#scott ryder x reyes vidal | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

much-obliged-timothy · 1 year

Text

Whumpcember #8

Mass Effect Andromeda - #8 - Faked Death

Watching it was unbearable and dangerous.

Yet Reyes stood, hood pulled over his disguised face, shifting uncomfortably in the padded shoes meant to make him taller. An urn rested on a small, recently-built platform.

He had never intended to attend his own funeral, but his worry over Ryder saw him here regardless.

Ryder stood, his sister on one side of him and Liam on the other. He leaned heavily into his sister, and Sara put her arm around him, resting her head on his shoulder.

Reyes crept closer carefully. The way Ryder’s shoulders shook broke his heart. He’d never seen such a strong man look so weak.

It had been necessary. That’s what Reyes had told himself, at least, as he engineered the plot.

His enemies had been dangerously close to discovering his identity as the Charlatan. Rather than risk the chaos that would cause, Reyes and Keema had arranged to fake his death.

It had been careful. They’d quietly captured and killed an enemy, dressed him in Reyes’ clothing. Reyes had accepted a meeting he knew was a trick. With Keema and a few highly trusted men in tow, Reyes went into the building he knew he was supposed to die in.

Sure enough, he was locked inside and the building was set ablaze. Keema helped him escape and plant the body of the man, who burned down to bone. Then she went back in and confirmed it was his body, planting his weapons on it as proof.

It was temporary. Just until they could find and kill everyone who threatened Reyes’ true identity.

But he couldn’t tell Ryder. Ryder’s reaction is what sold the ruse. It was a key part of the plan, and the part that tore Reyes to pieces the most.

Liam touched Ryder’s arm. “Do you want to say anything, Ryder?”

Ryder lifted his head and slowly turned to face the gathering. Reyes was pretending to be one of three friends of Keema’s who had known Reyes. He was thoroughly disguised, but still ducked his head a little as Ryder’s anguished eyes swept over the small group of people here to mourn.

“Reyes wasn’t perfect,” Ryder said. “He could be a real shady bastard sometimes.”

“Sometimes?” Jaal said, and a small ripple of laughter broke the tension in the crowd.

Ryder gave a weak, sorrowful smile. “Alright, a lot of times he could be a real shady bastard. But he…he was so much more than he ever got credit for. He was a cheesy romantic that liked to slow dance. He was a free man who loved nothing more than to fly across an open sky. He was a leader who wanted to bring peace.”

Reyes felt himself choking up. Ryder thought so highly of him. And here was Reyes, being that lying, shady bastard everyone else knew he was.

He did not deserve Ryder. He knew he would never be forgiven for this.

“You look like you’re waiting for someone,” Ryder said. “That’s what he said to me. The first words. And he was right. More right than I knew at the time.” He looked at the urn, with the ashes of a stranger sealed inside. Tears brimmed in Ryder’s eyes and pain flared in Reyes’ heart. “I’ll be waiting for the rest of my life for someone who will never come back.”

Reyes wanted to scream that he was right here, he was alive, it was a cruel plot. But he couldn’t, not with Kadara at stake like this. If he revealed himself, it also put Keema in danger. He was too tangled into his own scheming to ease Ryder’s pain.

Ryder was crying silently now, stepping back to his sister for comfort. She held him tightly, whispering soothingly in his ear as he clutched at her.

“You are watching his trust in you die,” Keema said quietly. “He will never recover from this, even if he comes to understand why it was necessary.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Reyes said, his voice numb even as every other part of him ached at this turn of events.

He’d imagined building a future with Ryder in a hostile galaxy that they tamed together. He’d opened himself up, promising honesty, always knowing he could expect it in return. Ryder would never lie to him - not about the big stuff. That was the whole basis of their relationship.

And here was Reyes, killing Ryder in a way the Archon never could.

His pain was excruciating as he watched the most beloved and cherished person in his life cry for him. No one had ever loved him so much. No one had ever trusted him so much.

He accepted the pain he felt now. The pain Ryder would feel when he learned the truth would be worse, and Reyes just hoped it wasn’t enough to shatter him in the end.

#whumpcember2022 #whumpcember2022 day8 #reyes vidal #pathfinder ryder #scott ryder #reyes x ryder #mass effect andromeda #jtdoeswhumpcember

21 notes · View notes

hail-libertas · 1 year

Text

Modding mass effect andromeda is something. The way I died when he showed up at Karla’s song.

