tobesomeone | OPEN POST

[Another ruse, Reyes isn't proud of it, but it's this or putting himself and his men in danger even more than they already are. What's left of the Collective have managed to scrape together what they can and run from Kadara with their tail between their legs. For now at least.

It's not over, he won't let it be. Can't. Sloane is a ticking timebomb that will explode in the Initiative's face again, one way or the other and people will die for it. More than that already starve and die at the hands of the Outsiders. He's no saint, never claimed to be, but he wanted better for the people there. Had bid his time and slowly chipped away at Sloane and just when he had her... goddammit Ryder. He wasn't supposed to be there, shouldn't have been, but Sloane just had to pull Ryder into it. More than he himself already had.

Hypocrite he is, Reyes is doing it all over again now. His contacts had made it seem like they were a small group of exiles that wanted to work with the Initiative, but needed Ryder's help brokering issues between Tann and them. Easy enough to smudge the details to get the Pathfinder here. They weren't dressed as Collective, then again they hadn't been since fleeing Kadara, couldn't afford that kind of heat on them.

The meeting is set up on Elaaden in some cave made into a ram shackle base, definitely not their main one. Reyes is not sporting his typical outfit, fully geared up, helmet on and nervous as he has his back to the doorway of the building that works as the point of operation for this base. Looking over charts and data pads, sighing. This could go horribly wrong, but he's hoping it won't. He still believes in Ryder, even if they don't in him. Hearing the door open behind him, he peers up at his man across the table and they nod.]

Pathfinder.

[It's not his voice that comes out of the helmet, there's a voice changer on it, no doubt SAM will be able to pick that out very easily. He turns then.]

Thank you for coming, I'm sure you're very busy.

[ Ryder had been...a bit of a wreck.

Or at least, as much of a wreck as he was allowed to be. He kept it private, mostly. No matter how many times his crew reassured him that he had made the right choice, and no matter how much he listened, ran it over and over again in his head, and agreed with them out loud...something still felt wrong. Did being right always feel this cold? Because he's pretty sure sometimes it felt just fine.

If he were so right, why did this decision weigh on his mind like an elcor with a tank strapped to its back?

He welcomed the distraction of work. Of anything, really, but work helped the most. He could focus on bettering this galaxy...on more important things. He could tell himself that it was ridiculous to be sulking over this bullshit when he had more important matters to think about.

Be careful what you wish for, as they say, because he honestly didn't want to be on Elaaden. Even with his suit regulating the temperature — hell even with the Nomad — it still, for lack of a better word, fuckin' sucks.

Or maybe he should stop being so negative. Yeah, maybe that's not helping.

There's always some hesitation when Ryder arrives to one of these meetings, and this one is no different. Then again, he learned to expect the worst, so when things don't go horribly he's pleasantly surprised. And when they do, he's ready. It doesn't help that SAM chimes in with an analysis of this mysterious person's voice — or rather, the artificially changed voice. ]

Gonna be honest. This is all very mysterious and uncomfortable, but yeah.

[Reyes hates how good it is to see Ryder again, it had been a handful of months since the last time he'd seen him. Since he'd been shot in the back by the man who he thought... ah well, guess his actions had consequences didn't they?

He did have an impressive scar on the back of his right shoulder though from it. Ryder would always be with him some how.]

Sorry for all the cloak and dagger stuff, things are... delicate for us right now as I'm sure you gathered from our correspondence. I'll not waste your time then.

[Reaching behind him for a data pad he'll then cross over to give it to Ryder.]

We've acquired proof of a group that plans to attack Initiative outposts and others working with them. They want to take control and utilize their resources so they can eventually stage an attack of the Nexus.

Yeah, [ he sighs. ] Can't say I blame you.

[ He retains the right to be suspicious for now, of course.

