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Blood and Bytes (Revna x Delryth)

The former battle medic kept his eyes on the netrunner while she worked, professional concern taking over. He engaged his optical implants so they gave a constant digital feed of her vitals. It was a relatively basic preliminary diagnostic giving him her heart rate, temp and blood pressure along with a few other critical feeds. Watching her temperature continue to spike had his eyebrows knitting together. She was getting to the point where he was about to disconnect her when she finally yanked herself free. The spark was obvious and was a cause for some concern.


Instinctively Derrick pulled out a stim booster and jabbed it into her arm before she turned back to look at him and thumbed the small button on the side to activate it. Immediately it sent a flood of chemicals into her system that would help to normalise her vitals, a suppressant that was a common treatment for Netrunners and the symptoms that usually came from haphazardous running. Her temperature would drop rapidly and her heart rate would begin to slow.


“You push it close to your limits” he commented in a voice that was hard to tell if he was disapproving or appreciative of that fact. “Where is it? Can probably find some abandoned husk of a building to lay low in. Fuck, right part of town there might be a seedy bar or cafe we can use to pass the time and blend in. People will assume we’re just on a date.” he smirked at her in an expression that showed the whites of his teeth. “Unless that bothers you?"
 
Barely registering the sharp jab in her arm, she felt the surge of chemicals coursing through her veins like a digital tide, washing away the fatigue that clung to her. Time seemed to freeze as the rush intensified, her senses sharpening, every nerve ending igniting with clarity. She cast a sidelong glance at him, an eyebrow arched in curiosity. The thought of him stim-boosting her was perplexing, a fleeting distraction she quickly brushed aside. Focus was paramount; they couldn't afford to lose their edge now.

His voice sliced through her thoughts, yanking her back to the present. She rolled her eyes slightly, a sardonic smile creeping onto her lips. "It needed to be done," she replied matter-of-factly, finally tearing her gaze away from him."Let's find a spot first, then I can ping directions. I've got the email locked in tight; I can access it from anywhere." Rising to her feet, she surveyed him with a playful smirk. "Trust me. No one will suspect we're on a date."

As she stood, the world around her shifted imperceptibly. She took a moment to inhale deeply, steadying herself against the faint vertigo that threatened to pull her under. A split second passed—a blink that could easily go unnoticed—before she turned her attention to the computer terminal. With deft fingers, she activated the surveillance cameras, scanning their surroundings. The area appeared mostly deserted; it seemed they had dispatched all the gonks in sight. Still, she wouldn't allow herself to relax until they were well away from this building.

"Do you have any thoughts on nearby structures we could use? Or should I do a quick scan?" Despite feeling the burn from deep diving into the net, she was confident she could muster another sweep if necessary.
 
Derrick nonchalantly shrugged at her words as he started towards the door. “True, they won’t. It was more polite than saying they’d think you were some joy toy I paid for for the night.” He pushed open the door just enough to get a look outside so that he could hear any footsteps that potential gangoons were making. No, it seemed they still had their peace and quiet so far, no interruptions. Good. Derrick appreciated a clean gig. It always made a nice change.

“Still ain’t told me the location of the meetup. Do that and I probably know a place or two. Previous job had me all over the city. Come on, let’s get out of here, you can tell me on the way. Don’t do another dive now, might need it later on and giving you more of that stim likely ends up detrimental. It’s not supposed to be used so that you can push further but recover.”

Without waiting to see if she agreed he set off back out of the door and managed to creep through the building once more while taking point. He was lucky that their way in was still clear and it took less than a minute for him to slip through the door they’d entered by once again. Another few seconds and they’d crossed the road to the alley where they’d first met.

“I know that place… roughly enough.” It had been a while since he’d been there but he remembered it vividly enough and he pulled up some images from the net. “Remember a shady bar there that usually has live music. Nanobyte. The kind of people that go there? We wouldn’t stand out at all.”
 
A soft snort came from her and she flipped him off from behind him. A joy toy, please; she thought as she rolled her eyes. For now though, they needed to leave. It was all quiet now but who knows how much time they really had then. At his words she nodded, "you know this area better than I. I'm not exactly from night city," her lip curled slightly at night city.

Part of her already missed the wide open life of nomading, the city felt stuffed to the brim and made her almost closterphobic. "If you have a spot in mind, take the lead. Otherwise I'm scanning and figuring it out by what's near by." She shrugged, offering the real conclusion if she picked. Something told her that he would prefer to take the lead on this rather than her picking a random spot and doing recon while they waited.

