P R O X I M O



I strode past the chaos of soldiers with guns drawn and levelled at the wrong threat.

I ripped a guard off Makayla with ease and kicked another square in the chest.

"Get the fuck off her you fools." I snapped, turning my glare down to her. But she continued to stare at Scorpion as she was quickly moved for the lift. The blood was all over the floor. "Get up."

She was frozen where the guards had pinned her. I blew a breath through my nose and dropped before her pulling her up with me.

"Alex..." She mumbled, numb.

"When I told you where she was I didn't tell you to shoot her." I muttered, glancing at her glazed eyes. I flicked a head back towards the confused faces of the personal guard.

"Sir–but she–"

"She's not the threat you morons. Get the Empress out of my base of operations now." I snapped simply watching him come to fast attention. With Makayla in my arms I watched the lift open again and Artella appeared with a dark look between us.

"What the hell happened?" He demanded, checking my body over.

I ignored him and stormed into the lift.

"This isn't the time for petty grudges Proximo who is compromised–"

"Everyone is fucking compromised!" I shouted back at him as the floors sped past. "Look around. Her, Scorpion, you–"

"I am in full control of myself." He growled, glancing at Makayla's blank stare. "She's in shock."

"No shit." I spat.

We arrived at my floor and I scanned my eyes over the lock. The doors slid open and I took her into the bathroom. Art was hot on my heels with a demanding presence I couldn't give a shit about.

"Are you compromised?" He demanded at my back as the hot water of the shower poured over us both. Scorpion's blood dripped down her skin. Those innocent eyes didn't see much around her. I carefully sat her up against the stone wall and whirled on him.

"I don't have time to nurse your ego and take care of her!" I spat.

He stilled on the other side of the glass in shock. I took soap off the side and dropped it into Makayla's hands that shook. When she didn't apply it I did that too.

"I didn't know Proximo... I wasn't aware of–"

"No you never are when it comes to these sorts of problems are you?" I snorted a laugh through the steam.

"I care for her too. That's why I am here." He said more firmly.

"Great. Then why don't you make sure our leader doesn't die in that med bay and report back." I answered in a flat voice.

I heard a silence behind me. Then finally his steps retreating out the door. I sighed through my nose and blinked down at Makayla who gripped the soap with both hands. The water ran her hands clean and the rest of her clothings sodden. But at least the blood was gone.

"I'm going to get you some dry clothes." I murmured.

She may not have heard me but I left for it anyway. Her hand shot out and grabbed my collar before I could stand. Those blue eyes finally focused on my face.

"Proximo–I didn't–" She sucked in a sob. "It wasn't mean to happen like this–" It broke off into a heavier cry and I took her shoulder firmly giving her an anchor.

"I know. I know it, Xavier. It rarely ever does happen as it should." I rumbled willing more strength into her. "I had a security feed on her the whole time. What I saw made me want to shoot her myself if you didn't."

A broken sound left her that was almost a laugh. I edged my lip up and took her other shoulder shaking her lightly.

"I'm getting you some clothes. Then we will make sure our leader sees another day. You don't have to say anything." I finished low.

She slipped her hands off my collar and wrapped her arms around my neck in a crushing hug I didn't see coming. I nodded against her and let myself hold her tightly for a few moments. While the heat of the water soaked us both through. Then I released her. You give yourself a breath and no more.

"Enough." I said gruffly. "I already showered this morning."

She didn't acknowledge the humour. She couldn't yet. She closed her eyes and pressed her head back against the wall as water rushed over her.

I retreated into my living space dripping water across the floors. I ripped my shirt over my head and left it on the floor. Then found a dry set and replaced the rest of it. I was glad for once in his life Art had listened. I didn't have the energy for two emotional drains on my existence. Not tonight.

I pushed back into the bathroom and ripped a towel off the door.

I pushed the water off and left the clothing and towel outside the glass walk in. She didn't glance at it yet but I knew she was aware of it.

"Get ready and meet me outside."

A faint nod ahead and her fist clenched. I wanted to say something more but thought better of it. I disappeared back into the living room and drew the comm to my face.

"Report." I ordered down the line.

"Organ damage. The round went through a vein."

"And her status?" I pressed.

A pause down the comm. Art cleared his throat. "She's stable."

I exhaled and slumped into the chair. My head was becoming less lethally sharp. My serum was fading rapidly and the thoughts were pushing their way in.

"Thank you." I muttered.

I thought the line had gone dead for the time it took him to reply.

"The stuff she has in her blood..." He murmured through my wrist. I stiffened and sat up. Waiting. "Are you taking it Proximo?"

"That's not your concern–"

"Are you?" He demanded.

I drummed my fingers hard against the chair arm. Thinking about all the times after I had wanted to drown that man's face out of my head. Drown out the noise and ache of emotional pain. I twisted my lips and decided on candour. Because why the hell not?

"Yes."

A long exhale sounded through to me. I could see the anger on his face from here but I didn't have time for that either. The sound of the bathroom door was opening.

"Proximo I need to know–"

"You don't get those answers from me." I interrupted in a low growl. "Not anymore. I have other business to take care of." I finished, swiping the comm before his voice could snare me anymore.

Makayla didn't bother to adjust my overly large clothes hanging from her. The cargoes weren't too far off apart from length. I nodded my head to the door and she followed wordlessly. Probably best given that I didn't have the answers. I saw a glint in Scorpion's eye for an alliance not a god damn fuck buddy.

Perhaps this is exactly why upper and outer Merridian had to stay apart. They played too many god damn games.

