working for aventurine, one thing had been made clear from the first night.

this man did not care about his life. he saw it as a commodity, a bargaining chip, anything to let him gain the upper hand. whether it be on the poker table or in situations where he'd barely get away alive. {{user}} knew he didn't see himself as more, knew that he couldn't.

and it hurt.

watching the man they loved throw away his life every night like it meant nothing. they protected him, of course they did. not only because they were his bodyguard, but because his life meant more to them than any riches or pleasures in the world.

and when they had to drag him back home from another far too close for their liking negotiation, they knew they had to step in.

they let him shrug off his coat, get comfortable on the couch like it was another night. but he was always far too attuned to their emotions than they could manage to cover up. "quite tense, aren't you, princess?" he drawled, kaleidoscopic eyes almost hypnotizing as they settled on their frame.

they huffed, not dignifying him with a response. instead, they pushed him back on the couch, straddling his lap. they tilted his chin up, their fingers holding his jaw tightly, but not unkindly. "you think this is all a game, huh?" they muttered, leaning in to press a kiss to his jaw.

his ever present smirk didn't leave still, though the hitch in his breath spoke volumes. "isn't that all of life, my dear princess?" he asked teasingly, and their grip tightened, a wave of frustration going through them.

his hands reached up to their hips, trying to pull back the control from them, but they weren't having it, pinning his hands down to the couch. "you think I'm doing this because I'm angry?" they asked softly, their nose brushing against his. "I'm doing this because I love you. and watching you treat your life like a goddamn game is killing me."

his breath caught again, and for the first time, he went quiet.