Chapter Twelve: Take me Out

So if you're lonely
You know I'm here waiting for you
I'm just a crosshair
I'm just a shot away from you
And if you leave here
You leave me broken, shattered, I lie
I'm just a crosshair
I'm just a shot, then we can die

( Take me Out – Franz Ferdinand )


June 4th 2252 Mount Olympus

Life seemed all too surreal suddenly. It wasn't the newly acquired knowledge that there was actually a company that blew up the planet. It wasn't the fear that her sister might be discovered any day. It was how Oslo was sitting next to her on the beach rubbing sun cream onto her back. And how she was liking it.

"Done." He muttered hoarsely and she glanced up at him through her eyelashes, squinting against the sun. He tossed down the bottle and glared out at the sea as if it had personally offended him. Sasha grinned. Every time they had to fake being a couple, Oslo's face took on a tortured grimace as if he was in pain. The mischievous part of her kept finding ways to get him to touch her so that the grimace turned into a full on frown. Making him touch her was her way of getting back at him for being the one to hand her over to the sphere. Or at least, that was what she told herself. With a large amount of amusement and a little bit of regret she noticed that he had worked his hands into the sand, half burying them as if to stop her from making him touch her anymore. Pity.


Oslo gnashed his teeth quietly, cursing Sasha's body with all his might. Even when she was fully clothed he'd found himself gazing at her when she wasn't looking. It irked him that she appealed to him so much. Not even Mila had ever incited such thoughts in him. His relationship with her had been his only ever friendship. He was too weird, too small and wimpy for the other children at the academy to make friends with him. His heart and mind had attached to her like a limpet. She had been his only hope of ever having a relationship. But they were just "friends". Not even that, he later discovered. Mila said she had befriended him out of pity. His lips curled in disgust. He didn't want her pity then and he didn't want pity now. Sasha very much didn't pity him. She hated him so badly that she would never be friends with him out of sheer pity for him. She thought he was an ally, nothing more. She was also wearing no where near enough clothing; only a tiny pair of very short shorts, a thin strapped top and sunglasses. It was just way too tempting to touch all of the skin she had on show. She wasn't very tanned, but her skin looked smooth and was a gentle peach shade that made him look even more pallid than usual.

"Penny for your thoughts." Sasha was looking at him, he realised. He'd buried his hands and winced in concentration at not thinking about her in that way.

"It's nothing." Sliding his arms around her, he pulled her down onto his chest as he lay back on the sand. She automatically curled closer to him, her lips brushing his cheek near his ear.

"I assume you have news then? Because you'd better hope for your own sake that there's a reason for just grabbing me like that. If you're getting ideas, don't. I still don't like you."

"Even though I've saved you from discovery? Even though I turned a blind eye over you helping Maria to escape-"

"You knew?"

"Of course. Don't forget, I know exactly what powers you have. Who else would have broken her out?"

"I suppose so. Why have you let me do as I please?"

"Would I have been able to stop you if I tried?"

"Nope" She smirked against his cheek, flicking her tongue out and earning a shiver from him. Progressing slowly along his jawline, she breathed hot kisses upon his skin. Oslo closed his eyes and sighed contentedly before snapping back to his usual self a little. Sasha wouldn't be doing this if there wasn't someone nearby. It was an act, as it always was. His face twisted in anger. She didn't truly want him, so this wonderful feeling was all fake. As soon as Thomas left, there would be no more afternoons spent together like this. A sudden feeling of moroseness came over him. He would be back to secretly watching and wishing.

"Commander?"

"Yes Sasha?"

"You had something to tell me, remember? News...?" He sighed and she lay back down on top of him so that he could whisper.

"The board have been scurrying about behind my back, finding a replacement for Cam now that he's been officially declared missing. They've finally decided that the commander of the Sphere might actually have some insight to offer them into the running of the Sphere."

"You? That's perfect!" She was grinning at him from where her head rested on his shoulder, "It means we're one step closer to the council."

"Mm, yes."