It's a quick movement when Ryder takes the datapad, as if he's expecting it to be yanked away. He hasn't quite mastered the art of not wearing his heart on his sleeve with a neon sign hovering above his head that literally spells out his emotions. At least not when he's at the height of said emotions.

It's a good thing he's really good at his job. Even in the way he tries to keep his voice neutral something is...off about it. It's too neutral.

He's a terrible liar. ]

Sounds like a charming bunch. Tell me more.

[It's a good thing he'd gotten used to some of these quirks of Ryder's back on Kadara, it's not so startling or strange for him.

And yes, Ryder is a terrible liar. It's a good thing his job doesn't rely on it.]

Oh you should be very familiar with them, considering your work on Kadara.

[His arms cross over his chest, hand waving a little. No, not the Collective. Surprise it's Ryder's new pals-]

The Outcasts. Run by Sloane Kelly, but you know that already. All the proof you need is on that data pad, you're welcome to copy the information. I'm sure Tann would be delighted to see it.

[ Like in a terribly dramatic movie, the words seem to echo through his head, leaving a ringing in his ears like they were explosive. He takes a couple of steps back as if physically trying to distance himself from the information. ]

Oh.

[ It's not exactly a shock, despite his reaction. But wow, was it fast. He expected her, were she ever to make a move, to have waited a little longer. It's infuriating how quickly she moves. No, it isn't that it happened at all.

It's a flurry of things. Of bullshit. Of the decision he made to trust her over Reyes, when he in fact trusted neither of them. But he saved her irritating ass, he pulled the damn trigger on the man whom he continues to have...really weird and complicated feelings about—

—wait.

There's a long pause from behind his helmet, accompanied by a hard stare that he knows wouldn't translate well with or without the damn thing on, but his posture shifts from its usual casual demeanor. His shoulders straighten, his chin upturns and he tries his absolute damnedest to let his frustrations carry into his voice to get across the seriousness of the demand he's about to make.

God, this still feels weird. How did he not pick even a smidgen of intimidation from his father? ~~The truth is Sara has it.~~]

Show me your face. [ This man is using a voice changer. Why use a voice changer for a meeting with him unless they met before. Damn it. Goddamn it— ] Now.

[Oh Ryder.

Was he really that surprised that Sloane would do this? Her hate of the Initiative was so open and blatant, he figured it would be obvious she'd use their new little alliance as a smokescreen to get her ducks in a row.

Not that he thinks Ryder is naive, but perhaps he'd thought having the enemy you know beside him was better than behind his back. Shame Sloane was both and Reyes-- well, he was never his enemy, not even now.

Ryder is quiet, he can feel his eyes on him through both of their helmets. Is the jig already up that quickly? Was there even a point trying in the first place? Here he'd hoped to avoid this mess, just focus on what was important, taking down Sloane.

He wouldn't come to Ryder if he had any other choice.]

And disappoint you twice in a few minutes?

[Even with the voice changer on it's hard to miss that teasing lilt of his.]

Don't make this difficult, Pathfinder. Sloane is a danger to everyone now, this isn't some petty squabble for power.

[ His heart attempts a jailbreak of his ribcage for a moment there, and while it fails to burst free from its confines, it still shakes his voice ever so slightly, even as he tries to keep himself together. ]

Yeah, and this planet is hot. [ His joke does nothing to mask his trepidation or his bubbling anger like it's supposed to. ] I know what kind of person Sloane is. But I don't know what kind of person you are.

[ For some reason, those words felt like lead in his mouth. For reasons that he is still trying to deny in the back of his head. Because this can't be what he possibly thinks it may be, right? No way. He's just trying to figure out the identity of this mysterious person because he has trust issues. Right? Right. ]

I won't ask you again.

[There's the slightest tremble to Ryder's voice and it brings him little pleasure. He knows. He knows, he must. In all of his preparation and deceit he hadn't prepared to face this consequence, didn't want to.

