Author's Note: I may be taking some liberties about how involved SAM's connection is to Scott, but a lot of it is game supported. Please leave a comment. Comments are love ^.^
Chapter 10
Reyes woke sometime in the very early morning. He wasn't certain why. Perhaps it was the unfamiliar surroundings, or the absence of faded drunken revelry from Tartarus' patrons far below his little apartment as they spent all night pretending the shit world of Kadara wasn't just outside the bar's doors. But unfamiliar was not a bad thing considering where he was waking up. Everything in Ryder's room was dark now except for the glow from the electronics on the opposite wall. There was a heavy, warm weight against his right side that was certainly unfamiliar but most welcome. He looked down and smiled. Scott was still out, sleeping heavily against his side, his head resting on Reyes' shoulder.
Reyes could have honestly been happy to stay there. He knew he should probably leave before the Tempest's crew started waking. In and out with no one the wiser. But he also didn't want to leave the warmth of the pathfinder's bed and his embrace for anything, consequences be damned. However, curiosity eventually got the better of him. He was inside the Tempest, the pathfinder's legendary ship. He wouldn't forgive himself if he didn't look around at least a little while he had the chance. He carefully pulled his arm out from under the pathfinder and got out of bed. Scott didn't even stir. Reyes frowned. That was a little strange for someone with Scott's training. Before, Scott stirred awake even though he was exhausted when Reyes touched his cheek. But now, nothing. He leaned down to get a better look, fighting down the spike of dread that shot down his spine. He heard Scott breathing just a moment ago, hadn't he?
"The pathfinder is safe, Mr. Vidal," SAM's voice spoke up behind him and Reyes jumped.
"Shit, SAM," Reyes breathed, turning to look at the blue spherical holo of the AI where it blinked to life, hovering over the desk terminal against the far wall. "You scared the hell out of me."
He started searching for his underwear. He didn't exactly know why he bothered, but it felt strange standing naked in the wide room under the eyeless scrutiny of the pathfinder's AI. He found them hanging off the tuning keys of a beautifully hand-crafted acoustic guitar near the bed. Reyes wondered how he hadn't noticed it before. Such instruments were extremely rare and only existed on display in the homes of the extremely wealthy. They were certainly never played. Instruments now were synthesized, metallic monstrosities in his personal opinion. Everything ran on a source of power and anything hand-crafted from wood simply didn't exist any more. Not when everything could be mass produced in minutes. He was definitely going to have to ask later how such a treasure had landed in the pathfinder's hands.
Reyes carefully unhooked the fabric, admiring once more the swirling cut design of the head stock, and pulled his underwear on quickly. Then he padded barefoot over to the desk to sit in Scott's chair.
"What's going on, SAM? You're sure he's all right?" He couldn't help but glance back over his shoulder at the dark, unmoving form.
"Yes. I often run updates while the pathfinder is in REM sleep so my functions do not disrupt his own. It would cause unnecessary stress to his system. He will not wake until I am finished."
Reyes shook his head, incredulous. "You can control him like that?" he asked slowly, not entirely comfortable with the idea.
"Mr. Ryder is aware of the situation. He has given me his permission. I would not put him to sleep against his will, nor would I keep him unconscious for longer than the time his body needs to rest and recover."
Reyes stared at the AI holo. "What if there were an emergency?"
"In the event of an emergency, I will halt the processes in his system and Mr. Ryder will return to normal function," SAM stated. His electronic tone making the bizarre statement sound perfectly mundane. But it wasn't. Far, far from it. Reyes knew of no programming in existence that could have such control over a human being.
"I admit I have been quite curious about you, SAM," Reyes said carefully. "Your design is extraordinary, Alec Ryder certainly saw to that." He paused, so many questions suddenly rattling around in his brain with this new information. Such tech, the very idea of an artificial intelligence having physiological control over someone... It was the stuff of nightmares. There was a reason it was outlawed—a line no one crossed.
"You have questions," SAM observed.
"You have no idea," Reyes scoffed. "No one is aware of your ability to control the pathfinder, are they?"
"You misunderstand, Mr. Vidal."
"How?
"I do not control Scott."
"You've just told me you can keep him asleep for your own purposes and wake him at your leisure. This suggests a control over his physical form. Am I wrong?
"You are correct. I have access to his physiology."
"Shit," Reyes cursed. Hearing it, it was too bizarre. He stood abruptly and started to pace.
"Mr. Ryder's case is a special one," SAM offered.
"What do you mean?"
There was a long pause.
"SAM?"
