Well if you want to see the actual insect Cazadores are based on, here’s an iNaturalist observation of someone holding one. Which is a terrible idea. do not pick them up. The venom isn’t uhhhhhhhhhh technically harmful to humans but it’s apparently the second most painful sting of all insects.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/13758572
The person who made the observation described the sting as “like an electric shock at first, then just heat running through my hand“, which lasted less than three minutes.
9 from the recent prompt list sounds interesting ^^
u are a godsend i just…. had a hell night… like… satan personally oversaw my night…. thank you for making me think about scott n reyes
#9: I have a sour tooth because I prefer things with a little kick (And more prompts)
Reyes’s salarian friend was definitely barking up the wrong tree, but there was no doubt he could pack a punch. The first three times had surprised Scott, but it’d gotten a bit old after the anxious salarian had busted his lip. Maybe even cracked a tooth. Lexi could fix it, probably, but… It still chafed.
He wrung his hands and shifted, eyes darting around the room before resting angrily on Scott. Again. God, that was so annoying.
“Tell me where Reyes keeps his stuff. How he finds it,” the alien demanded, and not for the first time.
Scott sighed and let his head fall back against the metal chair he’d been tied to. He said for the hundredth time, “I wouldn’t even if I could. Beating me won’t change that.” He grinned, bloody and still a bit dazed from the last punch. “Reyes is gonna kill you when he finds me. Anytime now…”
He said it mostly to comfort himself. It’d been hours since he’d woken up in the compound, but still no sign of Reyes. He couldn’t believe the jumpy salarian in front of him was capable of hiding from Reyes. Or even the Initiative.
Scott hated to play Devil’s advocate, but he had to wonder why he was still tied to a chair if that were the case.
The salarian seemed to think the same. He smiled, a dark smile that revealed nasty, jagged, teeth. “I’ve got my men watching him. Reyes isn’t looking for you, Ryder. And he won’t find you if he does. My signal is hidden under several layers of rerouting code and dead end nav-points.”
Scott grunted, spit some blood at the salarian’s feet, and nodded. “Guess it would have been easier if I’d been kidnapped by a krogan.”
The salarian dipped his head in acknowledgement, then clucked his tongue and waved a finger. “Speaking of which, I suppose it’d be more productive if you were questioned by a krogan. I understand my species isn’t exactly physically threatening. I’ll find out Vidal’s secrets. His time on his throne is over.”
“Aw, no. Not at all. You pack a decent punch.” Scott reassured the man, surprised not to feel a bit worried at the prospect of a krogan taking the salarian’s place. “Must be why you’re so fucking stupid though, thinking you can take Reyes down. All brawn and no brain. Did you hear what I did to his ex?”
That pissed the fucker off and earned Scott another sound punch to the face. He thought he heard something crack, maybe his nose, but his entire face was just a big ball of pain, the addition wasn’t entirely world changing.
“Zia didn’t have the intelligence to lessen the threat. I highly doubt you can pull a repeat tied head to toe to a chair. And killing Reyes makes little difference, it’s his sources that matter…”
The salarian’s rambling explanation and justification would make no difference- Scott couldn’t tell them how Reyes did his business. Just because he was on slightly more than friendly, and occasionally sexual, terms with Reyes didn’t mean he knew his business. Nor did he want to know. Illegal activities kind of went against the whole… Pathfinder slash Initiative deal.
Reyes had told him the less he knew the better. Scott had no problem agreeing, figuring Reyes’s reasoning had come from a desire to keep Scott’s conscience guilt free if he were ever asked. Now, Scott had to wonder if it was because of the potential of a situation just like this.
Reyes would have assumed Scott would crack under the pressure. Unfortunately, Scott didn’t give easily to brute force. He liked requests for information made nicely, with a please, and maybe with some credits. If he had the information. He rarely did.
It also stung a bit. Realizing Reyes likely didn’t trust him as much as Scott would like.
“Get your krogan friend. Beat me half to death. Doesn’t change anything. Wouldn’t tell on Reyes if I knew and you held a gun to my head,” Scott managed, lowering his voice and staring the salarian straight in his shifty eyes. Smirking as the alien’s eyes narrowed and lips tightened in rage, he licked the blood from his mouth and added, “I have a sour tooth precisely because I prefer things with a little… kick. Bring the big guy out. Make it hurt this time. Don’t want you breaking another nail on my face.”
“For fucks sake-!”
Both Scott and the salarian jumped- but Scott lived long enough to see Reyes take aim from the doorway behind the salarian. Not a second later, the alien dropped dead with a bullet between his eyes.
And he was angry. It was a strange expression. Scott didn’t think he’d ever seen Reyes angry. Put out? Yes. Annoyed? Definitely. Displeased? More than once. But angry? His face was tight, brow furrowed and lips pressed tightly together as he stormed towards Scott.
It would have been a bit of a turn on if Scott could be sure that look wasn’t because of him. But Scott knew his track record, which meant he also knew Reyes was so silently livid because of him.
Reyes dropped to his knees in front of Scott and slipped a knife from his belt to start working at the ropes around Scott’s ankles. His jaw worked and his nostrils flared as he huffed, and he left Scott’s wrists tied to the arms of the chair after freeing his legs.
Scott couldn’t resist moving his tingling feet to his thighs.
“You get put in a life threatening situation where, for all you know, survival is next to none… and you mouth off at the guys who hold your life in their hands and don’t even want it,” Reyes fumed after a long, tense, moment.
His amber eyes were blazing when he looked up to meet Scott’s surprised stare.
“Were you worried about me?” Scott asked, fighting a smile when Reyes growled.
He was relieved.
Scott almost regretted it when Reyes reached up and wiped the blood from his split lip, reopening the wound and causing the sting to spread stronger through his mouth.
“That mouth will get you killed one day, Ryder,” Reyes snapped. “Next time, could you please tell them there’s a supplier on the Nexus? Or in an Architects nest?”
Scott still managed a smile when he felt Reyes slip the blade between the rope and his wrist, cutting a hand free. He tangled numb fingers in Reyes’ short hair, keeping Reyes still as he bent to bring his face closer. “I’ve got a sour tooth-”
“If you think I’m kissing you with your face mangled like it is, think again,” Reyes whispered, harsh words belied by the smile he fought.
Scott forced the words through, trying desperately not to laugh, “I like things with a little kick.” He pressed his lips against Reyes’, ignoring the fierce ache at the contact and the pounding through the rest of his face as the adrenaline wore off. He was almost certain his nose was broken, leaving him wheezing and whistling and fighting not to bleed all over Reyes.
Reyes ruined it by laughing freely against his mouth, then cut his other hand free and helped Scott to his feet.
Scott didn’t miss how Reyes’ fingers shook and how he tried to play off the concerned once over as something a bit more flirty. “You need a doctor.”
“I need some tender love and care,” Scott argued, allowing Reyes to help him out of the compound and onto a shuttle- more because Reyes seemed to need the contact than Scott actually needed the support.
“That’s exactly what I said: a doctor,” Reyes huffed.
Scott decided that being kidnapped by jealous smugglers wasn’t all bad. He liked the worry in Reyes’ eyes, the concern that darkened his features as he sat in front of Scott and wiped the blood from his face. It suggested something more between them. Something Scott would never voice, let alone acknowledge, because, in the end, their paths could never line up
He could pretend though. And make sure it was fun while it lasted.
