“My name is rather unusual. I was born around Halloween and my mom and dad had a thing for Edger Allen Poe. They thought it would be cool to name me after him. I turned out to be quite the weird child. I used to tease them it was because of the name they gave me.”
Brone’s brow creased. “Will they be upset that you are here?” His eyes drifted to Dax’s arm around my waist. “Will they be unhappy you chose a cyborg instead of a human to partner with?”
The smile slipped off my face as my chest tightened painfully. “I lost my parents a few years ago to a transport accident.” My voice broke as hot tears gathered in my eyes, but I continued, “I really wish they were still here so I could tell them I finally found what I was looking for. They knew how much I loved the cyborgs.” I gazed into the gentle eyes of the Tank class, the strength of Dax’s frame bedside me easing the ache in my chest. My parents might have worried for me because of how dangerous being part of the cyborg rebellion was but they would have understood my decision. I smiled through the tears in my eyes. “They would have understood my choice to be here. In my heart I know they would have been happy for me.”
Dax’s hold on my waist tightened and I nestled myself closer to his warm, comforting frame. I let him fill up a bit of the space left behind by the loss of my parents. Dax could never replace them, but after the years of hiding behind my wall, he made me feel safe enough to let him in. After the accident, I had been gripped by constant fear that one day I’d wake up to find Oz gone as well. I hadn’t realized how high I had built the wall around my heart.
Brone reached out a giant hand and carefully patted my shoulder. “I never had parents, so I don’t know what it feels like to lose them, but if it hurts as bad as watching your batch brothers fall, then I am truly sorry.”
He squeezed my shoulder and I didn’t flinch under the weight of his much stronger fingers. His blue eyes brimmed with shimmering pain and the smile that had been on his lips had vanished. Sorrow hung like a dark cloud around his frame.
How much death had the Tank Class seen?More than you could ever imagine, my brain whispered. For years I had stared and studied every file on every cyborg I could get my hands on. I had read reports about the abuse. Seen files by MechTechs proud of the damage they had inflicted. Naively, I had thought I got it. Believed I had understood.
As I stared up into the face of the Tank Class seeing the haunted look in his bright blue eyes, I realized I hadn’t truly. Not until right this moment. My love and respect for the cyborgs grew. The amount of pain they had experienced would have destroyed me. I wouldn’t have simply guarded my heart because I didn’t think I would even have one left to guard.
The weight of Dax’s arm around me and the pressure of Brone’s hand on my shoulder felt heavier somehow. As a member of the cyborg rebellion, I now had a part to play to make sure they stayed safe. Make sure that they got to enjoy the freedom many of them had died for.
Before this, my occupation had been one of a glorified desk jockey. Fighter wasn’t high on the list of words to describe myself.Could I really do this?
Dax caught my chin and turned my face towards him. “I consider Dr. Shaw my mother. I honestly don’t know what I would do if I lost her.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. When he pulled back his eyes were suspiciously bright.
My cyborg’s heart was bigger than his frame.How did I get so lucky?The tears I had been keeping in check tumbled down my cheeks. In an instant, I had my answer to the question of if I could do this. My eyes roamed over Dax.I would fight anyone and anything that threatened this man.My eyes then shifted to Brone.I would fight anyone and anything that threatened any of them.
Chapter Twenty-Three
*Dax*
My mechanical heartbroke for Poe. I couldn’t understand how someone I had just met had become the center of my universe, but my axis had swung to revolve around her. I wanted to make her happy. Ease her hurts and protect her. Make her smile instead of cry.
I tugged her into my frame, using my arms to shelter her, wishing desperately that I had been there to comfort her when she lost her parents. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” I whispered into her hair. “Now that I am here, I promise I won’t ever let go.”
She tipped her head back, peering at me. “So I’m stuck with you?” She sniffled, her eyes still glossy but her lips had begun to tip up into a small smile.
“Like Polyvinyl acetate.” I offered.
Her eyebrows squished together. “Polyvinyl acetate?”
“It’s the chemical name for glue,” I supplied happily.
She shook in my arms, her laughter replacing all the tears.Laughter looks so much better on her, my processors declared. I had to agree.
She rose on her tiptoes, flinging her arms around my neck. “Oh, Dax. Don’t ever be anything other than yourself, okay?” Her lips teased mine. “Just you,” she breathed across my lips, “Only you. That’s all I need.” Her mouth finally made contact, kissing me fiercely. I tasted the salt of her tears in the kiss, a lingering aftertaste of her sadness.
I pushed against her lips, demanding entrance. She didn’t hesitate, opening her mouth to my invasion. My tongue danced with hers, kissing away the lingering aftertaste of sorrow replacing it with passion. My fingers dug into her hips and I swallowed down the small moan she made, a low growl vibrating through my chest.