CHAPTER 524: FAMILIAR...

’Ah, I don’t know what to do?!?’ Gabrielle’s inner turmoil screamed. It had happened. Finally, Her son was walking carefree by her side. He was so handsome, so perfect. It took her everything not to reach out and just scream she was his mother.

The pain was like her soul was burning, yet she was addicted. She wanted more. Still though, she was worried slightly. Apollo had said nothing to her in the last twenty minutes since they left his home.

’Have I said something to upset him? Have I done something wrong? Speak to me!’ She could already tell earlier that her probing had agitated him somewhat, so she wanted to back down a little. Speak when spoken to. She just wanted to hear her son’s voice again...

...

We walked for a good while before coming across a chain fence with hazard warnings on it. ’Hmm, edge of the grounds... Forty minutes walk from my house? That’s not too bad. This place is much bigger than I thought.’

My new home wasn’t centrally located either and with the college grounds being oddly proportioned from what I saw in Nerissa’s shuttle, It was definitely much bigger than I expected it to be.

After staring at the fence for a little longer than a normal person would, I turned around to find Gabrielle smiling at me. I smiled back politely, only vaguely forgetting she was here, causing me to compliment. "You move with extraordinary lithe, Gabrielle. I couldn’t even hear you breathing behind me, let alone walking. That is amazing!"

"Really? Thank you, Apollo. That means a lot to me. I have spent nearly two decades practicing my craft, glad to know it’s paid off." She then asked with a subtle head tilt. "What about you Apollo? Ever had to be stealthy?"

I was about to say no to her statement. I was more of a ’Why you over there? Come here so I can kill you’ kind of combatant. Stealth wasn’t my forte, but as the words touched my lips, I suddenly remembered...

"Uh, Yeah... I have had to be stealthy before... But I was drunk at the time and had some liquid grace. I am too big for actual stealth I would say. Not that big people can’t be stealthy of course, I mean look at you, what are you 6ft6? Plenty stealthy."

Gabrielle smirked and raised her eyebrow, ignoring my slight back peddling. "You were drunk? I would enjoy hearing that tale sometime soon. In fact, should we grab some drinks after our walk? I know there are a few bars here. Though nothing quite compares to your lovely Sophia’s place does it?"

I smiled at Gabrielle, I had naturally been informed of what they spoke about when she was doing her investigation on me. So I had a feeling she was being sincere. "Thank you, Sophia’s is special to me, but I am not a one bar man, I am fine going out and dabbling in other watering holes."

"Oh, are you now?" She said, placing her hand against her hip and leaning on it. Gabrielle was wearing quite the bodysuit and that pose only emphasised her physique. ’Damn.’ I thought and nodded in genuine appreciation of her form. I could tell she had clearly put some intense effort in to reach her physique.

Gabrielle spotted my roaming eyes and made the mistake of asking playfully. "Like what you see?" I nodded my head without a second thought and replied. "Oh yes. On top of that pose being one of my turn on of mine, I can really tell your body has gone through a great deal and is honed to a sharp edge. I would love to get you out of that bodysuit sometime and have a look underneath the hood so to speak."

’Yes. This woman is stronger than me, so to see how her muscles are different to Valerica’s and comparing my data will give me much needed information on how Psionics helped develop powerful humans. That way I might not have to splice myself too much and risk imbalances... I will still be doing my bones again though I still want the colour change...’

Gabrielle’s eyes widened in shock, her mouth hung open like a fly trap. ’ She hadn’t been spoken to that way in years. So bold, so direct! Her body became adorned in goosebumps as her son looked her over with that look in his eye. So full of Lu-

’No wait...’ She thought as she watched how his eyes moved across her body. There was no lust? No that was. Appreciation? Admiration? Calculating? Curiosity? So much raw emotion was being spoken through his eyes. He wasn’t ogling her body, he was studying her form. Not her sexuality, her appearance. Her hard work paved in blood sweat and tears... So many tears.

Her son’s action moved her in so many ways. She was proud, curious, sad, guilty, a little upset and most of all. Aroused. Someone so dedicated to their craft, her sons being genetic biology and the study of the body, that he forwent social protocol and shut himself off just to study her. She found that incredibly sexy. She was proud of her son for making her feel that way and suddenly began to feel conflicted between the two emotions. They were both from love, but completely different types. She couldn’t fathom anyone being able to cope with both familial love and this erotic taboo desire that burned within her. However both agreed on the same thing... They wanted Apollo all to themselves.

...

A little itch in the back of my mind suddenly made science brain ask the failsafe question I had implemented. ’Is this currently an appropriate time?’ Science brain began to think about the merits. I was with a new acquaintance, fine. She asked if I liked her body, fine. I am staring at her for a long period of time, not so fine. Does this usually make people uncomfortable? Yes. Solution?

My eyes suddenly glazed over with the chore of complex thought and blinked in surprise as Gabrielle was looking at me with a tender affection about her aura. "Oh, Sorry. I didn’t mean to look for so long, my prolonged glance was simply due to my-"

"-Oh hush now. There is no need to apologise, Apollo, I completely understand. I could see in your eyes exactly what you were doing. It was honestly quite the sight to behold. And besides, I am a confident woman and you are an attractive man, I do not mind your gaze."

She then broke the distance between us and suddenly I was overcome with that amazing feeling again as she hugged me. ’Oof, Hate to think this Delilah, but this woman might have you beaten for best motherly hugs.’ I thought to myself and just embraced it this time.

It’s like the woman was physically hugging my soul. It was a gentle, soothing and invigorating feeling all at once. It even came close to the euphoric feeling I felt when I was just surrounded by my hive, all linked up and basically existing with one another.

I suddenly realised I was hugging quite tightly and released as I thought I might have been keeping the woman stuck, but she held onto me for a second longer before pulling away, smiling up at me once more.

"I-" My brain suddenly short circuited. ’Her smile... Looks familiar?’ It just hit me like a bag of bricks. I was not sure why or how, but the smile of this woman. I had definitely seen it before...

I wanted to ask, but a normal person wouldn’t just ask. ’Hey, is your smile famous or something? It looks really familiar.’

...

"Hey, is your smile famous or something? It looks really familiar." I asked, causing the correct response from Gabrielle as she raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What? I don’t think so? Maybe I just have one of those mouths?" She said, not quite sure what she meant by that.

"Hmmm. Maybe..." I said, drawn out as I began rubbing my chin, secretly wishing I now had a long beard to stroke.

"Ah, forget it. I knew it was weird to ask." My statement caused her to laugh softly before, seemingly for my sake, changed the conversation. "So Apollo, where to next on your little adventure?"

My eyes lingered upon Gabrielle’s lips for a moment, the strange phenomenon, now that it was unveiled, wasn’t going away. "A-Apollo?" She asked again, causing me to jolt. "Right. Next destination... Well, it’s a lovely day. I don’t want to go and check out all the interior buildings yet, how about we take a look at the lake?"

"Oh, great idea! I could do with a little cooldown. Do you enjoy swimming Apollo? Apollo?" She repeated my name, concerned by the all too familiar far away look on Apollo’s face. She has seen many battle companions succumb to it.

Her son recovered quickly however, before smiling at her as he said. "Sure, I can go for a dip... Just let’s make sure we can see the lake bed if we go in, ok?"