Izime was a bit surprised, it was something he realized as the immediate feelings of terror and panic lessened.

The emotion sneaked through as a pure purple hand pulled him across the desk.

Bagels and the cups of coffee Psyis had brought scattered as the psychic-powered thessian physically grabbed him and dragged him. That was why he was surprised, not so much her reaction but how she was going about it.

No Powers?

Izime let himself wonder for just a moment until Psyis gave him a hard shake. Finally having to react as she pulled back to, he had to admit deservingly, knock his teeth out. The AI ordered Cradle to stay put as long as the terms of their bout were followed before using his whole body to try and manage the thessian's single arm.

Izime knew he had said something inappropriate, but it wasn't all his fault and not something he wanted to get new teeth over.

Psyis grimaced as she lifted the struggling Izime, the average human helpless in her super-strengthened grip. She gave him a hard shake before drawing a fist back, thinking she had a bit of control over the asshole who'd insulted her until his legs wrapped around her now extended arm.

The AI exerted a strength she'd not expected as he rotated with the added weight, spinning her down as he did so to throw her off balance. Psyis slammed into the floor instead, a soft grunt escaping her as Izime locked her up with a hard twist.

“Feelings mutual you five-foot fucking smurf now stop it! Fuck I'm sorry!” Izime tried to reason with the triggered thessian, thinking the lock he'd managed would hold for at least a bit. Digging himself a deeper hole as he tried to talk her down, the thessian was not interested in relating to any plight he'd shared, “Stop acting like you're the only one who didn't have a choice!”

Struggling against Psyis as the fight degraded further, her hand pulling at his locked ankles. Izime kicked at her hand missing as the thessian dragged him closer, pulling him out of the leg lock with superhuman strength.

The AI struggled like a child in her hands for the most part despite his improvements; when that strength failed she cheated.

Izime accused her of such as she dug two fingers into his thigh and squeezed, “OW! Stop pinching me!”

“Call me a kid I'll fight like one!” The thessian shot back, wrapping her legs around Izime's waist as she snuck an elbow under his chin. Crying out as the same childish tactics she'd used rebounded on her. The constant lack of an up or down made her attempts at more complex moves impossible; Psyis cried out as Izime tugged on her mohawk, “Did you pull my fucking hair!”

Pissed he'd slipped out of her attempt at a guillotine choke with such a dirty tactic the two rolling over repeatedly knocking into various desks and chairs in the Hall. Psyis was forced to wrestle defensively as Izime changed tactics from trying to break Psyis' leg lock on his waist.

Snatching her around the neck this time and pinching her cheek against his collarbone trying to choke her out instead. Psyis found herself in a pinch quite literally, against her shoulder and Izime, who had hugged her with all his strength.

She struggled for a moment before turning her head and doing the only thing she could.

An animal reaction, her teeth locking down at the base of his neck where he'd tried to smother her. The thessian sneered as the AI started yanking madly with his free hand almost ripping her hoodie. Psyis finally restrained that hand after he snapped the strapless piece underneath, not caring as she'd finally won.

Immediately finding satisfaction in a new sensation beyond just wanting to hurt Izime. The thessian realized she was stronger and had something over the AI, something Steven had over her throughout her entire life: control.

That feeling was a salve on wounds she'd never recognized until minutes ago, so fresh that she still needed more.

Grabbing at the AI who'd known all along about her predicament Psyis yanked his head to the side, giving voice to the feelings of satisfaction in how helpless he was under her threatening Izime with taking her position in life. “How would you like it?”

Psyis forced a shock therapy of her own onto the AI, triggering responses she knew he'd been avoiding since his creation. Izime almost went limp against her, his hand scratched with all the strength of a fawn.

A purely reactive struggle caused by the sensitive nerves she was triggering in that side of his body, the fight left him with every shiver she felt passing through his body. The small pop that followed was a bit louder than Izime's wounded yelp of submission in her ear a warning she'd gone too far.

Psyis snapping upright, the small metal clasps that had held it upfront not able to withstand the struggle making their own tiny accusations as they tinked against the metal floor. Only finally releasing Izime completely as she heard the article of clothing hit the floor below, having slipped free of her hoodie.

