The Usual

[Lovely]

December 20, 2005


The usual reconnaissance... check it, clear it out, take it down and head home for beers. Galen had gotten past the fence and disabled the first camera, watching from his vantage point as the convoy headed out, others still waiting for transport.

#57 moved silently in the shadows as the others made thier way towards the transport, she moved in an opposite direction. The shackles on her wrist were the one thing keeping her from moving as quickly as she could and should have been, they made to much noise as the metal links clinked together. She concentrated on keeping them as silent as possible, while keeping low and moving towards the perimeter fence. She swore at the rumble in the sky, a storm rapidly approached.

He crouched low and scaled the hill along the fence moving toward the more dense growth, to the next camera, intent on shutting off any remaining transmissions. d**n the transports weren't fast enough. Too many were left and the storm approaching wasn't doing his nerves any good. At least the fence was no longer charged.. as long as his bypass held. He cursed the fact that time was against him and hurried along the outer line of the fence. He stopped. Movement caught his eye on the back side of the compound, heading up to the fence, dark and low. "Damnit..." he whispered, flattening down.

#57 looked behind her and waited for the group to cross, some distance away before she scuttled across the 'open' pass. Her head lifted to the fence and the dark horizon, she could not remember what it was like to be 'free', but damn it she was going to find out. Either that or she was going to die, a cold hard fact that she accepted. She supposed either way, dead or on the other side of the fence she would be free. Keeping low she made her way directly towards where the man had flattened himself to the ground. Of course what caught her eye was the movement of a patrol behind where he was. She froze and then rolled into the cover of a stack of empty crates. Not far from where he was, her eyes now caught the slight shape of his form in the grass. Her eyes narrowed at the patrol, three men enhanced like herself.

He could see the figure looking his way and listened, the rustling beyond the fence. Time for a diversion. He moved only enough in his flattened form to tap the button on what appeared to be a watch, but was apparently a low transmitter. The camera behind him showered sparks through the disabled wiring that hung loose as the electricity surged through it and beyond, heading down the fence. It would buy him foot time, but no time against guns or telekinetics. He prayed his luck would hold and bolted.

She shook her head as the figure moved, trained eyes saw a man. The guns raised and clicked as one man held up a hand slamming the runner with an invisible wall that formed in front of him. #57 moved with lightening speed and flipped through the darkness. The first hit was the telekenetic, forcing him to release Galen. The second was the chains wrapping around the wrist of the gun man and disarming him before he could fire and alert anyone to the disturbance. Her foot also came around and knocked him back as she spun to face the third. The chains swung through the air and wrapped around his neck as she jerked him forward and down. He would not get back up, ever...but the first might and the second was already... She spun as his kick came at her ribs, the blow glanced as she went down to the ground to roll and flip back onto her feet.

As soon as he could move and join the figure that aided him, he was around and behind her going after the one that rolled her, sending a kick to the back of his head.

#57 watched as she came to her feet and the other went down, the man's kick sending him to his knees. She turned as the movement caught her eye the telekenetic was rising. She looked to the man and nodded, he could take this one and she moved to the kinetic. He raised his hand and she dropped to the ground grabbing a handful of dirt, which was thrown into his eyes. As he stumbled she moved in, hands touching his flesh. He grunted and went to his knees, slumping to the ground in moments... the life drained from his body.

He sent another kick to the man's face as he tried to stand, laying him out cleanly. He crouched and grabbed anything useful he could find.. gun, ammo, ID and access card... he slid the jacket off the man and took the whole thing, the bullet proofing being worth its own. Keeping the gun in hand, he left the other camera alone. He looked up, awed as the man she fought slumped under her touch.

She tossed the man back and cleaned him out, his gun, a knife and searched him over. Her head lifted as she eyed the jacket Galen had taken off the other man. She stood and moved towards him, suddenly tackling him to the ground. Her hand over his mouth and she yanked him back behind the crates, as lights flashed over their direction. She watched as they passed, not catching the fallen men in the grass. She released him as soon as the lights turned away, but held onto the jacket, searching through the pockets for a key.

[Lovely]

He held out the access card to her and a small silver object rose in his hand, held between his fingers, "Looking for this? First... tell me why you're not with the others... this place is going up in a few minutes, wouldn't want you to go with it."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, rolling up and down him. "How about you give me that key and I don't kill you." Her voice was unusually soft and sweet even with the hard edge it held with her threat.

