The Architect Codex

Inferno - The Choice

He swallowed hard. "More than you know."

She cocked her head to one side. "So—what's got you thinking so much about this? Is there something you want to tell me?"

He opened his mouth for a moment, thought of what he was going to say—then closed it once more, and shook his head.

"Nah. I think I'm just overthinking some things."

She raised her eyebrows playfully. "Clearly."

< What are you doing? >

KT's tone was questioning, but he didn't have the opportunity to explain his reasoning. Instead, he simply grabbed his glass, still sporting a bit of grime on its side, and raised it with a smile. "I promise, no more work talk for the rest of the night—just you and me."

She returned his smirk and grabbed her own glass, clinking it against his. "To us."

Taking a swig from his drink, his eyebrows shot up in complete shock as he watched her down hers in quick gulp. She wiped her mouth, then gave a short bark of laughter at his dumbfounded expression. Leaning across the table, she planted her lips against his, then sat back down with a smirk.

"Remind me to never challenge you if there's ever a drinking contest," he muttered, eliciting another bout of snorts from her.

"You know," she said quietly, "you don't seem too hungry, and it's getting late. What say we head back to the ship ... and spend some time in my quarters?"

"Oh, sure," he easily agreed. "What'd you have in mind? Another game of 'Crooks and Crowns'?"

Her only response was a raised eyebrow, and an amused sigh as she stood up from the table and walked to the exit. He sat there in confusion momentarily before she turned back with a sultry glint in her eyes.

"In case I didn't make it obvious enough for you ... we're there now."

Realization dawned on him, and his face turned slightly red. "Oh ... oh."

With some new haste in his step, he made his way over to his woman and looped his arm in hers as they set back out into the night.

...

He pulled his pants on as quietly as he could what with their metal zippers and pouches jingling about. Unfortunately, the effort seemed to be for naught.

"... Mmmmph? Where're you ...?"

He heard Gates' tired speech as she woke up from her slumber, and he walked over to the bed to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Hey, sleeping beauty. Just was getting ready to head back to my quarters—not that I wouldn't love to stay, but I don't know that the higher-ups would like the idea of discovering me sleeping with my superior officer."

"Pssshh, I'm a f'lancer ..." she slurred. "Can do what I wan' ..."

"Don't think they'd see it that way," he chuckled softly. He knelt down and gingerly kissed the top of her head. "I'll see you tomorrow. Promise."

"I'll hold you to tha' ..."

He swallowed hard. Without thinking, he reached down to where her hand lay and grabbed it tenderly in his own. He squeezed once, feeling a bit of her strength as she tried to squeeze back, and then let go.

The next few minutes passed in a blur; he was vaguely aware of leaving her quarters and making his way through the halls towards his own. He had some recollection of grabbing his armor and gear, then heading towards the hangar—but for the most part, his mind was completely focused on what he was about to do, how much of his new life he was about to throw away—