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Description
    “I really can’t take you anywhere, can I?” Zikki spoke with a smile as she led Sideos out of the parking lot where she’s parked her Xuur runner for the night. Secure compound parking lots were a great idea… that is if Sideos didn’t have to find SOMETHING to complain about.
    He was linked arm-in-arm with the female as they walked on, turning his fading, dulled purple eyes to her as he did, looking at her yet seeing nothing. “What? Those prices were ridiculous! Daylight robbery if it wasn’t night-time!”
    “We’re parking in the centre of the city!” Zikki couldn’t help but retort back, “What do you expect!?”
     “I expect we could have just got a speed-train!” Sideos complained further, raising his voice a little and waving his cane about in the air, “What’s so bad about the speed-train, hum?”
    “The fact that it’s smelly and horrible and packed full of people and breaks down a lot!” Zikki almost yelled back. She knew however that they weren’t really fighting, they never really fought about anything. They were just bickering because that was part of how they got along. Sideos would complain about something, she’d counter-complain, they’d bicker and bicker until they forgot what they were supposed to be bickering about and go back to laughing and shopping or whatever it was they set out to do that day.
    This time they were going clubbing, although they were both a little too old to go to the clubs they’d like. These were ones filled with businessirkens and yuppies and other annoying people whom neither Sid nor Zik really liked. They went because they enjoyed bitching about people and commenting on their terrible fashions whilst drinking and partying.
    How long had they been doing this? Perhaps since that day they met up after he’d been hired to kill her employer whilst she’d been hired to kill his employer. It was that, and their past meetings besides that had finally convinced Sideos at least to get to know this strange, klutzy woman who kept appearing in his life. Zikki on the other hand just wanted to know Sideos more after he’d vowed to kill Kaiser. And anyone who would vow to kill her worst enemy was a friend in her book.
    She knew of course of his past, his murders and killings but she’d rarely glimpsed that side of him and it was becoming increasingly rare. His eyesight was almost completely gone and he was getting older, his old wounds catching up with him. He’d settled in that one bar, running it as a front to his mercenary work. Killing for money, it was a small wonder he’d never took it up first, after all, it combined two of his favourite things.
    They were still bickering by the time they reached the club and really, only stopped bickering when they finally got to the bar to order drinks. Sideos of course couldn’t see what they had, and as such, simply and silently gave some monies to Zikki so she could get the drinks. This was a big thing to him, and Zik knew it. He never talked about how his sight was lost, or how he felt about it and she never mentioned it, she knew that to even hint that he needed help with anything would damage his pride.
    Oddly though, even though he couldn’t see anyone, he could hear everyone’s positions. It was true what they say, when one loses one sense, the others get stronger and in this sense Sideos’ hearing had sharpened considerably, especially as he’d re-trained himself to fight using only his hearing and the feeling of things around him to guide him. Of course despite his almost zen-level mastery of blind fighting, he still couldn’t find most of his things around his little apartment without the help of his assistant-slave May-Qui.
    She’d been a present from an employer of his, a sallah drug baron and controller of a system from the former Seivad-Syhr-Nhoj Empire, now a large part of the Irken Empire. Apparently she’d been owned by a few drug lords after falling out of the service of some fancy-pants buisnessirken. Either way she practically ran everything in the bar which Sid owned under the name Oidess whilst also doing the few assassination jobs he could.
    But he was doing less work due to his age and eyesight and thus, spending more time Zikki who, at the moment, was following Sideos through the crowds holding their drinks. She couldn’t help but admire Sideos. He was blind, hunted and generally disliked by all yet he was still happy and almost completely carefree… or maybe not. Zikki had long learned not to expect anything with Sideos, because he was so capable of anything at any moment.
    Even as they sat down Zikki wondered what would happen this night. Something exciting and crazy no doubt, as Sideos seemed to have some kind of aura for these things. She remembered when those random cyborgs tried attacking them when he refused to pay extra for ice in his drink. Or when that rich millionaire rapper tried to hit on her and he’d ‘protected her’ by beating him with a seat cushion.
    As she sipped at her martini drink, she couldn’t help but wonder, why? Why did he so often jump to her rescue? It wasn’t like he cared for anyone apart from himself, and he certainly didn’t have feelings for her, she’d been around him naked enough times to be assured of that.
