P R O X I M O

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I snarled, grabbing Flo's arm and practically throwing her into an empty office.

She picked this time to started laughing.

"Secure room!" I barked, before pacing in front of the long glass table. It wasn't enough. When she sobered behind me I kicked a chair off its legs and whirled on her.

"I receive a comm from Scorpion herself. Scorpion. Florence. What kind of game–"

"Oh, I don't find the situation any less appealing. It's just your face is always so adorable when you're upset..." She quipped dragging her tongue along the corner of her lips that were painted navy blue today.

"Could you not have dressed the part waltzing into the Division's base of operations?" I demanded, cutting a hand down to her exposed curves and chest. "I gave you that security clearance for emergencies." I growled.

"This is an emergency." She said cooly, glancing at her long nails.

I paused and set my feet, tensed and watched her closely.

"Well?" I demanded.

"Kuzo put a hit out on me."

"He. What?" I breathed.

She met my eyes with a nonchalance that no one in their right mind should have. Kuzo was not the Division but he was not someone to be on the wrong end of in the Underworld either. He ran the night. He had military grade weapons because we allowed that for his men. He could hunt in numbers. 

"Why. Flo." I got out slowly, standing closely before her and dropping my eyes to hers in darkness. But a dark anger was growing inside every inch of me. I would go to him myself. One word and his blacklist would disappear or his head would find the inside of a plasma round.

"I told him to go and fuck himself because no one else would." She answered sweetly. My exasperation was threatening to crack a smile. Thinking of her turning down her boss for sexual favours. Turning down anyone... How many times had she?

Why did she now...

Emotions were as foreign to Florence as they were to me. They had no place in our lines of work. It's what made this work. Anything else was impossible.

"That wouldn't cause him to do this." I probed, watching her as she angled her head up to me and dragged her eyes along my chest. They focused on the half Scorpion crest. The second's mark. She sighed and crossed her arms before me.

"No but telling him I was finished with him and his bullshit would. He threatened to send those bitches after me but I said I had..." She scanned me again, "–bigger things to move onto." The dark smile found her lips again.

"So you... you are out?" I asked quietly, checking her face for any sign.

The future of her life ran wild in my head for moments. Where she would run. Where the next line of her life would take her. She never took anything seriously–not even death. That made possibilities endless.

She dusted off my already clean pressed jacket and left her arms over my shoulders drawing herself closer. "I'm all yours, Proxy. Every inch of me." She whispers onto my lips making my thoughts cloud far too much.

I shook my head before her and cleared my throat.

"That doesn't explain–what you're doing here." I grit out, trying to send my desire to a far away place inside me.

She grinned at that and leant back on her hands before sitting up on the glass table and lying back across it. The hologram flickered behind.

"Oh, I think I'll like it here." She groaned, spreading her arms wide and showing off more of her body like a stretching cat. Her dark waves of hair splayed. "Point me in the direction of your room." She added, crossing her legs.

"You–Flo–absolutely not–this is an operational base for–you cannot–" My words had never fallen out of me in such a mess before. But this was madness. If Scorpion knew the full extent of what was going on... after the look she had given me in that comm. She was telling me with one glance to stop this because of the side she had chosen in the Underworld. A security breach at best. Much less at worst.

"Stop choking on your words." She snorted, flipping over on the glass quickly and watching me with those dark charcoaled, purple irises. "I'm making this very. Simple." She murmured.

"This is not the answer. I can get you a private security detail outside these walls." I pressed, running a hand through my hair. It was strange to have it slightly longer than a buzz cut. She had run her nails through it many times–

"How long will that keep me alive?" She quipped, still unconcerned. "Besides, I'd rather spend my time in your bed. So, you can tell me where that is or I'll have that delicious little blonde tell me." She answered innocently.

I growled low.

"If there is one person to stay away from. It is Makayla. Xavier." I stated, cutting through her mood and making her eyes light up curiously.

"I heard about how the Emperor bit it. But I didn't know the daughter chose to be here..." She mused, sitting up from the desk and taking slow steps to me as I retreated. "What is she to Scorpion exactly? She seemed... very intense when I questioned her."

I clenched my jaw when her hands landed on my stomach and trailed lower. The darkness was back in that expression and everything else with it. From the sway of her hips to the sharp jaw and full lips.