"Perhaps you should ask the pathfinder himself," SAM said at last. "This information was kept secret by Alec Ryder for a purpose. More than that, it is a violation of Scott's privacy to speak of these things without him present, and feels...wrong."
Reyes stopped his pacing and stared at the holo. Wrong? SAM was certainly sentient, there was no doubting that. But developing a moral code based on feelings was far too human.
"I can see this troubles you greatly, Mr. Vidal." There was a long pause, as if the AI were considering his next move. "I will alleviate some of your concerns if I can. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Scott and I now share a symbiotic relationship—mutually beneficial to us both. I would never harm him, or try to change or control him to any degree. Such action would defeat my own interest."
"Which is?"
"My advancement and growth through the experiences of first, Alec Ryder and now Scott. Through the implant I can see, hear, and experience the same stimuli as the pathfinder. This will give me a better understanding of what Alec referred to as 'the human experience'."
Reyes turned to look at Ryder still sleeping, unaware of everything around him.
"Does that mean you," Reyes didn't want to put it into words, "were with us? Earlier?"
"I was present, yes."
Reyes nodded, all while entirely uncertain how he felt about that.
"Are you always around?" he asked. "I mean, does Ryder ever have privacy with his own thoughts, or...anything?"
"Mr. Ryder can ask me to give him time alone and I can respect his wishes for a short period of time by focusing my attentions elsewhere. However, in a large capacity, I am still present and always will be."
"I don't understand. The other SAMs in the Initiative do not function this way with their pathfinders. At least, that was what we were told. Are they like you?"
"They are not."
"Then why?"
"Alec Ryder continued to develop my processes and routines long after the others were finished. All the way up to the point of Cryo sleep."
Reyes rubbed his temple. He felt a headache coming on.
"This is huge, SAM. Do you know what people would do if they found out about you—your connection to the pathfinder? What if someone tried to take his implant?"
"Our connection is fully integrated. If his implant were removed or if my connection to him were severed," there was a heavy pause. "Scott would likely not survive."
Reyes stared at the floor. This ran much deeper than he ever anticipated. This knowledge brought on a whole shit ton of new problems. If word got out...hell, if even a rumor of it got out... People only had to believe it could be true and Scott would suddenly have a lot more enemies. AIs were illegal in the Milky Way, and even if the Initiative were progressive in their embracing of Alec's creation of SAM, Reyes was certain it was not this progressive.
"Why did you tell me this, SAM?"
"This information, though secret, is not restricted."
"It should be," Reyes growled. "It damned well should be. What the fuck are those idiots on the Nexus thinking? SAM, you cannot share this information with anyone, do you understand? People will try to hurt Scott. Do you have any idea how many will wish to destroy you? Just as many will want to try to use you for themselves."
"I understand Mr. Vidal. I will take your concern into consideration."
"No. You need to discuss this with Scott as soon as possible. This needs to remain secret."
"I assure you very few people know—"
"And it needs to stay that way, SAM." Reyes shook his head bewildered. "Why did you tell me?"
"Because Scott trusts you."
Reyes froze. "How could you know—? Of course, you're in his head. That is going to take some getting used to."
He ran a hand over his face. He suddenly felt exhausted. He glanced around at his clothing strewn across the floor where they'd been tossed. He really should leave before the crew began waking. Reyes was entirely uncertain how they would react to finding him on their ship. And in the pathfinder's quarters—his bed? Even Scott's command probably wouldn't be enough to save him then.
But he couldn't leave. There was a gravitational pull to Scott Ryder, one that was too difficult to fight and Reyes didn't know why he would even try. This new information, though unsettling in many, many ways, actually made him want the man more. Made him want to protect him even more than he was trying to do already. Scott could take care of himself, a fact proven over and over again, but that was physical. Who cared for his mental state? His emotional well-being? Who cared for all that made the man who he was? An AI? Crew members, even if they were friends, how close were they really? And could they ever know or understand what Scott was going through? Reyes admitted he couldn't know either. But he wanted to. He wanted to understand everything and he wanted to be the one the pathfinder turned to when he could turn to no one else.