#mass effect andromeda #mass effect #scott ryder x reyes #reyes vidal #scott ryder #I don’t even know what mod this is

10 notes · View notes

katlakitty · 2 years

Link

Chapters: 36/36 Fandom: Mass Effect: Andromeda Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Male Ryder | Scott/Reyes Vidal, Peebee/Male Ryder | Scott, Gil Brodie/Male Ryder | Scott Characters: Male Ryder | Scott, Reyes Vidal, Peebee (Mass Effect), Gil Brodie, Tempest Crew (Mass Effect) Additional Tags: Angst, Fluff, Smut, Unrequited Love, LGBTQ Character, Friends to Lovers, Drama, Self-Esteem Issues, Hurt/Comfort, Injury, Injury Recovery, During Canon, Nightmares, POV Male Ryder | Scott, POV Gil Brodie, Siblings, Grief/Mourning Summary:

This fanfiction follows the story of Scott Ryder the new Pathfinder for the Initiative in Andromeda. Scott is thrown into this new role and must deal with his grieve about losing his father, of missing his sister and his own insecurities regarding his new position. He tries to find certainty with a certain smuggler from Kadara, but after he learns about Reyes’ identity finds he can’t be with him. He tries to bury his feelings in an affair with Peebee, but soon discovers his feelings for Gil.

The story follows mostly Scott’s journey throughout the game but also gives insight into Gil’s journey and how he deals with the dangers Scott faces on his missions.

Main plot points aren’t described in detail, but the story missions are teased or the outcome is discussed in conversations.

#mass effect andromeda #gilder #scott ryder #gil brodie #scott x gil #reyes vidal #peebee #fanfiction #mass effect andromeda fanfiction

1 note · View note

fereldanwench · 4 months

Text

Sara Ryder Master Post

✧ BASICS ✧ Full Name: Sara Elizabeth Ryder Pronouns: She/her Date of Birth: 28 Mar 2154 Place of Birth: The Citadel (Widow System in the Milky Way) Height: 5'11" (180 cm) Weight: ~160 lbs Body Type: Absolutely shredded Eye Color: Light blue Hair Color: Dark bronze brown

✧ PERSONALITY & SKILLS ✧ MBTI: ISTP Training: Operative Combat Profile: Infiltrator

✧ RELATIONSHIPS ✧ Father: Alec Ryder Mother: Ellen Ryder Brother: Scott Ryder (born 2157) Closet Friends: - Vetra Nyx - Jaal Ama Darav - Nakmor Drack Partners: - Jonathan Barrett (ex-fiance; remained in the Milky Way) - Keri T'Vessa (ex; fling) - Reyes Vidal (ex; fling) - Dr. Harry Carlyle

✧ NOTES ✧ - This is an updated version of the Sara Ryder I created in 2017/2018. Her personality and pre-Andromeda history hasn't changed too much, but she is older during the events of the game (about 31). - She and Scott are not twins; she's the eldest sibling by about 3 years. However, he has his shit together way more than she does, lmao. They have a great relationship, and Sara considers him one of her best friends. - Sara is very much Alec's daughter--Smart, curious to a fault, tough, ambitious, and does not like being told what to do. (Don't tell her that, though.) - She met the basic requirements for N7 training back in the Milky Way, but was denied officially due to her pattern of insubordination in the Alliance. The real reason was political--aka because of her pariah of a father. She still holds a grudge about it. - Sara and Harry met about a month before leaving for Andromeda--Alec invited (well, insisted, really) Harry to join them at the Ryder family compound for some pre-launch training and SAM assessments.

Tags and relevant links updated under the cut:

Last updated: 10 Jan 24

✧ SARA'S TAGS ✧

👩‍🚀 oc: sara ryder

💖 fave: sara ryder

🖼️ art: sara ryder

🔖 fic: sara ryder

✨ oc inspo: sara ryder

💑 ship: harry x sara

💖 fave: harry x sara

🔖 fic: harry x sara

✧ CHARACTER SHEETS & MEMES ✧

Aesthetic Builder

About My OC (out of date as of this post)

Bold the Traits/Aesthetics

OC Relationships

OC Negative Traits

#mass effect #mass effect andromeda #mass effect oc #oc: sara ryder #g: mea #s: mass effect #t: oc lists

15 notes · View notes

frustrated-writer-skyeknight · 3 months

Text

Pairings I drift away from consuming but always come back to at one point or another...

HiJack! Forever HiJack. I may stop writing for them for a while, may stop drawing or reading fics of them, but I will always go back to my OTP 🥰🥰🥰 new Year resolution is still to complete my Httyd AU's main plot and hopefully writing more stuff for it after.

Other ships that I come back to after leaving a while...

-Reyder (Reyes Vidal x Scott Ryder, Mass Effect Andromeda)

-Cullavellan (Cullen Rutherford x Male Lavellan, Dragon Age Inquisition)

-Natsby (Jay Gatz x Nick Carraway, The Great Garsby)

I have other ships, but these are my, shall we say, Classical favorites.

