Chapter Text
“We wanted to talk to you about an amazing opportunity.”
“Isn’t being here already an amazing opportunity.”
“Well yes, but-”
“We want you to join prosthetics.”
“Wait. I thought-”
“I know you’ve had your heart set on AI, but-”
“But we think that you’d make a great fit over in Junkertown. We need a programmer with your skill set. You blew everyone away in your aptitude, and it would be a waste not to capitalize on your talents.”
“Well ok, but-”
“I don’t know what you’ve been told, but there is an entire division that just works on the BMI calibration. It’s not exactly AI, but we really think that you could make a significant contribution there. Your paper on Echo technology is exactly the kind of stuff we’re looking for over there.”
“Can I ask if I have a choice?”
“Well we can try and rework your contract, but as it’s written, you kind of are getting assigned where you’re needed. Thats the way it works for everyone. You’re needed here. But we can talk about a transfer if you’re that against joining the team.”
“You’re not really making it sound like I have a choice.”
“Why don’t you just take some time and think about it.”
“More time? I’ve already been here for almost a week.”
“Maybe talk to your people and see what they think. Have you talked to Gabriel recently?”
“No. We don’t… I’m sorry, but that’s kind of personal.”
“Oh honey. I’m sorry. You know we go way back with him. How is he doing these days anyways?”
“With all due respect Doctor, I’d rather not discuss my personal matters. And I really would rather work in AI. I thought that’s what I was brought here to do.”
“And you were. But sometimes we choose to ease our people in. You’re new. You have to put in some work before you can join the big boys. You know?”
“I’m sorry. Didn’t you just say-”
“Emily. Can I call you Emily?”
Emily eyed the unfamiliar lab in dis-ease, searching for a spot to set up shop. It was embarrassing, to say the least, to lug her equipment and bags over to a nearby vacant table. Her leaflets nearly slipped out from beneath her arm, and she heard a couple snickers from a nearby high top. She tried to breathe through the burn she felt tinting her cheeks. This was mortifying. Absolutely the worst. She had reached an all time low. She was- “What are you doing?” apparently not alone.
Emily spun in a tight circle, her leaflets going flying in her haste. The snickers turned into outright laughs at her antics, and her ears burned. Her brain must have been affected as well because she found herself virtually incapable of speech when she found herself faced with the Queen herself. “I… um. I…” What hell is wrong with you? Dr. Blake glanced down at Emily’s name tag and lifted a brow. “You’re a little far from home, wouldn’t you say?” “I’m just-” “Why are you here?” Jesus this was a nightmare. “I’m-I’m sorry Dr. Blake. I was just…”
“You were just…”
“I’m trying to…”
“I’m beginning to lose faith in the staffing department. Jesus christ girl, spit it out!”
Emily blinked hard and took a breath. She was flustered and annoyed with herself, and being this close to that level of pretty was doing stupid things to her brain and it needed to stop. She was a professional. She had dreams. She could do this. “I’m here because I need someone from black lab to move onto the testing stage of a project I’m working on.”
“That’s ridiculous. You’re white lab. Why do you just get-” Dr. Blake’s eyes widened the tiniest margin before she whipped her head around and glared in the general direction of the white lab. “That bitch.” She muttered under her breath. It was obvious who she was talking about and Emily was in love. “I’ll right then. Let’s take a look.”
“Why not move onto human testing?”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
She thinks about it seriously. “It’s not ready. There are too many kinks in the interface that I need to work out. I’d like to work with animals that have human genome markers in key points in the brain so that I can work all those kinks out, so no. I wouldn’t feel comfortable moving onto any kind of human testing until after several rounds of successful tests with rodents and primates.
