[SEQUEL TO GUN FOR HIRE]
Chapter 16: Hidden Agenda
"Hey, if Queen Guinevere cheats on King Arthur in the books, do you think the author chose Sir Lancelot on purpose?"
Piper lifted her head off Garrett's chest and propped up on her elbows alongside his ribs, arching her brow at him. "What do you mean? And where did this even come from?" They went from intense lovemaking to the point she was more worried if she could stand properly - forget walking - to wondering what their next move would be, to relaxing for the first time in who knew how long, to...
...This?
What was almost as baffling was that she was even still seriously considering Garrett's random question. Seriously. This guy? "I mean technically if the author wrote the whole affair then... Yeah, he kind of would have to choose Sir Lancelot on purpose. I don't think you can accidentally write stuff. Well, I guess there's typos and stuff and-"
Chuckles cut her short. She was suddenly slammed with a very bad feeling about this all and she narrowed her eyes at Garrett, who was visibly struggling to contain himself as he chewed his lip and closed his eyes. She slithered up his body and made sure to punish him by dragging her pelvis against his, feeling that twitch to life - but he knew well that would be the extent of their next round. How sad was it that he was more focused on his bad joke? She must have been doing something wrong if he was still chatty, but she was confident she'd get him to snap.
Eventually.
"No, luv... Think about it for a minute."
"I am, and I'm even asking myself why I'm actually thinking about your question. I'm starting to get the feeling I should punch you before your punchline."
Garrett beamed a grin and opened his eyes as he looked down at her, gaze flickering to and fro as he gently pushed her down by her shoulders so that her breasts were pressed to his chest. After all they had just done, she was finding it a little hard to care anymore since it was definitely a thousand times way too late, and she smirked when she resisted, flaring annoyance in the gunmetal orbs as he growled. "I don't want 'em to get a free show."
"I think we're well past that point, Garrett. Or are you doing this to make sure my punch won't hurt as much if I'm glued to you?"
"That too. I'm sore enough."
"That's coming from you after everything you did to me?" The blurt brought warmth surging to her cheeks, and instinct almost damned her when she leaned into the hand that reached to scoop her hair behind her ear. She had playfully snapped at his fingers when they traced down her cheek, biting them. His chest kicked against hers when he inhaled sharply, a sinful glint glazing his eyes.
Jesus Christ, they were worse than animals.
"You love it," he grinned wolfishly. "If it's any consolation, and insert some more fancy words here to get y'off-"
"C'mon, Garrett! Why do you still think that?"
"Well. You're a weirdo." He planted a sweet kiss on her nose despite the deathly glare. She was well past the point of wondering how this guy was calling her weird. "But you're my grand weirdo. Anyways, so fancy words to get y'off and shite..." He would never stop teasing her, would he? It was as if it was ingrained in his instincts, and his grin only grew bigger. "King Arthur's sore too. But!" His arm slithered around the small of her back, fingers spreading over her spine as he pushed her into him. She yelped when he suddenly rolled them until she was on the bottom, and she shuddered when teeth found sensitive unmarked spots on her body - with what little unblemished skin was left. She stood corrected about the hand print bruises.
"Garrett," she groaned, "give me a break before you break me."
"I can't help it, luv. Help me." Garrett trailed up to her neck, and her hands wove into his hair, clutching tightly as his beard grazed her jawline. Breaths shuddered out of her when a calloused hand clutched her ribs, thumb running under the curve of her breast. It took her mind back to when they were kidnapped, and he teased her - she was now convinced it was on purpose rather than the accident he played it off as - before he injected the stimpak in her ribs.
"We've come a long way," she blurted, sliding her hand over his to pin it to her ribs. She angled her head and nudged him out her neck until he came up to look at her. Purple sagged underneath his eyes, and they still looked tortured - but they weren't dead anymore. Baby steps. She smiled as she looked down, forcing her gaze to move on from King Arthur and on to his thigh, coming up to a half-sit to reach for the thick ghastly scar where the drill tore through. "It's crazy... All this time, and I still can't believe you did this." She tenderly massaged the scar, listening to his breaths as his mouth anchored to her temple. "I still can't believe you call yourself selfish."
"'Cause I am," he mumbled, his thumb swiping to and fro over her ribs as if it was the tick-tock of the clock. "I just do nice things for you to trick you to like me back."
