Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

           Fat, fluffy white clouds meandered across the mid-afternoon winter sky. The amphitheater made of pale, rough stone was bustling with people and omnics of all shapes and sizes. Four different booths squatted in the arena of the amphitheater, lines trailing up the stairs. I squeezed my arms together to stifle the shiver coming on, watching from the top most pathway. Kenna had been gracious enough to show up, offering on the spot interviews for her cleaning company.
Her long, mousy brown hair bounced with her as she talked animatedly to an omnic at her booth. She stood nearly a head above the three other vendors down there with her, Jack looking pathetically short next to her. It was nice to finally host a job fair, aimed for omnics and the less fortunate. I glanced across the three archways separating Darian and I, the tall and stout omnic was keeping a careful, stoic eye on the goings-on around him. Watching those who flitted about, looking for any sign of unrest. Darian caught my eye and gave a shallow nod, as if to say all is well.
           I watched Jack again, his curly blonde hair flopping as he pushed papers to and fro on the plastic table and I was silently hoping he would find someone willing to help out at our shop. Somehow, between all our friends and connections, we’d managed to carve out a section of peace in our small part Kavala. Greece, as a whole, might take an indifferent stance towards omnics rights, but in the 10 years we’ve been here we managed to make progress. Some progress. There were still plenty of people who vehemently disagreed. Thought omnics should remain as they were, silent machines made only to serve.
A chilly, salted breeze ruffled my hair and I looked back to the open gulf, the island of Thasos squatted on the near horizon. My attention was drawn back by the sound of raised voices. A crowd was gathered and churning at the furthest archway, closest to the road. Darian was already on his way, people making way for him. I sprang from my perch against the column of stone and weaved my way to him.
Scrunch-faced men and women were trying to bar the entrance to the amphitheater, pushing omnics away and yelling obscenities.
For fucks sake.
            I rolled my eyes. Darian pushed his way to the epicenter and that anger was now focused on him. Just the way he wanted it. He was a steel wall against their torrent of sharp words. I finally reached his side, telling those on my way to stay back, we’ll handle it.
Darian said not a word, but he waited. At my side, ready for the command. A particularly hulking man stood at the forefront of his entourage. He set his sights on me, anger twisting his features. He yelled at me, something about bots belonging in the trash and being an omnic simp. Nothing I haven’t heard a thousand times before. Between the hateful crowd in front of me, Darian and myself trying to force them back, we were starting to attract too much attention. People on the streets were staring, gaping at the situation escalating.
We really did not need the police getting involved. Someone threw a bottle, arching over me and into the crowd behind me. Glass shattered and then a short cry. Enough to rile up the people in front of us, pushing in. I could hear the panic behind me as things went flying, some hitting me. Darian did his best to step in front of the hate, but he was only one omnic.
I shouted and tried to push back. It was useless and they were overwhelming. Out of my peripheral people were taking videos, some on their phones calling, what I would assume to be the cops.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Before I could form Darian’s name on my lips, tell him to push these people back as a last resort, silent murmurs rippled over the crowd. Their heads turned away and I looked. A tall, broad shouldered omnic, clad in black pants and a fine black jacket. The omnic pushed their way through, one destination in mind.
Ravager. Killer. Monster.
Sure enough, it clicked. The angular features, the broad shoulders and chest that tapered at their waist. Most of all, the face plate. Ravager indeed.
“This is enough.” Their voice rattled as they snatched a bottle from the hulking man, black cables that flowed from their cranium down their back whipped with the movement. He visibly flinched. The whole crowd cowed.
“Leave.” The Ravager seethed.
He backed up a step. Then another, the crowd with him. Silence. It was silent as they left. I released the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The Ravager watched them leave. Wanted to be sure they left.                        Darian looked back to me, “That was… unexpected.” I nodded.
The omnic, the Ravager, turned to face me. I thought they were all gone, hunted down. I schooled my features into neutrality as they approached.
“Thank you.” I said. The Ravager tossed the bottle into a nearby bin.
“Your welcome.” Their voice was smooth, velvety. Male sounding.
Jack came scrambling up the stairs, panting. “Cas! Darian! Are you…” He stopped in his tracks. Gaping unabashedly at the omnic before us. Kenna followed shortly behind, jabbing him in the ribs. “Pull yourself together.” She hissed to Jack and he straightened his posture. “A Ravager..” Jack whispered to himself. Kenna offered a smile that didn’t meet her bright hazel eyes.
The omnic stared back at them and my gut twisted, this wouldn’t be the first or the last time they had to endure this type of gawking. I stuck my hand out to them, “Cassiopeia.” I offered. They didn’t return the gesture and my hand dropped. “Like the constellation?” The Ravager’s head cocked slightly.
A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, “Like the constellation.” I echoed. Rarely did anyone make the connection, or say it right for that matter.
          “Ramattra.” He offered.
“Thank you Ramattra. For your help.” Darian nodded. Ramattra returned the gesture.
“What exactly is it that you are doing here?” Ramattra gestured with a hand to the murmuring crowd, the amphitheater.
           “It’s a job fair. To help omnics, people, get help and opportunities they might not otherwise have.” I replied.
“You run this organization?” He asked.
“I, well.. I wouldn’t say that. It’s a joint effort.” I said.
“Don’t let her fool you.” Darian looked to him, almost eye level. “She’s the heart of us.”
Talkative tonight, apparently. It was an effort not to give Darian a pleading look. Ramattra didn’t move, it was disconcerting.
“What was a human, small as yourself, going to do against that crowd?” Ramattra looked down to me.
“Anything I had to. Whatever it took, to keep these people safe.” I stared back at him, unflinching. Despite the crowd, despite my friends, it felt like we were the only two here. He took his time to reply, “And if you died for it?”
            “It wouldn’t have come to that.” Darian replied swiftly, before I had the chance. Ramattra turned his head towards him. “You would die for this human?” Disgust laden on the last word. “Without a second thought.” I could have sworn Darian puffed his chest slightly. It was so unlike him, to speak out of turn like this. To say anything at all, really.
“Fascinating.” Ramattra breathed behind a chuckle. Darian didn't take his optics off him. Like something unspoken was passing between them. Red and blue lights flashed on the street. Two police cars parked on the side of the street, officers already stepping out. I turned back to Kenna and Jack, “Please stay here, finish what we came here to do. Darian will help you, let me talk to them.” I strode to meet the officers, but stopped just beside Ramattra, “It would be lovely to talk more with you. Stay and see for yourself.” I looked up to him. “Or come by the shop. SeaSide Repairs, off 9th. The only one closest to the ocean.” I left before he could reply and didn’t look back.
When I returned, he was gone. Guess I shouldn’t have expected anything else. He didn’t seem fond of people anyways. But there was a small part of me that was disappointed, despite the thorny exterior.

+

I reclined in my chair, feet propped up on my desk. A long day and I was grateful to be back. Darian sat on the dusty couch that was parallel with the windows that faced the street. The shop was quiet, darkness crept in from the windows. Grease and oil was still freshly scented in the air. String lights dimly illuminated the shop after business hours. Jack sat in the faded blue plastic chair catty-corner from Darian.
“I can’t believe we met a Ravager today!” Jack rocked forward in his chair. Excitement pulling a broad smile to his face, ocean blue eyes shining.
“That Ravager has a name you know.” I picked at my nails. “You could have done better than looking like you wanted to examine him right then and there.”
“I know, but-” Jack stood from his chair, his grease stained clothes hanging off his gangly frame, and flexed his hands in emphasis to his words, “It was so cool!”
I rolled my eyes, anything mechanical sparked his interest. Hence our success with the mechanics shop. A functional facade to its secondary nature. An omnic safe house.
“I did not like the way he spoke to you.” Darian said quietly, not looking at me. Jack stilled and looked at him.
“I know.. But I can understand why. Not that it’s an excuse but-”
“It’s not.” Darian wasn’t having any of it. I didn’t respond but I looked at him. He rarely spoke his mind like this. “Whatever reasons he has, he’s not welcome here. If that’s how he wants to speak to you.” I raised my brows. “Give him a chance, if he comes back.” Darian nodded.
And that was that.

Chapter Text

A small silver bell rang as Ramattra stepped through the threshold of The Brass Unicorn, a misty blast of cold following behind him. The grayed woman at the counter greeted him with as much warmth as she did every time he was here, a curt nod. The apothecary was lined with floor to ceiling shelves, bursting with books from herbology to taro. Tapestries hung from every available wall space and what shelves weren’t stocked with books were laden with trinkets and varying crystals.
Faded wooden floor boards creaked beneath his weight as he turned the corner and a very familiar head of dark chocolate brown hair was on their tip-toes barely able to reach the top shelf. She whirled around at the sound of his approach. Pools of jade beneath dark lashes swept over him from head to toe, wide with surprise. She held a fistful of incense in her hand.

“Ramattra, what’re you doing here?” A dark brow arched up. He stepped past her and plucked incense from the shelf behind her, “Buying incense.” He answered simply. She cocked an eyebrow at him, “I didnt pin you for the ‘incense’ type.” He tilted his head back to her and said, “Really? What ‘type’ did you pin me for?” She crossed her arms and drug her gaze up him. A crooked smile pulled at the corner of her full lips before she replied, “Not the incense type.”

Arrogant human.

“That’s not an answer.” He looked down to her. She turned away from him and said, “Sure it is. Maybe not the one you’re looking for.” She tossed more incense into her basket. “You think I don’t have a use for them? Pin me as a violent omnic?” He stared at her dark waves, shining in the dim light. “Tch, you said that. Not me.” She said and looked over her shoulder at him. Her brows furrowed and she smiled at him. Mocking him.

“Take it easy Ramattra, I’m just teasing you. I really didn’t expect to see you again is all.” Her features softened into an apologetic look. He crossed his arms, irritation tightening in his chest. Fool. He damned himself. She sighed, setting her things down. “I’m sorry, let’s try this again.” She stuck out her hand to him, like she had over a week ago. She cocked her head to the side and smiled at him. “I’m Cas.” He stared at her hand and contemplated. “Cassiopeia, I remember.” He took her hand in his, so soft and small in comparison. “It’s nice to, officially, meet you. And for the record, I really do appreciate you stepping in when you did.” She said to him. “Looked like you needed the help.” He huffed. He picked another handful of incense, frankincense and sandalwood. He only needed a few more things then he could be gone, leave this strange woman behind. He debated about avoiding the place entirely in the future.

