XIV.
"How does that feel?" She hears Alec ask her as she glances over her shoulder and watches him adjust the armour plating that links her the plates on her bicep to the ones on her shoulder. She feels his eyes on her when she lifts and rotates her arm to test it, flexing to check that everything is as it should be.
"Better." Cora nods and she sees him turn his attention back to his work, and continues to make adjustments. "But I can still feel it catching." She adds and hears him make a humming noise as he concentrates on what he is doing.
"I just need to get this part.." She hears him mumble to himself more than anyone else, which makes her smile. Some things, despite what had happened to Alec, would never change.
Cora was glad that they were both trying to work towards still be able to work together and as far as she could tell, Alec was back to the man she'd first met, even if it was going to take time until she didn't feel hurt when she looked at him. She'd kept to her promise and made sure they were still seeing each other every day, and she was always on hand to help when he needed her if she could.
It had been a week since she'd left the hospital after nearly two days there while her biotics were monitored, the medical team had finally agreed to discharge her on the condition that she would give them updates until she was due to be placed into status, to ensure she was okay to continue onto the Hyperion. They'd also finally decided to discharge her into the care of Scott after all of her complaining, even though she was certain the young Ryder had no previous medical training or experience in taking care of anyone but himself.
Scott had been doing a good job of taking care of her though, and they had slipped into a very happy and contented life on the station with each other, and there wasn't a day or night they weren't together. Cora was feeling pleased that she was trying to get over Alec, and Scott was doing wonders for the heartbreak.
"There, try that." She sees Alec smile when he looks at her.
"Okay." Cora nods and rotates her arm again, lifting it above her head and testing that her armour moves every way it should with her body, trying to prove to him that it is fine and he's managed to fix it for her. She feels his eyes on her face before he moves them down her body; still not looking satisfied with his work as he steps back to inspect her and her movements.
Cora sighs to herself as she watches him move from where he stands behind her, and to stand in front of her, his feet scuffing against the metal floor of his lab as he moves. She feels him place his hand on her shoulder and then sliding it onto her bicep, he scans the section with his Omni-Tool, glancing down at the results when it beeps.
"Alec, you do know you are probably the only Pathfinder that does this." She whispers and sees a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth.
"Does what?" She hears his reply and his eyes on her face again; he knew exactly what she was talking about. Every other Pathfinder focused on the mission alone, they didn't spend hours building and altering armour, as Alec Ryder did. Other Pathfinders left the hands-on and dirty work to others.
"This," Cora replies motioning around her and notices that he looks towards his own armour that is currently hung up and awaiting the same treatment.
"You can't blame an old man for being thorough." He smiles. "I just want you to be safe." He adds and she sees him look into her face and then lower his eyes from her. "I'm a Pathfinder that does a lot of things others don't." He adds making her smile and nod.
"Oh, I know." Cora giggles and she hears him chuckle.
"Don't start teasing me." Alec smiles at her again. "Otherwise I'll know you've been spending too much time with my idiot son," Alec adds making her laugh. "Okay Harp, I think you are done." He mumbles and she feels him lower his hands from her.
"Thanks, boss." Cora grins when she sees him shake his head at her. "I appreciate you trying to keep me safe." She adds and sees him smile before turning away from her and moving to step down off of the platform that she stands on, her booted feet coming into contact with the floor.
Cora watches him take hold of the back of his chair in his palm and turn it so that he can lower himself onto it, she hears it creak slightly under his weight and the hours he'd spent sitting working on his projects with her. Cora hears him sigh lightly, she notices that he stretches his fingers out and she knows that he's in pain. She knew that he'd been in even more pain since they deactivated the augmentations and upgrades that had had such a negative effect on him but had also been keeping him stronger and faster than his ageing body would have usually allowed. She knew his body was healing but they were still making excuses to delay the launch to give him more time to recover.
"Someone has to," Alec mumbles making her smile to herself and see that he is now lost in something on his screen, flicking through pages of data and research as he always did.
"Don't be rude," Cora whispers with a smile and hears him chuckle. Cora shakes her head lightly when she watches him, remembering how difficult it had been to drag him away from his work when they'd first met and now it seemed he was returning to old habits without her.
Cora knew Alec was feeling just as frustrated that they were still waiting for launch, now almost three weeks on and that it currently felt like they were all living in limbo while they fill their time the best they can. She was enjoying getting to spend time with him while they all had no work commitments, and although at first Scott had been worried about her safety, so far Alec had been relaxed and how she remembered him. She now had two very protective Ryder men looking out for her. But, she had to admit she still saw the way that Alec looked at her, and recognised the look in his eyes.
Cora lifts her hand to her chest pressing her fingertips against the panel to deactivate her armour; causing the clips and field holding it to her body to release and let her remove it. She begins by taking off her arm plates that Alec has fixed, closely followed by the shoulder and chest pieces until she is just wearing the lower part of her armour and her bra. She glances at Alec again, noticing that he is still distracted by the demanding screens and that he still has his back to her.
Cora sighs lightly, knowing he was probably trying to make her feel less awkward about undressing in front of him, even though they both knew each other better than anyone else and she definitely wasn't shy around him or anyone else.
"Are your hands hurting again?" Cora asks him and she just hears him make a positive sound in response. "Maybe you should see what Harry suggests." Cora adds and hears him 'Hmmm' again. "I was thinking of dying my hair green and running naked around the station." She laughs when she just hears the same sound, and she decides he must not paying attention.
Cora bends and begins sliding off the plates on her legs, twisting her feet out of her boots, and the armour that covers her hips until she has removed it all and is dressed down to her underwear. She picks up the main structure and frame of her armour and hangs it up on the plinth, feeling it slot into place with a positive click as it hangs in its usual place.
She looks around her, knowing that she'd undressed somewhere near here and can see that she has left her clothes on the chair nearby. Cora quickly steps off of the platform and goes to retrieve them. She hadn't been as prepared with her usual under armour layer ready when Alec had decided she needed to suit up, so she'd had to strip down and try and ignore the cold of his lab.
"I'd prefer to see you in blue." Alec replies which makes her smile, okay maybe he had been listening more than she thought. But unlike anyone else who would take that has an innocent compliment, Cora knew Alec was talking about the blue of her biotics when she was in bed, but he'd never seen it. "Running naked around the station isn't your style, as much as I'd enjoy it." He adds and she looks over her shoulder to see his eyes are on her and then he looks away.
"No, that's more your thing." Cora laughs and she hears him chuckle, he'd told her all sorts of stories about when he was a young Alliance recruit and in his youth. Alec Ryder was not as straight cut as people thought he was, especially when he was her age.
Cora slips her knitted jumper on over her head, and onto her body. She pushes the sleeves up her forearms with her hand before turning to sit on the chair so that she can pull the tight trousers past her feet and up her legs. When she has them up to her thighs, she stands and wriggles trying to get them over her bottom. Cora lets go when they reach her waist and lifts to brushes her hair back, sliding her feet into her pumps.
She moves towards Alec and sees that he is again busying himself in his screens full of information, but she knew he'd been looking at her, and part of her knew those feelings would never completely go between them. She was always going to feel love for him, and his eyes on her would always make her remember him in that way and make her blush.
"And your hands?" She asks him again and hears him huff at her question. Cora closes the distance between them and drags the other chair closer to him, sitting down on it as his side. "Alec." Cora huffs back at him and she feels his eyes on her and he smiles, she lifts her hand to his face and pushes his hair back.
