Disclaimer: I own nothing other than my mind
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Hidden Beauty
"Come on Pathfinder, I know you can do better than that," Cora said, while circling low around Ryder.
They were sparring in the spacious cargo room of the Tempest. Sweat slicked both of their bodies. They had been sparring for roughly half an hour now, and both were getting tired.
Ryder grunted in respond and flicked a quick kick to Cora's knee. It was a glancing blow that Cora was able to shake off without much effort. Cora stepped close trying to trip Ryder; however, Ryder was able to avoid the attack, and pulled Cora into a backward rolling grapple.
The two biotic users thudded onto the mat, Ryder flipped herself onto Cora, grasping to get the blonde into a submission hold. Cora struggled, trying to break free, or throw Ryder off. Grunting, the blonde released a quick pulse of biotic power in an attempt to dislodge the stubborn Pathfinder. Ryder countered her attack with a hastily emitted biotic shield of her own, that caused Cora's pulse to slide off and dissipate.
Ryder grinned panting, "Won't work this time, Harper."
Cora struggled a moment more, her light complexion turning red from the effort, then she relaxed huffing with laughter, "Damn. You win, Ryder." Ryder got up and offered a hand to Cora, which she accepted graciously. As she stood she rubbed gingerly at her bruised side that she had received earlier in the session, "I was going for a war of attrition this time."
Ryder smiled saying, "You almost had me but I kept a reserve just in case. Wasn't completely sure it would work."
They walked together to their lockers, grabbed changes of clothes, their towels, and hygiene bags. "So Ryder," Cora said, pausing, trying to find the right words, "How did you get- you know...involved with Reyes? I mean I realize you met him here on Kadara, and that he was our angaran contact. I just want to know, did he take the first step?"
Ryder smiled bashfully, shouldering her bag she replied, "Well, yeah he definitely initiated it. He was very persistent. All silver tongue and drinks, that man."
Cora nodded a thoughtful expression on her face, "Yeah, Reyes is quite skilled with words. He actually introduced me to Alik, an ice runner I've been...communicating with since Voeld."
Ryder raised an eyebrow at Cora and quietly questioned, "Alik? Naughty Cora, do you have a man?" She pulled Cora to a stop right before the showers, in the hallway of the Tempest. Realizing Cora probably wouldn't want anyone to over hear them, so she pulled Cora into the communal wash room.
Cora shrugged, her face turning a cute rosy pink, "Well...yeah. We haven't done anything yet! Alik is a complete gentlemen," She paused then grinned wickedly, her voice a whisper, "Even though sometimes I wish he wasn't."
Ryder laughed as they continued to talk while getting their showers. Cora, her hair soaped into a messy bubble called over the shower stall, "We've been emailing one another pretty regularly while he's away on runs, but since Reyes hired him, he makes stops on Kadara regularly." Cora paused, and rinsed her hair of the shampoo. Once the suds had spiraled down the drain she continued, "He wants to go out on an official date in a couple of days, and I know if I don't agree the next time we would be able to see each other again will be at least two months from now. So, what do you think?"
Washing away her body wash, Ryder contemplated what Cora had said. They would be leaving Kadara in a few days to return to the Nexus. It would help morale if the crew had one more chance to blow off steam before being confined to the Tempest for two weeks. Stepping out of the stall she snagged her towel, and wrapped it around herself. "Well, I think you should. I plan on informing the crew today that we'll be having an extended weekend, before we launch out for the Nexus, and Aya. I'll be spending some time with Reyes at some point if I can manage."
Cora's hand snaked out of the other stall and grabbed her floral printed towel. A moment later she walked out with it wrapped around her. Her blonde hair was slicked back with small beads of water hanging on the ends. Ryder was making her way towards the mirrors and sinks, her plain green towel also snug against her body. As she walked she dried her hair with a smaller towel, and Cora commented, "You seem happy, Ryder. I'm glad to see it. Reyes' seems a bit underhanded but, if he makes you happy then that's alright with me. Just so long as he's careful with you. If I find out he hurts you, I'll rip him to pieces with my biotics."
