Chapter Six
She knew something was wrong the moment she woke.
There was no sign of Odin. He never left her side other than to make breakfast lunch or dinner. She couldn’t hear or smell food cooking and it was early, real early. The house felt strange. Empty. Immediately knowing she was alone.
He was gone.
Lifting her PID she searched for messages finding one from Odin.
Well he’d thought of that at least she consoled herself. “Play message from Odin.”
“Janna. I did not want to wake you. We have information on who is behind this and moving in on their location. I now understand your worries and concerns and how things are right now, does not work for you. Constant threats real or not are not something humans can live with. Removing the threat is more important than ever now. I never want you in fear. I want you to live your best life. With or without me. And I will not allow you to be afraid. I am taking the risks to remove them once and for all for you. If you choose us, I will no longer work in the field. I will co-ordinate my men and find another way to do my work keeping it away from you. I will run down every lead, exhaust every link and remove it. After tonight, anyone who knows of you will be dealt with. Our connection will be made clean. You then have a choice to make. Take the time you need. The space you need. I hold no obligation to you, but my optic shows I have hope. Hope that you will in the end when it comes to that point, decide I’m worth taking the risk too. ”
Laying there she breathed in deep. He'd made no demands.
Had left it all up to her. Accepting whatever she decided.
It was freeing in many ways that a man so possessive, so demanding could let that all go for her.
A weight lifted from her shoulders. But her fears remained.
Not for her, she realised. She smiled. He would never allow her to live like that, it was clear to her now. She feared for him.
His work. His actions. The people he had to deal with.
It was never going to be a picnic.
He would never be free of his chosen life.
Could she ask him to give up what was important to him?..... No. In the same way he wouldn’t ask her to give up her life. What was important to her.
That was fair right?...
He was trying to tell her neither of them was more important than the other. They were equal. As partners should be. Independent. And joined if she chose him.
He wanted her to have what she wanted.
And removing the risks from her was part of that. He’d brought it to her door and was now doing everything he could to remove it at risk to himself and his men. He was an honorable man. More than that, Cyborg. They might say they were not human but, he was more human than so many in her world.
Before she’d met him she’d not really considered it.
Wasn’t that the way of things?..... You didn’t really register the obscure, that wasn’t on your radar for one reason or another. Only when it was, when it affected you or your family, did you sit up and take notice.
Want to act.
Do something to help.
She felt sure that if the public knew what the Cyborgs were doing for them, more would appreciate it, take to them more. Understand them better. Have their backs, in their corner when it came to the Council and making change.
Maybe that was what was needed here. A change of public perception. They needed to bring it out into the open.
If the public knew the responsibility they took on, maybe it could influence the public to act differently. At the same time take some of the power from the gangs. No longer let them hide in the shadows but drag them out into the open.
Sitting up, she knew it was a good idea.
They couldn’t hide if the spotlight was on them. Have them answer for their crimes.
Of course it was risky. It would need to be done in the right way.
Why wasn’t the public standing up to the gangs?.....
They made life difficult and dangerous for lots of people. They all knew it.
Were they so scared?.....
She knew the answer to that as she hit the shower.
Of course they were. Wasn’t she?....
Washing and dressing she went downstairs.
Looking around he’d left the place clean and tidy as it always was.
He was such a tidy bug. Checking the cooler he’d left out several dinner options.
The cabinets full. It wasn’t hard to think of several things she could make.
Never really having the time it wasn’t something she did often. But she could when she wanted.
Right now she wanted to feed the man who was risking his life for her.
Mind made up she pulled out what she needed and set to work.
Not having a particular specialty, she just went for it.
Throwing things in a pot. Ready to go on, she turned her attention to breakfast needing to keep busy.
Her mind on him checking her PID at regular intervals looking for another message to let her know he was ok. Finding none. That pissed her off.
He should be leaving updates. Know she’d be concerned waiting on it.
That was logical wasn’t it?.....
Seething through breakfast at his lack of contact, once over she needed something to do.
Feeling she’d go crazy if she didn’t. Her anxiety high.
She was struggling. Worried for him. Determined not to give him any more to worry about she couldn’t contact him.
But she needed something to do. He had a cleaning service coming in, she decided she’d help.
Getting the cleaning items out one handed, wasn’t easy but no matter, she had all the time in the world and needed to keep busy.
Starting in the kitchen she worked her way around the house.
Three hours later, she was a little frantic, exhausted and badly in need of a shower.
Standing back and looking at her work, it didn’t look much different, but she knew she’d done it and took some pride in it.
It definitely smelt of cleaning and freshness.
Taking the cleaners, mop and bucket back downstairs and putting them away again. She made the coffee she needed.
Satisfied with another look around she headed back upstairs.
The bed freshly made, taking her shower, changing into fresh clothing she dried her hair. Sipping that coffee the excursion of the morning hanging on her. Checking her PID still no word from Odin. Now she was seriously worried. He’d been gone for hours but she didn’t want to bother him.
