Iris's p.o.v****

We walked into a big room on a separate hallway from Chief's office, branching off into a private part of the station. Opening the door, it was almost like they were sitting there just waiting for us to walk in, everyone instantly on their feet as Thrax shoved his hands into his pockets grumpily, me hoping Drix didn't let spill what he'd walked into.

"Iris! You're okay!"Ozzy cheered, and I sighed, none of them apparently guessing anything. Drix gave me a small and subtle wink from behind Ozzy, and I gave him a grateful smile back. At least that was one thing I didn't have to worry about...

"What's that on your shoulder?"Maria snapped sternly, and I looked at her wide-eyed, blushing a bright red and immediatly slapping my hand over the spot, feeling the sting of a bruise. I looked quickly up at Thrax and punched him in the side, whispering angrily,

"You told me nothing was there!" He got a mischevious smile on his face and said smoothly,

"I lied."

"I'm gonna kill you."I muttered furiously, blushing a bright red as I felt everyone's eyes on us. I looked back sheepishly, seeing Chief coughing awkwardly and trying to focus on anything else, Drix scratching the back of his head as Ozzy gaped, looking from me to Thrax, even though he was the one insinuating things earlier today.

Maria crossed her arms and pointed at the two of us, saying sternly,

"We gonna talk about this later. Now sit down and tell what happened at that warehouse tonight." I was relieved that the attention was taken off me, walking and sitting next to Ozzy, who gave me a look that earned him a kick in the shin, making him flinch and Drix smile. Thrax sat at the head of the long table, the room a dull white with a grey floor, a standard meeting room.

Only Maria sat on the other side, Chief on the end of my side next to Drix. Thrax cracked his neck before beginning,

"I saw two germs walkin' into some shady-lookin' warehouse, talking about Pox and some meeting he was having. Didn't think anyone'd get there in time, so I went in solo..."He paused a second, not looking at me behind the shades, but the words motioned towards me, "Which probably wasn't a good idea, but I couldn't really think right at the time, Pox right there an' all. Anyways, I looked through this glass ceiling and he was havin' some sort of meetin' for interested henchmen, talkin' 'bout how he was gonna nail this big score in the heart."

"Ha! Betcha you'd have learned more if you'd gone in there like I did."Ozzy bragged, and this time both Drix and I slapped the back of his head, sending his face into the table. Thrax sat back and I could see him glaring at the white-blood cell from under his shades, continuing icily,

"As I was saying, he's plannin' on pullin' something in the Right Atrium. Said somethin' about blowin' it up."

"But that's where the city get's its oxygen! If that goes, the entire city shuts down in minutes, let alone the kind of damage it'll do to the brain if we even get the heart back up in time. If we let him do that, then..."Maria paused, not wanting to say what was on all our minds, the sudden danger of this situation.

"Did you get how or when he's supposed to pull something like this?"Chief asked seriously, Thrax leaning forward and saying,

"It's supposed to go down tomorrow, but I didn't get anythin' else..."We all deflated, me biting my lip and Maria shaking her head frustratedly. If all we knew was that he was going to blow up the Right Atrium tomorrow, then the bombs could already be there. And that was if he didn't decide to just do it tonight, knowing now that Thrax found him.

"Would he move his plans up?"I asked, voicing my concern, "You know, because he knows you know now." Thrax got this look across his face, sitting back and combing back his hair tiredly.

"Nah...I think he expected one of us to show up."He said, "He wanted us to find out."

"But why? Wouldn't that just lure us there?"Drix asked, and I saw Thrax's jaw tighten a bit, worry twisting in my gut. Something about this was off...

"That's the point, he wants us to go there...he wants to take something from us."He explained, and I froze. A chill ran down my spine, stiffening and looking down at the table, eyes focusing down and seeing all the reflections of those around me in the shiny metal. Ozzy looking at Thrax suspiciously, rubbing the back of his head. Drix, looking concerned. Chief, face serious and gruff, all his years on the fource weighting suddenly on his features and dragging them down. Maria, face stern and serious as always.

Thrax, looking forward at no one.

