Tyrant. Scrapper. Part 5. Damantha Makarova

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      «Race you!» Kayla screamed happily and ran off, leaving Laneth giggling behind.

      The girl caught up to Wolfin and got ahead, as the man ran off behind her – only a step behind, giving her the advantage. Serena watched this and smiled, remembering how she used to «race’ Wolfin when she was a child.

      Hunter watched how everybody else ran off towards the ocean, and sat down next to Serena, but not onto one of the deck-chair, deciding to sit straight on the white sand of the beach.

      «Are you alright?» he asked Serena, watching Wolfin playing with Kayla and thinking what a wonderful father and mentor the Veluthian was.

      «Irritated by the encounter and wished Laneth hadn’t called in security.» the woman replied. «I was about to have some fun.»

      Hunter glanced at her, seeing her lying under the sun with her eyes closed.

      «Not sure if that would be fun, Serena.» the man said. «That… uh… woman wasn’t very fit to be an interesting opponent in a fight.»

      Serena sighed and turned her head to look at him:

      «True.» she smirked.

      «Can I make an observation?»

      «Sure.»

      «You seem like you aren’t very used to having a… vacation.» Hunter waved towards their friends having fun in the ocean waters.

      Serena glanced that way and smirked:

      «That is also true.» she said, stretching again. «I guess… I’m used to being busy.»

      The cyborg looked to their friends and wondered if he could ask her something else.

      «What’s on your mind?» Serena asked him, seeing his thoughtful expression.

      He looked down, seeing his metal hands and shook his head:

      «I was just wondering… when you all thought I was dead… Lindon said you ran to Daruta to fight in one of the cages there…»

      «M… I did. So what’s your question then?» Serena sat up, hugging her knees and looking at him.

      «Wolfin said they found you drinking and fighting… They said you barely slept.»

      «I tried to keep myself busy. Because every time I stopped, I went up to the roof and sat there hours on end, contemplating if my life was worth living anymore.» Serena took a deep breath. «Is that what you wanted to ask me about?»

      Hunter glanced at her and saw her looking down, her face saddened by the memories.

      «Why?» he asked, his voice cracking. «I was ready to give my life for you, and you…»

      He fell silent, when she raised her eyes to meet his gaze.

      «It was my fault you got torn by that beast. If you hadn’t jumped to it to shield me, I’d be able to grow back my limbs…»

      «It’s not your fault, Serena. It was never your fault. I was ready to die for you then, and I am ready to die for you now. There’s nothing you can say or do to make me change my mind about that.»

      Serena shook her head with a sigh:

      «It’s a pity we never found the chimera that…» she gritted her teeth.

      «You won’t be able to.» Hunter sighed. «Because I killed it.»

      The woman met his gaze again and frowned:

      «I thought you couldn’t remember what happened after we lost you to Falana…»

      Hunter took a deep breath, before answering:

      «After the memory extraction you ran… When you found out that Falana… used me…» he gritted his teeth, shaking his head. «I started remembering. Bits and pieces, but… I remember fighting this chimera at Falana’s order. I tore it limb from limb.»

      «And… everything else?» Serena’s voice grew quiet.

      «I remember how I beat you… how I tried to kill you… I’m so sorry, Serena.» he looked at his hands. «I can’t even offer you anything more than an apology for those heinous acts that I’ve done… I know you won’t be able to look at me the same anymore. It hurts me, but I understand.»

      Serena stood from the chair and leaned in, staying silent until he raised his face to her again. When he looked up, he saw her smiling.

      «You say that, but I can’t believe you really believe that, Hunter.» she said with a smile. «You’re the one who caught me on Helvette and surrounded me with your metal body to protect me from the storm when I was knocked out. If it weren’t for you, I could have died. You weren’t thinking about yourself, even though I was under Shimmer and probably would have tried to kill you then if it weren’t for the bay doors being open.»

      «I’d do that again, Serena. A thousand times over.» Hunter said truthfully.

      «I know. So stop saying I will never see you in the same light I used to see you when you were a… human.» Serena looked at his body. «You might have new limbs and a much sturdier body, but inside… you’re the same Hunter I fell in love with. The same man, who was always so protective of me, whenever I needed it most. The same man I mourned for so long…»

      She reached out her hand to him. Hunter hesitated for a moment and took her palm in his, rising to his feet. Serena smiled to him and shook her head:

      «Now… tell me…» her smile grew wider. «Does that metal body of yours swim? Or will you sink to the ocean floor?»

      Hunter saw her teasing glance and couldn’t help himself, stepping closer and gently embracing her:

      «I love you, Serena. I hope you can believe that, at least.»

      She didn’t recoil, didn’t tense up in his arms, and for a few long moments he felt happy to have her there by his side – almost like he used to when he was human.

      «You still scare me.» Serena whispered, making Hunter immediately lean back, freeing her from his arms, but when she didn’t let go, he froze. «I still have issues to work through. Be patient. I started seeing you as the friend you were before. Perhaps, when I can get past the nightmares you embedded into my mind, we can share our bed again.»

      «I’m not going to push you, Serena. I’ve hurt you too much and understand it. If you can’t have me as your man, then at least have me as a friend and part of your crew. I didn’t lie to you when I gave you that oath. I will remain loyal to you. In all matters…»

      Serena lowered her eyes to his metal-covered chest and stepped up, pressing against it and closing her eyes:

      «I’m beginning to like this new scent of yours….» she said quietly. «You smell like a…»

      «A piece of scrap metal.» Hunter sighed.

      «A Veluthian.» СКАЧАТЬ