A (formal?) apology from me...
Before getting into this new chapter I want to first and foremost apologise to those of you reading who began following this story in 2012 when I started it. It's now new years 2015 and an update has finally appeared. A lot has changed in my life over the past 2/2.5 years and to be honest carrying on the story I wrote wasn't at the forefront of my concerns. I'm now at university and into my second year and feel like I've matured somewhat since setting out on this journey. I got a random email from fanfiction a couple of days ago notifying me that someone had added this story to their favorites and left a review. A quick glance on the website brought back so man memories and I felt a sudden rush back into my love and adoration for the fandom and the game and so here I am today with a newly written chapter for you to read, longer this time, and hoping that I can stick at some form of regular updates. I really appreciate the support that people have given the story over the last 2 years even though it was at the time only 2 chapters long and I want you to know that it was your words that brought me back here.
So here it is, chapter 3. You'll note I've mentioned that John and James have known each other for about a month during this chapter so please just take it that there was a time period of a few weeks between chapters 1/2. Its been 2 years since I even thought about the plot and writing so please don't get worked up over any small continuity errors I may have mistakenly added in. Thank you! 3
Chapter 3 – Will that be salt or sweet?
James was being dragged off into the recovery ship, hand desperately shooting forward trying to clutch at John's outstretched arm waving what well may be a final goodbye to the one who stole his heart.
'Something seems off' John thought to himself. This image of James being carried away filled his eyes and yet for all he could see there was not one area that didn't a strange haze- an aura – around it, like he was dreaming or something. His consciousness then hit him and a sense of lucidity returned alongside his memory. Yes. This can't be real. He assured himself as he recalled the prior events leading up to where he now was – practising the manipulation of small precise biotic fields was always a difficulty for him as there had been no need for such carefulness in the heat of battle. Feeling slowly trickled down through his body like a mist creeping across the ground and this haze was followed by a slight tingling as the numbness faded away and John's senses returned to him. The haziness of the dream had faded into a blackness and whilst the early twinges of pain that are expected from smashing into a solid surface like the ceiling began to creep in John was well aware that his sight was lagging behind and so with all his willpower John pushed to open his eyelids and allow the light to flood in. As he did so he noticed he could hear ringing of laughter in his ear and thought to himself 'Why the fuck is it so loud in here?'.
James' laughter filled the room with a joyous melody that gradually began to die down as the hulk of a man regained control of himself. He noticed the slight twitches of movement that were appearing across Shepherd's body and reasoned the John must have been coming too. To save some embarrassment on the other mans part (owing to John's apparent nakedness) Vega stepped out the room and waited behind the door just long enough to hear John sit up.
He proceeded to knock on the door before questioning: "Shepherd, you in there?". A second or so of silence was followed up by a grunt of pain and some noise that resembled a yes. Opening the door and stepping in James saw that Shepherd was now upright in his bed and had rearranged his bedsheets to be much less revealing that James had seen upon first entry into the room. 'Phew, one less distraction. Now, compose yourself Vega!' he thought to himself. "Everything okay commander, you sounded a little…well…sore?" he remarked with a hint of sympathy in his tone.
The initial pain was beginning to subside and a dull throbbing had taken its place. "No, no James. Everything's fine, just got a cramp as I was waking up from a nap, gone now though. Yep. Fine." He blurted out rapidly, nervousness creeping into his voice. He knew something was wrong as soon as the words left his mouth when a quick downwards glance from Vega made Shepherd realise he was notably closer to the floor than his bed would normally allow for. Quickly realising his mistake, he tried to conjure up a corrective statement before James could make any further remark.
Vega stood in the doorway and noticed the slight twinge in John's voice and to save the commander and further rambling he said to him "I assume your beds been broken for a while then? Maintenance here are awful at getting things done when a report comes in. Took them 3 weeks to fix my sink". A sympathetic smile crept across Jame's lips before Shepherd replied with "Yeah…something like that" as his eyes looked at anything in the room apart from Vega, a man who stirred an unusual sensation in his stomach.
"Can you give me a couple minutes to throw some clothes on and then I'll meet you outside? You wanted to talk I'm assuming?" he questioned. Vega nodded avoiding any eye contact with John as he stepped out of the room and waited for him outside his room, psyching himself up for the conversation that was about to ensue. 'Come on Vega you pussy, its just asking a friend out for lunch (well what would now be considered dinner, seeing how late in the afternoon it was)' he thought to himself. He was glancing at his watch as John came out of his bedroom.
