Chapter 9: Chapter 9
Adam pressed a reassuring kiss to the tech's temple. "Leave you? I'm more worried about it being the other way around. Or worse."
"Worse?" Frank looked at the cyborg in confusion. "What are you referencing with that statement?"
The brunet looked away, sighing, but knew he had to explain. "When I found Megan, right before I went to Panchea," he swallowed, trying to emotionally distance himself from the conversation, "I also learned that she had stolen my DNA. That's how she made her breakthrough in augmentation. I don't know what my freak genetic code is worth to whoever else wants to fuck around with it. I know intellectually that you wouldn't do something like that, Pritchard- although after that I've seriously doubted my judgements of anyone's character- it's just this nagging worry in the back of my mind that it's all people really want from me. What she did, what Sarif used to his benefit, White Helix..." he stopped, unable to force himself to say more.
The computer technician roughly pulled the other man closer. "Jensen... I don't know what to say. I'll never do anything like that. I'm angry at those who've used and hurt you." Tenderly but firmly, Frank kissed him, now taking on the reassurance role.
"I know, Francis," the heavily augmented man smiled, appreciating that the hacker cared this deeply for him.
"You're not still in contact with Megan, are you?" asked Pritchard, feeling a pang of jealousy.
Adam caressed the tech's hand, gently answering with a simple "no."
Satisfied, the smaller man rolled over and closed his eyes. "Goodnight, Adam."
"Goodnight, Frank."
"There'll be questions and rumors if we show up at work together, Jensen," the raven-haired man paced around the living room, hair still wet from the morning shower.
The cyborg watched him, slightly annoyed. He found the idea of covering up their relationship distasteful. "They're not rumors if they're true. Besides, no one important will care. You know Sarif—if anything, he'll be creepily happy."
Frank began wringing his hands. "I don't like being talked about. I learned at a very early age to keep to myself and not draw attention, because whenever I was talked about, it didn't end well."
Adam stepped forward and caught the tech mid-pace. "You're allowed to live and just enjoy your life without fear. And no one would dare mess with you, because then they'd have to deal with me," he stared confidently, sans sunglasses, into Pritchard's dark blue eyes, trying to convey that everything would be alright.
A few moments later, the smaller man looked down and settled into the cyborg's embrace. "Okay," he replied softly.
David Sarif burst into Adam's office around noon. "Hello, Son," he greeted, grinning ear to ear.
"To what do I owe your coming all the way down here, Boss?" the security chief asked, pretty sure he knew why the CEO was there.
"I just want you to know, Adam," the older man sat comfortably in the chair opposite the cyborg, "that I'm happy for you! I know your relationship with Frank will only increase your work productivity. You always stayed completely professional at work with Megan, so I'm not worried about that. You've been through a lot, Adam, and I hope having somebody will help you."
Jensen nodded awkwardly, trying to think of something to respond with, when Athene came in. "W... What are you holding?"
The secretary set a cake on the other employee's desk. "Congratulations, Adam," she smiled warmly.
"Boss, why is this cake shaped like a pony?"
Sarif stood up. "Why not, Son? Why not?"
For the first time since their daily security meetings started, Adam Jensen was not late. Actually, he'd been looking forward to seeing the tech all day, and was surprised when he walked into Pritchard's office to find him looking somber.
"Just one moment," he waved at the brunet to sit down. Adam watched with appreciation for how skillfully his partner's hands glided across the keyboard, enjoying the time to stare at him. At the same time, he wondered what had the raven-haired man in this mood.
Frank tapped the enter button, then swiveled his chair to face the cyborg. "It seems our friend Tindall saw us at the restaurant, yesterday, and is threatening me in an attempt to get to you. I traced the email to get his IP address and looked it up to find it's registered to Page Industries. I think we've got an enemy much bigger than Tindall."
Omigosh, the My Little Pony reference is not really OOC. Not really at all. If you hack Sarif's computer, you can see that his email handle is FreneticPony. I swear, Sarif did this bringing a cake thing all on his own. I had absolutely no say in the matter. He bribed me with free augments. There was nothing I could do. I'm giving you a choice noooowwwww, Adaaaammm! By the way, I've made a couple Deus Ex music videos, so that's been fun. One silly (with the song Call Me Maybe), one serious.