"I've had worse." Alec nods and lowers his eyes to the top of his desk when Cora lowers her hand from his face and places it over his, stopping him working. She watches, as he looks into her face again when she wraps her fingers around his gently, trying not to hurt them further.
"I know." Cora sighs and watches him lift his other hand from the desk and hold it up so that his palm is facing her. Cora sees him smile when she lifts her to meet his, feeling how warm but rough his skin is against hers and how familiar it feels when he curls his fingers and links them through hers. "I've seen the scars to prove it," Cora whispers and hears him chuckle.
"All 189 of them at great length," Alec whispers making Cora drop her hand from his and smack him in the arm, which only makes him, laugh more. "Be gentle with me, Cora." He laughs which causes her to do the same.
"Keep that up, and I'll have to go home." Cora laughs and sees his smile fade when she thinks he's remembering that home isn't with him anymore. "Now tell me what you've been working on since I was last here." Cora adds trying to drag him away from looking sad.
"The same issue with the materials, and helmets." Alec nods and she watches him turn back to the screen and bring up another page of data, data that she recognises as a very extensive report that he had previously submitted to the AI.
She knew Alec was losing a battle to get the AI to agree to look into different materials for their helmets, armour, and visors, despite all their funding and credits they had so far turned him down every time. The AI believed they had the best of everything, and she knew this exasperated Alec when he knew they could be pushing for more. Alec didn't settle for anything and he always told her not to settle either. Strive for better, he would always say.
"Will we be safe?" Cora asks and she sees him nod and then turns his attention back to her. "I guess that is good enough for them." Cora continues. "I believe in you, Alec. I'm sure they will too." She adds and notices that he doesn't look as convinced that they'll ever listen.
"I mean it would help if I had Scott here. If I could get scans of his armour." Alec sighs and Cora watches him lean his elbow on the arm of his chair and rub the tips of his fingers against his chin. "It could make all the difference." He adds and she knows where this is going and he wants her to speak to Scott for him.
"Why don't you ask him?" Cora gives him a light smile and sees him bite his bottom lip. "Have you spoken to him at all?" She asks and sees The Pathfinder shake his head. "Alec.." Cora begins but she sees him shake his head and wave his hand to dismiss what she is saying.
"What would I even say?" She hears Alec mumble and watches as he raises his hand to run it through his hair. "Where do I even start?" He adds and she feels his grey eyes on her. "He won't listen to me, Harper." Alec whispers. "You were there. You heard what he thinks about me." Alec whispers and Cora lowers her hand to place it on his knee trying to comfort him, stroking her fingers against the material of his trousers.
"He's hurting, Alec," Cora whispers and sees him nod. "He's been hurt by you, and by me.." She sighs and feels him place his hand over hers on his knee. "Losing a parent and his career, leaving his friends behind too." She continues and sees a flash of upset behind his eyes when she mentions Scott losing Ellen. "He just needs time." Cora nods but she sees Alec gives her a sad smile and shakes his head.
"What if I haven't got time? I'm getting older, Harp. This mission could be one of my last, and they might want to retire me once we've colonised." Alec mumbles making her sigh, he wasn't old but she knew he was starting to feel it.
"Don't say that," Cora whispers and feels him squeeze her knee for a moment. "You are the best of the best. They can't just retire you." She mumbles, suddenly realising that although she wanted to be the next Pathfinder, she wasn't ready for it to happen anytime soon and there to not be Alec with her. "You'll have time to make amends with Scott." She adds and hears his quiet sigh.
"I know we are never going to be close." He continues and she gives him a weak smile. That was an understatement. "I know he is angry about what happened. He has every right to be." He adds. "But I need to know we are at least on the same page." Alec whispers and she couldn't help but feel she agreed, they had to know they had each other's backs when on a mission and when it mattered.
"I know." Cora nods. "I know you need him to trust you as I do." She adds and sighs lightly. "I'm sorry that I made your relationship with Scott worse," Cora whispers and sees him look at her. She did feel guilty, and awful that she was just another reason for the Ryder's to not get along. She'd not realised how bad it had been and how much it hurt them both.
"My relationship with Scott.." Alec begins and she feels him squeeze her hand. "It was difficult long before either of us fell in love with you." Alec chuckles making her sigh and lower her eyes from him.
"Alec." Cora sighs and hears him do the same.
"You have no idea how much I want to kiss you." Alec sighs and Cora feels him lean towards her and cup her face in his hand, rubbing his thumbs against her skin and drawing her closer.
Cora feels his eyes meet hers and he lowers his mouth until it is almost on hers. Cora shakes her head lightly and pulls back from him, asking him without words not to kiss her like he wants to, part of her knowing that when Alec Ryder kissed her, it never stopped there. As much as she knew how she felt about Scott, Alec was an awful temptation she knew she had to be strong and ignore. They'd end up doing something that would hurt Scott even more.
"I'm sorry, Cora," Alec mumbles as she feels him let go of her hand and stand from his chair. She watches him move away from her as if he is trying to put some space between them. "This is.." He begins and she sees him lift his hands and rake them through his hair again. She knew she could finish that sentence for him; difficult for them both, hurting them, impossible for them to be apart.
"Alec, come back." Cora leans forward and pats her hand against his chair making his attention go back to her. She knew he was missing her, and she knew how hard he was finding it without her. She could see it all over his face and when she looked into his eyes, and part of her was missing him too and wanted him back.
"Just give me a moment." Alec nods and Cora watches him sigh and shake his head, and knows he is trying to stop himself acting further on how he's feeling. Cora lowers her eyes to her feet, feeling sad for them both and that she can't comfort him. They'd been so involved with each other's lives for so long, it was going to take time to heal.
Cora knew that Scott was helping fix her broken heart and giving her back her happiness, but she'd been with Alec long enough that it was impossible to not think of him and their time together when they'd been happy and his promises had felt real. She'd made the decision to move on and to not let him hurt her again, but they still had to work together and she knew they were better friends than together, but it was going to be hard for them both for a while.
Hopefully, the new start in Andromeda would be what they both needed to move on, and not be a constant reminder of what they were like Theia was.
"It's Scott.." Cora whispers as she hears her Omni ping, and his name appears on her display. She watches Alec glance at her and she can't help wonder if he is expecting her to dismiss the call. "I have to get this." She adds and sees him nod lightly and instead of returning to his chair and desk, she sees him walk towards the makeshift seating area.
Cora watches him for a moment more as he moves around and sits down onto the sofa; his back now to her and she can just see the back of his head. Cora smiles to herself when she remembers how much hard work it had been for the two of them to get it into his lab. She didn't know how she'd managed to not break a bone when they'd struggled for nearly an hour navigating the curved stairs with that oversized, but a very comfortable piece of furniture. She'd lost count of the number of nights they'd spent on it together, and as out of place it looked in the rest of his high tech, highly polished, and mostly metal lab; the sofa was very Alec.
She watches him reach for a cup of coffee that is on the table beside him, and she is sure that he's busying himself again on his Omni. Or, at least pretending to be busy so he doesn't look like he's trying to listen in.
"Hey, handsome." Cora smiles when she connects the call from Scott, and can suddenly hear that he is somewhere noisy and there is lots of chatter in the background. "What's up?" She adds.