His next words made her eyebrow raise at him but that was as much of a reaction he would get as he has already moved forward. Exiting everything, the home screen hummed as if nothing had just happened. After she was sure everything looked mostly untouched, she followed him out of the building and across the alley.

Luckily, he seemed to have formed a plan on the way out. Nodding, she simply agreed with him. This was a weak spot for her, might as well let him take the lead for now. "I will meet you there," she said as she headed towards her bike. Not eager to leave her bike where it was. It was hidden well enough but she didn't trust anyone in night city.
 
The snort was the reaction that Derrick wanted, a sign that he’d gotten to her even if it wasn’t more than a passing little jab. He drank in everything she gave him when he was trying to push her buttons realizing that he got a sadistic satisfaction from annoying her. It almost felt childish and he wasn’t sure why getting to her meant so much to him… sure she’d messed up his career but enough to want petit childish barbs and jabs? Apparently so.

“Will do, won’t take too long to get there.” He turned from her and made his way over towards the corner in which he’d parked that was around the block so that neither she nor the gangoons they’d been messing with would have any idea that he’d been there until he’d wanted them to. He didn’t need some gonk clocking his plates and tracking him down. He slipped inside and shuffled into the comfortable fabric. A second later the vehicle purred to life and he wasted no time in setting off.

He drove like any other law-abiding citizen would have. The last thing he needed was a run-in with the NCPD and he had no reason other than boredom to really speed. The roads were still surprisingly busy despite the hour and so the whole journey took longer than he'd first anticipated. He passed the time with electronic synth-wave and thoughts of his new unlikely partner. As much as he disliked hr for the shit she’d caused him he couldn’t deny that she was efficient, professional even in regards to working the gig. Had he misjudged her as some low-end merc desperate to make an eddie when he’d first seen her? Maybe to some degree… though he was never going to tell her that

He was still mid-thought when he instinctively parked his ride up in a half-empty parking lot on the street corner near Nanobyte. He locked up and, without looking to see if she was nearby, headed in to try and find a window side table. It was relatively busy in here, a typical night for them with an electronic rock band currently between sets and working on their equipment on a shabby little stage. He found the seat he wanted and went to order yet another whiskey for the night. He offered over the eddies plus a tip and went to the table he’d spied earlier and waited for his accomplice.
 
Bella left, quickly going to where her bike was covered and pulled the tarp off her bike. The sleek, dark machine gleamed under the faint glow of distant neon, its angular edges and glowing cyan accents a perfect blend of form and function. Swinging her leg over the seat, she felt the familiar hum of the engine beneath her. Her mind wandered, unbidden, back to Derrick. The stim booster was still a dull ache on her arm, but the memory of him thumbing the button to activate it burned sharper. He hadn’t hesitated. Not a word, not a flicker of doubt—just steady hands and a calm presence that felt unsettlingly solid. Bella wasn’t sure what bothered her more: that he’d stepped in at all or that her gut was starting to trust him.

The engine roared to life, and she let the sound drown out her thoughts. Flicking through her playlist, she settled on a heavy hip-hop track, the bass punching hard enough to match the rhythm of the city. The streets blurred as she gunned the throttle, cutting through the tight alleys and forgotten roads that wound through the outskirts. The lyrics and beats filled the space in her head where confusion threatened to grow. Derrick confused her, people in Night City didn’t help without strings attached. People didn’t care unless it benefited them. Yes, they were on a job together but it was often that newly partnered pairs usually ended with only one left. And yet, there he was, throwing her balance off in more ways than one.

She leaned into the turns, her mechanical legs gripping the bike like they were built for it—because they were. The wind tugged at the loose tendrils of her hair as she took the long way to Nanobyte. This ride wasn’t about speed or efficiency; it was about freedom. Out here, with the beats pounding in her ears and the city’s chaos at her back, she could breathe. Her bike was more than just a machine; it was a lifeline, a way to strip away the weight of the night and feel like herself again. No confusion, no mistrust. Just Bella, the wind, and the open road.

Nanobyte’s glow appeared finally, its ultraviolet lights pulsing in time with the music thumping in her helmet. Bella slowed the bike to a crawl as she parked a little bit away. The bass from her speakers faded as she killed the engine, replaced by the deep, resonating pulse of rock music seeping through the club’s walls. Sliding off the bike, she felt the rhythmic thrum in her chest as she approached.