"As I said. She is the last person to speak to if you want to survive here."

She grinned wickedly as her fingers trailed dangerously near the waistline of my combats.

"I knew you would come around."

She went for the buckle and I grabbed her hands faster than drawing a weapon.

"If. I haven't decided yet. But you will stay out of sight until I can decide what to do with you." I growled, staring her down. It only excited her more. She tried to move her hands but my hold was unbreakable. The desire between us was already charging too dangerously towards something more.

This would need end quickly. I couldn't have her in this world and run the Division effectively. Not with Dazz and Velron both in one place. It was only a matter of time before both sides came looking for war.

"Show me to that room of yours hubby." She drawled, interrupting my mind. She moved forward quickly and crushed her lips on mine in a heated collision. My breathing was rough when I tried to pull back she bit my lip, drawing blood.

"For fuck sake–Florence." I snarled, stumbling back and catching the crimson on a finger. She licked her lips again and shrugged turning for the door.

"Stop." I commanded, coming behind her and shrugging out of my jacket. "You will not walk around our base of operations dressed like that."

She batted her eyelashes at me over her shoulder when I dropped it on her.

"Oh you are still such a gentleman to me, Proxy." She drawled, drawing it tightly and inhaling the collaring deeply.

"Shut the fuck up. Follow me. Do not draw attention to yourself–if possible." I finished in a growl before ripping the door open and striding out with a problem at my heels.

M A K A Y L A

"Velron Archeon."

His chestnut hair whipped around with his head from the chair. The holopad in his hand all but forgotten. He made an effort to straighten his shirt but it was still a mess.

I smirked from the doorway before it hissed shut behind me. The guards on the other side no doubt ready for anyone leaving those doors...

"We do need to stop meeting like this." He allowed, finding a small sense of that humour I once knew in Sector 1. You always did need a laugh in glass towers with maximum security.

I rounded a sofa and plunked down into it with all the grace of a mercenary. I would know.

"How are you finding the accommodation?" I drawled.

"Very well." He nodded awkwardly. I gave him a flat look and he conceded with a sigh. "Better since the Division's Second has his eyes off me a moment."

I chuckled and crossed my legs over the chair arm.

"Proximo is soft on the inside–as long as you don't betray him. Or are born in Sector 1... Or any other location outside the Divis–"

"I think I take your point." He winced.

I grinned and appraised him, sitting up properly. His eyes tracked my movements and darted to the weapons on my hips and legs. He swallowed and decided on more civil conversation.

"I see you are... Very comfortable here."

I nodded slowly and made the decision to admit the truth. After all, Proximo would not be letting him out of his sight–perhaps not out of this building for a long time.

"It is easy to be when you are with the leader of the Division."

He frowned a moment before his eyes took on a sudden realisation. His hand pressed onto his thigh as if in pain.

"That's why she... my god." He whispered. It was my turn to frown.

"She what..?" I asked slowly.

"Well she made quite a clear point that I was to stay away from you, Makayla." He glanced beyond the windows a moment. "–I thought it was to keep her hold over you as an asset not as... Well you know."

I stilled and finally nodded. The night she had told me she had gone to him–the night she almost lost that restraint and dealt with him altogether. Our friendship was the only thing that kept him alive.

"I can't say she's your biggest fan." I noted, relaxing back into the chair.

"So why am I still alive?" He murmured with a wide look.

"They want your help on the weapon systems of course. But that will be much easier now we have the brains of the rebels behind the holoscreens in our custody."

He seemed to be staring at something else however.

"Apologies–" he shook his head realising, "–but where did you get that bruise? You look like you have seen worse days than I have."

I couldn't help the smirk that caught my lips at that.

"Yes, she gave it her best effort." I mused, rubbing the underside of my jaw. It made Velron flinch into his seat.

"Scor–Scorpion hit you?" He demanded.

"And I knocked her out with my rifle." I shrugged, enjoying the way his face melted into horror. "–We have a complicated relationship." 

"I knew you wanted a different life, Makayla... But I did not picture this."

I met his eyes seriously this time. Leaning forward so my forearms could rest on my knees.

"I fell in love with the most dangerous person in the city, Velron. As far as I'm concerned I didn't make the conscious choice. But I would do it all over again. Every time."