Leo's voice echoed in her memories, and she closed her eyes, trying to keep him out of her mind. His face still wriggled in as he tapped the side of his head.
"Most girls like you wouldn't give a guy like that the time of day. The Sarge must've been treating you real nice to trick you into believing that he isn't an asshole."
"No tricks, he's definitely an asshole. He's a demon. He's a devil. He's a doll."
Hums buzzed in her throat in a desperate bid to pull her back to here with Garrett, before she fell off and remembered... Darker moments. And in those dark moments, Garrett came and still did his best to bring light, despite his mission to kidnap her. She smirked as she laid back down, gazing into his eyes. "Is it really so hard to believe that you're a good man? Do you really think I've fallen for the 'bad boy' act and nothing but, Garrett?" She let go of his hand and slid both her thumbs over his lips to shush him so that he could think and not just fire. "You always called me the 'badass lass with a good heart.' Don't you think the same could be true for you too?"
Garrett just stared, and stared, and stared. She was about to comment about being left hanging, until he snuck under her jaw again and buried his face in the crook of her neck and shoulder. "Did you think about Lancelot, luv?"
"What? Where-"
"I think the author chose him cause he lances a lot, if y'know what I mean."
Fists drilled into his obliques and his laughter buzzed in her skin. She flushed hot, jaw agape in shock - but really, was she really shocked? She really shouldn't have been.
"Why do you always have to ruin it? We were having a moment, Garrett!"
God, what a harrowing and depressing realization to say the exact same words again. She had a feeling this wasn't going to be the last time she ever would, and she also had a feeling that the timing of all this was far too convenient. He was stalling and distracting, wasn't he? To hide his answer?
"I'm pretty good at understandin' the way writers think, don'tcha think?" There was something both mortifying and arousing just with the way his voice dropped, grinding and gravelly. It made her think of a storm at a rocky beach, waves crashing into the boulders. His hand burned down her side, and she gasped when it snuck under, squeezing her rump roughly. "You'd know from personal experience... You can't pretend that yer innocent no more, luv, if you got what I meant right away. Tainted you, I have. Turned ya into a sinner like me."
"D-don't change the subject, I know that's why you're doing all of this."
"I ain't changin' it," he argued with an infuriatingly playful lilt; but all she could focus on was his hand as it slipped between her legs, rubbing circles. "I'm proving your point."
"Which one?" Piper squirmed and her head lulled back on the bed, hissing when teeth scraped one of the most sore spots on her neck. She grabbed the bullet that dangled in the air and twisted the chain in her hand to force Garrett to stop, but he kept going away with that bloody smug smirk of his; it was as if his face was screaming that he knew she wouldn't, daring her to try and break the chain.
God dammit, she wouldn't, and it pissed her off that he was right. Not for long.
"That maybe it could be true that I'm just a badass lad with a good heart, but it's not true, luv. And I wanna keep it that way; I like the thought of us balancing each other out. You're the angel and I'm the devil." He grabbed under her knee and pinned it up to her side, prodding and teasing her entrance by just thrusting with just the tip of him. She wasn't in any mood for games. She yanked on the chain even harder until it forced him down low enough for her to capture his lips. His smile never left. He kept taunting mercilessly, stoking the flames in the pits of her belly, and it frustrated her that they knew they couldn't with how sore they both were.
It didn't stop her from becoming more forceful, and she twisted the chain until it was damn near digging into his neck, then wrapped her arm around his shoulder and tried to throw him off balance from the leg he held up at her side. It took a few tries, enough time for awkwardness to settle in when he stopped and watched her with this confused look on his face.
He sure bloody well got it when she narrowed her eyes at him, and it was suddenly ridiculously easy to make him flop on his side - like a stupid fish.
Ugh.
This man.
"I'm not an angel, Garrett." She claimed his thighs as her throne as she sat on them, running her hands up the ridges of his abdomen. His eyes grew darker, hungrier, and she smirked as she taunted him back, rubbing the tip of his penis with just her fingertip. "Not anymore. I think you can agree on that now."
"Everyone's got a naughty side. Meant to - what do we have our bits for, otherwise?"
"Um... To pee and procreate?" Her smirk grew when he rolled his eyes. "Ever think about that?"