“Are you new to the area?” Her words were tentative. He looked at her from the corner of his optic, she was staring intently at the label of a particular jar. 

He picked at another incense, “I am.” He replied. 

“Where did you come from?” She asked.

“Nepal.”

“You’re quite far from home.

“Indeed.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Three months.”

“What brought you all the way over here?”
He hesitated. What business was it of hers? Why does she care anyways? He looked over to her and she turned to him. “I was at… A monastery. And I wasn't accomplishing what I wanted. So I left.” What possessed him to tell her these things? She studied him, the dim light cast angular shadows on her face accentuating her high cheek bones. “You were at the Shambali monastery?”

“What makes you assume that?” Of course she would assume all omnics go there.

“Aurora was there. Mondatta was there.” She replied. His chest ached at the word was .

He looked away from her, “I was in search of Aurora. Instead I found Mondatta.”

“What did you find there that’s kept you searching?” Her words were quiet. He sighed and said to her, “I found that Mondatta was a fool and his fallacies are what got him killed. Found that humans do not want to co-exist.”

“All of them?” she breathed. 

“Why? What does it matter, why do you care?” The words lashed out of him. He looked at her again and those jade jewels smoldered with iron will. “I told you what I do. You never stayed for me to explain or came by to find out.” Indeed he hadn’t stayed. Anger drove his feet to carry him far away. He remembered the place, the name and his curiosity burned at him to go there. But he couldn’t bring himself to go and now here he was, faced with the choice again. He stared at her, considering. “Tell me then, why do you do it.”

“I’ll tell you. But let’s make a deal.” She scooped up her things and said, “Come with me to Lee’s. Sit and talk with me, I’ll tell you everything you want to know. Just, tell me something in return.” The coffee shop on the corner, he’d passed it on the way to the apothecary. What did he have to lose? “I can agree to those terms.” He replied. She smiled and inclined her head to the counter near the exit.

+

       Ramattra held a crinkled receipt between his fingers. He stared at the elegantly sloppy hand writing on the back of it, for what might have been the tenth time in the last two weeks. His thumb brushed her name with a phone number written beside it. She had given him the shop's address and phone number day he ran into her at the apothecary, but for some reason included her personal number. That day she told him about a lifelong vendetta she held. Stealing from her wealthy parents and liberating all of the omnics from their estate. Laughed as she said she would do it over and over again and would never regret it. How she orchestrated several liberations in Greece over the past decade, using a network of resources to fund and run it. 

Somehow this small, weak human had accomplished more than him. It kept him coming back to that coffee shop to meet with her. Out of curiosity. He'd told himself. Curiosity of how she did it, managed to keep doing it. If she could be of use to him. He looked to the ancient corded phone stuck to the wall of his apartment then back to the slip of paper in his hand. To say what? How are you? He huffed and tossed the receipt on the counter. 

He could go to this place, just to sate his curiosity.

He shouldered on his favorite black jacket, fine satin lined the edges of it. The door snicked shut behind him.

Chapter Text

          I stood at Jack's feet that peeked out from beneath a sleek black car. I double checked the inventory list on my clipboard, "Jack, why are we going through so much brake cleaner? How did you use a whole case in a week?" I stared at his feet that wiggled with his movements. "I told you it gets used for everything, nothin I can do about it." His muffled voice replied to me. I sighed, "The next case is coming out of your salary." He pushed himself out from beneath the car, "My salary huh? Let's not talk about your every day coffee habits, yea?" He raised a grease covered brow. I kicked the creeper he laid on and shoved him back under the car. "We're not here to talk about me, alright" I laughed.

          "Cas." Kenna called from the doorway between the garage and the store-front, "You have a guest." My head snapped to her, who the hell would want to see me? This late? The shop should be closed already. I followed her through the door, wishing Kenna had locked the doors. My heart skipped at Ramattra's dark figure. All black from head to toe, excluding his purple jaw plate. He turned towards me and adjusted the cuff of his coat. I pressed him only twice about coming here out of the several times we saw each other. He didn't seem like the type that could be persuaded to do something he didn't want to do. 

          "Hey," I called to him, approaching my desk. "It's nice to see you again." I set the clipboard down, it clacked softly atop the papers scattered across my desk. "Likewise, Cas." He replied, his velvet voice curled against my ears. "You made it at a great time." I gestured for him to sit on the dusty couch and stepped past him, locking the doors and drawing the blinds. "We've things to discuss tonight. Darian and Kira will be arriving shortly." He sat on the sofa closest to my desk and draped one arm over the back of it. I sat in my chair, Kenna filling out her crossword puzzle next to me, as per usual. He nodded to me. 

          Kenna looked up from her crossword book, "Nice to meet you again. Kenna." She gave a tight smile. "Well met, Kenna." He replied in tone that was a tight as her smile. My stomach knotted, Kenna could be very...frank. She might share a common interest in our work together, but the better half of her family fought in the crisis. She lost most of the men in her family, including her father, in the extermination of Ravagers. She set her hazel stare on me, "You trust him Cas?" I fought to keep my brows in place and glanced quickly at Ramattra, who was now staring at me. "I do." I replied. She looked between us both before leveling that laser-like gaze on Ramattra, "Then I do too. You seem like a nice guy" She said to him and went back to her crossword puzzle. "You seem pleasant yourself." he said and she chuckled. I loosed a silent breath. "oh I like him." She said low enough for only me to hear. I threw Ramattra a pleading look.

           He dipped his chin in reply, "Oh my God, it's you again!" Jack nearly yelled from the adjoining doorway, all three heads snapped to him. He strode quickly to Ramattra, hurriedly wiping his greasy hand on his already grease covered shirt and stuck it out to him. "I am SO glad you're here. I've been dying to meet a Ravager in real life." Ramattra gingerly took his hand and shook it. Kenna looked at me and rolled her eyes. I closed mine and shook my head. "I'm Jack and its.. Ramattra right?" He was grinning so hard I thought he might split his face in half. "You remember correctly." Ramattra replied coolly. "I can run some diagnostics for you," He waved a spindly arm in the direction of the garage. "I've got everything you could ever need here. When was the last time you had a diagnostics check? Need anything repaired? Oh and-" Ramattra held up a hand to him, "Thank you Jack. But that won't be necessary." Jack laughed nervously and looked to me. My chest tightened for him, always letting his mouth get ahead of his brain. "Jack why don't you change? Kira will be here. Wouldn't want a repeat of her last visit, right?" Last time Kira was here she threatened to hose him down and toss him into the ocean. He left greasy hand prints on her coat after trying to be a gentleman and retrieve it from the coat closet for her.         

          Jack shot me a withering smile and slipped out the door that lead upstairs to his studio apartment above the shop. I looked back to Ramattra, "Sorry about Jack, he just gets a little.. excited, sometimes." Ramattra waved the hand that dangled off the back of the sofa, "No need to apologize. I understand the novelty." I rapped my fingers against the desktop, "But if you ever did need help like that, he's very good at was he does." I offered. "With that kind of enthusiasm, one could assume that he is." He replied.

          The lock on the back door clicked through the silence. Kira’s light lilting voice flitted through the dimness. I could hear Darian’s heavy steps on the floor and Marwan’s chuckle follow behind Kira. Darian opened the door between the store-front and the backside of the shop, paused when he saw Ramattra on the sofa before continuing inside. 

          Kira walked arm in arm with Marwan, who was dressed as equally elegant as Kira. Deep royal blue coat with black lapels and shiny black dress shoes that matched his pants. Kira waved her ring adorned fingers at me, white fur on the cuff of her deep maroon jacket swirling with the motion. She had decorated her faceplate with elegant sweeping gold lines that accentuated her elegance. “Thank you for visiting so late.” I said to her. 

          “It must be so important to be so urgent.” Kira curled her fingers with her words. “I hope you don’t mind but I’ve brought company.” I gestured to Ramattra with a nod. He rose to meet her, arm stretched out to meet hers. “Ramattra, it's a pleasure.” She looked him over head to toe and met her hand to his, “You are a rare breed, it is an honor to meet someone like you. I'm Kira.” She returned herself to Marwan who gave a shallow bow, locks of coarse raven hair fell past his shoulders. “Marwan, it is an honor.” He said to Ramattra. Ramattra shifted his weight on his feet, returning the bow. “Likewise.” I wondered what it must be like, to be constantly reminded that you might be the last of your kind every time you met someone. My chest felt heavy for him.

         “So before we get into things.” I turned to Ramattra,”I guess I should ask you if you’re interested in joining our cause.” He stretched his legs out before him, crossing them at the ankles. Between the black jacket and pants he looked like he might disappear into the shadows, if it weren’t for his stark white faceplate and the optics that illuminated beneath it. “A worthy cause. Led by a worthy ally, I will stand by your side.” His words of confirmation pulled the corner of my mouth upwards. 

          “Thank you.” I nodded. “I’ve got word through some resources that there’s a packing plant not far from us that’s using exclusively omnic slaves. Despite the laws banning slave labor. I want them out in two months.” I looked to my trusted allies, my friends. “We run reconnaissance in one month. Kira I need you to work your magic and get the layout of this place and check security." Kira waved an elegant hand, child's play for her. "Kenna, you and I scope the place out. Ramattra, if you'll join us?" He nodded, "Of course." 

          "What about me?" Jack whined from his plastic chair. "You," I looked pointedly at him "Get to stay here and run the shop." He huffed at me and crossed his arms. "Don't worry we'll need everyone when we get them out." I said. His frown lessened. "Once we get what info we need on this place, we meet again and we can discussed our plan of attack." I said to the room. I looked at their faces, without a doubt knowing we could pull it off. Just as we had many times before.

Chapter Text

          Ramattra leaned against the van that was parked against some bushes at the top of a hill over looking the plant. He stared at the lights guttering in the inky night, remembering Darian's stern words. Keep her safe. Was all he'd said to him. He gave Darian his word that he would, not that there was a choice for him. He had come to appreciate the short woman who had been kind to him at every opportunity.

