[When he's done with the shower, done with washing the signs from his skin, she'll be waiting in the hallway. Just peacefully leaning against a wall like she has nothing else to do, nowhere else to be. Given the time of day, she really doesn't and it shows in how she casually looks at him.]

How'd it go?

[She won't ask for details, not here, but the curious look in her eyes will say it all. He didn't explain where he was going before he left, not really, and she's about as curious as a kitten when that happens. Even now, the number of questions without answers is rising.]

Good to hear.

[Like the mission being a success, the lack of civvies is hardly a surprise. She rolls her eyes at his back, then falls into step beside him, pulling his sheathed knife from a pocket.]

You asked, I deliver. [a glance askew.] Do I want to know why you left it behind?

Intel always works that way.

[Said as she leans on the door to be sure it clicks shut. His clothes are around here...somewhere...but it still wouldn't do to have someone walk in on him like this.]

You could have mentioned you wanted a trim. I'd have found you scissors. [And before he can say anything--] The knife may get through it, but it's not meant to cut hair. It's going to be messy if you try.

There are cleaner ways to spend an afternoon, I'll give you that. [All's well that ends well, even if getting blood out of cloth is going to take a while.

It'll be fine, huh? She sits back, watches him for a moment, then sighs and shrugs.]

If you say so. But don't expect a bandage from me if you cut your face open with that.

[Said as she crosses her arms to keep her hands from twitching, trying to keep from reaching out and just doing it herself.]

Second verse, same as the first. Can't say we're not used to it. [However inefficient it is to constantly repeat themselves. How in the world most people stand it...she'll never know.

She does, however, know she's been caught out and pauses, contemplative. Does she want to? It would make her useful...she smirks a bit.]

That depends. Do you trust me not to mess up your perfect shave?

Maybe break the monotony by shooting a grunt or two. [Once you've done one, you've done them all. Even if they switch the things guarding them from Hunters to Sentinels.

She takes the knife without another word, shrugging one shoulder and trying to keep her smirk from growing. That, at least, is more of a success than her last attempt at anything.]

I'll try not to make it a disaster zone. Hold still. [Said as she gently takes his chin in her other hand and gets to work. This won't take long.]

Even when they turn tail and try to run away? [Before honor or the elite in question made them hold ground. A nice chase sequence to break the staleness never hurt.

Almost instinctively, she shifts forward so his head can lean on her shoulder while she finishes; it's been a rough week. This is the least she can do for him.]

Your faith in me is overwhelming.

[And appreciated, her tone says. The fact that he trusts her so much is one of the things that keeps her going these days.]

I'm just hoping we don't run into them here. This place has enough trouble to deal with already. [No one reads any reports, she'd tell him. They file them away and don't pay attention, or learn from the past. Not until it's too late to do any good.

It's indication enough, and she swallows hard while peering at the back of his head, at the still red network emblazoned there like a brand. Never anything but faith...even when she was destroying him from the inside out. She doesn't deserve him, no matter how much she needs him. Her voice quiets, any sense of levity chased right out the way it came in.]

I know. And sometimes it makes me wonder if that crazy streak of yours really got to your head.

[Well. Most of the levity, anyway.]

It would give you something easier to shoot, at least. [Until the Knights pull a disappearing act again. She hated that. Wanted to shoot them herself sometimes, too, just to get it over with. Sometimes her patience was thinner than others.

Unlike now, when it's all she can do not to laugh as what stubble he has left rasps and tickles her stomach. He always knows how to reassure her, even if it's by making her want to laugh. She doesn't push him off, though, and instead runs her fingers through his hair. It may be too long for his standards, but it does make this easier.]

I do, but there's a reason the saying is everything in moderation. Makes it more enjoyable that way.

I'll need to practice my aim. [Because her, sneak up and stab 'em in the face? She doesn't have the upper body strength to make it work. Not the way he does. He's the brawn, she's the brain. It's how things have always been. She knows that, knows him, and knows things will never really change.

Though he's still more than capable of surprising her, and this event is no different. She takes a second, realizes what's happening, then smiles. So maybe he's not used to emotional things, but he's still trying. Still getting it right. So she wraps her arms around his shoulders, gentle and careful, as if he's the fragile one and she the rock, and sighs into his hair.]

What made you think I was worried it was?

I'd like that. [She does already know it, but the offer still makes something inside her warm again. Not that she'll ever speak of that; there some things he doesn't have to know. How useless she still sometimes feels is one of those things.

She tries not to think about that when he's around, and shoves the thoughts away. Instead, she presses the ghost of a kiss to his scalp and just holds on.]

You do. But I'm not worried. We'll figure this out.

[somehow.]

You can try, but do you honestly think you can? [A terrible joke that still gets a teasing response. It will get better than this. Somehow. After all, they're together still. They can handle just about anything so long as they stay together.

And they will. Whatever it takes. There's no splitting up this time. Whatever comes next...they will meet it head on.]

And even if we can't figure it out, we can definitely out-stubborn it. You have to admit that's an option.

Not persuasive enough. [She knows him too well to fall for his tricks or intimidation. Now, a request? That would be another story. There's little she can deny him at this point. Even a few extra laps would be done if he just asked.

Not that she's going to say that right now. Maybe another time, because for now she's just breathing, glad that he's able to relax. He needs it.]

Somehow I doubt they were looking for this much stubborn. [a soft chuckle.] They'll just have to deal with that.

That's one of the reasons. [she laughs into his hair, more a sigh than an actual laugh, but it's the truth. It's just one of the many reasons he has her. Someone has to talk to the brass when his exploits don't get them what they need, after all.

Had to. The past is past. She holds on a bit tighter at the thought that this is all they've got now, this crazy place that takes as easy as it gives. These moments are all that are really theirs now. She's loathe to end it so quickly.]

It evens the playing field. Let's not make things any easier.

[He'll find his everything trying--and failing--to hold back an easy laugh. For all they've been through, for all that may happen...some things never change. She smiles down at him, fond and exasperated and amused in the same moment.]

I have to give you that point. They do help a lot if they're used properly.

[read: so long as they're not used against them.]

You're you and you strapped a live nuke to your back. Why do you think I said it? [She's still amused, though. And shifting just slightly so there's absolutely no concern of nicks. Not that she's going anywhere else, though. She's practically a barnacle at this point.]

Not with nuclear ordnance you're not. [smirk.] Should I start counting the number of safety protocols you broke with that stunt? Because there were a lot of them.

[It can never make up for what was lost, but the chatter still comes easy enough to both break and fill the silence. That much, at least, even she can be grateful for. Especially if it gets a smile out of him at some point.]

Guidelines that keep you from getting irradiated. [she runs her fingers down his arm before pulling away so he can dress, still amused.] But of course they're just guidelines. Why worry about them when they're just guidelines?

[Rhetorical question. When has he worried about guidelines or protocol? It's just one of the many things she likes about him. Especially since it hasn't changed at all.]

[Hardly odd. Pants are overrated, especially if someone hates civvies as much as he does. She swallows her comment about the pants, raising an eyebrow.]

And you always will. I know that. [a pause, and she scrunches up her nose] Though I still fail to see why. I'm not the one nearly constantly in the thick of it.