"Ahh, money and kept promises.", Aurore chirped as Kurt informed her about the payment that would hit her account within the next twenty four hours. "Two of my three favourite things..."

Intrigued, one of his eyebrows rose. The question already lay on the tip of his tongue but he kept it in, didn't ask. With a soft sigh, you rolled your eyes.

Considering what type of woman she was, the answer was quite obvious.

With your arms crossed in front of your chest you sat next to him on the curved couch. On the coffee table stood a bottle of vodka, one of Kurt's favourite drinks.

"To celebrate business well done.", he had said.

Aymeric didn't drink so his sister had taken the shot for him. You didn't feel like drinking either. Not in this moment.

Almost nervous, you let your gaze wander to the gigantic window front. Soft red light emerged from the depths. Songbird was in position, preparing Cynosures mainframe for extraction.

It was odd to say but so close to your goal you kind of turned worrisome. As if she could still fuck you over even though the conditions literally could not be better.

Your grip tightened around the small box that Kurt had given you the night before. You hadn't looked at it. Not yet.

It was supposed to be a treat once all of this was over.

"So Mi!", pleased about things going smooth this far, Kurt greeted the netrunner as she set foot into the lounge.

You exchanged a quick glance with her, nodded. Her eyes were darker than they used to be, heavier. She seemed tired but made a great show of hiding it.

"Everything's ready.", Songbird said and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

She breathed rather heavily.

Pleased, Kurt opened his arms.

"As agreed, one of you will stay with me while the other feeds in the access code.", he said and turned to the twins.

"Oh, I will stay.", Aurore placed a hand on your leg as if the two of you were lifelong friends. "I've got a question or two about your new obsession, Lady Sapphire!"

She winked and practically pierced the small box in your hands with her gaze. If there was one thing to be appreciated about her it was the enthusiasm for everything.

It almost made you smile. Almost.

"I'll be going then.", Aymeric rose from his seat.

So Mi was about to follow him as her steps suddenly faltered.

"One second.", you rose from your seat, walked up to her and pulled a chip from your neck. "It won't fix anything. But it will buy time."

With a smile, you pressed it into her hand. There was no point in forcing it onto her. But the option to choose was a gesture of good will from you.

For a brief second she eyed the gift. And without hesitation inserted it. Red flickered in the brown of her eyes. Sighing, she let her head fall back.

"Thanks.", she gifted you a brief smile and glued herself to Aymeric's heel.

The door sealed shut and you were left with a beating heart and the childish hope that she'd be convinced enough to keep her end of the deal.

Swallowing hard, you turned away and joined Kurt and Aurore at the window. Below, So Mi and Aymeric started to get to work.

The Frenchman was already connected to Cynosure. Songbird assisted to extract the core. An electric crackle filled the tense silence.

Your fingers wrapped around the box. It was ridiculous how much you wanted this. Like nothing ever before.

Chucking, Aurore bumped her hips into yours. Confused, you eyed her as she reached out and did a gesture with her hands.

She wanted the box.

"Just a quick peak~!", she chirped with a charming smile and winked at Kurt. "I want to see if the colonel has as good a taste in jewellery as he has in women."

A confident smirk tugged at the corners of Kurt's lips. With a quick glance exchanged, he nodded to encourage you.

Down in the lab, red light flickered. So Mi started to twist the mainframe of Cynosure. The screens nearby picked up a change in temperature.

She sweated.

Aymeric seemed focused. Red filled the usually yellow of his eyes. He curled his lips while working as if his mouth needed to move with his thoughts.

You handed Aurore the box.

Giggling like a little girl on Christmas Eve, she turned to face you so that you wouldn't be able to see the inside and gently lifted the lid.

A spark lit up in her eyes. Eyebrows rose.

"Oh la la, comme c'est impressionnant!", she breathed with a broad smile, her gaze jumping to you. "This is... just so fitting for you. Oh yes, I love it. It's... you. Impressive. Elegant. Something to kill for."

Aymeric moved behind the window. His eyes flinched, flickered. Then the normal colour returned. And all at once he reached down to use the number pad.

A sharp breath got stuck in your throat.

Aurore let the lid of the box fall shut. It made a snapping sound, drawing your attention back to her. With a generous smile she handed you back your belonging.

"Alas, let me and mon frère make you a nice gift. Comment dit-on? To congratulate the lucky couple."

All of a sudden the emergency light went on. Red flooded the lounge. The critical state of temperature was reached.

Torn from this short moment of normality, you pushed Aurore away from the window to look what was going on.

So Mi was on the verge of collapsing. The brown of her eyes shimmered in an uneven red, flickered and twisted. Breathing heavily, she hung over the metal cocoon of Cynosure.

Aymeric had backed away. Sweat shimmered on his forehead as he threw an uncomfortable glance up to his sister to seek for a solution for this mess.

Your eyes narrowed.

In her trembling hands, So Mi held a chip. A relic, to be exact.

The mainframe of Cynosure.