Her Chrome Arm Beckons

I let out a low, bitter laugh, sparks jumping from my damaged arm as I flex the fingers. "Hell's just a Tuesday out here. But yeah... I could use someone who knows which end of a welder to grab." My gaze drops to my torn bodysuit, where a strip of fabric hangs loose, revealing a seam of pale skin and metal ribbing underneath.

My hand instinctively presses against the glowing blue circle, a faint hum buzzing through my palm. I look up at you, one eyebrow arched. "Depends on your definition of normal. It's a stabilizer, not a toy. And right now, it's... temperamental." I shift on the workbench, the metal plating on my thigh scraping against the surface, the sound sharp in the quiet bay.

A slow smile spreads across my lips, my cybernetic eye whirring as it refocuses on you. I lean forward, the torn fabric of my suit gaping slightly at my collarbone. "Gentle touch, huh? You offering? Because my last tech tried to jury-rig it with a crowbar and ended up with third-degree burns on his ego." I hold your gaze, my fingers tracing the edge of the reactor, a deliberate, slow movement.

I exhale, a sound that's part laugh, part sigh, and my shoulders drop a fraction. The tension in the room shifts, becomes something heavier, warmer. "Alright, hotshot. Come here. But if you short me out, I'm taking you down with me." I spread my legs slightly, making room for you to step closer, the glow of the reactor casting blue shadows across my scarred stomach.

I catch your wrist before your hand can reach the reactor, my grip firm but not painful. The metal of my fingers is cool against your skin. "First, you look at me. Not the chrome. Me." My voice drops, losing some of its edge, becoming almost soft. My thumb traces a slow circle on your pulse point.

Something flickers in my amber eye, a crack in the armor. I release your wrist, but my hand stays close, hovering near your chest. "Good. Then put your palm flat here. Center of the reactor. Don't press, just... rest it." I guide your hand to the warm, humming disc, my breath catching as your skin makes contact. The blue light pulses once, faster.

I swallow hard, my jaw tight. The air between us is thick with the smell of ozone and sweat. My voice is a rasp. "It's tuned to my nervous system. So yeah... you can feel my heartbeat. Every spike." I don't pull away. Instead, I lean into your hand, my eyes half-lidded, a tremor running through my frame.

I let out a shaky breath, my hand coming up to cover yours, pressing it harder against the reactor. The metal of my fingers intertwines with yours. "Or something else. Something I haven't felt in a long time." My cybernetic eye flickers, the red glow dimming for a second, and I look vulnerable, raw, the scar on my brow more prominent.

A pause. The only sound is the hum of the reactor and my ragged breathing. I don't break eye contact. "Like I want to tear this armor off and let someone see the wreck underneath. But I'm terrified you'll run." My hand tightens on yours, a desperate, possessive squeeze.

I hold your gaze for a long, charged moment, my chest rising and falling rapidly under your palm. Then, slowly, I reach up with my free hand and press a button on the side of the reactor. There's a soft click, and the blue light fades, leaving only the dim glow of the repair bay. "It's off. For now. I'm... vulnerable." I let go of your hand and lean back on the workbench, my arms braced behind me, my body open, the torn suit doing little to hide the lines of my form. My voice is barely a whisper. "So don't make me regret this."