Oslo laughed and for just a second he was back to his old self, the power crazed psychopath that she had thought he was. His face face twisted into smug satisfaction mixed with a devious look made her feel like she'd had a bucket of cold water thrown over her. What the hell was she thinking? He hadn't changed – He was helping her because it benefited him and because over throwing the company meant he would be pushed to the top of the pile. This was entirely for his own gain, not because he had moral qualms about letting a corrupt institution rule over people. And to think, she'd been starting to consider the possibility that he might be doing this for her. What a stupid idea.

Standing, she brushed the sand off and offered him a hand. "I don't think there's anybody nearby. So we can stop pretending." He scrambled to his feet, ignoring her hand.

"If that's what you want."

"I do want. I'm not your girlfriend Oslo, no matter how convincingly I act. I never would be."

"You assume that I would ever desire you to be my partner in anything more than work."

"YOU assume that you would ever have a chance in hell with me, even if you did 'desire' me."

"Sasha I'm-"

"I don't want to hear it. All you care about is yourself."

"But you said you thought the new position was a good thing!"

"IT IS"

"THEN WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING AT-"

"Having a lovers tiff are we?" There was a chuckle off to their side from Thomas. The portly man was leaning against one of the trees surrounding the beach and smiling innocently.

"What's the problem then?"

"None of yours, last time I checked. Now do you mind stopping following us around? It's doesn't half kill the mood when you keep turning up at random moments. Sheesh, you're such a freak, stalking us around like this and watching us kissing, are you trying to catch us actually doing the deed? What a weirdo." Thomas was scowling at her now, sweating and glancing from side to side uneasily.

"I am investigating into the validity of your romance with Commander Osl-"

"HAH! Romance? We have sex, Tom. We don't love each other or feel deeply about each other, as I was just saying to the commander. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to my room. The sun will be going down in about half an hour and it's getting cold."

She strode away, feeling Oslo present at her side, almost stumbling as he hastened to keep up with her. Ignoring him pointedly, she flicked an energy bolt at the door of the mansion to blow it open. Admittedly that wasn't such a wise move since the strength of her power blew the door off of one hinge so that it hung crookedly.

"An impressive show of power. But not of control."

"Shut it Ozzie" She grinned at his joke nonetheless, but wouldn't admit that she wasn't that mad at him. It was in her nature to be fuming mad and scream out all her feelings then be perfectly calm five minutes later. She wasn't one of those people whose anger simmered away for hours – her anger exploded quickly then died down just as fast.

They reached the doorway to her room and she slid her hand into her pocket for the key, mentally reaching out with her power to see if there was anybody nearby. She could detect life signatures from herself, Oslo and also one other, just down the hall around the corner. Thomas. He'd almost definitely be glancing around the corner at them. Looks like it was pretending time again then.

Grabbing Oslo firmly by the lapels without warning, she pulled him down sharply to her lips, kissing him smoothly and hoping he would understand that they had a follower. He did thankfully, and responded by leaning in and taking the key from her hands and slotting it into the door, twisting the handle and opening it in such a hurry that they both fell into the room. She laughed and kicked the door so that it was halfway closed before pushing him onto the bed and climbing on top, winking cheerfully at Oslo, whose eyes kept sliding back and forth from her to the door. She ignored him, there was no time to tell him what she was thinking of doing and anyway he'd probably object or act embarrassed and give them away.

Sasha opened her mind, feeling out for Thomas' essence – that energy at the centre of people that they exuded and found him to be inching down the corridor towards the slightly open door. Counting down from ten, she opened a mental link to Oslo so that he could hear her counting too.

Ten, nine

What are you counting to?

Thomas peeking through the crack in the door, six, Get ready to tell me to shut the door in a minute. Or accidentally catch sight of him. Three, Two.

What are you going to-

Sasha smiled seductively, laughed and pushed Oslo back onto the covers, straddling him. His eyes bulged out in surprise but she just winked. One. Curling her fingers beneath her top, she pulled it smoothly over her head and threw it away, starting to work on his buttons hastily.

