“Holy shit.” I gripped the edge of the table, pulling myself along until I stood before him, my eyes never stopping as they roamed over his unique and colorful frame. “Who made you?” The words slipped out before I could stop them. “Sorry. That was rude.” I let out a frustrated breath. “I really need to stop insulting cyborgs.” I searched out his face to find bright blue eyes staring back at me. I shrugged. “You would think I had a death wish or something.”
The multicolored cyborg snorted. “I wouldn’t be the one to kill you, female.” He moved closer until he reached me, his strong red arm wrapping around my waist to help hold me steady.
I looked up, offering him a smile. “Thank you. I’m still a little wobbly at the moment.”
Stern blue eyes gazed down at me. “Then you shouldn’t be attempting to flee the lab, female.”
I stood frozen, my side pressed against his frame, my pink hair standing out stark against his gray torso.
My cheeks heated. I had been sure there was no one around to witness my escape attempt. Not that I planned to go far. I figured there had to be somewhere around here to put myself that would hopefully keep me out of anymore trouble. Should have known better. Now I have been caught trying to “escape”. That should go over well.
“I swear I wasn’t trying to escape.” I let out a tired sigh. “I simply wanted to lock my ass up somewhere to prevent me from causing any more trouble. In case you haven’t noticed, I tend to do stupid shit.”
The many-colored cyborg smirked. “Like you are doing right now?”
I shrugged my one free shoulder, the other one currently tucked tight against his warm frame. “Apparently I’m a slow learner.” I lifted my hand and it shook slightly as I held it out to him. “I’m Oz.”
A warm green hand encased mine, shaking it gently. “Axios.”
I couldn’t seem to remove my hand from his grasp, and he didn’t try to tug his hand free, so I assumed he was cool with the hand holding. He had been the only cyborg besides Dax who didn’t seem to hate me on sight. And Dax only refused to hate me because of Poe.
“Sometimes a girl needs a hand to hold,” I whispered quietly, so quietly that anyone else but a cyborg wouldn’t have been able to hear.
His brilliant sapphire eyes glittered, locking onto the sight of our hands and raising an eyebrow. “I will have to take your word for it. No female has ever attempted to hold hands with me.”
“Well, how can that be? You are good at it. Girls should be lining up around the block for this.”
He waved his free red hand over his frame. “I am quite positive no female is going to be interested in this. I have accepted that fact. I am content to just be free and help my fellow cyborgs.”
I gave his hand a squeeze. “Don’t sell yourself short. Some girl is going to look at you and think she found the best and sweetest cyborg on the block. You are unique, Axios, and mark my words, a female will come along one day to snatch you right up.”
My legs wobbled and I blew out a breath. This weakness was killing my tough girl vibe. “Besides, you were even willing to help me out even if I don’t deserve it. I’d pretty much be in a heap on the floor right now without you.” My legs chose that moment to give out and I started to slip down Axios’ frame, but he caught me, swinging me up into his arms. “See, you got this down pat, buddy. If Reaper doesn’t change his mind and kill me, I can’t wait to meet the girl who is going to fall head over heels for you.”
The corners of his mouth tipped up. “You’re not her?”
His gentle teasing made my cheeks warm. Yeah, some girl is going to lick this cyborg at some point and make him hers, I just knew it. “Kind of enemy number one now. Trust me, you don’t want to be mixed up in the mess I created, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, at least until Reaper or Viper decide my head would look better mounted on their wall.” I let out a humorless chuckle.
Axios’s eyes narrowed. “Dax, Poe, and I will make sure that doesn’t happen.”
The conviction in his voice almost made me believe it.
“For now,” he continued, “would you like to stay with me in my quarters? Hopefully, that will help keep you out of more trouble.”
“You would be willing to do that for me?” I couldn’t keep the surprise out of my voice. Axios had already done more than he should have. He aided me when he thought I was escaping, allowed me to hold his hand for a moment, and kept me from hitting the floor when my legs gave out. I couldn’t expect him to do any more.
“Friends offer friends assistance when they need it. I heard your discussion with Poe and Dax. I believe you are truly sorry for your actions and not just to save yourself from the wrath of the cyborg rebellion. You made a mistake. I have made many in my life so far. It would be unfair of me not to give you a chance to make amends.” He gave me a stern look. “And it would insure you don’t do anything else, as you put it, stupid.”
I patted his shoulder, my chest drawing tight. I wasn’t used to this. Kindness. Friendship. Second chances. I would be truly stupid if I don’t take him up on his offer. I vowed to myself I would not fuck up anything else that would make him regret it. I could keep myself in check. Keep the path of destruction I tended to make away from him and Dax and Poe.
No more, Oz. No more acting without thought as to the consequences.And the first step would be asking to see Viper to apologize face to face. I would begin to make amends and I would start with the one I had hurt the most.
“Thank you, Axios. You don’t know how much this means to me.” I wrapped one arm around his neck, holding on as tight as my weakened body would allow. He might not be mine, but I didn’t have the will or strength not to bask in the feeling of having someone to hold on to.
I flashed him a smile. “I’m ready when you are.” He strode out of the lab and made his way quickly down the hallway.
I relaxed in his solid grip. I knew this could all end tomorrow. My implant might dislodge and kill me, or the cyborg rebellion could banish me from here, forcing me to leave my best friend behind.
I would go. I wouldn’t make it harder on Poe. I would make sure she knew I would be okay and for her to live happily ever after-that would be enough for me.
Until then, I would hide out in Axios’s quarters and think of ways I could make this right.