I can.” Lexi shooed Sara and Jaal away and began talking about Angara pregnancy in detail. “I’m worried about you.” Jaal confessed as he lead her to her bed. Sara sat on the edge watching as Jaal kneeled down infront of her and began unlacing her boots. “You’ve been getting headaches more recently. I don’t remember any of the mothers have a headache or this ‘morning sickness’. What if something’s wrong? We need to make sure you’re both okay, I don’t want anything to happen to my loves.” “I’m fine love. It’s common for that to happen to humans, but I will so see Lexi in the morning.” Sara leaned forward pressing her forehead to his. “Now hold me.” Jaal chuckled at her needy whine but happily complying. He pulled his clothes off, as Sara stripped to her underwear, before wrapping the covers around them and holding her against his chest, his hands on her abdomen, where they seem to live now. Sara listened as Jaal breathing slowed till he was asleep, she quickly followed suit. - Sara couldn’t keep still.   They had landed on Havarl an hour ago and was now taking a shuttle to Jaals family home. Sara couldn’t stop bouncing her leg, it was a habit she had when she got to nervous. Jaal was confused but the action, but keeping a hand on said leg in an attempt to calm her down but it wasn’t helping. Sahuna Ama Darav, Jaals true mother, was the sweetest woman Sara had ever meet. She would be excited about the baby, but Sara was worried about the rest of his family. A few of his many many many brother, sisters, and cousins, still didn’t approve of them or even like her, and a baby was ever gonna help them see her less of a threat or possibly make it worse. As well as telling his family, Sara knew that since Angara liked to gossip, this would also mean that most people in the galaxy would find out about it after today.

She had maybe 2 days before the questions from, Addison and Tann started. Maybe this isn’t a good idea.

“We’re here darling.” Jaal voice brought her out of her head. He helped her off the angara ship, while wrapping an arm around her shoulder. Sara loved Havarl, she could easily imagine raising a family here. Watching a tiny Jaal with hair run around, climb trees, and talking a part thing. Jaal turned her to face him just outside the door. “Sara, my dear, I only told my mother we were here to visit, I said nothing of our child. So if you are not ready for this, we do not have to tell my mother’s.” “Oh Jaal,” She took his face in her hands kissing him. “Your a wonderful man for always thinking about me, but I want to tell Sahuna and I know you would be sad to keep this from her. Plus she’d be insanely mad if we didn’t.” Jaal laughed pressing a kiss to her forehead. “She could never be mad at her favorite son.” “I most certainly have been before.” Sara practically jumped off the steps at the sound of Sahuna voice beside her. “I’m sorry Sara.” She laughed pulling her into a tight hug, which Sara happily returned. “Mother!” Jaal hugged his mother next then grabbed Sara’s hand as they followed her inside. The house was always loud when they came by and today was no exception. Many of Jaals family waved at them, Vaasana, and Feladyr hugged them before telling them to go eat. “Most everyone has already eaten, but I made sure to save some for both of you.” Sahuna explained as they walked into the nearly empty kitchen. Finn and Lathoul were the only two sitting at the ridiculously large dinner table.  Lathoul jumped up at the sight of them and pulled Sara into a very tight hug. “I missed you too.” She gasped when he realised her. Jaal pushed his brother away from her. “Be careful with her.” He practically growled Finn patted Lathoul back, laughing. “Ignore Jaal, his just touchy over his human.” Sara blushed looking to Sahuna for help.

“Calm down boys,” She grabbed Jaal and Sara’s, pulling them to set down at the table. Sahuna sat a small pie in front of them, cutting the both of the generous slices obviously very proud of her creation. It was golden brown on top, and smelled like berries. It is a mix between angara food paste and the fruit the naturally grows on Havarl. The pie is safe to eat, though eating a lot of it may make you sick. SAM explained as she picked a piece up with her fork. Normally it would smell wonderful to Sara, but right now her stomach was doing flops on itself. She didn’t want to throw it up, not when Sahuna obviously put so much work into it just for them. So Sarah gave her a smile before took a small bite. The pie was incredibly sweet and bitter at the same time. Even with Jaals hand on her leg, sending all these normally soothing waves he could, she still had to swallow it down with all her water and half of Jaal. “Sorry.” She said placing his glass back in front of him. Sahuna face fell. “It’s not good.” “No!” Sara yelled, she did not want to upset the woman. “I mean it is, my stomachs just upset right now.” “Are you sick?” Finn asked, but happily taking her slice. “No.” Sara looked over at Jaal how nodded before taking her hands in his under the table. “I’m pregnant.” There was a moment of silence before Finn dropped his spoon on the table, and Lathoul started her at them mouth open. The only one to react was Sahuna who jumped up and pulled them up into a hug. “My stars! My favorite daughter and son are going to have my favorite grandchild.” She pulled back smiling the biggest smile Sara had ever seen “Do you know if it is a boy or a girl? Oh no don’t tell me yet.”

Sahuna pressed her hand against Sara’s stomach sending a gentel vibrathion through her that the baby seemed to like since it began emitting its own vibrations that Sara could feel from her toes all the way to the tips of her hair. “This is a blessed day! We need to tell the other mother, oh and your cousins on Voeld. Will you be having the marriage ceremony? I can make pie for it!”

Marriage ceremony? Sara hadn’t even thought about that. She decided she’d think of that later as Sahuna left the room to tell them she was off to tell the other mothers. “I guess this mean you’re really my sister now.” Lathoul patted Jaal’s back, then turned to Sara drawing her in for a much more gentler hug then earlier. “Name your son after me.” Finn scoffed. “Don’t name your son after a someone who can’t dodge a bullet.” “At least I don’t cry when I could go climb a mountain when I was a child, cry baby.” Lathoul throwback. Finn jumped up shoving Lathoul. “Say it again.” “Cry baby.”

Jaal and Sara slipped out of the kitchen before things escalated, running off to hid in his room. “Your mom called me her favorite daughter.“ Sara said sitting on the edge of the bed. Jaal sat behind her, placing his legs on either side of hers and his arms around her waist. “I think she means it.” Sara rolled her eyes leaning back against him. “I wish my parents could meet her.” Jaal pressed a kiss to her temple. “They are watching you from the stars, Darling. I imagine they are proud of how far you’ve come. Of how you’ve saved countless people.” He paused for a moment. “Would they have like me?” Sara turned around, straddling his lap, and taking his face in her hands. “My mother would have loved you. She never meet any of the people I was with before but she’d be fascinated by the man who wrangled her emotionally stunted daughter down. My father, well, I think he would have approved of how happy you make me.” Jaal nodded taking her wrist in a hand pressing a kiss to it, her pulse speeding up. Biting back a moan, Sara grinded against him as he bite down on the spot he just kissed. “No fair.” She whined. Jaal chuckled before grabbing her by the back of the neck, kissing her deeply. He know biting was her weak point and he loved to exploit it.

“I can’t help it. I want to cover you in marks so the whole galaxy knows you’re mine.”

“Yall everyone already knows.” He ignored her chosen instead to bite her bottom lip drawing another moan from her. He shifted her to sit on his thick thigh, pressing it up against her. “Jaal.” Sara gasps wrapping her arms around his neck. “Someone can come in any moment!” Jaal grabbed her hips grinding her down. “Well if you do not wish for them so see you riding your lover’s thigh, you better hurry up and cum.” Sara shuttered at the command holding onto his neck flaps as he keep her moving on him. He focused his bioelectricity all over her body. It felt as if waves of pleasure were washing over her each wave getting stronger and stronger till she felt his hard cock against her. Arching her back, Sara felt like she was about to snap inside. “Fuck! I’m so close.” Jaal moved one hand to her hair holding it painfully tight while pushing her face into his shoulder. “Cum for me, my naughty temptress.” She bite his rofjinn, muffling the scream as she came on his leg. Jaal growled following suit cumming inside his pants. “Fuck.” She groaned. “How are you going to explain that?” She gestured to the wet spot on his pants. “I could always blame you.” Sara smacked his arm playfully. “I will murder you.” Jaal kisses her cheek. “I have a spare set of cloths. Now let’s go back to my family before my true mother worry we ran away.” “Jaal?” “Yes love?”