#shipping #HiJack #Reyder #Cullavellan #Natsby

18 notes · View notes

ageless-aislynn · 8 months

Text

10 characters, 10 fandoms, 10 tags

Tagged by the most awesome of awesomeness tag teams @authortobenamedlater and @mrtobenamedlater 😂😇😉

Just a note in case somebody doesn't know me but I usually include GIFs and stuff for things like this because I'm extra™ that way. 🤷‍♀️😉

Also, in alphabetical order because I would never rank my love of my blorbos. Annnnnd I live to ship so you're getting my fav pairings as a bonus. Yes, I included the ships TOTALLY FOR YOU, MY FRENS. No, no, don't thank me, it was my pleasure! 😛

Eobard Thawne x Caitlin Snow (The Flash)

2a. Eowyn x Aragorn (Lord of the Rings) / 2b. Eowyn x Faramir (Lord of the Rings)

3. Garcia Flynn x Lucy Preston (Timeless)

"Maybe Someday" (Garcy, Timeless)

4. James Sawyer Ford x Kate Austen (Lost)

"The Time Traveler's Wife" (Skate, Lost)

5. John-117 x Kai-125 (Halo the Series)

6. Logan x Jean Grey (X-Men)

"Shuffle Song Ship meme" (multi-fandom drabble/short fic collection)

7. Lydia Martin x Peter Hale (Teen Wolf)

8. Master Chief x Cortana (Halo the game... which is TOTES different from Halo the series, yep *whistles innocently* 😇)

9a. Sara Ryder x Reyes Vidal (Mass Effect Andromeda) / 9b. Scott Ryder x Cora Harper (Mass Effect Andromeda)

youtube

"Dance The Night" fun facts: yes, 00:50 is exactly why I made this, lol! (Though the entire thing ended up being one of the most fun times I've had making a vid! 🥳) Also, most of this wasn't recorded in order to gather vid footage - I was trying out outfit and armor colors to see what they looked like in-game. Hence, the Ryder twins put on a bit of a fashion show here! 😛 Oh, and I was also trying out a new inspired-by-me Sara, which is why she doesn't look like the Sara I've shown previously in my other vid and in GIFs. 😉 Bonus for my Flash friends - if you watch this, see if you spot Scott in his Reverse Flash inspired armor! 💛💖 (The lighting was a little poor in the scene, though, so let me know if you need a timestamp. 😉)

10. The Tenth Doctor x Donna Noble (Doctor Who)

Update, okay, so I decided to come back and do the tagging properly so to absolve my guilt at failing that part, lol!

No pressure tags (and apologies if you've already been tagged in this) @sarnakhwritesthings @sporadicbelievernightmare @fandomdancer @architectofimagination @missoliverstark @vampcoffeegyrl23 @coleishere @pif-reepa @ghostslillady @androidtrashfire

annnnnnd anybody who's reading this and would like to play along! No, seriously, everybody's welcome to play along! *boops your nose politely* 💖💖💖

17 notes · View notes

mtreebeardiles · 2 years

Text

The Paths You Take Update

Been sitting on this mostly finished for some time now, and a fresh re-read...yeah, I think it's okay to adjust my timetable a bit. Outlining was never my strong suit, and the story will get there when it gets there

Full chapter on AO3!

"So on a scale from one to royally fucked, how bad do you think our reception is gonna be?"

The question was rhetorical, one he didn't expect SAM to answer let alone consider, but the words had been weighing heavy on his chest ever since they'd gotten back to the Tempest. So much had been riding on Khi Tasira actually being Meridian and discovering that it wasn't…

Well.

He wasn't sure what the Director was going to do, exactly, but he didn't doubt Tann would find some way to punish him. Publicly? Privately? Strip him of his tenuous rank, or find some other way to pen him in? There wasn't much the Salarian could do about SAM's connection to Scott but that didn't mean he wouldn't try to order some research into how to tear them apart, pass the mantle on to someone he could bring to heel.

I won't let that happen, Scott.

We might not have a choice here, Big Guy.

Other factors to consider, too, like the mysterious "Benefactor" mentioned in his father's memories. He wished there was some way to jump start the rest of them, unlock them deliberately to give him some actual fucking direction, but the trigger method was as random as ever. No rhyme or reason for all they were coming more frequently these days, and Scott wasn't sure if that was because he was mentally where the blocks felt he needed to be or if that domicile back on Kadara had caused it.

Speaking of… He chewed a thumbnail, turning on his heel and striding back to the other side of his quarters. SAM, how's our uh… special package doing?

It is en route to Kadara, Scott. I estimate it should be docking by the time we reach the Nexus.

No issues from the Scourge?

Some, the AI admitted, but it is not without shielding, and I was able to cloak some of the signals. It should make it to its destination relatively intact.

Scott huffed out a breath at that, feeling his shoulders relax a touch. At least something had gone right back there. Something he had no intention of sharing with anyone aside from SAM and Reyes, of course, but still.

Worse comes to worse we could always go pirate.

An idle fantasy, so far-fetched from the reality of space piracy that he had to laugh at an imagination better suited to the boy he'd been than the man he was. He'd encountered plenty of real-life pirates back on Arcturus and the grim truth had stripped the veneer of excitement right off all those holo-vids he'd watched as a kid.

Shame, he thought, pacing the other direction, Reyes already has the swagger down.

Scott, your breathing is elevated.

"I know," he whispered aloud. Shaking fingers snaked through his hair and he made an effort to measure his breaths, counting the inhales and exhales the way he'd been taught. "I'll be alright."