"What's he wanna take?"Ozzy asked. Thrax looked at me in the reflection of the table, eyes showing through the darkness of his shades, a look telling me something I already knew. And, suddenly, all faces turning towards me, and I'd never wanted to run so badly in my life...

And yet, at the same time, I'd never been so firmly in place.

"So, what are we gonna do about it?"I asked, combing my hair back and looking up at all of them, one-by-one, their surprised and conflicted faces meeting mine, until I got to Thrax. There was a starring contest between us, him giving me a warning glare, me almost copying one right back. A look telling me to back off, that he wasn't about to let me go into the heart with Pox doing who-knows-what to get to me.

A look telling him that he was the one who told me to take a breather. To stop running. And I wasn't about to go back on that promise. There was a heavy silence as we talked, just looking at each other and locked in an angry battle. Him trying to protect me, and me done with people trying to save me.

"Iris."

"Thrax." I responded, both our tones plain and simple, the rest around us looking on confused. It was just us, waiting for the other to back down, and it sure as hell wasn't gonna be me. He narrowed his eyes and I narrowed mine more, locked, the room silent, no words and yet we understood exactly what the other was saying. And, finally, Thrax conceeded.

He blew out a breath and sat back, waving me off tiredly and saying,

"Fine, damnit. It's your funeral."

"Yo, I miss something?"Ozzy asked, but I ignored him, combing back my hair and asking,

"So now what? How do we fight against something we know nothing about?"

"...Actually,"Thrax said, brightening up a bit, "I think I got our solution." I looked up at him expectantly, but he said nothing. Instead, he just stood up and fixed his shades, Maria narrowing her eyes at him as I stood, asking,

"Well? You wanna tell us?"

"Just follow me, baby...no cops allowed."Thrax added, looking back at the group as they all stood up. Maria instantly shouted, hands on her hips and inching a finger towards her gun warningly, making even me tense up,

"Oh yeah? Who says? You think I'm just gonna let you go solo after that stunt you just pulled?"She demanded, Ozzy stepping up and crossing his arms.

"Yeah, and why should I let you be alone with my little Iris after what you did to her!"He demanded, me shooting bright red again and looking straight at the floor, cursing Thrax in my head.

"I hate you all.."Thrax groaned, and I looked up a bit, seeing him rubbing his temples before pointing to the rest with his claw, face slack and serious as he said, as if speaking to children, "Listen, I know someone who deals with this kinda thing. Nothin' ticks in this city without being touched by 'im. Not exactly straight-laced shit like y'all got goin' on here.

"So if I barge in with a squad of Immunity, I don't think I'll be getting the info I need. So how 'bout this: Iris and I go down there, find out what Pox got from the place, and I'll ring you up with any information I find, hm?"

"Hey, I don't like-!"

"Alright." I looked over at Maria, surprised that she was the one to go with Thrax's plan. Ozzy gaped, Maria having interrupted him, and exclaimed,

"Alright?! Did you not hear what just came out of that viral mother's mouth?!" Maria sent him a glare and narrowed her eyes, shrugging and saying begrudgingly,

"He's right. If this person can get us more information on Pox, then we have to take every measure to make sure this goes through without any complications. Besides," And at this she looked at me, smirking, "Iris is gonna be with him to keep him in line."

"What makes you think-" I slapped Thrax in the stomach, winking back at Maria secretly as I took his arm and turned him.

"We'll call you guys right after. I'll remember this time."I promised, turning as Thrax opened the door.

"No...'distractions'...this time!"Maria called, and I froze, blushing a bright red as Thrax turned and smirked over his shoulder.

"Can't promise-"

"Thrax!"I shouted, punching him in the back and knocking him forward, embarrased and irritated as I slammed the door shut behind me, walking past Thrax and shaking my head. I was never going to live this down, ever.

Thrax's p.o.v****

I kept a narrow eye on all the creeps slinking around the club, black-lights flashing in rhythm with the barely-audible music, too many shouts and cat-calls echoing throught the black walls of the darkened club. While she may not exactly be 'part' of this crowd, Iris seemed to fit in with the teenagers her age, all of them wearing almost the same thing just ten times more revealing, none of them getting in here with real IDs. Luckily, the bouncer recognized me and let us through with just a nod and a look at Iris that almost had him a new spine arrangement.

