"I would offer to stay in case of complications, but the bed is too small for a man your size, Colonel.", you took a sip of the vodka with a challenging smirk.

The alcohol burned in your throat, quenching the dryness only to start a fire. Kurt rolled his right shoulder, letting all his fingers take hold before he could be sure that his arm was still under his control.

The killswitch lay on the box next to him, the silver light of the moon fading the red lettering.

So you had one of those things in your body too. Now the only question was where. The last time you'd done a checkup, the system hadn't been able to tell you where enough of the interference was coming from that was throttling some of your potentials.

Four's algorithm had suppressed the signal, but you weren't sure how well this method would work. Suddenly doubts arose. Red light flickered in your eyes. Reports passed in your field of vision. Then you let Four and Three run a check together.

Just to be on the safe side.

Inhaling sharply, you grabbed the back of your neck and rubbed the skin, which felt strangely warm. The movement caught the colonel's attention. With a sober expression and raised eyebrows, he looked at your face, let out a snort through his nose and then leant forward, resting his arms on his thighs.

"I'll sleep on the floor.", he said without hesitation and smirked at you.

You frowned in confusion.

"Dogs sleep on the floor, next to their master's beds.", you said. "I think it would be wiser not to submit to me. It'd only ruins your character."

He chuckled, more easily amused by the alcohol but also amused by the comparison.

"I have no problem being a guard dog.", he replied playfully. "Given my rewards are good."

Your eyes narrowed. He'd put it so casually that you almost missed that he wasn't referring to pleasing you.

"Hmmm~?", a smile curled your lips. "Yes, I think shared achievements would be appropriate. Since we're already benefiting from each other, why not continue the success?"

He hummed in agreement, slumped back in his chair and spread his legs. He was really tall, so he shoved his feet under the bed to make room.

"Now that I'm a free man, I won't be punished for disobeying orders either.", he twisted his right arm.

The cyberware was running like clockwork. You had tightened a few more screws, made sure everything was clean and smooth. Now this prosthesis moved with such suppleness that it could have been an attached limb.

"As soon as you set foot in the camp again, you'll have to answer for it.", you sighed and closed your eyes.

"If I return.", he hinted with raised eyebrows.

The corners of your mouth twitched. You couldn't suppress a snort.

"I wouldn't have taken you for a deserter, Colonel.", you chirped teasingly.

His expression darkened. His forehead furrowed, he crossed his arms in front of his chest. A growl made his throat vibrate.

"The leadership of this country is fucked.", he said, and there was not an ounce of remorse in his words. "And they won't care either."

"But you?"

"For my men, as long as they are loyal."

"And then what?", curiously, you opened one eye to look at him.

Your eyes met.

"Whistler, you seem to me to have the clearest mind on the matter of all here."

A laugh escaped your throat. It was a loud, bright laugh, honest to the core. And full of mockery.

"My dear Colonel, I've been told many things, but not that I have a sound mind.", you chuckled.

Kurt shifted in his seat. Then he smiled. It was strange, but the way his lips opened slightly was somehow tender, affectionate.

"And yet we're of the same opinion that Myers can go fuck herself.", he breathed, the expression in his white eyes brimming with enthusiasm.

Your eyes darkened.

"That whore can dangle upside down from a bridge.", you growled.

The enthusiasm was now fully evident on his face.

"And we could do so much more with this country. No rules, no taxes. Gambling and profit as far as the eye can see. Dust and concrete could become an empire."

A lightning bolt coursed through your body, causing goose bumps to grow on your arms. A shaky breath squeezed out from between your slightly parted lips. How excited you were. How ecstatic you suddenly felt.

What kind of power did this man have?

And why couldn't you help but grin at the thought and sight of him?

"Beautiful fantasies.", your voice was a little hoarse when you found the words again. "And how are you going to do that? There is a war going on."

"Night City is a place like no other, a bottomless pit."

"One crawls into holes."

"And we will build bunkers in em, powerful, undiscovered. Profitably."

You bared your teeth, sharp fingernails dug into your arms.

So much enthusiasm. So much anticipation.

When was the last time you felt something like this?

You wanted all his words to become reality. It sounded like so much fun. Like something you would like.

Grinning, Kurt made a gesture of framing everything around you.

"We are at war.", he repeated so confidently, so full of irony. "Weapons and goods everywhere. And if not a black market in Night City, then where?"

Trembling, you grit your teeth.

That mad bastard. As soon as he no longer had a leash around his neck, he was already planning to bite the hand that was feeding him.

Shit, maybe you had made a mistake. Maybe it had been stupid to plunge Kurt Hansen into corruption with you.

Because even if you hated to admit it, you thought you were falling in love with the bastard at that exact moment.

Who, if not him?

This man was not like others. He was sneaky, versatile. The mask of the simple soldier had fallen and what had emerged made you squeal like a child.

A tyrant.

Another trembling breath left your lips. Slowly you leant forward, your eyes locked firmly together.

"What do you think?", he asked delicately.

You smiled sweetly at him.

"I think you should sleep here with me tonight.", you whispered back bewitchingly.