Inside, the air was dense with sound—gritty guitars and raw vocals blending with the mechanical buzz of augmented patrons and the flicker of neon strobes. The floor vibrated beneath her feet, her mechanical legs syncing with the tempo as if the music itself was alive in her. It was different from the beats she rode to, but it thrummed in her veins all the same. For a moment, Bella let herself get lost in the chaos of it, standing at the edge of the crowd as the music swallowed her whole. At least for just right this moment, she knew even if he was in the bar, they would be here for a while anyway. May as well enjoy herself for just a few moments.
 
Detox sat there drumming his fingers against his whiskey glass as he thought about the day so far. Being paired up with Bella would have been his absolute last choice and yet they’d managed to work both smoothly and efficiently. He still didn’t understand exactly why they clicked so well when they were on the gig. As soon as they’d gone into the gangoons hideout it was like a switch had been flicked and the bickering ceased. Instead, when the time came they were a team, an actual team. Perhaps it was his time with trauma team that made teamwork come naturally to him despite who he worked with but for her? The fact she was a longtime merc working solo gigs should have said a lot.


The fact that they worked so well together just pissed him off. Part of him had hoped to catch her out, that she’d been a disaster and that blowing her off to do the gig without her would be easy and yet after what they’d managed so far… she was good to have around. The thought was like bile in his throat. Why her? Why that fucking woman? His fist tightened on his glass before he raised it and took a swig, enjoying the heady buzz it gave him.


Derrick decided to people-watch and see if anything caught his attention. He watched dancers bump and bounce to the heavy drums and guitar that had just started up from the band drowning out the mumble of the crowd. He saw a woman draped against the bar trying to flash an ample view of her cleavage for a free drink and managing to get one. Two people dressed far too smart for this place sat next to each other by the bar not uttering a word but, thanks to their gestures, obviously speaking through some closed neural link. Two guys were pressed up against one another against a pillar right by the dancefloor, their lips locked together and hands exploring one another’s tight clothing. An older man who clearly had more money than most in here danced with a young scantily clad woman who looked barely half of his age.


It was while he was examining the dancefloor that Detox came across Bella. He was confident she was going to show up but part of him had hoped that maybe she’d fallen off her bike and had broken her arm on the way on the way over. He watched from his quiet corner, fingers beating on the table along to the grunge tune, his heart beating to the heavy bass. He watched as she effortlessly found the groove and began swaying and moving in tune to it, becoming one of the crowd easily. Except she wasn’t just one of the crowd, something stood out about her.


Absentmindedly Derrice found himself giving her physique a subconscious breakdown. Despite everything else, she was hot, that was for sure. Her clothes complimented her curves perfectly and he found himself wondering for a moment how she’d look without all those layers on. As she turned he found his eyes drawn to her shapely ass and watched it move to the beat in a hypnotic motion that began to make his pants tighten. He realized what he was doing before long and cursed at himself inwardly, suddenly furious. He dug his knuckles into his temple as though punishing himself and trying to purge the thoughts of her from his mind.
 
Bella melted into the music, the pounding grunge beats pulling her into their rhythm. The crowd around her dissolved as she moved to the deep pulse of the bass, her mechanical legs adjusting seamlessly to the ebb and flow of the dance floor. This was where she could let go, where the world and all its jagged edges blurred into something smoother, something she could handle. The screech of the guitar and the guttural rasp of the vocalist matched the energy thrumming through her veins, raw and untamed. She closed her eyes, letting her body sway in perfect harmony with the music, losing herself in the moment until the last lingering note faded into a deafening cheer from the crowd.

When the music stopped, the weight of the world crept back in. Bella stilled, her breath evening out as she ran a hand through her hair, pulling at the loose strands. That’s when she felt it—a prickling awareness that settled at the base of her spine. Someone was watching her. She opened her eyes and let her gaze sweep over the crowd. And there he was, Derrick, slouched in a shadowed corner with a whiskey glass in hand, his eyes fixed on her. The air shifted, her pulse quickening as their gazes briefly locked before she looked away, hating how it felt like he saw too much.

They were supposed to hate each other. That was the deal. They’d been thrown together out of necessity, not choice, and yet... She thought about the way he’d steadied her during the hack, the calm certainty in his actions that had felt too much like trust. It reminded her of the people she’d left behind in her nomad clan, the unspoken bonds that made everything work. That same instinctive partnership had slipped into her dynamic with Derrick during the job, no matter how hard she tried to fight it. The thought made her stomach churn. He wasn’t clan; he wasn’t family. He was a wildcard, a complication she hadn’t asked for, and yet here she was, drawn to the quiet rhythm they seemed to fall into together.