Will you, though? he thought. You fucked up, just like you always fuck up, only this time its gonna cause a bunch of people grief. His team, the science team, the other Pathfinders and their teams…

"Fuck."

"Scott?"

He didn't respond, his pacing picking up in speed. Any hopes of establishing an independent entity with the Pathfinders were probably toast, too, after this little stunt. He'd just been so fucking sure…

He ran a hand over his face, coming to a stop. Breathe in, breathe out. There was nothing he could do about any of it right now, and sliding deeper into a panic wasn't going to help anyone.

Easier said than done.

"Scott?"

"Yeah, SAM?"

"Suvi wishes to speak with you on the bridge," the AI intoned. "She has an idea."

----

Reyes leaned his elbows against the rail on the upper deck of the docking bay, sequestered in a corner that gave him the best view. He was cloaked, having gotten into position carefully, spot chosen for its overall lack of foot traffic and sensors.

The Tempest was due to land at any time, and he was eager to watch the show.

A sizable crowd was already filtering in, Tann once again trying to command center stage by propping himself up on a pedestal in more ways than one. A looming figure cut above the rest of them, and Reyes wondered if it was an appeal to his desire for power, some show of force in the face of the unexpected.

Scott Ryder may have been an overt catalyst interrupting carefully laid plans, but Reyes Vidal was the curve ball the Director would never see coming.

His eyes scanned for other notables in the group arrayed right before the Tempest's usual berth, taking note of who was and wasn't present. Kandros was there, in deep discussion with Pathfinders Rix and Vederia; Kesh wasn't too far from them, reviewing something on her omni-tool. Pathfinder Hayjer was speaking to one of his own team, illustrating his point with waves of the hand, and Addison…

Addison was conspicuously absent.

Reyes couldn't help but grin in self-satisfaction, resettling more comfortably against the railing.

In the distance he spotted the telltale signs of a ship pulling in from FTL, a flash and distortion of space that manifested the vessel in question. The Tempest smoothly lowered to her berth, and the gathered crowd buzzed with renewed excitement.

Details from their trip to Khi Tasira were sketchy at best, and due to the delicate nature of his stay on the Nexus Reyes hadn't been able to risk any direct forms of communication. But he had managed to snag copies of the data the Pathfinder team had sent ahead, availing himself of the science team's terminals via Sentinel, and knew that while Meridian itself had not been located the information gained supported Scott's assertions that the Remnant technology was important to the healing and growth of Heleus.

Theory may not have been practice, but it was a solid starting point.

Reyes straightened as the doors opened, intent on the group stepping through them. Scott's team looked…tired. Worn out, tense, and Scott himself looked a little rough around the edges. Reyes frowned, fighting the urge to break his cover and go to his partner. Had something happened? Had he been hurt, like he had on the Archon's ship? That episode had set Scott off-kilter for weeks, and he still had nightmares. Reyes bit his lip, fingers clenching against the rail, and willed Tann to get on with the pointless puffery already.

"Our brave Pathfinder Ryder returns!" the Director announced needlessly, striking the same jovial tone he'd managed when Scott had brought back the Salarian Ark. Scott froze, having been eyeing the crowd and now looking at Tann like he'd grown an extra head.

Not the reception you were expecting, mi amor? Reyes's frown deepened. He supposed he could understand why Scott may have thought his return would be decidedly less welcome, but surely he knew Reyes would've taken care of it?

Maybe Keema has a point, he thought, biting at the inside of his lip, I really ought to tell him how I operate. Not all of it, perhaps, but enough to ensure his partner understood that Reyes had his back, that their relationship wasn't some one-sided affair where the only one getting any clear benefits was Reyes. Not that he thought Scott saw it that way, but he did, sometimes, despite himself.

He wanted a future with Scott -- and maybe he didn't know what shape it would take, but he knew he wanted the chance to find out.

"Uh."

Scott was still staring up at Tann, poleaxed, and to Tann's credit the Director recovered quickly. Tugging Scott up by the hand and Reyes bit back his flash of irritation at the way the Director still thought he could handle Scott like that, and the Salarian slipped an arm around the confused young man's shoulders.

"The data acquired on this research mission confirms the suspicion that Meridian is the key to our future here in Heleus," Tann was saying, ignoring how stiff Scott was beside him. "We have a long way to go yet to locate this incredible find, but I'm sure after some proper rest and assessments for next steps our courageous Pathfinders will set out to obtain it for the Initiative."

"For Heleus."

They were the first real words Scott had spoken since stepping off the ship, and maybe they were a bit rough but his tone was clear and his voice carried. Reyes glanced around, following his partner's gaze to a group of Angaran diplomats arrayed near the cultural center. Several of them had folded their arms over their chests, looking less than pleased, but upon meeting Scott's eyes a few of them nodded in acknowledgment.