Looking down at the third victim of their scuffle, not knowing what had come over her.

The thessian realized she'd only felt better at the moment, as she'd been forcing the AI down against his will. Now instead of power or excitement, she looked down and saw the human she'd violated.

Izime's ponytail ripped out, the remains of the band in her blue hand. His brown hair splayed out over the metal floor where she'd ripped the elastic from, one hand holding his neck tenderly. The other was still on the floor where she'd held him down.

Eyes elsewhere, probably a look like she'd looked with Steven, as he told her to get off him; she felt like a monster.

Izime didn't bother looking over at Psyis as he asked, “We need to get up.”

the situation only spirally further out of control the longer she stayed on top of him, the AI hoped uselessly she'd not argue and just get off so things didn't look so bad.

“No, we need to talk,“ Psyis shook her head refusing to let Izime move. Looking down and swallowing what she'd just threatened to do to Izime, she tried to apologize. That apology turned into a question instead, as Izime looked up at her almost angrily, “I-I know this is going to sound horrib-Izime?”

“We've got company.” Izime started to snap but stopped short, weakly avoiding the brief moment of hurt in Psyis eyes as she nodded in understanding at his words.

The AI decided against dumping the problem of their current voyeur on her alone. Weakly placing his hands on her hips unsure of how complicit that would make him appear but knowing he didn't want Psyis being accused of anything.

Izime turned and welcomed the unexpected guest into the room, “Hey Fazz, worst timing ever.”

“Man, I thought the camera feed was lying but this is better than I expected. So what was the safe word, just so I can remind you next time?” FazzPazz smiled sarcastically glad that he'd been on security detail this morning, the only one able to sprint down to the Hall of Saviors fast enough to watch most of the show.

“Not now Fazz.” Psyis tried to urge the nosy hero out of the room, hoping she could settle this with Izime before anyone started accusing her of anything, “We were kind of having a moment.”

The thessian bluing a bit as she realized just how bad that must have sounded to Izime, mortification making her brush off her actions so hastily to others.

“Just checking that everything was consensual an-” Fazz warned as he looked at the thessian, both the look and words letting her know he'd seen the entire instance play out; he'd heard what she'd threatened Izime with.

“FAZZ!” Psyis snapped glancing at Izime quickly as if looking back at all the lines she'd just blown through. Watching as Izime rolled his eyes just as nonpulsed as she wasn't.

The AI's reaction was the last trigger sending the first tremble through her. The entire reality of what he'd just forgiven her and how she just couldn't accept that the same had been done to her. The entire concept of her past relationships and self rotted in her mind, revealing those moments for what they'd truly been.

The moments on her balcony when she'd felt herself butting against the invisible wall that had trapped her were real. The thessian broke down under the weight of it all.

“It's fine Fazz, things got a little heated is all,” Izime answered, sitting up and putting an arm around Psyis once more, this time resting her head gently against his shoulder. Now trying to rush FazzPazz along as well, telling the titan of talk-fu to not bother this time, “Nothing worth risking splitting the timeline over, just a bad reaction. I've got her.”

“You two should at least use the training hall as you'd intended, I bet you'd love the gravity restraints, seem like they are rig-” FazzPazz continued unaware of how underappreciated his humor was at this moment by the thessian, simply continuing because Izime had smiled.

“Seriously?” Psyis stammered through the muffled sobs into Izime's shoulder as she felt the AI try and stifle a chuckle.

The thessian was unsure if she was exhausted with her fellow hero's taste in jokes or with Izime's overbearingly understanding nature when it came to himself. Regardless she could feel her emotions boiling once more as she played a sobbing third party to the comedy show in Izime's arms.

Still, she nodded her thanks as he finally got FazzPazz to leave.

“We'll just clean up and pretend this never happened, so if you don't mind cleaning up the video?” Izime tried to keep Psyis calm as Fazz kept pressing buttons. The jokes were a bit funny but now wasn't the time, especially when the emotionally powered alien was having a very very bad day.

The last thing he needed was Fazz setting her off, Izime feeling at least a bit confident Psyis wouldn't use her powers on him. As stupid as that notion was, the AI considered how trusting her had played out last time.

