~ A bit of a continuation from the last chapter ~

"Give up."

Kid glared up at the blonde, the urge to punch him for the suggestion roaring on his instincts. Killer was without his helmet; if Kid wanted he could make a direct hit with the blonde's nose. But then he saw the man's dark green eyes and felt himself calm just a little.

It was times like these that reminded Kid that Killer was older than him with a few more years of life beaten against him. His blonde hair was pulled back out of his face, allowing the captain to look at him fully. High cheekbones and strong jaw set the frame of his face, slightly lighter skin on his shielded face from lack of sunlight, and lost forest green eyes that stared unblinkingly back, Kid had come to love these features. Killer without his helmet was a rarity, and he learned to revel in the knowledge that Killer willingly took off the mask for him.

"You shaved." Kid decided to say instead of arguing with the blonde. He was honestly a little surprised at the lack of beard on Killer's face after all the hell he went through to grow and keep it.

Killer shrugged. "Lilly's lab blew up on me… again."

Kid gave a sympathetic sigh, a small smile twitching at his lips. "You look better without it." He laid back on his bed with closed eyes.

"You're avoiding the issue."

"Huh?" Kid had barely move to look at Killer again before he felt the weight of his first mate press him down in to the bed. All the metal in the room began to shake on reflex as Kid's eyes flew open angrily, hand twitching to call it all to him. Killer gazed down at him unimpressed and waited until Kid relaxed back. The blonde settled himself a little more comfortably, straddling over his captain's waist but still silent and waiting.

"What do you want, Killer?" Kid gritted out between his teeth.

Killer leaned over Kid a little more causing his bangs to hang heavily over his face. He traced the scar across Kid's shoulder to the stump where his arm used to be. A sigh left him, long and sad, like he'd been holding it for a while. Hawkins was right, he realized. He did hold Kid higher and believed he was incapable of falling to certain ordinary flaws. Like jealousy. His forehead touched Kid's chest, and he stayed that way, thinking.

Kid was jealous. And it was because of him. Something he shouldn't revel in, but a smile found its way to his lips anyway. What upset him was that it was Apoo that was causing Kid's jealousy. Killer huffed. His captain could be an idiot sometimes.

"I want you to give up and let me in for moment." He felt Kid still under him, a pause of breath and halt of the twitching muscles beneath his fingers.

"And then what?"

"I don't know. Hopefully, you'll feel better." Killer was referring to how Kid had been out of sorts lately. The last time Killer asked, Kid had brushed him off with the reassurance it wouldn't last. But it had been weeks since then, and Killer had learned of Kid's growing anger toward Apoo's friendliness.

"Fine, whatever. Just hurry up, I don't…" Kid trailed off as Killer straightened a bit and pulled his hair back completely. The red-head got lost again in the cool dark green of Killer's eyes. He wasn't even aware of Killer taking his own hand and bringing it up to his lips until he felt warm breath tickle his fingers. Each kiss across Kid's knuckles came with a gentle whisper the blonde was sure his captain couldn't hear.

He moved back over Kid to lean down close to the red-head's ear. "Whatever it is," Because Killer knew better than to openly tell his captain that he was jealous of Apoo. "You needn't worry about it. I have your back, even if it means dying." The hand he was still holding clenched in his grasp. "I will never betray you or leave you." Chapped lips pressed against Kid's temple briefly. "Even if you don't let me in or trust me, my life belongs to you."

Kid opened his mouth to argue or at least tell Killer to shut up and stop spouting nonsense. The words never left him though, and he couldn't explain the odd tightness in his throat or the heat building in his chest.

"But if you would, just once, give up and let me in, let me help you…" Killer paused as Kid let out a shuddering breath.

He pulled Killer close to him and buried his face against the man's shoulder. Thankfully, he stopped talking and allowed Kid to just hold him. A small voice in Kid's head was laughing at him.

You gave up to this man a long time ago. Stop acting tough.

Kid agreed with a shaky laugh. "Ok, don't make me regret this."