But, with the hungry eyes cast her way as we continued to make our way through the club, keeping close to the emptier area near the bar with just a few men sitting there, too involved in their drinks to notice, she didn't seem to care. In fact, she kept her eyes focused forward the whole time, and it wasn't until we got about halfway through that I realized why.

The kid had nearly had a heartattack when I got close to her the first time. Reasonably, she'd been alone for twelve years. Crowds and personal contact must not be her thing.

I saw one of the guys in the crowd eyeing her so obviously that she stiffened, and I slid an arm around her waist, pulling her to my side so that I could feel her hip against my leg. The man looked up at me with almost an angry, irritated look, but I sent him back a glare so territorial that it was almost a silent promise to rip him a new face if he even thought about touching her.

Smartly, he dodged back into the crowd, and I felt her relax again. But I didn't let go, liking the feeling of her skin cooling mine, after having gotten over the odd sensation that it brought. I wasn't used to not being entirely warm, having any spot she touched chilled for awhile afterwards, but it wasn't too bad of a feeling. I could still feel part of my stomach that was colder than the rest, a part she'd touched, kissed, in a moment where I'd accepted my complete loss of sanity.

If I'd have been told that this all would happen when I first laid eyes on her, I'd have laughed and brushed it off. Now, though, looking back at the progression of these past few days, I should have seen this shit coming. 'Course, if I had, I mighta run faster than she ever could. Now that I had no choice, though, this...whatever it was, felt right.

I knew the word for it. I'd be foolin' myself if I said I didn't, but...it wasn't something I'd let myself say. Let myself admit even to myself. Because it would be the final step to admitting this change in the solo part of my life, the part that played a major role in how I did things, and I wasn't ready to let go of that part yet...yet.

"Where's he?"She asked over the pounding of the music, and I nodded towards a door at the end of the bar walkway.

"Right in there, baby."I mused back, not knowing if she could hear me as I led us to the door. I paused, raising the claw and tapping on the door three times. A voice from behind it said something, but it was too muffled in all the noise. I rolled my eyes and snapped,

"I can't hear you and you know it! Open the damn door!"

It took a second, but the heavy metal door soon swung inwards. Inside, leaning on the door with one hand and the other on a revealed hip, was my special arms dealer.

"Shoulda known it was you, you asshole."The female virus said in a sleek and seductive voice, a black half-shirt and mini skirt with a big, metal belt contrasting against the light purple skin, showing off a flat stomach and long legs. Damn, I could remember times when this she-virus shot me down when I really needed info or something to get rid of a pesky snitch.

Her violet eyes smoldered under long, wavy black hair, currently falling onto Iris, who I'd had to let go of to knock. She got a rare, kind smile, the kind of thing Iris seemed to pull out of everyone, and asked,

"And who's this cute little thing? Ain't you a bit too pretty to be hangin' around the Big Bad Wolf?" She leaned down and brushed her hand through Iris's hair, making me raise an eyebrow and twitch a bit, suddenly wanting to pull Iris back to me. Iris only looked a bit curious, too damn innocent for her own good, as she said,

"I'm Iris."

"Pathogina. Call me Gina."Gina winked, and trailed a finger to Iris's chin, tilting her head up a bit as I tensed even more. Damn, if that woman's eyes could get more suggestive they'd need a warning sign. Even Iris finally blushed, the red spreading across her face that was, on any other occasion, amusing. "Ha, this one's pretty cute. I like her, c'mon in."She said, finally straightening up and giving me a wink. I glared and asked,

"This why you never respond to any of my negotiations?"

All I got was another wink, which explained a damn lot, and she took Iris's hand to pull her into the dark room. I scowled, following after and flicking on the light switch, turning on a dull bulb on an old brown desk situated near the end of the broom-closet like room. I slammed the door shut behind me with my boot, still glaring as Gina let go of Iris's hand to move around her desk and sit in a black office chair, turning it sideways and crossing her legs, leaning an elbow on the desk as she smiled mischeviously at me.

