Archive of Our Own ^beta

As much as Evfra wanted to hate the human Pathfinder, Scott Ryder kept proving himself at every opportunity, over and over again.

It was almost as annoying as it was impressive.

When presented with the choice, not only did he help with their efforts on Voeld, but he also helped stabilize Havarl as well. The reports that Evfra received were extensive. Almost every little task that popped up was taken care of with the utmost efficiency. Evfra's agents were in awe, recounting how different the mood seemed after the Pathfinder left his mark.

Jaal was certainly enthralled, despite Evfra's various warnings.

Not that Evfra could blame him.

Sometimes he wondered if Ryder was simply born into the wrong species. In the few times they have spoken, Evfra watched, and he observed. What he found was an individual who cared. Deeply. He didn't hold back what he thought or what he felt, but he was mindful enough to let Evfra and his people run the show. If the angara wanted something done a certain way, the Pathfinder would prioritize it. There were no secrets, or so he led Evfra to believe.

Telling Evfra about his SAM AI was a big risk, but he shared that information willingly.

Prioritizing angaran lives might not always seem like the best solution to others, but he did so repeatedly in accordance with their customs, first with the angaran AI on Voeld and then again when infiltrating the kett's exaltation facility.

While the latter did little to impress the Moshae, the majority of angara were grateful that he thought their people's lives were more important than the destruction of the facility. The fact that the Pathfinder was able to both save the Moshae and kill the kett Cardinal was a feat all on its own.

Evfra might not want to admit it, but he was grateful.

Now, all he had to do was figure out how to deal with that traitorous bastard on Kadara.

But that could wait until later.

Ryder came waltzing into the Resistance Headquarters with that confident swagger that bordered on arrogant. Had it been anyone else, Evfra would have been more than happy to put him in his place, but Evfra could at least respect the fact that the Pathfinder backed up all of his big talk with meaningful action.

What was it that he said before? That Evfra could trust him because he "gets shit done."

A sentiment that Evfra knew all too well.

The others kept a close eye on their visitor but ultimately tolerated his presence. Whispers rose and fell in waves, a mixture of respect and disdain, but one glare from Evfra was enough to have them scurrying back to their stations. Reports continued to come and go, but Ryder didn't even hesitate to approach Evfra.

Hands braced atop his desk, Ryder leaned in, his expression incensed.

"We need to start planning on how to take down that exaltation facility," he hissed.

Irritation flared. The audacity of this human to think that he had the right to order Evfra about. Luckily for him, the irritation wasn't quite strong enough for Evfra to act on it.

After all, he could understand more than anyone there the desire to wipe that wretched place off the map. 

Still, he couldn't stop his lip from curling into a sneer.

"Was that not your objective while you were there?" Evfra asked, his voice calm yet tinged with an underlying hint of danger. He cocked his head to the side, eyes narrowed. "Did you not fail in that regard?"

"Mission parameters changed," Ryder retorted, "or did I screw up in your eyes, too? Did you want me to sacrifice your people? I figured that, since we now know more about the facility's layout and location, we'd be able to retur—"

"You misunderstand," Evfra interrupted. "I approve of the choice you made. Had I been in your place, I would have done the same."

"Then why aren't we going back?" Ryder snapped. "Why aren't we finishing what we started? We need to strike while the iron is still hot."

"I assume that I'm supposed to know what that means," Evfra deadpanned.

He leaned against the desk, towering over Ryder, even from the other side.

When the Pathfinder refused to back down, head held high in defiance, Evfra felt his heart skip a beat.

Ryder sighed.

“It’s a figure of speech,” he explained. “It means that we need to take advantage of this situation while we can still turn it in our favor.”

“Pathfinder, with all due respect,” Evfra said, echoing the words used by him in the past, “our element of surprise is gone. Our Moshae has only just returned to us, and our people need time to process what was learned about exaltation. Others still need to recover from what they suffered at that place, and you —” He shoved a finger in his direction. “—have that precious vault of yours to explore. So, enlighten me, by all means…”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Evfra’s face twisted into a scowl.

“Tell me how, exactly, we are going to lead and coordinate another assault of that caliber so soon.”

Within the blink of an eye, a sea of violet enveloped Ryder from head to toe. Energy warped the air in close proximity to his body, both hair and clothes billowing around him, as if viewed from underwater.

Instinctively, sparks of bioelectricity flared defensively over Evfra’s skin. His body tingled, ready to react at a moment’s notice.

Neither of them so much as flinched when Ryder’s fist slammed down onto Evfra’s desk, denting its surface with the biotic force that fueled the blow.

Everyone else was instantly alert.

Guns were quickly raised in some cases. Others merely kept their hands at their sides, fully prepared to pull out their sidearm, if need be.

All eyes were trained on them. Tension spiked in the room, everyone uncertain of what their next move should be.

