Call me Sarge.

askstevecortez:

Sighing as Boss’ tilted his head up, Steve gave a bit of a weak smile. “You never realize what you’ve got until it’s gone.” That was a phrase Steve knew too well. “My father died while I was still in the First Fleet. I knew he wasn’t doing so good for a while, I knew I should have taken time off but I didn’t want too. I was too hot headed and if I left I wouldn’t of gone on some mission I don’t even remember anymore.” Steve shrugged. “Mom died probably a year and a half after, never really knew exactly how. She was never the same after dad died.” 

A tear formed at the corner of Boss’ eye as he was truly saddened by the story. “Y-yeah…” he choked out in response. He sniffled a bit to clear his airways and his throat, blinking the tears away. As he composed himself, he nodded. “I’m sorry you had to… Had to go through that. It’s just not fair. You can’t beat yourself up, though.”

askstevecortez:

Steve was a little surprised by the question, he twirled his fork around as he thought for a moment. “I was nineteen when I joined the Alliance. About ten years ago.” Thinking about it, it felt so long ago even if it wasn’t an extremely long time. He took a few more bites of his salad as he thought, finishing it off. “I was an only kid, so were my parents. So no cousins either. My life was kind of normal.” He shrugged. “I mean, I never really got into a lot of trouble. I never focused on school until the end. I had to work my ass off in flight school to move up. I slept around and partied a lot too. I was lazy.” He snorted, shaking his head. “My mom would always bust my ass for coming in late and making a mess in the kitchen, I’d always want pancakes when I was drunk.” He had a bit of a sad smile then, thinking about it. “Part of me wishes I spent more time with my folks back then, I was just a selfish and spoiled teenager.”I would hate the trips my dad wanted to go on. It took away from my ‘free time’ as I would say that. Yeah, my free time was getting blow jobs at the clubs with my fake id.” He snorted and shook his head, looking down. 

With each phrase Steve said, Boss face seemed to sink lower. He had it rough as well and the story… He was sure that it was just the surface of what happened. When Steve looked down, Boss extended a hand across the table and tilted his head up, caressing his cheek with his thumb. “We all have skeletons in our closets. Some more than others… But we’re only human. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” He pulled his hand away and smiled warmly at Steve. 

askstevecortez:

“Nothing wrong.” Steve shook his head, bringing a forkful of salad to his lips. It was a little dry, so he paused to add more of the side of dressing that came with it. He wanted to finish his salad before he ate his panini. 

Looking up, Steve had a curious expression. Swallowing he shook his head. “No, go ahead. I don’t mind.” 

He scanned Steve’s face briefly before taking in a quick breath and letting it out. “What was your life like before the military? Like… Your family. Or what you did.” He felt somewhat awkward asking it but he was genuinely curious about what it was like not having to be in the military or fighting or anything remotely related. He took a stab at his pasta and took another stab at the pasta, taking a bite.

…

askstevecortez:

It wasn’t so hard to notice that Boss was quite flustered. It brought a sly grin to his features. He found great enjoyment in teasing. He was about to say something else as the waiter had brought their food. He chuckled and shot a heated glance to Boss, then back to waiter to thank him. 

Looking back to Boss, Cortez nodded. He took his fork and stabbed at his side salad for a moment. “Hopefully.” Steve chuckled. “I’ve only heard it by reputation.” 

The glance from Steve made Boss grin widely. He thanked for the waiter as well and glanced back at Steve. “Did I do something wrong?” He snickers and stabbed his dish, twirling his fork a bit.

“Then I guess your sources are correct.” He chuckled and took a bite of his dish, chewing it thoughtfully and nodding. “Cortez? You mind if I ask you a personal question?” He bit the bottom of his lip as he thought about what he was about to ask and the possible responses from Steve.

((Now I’m hungry. WHY DO RP SESSIONS ALWAYS DO THIS TO ME?! More importantly, why do I torture myself with food I have no chance of obtaining right now?))

askstevecortez:

“It’s not awkward Boss, kind of cute, actually.” Steve shrugged, it didn’t really bother him. Steve knew Boss had lived a different life than him. Things would definitely be different. Steve’s whole life wasn’t always military, he was nineteen when he joined. 

It was Steve’s turn to get a little flustered, his neck heating up. He shifted and rubbed the back of his neck, grinning and looking off to the side. “Bet you like seeing me out of it more, don’t you?” Steve retorted, trying to get Boss flustered again to get his own flustered self under control. 

The images of Steve out of his uniform popped into his head once again and it made him flustered. It had only happen a few times but it left one hell of an impression. “I, uh… M-maybe…” was all he could stammer out for now. He was thankful for the distraction the waiter provided as he brought their food.

He let out a sigh that was masked as one to cool his pasta off but was really intended to calm his nerves. Boss was sure that Steve could see right through it but he figured he’d give it a try. “Food looks good, at least. Seems you picked a good place to come, eh?” He quirked a smile before gathering his silverware.

askstevecortez:

“Later tonight?” Steve leaned back in his seat, smirking with a slight hum to his voice. He watched as Boss rolled up his sleeves, he looked great before with it neat. Yet with the slight dishevelment with the sleeves rolled up made it definitely Boss. Steve liked it. 

Not being able to help his slight laugh, leaning forward and resting his chin on his hand as he leaned his elbow against the table. “What, you never got all dressed up before?” Steve teased, smirking. “I beg to differ, you’re implying you look silly. I think you look sexy dressed like this. You clean up well.”   

