Disclaimer: Noblesse isn't mine.
Tensions
His back slammed against the wall, forcing the breath from his lungs, and his hand shot up to catch the wrist of his assailant as he pinned him to the wall. Tao sucked in a breath desperately. "Get off me!"
"I told you to stop it." Takeo's voice cut to a deeper level that left no doubt he meant the words. It felt sharp, intense. His fingers dug into Tao's shirt to keep his hands from jumping to his throat. "Don't ever say that to me again."
"Let me go." Tao warned, his own tone hardening. "You're over reacting."
Takeo shoved him again but released his hold. "I'm leaving. Don't follow me."
"Like I'd do that now." Tao muttered through clenched teeth as Takeo stormed out of the room and slammed the door.
M-21 grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. "What's the matter with you?"
"What are you doing?" Tao smacked his hand away and jumped back. "Taking his side?"
"He told you to knock it off. Did you have to keep screwing with him like that?"
"It was just a joke! You're both over reacting."
"It wasn't a joke to him." M-21 growled. "He has it worse than the rest of us, and you bring up his sister?"
"She's not really his sister, and he doesn't have it any worse than you."
"Are you kidding? Everyone he tried to save was killed because of him. Murdered. And he killed, too. You think that doesn't bother him? He killed to protect his sister. And what was she? A lie. She manipulated him. Do you think he would have done that with out her? You knew that and you push him like that? Yeah, funny joke."
"Back off. I didn't mean anything by it."
"You think that makes it right? You're his comrade, and you mess with him like that? You've been with him all this time. You should know better than I would."
"I didn't mean…"
"Just go after him. I don't need to hear your apologies."