The glowing flame before him gave him something to focus on, a means to breathe when the air in his lungs grew tight. The post-fight adrenaline that began to subside, leaving him with nothing but pain and a burning rage that still lingered beneath the surface. Hot coals, or embers down within, always ready to fight for those he cared for most- and these days it was he alone who took that place in his heart. His lover, his partner, his everything, sitting before him, tending to his wounds with a sense of calm he couldn’t understand. Shouldn’t he be mad? To know his reputation was on the line?

The cigarette would hang from his lips, tucked into the corner of his mouth while he was set on examining the extent of his damage. Sore to the touch, but he’d do his best not to flinch, even if his eyes stung and his nose ran, he’d let out a soft sniffle as his eyes would shift toward the ground. “Doesn’t mean we have to put up with it. It’s our reputation on the line- where you came from isn’t anyone's business…” 

Neil wrapped a protective arm around his partner's shoulders. Easing him closer to his side as he lead them into an mostly vacant lot where they'd parked. "Intimidated, maybe. Mercs like them don't last long. I highly doubt we'll be seeing them again." The older reassured. He knew full well that he was a hypocrite. Were some washed up merc to speak ill of Sam in a similar fashion... their positions would only be flipped.

"I think they're not worth the effort." Tone shifted to something softer, forehead gently resting against the other's temple for a fleeting moment before pulling away with a chaste kiss. The passenger's door was opened for his lover. "Besides, you knocked them around pretty good. Left a lasting message and a lifetime of humiliation."

“  last night was nice.  ” “  lets do this again some time.  ” “  i’ll leave my number.  ” “  i gotta go, sorry.  ” “  can’t you at least stay for breakfast?  ” “  i’ll make coffee—don’t go anywhere.  ” “  next time, maybe i’ll buy you dinner first.  ” “  if we do this again you better buy me dinner first.  ” “  i don’t think my legs work again yet.  ” “  i don’t wanna get up.  ” “  no don’t move, it’s too cold outside the covers.  ” “  there’s no way i can hide these marks…  ” “  this was probably a mistake.  ” “  this can’t happen again.  ” “  you always say that, and yet we wind up right back here.  ” “  are you watching me sleep?  ” “  you look cute all frazzled like this.  ” “  why are you looking at me like that?  ” “  keep kissing me like that and we’re gonna end up back in bed.  ” “  something wrong? ” “  i’d stay if i could, i promise.  ” “  so if i put my number in your phone, you actually gonna text me? ” “  i made breakfast.  ” “  how do you take your coffee?  ” “  fuck! i’m late—  ” “  did you turn the alarm off?  ” “  if you don’t turn that alarm off i’m gonna throw it out the window.  ” “  i can’t find my shirt.  ” “  babe, we slept in.  ” “  i know you’re awake.  ” “  i’ll stay.  ” “  why don’t you stay?  ” “  i like waking up with you.  ” “  i like having you here at night.  ” “  you know, if you moved in we wouldn’t keep having to say goodbye like this.  ” “  so when are we gonna actually go on a real date?  ” “  do i smell bacon?  ” “  you made pancakes?  ” “  come on, come back to bed.  ” “  you weren’t there when i woke up.  ” “  i thought you left.  ” “  do you want me to go?  ” “  just let me sleep for five more minutes.  ” “  you’re really beautiful/handsome. even if you drool.  ” “  you talk in your sleep, ya know.  ”