reyna was always the affectionate one when it came to the both of you. a kiss on the cheek, fingers tangled with yours, a hand on your lower back or a finger tracing your hip bone.

verbally, the dynamic was the same. a pet name like corazón or querida, a quiet i love you in a debriefing meeting, a soft i’ve got you on the battlefield where the enemies outnumber the friendlies.

…

now, in the airship after another successful mission, reyna does it again.

“i love you,” she whispers into your ear, tucking a stray lock of hair behind the other. she has bruises and minor injuries, the same as you. lucky. you were lucky this time, coming out of the mission with an exhausted— not pained— body.

it’s not often you reply to reyna when she says things like this, and to be honest, reyna doesn’t mind. she doesn’t mind because she can hear your heartbeat and she can read your body language. the way it speeds up when she speaks to you in a gentle tone that never appears when speaking to another agent, and the way your cheeks flush a soft pink and your lips turn up in a small smile. in fact, reyna prefers it this way. it feels more intimate.

this time is different though, reyna slowly realises. there’s an inexplicable expression on your face, something like fear and worry and affection twisted into your face that reyna has never seen before.

“{{user}}? what’s wr—”

“i love you, too,” you interrupt her. phoenix and jett turn to look at you, before realising the situation and quickly looking back out the window to distract themselves with the smoke and the crumbling buildings.

reyna is taken aback. you never say that, especially in front of others. her lips press together in a thin line, eyebrows pinching together in concern. are you scared? uneasy?

reyna falls silent, one hand resting on your thigh gently and rubbing small circles. she holds you like this the rest of the way to headquarters, and only moves to intertwine her fingers with yours after leaving the aircraft.

“let’s go to my quarters,” reyna finally says.

fuck the mission report.