With a sharp breath, Bella shook off the thought and turned back toward the heart of the dance floor. She wasn’t ready to deal with Derrick—or the emotions he stirred that made her miss the road, her clan, and everything she’d left behind. Not yet. Letting the next song pull her back in, she slipped deeper into the crowd, her movements sharp and defiant as she let herself get lost in the music one more time. Whatever feelings were clawing at her chest could wait. Right now, she just wanted to move, to feel, to forget.
 
There was a moment where their eyes locked onto one another and Derrick felt an incredibly volatile mix of emotions run through him in that second. Hatred, disgust in himself, admiration and attraction. What the fuck was wrong with him? He wondered how much she’d see in him from that moment of eye contact. He was sure he detected something odd in her own expression too, something that let him know she wasn’t quite comfortable either. He raised his glass just before she looked away and took a drink with a mental reminder that he couldn’t stand this woman, that it was strictly business and once they were done he’d never have to see her again, he was in control of himself.

And then he stared at her ass again as she turned away and began to dance.

The medic knocked back his whiskey while he watched her for longer than he’d like. It was partway through the song when his willpower returned to him and he looked away from her wondering if she’d noticed just how he’d been looking at her, where he’d been looking. He hoped not. He made his way to the bar and drummed two fingers against an eddie chit while he waited to be served.

The doctor got another bourbon, this time a double and immediately took a generous mouthful of the burning spirit. The burn was good, distracting and in a way sobering… at least as far as his thoughts were going. He reached down and made a conscious effort to adjust his trousers just so that nothing was obvious. He wasn’t pitching a tent but he was acutely aware of how his clothes had seemed a size or two smaller. This was ridiculous. He wasn’t going to just watch her like some creep at the edge of the dancefloor.

Derrick strolled towards her, weaving through the dancefloor until he found himself next to her. He dug a hand into one of his pockets as he closed in on her. He pulled out several notes and stuffed them in her cleavage, should it be visible, and if not simply into her top. “There’s my favourite joy toy,” he said close to her and loud enough to carry over the music. He hooked a finger into her belt and used it to tug her towards him.

“Drink? My treat. I know you’re scraping for eddies.”
 
Bella was lost in the music, her body sweating instinctively to the next pulse of the bass, every moment deliberate and sharp. However, as much as she tried to bury herself in the rhythm, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. It was irrational, she told herself, shaking off the idea. Maybe it was just the crowd. The natural chair of a packed club that had her thoughts whirling. Or maybe it was him, something about catching him watch her and then their gaze met. Her thoughts wavered, bouncing between annoyance and something more complicated. The idea that Derrick might be watching her -again- left her somewhere between irritation and unsettling heat she couldn't quiet place. Or maybe, she didn't want to place as her mind continued to whirl.

When someone pressed closer to her, the sensation of fingers against her chest startled her out of her trance. Bella's head snapped down as bills were stuffed into her top. The nerve of action hitting her before the strangers voice did. She balled her first when the smug tone cut through the music. Her arm jerked back, ready to swing when she felt the tug on her belt and his voice again. Her brain piecing it together just in time.

It was him, it was Derrick. The realization hit her hard enough to stop her mid-motion, leaving her fist suspended in air as her eyes looked into his and her mind scrambled to catch up.

"You," she hissed; her voice low but charged. Sharp enough to cut through the thrum of the music but low enough for only him to hear. Her first slowly lowered as confusion flickered through her features.

Still not sure if she wanted to hit him or not, she leaned into him. "First of all;" she leaned in close enough that her breath would tickle his face as she crained her neck to look up at him this closely. "If I were a joy toy, you couldn't afford me."

The hand that almost swung at him turned and picked at the notes he stuffed in, keeping her gaze on his as she did so. Letting it flutter and dance between her fingers, she decided to do the insane choice. Feeling as if they were playing a game of chicken, a game she wouldn't lose. Especially to him. "Congratulations, you bought just enough time to get that drink you wanna buy me."

Her lips curled into a slow, wicked smirk as she folded the bills and tucked them neatly into her bra before pushing on his chest. Her hand small compared to his mass, "lead the way Derrick;" she drew out his name. A small hint of venom in her tone undercut by the flash of intrigue in her eyes. Whatever his angle was, she wasn't sure if she hated it -or him- more and it was beginning to drive her crazy.
 
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Detox raised an eyebrow as he saw her raise her but didn’t make any attempt to stop it. If she hit him she hit him, sure he didn’t doubt that it would hurt but it’d hurt a damn sight less than giving her the satisfaction of seeing him flinch away from it. Her hand hovered as she took time to process who he was and exactly what he’d just done to her. Her voice sounded saccharine to him as he got a hit of endorphins from catching her off guard.