“I’m am not have 13 babies.”

-Lady The Monster 

[gwyvian]

Heart of the Forge

[Author’s Note: This story contains spoilers for Jaal’s Loyalty Mission as well as The Journey to Meridian quest, i.e. Khi Tasira.]

Chapter 1: Fanning Flames

Ryder clutched her head in agony, the ringing in her ears intensifying and sending fire shooting down every nerve – but most puzzling of all with seeing a double vision of Akksul waver unsteadily before her. She was on Havarl, near to an angaran settlement, but just far out enough for a covert meeting with an informant to go unnoticed; at least, that had been the her intention. Worse, the giant leaves and glowing canopy of Havarl’s beautiful fauna was not enough to entirely filter out the drizzle of rain and at the moment every drop on her skin felt like acid.

“SAM… SAM?” she gasped, biting down hard on her lip to stop the moans.

White noise.

“What did you… do… to me?” she forced out, eyes swimming as she tried to focus on the angara standing around her. Their voices were strangely muted, as if she were listening to them underwater.

Path— SAM’s voice came as if through a haze, but it cut off and was swallowed again by an ominous silence. Still, Ryder felt a burst of relief; SAM was still connected to her… but why couldn’t he speak? Nothing could stop a quantum entanglement connection as far as she knew, unless there was some kind of RemTech that could do it. Thinking hurt, profoundly; but she was cognizant that it was also the only thing keeping her conscious.

One of the angara abruptly seized her arm and thrust it over the console before her and she was convinced that she was going to finally pass out, left to the mercies of the Roekaar – if they could be said to have any – but remarkably the console didn’t vanish into the peaceful void of oblivion. Nothing else happened, either.

“Open it, human,” a woman’s voice said close to her ear. Slowly, articulately. It was still excruciating as the sounds vibrated through her enflamed mind.

“I… can’t… without SAM,” Ryder said through gritted teeth.

“Turn it off!” the woman commanded to someone behind her.

The pain suddenly ebbed considerably and sense slid back into place. Ryder blinked, shaking her head to clear her mind and with a shaky hand she wiped sweat mingled with rain out of her eyes as she blinked around. The Moshae! The thought slammed into her as she registered angaran face after face; she had been summoned to this place, alone, to receive sensitive information about a plot to assassinate Moshae Sjefa. At least, that explained Akksul’s presence; but it did not explain anything else about the situation.

Why were the Roekaar holding Akksul, their former leader, captive as she was? There was no mistaking it, now that her vision wasn’t doubled and her brain wasn’t scrambled by the pain of losing SAM’s connection. The man was alternatingly snarling and trying to reason with the Roekaar that held him, obviously just as confused as she was as to why his own people would tread him so. More importantly: what could possibly cut her off from SAM in the first place, yet still leave enough of the connection not to kill her? Ryder was sure that was the case.

Pathfinder, SAM’s voice was blessedly clear and a painless presence in her mind once more. Communication has been reestablished. I have alerted the Tempest, however it is unlikely they will reach here in time. I believe the Roekaar want to use our abilities to activate Remnant technology, but not to kill you until they have achieved their goal. Please do not resist. I will attempt to break through the dampening effect to aid you, but it will take some time. Please do not attempt to use any of the Remnant technology while our interface is weakened.

Ryder trembled from head to toe, muscles still spasming from the experience, but now the pain was more like a distant echo of what it had been. Her eyes travelled around as she made use of the moment they gave her while SAM fully regained control and she surreptitiously evaluated her surroundings as best she could, feigning that the process took longer than it actually had. She didn’t have to pretend much, though, she thought ruefully.

Her appraisal told her as much as she had expected from the moment it became clear that the message she had received all those hours ago from an unnamed informant had been a trap laid by the Roekaar. There were dozens of them, far too many to fight, especially with their ability to shut SAM down. It surprised her a little that they would come in such numbers this close to the settlement, where anyone could come along and spot them and force them to kill their own; it was one of the reasons why Ryder had agreed to come alone in the first place. She wouldn’t underestimate them like that again.

Or rather, perhaps she should reevaluate them, now that this woman, her captor, was in control of what remained of the organization; she couldn’t have had many more fighters than what she saw here, but it was enough and they clearly followed her with unquestioning zeal. Studying the faces of the guards restraining Akksul, she guessed that whatever influence Akksul had with them in the past, it had melted considerably in the face of their confrontation at the Forge, although their affection and belief in the man strangely seemed to be intact; it puzzled Ryder, but she put the question aside. There were far more pressing matters to attend to, such as escape and, of course, gaining as much information as she could.

“The Moshae,” Ryder said aloud; she addressed SAM, but the look she gave her captor made it seem as though she was asking her. After all, it would be something Ryder would ask in that situation; the angaran scientist was the lure they used to get her here and from what she had heard, nothing convinced her that the Moshae wasn’t in real danger. I should have let the others come with me, she thought, but it was not an angry thought. She had had good reason to come alone and just because it had turned out badly didn’t mean her logic hadn’t been sound.

“Is none of your concern any longer,” the woman finished her sentence with a sneer.

I have already contacted the Resistance to increase security around Moshae Sjefa, SAM intoned. That was good to hear; she was still in grave danger of course, but at least there was a much higher chance that she could reach the Moshae in time.

Akksul glared at the woman, struggling futilely. “Zivrel, what have you done?” he demanded.

“Nothing yet,” Zivrel answered, turning to study him almost sadly.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked, almost pleading.

Ryder stared at him. Was this the same man who had not so very long ago arrogantly demanded that she martyr him? Perhaps it was simply that she did not know the man beneath the cloud of hatred that had oozed from him constantly. Its quality had changed and she saw more pain in his eyes than before, though she certainly recognized that almost petulant glare of outrage he leveled at his former follower. He wasn’t entirely a changed man.

“Because you were once a great leader,” Zivrel said, lips twisting, though Ryder couldn’t tell if it was from scorn or regret. “It is my intention to make you one again.”

“By killing the Moshae?” Akksul demanded, snarling. “What does that accomplish?”

“By taking away the things that make you weak,” Zivrel snapped.

“I am not weak,” Akksul retorted, but his anger was indication enough that Zivrel had hit her mark. “The Moshae of all people doesn’t make me weak!”

“It is not just the Moshae, Akksul,” Zivrel shook her head. “We followed your every command, but you have sent us to protect individuals important to you despite all it has cost us, more than once you have shown too much concern when you should be more ruthless. Thaldyr was one such, the Moshae another. We were at our best when you have been willing to step over foolish boundaries those who call themselves our leaders would have us follow, yet you have held back… if I can show you how little these people and these ideas mean, you will finally understand. You will finally, truly become one of us as you were meant to be.”

“Zivrel, if you resented watching over her for me, you should have shared it before now,” Akksul said more calmly and Ryder saw glimmers of the old Akksul she was more familiar with as he found his footing in the conversation. Not charming exactly, but compelling, trying to draw the woman in; though, Ryder suspected that Zivrel had known the former Roekaar leader too long to be fooled by that.

