The Neon Bazaar pulsed like a living, breathing beast beneath the underbelly of the city. Holographic signs flickered in a riot of electric blues and pinks, casting jagged shadows over the crowd of futas weaving through the narrow, humid corridors. The air buzzed with the low hum of deals being struck, the clink of credits changing hands, and the occasional sharp bark of laughter or lustful whistle. It was a place where desire was currency, and power was the ultimate prize.
Donna strutted through the chaos with the kind of cocky swagger that only an 18-year-old with zero sense of self-preservation could pull off. Her worn leather jacket hung loose over a tight tank top, and her boots scuffed the grimy floor with every step. She wasn’t supposed to be here—hell, she could barely afford a decent meal, let alone anything the Bazaar had on offer—but a dare from her dumbass friends and a bottle of cheap synth-liquor had been enough to shove her through the rusted entrance gates. Now, she was in over her head, and the electric thrill of it all was starting to feel like a high she didn’t want to come down from.
“Oi, kid, you lost or just window-shopping?” a grizzled futa with a cybernetic eye growled as Donna shoved past her, nearly knocking over a tray of glowing data chips.
“Neither, gramps,” Donna shot back with a smirk, flipping her dark hair out of her eyes. “Just here to see if the hype’s worth the creds. So far? Not impressed.”
The older futa snorted, but Donna was already moving deeper into the Bazaar, her eyes darting from stall to stall. Weapons, tech, contraband—and then there were the auction blocks. Rows of female slaves stood on raised platforms, some with vacant stares, others with forced smiles, all dressed in barely-there outfits designed to entice. Donna’s stomach twisted a little at the sight, but she couldn’t deny the raw, primal energy of the place. She wasn’t looking to start a harem—she could barely keep her own life from falling apart—but the idea of flexing her meager savings for a little chaos? That was tempting as hell.
Then she saw her.
At the far end of the main auction block stood a girl who looked like she’d been carved from defiance itself. Ruby, the auctioneer called her, and she was a goddamn vision. Eighteen, with sleek cybernetic sockets gleaming where her eyes should’ve been, her gaze was a piercing, artificial red that could’ve burned through titanium. Her body was lean and muscular, barely covered by a tattered black bodysuit that clung to every curve and scar. But it wasn’t just her looks that stopped Donna dead in her tracks—it was the way Ruby stood, chin high, shoulders back, like she owned the damn place despite the cuffs on her wrists. And then there was her mouth.
“Come on, you limp-dicked losers, place a bid already!” Ruby’s voice cut through the crowd like a blade, sharp and dripping with disdain. “What, scared I’ll bite? Trust me, I only do that if you’re worth the effort—and none of you sorry bastards look the part!”
The crowd erupted into a mix of laughter and jeers, but Donna couldn’t take her eyes off her. Ruby’s lips curled into a sneer as she scanned the futas gawking at her, her cybernetic gaze locking onto each bidder like she was sizing them up for a fight. A beefy futa with a mohawk stepped forward, raising a paddle with a lecherous grin.
“Five hundred creds for the spitfire!” he bellowed, licking his lips. “I’ll tame that mouth of yours, sweetheart.”
Ruby barked a laugh, loud and unapologetic. “Tame me? Honey, you couldn’t handle a paper cut, let alone me. Save your creds for a personality transplant—you’re gonna need it.”
The crowd roared again, and Donna found herself grinning despite herself. This girl wasn’t just a pretty face; she was a goddamn hurricane. Before she could stop herself, Donna shoved her way to the front, her heart pounding with a mix of adrenaline and something hotter, deeper.
“Six hundred!” Donna shouted, raising her hand. Her voice cracked a little, betraying her nerves, but she played it off with a cocky tilt of her head. “Figure I’ll take a chance on the walking attitude problem up there.”
Ruby’s cybernetic eyes snapped to Donna, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink to just the two of them. A slow, dangerous smile spread across Ruby’s face, and Donna felt her pulse kick up a notch.
“Oh, look at this one,” Ruby drawled, her voice low and mocking. “Fresh meat with a big mouth. What’s your deal, kid? Trying to impress me or just got a death wish?”