"Well if you're so smart then why can we feel good down there too, huh? Seems to me it ain't necessary if it was just for those two reasons."
"Are we really going to delve into the philosophy of this? Like right now?"
"I'll cut you a deal. We won't and then we can still get down an' dirty again if y'just admit you're still my Angel."
"Are you serio-"
"Deal is off if you don't."
"But the..." She glanced down with where she was sitting, and where her fingertip rested. "Can we just address the irony here?"
"Nope." He sat up, making the muscles in his core ripple and distract her as he framed her jaw. "Look at me, luv, I don't wanna lose you now. Let's be serious about this." This guy was asking to be serious about this? "I know how hard it is for y'to not 'address the irony' or point out how I'm provin' your point and it's counterproductive and blah blah blah. There. Have I satisfied ya by gettin' it all out your system for you?"
That was so accurate, it was scary.
But.
"No not even close, Garrett. I wanted to be the one who did."
For some reason, the way he grinned now was absolutely dreadful and terrifying. She didn't hesitate to punch him before his punchline this time.
"Gotcha. Y'proved me right, this time. Told ya y'get off on fancy words."
Piper kicked him out of the bed.
x - x - x
Garnet swallowed her growl and sucked in a deep breath when her daughter jumped on the bed and landed on her bad leg. Her fingers gnarled in the sheets and she forced a smile when Rose crawled up to her face, lips puckered for an exaggerated kiss on the mouth. "Top of the mornin' to my favorite mum in the whole wide world!"
"Uh, I'm your only mum, Rose."
"Uh huh. Yeah." Wow. So much love from this child. "Now can we please go out to eat breakfast?"
"Good morning to you too, sweetie," Garnet sighed as her head lulled back and hit the pillow with a soft thud. She grimaced when Rose shifted, and sought out to gently push her daughter off as she sat up. She didn't have to open her eyes and actually check for the truth when she asked: "are you clothed and ready?"
"Yup!"
"Nope. Try again after you go put your pants on." Garnet peered one eye open and smirked when Rose giggled as she rolled right off the bed, arms flailing out dramatically as she ran about in the room. How she had so much energy was beyond Garnet, but it always made for a great distraction as she pushed past aches and pains of a body that was no stranger to broken bones and open wounds.
"I don't wanna wear pants!" Rose argued - just like every bloody morning of every bloody day. Of course she didn't want to wear pants. Why would she? "I'm boiling." It didn't matter what temperature it was, she was always boiling nowadays. Sometimes Garnet regretted the things she taught Rose, and synonyms like this definitely took a chunk of her regret with how much more exaggeration Rose put in her excuses. If only she put a fraction of that effort into listening.
"That's because I've heated inside this apartment, honey, but what I haven't done is heat the rest of the world. Now put your pants on or we're having chalky bars for breakfast instead." Garnet smiled when theatrical groans chased out after her daughter as she ran to the living room. She could stall all she wanted - she was not going to win no matter how many times they had to negotiate this bloody simple thing; despite the hardships and constant battles with the basic necessities just to make sure the child actually survives the day, Garnet never regretted a single moment of it.
Chills chased her feet as they met the tiled floor. She leaned over and reached for her pants, sitting on the bed as she wrestled them in one leg at a time. She strapped on her brace over her knee and stared at the cane against her nightstand. She refused to use it; she's suffered worse in her life, and she didn't want the other kids picking on Rose just because her mum was crippled.
It was enough that they had just because they were 'filthy' wastelanders.
"Rose~" Garnet picked up her daughter's pants from the floor and waved it out to unfold it's legs, hobbling over into the living room. "Just come-" she stopped, adrenaline surging through her as she narrowed her eyes at two men sitting on the couch. The one she'd come to know - Adam - had the nerve to play with her child, and she clipped sternly. "Rose, come to me right now."
"Aw, but-"
"Right. Now." She protectively shielded her daughter and nudged her towards the bedroom, angling her head to speak over her shoulder - though she never took her eyes off Adam. "Go into the bedroom and don't come out until I say so." She twisted and looked over to make sure her eyes silenced any protest before it bore fruit, and she pushed the pants into Rose's hands. "Brush your teeth and-"
"Put my pants on," Rose grumbled sullenly, though the guilt-tripping sulk had lost it's power long ago.
