A few hours later...

Laureline didn't bother going to collect Valerian. She simply left him a message and if he didn't show up that was on him. She was done doing him anymore favors, no matter how small. She was still riled up after their last encounter. He had hurt her and she was mad at him about it. Worse, she was mad at herself because really she should have known better than to expect any semblance of decency when in comes to sex and girls. She knows the drugs are what drove his actions but it all served as a reminder to the fact that pheromones or not, Valerian is a player and he's like this anyway. It would be nice for her to be the exception but she'd rather he not be this kind of person to begin with. So what if she's different? That doesn't change who he is. She sighed; a life tired kind of sigh over what she knows is rather insignificant turmoil on the scale of things. She was standing outside the Command Centre before realizing she was unconsciously waiting for Valerian to pop up so they can walk in together. Laureline rolled her eyes at herself at herself in contempt. Pathetic. She straightened uniform and swiped her card to enter. The doors slid open and Laurelines draw almost dropped when she walked in to see Valerian already standing there with General Oktobar. He looked at her with knowing eyes and smirked a little. I should have hit him harder.

"Laureline, you're here. Good." The General didn't comment on the fact that they had arrived separately. Something they hadn't done since two months after being partnered together. She walked up and stood beside Valerian.

"We found the piece where you said we would. It was in a pile of junk at one of the stalls in the fleet market," Laureline informed him and handed over the piece she had been keeping in the pocket of her jacket, relieved to have offloaded the burden of carrying around something so important. She ran a thumb over the jagged edge of the plate as she handed it over and pictured ramming it into Valerians neck. The morbid thought made her lips twitch a little to form a small smile. She forced it into a polite one as the General looked at her after taking the piece. He nodded his head in recognition of a job well done.

"You two did well, better than expected in fact. We thought in a market that big it may take a few days... Unfortunately it also means we haven't located another fragment yet so there is nothing tasked for you," General Oktobar said. Valerian opened his mouth to protest but the General cut him off.

"I want you two at the ready for when we do have an alert. You'll both be useless to me if you're out and about and we are staying off comms in case we've been hacked and others discover Shighlohs' Key. That would definitely make all of our lives harder." His toned implied no argument. Valerian clenched his jaw tight, restless man he was, this was not ideal.

"Understood Sir," Laureline replied. She has no issues with the command, more time away from Valerian and some R&R will be good for her. She could only hope they have a break for longer than just a couple days. It didn't hurt knowing that Valerian is hating this right now. General Oktobar turned to Valerian, waiting.

"Understood Sir," came Valerians reply, gruff and reluctant.

General Oktobar nodded, satisfied. "Until further notice then. Dismissed."

Laureline turned and headed for the door, not bothering to wait for Valerian to stop stewing and snap out of it. She was half way back to her room when he caught up with her.

"Laureline, wait." He stopped in front of her forcing her to come to a halt in return. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at him, expectant. His hair was sticking out at odd angles as if he had run his hair through it a few times since the Commandment Centre. His cheeks were tinged pink but she knew it couldn't have been from running after her- that would make him rather terrible at their job. He's...He's flustered, Laureline realised.

"I'm sorry," he blurted out.

"For what?" Laurelines voice sounded cold even to her own ears. He opened his mouth and hesitated. She watched as he looked up to the right side and was trying to remember if that's the side where someone is trying to recall a memory or fabricate a lie. She'd look it up later.

"For everything I said today and... and for... for what I did," he sighed and looked defeated.

"And what did you do?" Laureline didn't dare let hope enter her heart.

He looked at her in exasperation. "You're really going to make me say it Laureline?"

Laureline just looked him dead in the eye, waiting.

He scoffs before elaborating, "I'm sorry for basically sexually assaulting you, okay?" His cheeks were even pinker and he began to breathe heavily.

Laurelines heart sank and she felt all the air leave her chest, solemn that she had hoped, even though she knew better. It cost him a lot to admit it out loud. But that's not the part I care about. He attacked her because of the pheromones and she handled herself just fine. It was the part that wasn't exclusive to the drug-like chemical. It was how he had invited her into his bed while knowing Jane was waiting for him there. How could he do that to Jane? How could he do that to her? What if she had said yes? That had nothing to do with the Lux and everything to do with him. If he's not apologizing for that than he doesn't think it was wrong.

"You know you've said sorry to me more times in the past week than you have in the past 5 years. Why don't you just stop doing things you'll have to apologize for and at least try being semi-decent?" Laureline walked past him, knowing she'd affected him. She watched his eyes go dark and his jaw clench from the corner of her eyes. The look on his face was why she wasn't surprised when he grabbed her arm and stopped her. She glanced at him sidelong.

"I know you don't really care about me attacking you, we've been training for years and I've invaded your privacy a lot. I know you can handle me and more importantly is that you know it." He gripped her tighter. His dark gaze penetrated her cool one- one that was melting by the second. "Which means it must have been something I said. I said a lot of hurtful things to you Laureline. I was being cruel. I get like that but so do you." He inhaled suddenly and his eyes slightly widened as a new thought entered his head. He stepped closer to her, their faces inches apart. Laureline refused to move away, lest it imply something he would be entirely too interested in. "Don't tell me you're mad you liked it? Because I won't ever tease you about it again." His voice came softer this time. His gaze became tender and he moved closer, his lips descending on hers...

Smack. Valerian jumped back at the resounding slap his eyes wide and mouth forming a surprised O. Laureline ignored her stinging palm as she donned a looked of contempt on her face.

"Get over yourself," she scoffed and walked away.

Valerian watched her walk away, hand against his burning cheek. He wasn't entirely sure the Luxen chemical was out of his system or if he was using the possibility that it wasn't as an excuse to behave inappropriately. It's all been such a blur. The one thing he remembers clearly is wanting to get laid. He knows he wants Laureline the most. He thought she knew that too.

A/N: So... it's been a while, I know. I won't bother making excuses, rather tired of them anyway. Hope you enjoy the chapter and hope you are all okay during this inconvenient as hell Pandemic. I'm lucky I live in NZ but I know most of you do not. Stay safe out there folks.

Much love xo