开云体育

[Macamber]

The security officer took the vial, regarding it uncertainly for a moment, then slipped it into her jacket pocket. "I'll have our lab people check it out and see what they can tell us." She then turned her gaze on Gen and Kites, though it was the androgyne who seemed to be getting most of her interest. "You are just full of surprises, Ms. Gen. I can see why Chord took an interest in you. And why your creators dearly want to get you back."

"I'm going to go ahead and contact Brandon and Mia and try to get them to return to our facility. If what you found turns out to be something, then it's not safe out there for anyone. Especially Brandon, as Chord's most likely heir." Rising from her desk, she gestured to the door to her office. "You two can go, but please don't attempt to leave the facility. We can protect you while you're here, but until we know who or what we're up against, we can't protect you if you're anywhere else."

[Gen]

Gen nodded to Macamber, then rose, her hand still holding Kites'. "Thank you, Ms. Macamber. We'll be staying here as you request." She glanced at Kites, a brief question in her eyes but left unspoken. She reluctantly let go of his hand as they left the room.

"I'm sorry you got dragged into this, Kites," she said quietly as they walked down the corridor, heading back to the living areas. "But I'm not sorry you're here," she added, looking up at him. "Is that selfish of me?"

[Kites]

"I'm not either. Sorry that is," Kites responded, noting the clear lack of Gen's hand in his own. They stopped by the elevators as he pressed the button to go up, looking back at Gen. He really wished he was there when that incident happened, when Gen was all on her own and having to witness the three most important people to this facility die right in front of her eyes. It made him curl his hands into his fists, letting the nails bite into his palm as he inwardly bristled. The threads that had come unwound between him and the others was not something he'd ever be able to braid back. Not when they were all dead. He sighed. Once the elevator doors opened, they stepped in, and the metal box ambled its way up as that light loss of gravity kicked in.

When they finally made it back to the living area's common room, Kites suddenly pulled Gen into his arms, wrapping the androgyne's legs around his waist as he walked them back until Gen's butt was firmly planted on the table by the window, letting his arms slide down his lover's back.

"There's nothing to feel selfish about. I want to by your side, always. Where else would I go?" Kites echoed with a bitter smile, looking out the window. "Back to the church orphanage? I've no place there anymore." The image of Sister Josie floated up to the forefront of his mind, but he pushed the thought away. Though he held no higher level of feelings for Josie than his foster sister, it somehow felt odd to suddenly have to think about her right now. Kites looked back at Gen, thumbing her cheek as the other slid up her thigh, squeezing it with reassurance. "Is it selfish that I want to have you all to myself?"