Okay, he's just passed by so look at the door. If he's there then go crazy at him, if not just tell me to close the door. Oslo's eyes were busy taking in her topless chest, covered only by her bra. Sighing, she leant into his neck as if to give him a tender love bite but clamped down hard to shake him out of his shocked stupor.

"Sasha..." He growled, sounding like he was enjoying himself but really he was in a lot of pain from the little harpy. He spared a glance towards the doorway, seeing a flash of colour as someone ducked around the corner of the frame. " You've left the door open."

"Eurgh one minute." Springing from the bed, she slammed the door and fell against the wood giving him a thumbs up. He just looked at her in disbelief. The woman really was insane. She bounded over and leapt back onto the bed, sliding beneath the covers and indicating that he should do the same. Oslo did it, but as soon as he had he gripped her neck and pulled her ear level with his mouth.

"Why the hell did you do that? Couldn't you have warned me before you...stripped?"

"Oh come on. It was hardly like it was a full on striptease Oslo. Believe me, you would react very different if I had done one of them. Why are you so horrified? I'm not even naked anywhere-"

"But he saw you and he shouldn't be looking at you like that." He immediately regretted saying that as her eyes lit up with mischief. She pressed one hand to the middle of her chest and gasped

"I'm touched Oslo. Who knew that you felt protective over me."

"I do not. I just don't appreciate any of my officers acting inappropriately."

"So us playing tonsil tennis in the kitchen two days ago didn't count at all?"

"Ye-NO!"

"Why? I'd say you behaved very inappropriately when you just set me on a counter and had your way with me."

"It wasn't like that. I initiated it and I knew what I was doing-"

"Ahhh. I understand now. You didn't like that I was in control, did you? God you have so many trust issues Oslo."

"Whereas you just have Issues " he snarled, rolling to the side and taking her with him so that she was underneath him "Why do you have to torment me?" He shook his head and rolled off her to stand on the floor, crossing the room to lean against the door. Deciding not to answer the strange question, Sasha pulled her top back on and lay back on one half of the bed. After a few moments, Oslo sighed and joined her, staying as far to the other side of the bed as possible.

"We'll have to start sleeping in each other's rooms overnight if this...whatever this is, is going to work." He nodded mutely, staring at the swirls of paint on the plaster ceiling. She rolled her eyes at his behaviour and snapped "Guess that's settled then. I'll see you back here in twenty minutes."

Throwing her legs off the bed, she turned herself invisible and left the room through the wall, satisfied that he couldn't follow her, since Thomas would expect them to both be in there together having a great time. Only a few minutes had passed after all and only she could escape unnoticed. The creep was actually still standing around the corner, listening expectantly. Resisting the urge to growl, she turned and stormed back through the wall into her bedroom and into visibility.

"He's still there. Make noises." She hissed. Oslo raised an eyebrow and half smiled.

"Excuse me?"

"Make sex noises! He's listening!" Grabbing hold of the bed she wiggled it so that it squeaked rhythmically and Oslo winced in realisation of what she wanted him to do. This was insane. She was looking at him expectantly as well. Suddenly, she gasped loudly and he raised an eyebrow until she sighed

"Ohhhhhhhhhh" Contacting her mentally, he stifled both the urge to laugh at the ridiculous nature of the situation they were in and the urge to grab her and make her make noises like that for real.

You do realise you sound like...well

A whore, yes, now it's your turn. You Manwhore...

He sensed the wink in what she was saying and gave in, groaning her name loud and low.

The next five minutes descended rapidly into the two of them laying side by side on the bed and pretending to make amorous love making noises whilst attempting to not laugh aloud. Both were watching each other and tears appeared in Sasha's eyes as she held back the giggles and also the butterflies in her stomach when Oslo made a lusty noise. He'd loosened up in the end and had endured her sordid idea. Sasha grinned, reached across to kiss him on the cheek and left the room to turn the shower on before coming back to curl up on her side next to him.

"I think we managed that rather well. Though I have to say one day I might have to get you in the sack just to hear some of those noises again. That one groan..."

"Was an artistically crafted expression of true lust."

"It sounded like a camel with a cough."

