P R O X I M O

I stared soundlessly at my wrist comm.

Not a word. Radio silence. A thousand different scenarios of a woman in white and purple serving up Art's head on a platter surrounded by laughing Imperials.

I bounced a knee subconsciously.

But this wasn't progress. I needed to do something. I needed to act to break something–someone–why hadn't he just told me where, what or how. Anything to give me insight into that damn contractor's whereabouts. He had become that spectre once more. One moment here on the continent and the next...

"You knew this was coming." Artella murmured, with his bare arms tucked behind his head. His sculpted torso bared as plainly as my own.

I slammed back a tumbler of whiskey and refilled it.

"There's plenty of work here." I growled, refusing to meet those dark eyes.

"Proximo..."

I continued nursing the glass until I gripped it tighter at the tone and launched it at the wall. It shattered the same way the conversation did.

"We all make choices, Art. You just happen to make yours quickly!"

He sat up in the bed with his brows low and his mouth a grim line.

"You think you see me so clearly but you don't–"

"I'm not the one leaving continent tomorrow. I am not the one choosing an impossible distance for the sake of credits." I sneered, ripping the sheets off me and yanking on a pair of combats. I was halfway into them when I realised they were his–it was too late to go back now. Too late for many things.

My body felt like it was being torn in half. One remained in the bed and the other... The other wanted oblivion and to get that fucking face out of my head.

His strong hand stopped my forearm and I tore it free with a snarl.

"Do you plan on having this conversation entirely one sided or can I enter it?" He retorted calmly.

It was that. God. Damn. Calm. That sent me.

I lunged for him. He didn't stop me as I landed a fist hard on his face and wrapped both hands around his neck taking away his air. It wasn't nearly enough. But it at least changed his expression for once.

"Everything–is so damn–easy for you–isn't it?!" I said through my teeth, glaring all the hate I could find in me down on him.

His hands slowly reached up and went over mine as he pulled them back an inch enough to breathe. It didn't take any of the fire away. It just put me in simmer. It made me ponder how many knives he had in the belt of these combats–

"Just. Stop." He rasped, "–for once, Proximo. Listen to me."

I controlled my heavy breathing. Then finally pulled my hands back and rolled off him. I sat on the edge with my back to him and remained silent. Perhaps I would remain silent for a long time. It was better than being consumed.

"I cannot tell you where I am going because then they will know–before you ask. You cannot know who either. I am not doing this for the credits, Proximo. It's never been about that–"

"But you leave all the same. What does it matter?" I muttered, staring ahead.

His living space had always been a marvel. So much light came through the tower. Glass and wood that made it feel alive and breathing. Plants. So many plants. If I pictured the old world forests I pictured it like this. Free and alive. Much like him.

"It matters what you think of me before I do." He said behind me quietly.

It was the pain in his voice that almost broke me. Almost made me drag his face towards me and end this ridiculous distance once and for all. But the facts remained. His choices spoke louder than those words. He chose.

I rose from the bed without another word.

His own silence spoke to my back as I pulled the rest of my clothes over me and more pieces broke apart. More of the human ones. The ones that felt and the ones that liked the way those dark eyes brooded and the low voice that spoke my name.

Nothing mattered but the Division. I could make choices too.

I knew I would regret not looking back for many years. I did. I do. But the past stays as it is.

I didn't look back that day.

I looked back today. And I would sooner die than let him go first.

I grit my teeth and pushed off my knees. I was already armed to high hell and back. The only thing that stopped me...

"You good?" Scorpion spoke in my comm simply.

"I can't do this without knowing he is safe." I stated.

"I will go with you–"

"I'm not asking."

"Yet I tell you all the same."

"You have someone that can't live without you, Scorpion. Let me fight for the one I can't."

The line went silent.

"Alright." She murmured.

I nodded to myself.

"I just need some Dawn Guard armour and a face. If I am not back in 24 hours go forward with the operation." I stated, checking the fusion cartridges in my pistols. They glowed back at me promising retribution.

"You mean the operation where we blow Sky towers off the map and rid the city of Imperials? With you still in the kill zone? I think not."

"The moment her assassination fails or succeeds is already too late, Scorpion. You know this." I finished devoid of everything. "I am only interested in getting Artella out–otherwise I don't care much for the getting out part–"

"Don't you dare play self sacrifice now, Proximo. We've been through too damn much."

I chuckled and flipped two knives into place on my forearms.

"We have had a good run, you and I. Five Underworld leaders usurped. All sectors from 11 to 52 under our command. I couldn't think of a better outting than down in flames."

She shared none of my humour.

"I won't let you die. Your orders are to live."

"Yet. Were the roles reversed, commander... You would gladly run into the flames for Makayla Xavier." She remained silent because the words struck home. "–You were family to me when my own betrayed me. You were friend to me when my leader betrayed me. Now you will stand by me while I choose. My choice is that I go after Artella Maxim with everything I have. If it comes down to it and it is not enough... Then I have lived up to my name and will have no regrets."

"And what if–I regret?" Her voice broke uncharacteristically. 

"Don't get emotional on me now, Scorpion..." I drawled, with a sad smile. "You were doing so well all this time."

"Yes well." She sniffed quickly. "That's what happens when you appoint a buffoon as your second. They say and do stupid things." She exhaled slowly and composed herself. I waited. "But I know the feeling running through you too well to lie. How I would love to lie, Proximo and tell you it gets easier. That feeling that much doesn't tear you apart. That its the most beautiful curse you'll ever have. I would feel the worst of it all tenfold if it meant getting hit in the chest by that blue eyed Imperial in the street that day."

I nodded slowly.

"You see me." I murmured, staring at the light bouncing off the blade in my hand. "I walked away from what I felt once and regretted it every day until I saw him again. I won't make the same mistake twice."

"Just do me a favour, Proximo."

I waited and took my attention off the knife.

"Level the building on the bitch that took him from you."

This time my smile was entirely genuine.

"I may just make it the entire Sector."