Ryder nodded, laughing, "I am happy- happier then I've been in a long while. I know he has a shady line of work, but he's sweet, compassionate, and willing to give me space if I need it. However, he's very distracting. Although he understands that I've got a mission, and that the mission, and our people come first."
Smiling Cora said, "I think Alik could be a good one, Ryder. I'm kind of nervous about seeing him. This is our official first date. We've have a few too many drinks here and there, which lead to a lot of fun, but he's never over stepped. However, this feels different than other relationships I've had. Like- my heart won't stop racing when I think about him, or when we vid call. That's not normal for me, I'm usually pretty rational about relationships and have good control my emotions."
Turning to watch Cora as she combed her damp blonde hair in the mirror a few sinks down Ryder said, "That's called a strong attraction, Cora. Not just physically, but mentally- emotionally. This guy, Alik, he resonates with you. Just enjoy the moment, and don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Cora's hand stilled, she lowered the brush and stared at herself in the mirror. Ryder went back to styling her hair when Cora said, "Live in the moment, huh..."
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Ryder was swamped the next two days with reports and video calls with the Nexus, along with a few representatives with the Angaran Resistance, to strategize the logistics of the Tempest and it's supplies, that it would be carrying from Kadara and the Nexus.
As the video call flickered then faded from Ryder's personal video communicator, Ryder ran a hand wearily down her face. She was incredibly tired and she still had a few more reports to finish.
"Sam, what time is it?"
"It's half past midnight. Perhaps you should sleep, Pathfinder."
She rubbed at her tired eyes, nodded, then moved to her bed. Flopping down, not even taking off her clothes, Ryder fell into a deep sleep, akin to the sleeping of the dead.
She awoke to a soft knock on her door. "Hey, Ryder.." a pregnant pause then the voice continued, "It's Cora, may I come in?"
Ryder pushed herself up off her bed saying, "Yeah, come on in. Excuse the mess. I was up late."
The door slid open and Cora entered quickly, watching the door slide back closed. Ryder grabbed her comb and tamed her hair to decency, glancing at Cora quizzically. "What's up, Cora?"
The blonde biotic sat down on the edge of Ryder's disturbed bed, took a deep breath then blurted out, "I slept with Alik." she watched Ryder, wide-eyed, trepidation creeping onto her face.
Ryder carefully kept her face impassive and replied, "That's...a good thing...right?"
Cora's words poured out of her like a plug was pulled out of a drain, "Was it too soon? I mean it was great, he's so kind and I- I just...what if I messed up? I left while he was asleep...I felt embarrassed to let him see me in the light, what if he didn't like what he saw?"
Ryder sat down next to the panicking woman and wrapped an arm around her saying comfortingly, "Cora, hey- slow down. You've been thinking about this the wrong way. Alik likes you Cora, he wouldn't have asked you out or been such a patient guy these past few months. He's probably really confused right now, have you sent him any messages?"
With a guilty look Cora sniffed and shook her head. Ryder continued, "Look, let's comm him, you'll explain your misgivings, and we'll hear what he has to say. I'll be your emotional support, cheering you silently in the background."
This brought a bubbly chuckle from Cora. She said, "Okay, we can do that. But, I know I woke you up so please, take a moment for yourself. Would you like some coffee? I feel terrible for bursting in here with my problems, when you've got so much to deal with yourself." Cora stood quickly, but before she could take a step, Ryder grabbed her wrist and stood up along side the other woman.
"Hey, it's my job to help my team, Cora. I don't mind helping you through any problems you may have. That's what a leader is for, " Ryder paused, releasing Cora's wrist. She grinned mischievously saying, "Although I wouldn't mind a cup of joe."
Laughing Cora left to grab a couple of mugs of the rich dark coffee from the galley, while Ryder freshened up in the wash room.