"Hey yourself." Comes Scott's reply making her smile, she takes a moment to look at Alec and sees him looking over the back of the sofa and watching her and that makes her feel guilty. "Just thought I'd check-in, with my beautiful girlfriend." He adds and Cora stands from her seat and moves a little further away, pretending to be picking up her own coffee from the desk so that she has an excuse to turn away from Alec.
"I'm fine, better now," Cora replies smiling to herself when she realises his call is partly him checking she is okay. "How was training?" She asks him and hears him sigh lightly.
Cora knew how much Scott didn't enjoy the AI training and that he'd told her it was nothing like when he was Alliance. He had military blood and found AI training to be slacker than he'd been brought up on and was used to, he didn't feel challenged at all and was questioning why he'd even bothered to start going.
"Great." He replies with a bit too much enthusiasm, which makes Cora giggle when she hears it. "Boring, if I'm honest." She hears him add with a huff. "It finished early." He adds and she can hear the smile in his voice.
"Bullshit." Cora giggles hearing him laugh. "Surely you aren't shirking training to call me?" She whispers and hears him laugh again, such a lovely sound that gives her butterflies.
"Of course I am." Scott laughs on the other end of the line. "I'm almost home." She hears him add and realises that the noise and chatter must be from him walking through the commons, and past the shops and cafes. "Fancy skipping work for the afternoon and spending it with me, preferable naked and in bed?" Cora giggles when she hears his words; suddenly very glad that Alec can only hear her side of their conversation and not Scott's teasing her.
"Hmm.. That does sound tempting." Cora whispers and lowers her voice, realising how much warmer she is starting to feel when she lets her thoughts linger on Scott and his body and mouth on her. "But I'm still at the lab," Cora adds and hears his breath but no immediate response.
"Is Alec there?" Scott replies and she is sure she can hear his surroundings change, and knows he can't be far away now. Cora thinks that she can hear the sound of his boots on steps and the beeping of him entering a code into a door panel.
"He is.." Cora smiles hoping he'll hear it in her voice and it will reassure him. "Why don't you meet me here? He'd like to see you." She adds and hears him sigh again, and she hears the sound of him dropping his kit bag to the floor and knows he is in their apartment.
"We both know that's not true." Scott sighs. "I want to see you though," Scott mumbles making her smile lightly, she glances over her shoulder and sees that Alec is watching her, most likely waiting for her to finish speaking with Scott and carry on with their work.
"I want to see you too." Cora begins and she hears him laugh lightly. She wanted to kiss him and have him wrap her up in his arms too, and make her forget all about Alec. "You don't have to talk to him if you don't want to. He just wants to check your armour." She adds and hears him laugh lightly on the other end.
"Alright, fine. Only because I've missed you and have been thinking about kissing you for hours." He sighs but she can hear the smile in his voice. "I'll grab my armour and come over." She hears him begin moving around their apartment and knows he is gathering together his armour, his Alliance issue set that he had so far refused to give up. "I'll ping you when I'm there," Scott mumbles making her smile.
"Can't wait to see you." Cora whispers and looks over at Alec again.
"Same," Scott replies and she hears his smile. "Bye." He adds and she giggles when he starts making kissing noises before he disconnects the line.
Cora lowers her arm as she ends the call on her end too; she hears the sound of Alec moving somewhere behind her and can hear that he has left his spot on the sofa and it sounds like he is walking back towards her. She glances over her shoulder to see what he is doing and watches as he spins his desk chair around and moves to sit in it again.
Cora sees him sigh when he crosses his arm in front of him, leaning towards a panel that he has started reading and is moving information from one screen to the other with a dismissive swipe of his finger. Cora turns and lowers herself back onto her chair at his side, leaning towards him so that she can read too. She rolls the sleeves of her jumper back down her arms and lifts to tuck a leg beneath her on the chair, feeling a little chilly now she's out of her armour.
"Scott will be here soon." Cora begins and sees Alec just nod his head in response. "He's been at training." She adds and doesn't receive a response, she huffs lightly to herself wondering why she even bothered asking him if Alec was going to clam up or ignore her. "Alec." Cora mumbles and she lifts her hand to place it on his arm and finally watches him look at her.
"Sorry, I am listening." He smiles making her snort. "Thank you for asking him and I'm glad he's showing up to training for once." Alec nods and she feels his eyes on her, so she does what she thinks is best and moves them away and fixes hers on the screen. "It's nice to see you so happy, and smiling." He whispers and she sees him turning his attention back to the screen, he rests his chin on the palm of his hand.
"I am really happy." Cora nods and she sees his light smile doesn't reach his eyes, realising she shouldn't have said it. "Despite you trying to keep us apart." Cora smiles and continues to watch him, and she sees a brief smile behind his hand. "Scott asked me to be his girlfriend when I was in the hospital." Cora lowers her voice and she notices he turns his attention to her and away from his screens.
"Really?" He asks and she feels his eyes on hers. "I hope he isn't too upset you turned him down." He adds and she can see that he's paying attention to what she is saying now.
"I said yes." Cora nods, trying to keep the small smile from her face as she says it. "I just thought you should know." She adds seeing him nod, sigh, and go back to pretending he is busy.
"Well, that's great." Alec mumbles, and it isn't convincing her at all.
"Refill?" Cora asks and reaches for his empty coffee cup, letting her finger hook through the handle and lifting it off of his desk. He obviously didn't want to talk anymore about Scott, and although she knew Alec didn't want to hear about her and Scott's relationship, she thought it was better coming from her now that they were official.
"Sure." Alec nods and she watches him get lost in a communication that has just come through for him; she wondered how he ever got any peace at all with everyone always trying to reach him and wanting something from him.
Cora climbs to her feet and picks up her cup in the other hand, stepping away from their chairs and across the lab to the small space that he has set up with a coffee machine, an old and very out-of-date filter machine that he swears is better than the automatic machines on the station.
Cora knew that most of his lab had already been packed into the boxes that currently surrounded her, but his coffee would be the last in and would stay with him as long as he was here. Alec secretly preferred this coffee even to the ones made by James at the coffee shop, and she knew he'd only turned their coffee trips into such an event and outing to keep her happy that they were getting out of the lab for a while. She notices that there is still enough coffee left in the pot that Alec had made earlier, so she places their cups down and carefully fills them.
"Don't let it go cold this time." Cora mumbles, taking a moment to look over her shoulder at Alec who she sees runs a hand through his hair. She picks up their cups and as she steps cautiously across the lab, trying not to spill their drinks, she hears her Omni sound. "I think he's here." Cora smiles and notices that Alec turns to look at her, a grateful smile when she places the drink down in front of him but then frowns when he realises what she has said.
She quickly moves towards the curved staircase that leads back up into Alec's and her former apartment, and to the door that Scott is waiting for her. Cora is sure she hears Alec tutting behind her and she knows he is watching her take hold of the rails beneath her hands and climb them as quick as her legs will let her, taking the steps two at a time.
"You'll break your neck if you aren't careful." Cora hears Alec shouting up the stairs after her, making her giggle lightly when she hears his words. She'd navigated them more than a few times to know she'd be okay.
Cora reaches the door and presses her palm against the door controls, seeing it light up green when it unlocks and slides open at her command. She can't help but let the large smile spread across her face when she sees Scott, his kit bag on his shoulder just like the night all that time ago when they'd first met and his own smile when his eyes meet hers. Cora lets her eyes move from his face and down his body, wondering why he'd never worn the tight-fitting and short-sleeved grey t-shirt he's wearing now because he was looking gorgeous and it was fitting his body in a way that makes her want to follow the lines of his muscles with her fingertips.