           Cas and Kenna's shoes crunched on the gravel, "Are you ready?" Cas asked, looking up to him beneath black as night garb, hood of her jacket barely above her eyes. Kenna, miles taller than her, donned the same outfit, her breath clouded in front of her. "Ready when you are." He replied. "Let's go then." She turned on her heel, Kenna right by her side and he fell in step with her. "There are a few vantage points that we can use to watch security rotations." She said to both him and Kenna, "I want to get closer, note the exit doors and the best routes out of this place. But we need to be gone before first light." They approached a small hill overlooking the rear of the plant, close to the plant itself. "Yes ma'am." Kenna gave a mocking salute. "Kenna." Cas whipped her head toward her. "What?" Kenna asked incredulously. "Stop it. You're not taking this seriously." Cas huffed. Kenna threw her head back, "No fun." Ramattra chuckled quietly to himself, how they actually accomplished anything he wasn't sure. 

++++++++++

          They laid down on the crest of the hill shoulder to shoulder, concealed by the tall grass. Cas was closest to him, nearly touching, quietly scanning the building with her binoculars. He definitely did not need them. He noted the guard change after a few hours, which seemed sparse in general. Only three guards for the large packing plant. Two motion sensor flood lights on the rear and front of the building. He scanned the dirt roads leading in and out of the small valley where the packing plant squatted. Four options to come and go, staggered pallets that were stacked high with boxes would provide ample cover if needed. He could see a corner of the parking lot, presumably for employees on the far side of the plan. This place would be easy enough to clear with the lack of security, not to mention the guards seemed to be doing the bare minimum with their rounds once an hour.

          Cas shivered next to him, "I think we should take the west side roads." She whispered through chattering teeth. "That'll lead us back up to the hill we parked on and provide us immediate cover once we get around the first bend of this hill." Kenna didn't take her eyes from her binoculars, "I agree." She replied. Cas looked over to him and the moonlight caught her jade eyes, lining them with a silver glow. "Cold?" He asked. On cue she shivered again, "Yes, very." She said on a clouded breath. He touched his shoulder to hers and she leaned into him. The heat of her seeped onto him, shivering hard enough she was shaking him. Something like electricity rose up inside of him, snaking along his frame. He realized he'd never touched her completely other than a passing brush of their fingers when an item was exchanged. Her shivering was starting to subside when Kenna jolted upright and looked towards the eastern sky, "The sun is going to rise soon, in an hour." He looked towards the sky and sure enough an almost imperceptible glow was beginning to creep across the horizon. Cas jumped into a kneeling position and his body ached at the gnawing cold that replaced her presence. "We need to get moving, let's get a quick ground view then we leave." He picked himself up and knelt beside her, "Lead the way."

++++++++++

         After parking the van in the shop's garage, Kenna wasted no time departing quickly claiming she was so tired she might fall over. The sky was blushing with hues of pink and light blue, he stood with Cas at the backdoor of the shop. Her keys jingling as she locked the door. No sign of Jack, presumably asleep at this hour. She donned a much thicker jacket now that stealth wasn't a relevant factor. She turned to him, cheeks pink from the biting air. "Thanks for going with me. It was nice to have a third opinion on things." She smiled to him. "It was my pleasure, looks like this extraction should be easy enough." He replied to her. "Thanks to your tactical suggestions, I trust that it will be." She said stuffing her keys into her pocket.

          "Are you walking home?" He asked. It seemed a little late, well early, for her to be walking by herself. "Yeah, it's not a far walk from here." She responded. "Would you like company?" He probed. She stuffed her hands into her pockets, the corner of her lips tilted upwards. "I wouldn't mind at all." He fell into cadence beside her. "Do you always walk home by yourself?" Ramattra asked. "Most of the time I do, Kenna will walk with me sometimes, but yea I like walking by myself. Its quiet." She said. "Doesn't it seem unsafe?" He asked her. "Not really, I can protect myself. I know I'm short but I can hold my own okay?" She chuckled, her breath curling in front of her. "It took me forever to get Jack to stop insisting on walking with me, even longer to convince Darian."

          "Darian is very protective of you." He pointed out. She was quiet for a moment before responding, "Darian... feels like he owes me his life. I've tried to tell him he doesn't owe me anything but he doesn't listen." She said. He glanced down to her, "Why?" He asked. "When I found him, he was... Well, barely hanging on. I honestly thought he wasn't going to make it. He was missing all of his limbs, except his right leg. Missing a large part of his torso, sitting in a pool of his own fluids." Ramattra cringed at the mental imagine. "Luckily, Jack is exceptional at what he does and he was able to save him." She sighed, "He's been with us ever since." He contemplated what that must have been like for Darian, to be so close to oblivion then pulled away from it. Saved by humans. "He's lucky you found him." Ramattra said. "Very, very lucky." She reiterated.

          They rounded the corner and approached a street with several quaint town houses, so close to the ocean he could hear the waves lapping on the shore. She bee-lined to the white town house second from the corner. He stepped down into the covered porch. Green vines covered the white trellis enclosing the porch, lending an air of privacy to the place. She unlocked the front door and turned to him, "Would you like to come in?" His chest tightened and he peered behind her as she opened the door. "Aren't you tired?" He asked. "Not really." She replied. A lie, he knew it. But she wanted him here for some reason. She opened the door further and walked in, turning the lights on inside.

          He followed behind her and shut the door. It was quiet in her home, a small living room to his left and the kitchen on his right. Stairs that led to the upper level laid directly in front of him. She shrugged off her jacket and threw it on the couch. A few floating shelves hung on walls, filled with books or potted plants. She walked to the stove and placed a kettle down. He followed and stopped at the breakfast bar, staring at the cork board that was hung on the wall. It was filled with hundreds of photos, photos of her and the people she knew. Some he recognized, like Jack and Kenna, some he didn't. So many omnics, pictures of the shop and postcards. She pointed out a picture to him, her and another girl with platinum white hair and piercing blue eyes. "That's Shy." They were like Yin and Yang, Cas with her dark hair and striking green eyes and Shy with her practically white hair and sky blue eyes. "She's my best friend." Her voice was distant, the words filled with longing. He'd never met this girl.

          "Where is she now?" He asked. Her fingers lingered on the picture. "She left. Said she couldn't stay in this place, this town, anymore. A lot of bad things happened to her here. She lives in Numbani now." He would have assumed that Kenna was her best friend. "The city of Harmony. I've always wanted to visit. The only place where co-existence seems possible." Ramattra eyed the Numbani postcard, now that he looked at the postcards again, all of them were signed From Shy. The kettle shrieked from the stove, drawing his attention to it. She poured the steaming water into her mug, a small tea tag hanging over the lip of it. "Hey, do you want to see something amazing?" She asked stirring her tea, the baggy sleeves of her grey sweater nearly falling into it. 

          "Sure." He said as she rounded the corner from the kitchen, heading towards the stairs. "Follow me." She called from up the stairs, he followed behind her. Upstairs was a door to a balcony and her bedroom. He couldn't help himself from looking at her room, seeing as how there was no door to it, only an open hallway. The room itself was small, but her large bed took up most of the room. Piled with soft looking blankets and pillows. A giant tapestry of the solar system hung above it, string lights dangling over it. A small dresser and a hamper, simple yet inviting. He stepped through the door and onto the balcony, which was enclosed similarly to her front porch. Trellis covered with vines. Two chairs and a small table sat in the corner closest to the wall and at the end was the railing. Which was open to blushing sky, the sun was almost peaking over the left side horizon. She leaned over the railing, chocolate hair fell over her back like a river. It accentuated the curve of her back and he made an effort not to allow his optics to roam further down.

         She turned back, a smiled offered to him. "The best thing about this place is the view. You get the ocean and you can see the sunrise and sunset." He leaned over the railing next to her, close enough for their arms to touch. Sure enough the sun was peaking over the eastern horizon. He watched with her as it crept above the ocean, gilding the waves and painting the sky pink and orange. “Isn’t it beautiful?” She whispered and leaned into him. The warmth from her seeping into his arm. He looked down to her and she met his gaze. It was like her skin borrowed the warmth from the sun, jade eyes turned to something ethereal and she lowered her lashes against the brightness. He studied those high cheeks that were once dusted pink but now turned golden. Full lips that followed the elegant lines of face made him want to brush his thumb over them. Just curiosity, he told himself in spite of the molten feeling in his core.
          “The most beautiful I’ve ever seen.” He said, not breaking her gaze. He could swear her cheeks turned brighter despite the sun. Her lashes fluttered and she looked away. She leaned her head against his shoulder, staring out at the water. He leaned against her, careful not to put his full weight on her. He could stand forever like this. 

Chapter Text

           I sorted through the pile of papers on my desk and groaned. Jack, for all his ingenuity, did not know how to use the register. And refused to learn. Leaving me to manually enter all the information from the day before. My eyes burned as I clacked away on the keyboard of the laptop, I didn't get to the shop until late afternoon, a few hours before we're supposed to close. I went to sleep well after the sun had risen since Ramattra stayed long enough to see it. My mind kept wandering to last night in spite of the demanding work before me. He stood with me for a while bathing in the sun and all I could smell was his scent of incense and fresh linen. Did he call me beautiful? My fingers paused over the keyboard while I debated with myself. He practically stared into my soul while he said it. I turned his words over and over in my mind.

