Tyrant. Scrapper. Part 5. Damantha Makarova

expression.

      He looked down, seeing his metal hands and shook his head:

      «I was just wondering… when you all thought I was dead… Lindon said you ran to Daruta to fight in one of the cages there…»

      «M… I did. So what’s your question then?» Serena sat up, hugging her knees and looking at him.

      «Wolfin said they found you drinking and fighting… They said you barely slept.»

      «I tried to keep myself busy. Because every time I stopped, I went up to the roof and sat there hours on end, contemplating if my life was worth living anymore.» Serena took a deep breath. «Is that what you wanted to ask me about?»

      Hunter glanced at her and saw her looking down, her face saddened by the memories.

      «Why?» he asked, his voice cracking. «I was ready to give my life for you, and you…»

      He fell silent, when she raised her eyes to meet his gaze.

      «It was my fault you got torn by that beast. If you hadn’t jumped to it to shield me, I’d be able to grow back my limbs…»

      «It’s not your fault, Serena. It was never your fault. I was ready to die for you then, and I am ready to die for you now. There’s nothing you can say or do to make me change my mind about that.»

      Serena shook her head with a sigh:

      «It’s a pity we never found the chimera that…» she gritted her teeth.

      «You won’t be able to.» Hunter sighed. «Because I killed it.»

      The woman met his gaze again and frowned:

      «I thought you couldn’t remember what happened after we lost you to Falana…»

      Hunter took a deep breath, before answering:

      «After the memory extraction you ran… When you found out that Falana… used me…» he gritted his teeth, shaking his head. «I started remembering. Bits and pieces, but… I remember fighting this chimera at Falana’s order. I tore it limb from limb.»

      «And… everything else?» Serena’s voice grew quiet.

      «I remember how I beat you… how I tried to kill you… I’m so sorry, Serena.» he looked at his hands. «I can’t even offer you anything more than an apology for those heinous acts that I’ve done… I know you won’t be able to look at me the same anymore. It hurts me, but I understand.»

      Serena stood from the chair and leaned in, staying silent until he raised his face to her again. When he looked up, he saw her smiling.

      «You say that, but I can’t believe you really believe that, Hunter.» she said with a smile. «You’re the one who caught me on Helvette and surrounded me with your metal body to protect me from the storm when I was knocked out. If it weren’t for you, I could have died. You weren’t thinking about yourself, even though I was under Shimmer and probably would have tried to kill you then if it weren’t for the bay doors being open.»

      «I’d do that again, Serena. A thousand times over.» Hunter said truthfully.

      «I know. So stop saying I will never see you in the same light I used to see you when you were a… human.» Serena looked at his body. «You might have new limbs and a much sturdier body, but inside… you’re the same Hunter I fell in love with. The same man, who was always so protective of me, whenever I needed it most. The same man I mourned for so long…»

      She reached out her hand to him. Hunter hesitated for a moment and took her palm in his, rising to his feet. Serena smiled to him and shook her head:

      «Now… tell me…» her smile grew wider. «Does that metal body of yours swim? Or will you sink to the ocean floor?»

      Hunter saw her teasing glance and couldn’t help himself, stepping closer and gently embracing her:

      «I love you, Serena. I hope you can believe that, at least.»

      She didn’t recoil, didn’t tense up in his arms, and for a few long moments he felt happy to have her there by his side – almost like he used to when he was human.

      «You still scare me.» Serena whispered, making Hunter immediately lean back, freeing her from his arms, but when she didn’t let go, he froze. «I still have issues to work through. Be patient. I started seeing you as the friend you were before. Perhaps, when I can get past the nightmares you embedded into my mind, we can share our bed again.»

      «I’m not going to push you, Serena. I’ve hurt you too much and understand it. If you can’t have me as your man, then at least have me as a friend and part of your crew. I didn’t lie to you when I gave you that oath. I will remain loyal to you. In all matters…»

      Serena lowered her eyes to his metal-covered chest and stepped up, pressing against it and closing her eyes:

      «I’m beginning to like this new scent of yours….» she said quietly. «You smell like a…»

      «A piece of scrap metal.» Hunter sighed.

      «A Veluthian.» Serena smirked and leaned back, patting his chest with her palm. «Though, unlike one, you didn’t answer my question.»

      The man twitched his brow, seeing her eyes lighting up with tease again, when she met his gaze.

      «About..?» he asked.

      «Do you swim? Or will you sink?» she chuckled, stepping towards the others. «Will you join us, or will you sulk all alone on the sands?»

      Hunter looked down at his body. He knew he was heavy, but Laneth told him that, technically, he should be able to swim without issue.

      «I mean… I don’t know.» he replied a moment later. «Laneth said it’s possible that I could swim, I just…»

      «Do you want to try it out?» Serena nodded to the ocean. «Or are you scared?»

      Hunter hesitated for a moment and looked at his hands again:

      «You might say that…»

      «Don’t worry, if you sink, we’ll fish you out.» Serena chuckled, heading to the water. «If I can overcome my fear of you… you can overcome fear of drowning.»

      Hunter felt a smile appearing on his lips and followed the woman.

      The next few hours they all enjoyed the cool waters of an Essarian ocean – even Hunter, who could, in fact, stay afloat and swim without having to fight against the water.

      As the day continued, and Kayla got a bit tired of all the running and swimming, Serena and Laneth kept her company when she was resting on the shore, watching the men relaxing and discussing something in the water.

      «Captain?» Kayla glanced at the woman. «Can we have a girls night out? Just us girls?»

      «Girls night out?» Serena frowned.

      «Kayla proposed to go out and see if the Entertainment Centre is as good as advertised.» Laneth giggled. «Our men agreed that you could use a bit of… a breather.»

      «Even Hunter?»

      «Hunter, Lindon, Wolfin, Cipher, Pher and Taliesin – all of them agreed with me!» Kayla grinned widely. «Why wouldn’t they? I’m smart!»

      «And what will they do while we’re out?» Serena tilted her head.

      «Who cares?»

      «I think they said something about teaching Hunter and all the others the Veluthian poker?» Laneth shrugged.

      Serena sighed heavily. That wasn’t a game she would prefer Hunter knowing how to play. Especially with his new body – he could easily leave a couple of broken bones with a single punch. And Veluthian poker was exactly that – punches thrown when someone lost. The winner was supposed to be not only good at cards and placing