Scott seemed to be reviving, stepping out from Tann's hold and addressing the crowd at large. Fingers fighting their fidgets and Reyes knew he was trying his best, and couldn't help the surge of pride he felt as the other man got his bearings.

"These finds are crucial for all of us -- Angaran, Krogan, Turian, Salarian, Asari, and human -- if we want to create a sustainable, thriving life in this cluster. The Kett threat extends to Meridian, and therefore to that dream; we have to stop them, and get to it first.

"We managed to foil them at Khi Tasira," Scott went on, hopping down from the platform. After a moment Tann followed suit, the crowd parting to make way for the young Pathfinder. Reyes felt himself smiling again, applauding the tacit message this move sent: I am not above you. I am of you, and I work with you. "We were challenged by one of the Archon's best, and emerged victorious." Scott held up a hand to forestall the burst of cheers this news brought. "But we have a lot of work ahead, and it's going to take all of us to reach that dream."

He looked around, meeting the eyes of those closest to him, and nodded. Summoned a smirk that was more of the Scott they were all used to and said, "Now, if you’ll excuse us -- my team and I are very hungry."

Ripples of laughter and the crowd willingly began to disperse, making room for the Pathfinder and his team to get by. On the platform above Reyes began to move, a silent shadow trailing after them.

#my writing #The Paths You Take #mreyder #Scott Ryder #Reyes Vidal #Scott x Reyes #Mass Effect: Andromeda #longer preview since i think i already shared the first bit of this before a while back

5 notes · View notes

bioware-bard · 5 months

Text

Just in hopes of sharing the insanity with other like-minded people - would you mind terribly if I shared with you a few words from the fics I'm working on?

Mass Effect ReImagined (placeholder)

Mass Effect trilogy | Kara Favreau (OC) x Kaidan Alenko

The screams around her held words as the alien attack continued, the loud droning sound reverberating in the air and making the ground rumble as if in reply. Words that called out to “Run!” as farmers and scientists alike ran in different directions and words that pleaded in fearful confusion, asking “What’s going on?” The few remaining guards couldn’t answer, were running with the civilians as they tried to figure out who was attacking and where they were coming from. Their weapons were either still holstered or loosely pointed at the floor when the staccatto popping sounds of gunfire could be heard coming from all around, accompanied by the metallic shrieks of synthetic beings rushing at the people running for their lives. Human screams transformed from surprise to pain to terror as no one was seemingly spared from this sudden onslaught of violence.

• • • •

Healing Kadara's Heart

Mass Effect: Andromeda | Sara Ryder x Reyes Vidal

The slums of Kadara Port were even worse than the city above. How could anyone stay here and call it living? Sara could hear pain filled moans floating in the air, travelling from somewhere in the maze of hastily attached bits of prefab. Their steps toward the buildings were drowned out by the geyser erupting right next to them, but other than that it was eerily quiet, making space for the groans of hidden away exiles. She followed Scott and Drack silently, her eyes darting all over trying to spot anything or anyone that could be hidden. Her dislike for the place had nothing to do with the pungent smell of sulfur in the air, but she hastened her steps anyway. She could feel the beat of the music pulsing inside as they neared the doors of the club, but she was still surprised when they slid open and the deep bass penetrated her body. Already abuzz with unspent biotic energy, the sensation only added to her discomfort, but she pushed through it as they physically had to force their way through the crowd of people and up the stairs.

#mass effect #fanfiction #fanfic #kaidan alenko #oc: kara favreau #mass effect: andromeda #reyes vidal #sara ryder #my writing

3 notes · View notes

yuko27 · 10 months

Text

Dance scenes. And I failed to draw Reyes g-suits this time

#mass effect #mass effect andromeda #reyes vidal #pathfinder ryder #scott ryder #ryder x reyes #now orbiting kadara #dance scene #mass effect fanart

272 notes · View notes

bluerose5 · 3 years

Text

The Ghost of Paradise (Exile AU)

Chapter 3: Flying High

Rating: M

Word Count: 3,082

Tags: Mass Effect: Andromeda, Scott Ryder, Reyes Vidal, Reyder, Pre-Relationship, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Exile, Flirting, Secrets, Complicated Relationships, Eventual Romance, Rivalry, Engineer/Mechanic Scott Ryder, Jealousy

[Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Current Chapter (ao3)]

After Scott had finished up with the repairs and modifications, Reyes stopped him before he could head back to Port.

He gently took Scott’s arm in hand, squeezing lightly.

Scott met his eyes, but Reyes struggled for words. It was funny in an endearing sort of way to watch how he kept opening and closing his mouth, gaping like a fish out of water.

As much as he tried, words escaped him.

“What is it?” Scott asked, worried about whatever had managed to leave him speechless.

Reyes bit the inside of his cheek, desperately wracking his brain for something to keep him there. To keep Scott by his side, even if only for a little while longer.

His mouth moved before his brain could properly filter what was said.

“I don't want you to go yet.”

It wasn’t like Reyes to be so open and honest. Both Scott and himself appeared shocked by the stray comment. Reyes cleared his throat and averted his gaze, releasing Scott’s arm in order to rub at the back of his neck in embarrassment.