          The front doorbell chimed as it opened and I jumped in my seat, stifling my gasp. I felt heat rush to my cheeks, partly embarrassed for being startled but mostly for being caught lost in my thoughts. "Jumpy today. Did you get enough sleep?" Ramattra filled the doorway, donning a deep royal blue jacket and black slacks with shoes to match. My eyes were drawn to the small box in his hand, "I think so but I definitely slept at the wrong hours." He set the box on my desk and I peered through the thin plastic on the top of it. A large puffy croissant with chocolate spilling out the ends sat in the middle of it, Lee's Beans was stamped onto the side of the box. My brows rose and a smile crept over my face and I looked up to him. I ordered it once or twice when he went with me to Lee's and he remembered. "You are amazing, thank you." I fought to keep the stupid grin from getting worse as I opened the box

          "It was nothing." He said as he sunk into the sofa. "Not nothing to me." I said before taking a bite, savoring the buttery, flaky pastry and the sweet accent of the chocolate. "Good to know that croissants can win you over so easily." He picked some invisible dirt off his sleeve, preening himself. I stifled a croissant muffled chuckle. The door between the storefront and garage creaked open and Jack strode through, covered in grease as he always was, he slung a filthy rag over his shoulder. "Oh hey, it's you again." Jack looked to Ramattra on the sofa as he walked past us to lock the front door. His eyes lingered on the confectionery in my hand, "Where'd you get that?" He asked me. I pointed at Ramattra, "He got it for me." I said between mouthfuls. Ramattra gave him a small wave with his hand that dangled off the back of the sofa. "Did he now." Jack lingered on the croissant before glancing at Ramattra. "Jealous you didn't get one too?" I teased him. Jack ignored what I said and walked back to the garage but paused at the door, "Cas, are you watching the meteor shower tonight?" He asked looking back at me. "I am." I answered from across the room. "Do you want to go together? There's gonna be a viewing party on the beach." He watched me, waiting for an answer. "Umm, no I think I'm just going to watch from my porch. I don't want to be around a bunch of people." I replied. He stared at me for a brief moment, "Suit yourself then." He said before disappearing into the garage.

          Ramattra turned to me, "A meteor shower, tonight?" He asked. I finished the croissant before responding to him, "Yeah, want to watch it with me tonight? I don't think you're inclined to be in crowd, right?" He nodded, "You assume correctly. I would love to watch, I haven't seen one since the monastery." He said. "Perfect, I just need to finish this paperwork then we can leave." I wiped my hands off on a napkin and resumed my work.

++++++++++

          The fat golden disc of the sun was squatted on the horizon by the time we left the shop. I admired the glittering, golden waves between the buildings on the way home. I could never tire of the sight, the sounds. Being born in a landlocked country made me always appreciate the sea. Rain, fog, or shine it was always beautiful. Ramattra helped me pull the chairs to the edge of the porch and so I sat with my legs resting on the railing. We watched the last of the sun disappear below the western horizon, leaving pink and purple clouds in it's wake. An ocean breeze rustled up the shore and ruffled my hair, I wrapped my blanket around me tighter. I glanced over to Ramattra, his arms were folded against his chest and he was leaned back, relaxed in his chair, watching the sky change colors. It occurred to me I've never seen him so at ease.

           We sat in comfortable silence together until the sky was dark and the first meteor streaked across the sky. I pointed it out to him and he looked, giving me a nod of confirmation. Slowly, more of them shot across the inky sky until their sparkling trails created a canopy above us. "Doesn't it make you feel small?" I asked him, unable to tear my eyes away from the dazzling display. "It does." He said with a quiet voice, staring at the sky as well. "Do you ever wonder if we're alone in the universe?" I pondered. "Considering myself, I don't think that's likely." He gestured to himself with his chin. I looked at him and laughed, "You make a compelling argument there." He chuckled with me. 

          "Do you remember anything? From before the Iris?" I asked him quietly, turning my attention to him. He glanced to me then looked back out to sky. He contemplated his answer, "Not really. It's all... murky at best." He said. I paused before asking him another question, "What was it like? At first?" I watched him carefully. He kept his attention to the sea as he talked, "It was strange. Like breaching the surface of water. I could finally breathe. I had control. But the more I walked this Earth, I realized that many humans hated me. That omnics were unwelcome once we could fight for ourselves. I felt, still feel, like there's no place for me. And maybe there will never be." My chest hurt for the omnic in front of me, who seemed so alone. "You have a place with me, if you want it." I offered. He looked to me, "You really want someone such as myself by your side?" He asked.

          "I wouldn't have it any other way." I said confidently. He looked away, staring at his hands in his lap. "Your own kind would ostracize you, judge you." He said softly. I huffed a laugh, "They already do that Ramattra. It's the least of my worries." He looked back at the sky, meteors blazing in and quickly guttering out. "Thank you for your kindness." He said finally. I nodded, even if he couldn't see me. 

           "What was life like before the monastery?" I asked him. He crossed his legs at the ankles and tilted his head. "I traveled mostly. But it was hard to find somewhere where I wasn't ridiculed. Or out right ignored." He said. "Did you find any friends along the way?" I probed. "I did, a few other Ravagers. But they're all gone now." He sighed. "Did you ever find love?" He glanced at me before answering. "Not in the way you might be thinking. I did find.. company. If that's what you're asking." At least his tone lightened up with his answer. "You mean, like...?" I pushed him further. "Yes. The first time, I found myself," He paused. "ill-prepared. But the sparse times after I was better equipped."

           He was WHAT? OH MY GOD, that means he.. My mind raced a mile a minute, I struggled to keep my face straight. I could feel myself flushing. All the words rushed into my mind, jumbled together but then never made it to my mouth. "Have you ever found love?" I silently thanked him for breaking the silence. I took a quiet breath to sort myself out before answering, "I did, a while ago. Almost five years ago now." I said. "What happened?" He asked. "About a year after moving here, I met a man named Ethan. We were together for close to three years. Before I found out he was cheating on me, with someone close to me at the time." He turned towards me, "That's awful, I'm sorry." He said. "It is what it is. And it was a long time ago now." I shrugged. "I would have assumed that you and Jack were together." He said nonchalantly. "A lot of people assume that. But he and I have known each other for so long that I would never consider it." I paused, "I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship. What we've built." He nodded in agreement. "Turns out, I like being alone. No one to tell me what to do and no one to hurt me once they get tired of me." I said with more vitriol than I intended.

           Ramattra looked me up and down, "I can't see why someone would tire of you." I pulled my blanket above my nose, I could feel the heat gathering in my cheeks again. "I don't know but-" The doorbell chimed in my apartment and my head snapped to the door. "Who in the hell..." I grumbled getting up from my chair, flinging the door open and dashing down the stairs. I open the front door just enough to see Jack standing on my porch. I opened it further, Marwan was on the street behind him, laughing with Kira and Kenna, drinks in their hands. "Hey Cas," His words came out sloppy. "I know you said you wanted to be alone but we thought to drop by and..." Jack's eyes shifted upwards and focused behind me. I could feel Ramattra standing close to me, his jacket brushed against my arm. "Never mind, I guess you have company." He grumbled. "Is there an issue, Jack?" I asked tersely. Jack shoved the toe of his shoe in the ground, "No." Kenna waved to me from the street, I waved back to her. Then Kira and Marwan waved, making a curvy walk in my direction. Jack turned to them, trying to say something but was drowned out by Kira.

           "Cas! Come on girl, have some fun." She got closer, Kenna trailing behind her. "Looks like she might already be having some." Kenna teased. She pushed past Jack and gave me a feline smile. I rolled my eyes, "We were just watching the meteor shower." She hummed her disbelief to me. "Look I'm not in the mood for drinking. Or leaving my house. Can I call a rain check?" She smiled and poked my nose, "Sure thing, but I'll be calling it in soon." Kenna said tauntingly. "Thank you, next time. I promise." I waved them rest of them off and closed the door.

          I leaned my back against the door and loosed a breath. "Sorry, they tend to drop by unannounced sometimes." I looked up to Ramattra and furrowed my brows. "Don't worry about it. It's starting to get late for you anyways." His optics glinted as he studied me. "I can always come back again." My heart fluttered in my chest, I wasn't ready for him to leave. "Don't wait too long to come back." My mouth tugged upwards. "I won't." He leaned down and wrapped his arms around me, embracing me. I breathed in his scent and tightened myself around him.

           I waved him off and shut the door behind him. I sighed and thumped my forehead against the door, Lord help me.

Chapter Text

           Ramattra sat in the passenger seat of one of the three white vans that trailed up the road to the packing plant. Kira followed closely behind the van in front of them, her gold bangles clinking quietly as she turned the wheel. He watched the warm light from the street lamps pass over the van as they cruised along the dark road. "You know, its funny." Kira spoke, keeping her optics on the road, the delicate gold accents of her face plate glinted under the street lights, "Once upon a time, I was in the back of one of these vans." She chuckled quietly, "And now look at me." She glanced to Ramattra. "How many of these have you done with them?" He asked. "All of them. Since I met them." She said matter-of-fact. He studied her small frame, opulent garb and decorative markings. An omnic who reclaimed her life. "What happened to you?" He asked her. Kira tapped a ringed finger on the steering wheel. "Similar to what's happening to these omnics. I used to be 'entertainment' at a gentleman's club. Once they deemed me obsolete they sold me away to a factory."

          She scoffed, "Like I was trash. But," She chuckled. "They showed me I was anything but that." She glanced to Ramattra again, "Trust me, your faith isn't misplaced." He considered his next words, "And Marwan?" She hummed, as if she had been expecting the question. "Marwan showed me how to really live." She threw her head back and laughed, "Marwan is a sweet, kind and gentle creature. I never expected him but I can't live without him." Laughter laced her words. He appreciated that about Kira, so full of life and happiness. Maybe he'd been wrong, maybe humans could, wanted to, co-exist. Maybe he just needed to find the right ones. "I know that look Ramattra." He turned his head to her. "That look you have, I looked at Marwan the same way too." He straightened in his seat. "I-" He tried to protest. "Don't pretend with me, boy." Kira cut him off. He shut up. "If you could choose anyone on this planet, you chose the right one." He rapped his fingers on thigh, something he avoided with himself. But he couldn't help it, every time he was around her he fought himself to be close to her, touch her. Whenever he was away from her, his mind let her dance on every thought. "Cat got your voice box?" She teased. He looked back out at the road, "I can't stop thinking about her." Each word difficult to admit. "I couldn't stop thinking about Marwan either. When you're ready, let yourself be happy. You deserve it." She looked to him before throwing the van in park.

           Parked behind the same hill Cas, Kenna and him had staked out, he stepped out of then van, greeted by the cool night. Kenna, Cas, Jack and Darian stood by Kira's door, who hung partially out the window. "Jack, Kira and Kenna will stay here. Be ready with the vans when we radio in. Kira is going to cut the power, we'll have about thirty minutes to get everyone out. Is everyone ready?" Cas looked pointedly at each of them. All of them dressed the same, black as the night around them, as was he. Nods of agreement. "Darian, you're taking the east side. Ramattra, west side. I will clear the south end of the building and we'll file out from there." Darian nodded, "Yes ma'am, I'll be right behind you." Ramattra nodded his agreement and they set off down the hill.