He listened to her words and could feel and smell her breath wash over him as she spoke ever so closely to him. His grin just spread more as she fished out the notes and tried to tell him that he’d be so very outpriced in the market that was Bella should she decide to sell herself for pleasure. Seeing her that close trying to shift the situation made him blow her a quick kiss.

“So no work mate discount?” he queried, his finger still hooked in her belt. He could see the expression change as she steadied herself and decided to roll with what he’d said. The game was on then, he knew, and it exhilarated him. He preferred this, this back and forth way more than just ogling her backside from across the room, this was just as distracting and it stopped him hating himself for what he did.

“Derrick huh? First names now.” He shrugged at her and gestured towards the bar. “Lucky me, I knew I could buy some company for some eddies. Let’s go then” He tugged her belt again and moved quickly enough that he’d hoped she didn’t have time to react and remove him before he’d led her through the bar as though she were on some kind of leash.

“What’re you drinking?”

He couldn’t understand what was going on. He couldn’t stand her and yet he took such great joy in teasing her, pushing her buttons and getting under her skin… was that just because he hated her? Yes. It was. She was simply good-looking, bitch or no, that was all it was and he had to keep reminding himself of it.
 
Bella's lips parted slightly, a flicker of surprise she couldn't hide at his boldness. He blew a kiss and that cocky quip about a work mates discount, which only reminded her for just a moment that they were technically on a job. It fluttered away as fast as it came. Her stomach coiled, a mixture of irritation and something far more aggravating -interest. She hated that his teasing made her pulse quicken, hated the way his finger hooked through her belt felt possessive and bold in a way she didn't entirely hate. Her smirk sharpened and her eyes lit up with mischief, if he wanted a game; he was about to learn just how his she was at it.

When he tugged at her belt, guiding her through the crowd, her muscles tensed slightly. He was enjoying this far too much, she could read it all over his face but the worst part of it all. So was she. It had been a long time since a man lead her anywhere by her belt loops. The feeling of his knuckles brushing her waist sent a spark through her, but really, it was his audacity that made her blood simmer. Fighting the urge to snap at him, she let herself be led by her belt loop for now. Her steps fluid and deliberate, matching his steps as they went through the crowd and towards the bar just as they did moments ago going through the warehouse to get to the office. However this time, this time she tilted her chin up. A queen humoring her subject rather than a man tugging her on a leash.

If he thought he has control here, he was wrong - she was bidding her time and watching him.

Reaching the bar, Bella leaned into him slightly, just enough for him to feel her against him before slipping out of his grip. Her belt loop sliding from his finger as she did so. Planting herself against the counter, letting her gaze flick over him as if appraising his worth. When the bartender appeared, she ordered without hesitation, her voice low and smooth. "Pink sapphire," a drink she had for the first time in night city and it has left a lasting impression. A mix of raspberry liqueur, vodka and something sparkling that really made it glimmer.

Once again, her lips curled as she glanced at Derrick. Only now realizing that she was getting used to calling him by his name rather than his work name. It made her lip twitch in curiosity, "sweet, strong and a little dangerous. This city introduced me to this drink, think you can handle it?" While it was delicious and pretty, it was oddly very strong.

As the bartender worked on her drink, Bella leaned back slightly so her fingers could brush the loop his finger had just been curled around. "By the way," she added with a voice laced with faux innocence, "you really shouldn't pull so hard. Might make a girl think you're trying to keep her close." Her eyes gleamed as she attached a brow.

Just as she was ready to stare him down, the bartender gave them the two orders of her drink. Small, about the size of a triple shot, it was pink and swirling with shimmer. Handing him his, she turned back with her own in hand. Lightly clinking them together and shot it back. Oh yes, she knew he was playing with her. She could play right back, though as they essentially played chicken. Her body responded, coiling and goosebumps spread over her body while her blood simmer to a soft boil and she was starting to think it wasn't just her dislike of him or the alcohol she now has burning through her system.
 
Detox could see what she was doing as she raised up her face to look down at him over her nose and he knew that it wasn’t something he was going to give her. He reached out to scratch her neck just under her chin with a soft patronizing motion as though she were some kind of virtu pet. It wasn’t a gesture that lasted long but it was one that, at least in his mind, robbed her of that moment and so it was impactful.