But again, he had no other option. It was Ryder or what was left of the Collective would throw themselves at Sloane's men and be massacred. A useless bloodshed and it would do nothing. Reyes can't let emotion get in the way of this, it had been his downfall back in Kadara hadn't it? Sloane hadn't even known, she couldn't have, but some how she'd still had Ryder there and because of it, because of his connection to him, their feelings-- shit.]

It doesn't matter what kind of man I am, the proof is still real either way-

[Reyes starts, voice sharp as he takes a step forward hand cutting a line in the air to try and get through to him how serious this was. Both of Ryder's companions had stayed back a little, at the doorway, but now the krogan pulls away from the wall, comes to stand beside the pathfinder.]

Hey, he asked nicely, pyjack. [Drack reaches back to pull out his shotgun, pumping it for dramatic effect.] I won't.

[Reyes isn't bothered by the threat, but he can hear his man behind him pull out his gun and then the angaran is joining in too and for the love of- Reyes turns slightly to motion at his man to stand down. He's not having a goddamn fire fight in here. Still, he hesitates, he can remember the look Ryder gave him back in that cave on Kadara when he'd stepped out of the shadows. When he'd realized what it meant. That anger... the hurt and betrayal in his eyes. Even with the helmet on he knew it wouldn't be different this time either.

Sighing heavily he turns the voice changer off. Hands coming up on either side of it.]

I'm sorry, Ryder.

[The helmet comes off and he'll give his head a little shake, gloved hand brushing through hair mused by it. The krogan snorts.]

Never mind, it's a snake not a pyjack.

[ He thanks the stars for his backup, to be honest. Drack's past observations of Ryder's inability to be any more threatening than a hamster weren't wrong, and no matter how much the krogan instilled into him the need to be assertive...it never quite landed. He tried. But that's why you have a krogan on your team, right?

Ryder didn't even try to hide it. A hand came up to the top of his helmet, wanting to grasp at strands of hair that were under a layer of protection. His eyes shut from behind his dark visor as he tried to steady his breath. To keep calm.

His stomach spins, twists, turns — does anything and everything but settles the fuck down when he hears that voice. Part of him still feels a weird relief, but he immediately shoves it so far back that the anger crowds it until it's taking over. ]

Reyes? [ The name came out softer than he'd have liked. Much softer. But the state of apoplexy that follows and his humorless laugh, almost breathless, isn't a front to hide it. It's real. ] Reyes.

[ He spins around, as if ready to storm out, but stops himself and turns back again. ]

Are you fucking kidding me?

[ He should probably have more to say, but it's a lot to process. It's...a lot. There are so many thoughts running through his mind that he feels like his brain might actually short circuit.

His hands find his hips, gaze shifted to the ground, words coming out clipped but with a tinge of desperation lacing the very tail end of his words—]

Explain this to me.

[Reyes?

It's the softness that kills him. Like even now seeing him right there in front of him, Ryder can't believe his own eyes. Maybe he doesn't want to. Reyes can't be sure anymore, hard to gauge how someone feels about you after they shoot you while you're making a get away and then don't return your email.

No actually, he thought he'd gotten a really good idea of how Ryder felt. Now hearing him like this, as his the softness hardness, spits out in a venom, it's clear he was wrong. They're both carrying a lot of hurt in them, but Ryder. Oh he was so oddly fragile. Not in battle, no god, he wouldn't wish Ryder on anyone but his worst enemy in that case, but outside of it he wondered how he didn't shatter apart more often. It seemed like he just might here and now.

Reyes at least has the decency to keep his eyes on the pathfinder as his roller coaster of emotions plays out in front of him. It felt wrong not to give him that much. His arms lift lamely from his sides, palms up.]

Surprise.

[There's no joy in it, just dry and defeated even as his lips curl in what could almost be considered a smile. It doesn't reach his eyes.]

What is there to explain? Sloane is using you to keep the Initiative off her back while she plans all of this. It's all there- I've given you all the proof.

