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[oh]

[oh wow]

[it's. . . so much to take in at once, and Mars stands absolutely frozen in front of the piece. he recognizes that face, and as his gaze darts from painting to painting, he understands the story Fox is trying to convey]

This is. . .

[his hands curl into fists so tight his fingers dig painfully into his palm]

Fox. . .

[fox stays quiet until mars says his name, not wanting to interrupt. he knows it's a lot to take in, and mars needs time to process it all]

Yes?

[. . . quietly reaching for Fox's hand, grasping his fingers tightly. he is as tense as a board, gaze locked on Eichi's face with a look that could commit murder]

This is. . . when you disappeared-- this is what happened?

[lets mars take his hand, holding it]

I... cannot answer that, but you know I would if I could.

Fox. . .

[a little helpless, a little frustrated, and a whole lot of furious. but it's quiet fury]

[drags him in for a tight hug]

[hugs back, grateful to be holding him for the moment, arms wrapped around his shoulders]

Ren...

[his voice is low when he next speaks, words full of danger and fury]

. . . you only have to say the word and I'd make his life ten thousand times worse than he made yours.

["shut up and kiss me you beautiful fool," fox does not say, but somewhere in his heart he thinks it, albeit not as succinct.

it's not a particularly heated kiss, just a firm one, a shuddering breath escaping fox before their lips meet. his words are all caught up in a jumble, and it's the only thing he has left to convey how much he treasures mars, how grateful he is for his presence, how much an oath like that means to him. it means a lot and he hopes mars knows that.]

[makes a startled noise in the back of his throat, but his hand comes up to curl itself in the front of Fox's shirt immediately. it make take a moment for his brain to catch up, but when it does? he tilts his chin up and drink in that kiss, for everything that it means]

[fox wants to linger in it forever, from the way he maps and delves into mars's mouth, from the soft noises in the back of his throat, from the way his arms tighten around him. he doesn't let go until he needs air, breaking the kiss with an audible gasp]

[pulls back as well, sucking in a sharp breath and ducking his head. why does Fox always have this kind of effect on him. . .]

[. . .]

What are you going to do. . .?

[about Eichi]

[he takes a few seconds to catch his breath, one hand curled at the back of mars's neck, playing with his ponytail]

... I am undecided. I want to exact swift and painful revenge on him, tenfold what I went through... even though I know it will only lead to an escalation, a cycle of violence upon each other neither of us can ever escape from.

I know this desire is a selfish one, borne of experiencing something traumatic and being unable to move past it. Knowing it does not make me stop wanting it.

And... despite everything, I... still want to know him. I still want to understand him, to see the secrets he hides within his black and twisted heart. He wears the mask of monster well, but there is a hurt and scared young man beneath the facade somewhere. I know there is. And I want to meet him.

Edited 2019-11-28 04:16 (UTC)

[. . . . . . . . . .]

[there's a part of Mars that understands it, and a part of him that's disgusted by it. not disgusted by Fox, but. . . by the part of him that understands]

[his mouth curves backwards into a derisive sneer]

Heart has some pretty damn good abilities when it comes to making someone's life hell.

Charm is almost cruel, the way that it works.

I know. It is not as though I am not tempted, but as soon as he is aware others are involved, he will know that the contract is useless. And that will mean any protection we were able to negotiate will be gone.

[his gaze narrows]

Is protection from someone like him really worth it?

[softly]

He is the type who would inflict on Haru what he did to me without any hesitation. And she has suffered so much already... I do not want to even risk putting her through that.

[. . . . . . . .]

Would he dare touch her when he knows we're watching him like a hawk?

[and the moment a single hair on Haru's head is harmed, there will be no holding back anymore?]

[bitterly]

He wouldn't even hesitate.

. . .

Then I think we need to talk to his team.

[get the rest of BARiTONES in on it. let them know that they need to keep their bad dog on a leash]

I... don't know. How to approach them about it, exactly. Whether or not it is even advisable. What would they do, if they knew? Are they even capable of reigning him in?

I don't know. But they have to understand that him acting out like this means that their entire unit is in more danger when it comes to bad games.

[it's shitty to hold an entire unit accountable for one man's actions, but. . .]

They will be, when it comes to Taisho. Perhaps then they'll take the hint.

[. . .]

I don't know Yvette very well, but A says she cares about PR. And she swings by Heart from time to time.

Yvette is... I enjoy her company. I consider her a friend, or something like it. She has taken an enthusiastic interest in art, and I want to encourage that. But I worry, still... and I am ashamed of second-guessing her intentions, but I cannot help it.

Don't be ashamed. If she's willing to protect or defend someone who kidnapped you and tortured you for three or so days, then that says a lot about her priorities.

. . . which isn't me telling you that you should hate her, just-- you should adjust your own accordingly.

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