A muscle twitched in Zivrel’s jaw. “I should have been at your side at the Forge, I would have killed Jaal if you didn’t have the stomach for it!” Ryder blinked. Perhaps she underestimated how well Akksul knew his own people in return, provoking a strong response like that.

“I was wrong to try that,” Akksul said solemnly. His eyes slid to Ryder then for some reason and his expression hardened.

Was he angry that she hadn’t shot him? Well, Ryder supposed it made sense; if she had killed him, he wouldn’t be in this uncomfortable situation now of having his own followers apparently turn against him for not being harsh enough when, she was beginning to suspect, he had no desire to fight his own the way he had been forced to that time. It was his own fault, thinking he could fight his private war without killing angara in the process, but Ryder still felt an unexpected pang of sympathy for the man.

Akksul was irritating and deeply misguided, mired in hatred and he had certainly done unforgiveable things, yet he also realized and acknowledged that he went too far and that made her want to help him. It was an uncomfortable thought, but she supposed the Moshae had had a deep impact on her as well; Sjefa’s words about her former apprentice certainly haunted Ryder now as she studied him.

Zivrel shook her head again. “No, Akksul, you did not go far enough. Your plan was genius and yet it failed because you were weak.” Abruptly she grabbed Ryder’s hand again, shoving it over the console. “You’ve had enough time. Do it,” her eyes fixed on Ryder coldly.

Establishing the connection, SAM’s voice said in her head and the panel came alive with shimmering light, dancing to the motions of her fingers.

Immediately a rumble spoke of massive doors opening and the soil began to tumble where a chasm yawned open at their feet. It was similar to the vaults she had visited, yet there was something different about it that suggested it was a different kind of Remnant structure. Despite herself, Ryder peered down, trying to get a look beyond the expected glowing pillars to see what was down there, though it seemed that like the vaults, it held its secrets too deeply underground to glimpse anything meaningful from ground level.

“Take him,” Zivrel commanded and the Roekaar holding Akksul dragged him to the lip of the chasm. “We will come back for you, I promise,” she smiled reassuringly, stepping up to him.

“Zivrel, please, not the Moshae,” Akksul tried again, his expression that of a man imploring a friend, perhaps someone even closer.

“Don’t let your curiosity get ahead of you, Akksul. There are dangers down there.” The two guards stepped away and without another word, Zivrel shoved him over the edge, stepping back to avoid his snatching fingers trying to grab hold of her.

Ryder frowned. Perhaps her chance would come soon, while they were distracted; if she could figure out which one of them was disabling SAM, she could attack that one first, taking away their greatest advantage…

Abruptly Ryder’s guards seized her in similar fashion to Akksul and dragged her to the same place where Akksul had gone over and where Zivrel still waited. She struggled, dragging her feet and trying to get out of their grip, but her body was still in shock from her brief severance from SAM and she might as well have been a kitten batting at a mastiff. Perhaps fighting her way out had never really been an option to begin with.

“What are you doing?” Ryder demanded, not caring if she sounded panicked. She was panicked. “You still need me! How are you going to save him if…”

“Silence, human!” Zivrel barked at her coldly. “We can’t have you doing damage up here or escaping. You will keep him safe and you will know when to let him out. The field will be removed and you will make your AI do what you just did.”

Before Ryder could react or respond, Zivrel aimed a kick at her midriff, sending her flying backwards into air as it seemed. She flailed, twisting and gasping, but the familiar ripple across her skin told her that she was in a gravity well at least. She should have realized that, they clearly didn’t wish harm to Akksul and he had gone over first; but her instincts couldn’t help but react and send adrenaline pumping through her anyway. Though, it was definitely still true that landing on her back would be undignified and, considering Akksul, dangerous.

Pain. SAM was gone again, like an aching emptiness in a corner of her mind that sent shuddering flames through her body and she screamed despite herself. The fall was agonizingly slow, but the landing was even worse; the moment her body made contact with the cool floor she convulsed, not able to breathe. When her eyes opened, though, she forced every ounce of strength into herself to roll aside as huge containers came hurtling down after her.

“Damn it,” Ryder coughed, then groaned, aching from head to toe and heart racing from exhilaration. At least it seemed that she had begun to acclimatize to SAM’s absence; this time she didn’t feel quite so weak and her mind wasn’t nearly as foggy as before. Well, the human brain is amazingly adaptable, she thought, getting to hands and knees that trembled and wanted to buckle. She wished it were a little more adaptable; at least if the pain would stop, she would take it.

“You?” Akksul exclaimed, emerging from the shadows, eyes flicking across the containers and up the gravity well. Clearly he had been studying the walls, trying to see if he could climb out. Snarling, he reached down and grabbed her, trying to drag her to the gravity well’s controls. “Send us back up!”

Ryder groaned in pain, hands futilely pushing at his, but her glare seemed to catch his attention better anyway. “Get your hands off me, Akksul! They severed my connection as soon as they threw me over!”

“You’re useless,” Akksul spat, shoving her back to the ground, closing the distance and trying to make the well work by himself.

Ryder just lay there for a moment, breath short, waiting for the spots to go away from her eyes. “Your girlfriend has some serious issues,” she muttered at him. “How did you ever manage to lead that group if you don’t even agree on the most basic things?” She was a little surprised the excruciating agony washing through her didn’t show in her voice, but she was grateful. She didn’t relish the idea of appearing weak before this man, it was bad enough that he could manhandle her like a ragdoll. If I don’t want to appear weak, lying in a heap is not helping, she thought, already hating the concept of dragging herself upright; but, she gritted her teeth and rolled over.

Akksul grimaced. “She’s not my—” his eyes sharped and stabbed at her. “You’re trying to get to me! It won’t work, human.”

Ryder sighed, slowly clambering to her feet; she wavered unsteadily and didn’t dare take a step, but as the seconds passed she felt her body subtly begin to adjust. The pain didn’t subside, but she was certain now that SAM wasn’t wholly gone and she would be alright, with a little time. Eyeing Akksul, she wondered whether she would get that time; if he didn’t kill her, there were plenty of dangers in any Remnant structure just waiting to snare them. At least it looked as though Zivrel really did intend to keep them alive; the containers looked to be full of food and basic supplies needed to survive for a time.

“What possible, logical reason can you name why I would want to ‘get to you’? Unless you think that Zivrel or whatever her name is secretly plotted this out with me?” Ryder snorted derisively, giving the man a flat look. “Besides, your Roekaar are finished. Whatever Zivrel says, those men were hers, not yours, so I’m not the one you should be angry at here.”

“Stop talking!” Akksul said forcefully, but before either of them could get another word out, the gravity well activated once more and weapons rained from the sky.

Their eyes met and Ryder saw in his gaze the same conviction, the same fury she had at the Forge, as well as the deep mistrust. Both of them moved simultaneously and snatched the weapons out of the air, aiming for one another the second their fingers touched each trigger and they gained control.

“Well,” Ryder said, trying to force her breath to stay steady, but she couldn’t stop the hand she was aiming with from trembling. “This is an interesting situation.”

“You won’t catch me off guard, human,” Akksul said coldly, smiling in satisfaction.

“You need me, Akksul,” Ryder frowned. “I’m the only one who can get us out of here and save the Moshae from your old friends. I, on the other hand, don’t need you, so I would be careful where you aim that thing.”

Akksul’s smile faded into a grimace, but his narrowed eyes still held conviction. “You can barely hold your weapon steady, human. I would say you need me more, if you want to live.”

Ryder blinked, eyes flicking to her gun, which was most definitely shaking. “Very well, we need each other. How about we stop this and agree not to kill each other until we escape?”

A long moment of silence stretched between them.