"After taking your time to keep my ass alive? Nice to meet you too," his smile was devastating. He was enjoying this bit of fubar and finding that the company that helped him through it was actually kinda cute. "How about I have you help me a little more and then we worry about the key, hm? Maybe I don't want you running away on me just yet." He winked, checking the path to the door of the compound.

"I wasn't saving you...I was keeping them from making noise by shooting you." She looked him up and down again. "That would have alerted guards and they would have come running, thus finding me." She held out her hand for the key. "Why would I want to help you now, hmm?" She smirked. "The path will stay clear for five minutes, then another patrol will pass."

"I dunno... why are you? Thanks.. five minutes is all I need... are you coming along or not? You want out that bad, you should've gone with the transport. But, since you didn't, you can help with putting this place behind you another way. I need two and a half minutes to get in there, set up and get out," he handed her the detonator. "You want your key that bad, set it off in less than that and you won't have me to worry about and you'll have your key... fair?"

She looked at him, her jaw setting. "The transport is not going to drop me off down the road..." She shook her head and looked at the detonator. "More fair then I've had... fine." Her eyes came up to his. "Two and a half minutes...clock's ticking."

He nodded and blew her a kiss, rolling around the crates and jogging off, taking the strip of charges and tacking them as he went. His memory had traced the blueprint and the path he needed to take to get the key points of the structure, most around the boiler that would take care of itself, sending the lab and the holding cells skyward. He turned the corner and came face to a new wall, one that wasn't on the prints, one that he wasn't expecting and one that showed no short way around. The boiler hadn't been set yet and he had less than a minute remaining.

She watched the path after he left and sighed, counting down mentally. She watched as a patrol came by earlier than the five minutes. She watched as they headed the way the man had gone. She had no intention of going after him...for about 20 seconds. Cursing herself silently and wondering why the hell she was risking her neck and her freedom she went after the patrol. This one was a single guard, she took him down as he was about to turn the corner where Galen stood facing the wall. The guard fell forward towards Galen and #57 smiled at Galen from behind him. "I'm not helping you, just so we're clear." She said firmly as she walked up beside him.

He looked at her and smiled, "Well then, you can not help me some more by telling me if that bought enough time to get around this since it's not helping me either."

She looked at the wall and then at him. "What are you trying to get to?"

"Nothing that's going to be left standing long enough to worry, but for the sake of efficiency, the boiler if it's all the same."

"Through the wall would be faster then." She looked at him and held out one wrist. "Undo these and I'll get you through this wall in less than a minute."

[Lovely]

He regarded her and her shackles a long moment. Since she hadn't blown him sky high already, it was fair. Worst she'd do was disappear and he'd never see her again. "Fair... right then," he said turning the key, keeping the shackles as she slid out of them.

She winced as the shackles slid off and turned away. "ughhahh f*ck!" Curling her bleeding wrists up to her chest she barely looked at him as she knelt beside the guard and cut his shirt to quickly wrap and tie the holes on her wrists. The shackles were specially made for her, as for a porter they were like a tether, the spikes that embedded in her wrists held her where they wanted her. Go too far and her shackles would be triggered, taking her hands off. Coming back to his side, she nodded. "Thanks." She wiped her hand free of the blood and reached it out to him.

"Hmm...," he looked at the damage done and fastened one of the charges to the shackles, tossing the bloody mess on the stomach of the guard then took her hand. "Won't be needing those." His nose wrinkled a little as he spoke, a gleam to his eye as he regarded her. "Off we go?"

"Yes." The word started and before it ended they were in the boiler room. She spun as soon as they appeared, checking to make sure it was all clear. She had expected it to be clear, but checked anyway. Moving away from him she moved to the doors and slipped into the hall. "Get to work, I'll make sure you aren't disturbed."

He wobbled a little.. never will get used to porters, he thought. He shook his head clear and paced out the room, planting the charges from the last strip. Each charge was tiny, but in sync with each other, the sonic frequency in conjunction with the concentrated explosives would be an appropriately painful end to this facility. He'd still have the convoy to worry about, but the compound was first.

"Ready any time you are.. you can even still have the honors. Looks like you've earned that privelege. Name's Galen, by the way... in case you get to write my obit tomorrow."

"It was nice to meet you Galen, in case.." She shrugged and moved back to his side and took his hand. "Tell me where." She held up the detonator. "And tell me when."

