Chapter Text
How did Meridian look so much like a sun shone down on it, Jaal wondered, as he stepped outside into the light. The sky was artificial and yet he felt all his energy receptors flare up like he had walked into the full beam of a bright, clear day on Havarl. With one hand, he wiped away blood that was running into his eyes from a laceration on his forehead and saw Lexi hurry towards the Pathfinder’s sister, who, exhausted but chuckling at something Ryder had said, allowed herself to be handed over to the doctor. In the crowd stood some of his own siblings and cousins among other soldiers of the Resistance, bleeding, scuffed, with dented armour and smiles on their faces. Next to him, the Pathfinder took Peebee’s hand and Jaal found himself looking for his own love.
Evfra was bracketed by the Moshae and the other Pathfinders. Jaal had seen him only in passing, fighting alongside the Resistance and Reyes to cover their approach to the Archon’s base, and they hadn’t had time to exchange more than a nod as Jaal barrelled after the Pathfinder for the Archon’s hideout.
But they were all here now, with the Archon dead and the bright sky of Meridian lighting up a beautiful land of green. Jaal took a moment to appreciate the sight of Evfra on a world so wholly untouched by the deterioration of Remnant vaults and the destruction of the kett. It seemed unreal, like an image remembered from a daydream.
He stepped forward towards him, took Evfra’s face in his hands and kissed him on the mouth.
They had talked about making their relationship public when all of this was over. Granted, he was sure Evfra had had something more formal and quiet in mind, but why overthink it? They were lucky to be alive. Jaal wanted to enjoy the moment and Evfra did not turn his head.
Finally, after long, precious seconds, he did push against Jaal’s chest, though, urging him a step away.
“At ease, lieutenant,” he said, sarcasm clear in his voice as he chose that military term that so obviously had no place in their relationship anymore.
Jaal laughed at the slight blue blush on Evfra’s cheeks and the stunned looks on the faces of every angara in the crowd.
It was a new day.
-
“Evfra!”
Liam had spotted him before Jaal did. He was standing by the Moshae’s side, talking quietly to her, Director Tann and Addison, probably discussing her new role as the ambassador. However, he allowed himself to be distracted by the call. With a brief nod to them, he turned and joined Ryder’s crew on the balcony.
“What is it?” he asked.
“You should stay with us for a bit. It’s a party, we wanted to have a toast.”
“I’m not one of your crew.”
“No, but you’ve been on our ship. It counts,” Liam said good-naturedly.
“Besides, we’d have to tie Jaal down to stay with us and drink more if you sit in another corner,” Peebee teased, looking at Jaal.
“We haven’t had a chance to see each other yet,” Jaal said, without shame. Of course he was eager to spend some time with Evfra! He had been exceptionally busy after the crash-landing of the Hyperion on Meridian. Evfra had used the frantic kett activity that had followed the loss of the Archon to launch counter-attacks against the disorganised leftovers wherever possible. Jaal understood this was necessary, but that didn’t make it easier to stay separated.
While they talked, Ryder had actually managed to put a glass in Evfra’s hand.
“To Andromeda,” he said. “To Meridian. To all of us.”
They raised their glasses and Evfra, looking around him, imitated the gesture, though a little less enthusiastically.
“A human custom,” Jaal explained after taking a sip.
Evfra frowned at the contents in his glass.
“Seems like every culture’s habits surrounding alcohol are silly. I suppose most of them were invented under heavy influence.”
Jaal chuckled, craning his neck as he listened. The balcony overlooked a wide meadow, with trees so high they seemed to want to touch the synthetic sky above and a tapestry of flowers covering the grass in colourful dots.
“If we follow Meridian’s map and reactivate the vaults, we’ll have many other words like this,” Jaal said with a thoughtful smile as he stepped up to the balustrade. Evfra joined him.
“Hopefully. Maybe some of them are a bit cooler.”
“If we live together, you’re not going to make me move to some snowy desert, are you?”
“Undecided,” Evfra said with a hint of a smile. “To be honest, I doubt I’ll get off Aya until I die.”
“Aya is not so bad,” Jaal said before he kissed him.
Evfra let the touch of their lips linger for a bit before he spoke again.
“It can be in parts. You’re right, too many bureaucrats.”
“As long as you’re there, I can deal with them,” Jaal answered.
Evfra took another sip of his drink.
“My true mother wants to meet you,” Jaal said after a moment of comfortable silence.
“Oh, has she heard about our kiss? I wonder how, it was only half your family looking on,” Evfra drawled.
Jaal laughed. He knew what Evfra looked like angry and this was not it.
“Besides, your mother does know me. She’s in the Resistance.”
“Not as my partner. There’s new questions to be asked.” He cleared his throat. “I... hope you don’t mind hearing about the wonders of adoption too much,” he added with an apologetic smile.
Evfra shook his head.
“That’s what you get with angaran families,” he said, shrugging. “And I assume you and your mother don’t disagree on that point.”
“I, well... I am a typical angara in that fashion,” Jaal admitted. He understood if the topic was raw for Evfra since he had lost his children, though.
“I know that and I did say I wanted a future with you. I didn’t mean to rob you of your ideas for what that might entail, either.” He snorted. “Besides, I don’t want to start a fight with your true mother. From what I have seen of her over the years, it’s not a good idea.”
Jaal felt his heart beating fast even as he chuckled. This was so much more than he had dared hope for.
“Jaal,” Evfra said, suddenly, “I wanted to thank you.”
“For what?” Jaal asked, looking at him in surprise.
“Waiting for me. I know it’s not a matter of course.”
“I’m just happy you caught up,” Jaal said, gently bumping against Evfra’s shoulder with his own. Together, they looked out over the new world.