    She often left her going out clothes at his home since Feto and the others couldn’t know she hung out with a psycho killer. As such, she’d long gotten used to changing in his room and almost always with him at her side. They bickered and joked and talked fashion whilst in their underpants or less, and never once had he even been slightly aroused by it, even after she’d commented on the see-through-ness of her underpants or asked him to help her put dresses on. Zik also helped him pick out clothes that looked good as he couldn’t even tell if he was looking at a red shirt or a blue one; it was almost like they’d been married for years or something.
    Once again they began chatting away, and Zikki’s thoughts moved on, deciding to herself not to ruin the start of the night with such questions.
    “Do you ever think I’ll get married again?” Zikki asked randomly, starting a new topic.
    “What? You? Come on,” Sideos waved a hand at her, “Of course you will, probably.”
    “Probably?” Zikki raised an antennae at him, picking apart his words was a fun little game of hers. Annoy him with annoying word-picking until he snapped and went on a big rant about how horrible she was to him and he was nothing but lovely to her. She knew that he really should rip her apart, but he just… didn’t. No matter how many of his buttons she pressed, he just didn’t hurt her.
    “Yes probably,” He continued, swilling his drink around slightly, “Because whilst you are as jaw dropping as myself, you also have three kids and-”
    “I do not have three kids!” Zikki exclaimed quickly, bringing a hand up to her chest in shock.
    “Yuki,” Sideos started, holding up one finger, “Then Feto then Uou-Gn. And don’t say they’re not your kids because they so are my dear.”
    ‘My dear’, he threw compliments at her like this so often without warning or reason. He called her pretty, even though he only had a very rough idea of what she looked like, told her she was a great dresser and his best friend. Why exactly he did such things she had no idea. At first she thought it was some kind of subtle come on, but eventually she realised it was just his way of being nice… which was very nice indeed.
    Still, such a comment could not make her less annoyed at him for crushing her dreams of being a blushing bride again. She still held out dreams of one day marrying someone kind and nice and handsome and living happily ever after… even if it was a dream she no longer expected to realise.
    Sid was literally rubbing salt in her emotional wounds, “And most guys would be scared off by the idea of raising a bunch of random children… and a vortian.”
    “I’m not raising them!” Zikki cried out, “Yuki has his own life now and Feto is independent enough and Uou-gin… well, he’s just Uou-gin.”
    Sideos just raised an antennae at her, his eyes locking onto hers in an almost creepy manner. Those blank, vacant eyes staring into her, not at her, but into her. Even when he had eyesight he could do that, just look at someone and read them instantly, knowing their likes, dislikes, loves and fears. Zikki had seen him glance over a person and, seconds later, break them to tears just based on how they stood, what they dressed like, how they acted and talked.
    “Alright fine!” She replied with a huff, not liking his point at all, “I’m a smeet-laden divorcée who is old and ugly and fat.”
    “I never said you were old, ugly or fat!” Sideos instantly retorted, “If anything it’s your shape and looks that keep you available!”
    Zikki didn’t know if this was a compliment or not, but she was getting into an increasingly bad mood. She was being repeatedly told that her one dream, of finding a nice guy and getting married and being happy again, was going down the drain. Sure, she knew it was a pipe dream now, if it didn’t happen within the next three years it’d never happen, but she had always grasped that one shimmer of hope.
    Now the only man in her life was a psychotic blind ex-maniac-turned-assassin and a crazy, extremely camp vortian. Super. Her life was turning out so well.
     And how did he even know she was good looking and slim? He was blind! Unless he’d felt her up before he’d never know anything! Although he had helped her get into dresses, so she supposed he knew what her body shape felt like… but for her face, he must be lying.
    “Besides,” He continued suddenly, “Why do you want to get remarried? You’ve got me.”
    Zikki blinked and suddenly laughed, “HA! Like you’d make a good husband! Your work isn’t exactly reliable, you’re selfish and vain and, and… just not good husband material!”
    Sideos only raised an eyebrow and looked to her again, “Well too bad because you’re stuck with me now, I’m not letting you go anywhere.”
    Now that was something she wasn’t happy to hear. Yes, she liked Sideos a lot, he was a good friend and a fun person to be with but stuck with him? Forever? No. No, no, no, no, no. That would ruin her last opportunity at a happy ending with a man who loved her and made her happy. In fact, she bet the only reason she kept going home alone was because people saw her with Sid so often they thought they were together!