"So, what brings you my place of buisiness, hm?"She asked, me moving back next to Iris with my hands in my pockets.

"I need info on a recent client of yours."I mused, the urgency in my chest not reflected in my voice, knowing that Pox was out there right now with whatever Gina made for him, just waiting for us. She raised an eyebrow and asked,

"And why should I tell you, huh?" I tensed my jaw in anger, not in the mood for this minx's little games. I slid my left hand out of my pocket, letting the claw hang out warningly as I threatened,

"'Cuz you ain't gonna like it if you don't." Maybe the only woman in the world who wasn't intimidated, Gina shrugged and sat back in her chair, pulling out a cigarette from a drawr in the desk and a lighter, lighting up and blowing the smoke out through a ring of dark purple lipstick.

"You gonna have to try harder than that, Thrax."She mused, and I tensed more.

"Damnit, Gina! This ain't some game, I need info, now!"I shouted, and she just laughed and closed her eyes, tilting her head back and taking a puff.

"Sweetie, learn how to treat a lady."

"You ain't no lady."I muttered under my breath, combing my hair back as Iris got a look in her eye, like she just got some idea.

"Now how you think you're gonna get anything outta me with that attitude, huh?"Gina asked, looking at me as I lit my claw, ready to send this place up. I was tired and seriously pissed-off, not needing her games right now. I opened my mouth to talk, but Iris spoke before me.

"He's just cranky right now. Can I make a deal?"She offered politely, and I looked down at her surprised. Gina raised an eyebrow and snubbed out the cigarette on the desk, smiling slyly.

"She's got some manners, clearly hasn't been hangin' around you for long. Sure thing, sweetie, what you got in mind?"She asked, and Iris walked around the desk without saying anything. I watched, an eyebrow raised as Gina laid an arm across her waist, one resting on the arm of the chair. I was prepared to see Iris whisper something to her, bring her in on some inside joke at my expense that would at least get us what we needed.

What I wasn't expecting was for her to put a knee up on the edge of the chair and lean forward, hands on the arm rests as she pressed a long, still kiss on Gina. I gaped, eye twitching and completely frozen, jaw dropped as I tried to figure out if I was jealous, pissed, or turned on.

It lasted only three seconds, Iris pulling away and standing up, looking like nothing had happened with eyebrows raised, an innocent, out-of-place look on her face as Gina paused and raised her own eyebrows. Finally, after a second or two a smile formed on her lips and laughed, shaking her head. She looked over at me and pointed to Iris, me still gaping with wide-eyes, unable to process what I just saw unbelievably-innocent and shy Iris just do.

"She's a keeper."Gina mused, and then pat a spot on the desk, Iris childishly hopping up and sitting there, combing her hair back from her indifferent face. "Alright, whadda you wanna know?"Gina asked, me blinking a few times to get my senses back and form words.

"Pox. You sold him something on the explosive side, and we need to know what it was and how to disable it."I managed out, Gina raising a curious eyebrow, but going on without explination needed. Apparently it was a better kiss than I thought.

"Yeah, sent one of his muscle guys to order a pretty intense piece of work. Took me three damn days to make without blowing my own place up. See, the thing's pretty docile when it's implanted into a computer, but until then it's like a landmine."She explained, and Iris asked,

"Computer?" Gina smiled up at her and leaned back, saying,

"Yep, it's more of an electronically detonated kinda thing. A specific set of numbers will activate the timer, but they'll also deactivate it. Might have left that part out when the big guy tried somethin' funny on me. Wasn't a charmer like you, sweetie."She winked, and Iris chuckled a bit, clearly wanting Gina to go on as much as I did so I could pull out of this awkward, uncomftorble situation.

"You put that thing into a computer and press that set of numbers and you've only got about five minutes before it takes out a space about the size of this club."She explained, and I grit my teeth. Five minutes, and he wouldn't even think to start it until he knew he had Iris. It gave us time, but took out the idea of getting Iris out of here. He learned she was gone, and he'd still blow this place...not that it mattered. So long as she was okay, why did I care?

