Chapter 7: Chapter 7


I find it amusing that the font I'm using when writing this in LibreOffice is called "liberation serif."


It was awkward, to say the least, to be on a date with the computer technician. To make matters even more uncomfortable, they were seated at the restaurant where Jensen had followed him the day he'd stupidly walked in. The cyborg had chosen the location to force himself to get over the embarrassment of what he'd done there. It was also, admittedly, a little satisfying to take the raven-haired man where the other date had not. Suppressing his nerves, Adam forced himself to lean forward and strike up a conversation.

"Have you eaten here many times before?"

Frank stopped fiddling with his utensils and looked up, glad for the distraction. "Yeah, usually I feel most comfortable here for that reason. Don't know why I'm not, now that it's you. It's not like I was nervous any of the other times I met someone here."

Jealousy flashed through the security chief. "Just how many dates have you had here?" Way to make the conversation weird, Jensen, his inner critic nagged.

"I... Not that many," the tech answered, his emotions shifting from slight guilt at having dated others to annoyance at his dinner partner for making him feel bad about it. After all, Jensen was no virgin either, and there was nothing wrong with having dated other people in the past. "And just how many people have you been with, hm? You don't fucking own me or my past."

The cyborg stared down at the table. "I deserve that. Sorry." If this was going to work, he needed to stop giving in to their old dynamics. No more antagonizing, he resolved. And none of this territorial shit, either, wherever that came from. Looking up, he caught Pritchard's gaze and smiled sheepishly. "Okay, new topic. What food do you suggest?"

Eyes softening, the pony-tailed man leaned over the table to point at an item on Adam's open menu. "The salmon's pretty good." The brunet's heart thumped faster at the closeness of his date. He had to keep himself from grabbing and kissing the tech right then. God, he needed to start thinking straight. Who knows how he feels about PDA?

It took all his concentration to keep his face straight and retain the gritty ex-cop demeanor. "Then I guess I'll get that," the cyborg said stiffly, trying to think of anything besides where the other man's soft, pink lips had been just half an hour ago.

"May I take your order, gentlemen?" came the voice of the waiter, causing the ex-cop to almost jump.

Frank smiled, already sitting back in his chair, relishing the effect he was having on his co-worker. "Yes, please. The usual for me."

"And for you, Sir?" he glanced at the cyborg.

Adam felt the security tech's hand settle on his thigh. "Salmon," he tried to say, his jaw and teeth clenched.

The poor waiter looked between the smirking, thin man and the glaring, augmented monster. Only his professionalism kept him from taking a step back. "I... didn't quite catch that... Sir?"

"Salmon," the detective tried again.

"Sir?"

"He'll be having the salmon," Pritchard answered, finally taking pity on them both.

As the server hurriedly receded from the table, Jensen snatched up his ice water and chugged it.

"What are you smiling about, Francis?" prodded the heavily augmented man, using his sleeve to wipe the residue of the drink from his mouth.

The computer technician laughed quietly, bringing his offending hand back up where Adam could keep an eye on it. "I barely have to do anything and you get so worked up."

Adam glared, shifting uncomfortably. "So what?"

"I just find it... flattering, Jensen. That's all. It's not something I'm used to."

The cyborg's gaze became kinder. "That's surprising, since you seem to be so good at... working me up." Don't think about this afternoon don't think about this afternoon don't think about-

Pritchard ran a thumb over the tines of his fork. "Thanks," he replied softly.

Deciding it would probably be okay, the ex-SWAT took the tech's other hand into his own, and was satisfied when the raven-haired man did not pull away. "After dinner, would you like to come with me to Michelle Walthers' apartment? I normally spend a few hours there every night."

"The woman you had me send a security detail to protect? Who is she, Jensen?"