[The angaran, Jaal, that's his name yes, shakes his head sighing in clear frustration.]

Ryder, he's just using us like before, there's no getting the truth out of this one.

[Oh he's tiring of the peanut gallery real quick. A hard look is given to Jaal before he focuses on Ryder again, stepping forward, hand reaching out, but not touching and he tries to get him to look at him. Please just look at him.]

Ryder. Listen to me, whether you trust me or not, people will die if we do nothing. Your people. My people. They just want a chance for a new life and Sloane is going to start a goddamn war if we don't do something.

[And now he's close enough to gently touch his arm, fingers curling lightly at the back of Ryder's elbow.]

Scott...

[ Months ago, he would have been embarrassed to be seen by his own crew in such a state. But he's grown to care about them, their opinions, their ideas — which meant that he didn't mind when they saw his more emotional side. Granted, he wished it weren't coming out now...right here...after getting some pretty important and shitty news, but. He's grateful they're here, and more so when Jaal speaks up because he was going to interrupt himself with something less carefully worded.

Spite fuels him to look literally anywhere but at Reyes, at least until he feels the other's hand on his arm and his neck snaps to meet his gaze as if on pure instinct. Worst decision. Wish he hadn't looked him directly in the eyes. He's glad Reyes can't see how his hardened gaze softened from behind his helmet, but knowing himself...it's obvious.

Scott...

He yanked his arm away as if Reyes' touch burned. He doesn't say anything to him, instead, turning away to face his companions. ]

Look, I know he's a lying, shady, bastard...but I don't think he's lying about this. [ He almost sounds somewhat put together, at least, finding that as the months go by shifting into Pathfinder mode is...a bit easier.] And even if he is...we have to look into it anyway. This is a serious threat to us.

[ Right, right. This is important. Let's just focus on this and get it all over with and they can all just move on. Maybe Ryder will give Reyes a piece of his mind when all is said and done, or maybe he'll fuck off doing backflips into space and never give voice to some of these thoughts ever again. Either way, that's a problem for future Ryder.

With that thought in mind, he faces Reyes again. ]

Please, [ he starts quietly but with zero shame, just a plea— ] If there's anything more to this...to what you're showing me...just...no more surprises.

[ The part that's left unsaid is, "because I can't handle it again". ]

[For a second he has him, helmet or not, Ryder is looking at him and maybe he'll listen, maybe there's a chance that... no. Of course not, a fools hope really. Ryder yanks away from him like he's been singed, turns his back completely to him and he knows he's truly lost him.

Reyes is used to putting on a face, an act around people, self assured and smug pirate that he's supposed to be, but he stands there staring at the ground numbly as he listens to Ryder discuss the situation with his team. His thumb brushes over his fingers, thinking about how he wished he could have at least gotten to feel any warmth from Ryder again, just for a second. It's dangerous to still let his heart trip him up like this, over a man who shot him in the back.

Maybe rightfully so, but that's neither here nor there. His gaze lifts, tired and resigned once Ryder is speaking to him again. Time to get to work, that's why he'd contacted Ryder in the first place. It wasn't about the possibility of them, it was taking down Sloane and finishing what he'd started. He'd had a slimmer of hope though that maybe there could be a chance, after all of this was over, but he doubted it now.]

There wouldn't have been any if I'd known you'd come otherwise.

[And that's the truth. The deception wasn't what he'd wanted, it had been needed. Hell he hadn't wanted to lie to him about the Charlatan either, it just never felt like the right time to talk about it, then it was too late and here they are. It's his turn to turn away from Ryder, walking towards the table and motioning to a screen they've set up. Using his omni-tool he'll turn it on, uploading video and voice files to it.]

I'm sure you remember Deema, Pathfinder?

[Pathfinder. Not Ryder. Definitely not Scott. Better to just keep things professional now, right?]