With Ryder in the background, giving encouraging smiles and thumbs up, Cora spoke with Alik on Ryder's private video communicator. After the air was cleared between the two budding lovers, Ryder departed leaving them their privacy.
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She walking into Kadara, letting her boots take her wherever they fell.
After a while she found herself in a small open garden. An angaran was crouched, pruning a colorful alien plant that was larger than Drack. The gardner was wearing a pale tan floppy wide brimmed hat and a dark brown jumpsuit. He glanced up at the Pathfinder, with mild interest but just nodded for a greeting. Ryder gave him a small smile and wandered slowly around the small dirt packed garden, taking in the small gem of hidden beauty that was surrounded by harsh metallic structures.
Ryder sat at a small metal bench, whose dark green paint was peeling drastically from days in the relentless Kadaran sun. It was still early so the metal hadn't time to heat up, which she was grateful for, because she was wearing short purple gym shorts and a sleeveless white shirt with geometric designs. Around her neck she wore her large headphones, which were her constant companion when she was in casual civvies.
"Sam, would you record this a little bit. I feel like this will be a nice memory to replay when I'm...well...you know."
"I've already started, as soon as you walked into the area, Pathfinder. I am in your mind after all. I could tell this felt important to you."
Ryder smiled to herself, marvelling at the intelligence of the beautiful AI that occupied every corridor of her mind. He knew what she was thinking, her darkest nightmares, and her basic instincts. It was astounding what her father had created and how Sam had grown.
"Ryder," an exquisitely accented voice spoke from her left. Ryder snapped out of her reverie and saw Reyes standing, his mouth agape with surprise, with a book tucked under his arm. He was wearing a simple aqua blue shirt and black shorts, along with sleek slip on shoes. His clothes accentuated his lean toned body, and his olive complexion was brought to life by the rich blue.
Ryder stood swiftly, her heart doing a jig in her chest. He looked so relaxed, like he fit here, in this small niche of nature. "Reyes, hi. Uhm, are you okay?" He wasn't moving except for his chest rising, and falling with his breath and his eyes. His amber orbs, roamed her body, dark with hunger as they devoured her figure from bottom to top. She felt a deep ache from within at his expression as his eyes slid up her athletically toned legs, to the curve of her breasts, and then their eyes met causing electricity to shoot through her body to pool in her core. Ryder wanted him, badly.
Reyes stepped closer, but stopped short a pace away, his face a mixture of emotions that Ryder had no hope of deciphering. "Ryder, I wasn't expecting such beauty to grace my quiet reserve."
Fantasies flashed through Ryder's mind. They embraced and found themselves tangled together in the underbrush, lips locked together, their pulses uniting into one singular beat of passion.
Blinking out of her fantasy, Ryder gestured to their surroundings and looked around and said, "You own this?" She willed her pulse to slow as she forced her eyes away from his figure.
Reyes shrugged and motioned for Ryder to sit with him on the weathered bench. It seemed he had a better reign on his desires than Ryder did. He set the book, that he had been holding under his arm, in his lap once they sat down. It was well worn and in Spanish, and it said: La vida de Lazarillo de Tormes y de sus fortunas y adversidades. Lazarillo stood out to Ryder but she couldn't remember where she had seen it before. Reyes noticed her interest and said, "It is the story of Lázaro who is a poor boy from Salamanca. He serves many different masters and in doing so, sees the world for what it is." Reyes paused and gently thumbed through the pages lost in thought. Continuing he murmured, "It reminds me of my past, and helps to keep me grounded." Smiling ruefully he added, "As you already know, I have a tenancy to become a bit prideful."
Ryder grinned at him and patted his hand, "That you do indeed."
He captured her hand and gave it a quick kiss before he entwined their fingers and settled their clasped hands onto his thigh. "Shall we spend the day together, considering that you are leaving tomorrow morning?"
Smiling widely, excitement welling in her chest, Ryder replied, "I'd like that, Reyes."
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