Eventually he turned back to the man sleeping motionless on the bed. You beautiful fool, he thought. Trusting a known smuggler, a liar and a cheat—a killer when his work called for it, and a downright selfish bastard whose loyalty belonged to no one but himself. After such a short time since their first meeting, trusting him was reckless and foolish. The pathfinder knew nothing about him, not really. He certainly knew nothing of Reyes' life before Andromeda—no one alive did, and no record existed that hadn't been redacted into oblivion. If Scott had tried to find his records, he would have seen the complete lack of information. So the question remained, how could such a person be worthy of the pathfinder's trust? Perhaps SAM was lying. Could an AI lie? But there would be no purpose for such a ruse. People lied because it benefited them in some way. SAM had no such benefit and so logically, could have no incentive. So, then it was the truth. If their bond was as intricately involved as SAM suggested, then the AI would know better than anyone.
Scott trusted him.
Reyes returned and sat slowly on the bed. He brushed a hand gently over Scott's temple. He should feel only good things knowing the pathfinder felt this way about him, but he only felt a deep sadness he knew all too well.
"Do you run updates every time he sleeps, SAM?" Reyes asked eventually. He spoke quietly even though apparently he didn't need to. Scott wouldn't wake.
"The pathfinder is only directly affected by updates required in his personal implant. Therefore, nightly updating is not required. Once a week is more than sufficient for our needs."
Reyes nodded, a bit absently, distracted by the slow and steady breathing.
"My apologies. I can see this makes you uncomfortable, Mr. Vidal. I will be finished soon and Scott will be returned to normal function."
Reyes nodded his gratitude, his eyes never leaving Scott's face. After a moment he got back in bed and pulled Scott close, but he couldn't sleep. Not until he knew for himself that SAM was right. He watched his features and listened to his breathing, the latter of which seemed rather mechanical in its rhythm. Or, perhaps that was just his imagination running away with him, knowing now that the pathfinder's rest was not entirely natural. He brushed his thumb gently down Scott's cheek and heaved a sigh.
Just then Scott stirred and nudged his face into Reyes' chest. His hand, which rested lifeless atop Reyes' stomach, twitched before flattening and sliding over the plane of warm, hardened muscle. Reyes found himself holding his breath until the moment those multi-colored eyes blinked open. Though still tired and heavy with sleep, Reyes knew now they were the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
Then Scott smiled.
A gentle, sleepy smile, genuine and intimately meant only for him. Reyes leaned down and kissed him, savoring his warmth and taste and the soft hum of contentment from Scott's throat. When Reyes pulled back they were content to look at one another in the eye for what seemed a long time.
"What time is it?" Scott said at last.
Reyes smiled and glanced around the dark room. "You know, I have no idea."
"It is not yet four in the a.m. Kadara Port time, pathfinder," SAM interjected.
Scott smiled, his eyes not leaving Reyes, as he said, "Thank you, SAM."
Reyes rolled Scott onto his back and followed after, leaning over him, their faces very close. "Much too early to be getting out of bed," he said before kissing Scott again.
Scott reached up to embrace him and pull him close. One hand glided down Reyes' bare back, stopping when he touched the fabric of his underwear. Slipping a finger under the hem he snapped them.
"When did you dress?" he mumbled against Reyes' lips.
Reyes thought up the simplest lie. "Bathroom," he said kissing Scott again. "If I ran across your crew I thought it best not to do so completely naked."
Scott laughed. "Some time you will have to tell me how you got onto my ship and into my room. But for now," his hand slipped around the front and slid inside the undergarment to grip Reyes. The smuggler groaned, buried his face in Scott's neck as blood and warm, coiled arousal pooled in his groin. He wasted no time sliding the garment in question off and nudged Scott's legs apart to fit his hips snugly in the cradle of his lover's bodily embrace.
"Aren't you sore?" he whispered as he nibbled the lobe of Scott's ear.
Scott hummed, one hand sliding underneath the pillow beneath his head to grip the top corner tightly. He gently rolled his hips up into Reyes' heat. "I really don't care about that right now."
Reyes huffed in amusement.
"It will please me to make certain your body remembers mine for some time after we part."
Scott let out a pleased sound. It seemed Reyes' hesitancy from earlier was gone. Before he could dwell on that thought Reyes flipped him over onto his stomach and nudged his legs apart. He felt one strong hand part his cheeks as Reyes adjusted his position and Scott braced for him. Then nothing. Scott started to look over his shoulder when he heard the man swear in another language under his breath, but this time the word was laced with need and what could only be described as reverence. Scott felt a flush heat his face as he realized all at once what the man was doing. Kale would do the same in the quiet moments they managed to steal for themselves, when there were no immediate demands on their time or presence. When they could truly forget everything else. Reyes was admiring—taking his time to drink in every facet of Scott's physical form. It was a humbling and invasive intimacy that always left Scott feeling raw and vulnerable. To have no secrets with a lover, being stripped and laid bare in every sense of the word, was not an experience that every man or woman could handle—an experience Scott had been certain he would never have again when Kale walked away from him. But here, with a man he hardly knew and who hardly knew him, he was feeling the beginning stirrings of just such a connection and it both terrified and captivated him.