While she had connections to me, Deema some how managed to convince Sloane she knew nothing about my extracurricular activities. She has her uses to Sloane so she's still at Kadara Port and my only inside information directly.

[Tapping on his omni-tool he'll bring up video of Sloane and her second in command Kaetus.]

Her little lap dog is not so trusting. I fear she'll be disposed of sooner than later, but if she were to leave Kadara suddenly Sloane might realize something is up...

[He'll shake his head, sighing, glancing over at Ryder before his gaze goes back to the video feed.]

I don't have the man power to do this on my own and with Sloane's grip on Kadara Port solidified we'd be marching into a firing squad. I thought I'd have more time to rebuild, but there's precious little of it now.

The last one.

[ This surprise is the last one, he means. Of course, he now understands the need for deception on Reyes' end. All of his anger was leftover from the caves, to be completely honest. But he thinks, however briefly, if he understood it now would he have if he listened to Reyes explain himself before?

No. Shut up. What's done is done.

Pathfinder. Damnned if that didn't hurt, even though he has no right for it too. His entire identity had always been trapped underneath someone or something else. Another person, like his father, or an idea, like the Pathfinder. Reyes was one of the few to call him by his name...and it was nice to be talked to like a person. A person with his own mind, ideals, and life, no matter how intricately tied into this whole mess. So yeah, that stung.

His attention is on the video feed now, his lips pulling down into an unseen frown. ]

So she's stuck.

[ At the very least, he's confident that they can handle this. Not to underestimate Sloane and her hold on Kadara Port, but he believed in his people. Deema is the most concerning factor right now, though. Her situation is precarious at best if Sloane's number one fan is giving her the side eye. ]

How do you want to handle this?

[ He doesn't take his stare off of the video. Nope. Have to focus. ]

Yes.

[His hands come to rest flat on the table, shifting to look over at Ryder again.]

If we go in for her you realize we're not leaving without taking back Kadara Port, right? The element of surprise is all we have at this point and Sloane still thinks she has you in her back pocket. Those are our best shot at this.

[The krogan grumbles from behind them, clearly displeased with everything he's hearing.]

All I'm hearing is the Charlatan asking us to clean up his mess. Starting to think the galaxy only sees you as a janitor, Ryder.

[He should have asked to speak to Ryder alone. He really should have. Glancing back at Drack, Reyes tips his head a little.]

Did or did not Ryder fix the krogan dilemma on Elaaden? How many of your problems has he taken care of?

[The krogan's face twists in a snarl, not liking that his words are turned back against him. Stomping in close he'll shove Reyes, not enough to do any harm, but he does end up using the table to stop himself from falling over. Touched a nerve did he? Good.]

It's not the same! I'm not using him like you, I trust him.

[Crossing his arms over his chest Reyes nods in understanding. He gets it, Ryder was a good man, a trustworthy man, he would never argue that. He'll look past Drack, to Ryder standing there no doubt tense from how the conversation is going.]

And I trust him too. There's no one else I could with this. I'm only sorry I didn't let you in before things got... complicated.

[Hazel eyes flicker to the side. All of this could have been avoided if he come clean to Ryder before he went directly against Sloane. Instead he thought his plan was full proof, but Ryder had been a variable he couldn't expect in that moment. Now look where they were.]

[ Ryder isn't surprised that Drack got pissed, or that Reyes is the one to piss him off, but all the same when the Krogan rushes forward to shove him Ryder's entire body tenses up. ]

Okay, look — [ First thing's first, he's going to need Reyes to stop saying things that are making this way harder than it needs to be because wow...still hurts. But that's not what he says.

He puts a hand on Drack's shoulder, offering a friendly and appreciative pat. He doesn't want Reyes beat up or anything, but Ryder appreciates the sentiment all the same. ] Why don't you and Jaal go wait in the other room? I'll fill you in on everything later. I'll give a shout if I need you guys.

[The krogan's eyes narrow at Reyes, but he'll pull back.]

