I stay lying down, eyes wide, staring up at Cinch. Her blond hair bleached almost white against the sun. She doesn't just believe, she knows.
"I..." I know that people don't want to know or remember. But this isn't my life. Or it is, but the outsid…
Cinch's denial of my version of events stings. I don't deny it, but I am used to the feeling. I close my eyes, still facing her, and concentrate on the feeling of feathers and steel rubbing against my arm. Artemis is weirdly touchy today.
I was pr…
I watch Cinch lay down beside me and turn to watch her watch the stars slowly fade from the sky. Her face is next to mine, her body lying in the other direction, we fit together like two teeth in a zipper.
"I... it's complicated. Zig was under ord…
I listen to the pebble fall, count the bounces, and meet Cinch's gaze. "Pretty sure none of the ladies will mind, he'll still be as handsome as ever." I pet Artemis, who is cooing after nestling into my side. "Thanks again, Cinch. I don't know what …
I had meant to take a nap, just a short hour or so and then come up and meet Cinch. I even set Artemis to wake me, having a cyborg owl as a pet can sometimes be a benefit, but I slept right through the screeching. My neighbors couldn't have been too…
It hits me, the desire to touch. The idea of hugging her or kissing her on the cheek, but that's all it is. It's fleeting then gone, up behind the years of behavior and walls of survival.
I have a feeling she's more like me than Marigold, anyhow. I…
When she meets my eyes, it really hits me how effortlessly beautiful Fleece is. I'll have to ask about the mask another time. And when she mentions the "payment" a smile, a real honest to goodness smile, grows uncontrollably across my face. "You hav…
I finish my drink and put the glass down gently. I want to know who, but if she wanted to tell me, she'd have mentioned a name.
I lick my lips, chasing the taste of the amber liquid. "I... Fleece... thank you. This is, weirdly normal." I laugh a b…
I can feel my lips quirk in a startled smile. "Love or lust?
Taking a sip of the amber liquid I could almost cry, it goes down so smooth. Better than the top shelf juice JD gave me this morning. It's fracking heaven. I can't help the low moan that …
A real doctor. Even on the outside they were rare. I nod, accepting the drink.
"I'd appreciate that, been a derelict of a day." I'm curious now. A doctor is usually sponsored by a house. Where did she come from?
"So, why did you pick the Irons?"…
I measure out half the bottle and cradling Reese's head to ease the morph gently down his throat, shushing him gently.
"Rest now."
I stopper the bottle and place it back in the cabinet. I should leave, but Fleece's nails, so perfect and cared for…
I flinch, properly scolded.
Farthoom, I'm a complete floop sometimes. Rest ain't just a luxury in the DVFP, it's a luxury on this fracking planet. I'm such an idiot.
I could lie. I could, but it would feel like too much of a betrayal after all s…
I love how clean it is in Fleece's trailer. Is it weird to miss the smell of disinfectant? Maybe she'd let me work it off, there are worse places to pick up a gig.
I walk over to the cabinet, the bright blue of the morph obvious to anyone who know…
My arm hurts, but I couldn't care, I am so proud of Reese and so thankful to Fleece that I could burst. I know my eyes are getting shiny again. "I told you, she'd fixed you right up."
Reese is still sweating around the temples so I rinse a new clo…
I can feel the blood leave my face when I see Fleece lift the saw, but I don't stop. Even when my throat goes dry and I reach the end of the song I circle back to the beginning. His face clean now, I alternate from petting his hair to holding his ha…
My eyes don't leave his. If I can distract Reese from the pain, I will do what I can. "I think I promised you a song. Apologies that Fleece is here, you can pick a new one once you're up and pestering me again," I say teasingly.
Misty Mountain C…
I knew, I did, but it's hard to hear. I look back at Reese, "You hear that, Fleece is going to get you fixed up." I gently start cleaning his face, washing the sand, dirt, blood and other from his face.
I'm so nervous, I'm shaking, and I don't eve…
I make myself tiny as the rest of the folks leave the room. "I'm staying if you don't think I would be too much of a bother."
I smile at Reese, moving to his bedside opposite Fleece, "Hi handsome," I say softly. I don't look away from Reese, but my…
I look at Sasha, I never know what to make of her. "I'm not going to lie, I've never seen anything like this before, but this is in part my business, and I intend to see it through."
I place my hand on top of hers, the one on my arm, asking gentl…
I follow in behind the stretcher, trying to keep out of the way. I've met Fleece, but I've never actually been in the trailer. I'm impressed with the cleanliness. I nod at Sasha as I pass her at the door, my eyes searching for Fleece.
My eyes water as I listen to Cinch. When she says Reese's name I reach out and take her hand, squeezing tight. I know anything more intimate in the open like this would not be welcomed, but I want her to understand, even a little, that she's given m…
I nod at Cinch and give her a true smile. I'd really like to talk to her about all this.
Then I remember who Fleece is...
I look around towards the call, hope painfully filling my chest, moving the broken bits around, hoping to see who came in.
…
I can literally hear something inside me break. I didn't love Reese, but he was good and decent, and they went after him because of me.
"That's, he was a good man."
My hand hurts, when I think to pay attention to it, I realize it's because I'm…
I smile when he calls me "ma'am," extraordinary polite for a miner. Before I have a chance to think, I give a small curtsey. My face reddens, embarrassed at my unintentional reaction, but I decide to lean into it.
"Sir, my name is Sierra, pleasure…
Farthoom, I am tired. But Esco, Esco wants to know more. If he's for real, if he really wants to understand, it would mean... I don't know what it would mean actually.
Maybe, that I'm not alone. It's the most seductive thing I've experienced in my…