Chapter Thirty-Two
*Dax*
The common room wasfull. Different colored cyborgs sat at multiple tables and their eyes all locked on Poe and I when we walked in. Poe’s face broke out into a grin. Being with this many cyborgs was her happy place. I, on the other hand, didn’t enjoy all the attention, especially when it was focused on my female. The way they watched her made every protective instinct roar to life.
I slipped my arm around her waist, drawing her to my frame. She flashed me an amused look. “What?” I questioned, not willing to admit to the possessive streak that had recently developed.
She simply shook her head, guiding me to an empty table so we could sit down. Her fingers entwined with mine. “Is it always this busy?”
“Not usually, no. If I had to guess, I would say word got out that we were making an appearance today.” I slid my frame a bit closer, my processors on high alert. “We appear to be the newest attraction.”
“Dax! Poe!” A voice boomed from across the room.
“Brone!” Poe jumped up from her seat, gesturing towards the table. “Come join us!”
The Tank Class made quick work of the space between us, taking a seat across the table. Brone glanced around the common room, taking in the sight of how many cyborgs were seated at other tables. He raised a gray eyebrow in my direction. “Busy today, isn’t it, Science Model?”
“Yes.” I ground out.
Poe smiled at the Tank Class. “Dax informed me it’s because of us.” With her next words, Poe raised her voice, allowing to it to carry. “Seems we are the talk of the cyborg rebellion.” She winked at me before kissing my cheek.
Torque, a purple Technology model, took our momentary distraction to step up to the table. I dragged Poe into my lap the same time Brone slid over, blocking the both of us with his massive frame.
“Can I help you?” Brone growled.
Violet eyes flashed as Torque cleared his throat. “Only wanted to introduce myself to our newest member, Brone.”
“Are you sure?” Brone questioned, curling one enormous hand into a fist. “I seem to recall that you were not very friendly to Miss. Marley when she first joined the rebellion.”
“That is correct.” Torque gulped. “But I realize now that I was wrong. Marley and I are now friends.”
Brone tossed his head back and laughed. “Only from a distance, Technology Model. Acer doesn’t let you get within ten feet of her and Ever.”
Torque’s cheeks blushed a darker shade of purple and he hung his head in shame. From his expression, I knew he deeply regretted the way he had approached Marley. She had once been a MechTech for the Global Allegiance. MechTechs were cruel and merciless towards the cyborgs. Torque had based his opinion of Marley on that fact. He hadn’t known one like Marley. She had showed every cyborg she encountered kindness, even when she knew she could be punished for being kind to us. Many cyborgs stood up to defend her, sharing stories about how she had lessened their pain or worked tirelessly to fix them after they had been damaged.
Torque had stormed off, unhappy the other cyborgs had defended her. It was only after he had learned she was carrying a cyborg child, risking her life to bring it into the world, had he realized how wrong he had been. He had apologized and Marley had forgiven him. Acer had not. Torque was the only cyborg that had been denied the chance to hold Ever.
Torque now appeared to be trying to learn from his mistakes. I knew I couldn’t keep Poe away from the rest of the cyborgs. It hadn’t worked with the other females so far. Iris, Aria, and Marley were friends with all of them, charming them with their kindness. Poe would be no different.
My circuits rebelled at the thought of sharing anything of Poe’s. Not her smile or her kindness. Not even the tiny creases that appeared on her forehead when she was thinking too hard about something.
A gentle tap on my shoulder pulled me from my thoughts. “Can you let me up? He only wants to say hi, Dax.”
I couldn’t refuse my female anything. I let out a sigh as let go and she flashed me a brilliant smile. My heart constricted inside my chest. Making Poe happy was more important than my need to keep her all to myself. I could rise above this. I could restrain myself.
I stood, rising from the table, extending my hand to Poe, warmth engulfing my frame as she took it. No matter how many cyborgs I introduced her to, she would always be mine. I turned my gaze to the Technology Model. “Torque, it is my honor to introduce Poe, the female who decided she liked me so much she stole me.”
She covered her face with her hand. “Seriously? What do I have to do around here to get all of you to forget that?”
“Cyborgs never forget.” I happily informed her, making her groan.