"Somewhere to be, Vega?" John queried.
"No..haha..no, just checking the time" James blurted out a little to quickly.
Chill Vega, chill James' mind told him.
"It's just, I cam here to see well, if you maybe, wanted to grab a bit to eat? Or something? I just presumed you'd be getting peckish and I know I'm starving so…I mean, it looks a bit sad when you're sat in a restaurant on your own right? I know I'm stationed here to guard you but from personal experience, Alliance Rations are plain awful" James said, becoming aware that he had dragged out that simple sentence for way too long. Breathe. He thought. Adrenaline may be better than oxygen but right now just breathe. John looked quizzically back at the well-defined man before him and noticed the tightness of the t-shirt stretched over James' frame. He thought to himself 'If I'm gunna be stuck grounded here in Vancouver I might as well get to know my fellow alliance members, especially the ones who are easy to look at. I am fucking hungry too.'
"Sure, I am fucking hungry and the Alliance rations are getting repetitive. Know anywhere good?" the slightly older man replied with a hint of a smile creeping across his face like James had earlier.
"I had this Mexican place in mind, good food and good music. Everyone likes Mexican." Vega explained as he turned away from Shepherd and began heading towards a cab stand to grab a taxi. Having noticed the smile creeping across Shepherds face when he agreed to eating out made James' heart beat jump just ever so slightly and as he stepped into the cab and pondered on the thought that he may actually be in with a chance of getting to know John much more closely than he had initially thought. Getting to know the commander as a friend would have been more than enough for James but the thought that something more could come from this was ever so enticing. He didn't want to get ahead of himself though, the commander had barely been here a month and they hardly knew each other – I'm kidding myself if I think anything more could happen James thought as the cab pulled away, not knowing the exact same thing was creeping across John's mind too.
Dinner went as awkwardly as expected when 2 mere acquaintances try and hold a meaningful conversation for an extended time period. The unknown feelings that were starting to brew inside each man for the other also didn't help. James offered to pay for dinner as a friendly gesture to John who put up a fight but gave in when James insisted he pay as a welcoming gift to the 'true Mexican-American dining experience'. Inside John was actually flattered by the gesture but didn't let this show through and so waited until he deemed it polite to accept Vega's offer. Being used to a position of power, this play by James made John feel slightly undermined but he was quick to remind himself that he was currently grounded and so was in no position to question someones action.
After dinner the two left and began to head back to Shepherds but John stopped along the way and insisted on darting into the nearby movie theatre on the walk home to use the toilet and he had drunk one too many pepsis with his meal. James awkwardly laughed at this remark and happily waited in the foyer, glancing up at what was on show. He noticed that this theatre specialised in showing old films from the pre-Space era of Humanity and were currently on a run of films from the first half of the 21st century. In particular, the title 'Interstellar' jumped out at him – he'd heard about what a success it had been when it was released in a media history class he vaguely recalled taking before joining the Alliance. He'd always been interested in old space films and something was telling him to go watch it.
John hurried to the urinal in the mens room and when done, took a glance in the mirror above the hand basin as he pumped out the soap. Hints of his age were beginning to creep into creases around his eyes and first signs of frown lines were starting to show but all these were barely noticeable. He was a ruggedly handsome man as he had been told many times, with a strong jaw, enchanting eyes and a light dash of stubble that added that extra flair of sex appeal. He knew he looked good but never bragged about it – a good physique came with the hard work of being an army man but he also knew he was lucky with his genes.
Stepping out of the toilets he was caught off-guard by James who turned and began to ask him a question but misjudged how close to the door he was the John was exiting from, causing the two to bump shoulders with one another. Johns pain from his earlier encounter with the celling meant the starting of a bruise was forming on his shoulder which had taken the brunt of the impact before he fell unconscious, and this bruise made itself know when James' solid deltoid hit him. A slight wince escaped Johns lips as he steadied himself.
"Shit John, I mean Shep..ahh Commander" James fell over his words.
"My fault. Should have looked where I was going." John apologised before asking: "Ready to go then?"