Garnet pressed the button for the bedroom door to slide shut, then crossed her arms as she glowered at Adam. The... 'Man' that sat beside the scientist was unnerving to look at with his scars and mechanical parts. She shuddered to think what in the hell happened to him, and wondered if this was yet another passive-aggressive warning that this wretched scientist gave her. "What's the meaning of this?"
"Good morning to you too, Ms. Butler!" Adam clapped cheerfully; that kind of perkiness should be shot in the morning.
She made a mental note to ask her brother what was taking so long.
"As you well know," Adam made a grand gesture as his palm slapped over his chest, his nose turning up. A routine unwillingly engraved in her brain. "I'm your brother's handler-"
"Cut to the chase, or my daughter will starve to death by the time you finish stroking your ego." Garnet's gaze caught the subtle smirk from the mechanical man.
"Have a seat, then. I have devastating news-" and yet Adam sounded cheerful. How many times did he rehearse 'devastating'? "-and you have a decision to make as a result of it."
That wasn't any more ominous than the scientist popping in here with no regard for their privacy. Garnet limped over to the couch and sat across from them, keeping a wary eye on the mechanical man when she noticed how he seemed very uncomfortable, and every muscle in her body tensed. Nervous men never bode well for her. She blew the last one's guts out for it. When Adam leaned forward, hand reaching towards her knee, she smacked it aside.
"My oh my, we're touchy, aren't we? Touchy about not being touchy." Adam laughed at his own 'joke'. "I only wish to extend comfort."
"I don't need it, especially from you. Try to touch me again and you'll learn what it's like to have crows picking at your rotten guts."
Adam held his hands up in surrender, but his sleazy snake-like smile never faded. She wanted to wipe it off his face and her fingers gnarled into her pants to stop herself from launching at his throat. Rose couldn't afford to lose her right now - especially if Garrett didn't show up last night. "Well, then, moving on. Mr. Butler has been denied permission for further visitations due to concerns for you and your daughter's safety."
Bullshit. Garnet bit her tongue. "Is this a permanent decision you've made?"
"Not me personally, but the Director. Mr. Butler is being monitored to evaluate whether or not he will be stable enough to return."
Bullshit. Garnet bit her tongue harder. "And what's the decision I have to make?"
"Whether or not you wish to see him, so long as you have a qualified guard to protect you." Adam gestured to the mechanical man, and though it was impossible to figure out anything through cold synthetic eyes, he did plenty of other things that screamed his anxiety was mounting. His hands twisted more and more into his slacks as Adam kept droning on. "You can visit him in his apartment right now, though as a precaution, the Director urges for Rose to be at school when you do."
"And leave her alone in school?"
"She won't be alone, she'll be with all the others as she always has. She just won't be with you specifically."
One thing Garnet learned quickly was that the people here did not do anything without purpose. They gained something whether she did go through with seeing her brother or not, but the trouble was trying to figure out what they gained most - and take that away from them. She didn't at all trust them to watch over Rose without her around, but neither did she trust what they'd tell Garrett to mess with him, just as how they were trying to now with this apparent instability of his. They both survived far worse confinement and paranoia than this facility.
"I'm fine with waiting until he's cleared and considered safe for both Rose and myself to see him again." Garnet glanced at the mechanical man, trying to focus on his eyes and not all the scars that marred his face. "I didn't see you last time. What's your name? Are they punishing you by making you follow this man around?"
Adam chuckled. "Such hostility! 3-0 is delighted to work with me."
The look '3-0' made - exaggerating eyebrows to furrow to express something - was a very clear suggestion otherwise, and it sparked a connection, a meager amount of trust; the enemy of her enemy was her friend, if this man was Adam's enemy at all. 3-0 held out his metal hand towards her and tapped his palm. She wasn't sure what it meant and was confused to see him try to draw things on his real hand, while stealing sideways glances at the grinning scientist as if uncertain. Why was this being allowed? Adam's complacency must have either been due to extreme arrogance or having some sort of agenda of his own.
Garnet turned her palm upside down and snuck her thumb inside, recreating what she saw in hopes to figure out what 3-0 was trying to say. None of it made sense. She drew an O, 3 and r, and it was all the mechanical man did over and over again, his forehead creasing as those cold eyes stared at her. There was no emotion to decipher, but there was a sense of urgency every time he kept drawing the letters over and over again.