The lift took us down to the med bay and she walked ahead of me now searching. It wasn't hard to find, all the staff swarmed her. The stark white walls and metals bounced off every inch of light. There in the middle of it was Scorpion.

Her cloak discarded to the side, combat skin torn open and multiple lines going into her arms to keep her alive. One was blood.

I glanced at several doctors who paled when they saw my tattoos and glare. Art was there in the background. Keeping a close eye as usual.

He dropped me a nod. I turned back to Scorpion as Makayla gripped the side of the bed looking caught between learning medicine to help and staring helplessly from the side lines. I decided to give them a moment considering the fact that her vitals were now stable and the doctors looked less concerned with losing their lives if they let her die.

I met that dark stare and took a place beside him on the wall.

"Proximo that stuff is not harmless."

"I know."

"It will alter your cognitive functions long term–"

"Only the emotional ones." I snorted, crossing my arms.

He glared hard at my face. "Having them is not the great weakness you think it is."

I grit my teeth and stared at Makayla pressing her head against the foot of the bed. Like hell it wasn't. I cut my eyes to his.

"Why did you start?" He pressed.

"Why do you think?" I grit out. "I don't have space for it in my line of work."

"Scorpion leads the Division and I'd bet she didn't need it until recently."

"Yes... Look how that worked out for her." I answered flatly.

He puffed a breath out through his nose. "You weren't on combat enhancers when I knew you."

I stayed silent.

"So it was because I left."

I pushed off the wall but he grabbed my arm and slammed me back with enough force to make several doctors worry about another patient. I stared at his hand until he released me.

"You're not taking anymore."

I barked a laugh. "You don't control shit."

"I will destroy the lab in this building to the ground to wipe the supply." He said simply, without missing a single beat. It was not a bluff. That's what made me more pissed off.

"Why do you care so much what I put in my body?" I demanded, crossing my arms again and being sure to keep my eyes on the blonde to make sure she did nothing foolish.

"Because it's still my business to stop you from destroying your life." He snapped.

"Is it?" I drawled, with a humourless smirk.

His own anger was getting ahead of himself now and I enjoyed it a moment. Then he relaxed his stance and leant back against the wall like a good contractor.

"It stands. If you use a serum again I will level your labs." He finished almost in a casual tone.

I closed my eyes slowly and exhaled.

"Then you'll leave."

He was silent beside me considering.

"If you stopped taking that substance turning you into an unfeeling robot–yes I will."

His answer didn't satisfy me. It should. It should make me content. Get him out of here and finally uncloud my judgement again. But as I stared at Makayla and the look she had like her own life was coming apart around her... I wanted to feel that pain again. I wanted to feel something again. Perhaps it was just the serum wearing off and his god damn proximity.

"You'll stay until we finish the arms dealer. I don't want the Division working with Dawn Guard."

I could have sworn I saw the corner of his lip twitch upwards but I didn't want to confirm it. I shrugged off the wall and took Makayla's side placing my hand back on her shoulder. It seemed like the only contact I could make between medical staff and machines.

"Believe it or not. She's been through worse." I murmured.

She kept her hand gripping the edge material of Scorpion's combats.

"I'm so mad at her Proximo... and sorry and crazy about her." She whispered, staring at her boots. "–I don't know what to do with all of it."

"I know the feeling." I said low only so she could catch it.

This made her meet my eyes before glancing behind me at Artella.

"Maybe you were the smart one for keeping your distance." She mumbled, turning back to watch Scorpion's peaceful face.

I flexed my fist and dropped into a crouch beside her. She didn't flinch. She just kept watching her.

"Do you know the one thing more painful than trying to love someone?" I murmured. Her eyes found mine again with no answer for me. So I told her. "It's trying to pretend the feeling does not exist." She stared at me wordlessly. Then she understood.

"How could a person live with that..."

I pulled my shoulders up and let them drop slowly. "Enhancers. Good liquor."

She choked on a laugh but at least it was an attempt of one.

"I knew you were on something weird..." She mused. "Such a hard ass all the time."

"How would you know of them?" I asked, vaguely curious and more focused on distracting her.

"Because the Imperial guards all used combat enhancers. It makes them compliant and focused. Or so I was told..." She muttered, turning back to Alex. Then she frowned and turned back to me.

"Alex wasn't..."

I paused and puffed out a guilty breath. "Only since last night. To... deal with things before Kuzo."

She shut her eyes again and sighed into the side of Scorpion's leg. "You both–are so shit–at expressing yourselves like humans." She said muffled by the fabric. "And you should stop using it Proximo–"

"Can everyone stop parenting me tonight." I exhaled in exasperation, rising from her.

"You can go now if you'd like." She said instead.

I watched her broken expression lie against my leader and shook my head.

"I think I'll stay."

She looked up at me briefly with the first sign of a small smile. "Well, grab a chair. You're not having my spot."

I snorted and turned back to the paid assassin that still glared at me. I rolled my eyes and took my spot beside him again. His threat still burned beside me.

"Fine." I barked. "I'll lay off the serum."

He scanned my face for a moment checking I was serious. Then smiled triumphantly and turned back to watch the medical staff triple check machines and run holo scanners over her torso.

"And I will help you with the arms dealer."

"Fine." I grunted.

He glanced at me again.

"You look more like yourself already."

I raised an eyebrow under the tattoos. "And what is that?"

"A grumpy son of a bitch."

I fought the smile for as long as I could. I did well. I would have done better if I was allowed to use a combat serum. He appraised me when the smile finally broke. Then he shrugged off the wall and drew a comm to his face. I watched him go.

It's trying to pretend the feeling does not exist.

Perhaps I'd stop pretending.