Page 19 of Cyborg's Tether

As they approached the final stretch to the central hub, they found themselves pinned down by heavy fire. His cybernetic eye scanned the area, assessing their options. “There’re too many of them. We need a distraction.”

“Wait, I have an idea.” She pulled up a schematic on her data pad, tapping on the display. “If I can trigger a localized power surge in the adjacent sector, it might draw some of them away.”

Xavier nodded. “Do it.”

Amaya worked feverishly, bypassing security protocols and rerouting power conduits. After a tense moment, the lightsin the nearby corridor flared brightly before plunging into darkness. The sound of confused shouts and retreating footsteps followed.

“Now,” he said, grabbing Amaya’s hand and pulling her forward.

They sprinted the last stretch to the central hub with him practically carrying her along. They burst through the doors, quickly securing the room. Amaya immediately went to work at the main console, tapping the holographic interface as she input the override codes. He stood guard, clearly alert for any approaching threats.

Her fingers trembled as she input the final override code. The system flashed green, signaling success. She let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through her. “It’s done,” she said, turning to Xavier. “The backdoor is closed.”

He nodded, his cybernetic eye still scanning for threats. “Good work. We need to—”

A deafening explosion cut off his words. The floor beneath them shuddered violently, and chunks of ceiling rained down around them. Amaya cried out as a piece of debris struck her shoulder, sending her stumbling.

Xavier was there in an instant. He wrapped his arms around her, shielding her body with his own as more of the ceiling collapsed. They huddled together while dust and debris swirled around them, the sound of destruction drowning out everything else.

When the rumbling finally subsided, she was pressed tightly against his chest, face buried in the crook of his neck. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart—or was it her own?—as adrenaline coursed through her system.

Slowly, carefully, he loosened his hold, pulling back just enough to look at her. “Are you all right?”

She nodded, unable to find her voice. Their faces were inches apart, and she suddenly became acutely aware of every point of contact between their bodies. The heat of his skin, the strength of his arms still encircling her, and the intensity of his gaze all combined to create a dizzying rush of sensation.

Without thinking, Amaya surged forward, closing the distance between them. Her lips met his in a fierce, desperate kiss. With a low growl, he responded, pulling her even closer as he deepened the kiss.

Time seemed to stand still as they clung to each other, the chaos around them forgotten. When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily. Amaya’s heart raced, but for once, her mind was blissfully quiet. No overthinking and no anxiety—just the raw, primal feeling of being alive.

“When this is over... when we’re safe... I want more. I want you.” She met his gaze as a newfound confidence surged through her. “If you’re ready to get physical, that is.”

Xavier’s human eye widened slightly, while his cybernetic one whirred as it processed her words. “Amaya, I—”

Another explosion rocked the building, cutting off his response. Reality came crashing back, reminding them of the danger they were still in.

“We need to move,” he said, his tone shifting back to that of a skilled warrior. “Can you walk?”

She nodded, pushing herself to her feet. Her legs were shaky, but she forced herself to stand tall. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”

As they navigated through the crumbling facility, her mind wouldn’t shut down. Part of her couldn’t believe what she’d just done—propositioning him so boldly. It was so unlike her usual cautious, reserved self, but it had felt right. Natural. As if in that moment of crisis, all her usual barriers had fallen away, leaving only her true desires exposed.

They navigated through smoke-filled corridors, avoiding falling debris and pockets of fire. Xavier took point, his enhanced senses alerting them to danger before it became visible. Amaya followed close behind, her earlier confidence slowly giving way to a gnawing worry. What if he didn’t feel the same way? What if she’d misread the situation entirely?

As they continued their escape, she was hyper-aware of his presence. Every time he touched her—guiding her around obstacles, or steadying her when she stumbled—sent a jolt of electricity through her body. She wondered if he felt it too, or if his cybernetic enhancements dulled such sensations.

They reached a junction where the corridor split into three directions. Xavier paused, his cybernetic eye scanning each path. “The east wing is completely blocked. We’ll have to take the long way around through the research labs.”

Amaya frowned. “The labs? But that’s where they keep the most volatile experiments. It could be dangerous.”

Xavier turned to her, his expression grim. “It’s our only option. Unless you’d prefer to stay here and wait for the building to collapse on us.”

She took a deep breath, steeling herself. “No, you’re right. Let’s go.”

As they entered the research wing, the air grew thick with acrid smoke. Strange, pulsing lights emanated from behind closed doors, accompanied by ominous hums and crackles. Amaya’s scientific curiosity warred with her survival instinct as they passed lab after lab.

Suddenly, a violent tremor shook the floor beneath them. She lost her footing, crying out as she fell. He reached for her but missed by inches. She hit the ground hard, pain shooting through her ankle.

“Amaya?” Xavier was at her side in an instant, hands gentle as they examined her injury. “Can you stand?”

---