Goro Takemura x Reader

Forty-Two

There was displeasure on his face as Goro finally found a corner that he seemed safe enough to put you down for a few moments.

The ground was cold while the air seemed to be on fire. The beating system was running overtime since the air conditioning had shut down to push the building into emergency mode.

As soon as his hands left you, Goro pulled out a pistol from behind his back and checked how many rows he had.

Not enough, judging by the look on his face.

"I will take a look around.", he said as he grabbed your chin to make you look him in the eyes. "The intruders shoulder be around here. Maybe they are cutting off our way out."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. It was barely large enough to fit into the palm of your hand as he made you wrap your fingers around it.

"Keep it safe.", he said. "And when danger arises, use it."

"How?", you felt the urge to walk with him.

"There is a button. It will shock all kinds of cyberware within a few meters. It should be enough time to retreat."

"But... that would endanger you too."

He did not answer. But you could feel how he confirmed it. That was reason enough for you not to use it unless you'd find yourself held at gunpoint. Perhaps not even then.

Again, he wanted to slip away and do what he was trained to do. But once more your hand reached out to grab him by the sleeve.

A hint of annoyance appeared on his face. He didn't voice it but this was a situation of danger and your behaviour did not help.

"Goro.", you needed to find the right words, unable to explain why you said what you were about to say. "The mercenaries are here. My kidnappers."

"I know.", he replied dryly. "And I intend to punish them."

"Don't. I mean... at least one of them... I'd like to... I- I don't know how to make this sound logical."

Unsure, his eyebrows knitted together and for a brief second he seemed worried that the shock had shifted and now made your mind go blank.

His hands found your face and held it with the utmost care. Your eyes met.

"I will explain everything to you once were are down here, I promise.", you caressed his cheek, desperately trying to burn the feeling of his skin into your brain. "But you need to spare them. Keep them alive. Capture them, please. It will all make sense, I promise."

Doubt was written all over his face. It was obvious that Goro wasn't able to make any sense of it. But he did not question the request. There was too little time for that.

With his lips pressed into a thin line, he dared to caress your cheek one last time and parted with a nod.

LIf I'm not back in ten minutes, try and make it up on your own.", he pointed down the hallway. "There is a door. You will feel some air coming from above."

"I won't go without you."

"(Y/N).", he was so serious as he looked down on you, dressed in all black while stains of red covered his face. "This is not logical. You need to go. That is what I want."

Something inside your chest pulled together. But you as you swallowed hard you gave him a nod. Only then did he turn on his heel and disappeared towards the noise of the fight.

You hated it but he was right. You wouldn't be of any help to him. He had been made for fighting. You didn't even know how to hold a weapon properly. And your body wouldn't be able to survive a shooting either.

You were useless, quite literally. And yet, thinking about leaving him behind made your stomach twist.

Sucking in a sharp breath, you clutched the small device that he had given you and listened into the darkness. Sometimes shadows passed, not caused by humans but the equipment that shut down.

Every time a computer light faded and the red light of the alarm system crawled further into the rooms, you could tell that the emergency system was booting up the level of the threat.

The shrill screams of the sirens had turned into security announcements. After the fourth time repeating over the speakers you managed to follow it by heart.

"Please evacuate immediately.", you whispered together with the AI voice. "There is an immediate threat. The local police is notified. Do not panic."

Then the announcement repeated, in Japanese this time. With a sigh, you buried your face in the crook of your arm and tried to calm yourself.

It was cold yet the air seemed to get thin. Every breath tastes different from the next. You believed to breathe in the life that had been spilled all over the floor.

You didn't feel comfortable because of the noises. It was the silence that was the most unbearable thing. You had experienced this a few times, once as Hanako had let you in on the plan for Yorinobu. And the other time at your parents funeral.

But this didn't feel similar to either. This was more like you waiting till someone crossed your path and the red turned black forever.

Yet, despite the danger you were in, there was this pressing feeling that stabbed your chest whenever you dared to crouch along the wall, closer to the door that led to the emergency staircase.

You couldn't leave Goro behind. You didn't want to.

Realistically, you had nothing to offer him. No protection, no help. Just demands.

No, they weren't demands. You had asked him to do you a favour. And you wouldn't blame him if he wouldn't be able to fulfil it.

Even though he probably didn't know that. He expected disapproval when a task was failed. That was who he had been made into.

He served.

You wanted him to live though.

"Goro.", you breathed as your legs finally allowed you to walk again.