04-11-2025, 12:05 PM
Dorian growled. "Really? Nox. You had to say that?"
"It's the truth and it shouldn't be hidden."
Dorian sighed. "These men aren't trained to handle this kind of danger."
"I know. But they need to know the danger. And I'm not here as a consultant." Nox looked at Dorian with one of those looks that said this was more than just doing his job -- he was protecting family. His sense of family was too strong, but that was probably why Ana and Cruz loved him as much as they did. He was family and Dorian had fucked up their relationship by betraying him. He'd fucked up a lot more with that single action, and now he was paying for it.
But that didn't matter now. Dorian filled Nox in on what he knew. Nox nodded along and listened by he seemed distracted with whatever was going on in his HUD. Dorian didn't know when he'd started wearing the contacts, but it was obvious he was distracted. "Wicked helping out?"
Nox turned his attention to Dorian with a wry smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Something like that. He gave me an AI assistant so I wouldn't have to bug him all the time. Can do most of what he did without needing his assistance."
Dorian shook his head. "You have always been braver than I am. I wouldn't trust that kid farther than I could through him."
Nox looked at Dorian and frowned. "Calling the kettle black aren't we?" He didn't say it with any feeling, or even any anger, it was just what it was and the sarcasm was not lost on Dorian even if there hadn't been any in his tone. Nox was busy but he was off.
"What's wrong?"
Nox shook his head and turned to walk outside. "Nothing you need to worry about. Ana can fill you in. I need to go."
Dorian watched Nox walk back outside and he followed him to the entrance doors and watched as the tall lanky kid stood talking to himself and waiting -- what was he waiting for? He saw the other man walk up and nodded knowingly. He was waiting on backup. At least he was that smart today.
"It's the truth and it shouldn't be hidden."
Dorian sighed. "These men aren't trained to handle this kind of danger."
"I know. But they need to know the danger. And I'm not here as a consultant." Nox looked at Dorian with one of those looks that said this was more than just doing his job -- he was protecting family. His sense of family was too strong, but that was probably why Ana and Cruz loved him as much as they did. He was family and Dorian had fucked up their relationship by betraying him. He'd fucked up a lot more with that single action, and now he was paying for it.
But that didn't matter now. Dorian filled Nox in on what he knew. Nox nodded along and listened by he seemed distracted with whatever was going on in his HUD. Dorian didn't know when he'd started wearing the contacts, but it was obvious he was distracted. "Wicked helping out?"
Nox turned his attention to Dorian with a wry smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Something like that. He gave me an AI assistant so I wouldn't have to bug him all the time. Can do most of what he did without needing his assistance."
Dorian shook his head. "You have always been braver than I am. I wouldn't trust that kid farther than I could through him."
Nox looked at Dorian and frowned. "Calling the kettle black aren't we?" He didn't say it with any feeling, or even any anger, it was just what it was and the sarcasm was not lost on Dorian even if there hadn't been any in his tone. Nox was busy but he was off.
"What's wrong?"
Nox shook his head and turned to walk outside. "Nothing you need to worry about. Ana can fill you in. I need to go."
Dorian watched Nox walk back outside and he followed him to the entrance doors and watched as the tall lanky kid stood talking to himself and waiting -- what was he waiting for? He saw the other man walk up and nodded knowingly. He was waiting on backup. At least he was that smart today.