"Thank you... there's no place like home... anytime you're safely out of range."

She nodded and the room was gone, replaced a few seconds later by an empty lot. She pressed the button and turned to the south to watch the place go up.

Sighing she tossed the detonater to him. "So need me to drop you somewhere or you have a ride coming?" She jumped down from the cement blocks she had climbed on, rubble from a building that had once stood in this lot.

"Still a lot to do... feel like taking over a convoy? Making sure they get where they're supposed to.. not where they're currently expected?"

She looked down at her wrists and then tore the sleeves off her shirt. Tying her wrists tightly up to keep them from bleeding through, for a little bit anyway. She looked at him and smiled. "Sure... I don't have any pressing plans."

He hummed again and looked at her wrists and spoke to her only with his mind. ~you hear me?~

She raised an eyebrow at him. ~I hear you.~

~Can you see this?~ He envisioned the office, making it clear enough, focusing on an image for her. ~Here first if you can.. take care of that. We know where the convoy's going at least. We can catch them on the next leg.~ He smiled warmly, taking her hands in his once she'd wrapped her wounds sufficiently.

She nodded watching his eyes and his smile as he took her hands. "Who are you?" She whispered stepping closer. She closed her eyes, picturing the place he had shown her. The air was warmer as they ported into the office.

"Someone who cares," he said, bringing her hand to his lip as they appeared in his office. "Med lab's this way. Get you patched and painless, Miss....?" He was already heading out the door, pulling her in tow behind him.

She followed as he tugged her. "Haven't had a name for a long time." She said in her soft voice, her eyes taking in everything as they walked.

"Well it's not that important, but you'll need something for your badge.. should you decide to stay."

[Lovely]

Her hand lifted and her fingers passed over the numbers on the back of her neck, but she said nothing. She shrugged and looked up the hall. "I'm not about to trade one cage for another."

"What cage? I'm offering you a position... last porter we had here... didn't have two and a half minutes," he said, stopping in front of a security door. He gave her a distant look, pained for having lost a good partner, but thankful he'd met her. "Job's yours if you want it. Course, I've broken a dozen rules I'll have to smooth over, but... you're injured and they'll just have to deal." He swiped his palm past the reader and the medlab door opened for them.

She shrugged agian. "You didn't have to bring me here...I would have lived." She chose to ignore the blood that dripped to the floor and stepped into the lab. She nodded, checking the place out, with a turn of her head. "Nice set up." She looked him up and down. "I'll think about your offer." She held out her hand. "Number 57." She was not going to tell him the name she had been called years ago.. Annia, her name had been taken from her more than ten years before.

"I could've left you behind, but where's the fun in that, hm? Besides.. I couldn't ask you out for a beer, if I left you back there, now could I?"

She eyed him. "A beer? What if I don't like beer?" She sort of smiled. "I'll have to try it and let you know."

"You've never tri... well, no time like the present. A very least an ice water... I owe you my thanks and would be most honored for the pleasure of your company, 57."
As he spoke, the lilt appeared more and more as he relaxed, a gentle irish accent rolling off some of his words.

"Funny they don't give the lab rats beer." She tipped her head to the side. "So you going to ask me out or patch me up before I bleed to death?" She liked his voice and his eyes. His smile was having a strange affect on her as well. "What if my company is highly untolerable? You've only been around me for about 45 minutes..."

He winked, ushering her into the lab to a cot, "I'm not the one who needs to worry... I have a sort of reputation around here.. and you've tolerated me fourty minutes longer than most. Now lay back... Liza or Oscar will be right with you. So.. will you?"

"Will I what?" She asked as she lay back. Her hands folded across her middle and her legs bent.

"Come out for a drink?" He stepped aside and sat on the neighboring cot, hunching his shoulders as he leaned on the edge. Liza came over to assist.

"Yes." She replied quietly, flinching back when the woman touched her. Her fist curled and then she settled holding her arms up for the woman to inspect.

"Hi...," Liza's eyes shone a brilliant green as she held out a hand for 57's. The green glowed slightly as she looked at the damages. "Oh, no problem... five minutes, Mr. O'Reilly. You can even wait here if you want." Her voice was light and friendly and she appeared to be only in her teens, but she set about healing the woman as she spoke. The bleeding stopped immediately. "I'm sorry if this hurts."

57 laughed and shook her head. "Thank you." She thought the healing would hurt? Try having those spikes embedded in your wrists all the time.

