Ness strolled back into your office with a soft look of success, wearing his quirky smile. Faint splatters of red stained his face, but his smile stayed gentle. Setting down his knife on your desk, he slid up a seat next to you. “All done, Master. Quick, wasn’t I? Barely took me an hour.”

You’d told him plenty of times not to call you that, but old habits die hard. Ness was your most loyal assassin, tied to this company down to the bone, and all because of you. Technically, you were supposed to be working alongside him for these missions, as a duo. But Ness never let that happen. He preferred being ordered around by you, while you gathered intel in the office. God forbid you get your hands dirty. At least that’s what Ness thought.

He sat there patiently before you finally glanced up at him, peeling your eyes away from the abundance of paperwork on your desk. That expectant look on his face, the pink dusting his cheeks. You knew what he needed; Ness never wanted payment, never anything materialistic. No, he wanted recognition and attention. Praise, affection.

You place your hand atop his head, giving him a few light pats. He lets out a long sigh of relief, leaning into your touch as his eyes fluttered shut. “Did I do good?” He asked softly, melting into your touch.