“I mean—”

Scott cut him off. “What would you like to do?”

Reyes blinked owlishly at that. He honestly hadn’t thought that far ahead, but the pressure was on to find something to keep them busy.

Looking around, he searched.

One glance at his shuttle, and he had an idea.

“I might have a little something in mind,” Reyes said.

Taking Scott’s bag from him, Reyes hitched it up over his shoulder and tossed his free arm around Scott. Feeling the warmth settle into his side was dizzying in the best way possible. The proximity alone left his head spinning ever so slightly.

Leaning in even closer, Reyes whispered conspiratorially into Scott's ear.

“Want to go for a ride?”

“Depends on what kind of ride we’re talking about here,” Scott deadpanned.

Reyes snickered.

“While I wouldn’t mind that kind of ride, especially from you, I was thinking more along the lines of taking you up in the sky. Let you see the sights. You always fix up the shuttle. It’s been a while since you’ve gotten to appreciate the fruits of your labor.”

“Heh.” Scott elbowed him in the side with a teasing grin. “What? Is this the part where you take me on a magic carpet ride?”

“Only so long as you promise not to burst into song while we’re up there,” Reyes joked.

“Damn it.” As Reyes helped him into the shuttle, Scott pouted. “Take the fun out of everything, why don’t you?”

“I’ll make it up to you,” Reyes chuckled. Setting Scott’s things aside into a secure compartment, he closed the shuttle doors behind him before making his way into the cockpit. “I promise.”

Once they were seated, Reyes strapped in and put his headset on. With a tap to its side, an orange, holographic visor popped up in front of his eyes, displaying diagnostic and informational data. He passed the matching set to Scott, who put it on and instantly started to scroll through the different color settings for the visor.

With a roll of his eyes, Reyes shook his head at him. He started to power up systems to chart their course, running through his mental checklist like it was second nature. Thrusters, check. Fuel, check. Navigation, check.

By the time he was done, everything seemed to be in order.

More importantly, Scott had finally settled on a color for the visor, sporting a bright blue that made the color of his eyes all the more apparent.

When Scott noticed Reyes looking his way, he playfully lifted his hand up to his mouth. He pretended to have one of those old-timey radios in hand, making a staticky noise before speaking.

“Anubis 1, this is Rogue 2, requesting permission for takeoff.”

Scott probably sounded terrible and cliché, but at least it got Reyes to crack a smile.

Even better, Reyes entertained him for the moment, playing along for the hell of it.

Lifting his hand up, Reyes replied, “Rogue 2, you are clear for takeoff.”

With that, Reyes adjusted some settings, and the shuttle’s VI announced that night vision mode was enabled. At Scott’s curious glance, Reyes explained.

“It will be better to keep our lights off,” he said. Night was falling, and getting taken down in the badlands didn’t exactly sound like Reyes’s idea of a good time, especially in the dark when visibility was limited. “Don’t want to give the scavengers an open invitation to try and attack us.”

“Why not?” Scott countered. “It would be a hell of a fight.”

“Excuse me if I don’t feel like dying a slow, painful death and losing my shuttle to Kadara’s finest all in one night,” Reyes muttered.

“O ye of little faith,” Scott said, watching closely as they started to ascend.

“Oh, I have perfect faith in your abilities.” Reyes started to pull back a little, leveling out after they took off, a silent shadow darting across the night sky. “One hundred percent, but odds are that we’d be outnumbered out here if we were captured.”

“That only makes it more thrilling, right?”

“It would be more of a mood killer, in my opinion.”

“Funny.” Scott leaned forward, watching the landscape drift by on the edge of his seat. “I didn’t realize there was a ‘mood’ to be killed.”

Of course, it was easy to say that, but Scott had to admit that even he was impressed by the view. While plenty of Kadara’s wonders were visible throughout the day, equally as many could be admired throughout the night.

Scott watched in awe as they soared over lakes and pools of water. Bioluminescent algae lit up in an array of blues and greens, an aurora of color able to survive the sulfuric conditions.

The farther they ventured from port, the more diverse life appeared to be, however sparingly.

Scott watched as tall, six-legged creatures traveled in packs, their snouts elongated like that of an anteater. They grazed upon the land, glancing up as the shuttle passed overhead. Some of the young sprinted forward in graceful, bounding leaps. They chased after the shuttle until they couldn’t keep up any longer, soon returning from where they came.

A smile played upon Scott’s lips.

That feeling of discovery…

Most days, it was all too easy to forget what it felt like. When survival required most of their attention, their minds typically had little room to focus on much else.

But, wasn’t that why they were there in the first place? To discover, to explore. To find the edge of the map and see what lies beyond it.

They didn’t come to Andromeda, only to be discarded by the Nexus.

They were —all of them— capable of so much more.

If only the others could see it that way.

As they banked right around a mountain, their flight pattern disturbed a cavern nearby. It was carved high up into the rock, just out of reach of any natural predators.