"Healing and compassion... she's a fine medic and has a charming bedside manner, wouldn't you agree? Thank you, Liza. Oscar is likewise blessed, but some are put off a bit by... well... you're no stranger having been where you were, but you'll see. He's marvelous at cards and at fixing fractures."

"Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly," she smiled, blushing a little. "Not even five minutes.. there you go.. how's that?" On the girls own arms, welts and lines appeared, matching 57's briefly before dissipating completely from both girls.

[Lovely]

She turned her head and looked at him as he spoke, letting the girl go about her healing. She sat up and looked at her wrists, then at Liza's. 57 looked into the girls eyes. "Much better, thank you." Well at least years in labs and cells had not taken her manners away. She swung her legs over the cot and looked at Galen. "Thank you, as well." A small smile. "Mr. O'Reilly?"

"I know... so formal, isn't it? It is O'Reilly, but... please, call me Galen... you may even call me Irish.. well, because I am that too," he grinned and shrugged.

She seemed to be thinking, fiddling with her fingers in her lap. "Well then thank you, Galen." She paused and softly smiled. "Annia." She whispered, almost blushing.

"Liza, can you check the locker room and see if we have some suitable clothes for ... for Annia... to get her through a day or two, please? We'll make arrangements if she stays. Now then... how about a tour?" He stood and gave her a hand up to lean on. He stepped to the counter and opened a cabinet, pulling out a small drink pouch. "Sugar and water... you probably need a bit of both."

She took the pouch and graced him with another soft smile. "Thank you again." She followed where he led, looking down at what she wore. It was not her usual gear, but it covered her. Annia looked at his clothes and then at Liza... she did seem out of place in her plain 'scrub' like shirt and pants.

Liza scurried out ahead of them and down another cooridoor as he led Annia through the open area of the facility. It appeared much like the workings of a run of the mill office, but the atmosphere 'felt' different to the properly trained, the walls and floors seeming to cover much more than met the eye. He showed her smiling faces and computer operators in several areas before coming back to the office they'd arrived in.. his. Set upon the chair were a suit dress and heels and pair of casual jeans and a field jacket.

"I believe these are now yours... hmm... no blouses.. so you may need to get creative, but I'm sure you can manage."

Annia looked at the clothes and then to Galen. "This is your turf not mine.." She shrugged and pulled her shirt over her head. Exposing a very toned and firm body as well as a very scarred back. The pants slipped to the floor to reveal that she wore nothing under her clothes. Annia slipped into the jeans and then turned to Galen. She tugged at his collar and then looked in his eyes. "Be so kind as to lend me the t-shirt you have under this shirt?"

Unflinching, he grinned, sliding his oxford off and peeling off his tee for her, revealing well hidden muscles that rippled softly as he reached overhead. His sandy hair shifted back into place loosely around his gently glimmering green eyes that never left her gaze. "All yours."

She accepted it, her dark brown eyes not leaving his till she slipped his shirt over her head. It was a little big as she was more slender in the hips and her shoulders were not as broad as his. Annia twisted and twirled up the hem tying it neatly and snugly around her. It pulled the material more tauntly around her chest. She ran her fingers through her hair, then pulled it loosely back reusing the barrette it had been in. She smiled at him and spun around slowly. "Do I meet with your approval?" She asked lightly.

He held his hands out to her, nodding, "As a matter of fact, you do... and then some. "

Her smile was sweet and she slipped her hands into his as he held them out. "Now what...or where?"

[Lovely]

He looked at her before him as he leaned on the desk. She wore his shirt well, showing off her features nicely whether intended or not. "Would it be too forward of me to thank you directly for your help today?" He didn't wait for a response, finding himself drawn to her, exploring.

She inhaled sharply as he moved so close to her. She took in his scent deeply and instantly decided she liked it. His hands on her waist, touching her bare flesh sent an unusual sensation over her skin. Annia's eyes studdied his face, as it was so close to hers. She was unsure of what he wanted, not knowing whether to defend or how. Her hands had come up, defensively resting on his chest, but she did not apply pressure or attempt to push him away.

He grinned, pressing against her palms that rested below his shoulders, sliding his hands firmly behind her back and holding her gently. "Relax... I don't bite unless asked...," he whispered, leaning in, his lips brushing against hers softly.

