Chapter 14: Dexter's Interpretation

I reached Dexlabs in record time, thanks to my jetbike. between you and me, the rent on it had expired three months ago, but I'd never returned it. it was pure luck the Fusion War started so the rental agency was distracted and stopped going after me for it back.

I'm not a good person, I know.

I walked in and Computress greeted me at the sliding door. "hello young Wind, Decter is waiting for you in his study."

"oh good, thank you Computress," I said and smiled, I liked Computress. she was always very sweet and nice to me.

"do you need me to guide you to it? it has been a while I reckon."

"no, thanks, I know the way, heh heh," I said nervously. Dexter and I had made love on his desk in that very study so many times I knew the route by heart honestly. I hurried over and knocked on the door.

"who is it" called Dexter.

"it's me," I called back.

"come in."

I walked in. his study was a stark contrast to the stark white sterile environment of the rest of Dexlabs. there was a wood floor and a fireplace with a cozy rug in front of it (we'd made love there too) and numerous bookcases lined with various tomes, and a wooden globe behind his mahognay desk where the CEO of Dexlabs himself, Dexter, sat. he looked up from his notebook where he was writing who knows what and smiled at me.

"Wind," he said as he got up and embraced me, then gave me a soft kiss. "congratulations on saving that guinea pig."

"oh, it was nothing," I said then looked down. "wait a minute... Dexter, your hands...!"

"do you like them?" he asked, bringing them up. they were blue robotic gloves that reached down to the middle of his forearms, the fingers were lighter blue and he could move them all indpeendently. "they're my prostheses. I just got them built today."

"whoa, cool," I said running my fingers along them. "how do they feel?"

"amazing," he said, smiling widely. "they offer full range of motion and tactile sensation wired straight to my brain, which means I can do this," he reached his hand around to my rump slowly and gently caressed it, "and feel everything."

I smiled and hugged him close. "we'll be doing a lot of experimentaion with the tactility of these hands, I want you to know."

he grinned. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

we snogged for a little bit, then sat down in front of the fireplace. "so, how did you get involved with the guinea pig case in the first place? I thought you were looking for Buttercup."

"yeah, I was, I just got a little sidetracked," I explained, blushing. "there was this tree guy named Eldridge Johnsonmeyer, and he said that if I found the stranded guinea pig, he would tell me all he knew about where went Buttercup."

"I see," Dexter said, scratching his chin. "you haven't been back to see him yet?"

"no. I probably should, though - time's a wasting."

"wait, before you go, I want to show you something," Dexter said, and pulled a small object out of his coat pocket. "do you remember this?" he asked.

I gasped. "it's... your ocarina! the one I gave you on our first anniversary!"

"mm-hm," he said, and smiled. "I haven't been able to play it, obviously, due to my lack of hands... but I'd like to try it again. will you stay and listen for a little while?"

I smiled back. "of course, Decter."

he brought the ocarina to his lips, and began playing. it was slow and unsure at first, but when he started to remember the technique, he became more confident and kept the beat perfectly. I soon recognized the piece. it was Sir Duke, by Stevie Wonder. my eyes lit up.

"this was what was playing on the radio during our first date," I said.

Dexter couldn't respond because he was playing said ocarina, but he gave a little smirk to acknowledge my remembrance. our first date had been to one of those gross food stands where you have to sit and eat outside in the cold rain while the people working there got to stay in the nice warm small building featuring a kitchen and order window. we'd had cheap burgers and things went very awkwardly until Sir Duke came on. we both knew the song and were surprised the other did. Dexter then blushed and stood, holding out his hand.

"may I have this dance?" he'd asked.

I smiled and accepted his offer, and we waltzed there on the grass. the food stand employees glared at us because we were supposed to be miserable in this place, but we weren't. we were happy with each other.

in the present day, Dexter finished up the song, and looked up at me. his eyes were half-closed and his cheeks were blushing. "Wind... you look as beautiful as you did that night tonight..."

I blushed, myself, my whole body going hot... particularly in some specific places. "I still remember how strong and sure your hands were on my body."

we leaned closer to each other. "care to... have a redux?"

"yes," I said, and he grabbed me and pulled me close, snogging all the while. he climbed on top of me then I climbed on top of him and we sort of kept flipping around like this for about thrity seconds until we settled on our sides and just kept snogging that way. Dexter ran his hands over my body then up my shirt and I groaned in ecstasy. his weiner was now poking out and I was about to unsheath my vaginal endowment WHEN-

"wait, Decter... I-I can't do this..." I whispered hotily.

"oh, why not Wind?" asked Decter and he began putting his weiner away.

"it's just... I just..." I said, unsure of how to tell him I might have an STD and didn't want to give it to him... things like that never seem to go over well...

"whatever it is, you can tell me, Wind," he said and kissed my cheek. "I love you."

"and I... love you too..." I said and began crying. "I just don't know how to tell you this..."

"I think I know something that will help," said Dexter, he helped me to my feet and. he led me to a painting on the wall next to the door. it was of an insanely hairy hootenanny, all up-close and everything, legs spread apart and nothing was left to the imagination it was awful.

"ugh!" I said in extreme disgust.

"yes, it has that effect on people," Dexter said. "L'Origine du monde, by Gustave Courbet, 1866. you may be wondering why I have a copy hanging in my study."

"yes."

"in this day and age, with our very longevities coming into question with the arrival of Planet Fusion, it is easy to become overwhelmed and distracted by our troubles. this painting reminds me of what is important in life."

"huh." I said. "my mom has a copy of this painting as well. she said it reminded her to shave often."

"ha ha, I suppose it would also do well for that." Dexter turned to me, standing on his top toes to kiss my neck. "whatever it is that is troubling you, my dear Windfall, I can handle it... please, speak your mind..."

I wanted so badly to release my endowment (that looked significantly better than the one in the painting, I might add), so, so badly, but it would have to wait if I might make Dexter sick!

"no, wait, I can't do this!" I said, pushing Decter away and running to the door.

"huh? Wind, what's wrong!?" he called, confused.

"I... I'm sorry, Dexter," I said, and bolted out the door, leaving him to cry in sorrow and rejection. but I had to go... for his sake, and mine.