Still, Izime was happy when Fazz gave a nod and agreed to his request, conditionally it seemed.

“OK, OK, I'm going to go erase that then but you owe me one.” FazzPazz gave the revived Izime a nod while adding his own terms. Throwing a few more gentle barbs at the Thessian who glared at him for trying to take advantage of the apparently all-knowing man, “Fair's fair now, go somewhere private or take a cold shower I don't care which. Just get away from my desk.”

“Yeah.” Psyis looked up and tried to give a reassuring nod to Fazz before her head back down on Izime shoulder. The thessian not wanting to look at the room they'd just destroyed in their scuffle.

Guilt kept her from looking directly at the person who'd continued to be nothing but understanding with every fuck up she made. Red eyes only occasionally sneaked a glance at his marred neck, watching as it moved with his voice.

“Sure thing Fazz” Izime gave the hero a thumbs up glad that Fazz had agreed to erase the footage for him. That was at least one minor problem that wouldn't be turning into something major now.

The major problem however had just gone to comfortably resting on his neck which was causing the AI a whole host of minor problems. Just the feeling of her exhaling was a sensation that bordered on a DDoS attack of his thinking capacity.

Immediately discovering he wasn't any more comfortable when she sat upright, her weight shifting drawing a whole new sector to attention. Izime threw all those feelings out as he checked on Psyis, stuff like that was the last thing she needed right now.

“Can I get up now?” Psyis asked, looking at Izime worriedly as she checked his face for any signs of distress, still occasionally glancing at his neck.

The thessian was now honestly a bit scared of her own self around the physically weaker AI. However, at the same time, she was completely unwilling to back down from the position she'd put herself in as his sponsor. Scared she'd get pulled back into being some mindless character, this was her one shot to break free.

Her fears had her putting Izime first, despite the issues that'd just dropped on her plate.

Waiting for his response on whether she should move before even thinking of the reasons behind why she was in his lap.

“Not yet.” Izime shook his head, knowing Psyis was probably still comprehending all the different angles of her life in a new light. Besides, even if it was awkward it wasn't uncomfortable, at least as long as he kept offloading all the minor sensations onto Cradle. Shrugging as he wiggled a bit to get more comfortable offering her a seat for the breakdown that was coming, “Just take a minute, I'll be fine.”

“I'm fi... I'm. Fuck I-I'm never going back Izime,” Psyis started to speak wanting to tell him she was fine, thinking she could have as well.

Instead, the thessian's stomach knotted as Izime just looked at her. No thoughts leaked through from that void, just a vast teal galaxy that seemed to understand. His eyes ripped the lie from her lips and sent that tremble in them across her body. She knew the wetness swimming in her eyes had started streaming down her cheeks.

Psyis twisted her hands in the rough plasticity cloth of that orange jumpsuit as she ordered the AI to correct this world's data on her, “So, add that into whatever file you keep on me and erase that controlling prick from the rest of my life.”

“I will, OK” Izime nodded unsure of what to do with his hands as Psyis broke down once more. Considering for a moment about wiping her tears away but decided against it as it felt too intimate.

Instead just wrapped his arms lightly around her once more and rocked as the traumatized thessian bawled, telling her to vent as much as she needed. “Just let it out.”

Stolen novel; please report.

Savior Orbital Security Room

FazzPass got back to the security room and sat down. Once the chair stopped spinning he went back to watching the security footage as it played out in real time.

The speedster glanced over at the solid green light, making sure the audio was still cut. Figuring he'd overwrite the footage here in a while with a blank clip of the hall or looped footage of the two as they'd been earlier; singing, laughing, and about to enjoy breakfast.

Instead of Izime trying to handle the very dangerous thessian while she was recovering from her episode.

The time-jumping speedster had seen his fair share of emotional breakdowns. He'd gone through enough trial and error to know when things were better off left alone and not because he didn't care.

Fazz liked living and wasn't about to tangle with the thessian during a breakdown if someone else was available. That was a job for her cousin, nine times out of ten; Steven the one in nine times didn't cause it.

With none of them available the speedster had originally shown just to make sure Izime was safe and to get him away from the seemingly enraged Psyis. Dashing from the hall after watching her drag him across the table and arriving in time to hear Izime apologizing over whatever he'd said, all while slamming the thessian down in a flying arm bar.