She gasped softly as his lips brushed hers and pushed him backwards over the desk. She was on top of him in a second, straddling him, leaning down, and her hands holding his wrists above his head. "What are you doing?" She whispered it against the pounding his kiss caused in her chest.

"Succumbing to the wiles and wares of a wild and enticing creature... who.. it would appear... has the.. um.. upper hand. I was kissing you. I promise.. it wasn't an attack."

Annia held him a moment longer, her eyes moving over his face. She released her grip on his wrists and sat back on his lap and pulled him upright. "Why?"

"Because if I wanted to attack you, I wouldn't have asked permission first. Or did you mean why did I kiss you? Because you've given me the benefit of the doubt... I like you... find you highly attractive.. and you're damned sexy in my shirt. Or would you like another reason?"

"I meant the kiss." She said quietly. "Is there another reason?" She raised an eyebrow at him. Her eyes moved from his face and traveled down his chest. Of course she had seen a man without a shirt, but she liked this one more for some reason.

"I'd rather show you than tell you... if I may... might make my point a bit more clear," he teased. Seeing no change in her expression, he wondered if she had all emotion and sensuality bred out of her. His head tilted and he gave her a sarcastic grin. "You.. don't have a jealous boyfriend or anything, do you?"

"Yeah and he likes to keep me in shackles." She returned his sarcastic smile. She shook her head. "Such things are not allowed." She said simply. "This would not be allowed." She looked down at the way she sat in his lap.

"Welcome to the new Order, then... where not only is it allowed, it's somewhat encouraged. My last partner, like I said.. was a good soldier, but short on luck. Lost her in a mission. She was more than just my work associate... really my partner. Not to sound crass and cold, but, I see you as a suitable replacement."

She looked him in the eye and spoke without hesitation. "I would need retraining to become a proper partner to you then.." She gave a shrug. "Seems there are some things they neglected to teach me."

He shook his head, "No need... you've got the basics. What I NEED you to know, you already know well. What I WANT you to know," he shifted beneath her, pulling her down to lay along him, his eyes closely gazing in hers. "You can learn as we go along.... if you'll have me." He smiled, genuine, warm, caring, finding her doing amazing things to his heart and mind, already clouding his thoughts with welcomed distraction.

[Lovely]

She smiled softly. "I'll consider your offer." She looked into his eyes, feeling as if they were tugging her towards him. As it were, she was inching slowly closer.

"You have two days. You can move freely within the building, but if you wish to leave, you will have armed escort. If you wish not to return, you will be wiped of all knowledge of having been here... of ever having met me."

Her eyes narrowed and she moved back away from him. Sliding off the desk she stood and regarded him, arms at her sides. "You'll not do any of those things to me...not while there is any fight left in me."

"So you're saying you'll stay? That you'll bolt? Port away never to be seen again? Who will you tell, hm? Where will you go? The streets? You'll starve. Find work? Not with the code on your neck. Believe me, they'll look." He rolled off the desk and turned his back to her, lifting his hair off his own neck. "Ask me how I know."

Her fingers reached up to brush softly over his neck then her hand dropped back to her side. "So you traded their cage for this one?" She crossed her arms. "Is this one really better?" She looked around the office, pacing in her bare feet.

"It's not a cage... it's the only freedom ones like us are permitted to have though. That's what this place is about.. what we're fighting for... breaking the cages... expanding our freedom... living... Annia. Being free is our biggest cause by far, but we're a long way from getting there."

"It's not a cage? But If I go out I have to have guards? If I leave I get my brain swiped... why don't you just get me some shackles, at least then it's plain where I am to be kept." She moved to go past him. "You're right...that is a long way from free."

"For your safety, not your imprisonment. I should have been more clear. You're a commodity, not a victim here. You are a much desired asset to a corporate base.. not a...a... a lab rat, as you affectionately put it. I have a poor way with words, thus my reputation. We need you and would be honored to have you in our ranks. I apologize for asking you in a backhanded manner."

"Apology not accepted." She paused at his shoulder. "You are very bad with words. I liked it better when you were trying to kiss me...perhaps you should stick with that approach next time." Her shoulder bumped his as she went by.

He slid to her and spun her around, standing chest to chest, his face inches from hers, his gaze dancing about her gently angled features, "Then stay because I'd like to show you what -I- want and need... you're a marvelous creature... a beautiful woman.. and although I've just met you... please stay."