"Are you going to let me in?" Cora hears him ask and when she looks back into his face she sees him flash her a flirty smile, clearly, her checking him out hadn't been as subtle as she'd thought.
"Yes, sorry." Cora giggles and reaches to take hold of his hand and lead him into the apartment, she wraps her fingers around his. "Alec is downstairs." Cora glances over her shoulder at him and watches him look around him, she'd been wrong to assume he'd been here before by the interest he is showing.
"Great." Cora sees Scott nod and lowers his kit bag to his feet, hearing the familiar thud of his armour as it comes into contact with the floor. Cora feels him tighten his hold on her hand and his eyes on her, she sees him smile again and he bites his bottom lip. "So, about that kiss.." Scott whispers and draws her closer to him.
"Is this coming off of the kiss quota?" Cora giggles quietly when he shakes his head and sighs when he lets go of her hand so that he can wrap his arm around her, pulling her against his body and moving his hand onto her lower back. "I missed you." Cora whispers and sees him smile when she wraps her arms around his neck.
"I missed you, too." Scott whispers and bends his head to kiss her in a long, slow kiss that only makes her melt further into his body. She sighs against his mouth when she feels his fingers on her cheek and his thumb keeping her lips pressed against his.
"Scott!" Cora lets out a loud laugh when he scoops her up in his arms and lifts her off of her feet. She feels him move his hands from her waist and slide them both down and onto her behind, holding her up and against him. "Why do you smell so good?" Cora whispers as she leans closer and nuzzles her nose against his neck, breathing in the smell of his warm skin.
Cora wraps her legs around his waist and moves her hands to his shoulders. She can feel that his shirt is slightly damp beneath her palms and that he's obviously just showered.
"Must be the regulation shower gel." Scott whispers and she sees him grin before lowering his mouth and kissing her again as Cora lifts her hand and places it on the back of his neck, letting her fingertips slip into his hair. She knew they should be back in Alec's lab by now, but all she wanted was his kiss him, keep kissing him, kiss him again, and never stop.
"Harper, what's going on?!" Cora hears Alec's voice from the bottom of the stairs; she feels Scott place a last kiss on her mouth and hears him let out a sigh of disappointment. She feels his eyes on her when he rests his forehead against hers.
"Talk about ruining a good thing," Scott whispers making her giggle quietly as she unwraps her legs from around his waist and he slowly lowers her back onto her feet on the floor. Cora places her hand on his face and draws him down into a brief and gentle kiss but when she leans back she lifts her fingers to his lips that look a little more flushed than usual and a hint of her lipstick.
"We can continue this later." Cora whispers and she sees him grin, his eyes on her making her wonder why she hadn't taken him up on his offer for an afternoon in bed. Cora quickly replaces her fingers with her mouth to kiss him again.
"One more kiss." Scott laughs quietly and she feels him surround her body with his, moving his hands to press against her back as he kisses her again. Cora hears him groan lightly when she bites his lower lip and deepens their kiss. She feels his hands slide up her back which makes her arch towards him.
"Is everything okay?!" She hears him call up the stairs, realising that she'd taken too long collecting Scott and still hadn't responded to Alec. She knew that Alec couldn't see them, but that he had probably heard their laughter and hopefully not his moan. Cora hears Scott huff when they break their kiss.
"Just coming, Alec." Cora shouts back, leaning towards the staircase so she knows he can hear her. Cora reluctantly lets go of Scott and tries to moves towards the top of the stairs, but Scott catches her hand and stops her in her tracks.
"He'll hear us." Cora whispers as she tries to laugh quietly, covering her mouth with her hand but when he draws her back into his arms and starts pressing kisses all over her face and neck, trying to make her scream, she laughs loudly again. She sees him laughing at her response so Cora turns in his arms and feels him wrap them around her from behind.
"It's not my fault you were checking me out." Scott whispers, a smile in his voice she notices, against her ear and she sighs when he presses a kiss against her cheek. "Giving me those take you to bed eyes." He adds with another kiss that makes her giggle.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Cora whispers and hears him laugh when she giggles. She feels him wrap his arms around her tighter and hugging her against his chest. "Did you pick this outfit on purpose? You look so hot." She mumbles which makes him chuckle and she is sure he nods.
"Didn't want to be shown up by the old man." Scott laughs making her sigh and shakes her head when she hears it. Cora lifts her arms and crosses them over her body so that she is holding him just as tight, letting her hands rest on his arms. 'Speaking of, we better get down there before he gets angry." Scott sighs and she feels him press the last kiss against her cheek and how reluctant he is to let go of her.
"I guess you are right." Cora sighs dramatically which makes him chuckle as she glances at his bag at their feet. "Need a hand with that?" She asks him but sees that he shakes his head.
"I'm good." Scott smiles and she watches him bend to retrieve it, shrugging it high onto his shoulder and placing his hands on it. Cora can't help but notice the muscles in his arms, and how they strain beneath his tight t-shirt. Cora could tell that Scott had already been spending a lot of time in the gym even before they met, and not that he needed it, but now was training hard and he was going to grow out of his clothes if he wasn't careful.
"What was I saying before you distracted me?" Cora laughs as they take the last steps towards the stairs and she moves ahead of him, placing her hands on the railing either side of her and following the curve of stairs and down.
She glances over her shoulder to make sure he's managing with his bag and the narrow stairs; she can hear his feet heavy against the metal surface as he follows her.
"You distracted me first." Scott chuckles as she feels him close behind her. "I think we were talking about those eyes you give me." Scott whispers and she feels him lift his hand and place it on her shoulder, his thumb coming to rest between her shoulder blades.
"Ah, Scott.." Alec begins as they reach the bottom of the stairs and Cora sees he is waiting for them there, she feels his eyes on her and then briefly on Scott behind her. "Thank you for coming." She hears the Pathfinder continue before turning away from them and walking back towards his desk, Cora watches Scott frown lightly.
"Well, as Cora asked so nicely," Scott mumbles making Cora smile, she lifts her hand to her mouth to cover her smile when she hears his words. She notices Scott look at her and smile. "Cora said you wanted to check my armour?" Scott adds and she sees him start unzipping his bag.
"Yes. Please." Alec nods and Cora watches him look from where he stands at his desk and at Scott. "Do you have your helmet?" Alec asks which receives a nod from Scott; by the helmet, he meant AI standard, not Alliance Military one that Cora knew he had in his bag.
Cora glances at Scott and sees him huff lightly as he reaches into his kit bag and lifts out his helmet, holding it tightly by the top in his palm. Cora knew he was still angry with Alec for ending his career with the Alliance and handing over his armour was like erasing his past completely. Scott had loved his time with the Alliance and she knew he would probably have still been with them now, she didn't know what Alec had done to get his son kicked out though.
"Here." Scott mumbles and holds his arm and the helmet out to Alec, who she sees gives his son a weak smile. Cora notices that Alec lowers his eyes to the helmet and then back to Scott.
"Where is your new armour?" Alec asks which she sees receives a shrug from Scott. "I can't let you run around in this." Alec continues and she hears Scott scoff. "This isn't AI issued, and we've been given new armour for a reason." Alec continues and she hears Scott huff and watches him shake his head.