++++++++++++

           Ramattra led twelve omnics, he counted them all, down a dark corridor. One of the many he memorized from the blueprints Kira had brought. Cas, Darian and him had gone over them extensively several times in the month leading up to this. Darian radioed to Kira back at the vans, confirmed he found the omnics he was looking for. Cas confirmed hers and asked them to wait at the south side of the building. They had been able to avoid seeing any guards at all, thanks to Kira, they were scrambling to figure out what happened to their power. He held the door open that led into the large, open room that was used for storage. He looked across the warehouse and could see Darian and Cas prying open the roll up door. 

          Silvery moonlight filtered through the door that was half open, crouched figures slipped under a few at a time. Cas stood on the inside of the door, guiding the omnics through. Darian was gone, he assumed on the other side of the door. Ramattra guessed there had to be at least thirty omnics between the three of them. "Did you see any guards?" Cas asked him. Ramattra looked back over his shoulder, just to be sure. "No, I didn't see anyone at all." She guided the last omnic under the door. "Good I didn't see anyone either." She used her flashlight to illuminate the storage room, one last check before they left. "Wait a second.." She tilted her head and walked towards a dark corner. Cardboard boxes stacked high concealed the corner even further. He followed just behind her and he heard her whisper, "Oh my god..." He stepped past the boxes to see what her flashlight was illuminating. A decrepit omnic sat half melded to the concrete floor. Their head was slung low, the LEDs on their dusty face plate barely a faint glow. His chest filled with ice at the sight of the forgotten, rotting omnic. Cas crouched in front of them and placed her hand on their shoulder. "Are you still with us?" She asked, her voice soft and comforting. They attempted to lift their head with jerky movements, still alive it seemed. She whipped her head back to Ramattra, "Help me get them up." She said with hushed urgency.

          He squatted next to her and slipped his arms under the omnic's arms and lifted. Their body resisted and he looked down and realized it was concrete that had been poured over their legs, to keep them there. Forever. Everything in his body revolted at the sight and Ramattra fought to bury the rage rising within him. "They..They're stuck. Concrete on their lower half." He whispered to Cas. She shined her light down and shed light to the horror before him. He ran through the options, they were running out of time. He would have to remove them, forcibly. He hadn't brought any tools to deal with something like this. Jack would be able to fix whatever damage he did. He brought his face level to the omnic. "I'm sorry, I have to.. separate you. This is going to hurt." The omnic shook their head weakly. His chest tightened as he stood and braced himself. He wrapped an arm around their torso and the other bracing their back. Just as he lifted the omnic apart, the lights came back on. He heard voices shouting from the adjoining room. "Shit, we have to leave now." Cas hissed from his side. Ramattra could feel his pants becoming slick with the omnics fluids. They groaned in a broken voice in his arms. They rushed to the partially open door the as guards busted through the door on the far side of the room, yelling at them to stop. 

          The rolling door slammed shut before them and they stopped just short of it. "Go! Now!" Cas yelled into her radio and Ramattra heard tires fling gravel against the thin metal of the door. They turned to face the guards, flash lights shining in their face. Cas's hands rose slowly in the air and Ramattra realized they were being held at gunpoint. He bent and lowered the omnic to the floor beside him and took a step forward. He wanted them to look at him. He could recover from being shot, several times if needed. Cas could not. One of the three guards stepped back, attempting to keep their gun level with a shaky grip. "Back up! We don't want to shoot you." They yelled. Another step forward and the other two stepped back. "You.." One of them whispered. "A Ravager." Another whispered. Ramattra stepped forward again. "Is this really worth your lives?" Ramattra's voice grated through the silent room. The guards looked between each other and lowered their guns, backing up until they reached the door they came from. A wise choice. He thought to himself. He turned back and scooped the omnic up into his arms, Cas already leading to the west side exit.

           "Thank you." She said in a breathless voice as they hurried through the corridors. "No need to thank me." He replied as they passed through the last door leaving that wretched plant behind. They hurried up the hill and traveled with the coverage of the woods along side the road they drove in on. "We need to get them to Jack, soon." Ramattra looked down to her walking by his side. She had pulled down her hood and gator, exposing her fraying braid to the night. "It's going to take them a while to get back here. Its long drive back to the shop from here." She ran her hand over her braid. She glanced to the omnic barely hanging on in his arms then up to him. "How long do you think they have?" She asked quietly. He looked down to the omnics who's lights guttered with each step. "If we cover enough ground, make the trip back here shorter for them, they can make it." A lie. He lied to himself and to her. She nodded and pulled out her radio, he doubted if they were still within range. "Hello?" She called out. Static answered back. She tried a few more times before giving up and shoving it back into her pocket.

          "There's a gas station a few miles from here with a payphone. Once we get there I'll call the shop, they should have made it back by then." Her voice sounded tired. He nodded his agreement and they pressed onward.

+++++++++++

            He hadn't realized how long they had trekked through the slopping hills until Cas had asked to rest for a moment. She sat on a rock and laid back over it, staring at the lightening sky. "I wish I had brought some water." She said to no one in particular. He took a moment to be thankful that he didn't require those things. She sat back up and looked at him, her head cocked to the side. She approached him slowly and reached her hand out to the omnic in his arms. "They're..." Her voice trailed off. He looked down and saw their lights had faded into a dark shell. Cas looked up to him, silver lining her eyes. Ramattra set the omnic against the rock she had just been sitting on, careful to adjust their limp arms. She knelt in from of them and wiped the dust from their face plate. He stood beside her. "I'm so sorry." Her voice cracked. "I'm sorry we couldn't.." She choked on the last words. Something wrenched painfully inside him and he knelt beside her. He rubbed his hand on her back. She looked up to the sky, "Why?" Tears streamed down her cheeks. "How could anyone be so cruel." She slouched over, her hands clenched atop her thighs.

          He stared at the broken omnic and wondered what they were like. What they're life might have been like, was this torturous life all they knew? What could they have become, if he hadn't ripped them apart so carelessly. Banking on something that wasn't guaranteed. He should have known better, done better, but what else could he have done? "Ramattra." Her voice was the lifeline that brought him back to the present. She held the omnic's hand in hers, thumb stroking the top of their hand. "Don't blame yourself." Had he said his thoughts out loud? "I don't think.." She paused. "There was nothing else we could have done. There wasn't enough time and we couldn't leave them there." She sniffled. "And we can't leave them here now." She looked over her shoulder at him, cheeks red, her eyes held an almost palpable sadness in them. She stood and he rose to meet her.

          She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. He wrapped one arm around her back and ran the other down her braid. The anger, the rage, the sadness ebbed away the longer she held onto him. "Come on," she mumbled into his chest, "Let's get them home." She pulled away and helped him lift the omnic into his arms again.

           She walked in silence with him until the sun caressed it's golden tendrils on the sloping hills. It had taken them much longer than he anticipated to reach the gas station they passed on the way in. He waited on a bench outside until she returned with a frosted water bottle. "Darian is on his way." She said between deep drinks. "I've never been more thankful for water as I am now." She signed and sat next to him, closing her eyes and leaned against him. "I'm glad I don't require such things." He said. She huffed a laugh, "You should be, I thought I was going to crumple into dust." He chuckled, "It would have been difficult to bring you home if you turned into dust." She smiled, "That would have been hard to explain to everyone." Her voice was quiet with exhaustion.

           Darian must have broken every speed limit on the way there as he arrived only moments later. The breaks on the van squeaking as he came to a stop in front of them. Darian flung open the door and hurried to where they sat, the van lifting from the lack of his weight. Cas rose to meet him. Darian looked her over, making sure she was alright. "Darian, stop mother henning, I'm okay." She waved a dismissing hand. Darian gave his sincerest apologies before turning his attention to Ramattra, to the small body he held in his arms. "They didn't make it?" Darian asked. Ramattra shook his head, "No." Cas opened the back doors of the van and helped them wrap the omnic in one of the blankets.

++++++++++

           Ramattra sat on the bench seat that ran the length of the van, Cas leaned into the crook of his arm with her legs tucked against herself. He knew from her slow, shallow breaths that she was sleeping. His thumb caressed the top of her knee. Ramattra looked out the windshield of the van, trying to judge how much longer until they made it back to the shop when he noticed Darian's optics staring at him from the rear view mirror. "Thank you." Darian said before looking away. "For?" Ramattra asked. "For keeping her safe." he responded. Ramattra felt the van sway from the uneven road. "I will always keep her safe." He said without a second thought.

Chapter Text

          I collapsed into the sofa and it sighed as I sunk into it. My eyes burned as I stared at the ceiling, noting the cobwebs that clung to it close to the wall. I was running on a collective eight hours of sleep over the last few days. I had reached out to everyone I knew that was willing to take in omnics. We still had nine of them at the shop. Jack stayed awake for two days straight, checking them all meticulously. Running diagnostics and making repairs, he finally fell over a few hours ago. I blinked and rubbed my eyes, feeling like I had sandpaper for eyelids. I could rest for just a little while. I slid down on the sofa, resting my head on the arm. Just a few moments...

           I jerked awake when I felt a heavy presence cover me. Ramattra stood over me, his hands still holding the blanket that was partially covering me. "When was the last time you slept?" He stared down at me. I wiped the drool off my face, "Hmm I think... Now? Uh.." I rambled. "Mhmm, yea." I squinted at him, fighting against what felt like gravity of Jupiter. He dropped the blanket, "You need to go home." He said with a tone that implied there would be no arguing with him. I sat up, swaying, "I can't, things need doing." I argued with him anyways. "I brought Kira and Marwan here. Kenna came too, you're relieved of your duties." He said. I squinted at him again, "You what?" He sighed, "I'm taking you home." He offer his hand to help me up, I stared at it. 

           "Go home, girl." Kira yelled at me, or at least what sounded like yelling. "We can handle this place." I rubbed my face, trying to regain coherent thoughts. "Okay, okay.." I sighed. "My keys. My desk, I think." I mumbled. Kira tossed them to Ramattra. I took his hand finally, wobbling to my feet. It would be a miserable walk home.