“If I must,” Akksul said finally, but he did not lower his weapon.

Ryder sighed. “Can we call a truce? I will cooperate with you if you do the same for me.” Akksul still didn’t lower his weapon and Ryder’s patience snapped. “‘To hate blindly is as dangerous to trust blindly,’ remember?” she quoted, glaring at him. “This is one of those moments, Akksul! Put it aside and damn you, see that I am not your enemy here!” Unable to hold her arm out any longer, she let her arm drop, holstering her weapon.

Akksul glanced away, lips twisting bitterly, but at long last he, too, put his weapon away. “A truce,” he nodded.

It was a start.

[charyzard]

I wrote another Jaal x Ryder, 2800 words. Should be spoiler free. Prompt-fill for ‘First kiss.’  read it on ao3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/10720971

Fresh Water

The firefight was almost over- Hell, Fiona was reluctant to even call it that. She’d pulled a few gas canisters together (and one sniper) and thrown them around the corner into the mass of idiots hiding behind a rock, blowing them to bits if their necks weren’t already broken. It was almost pitiful. Only the smart ones were left, keeping to cover and bolstering their shields to avoid Fiona’s biotics. It was one of those pains in her side that threw a grenade behind Jaal’s cover, snapping her focus sharply to the explosive sailing through the air towards her friend. An image flashed through her brain, losing him, losing what they’d begun to have. No- not happening.

“Jaal! Get down!” Fiona shouted, her voice piercing over the comms. She was already dashing over to tackle him, biotics boosting her speed, and the impact was enough to knock them a few feet away- still, Jaal waited for the impact of the grenade. Even at a distance, it was going to rip through his shields. He squeezed his eyes shut, wrapping his arms around Fiona’s waist as they hit the ground- he’d at least try to take some of the blast for her.

The explosion never came. In fact, there was nothing registering in his senses; no noise, no pain, not even a ringing in his ears. Was he dead? Jaal cracked his eyes open, half expecting nothingness. Instead, he was greeted with Fiona leaning over him, one hand by his head, the other splayed out towards the sky. The purple, shimmering sky. That wasn’t normal. The shimmer extended in a bubble around them, Fiona herself laced with the shifting light. It was her biotics, he realized, isolating them from the surrounding carnage. She looked down as he shifted, the barrier dissipating, and fixated her blue eyes on him with concern.

“Are you okay? Let me check you for injuries-“ Fiona began, her omni-tool flaring to life, ready to apply medigel. Jaal stared at her quietly as she tended to a slash on his leg, an earlier injury he’d been ignoring.

“Fiona.” He attempted to get her attention, listening passively to Drack destroying people in the distance. She wasn’t responding, and Jaal sat up, reaching out to put a hand on her arm. “Fi.”

“Huh? What, am I missing something? Are you hurt?” She put a hand on top of his, concern heavy in her voice. She couldn’t lose him, not to something like this.

Jaal wasn’t sure how to convey his gratefulness, nor the warmth that was welling in his heart at the sight of her. She was more beautiful in that moment than he’d ever thought possible, the last of her biotics shimmering across her skin and sweat on her brow, brown hair disheveled, a smudge of dirt across her red cheeks. “Not in the slightest. You saved my life. Come here.”

Jaal pulled on Fiona’s arm, shifting her into his lap as he pulled her into an embrace. Fiona squeaked, surprised, but not entirely protesting. It was awkward in their armor, but nothing mattered to Ryder as Jaal cradled her head, his pupils wide and holding steady with hers.

“Um?” Was all Fiona managed, her eyes flitting between his lips and his eyes. God, his eyes, they were looking at her like she was a star, and it made her heart fill with an almost terrifying mix of wanting and pure, unadulterated joy.

“May I kiss you?” Jaal asked, unsure. Fiona was visibly scared, but she hadn’t left, and she was starting to put her arms around his neck-

“Please,” she breathed, and that was all Jaal needed.

Their first kiss was gentle, gentler than Fiona was expecting. Jaal took time to brush his lips against hers, the tingling current of his bioelectric field flickering across the sensitive skin. It left Fiona breathless, and she gasped when he kissed her harder. This was what she was expecting, want and tension and curiosity bundled tightly behind their lips, his large hands holding her close, her deft fingers running across the ridges on the back of his head. The current was stronger now, nerves in her body firing off in ways she didn’t know they could. He was sweet to taste, something indescribably him, and when his tongue pressed against the seam of her lips, Fiona almost whimpered.

”Fiona,” Jaal murmured into their kiss, his rumbling voice sending a shudder down her spine. God, he sounded almost predatory, and it made heat pool in her stomach.

“Hey, you kids done with your nonsense yet?” Drack’s voice cut through the comms, gravelly and wholly cranky, “Because I’m bored.”

Fiona and Jaal pulled apart, embarrassed. The dark blue flush of Jaal’s cowl mirrored the redness of Fiona’s face, her cheeks burning under the bright sun.

“Uh, yeah, we’re good,” Fiona sputtered, rolling off of Jaal and standing. She noticed her knees shaking- shit, she had it bad. The angara stood, eyeing Fiona carefully, unsure of her reaction. She seemed concerned more than anything, which bothered him. “Let’s- um, let’s go back to the Tempest, since these raiders aren’t a threat to Prodromos anymore, okay?” Fiona ordered, her voice wavering. She needed some time to think about what just happened.

“Fiona, was that… not alright?” Jaal asked as they walked back to the Nomad, and Fiona snorted in surprise.

“That was fantastic. I just need to think about this for a little bit, okay? I promise, I’m more than pleased with what that-“ she waved her hands towards the battlefield in emphasis- “was.”

“I- alright. I believe time to think is a wise idea. I will find you later?” Jaal asked, and Fiona nodded. Their hands brushed together, and Jaal was reassured by the contact. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to think of anything else for the next few days.

Drack watched their exchange from a distance, amused. Love was a good, pure thing, and if it was making Fiona happy, it was good enough for him. Jaal was a good kid, the Krogan mused, and they were more than crazy about each other. Fuckin’ kids.

The roast in the oven smelled fantastic- enough so that Fiona had taken up shop in the galley. She was gently picking her guitar strings to pass the time, cradling the instrument gently in her lap. Music had been the one thing that kept their family together, Alec actually taking the time to teach both of his children how to play guitar for the first few months after their mother died. Then he became engrossed in himself, in his obsession with the Initiative, with SAM… They lost a parent all over again, no matter how many times Alec had insisted he was there if they needed.

‘Hollow words mean nothing,’ Fiona thought bitterly, but she shook herself out of the rut, strumming a heavy C chord and returning to thoughts of the food in the oven. Even if Drack had said no peeking, Fiona still couldn’t stay away from the mouthwatering scent of it; she’d even kept Peebee from stealing a bite, reluctantly.

“Pathfinder, Jaal is looking for you,” SAM pinged into her head, “And Mr. Vidal has located the sheet music you requested, on the condition that you come back to Kadara soon and play it over a bottle of scotch. He says he found a new rooftop you would like, as well. Shall I download the music onto your omni-tool?”

“Please do. And let Jaal know where I am, would you?” Fiona replied, left grinning by Reyes’ demands. She didn’t think she’d find so good a friend in Kadara of all places. And then there was Jaal- a small sprout of joy started in her heart. She always liked her conversations with Jaal, and since they started flirting… With the dearest one and the emails… and that kiss! They still hadn’t talked about it, and she’d been wanting more since they’d left Eos. His presence in her life was filling a need she didn’t know she had. It wasn’t long before the man in question meandered into the galley, his nose twitching as he focused on the oven.

