Chapter Text
Email from: Director Tann
To: Tiran Kandros
Subject: Are you done?
Body:
I'm disappointed in you, Kandros.
When you sent me your resignation, I thought you would spend a few weeks getting over your childish desire to "explore" and return back to your duties. That is why I explicitly refused to accept it.
The militia requires a strong hand to guide it - peace on the Nexus, and successful relations with our neighbors, depends entirely on the reliability of our security. It's very difficult for me to explain to people that the head of security on the Nexus abandoned his post to abscond with the human Pathfinder across the galaxy.
I expected better from you. If you return soon, I can consider looking past this mistake and offering you your old post back. If not, I'll be forced to demote you.
Email from: Captain Sajax
To: Tiran Kandros
Subject: Just checking in
Body:
Hey boss - wanted to let you know we've rounded up a few more members of Kaetus' little gang. You were right - mostly people with relatives still on ice, people in shitty circumstances that he was taking advantage of.
We're going with a less heavy handed approach. It's clear that not all of these rebels are a threat to the Nexus, so we're trying out a less punitive punishment with them - community service, mostly. We'll be keeping an eye on them for a while, but things on the Nexus are stable for now.
Not sure if you noticed, but I got promoted. I think Tann's going to have to come to terms with the fact that you're gone, and whether he likes it or not, I'm probably next in line for your role. I feel good about my chances of getting it - I had a pretty great mentor.
Speaking of...I hope you're enjoying your break. I mostly wanted to let you know not to worry about the Nexus - we've got it covered.
Email from: Vetra Nyx
To: Tiran Kandros
Subject: Well, this is kinda awkward...
Body:
So...a couple of us on the crew wanted to let you and Ryder know that you guys don't have to slink around and hide anymore. Figured letting you know via email would spare me from the world's most awkward conversation.
Everyone knows. Everyone on the Nexus, everyone on the outposts, and definitely everyone on the ship. Not saying you guys need to make out all the time, but we just wanted to let you know that it's definitely not a secret anymore, so...you don't have to run into her quarters when you think everyone else is asleep, or sneak glances at her when you think nobody else is looking.
We're happy for you guys.
PS: Really, don't make out in front of us. Peebee said she'd be "cool with seeing a bit of PDA", which lead to Jaal asking about interspecies mating habits, but the rest of us would prefer you keep it to her quarters, please.
Email from: Avitus Rix, Turian Pathfinder
To: Tiran Kandros
Subject: An Opportunity
Body:
Hey Kandros - think we've met before. Ryder's a friend, and she suggested I reach out to you.
She told me you can handle your own in a fight, and that you're looking for a new job. Your credentials speak for themselves - with your military background and experience in Heleus, I wanted to see if you'd be interested in a position aboard my ship. I know it seems really sudden, but I'm always scouting for good talent, especially talent I can count on in a firefight.
I'm happy to talk more via a vid call. Let me know.
Tiran stared at the slew of messages in his inbox. He had been pretty lax about checking since he'd boarded The Tempest, and the message from the turian pathfinder weighed heavier on him than the others.
Tann's email was the latest in a line of efforts to get Tiran to come back onto the Nexus, and he felt no guilt deleting it. It seemed Tann didn't need to worry - Sajax was more than competent, and would be an excellent replacement. Vetra's email was more of a relief than embarrassing to read - he was getting tired of tiptoeing around his relationship with Sara, of accidentally calling her by her first name at crew meetings.
The past few months had been the best of his life, although he wasn't sure if that was because of the work he was doing, or the company he kept. Between diplomatic missions for the angara and exploring new planets for outpost scouting, he'd spent his days getting to know the crew of the Tempest better and his nights getting to know the pathfinder more...intimately.
Though he'd been enjoying himself, he was starting to wonder how long his "vacation" would be. The turian in him was itching for some kind of stability, a permanent post.
"Read anything interesting?"
Sara yawned, propped up on a pillow in her pajamas. Messy hair spilled down her shoulders, and she gave him a sleepy smile.
He hadn't meant to disturb her, but he'd gotten so used to sleeping beside her that he spent every night in her room. Now that she was awake, though...
"Yeah, actually. I just got an email from the turian pathfinder - seems you've been talking about me behind my back."
She sits up straighter, alert. "Don't take it the wrong way, Tiran. I just...well, now that I've seen you in action, I wanted to see if you'd want a post with Avitus. You like the work, and I thought maybe you'd want to be among your own people again."
"You trying to get rid of me, Ryder?" Though he tried to keep his voice light, he's only half joking.
"I love having you here, you know that. But I-" she breaks off for a moment, carefully considering her next words. When she's speaks again, her voice breaks a little. "I don't want to hold you back. I wonder if you miss - well, not being surrounded by aliens. Working with the turian pathfinder would be an amazing opportunity, and you deserve it."
Tiran takes a good look at her, and his mandibles flare. "Sara, I've spent months with you. And you're right - I love the work. I love the feeling of stepping on a planet for the first time. I even love the stuff I thought would be boring - cataloguing flora and fauna, spending hours in the Nomad...and you're right. I'm not going back to the Nexus - I want to work with my pathfinder."
Sara presses her eyes shut and nods. When she opens them again, she's smiling, but the light is gone from her eyes. "The turians will be lucky to have you."
Tiran is confused for a moment, before he laughs. He crosses the distance between them, emails forgotten, and holds a hand to her face. "Spirits, Sara. You're my pathfinder. And I'm staying until you're sick of me."
Relief spreads across her face, and she punches him playfully in the arm. "Are you asking for a permanent posting, Kandros?" she grins. "Are you sure, absolutely sure that you don't want to be with the rest of the turians?"
He presses his forehead against hers, and thanks the Spirits for every moment he's had with her. His subvocals sing, bliss and contentment flooding his system, and he hopes that she understands how happy she makes him even if she can't hear them.
"Positive," he says. "Ask SAM to gauge whether or not I'm truthful."
"SAM's not listening," her smile is playful, inviting. "He tends to make himself scarce when he knows we're -"
Tiran interrupts her with a human kiss, enjoying how soft her lips feel. In a few hours, they'd be planet side, exploring a new world and uncovering its secrets. But for now, Sara Ryder was pulling him into bed, and Tiran was certain of one thing.
He had found his home.