I leave the house after having breakfast with mother. I don't put much thought into picking my skycar, we own too many of them. Choosing is unnecessary.

  I enter the apex at the gate. It was already prepared for my use; by humans of course. Only the regulars rely on AI for tasks that can be done by humans.

  Translucent blue panels bloom into view, lines of light threading together in front of me. The system assembles itself with quiet precision. The beast wakes.

  "Welcome aboard captain. All systems online." The AI says in a muffled robotic tone.

  "Alright, let's go to Nalanda University."

  "Understood, mapping route and estimating time."

  It takes 30 seconds for it to answer back. I think for that time.

  There's a critical task at hand now. I need to fake an infection test.

  I need someone to effectively separate me and blue on a biological level after taking my blood sample. This person has to work in the SCB and they must have enough clearance that they can change data or fake it all together. I'll have to ask for another favor.

  My vehicle takes me from my home to Uni too fast. 10 seconds. That’s all it takes to cross the city when you don’t share space with everyone else.

  The VIP channel has its benefits, namely minimal traffic and greater allowed speeds.

  Coincidentally, I meet Maya at the drop off location .

  The apex leaves me at the drop and then goes to the parking lot.

  "Sup' !" exclaims Maya.

  "Come from home ?"

  "Sure did, you too right ?"

  I nod.

  "A nice ride you had." She says.

  "Oh that was nothing special."

  "It's a vector right ?"

  "Vector Apex."

  "That is special." She says matter of factly.

  Then she stops for a second.

  She looks towards the direction the car went away.

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  "Hmmm, Ananta ?"

  Here we go.

  "What ?"

  "I'm bored."

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The infection test rests at the back of my mind. Timing matters now.

  The apex stands before me again. I analyze the car again that Maya pointed out its supposed 'specialty'.

  Maya starts blabbering," A matte black, angular craft, low-profile, with segmented plating. Thin cyan lines run along the body, dark until the engine spins, then they ignite faintly. Multiple small thrusters adjust constantly, emitting brief flashes as it stabilizes. The air behind it ripples as it decelerates.

  It doesn’t glide.

  It cuts through space."

  "Alright just shut up and get in."

  "And on the orders of its owner, the beast opens its mouth."

  "Excellent narration, wait for a moment."

  I get in the car and enable admin mode. I turn on some advanced VPNs to anonymize my movements. Consequently, I tell it to enter companion mode.

  The previous all black background lights up a bit and turns into a very light blue. The seat expands and the steering escapes into the vehicle.

  "Come in."

  The car hums as she enters.

  "Whoooo."

  "Are you comfortable ?"

  "You can count on it."

  "Where to Ma'am ?"

  "Let's just go to the outskirts of the city for now. Use the normal channels and take some time."

  "Alright."

  I order the AI to take us to the location and turn off all interior sensors for privacy.

  Light filters in from the windshield as the skycar starts hovering. I catch Maya looking outside.

  I notice her for the first time in a while. Maya has a clear, even skin tone and sharply defined features, with high cheekbones and a clean jawline that catches light clearly. Her eyes are slightly narrowed at rest, giving her a calm but assessing look. Her hair is always controlled, framing her face cleanly, and her posture is naturally composed.

  She looks back at me with those hazel cougar eyes.

  She teases playfully, " I would be staring too if someone looked like that. "

  I do not react, I only smile.

  We hold eye contact for a few moments as progressively more yellow light comes in.

  To my surprise, she leans in slightly. I flinch .

  She doesn’t stop at the edge of my space.

  She moves into it, slow enough to notice, deliberate enough that it isn’t accidental. The distance between us closes until I can feel the warmth of her breath before she even speaks.

  “The goddess of love sends regards.”

  The words brush against my ear, but it’s not the meaning that settles first.

  It’s the proximity.

  Before I can respond, her lips find mine.

  This isn't Maya.

  There’s no hesitation in her. No uncertainty. She doesn’t test the moment, she takes it. The contact is firm, almost invasive, like she’s already decided how far this goes.

  For a brief second, I don’t move.

  Then I respond.

  My hand tightens against the seat as she presses closer, her weight shifting into me, controlling the angle, controlling the pace. The interior adjusts automatically, the seat flattening beneath me as I’m pushed back.

  She doesn’t give space.

  I forget caution. Impulse finds me, I let it.

  My hands slide along her thighs and find her waist. I pull her closer.

  Her hand grips the collar of my shirt, pulling me into her as her mouth deepens the kiss, not soft nor restrained. Her tongue presses into mine.

  There’s a taste.

  Sweet at first.

  Then thicker.

  Lingering in a way it shouldn’t.

  My thoughts begin to drag behind the moment, like something is slowing the distance between impulse and reaction. I want her even more.

  She pulls away just as I lean into it. Too soon.

  I follow instinctively, but she’s already shifted, sitting over me now, her weight settled against my torso, looking down as if she’s already taken what she wanted.

  Her expression isn’t flustered.

  It isn’t uncertain.

  It’s satisfied.

  And that’s when it clicks.

  The warmth spreading through my chest isn’t just from proximity.

  It’s chemical.

  I welcome it.