“What is cooking?” The angara asked, leaning down to peer through the glass. Fiona took a generous stare at his behind as he bent over, idly plucking strings.

“You mean, like, the act of cooking itself or what’s in the oven?” Fiona teased, reaching one foot out to poke his rear end. Jaal jerked in surprise, turning around to shoot her a flat, unamused look.

“You know the answer to that,” he replied, humor tinging voice. Fiona giggled, drawing a smile onto Jaal’s face. “But I still do not know what’s in the oven.”

“Drack is cooking us a roast for dinner, and it’s got to be one of the best things I’ve smelled in weeks,” Fiona explained, and Jaal nodded, satisfied with her explanation. His attention then turned to the musical instrument in her arms, his interest piqued. The angara placed high value on music, and he had no idea Ryder was musically inclined.

“That is an interesting instrument. It looks similar to some of ours. Why are there so many strings?” Jaal asked as he pulled a chair opposite to Fiona, settling in comfortable. He gently rested his foot against hers and quirked a small smile, earning a grin from her.

“Well,” Fiona began, “Each string has a different tension, which is managed by tightening or loosening the tuners. Then when you strum the strings, the different harmonics produce different pitches. The body of the guitar is hollow, which amplifies the sound. This is an acoustic, but I have an electric guitar from my dad, and Scott has our bass guitars. But they’re in storage right now. We used to joke that we’d go around as a family and play for any new species we found in Heleus, but obvisouly…” She trailed off, lost in thought for a moment as she ran her hands along the polished maple-wood surface. “I suppose I could still do the same. Mind being my first audience?”

Jaal didn’t know how to respond; in angaran culture, live performances of music were very important affairs, and private demonstrations were considered almost intimate. Still, he could tell it meant a great deal to her, so he nodded. “I would be honored.”

Fiona shifted slightly- what to play? It was significant, the first song she performed in Heleus, at least for someone else. A peppy song wouldn’t do it, not given their situation, but maybe, maybe a classic. “Alright, sit still for a moment. I have to tune this.” She fiddled with her tuners, strumming with frustration for a few minutes as she tried to find the right sound. When she struck the right chord, though, she knew. With a soft sigh, she relaxed into her seat, and began to strum. When it came time for lyrics, Fiona didn’t know if she should sing- but the words were in her throat, welling up and bubbling to escape her lips.

“Come up to meet you, tell you I’m sorry, you don’t know how lovely you are,” she sang softly, the words coming naturally. It was one of her favorite songs, one she associated with her mother- It was the song that comforted her and Scott when Ellen died.

Jaal listened closely, the lyrics giving away more sadness than Fiona ever expressed. He knew she was hiding her feelings, but this… He saw tears in her eyes, but she didn’t waver; if anything, her voice grew stronger as the song went on. And by Zorai, her voice was something magical. It was soft and almost breathy, but clear and refreshing. Like a soft spring, he thought, and water after a parching day. And as she grew more confident, it rang through the small galley like a hymn. He was well and truly fascinated.

“Nobody said it was easy, nobody said it would be so hard,” Fiona breathed, the last of the lyrics trailing after she had finished playing. “I’m going back to the start.” She stilled, silence settling into the void left behind by her words.  She wouldn’t look up from her guitar, a white knuckled grip on the fretboard, not trusting herself to meet Jaal’s gaze. She knew he was staring at her, trying to discern the flood of emotion she’d just poured at his feet.

“Fiona?”

“Yes?”

“Look at me, please.”

She raised her head, blinking away the tears in her eyes, swallowing the knot in her throat. Where she was expecting pity, Fiona only saw admiration. Jaal was watching her with gently reverent eyes and a smile, and as Fiona turned her head to the side in confusion, he bowed his head gently.

“Your voice has the grace of the yevara. I have never heard a vocal range that spreads so, it is wonderful. You are wonderful, darling one. Thank you for sharing that with me.” He reached out for Fiona’s hands, and she placed her guitar on the table to hold his. His fingers were larger than hers, firm but soft, and cool to the touch. She could feel a light current raising the hair on her skin, a soft shiver going up her arms as he ran his thumbs over the tops of her hands.

“Thank you for listening,” she replied softly, watching curiously as he took one of her hands and spread the fingers apart.

“Your fingers are small, but they are so deft. I was watching you play, it was intriguing. They all move so independently, and yet, there is no lack of purpose. And how eagerly they grab onto things,” he chuckled, recalling how her hands danced over his cowl when they kissed, and how even now she wrapped her hand around his. The skin to skin contact enticed Fiona, her emotions a jumbled mess, and she was struck by a desire to kiss him.

“It’s pretty useful,” she mused, her lips pursing into a smirk. She was planning something. “Good for getting a nice grip.” With those words she pulled herself forward, shifting into Jaal’s lap. He snorted in surprise, his chromatophores flushing blue in a blush, and stared at Fiona. She was looking up at him with a sly grin.

“What are you doing, dearest?” He asked, knowing full well that teasing her would elicit a rebuke.

Fiona whacked his arm softly- there’s the rebuke- and leaned in. “I’m gonna kiss you, silly. Unless, you don’t want to?” She was asking for more than just a kiss, he could see it in her eyes.  She was asking for a yes or a no, a go ahead for their relationship, a culmination of their thoughts since Eos. Jaal wanted nothing more.

“Why would I ever say no?” Jaal rumbled, and they kissed again. There was no sweat on her lips, no salt to tinge the taste of her. To Jaal, she tasted almost like water in its purest form. Even better, there were no chest plates, no awkward poking armor to keep them apart. Fiona clung tightly to him, her hands smoothing over the back of his rofjinn- it was softer than she expected it to be, almost plush. Jaal splayed his hands over her lower back, pulling her closer as they kissed. His tongue pushed against hers and drew little sighs from Fiona’s chest, stress falling from her shoulders the more they moved with each other. They were so engrossed in each other that neither of them noticed Drack and Vetra walking into the galley, stopping dead in their tracks.

“What the fuck?” Vetra sputtered, and Drack started cackling. Fiona froze, turning to look at her friends guiltily.

“Hi,” Fiona giggled, the hilarity of the situation masking her embarrassment.

“Hi, yourself. Spirits, get a room, would you?” Vetra countered, but she couldn’t hide the smile on her face, mandible flared. It warmed her heart to see her friend happy.

“Ah, relax. Their just having fun, yeah?” Drack joked, smacking Vetra on the back. The turian elbowed him, and Jaal finally found his words.

“Drack, you’re here. I would like to know what exactly you’re roasting!” He still had Fiona on his lap, but that wasn’t a problem, as far as he was concerned.

“I’ll tell you if you get our boss off of you. Shouldn’t you be pathfinding, kid?” Drack chuckled, and Fiona sighed. He had a point.

“Alright, alright, I’m going to the bridge. You guys have fun in here, cooking and hopefully not slandering my name. You know how important professionalism in the work environment is!” Fiona piped up, standing. Jaal pulled her in for a last peck before she left, earning a disgusted sigh from Vetra. She grabbed her guitar and booked it out of the galley, leaving her crew mates to tease Jaal and prep dinner.

[tatooine92]

MEA: From the Ground Up - Part 4

Fandom: Mass Effect Andromeda Pairing: Amanda Ryder x Reyes Vidal Rating: T Previous Parts: 1: https://tatooine92.tumblr.com/post/159231311635/mea-from-the-ground-up-part-1 2: https://tatooine92.tumblr.com/post/159234117740/mea-from-the-ground-up-part-2 3: https://tatooine92.tumblr.com/post/159424302975/mea-from-the-ground-up-part-3 Spoilers?: Depends on your definition of spoiler. It’s set post-game. Summary: After having a bad day fighting leftover kett, Mandy has to stay bedridden. Of course, this gives her a great chance to catch up on emails...

