Carmen insisted on holding Rowan's hand as they returned to his apartment at the end of the day. Though Carmen was smiling, Rowan could sense a tension between them.
Rowan looked at her and said, "I'm really sorry I couldn't have you over the past couple of days. Paige crashing into the station upended things."
Carmen shrugged and said, "It's okay, that let me catch up with the girls. I still don't know why you didn't let me stay though."
"Mostly to not shock her while she was recovering. I was over at medbay a lot too, so it's not like you would have seen me much out of working hours. She's at the apartment but she's still weak."
"But Darling, I'll take what I can get," she said, squeezing his hand harder than usual. "Please, let's talk before you shut me out again. I'm scared that you'll leave me."
Rowan didn't know what to say to that. Their current relationship was one of convenience and related to work. In the back of his mind he told himself she only did it because it made the company more money.
"I have to ask you something Carmen. When I asked Lora to take the desk for a while, she called me darling. That's what you call me. Why did she? Lora and I hardly talk, only when I repair her and give her assignments."
"Oh, that's me sharing my memories with them. You see, when I share my engrams with them, it's like they experienced the exact same things I did with you."
Rowan brought his hand to the bridge of his nose and pinched. "So what you're telling me is that all the girls think they're cucking me?"
"No."
"Thank goodness."
"They think you're their regular lover. The cuck stuff is just work Darling."
"Fuck…"
Carmen laughed and said, "Oh my, is the poor baby human sad that hot chicks are getting tingles when you walk by them?"
"It's fake though, right? They know they're memories and not real. They don't really love me."
"Rowan, if I changed your memories, you would accept them as fact. Even if there were contradictions, your brain would jump through hoops to have it all make sense. And like me, they want to experience being with you again."
That last sentence made Rowan's stomach sink. "Come on Carmen, I heard what you were doing with 'Auggy', you don't need a lump like me."
Carmen twisted Rowan's arm into a hammer lock and shoved him against the wall. The thud echoed down the hall. "Darling, comparison is the thief of joy. I don't like repeating explanations you should clearly understand."
"Hey! You're not supposed to hurt me. Ouch! Carmen let go!" Rowan's cheek was mashed into the metal grates that lined the walls of the corridor.
"Well, it seems like I can, must be something from my S&M training that lets me bend the rules about hurting humans. Say that you're sorry and I'll be sure to make it up to you."
"Shit! I'm sorry! I'm sorry Carmen, I believe it when you say that you and the girls like me. I won't compare myself to the customers."
"Tell me we're in a relationship Rowan. Tell me we're not fake."
You're going to break my arm! That feels real enough…
Carmen started to increase the pressure.
Rowan could tell he'd have a sprain soon, "You and I are dating! You're my girlfriend!"
Carmen released, flipped him around, and kissed him deeply on the mouth. Rowan kissed back and embraced her. His arm ached as well as his member.
She pulled away and looked into his eyes. Carmen's pupils were dilated when she said, "I'm sorry that I had to do that, Darling. I needed you to really understand what we had. I'll treat you so well tonight, I promise. Also about the other girls, I told them they could try to have you if they shared their memories back to me."
He dropped his hands to her ass and gripped the pert buttocks, saying, "Fucking hell Carmen. I never knew you had this side to you. By the way, how did you know how to pin me to the wall and make me beg?"
Carmen giggled and said, "Siren taught me a thing or two when I had a chat with the girls about you. By the way, you better treat all the girls with kindness now or you'll get the same painful treatment."
"Fine. But I'm wondering who's actually in control of the brothel at this point. And with you sharing your memories, I'll always have to be on my best behavior."
"See! I told them I could get you to see the light!"
…
Rowan knelt by Paige while she lay in bed in the guest room of his apartment. The slender brunette was smiling but still seemed a little weak.
Rowan reached out and took her hand. "How are you feeling today Paige?"
"I'm getting better. I think the reason why it's taking so long was that I got the cranial implant right before going into the escape pod. Right now I am just sorting out my connection with Dicia. You've been gone the whole day though, I've been lonely."
"I'm sorry, but I had work today."
Rowan saw Paige's face reveal a flicker of something that looked like disdain. "Oh? And how did your day go Rowan?"
"Oh, same stuff different day Paige, but I did want to introduce you to my work colleague who is living with me." He walked to the door and opened it. Rowan waited until Carmen was in the bedroom before he spoke again. "Paige, I'd like you to meet Carmen, my colleague from work. Carmen, this is my friend from station control who risked her life to get to the regular part of the station."
Carmen's eyes flashed, and she said, "Aren't you forgetting something else?"
"Oh right. Carmen and I are dating, she's just become my girlfriend."
Paige shifted in her bed. She said, "It's nice to meet you Carmen. You're the first cyborg I've ever met."
"So Rowan's told you about me has he? Did he tell you what we do?"
"That you two work a brothel in the commercial district. He mentioned it recently, when I was in medbay."
She walked to the window showing the planet below them and said, "Did he go into details?"
"No, but he told me enough. He also said you two are lovers."
Carmen looked at Rowan and smiled with glee. "That's exactly right."
Paige sat up and continued, "That doesn't mean I'm giving up on him though. He and I have had a long term relationship over the network. We kept each other company when we were blue. Isn't that right Rowan?" Paige looked worriedly at Rowan.
"Sure Paige, you and I go way back."
"Texting? Video games? Combat training? Did you even show your real face to him during all that time? Do you think that a relationship with only those things can compare to what I have with him?"
Rowan raised a hand and said, "Carmen, Paige, please. We're going to be living together, so let's be nice."
"She's going to keep living here?!" Paige shouted.
"You're damn right I am!" Carmen spat back.
Paige looked at Rowan and said, "Please Rowan, you aren't actually going to let cyborg slut live here while I'm here too?"
Rowan balled his free hand into a fist and grimaced. "Paige, you're going to accept that Carmen is a part of my life, despite how I got to this point."
Carmen had a hard time concealing a smile. She said, "When do you think you'll be able to find a place for yourself? They're so much empty space in the human section just going to waste."
Paige started to tear up and grip Rowen's hand tightly. "Please Rowan, don't…"
"Carmen, let's just keep things the way they are. Paige just went through a lot, and living alone on the station is hard," he said, staring at her. "I speak from experience. Why don't we all just agree to live here for the time being. Neither of you should have to make me give up the other. I know you aren't that petty."
Both girls looked away after hearing his words.
Paige spoke first. "Okay, fine. I'll agree to that on one condition. You have to spend a couple of hours in the station repair bay with me every day until I can get the maintenance robots working again. That's the reason why control let me down here in the first place. The general section of the station is falling apart, and I'm half blind with all the cameras out of commission."
"I won't do it on weekends, but it's a deal. How about you Carmen?"
The pink haired cyborg crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow. "I'd do anything to make you happy Rowan, but I do ask for a favor. I want my freedom. Let me come to the club with you. Let me go shopping when we need something. Lastly, I want to be able to wear what I want in the apartment."
"So long as you disguise yourself. I forgot to mention, Paige, you're going to have to conceal that you're a human. Otherwise, things might get out of hand when aliens see you. Come here Carmen, let's all shake on it."
Rowan could tell that this situation was going to be tricky when he saw the prickly expression on both girls' faces. I wonder how long this house of cards will last…