He blew out a long breath and leant back into his chair. After watching me for many seconds he decided resolved on something. "I think we all experience that helpless longing at some point. Knowing that passion may get us killed–yet pursuing it all the same." He nodded not meeting my eyes and catching on the glowing holoscreen on the table.

I scanned his features a moment longer. There wasn't much damage on his own face, I was thankful that Proximo truly had gone easy on his custody. But there was a hardness in those eyes... Something burning beneath.

"You're not saying something." I concluded, cutting him a curt look.

His eyes flashed up and he rethought his line of words.

"It was never my intention to be at war with anyone." He murmured, tying his hands together. "–let alone the most powerful organisation in the city. I was one of few fighting to keep those Sector weapons out of use–it was always on the Emperor's mind when the Division took too much power." My heart stilled at this soulless notion but I remained calm listening. "I've had a lot of time to myself to think here... And I believe I know what I want and what is the right thing to do."

I could hear my heartbeat in my head. If he stepped out of line once, if he sided against them–it was all over for him and he didn't even know it–or perhaps he knew too well...

"I want to join the Division."

I blinked once. Twice. The words ran in my head again.

Then a laugh blurted out of my lips. I pressed my hands into my face and shook. Velron's sigh was more of a puff. "Please–please do not let those words leave this room, Velron."

"Makayla, I am serious!" He stated clearly.

I peaked through my fingers indeed seeing that resolve again.

"You shouldn't be. You aren't built for this."

"Neither were you!"

This sobered me. I slapped my hands down on the table between us.

"I was trained by Scorpion and Proximo themselves. Believe me Velron it was not our first choice and you will certainly not be theirs."

He looked stung but remained unperturbed.

"You've shown me it is possible for anyone to change their circumstance–"

"Unless you are about to tell me you have a very good friend in the Division's inner circles you haven't got a chance in any hell–why are you looking at me like that?" I demanded with increasing concern.

"You, Makayla. I only need your word, they will listen to you."

"Are you insane?" I murmured with another laugh threatening. "Al–Scorpion wants you dead more than anyone else here because of your history with me–" I shook my head throwing away the notion. But another stark realisation was coming to me as I dismissed my only remaining friend from Sector 1... What other future did he have? If I didn't get him in he was out... Now that the Emperor had fallen and Sector 1 was a mess they would sooner kill him than welcome him.

His face had dropped onto the table and his courage along with it. It cracked at me and I realised he may have already reached the same conclusion. I groaned and pushed my head back against the chair.

"Things I do for you, Velron Archeon..." I muttered, closing my eyes.

"You'll help me?" He pressed, suddenly much more animated again.

"Well no one else is going to keep you alive are they?" I mumbled, staring at the ceiling thinking of how in any way I would say this out loud. Velron wants to join the Division, Alex. Please let him in with open arms. Please do not kill him in training. Please forget about him kissing–

I heard the shuffling before he rushed forward and awkwardly hugged me. My eyes flashed wide and I threw him off me back into the table. But the gratitude was still painted on his face. 

"That–that right there–is exactly what will get you killed–idiot." I hissed, making him raise his hands between us. Those dangerous boundaries that he seemed to completely blur around me...

"You're right–I apologise I am so–"

"Sit down." I ordered, rising out of my own chair. "You're not the one that's got to convince the Underworld's leader of... this." I gestured to his disheveled self and his face reddened. He took a seat in his chair again watching me cautiously.

"If there's anything I can–"

"You can be a good prisoner and stay here."

He nodded quickly and placed his hands on his lap. I turned on my heel and drew up my wrist holo. But before I could make the call Velron spoke to my back.

"I really do appreciate what you've done, Makayla. You had no more obligation to me–no lines to step over yet you do all the same. I will not forget." He murmured behind.

I grit my teeth ahead of me and nodded. Then swiped the door and it hissed open to me instantly. I could still smell his cologne from that rash action. I had to make sure it was his last mistake.

She answered on the first ring.

"Miss Xavier?" A low voice drawled.

"I need to speak to you."

"I am slightly busy..."

"It's about Velron."

"Give me 5 minutes." She answered flatly. 

I almost wished she had just remained busy.