    Instantly she decided that tonight she’d find someone to take home. She wouldn’t just crash on Sideos’s couch or bed, she would crash on someone else’s couch or bed. And then make them marry her and treat her like a princess so she could laze around on her loveseat all day being waited on by skinny, handsome men with no shirts. Yes, that was her plan and she was sticking to it.
    “Well too bad,” She proclaimed suddenly, swallowing all of her drink quickly, “I’m finding a man, a real man, someone who will marry me and give me a good time because I really need one and you’re not helping.”
    Sideos blinked in shock, even though he technically hadn’t seen anything, and he frowned, “No, you’re staying with me. No other guy here is good enough for you.”
    “Good enough for me?!” Zikki exclaimed suddenly, laughing sarcastically at him as he glared at her, “You can’t even see what these other guys look like! How the fuck do you know who’s good enough for me or not!”
    “Because I just do!” Sideos rather outlandishly and unexpectedly proclaimed. However, he quickly relaxed before Zikki could even react and waved a hand, “But fine, go out and see for yourself. I won’t protect you.”
    “Fine!” Zikki replied, standing up in a huff, “Enjoy going home alone, AGAIN, Sideos, because you know that I don’t give a damn!”
    She had never been so angry at him, and really, she had no idea why. She knew that her dream was a slim chance at best, and that it was only the alcohol making her riled up. But she was desperate now, and she had realised it. She wasn’t getting any younger, and she really wanted to be with someone before she become too old to date, someone strong and funny who would get her and look after her and buy her drinks.
    She stomped off into the mass of dancing people, not really knowing what she was doing but reasoning the best place to go would be to the bar. Men went to bars to get drinks, and she was sure if she fluttered an antennae or two she’d get a free drink. Hopefully from some well dressed man with purple eyes, purpled eyed men were tasty.
    To her amazement, it wasn’t actually long until that happened. She had only been at the bar for about ten minutes, mulling over how irritated she was at Sid and how he was going to be so mad when he couldn’t get home when a body slid up beside her.
    The guy wore a very expensive suit, so immediately she knew that he was rich. He had slim features, still good, but he had short, slicked back antennae with green eyes. Ok not the best finish but still good.
    “Hey there sweet cheeks,” His accent was thick from Convortia, “Waddya drinkin’?”
    Immediately Zikki was a little flustered, he was so smooth and dominating, already he was leaning slightly into her personal space. She would have felt uncomfortable if she hadn’t gotten so used to it from Sideos. She smiled however, and coyly replied, “Why don’t you pick for me?”
    She was so taken by strong, dominant guys it was almost laughable. And of course, the moment she did reply she was into her ‘hard to get’ routine right away. He would have to work for her if he wanted her.
    Judging by the smile on the irken’s face, he took the bait.
    All night he and Zikki flirted with each other, Zikki learning his name was Yaszel and he was some kind of tall-investment banker for some company she’d never heard of but claimed she did anyway. He didn’t really make her laugh, but she laughed at his jokes. He had a good body and a nice face and that’s all she cared about right now, his personality was just flying by her.
    She would bed him, than brag to Sid the next day on how she clearly didn’t need him and could get a man. Still, she would have to wait just a little more for her own personal slave-harem of skinny handsome, scantily-clad men to wait on her.
    She felt herself becoming woozier with every drink he bought her, and she just kept nodding as he talked and flirting coyly every now and then, teasing him with the idea of having her. She was probably driving him crazy, and she was starting to wonder when he would invite her back to his place.
    How many hours this guy had been talking to her she wasn’t sure, but she hadn’t seen Sideos at all, although she hadn’t forgot about him. She kept wondering if he was watching her, if he felt jealous that she was with someone else…
    “Hum?” She suddenly blinked at Yaszel, “What was that?”
    “I said,” He repeated with the smoke from his cigarette drifting from the corners of his mouth, “Would you like to come back to mine for a pick me up… or pick you up?”
     She giggled and replied, “Why not?” And began walking out with him, although, she was suddenly struck by a thought. Should she really just be throwing herself at some random guy like this? He really wasn’t that interesting and all he talked about was himself and how he wanted to get more money or something.
    Zikki continued thinking this even as they got outside the club, and she didn’t even notice they’d turned into an alleyway before it was too late. Yaszel suddenly grabbed her ass tightly, and Zikki was very quickly brought out of her day dream with a squeak of shock and a look of mild annoyance.
    “Hey, if you act so eager you won’t get anything.” Zikki teased slightly with a hint of warning in her voice.