"...Hey, I like you, but I also wanna keep doin' buisiness here."Gina said, suddenly serious as she reached in the drawr of her desk and pulled out a slip of paper. "This here is the code you need to deactivate that thing he'd plannin' on using, so do what you want with it. Kay?"She asked, and Iris gave her a happy smirk, reaching down to take the paper.

Gina moved before she could, reaching up and pulling Iris down towards her, bringing her lips to Iris's ear and whispering something that made Iris blush so hard even her back turned a bit red. Gina slipped the paper into the back of Iris's bra, lightly snapping it in place and leaning back. I could feel my claw twitching in anger, Iris jumping down from the desk and clearing her throat.

"Thank you. Oh! Wait a second."She turned and went back to Gina, pulling out a piece of paper and writing something down, tearing it off and handing it to her, folded. Gina opened it and raised an eyebrow. It wasn't something like a phone number, because Gina looked more curious than amused or intruiged, Iris leaning down and whispering something to her.

Gina's eyes rolled over to me for a second, and suddenly I wanted to know what was on that piece of paper, narrowing my eyes as Iris straightend back up. Gina looked from the note to Iris, and then nodded.

"Alright kid, you go it. Now go stop that creep, got it?"She said, and Iris nodded, smiling and turning, walking back towards me. She passed me without a look, getting to the door and opening it, me next to her as Gina called back,

"Hey kid." Iris turned back, and I looked down at her as Gina said, seriously, "Be careful." Iris just offered a nod and a smile, then walked out the room. I paused, confused as to what just happened, looking back at Gina for a second. But she was already turned away from me, sliding the paper back in her pocket.

I could already feel the looks Iris was getting, and shut the door without further word, turning and catching up to her quickly, re-wrapping my arm around her waist.

"What was in that thing?"I asked, and she shrugged.

"Nothin' you have to worry about. Now remember to call Ozzy and the others."She changed the subject fast, me a bit too tired to question her any further. We were drawing towards the door, and I could see just how dark it was getting, having to be around eleven or midnight by now, and I was aching to get home and grab some shut-eye.

We got outside, everything seemingly quiet compared to the eardrum-damaging noise in the club, the cool air brushing by as I slid into the car, Iris on the other side. Without needing her to tell me twice, I pulled out my cell and leaned back, fishing in my pocket for the keys as a darkness settled around us.

Three rings and a somewhat-frantic voice answered the phone.

"Thrax? That you?"

"Who else?"I asked, irritated.

"Yo man, what'd you find out? Is it dangerous? We need to act fast? How big of an explosion is-"

"Cool it!"I snapped, finding the keys and holding them for a second, taking in a deep breath as I tried not to rip Jones's head off through the damn phone. Finally, after I'd cooled down a bit, I explained to him what we'd found out, about how the bomb was electronically detonated and that Pox probably already had it in place. About how it only took five minutes to count down, and less than that to shut down the whole damn city.

"Why the hell are we sittin' around then?!"Osmosis yelled, me holding the phone away from me and rolling my eyes, glaring at the screen as his voice travelled through the car, frantic like a little kid. "Pox could set that sucker off at any second! We gotta get down there!"He continued, and I took the small pause he had to breathe in and interrupt him.

"Jones! He ain't gonna set nothin' off while Iris is still here!"I snapped at him, and he shut up real quick. I took in the silence for a second before continuing, "He wants to make sure he's got her before he blows this place. Twelve years lookin' for something and he ain't gonna let it go out like a light. More likely he'll wait until we're in the heart and almost to him, expectin' to distract us with his muscle or somethin' while he grabs her..."

"...Yo Thrax."

"Hm?"

"...If Iris sleeps in tomorrow, I ain't asking any questions..." I paused, and for the first time almost felt myself relate to Jones. Iris meant a whole lot to the both of us, and just the fact that he was thinkin' the same thing as I was, the only way to keep her safe, leavin' before she woke up...damn, she'd be pissed. Probably wouldn't forgive me...but she'd be alive. I'd just have to wait and see what happened tomorrow.