"I didn't come here for a lecture from you." Scott begins and she watches as he lifts his hand to rub the back of his neck, looking very uncomfortable. "My new armour is probably long gone. I left it at the party." Scott continues and Cora hears it is Alec's turn to huff and slam his hand onto his desk, making her jump at the sudden noise.
"Why are you always so disrespectful?" Alec begins making Cora feel her chest tighten when she sees Alec turn back towards them again. "You are totally irresponsible." Alec continues and she hears him start to raise his voice.
"Irresponsible?!" Scott replies with a dry laugh following it, Cora watches him lower his bag to the floor and cross his arms over his chest. "That is rich coming from you." He adds and she hears Alec scoff.
"Alec, enough. We can get the armour back." Cora mumbles lifting her hand trying to stop it getting any more out of hand, she turns towards Scott and places her hands on his arms so that she can tug them away from his chest. She rests her hands on his stomach for a moment trying to get him to look at her. "Scott, please don't let him get to you." She whispers catching his eyes with hers, she sees him lower his eyes to his feet and nod lightly.
"I guess you can't cure him being an asshole." Scott whispers making her smile lightly, no you really couldn't and Alec had been right when he said they were never going to be friends.
"Leave me to work on this." Alec begins and she watches him move away from them and place Scott's helmet down on his workbench, lifting his Omni to begin scanning it.
"Come on," Cora whispers and nods her head towards the sofa when she notices that Scott is watching her. "We've been dismissed." Cora smiles and glances at Alec to see he isn't interested in them anymore before she reaches her hand out to Scott.
Cora smiles when Scott takes hold of her hand and lets her lead him across the lab, she watches as he looks around them now that he has a chance; his eyes moving over the screens and then over to the armour racks. She could tell he'd never been here and in a way wondered what Scott would have made of Alec's lab in its full glory before it was packed up. She'd spent an awful lot of the last 18 months working in here and she'd done some of her best work with him in this room.
"I didn't even know he had this place." Scott whispers and Cora nods, she figured. "He had something like this back home." Scott adds and she watches as he runs his hand over the surface of a packed box.
"On the Citadel?" Cora asks and sees him nod. As they reach the sofa she walks around the edge and turns as she lowers herself onto it, bringing her legs up to tuck beneath her body. Cora smiles at Scott and watches as he does the same and sits beside her, she turns her body to face him and looks into his face.
"Yeah. It was the other side of the station, felt like he couldn't have put it any further away from us." Scott smiles lightly and she feels his eyes on her, he lifts one arm and rests it along the back of the sofa. She feels his hand next to her face so lets her cheek rest against it for a moment, enjoying the gentle touch of his fingertips.
"Sounds about right." Cora smiles with a slight nod, she watches Scott place his hand in the space between them on the sofa and she feels his fingers gently move against her knee trying to get her attention.
Cora places her hand over his and lets her fingers tangle with his. She knew Alec would be able to see their heads, and wouldn't interrupt a little hand-holding and try and keep them apart like he had been trying to the last few weeks. Always coming up with excuses as to why he needed her, and not Scott.
"Did he live here?" Scott whispers and she watches as he glances around them again, looking for evidence that someone had lived here. Cora sighs lightly to herself; she knew what Scott wanted to know.
"He lived upstairs." Cora nods and feels Scott's eyes on her. "The door you came in.." Cora adds. "There is an apartment there too." She adds and sees him bite at the corner of his mouth.
"And you lived with him?" Scott asks and she notices that Scott away from her and towards Alec who she wonders if he is still working on his helmet.
"Yes." Cora nods before looking over the back of the sofa and following where Scott is looking; when she looks back at him she squeezes his fingers, which draws his attention back to her. "I know you probably didn't want to hear that," Cora whispers but notices that he doesn't stop her. "We were living together for about a year and a half." She adds, if she was going to be sharing details with him she thought she should get it all out now.
"Wow," Scott mumbles, she notices he looks surprised and that he focuses his attention on Alec again. "I don't know how you put up with him for that long," Scott adds and she sees he gives her a light smile. "If I had your powers, I think I would have fried him within a few days." He adds making her smile, she'd thought about it often.
"I know this must be hard for you, Scott." Cora whispers and she feels his fingers rubbing against hers again and knows he is trying to provide her with some comfort. "But I don't want you to be angry with Alec on my behalf, you two have enough problems without me making it worse." Cora adds and sees him nod lightly.
"I'm trying.." Scott begins and she feels him lift his hand and place it on her cheek. "But implant or not, he hurt you and I hate that." He adds making her sigh. "He can be cruel to me, but I won't let him do the same to you." Scott nods.
"I know he doesn't deserve it," Cora whispers and hears him sigh. "You don't have to be friends, you don't have to forgive him." Cora adds. "But can you give him one more chance? I just want to know you're safe if you are on a mission with him and that he'll look out for you." Cora sees Scott smile and shakes his head.
"I don't need looking after. I'm a big boy." Scott whispers and strokes his fingers against her cheek. "I've got you and Sara watching my back." He adds making her nod lightly, she smiles when he leans towards her and kisses her softly, she feels him lift his hand from the back of the sofa and rest it against the back of her head.
"I know." Cora sighs and smiles when he breaks their kiss. "I've just waited so long to find you and I'd hate for anything to happen now." Cora adds and strokes her fingers against the back of his hand.
"Fine." Scott sighs with a smile in his voice. "He gets one chance." Scott nods and she gives him a grateful smile. "But if he pisses me off I'm going to ask my badass biotic huntress girlfriend to zap him." He adds making her giggle quietly. "So you better keep the Pathfinder inline." He whispers and she sees him grin.
Cora sighs and leans her forehead against his, she feels him lift both of his hands and place them on her neck, his eyes on hers. Cora is sure that she can hear Alec moving from his bench across the other side of the lab, so she lifts her head from Scott's and glances behind them. She watches as Alec looks at her and then back to his work. She looks into Scott's eyes and sees the affection and love looking back at her.
"Harper," Alec calls from across the room, she turns her attention back to Scott and rolls her eyes so that Scott can see, seeing that he grins and tries not to laugh. "Why don't you show your boyfriend the new armour we've been working on?" He adds.
"Wow, I get to see this armour up close?" Scott smiles Cora and she bites her bottom lip for a moment, wondering if it was a good idea. No one but her and Alec had seen this armour and he'd been developing and improving it for months.
Cora knew that months of long nights and hard work had gone into making it what it was and she had remembered how many times it had gone wrong until he had reached perfection. Not only did it completely integrate with his SAM system, but it was built and sculpted in such a way that it was almost indestructible and so light it was like a second skin.
When Alec had finally been happy it was as perfect as could be, he built her a set to match his that had brought her to tears when she had seen it for the first time. He'd put so much care and what she thought was love into keeping her safe. Hers was the same colouring as his with the white, blue and grey, but hers had some extra blue to compliment her biotics.
"I don't know," Cora begins giving him a small smile. "This is a top-secret and very important set of armour. You might break it." Cora adds seeing him shake his head slightly at her words. "Do you promise you won't?" She asks him placing her hands over his.
"I promise." Scott chuckles making her nod, she didn't want to even think about what would happen to Scott if Alec found that he'd damaged his armour. It would probably be the same fate that he'd threatened Scott with; he'd chuck both of them out of an airlock.