That didn’t stop Ryder from running his damn mouth, of course.

As a matter of fact, he didn’t even budge when faced with the threat of injury or death.

Not once did he falter.

“If all you can do is make excuses about why something can’t be done, then be my guest,” Ryder hissed, only loud enough for the two of them to hear. “I don’t care. I’ll take that god-forsaken place down by myself if I have to.”

Evfra could almost pinpoint the exact moment when things changed between them.

Right then, staring into each other’s eyes, neither one of them backing down, he didn’t know what to call it at the time, but it was clear that something changed.

Dare he say, it felt as if their small corner of the universe had shifted.

Here this foolish human was, an alien from a whole other galaxy, yet Evfra felt as if he was looking in a mirror.

Scott’s anger was only a protective shell, one that Evfra could see through, as clear as day.

Beyond it, there was hurt, pain, fear.

Every emotion was all too familiar.

Exaltation threatened every intelligent species in Heleus. No, in Andromeda . It stripped away everything that made them, them.

But Scott was clearly not only mourning what could potentially happen to his people on a much grander scale.

He was also mourning for the angara. He was mourning with them, alongside them.

That —his level of empathy— was what separated him from the kett in Evfra’s eyes.

Evfra might not trust this Initiative of his, but he at least trusted Scott to lead them right.

For now.

Without looking away, Evfra held his hand up and signaled for the others to stand down.

Begrudgingly, they returned to work, but it was obvious that they were still watching Scott.

Evfra knew that he couldn't afford to keep their attention divided.

Slowly but surely, the sparks along his skin dissipated. He strolled around the desk; and as Scott turned to face him, he stood before him. His biotics made Evfra's teeth tingle, but Evfra managed to speak through the strange sensation.

Clenching and unclenching his jaw, he said, "Pathfinder, you know better than anyone else that we must take responsibility for our actions, even when a mission does not go according to plan."

"I know that," Scott huffed.

"Then act like it." When Scott glared, Evfra refused to be intimidated, insisting that his words be heard. "Even victories come at a cost. There might still be consequences to come from that mission that we have not anticipated as of yet, but we will deal with them when that time comes. Not a moment sooner. Our mission was a success, regardless of our feelings about it."

His voice softened. Vibrant, blue eyes gentled.

Without thinking, Evfra reached out and placed his hand on Scott's shoulder.

A single, reassuring squeeze left him speechless.

In an instant, his biotics were snuffed out like a flame, so Evfra thought it appropriate to press the issue.

"Perhaps it does not feel like a victory to you because you sustained a significant injury, not to your body, but to your spirit." Evfra poked him in the chest. "Learning the truth about what the kett do to us took its toll on you as well. When our minds and emotions are in turmoil, the spirit needs rest to recover, same as the body."

If he was looking for a response of some sort, then he would be disappointed. Only silence answered him.

With a sigh, Evfra grazed his hand down along the length of Scott's arm. Scott shot him a curious look but still said nothing, even as Evfra’s hand settled in against his back.

He could feel a tremor run down Scott’s spine, but Evfra didn't mention it.

Instead, he guided him away from the desk and outside of the Resistance Headquarters.

"Come with me," was all that he said.

Scott knew better than to argue.

Eventually, he told him, "You know, for a second, you sounded like Jaal back there."

Caught off guard, Evfra huffed out a breath of laughter.

"We leave our marks on each other, good or bad."

"Is it a good thing in this case?" When Evfra refused to answer, he switched up his approach and tried again. "Where are we going?"

"To meet with the very same angara in question."

"Jaal?"

"Mm-hmm…" Even after they left HQ, all eyes seemed to be on them, watching with keen interest. Everyone’s attention remained fixated on their every move. "He asked that I meet him at the balconies outside of Headquarters."

"I hope you weren't too busy." Scott grimaced, suddenly sheepish.

“Why?” Evfra scoffed. “Feeling sorry, now that you made a scene? Don't be. Had you been angaran, they would've thought nothing of your little show back there.”

“Just another day in paradise?”

“Something like that, but my people know how to contact me if anything urgent comes up.” Scrutinizing Scott closely, Evfra took note of the shadows underneath his eyes. Creases lined Scott’s face, his brow furrowed. “Listen to me, if you are to be the leader you are striving to be, then you need to know your limits. Anyone with eyes can see that you are exhausted. When did you last take time for yourself?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Scott countered, but Evfra would not let him make it about himself.

“I take breaks — actual breaks — daily, if you must know. Could you say the same?”

Scott shook his head, more defensively than in answer to the question.

“I can’t afford to slow down, not now.”

