#tootiredtm

her words were unexpected, they caught him off guard honestly, blue eyes going to her. his mouth opened and then closed, trying to understand what exactly she was saying before he looked down and shrugged. he had been told to protect people his entire life, but he'd been told that in order to protect the people that 'mattered' he had to hurt others. since the world had went to shit a lot of his outlooks had been challenged, might didn't automatically mean right, although he'd seen that enough, but he'd watched people fall that were 'strong', the disease had still carried them away and nothing they could do had changed that. he'd tried to protect them, but no matter what he did he couldn't save them.

his hands curled into fists, his eyes lifting to meet her own honey chocolate ones as he shrugged again. "they wouldn't deserve to live," he said, his voice soft and simple. when they'd first been paired together he had been over the moon, she was gorgeous, and at that point he had simply thought it'd be a more conventional relationship, what it'd grown into..... he let out a breath, his hands flexing as he clenched them a little tighter. "no one is allowed to hurt you, not me, not anyone. you deserve ....." he trailed off.

he didn't think he loved her, but she was potentially the closest friend he'd ever had, they watched movies late at night, they cooked --- or rather he cooked and she'd sit cracking jokes at the counter --- they did everything together from planning what they'd eat to going out and having fun, they'd gone dancing, they'd held hands..... the physical aspect he'd once put so high and as a 'need' had shifted to being a 'her' thing, and he didn't even know when that had happened. as long as she was happy he was happy, and that scared him more than anything. "maybe i like that you like it a little too much," he added, bravely he thought.

kassy had made it very clear to him that she considered him a friend only, and yet..... his brain and heart didn't listen to anyone, it never had. he'd always thought he needed someone soft and timid that listened to his orders, and yet anita had been the exact opposite, hadn't she? he released a breath before he gave another crooked smile and stood up from where he was sitting to pace into the kitchen. "do you want some popcorn?"

@tootiredtm​ cont. from x.

        “  WHO PUTS CANDY ON THEIR GROCERY LIST?  ”  she was supposed to be blending in but then again, who’s sam to judge on what kass gets for the apartment?

He listened to the phone ring and ring until the dulcet sounds of Kassy's voice came over the line. "Hey beautiful get dressed if you're not and meet me outside in five."

@tootiredtm​ liked for a starter

free to go see kassy and explain in person, where he knew no one would be listening. leaving the building he slid sunglasses over his eyes, squinting in the brightness of the sun. leaving buildings was always such a fun activity, always nerve wracking --- not that he looked it. but you were always most vulnerable when you walked out into the sun, so easily spottable, so easily targeted. not that he knew of anyone targeting him, he was good enough that there usually weren’t people left behind to target him.

walking down the road he slipped easily down the stairs to the subway, standing with everyone else. he hated going into any shield buildings because it was always a process. he hated the subway in general but he felt like it was needed. maybe he was paranoid, but he didn’t want anyone following him from the building and a large crowd of people helped negate that worry.

finally getting to kassys he knocked on the door, hands tucking themselves into his pockets as he looked at the little peephole.