"Okay, come with me." Cora nods and climbs up off of the sofa, she lifts her finger and beckons Scott to follow her towards the armour racks, and to where she knows the prototype armour sits in a trunk. She sees him smile and nod.
Cora watches Scott stand and move away from the sofa too, following closely behind her towards the platform. She steps up onto it and hears him do the same as she moves past the plinths and towards the trunk. Cora crouches down in front of it and runs her hand over the lid so that the access the keypad appears, and she can unlock it. She carefully enters the security code, the one that Alec always used and was Scott and Sara's birth date. At least she'd never forget her Ryder's birthday.
"Top security." Scott chuckles and she looks up at him and nods, even if Scott wouldn't accept it, the twins and Ellen would always be the most important people in Alec's life.
"Well, he probably didn't know mine." Cora whispers with a quiet giggle and hears him laugh again.
Cora pauses for a moment; she knew that if Alec hadn't suggested it she would be completely overstepping the line of trust that Alec had drawn. He was very secretive and she had to admit she found it strange he was so keen for Scott to see inside this trunk.
Cora stands and watches Scott place his hands on the trunk to help her, he lifts the clips and undoes the latches that are holding the box closed and pop the lid open. Cora glances down into the box at the familiar bright white, black, and blue plate armour that she had seen so many times hung up in their apartment and parts being modelled by Alec, and then she looks at Scott's face and watches him take in what he sees. She watches his eyes settle on the AI insignia for a moment.
"What do you think?" Cora asks him watching as he reaches his hand into the crate and places his hand onto the helmet, his palm covers most of the orange carbon visor as he carefully lifts it out. "Be careful." Cora whispers, watching him turn the helmet around in his hands taking in every last detail of the bone-white surface with its blue features.
"Are you sure this is Alec's?" Scott asks her making Cora frown slightly when she sees him pause and trace his fingers over the place where she knows 'Ryder' has been etched into the side of the helmet just below the faceplate.
"Of course, he's been building it for months for the mission." Cora replies watching as Scott rotates the helmet in his hands again and lifts it to show her that now as clear as day next to the 'Ryder' the letters 'JNR' have been added, Cora feels her eyes widen in surprise. How had she not noticed them before and how long ago had he added that finishing touch? "Junior." Cora whispers seeing Scott nod.
"On the back here too, that's my Initiative recruit number." Scott adds turning the helmet again to show her the 9 very small digits that have been stamped into the back of the helmet.
Cora feels herself falter for a moment, she had watched him slave over this armour for months and he'd never told her that he had been building it for his son. He'd built this and Cora's armour to match, completely. Maybe she really didn't know Alec at all.
"He must have been building this for you, all along." Cora watches him nod slightly before dropping the helmet back into the box and pulling the lid down quickly as if he doesn't want to look at it anymore.
Cora glances at him and sees that he looks torn, the armour was clearly the best thing he'd ever seen but she could see that the rift between Scott and Alec was stopping him feeling the same overwhelming happiness she did when she saw her set.
She wanted to wrap her arms around Scott and tell him that of course his father loved him and was proud of him, but she couldn't offer him that comfort when she wasn't sure he would even want to hear it. Her relationship with Alec gave her no right or authority to comment on Scott and Alec's difficult one.
"Why would he make that for me? Scott asks her as he turns his attention back to her, Cora gives him a light smile and shrug. She felt awful for him, and how rough he had it with Alec.
"He cares about you, Scott." Cora whispers and gives him another smile. "He just doesn't seem to know how to tell you that." She adds and hears him sigh.
"It is a nice looking armour." Scott begins as she glances at him hearing his words, she watches him eyeing the trunk again and then that he looks over to her own army that is hanging up. "Hey, yours matches mine too." Scott adds and she sees him smile at that fact. They were going to look pretty amazing together if she could convince him to wear it. "Is it light?" He asks her and lifts his hand to rub the back of his neck.
"Yes, and really comfortable." Cora smiles seeing him nod; maybe he'd come around to the idea. "It has all the latest upgrades and SAM integration, new monitoring and battle systems and profiles." Cora adds, yes she was a tech geek but she didn't care. "Even the materials are new. You are going to love it, Scott." Cora sees him nod again as she places her hands on his arms.
She wanted to continue to enthuse more about the new tech with him but she didn't want to push it on him too much, he had to decide he wanted to wear it first before she shared with him all of the incredible things he could do in it.
"I'll probably just stick with my Initiative armour." Scott begins making her nod, she sees him lower his eyes for a moment. "It's not a bad set." He mumbles making her give him a sympathetic smile when he looks at her again, she'd been hurt by Alec too but maybe not as much as Scott. His AI set probably wasn't bad at all, but it wasn't a true work of genius like this new set.
"You don't have to decide now." Cora whispers and sees him nod as she takes hold of his hands; she steps away from the crates and begins walking back towards the sofa, taking her with him. "He'll need you to suit up when he's done with your helmet."
"Really?" Scott asks and she sees him frown. "Why do I need to do that?" He adds. "Surely they tested it all months ago." He mumbles making her smile, it took her a while to get used to Alec's strange way of showing he cared too.
"He's being thorough, apparently." Cora whispers. "Just do it for me?" She adds with a giggle when she watches him lower himself back onto the sofa and lean back to get comfortable, lifting his hand to pat the space beside him.
"Oh, so it's you that wants me in my armour." Scott begins giving her a crooked smile. "Well, in that case, Miss Harper." He adds making her giggle again when she sinks into the cushion beside him and he wraps his arms around her. Cora glances over the back of the sofa at Alec and sees that they are still being ignored while he busies himself.
"Okay, yes it's for my benefit." Cora giggles when she sees him grin at her. "You didn't come to training and I didn't get to see you in your armour." She whispers with a smile, she places her hand on his chest, which makes him smile. "It is pretty sexy." Cora whispers and gives him a small smile. She couldn't help it, she was military and armour to her was strong, powerful and sexy. But Scott was also fun to tease and what better to talk about than something he loved.
"Yet another reason why I should have been there." He whispers and she feels him lift his hand to her face and lean closer to her. "If I'd known I'd have suited up before now." He adds with a grin, his eyes lowering to her hand that she slips onto his stomach and then his waist.
"I bet you look amazing in that tight mesh and plates." Cora leans towards him again and presses her mouth against his ear as she wraps her arm around his shoulder and lets her hand rest on his neck, she feels him lower his hands to her waist and draws her closer. "Do you have a split chest piece?" Cora whispers before kissing him again, she feels him begin to laugh beneath her at her words. He obviously wasn't buying it. "Tell me about your jump jets, Scott." Cora whispers and sees that Scott trying hard not to laugh and realises that she is trying to tease him.
"Are you trying to seduce me?" Scott laughs making Cora smile when she hears the sound, but she brings her finger up to her mouth trying to motion to him that he's got to be quiet, or Alec would hear them. "By talking about armour?" He whispers shaking his head at her although she is sure she sees a blush on his face, but maybe that was because she'd been kissing him.
"Is it working?" Cora whispers when she sees him nod and a large smile appear on his face. She hadn't even had to start talking about his weapons with him; he was too easy. Cora takes a moment to check Alec is still busy, feeling a little guilty that he might see them.
"Yeah, it is." Scott sighs making her giggle again. "I've never met a woman that could make armour sound so hot." He adds giving her a grin. Cora sighs herself when he wraps his arm around her shoulders so he can draw her to her for another kiss.