    However, Yaszel wasn’t taking no for an answer, he pushed her up against the nearest wall and pressed his body against her, Zikki’s antennae becoming flooded with the smell of his smoke and she coughed as she tried to raise her arms to stop him, but he quickly pushed them down and licked at her neck.
    “You’ve been teasing me all night,” He growled, now sounding very different, dark and dangerous, “And you’re gonna give me some.”
    “Get the fuck off me!” Zikki screamed shoving him with all her might but only managing to make him stumble, still, the stumble was room enough for her to dodge out under him and run down the alleyway, hoping she could try and escape him before he caught up with her. However, running in high heels was never a good way of escaping.
    She didn’t get far and quickly fell as he ran up behind her, Zikki only managing to turn and look on with wide eyes as he reached out for her. Then, suddenly, a foot connected with the side of her assaulters face. He hit the floor hard, almost completely knocked out from such a blow, but as if just to make sure, another kick hit the other side of his face, blood spewing from his mouth as several of his teeth shattered in his mouth.
    “Goddamn I hate yuppies,” Sideos’s voice echoed quietly off the walls of the alleyway, making Zikki sigh with relief and yet, almost become heated with anger. Why was it he always had to be there for her? Was she such a damsel in distress that she had to be constantly rescued?
    She picked herself up, despite the offer of a hand from Sideos. When she was first with him she was afraid to take his hand whenever he offered it too her, knowing those claws had done horrible things and that they might cut her, but she’d soon realised that they only cut when he wanted them to cut. Sideos had the most amazing control over his claws, probably from constant use, and he could easily grab something like her hand and not leave a single mark.
    Zikki glared at her saviour and, rather then thank him, shouted, “You didn’t have to do that! I would have been fine!”
    “He was about to rape you!” Sideos replied hotly, “This is what I was talking about! You don’t need other guys. They’re all completely unworthy of you!”
     Zikki quickly frowned and yelled back at him, “You can’t tell me what to do or who to hang out with!”
    “Of course I can!” He replied quickly, “I’m the only person worthy enough to do so!”
    “HA!” She laughed back, “You’re not worthy at all! You’d only be worthy if you were my boyfriend, which you’re not!”
    “I’m pretty much the closest thing you’re ever going to get to a boyfriend,” Sideos growled back at her, “Considering I’m the only guy who you ever seem to be around anyway!”
    “Only because you chased them all away!” Zikki was feeling so angry, so passionate, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt like this, “You’re so jealous and petty and you refuse to let me be happy with anyone else!” She laughed and added, “You’re just like Sleek, except you don’t kiss me!”
    “Fine!” Sideos proclaimed, then, suddenly, he grabbed her arms tightly and pulled her forward, his lips meeting hers in a very shocking, and very passionate, kiss. Zikki was overwhelmed and instantly she blushed hard, feeling his lips press on hers and his taste, oddly sweet, against her own lips. She tried to gasp but, by opening her mouth slightly, she only increased the passion of the kiss as she felt Sideos’s tongue invade her mouth even as, to her own surprise, her tongue wrapped around his.
    For a few seconds this continued, and for a few seconds she closed her eyes and felt like all of this was some kind of strange but, well, lovely dream.
    Then, as if it was over far too quickly, he withdrew and a very uncomfortable silence descended on the alleyway. Zikki couldn’t tell what Sideos’s expression was as the darkness of the alleyway hid his face, but his hands didn’t leave her arms… and she was sure that he was blushing just as much as she was.
    “There,” He suddenly announced, letting go of her arms and turning quickly, “Now I can officially tell you who to hang out with.”
    “Okay,” Zikki breathed quietly, still too overwhelmed to even respond properly.
    “Can we please drop this now?” Sideos asked, again just as quickly, as if he was hurrying everything along so he could escape the moment.
    “Sure, fine.” She blinked, slowly gathering herself together.
    “Right, good,” He coughed and turned around, smiling as usual, his face in full light now as he asked, “Back to the dance floor, m’dear?”
    Zikki smiled back, taking his arm and nodded, “Sure!” But inside, inside she was squealing, dancing for joy and already making plans. She’d found her tall, skinny, purpled eyed, funny, handsome, perfect match… and she would have him in the end. Oh yes, if she had to corrupt the hell out of the already corrupted, she would have him.
    She grinned at him and added, “Let’s go!”