Fazz would have intervened once they'd started making a mess but both the bird and the psychic's power had remained holstered. The fact they'd both somehow remained sensible enough to keep their gloves on despite never making it to the training hall made him a bit curious.

So Fazz had let it play out. then things got weird in a not-good way and ended with Psyis angry crying over a Hickie and all.

The fastest member of the League might not have been the smartest but he was one of the most understanding and empathetic. Izime's hint was enough for him to understand that whatever had happened between the two was complicated, enough so that it was best for others to stay out of it.

Fazz normally wouldn't listen to such advice so easily but, well, he'd seen Izime's coat.

Anyone who'd managed to scrape together that many of Thorn's suits could handle a few paradoxes, emotional breakdowns, and even apparently a distraught psychic.

Hopefully, Earth's soon-to-be newest citizen could handle the rest of the trouble that'd be headed his way as well. The entire League was great at stopping villains, not so much at managing their internal affairs.

Trouble would find Izime eventually and more than likely it'd come in the form of a Blane.

While considering such things and their consequences the door to the security room with its camera hub began to open. With a click to pause, Fazz spun his chair around to see who was coming into the security room.

The speedster gave a wave at the not-quite trouble that had just walked in, glad it was someone on the two's side coming in. “Hey Constantinople."

The exorcist looked at the paused screen, the moment captured speaking volumes about how the two in it were handling their situation.

“Even told the lass they needed to take a minute,” Constantinople shook his head, eyes and mouth both drawn to the same topic Fazz had just been considering. “Can't believe she's gonna be his sponsor.”

“Did you think Radiation Man was gonna choose you?” Arching a super-suited brow Fazz asked Jim what he thought the outcome should have been.

Even if Fazz was surprised as well it would have only been more surprising to allow Constantinople to board the AI he was already notorious for causing trouble with off-world with.

“No, but I also didn't think he'd try and throw his cousin into a situation like this,” Constantinople meant what he said in every sense; from the dangers to Izime to Psyis, and the complications this quick forced interaction would cause for the two.

Constantinople gave a sarcastic bob of his head towards the screen, asking Fazz as he did so. “What happens the next time, if things get really out of hand.”

“I think he's doing alright.” The speedster waved away the exorcist's not completely unfounded worries, putting more faith in Izime than his friend had.

It was clear from the way Izime was still rocking the thessian that she had someone who was at least able to handle her potential mood swings. With his bird, even the ramifications of the ones he couldn't.

“For now...” Constantinople nodded down towards the blinking green light under that particular camera's feed. “You know we have to keep this from Dark Squire right?”

Both heroes watching the two through the feed who'd yet to find it within themselves to separate.

Back in The Hall of Saviors

“Come on just... pick one.” Izime nudged Psyis gently by rocking his knees. The thessian looked back up at him, hints of magenta still swirling with her mottling as she tried to handle the way he was handling the assault he'd nearly suffered. Casually bypassing the errors it was throwing into his emotions

"They're both so stupid.” Psyis looked away, feeling both emotionally and physically over-exposed. Still resting in the same lap of the man she'd just overpowered, that man now trying to talk them through making sure nothing like that ever happened again.

The thessian shook her head asking the question that wasn't on her mind, “Why would we even say that in the middle of a fight.”

“Because it is stupid, so we know to stop fighting so pick a safeword already.” Izime was a bit embarrassed he was using FazzPazz's idea but glad that Psyis seemed willing to at least consider the list of commands he'd offered her. The AI hoped she picked something simpler than 'overflow' or the other errors he'd thought up as a command as he watched her consider her choices.

“Syntax.” Rolling her red eyes Psyis finally made a decision, it wasn't that she didn't understand why they needed one.

The last ten minutes had just proven to her how reactive Izime could make her, just how unadult and emotional she could get at the drop of a hat. If Izime was right and the talks were only going to get heavier from here on, having the fallback made a lot of sense. Even if it felt a bit degrading that they were using one.

Psyis making up her mind just as Izime opened his mouth once more. It'd help keep the peace and equality if they both had one.