The hand at Emily’s side slid up the curve of her ribcage and settled at the base of her breasts, a thumb barely brushing an undiscovered area, both too stubborn and stupid to cross that last line. Tonight, Emily was tired. She was content. She was even happy, and it didn’t feel like a concession when she shifted and rolled and turned to face the woman behind her. The hand stiffened in surprise (maybe even a little unease), but she didn’t pull it away, instead adjusting her hold to Emily’s waist, her fingers pressing softly into the exposed skin. She had always thought Erika’s touch was like ice, but in that moment, it was a fire that melted through her bones and made her purr. It appeared she wasn’t the only one that felt loose with the rules of the game they have been playing. Maybe they could both win, because Erika didn’t flinch or glint in triumph when Emily lifted a hand and brushed her fingers across an impossibly soft cheek. That touch burned too and maybe she had just needed to figure out a different way to play, because the sigh that escapes Erika’s lips at the contact is as sweet as it aches in the pit of Emily’s stomach. The game becomes irrelevant and the only thing that matters is the face in front of hers; of the lips that were only a barest brush away from the contact they both so clearly wanted. If this is what it felt like to lose, then so be it. Emily leans forward, sliding her hand around the curve of Erika’s jaw and closing the distance as slowly and softly as she dares. She doesn’t expect to be rejected, but she still doesn’t know. She doesn’t want to hurt or startle or scare. She just wants...more. Erika exhales in a rush and immediately leans into the touch, reaching up and gripping Emily’s wrist as she deepens the kiss. They had both wanted this for so long, and Emily had never truly dared to hope, and her mind stutters to a complete stop at the way Erika presses forward, both of their mouths opening at the pressure, their tongues sliding together almost languidly. Holy shit! Holy shit indeed. This is what they had both been holding back on? This is what the doctor was hiding underneath all that ice? Her heart was a bonfire and thudded softly against Emily’s chest. Her wrist was released, and a strong hand grasped tightly at her hip and she was done. Emily became a reaction, her hand dropping to grasp and grip a thigh of its own volition. Erika only groaned at the contact and arched her body even more into Emily’s heat. It was maddening, and amazing and what the actual fuck? Why had they both waited so goddamn long?!
The thought is violent and jarring enough that she couldn’t have stopped the snort of laughter if she had tried, and the giggles that erupted were as unstoppable as they were annoying given the activities they were thoroughly interrupting. It’s unfortunate that Erika’s confused frown only makes her giggles worse.
“You make it very difficult not to feel like I’m molesting a child, I hope you know that.” The words are teasing, but the bite is there, however Emily can hear the laughter in the tone, the accent adding a delightful lilt that actually made her heart sing. At this, she actually laughs she was full of so much joy and so much love and she felt as though her heart would burst in her chest. Her smile is broad and splits her face almost painfully when she pulls back and faces Erika fully, reaching up with a steady hand to brush a wayward strand of golden hair back behind her ear.
“You make it very difficult not to love you.” She feels Erika’s body stiffen in her arms at the word, but she doesn’t mind. She knows everything there is to know about her lotus, and she knows that the moment will pass if she’s patient and kind. She softens her hand against her woman’s cheek and scoots her body closer, twisting their legs together and holding her tight so she is forced to stay there in the moment. It helped, even if Erika still rolled her eyes before flicking them across Emily’s face in her vulnerability. Emily felt her smile broaden. How had she ever been scared of this woman? She was pure softness. She was as fragile as a feather. She loved. “I was laughing because I had no idea being with you would feel so amazing, and I was really upset at myself for not doing this sooner.” Erika’s eyes widened for a fraction before her face split into a soft grin, the most beautiful peal of laughter spilling from her soft lips. She lifted a finger and ran it languidly across the lines of Emily’s face and she slips her eyes closed in decadence. “Well what took you so long, my little Echo?” The shiver that races down her spine is pleasant but violent, and Emily becomes the reaction again, spearing her fingers through golden locks and pressing in, capturing lips and swallowing a breath as it hiccupped in surprise. “I’m sorry. It won't happen again.” She mumbles into a pliant mouth. Their tongues are dancing again, and Emily is again struck by the majesty of the moment and the fire racing through her veins at the other woman’s touch. No. She was done waiting patiently. She would take, and Erika would give their roles would turn for this was a game of show and tell and it was good.