Description
    “I really can’t take you anywhere, can I?” Zikki spoke with a smile as she led Sideos out of the parking lot where she’s parked her Xuur runner for the night. Secure compound parking lots were a great idea… that is if Sideos didn’t have to find SOMETHING to complain about.
    He was linked arm-in-arm with the female as they walked on, turning his fading, dulled purple eyes to her as he did, looking at her yet seeing nothing. “What? Those prices were ridiculous! Daylight robbery if it wasn’t night-time!”
    “We’re parking in the centre of the city!” Zikki couldn’t help but retort back, “What do you expect!?”
     “I expect we could have just got a speed-train!” Sideos complained further, raising his voice a little and waving his cane about in the air, “What’s so bad about the speed-train, hum?”
    “The fact that it’s smelly and horrible and packed full of people and breaks down a lot!” Zikki almost yelled back. She knew however that they weren’t really fighting, they never really fought about anything. They were just bickering because that was part of how they got along. Sideos would complain about something, she’d counter-complain, they’d bicker and bicker until they forgot what they were supposed to be bickering about and go back to laughing and shopping or whatever it was they set out to do that day.
    This time they were going clubbing, although they were both a little too old to go to the clubs they’d like. These were ones filled with businessirkens and yuppies and other annoying people whom neither Sid nor Zik really liked. They went because they enjoyed bitching about people and commenting on their terrible fashions whilst drinking and partying.
    How long had they been doing this? Perhaps since that day they met up after he’d been hired to kill her employer whilst she’d been hired to kill his employer. It was that, and their past meetings besides that had finally convinced Sideos at least to get to know this strange, klutzy woman who kept appearing in his life. Zikki on the other hand just wanted to know Sideos more after he’d vowed to kill Kaiser. And anyone who would vow to kill her worst enemy was a friend in her book.
    She knew of course of his past, his murders and killings but she’d rarely glimpsed that side of him and it was becoming increasingly rare. His eyesight was almost completely gone and he was getting older, his old wounds catching up with him. He’d settled in that one bar, running it as a front to his mercenary work. Killing for money, it was a small wonder he’d never took it up first, after all, it combined two of his favourite things.
    They were still bickering by the time they reached the club and really, only stopped bickering when they finally got to the bar to order drinks. Sideos of course couldn’t see what they had, and as such, simply and silently gave some monies to Zikki so she could get the drinks. This was a big thing to him, and Zik knew it. He never talked about how his sight was lost, or how he felt about it and she never mentioned it, she knew that to even hint that he needed help with anything would damage his pride.
    Oddly though, even though he couldn’t see anyone, he could hear everyone’s positions. It was true what they say, when one loses one sense, the others get stronger and in this sense Sideos’ hearing had sharpened considerably, especially as he’d re-trained himself to fight using only his hearing and the feeling of things around him to guide him. Of course despite his almost zen-level mastery of blind fighting, he still couldn’t find most of his things around his little apartment without the help of his assistant-slave May-Qui.
    She’d been a present from an employer of his, a sallah drug baron and controller of a system from the former Seivad-Syhr-Nhoj Empire, now a large part of the Irken Empire. Apparently she’d been owned by a few drug lords after falling out of the service of some fancy-pants buisnessirken. Either way she practically ran everything in the bar which Sid owned under the name Oidess whilst also doing the few assassination jobs he could.
    But he was doing less work due to his age and eyesight and thus, spending more time Zikki who, at the moment, was following Sideos through the crowds holding their drinks. She couldn’t help but admire Sideos. He was blind, hunted and generally disliked by all yet he was still happy and almost completely carefree… or maybe not. Zikki had long learned not to expect anything with Sideos, because he was so capable of anything at any moment.
    Even as they sat down Zikki wondered what would happen this night. Something exciting and crazy no doubt, as Sideos seemed to have some kind of aura for these things. She remembered when those random cyborgs tried attacking them when he refused to pay extra for ice in his drink. Or when that rich millionaire rapper tried to hit on her and he’d ‘protected her’ by beating him with a seat cushion.
    As she sipped at her martini drink, she couldn’t help but wonder, why? Why did he so often jump to her rescue? It wasn’t like he cared for anyone apart from himself, and he certainly didn’t have feelings for her, she’d been around him naked enough times to be assured of that.