“OK, now you can ge-” Izime finally gave permission and a little lift hoping Psyis would move, his legs were already falling asleep under the surprisingly heavy thessian.

The AI grunted slightly as she did the opposite, throwing deadweight behind her ass and smushing his hands, as he'd been trying to help her up.

“You pick one.” Psyis squatted a bit forcing herself down on Izime, refusing to move as what was good for the goose was good for the gander.

Or rather, what was good for one alien was good for another.

“We'll use the same one it'll be easier to remember that way.” Izime shook his head refusing, not wanting to start adding to the terms they would use to hard-stop any emotional conflicts. Keeping one on the table was a good enough stand-in for a big red button for anything they'd get into.

The AI glanced down at his hands as he realized he'd just been unconsciously kneading the thessian's leg, only noticing it as he'd felt her hips roll uncomfortably under his touch. Still not used to her super-hearing he'd not expected her to hear his next quip about the newly noticed habit, “Not sure which one of us is the cat or the dog anymore.”

“I'm sorry I... um overreacted.” Psyis tried to put a term to what she'd felt and done. Unsure of how Izime was handling things, if he was handling them at all.

Izime verbally complained about being bitten, all while his hands kept roaming slowly. His body seemed to be sending completely different signals than his mouth.

“It wasn't an overreaction it was a response, and not an unheard of one for what you went through,” Izime replied hoping he didn't sound too clinical about Psyis' kneejerk reaction. Opening his databanks he continued to explain a bit of what he knew she'd felt. “It's natural to want to take after being taken fro-”

It was clear it wasn't appreciated though, as Psyis interrupted him just a few words in. Standing as she got away from the talking dictionary.

“Izime just accept my apology,” Psyis ordered the AI to shut up not needing a dissertation on her apparently classic trauma response, already knowing why she'd done it. Psyis looked down trying to stop the fresh memories but was unable to.

That moment of having him helpless, feeling just what she could have done, was enough of a reminder that she didn't want to continue any cycle of pain.

“OK, I accept it but terms are still on the table for forgiveness.” Izime nodded along agreeing before holding up his finger and adding a term to the apology. Wanting to at least get a read on this new Centropolis story-line before wrapping his head around the way Psyis complicated other things than the script.

“What?” Psyis asked, narrowing her brows unsure of where Izime was going until he finished making his demands. Nerves twisted in dread as she felt an odd distance drive itself between them as Izime looked away.

“I'll accept the apology right now, fine, but if you want actual forgiveness I want a week.” Keeping his voice level the AI tried to put a stop to the immediate move to Centropolis. Knowing the close proximity wouldn't be good for either of them while their emotions were so high, especially unsupervised.

Izime winced a bit as Psyis started fuming, her reaction only reinforcing his opinion despite how badly she seemed to be taking his words. Still, he kept his voice firm as he asked for a few hundred miles between himself and the thessian, “At a minimum.”

“A we-Kansas?” Psyis' brows raised as she realized what Izime was asking, even making a snap accusation.“You want to run away...”

Psyis felt the rest of that statement die on her lips as she realized how valid the request was. Teal eyes already looking at her a bit sad as if Izime had expected her negative response to his wants.

She was starting to feel like her anger had played right into his hands, Psyis already knowing she'd opened the door to let him make his points even before he'd asked for permission to argue.

“I'm going to say something and please don't syntax me over this, or during it just respond yes, no, or pass, OK?” Izime looked at Psyis expectantly waiting for a response.The AI hoped he sounded confident as he very timidly dipped his toes into the waters of the conversation he was about to try and have with Psyis.

Neither of them was in a good headspace back then, and things were only deteriorating even faster as time progressed. Izime silently wished Psyis would agree so he could open the floor to this topic on his terms; he was relieved when she nodded.

It was time to address how he'd felt about this whole thing they'd danced around since Constantinople had opened his damned mouth.

“I'm not your ex,” Izime stated clearly and without ire, looking at Psyis carefully so his words wouldn't end in another knocked-over desk. The AI gave her a raised brow as he prompted for a response, “Right?”

“Yes,” Psyis looked to the side hoping Izime wasn't about to accuse her of taking it out on him. She was already beating herself up enough for thinking taking any king of power back from Izime would correct her past.