"He can't talk," Adam helpfully supplied.
"I gathered that," Garnet snapped, never taking her eyes off of 3-0. "So you're his mouthpiece. I can't imagine a worse fate."
Laughter filled the room, but it sounded so stale and closed off. The moment Adam's eyes closed and his head lulled back, 3-0 nodded furiously. She pitied him; he was trapped and he didn't even have a way to communicate with anyone except through gestures. There was something about him that called out at her, and she ignored the scientist's scrutinizing gaze as she leaned forward and held out her palm towards 3-0.
"My name is Garnet." She spelled the names on her hand, watching him closely. "My daughter's name is Rose."
Silence fell on them, and 3-0 looked up at her. He tentatively reached to draw what she assumed was her daughter's name, and discovered something peculiar: it was spelled upside down. She smiled when he seemed to stare expectantly, nodding to acknowledge when he tried to spell it again. "Mm-hm, you've got it."
"Are you sure?" Adam clearly couldn't keep himself contained, but that irritating perkiness only masked the way he observed them intently. "I think you're too kind, Garnet."
"Even raiders are kind compared to you," she spat. She kept her discovery to herself, hoping she would have a moment alone with this man someday. "And don't use my name."
"Double standards now, really? You allow a complete stranger permission, but not me? Are you biased towards 3-0 because of the Mr. Handy robot in your homestead?"
"Don't psychoanalyze me." Her gaze cut into the scientist, narrowing her eyes. "And stop studying us, we're not lab rats."
"I don't have to study you when you're writing a book for me," Adam countered as he leaned back on the couch, crossing his leg over the other as he folded his hands in his lap. His smile slithered wider. "Forgive me for my persistence; I just find wastelanders remarkably interesting. If we overlook the filth and lack of education, it's amusing to investigate what makes each one of you unique, despite not being in possession of intelligence or ambition."
"Lack of education? Maybe we don't specialize in technology, but that doesn't mean we're stupid. I've always educated Rose and your curriculum here is barely worth anything in life."
"You think yours is superior to the Institute's? Don't make me laugh!" Adam balked, and then he laughed anyways. Her patience was whittling down every time he did. "In the Institute, science is, by and large, pretty much the only field to pursue in order to have a meaningful life and to advance the evolution of humanity. On the surface, anything goes, even if it's as meaningless as proclaiming oneself as a 'reporter' in an age where circulating news is obsolete and accomplishes nothing. How your brother fancies that barbarian of a woman is beyond fathoming the appeal or the logic."
Something about the way 3-0 reacted unsettled her, as the mechanical man's head swiveled to Adam and appeared even more anxious than before. It didn't seem to escape the scientist's notice when he glanced over and smiled, patting 3-0's knee. "Oh, I know you're uncomfortable. We're finished now. I can see that Garnet is not well-suited to entertain guests in the morning." His gaze panned back to her with that stupid smug smirk. "We should continue this debate at a later date; it's a one-sided battle for me to talk with someone who isn't armed with wit."
Garnet didn't bite the bait, nor had it riled her; she'd heard worse all her life, though she was still burning with her pride poked over the subject on education. There wasn't a day she stopped reading all the books scavenged from the small bookstore Garrett stumbled on, just so that she could pass on as much practical knowledge as possible so that Rose would have the best shot in life to be more than just a brute that needed to rely on guns rather than brains.
Adam rose from the couch, though 3-0 remained obstinate even when the scientist moved for the door, urging for him to follow. He tapped his palm, and on a limb, she offered hers even when her gut screamed not to. She almost recoiled when his metal finger traced the letters on her palm. First it was her name, then Rose, then what she figured was his. The last one didn't make sense to her. He smiled a broken smile, reluctant to leave, but did the moment Adam clicked his tongue off the roof of his mouth, then bid her a farewell drenched in sarcasm.
"I hope you have a fabulous day, Garnet."
Great, he was going to use her name on purpose just to irritate her now. She should've known better than to have reacted the way she did. When 3-0 and Adam left, she fell on the couch with a sigh and buried her head in her hands. It wasn't long before she heard a door slide open and feet pitter patter towards her. Her composure was threatened when little arms slipped around her neck.
