P R O X I M O



I avoided the training halls like a ghost. Near but never there.

I avoided Florence. Up until she had pieced together the gossip that was floating around the inner circles off my com feeds and made a completely indiscreet leave from the Division's headquarters.

Part of me had a weak ache for the space she left. For the heat and distractions she gave. For the burning nights and understanding we shared of our darkness. But it was nothing now. Not when Artella Maxim decided to place himself in the centre of the Division as easily as he had.

Of course I did not turn up to debrief the personal guard that morning or the next.

They could do whatever the fuck they liked as far as I was concerned. Our trip to Sector 1 was already planned and he was intelligent enough to read between the lines.

What I didn't expect was for him to confront this directly–confront me directly.

Art never had waited for others to make his decisions and actions for him.

I was halfway down a glowing bottle of Junak by the time him slipped into the opposite booth of the Crypt and rested an arm over the back of the chair like it was his own home. I stared at him under the dim lighting for a moment before filling my glass like he wasn't here at all. It was easier than trying to form sentences.

Then I grabbed the bottle and tore myself out of the booth and shoved my way through the crowds again. My simmering anger wasn't even directed. It just was.

He didn't bother halting me. I knew he hated these bars. Hated the crowds and the fighting pit. But I felt that lethal stalk behind my back. That presence that said he was as capable as an entire squad of personal guards alone.

When I hit the cool air the rain poured over my head and trench coat.

My next moves were lost. I did not run from things–especially people. So I stopped walking in the darkened street, dropped the bottle and turned to him.

He wore his own trade mark contract gear. State of the art–no pun.

Armour that looked like an upgrade of Vanguards, tech in both forearm plates, holsters across his legs and waist but they were empty... He hardly needed them to be filled. One look at his build and you did not argue, you walked away. His dark eyes stared me down with an insufferable amusement.

He dragged a glove through his hair and let the rain soak it through.

"Been a while."

"Fuck off." I spat.

A snort.

"Still such a way with words..."

"Still sticking your neck out for the wrong people." I retorted slowly.

He tucked his hands behind himself and strode towards me leisurely.

"So, you heard about Dex?"

"I don't care for him–I care you broke into a secure facility just to prove a point." I growled.

"No, Proximo. I really will not have him play in your little guard."

I paused and flexed my jaw.

"What's that kid to you?" I cut out.

Who. Is he to you.

A small amused smile took his hard set mouth. "It's personal."

I made to turn and walk away but he called out to my back.

"He's family!"

I froze and flinched at the fusion craft that rushed above us. Then I shook my head and turned back to him rushing forward. "If you're going to waste my time lying you may as well–"

"He was my mother's kid." He interrupted calmly. Those dark eyes betrayed nothing. "–I found out after she passed. I was already a contractor–he would have just been a target if people knew." He finished with a shrug.

I glared at him silently as the rain crashed down between us. Then finally I relaxed my stance and unclenched my hand. "So you think you can just fill a place in Scorpion's guard like that?" I demanded instead.

I didn't want to concern myself with his family–with his anything.

His expression turned darker.

"Oh, I know I can. It's whether her second is going to handle it."

"I manage the most successful organisation in Merridian." I retorted calmly. "You run around shooting for the highest bidder. Look at the scoreboard."

He laughed deeply and I was momentarily stunned by the sound. Too many damn slaps of the past to the face. It made that anger return to the surface.

"I know we're heading to Sector 1 at the end of the week."

"We're not a we." I snapped, swiping at my wrist holo and summoning an armoured fusion craft down to us. I didn't bother to look at him as the doors opened and I slid into the dark interior. He followed me regardless and took the opposite seat. "The new Empress of Merridian requested Scorpion's presence for their formal take over."

This did interest him.

He rolled forward with his forearms on his knees.

"And you accepted?"

"We're not starting another war with the upper classes–of course we did."

He nodded to himself and glanced at the tattoos down my face again. It did away with my cool.

"Have I got something on my face?" I growled, dripping irony.

Another faint smile.

"It suits you."

My blood froze with my body. I hated every part of myself for it. His opinion didn't fucking matter–should never matter.

"Too bad contract money couldn't fix your own face."

A pointed lie. And he knew it. His grin said it all as he leant back in the seat again. My words were so transparent it was practically laughable–he did laugh.

"Pretty stupid to come unarmed too." I added.

"You won't kill me, Proximo." He stated in a sureness he had no right to.

"You don't know anything." I answered emotionless.

"I think you forget I know you. And how poorly you lie when you're angry."

"How about..." I ventured. "You shove those detailed observations up your own ass and we sit in silence for the rest of the journey back to my base of operations."

He chuckled but didn't speak.

A few minutes passed and I sighed heavily through my nose and glared at him.

"Dex is off the personal guard." I stated, gaining that intent gaze. "I'll find his replacement. You can disappear again."

The words sat heavily between us until he nodded. Before he could speak my comm line went off and Florence's ID glowed. Art stared at it a moment before turning his eyes to the city beyond. "Decline." I spoke curtly.

It only pushed forward several more times until I accepted it briskly.

"I'm indisposed." I said curtly.

"Proxy... I have just the dress for you to take off in Sector 1–"

I practically choked before I could silence the overhead comm line into my ear and saw Art's smirk widen. A glint in those eyes before the storm.

"After your performance in the Division I doubt you're on the list." I stated with restraint.

"Great. I'll see you in two days." She answered, completely ignoring my words again.

The line went dead and I slowly lowered my wrist. I cleared my throat roughly.

"You'll go with Dex–"

"I think I'll stay." He interrupted.

I stiffened in my seat. "What."

"You're still clearly in need of me."

"What the hell does that mean?" I demanded, racing through his warped translation of events.

"It means you're still trusting the wrong people and I'm going to fix that for you–again." He noted, with a knowing look.

To bring up Lazarus now... Imply my ability as a leader was compromised over–

"Get the hell out of my craft." I stated.

Art made a show of looking out the window. I moved and grabbed his throat before he could turn back a sarcastic remark. But it only made his smirk grow. "Some things–never change."

I lowered my voice and tightened my grip on his air supply.

"I don't need you anymore." I said slowly, watching the words sink in.

When I finally loosened my hold he sent a fist as fast as a dagger into my abdomen taking the air from me entirely. I tried to suck in a breath as he opened the fusion craft door while we were still hundreds of feet in the sky. I grappled with my throat and suddenly for his jacket as he turned to me with a chuckle. I didn't fucking mean it–I didn't mean for you to actually–

He batted my hand aside and met my eyes.

"Still the same kid!" He called over the rushing wind. "Your actions spoke so loud!"

Then he jumped.

I scrambled off the seat forgetting about my breathing and feeling the cold all over. As I reached the lip and stared past the door I saw a fusion craft below us and the man himself mock saluting me against the winds.

God fucking damn Art to every shitting hell.

He disappeared below a roof hatch and the fusion engines hummed before bolting off between buildings beyond us.