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He loved this time of night on Kadara. Pleasantly worn out, half asleep in Reyes's arms in the quiet twilight. Nothing was better than this, he thought, running a finger over a scar on Reyes's stomach. Absolutely nothing.
"You seem to like them", Reyes murmured, not wanting to break the quiet either.
"Like what?" Reyes kissed the top of his head instead of answering. "Fine." He cuddled closer to him. "Keep your secrets."
"These." Reyes placed a hand over his and guided them over his scar. "You're always tracing over them. Do you have a scar kink?"
"No. Just like the feeling of them. And maybe I also like what they represent."
"And what's that?"
"That you survived. Yes, you faced a ton of shit but you survived. And now you're here with me."
"Hmm. I like that. Maybe I should trace your scars. See what they tell me."
"I don't have any."
"Not possible. You were in the alliance. You're the Pathfinder. And as much as I don't like to think about it, you've been injured. When you were here last, you had a bandage on your arm from a stab wound." Reyes grabbed his bicep and twisted his arm a bit. "See? It is... Right here?" Reyes ran a hand over his skin. His smooth, devoid of any marks skin. "Okay.
Now I'm confused."
"Told you I didn't have any."
"That one just healed perfectly. You do have the best doctor in the Initiative looking out for you."
"It did. You're exactly right." He kissed him. "But now I'm awake. Want to go again?" Reyes's answer was a kiss. Followed by another. His hands were all over him. His chest. His arms. His legs. Wait. His legs? He pushed away from him. "What are you doing?"
"Being naturally curious? Thought you loved that about me?"
Of all the stupid things for him to get hung up on. It had to be the one he wasn't totally comfortable with.
"Reyes. I didn't lie. I don't have any scars. I did before coming here. But not anymore. Don't think I ever will again." He saw it in Reyes's eyes that he had figured out why. And then he couldn't bare to look at him. He turned his eyes to the blanket.
"SAM. That's why, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Didn't even realize he was doing it until..."
"But why? The new ones I could maybe understand but why ones you had before him?"
"Super soldiers should look perfect. No mistakes allowed to show. No mistakes allowed. Super soldiers should be better than that. Better than human." Inhuman.
"Oh, baby." Reyes kissed his cheek. "You're human. Superhuman maybe. But still human. And I can prove it." What? He looked at him.
"How?"
"I love you. Gender might not matter but I only love the human variety." That didn't prove anything. And he was about to tell him that when he realized it didn't matter if it proved anything. It made it feel better about himself. Made him feel normal again. And he supposed that was more important. He smiled and kissed him.
"Thank you."
"Anytime, my queen. Anytime you feel unsure, you call me. I'll set you right."
"Deal." He laid down again and pulled the blanket over them. He frowned as Reyes uncovered himself, leaving only one leg under the blanket. "Dear, it's freezing in here."
"My heater keeps me warm."
"Heater? Where?" Reyes pulled him close, kissing his forehead.
"In my arms. I'm surprised Voeld didn't melt around you."
"Biotics don't give off that much extra heat."
"No but superhumans do. My advice, baby? Stop thinking of the negatives and enjoy the positives. It's what I do."
"The heat thing benefits you more than me. I need more blankets because of it."
"True. But I know one you probably haven't thought of."
"Tell me."
"Goes back to the no scaring. You probably won't get wrinkles either or at least later than usual. Could look young well into your sixties."
"Okay. Except you are eventually going to look way older than me."
"No, I won't. Your love keep me young." Feeling his cheeks heat up, he buried his head in his chest. Reyes laughed. "So stoic on the battlefield but so ruffled by words of love."
"Just your words."
"Hmm. Good. I am a jealous man." Reyes kissed the top of his head. "Especially when it comes to my queen." He sighed and tucked the blanket tighter around himself.
"Go to sleep, dear."