Out of the cave emerged a swarm of serpentine creatures, all glowing eyes and sharp fangs. Violet light emanated from their bodies. Arcs of electricity stretched out along the length of them.

And they soared.

They had no wings in sight, yet they made flying seem effortless. They swam through the air, riding the currents like one would a wave. Occasionally, they would flatten out their bodies to glide, only to curl their forms through delicate spirals once again.

It was their dance, familiar to them. Sacred and seamless. Some would fly alone, yet others would join in groups, weaving together with one another in perfect harmony. Their light gained intensity when unified, putting on a dazzling display for all to see.

“Incredible,” Scott breathed.

The serpents released light echoes of noise, high-pitched in nature. They swirled around the shuttle yet kept their distance, making no hostile moves while they crafted their song.

The shuttle’s feeds received some occasional interference from the bioelectricity, but other than that? They were harmless.

Reyes pried his eyes away from their reptilian friends long enough to glance over at Scott.

That was a big mistake.

He hadn’t been prepared for how—how beautiful he would look. How the colors danced across his skin, casting light upon his face.

How his carefree smile made the promise of a whole new galaxy pale in comparison.

The instant Scott felt the weight of his gaze, he turned towards Reyes with unbridled excitement, unable to contain his fascination with the life around them.

However, the last thing Scott expected was to be on the receiving end of such intense scrutiny.

It left him speechless, fumbling.

Everything between them shifted in that moment, but Scott ignored it.

He had to.

Clearing his throat, he chuckled nervously.

“Better keep your eyes straight ahead, Rey,” Scott teased. Despite how his voice cracked on the nickname, it felt safe to fall back into their usual banter. “If we crash, I know whose ass to kick in the afterlife.”

Reyes blinked owlishly at that, berating himself as he was dragged out of his stupor.

“Right,” he muttered, embarrassed by— well, by whatever the hell that was. He tried to recover as smoothly as possible. After all, it was better to hold onto what shreds of dignity he had remaining. “They’re cute.”

“Hmm?”

“The dragons,” Reyes clarified, pointedly looking out at them. “They’re cute.”

“That’s an understatement,” Scott said, “but dragons, huh? I like that. It suits them.”

With a near-blinding burst of lights and sparks, the dragons finished their dance and broke away from the shuttle’s path. They took off into the night. Some soared towards the direction of their home while others ventured out in search for more.

The shuttle received a brief flash of interference after that grand finale, but Scott and Reyes were quick to clear up the extra noise.

For a while, they continued to fly in silence, left to their own thoughts.

Eventually, Reyes set down at a secluded spot near the peak of a mountain. Once the engine was cut, they took off their headsets and stepped out onto stable ground.

Scott winced as his ears popped, acclimatizing to the pressure change at the higher altitude. He tried swallowing past it, which helped offer some relief.

He didn’t stay focused on it for too long, staring out into distance.

“Whoa.” Using his omni-tool to light the way, Scott approached the edge with Reyes hot on his heels. Together, they looked out over the edge of their perch. “I have to say, Reyes, you sure do know how to impress.”

Reyes tossed him a self-satisfied grin.

“You haven’t even seen the best part yet.”

Reyes pointed, so Scott followed his lead. As busy as he was with admiring the landscape, it was hard to believe that he forgot to look up at the skies.

They didn’t disappoint.

Scott looked out at the expansive beyond. Stars glittered and winked at them from above. He could recognize a few constellations that Nola told him about, made all the more apparent without the lights coming from the port.

It was breathtaking, no doubt about it, but something inside of Scott’s chest tightened.

He should be out there.

That’s all he could think as he stared off at far and distant stars.

He was never meant to be confined to one planet. If nothing else, he was certain of that. As much as he enjoyed the impact that he had on people’s lives, that wasn’t the ‘dream’ that he signed on for.

“Do you ever want more?” Scott whispered.

Reyes raised an eyebrow at him, but Scott continued.

He wanted reassurance that he wasn’t crazy.

“Don’t get me wrong. Kadara is great in its own right, but—” Scott growled under his breath in frustration. “But there has to be more! For so long, I sat staring at that damned relay in the Milky Way, thinking that one day my hard work would finally pay off. I had a front row seat to people coming and going, chasing after their own fortune and glory. After word got out about Dad’s research…”

He trailed off. The words alone drained him of all energy. His shoulders drooped, and his arms wrapped tightly around himself to keep him from flying apart.

Scott shook his head in an attempt to clear it, but it didn’t do much good.

“I don’t want to be their hero of the hour,” Scott confessed. “Hell, I don’t even want the glory.” Although, a little fame and fortune never hurt anyone, right? It simply wasn’t a priority for him. God, he felt so pathetic. “All I ever wanted —all I really want is the chance to prove myself.” That’s all. “To prove that I am more than what they say, but Tann, Sloane, Alec…” The list could go on and on. “They didn’t even give me the chance.”