He removed his fingers from his belt and didn’t think about how much he didn’t hate that close intimate hold. He reminded himself that he only liked it because he’d been leading her around and it gave him the advantage and not because the gesture itself did something that made him want to adjust the way he was stood for a little more comfort. He didn’t have long to think about that regardless as soon she leaned against him, a move that he knew wasn’t out of some kind of kinship. The game was indeed on.

He’d never heard of the drink and he frowned at it as the bartender began to pour it. He raised his whiskey glass to his mouth and downed what was left. He could feel that one heavy on his head. He knew he should probably slow down if they were working still and yet the challenge was there, open and public. “Please, who do you take me for?”

He wasn’t going to give her an inch. He had no interest in relinquishing any control of their situation to her and was determined to keep her on the back foot as much as he could. He slipped an arm around her waist to hold her close and dipped his hand into the side of her shorts so that it rested on her hip. One hand hooked into the hem of whatever underwear she wore beneath to help strengthen his grip. It was a gesture that meant most around them would just assume they were dating.

“You could have just asked if you wanted me to hold you close. No need to play coy.”

The drink looked terrible. It was bright, shimmering and from the description nothing like he wanted. He didn’t really do sweet. He raised it up, rolled his eyes and necked the shot. His eyes clenched shut for a moment as he did his best to minimise the wince on his face. Sure it was strong, very strong but the taste of potent spirits was something e could take. That sickly sweet underlying taste however wasn’t. He coughed and wiped a little of the bright liquid dribbling from the corner of his mouth.
 
Bella’s smirk deepened as he downed the drink, catching the faint grimace he tried to suppress. The sweet, glittering liquid wasn’t his style, that much was clear, and she enjoyed watching him suffer through it. She leaned her elbow on the bar, letting her body tilt just enough to brush against his side as if by accident, while her eyes tracked every movement of his.

Then his arm slid around her waist, his fingers resting on her hip before hooking just inside her waistband. He would feel her basic pair of panties, not exactly dressed for a date. Meaning nothing matched and she was pretty sure this was her "grandma" set. Comfortable but ugly ass fuck. The contact sent a ripple through her, sharp and unwelcome, like a live wire sparking in her chest. The audacity of it should have pissed her off. And it did—mostly. But there was something else simmering under the surface, something she didn’t care to name.

Her lips parted as if to retort, but his grip tightened just enough to send a warning: not yet. Bella wasn’t one to give up the upper hand so easily. “You really think you’ve got me figured out, huh?” she said, her tone teasing but edged with steel.

She shifted her weight, letting her body brush his deliberately this time. “If I wanted you to hold me close, Detox, I’d make damn sure you knew it. And it wouldn’t be in the middle of some sleazy club.” The use of his code name making her feel better, using his name last time made it feel weird for her.

She plucked her glass from the bar and raised it between them, the very last of the drink glittered under the neon lights. “But since you’re so eager to play the gentleman…”

She swirled the drink lazily before finishing it slowly. Letting the last bit slowly trickle down the glass and into her mouth, her eyes locked on his as though daring him to make his next move. “You’ve got one more chance to impress me since that drink is now gone,” her skin shuttered and warmed with it rushing fire through her veins.

Her smirk widened as she leaned closer, her breath brushing against his ear. “Your turn, partner." That word rolled a breath against his ear as she closed the very small distance between his ear and her lips. Ever so slightly skimming the sensitive flesh. "What’s your next move?”
 
Derrick was happy to bob his head along to the song as he pushed the glittery glass back at her and watched it sparkle in what dim light shone over the bar. If he never had to drink that shit again he’d be a happy man. He was glad, at the very least, that it hadn’t been worse, that he hadn’t been worse while drinking it. He could only imagine the smug look the bitch would have on her face if he’d started coughing and spluttering. He didn’t need to see that.

“Nah, I don’t think you’re that simple,” he said nonchalantly at the insinuation he thought he knew her better. He wasn’t naive enough to think that, far from it really. As much as he liked the idea that she was some simpleton far beneath him in the grand scheme of things he knew that wasn’t quite true. She was definitely beneath him but she was more complex than he’d first given her credit for as much as he’d like to pretend she wasn’t.

“Sleazy club huh? I think a sleazy club has a certain charm for two people to get close within.” He found he couldn’t take his eyes off of her again while she toyed with the glass. His expression seemed almost bored at her actions but the truth was very different. There was something annoyingly compelling about her reactions, about her moves. That pissed him off too. Why oh why did he care?