The compliment made him blush profusely and made him look away. He mumbled something before rubbing his face. “Never really had to dress up. Dress up for me was getting in my armor.” He flashed a shy smile at Steve as he recalled back home. “This has be awkward for you… Hearing me talk about all of my firsts like I’m some kind of blubbering teenager.”

He chuckled goodheartedly and shrugged his shoulders. “You look rather handsome like this, though. Not that I’m not a fan of seeing you in your uniform, though…” His smile turned into a sly grin as he attempted to turn the focus of the conversation around.

askstevecortez:

“It’s fine.” Steve shook his head, softly laughing. “The Citadel is something else, sometimes you forget you’re on a space station.” He looked back to the menu, trying to figure out what he wanted. He was starting to get used to the stuff on the Normandy. While most of the time it was better than ration packets, sometimes he just ate those so he didn’t have to leave the shuttle bay. “Your treat?” Steve looked up from the menu, a small grin. “What if I wanted to treat you?” 

Looking back to the menu he grinned as he shook his head again. He wasn’t really going to fight that. If Boss really wanted to pay, he’d let him. Next time he’d spoil him. Making his choice of a panini sandwich and a side salad he set the menu aside and looked over at Boss. 

“Well, you can treat me another time. Or later tonight?” He raised a mischievous eyebrow and laughed, shaking his head. “You can get the bill next time.”

He wouldn’t lie, he felt somewhat awkward in his dress clothes. Until this point, it was all fatigues and armor with the occasional Republic dress clothes thrown in. Now it was his beskar’gam some of the time and off-duty clothes the rest of the time. Unbuttoning his cuffs, he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and sighed in relief. “Much better,” he mumbled. Lifted his eyes to Steve, he smiled and chuckled.

“You know, if the vode back home saw how I was dressed right now, they’d laugh until they couldn’t anymore. And… That would probably happen because I’d get my hands around their necks.” A grin formed across his face and he laughed, still leaning forward on the table.

askstevecortez:

Steve ordered himself water as well, he watched as Boss was looking over the lake. Steve couldn’t help to just watch the man, a small smile on his features. He was nervous and excited right now all at the same time. It was a bit different right now. Different from them sitting in the mess, it was a lot more intimate. Definitely a lot more intimate. He kept his hands on his knees, scared they would start sweating again. Feeling that he had been looking too long, Steve busied himself to look over the datapad that held the cafe’s menu. 

After hearing the menus snap on the table, Boss shook himself out of his daze and looked over at Cortez, giving him a warm but embarrassed smile. “Sorry… It’s not often I get to see an entire landscape on a spaceship. Or space station.” He chuckled softly and picked up the datapad, glancing over the menu. In between reading the items on the menu, his eyes flicked to Steve, scanning his features on his face. It made him smile that he was already enjoying himself, or at least seemed to be enjoying it. Looking over the menu and the pictures of the food, he placed an order of a fettucini dish and set the menu aside.

Placing his elbows on the table and folding his hands together, he set his head on top and smiled at Steve. “Order whatever you want. It’s my treat tonight.”

askstevecortez:

Steve chuckled, taking Boss’ hand after Boss had stepped out of the transport. He kept their hands together as they walked over to the location of the Cafe. It was down a couple flights of stairs from where they got off the transport. Apollo’s cafe wasn’t very busy, but the Salarian waiter seemed to just making himself seem busy regardless. There was a free table off in the corner, with a somewhat decent view of the Presidium lake. “How about over there?” Steve nodded towards the table with his head, looking at Boss. 

He looked over to where Steve indicated with his nod, smiling at the view. Not too long ago he saw the view but with Kaidan instead. “Not a better view.” He turned back to the Salarian and nodded to him in thanks before guiding both of them to the table and sitting down at the table. After Steve sat, he ordered himself a glass of water to start with and immediately turned his attention to the lake, smiling as it “glistened” in fake sunlight. 

askstevecortez:

“Right.” Steve nodded, looking over at Boss a bit sheepishly. Steve wasn’t sure if he’d be able to manage that. At least not anymore, maybe if he had never been in a long term relationship before. Downtime had been starting to get real hard for him, without anyone there. “It’s crossed your mind now, right?” Steve snickered, teasing the man. 

Cortez smiled back, leaning over close to Boss. “I don’t doubt that we’ll have fun.” He used his free hand to tilt the other’s head by his jaw to give him a gentle kiss. 

Boss grinned back at Steve and nodded. “Yeah, it’s definitely crossed my mind. Once or twice, at least.” 

The closeness made Boss blush but he didn’t move. Instead, he just moved his arm around Steve’s shoulders and smiled at the kiss, returning it happily. Putting his forehead on Steve’s he smiled and nodded. “Yeah… We’ll see how memorable this night can be.” Giving another quick peck, the transport stopped at their destination. Standing and stepping out of the transport, he offered his hand to help step him out.

askstevecortez:

“Never?” Steve asked, curious. Steve himself was never a huge dater when he was younger. Then when he joined the Alliance it was mostly just some flings before Robert. There were never really any serious dates until then, and since it’s been a long time. The thought almost left a pain in his chest, but he didn’t let it get to him. He was going to have a good time with Boss. He was over letting that get to him. “I’m sure we’ll just both be fools then.” Steve chuckled, lacing their fingers again together and squeezed. 

“Never.” He leaned back in his chair and frowned slightly. “You forget that I’ve only been in war situations. During our downtime, sure, we had flings. Pairing or… More. But finding people to be with? Never crossed my mind.” Boss glanced over at Steve and saw his face bunched up. Frowning slightly, he held their hands up and squeezed them, smiling at him. “Hey… We’re going to have fun tonight. And make fools of ourselves. Don’t fret.”