Mandy woke safe and warm in the Tempest's medbay, awakened by the soft chirping of medical equipment and the sharp bluish light in the room. Dr. T'Perro stood nearby, reviewing Mandy's charts.

"My professional recommendation is that we buy you a padded suit," Lexi said without looking up.

"I've gotta find me a new doctor," Mandy snorted. "Maybe one who opens with 'Why hello, Pathfinder, I'm glad you're alive because I worked really hard to keep you that way.'"

"If you don't like my bedside manner, stop ending up in my medbay," Lexi retorted, her lips curving in a smirk. "Nevertheless, I'm glad you're awake."

She came over to check Mandy's vitals, shining her penlight into Mandy's eyes to check her pupils. Mandy groaned as green spots danced across her vision where the light had been.

"How long was I out?" she asked.

"Two days. Long enough to start your recovery. You're not mission-ready for a while, though."

Mandy tried to sit up, but Lexi pressed her shoulder back into the bed.

"I have to get back out there," Mandy insisted. "There's an entire kett stronghold--"

"Good morning, Pathfinder," SAM interrupted. "Regarding the stronghold, in your absence, Lieutenant Harper and Jaal have contacted the Collective's forces for backup."

"They what?!"

Mandy swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up. Pain lanced down her side and her head spun, but she was still upright before Lexi could stop her.

"Get them in here. We are not taking help from... from him."

"Amanda, please," Lexi said. "You're not ready for this level of excitement. And you are definitely not ready to be back out in the field, so you really need all the help--"

"Not from--" Mandy forced herself to take deep breaths and lower her voice. "Not from Reyes. I--I don't think I can see him ever again, Lexi."

"I understand. Believe me, I do. But you need to remember he was there to face the Archon's forces because he was only told you needed his help. Consider that."

Mandy was silent as Lexi checked her over for any injuries sustained or worsened during her sudden movement. Mandy exhaled, her shoulders shuddering. She slowly lay back down on the medbay bed as Lexi adjusted it to be more upright. This was stupid, Mandy thought. She needed to be out there, doing her goddamn job, not lounging around in medbay because she was too stupid to stay in cover and, you know, not die. She had come to hate feeling useless, and being taken out by one Ascendant after she had fought the Archon's entire army embarrassed her as much as it rendered her useless.

Cora and Jaal arrived momentarily. Cora had her serious, furrowed-brow leadership face on; Mandy wasn't sure what Jaal's expression was, but it seemed apologetic.

"Pathfinder," Cora said, "we can explain."

"Please and thanks," Mandy snarked.

"Ultimately it was Jaal's idea--hell, Jaal, you're an adult. You tell her."

"I observed you have had some... difficulties with your bondmate," Jaal replied, "which Vetra confirmed when I asked. So, I wanted to give you an opportunity to work out your differences."

"First off, he is not my bondmate; second, calling him to save my ass is not how you get us to kiss and make up!" Mandy sighed, massaging her forehead. "Jaal, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not angara. I don't just... deal with things out in the open."

"Respectfully, Ryder, you should."

"I'm gonna agree with him on this one," Cora added. "You're wound up over Reyes. The whole crew feels it, so it's affecting us too. We can't be at our best if you aren't."

"...so you called him in to help take out the kett because you want me less stressed? You know you could have called the Resistance for backup and just set me and Reyes up on a blind date or something."

"I am a firm believer in efficiency," Jaal said. There was mischief in his smile.

"You guys are the worst," Mandy sighed. She shook her head. "Fine, okay. When is his team inbound?"

"They got to Prodromos yesterday," Cora said. "We're meeting them in half an hour to go for round two with the kett."

"I should be there," Mandy grumbled. She saw Cora about to protest and held up a hand. "I know, I can't be, but I should be. You're my team. That colony is basically my baby. I should be there."

"We will win in your name," Jaal promised with a firm nod. "As long as you promise to settle your differences with him."

"...I promise we'll come to an understanding. But I can't promise he won't get punched. Or shot."

"Just don't mess up the ship," Cora said, "or Kallo and Gil will both kill you."

"Point taken. Shoot the boyfriend outside."

"Have you considered talking?" Jaal said before Cora guided him back out of the medbay to prep for their mission.

Mandy sighed deeply as her friends left. Lexi crossed the medbay to her side again, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"I have a few files on conflict resolution," she said gently. "Should I forward them to you?"

"No, it's okay. Jaal's right--I need to deal with it. This whole thing has taken up rent-free residency in my brain, and that's not healthy for me or the team."

"Have I ever told you how proud I am of your blossoming self-awareness?"

"Aww. Thanks, Mom."

Lexi snorted softly and left Mandy alone to rest up while she tended to her other duties and paperwork. Mandy leaned back against the bed again, lifting her omni-tool. As soon as it lit up, she saw a plethora of new email notifications--all from Reyes. Oh, hell.

"Fine, fine, let's see what you have to say this time," she sighed, opening the oldest one.

My dear Amanda,

They tell me you have gone off to do wonderful Pathfinder-y things, but I wanted to tell you, the sunset on Meridian was magnificent tonight. You missed it. The next time you're here, perhaps we could watch one together.

Yours, Reyes

Good and short, Mandy thought. Still... sweet.

She archived the message and went to the next.

Amanda, my darling,

When was the last time you had a delicious homemade meal? Now that things are beginning to settle, at least here, I would like very much to woo you with my cooking. Well, woo you with someone else's cooking. I am definitely going to pay someone. I think if you ate my cooking, you would abandon our shaky little relationship altogether. I would not make a good house-husband. But for you, I would try.

Yours, Reyes

Well, shit. Mandy couldn’t tell if he was just too smooth or if... She read the email again. Why would he send that if he didn’t mean it?

"Hey, Lexi?" she called.

"Yes?"

"...Reyes has been sending me love letters."

Lexi lifted her head from her work. "Oh?"

"Yeah. The scary part is... I think he means it."

"Why does that frighten you?" Lexi turned fully toward Mandy, her chin cupped lightly in her palm. Mandy swallowed hard. Great, okay, therapeutic let’s-talk-it-out time.

"Because..." For you, I would try. "Because I'm used to being angry about people leaving me. Dad was always distant, and I was angry at him for that. Then he died and I was furious again. I think I spent my whole life wanting to be loved, and now..."

"Now that someone's trying, you push them away?"

Mandy nodded, tears burning her eyes. She didn’t expect the sudden surge of emotion that tightened her throat.

"I think so," she choked. "Have I always done this? To everyone?"

"You've never been anything but the sweetest friend to me and the others," Lexi soothed, crossing to her side and bringing tissues with her. "Perhaps Reyes is just the first one to breach your shields. It can be terrifying to be so open with someone."

"How can he feel that way about me when he doesn't really know me?" Mandy dabbed her eyes with the tissues, but that didn't stop the tears. "Why would he ever..."

"Perhaps that's something you should ask him." Lexi glanced at Mandy's omni-tool and saw the remaining notifications. "Or perhaps he has written it out for you. If you want to reach an understanding, then hearing all he has to say might be a good start."

Lexi rubbed Mandy's shoulder before slipping out both to take a coffee break and to give Mandy some time to read her emails alone. Mandy kept dabbing at her eyes, but the tears kept rolling. What if he meant it? Meant all of it? Oh God. What if he loved her? What if she still wanted him to, wanted to feel his arms around her, pulling her close to sway to the gentle serenading of a Milky Way piano? She opened the next email, tissue clenched in her hand and finger shaking.

