Reyes lay on the couch in his private room at Tartarus. His right leg bent at the knee and the other draped over the side, foot on the floor. With his head cushioned on his arm and his eyes closed he played the scene over and over in his head. The sight and scent of Scott had been overwhelming even though it was over in an instant.
Reyes licked his bottom lip subconsciously, remembering the clean, sweet taste of sun-kissed flesh. He'd sought out the source of the vanilla and cinnamon, but it had eluded him, skipping away from his tongue just out of reach. He could still feel the heated touch of the young man in the tips of his fingers, could hear the halted breath tickling the shell of his ear.
"Shit," Reyes hissed, when his body flushed with arousal. He reached down and adjusted himself with a firm hand, willing the budding erection away. He was not angry that Scott left. Far from it. Reyes did not wish to have an unwilling partner, there was no pleasure in that. Was he disappointed? Absolutely. But that was not what plagued his mind now. He knew the young man had been equally interested. Reyes hadn't imagined the mutual attraction, and he certainly hadn't imagined Scott's arousal. Though he'd left abruptly, the fact remained that Scott had come in the first place.
That mattered. The pathfinder had come willingly, there was just something holding him back.
Reyes thought about the ring on Scott's finger. It obviously meant something. Though, perhaps, not anymore. The pathfinder had some things to work through-didn't they all?-and Reyes was not always a patient man. But for this one particularly delectable morsel, he had all the patience in the world.
Back in his room on the Tempest, Scott breathed deeply with his eyes closed as he moved through the last forms of Old Frame Tai Chi. Normally he would prefer the energy of a martial arts routine or a weapons form, but not after today. These particular forms were performed slowly, fluidly transitioning from one to the next and required great concentration and conditioning.
He didn't want to think about today.
He didn't want to think about today. But as he came to rest in the closing form, his knees bent and his curved hands pushing slowly out from his core, an image of Reyes flashed behind his closed eyelids. He frowned. Normally, the discipline of the routine put his mind and body at ease at least for a time but he'd just finished all seventy-four forms-twice-and he could still feel Reyes' mouth on his throat. He kept wondering what it would have been like to kiss the handsome smuggler. But he couldn't do it. Not while his last kiss was so fresh in his memory. Sometimes he could still feel the ghost of that kiss-how it felt to love so deeply, so desperately while at the same time his heart shattered irreparably. In Tartarus with Reyes he had panicked when that beautiful, sinful mouth sought to claim his. He'd thought he wanted to be with the handsome man even for a single night. Perhaps it might dampen the pain, but it was too much to trust anyone, and the thought of a one night stand-it felt wrong, like it would cheapen the memory he treasured. He began twisting the ring on his finger-had to grab his hand with the other to stop himself when he realized what he was doing.
Scott growled in frustration and began pacing the room.
"Pathfinder," SAM spoke up.
"Yeah, SAM," Scott said, still pacing, his frown deepening.
A long pause. "Would you do that again-the forms?"
Scott stopped in his tracks. SAM had made hundreds of inquiries since they integrated, but never had he expressed much interest in feeling the physical side of their bond.
"What?" Scott said. Not sure what to make of this new development.
"The concentration on movement while blocking out all other faculties is quite satisfying," SAM explained. "My system runs millions of processes per millisecond all over the Initiative. However, it was...quiet for a time."
Scott smiled, incredulous. "That's pretty amazing, SAM. I'm glad I could do something to help you for once."
"Thank you, Scott."
"We can go through the forms again later, SAM, I promise. But right now, they're not working for me."
"Due to your physical attraction to Mr. Vidal?"
"Yes, SAM," Scott huffed out a harsh laugh. "That would be part of it." His pacing slowed. He turned and quickly marched out the door. He went straight to the cargo hold. Drack and Gil were on the second level laughing about something, but Scott interrupted.
"Drack! Let's go bash in some skulls," he said, slamming his locker open and pulling out his gear. He heard the Krogan laugh.
"Meditation crap ain't helpin', huh, kid?"
Gil scoffed.
"Shut up," Scott said, as he stripped off his uniform and pulled on the black armor mesh.
Drack leapt over the railing and landed on his feet with a solid thud that echoed through the ship.
"What was that?" Kallo's slightly panicked voice came over the comm.
"Our pathfinder's horny," Gil called out obnoxiously. He and Drack erupted in uproarious laughter.