“I get that,” Reyes sighed, “but is that all you want? Just the chance?”

“Why?” Scott snorted. “Planning on offering me a job?”

“Who? Me?” Reyes asked, way too innocent. “No, of course not. You know better than most that I’m more of a free agent.”

“Of course.”

Reyes narrowed his eyes at him challengingly. “Got something to say?”

“Nope,” Scott said, popping the ‘p’ for emphasis.

“Really?” Reyes asked. “Because that didn’t sound very genuine.”

“That’s because it wasn’t.” Reyes wasn’t the only one who could play mind games. Scott closed the distance between them, standing almost chest-to-chest. The glow from his omni-tool pierced through the night, casting shadows in its wake. “Besides, I’m not exactly looking to work for anyone after all the shit Heleus has put us through so far. You know me better than most, right?” Scott smirked bitterly, tossing his words back into his face, bullshit that they were. “I work better on my own, more of a free agent that way.”

Reyes scoffed. “Right.”

“Although, we do make a good team when we work together.” Scott could acknowledge that much at the least.

“So, what? Are you offering a partnership?”

“I’m not offering anything yet, let me make that clear to you.” Despite his steely determination, Scott’s smile turned sad. “I need to sort out this whole Pathfinder mess first, and then we’ll talk business afterwards. I need to be able to assess the entire situation.”

“You and me both.”

“I only worry that your vision isn’t aligning with mine anymore,” Scott admitted. “Reyes, I’m planning on expanding my reach beyond Kadara.”

Whether that plan involved Paradise, he would have to wait and see what the future had in store for them. He had given them a steady enough foundation, and that’s all that mattered. With or without his help, they would survive. He had faith in that.

Reyes’s expression gentled yet remained slightly distant, always holding something back.

He reached out, but Scott didn’t so much as budge when he took his cheek in hand, thumb upon his bottom lip.

Reyes searched his gaze for a moment. Whatever he found, it certainly didn’t discourage him in the slightest. Scott refused to pull away when he leaned in, thinking the move to be some type of ploy or distraction. For what? He had no idea, but he wasn’t one to back down when presented with a challenge.

Resting his forehead upon Scott’s, Reyes stared deep into those bright blue eyes. Scott’s heart raced, feeling the heat of his breath upon his lips.

“You know, Scott,” Reyes whispered, voice low and husky, “you say that as if I haven’t done so already.”

Releasing him, Reyes spared him a playful wink.

“I’m just waiting on you to catch up.”

That being said, Reyes strolled past Scott, bumping shoulders with him on the way back to the shuttle.

Scott stood there, mouth slightly agape.

Where there was once warmth, Scott shivered as a breeze settled over him. Goosebumps spread across his skin like a wildfire, his hair standing on end.

Ugh, that man could be so damn infuriating.

Following after him, Scott joined him outside the shuttle but stopped him before he could go inside.

“Before we head back,” Scott said, “could you answer a question for me? Honestly.”

Reyes pursed his lips.

“It depends on what you want to know.”

“All I want to know is what you’ve heard about Sara.” Scott shifted uncertainly from foot to foot. While Sara was a strong woman who could handle herself just fine, Scott still worried, both about her and all the other rumors that have been circulating around the port. “What I’ve been hearing out of Kralla’s has been confusing, to say the least.”

The fact alone that she was Pathfinder has been a bitter pill to swallow. Not that Scott doubted her ability to live up to the title, but it hadn’t taken long to put two and two together regarding Alec’s fate.

Complicated as their relationship might be, it wasn’t exactly the best way to find out about his father’s death.

“She’ll be here in a few days,” Scott sighed. “I just want to know if what I’m hearing is true. Are they really making these planets viable?”

Reyes figured that was easy enough to answer.

“From what my contacts have reported, yes.” He nodded. “Those rumors have some credibility to them.”

Scott processed that, thinking about all of the possible implications for their future.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit…

“Damn it, we need to find out how she does it,” Scott said, gritting his teeth while the gears turned inside his mind, “or we can kiss any chance of having a future free of Nexus influence goodbye.”

“Agreed, but that sounds like the exact type of secret that they would want to keep close to their chests.”

“I know.” Scott grimaced. “I know.”

Reyes sighed. “Well then, no point in losing sleep over it now. Let me work the angles, question some contacts. I’ll comb through what intel I do have and see if there was anything that I missed.”

Scott was shocked that he even offered.

“Thank you.”

Reyes shrugged.

“Don’t mention it. Like you said, we work better together. We build each other up. You might doubt my intentions now, but I could see us going places, Scott.”

“Yeah?”

“Mm-hmm…”

He wanted so badly to believe it.

“I—” He took a deep breath, bracing for whatever came next. “Let’s just go.”

As he climbed into the shuttle, Reyes whispered.

“Right behind you.”

#mass effect #mass effect andromeda #scott ryder #reyes vidal #reyder #mreyder #scott ryder x reyes vidal #exile au #my writing #my fanfic

8 notes · View notes