+++++++++++

           Each step felt like dragging dumbbells through mud, but at least the sun was warm. I was thankful for Ramattra's guiding presence, I would've tripped over my feet on the way home if it weren't for him. Somehow he knew which key opened my door, thankfully I didn't need to remember it myself. He hung my keys on the hook by the door, in their rightful place. He shut the door behind me and I stood in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do with myself. The quiet was unsettling. "Go take a shower." He told me. I raised an eyebrow, "Are you saying that I stink?" His optics roved over me, "You look like you need one." I huffed, "Rude." I made my way to the stairs, "Can you make it up by yourself?" He called after me. "I'll be fine." I yelled back, already in my room tossing off my clothes. A hot shower sounded like heaven right about now.

            I could smell something warm and delicious before I made it fully down the stairs. I turned the corner from the stairs and saw a bowl with steam rising from it, a mug next to it sitting on the breakfast bar. I sat in my singular chair and watched him pour hot water into the mug, making the tea bag dance around in it. "You didn't have to do this you know." I warmed my hands on the mug, goosebumps ran along my arms from my cold, damp hair. "I know." He said simply and leaned against the bar, silky black cables draped around his face. I looked up to him, I wanted to touch them. See what they felt like. "Eat, then you sleep." He said to me. "Yes sir." I heard his breath hitch, he was close, so so close to me... Do you like it when I call you that? I wanted to ask him. I took a spoonful from my bowl instead, chicken noodle soup it seemed. 

            He straightened and backed up to the stove, leaning against it while I ate. It felt weird to have an audience. The warmth from the food and tea made me seriously wish I had worn a thicker shirt. Or tied my hair up. I shivered again and placed my dishes in the sink. He herded me up the stairs and into my room, "You take tomorrow off too." I looked up at him to protest, "Don't argue with me. I've already arranged everything." He said. I pouted, "They need my help, I can't just lay around all day." I threw my arms out. "They'll be fine without you, just for a day." His voice softened. I sighed, "Okay." I flopped my arms back to my sides. "I'll be back tomorrow, to check on you."

           For the first time, in a very long time, I didn't want to be alone. I didn't want him to leave. I bit my lip struggling to muster the courage to ask him to stay. I looked up to him, willing the question to leave my lips. "Do you want me to stay?" Ramattra asked softly. I nodded. He stepped closer to me. "Do you want to sleep in your bed?" His words became quieter the closer he got. I nodded again. "Want me to lay with you?" He whispered, his hand trailed along my arm and over my shoulder. "I'll stay with you." His voice almost inaudible. His other arm ran up my back softly and my breath caught in my throat, chills running across my skin in the wake of his hand. He hauled me up in his arms and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He held me eye level with him and I placed my hands on either side of his face plate, my thumbs caressed him. Rational thought was leaving my brain, fast. I looked him in his optics before pressing my lips against him. He groaned and electricity exploded inside me. I ground my hips against him and his hands found my ass, quickly. 

            I kissed him again and the sound of his pleasured moans filled the quiet room. He backed up to my bed and sat down, sinking into the soft comforter. I tore my shirt off and the cool air bit at my already hard nipples. His hands immediately went to my breasts, squeezing gently, his thumbs circled over their peaks. I threw my head back and moaned, grinding into him again. I'd never felt anything so intense. Each pass of his thumbs was sending waves of molten arousal between my legs. I looked back to him, panting. He slipped one hand beneath the hem my shorts and I was almost embarrassed by the amount of wetness that was dripping from me. But when he groaned and slipped his fingers between my lips and circled my clit, I didn't care. Everything, all of my senses narrowed to his touch. 

            My hips moved of their own accord and bucked into his carcasses. He slipped his fingers inside me and my breath caught. Shameless wet noises rose between us and I rode his hand. I shut my eyes and grasped his shoulders for dear life. My stomach tightened and his pace quickened. I couldn't hear my own moans but I felt his name leave my lips. His fingers curled inside me and relentlessly stroked my most sensitive area. My thighs clenched and I cried out, my body a slave to the pleasure he gave me. It wasn't until I was a limp, panting mess that he released me, pulling his fingers from me. He brought them to my lips and I opened my mouth readily for him. He watched me suck the slickness from his fingers, his breath quickening. A silent promise. 

            He laid me down and I curled into him, his arms wrapping around me after he pulled the covers over us. "What about you?" I asked quietly. He rubbed my back and my eyelids drooped. "Another time, sleep for now." He whispered into my hair. Before I could argue with him, I was swept under by the weight of exhaustion.

Chapter Text

She was still sleeping when Ramattra slipped quietly out of her bed the next morning. He planned to fulfill his guarantees to her and visit SeaSide, check to see how they were fairing and offer his assistance until he was certain nothing else was needed from them. On the short walk to the shop his thoughts lingered on last night, how eager she was, how wet she was for him, how his name sounded on her lips, how- He shook his head, attempting to shake out the images. It almost surprised him when he appeared at the front door, so distracted. He sighed and took a moment to clear his  mind before he walked through that door. He would need to be focused to get anything done.

           He spoke with each of the omnics that remained at the shop, all of them thankful for taking them from that place. The guilt of the unnamed omnic still weighed on his mind and so he tried to get more information on them from those who remained. They called themselves 'Persephone' and never lived a life beyond that place. He asked why they were melded to the floor. None of them wanted to talk about it except one, Thai, he said that Persephone had been rallying them to revolt, to leave. And on the night they staged an escape, they were caught and that was the punishment given to them. To also serve as a reminder to the other omnics what would happen to them if they followed in Persephone's footsteps. He'd never been so disgusted, out of all the things he witnessed, was subject to, in his time he never saw something so cruel.

           He spoke with Darian and they agreed to plan a service for Persephone. Which seemed to lift the omnics spirits, despite the loss of life. He felt personally responsible to see it through. He tried not to think about it too deeply, he knew the options were limited at the time. 

          He spoke with Kira who enlisted him to help her send off a couple omnics with Kenna. She had found a friend who was willing to house one and the other wanted to travel to Numbani. "Isn't this wonderful?" Kira asked him as they watched Kenna drive off. He kept his optics on the van until it disappeared from sight, "It is." He replied finally. "At first, when I stayed with them. I didn't understand why they would run themselves ragged, spend so much money, expend so many resources to do this. Not that I wasn't grateful at the time." She looked up to him. "But after doing it, I get it. It's a wonderful feeling. Knowing they'll have a better life and that I had a helping hand in it." She said with lightness in her voice. He walked with her back inside the shop and said, "You're doing what I thought wasn't possible." She put her hand to her chin and walked backwards in front of him, "Anything is possible, Ramattra." She twirled back around, "How is our girl?" Kira asked. "Sleeping when I left." He replied. She stopped at the doorway between the backdoor and the main store-front and leaned against the corner, eyeing him, "You were here quite early, she's not one too sleep in so late. She must have gone to sleep late." He stiffened, "Considering she was awake for so long, I wouldn't be surprised if she were still asleep." He retorted.

           Kira chuckled and shook the bangles on her wrist, "I'm sure she's very tired." She said, turning away. "I think we're okay for the rest of the day. Marwan has been taking care of Jack and I've got Kenna to keep me company." Ramattra followed behind her. "Go, make sure she gets plenty of rest." He could have sworn she winked at him. He stopped at the front door, "Please call if you need anything." He said. Kira waved him off, "Don't worry, I will. Now go." She shooed him out. He had one last stop to make, Lee's. He wouldn't return empty handed and Cas needed to eat something other than canned food. He didn't trust himself to cook anything edible.

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            Her apartment was still dark and quiet when he returned. She must still be asleep, surprising since it was late into the afternoon. The paper bag swayed in his hand as he ascended the stairs. He gotten a sandwich, a bagel and a croissant along with her coffee. He couldn't decide which one she would want so he got them both. Still asleep it seemed, he set the bag on her dresser next to the bed and eased himself on the bed next to her. He rubbed her shoulder under her eyes fluttered open. "Good morning" She said with a sleepy smile. 

             He handed the drink to her and she sniffed the cup, taking a drink from it and sighed happily. "You keep this up and you're on track to be my number one favorite person." She scooted to sit up and the blanket dropped just shy of fully baring her chest. Apparently still half naked. He forced his optics not to linger, a difficult task considering how pent up he felt. He grabbed the bag from the dresser and handed it to her. "I didn't know which one you would want so I gave you options." He said as she peered in the bag. She smiled and set the bag aside, along with her cup, "Thank you, but I have to wait a bit before eating. I'm never hungry when I first wake up." She leaned forward and grasped his shirt, pulling him into her. He allowed her to pull him and she ran her hand along the side of his face plate, brushing her lips against him. Arousal buzzed along his limbs.

             "Since you've been so kind, I want to give you a treat." She said softly. His interest piqued, "Oh?" He whispered back. "Clothes, off. Lay on your back." She demanded. He complied, swiftly and slid back on the bed. She knelt between his legs and drug her hand down his chest with soft touches. He sighed quietly at her touch, electric pleasure coursing through him where ever her hands lingered. She eased her touches lower, until she rested on his thighs. Her jade eyes begged a silent question to him from between his legs. He retracted the cod piece that covered him and provided privacy, his dick sprang free, already half-hard. She bent over and brushed her lips over the tip, her eyes locked to him as if saying watch me.

           He panted as she toyed with him, it didn't take much nor very long for him to get fully erect. Her hand ghosted the length of him and she pressed her lips to the bottom of the tip before moving to the very base of him. She ran her hot tongue slowly up his shaft and he moaned. Saliva strung between them when she broke the contact. He couldn't break his gaze away from her. She took him into her mouth and he watched her lips slide down his cock, feeling himself pulse in her mouth. He gripped the sheets, his mind whirling. She stroked him in tandem with her mouth, that tongue that swirled on the bottom of his dick was going to be his undoing. He could barely keep his head up when shoved him entirely down her throat. She held herself at the base until she had to come up for air, gasping. His head fell back on the pillow when she went down again. His fingers tangled in her hair and it was all he could do other than groan and pant while she set a steady rhythm of shoving him in her throat and coming back up.

            She gagged and came up, thick saliva covering him she stroked him until his hips rose and he squirmed beneath her. He looked back to her and her cheeks were flushed. Her dark hair framed her small shoulders and her breasts bounced with each stroke. He grabbed her hand and stopped her. There would be no more waiting, her lust glazed eyes snapped up to him. All rational thought had left him a long time ago, filled with only the primal desire to feel her. Claim her. Fill her.