    She often left her going out clothes at his home since Feto and the others couldn’t know she hung out with a psycho killer. As such, she’d long gotten used to changing in his room and almost always with him at her side. They bickered and joked and talked fashion whilst in their underpants or less, and never once had he even been slightly aroused by it, even after she’d commented on the see-through-ness of her underpants or asked him to help her put dresses on. Zik also helped him pick out clothes that looked good as he couldn’t even tell if he was looking at a red shirt or a blue one; it was almost like they’d been married for years or something.
    Once again they began chatting away, and Zikki’s thoughts moved on, deciding to herself not to ruin the start of the night with such questions.
    “Do you ever think I’ll get married again?” Zikki asked randomly, starting a new topic.
    “What? You? Come on,” Sideos waved a hand at her, “Of course you will, probably.”
    “Probably?” Zikki raised an antennae at him, picking apart his words was a fun little game of hers. Annoy him with annoying word-picking until he snapped and went on a big rant about how horrible she was to him and he was nothing but lovely to her. She knew that he really should rip her apart, but he just… didn’t. No matter how many of his buttons she pressed, he just didn’t hurt her.
    “Yes probably,” He continued, swilling his drink around slightly, “Because whilst you are as jaw dropping as myself, you also have three kids and-”
    “I do not have three kids!” Zikki exclaimed quickly, bringing a hand up to her chest in shock.
    “Yuki,” Sideos started, holding up one finger, “Then Feto then Uou-Gn. And don’t say they’re not your kids because they so are my dear.”
    ‘My dear’, he threw compliments at her like this so often without warning or reason. He called her pretty, even though he only had a very rough idea of what she looked like, told her she was a great dresser and his best friend. Why exactly he did such things she had no idea. At first she thought it was some kind of subtle come on, but eventually she realised it was just his way of being nice… which was very nice indeed.
    Still, such a comment could not make her less annoyed at him for crushing her dreams of being a blushing bride again. She still held out dreams of one day marrying someone kind and nice and handsome and living happily ever after… even if it was a dream she no longer expected to realise.
    Sid was literally rubbing salt in her emotional wounds, “And most guys would be scared off by the idea of raising a bunch of random children… and a vortian.”
    “I’m not raising them!” Zikki cried out, “Yuki has his own life now and Feto is independent enough and Uou-gin… well, he’s just Uou-gin.”
    Sideos just raised an antennae at her, his eyes locking onto hers in an almost creepy manner. Those blank, vacant eyes staring into her, not at her, but into her. Even when he had eyesight he could do that, just look at someone and read them instantly, knowing their likes, dislikes, loves and fears. Zikki had seen him glance over a person and, seconds later, break them to tears just based on how they stood, what they dressed like, how they acted and talked.
    “Alright fine!” She replied with a huff, not liking his point at all, “I’m a smeet-laden divorcée who is old and ugly and fat.”
    “I never said you were old, ugly or fat!” Sideos instantly retorted, “If anything it’s your shape and looks that keep you available!”
    Zikki didn’t know if this was a compliment or not, but she was getting into an increasingly bad mood. She was being repeatedly told that her one dream, of finding a nice guy and getting married and being happy again, was going down the drain. Sure, she knew it was a pipe dream now, if it didn’t happen within the next three years it’d never happen, but she had always grasped that one shimmer of hope.
    Now the only man in her life was a psychotic blind ex-maniac-turned-assassin and a crazy, extremely camp vortian. Super. Her life was turning out so well.
     And how did he even know she was good looking and slim? He was blind! Unless he’d felt her up before he’d never know anything! Although he had helped her get into dresses, so she supposed he knew what her body shape felt like… but for her face, he must be lying.
    “Besides,” He continued suddenly, “Why do you want to get remarried? You’ve got me.”
    Zikki blinked and suddenly laughed, “HA! Like you’d make a good husband! Your work isn’t exactly reliable, you’re selfish and vain and, and… just not good husband material!”
    Sideos only raised an eyebrow and looked to her again, “Well too bad because you’re stuck with me now, I’m not letting you go anywhere.”
    Now that was something she wasn’t happy to hear. Yes, she liked Sideos a lot, he was a good friend and a fun person to be with but stuck with him? Forever? No. No, no, no, no, no. That would ruin her last opportunity at a happy ending with a man who loved her and made her happy. In fact, she bet the only reason she kept going home alone was because people saw her with Sid so often they thought they were together!
