Null Protocol || Ramattra x Reader

Chapter Eight

(Y/n) focused on her fingers, partially resting her weight against his chest as she leaned closer, and when he didn't push her away, she relaxed. She expected him to seethe at her for touching him but his silence was appreciated – for once, his reserved nature lent itself to an almost comfortable atmosphere between them. Though his metal was cold like the cave, it was cool against her forehead, contrasting the heat escaping from his stomach so her temperature was perfect. While she slept the past couple nights, her lips cracked from the dry air, but near Ramattra, the heat moistened the air so her skin wasn't quite so dry. She'd be able to finish her job with the coolant tomorrow so she enjoyed the warmth as long as she could.

"Done." She sat back, proudly smiling up at him. "Give that a whirl." He tried bending his legs, watching them respond to the electrical stimulus, then he shifted so his feet were under them, using the wall as support to stand as he planted his staff in the ice to take some of his weight. She got to her feet quickly to hold out her arms to catch him if he fell, but the sudden loss of blood in her head made her vision spot so she stumbled into him. He tensed under her, and the next second, he grabbed her by the throat and slammed her back against the icy wall. She gasped, hands wrapping around his metal arm as he held her between him and the stone, body flush against hers so she couldn't move. Any words she could think of in protest died on the way to her lips, her heartbeat in her ears as she met his beady red eye lights.

He leaned down so his face plate was all she could see, her panicked pants fanning against where his mouth would be as he stayed unnervingly silent. His fingers flexed as he adjusted his grip on her neck, applying just enough pressure to make her anxiety spike, and she tried to tug his arm away uselessly. There was no getting between a Ravager and his target.

"Give me one reason not to kill you right now and be done with it," he growled, each word delivered with cold intention backing it, and a chill traveled up her spine. Her mind blanked out from fear as she stared into the piercing red eyes of her killer. He prodded her chin with the curve of his staff to tilt her head up so her lips were inches from his face plate, watching the fear in her flighty eyes as she struggled to pry her gaze from him. "I do not have all day, human."

"I-" The word was nothing more than a stuttery gasp, her whole body shaking like a leaf as he shifted against her, one of his knees sliding between her thighs so she rested on it. His head tilted so he was level with her (e/c) eyes, the hand around her throat pulling her closer so her nose brushed against his cool metal.

"You cannot even plead your case." There was that signature mocking tone he'd dropped temporarily, but this time, there was a note of humor to it, like he was enjoying this.

She scrambled for something, anything, to say. "You need me." It came out in a pitiful cry, and she felt his chuckle with his chest pressed against hers as his leg moved higher between her thighs. She squeaked, cheeks flushing red, and as she squirmed uneasily, she accidentally rubbed against him. Her cheeks darkened in a blush as he studied her, carefully lifting his knee to watch her squeak again. "What are you doing?" It was a pathetic attempt to get his attention to leave her flustered state, but he tilted his head, a teasing twinge to his tone as he replied.

"Testing the waters. Why? Do you not enjoy this?" Her eyes widened in alarm, and though she knew he could see right through her, embarrassment seized her as she sputtered, trying to avoid his knowing optics.

The staff prodded her chin again, not letting her look away, and through nervous lips, she formed a hasty answer to give him. "I...do." She cringed at herself, gaze darting away to purposely miss his amused reaction. He rubbed against her with his knee just to watch her whimper, squeezing his wrist tightly as her eyes fluttered closed for a moment at the friction. She was sweating from his closeness, squirming uneasily as he kept her pinned, but his amusement tapered off as he returned the conversation to where it started: why he had her pinned in the first place.