"So you'll try on the new armour?" Cora whispers and feels his eyes on her, he finally nods lightly making her want to throw her arms around him in excitement when she sees it, pleased that he'll be wearing the new tech with her. He was going to love it and it was just another part of their adventure in Andromeda together.
"No harm in trying it on, right?" He mumbles and she nods, trying to keep the grin from her face. "Do you think he always thought this would happen? Why else would he make us matching armour?" Scott whispers and she watches him bite his bottom lip and his eyes meet hers.
"You mean us working together?" Cora asks and sees him nod and lift his hand to her shoulder, his palm slowly moving down her arm. "He probably didn't predict that we'd get together." Cora laughs lightly and sees him shrug and feels his hand rest on top of hers as he links their fingers together.
"No one else has matching armour." Scott begins and she sees him lower his eyes and lift his arm to the back of the sofa again. "What about Sara, and Liam.." Scott continues making her nod; he did have a point.
"Maybe we are the two people he needed to prove to himself that he gave a shit about us." Cora smiles and she sees he does the same and nods. "Can you get the trunk for me? The sooner he has this off of his mind, the sooner we can leave." Cora whispers and leans towards him again and kisses his cheek.
"Sure, I'll grab it." Scott nods and she feels him remove his hands from her so that she can move, and she sees him lift his arms above his head to stretch out his muscles and back. She can't help but smile to herself when she sees his t-shirt lift.
"Such a tease." Cora whispers and grins at him, nodding to his skin that is on show. She sees him lower his arms and tug his t-shirt down but gazes at her.
"Says you with your armour talk." Scott smiles as she leans forward and ruffles her fingers through his hair, messing it beneath her hands until it looks as untamed as it does when he's been fucking her. Cora gives him a smile and nods; she liked that look on him.
Cora watches Scott relax back onto the sofa but knows he is watching her as she climbs to her feet and steps away from her seat, walking carefully around the end so that she doesn't trip. She quickly leans over the back of the sofa and places her hand on Scott's forehead and pulls his head back so she can press her lips against his ear and kisses him there, seeing the smile stretch onto his face.
"You are so wonderful Scott Ryder." Cora whispers to him and sees his smile widen. "I think you are the most wonderful man I've ever met." She whispers, knowing only he can hear her. "You make me so happy." She whispers and hears him chuckle. "I'm so lucky to have you." She whispers and nuzzles her mouth against his cheek.
"Thanks, Cora." He mumbles as she presses a gentle kiss against his temple, she hears him sigh and closes his eyes when she kisses him again. "You make me happy too" He whispers.
"Now get your clothes off." She whispers and laughs before she presses a kiss against his temple, feeling him move beneath her and his eyes open when he hears what she's said but she lets go of him.
"You said no getting naked at work." Scott whispers a smile in his voice. "You mean the armour." He adds with a chuckle as she nods. "I knew that." He nods and she watches him sit forward in his seat and get to his feet.
Cora shakes her head at him and giggles quietly when she sees him smile, one full of happiness she notices and realises her words and sharing her feelings have done that to him. She turns away from Scott, hearing him begin to walk in the opposite direction to her, and his feet making positive steps as he moves towards the armour racks.
Cora looks over to the other side of the lab and sees that Alec is still at his workbench and that it looks like he has taken Scott's helmet apart and is staring at it closely. She approaches him and notices that he doesn't look up.
"Scott is going to try it on." Cora begins as she moves to perch on the edge of his bench beside where he works, she crosses her arms over her chest and watches Scott across the room picking up the trunk. "The armour that you made him." She adds and watches Alec glance at her. "Why didn't you tell me it was for him?" She asks and sees him lift his shoulders to shrug.
"Does it matter?" Alec replies quietly before returning his attention to the helmet. "Do you think he likes it?" He mumbles making her smile lightly.
"Of course he does." She replies and watches as Scott lifts the armour trunk onto his shoulder, gripping it tightly in his hands. "He's just confused as to why you made it for him." She adds and sees Alec worry his bottom lip. "If you'd shown him before now. You could have started to fix things with Scott months ago, Alec." Cora whispers and she notices it makes him huff.
"And then what?" He begins lowering his voice as Scott starts walking towards them. "He would have come to training? Met you?" Alec mumbles and she sees his eyes on her "Fallen for you? Distracted you? Taken you from me?" He adds making her sigh and lower her eyes to her feet.
"He wouldn't have taken me if you'd admitted how you felt." Cora whispers and she hears him huff. "You can't sabotage your relationship with your son, to keep me." She adds and Cora feels his eyes on her.
"I'd do anything to keep you." Alec whispers and she can see he is watching her; maybe waiting and hoping that she'll ask Scott to leave and take him back.
"So, you want me to suit up?" Scott begins and she looks up at him, noticing that his eyes move from her to the Pathfinder, and then back again. She watches as Scott carefully lowers the heavy box to the floor, his hands moving over the keypad as hers had done and unlocking it.
"Yes." Alec replies quickly turning towards his son and leaning back against the workbench as Cora has done. "I just need to check the fit, and see if I need to make any adjustments." He adds and she sees him nod.
Cora huffs lightly and moves up so that Alec's thighs aren't touching her, it was too familiar and close. She couldn't believe what he'd done, leaving Scott to suffer for all of those months and isolating him so that they didn't meet each other. He always had to be in control of her, and apparently Scott too.
"Okay." Scott mumbles and she watches his eyes leave the trunk and move to her face, he gives her a small smile before turning back to unhooking the catches. She was grateful that he was trying to keep it civil, and giving Alec one last chance.
"I think once I've had you both fully calibrated to SAM." Alec begins and she feels him looking at her, trying to get her attention and listen to what he is saying. "Then we'll really know what they can do." He adds and she notices him scrolling through his Omni. "If I can get it finished before launch." He mumbles and she feels his attention on her.
"Sure, Alec." Cora mumbles as watches Scott release the final catch, which causes the trunk to lift beneath his hand. She sees him move in front of it, but turn to face her when he notices she is watching him. She sees him grin and bite his bottom lip. "That sounds great." She adds not taking her eyes off of Scott who she feels his eyes on her as he takes hold of the front of his t-shirt in his hands and pulls it off over his head. "I'm looking forward to it." She whispers, not listening to Alec when she watches him drop his shirt to the floor and moves his hands to the top of his jeans, his fingers tugging them open.
"Are you done yet?" Alec huffs and Cora tries to hide a smile behind her hand when the Pathfinder looks up at Scott and gives him a disapproving look when he sees he isn't dressed, making Scott quickly turn around and Cora sees his shoulders shake as he laughs quietly. "Hurry up." He sighs.
"Yeah, come on Scott." Cora laughs lightly. "We are having dinner with Liam and Sara, remember?" She grins at him when he looks over his shoulder at her. "We haven't got all day." She adds and sees him wink at her.
Cora watches as Scott undoes his jeans and lifts his foot from the floor so that he can take hold of them and tug them down his legs. She watches him wobble slightly as he does and she can't help but smile when she sees him manage to get out of his jeans, and that he's luckily wearing a pair of boxer briefs. She giggles lightly when he throws his jeans at her, which she catches and places on the table beside her. Cora ignores Alec's huff at her side.
"Let me help." Cora says as she slips off of the bench and walks towards him, she sees him turn towards her as she approaches. "Want to grab the under armour, Sweetheart?" Cora smiles and she feels Scott's eyes on her.