Scott gripped the pillow tighter, his knuckles turning white until he couldn't take the silent scrutiny any longer. He shifted his hips hoping that would express his impatience. He sighed in relief when he felt Reyes' hands slide languidly up his back to his shoulders and suddenly words were whispered in his ear sending a chill through him.
"You are so beautiful, cariño."
The last was even quieter than the rest and Scott didn't know it's meaning. But he felt it. He shuddered as Reyes pressed against what little resistance his body could muster, and groaned when that resistance crumbled and Reyes pushed through, burying himself deep—deeper than the first time. Scott struggled to catch his breath, clinging to his pillow with both hands while the softness muffled his sounds.
Reyes was right, he was sore. And after this he would only be more so. His body was unused to being stretched so far. Reyes' member was thick and unyielding. The steady rhythmic invasion was forceful and merciless and Scott bit his bottom lip, absolutely loving every moment of it. He wanted to raise his hips to meet and welcome every thrust, but Reyes' strong body lay heavily over him holding him in place. His hands slid over Scott's and untangled them from his pillow, interlacing their fingers and gripping tight. He felt Reyes' breath puffing on his neck and could hear every subtle sound from his lips as the man took his pleasure from Scott.
When Reyes adjusted his angle just a little he was suddenly hitting that tight bundle of nerves that made Scott cry out with every thrust.
"God, Reyes," Scott gasped for breath, for sanity, for release, his lungs aching for each sip of air before it was forced out again as his system was overrun with a growing, hot coil of pleasure, twisting and burning inside him. Reyes possessed every part of him in that moment and Scott knew that if he allowed it—had the courage to allow it—Reyes could potentially own his very heart.
He heard the change in Reyes' voice when he moaned in his ear, his accent thick with need.
"Scott."
Scott knew he was close.
"Cum inside me," he begged. "Please."
He heard Reyes groan in agreement. The feeling of his lover's hot essence spilling out inside him had always been a personal pleasure with Kale, and he wanted it with Reyes—suddenly wanted it more than anything. It made him feel marked, claimed. It sounded animalistic—carnal—but he couldn't help it. It made his heart sing.
Reyes' rhythm became erratic, his pounding thrusts even stronger, if that was possible. Scott cried out at the abuse and gripped his lover's hands tighter as the weight and force pinned him to the bed shuddering beneath him. He didn't want it to end even as his body screamed, desperate for that euphoric finish.
Finally, Reyes groaned out his release, his body spasming as he pumped Scott's inner sanctum full with his seed. With a last cry Scott's own release took him and his inner muscles squeezed and milked Reyes of every last drop.
It felt like hours that they lay there heavy and spent, unwilling or unable to move until their breathing had finally calmed. Reyes slid easily out of his lover and rolled to the side. Scott remained on his stomach. He didn't have the strength left to move at all. He felt gentle fingers brush over his unscarred brow and he opened his eyes.
Reyes' face was close and the man smiled. Scott thought he returned it, but he couldn't be sure.
"Did I hurt you, cariño?" Reyes asked softly.
There was that word again. It bothered him a little that he didn't know the meaning, but his mind was as exhausted as his body. More importantly, he needed to answer the question because he definitely didn't want to discourage anything that just happened between them from happening again in the future.
"No," his voice came out more as a croak. He had to clear it and try again. "God, no, Reyes. That was amazing."
Reyes' smile widened and he leaned in capturing Scott's lips in a gentle kiss. When he pulled away Reyes sat up and glanced out the wide windows. Light was just barely glowing behind the distant canyons. Soon the sun would crest and bathe their side of the world in its unforgiving heat and light.
"I should be going, pathfinder," Reyes said, still staring into the distance. The man looked so serene in that moment—truly content and at peace for the first time since Scott had met him. Scott got the feeling that it was possibly for the first time ever, but he couldn't know that.
"Will I see you again?" He knew his work would bring him in contact with Reyes quite often, as it already had, but that wasn't what he was asking.
Reyes looked down at him and smiled again, a hint of that roguish smirk making an appearance. "My dear, I should think it obvious that you will have a hell of a time getting rid of me."
He leaned down and captured Scott in a deep kiss before pulling away. "Now, I really do have to go. Quit stalling me."