Was he bothered about impressing her? Not really, and yet he still wasn’t quite ready for the game to end, not just yet at least. Did she want him to back down? Did she want another move from him to keep them both playing? He didn’t know what she wanted any more than he knew what he did. There was a strange tension in the air and he wasn’t sure if it was only him that felt it.

The feeling of her breath against her ear had chills run down his neck and made him feel a little hot under the collar. What was his next play? He chewed that thought over in his mind and then decided to act. Derrick used his hand on her hip to help turn her to face him. He brought a hand up to possessively hold her neck and tilted her head towards him. His hand on her hip slipped behind her to paw at her backside and he stooped in to bring his face close to hers. He bit her lip hard enough to sting but not draw blood and slowly pulled back to tug at it. He let her lip go free, pulled his hand out of her shorts and then pushed on her chest to make a little distance.

“You’re not really my type.” He smirked at her.
 
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Bella inhaled a surprise gasp when she felt his hand grab her neck, she was sure he could feel her pulse flutter under his fingers. The bite itself stung deliciously, sending a sharp ache through her nerve endings. Her gaze that has widened but hasn't left his darkened and dilated. When he pushed her back, she used the momentum to shift her weight. Something predatory gleamed in her gaze and shadowed her lips. Her lip ticking in amusement as he said she wasn't really his type as her lip started to swell.

"Oh, Detox," she purred his code name in a low and smooth tone. "I think thou protests too much."

Her hands flashed from her side and onto him, fisting the fabric of his pants loops with both hands, she yanked him forward. All but smashing their hips and groins together, her body pressed flush against him. Heat radiated between them and sparked like a live current.

Letting her head dip back, her lips curled into a wicked smile. Licking and poking her more slowly swelling lower lip, her eyes never leaving his. It still throbbed slightly, but instead of irritation, she let herself relish the sensation. The sting made her feel alive, this whole moment made her blood sing to life. Making the already wicked grin take on a more seductive note as she leaned into his hand which tightened on her throat. "You're so used to being in control, huh? Cute."

Her grip on his pants tightened and coiled as she started to rock against him, she was more than a little sure she was rolling on his own response to their situation. Letting the puff of air roll against his skin as she exhaled with the softest of signs before she continued. "I don't mind playing this game Derrick," using his real name with a guttering sound, "but let's get one thing straight - I don't submit." As if to emphasize it anymore, she moved her hips back and slammed their hips together again.

Letting her hips roll against him again, savoring his response to such directness. Just before she was ready to let go of his belt loops she felt her phone going off. In her tech, their mission responded to the email and it sent a cold bucket of water onto their current situation. "Looks like you've run out of time," she spoke as she let go of his pants loops and swaying her hips away from him.
 
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He could see the expression on her face, the reaction that his bite had drawn from within and it filled him with a brief moment of triumph. He’d enjoyed it as well. The give-in in her skin when he’d squeezed her ass, the brief contact of their lips, the heat of her neck and the throbbing of the vein. It was truly exquisite. He liked it far more than he was happy with. Pushing her away was as much for his benefit as everything before he did something stupid that he would regret.

He rolled his eyes at the sound of her using his name. He started to turn to head back to the table he’d originally sat at when he first entered Nanonbyte but found himself grabbed by her and pulled against her, a gesture that made him grunt. There would be no way for her not to notice his semi-flaccid manhood pressed partly against his pants. Something that made him curse.

His eyes found hers and he looked into them trying to read her thoughts. He couldn’t. The moment seemed to drag on for countless seconds until she spoke. He smiled in response. “I have the feeling I’m not the only one used to that.” It was true to some degree. Sure he had bosses, team leaders and the like but despite that, he liked having control, he liked steering his life and what happened in his life in the ways that he wanted it to go.

Feeling her rock against him she’d definitely feel his cock stir against her and again he cursed though this time it was inwardly. He smirked again, masking just how much he enjoyed the friction she was giving him and decided not to get too reactive to it. Both hands went to her backside this time holding her against him as he met her rolling hips with slow thrusting movements of his own. “You’ve got me completely convinced.”

At her next words, Derrick could only assume what had happened and he too went back into business mode. He dug his fingertips into her soft ample flesh one last time through her shorts before they separated and he released her. His head really was swimming now with a mixture of being inebriated and, also, aroused. That bit of fun had been worth the eddies he’d used as a prop. He adjusted himself once again and followed after her, checking his sidearm still sat on his hip.




 
Bella’s smirk faltered for only a moment when she felt the distinct, undeniable hardness against her. Her stomach coiled with an equal mix of satisfaction and fury. Damn him. Damn the way her body betrayed her, how his hands gripping her ass and the slow thrust of his hips sent heat licking up her spine. Feeling his hardening length press back against her. She hated it—hated him—and hated that part of her wanted more.