          Without speaking a word she knew exactly what he wanted. She slipped off her shorts and straddled him, hovering herself just above him. He grabbed his dick by the base and ran it through her lips. So very wet. His mind whispered. He guided himself to her entrance and she lowered herself gently. She braced her hands on his chest as she sat down on him and immediately he was met by the heat of her, tight around his cock. She pulled a low moan from him when she flexed her walls around him. His hands caressed up her thighs, gripping her hips he guided her up and back down. He pressed his own hips up to meet hers as she came down. He admired how her stomach flexed when she came up and they way she rolled her hips down on him. 

         He met her stroke for stroke, letting her set the pace. He splayed his hand on her lower abdomen and rolled his thumb over her clit. Her hips stuttered at the touch. She leaned back, bracing her hands on his legs and spread her thighs. Leaving her exposed for him to admire. He watched his thick cock stretch the limits of her pussy when he pushed inside her, watched how she slicked his dick every time she rose up. She ground down on him with rough, short thrusts. Her breath turned ragged and her thighs shook. He took in every bit of her as she trembled on the edge, heightening his own pleasure. He grabbed both of her thighs and pound into her in sync with her own movements. Desperate broken moans tore out her and he felt her every muscle tighten. She chanted his name and his grip on himself was lost. He pound into her wildly as he spilled inside her.

           She collapsed on top of him, breath sawing out of her. But he wasn't done. He flipped her over and spread her legs, holding them up by her thighs. She looked up to him with half lidded eyes, her brows furrowed up. She slipped her hands in the crook of her knees and held her legs back for him. He leaned over her, his hand splayed on her chest he pressed her down into the bed. He set a quick pace, slicked noises adding to his pleasure. She tugged at his wrist and he lightened up to let her adjust. She brought his hand to her neck and his dick flexed. He could have fun with this. He tightened his grip around her neck and her eyes rolled back beneath her lashes. She gripped both hands on the wrist that pinned her down, keeping herself steady as he thrust his cock relentlessly into her. 

           He looked down again and watched himself penetrate her, over and over until she trembled again. He slowed his pace to a near stop when her legs shook. He leaned back and lifted her slightly, rocking her gently on his dick. "Ramattra...I'm so close, please.." She begged on a whimpering moan. He flexed when she said his name and he shushed her coming to a stop. "You look so pretty with my cock in you." He whispered to her. She rolled her hips, begging with her body. He circled her clit with his thumb, keeping his hips still. She thrust herself on him, ragged breaths tearing from her. He removed himself from her and drug his hand away, his dick rested on her swollen pussy. "Please, please..." She begged and looked up to him. He leaned over her and held her by the jaw, staring into her glazed eyes, "You cum when I let you." He rumbled. Her pupils dilated and she nodded, stilling herself. He moved his hand back to her neck and slipped back inside her. Gentle thrusts at first, until he heard her panting again. He tightened his grip on her and pound into her until she tensed and writhed beneath him.

           He slowed his tempo as her thighs trembled, but she allowed him to have the control. "Good girl." He purred to her and she breathed a choked moan at his words. He picked up his rhythm, setting an even, steady pace. Her body arched and she squirmed under him. He tucked one hand on her hip and pressed her against the bed. He felt her flex on him and it sent him reeling, unaware of how close he was himself. Loud moans tore out of him and he pounded her savagely until she was screaming his name, spilling inside her again. 

           He leaned over and braced himself with his hands on either side of her, panting. She looked up to him, her cheeks were flush and her lashes fluttered while she huffed for air. "That was," She gasped between words, "The best I've ever orgasm I've ever had." She managed say, breathless. "So almost as good as it was for me then." He teased, laying next to her. She wiped her forehead and pushed her hair back, "Shut up." She laughed. She curled up to the crook of his arm and he wrapped his arm around her, caressing her shoulder. She stretched her arm out across his chest and squeezed him. He reached down with his other arm and pulled the covers over them. He wanted to lay here forever with her.

Chapter Text

            Sweat beaded along my hair line as I hauled boxes into the shop. The afternoon sun warmed my head and shoulders despite the chill in the air itself. Most of them were fairly light and I was able to take them in myself, except for the particularly heavy ones. God knows what Jack ordered on top of our regular supplies. Luckily the seven omnics that still remained at SeaSide made light work of those boxes. Insistent that they took them in for me and I wasn't inclined to let them do all the heavy lifting, but they wouldn't take no for answer. I spoke with Darian earlier this morning and confirmed his and Ramattra's plans for Persephone. We found a plot for them at the local cemetery and would have their service by the end of the week. This would give enough time to gather their friends who were staying within our network. All those who hadn't left the country however, most of them stayed in Greece.

           I was grateful to Ramattra who told me about what details he was able to learn. I know he still blamed himself for their death and he made it a point to head the arrangements himself. I set the last box in the garage with a huff, Jack was already cutting them open and shelving things. "Jack what the hell did you order?" I asked him, wiping my brow. "Parts, brake clean, rags, bolts.. The stuff we need." He faced the shelf, reaching up to line up cans of grease. "And I may have ordered myself a new tool or two." I grabbed a few packs of rags and shoved them into their rightful bin. "A new tool, huh?" I said to him. "Yea." He faced me, "Totally necessary, trust me." He gave me a lopsided grin, his blue eyes swept over me. "Okay." I laughed.

           "You feeling better? Get some rest?" He asked. My mind went straight to all the depraved things we did that night, the next morning. "Oh yea, I feel much better. I really needed that.. rest." Yeah, rest if that's what you want to call it. "Mhmm." He arched a pale brow at me. Don't be weird. Don't be weird. Get it together. "Did you get some rest? You didn't get any sleep at all. Well better question, did Marwan actually take care of you? Or was he doing Marwan things." I asked and Jack laughed, "He did, surprisingly. Marwan shenanigans aside." He turned back to the shelf, "Kira may or may not have had to come up and remind him he wasn't there for fun." I chuckled and placed the last of rags in their bin. "Did Ramattra take care of you?" He asked. My heart raced into my throat and my cheeks heated at the question. "He did." I said quietly, trying to maintain my composure.

           "Is there... something between you two?" Jack asked, not looking at me. My heart thundered in my chest. I didn't want to lie but I also didn't want to hurt his feelings. "It's none of your business." I blurted out, not the intended word choice. He turned to me, brows furrowed. "So there is." He said. I backed up a step, "Why does it matter to you?" I said, my voice uneven. "Why?" He raised his voice. "Because, Cas, the last time you loved someone. They hurt you. And I tried to be there for you. But you wouldn't let me." Color rose in his face. "That's not what happened Jack. I told you that I needed space after Ethan. That I needed to process what fucking happened. But YOU kept begging me to go out with you!" I took a breath, realizing I was yelling back. "Is this that you think happened?" The hurt clear in his voice. I threw my arms out, "You can't come on to someone constantly after something like that and expect them to be okay with it!" I stared into those ocean blue eyes. 

            "I just wanted to be there for you! But you wouldn't let me! That's what you do Cas! You push people away." He spat. Anger roiled in my veins. "That's not being there for someone, that's taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state." I lowered my voice. "So what? I'm not good enough for you, the one man who's been with you throughout everything and then the moment some big hulking omnic comes your way you spread your legs for him?" He scoffed and crossed his arms. My chest felt ready to burst. My blood boiled in every corner of my body. "Fuck you Jack." I was seeing red. "Fuck. YOU." I spat and whipped around. My feet carried me before my brain could register it. If I didn't leave I was certain I was going to punch him in the mouth.

            "Cas!" He called after me. "I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to come out like that." I ignored him and snatched my keys off my desk. "Hey, is everything-" I burst through the front door before Darian could finish his sentence. I let my feet carry me until the hot tears dried on my face and found myself staring at the curving beach. I slipped off my shoes and sat just close enough to the water for it to tickle my toes. I folded my legs up and held them against my chest, rested my chin on my knees and stared out at the ocean. 

             I watched the waves lap on the beach, a gentle and rhythmic motion. Each small wave that curled at my feet filled my senses with salty mist. Waves glittered and shimmered on the pale blue horizon. The sun heated my head and back pleasantly. I took a slow deep breath, inhaling the calmness that was before me. I tried to tell him so many times that I wasn't ready for a relationship but he didn't listen. Didn't respect me or my wishes. I love him, but not in the way he loves me. I should've known this was going to happened at some point.

            I frowned at the ocean. I wished Ramattra were here, that he could comfort me. I ran my fingers through the sand idly. I didn't want to go back. I just wanted to go home. But I still had so many things I needed to do. I picked up a handful of sand and let it slip out of my hand, like an hourglass counting down the time for me to return. I heard footsteps scuff in the sand behind me. I turned my head and saw Kira picking her way to me. She wore a floppy straw hat and a puffy, white long sleeve shirt with blue and while stripped bottoms. She sat next to me and looked out at the ocean. "Darian called me." She said casually. "He asked me to come find you. He was right about where you would be." She turned towards me and her gold decorations glinted under the sun. She was more human than most of the humans I knew. "He knows me well." I said finally. 

            "Darian heard everything and he's not very happy with Jack right now." I raised a brow to her. "He gave him a 'very stern talking to.' as he called it." Kira said. I wiped my sandy hand off on my leg and folded my arms over my knees. "I'd hate to be on his bad side." I murmured. "I didn't think he had one until now." She mused. I watched some dusty grey gulls splash in the waves, pecking at each other. "What did Darian tell you?" I asked, not bothering to hide the concern in my voice. She drug a delicate metal finger through the sand. "That you and Jack got into an argument" I scoffed, "Well obviously." She chuckled. "He said that Jack said some harsh words, out of jealousy." I watched her make little valleys in the sand. "Is it Ramattra he's jealous of?" She locked her optics on my eyes. 

