During the events of Appleseed: Ex Machina

Briareos stretched out on his recliner in the apartment he shared with Deunan and let out a content sigh of relief at finally being home. The week recovering in the hospital had seemed far longer with all the tests and night rounds. Once released there had barely been enough time to change into his tux before Hitomi's party. After Deunan stormed off, he had quietly headed home when he was sure Tereus would keep an eye on his drunken partner.

The door opened and the one and only Deunan Knute walked in carrying her shoes, far more sober then when he had last seen her. She paused when she saw the cyborg in his chair. "Hey Bri."

"Hey yourself. Are you okay?"

"Yeah." she answered quietly "I'm going to take a shower and turn in." the warrior woman said softly as she started to climb the stairs to the loft bedroom.

Briareos turned to watch her go, noting her quiet mood. Sighing deeply, he heaved himself out of the recliner and followed her up.

Deunan was already in the shower by the time he walked in to the spacious bathroom. She stood under the flow, hugging herself and letting the hot water simply pour over her body.

The cyborg leaned against the frame of the tiled shower and watched her for a moment before speaking. "Talk to me Deunan. What's going on?"

She didn't move. "I've been thinking about what you said, about who I'd partner with if you weren't around and I started wondering if you said that because you didn't want to be with me anymore."

If he could have rolled his eyes to the ceiling at that moment he would have. Instead, he let his extendables drop as he tilted his head back. "Deunan..." he drawled before he stepped into the shower behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "How many times do I need to tell you I love you before you'll listen to me?"

"At least one more time, I guess." she whispered.

Briareos turned the blonde woman to face him and hugged her soaked body close. "Crazy girl. I've loved you since you were sixteen and nothing, nothing will make me stop. I'm just trying to protect you."

Tightening her hold on him, tears almost hidden by the shower rolled down Deunan's cheeks. "Idiot. There's no one in this world who can protect me like you and you can't do that if you're not my partner".

He chuckled quietly as he reached past Deunan and turned off the water.

"What are you doing?" she asked in confusion.

"I think you said something about turning in and I want to make sure I stay right by your side." Briareos stated as he carefully picked up her slick body.

Deunan slowly smiled as her man carried her over to their massive bed and gently laid her down before starting to strip off his damp clothes. "So you still want me around", she asked coyly.

Tossing the last article of clothing aside, Briareos moved onto the bed and began nuzzling her neck. "You're stuck with me."

Anything she would have said became lost in a breathy sigh as the world once again became right.

A/N: I recently discovered Appleseed, simply because it was always something I wanted to watch but just never had the time. The characters and the story blew me away. Anime or manga, I absolute adore it! I wish there was more of the manga and can't wait to see Appleseed XIII. I sadly don't own them, so please don't sue me, I just spent all my money on Appleseed stuff!

EDIT: The questions has been brought up how Briareos can nuzzle if he has no mouth. Simple: he has a mouth, he just doesn't have to move it to talk any more. He eats like anyone else (Deunan shares coveted pastries with him on occassion). The one thing is, he has to drink through a straw.

EDIT 2: cleaned up some stuff that bugged me the more I read it. Nothing major, word choice here and there.