When Scott returned after his disaster of a rendezvous with Reyes at Tartarus, he found many of his crew waiting for him with smiles and questions on their lips. Apparently, more than one of them had witnessed his conversation with Vidal after meeting with Sloane. Though it was from a distance, and none of them knew what was said, unfortunately they were not blind. He was never going to hear the end of it.
Peebee appeared as if from no where. "Whatever's going on, I'm in!"
"We're gonna go shoot stuff," Drack chuckled, hefting his shotgun over his shoulder.
Scott, now fully armored grabbed Drack's krogan hammer out of his locker.
"Whoa, that's not for kiddies. You could hurt yourself."
"Shut up, old man," Scott looked him in the eye. "I want something that does serious damage."
Drack gave him a toothy grin. "All right, kid, you can use it...if you can lift it."
With both hands Scott gripped the handle and hoisted the heavy weapon up over his shoulder like a baseball bat. He stared the krogan down, then silently walked down the ramp to the dock.
Drack smiled. "That kid's got a quad. This is gonna be good."
Peebee happily danced after them twirling her pistol around her finger.
Gil chuckled as he went back to work on the console he'd been rewiring.
"You weren't serious, were you?" Kallo said in a timid voice.
Gil laughed even harder.
"Is this part of the human mating ritual?" Jaal's voice joined Kallo's over the comm. "I admit my curiosity has been piqued by my study of the human anatomy."
"Aw, geez," Liam leaned against the metal frame leading into his "room", shaking his head. He looked up at Gil. "That's one I am not going to explain to him."
It turned out a day in the badlands helped Scott immensely. He found not only a great many criminals to subdue, but an alarming number of good people sent out there to die because they could not pay Sloane's protection fees. Yet another reason to despise the woman.
Even better than the adrenaline of a good fight, helping people in need was where Scott thrived. The biggest problem everyone faced was getting a hold of water safe to drink. Once the desperate scrambling and fighting for survival was out of the picture he imagined the people could safely settle the badlands and would not need Sloane's help any more. Cutting the Outcasts out of the equation seemed the best way to help everyone. He didn't know yet how to do that, but there were monoliths on Kadara which meant there must be a vault. If he could reset it he was confident the water crisis would be a thing of the past.
He left Drack and peebee at the lift leading back up to the port. Somehow he'd tired even Peebee out with all his running around. Although she still managed the energy to leer and comment on the reasons he might be staying behind even as the lift carried them away. Scott went straight to Tartarus. He felt in control again and sincerely hoped he could keep it together long enough to get through a conversation with Reyes. He didn't like leaving things the way he did. Besides, Reyes would be a valuable ally in moving against Sloane if it came to that. There did not seem to be any love lost between the two.
It was late, and he wasn't entirely certain Reyes would be in the bar still, but it was the only contact point he had for the man. However, when the door to the private lounge slid open there was Reyes sitting on the couch, datapad in hand.
"Ryder," the man looked up in surprise.
Scott moved to the side of the couch perpendicular to the smuggler and sat down. He looked Reyes in the eyes, as difficult as that was.
"I'm afraid things got off on the wrong foot," Scott began.
"On the contrary," Reyes smiled. "I thought they went pretty well."
"I'm not interested in a one night stand, or casual fling," Scott went on because if he didn't he might submit to the man's charm here and now. "The truth of the matter is I could die tomorrow, I've already died once, and I don't particularly enjoy wasting my time. I propose we start over and keep our relationship strictly professional."
"A man of business," Reyes said, accepting the parameters to an extent. "I respect that. But allow me to be honest with you. I like you, Ryder, and I will not make such a promise." He watched the young man carefully-was pleased that his words were not outright rejected. "I will charm and flirt and joke inappropriately, that I do promise." He leaned back in the cushion. "It might surprise you that I can be a very patient man when I want to be."
Scott almost smiled. He fought tooth and nail to not give away the tingling thrill he felt at hearing the man basically say, I will go at your pace, then. "I appreciate your honesty," he managed, then paused. What could he say to steer things into a less heated, compromising subject?
"What happened to Vehn?" he nearly blurted. Yes, Vehn, concentrate on the traitor.
Reyes looked down at his datapad. "That is what I was just reading. One of my colleagues reports he made it off Kadara. He is a free man thanks to you."
"I suppose you helped a little," Scott said, straight-faced. It was really difficult not to flirt with the man. Everything about Reyes, perhaps his very aura, screamed sex and Scott felt on the verge of saying, fuck it! every time those lips moved, or those golden eyes locked onto his.