Her lip curled faintly, the taste of his earlier bite still lingering as she forced herself to look into his face. His smirk made her stomach churn, and she couldn’t tell if it was rage or desire—or both. Probably both.

As his hands dug into her flesh one last time, she bit back a gasp, refusing to give him the satisfaction. She knew he’d feel her quickened breathing, the way her body leaned into his, and the flush creeping up her neck. When he finally let go and stepped back, her knees felt like they might buckle, but she held her ground, masking her irritation with her business face.

She let out a slow, controlled breath and adjusted her posture, her hand immediately pulling her communicator up to read the message.

“Fuck,” she muttered under her breath, scanning the contents. It wasn’t long, but it was urgent. They didn't have time to fuck about anymore.

Her eyes flicked up to Derrick, his expression already shifting to something more serious. As they both focused back on the mission, she couldn't help but enjoy the fact that she rattled him. He rattled her too but no one had won that round and that was far better than losing.

"Well, looks like fun's over," she said, her tone brush and clipped as she started to head towards the door as she completely cooled down.

The email was urgent, or rather, they didn't exactly have a ton of time between that email and getting to the location. With that thought, she half turned towards him and made sure she spoke loud enough for him and only him to hear. "We don't have time to exchange addresses and play chauffer. You've got two options," she lifted up one finger. "Ride bitch on my bike, or you can drive me yourself in your vehicle. Either way, we need to move."

Her tone left no room for agreement, not right now, though the sharpness in her tone was more for herself than him. She refused to let him see how her pulse still raced and not just from the excitement of the job they were about to finish. How the memory of his body against hers, their hips grinding against each other was already searing into her mind. No, she was in control now and she was going to make damn sure to keep it that way.
 
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Derrick’s heart was starting to settle down again, thankfully and he could push the question of how much he wanted more of whatever it was the two of them shared away for another day. His synapses still fired at lightning speed and he felt unreasonably hot. The way they’d ground together… how they’d been so close to one another… it was intoxicating and far more dangerously addictive than anything he’d drank since he’d arrived at Nanobyte.


The familiar smell of Nightcity met him, replacing the smell of cheap fragrances, booze and sweat that had been the ambience of Nanobyte. The cool air was sobering and helped bring him out of his alcohol-enhanced arousal so that he could stick to the task at hand. He was glad that it seemed to be having the same reaction in her. The switch was flicked once again and they were straight back to business.


“Shame, I was just starting to almost tolerate you.” Derrick already started to set off towards his own car, unlocking it with a click of his keys. “You can hop in with me, navigate, and do your thing from the passenger seat.” It didn’t take long to arrive at the car due to only being parked around the corner. He pulled open the door and slipped inside. A moment later the engine purred to life and he set off.


“Alright, give me deets.”
 
Bella stepped into the cool embrace of the Night City air, her nerves still buzzing as if her body hadn’t quite gotten the memo that they were done. The acrid scent of the street—oily rain on asphalt, the faint bite of scorched circuitry—helped ground her. She shrugged her bag off her bike, its worn leather heavier than usual, stuffed with the tools of her trade. She could already feel the familiar weight of her deck pressing against her ribs.

Derrick’s voice caught her attention, his usual snark snapping her out of her thoughts.

“Almost tolerate me?” she shot back, swinging the bag over her shoulder as she approached his car. “Careful, Detox. Any more sweet talk like that and I might think you’re softening.”

She smirked as she opened the passenger door and slid inside. The interior was clean, a little too clean for her taste, but the faint smell of oil and coolant told her the machine at least had a soul. She dropped her bag onto the floor between them.

She flicked her wrist, her fingers tapping the edge of her modified holo-bracelet. A bright, flickering overlay danced across the windshield’s internal display, marking their destination with a glowing red marker. “Coordinates uploaded,” she said with a grin, leaning back into her seat. “Try not to crash.”

But before he could comment, she reached out and twisted the dial on his radio. Static buzzed for a moment before a sharp, heavy bassline cut through, followed by the slick, fast lyrics of her favorite rap track. Bella smirked to herself, leaning back into the seat and crossing her arms as the cabin filled with music.

Deep down, she had a gut feeling he would hate this. Good! It's about time she starts to pay him back for how her body responded to him. Thankfully, her nerves were only from the mission and no longer Derrick. They would be professional as soon as they got there but right now? Right now was a little pay back.
 
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