"So now what, She-u? We play your slaves?" He sounded angry and I couldn't tell if the car engines were causing all the shaking I was feeling or if it was Goliath trying to keep himself from springing on me. Did he want to hurt me and the green dragon's power wasn't letting him?
I sighed again; it had been a long day already. "Well you have a few choices actually. I think you should at least do the one I said but I won't make you. If you would like, tell me a place to drop you off and I will. If anyone asks, I will tell them you started another mission for me. The state reps won't like it but I own most of them anyway. If you want to be able to stay in contact and use some of my resources you will have to at least do the one week and fade away, thing. Yet if you actually want to do the positions I assigned you that could easily be done as well. 2-bit I can promise the job I am offering you will stay on earth and no active will be able to take it even if you out live me. If you don't like the work I can move you around as I see fit. Which isn't much better but at least you have a choice." I decided to was easier to look at 2-bit than Goliath right now, even if 2-bit did make my skin crawl a bit.
"What?" It was hard not to roll my eyes at the small man. Which what did he mean?
"What do I want you to do if you stay with me?" 2-bit nodded. "Oh, there is so much I need done. How about managing the security of my home system so that I don't have to rely on the AI as much? If that doesn't keep you busy enough, there is my business integrated system and net front that I need someone I can trust monitoring. There are any number of program improvements that I need done for the virtual and augmented interfaces as well if the others don't interest you." 2-bit's eyes stayed focused on my chest as I talked. I got that eye contact was probably hard for him, but I felt like I needed to cover my chest with him staring. I was glad I was wearing a full body suit now instead of the black lingerie thing I had been rescued in.
"Loses?"
I was beginning to miss the two word responses. "No one will lose their position if they are putting in the effort. They won't even get a pay cut even if they end up working for you instead of running the department."
"Goliath."
I smiled at 2-bit but he turned his head so that now he was staring out the window as buildings flew by getting smaller as we headed out of the city. The dark windows only let me make out vague shapes of the buildings. "He is my bodyguard, and I would like to be selfish and keep him with me, but if I cannot do that and he still wanted to work for me, I could assign him to you. Especially if you are going security. Working closely with me will probably mean that I need to assign you a guard anyway. Unless you just stay at my house all the time. It is big enough that you might not notice, if you just stay there."
2-bit didn't look back at me, just watched out the window. Goliath had calmed down a bit at my answer but I didn't want to take my eyes off of 2-bit for fear of what I might find in Goliath's eyes. "You want me to stay with you then?"
His voice was soft when he spoke and it got my attention. His eyes were hard and focused, but he didn't seem as angry. Had he been angry because he thought I was going to toss him aside now? He is the green dragon warrior; I don't think I can get rid of him lightly. If I get too far from him, it might risk me dying. Or was he afraid I was going to tie him tightly to me and he wouldn't be able to accomplish his own goals?
"If you want to. I know it might be strange for you since I am not going to start by tying you to a bed naked. Of course I will make you change clothes unless we are staying in. Then again I might have a copy of the clothes you gave me made; they were comfortable for laying around." I was trying to be funny, but I wasn't able to keep looking at Goliath as I talked. At least my voice stayed sure and strong.
Goliath growled at me, and I focused on him again. I felt my heart speed up a pace, but I could tell if it was a fear response or something else that caused the change as I looked into Goliath's eyes. "You must have done something to me, Purple. I will stay with you as long as you wish. Everything else I will work out later." I couldn't keep from smiling at Goliath. He shook his head at my expression and stood to move into the seat next to mine. There was an arm rest between us but he put it up as he moved. He buckled me and then himself. "Seatbelts are a must if you ride with me, She-u. Now you look absolutely beat. Get some sleep, I will watch over you."
I lauded my head against his shoulder and curled my feet under me on the chair. It wasn't comfortable but I forgot about 2-bit being in the car as well and was out in just a few moments. Goliath wasn't so mad at me then. He was more worried that we would have been separated. That was sweet. My green dragon knight.