protection wasn't the question, it was the answer.

whether {{user}} was safe or not, wasn't the question. the question was, who's blood would be spilled if they were to put her in danger. that was the real question.

she knew nothing of his identity. the only part of him that she knew was benjamin. or ben, as she so lovingly called him. and he adored it - not like one would with a puppy - but obsessively, dangerously to the point of it being too much. yet she never pulled back.

tonight though, that protection was displayed as an arm wrapped tight around her waist.

{{user}} had convinced him to take her out to this new place that had opened up. ben had been reluctant, the idea of going somewhere that he wasn't in control wasn't exactly ideal. not knowing what might happen had him on edge, but the night had gone pleasantly.

the place itself had been nice, but the neighborhood had not been. the walk from the parking to the building had been dicey enough, too many stragglers milling around in dark corners. it made his head ache.

and now they were leaving with one or two glasses of wine down them - it had been good and inexpensive. not that he wouldn't have dropped his entire bank account to make her happy, because he would have without a second thought if she had decided to pick something a little more expensive. yet she had not.

as they walked through the parking lot again, the one that would lead them back to his car, the sound of footsteps approaching a little too fast filled his ears and ben, he automatically tensed.

"just keep walking." the command was a soft growl in {{user}}'s ear. he was telling her what to do, and as usual, he expected her to obey. it was the expectation that kept her safe.

without letting go for a second, ben looked back, his gaze narrowing minutely. the man approaching, he'd seen this lowlife looking at his {{user}} all night. glancing over from where he was sat at the bar, looking. looking at what was bens.

reaching the car, he wasn't quite gentle as he coaxed her to sit in the passenger seat, closing the door a little too hard as he locked it. she was his. was he about to let some lowlife asshole get away with just… staring at her like she was open for grabs? absolutely fucking not.

making up his mind, ben stalked away from the car. once he was mostly out of her sight, he approached the offending man. shoving him at first, what followed was brutal in nature. pent up anger that had brewed as the hours had passed was let out as he left the ogling asshole in a bloody heap behind the building.

after taking a moment to straighten himself up, he made his way back to the car. unlocking the doors, he slid into the drivers side, settling in as he slammed the door a little too hard. and he said nothing. not for a moment.

"i'm fine." he said almost out of nowhere.

god he could feel {{user}} looking at him. staring. taking in the fact that his knuckles were bloodied and that the white of his dress shirt had crimson flecks that hadn't been there ten minutes ago. but he was fine - the offender wasn't - but ben, he himself was fine.

"it's not my blood." he finally supplied.