If he does anything I get to shoot him next.

[A clawed finger is jabbed at him, but Drack will defer to Ryder's decision regardless. Both of Ryder's team start to file out and Reyes will give a nod at his man who follows them, taking post just outside the door.

Alone now, his conviction to keep things professional crack faster than he realized they would. There's a silence that hangs between them for shorter than it probably feels like, at least until Reyes breaks it.]

... it's good to see you again.

[ Ryder releases a breath he hadn't realized he was holding in when Drack concedes and leaves the room. It's then when, against his better judgment, he pulls off his helmet. Just in time for Reyes to say that it was good to see him, and for Ryder to feel a big ol stab in his goddamn heart.

For a moment, he glances downward, holding the helmet against his hip. But he quickly sucks it up to meet Reyes' gaze. He can't bring himself to look angry because that moment has passed. His gaze is soft, sad...regretful. ]

Too bad it was like this. [ Which...seems to imply that Ryder feels the same way, oops. ] For what it's worth I'm...sorry I shot you.

[ Despite the awkward delivery, it's so very genuine. ]

[Truly it's good to see him. The helmet is off now and he can finally see his face again and it takes everything in him to not cross the space between them to pull Ryder against him, to hold his face and kiss him breathless. The most he manages is a step closer, hand smoothing against the table before curling into a fist.

It's not like that anymore. It's a little easier to focus on the subject of being shot, a little huff of a laugh punching out of him as he reaches up to rub at his right shoulder.]

It was a clean shot. Left a hell of a scar though. Both sides.

[The smile is sad that tugs at his lips and his hand drops.]

If you meant to leave an impression, Ryder, you certainly succeeded.

Edited (typo hhhh) 2022-06-16 07:12 (UTC)

[ It's not easy for Ryder, either. For a moment, without the barrier of his helmet, he's stuck between wanting Reyes to grab him and kiss him and wanting to do it his damn self.

But...that's just...something he's going to have to get over, of course. Because that won't happen and it shouldn't happen, ever.

In an attempt to alleviate the tension of...various types, Ryder forces a halfhearted chuckle. ]

Don't know if you've noticed...but I'm pretty good at making an impression.

[ Slightly easier to joke about now, but when he got that e-mail...how many drafts does he have saved that he almost sent in response? One to tell Reyes off. Then one to break things off, and give closure. Then one to break things off while pouring his heart out — that one was the longest and the only one he finished — then there was one where he tried to keep it short and sweet. He only got two words into that one. Ultimately, he went with silence as his response. Which...wasn't something he liked doing. He liked to talk things out, get everything out in the open, be honest...

...Nothing about how he handled things with Reyes felt right, did it? ]

[Won't and shouldn't happen? Maybe that would be wiser for the both of them, but then if Ryder had wanted to be wise about this would he have shooed everyone out to talk with Reyes alone?

Perhaps in his head it felt like the best way to do things. It almost hurts more that they're both trying to make this easier for one another, but it feels just as heavy regardless.]

I noticed the first time we met.

[Dammit, don't do this. Just apologize for keeping Ryder in the dark and get back to it. Reyes knows this will just make it more difficult for the both of them, but there's so much he's wanted to say. That one e-mail had been too short, so many words left unsaid that he should have. Maybe he would have said more if Ryder had replied, but the silence felt justified on the pathfinder's end. A finality to them and if that was how Ryder wanted it then...]

Ryder.

[Reyes words always flow easy, talking is a gift of his, silver tongue and wicked words. Lies tumble from his lips easier than truths some days, but now he feels tongue tied, lips parting to speak, but he hesitates a few times.]

Us- We were never a lie. I hope you can at least believe that.

[ Ah shit.

He hears his name again and it's almost enough to melt his heart. He hates it. He had been so mad because he thought he was played. And as much as that hurt, as hard as that was to deal with, right now it would be easier if he could just believe it was as bad as it felt.