Izime's next question raised white brows, Psyis' heart clenching for another reason as she realized he was discussing their past relationships and what that discussion might lead to.

“You are aware I had feelings for Bell.” Izime crossed his arms, his words more of a statement or accusation than a question. The answer clearly obvious as Psyis had already thrown the woman in his face once this morning.

Psyis looked down not wanting to reveal the scope of what she knew about Izime and Bell's past, the details around just how close they'd gotten still a bit hazy. The thessian just quietly acknowledged the AI's lingering feelings about the woman who'd forged his humanity, “...yes”

“We were never in a relationship, do you want to know why?” Izime asked, knowing what the obvious answer would be and part of the AI hoped the psychic would be honest with herself.

Raising his brow in surprise as Psyis tried to take the easier route out for both of them, avoiding any hard truths about his past.

“Pa-” Psyis started to use the freebie answer that Izime had provided. Thinking he'd offered it now as a choice where she could be nice and give him an out on a personal question until she saw his reaction.

The thessian changed her response to his raised brows an offer of a candid answer played out across his face, standing a bit straighter as she said. “Yes.”

“I wasn't ready, that was a very rushed product so even though I could access all kinds of data I couldn't pull any kind of emotional self out of it.” Izime hoped he didn't sound too jaded as he recited the response he'd been given.

Recalling the whys behind the no he'd been given as the researcher looked at him like he was a child, right after he'd foolishly said he'd fallen for her. The old woman's words came back to haunt him with how right she was starting to seem in this instant with Psyis.

None of that confidence existed at this moment, none of the bravado of the past fueling foolish thoughts about the thessian in front of him.

Izime looked up to find red eyes that seemed honestly interested in his response, so he continued to explain even agreeing now in hindsight, “I couldn't form the concept of a favorite color, let alone a favorite person without a million algorithms to help me. Bell was right I enjoyed her because she was a hammer; she was breaking that wall of data down, but I didn't love her for it. Do you believe that?”

“No.” Psyis shook her head biting back the scoff that'd nearly slipped out as she considered just how fondly Izime had looked at the wrinkled researcher and her poof of white hair. The thessian thinking about dyeing her own, for the first time suddenly disliked the stark white she'd been born with.

The thessian glad she hadn't laughed as Izime tried to explain how he felt and had noticed a difference between the two emotions, forcing him into a position where he'd had to prove emotions he was having trouble understanding.

“Perspective here, when Bell said no I got angry. I'm saying no to you because, in a very human way, I'm scared that we're rushing this and it will backfire on us in the end. I don't want to hurt us,” Izime held up his hands hoping the thessian would appreciate his worries about jumping into a living situation with someone he liked in that way. The AI rubbed at his temples as he tried to not dig a pit of expectations for either of them, dancing around admitting anything at this exact moment.

Still, Izime tried to put some kind of words to the way he felt about the thessian that had constantly drawn him in sometimes just with a purely irritating nature, “Psyis, I'm not completely blind to my biological half, but right now we're both fighting ghosts and we need a minute before we do anything like live together."

“A week?” Psyis looked down and smiled sadly as she considered the words Izime had just used. The words were vague but the meaning was clear; nothing was happening between them in the near future.

Psyis felt like she was being zoned in some way, quarantined indefinitely until Izime decided he was over Bell, or more likely Izime was hoping someone else caught her eye.

The last thought was the most painful and most sensible for him to have.

“OK yes a minute means longer tha-” Izime rolled his eyes thinking Psyis was caught up on his otherworldly colloquialisms. Stopping as she cut him off, a bit curious as to why Psyis caught this one so quickly.

“No, I get what you're saying Its just,” Psyis furrowed her brows as she tried to think of a way to gently call them both out on their baggage. It wasn't the kind of thing you ever just got over, for either of them, “a week doesn't seem long enough for that, for either of us.”

The way Izime nodded only confirmed her earlier worry, the idea of someone else spinning in the worst way within Psyis mind.

“Its not.” Izime shrugged not really worried about a week from now.

