24. Truth Time
Laramie bares her soul and asks Dave to put his feelings for her on the line.
« 23 Reflecting on the Weekend | CONTENTS | 25. No Device Day »
I spot Dave sitting at a corner table in the Recovery Home café, chatting with Jukka from the library. I slink over and tap the earbud case clipped to his belt, our secret signal. He glances up and excuses himself.
“Hey, what’s up?” He pops the buds in, and I see the “paired” icon show up in my HUD. He can hear me now. His warm smile belies the worry in his eyes.
“So, we need to talk? About this weekend.”
He nods, and we find a secluded table in the corner. I fidget with my loquette, searching for the right words.
“Look, I’ve been thinking… about us. Nonstop. It’s driving me crazy, Dave. I want you so damn much, but…” I shrug helplessly, “What happens when I leave here? I don’t want to start something that will end in a few months.”
Dave takes my hand, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles soothingly. “Laramie, I’m really hooked on you, too. Believe me, I’ve been worrying myself sick that I crossed a line. The Guild condones staff-survivor relationships, but maybe we are moving too fast.”
He pauses, choosing his next words carefully.
“But I also think it would be a shame to just… end this before seeing where it could go. I want to let things develop naturally between us, even after you leave recovery. We could portal worldwide and see each other daily if we wanted.”
Hope rises. So, once I’m outta here, he won’t drop me like yesterday’s news. But doubt still lingers, an ugly voice whispering that he’ll eventually get bored with the freak show.
“Why me, though? Out of everyone, why are you drawn to the walking decap?” The words come out harsher than I intended.
Dave frowns slightly but doesn’t flinch.
“It’s not about your head, Laramie—or you know, lack of. It’s your vibrant personality and your sarcasm. We just...have this great vibe together, you know? I love how you make magic tech seem sexy as hell. And how you want me for me, not just to fix your tech.”
I snort, but also realize that Dave sees me, the real me, beyond the surface. Do I dare let myself fall and risk inevitable heartbreak?
He gently squeezes my hand. “I know it’s a lot to process. But I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. Whatever you decide.”
I lean against him, our arms pressed together. A perfect fit. “Thanks. For everything. I...I want to see where this goes, too. Even if it scares the shit out of me.”
Dave chuckles and kisses the top of my neck, right above my loquette’s chain. “That makes two of us. But hey, nothing worth having comes easy, right?”
I smirk. “Watch it, mister, or I’ll start thinking you’re after my hot headless bod.”
“Well, I do have a thing for badass chicks who know how to invent future languages,” he teases back.
Am I Just a Fetish?
I steel myself for the part of the conversation I’ve been dreading.
“Dave, you’re probably sick of hearing this, but I gotta know... why me? Why are you attracted to someone like me, with no head and all? Is it just some kink for you?”
The words come out harsher than I intended, but I can’t help it. I gesture to my empty neck. “I man, have you ever even been with another survivor before? Or do you just get off on the freak of the week?”
Dave flinches, and I instantly regret my glib tone. But to his credit, he doesn’t get angry or defensive. Instead, he takes my hand gently and looks directly into my loquette’s camera.
“Laramie, no. You’re the first survivor I’ve ever been involved with.”
A small smile plays on his lips. “I love how you make the name Kreuzberg sound somehow sexy. I love how you want me. You know, no one’s actually ever wanted to have a relationship with me before.”
His words disarm me, chipping away at the walls I’ve built. I want to believe him so badly.
“So, what? You say this is a relationship now?” I try to keep my tone light, but my heart races at the thought.
Dave’s smile widens. “Yeah, I guess I am. If that’s what you want too, of course.”
I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry. “I...I don’t know. I mean, I want to. But relationships and me, we don’t exactly have a great track record. Even before the accident.”
“I get that. Believe me, I’ve got my own baggage.” Dave squeezes my hand reassuringly. “But I’m willing to try if you are. We can take it slow, see where it goes.”
His earnestness tugs at my heart. I’m terrified of getting hurt again, but the thought of letting this chance slip away is even worse.
“Okay,” I whisper, barely audible over the pounding in my chest. “Let’s do this. But fair warning, I’m kind of a disaster.”
Dave laughs, the sound warm and rich. “That makes two of us. But hey, disasters are my specialty.”
Up to the Roof
The elevator dings, signaling our arrival at the rooftop garden. It’s one of my favorite places at the Recovery Home, and I thought it would be better to continue our tete-a-tete up here.
