Goro Takemura x Reader

Twenty-Six

As Takemura returned to the car he seemed displeased. Or at least unsatisfied by the outcome of this meeting.

With a deep sigh you unplugged your device from the car and let a moment of silent grow between the two of you.

His hands wrapped around the wheel though he did not turn on the car nor did he seemed like he wanted to start driving.

Instead, his eyes glowed red. He called someone.

"Arasaka-sama.", his voice struck you by surprise as it suddenly filled the silence.

How raspy it was, with this low undertone of pride. Like the voice of a soldier. A samurai who'd kill everyone and everything if it meant keeping his master safe.

How many sacrifices would he be willing to make?

And what sacrifice would be too big for him to commit to?

A few moments passed in which Takemura did not speak. He listened instead and it made you curious about what he had to listen to. Your father probably had quite some wisdoms to share.

Or complaints. Either way, Takemura wasn't in a place to talk.

His eyes moved sometimes. Eyebrows drew together and wrinkles appeared on his forehead.

You noticed a shadow in his eyes, a pained expression of failure that was quickly replaced by frustration.

Your hand twitched and you dared to place it on his. Loosely though, so that he'd be able to shake it off if he pleased.

However, his next action surprised you.

His hand flinched and at first it seemed like he wanted to pull away. But instead his fingers wrapped around yours to hold onto them.

Despite the metal of his cyberware his hands were warm to the touch and, besides the metal, quite soft. You wondered how it would feel like to let him grab your cheek and push yourself into his embrace.

Would he be as gentle as he appeared to be?

"I understand.", he said and let his eyes wander over to you. "Yes. I will, Arasaka-sama."

His eyes turned white again.

All of a sudden his hand on yours seemed to get a different kind of meaning. Instead of a simple sign of trust or affection it now felt like he tried to keep a hold on you. He didn't want to risk that you could slip away from his reach no more.

Your gazes met and a mutual agreement was made.

He wanted to take you to Arasaka Tower. To work on fulfilling your duties.

You wanted to remain by his side and figure out how to get to your new goal, capture one of the mercenaries to have a new host in which Yorinobu's psyche could rest until you found a better solution.

Even though it was odd, Takemura knew that there was no way arguing with you. Maybe it was the experience that came with being a bodyguard to the head of the Arasaka family. Or he just remembered how stubborn you had been as a child.

Either way, he agreed to postpone his own mission in order for you to pick up work again. He had his priorities straight.

You admired that.

"Fine.", you let out a deep breath, closed your eyes and leaned back in your seat. "Take me to the tower."

Startled, the guards straightened their backs and chased through the halls as they noticed who climbed up the stairs of the entrance hall.

You did not bother exchange a few words of etiquette with the ladies at the desk. You had a universal permission to enter any kind of property and restricted areas that were under the influence of Arasaka.

The door to the elevator swung open with a soft ding. You entered, but did not before throwing a glance over your shoulder to check how the people reacted to your presence.

You disliked to be seen around the official locations of the corporation. Employees tended to turn giddy and didn't concentrate on their work no more.

And you wouldn't have been surprised if some kind of tabloid asked for an interview with you in the next few hours.

You had more pressing matters on your mind.

"What is your security clearance?", you asked Takemura while your fingers drew lines over the elevators interface.

"The second highest.", he positioned himself behind you and crossed his hands.

His shoulders were straight, almost tense. He really couldn't show any form of fatigue or exhaustion. It would have been an invite for an attack.

And he did not want that. Neither for his nor your sake.

The elevator moved down, so low, that you could feel the temperature shift. Goosebumps crawled over your arms.

Pressure changed and a bit of a headache pressed down on your temples. The air didn't taste the same no more as you breathed in.

It wasn't the same level of oxygen no more. Your lungs felt pressured, pushed together and tight. Breathing got heavier. Mechanisms kicked in and the small room was flooded with freshly filtered air.

Your eyes jumped over your shoulder.

All this time he did not show a single sign of change. He was like a rock at the shore on which the waves parted before they were allowed to wet the land beyond.

The doors swung open and a room of black metal and red light appeared before your eyes. Immediately, a cold shiver crawled down your spine.

Arasaka had many secrets but one of the best kept ones was their underground facilities. Night City had strict laws when it came to buildings and certain purposes of tech.

So Arasaka had found a loophole. This lab was so deep under the surface that it didn't count as a tech facility no more.

It was a mine. Filled with all the kind of stuff that made the corporation the biggest around. It harboured all of the newest netrunner equipment, chairs for deep diving the net and research to restore the old net.

Nowhere else could this amount of the old world be found. Everything was at the palm of Arasaka's hands.

Just like the biochip that you were programming.