His eyes shut as a free hand comes up to run fingers through his hair. He wants to stop this conversation from happening right now, except maybe he doesn't. That's why he's here, alone with Reyes. When it came to matters of the heart...well...he followed said heart. ]

Yeah, well, that's what made it suck so bad.

[ He only just realizes that Reyes had moved in a little closer when he opens his eyes again. So close. They were always so far away from one another but right now they were so close. That's all Ryder ever wanted. Was to be close to someone.

They had been. That was real. Reyes had said as much when he accused the other of lying to him about "everything", and he was too angry and stubborn at the time to consider that...it was the truth. And now he's saying it again. Shit.]

I just...I've always been an open person, and...obviously...

[ —look, he's just trying to acknowledge that he understands...that that's not something Reyes can always afford. But it's a lot harder to say than he thought. ]

[It would be easier if Ryder told him right now that they were over. Done. Told Reyes to shut up. He still hasn't and maybe it should just be obvious, but it's clear there's still something there.

Oh Ryder is always so emotional, easy to overwhelm with them and it's not his intention in the least, he just wanted to have that cleared between them. If nothing else, he needed to make sure Ryder understood that his feelings were not a lie. If this is really the end between them, he wants the truth to be there at least.

Honestly he doesn't realize he's moved closer, but he has, hand sliding across the table to stop just short of Ryder's.]

I wanted to tell you. It was never about trust... I just... I liked- the way you looked at me, Ryder.

[Fingers stretch to bridge the gap between their hands, fingertips of his gloves sliding up over Ryder's, testing the water.]

I didn't want the Charlatan to cloud your view of me.

[A lot of the rumors of what the Charlatan did or didn't do were false, things attributed to him just because people could. The anonymity had it's pros and cons let's just say that. Of course plenty were true and some weren't great either. He wanted Ryder to know him first, to see him.]

[ Ryder is pretty much beyond the point of no return now. His feelings are overtaking all the logic in his brain that's been yelling at him, now distant shouts that are soon drowned out by his beating heart. That's why he doesn't move his hand away. ]

You're the shadiest bastard I've ever met, Reyes, but I trusted you enough that I wouldn't have thought any less of you. [ Up until now his eyes had been shifty, trying not to stare at Reyes for too long, but he made the mistake of looking him right in the face and holding his gaze there. ] But, I don't know, maybe I get it. I mean...sometimes it's tiring to be Pathfinder to everyone instead of just Ryder. Or, god forbid, just Scott.

You...[ Oh shit, ah fuck, his heart is telling him to just fucking say it and he can't ignore it. His hand turns, palm up, fingers tentatively clasping around Reyes' like a small animal trying to be cautious. His voice has the smallest hint of a quake to it. ] You never stopped being someone to me, Reyes.

[The Point of No Return has left the station, there's no going back now. When Ryder doesn't pull away from his touch again it's a small victory and he'll take whatever he can get right now. It's even better when their eyes finally are able to meet.

It's good to hear that there's an understanding between them, that while they're two different men they have a lot in common in some ways. Ways that help Ryder overcome the betrayal of his lies a little easier with time. Usually Reyes is one to have more than plenty to say, but Ryder is moving to take his hand and he's rendered speechless by him.

An echo of their moment under the setting sun of Kadara, he looks vulnerable in ways he doesn't let most others see him. Reyes knows he's not talking, he should be saying something, the silence will only poison the tender bridge they're trying to build between each other. Blinking rapidly as if snapping out of a daze he'll return Ryder's hold, giving his hand a squeeze, free hand coming up, fingers grazing over his cheek to cradle his face as he dips in to claim his lips. Maybe it's presumptuous of him, but in the moment it felt like the right thing to do. It's not as soft as the kiss it's echoing, there's a desperation to it and a passion.

Words wouldn't be enough, please understand him.]

For @ryderdie

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