"Sure, Honey-Bunch," Scott replies and she sees him give her a cheeky grin and Cora is sure she hears Alec snort behind her, realising she might have said it too loud and he's heard them.
Cora shakes her head lightly at him and sees that he is still smiling and he too has heard Alec's response to his over the top pet name. She watches him reach into the box and take hold of the black under armour in his hands, lifting it out and holding it up in front of him. Cora watches him bend at the waist and carefully push his foot into one of the holes and begins to pull it up to his legs, followed by his other foot.
"Want to give me a hand?" Scott continues and she watches him lift his eyes from trying to pull the tight armour up his legs, and to her. "I think it might be hard to get it over my.. shorts." He adds and she sees him smile.
Cora tries to hide her smile behind her hand, trying not to show Alec how funny she is finding Scott, knowing he wouldn't approve of her giggling at her handsome hunk of a boyfriend. She closes the gap between them and places her hands on his chest, feeling their eyes meet before she crouches down in front of him and places her hands on the back of his thighs.
"I think your right. I can see the problem here." Cora giggles quietly as she takes hold of the bunched material at his knees in her fists; she glances over her shoulder and notices Alec is ignoring them again.
She looks up into Scott's face and gives him a flirtatious smile when she notices he is watching her. She begins to pull the body armour higher until it reaches his thighs and quickly leans forward and places her lips against the skin on his v-line; she bites gently and hears him groan quietly when she does. Cora quickly stands up and pulls the armour up to his waist, fixing her eyes on his when she sees him blush, glancing again to check Alec isn't watching.
"That isn't going to help the situation." Scott grins and she smiles innocently at him and pulls the armour higher up his body, letting him slide his arms in and tugging it up onto his shoulders. "It's a little snug." Scott adds and she watches him stretching to loosen it on his body.
"It looks it," Cora whispers and lowers her eyes to let them move over him and hears his chuckle. "It might be alright when the frame is on." Cora adds and nods towards the trunk, watching Scott turn to reach in to lift out the body of his armour.
"I don't think this is going to fit," Scott mumbles, lowering his voice so Alec can't hear him. "If this is tight, imagine the plates." He whispers making her smile.
"Are you sure?" Cora asks and watches as he lifts the armour frame over his head and lowers it onto his body, she can immediately see that it does look too small for Scott and Alec has underestimated the size of him. "He's obviously forgotten how big you are." Cora giggles quietly when Scott grins at her.
Cora watches as he begins pressing it to his chest, and back. She feels his eyes on hers and shakes his head as if to say he told her so, but keeps trying with it and getting it to align to his muscles.
"He would've known if he'd seen me recently." Scott laughs and she rolls her eyes at him. "Ow." He laughs when she tries to tighten the armour to adjust it across his broad chest.
"Problems?" Alec begins and Cora glances over her shoulder at him and sees him walk towards them. "What's going on?" He asks and stands next to Cora, looking at her and then at Scott.
"Scott needs to go on a diet." Cora laughs but notices that Alec doesn't seem to appreciate her joking. "It just needs a few adjustments, but we can make it work. Right, Scott?" She adds and nods her head at him.
"This body is one hundred per cent hard muscle," Scott replies and she feels his eyes on her and he gives her a flirtatious smile, which she returns. She knew all too well that Scott's body had been made in a gym, and probably his good genes, but yes he was all muscle. "Sure, we can make it work." He nods.
Cora continues to add the plates to his body, using the field that is generated to hold the pieces onto him as she attaches it all. Soon he is fully fitted and all parts have been attached, and although she can see it's tight and probably making it difficult for him to breathe, he's keeping quiet about it and behaving himself. She lets her eyes move over him, down from his chest and over his legs. She had to admit it did look very good on him.
She watches as Scott hits the side of his fist against the panel on his chest, causing it to spring to life and hum quietly as the armour snaps together and covers him completely, fitting him like a second skin and locking to his body.
"How does it feel?" Alec asks and Cora glances at him and sees he is watching his son closely as Scott begins stretching his hands, moving his arms and flexing to get the feel of. She watches as he rolls his shoulders and moves from foot to foot, on the spot.
"Good." She sees him nod and that he smiles at the Pathfinder. "Tight." He grins and Cora sees Alec smile and nod lightly. "But it feels great, it's light.." Scott continues. "Doesn't feel restrictive." He adds and she feels his eyes move to hers.
"I can fix that." Alec nods and Cora watches him turn back towards the trunk and begin searching for something in the bottom, moving the helmet to the side and she knows he's going to be busy for a few days making some changes to Scott's armour.
"What do you think?" He asks her and she sees him grins again.
"It's a great armour." Cora nods. "I'm sure once you have a little more room, you'll be more comfortable." She adds and steps closer to him; she places her hands on his chest and pretends to be checking the fit. She leans closer and moves her head beside his as she slides her fingers under the neck of the chest plate. "I think you look really sexy," Cora whispers and feels his eyes on her. "It's turning me on." Cora adds quietly and hears Scott huff.
"Uh, Alec.." Scott begins and she watches him look across her and to where Alec is lifting the helmet out of the trunk. "Am I okay to borrow this?" He adds and Cora gives him a questioning look when his eyes are on hers, she watches his eyes move to her mouth and realises what he is thinking.
"No, of course not." The Pathfinder begins and Cora sees him focusing his attention on Scott. "I need to work on it." Alec continues, and she hears he sounds confused at Scott's request.
"Just for.. an hour?" Scott begins making her giggles quietly when he takes her hand in his and jumps down off of the platform, taking her with him.
"Maybe two?" Cora whispers and sees Scott eyeing her, he bites his bottom lip and then grins and nods.
"Sorry, I've got to go.." Scott nods and she feels him wrap his arm around her waist and begin guiding her away from Alec and across the room towards the stairs, she can feel his gloved hand on her hip. "It's getting tighter by the second." Scott whispers, making her giggle.
"Scott, wait!" Alec shouts from behind them, but she doesn't hear him following them. "Cora, where are you going?!" She hears him calling after them as they reach the bottom of the curled stairs.
She glances behind her to check he's close when Scott lets her go ahead of him, she takes hold of the rails beneath up hands and she feels his hands on her waist as he keeps her steady as they run up the stairs. She hears Scott get closer to her and as they reach the top his arms wrap around her from behind, making her scream and laugh.
"Now who's the tease?" Scott whispers and she feels his mouth against her ear, making her moan and tremble when his teeth come into contact with her lobe. Cora feels his gloved hands move onto her hips and slowly begin sliding up her body, she sighs when she feels how different it feels not to have the familiar heat of his palms.
"Still you." Cora mumbles and turns in his arm, pressing herself flush against him and placing her hands on his face so that she can kiss him, their mouths crashing together and making her whimper when his tongue teases her lips apart.
"It's not teasing if I'm true to my word." Scott mumbles against her mouth, letting his teeth gently tug at her lip making her moan again.
Cora giggles when he places his hands on her behind and squeezes her beneath his palms, before lifting her up against his body and letting her wrap her legs around him. She feels him holding her tight against his body, feeling the unusual feeling of the hard armour between her legs and pressed against her, but she knows when she starts peeling him out of his armour, she'd feel how hot and hard he was beneath it.
"Show me what you've got, big boy." Cora giggles as she feels him move them towards the door and lowers one hand from her to slam against the door control so that they can leave as quickly as possible and head back to their apartment.