She looked into his eyes and a small smile found her lips. "Like you said...where would I go? Any family I once had is gone and most forgotten long ago." Not quite relenting, but giving an inch. "I'll stay."

His eyes continued to dance and his lips found her smile, attempting to resume what he'd started, lingering a moment longer this time.

Annia leaned into him, as he kissed her this time. Her mouth naturally shaping to his. Her hands coming up again, this time resting on his shoulders. She looked at him when he pulled back and whispered. "So this is what kissing is like... not so bad...really rather nice."

"You've never...?" he whispered, watching her blank expression. "No.. I suppose it appears you haven't. Yes.. yes it is rather nice... as are many other things I hope to have the opportunity to show and share with you."

She gave him an innocent look and a grin. "Well someone tried once and I broke his arms."

"Ahh.. but that's the difference.. he only tried... I intend to succeed," he grinned softly, a gleam in his eye. "That.. should make all the difference."

"It's true you've gotten much farther than he did and all your limbs are attached." She smiled. "I'd say you're doing much better...looks like you have a chance.."

[Lovely]

"More fair than I've had," he said, repeating her words to her. His grin was soft, slight as if foreign to his features, cracking the serious visage around the edges, giving him a more boyish appearance, more gentle and sincere. He reached his hand forward tentatively, letting her watch its course as he slid to her waist, pulling her gently toward him.

Annia watched his hand and moved closer to him. She lifted her gaze to his eyes and questioned softly. "What are you doing?"

"Playing teacher... lesson one.. trust. If you trust me, and I'm hoping you do, you won't try to remove my limbs. If I'm wrong, I'm hoping you'll have sense enough to 'port me to the medlab to reattach them when you're done," he said, untying the knot in the t-shirt around her waist, letting it fall loosely around her hips.

Annia watched him, holding back on taking his limbs or stopping him. But her eyes and expression, would show she was guarded, but willing to see where he was taking her. Even a little curiosity and possibility sparkled behind the guarding of her eyes.

"Now, to even the playing field a little," he said, slowly lifting the shirt over her head. He'd seen the scars and was curious for another look to see if they were medical or disciplinary.

She sucked in her breath and held his gaze. She was bare and nearly brushing against him, though not modest and having changed in front of him shortly before...this was different. A situation she had not been in, nor had she been 'trained' for it.

Once the shirt was off her again, his hands slid along her back, his fingers lining the placement of each scar, his hands warm and tender against her skin. He held her gaze a long moment, the edge of emotions stirring in him gently as he looked in her eyes. Not able to help himself, he found his lips brushing hers again, more determined, eager, tasting her lightly, parting her lips to explore more deeply. She brushed his chest sending chills he wasn't expecting, causing a soft noise to roll from him.

She allowed the exploration of her back and her scars with an edge almost like panic. Her body responded to his kiss with a shiver and her heart beating faster. She stiffened slightly when she brushed his chest. Hearing the noise he made, she instinctively responded by kissing him more deeply. Her fingers moved to his waist and touched him lightly. "So what did you make?" She asked softly. "Playing connect the scars?"

A rapid inrush of air met him as her hands responded and rested on him. He leaned into her touch, feeling her against his warm skin, nudging forward as well. Emotions, arousal, curiosity beyond the scope of his normal control found him rolling up against her, beckoning in want.. in need. He spoke to her as he hushed her again, ~What did I make? I made a promise just now... regardless whether you decide to stay or not... ~

She pushed him back a little and looked into his eyes. "What kind of promise?" Her hands moved over his skin as she brought them up to rest in front on his lower abs.

~A promise.. about you... for you... about trust... me trusting you.~

~That you would or wouldn't trust me?~ She smirked, stepping closer, her chest now pressed against his. She was challenging him slightly, seeing what he would do.

He stroked her hair as he looked down into her eyes, blinking slowly, feeling the sensations that went against his own training and common sense. He slid his hands to her back, sliding them down... ~A promise to show you... everything.~

Her eyes widened as she felt him press against her, the way he held her, she could feel his heat and the outline of him clearly. "Were you planning on showing me here on the desk?"

[Lovely]

He shook his head, "Not yet. Much as I want to, it's hardly fair.. knowing how you feel.. that you want to leave already. I won't force you... on any of it."

She laughed and shoved him back, hoping he fell on his ass. "You couldn't force me.."

He fell back, but took her with him as he tucked down, rolling her over his shoulder to the ground.