As the doors slide open, a wave of hot, dry desert washes over us, and the sun penetrates the magic shield, dappling the walking path in greens and golds.
“Come on,” I say, tugging Dave’s hand. “Let’s find my favorite spot before someone else takes it.”
We step out into a lush oasis hidden high above the city streets. Towering trees stretch towards the sky, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. Colorful flowers bloom in artfully arranged beds while butterflies flit from blossom to blossom. In the center, a small waterfall trickles merrily, its burbling song a soothing backdrop.
To an outside observer, the rooftop would appear empty, just a collection of HVAC units and an elevator shaft. But thanks to the Recovery Home’s shield, magic survivors like myself can enjoy this slice of nature without fear of prying eyes.
I lead Dave to a secluded bench tucked away in a corner surrounded by climbing vines heavy with delicate blooms. We settle onto the seat, our thighs pressing together. For a moment, we simply sit in comfortable silence, drinking in the tranquil atmosphere.
Then, unable to contain my curiosity any longer, I turn towards him. “Okay, I have to ask. What exactly do you see in me? Give me your whole list.” I gesture towards my empty neck, my tone half-joking, half-serious. “I mean, look at me. I’m not exactly your typical girl next door.”
Dave studies me thoughtfully, his gaze warm and unwavering. “Laramie, you’ve got this searing wit, this incredible sense of humor that always keeps me on my toes. And the way you talk about your passions. The Expanse? Not just the show, but the books and the role playing game? I mean, who else is going to come into my life and chat me up about such things?”
He reaches out, tracing his fingertips along my collarbone with a feather-light touch. “But it’s even more than that. Your spirit draws me in. The way you embrace the world with open arms, even after everything you’ve been through. Your strength, your resilience… it’s inspiring.”
I duck my neck forward, suddenly shy under the intensity of his words. “Careful, Kreuzberg. Keep talking like that, and I might start to think you actually like me.”
“Well, I do. A lot.” Dave’s cheeks flush adorably. “And… I know this might sound weird, but I really love the way you dress, too. Especially your thing for, um, your pantyhose.”
The last word comes out slightly strangled, his eyes darting away self-consciously. I can’t help but laugh, charmed by his awkward admission. “Wait, seriously? You’ve got a thing for my tights?”
Dave rubs the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. “Maybe? I don’t know, there’s just something about them. The way they hug your legs, like a second skin…evening everything out and then sort of melting away. Those ones right now look like shadows with a little glimmer of light. It’s kind of mesmerizing. Is that weird?”
“No weirder than me asking you to kiss my empty neck earlier,” I quip wryly. But inside, a thrill of excitement zips through me. The knowledge that Dave finds my own compulsions attractive is both flattering and arousing.
Boldly, I swing my legs onto his lap, a spider web of black nylon clinging tight to my lower half. “Well, lucky for you, I happen to have built up quite the collection since the Onyx funds started flowing. Maybe you can be my Instagram boyfriend and post some leg pix for all my adoring fans.”
Dave laughs, his hands coming to rest on my ankles. His touch is electric even through the thin fabric. “Say the word. I’ll make you a social media star. Looks like we’ve discovered a kink we can both...appreciate.”
The air between us feels charged now, heavy with unspoken desire. I know we agreed to take things slow, but God makes it difficult to stick to that plan. All I want is to lose myself in his arms, to let him map every inch of my body with his fingers, his mouth...
Flustered by the direction of my thoughts, I hasten to change the subject before I do something reckless like tear off my tights and beg him to touch me down there. “So, um, did you talk to Carla about swapping shifts next week? I was thinking we could catch that new superhero movie, maybe grab dinner after…”
As we settle into lighter conversation, I let myself relax against Dave, my head coming to rest on his shoulder. His arm wraps around me, pulling me closer.
When It Started
“You know,” Dave says thoughtfully, “there was this one moment, back when you first got here, that really made me realize how special you are to me.”
I tilt my neck to look up at him, curiosity piqued. “Oh? Do tell.”
He smiles, a faraway look in his eyes as he recalls the memory. “It was your second day, I think. You were still getting used to navigating with the training collar. I watched you make your way across the common room, bumping into furniture left and right. But you didn’t let it stop you. You just kept going, cracking jokes in that awful robot voice the whole time.”