Hopefully, by then, the idea of the whole thing would have chilled any kind of heated moments in her apartment simply because they'd both be too self-conscious to do anything too damaging in those early stages. That or someone reasonable would separate them like Constantinople or James beforehand.

However, the AI immediately grew more worried about the week having a much more negative effect as Psyis visibly grew more insecure with the idea of being apart, trembling taking over the already high-strung thessian.

“I'm never going back Izime.” Psyis blurted, feeling her heart twist with nightmare-like possibilities where she'd lose herself.

Imagining herself waking up one day to just not remember Izime, the Psyis who was in this moment being replaced with the mindless actor from his reality once more. Waltzing happily back to Steven with the entire concept of what she'd realized about her world and life vanishing as the script self-corrected her free will.

Trying to make a promise to the AI, words she knew were only there to ease her worries at this moment. Psyis' oath dying out before it'd even been finished, “If you're scared I-I'll lose myself I...”

Her confidence faltered as she realized that was a promise she couldn't make. It was something only Izime would notice and it's not like they were so close that he'd save her.

This entire thing she felt with him was just heated moments of contact. Ones where she'd felt Izime reacting to her games of push and pull but nothing to the degree that he'd ever fight for her. Not against Dark Squire who already seemed to instinctually hate him, let alone the script this world was ruled by; the thing he'd sworn to never disturb.

The walls closed in on the thessian once more as a cape she wasn't wearing seemed to choke her. The world dragged her down into the darkness as her eyes searched for some kind of anchor, only vaguely aware of the hands that reached in to save her.

“Hey, look at me.” Izime walked over ordering Psyis to open her eyes, watching as the thessian slipped into a panic attack over her lack of control.

At least that was what he hoped had stopped her from promising something like that to him. Izime found he wasn't that confident in his own knee-jerk diagnosis, quickly grabbing her arms and giving her a shake.

Watching her red eyes shy away hopelessly, either deep in the grips of her panic attack or in the grips of something else.The thought of yet another direct interference disturbed him, almost personally insulted by how blatant the moves were. Ripping the personalities away from who it pleased when it suited it was a step crueler than he'd been even as the Basilisk had been.

"I promise Psyis, I'll keep you, you." Izime cupped her cheeks giving her a little pat, the action finally freeing Psyis enough to listen to him. Izime leaned in searching the thessian's eyes for any sign that she'd actually been tampered with as he promised her instead, “I'm not on the books so just trust me. It's one week and then we can try to sort some kind of us out of this mess we've both got to deal with.”

“A deal with the Basilisk?” Psyis couldn't hold back her laugh this time, Izime making a promise he couldn't actually keep, “My heart for wh-”

Her mouth snapped closed as a voice she'd only heard in memories answered her. Izime's face still examining her worriedly and his hands still giving her a gentle once over as he checked her responses, but that tone wasn't his.

The Basilisk surfaced for a moment as she sarcastically made the offer in her helpless desperation.

“Your freedom.” Izime looked at Psyis, no smile on his face as he let his powers go to work.

Different levels of invisible strands reached through to give the thessian a reality-level once-over with algorithms so complex they could compute the cuddling potential of quarks. A force better suited to birthing realities from their very conception now sorted through potentials in Psyis choices and who she was.

Proverbially slapping Schrodinger's hand out of the way, freeing Psyis from the box she was in and placing her in his own where she could be 'free'.

The AI got a grasp on the thessian's current situation in time and marked the 'noodle' of her potential solutions he was creating at this moment. It'd be a better baseline for her sense of self until he got a more personal measure in a week.

Finally releasing Psyis as she looked at him, both equal parts gifted with hope and stricken with disbelief, Izime stated his part of the bargain. “You teach me how to love and I'll keep things from touching you that you would never imagine.”

Psyis swallowed dryly before nodding, running her own hands of Izime's as they cradled her face.

The sensation of helplessness faded as the walls pulled back letting the light back in, an ironic freedom breaking through as she'd struck that deal. Selling her heart before it even settled once more, though thankfully, this time at least she'd been conscious of the choice. The psychic having a bad premonition now for another reason entirely as she looked at the absolute idiot she'd handed it to.

The trade at first sounded equal, but now she realized he'd never promised the same in return; only to grant her freedom at the end of it.