She made a noise as she hit the ground and turned up into a crouch, eyeing him. "So you took my shirt off and played with my scars, teased me with the things I don't know...now what do you want?"

"You." He spoke clearly without hesitation. His own crouch mirrored hers, ready to strike or defend, but he was not intending to attack to damage, rather to explore an intimacy with her that defied every ounce of his comprehension, every fiber of his being returning to base instinct and primal desire.

"Me?" She whispered, her chest rising with her breath. Annia looked at him and shifted her weight leaning to the left slightly. Her hands down at her sides, fingertips touching the floor. He was making her feel strange things, think things she never took time to think about... her eyes traveled over his bare chest and she wondered what he looked like with the rest off his clothes off.

His weight shifted subtly, preparing for a sudden strike as she shifted in front of him, barely perceptable in her movement. He watched her fingers tense slightly against the floor, ready to propel herself forward. He nodded to her, his eyes gazing on her stance, her deep breaths shaking her as she calculated and tried to make sense of the request... of the situation. "Trust me?" He held a hand out to her and grinned, still crouched low.

She looked from his eyes to his hand and then back again. Her tongue ran over her lips and slowly she lifted her hand and reached to his.

He laced his fingers in hers and beckoned for the other hand as he switched to knealing.

Just as slowly the other hand came up to his. Her eyes still searched his face. Annia came to her knees, mirroring the way he was, awaiting him to lead the way. She inched closer, unsure of what he really wanted or intended. She was attracted to him and her body was wanting his attention.

He inched forward on his knees, meeting her half-way, letting one hand go and reaching to lift her chin, his fingers brushing her neck softly and holding her lips against his, his kiss warming as if he'd known her for years... as if he was made for her. His other hand let go, reaching to her shoulder, warming her skin beneath his palm. His lips pulled from hers and tested her neck, her reactions.

Her mouth was soft and let him guide her through the kissing, though she was a fast learner and began to return his kiss with one of her own. Her breath caught when his hand touched her, a soft noise slipped past her lips as he caressed. She shivered and her hands came to his chest as he kissed her neck. "Oh...what are you doing to me?" She whispered.

As crazy as it sounded in his head, he knew what he heard himself think.. what he was allowing himself to feel... he wanted to tell her, but wasn't sure she'd understand. Falling in love? He was insane... he was still mourning the loss of his last partner, but that one was chosen for him, a match based solely on abilities and genetics, not compatabilities or attraction. This was different... is this what 'real' meant, he wondered? Rules.. damn the rules, he insisted, sighing out a desirous groan as he allowed the control to escape him, wrapping her tightly in his arms, kissing her deeply.

[Lovely]

She stopped trying to understand why he was doing these things and went with it. Annia liked him kissing her, she didn't have anything to compare it to...but little chills and shivers ran along her skin as he touched her and kissed her lips. Her mouth opened, naturally in the kiss, for him to explore. Her hands moved over his arms, feeling his warm skin and tight muscle.

He ran the tip of his tongue lightly over hers, tasting, teasing, feeling a tingle he'd forgotten crawl gently down his back, urging him on. His forehead rested on hers a moment, his fingers running up her thigh...

Annia's hands tightened on his arms, one sliding up and over his shoulder, going to the back of his neck to pull him to her mouth. She kissed him with some of the desire he was awakening in her. When she pulled away from him, she was a little breathless. "More." She whispered. "Show me more?"

His hand left her thigh briefly, taking her hand from his shoulder, pulling it downward to let her fingers touch him, doubting she understood the physical nature... what was happening to him.

She licked her lips, opening her mouth as if to speak but saying nothing. Her hand remained as he placed it, flat against him.

"Feel free to get closer, Annia.. I won't bite. You're learning... I'm teaching. Please."

She moved closer her hand sliding down him as she did. She licked her lips again, looking into his eyes, Annia leaned in to kiss his lips.

Whatever they had done to create her as a machine and a tool, they were kind to her feminine nature, leaving her natural and whole. He watched the dialation of her eyes and the coloration of her cheeks, felt the quickening in her pulse and the involuntary shudders of pleasure as he taught her more about the freedoms she could have here.

She wanted things she didn't know about, had never experienced. Her voice in a husky whisper as her lashes fluttered. "You're making me..." A soft sigh. ".. ache..in places I've never..ached." She didn't know how else to describe..but that is what it was an ache..she moaned softly at his touch...