    Instantly she decided that tonight she’d find someone to take home. She wouldn’t just crash on Sideos’s couch or bed, she would crash on someone else’s couch or bed. And then make them marry her and treat her like a princess so she could laze around on her loveseat all day being waited on by skinny, handsome men with no shirts. Yes, that was her plan and she was sticking to it.
    “Well too bad,” She proclaimed suddenly, swallowing all of her drink quickly, “I’m finding a man, a real man, someone who will marry me and give me a good time because I really need one and you’re not helping.”
    Sideos blinked in shock, even though he technically hadn’t seen anything, and he frowned, “No, you’re staying with me. No other guy here is good enough for you.”
    “Good enough for me?!” Zikki exclaimed suddenly, laughing sarcastically at him as he glared at her, “You can’t even see what these other guys look like! How the fuck do you know who’s good enough for me or not!”
    “Because I just do!” Sideos rather outlandishly and unexpectedly proclaimed. However, he quickly relaxed before Zikki could even react and waved a hand, “But fine, go out and see for yourself. I won’t protect you.”
    “Fine!” Zikki replied, standing up in a huff, “Enjoy going home alone, AGAIN, Sideos, because you know that I don’t give a damn!”
    She had never been so angry at him, and really, she had no idea why. She knew that her dream was a slim chance at best, and that it was only the alcohol making her riled up. But she was desperate now, and she had realised it. She wasn’t getting any younger, and she really wanted to be with someone before she become too old to date, someone strong and funny who would get her and look after her and buy her drinks.
    She stomped off into the mass of dancing people, not really knowing what she was doing but reasoning the best place to go would be to the bar. Men went to bars to get drinks, and she was sure if she fluttered an antennae or two she’d get a free drink. Hopefully from some well dressed man with purple eyes, purpled eyed men were tasty.
    To her amazement, it wasn’t actually long until that happened. She had only been at the bar for about ten minutes, mulling over how irritated she was at Sid and how he was going to be so mad when he couldn’t get home when a body slid up beside her.
    The guy wore a very expensive suit, so immediately she knew that he was rich. He had slim features, still good, but he had short, slicked back antennae with green eyes. Ok not the best finish but still good.
    “Hey there sweet cheeks,” His accent was thick from Convortia, “Waddya drinkin’?”
    Immediately Zikki was a little flustered, he was so smooth and dominating, already he was leaning slightly into her personal space. She would have felt uncomfortable if she hadn’t gotten so used to it from Sideos. She smiled however, and coyly replied, “Why don’t you pick for me?”
    She was so taken by strong, dominant guys it was almost laughable. And of course, the moment she did reply she was into her ‘hard to get’ routine right away. He would have to work for her if he wanted her.
    Judging by the smile on the irken’s face, he took the bait.
    All night he and Zikki flirted with each other, Zikki learning his name was Yaszel and he was some kind of tall-investment banker for some company she’d never heard of but claimed she did anyway. He didn’t really make her laugh, but she laughed at his jokes. He had a good body and a nice face and that’s all she cared about right now, his personality was just flying by her.
    She would bed him, than brag to Sid the next day on how she clearly didn’t need him and could get a man. Still, she would have to wait just a little more for her own personal slave-harem of skinny handsome, scantily-clad men to wait on her.
    She felt herself becoming woozier with every drink he bought her, and she just kept nodding as he talked and flirting coyly every now and then, teasing him with the idea of having her. She was probably driving him crazy, and she was starting to wonder when he would invite her back to his place.
    How many hours this guy had been talking to her she wasn’t sure, but she hadn’t seen Sideos at all, although she hadn’t forgot about him. She kept wondering if he was watching her, if he felt jealous that she was with someone else…
    “Hum?” She suddenly blinked at Yaszel, “What was that?”
    “I said,” He repeated with the smoke from his cigarette drifting from the corners of his mouth, “Would you like to come back to mine for a pick me up… or pick you up?”
     She giggled and replied, “Why not?” And began walking out with him, although, she was suddenly struck by a thought. Should she really just be throwing herself at some random guy like this? He really wasn’t that interesting and all he talked about was himself and how he wanted to get more money or something.
    Zikki continued thinking this even as they got outside the club, and she didn’t even notice they’d turned into an alleyway before it was too late. Yaszel suddenly grabbed her ass tightly, and Zikki was very quickly brought out of her day dream with a squeak of shock and a look of mild annoyance.
    “Hey, if you act so eager you won’t get anything.” Zikki teased slightly with a hint of warning in her voice.