Donna smirked, stepping closer to the platform. “Maybe a little of both. But I’m betting I can handle you better than Mohawk over there. What do you say, cybergirl? Wanna test me?”
Ruby’s laugh was sharp enough to cut glass. “Handle me? Sweetie, I’ll chew you up and spit you out before you can say ‘bad idea.’ But hey, I’m game. Let’s see if your wallet’s as big as your ego.”
“Seven hundred!” the mohawk futa growled, glaring at Donna. “Back off, runt. She’s mine.”
“Eight hundred!” Donna shot back, her voice steadier now. She didn’t even know where the confidence was coming from—her savings account was screaming in the background—but the fire in Ruby’s gaze was like a dare she couldn’t resist.
Ruby tilted her head, her smile turning predatory. “Oh, I like this. Two idiots fighting over me like I’m a shiny new toy. Keep going, kiddos. I wanna see who’s dumb enough to bankrupt themselves first.”
“Nine hundred!” Mohawk roared, his face red with frustration.
Donna hesitated for half a second, her mind racing. That was all she had—every last credit she’d scrounged from odd jobs and stupid bets. But the way Ruby was looking at her, like she was daring her to jump off a cliff just to see if she’d survive, made the decision for her.
“One thousand!” Donna shouted, her voice ringing out over the crowd. Her stomach dropped as soon as the words left her mouth. She was officially broke. And maybe insane.
The auctioneer slammed his gavel down before Mohawk could counter. “Sold to the bold little futa in the front! One thousand credits for the firecracker known as Ruby!”
The crowd cheered, some clapping Donna on the back as she stood there, half-dazed, half-thrilled. Ruby was escorted off the platform, her cuffs clinking as she was led to a holding area. Donna followed, her bravado fading into a nervous buzz as the reality of what she’d just done sank in. She’d spent everything on a girl who looked like she could—and would—rip her to shreds.
They met in a dimly lit alcove just off the main Bazaar floor, the noise of the crowd fading into a dull roar. Ruby stood with her arms crossed, her cybernetic eyes glowing faintly as she sized Donna up. Up close, she was even more intimidating, all sharp edges and raw energy. Donna swallowed hard, trying to play it cool.
“So,” Donna started, rubbing the back of her neck. “Guess you’re stuck with me now. I’m Donna, by the way.”
Ruby raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a smirk that was equal parts amused and dangerous. “Stuck with you? Let’s get one thing straight, hotshot. I’m not your pet, your toy, or your damn trophy. You bought my contract, not my soul. I don’t kneel, I don’t beg, and I sure as hell don’t play nice unless I feel like it. Got that?”
Donna blinked, caught off guard by the sheer force of Ruby’s words. But then she grinned, a slow, lopsided thing that betrayed the heat pooling in her gut. “Damn, cybergirl, you don’t pull punches, do you? Fine by me. I’m not looking for a doormat. But you’re gonna have to deal with me, too. I just blew every cred I had on you, so I’m not exactly rolling in options here.”
Ruby stepped closer, her gaze boring into Donna’s with an intensity that made her breath hitch. “Oh, I’ll deal with you, alright. But let’s be clear—I’m not some damsel you saved, and I’m not gonna swoon over your broke-ass heroics. You wanna survive me? You’d better keep up, because I don’t slow down for anyone. Especially not some cocky little futa who probably doesn’t even know what she’s gotten herself into.”
Donna laughed, a nervous edge to it, but her eyes sparkled with challenge. “Oh, I’m starting to get the picture. And trust me, I’m a quick learner. But hey, if you’re gonna be a pain in my ass, at least make it fun, yeah?”
Ruby’s smirk widened, and for the first time, there was a flicker of genuine amusement in her expression. “Fun? Kid, you have no idea what you’re asking for. But stick around. I might just show you.”
As they stood there, the air between them crackling with tension and unspoken promises, Donna realized she might’ve bitten off way more than she could chew. But damn if she wasn’t already hooked on the taste.
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