           I nodded and felt my cheeks flush. "No need to be ashamed girl." She said lightheartedly. I smiled sheepishly. I would always be grateful to Kira, the positive omnic despite her past. She laid her hand on the back of my arm and I looked to her. "You be happy. No matter what anyone says. Or thinks." She said firmly and shook me softly. "Thank you." I managed to get out. She removed her hand, "Don't thank me. Just do it." She said matter-of-fact. "Okay." I laughed the word. "Kira?" She hummed to me. "What do I do now?" She cocked her head inquisitively. "Should I tell Ramattra what happened? Will they get along? I'm worried that we'll all fall apart." She was quiet for a moment, considering. "Tell him. And no, things won't fall a part. Take things as they come." I puffed air out of my cheeks. I didn't want to face any of it.

            We watched the ocean together until the breeze attempted to take her hat from her and she cursed the wind. I stood and offered a hand to help her up. She took it, clutching her hat on the way up. "Well I guess we can't stay here forever." I said reluctantly. "It's gonna be okay." She said, taking careful steps through the sand. "There are times in life when we must face difficult things. But we push through it." I shoved my feet back into my shoes when we reached the sidewalk. "I guess so." I said as we made the nerve-fraying walk back.

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            By the time we returned, Jack had made himself scarce. But I could his tinkering in the garage. Surprisingly, the shop was clean. Almost immaculately so. Even the cobwebs on the ceiling were gone. The pile of papers that were constantly all over my desk were now in neat stacks. One of the omnics, Thai, I remembered him by his yellow shirt. He'd asked for clothes specifically that color, claiming it was his favorite color. That it was a happy color. He was bent over wiping the base boards behind the sofa. "You know you don't have to do that. You're free to do whatever you want." I said to him. He cocked his head back to me, "Yes ma'am." He paused. "You don't have to call me ma'am either, Cas is fine." I sighed, my heart hurt for him. He dropped the rag into the bucket beside him and stood up, stretching out his limbs. He was taller than me, though almost everyone was. "Sorry," He apologized. "I don't know what else to do." He said, wringing his hands together.

           I moved the bucket off to the side and he helped me moved the sofa back against the wall. I noticed even the blinds had been dusted, he really was thorough. "I appreciate everything you've done." I thanked him, he nodded in response as he sat on the sofa. "What are some things that you haven't done that you want to do?" I asked. I heard my chair creak, Kira slipped almost silently into it. Likely reorganizing my papers. Thai pondered for a moment, "I don't really know." He said earnestly. I tapped a finger to my pouted lips, "Have you ever been to the ocean?"

           "I can't say that I have." He responded, "Persephone always talked about it. How close we were to it." There was a sadness in his voice. "We could take you there, if you want." I offered. He nodded and folded his hands in his lap, "I would like that." I smiled softly, "Just tell me when." He nodded again, "I will." I shooed Kira out of my seat and she sat next to Thai, talking with him about life and its possibilities. I complied the paperwork on my desk for what felt like hours. Spread sheets, invoices, orders, balances. The list never seemed to end. I heard the door between the store-front and the garage open once and glanced at Jack briefly. I made it my goal to ignore him completely, despite my heart hammering again. The sight of him made my veins burn with anger. I wasn't ready to speak to him again. Thankfully he made the wise choice not to speak to me.

            Twilight danced between the blinds and set the off-white walls awash with a creamy orange glow. Kira's laughter flitted through the quiet space, Marwan chuckled with her. He was always not far behind her no matter where she went. A few of the other omnics had joined us. Darian stood at the farthest wall, ever the wallflower, watching and listening. He had only nodded to me when he came in. I sighed and closed my laptop. I couldn't take it anymore, I was going to go cross eyed. I saw a familiar figured between the blinds as I was about to close up the shop. My heart somersaulted in my chest and my stomach fluttered. Ramattra's tall visage darkened my door step and I opened the door for him, stepping outside before he could make it in. I immediately threw myself into him, nearly knocking the drink out of his hand, I squeezed my arms tight around him. 

           I breathed in the scent of him, fresh linen and incense. Relief washed over me as he rubbed my back. "Are you alright?" He asked. "Long day." I mumbled into his chest. He pet my head and ran his fingers through my hair. "Want to talk about it?" He looked down to me when I peered up at him. I wanted him to carry me home. I shook my head, "Later, please." I asked softly and tucked my face back into his chest. He stroked my hair again and rubbed my back before releasing me. "Later." He echoed. I smiled at him gratefully before we returned inside.

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           I laid stretched out on my couch with my head in his lap, a book propped up on my knees. Ramattra ran his fingers idly through my hair as he read his own book. The lamp that stood between the two windows of my living room provided just enough dim light to see. I cracked the windows open, fresh cool air curled through along with the murmur of ocean waves. "Do you want to tell me what happened today?" He looked down at me and his thumb stroked my cheek. I placed a piece of scrap mail between the pages and closed my book, setting it aside. I sighed and sat up, his hand found my knee. Ever since last night he always found some way to touch me. I adored it. "Ugh, where to start." I grumbled. He closed his book and set it on the arm of the sofa, giving me his undivided attention. "Remember I told you about my ex, from years ago." He nodded. "Well, after that, Jack made it clear that he was interested in me. But I was messed up from what happened. I wasn't really interested in anything like that and besides that I didn't want to date my childhood friend. Too much at stake." I twirled my hair around my finger, "Well eventually he got the hint and left me alone but I guess he never stopped wanting me like that. So today, he asked me if there was something going on between us and I didn't deny it. He got pissed and started blaming me, for what I'm not even sure. He tried to make me feel guilty for not reciprocating him, that he wasn't good enough." I took a breath, thinking about it still made me angry. Ramattra's thumb stroked my knee. "But what made me mad was that he basically called me a whore without saying the word." My brows furrowed. 

           His thumb paused, "What exactly did he say?" His tone was low. "He said that he wasn't good enough for me, even though he'd been there for me for everything and the moment you come along, I was quick to spread my legs for you." I huffed. He pulled me into his lap and his hands settled on my hips. His optics studied me in the dim light. "You are not a whore." He assured me. "How long have you been alone?" His thumbs stroked my hips sending a shiver down my spine. "Years." I pouted. "He's jealous. I can clearly see why." His voice was dark, reverberating in my chest. My heart fluttered, "Is that why you didn't tell me when I got there? Were you afraid of how I might react?" He drug his fingers lightly up my side and smoothed his hands down my back. My skin tingled and warmth began to pool between my thighs that were straddling him. "Yes I just didn't want there to be another argument." I said, my voice sounded huskier than I intended. He was making it hard to concentrate. 

          His hands slid down my thighs and back up, "I understand your reluctance, but next time, can you trust me?" His voice rumbled and my breath stuttered, "I can." I whispered. "Good," He whispered back, bringing me in close to him. "Because I plan to enjoy exactly what he wants." He purred to me, my breath caught in my throat. Hot bolts of arousal shot down my spine. His hands wandered to my ass and grasped firmly, forcing me to grind into him. I felt my heart hammering in my chest when we made contact. He pressed his forehead against mine and I brushed my lips against him. I loved hearing him pant for me. His hands slipped up under my shirt and found my breasts, squeezing them gently. He ghosted the pads of his thumbs over my peaked nipples. I ached at the touch. I wrapped my arms around his neck and rolled my hips on him, earning a raspy moan. 

          He rolled my nipples between his fingers and I broke, a whimpering moan escaped me. He tugged my shirt up and I lifted my arms so he could fling it off the rest of the way. He leaned back and his hands rested on my hips again. He bucked into me, watching my breasts bounce. He palmed me again, playing with my nipples. I felt the wetness between my legs threatening to escape every time I rubbed my pussy against him. He was going to drive me insane. He paused and tugged at the waist band of my sweats. I stood and removed them quickly, he took the opportunity to undress himself. My eyes went immediately to his thick purple cock. He pulled me back into his lap and his hand went straight to between my legs. I watched him twitch when he felt the wet mess that coated me. "I love how wet you get for me." His voice was husky, desperate. I stroked him in response and reveled in the breathy groan he gave me. Words were beyond me. He felt velvety, so similar to skin it was hard to tell the difference. My fingers and thumb were unable to touch when I grasped him. I felt my pulse throb in my pussy when I thought about him fucking me. I gasped when he shoved his fingers inside me.

           He curled his fingers exactly on the spot I liked. He held me prisoner like that, thrusting his fingers inside me. I was helpless while he pleasured me, doing nothing beyond enjoying his touch. He withdrew from me and stroked himself. Coating his dick in my slickness. Something about watching him stroke his dick made me melt. He grabbed himself and guided his dick inside me, moaning as he did so. I squeezed my eyes shut at the stretch to accommodate him. Acutely aware of every inch that penetrated me. Slowly, I rose and fell on him. He wrapped his arms around me and pressed my forehead to his. Slicked noises and our mingled pants spliced the quiet room. I opened my eyes and he was watching me, it sent a shock of pleasure through me. I tensed and my hips bucked on him. He grabbed my hips and shoved me flush against him. "Oh shit-" I stuttered and cried out. He held me still on him while my walls spasmed. It was so fast I didn't see it coming. 

          I whimpered in his lap. "Tsk tsk, so soon?" He chided. I looked to him desperately, I wanted more. He reached down and hooked the crook of his elbows under my knees and rose from the couch. I interlocked my fingers behind his neck and clung to him. He walked me to the front door and pressed my back against it. I felt so helpless when he held me like this, shoving himself inside me. I liked submitting to his desires. Doing whatever he wanted. My ass slapped against his thighs at his ruthless pace. I could feel my orgasm creeping up again, the harder he went the more I moaned and begged for him. Just as I was about to reach my apex he slowed to a stop. I groaned in distaste, how did he always know. Torturous, that's what he was. He grabbed my thighs and spread them apart, pressing them against the door. I looked down and watched him fuck me. My pussy gripped his cock when he pulled back and greedily took him back in. I looked like his personal fleshlight. 

          I shut my eyes and my head thumped back against the door. If I kept watching I was definitely going to cum. He leaned into me and filled me completely, "I could fuck you for hours like this.." He confessed. He shoved me further into the door with his rough, deep thrusts. He buried his face into my neck, pumping into me relentlessly. My mind was slipping, unsure of where my hands were, the sounds I made. All I knew was his touch, his body against mine and the pleasure that coursed through me. His rhythm faltered and his grip on my thighs became almost painful. He thrust into me, wildy and savagely, moaning my name. He took me over the edge with him and we plunged into oblivion together.