Reyes laughed. "Always nice to be recognized," he said.
Scott felt a twinge in his groin. Even the man's laugh-low, sensually accented, sexy as hell-was nearly more than Scott could handle. Why? He didn't even know the man. How could he unravel all of Scott's defenses with a single glance?
Scott cleared his throat. "I've run into another group here called the Collective," Scott rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, distracting himself by brushing his fingers through the short hair at the base of his skull. "I assume you know of them."
For a moment an odd expression crossed Reyes' face. "They gave you trouble?" he asked.
"A little," Scott chuckled. "If by 'trouble' you mean attacked on sight."
Reyes frowned.
"Even so, they seem less horrible than Sloane's men. At least they seemed to care about the people. I would be interested in possibly working something out with them. My whole purpose here is to build an outpost, after all, and my instincts tell me Sloane would not agree to that."
"I would have to agree with you there," Reyes said, looking thoughtful. "Not everyone's happy living under her thumb. Whatever resources Kadara has goes to the Outcasts. The rest of us get scraps." He leaned closer to Scott, a sincere look in his eyes. "The Collective claims to be different, but it's hard to trust a faceless leader."
"I've heard a few rumors of this Charlatan, but if they're even a little more reasonable than Sloane, they're the better way to go."
Reyes smiled. "Huh, I have to admit-I'm jealous. That's a better nickname than Shena."
"Speaking of, what does your name mean, anyway?"
"Careful, Scott," Reyes smirked. "Curiosity killed the cat."
"I've always hated that saying," Scott said.
"It's the Angaran word for mouth." Reyes watched Scott closely-watched the very subtle flush rise from his collar. "I'm good with words."
Scott swallowed the lump in his throat, struggled to control his erratic heartbeat, to get enough air all while valiantly trying not to let his companion see just how not in control he was.
"Among other things," Scott said, slowly, only realizing afterward how sexual that could be taken.
Reyes appraised him with an amused look full of sexual energy. "Never had a complaint," he said.
Pathfinder, perhaps you should find out where we can find the Collective, SAM said over their private channel.
"You wouldn't have any idea where the Collective operates?" Scott asked, with a silent thank you to SAM.
Reyes smiled, recognizing the distraction for what it was and didn't mind at all. It was adorable. "Rumor has it they have a swanky hideout in one of the caves in Draullir. I've never seen it myself."
"Swankier than this place?" Scott glanced around the room in good humor.
"Never."
There was a moment of quiet between the two of them, not silent with the music of the club beating through the walls, but for the first time Scott could have believed he was sitting with a friend. Finally, Scott cleared his throat and stood to put some distance between them.
"I'd better go," he said.
"Ryder," Reyes called out, a warning tone in his accented voice. "Don't take this the wrong way, but...you're not really liked here in Kadara Port."
Scott swallowed before turning back. "Ouch," he said, barely managing to remain casually in control.
"Present company excluded, of course," Reyes continued. "What I'm saying is you need a friend. Someone on the inside to help you out."
"And you can be that guy."
"I can be that guy," Reyes confirmed. He looked Scott in the eyes as if nothing and no one else meant a damn thing. Scott had known that look once. "You ever need anything, come to me."
Scott glanced away, avoided that golden gaze for a moment of relief. "Thank you," he said. "There seems to be a lot of work ahead of me here. I'll be around for a time." Scott pulled up his omni-tool, typed a quick message to Reyes. "That's my personal account. It might be better for you to contact me directly rather than go through illegal means to reach me."
Reyes laughed, glancing down when the message arrived on his omni-tool.
"You know me so well already, pathfinder. I was planning to hack into your account-surprise you with a nude photo or two."
Scott blushed from head to toe as now his mind was bombarded with images of Reyes' naked form. SAM didn't help at all when he privately offered to provide a mental rendering of Reyes based on his body type.
"See you around then," Scott said, quickly, heading for the door.
"Count on it, Pathfinder."
The moment Scott was gone Reyes pulled out his omni-tool and composed a message from the Charlatan to all the ranking officers in his Collective.
I told you before that the Human Pathfinder, named Scott Ryder, and his team are off limits!
If I discover he has been harmed in any way by one of my own I will personally exterminate
all agents involved. I will not repeat myself.
- C
When he was finished he lay his head back on the cushion of the couch, thinking about the lovely young man and listening to his officers' responding messages chime in one at a time.