The next email was an audio recording rather than a message. Confused, she hit play.

"Amanda! Darling! Light of my life!" Reyes' voice crooned. "I have written you a song! Or rather, I am writing you a song. Right now. I was beginning to regret bringing my guitar to Andromeda with me, but not anymore. Here, I've written most of the words. I will send you a translation later."

Mandy giggled weakly and wiped away the tears as the recorded Reyes strummed a guitar, practicing a few chords. Then he began a soft melody, Spanish in influence and rather well played. Mandy's heart couldn't help a little flutter. Damn her weakness for men with musical gifts. He wasn't a concert guitarist, but he clearly knew his way around the frets.

Reyes was a much better player than songwriter, though. It wasn't that he had a bad singing voice--it was just ordinary, a plain baritone--it was that he was clearly making up the lyrics as he went. And also Mandy didn't speak a lick of Spanish. She got a couple words, mi amor and, unless she was mistaken, gracias, but other than that, she was clueless. He would sing about half a line, pause, strum thoughtfully, and then continue.

"Ah, dammit," he paused abruptly. "That won't rhyme at all."

He picked up with another rhyme, but there was an audible grimace, as if he had chosen a poor word in pursuit of a complete rhyme. Mandy giggled again, suppressing a loud laugh and trying not to wrench her healing ribs. Yeah, the melody was definitely better than the actual song. He clearly hadn't written a thing down beforehand, especially when he tweaked the wrong string and hit a sour note. The recording sighed deeply.

"Perhaps I will not send you a translation after all," his voice said. "I need to revise this. But I wanted to share. After all, I am told that all the best women cause men to break into song. I could not ask for a more wonderful muse, even if I am a terrible musician and a worse lover. I will try. Just for you."

Mandy smiled faintly as she archived the recording. It was a sweet gesture, that was for sure. And she could safely say that no one had ever tried to serenade her before. She had the strangest feeling that if he were here, she’d ask him to keep working on that song just so she could sit and listen to him, to be content with the knowledge that he was right there, leaned back in a chair, singing to her. Her chest warmed with the thought that someone thought her worth a song.

She checked her notifications--one last message, dated two days ago. She drew as deep a breath as she could manage and opened it.

Mi estrella,

I have sent you lighthearted emails to buy myself time to think this one through. You know by now that I am terrible with deep feelings, or at least with expressing them. If I were not, I would have written you back all those weeks ago.

If I have not said it already, I'm sorry. Actually, I will say it again and again until you're sick of hearing it and you finally tell me to shut up. I was so frightened to let you into my life that I shut you out entirely.

Have I said all this already? Never mind. It's worth repeating.

I saw your feelings for me, and I ran the opposite direction because you saw me without all my code names and schemes and I was terrified. Never mind that I looked at you and it was like truly waking up in this galaxy, not just being thawed. Do you remember the smell of the air after it would rain on Earth? How it was hard to take a deep breath because it smelled so strange, but it was so fresh and pure and wonderful that you couldn't help it? That was how I fell in love with you.

I love you, Amanda Ryder. When I think of you, I see you smiling at me with the Kadara sunset making your hair glow like amber. I think of your arms around me, and I cling to whatever made you default to kissing me as a distraction. I think of the scent of your skin and the taste of your lips, of the way you would consume my entire world just by walking into Tartarus.

If I have lost all that because of my own fear and carelessness with your heart, then I beg your mercy. If I cannot have you, at least let me have your forgiveness. Stay my execution, because losing you would be death enough.

I am not used to pouring myself out like this. If you could see me, you would know I am shaking just typing the words. But your team called me to say you were badly injured today. I am more afraid of losing you to death than I am of breaking down my own barriers to give you everything I have.

I have had my failures and shortcomings. I am not as good a man as I should be, but I am better than I was. I know this isn't enough to heal the rift between us, but perhaps it is a good footbridge.

You have consumed me, body and soul.

Yes, I have watched a romance vid. Or two. Please do not let it get around.

Yours, utterly and completely, Reyes

All hope of stifling her tears to protect her ribs evaporated as the tears from earlier rushed back. Mandy sobbed, not quite with abandon but nowhere near as careful as her previous giggles. Oh my God. He loves me. He loves me, he loves me. Of course, he could still have been lying. But it would take a mountebank even more devious than Reyes to go to all this trouble of convincing someone of his love, only to rip it away again. This was more of the same delicate vulnerability that he had shown that night on the docks.

I wanted to be someone.

You're someone to me.

He had been. Maybe he could be again. There were a lot of maybes, and there was a lot of hurt, but he was right. This was a footbridge.

"SAM," Mandy wept softly. "Call Lexi back. I may need her to fix me up again. And... and call Reyes. Tell him I want to see him when he gets back."

"At once. Should I tell him anything else?"

Mandy drew a shuddering breath as she archived the message.

"Tell him he's a crappy singer."

[nothisis-ridiculous]

Proxy Cosmos

(An alternate reality where Alec Ryder lived, and both twins were awake during the events of Andromeda.)

Chapter Five:

"So Vetra, about that offer to find me sp-" "Already ahead of you, Ryder," The Turian rumbled, swiveling the chair around, "I found a group back on the Nexus that will grow whatever you need. Apparently, your spice collection means a few more plant species brought to Andromeda from the Milky way." Elsee beamed, "I knew leaving behind my stuffed animal collection was a good idea." The Turian snorted, "you could get all the stuffed animals you wanted from even a pinch of saffron." "Anymore than that would ruin a dish anyway." "That does mean giving up some of your collection." The Tempest lurched nothing like being thrown from their feet but enough of a lull forward to break the monotony of a usually smooth ride. Vetra and Elsee's attention turned to their Omni-tools for a diagnosis of the problem. When nothing came, Vetra pushed out of her seat, and Elsee started for the door. "Another impromptu upgrade from Gil?" "Not enough screaming is coming from the flight deck for that," Vetra murmured, following her lead, "and you Dad reamed Gil the last time that happened." "He's so friendly."

"Better than your old man getting you kicked off of your home world." "Fine, you barely win this round," she teased the Turian.