After all, he didn’t have to answer to her.
Didn’t have to consider her at all. Which he was clearly doing.
He was busy, she reasoned. Doing his job. Why would he check in with her?.....
She got it. Understood it.
But it didn’t make her feel any easier.
What if he was hurt? Injured in some way?....
Would they tell her? Did she have the right to know?...
Her mind felt like it was going to explode. They should have made some ground rules…..
Her mind in turmoil. But that wouldn’t happen would it? They weren’t in a relationship. This was convenient. He was helping her deal.
And suddenly that didn’t seem good enough.
Not named didn’t mean she shouldn’t be kept informed. They were together now. The situation starting to piss her off. He should have called. Left a message when it went this long.
Would he know she’d need that?....
Probably not.
Such things were not in his wheelhouse. He had no experience of this kind of thing.
He’d said so himself. This was new to him.
He was playing it by ear. Winging it. He wouldn’t get it right every time.
And wouldn’t know what she needed in this situation as human.
Cyborgs wouldn’t expect or need anything.
They knew. Data uploaded automatically to them. That was how it was.
Exhausted, her arm and head causing her pain, she knew she’d pushed it. Taking some meds lying down the bed throw over her she drifted. Some peace was what she needed.
Waking to heat at her back and lips on his bite. “Odin.” She squeezed his arm holding her waist. “You are unhurt?” she couldn’t help but ask.
Rubbing his lips along her neck. “I am well. The element that targeted you is no more. The gang is gone. All evidence that shows your involvement has been wiped clean. You no longer show on any system.”
“Thank you.”
“You cleaned the house.”
“I did. I was worried. Needed something to do.”
“And made a meal ready to be cooked.”
“I did. Wanted to feed you. Thank you. I don’t know what really.”
“I appreciate the thought. I’m sure it will taste good.”
She laughed. “Yeah hold that thought. Cooking isn’t my thing.”
“I will love it no matter what.” Odin kissed her neck.
“You need to stop that.”
He cupped her breast. “Stop what?”
Chucking. “Not that. The making me feel good with words. I know my limitations.”
“They are words I wish to say. I do not lie.”
Laughing he turned her onto her back hovering over her. “You have cared for me. I am putting a lot into that. Does that mean you are considering being with me? Caring for our nest. Feeding me.” Brushing her lips with his own.
“I still do not like what you do. It worries me and we need to talk about you letting me know how your day is going. Working or not, I need to know you are ok. Not knowing was hard today.”
“I will learn.”
She stroked his face. “Yes you will. I’m human and need human things. I need comfort, reassurance. Things you have over your optic with your men that you take for granted. I need to hear from you Odin.”
“I understand.”
“We will both have to learn how to work with each other and I’m good with that. I need to know that I’m not going to be putting myself or my staff or clinic in danger with your work again.”
“I will not allow it. You will continue to have security. In the shadows watching, making sure nothing ever touches you again.”
“Thank you but I want to do more. Bring all of this out into the public, let them know what you are doing for us. How you are protecting us. The public need to know. In being more open, voicing who these gangs are and what they are doing, we can put a spotlight on them. Bring them out of hiding in the shadows, make them visible. Make the public stand up and say enough. And to you, we have your back as you have ours.”
“The Community Council will not like that.”
“I do not care. The secrecy is over. No more treating you and your men like a dirty secret. That has to be over. The Council needs to take a stand. Enough is enough.”
“You know I agree.”
“Good. First, we go to the Council and let them know. Then we take it public.”
“Other people will not like it.”
“I do not care Odin. They need to know what you have been taking on and take some ownership of what they created. Leaving you all to carry the can. It’s not right and you should have a seat on the Council if you are dealing with Council and public business.”
“Me on the Council? I am no politician.”
“That’s why you need to be on it. No bullshit from you and you can sniff out who is dealing in it and confront them.”
“They will not like that either.”
“Well, times are a changing. You are evolving and we must too if we are to survive.”
“So we are agreed female? We are together. A couple. Joined. Before saying yes, you should know I will never give you up. I only want you. Will only ever want you. 24 hours a day, you with me. Buried in your heat. Filling your belly with my seed. Do you understand female? There can be no mistake. I will want it all. Take you to the edge of unimaginable pleasure and you will enjoy begging me for more.”
Smiling slowly at his words. “Wow. Was that a proposal?”
“It was whatever you need it to be. You want human marriage? A rock on your finger? A tattoo on my chest with your name. It’s done.”
Grinning. “I don’t need a rock. Marriage at some point maybe. Right now, I just need you and both of us working on a plan to make this work.”
He started stripping her. “Later. Your male needs to fuck you. You ready for that female?”
Sniggering. “Oh yeah. I’m more than ready for that.”
The End….