    However, Yaszel wasn’t taking no for an answer, he pushed her up against the nearest wall and pressed his body against her, Zikki’s antennae becoming flooded with the smell of his smoke and she coughed as she tried to raise her arms to stop him, but he quickly pushed them down and licked at her neck.
    “You’ve been teasing me all night,” He growled, now sounding very different, dark and dangerous, “And you’re gonna give me some.”
    “Get the fuck off me!” Zikki screamed shoving him with all her might but only managing to make him stumble, still, the stumble was room enough for her to dodge out under him and run down the alleyway, hoping she could try and escape him before he caught up with her. However, running in high heels was never a good way of escaping.
    She didn’t get far and quickly fell as he ran up behind her, Zikki only managing to turn and look on with wide eyes as he reached out for her. Then, suddenly, a foot connected with the side of her assaulters face. He hit the floor hard, almost completely knocked out from such a blow, but as if just to make sure, another kick hit the other side of his face, blood spewing from his mouth as several of his teeth shattered in his mouth.
    “Goddamn I hate yuppies,” Sideos’s voice echoed quietly off the walls of the alleyway, making Zikki sigh with relief and yet, almost become heated with anger. Why was it he always had to be there for her? Was she such a damsel in distress that she had to be constantly rescued?
    She picked herself up, despite the offer of a hand from Sideos. When she was first with him she was afraid to take his hand whenever he offered it too her, knowing those claws had done horrible things and that they might cut her, but she’d soon realised that they only cut when he wanted them to cut. Sideos had the most amazing control over his claws, probably from constant use, and he could easily grab something like her hand and not leave a single mark.
    Zikki glared at her saviour and, rather then thank him, shouted, “You didn’t have to do that! I would have been fine!”
    “He was about to rape you!” Sideos replied hotly, “This is what I was talking about! You don’t need other guys. They’re all completely unworthy of you!”
     Zikki quickly frowned and yelled back at him, “You can’t tell me what to do or who to hang out with!”
    “Of course I can!” He replied quickly, “I’m the only person worthy enough to do so!”
    “HA!” She laughed back, “You’re not worthy at all! You’d only be worthy if you were my boyfriend, which you’re not!”
    “I’m pretty much the closest thing you’re ever going to get to a boyfriend,” Sideos growled back at her, “Considering I’m the only guy who you ever seem to be around anyway!”
    “Only because you chased them all away!” Zikki was feeling so angry, so passionate, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt like this, “You’re so jealous and petty and you refuse to let me be happy with anyone else!” She laughed and added, “You’re just like Sleek, except you don’t kiss me!”
    “Fine!” Sideos proclaimed, then, suddenly, he grabbed her arms tightly and pulled her forward, his lips meeting hers in a very shocking, and very passionate, kiss. Zikki was overwhelmed and instantly she blushed hard, feeling his lips press on hers and his taste, oddly sweet, against her own lips. She tried to gasp but, by opening her mouth slightly, she only increased the passion of the kiss as she felt Sideos’s tongue invade her mouth even as, to her own surprise, her tongue wrapped around his.
    For a few seconds this continued, and for a few seconds she closed her eyes and felt like all of this was some kind of strange but, well, lovely dream.
    Then, as if it was over far too quickly, he withdrew and a very uncomfortable silence descended on the alleyway. Zikki couldn’t tell what Sideos’s expression was as the darkness of the alleyway hid his face, but his hands didn’t leave her arms… and she was sure that he was blushing just as much as she was.
    “There,” He suddenly announced, letting go of her arms and turning quickly, “Now I can officially tell you who to hang out with.”
    “Okay,” Zikki breathed quietly, still too overwhelmed to even respond properly.
    “Can we please drop this now?” Sideos asked, again just as quickly, as if he was hurrying everything along so he could escape the moment.
    “Sure, fine.” She blinked, slowly gathering herself together.
    “Right, good,” He coughed and turned around, smiling as usual, his face in full light now as he asked, “Back to the dance floor, m’dear?”
    Zikki smiled back, taking his arm and nodded, “Sure!” But inside, inside she was squealing, dancing for joy and already making plans. She’d found her tall, skinny, purpled eyed, funny, handsome, perfect match… and she would have him in the end. Oh yes, if she had to corrupt the hell out of the already corrupted, she would have him.
    She grinned at him and added, “Let’s go!”