GivenUpOnTrying

Gone Too Soon

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 25 in Binary Bonds

It's weird, standing over the barely conscious body of my father figure. I can't remember that much about my parents, just how they died. It's weird how different the things I feel now are from what I felt then. There's no anger in my heart, no sorrow, not even pity. Just relief....

Showdown

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 24 in Binary Bonds

Once Azure has had enough hugging... Or at least enough to satisfy her for the current situation, we scramble to regroup. I double back and locate one of the guards I stunned on the way in and then liberate him of his trousers, belt, and boots. It's not exactly dignified, but rig...

Another Castle

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 23 in Binary Bonds

This is pathetic. I guess they put all the real fighters upstairs, the ones left down here barely know how to hold a gun. I figure they wouldn't have put her in any old holding cell. From what little Lux could get from their communications, it seems like they're keeping Azure in...

All Out War

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 22 in Binary Bonds

My AV departs, and I stand in front of the precinct. I used to be so proud of this place. I mean, I hated the people, the red tape, the bullshit politics, basically everything... But I still felt joy when I looked at this building. I feel no joy now. The usual hustle and bustle o...

Sins of the Father

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 21 in Binary Bonds

When I was kicked out of the army I was on the streets of Neonfall with no money, no family, and no plan. Just the clothes on my back and a chip on my shoulder. Until Thomas Ludd found me. He's the one that recommended I join the police. He mentored me. He stood up for me. Maybe...

For the Truth

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 20 in Binary Bonds

I observe the old man carefully. There's no doubt this is Methus. Where has he been? What happened at the lab? What is Azure? This is crazy. All this time, and he just wanders into my loft? Wait, I know I reactivated the security before I got drunk, partly hoping it'd shoot me an...

Walk the Abyss

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 19 in Binary Bonds

Pour, drink. Pour, drink. I repeat it over and over again. I don't know how many bottles I've gone through. I bought a couple of dozen from the bar. Probably blew my credit up. Who cares? What does it matter? I'm done. I have nothing left to give. I wasted it all on a woman who l...

The Storm

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 18 in Binary Bonds

"Set down." Azure suddenly mutters, as if suddenly timid. "I said, set down. Now!" She yells. I hit the console to trigger a landing, and we set down on top of a nearby building. Azure gets out, beginning to pace back and forth. Her eyes flash from red to yellow to pale grey. I...

The Calm

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 17 in Binary Bonds

A strange thing happens when I wake the next day. I'm up before Azure. I stand from the bed and throw on my underwear and tank top. I also make the mistake of looking back at her. She looks so unassuming when she's sleeping, her gentle breaths barely disturbing the sheets coverin...

Regroup

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 16 in Binary Bonds

We arrive back at my place with more questions than we had when we left. I wish I could have gotten more. I should have checked his mouth, but I mean... Come on. That's spy shit. Fictional spy shit at that. Whoever came up with it is a sick fucker. Lux sent the body to a contact...

Relief

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 15 in Binary Bonds

I've learnt a few things over the last few days. Firstly, Azure's cycle seems to have synched to mine exactly. How does that make any fucking sense? Why would her body work like that? No fucking clue. Secondly, while I tend to get pissed off during my time of the month, rightly s...

Embrace It

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 14 in Binary Bonds

I don't know which of us begins the kiss, but I do know that I have no intention of breaking it. Even when I sit up, I keep kissing her. When I stand, I keep kissing her. When I pick her up into my arms and carry her to my bed, I keep my lips locked to hers. I feel Azure's arms w...

Viscerally

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 13 in Binary Bonds

There's a certain code to working with informants. I know how it must look, I'm the bully, the one demanding everything and giving nothing back. Maybe that's true, but it comes with an implicit responsibility. A responsibility to that informant that, no matter what, you'll back t...

Brick Wall

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 12 in Binary Bonds

"That's bullshit!" I roar, slamming my hands on the chief's desk. We'd come straight to the precinct after breakfast, and soon after arriving I was summoned to this office by the chief. Only to be given an update that I definitely had not been anticipating. "My CI named the compa...

Shut Down

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 11 in Binary Bonds

It was a moment of weakness, okay, maybe several moments. I am only human, unlike Azure. That's right, she's an AI, she knows all sorts of psychological tricks, probably. That's what it was, a trick. Last night was a trick. I didn't have the best sex of my life, I didn't fall asl...

Bonus- Interdimensional Q&A

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 60 in Life's Too Simple

Bonus- Interdimensional Q&A

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 63 in Life's Too Simple

Rufus 1: So you thought it was a good idea to fuck... Literally our entire family? Rufus 2: Look, it escalated, I admit, but I didn't fuck every last one. Garnet: This wasn't the fucking plan. Rufus 1: What's wrong with her? Rufus 2: Don't worry about it. Poppy 2: You know,...

Epilogue

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 62 in Life's Too Simple

**2043 – Marie's Farewell** "You ready?" Sienna asks me, standing by her bike. "You said bye to your parents? Trish and Rouge will chase us down if they haven't had their heartfelt goodbye." I snort at her assertion. "Mum, maybe, but my mother would be more insulted than upset....

Unexpectedly

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 10 in Binary Bonds

I slam the doors after we enter my loft as Azure wanders around without a care in the world. This just makes me angrier. I've never understood the idea of hate sex, it's usually the people I can at least stand a little bit that I want to fuck... But I'll make an exception tonight...

Reconciliation

by GivenUpOnTrying

Chapter 61 in Life's Too Simple

Pulling up to the house gives me a mix of nerves and excitement. Andi's gotta be waiting for us, but we don't know how she's going to be. Mum doesn't seem in a hurry to tell us, I think she's using it to punish us for getting arrested... I suppose we're getting off lightly in tha...