I remember that day. I’d been frustrated as hell, ready to smash the damn collar to bits. But I’d refused to let the other survivors see how much I was struggling. “What can I say? I’m a regular comedy legend.”
“That’s when I knew,” Dave continues softly. “Knew that you were someone special. I was looking forward to your Loquette Day, when you swept into my office and everything seemed brighter. I wanted to be around your light, your laughter, for as long as you’d let me.”
I feel like crying. “That’s...I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of my neck. “Just know that I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
My voice emerges ragged in his ears. “I’m not...I’m not good at this, Dave. Relationships. Opening up. Trusting people. I’ve been burned too many times.”
“I know. And I want to finally say this. I love you, Laramie Strong, and I would never push you for more than you’re ready to give. We can take this as slow as you need.”
“What if...” I hesitate, the words catching in my throat. “What if I fuck it up? What if I push you away like I always do? I couldn’t bear to lose you.”
“Hey.” Dave cups my cheeks, tilting my camera to meet his warm brown eyes. “I’m made of tougher stuff than that. You’re not going to scare me off or push me away. I’m in this, Laramie. For as long as you’ll have me.”
The sincerity shining from his face cracks something open inside me. I surge forward, letting him kiss the edge of my neck. He responds immediately, one hand cupping my neck while the other splays across my lower back, crushing me against him.
I pour everything I’m feeling into him—the fear, the longing, the overwhelming rush of emotions I can’t yet name. And Dave takes it all, meeting me with an intensity that sets my blood on fire.
“I want this,” I whisper. I want you. I’m terrified… but I want to try. I want to see where this leads us.”
I Guess It’s a Relationship Now
We sit like that for a long moment, simply holding each other, basking in this newfound intimacy. My earlier frustrations have melted away, replaced by a bone-deep contentment I haven’t felt in ages.
Eventually, I pull back just enough to meet his gaze. “So... we’re really doing this, huh? Diving headfirst into a relationship?”
Dave chuckles softly. “Well, I’ve never been one for half measures. When I’m in, I’m all in.”
“Good to know.” I smile, tracing my fingers along his jawline. “Because I’m not planning on letting you go anytime soon… Kreuzberg.”
I used my sexy voice on that last word. He smiles at that.
“Wouldn’t want it any other way, Strong.” He captures my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm.
He breaks the kiss gently, an impish grin on his face. “Before we get too carried away, I have something for you.”
“Oh?” I arch an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Another surprise up your sleeve, Kreuzberg?”
He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a familiar necklace—the same one I tried on at his mountain cabin. “I’ve been tinkering with it, adding some safeguards to prevent those language glitches you experienced.”
My cameras focus on the sleek pendant, and I feel a thrill run through me. “You brilliant man. How’d you manage that?”
“A magician never reveals his secrets,” he teases, winking. “But let’s just say I pulled another all-nighter to make it perfect for you.”
Dave explains the necklace’s two modes: “Goddess Mode” for that enhanced sensory experience I’ve come to know and love. Then there’s “Loquette Mode” which is more like usual senses, but now with added Smell-O-Vision.
“Have I mentioned lately how incredible you are?” I blurt out, marveling at the thoughtfulness behind his gift.
“Once or twice, but I never tire of hearing it.” His smile is warm, eyes crinkling at the corners.
With careful hands, Dave removes my loquette. The world goes dark for a beat before he replaces it with the necklace, set by default to Loquette Mode.
Instantly, my senses come alive in a burst of vibrant detail. The garden seems brighter and more saturated with color. A riot of scents envelops me—fragrant roses, crisp evergreen, the earthy aroma of damp soil.
But most intoxicating of all is Dave's warm, musky scent. It wraps around me like an embrace, triggering a frisson of chills down my spine.
The 360-degree cameras give the uncanny sensation of having a head to turn, letting me take in the environment with lifelike ease.
I tug Dave closer, nestling into the crook of his neck. “Have I mentioned lately that I’m crazy about you?”
He laughs, the sound rich and joyful. “Once or twice. But like I said...”
“You never tire of hearing it,” I finish, a smile evident in my voice.
We sit in contented silence, his fingers trailing soothing patterns along my shoulders. I want nothing more than to freeze this perfect moment, to live within it forever.
For a woman without a head, I’m feeling pretty damn lucky.
« 23 Reflecting on the Weekend | CONTENTS | 25. No Device Day