Over-Protective Burn Marks

[Hachiubi]

It had been plaguing his mind for quite a while now; the interactions between himself and Hopeless had gotten to a point where it was starting to attract attention from higher ups. Usually being ordered by the same person over and over again wasn't that big of a deal, in fact, normal in this kind of industry. Women tended to like what they liked and rarely strayed from it however, he'd been slipping up and there was whispers that he seemed to enjoy Hopeless's company, looking much cheerier when he found it it was her that was requesting him. He'd never shown much interest in anyone for good reasons, as the Director tended to be a jealous bitch but he'd had a hard time keeping a lid on his feelings. For a long time, he hadn't felt like this with anyone and the last person he had felt this way with had left him behind.

Paranoia had set in a very long time ago between cameras everywhere and traitors watching for you to put a toe out of line. So this next time that he left with Hopeless, he had made a promise to himself. He was going to protect her, from all of it. No matter what.

It was going to be difficult with what little freedom he was allowed but he'd find some way to manage. They were on their way down the stairs that led up to the ABCD building and he could feel gazes on his back as they walked, trying to keep his distance from her and look disinterested.

[Yuyu]

He was acting a bit strange. Generally, he was more affectionate, loving... He would hold her hand and tell her a joke to brighten her day. And while it was true that Markus was probably one of the biggest assholes she'd ever met, he always seemed to treat her nicely. Like she was special, which she hoped she was. After all... Hopeless loved him. And he'd said that he loved her too, so she didn't know why he seemed so... down.

"Everything okay today?" she asked as she slipped into her car, glancing up at him from under a fringe of her chestnut hair. She'd chosen a fairly modest outfit - just some jean shorts and a light pink tank top with flip-flops that matched. "You seem a bit off. Did you... want to go somewhere else today besides my house?"

[Hachiubi]

He looked a bit alarmed when she asked if he was okay, averting his eyes for a moment before pushing on his usual facade. It fooled most he was with but he wasn't quite sure if it would fool her.

"Yeah I'm fine," he said hurriedly, stepping into the passenger's side, "We can just go to your house like usual." He had hoped they'd go straight there to be honest; it took a long time to move it piece by piece to her house and he was nervous about stopping anywhere else and there being witnesses. He leaned against the door, looking out the window.

"Let's just go okay?"

[Yuyu]

"...?" Hopeless's brow furrowed, but she didn't say anything else, instead shifting her car into gear before turning to leave the association. Once they were a little ways down the road, she dropped her sunglasses over her hazel eyes, peeking over at Markus with a worried furrow of her brow.

"Are you absolutely sure everything's going? You know... I can tell when you're lying to me." She frowned pointedly, turning back to the road with a small twist of the wheel to turn them onto a different street. "... and if it's about Aiden, I can help too." She wasn't completely hopeless, even if her name suggested as much.

[Hachiubi]

"It's nothing. I swear," he said, shaking his head, "It's the job. The pressure of it gets to me sometimes but I'll be fine. I'm always fine." He shifted a bit in his seat as she said something about Aiden and his mind wandered to his one and only friend. He hadn't seen him or heard from him in a while and he was missing him.

"It's... It's not Aiden. I mean I miss him but, that's not it."

[Yuyu]

Work...? Hopeless frowned again, but turned a bit regardless. "... Well, whatever it is... I'm sorry that you're going through it. But I'll do my best..." To make him happy. To get rid of his sadness...

She pulled into her driveway, the garage door opening and then closing promptly behind them as she put it in park. Without saying another word, she stepped out of her car and headed toward the door leading into her house. "Truffles misses you, though~" she said hopefully, casting a smile over her shoulder.

[Hachiubi]

He was relieved when she dropped the subject, allowing him room to think and breathe. She meant well and she was smart, funny, charming... He shook his head, trying to be back on subject; however, she wasn't war worthy. She was sweet girl but not a warrior. The more he involved her in their fight, the more danger she was going to be in. It was bad enough that he was being associated positively with her among his peers but with actual enemies drawing out his more instinctive nature by using her, it was like luring an animal into a trap. Sooner or later, he wouldn't be able to help himself. So he had act, and quickly.

When they got the house, he stepped out giving a small chuckle as she referenced her cat. Truffles always made him a bit calmer.

"What did you want to do?"

[Yuyu]

Hopeless smiled warmly, scooping up Truffles as he was placed down and turning. "Hm~ We could... always relax and watch a movie," she said, "... or we could..." Her cheeks heated, gaze going down abashedly as she cleared her throat. "... well, I'm sure we'll find something to do! I have some chores we c-could get done, some g-games we could play if we got bored, and... ahn... yeah, there's lots of things we can entertain ourselves with! R-right, Truffles?!" She lifted her cat up with her hands beneath his front legs, looking at the purring fat ball of fur with a nervous smile and twitch of her brow. "Ahaha --"

[Hachiubi]

He managed a chuckle, looking at the cat and her human companion. He walked forward, petting the cat's head, rubbing the back of his ears. "Or are you thinking of something a little more intimate?" he asked, giving her a sideways look.

[Yuyu]

Hopeless's cheeks flushed deeply, gaze staying focused on her cat as she shook her head with a flounce of brunette curls. "Wh-what?? N-no! I -- I'm not!" she stuttered.