Hey guys. A Silent Conversation here. Juuuust a fair warning, this chapter does get hot n' heavy, but no straight up smut. Implied references here and there, but no explicit descriptions of the act or acts leading up to the act. (Was that redundant? Eh.) That said, there will be a few scenes that are borderline steamy, but it will take one hell of an imagination to fill in the blanks. Hope you enjoy this one!

Did she hear that right? Did he…did the Boss just actually say that?

"B-boss?"

"You heard right." He moved off the rail to stand next to her, his elbows resting on the rail. The view really was spectacular, but did nothing to calm his rapidly beating heart. He'd always been meaning to tell her how he felt, and even if she shot him down, he tried.

"Kinzie…there's something I should tell you." The woman could no longer meet his gaze, opting to stand by his side, well within his personal space.

"Wh…what would that be, Boss?"

The Boss sighed, still trying to gather his courage. He actually found it funny, laughable, even. He'd survived countless gun shots, wars, gang members, yet confessing to Kinzie was what scared him? He had to admit it was silly, but if he didn't, he figured he'd go crazy, not having somebody he wanted so desperately.

"You remember when I rode that nuke to save DC?"

She nodded, words failing her.

"I thought to myself 'god, I'm going to miss Kinzie.' I didn't think about Gat, or Shaundi, or Pierce. I wanted you, and only you, to be my last thought." Sighing partially in nerves, he pushed up so his hands were on the rail instead of his arms. "It's taken me two years to see you as you, not as a hacker. And whenever I do, I find I like what I see." His face flushed, and he covered his mouth with his hand, desperately waiting to hear her reply.

-

He was confessing to her?! She wanted to be the one to confess to him, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. His buying dinner at the most expensive place in the city. Holding her hand in passing, letting her this close to him. But what really hit home was that he'd shared his real name with her, something King didn't even know. Yes, it all made sense now, and so it was her turn to confess.

"Boss…I…" She clenched the rail, mustering up the courage. "I don't know when or why, but…" She could barely get it out, but she had to for her own sanity. "I…fell for you. Like you said…when you were riding that nuke, and I thought you were gonna be gone for good…" Tears started to leak from her face as she thought back to it. "I…I just wanted you to come back to us, to come back to me, and when you did, I." She was cut off by his sudden hug, although gently.

He'd been scared she would shoot him down, but now he learned that she actually felt the same way about him. It was a tremendous relief, and the Boss fought his own tears as she pressed her face into his shoulder, her tears staining the dark fabric. Their tears were of joy, not sadness, and neither moved from the hug, her arms at his waist and his at her shoulders. It was surprisingly comfortable for both involved, though the Boss ended it to continue talking.

"Kinzie…I…I just want you to stay with us, to stay with me…" His words were whispered, barely audible, but loud enough for them to be heard and carry weight as well. She bit back a smile as she responded. "Of course, Michael. I'm not going anywhere."

And unable to resist any more, the Boss moved into her, his lips seeking out hers.

He was warm.

His lips were so soft.

His hand felt like silk on her neck.

She was gentle.

She was so warm.

Her lips were cotton.

Kinzie, for one, was in utter bliss. Her fantasies were swiftly becoming reality; first his confession, then the kiss she'd spent weeks dreaming about (it was better than she dreamed.) It was just…happiness, and when he asked her to stay with him, she used his real name, solidifying the already concrete bond between the two. All that mattered right now was feeling the Boss in her arms, his lips dancing with hers. It was just…indescribable, but in order to breathe, they had to reluctantly stop.

Breaking apart in the moonlight, their green eyes positively shown, with Kinzie pressing her head against his chest, arms around his waist. She felt undeniably happy, ecstatic, and hopeful. Actually, she was still trying to process that this was actually happening, and not just another one of her fantasies. She sincerely hoped it wasn't, and the gentle motion of his thumb on the back of her hand felt far too real to be false.

He too was trying to process. He'd had his eye on this woman for the past two years, always afraid to flirt, or even casually approach her. But what had changed where he could finally feel comfortable enough to be friendly.

Deep down, although he refused to accept it, he knew. He knew it was because of the deaths, because of the pain of loss. Everybody was feeling beaten down, and it was in cases like those that two lonely souls would seek each other out for comfort. And as for the dance they'd been doing – the subtle flirtation, embarrassed glances – before now, it all seemed trivial considering how both were feeling.

It was the sudden gust of wind that brought them back to reality, the elevation of their confession doing very little to break them apart. What did break them, apart, however, was the need to get back to the ship. Both knew where this was heading – a consummation of the hidden feelings shared just today.

Taking her hand, Boss led Kinzie back into the elevator – where much to his pleasant surprise, she kissed him again, a playful smile in her voice. "Get used to it, because I've been waiting months to do that." If he had a reply, it was cut off by another, more passionate kiss, and he had to gently remind her that they were back in public. He'd rather avoid the combination of envious stares as well the glare of an older citizen who disapproved of PDA. Even so, she was practically on top of him as they strode their way back to the Door, and after a short hug, The Boss stepped through first. Kinzie quickly followed, and before she even had the chance to step down from the Matrix, the Boss had her in his arms and was leading her to a room he'd built specifically for couples – if that ever arose.

Well, it certainly had tonight, and the bedroom was reminiscent of his back at the White House. A king size bed with a black fleece blanket, underneath an impractical number of red and black pillows – each of different shape and size. As far as the lighting went, it was pretty standard – until the Boss fingered a lever on the wall. This replaced the overhead lights with a soft red glow. It was still pretty easy to see, and sure as hell did he see. Kinzie had taken the moment to lay on the bed, her spacesuit tossed casually on the floor. She was left in a black tank top and bike shorts, and judging by the way she was posed, she was more than ready.

Moving slowly, the Boss removed his own space suit – a tight fitting white tshirt and simple boxers underneath. He crawled on the bed, resting over Kinzie on all fours. He leaned down, and as their lips fought for dominance, clothes were ripped at, tossed aside, removed until both wore nothing but passion for each other.

He moved into her, their movements rocking the mattress until he reached the ultimate feeling, Kinzie reciprocating with curled toes and a held back moan.

Spent, The Boss lay down next to the red head, a fine layer of sweat coating both of the Saints. Neither had any idea how long they'd been at it, but neither Kinzie nor the Boss really cared. All they cared about was one another, and the lay side by side, their fingers interlocked. Their green eyes looked into one another, not a word spoken, but the message clear.

'I love you.'