"Mum, are you alright? Why weren't you and Adam nice to each other?"
"I'm alright, and I'm sorry you had to hear all that nonsense, sweetie," she mumbled. "Mommy doesn't like Adam, and I don't want you playing with him ever again. Okay?"
"Okay." Rose sounded sullen, tightening the embrace. "Hey, I didn't know you had a brother, mum. Is he here? Can I meet him?"
Dread sank it's fangs into Garnet and her heart stopped. She pulled away, staring, at a loss of what to say. For once, she was grateful that Rose didn't listen to her. Yet.
"...Go put your pants on."
x - x - x
Beeps alerted Piper, and she hastily hid her notepad under her pillow as she rolled out of bed, wrestling her clothes on. She should've known better than to kick Garrett out into the living room. It was just a matter of time before the Institute would invade their privacy to spy on them and see what they were up to - or at least her, anyways.
"Oi, ain'tcha ever hear of knocking?" Garrett's complaint was heard from down the narrow hallway, and she melted with relief - somewhat - at what followed. "Just 'cause yer a robot don't mean y'can just bloody well kick down the door and-"
"You are cordially invited to the Institute's 29th annual Christmas party. Your evening attire will be provided. Do you accept?" The robotic voice sent chills down her spine, but she rushed down the hallway to see this for herself and decipher what in the hell was going on now. She saw the gen-1 synth at their doorway, and Garrett turned his head as he gaped at her, dumbfounded.
"Uh... You heard that, right luv? Or have I finally fuckin' lost it?"
"I don't think so, or we both have." Piper warily approached the synth, and even dared wave her hand in front of it's face. She bit back a yelp and Garrett dragged her a few paces back when it's head snapped to her. "Um, could you repeat that?"
"You are cordially invited to the Institute's 29th annual Christmas party. Your evening attire will be provided. Do you accept?"
Piper exchanged hesitant looks with Garrett. She had yet to find out just why in the world they were extended this invitation, but it was her chance to explore the facility. She didn't give him the chance to say 'fuck no' and insert more expletives - as every part of her screamed he would. She rushed a palm over his mouth, having a little slap fight with him as they each tried to swat the other's hand away.
"We accept!" Piper beamed, and Garrett groaned.
"Your response has been recorded," the synth replied. "Facilities will prepare and deliver outfits at 4 P.M. You will be escorted to the event at 5 P.M."
Metal joints creaked and hissed as the thing turned to exit. As soon as they were left alone, Piper sucked in a breath and steeled herself when Garrett glared at her. She turned away. "Don't give me that look. I know what I'm doing."
"They're tryin' to bribe us, luv. Y'know that too, right?"
"...Now I do." Piper smirked and head back down to the bedroom with the noisy man hot on her heels. "Was trying to figure out their angle, but that makes sense. I guess."
"You guess? If you didn't know, then why th'hell didjya accept? I don't wanna go to this bloody thing!"
"Think about it, it'll be the perfect cover for me to interview people and dig up dirt, especially once they all get liquored up to loosen their lips." She'd make sure of that.
"We're talkin' about eggheads here, Boss, not normal people. Their idea of a party is prolly over fuckin'... Dissecting brains, or some shite. Who knows. I don't want to."
Piper rolled her eyes as she turned around, mindful to articulate her words precisely so that her lips could be read by any invisible witnesses watching from behind Garrett's eyes. "It's a Christmas party, Garrett. It'll be fun and it'll be a good chance for us to let loose, maybe get to know the people here. Not all of them can be bad, right?"
"They can. They will be. How do we even know if it's a party they're takin' us to? Wouldn't be the first time they've lied to us, yeah?"
Piper turned and pulled her shirt overhead as she walked for the shower. "Exactly. They're doing this because they believe they have the upper hand here, and they're underestimating us. So we play stupid, tag along, let them keep believing that we're eating up their every lie. The truth is hiding in between those lies, and I'm going to find it." She looked over her bare shoulder with a sultry smirk. "You joining me?"
Garrett stared, then marched after her. "Fine, but I ain't gonna be chummy with anyone but you."
"See? Doesn't this sound like a fun party already?" Piper grinned when he rolled his eyes, and she giggled like a madwoman when he lifted and carried her to the shower.
"Only to you. And you're about to make it up to me."