"Well actually I saw that Interstellar is on – the old earth/space/wormhole/blackhole movie – heard it was good so I think I might check it out. Fell free to go back to yours though I'm sure I don't need to be watching your every move" said James.
"Is that your attempt at asking for me to come watch it with you? So you think its sad if a man eats at a restaurant on his own but not going to the movies alone?" John jokingly said, hoping to throw Vega off with the slight hint of flirtation. It worked. James barely mumbled an answer before John threw his arm around the larger mans side and exclaimed "Of course I'll see the movie, this evening can't get any more awkward can it?". James flinched slightly at the touch of the older man but quickly relaxed when he realised it was just a quick embrace – however Johns hand did linger just half a second too long that a friendly embrace would allow for.
After buying their tickets the two headed towards the food counter to pick up snacks – sure dinner was huge but come on, you can't go to the movies without popcorn and soda.
"Will that be salt or sweet?" the cashier quizzed. Please say both. Please say both John was hoping as Vega ordered.
"Why not both, eh?" James told the girl.
Reaching into his pocket James realised he'd used the last of his cash back at the Mexican place to leave a tip and had no cards on him.
"John this is stupid of me but do you mind grabbing these this time, I ain't got any money on me right now" he quietly mumbled to the other guy.
"This time you say? So theres going to be a next time haha?" John giggled as he handed over the money. He saw the flash of red quickly blaze across James' face as he handed him the popcorn and soda before putting the change in his back pocket. John took this as confirmation that there was some sort of mutual feeling between the two of them whilst James quickly shied his head away, not being used to the lightness and bubbling inside of him – he was a jock, and a big one at that, and had always been used to hiding away his feelings. But John made that façade completely dissolve and James Vega could finally be human.
John let James walk ahead of him into the movie theatre as they headed for their seats. James was wearing a pair of his army pants that framed his tantalising ass just perfectly to hint at its shape and so walking up the stairs John took a few seconds to admire the sculpted beauty before him.
John. Your gay is showing. Just wait till you get to see him without those pants on, then you can really start drooling.
This sudden onset of horniness came out of nowhere so John was relieved to reach his seat where he could hide his growing fondness of Vega under his jacket.
Just do it. Make the first move. You know James likes you and you definitely like him. So what if you've only known him a month and he's on 'guard' duty over you. Just take the leap.
As the movie began to roll and opening scenes played both men began to relax in their seats casually reaching for handfuls of popcorn from the shared tub every now and then. About 15 minutes in they both went to take a handful and inevitably brushed hands as the top of the popcorn tub was only big enough for one at a time. James silently gestured for John to go first who took the offer and then gestured the same back to James. Shepherd pushed his arm slightly further onto the armrest shared between the two so that contact was made between the mens upper arms. Initially jolted by the motion Vega shortly relaxed and allowed for the contact to be made. The warmth of the touch was reassuring to both men who were still nervous to make any sort of gesture towards one another. John laid his arm down on the rest with palm faced upwards and looked back at James to catch his eye. James noted that movement and took a leap of faith in returning the gesture. What the heck. This theatre is practically empty – just us and that girl near the front. It this fucks up I'll just go back to being his guard and no one will know any different Vega reasoned. He wouldn't look and me and do that unless there was some intension, surely?.
Vega slowly brought up his elbow from the rest and gently laid it over the top of Shepherds upward facing forearm ensuring his palm met up with Johns.
Both their heartbeats were starting to run wild.
James lowered his arm and interlocked his fingers with Shepherds, securing the handhold. A rush of energy washed over both men as their anticipations were met and both ignored for a few seconds what was happening in the theatre and just stayed in the moment of touch between them.
"I hope that's…okay?" James whispered.
"It's better than okay. Now shut up and watch the movie you big goof" John laughingly replied, following up with a gentle squeeze of James' hand in his. Vega noticed this and returned it to John afterwards before finally letting a full smile, like a cheesy grin this time, encompass his face. Finally, he thought, finally another guy who feels the same way about me as I do him.
Afternote:
There you go! Once again, apologies for the huge break from the story but I finally got back to writing and really enjoyed it. I will try my best to stay on-top of updates from now on as I have a better idea of where things are going now.
A particular thank you goes out to those who left reviews - its was those reviews that encouraged me to get back into writing on here as it really meant something to me to hear that people liked what was being written. So thank you.