The brunet noticed Pritchard's tone take on a hint of worry, and quickly set the hacker straight. "She's an elderly woman. You know some of the stuff on my past... whatever you dug up when you were fixing Sarif Industries' back end. I'm not sure what all you found," he paused, gathering his thoughts. "She saved my life when I was an infant... when White Helix wanted to use me to inoculate another batch of babies. Two of the scientists started a fire to make sure I got out safely, and she took me and put me up for adoption. I've been getting to know her ever since I got back from Panchea."

Frank nodded in comprehension. "You really want me to meet her?"

"Well," Adam backpedaled, "if you think it's too soon for you to meet the closest person I have to family, don't worry about it. But I just figured I'd offer, since I don't plan to miss seeing her any day soon."

"No, I'd like to. I'm just surprised that you feel comfortable bringing me. I always pegged you for the type who takes relationships slow," the raven-haired man smiled, squeezing his date's hand affectionately.

Relieved, the cyborg continued. "I actually... told her about you. She kept telling me to just tell you that I love you, and I just would resist for some reason-" he froze, realizing that he'd revealed more than he ought to have.

"You... love me, Jensen?"

Shit, he's going to run off. I came on too strong. Why did I even bring up Michelle? What the hell is wrong with me?

"What? No... no, Francis, I'm just saying what she said to tell you. I didn't mean it like that," he rushed the words, panic rising.

The thinner man blinked a few times, but understood what his partner was trying to say. "Oh, okay. Don't worry, I didn't think you were in love with me or anything; that's why I was surprised to hear you say it."

Breathing a sigh of relief, the cyborg wondered why he simultaneously felt disappointed, knowing Pritchard thought he didn't love him.


"Adam's a good boy. Always has been. You know, he's been heartsick about you for a while, now. I'm glad he finally did something about it," the elderly woman's face crinkled with fondness for the security chief.

Frank blushed slightly, but was glad to hear the cyborg really did like him, and it wasn't just a cruel joke after all. "Honestly, Miss Walthers, I never would have guessed."

She rubbed his shoulder in a grandmotherly way, then leaned in to whisper, "I don't think the boy's very good at flirting." Louder, she called to the augmented man in the kitchen, "how's that meatloaf coming, Adam?"

I'm sure she doesn't realize my hearing is augmented, but Francis should know better. "It's got about 10 minutes left in the oven, Miss Walthers," he answered dutifully.

He heard rustling and a softer whisper, but was unable to make it out this time. Suddenly, his co-worker's laughter rang out loudly through the apartment.

"Oh my God, Miss Walthers!"

"Yes!"

"Really?"

What the hell? The cyborg rushed in and barely held back a scream. In a strained voice, he managed to ask in an inside voice, "Are you showing my baby pictures, Miss Walthers?"


A/N: I know this is a very "cute" and "emotional" chapter, but I think it's important that they work out their dynamics and set some boundaries before becoming more intimate. Also, I wanted to have some fun.

For all of Jensen's tough outer layer, I view his character as being very careful about who he lets his guard down with. He seems like someone that's pretty sensitive, and I'd type him as an INFJ (the goody goody way he can be played). I hear he's more of a ladies' man in the comics (and I recently read about some DLC or whatever where he and some woman named Katrina, I think, get close super quickly and both try to sacrifice themselves to save each other but only she succeeds. But... I'm not really including that in this story.), but from the original game, he just seems like the type that is very choosy about who he would be in a relationship with. Though, I suppose you can play him flirty, which is cool if you want to.

As much as he loved Megan, that love wasn't enough to keep them together, even before he found out she betrayed his trust. I also see him as being a caring boyfriend but having trouble expressing his feelings well. From what I gathered of Pritchard, he seems like he'd be a little emotionally smarter, when he can admit to what he's feeling. I also see him as demanding/firm about his needs and wants. The way he acted at the end of the game, he seemed genuinely worried when Adam was in danger, and was even willing to do things behind Sarif's back for him. I think he'd be good to whomever he dated, even if he pretended to be callous most of the time. Anyway, that's my reasoning for putting this kind of stuff into the story, not that anyone necessarily wanted to know.