“Then you will get yourself killed,” Evfra snapped. He didn’t care if they were in public or not. He dragged Scott to an abrupt stop, turned him so that they were facing each other, his hands on Scott’s shoulders. “Pathfinder, listen to me.” He repeated himself vehemently. “Leading others is like being lost at sea with them. It is your duty and your responsibility to save as many of them from drowning as you can, but what use are you to them if you are so committed to being a hero that you forget to take a second to draw breath for yourself? That you find yourself drowning in the process of saving others?

“In the right circumstances, dying in battle against our enemies is necessary. An 'honor,' some would say. Throwing your life away, when it could have been prevented, is a waste. A dead Pathfinder is useless to your Initiative, just as you are useless to me when you are not at your best.”

After a short pause, Scott spared Evfra a small smile.

“Careful there,” Scott teased, “or I might start to think you enjoy having me around.”

“‘Enjoy’ is such a strong word,” Evfra muttered, albeit with no real heat for once. “You are an asset that I value, though. An investment that I would be… disappointed to lose.”

“Wow,” Scott said. He placed a hand upon the center of his chest, pretending to be breathless. “Has anyone ever told you that you have such a way with words?”

“I’ve been called charming from time to time,” Evfra joked in a cold, dry tone. Once again, Evfra stroked his hands down Scott’s arms. Only, this time, he tooks both hands in his with a tight squeeze. “Come.” He gave a pointed tug, leading him along. “Leave your burdens behind for a while. Swim to the surface with me and catch your breath.”

“Now, that’s more like it,” Scott praised. A more genuine sense of awe colored his tone, one that filled Evfra with warmth.

As they walked together, hand in hand, the attention soon strayed away from them, and it wasn’t long before conversations could be heard from a couple of Resistance fighters.

They were fawning over Jaal because of course they were.

While Evfra was used to it at that point, Scott —on the other hand— was not.

He scowled at them, which only left Evfra feeling amused.

“Are people always…” Trailing off, Scott gave a vague wave of his hand as he struggled to find the right words to describe the situation. Still, he came up short, unable to accurately voice his feelings. “Are they always like that whenever Jaal comes to Aya?” 

“Like what?” Evfra asked, snorting loudly. “Are they always pining like lovesick fools, you mean?”

“Well, uh, yeah, that’s one way to put it,” Scott chuckled. He rubbed at the back of his neck, uncertain.

Evfra didn’t even bother sugarcoating it. “Yes, they’re always like that.”

“Yourself included?” Scott teased.

As if he would even bother denying it.

“Myself included,” Evfra said. “The only difference between the others and myself is that I somehow managed to gain his attention in return. And later on, his affection. I don’t know how. Many think he is oblivious to their advances, but he picks up on more than they give him credit for. Can’t blame them for looking, though.”

“Really?” Scott raised an eyebrow at him. “It doesn’t bother you in the slightest?”

“No, and why should it? Jaal is capable, loyal, and strong. He has a good heart and a passionate spirit. His family is well-known in the Resistance, and their position on Havarl is widely-respected. All things considered, anyone would be lucky to have him.” Evfra surprised even himself by playfully nudging Scott in the side, leaning in to whisper in his ear. “Plus, I don’t know about humanity’s standards for beauty, but Jaal is extremely attractive among the angara.”

“You don’t say.”

“Why?” Evfra asked, his gaze shrewd yet sly. “Pathfinder, you’re not jealous, are you?”

“Who? Me? Jealous of them? Nah.” He shook his head again. “No, no, no. Of course not.”

"Of course not," Evfra agreed.

Before he could say anything else, someone called out, "Evfra!"

Both of their heads snapped up in the direction of his voice, only to catch sight of Jaal waving them over.

As they neared, he beamed at them, not even hiding his delight at Scott’s presence.

"Evfra, Scott," he greeted with a smile. "Take a break. Enjoy the view with me."

Jaal didn't hesitate to gather Scott up into his arms, Scott’s back to his chest. At first, the latter tensed, but he quickly melted into the warm embrace. As Jaal set his chin on the top of his head, a deep, low rumble reverberated throughout his chest, content for the moment.

"I, uh," Scott stammered, accompanied by a bashful laugh. "I'd love to."

"Such an eloquent response," Evfra taunted, to which Scott narrowed his eyes at him in warning.

"Come now, Evfra. Don't scare the Pathfinder off," Jaal scolded, half-joking, half-serious. "You can join in, too."

He spoke knowingly, way too observant for his own good.

Not even a split second had passed before Evfra was hauled into the hug alongside them. Evfra froze, hesitant to move at first, until he felt Scott press back against them both. 

After taking a moment to process, Evfra relaxed, and they settled in together.

It gave him some time to drink in the sight of Scott, as in really look at him up close. 

So alien yet so similar. From what Evfra has seen and heard, humans were a genetically diverse species whose physical traits often reflected that. 