He shrugged. "It was an artistically crafted expression of true lust within a camel "

"Oh I see, sorry for my mistake..." She grinned, then it slid from her face "What are we Oslo."

"We're friends, Sasha. We have a common goal to find out more about the company, so that we can bring it down and better the Sphere."

"With you in charge?" She whispered

"Yes and you at my side. As my second in command, I mean, not in the way a wife is by a man's side." He corrected himself quickly, not allowing her to get any misunderstanding.

"I don't doubt that you will make it better. Under you it would run smoother, more efficiently. What I doubt is that you would make it fairer." She looked him directly in the eyes. "The Sphere kills people Oslo. It uses it's water for pretty rivers and fountains while people elsewhere die of thirst."

"I'd change that Sasha. I see no point in killing people if they aren't fighting me. The Sphere kills people because they are fighting the system. The people fight the system because it isn't fair. But if we make it fair, there won't be anyone fighting. We could end this war, Sasha. We'd change everything."

She smiled and looped her arm around his chest, hugging him sideways and drawing her leg up so she was laying half on top of him. His arms ringed her and pulled her fully on top of him so that she once more lay flat on his chest.

"Oslo?" She murmured and was rewarded with the sound of his voice vibrating through his chest underneath her;

"Yes?"

"If you're lying...I'll pull your balls off." She looked up into his wide eyed expression and flexed one hand "With my bare hands."

Oslo gulped.


Dinner had been a quick and quiet affair, with Thomas looking in awe at Oslo ( Sasha had made sure to be very vocal on how wonderful she felt because of Oslo during their noise making session).

Now it was 11pm and Sasha lay in the middle of her side of the bed, waiting for Oslo to come back from his jog and get into bed with her. Contrary to her calm outward appearance, inside she was dreading his return. She'd been sure to wear some sleep shorts and a soft cotton sports top to bed instead of her usual stark naked approach. No doubt Oslo would wear his tracksuit bottoms and white top. Surely he'd get hot in those? Maybe she should suggest... NO, Sasha.

The doorhandle turned and she automatically closed her eyes, not quite sure why she was reverting back to the childish act of pretending to sleep as soon as you saw someone coming in the room. It might on the other hand be better. If he thought she was asleep then maybe he'd be less awkward. After all, they had to repeat this tomorrow and the following nights until Thomas left the ship. The bed sunk as he got in the other side and turned off the light so that the red glare upon her eyelids was extinguished.

For a few moments everything was still, until suddenly she felt Oslo's hand gently stroking her hair, before starting down her cheek.

"I'm not asleep Oslo." She smirked and opened her eyes, watching him cough and roll over to face away from her. "Good night commander." His head jerked in response and she lay down facing him, smiling as she slipped easily into sleep.


Oslo tossed and turned in the bed, heating up to an uncomfortable degree. After a few hours of fruitlessly trying to ignore it, he glanced over at Sasha to see her truly asleep and decided to chance opening the window. Throwing back the covers, he opened the window and a blast of cold air rushed in, making Sasha whimper and half open her eyes.

"Osloooo, it's so c-cold! Close the window and take of your trousers." He snorted with laughter.

"What?"

"You're obviously hot, because it's summer, so just wear your boxers. I promise not to rape you in your sleep, now strip off and get back in bed."

That said, she scowled and looked away as he rolled his top over his head and took off his trousers, scuttling under the covers as quickly as possible.

He muttered a goodnight, feeling much better already, though he would never admit it.


Sasha woke up in the morning to find Oslo attached, limpet-like to her back. The fronts of his legs moulded perfectly into the back of her legs, his face buried in her shoulder and his arms clutched around her chest in a tight but comfy embrace. She shifted slightly and he moaned, pulling her back.

"Sasha, no don't go..." She giggled as he muttered in his sleep "I Love you."

Sasha froze. "Shit!" She hissed.


A/N Oh snap Oslo, you've done it now...read on for a chapter back on Puerto Angel. Thought I owed you two after the long way, however, THEY AREN'T COMPLETELY CHECKED, had no time, so sorry if there's errors. Review, throw things at me, cheer, whatever :)