I sighed and said,

"Yo Jones, anyway, since we got some time on our hands I say we all get some sleep. Early tomorrow we meet up and hash out what we're gonna do, then go light that asshole up like a Christmas tree. Whaddaya say?" I couldn't believe I was having a legit converstation with Jones and not ripping his head off.

"Sounds good to me. Oh! Put Iris on, I wanna say hi!" Damn little kid... I looked over to Iris, to see if she had any idea of what we were talking about and actually a bit surprised that she hadn't added anything in...

I felt a smile creep onto my mouth, trying to hide it from Jones as I said lightly,

"She's a little beat. Tell her tomorrow." With that, I snapped the cell shut and slid it into my pocket, turning and starting up the car as quietly as I could. As I started down the road, I reached over and pulled the rarely-used seat belt across Iris, who was curled up with her feet on the seat and her head resting sideways on the back, facing me and sleeping quietly. I buckled her in and chuckled, shaking my head and muttering,

"What the hell you doin', Thrax?"

I rode the rest of the ride in silence, laughing at myself on the inside, until I pulled up to the apartement. I slid out the car and walked around, unbuckling Iris and picking her up carefully, carrying her up the stairs and to the door. I opened it with my shoulder, walking in and shutting it calmly with my foot as she moved a bit in my arms, making one of those little noises again that she almost made earlier tonight.

I remembered it, remembered the heat and cold mixing, her body fitting almost perfectly with mine, her lips with mine, and damnit it sounded like something out of a shitty teen romance book. But it was true, and I wasn't one who was known to be good with words. I made my way over to the bed and pulled the covers back with a knee, setting her down just as she woke up, eyes opening sleepily. And there it was again, that sleeply, unprotected look, and this time I knew exactly what to do with it.

I removed my jacket and threw it over her with the covers, one knee on the bed as I combed her hair back, sliding my hand down and cupping her cheek. I leaned down, feeling the slight chill of her face compared to mine, and kissed her lips gently. And damn me if the second we connected I didn't want more, but I knew that she was too tired, and there would be time for that later. I'd make sure of it, if nothing else, that we'd have forever for it.

So, begrudgingly, I pulled back, the softness and chill still dancing across my face as I kicked off my shoes and slid in next to her, pulling off my shirt and throwing it somewhere on the floor. She yawned and moved back a bit, but I reached forward and said quietly,

"Hey now, don't you pull that on me." She looked up at me sleepily and curiously, and I understood why. It almost seemed kinda funny how I'd woken up not 24 hours ago with her pulled to me and instantly pulled away, no matter how much I liked it, as if my pride mattered more than her. Then again, 24 hours ago, it did.

Now, all I wanted was to feel her near me, to know that my girl was safe with me, that no one else had her. Not Gina. Not Pox. Nah, she was mine, and it'd stay that way. I pulled her to me, wrapping both arms around her and feeling her small body against mine. I chuckled a bit as I felt a cold hand ghost along my chest, remembering her eyes over me, the red that tinted her face looking like a reflection of my skin against hers. Remembered how she made me cold and flushed at the same time, the only person to ever make me do that ever.

"Thrax."She whispered groggily, nuzzling her head almost insistantly under my chin.

"Yeah, baby?"I asked, trailing my claw along her back, feeling her relax against me.

"Don't think you're leaving tomorrow without me, you asshole."She whispered, adjusting herself and then falling quiet. I looked down at her, surprised for a second and sure she'd been asleep in the car. Then again, maybe she'd known all along. I wouldn't put it over her, and somehow it only made me feel that feeling towards her even more.

Sooner or later, I'd have to come to grips with it. Sooner or later, but not now. No, right now was too good, too sweet to ruin with something like that. To ruin with thoughts of what was coming in a few hours. Nah, I'd enjoy these last few moments I was gonna have with her until all hell broke lose and we fought not only for the city, for our lives, but also for the only thing I cared about.

For Iris. For the first time, not for me. I settled down, breathing out right before I fell asleep myself,

"The whole solo shit was gettin' old, anyway..."