Vetra's soft chuckling drew the attention of everyone, the somber mood turning sour. Bright green lights flooded the cockpit, six eyes that dwarfed the Tempest threatening to devour them at any moment. While the smaller t-shaped ships loomed in a blockade, curving around the ship so that it could not maneuver around them. Elsee didn't need to see what was behind them to know they were trapped. "They are scanning us, Pathfinder." Alec's face contorted, and Elsee rose on her tiptoes to try and see more. Liam's bulkier figure protecting her from the full view. Mostly obscuring the figure that projected onto the video screen, only able to seem some of the cream-colored bone that made up the crest. Kett. "Where is the one who activated the Remnant?" The slightly mechanic voice demanded, "their DNA signature is there. Answer me." Alec was not at all pleased, his voice barring none of his irritation, "You're the one in my way. Who are you?" Elsee attempted to push passed Liam, earning a gentle shoulder grab to stall her attention, "El," shaking his head, a corner of his lip raised. He did not like this; she had activated both pieces of Remnant technology, whatever he wanted was not good for her survival. The ship moved as if it had been yanked from a box by a grabby child. Luckily the ship, in this case, had caught against something and resisted the first initial pull. "They've locked navigation!" "We're being steered into their ship!" Alec slammed his fists into the console, "Just tell me what you want!" "I am not interested in your-- Ah." Alec pivoted to the familiar presence of his daughter, her face curiously going between the screen and him. Whatever this Kett wanted obviously focusing on her, instead of anything else they could offer. He would never get it. The Pathfinder's arm stuck out in front of Elsee so that she could not move any closer. "What do you want?" Elsee's bold question answered with a harsh glare from her Father. The Kett seemed a little more willing to share his thoughts, "I won't explain what you can't understand." "I actually know a lot about the Remnant," her pluckiness just intensified the glare, but damn if it wasn't the few more seconds SAM needed, "we should compare notes." "Enough!" it was interesting on how that struck a note with the alien, he must have been some high ranking member to hate the idea of collaboration, "your defiance is naive and reckless. This day marks the beginning of your greatness." Elsee grinned wide, that was her favorite compliment. Usually mentioning that to her made it a challenge to try and defy previous expectations of naive and reckless. So much that the thought made her chuckle in the face of the enemy that could very easily eliminate them at any given moment. The lights began to turn on around them, screens returning to their normal messages. With the Kett no longer looming above them, the crew relaxed a little. Suvi and Kallo sending each other glances to confirm that the ship was back under their control. "SAM," Alec questioned. "I have plotted a potential course through the Scourge." "Do it!" The Tempest took a tight turn that left everyone with little time to hold on. Alec pressed Elsee into the round bars, before gripping to the central portion himself, "Report!" "Enemy destroyed. Damage to aft sensors!" At least a positive came from Suvi's mouth. "Scourge got it?" Suvi affirmed. "It will be tight," SAM warned, as the scourge seemed to press in closer around the ship. Taking out something with each little bump that sent the crew swaying. But Kallo was adept at flying through these dangerous clouds, exclaiming loudly as they reached open space, "Yes!" "Nice work, kid," sincerely breathed Alec, "but who the hell was that guy?" "A major dick," huffed Liam. "Pathfinder, we've got trouble down here! You need to find us a port, now!" Gil interrupted over the comms. "Great," Alec's eyes rolled, "where did we end up?" Suvi attempted to corral the computers into giving her a better response, but it wasn't happening, "Sensors are damaged, but I think we are at the vault's co-ordinates." "You think?" it wasn't good enough for him, but it was likely all he would get, "Gil, give it what you can. We're settling down." The planet from first look did not seem promising. Rivers of lava carved into what looked like cooled lava didn't appear to be the place to land a burning ship. But where there was one fire, another always seemed to crop up. "We're being contacted." Six ships pinged on the sensors, forming around them as the ship broke the atmosphere. "We need to land," Alec's fingers drummed against the metal, "open a comm." "Tove jajalesh do!" shouted a voice. This was the perfect time to meet a new alien race, while every minute resulted in another error message. "Tove jajalesh do," did he imagine that it sounded more irritated? Elsee looked over Suvi's typing, a wide grin starting to form on her face. Her eyes only glancing to her father after he failed to respond to the alien voice. "We're visitors from another galaxy. Our intentions are peaceful," Alec didn't convince his daughter, earning the same sideways look Ellen used to give him all the time when he was about to be an ass. It wasn't a secret he was uncomfortable around new people and had a difficult time around the ones he knew. "Paav, nele set do," the voice replied as another ping uploaded to the Tempest. "They've sent us a nav point," Kallo reminded, stirring the crew's attention from their individual thoughts. Alec nodded, diverting his attention to the patch of green amid the black and yellow background surrounding it. An oasis in the desert. "It's beautiful," Elsee murmured, straining on her toes as if it would let her see more of the green landscape before them. "Team, suit up, we need to be careful," Alec ordered, most the of the crew already heading for their gear. "Suit up?" Elsee questioned his command, "really?" His head titled at her curiously, the team gossips that they were remained to hear this out, "and why not?" "They already didn't shoot at us, unlike the Kett, so point one these guys, and," Elsee formulated her words, "we're the ones running to them in a burning ship. I don't think showing up fully plated and loaded is a smart idea. We need this to go right." "I'm the Pathfinder- first contact is on me," he corrected, his face returned to a scowl, "and if that means getting shot at I'm doing it on even ground." "Spoken like a hardened N7," Elsee muttered, arms folding across her chest, "not someone known for making friends." Alec huffed, bringing in air to puff out his chest, "no gear, no leaving the ship. Got it, soldier?" ====== Elsee's first mistake had been in confronting him in front of the crew. Alec was already wired from running into the Kett, his temper already at a dangerous low from being stuck in the med clinic while his daughter got to traverse around Eos. Now the frustration multiplied as the packed bay grew stale and awkward, each member taking turns with giving him a look. Scott was oblivious to particular circumstances as he was caught in engineering with Gil during the encounter, but he read the room well. The absence of his sister another telling sign of the events he missed. "If anyone would like to object, you may stay behind, and we can drop you off at the Nexus at our earliest convenience," Alec snapped at the group after Cora lingered for too long in his space. Vetra's mandibles wavered, Cora and Scott remained silent and still. Liam looked through the glass window that revealed the hallway. He looked close to saying something or running, but for now, his emotions remained in check. His finger tapped on the gun, debating with it inwardly cheeks puffing in and out as he avoided anything other than ignoring the Pathfinder. The boy shared much in common with his daughter, and the two were often found together, a fact that had not escaped his notice. He didn't know which one of them was the worst influence on the other. For now, Liam remaining obedient to the loose ranking system was enough. Alec rolled his head from side to side, fingers following the grooves of the Paladin pistol- the chosen weapon for this encounter. Glancing at the others in turn in the last check to ensure that they were ready for this. A twist of anxiety with a twinge of excitement brewed in his gut, mixing with the restlessness that always inhabited him. The door opened into a brighter world, the rushing of waterfalls filling the air around him. The fresh smell of air filtered by an abundance of plants- something none of them had naturally experienced since leaving their homes. The large plants reminding him of a tropical ecosystem, but that was something his daughter would know more about. The creatures coming at him with guns and armed to the point of covering their heads. The helmets looked similar in design to his own, but the wide neck covering was strikingly different. They also had broader and meatier chest, leaving the rest of the body to continue out without any other major flares or dips. This amount of observation only coming after his gun aimed back at the aliens. The ground team following the Pathfinder's lead. In combat, he found, it was either very loud or silent. This was the latter of the two. The strange species sights set on them, their separated index finger hovering just above the trigger. The team behind him collectively hold their breaths, waiting to see who would move first, them or the strangers. They moved first, a blue light attached to something like an Omni-tool scanning over the Pathfinder, but at a safe distance. Alec felt this was enough to lower his weapon, not take it out of his hand, but to lower the pistol. The four behind him followed as the species began to call back and forth to each other. A stray alien unmasked to reveal flaps of skin making a sort of mane around their heads, ran for the rest with a long gun held tightly in his hands. The rest didn't notice him, as they continued the chattered between them. They continued to ignore him, even as his scope focused on the strangers at their port. The shot missed. Elsee yelped from behind him, pulling his attention to the smoldering metal. He couldn't bring himself to quite yet face his disobedient child, his hesitation granting her time to move. The block preventing his temper from rising disintegrated with the misfire that was an infinite time more insulting than a shot taken at him. If these -people- fired at an unarmed civilian they could never work in peace. His pistol pulling from his hip, much more rapidly than lining up the shot to hit the zig-zagging alien. With another breath, the trigger released. His mind pictured the grey-blue streak of alien falling to the ground in a pool of his blood, but what manifested were muted brown eyes and a streak of identically colored hair. Armored in nothing but a layer of cotton and other blended materials, she took the full impact. Or rather her right shoulder shattered. Sending her tumbling to the feet of the aliens, so paralyzed by the pain to realize the predicament she was tossed into. The alien previously holding the scanner shouted something, and the entire squad moved away from the writhing human. Gil, Suvi, and SAM screaming in his ear ignored for his instinct to pull his offspring out of trouble.