While different from what he would expect amongst the angara, everything about Scott presented in lovely shades of brown. His skin, his eyes. Black hair formed into what Jaal called "dreads" or "locs," shortened versions of the full word, he informed him. Unlike the hair upon Scott’s brows or the stubble along his jaw, the color transitioned from the roots to their ends, starting off as a stark, rich black and ending up a bright, golden brown.

A stylistic choice, or so Evfra was told.

Like Jaal and many others of their kind, Scott also adorned himself in metal, piercings that were decorative for some or more symbolic for others.

Off duty, Scott wore them with pride. A snug ring along his right nostril. A curved bar at the corner of his left brow. Square diamonds on each earlobe, along with the occasional glimpse of a metal ball resting against his tongue, visible every so often once he spoke.

Those were just the ones that Evfra knew of, the ones that he could see. There was no telling if there were others elsewhere, but he tried not to linger on such thoughts.

Already, his mind was trying to wander further, but he would not cross that line, out of respect for both the Pathfinder and Jaal.

Unfortunately, it was more difficult to focus than he anticipated, especially when Jaal did nothing to help his current predicament.

Jaal was clearly comfortable around Scott, at ease enough to let his hands brush along the outline of his body.

How easily he took to tracing the black, geometric shapes along his neck and shoulder, ink that matched an identical tattoo that his sister had.

Evfra felt heat coil deep down within his chest.

Swallowing thickly, he couldn't help but notice how small Scott was. Even for an individual that was taller-than-average for his species, Evfra and Jaal still towered over him.

Soft skin was fragile without any natural means of protection. Without armor, barriers, or shields, only a thin layer protected him from sudden death. 

While Evfra knew that Scott was more than capable of handling himself, it made him acutely aware that Scott had little on to protect himself.

Evfra doubted that a mere tank top and a pair of sweatpants could stop a knife, let alone a bullet, but Scott seemed completely unbothered by that knowledge.

Reckless human.

"Well, what do you think?" Jaal asked, eager for his opinion.

The word slipped free before Evfra could stop it.

"Breathtaking," he murmured. 

Jaal shot him a smirk, but Scott stared out into the distance, oblivious to the exchange.

A serene smile stretched out across his face.

"I agree with Evfra." He released a reverent sigh. "This is amazing."

"Um, Scott." Jaal cleared his throat, completely ignoring Evfra’s glare. "I don't think he was referring to the same view that you were."

Blinking owlishly at that, Scott glanced back at them.

He and Evfra locked eyes for a split second, then instantly turned their gazes elsewhere.

"Ahem, ah, so…" Scott fumbled for a response. "Well, that's flattering."

"Think nothing of it," Evfra grumbled, his nose scrunched up in disdain, directed mostly at himself for being caught in such an act. "For both of our sakes."

"Easier said than done," Scott said.

"Watch out," Jaal teased. "You'll make him blush."

For good measure, Jaal tossed them a wink —surely, something he learned from the humans— but Scott couldn't help it. He tossed his head back into a hearty laugh, loud and playful in his typical fashion.

He nudged Evfra, eyes glittering in the afternoon sun.

"Don't worry. It's okay," he told him. "I wouldn't be able to tell if you did."

"Perhaps not," Jaal allowed, "but I will."

Evfra rolled his eyes.

"Insufferable," he sneered, "the both of you."

"Yet you put up with us," Jaal pointed out.

"That, I do."

Evfra offered no more and no less, leaving it at that.

Jaal drew in a deep breath.

He scanned along the horizon, tugging Evfra and Scott impossibly close.

Wildlife flew overhead with chirps and squawks. The occasional shuttle could be seen, silently speeding off into the distance.

Waterfalls roared loudly nearby, mere background noise to the conversations rolling through the tavetaan and the markets. Mountains reached out towards the tumultuous skies. On one side, it was a bright blue canvas, dotted with white, fluffy clouds. Then, on the other, storms formed twisters in the distance that swirled with fire and lightning.

The combination of fresh air, plants, and water created a crisp scent that spoke of home. 

It was a reminder that life could thrive, even in spite of all the struggles they endured.

Even amongst the chaos, there was an order to life. There was beauty.

"Ah…" Jaal sighed. His lips quirked up into a light smile. "I've missed the fresh air of Aya."

"Hopefully not the only thing you missed," Evfra said, uncharacteristically playful.

Or perhaps it was more in character than he let on, seldom given a chance to flourish, except in the right company.

“Of course not,” Jaal answered, offended by the very notion. “I missed a lot of things, people too.”

“It’s easy to see why,” Scott said. He placed his hands over the arms wrapped around him, drawing comfort from the warmth of their presence. “Doesn’t hurt that I get to share such an amazing view with even better company.”

He shamelessly snuggled up to them, and Evfra felt a surprising surge of happiness at that, content to simply bask in the experience together.

Scott hummed, “I could get used to this.”

Yeah, Evfra had to admit, he could too.

And there was no one else he’d rather share those moments with.