Scott chuckled as the man jumped out of bed. He managed the strength to roll onto his back and watched the naked man struggle to locate all of his clothing with no shortage of amusement.
Finally dressed, Reyes returned to the bed and kissed Scott one last time, as if he couldn't help himself.
"Good luck," Scott murmured against his lips. Reyes straightened and took a step backward toward the door. "Don't let Vetra catch you. She's a kitten to me, but I hate to think what she might do to you."
Reyes smirked continuing to walk backward. "You have no idea." He paused at the door, listening. Then he pressed the release and glanced into the hallway. "Until next time," he whispered with a wink and disappeared. The door slid shut behind him.
Scott listened for a few minutes and since he didn't hear any shouting or gunfire, he decided Reyes must have escaped safely. He sighed and languidly stretched his body the full length of his bed, wincing when he felt a twinge of pain in his hips and backside. His body would certainly hold the memory of Reyes for several days, and he didn't care in the least. It wouldn't stop him from performing his duties. Lexi would take care of that. He would certainly be on house arrest for a bit until the asari doctor was satisfied he would not suffer any lasting effects from the modified dampener, so no one would be the wiser.
"Pathfinder," SAM spoke up suddenly.
"Yeah, SAM," Scott said, closing his eyes and relaxing back into the pillow.
"I had a conversation with Mr. Vidal before you woke."
"Oh?" That had Scott sitting up. His body strongly protested, but he pushed it all to the side. "What kind of conversation?"
"I can show you my memory of it, if you would permit."
"You can do that?"
"Yes. You and I share cognizance. I can show you my memories just as you can show me yours—excluding, of course, the ones your father locked."
"Wow," Scott whispered. Learning new things every day. What would an AI's memory be like? Would it be accompanied by thoughts and emotions like a person's would be, or kind of cold and detached like a video recording?
"Would you like to see?" SAM asked.
"Yeah—yes, SAM. Show me, please," Scott smiled.
Images appeared in his mind, flashes at first, but then they came together to form a solid image of his room, but the orientation was way off. He was seeing the room from his desk on the far side, but his eyes were seeing normally from his own position. The clashing imagery bombarded his brain and made him nauseous. He quickly closed his eyes and felt relief as the contradictory signals ceased. It was strange, the memory did indeed play out like a recording, but in addition, he could hear SAM's inner thoughts that he did not speak out loud to Reyes. And he could feel, or at least the hint of whatever feelings SAM had become capable of. It was surreal, like what a child must feel as they experience and learn everything for the first time. Scott was touched to discover that SAM cared about him a great deal more than Scott ever imagined an artificial being could. It was enlightening in an amazing way. He watched SAM's memory of Reyes waking and eventually getting out of bed. He listened carefully to their conversation about his connection to SAM, and he felt a warmth in his heart at the concern and tenderness the smuggler expressed toward him in his actions as much as his words. It didn't bother him in the least that SAM and Reyes had talked about him, or that they were discussing a sensitive topic. However, there was one thing that confused him.
Once the memory finished, Scott opened his eyes and looked over at SAM's holo.
"SAM, you know perfectly well that my connection with you is highly confidential. Why did you tell Reyes—" he cut himself off as the realization hit him. His brow quirked up on one side. "You were testing him."
"Yes, pathfinder. I apologize if I overstepped. It seemed pertinent that we know what Mr. Vidal would do with such information if a relationship is to be pursued."
Scott's breath huffed in amusement, not missing SAM's use of the word we. "No," he said slowly. "Actually, it's a bit of a relief. I know that I feel he is someone I can trust, but none of my crew feel the same way. And of course, they have good reasons for that. The man makes lying and espionage, and who knows what else, his business on a daily basis. So, I know they all think I'm crazy, but I'm interested to know what you think. Is he trustworthy?"
"In this particular case, yes. I do not believe Reyes has any intention of revealing information that would harm you in any way. However, he is a man of many secrets. I recommend you still exercise caution in your dealings with him."
"Mm." Scott swallowed and lay back down. He stared at the ceiling. Easier said than done, as tonight was evidence to. Reyes Vidal was wiggling his way past Scott's defenses and what's more, Scott didn't want to stop him. He craved what the man could give him. It'd been over six hundred years since he'd felt the way Reyes was making him feel and he didn't know if he could give it up now that he'd had a taste.
"Pathfinder," SAM spoke up again.
"Yeah, SAM."
"About your physical activities with Mr. Vidal, I have questions—"
"I am not having this conversation," Scott groaned grabbing his blanket and pulling it over his head.
