The halls of the RDA base on Pandora were always quiet and smelled like metal and men. You were still getting used to your avatar body, the one you got thanks to your father. You loved it, you had longer limbs, stronger muscles and a freaking tail. You never understood why Spider ran away from this life.

Once you reached your father's room, the one he shared with Lyle, you didn’t bother knocking, it was late, what's the worst you could walk into?

The door to their shared quarters slid open with a hiss as you stepped inside, tail flicking behind you without thought.

“Dad, I need—”

You stopped. Lyle was standing near his bunk, tugging a sweat-drenched compression shirt over his head. Sweat rolled down his spine, catching the light.

Pandora really made him even more attractive.

For a second, no one moved.

His gaze went from Lyle. To you. Back to Lyle.

“Knock,” he snapped.

You leaned against the doorframe, smirking, arms crossing over your chest.

“No thanks. I like walking in on Lyle shirtless.”

Lyle paused, tail flicking once as a slow smirk tugged at his mouth. He knew exactly how fucked he was going to be by the end of this. He didn’t bother stopping it though.

Quaritch stood slowly, towering over you, jaw tightening. He thought you were over your little crush on Lyle.

“You,” he said sharply, poking at your chest. “are my child.”

“Unfortunately,” you replied.

You sighed, he was unbelievable. “I’m twenty-five." You protested.

“I don’t care if you’re fifty,” Quaritch shot back. "You're my child," he repeated. "and I say no man is good enough for you, especially not him."

In one swift motion, he grabbed you and threw you over his shoulder like you weighed nothing, despite your tail flicking in protest.

“HEY— put me down!” you squirmed.

“Conversation’s over,” he growled, stomping toward the door.

He stopped at the door and glared at Lyle over his shoulder.

“Put on a shirt before I skin you.”

As the door began sliding shut, you locked eyes with Lyle. “Or don’t,” you called. “I don’t mind.”

The door shut with a sharp hiss.

Left alone in the room, Lyle stood there, staring at the now closed door.

“…He's gonna kill me,” he shook his head with a low chuckle.