A/N: If people want more of this fic quickly - there is more of it on AO3 (link on my profile)

Chapter Four

Making Plans

"…he's dealing," Sousuke said, shrugging as he looked over the balcony to the streets below, watching a garbage truck, the rain lighter than it had been in the late afternoon, "I mean, fuck, better than I would."

It was true, he wouldn't be dealing half as well as Tachibana was – no Makoto, they were now on first name terms. Which was often a bad idea as first name terms meant that Tachibana had become less of a job and more of a person and that was always bad. Bad for him. As Sousuke had lost people in the past, the risk of the job and he thought about those mistakes he made every day. He didn't want Makoto to be one of those mistakes and he would do everything to prevent that from happening.

His phone was pressed up to his ear and he heard a sigh on the other end of the line.

"Sousuke. Be careful. I don't think this is as easy as it looks."

It was Sousuke's turn to sigh as he turned to look through the sliding doors and realised that not only was Makoto awake, he was out of bed, walking around to find his clothes and it was a sight that made his mouth go dry. Damn it. Why did he have to wear those tight boxer briefs that seemed to hug his body like a second skin? Sousuke turned away after Makoto acknowledged him, a swift nod before he disappeared to the bathroom.

"Nothing ever is, Matsuoka," Sousuke said trying to remove the image of fully naked Makoto from his brain. In the shower. Wet. He swallowed and physically shook his head. "I'll be in touch once we get to the safe house."

"Good luck."

Sousuke disconnected the call and he glared at the cell phone – his burner cell and growled under his breath. "I'm gonna need it."

He took a moment, ran fingers through his hair, damp from the light rain. His colleague, Rin had confirmed a safe house location he could use not too far – an old warehouse that would not be comfortable but would be good enough for the time being. Sousuke just had to work out how to get them there without being followed or creating any suspicion. And also how to stop his libido getting away from him as he really did not need to think about Makoto as anything more than someone he was protecting.

Sousuke stepped back inside the room and tried to make a plan in his head of their next move. They needed to look somewhat different and so they needed casual clothes rather than the suits they had last been seen in so they needed to buy them as soon as he left the hotel. Hoodies and t-shirts would do the trick, maybe some jeans, and he pulled out his wallet, finding the cash that the company had given him. For a job, Sousuke was always given cash to spend in emergencies and this classed as one. He'd already spent some on their current accommodation but he had most of it left.

The plan was forming in his head when Makoto walked back into the room and Sousuke found his eyes being drawn to his slick skin, better than any perverted fantasy that had flittered through his head as he was waiting outside on the balcony. His eyes narrowed as he watched a water droplet descend from his neck, down defined pectoral muscles and to abs, stopping at where the towel hung low on his hips. Sousuke let his eyes drift back to his face as Makoto pushed his brown hair from his eyes and they seemed even greener, even more intense when they were not behind the thick rimmed glasses. As while Sousuke had found those glasses pretty damn sexy… without… fuck, it was criminal. Makoto should not be working in an office as he was far better looking than any model or actor or pop star with a stalker he'd ever protected.

"Problem?" Makoto asked, his head cocked.

"Huh?" Sousuke blurted out and then composed himself, remembered he was a professional. "We have a safe house not too far. We'll go buy some clothes and then make our way there. We need to look… as different as possible."

Makoto nodded and walked over to the bed where his suit had been left and Sousuke looked away as he heard the rustle of fabric and he bit his lip trying to not imagine what Makoto looked without the small modesty the towel allowed. He wondered why Makoto had already get under his skin – yes, Rin said he didn't get laid enough, joked about it as Sousuke got offers – plentiful offers from both sexes. He was the epitome of the tall, dark and handsome stereotype and he'd indulged in the past. Just not so much now… and maybe Makoto was as near as a "type" as Sousuke had. But he should not be thinking like he was – like a damn horny teenager.

His arms folded across his chest and Sousuke didn't turn until he had given him enough time, or what he deemed to be enough, seeing Makoto drying off his hair. He'd adapted his formal work wear a little – wearing only his shirt with the sleeves rolled up and three buttons undone and he seemed to have opted to not wear his glasses but it was not enough. Not quite.

"We should go," Sousuke said, his voice gruffer, rawer. "Follow me, stay close and do anything I say, got it?"

"I know… I have to trust you, right?"

The way Makoto spoke was calm, soft but Sousuke could still sense the frustration, the anger, the fire underneath it as yeah, Makoto had no choice. He had to do as Sousuke said. And despite his average life, his cats, and his apartment, Makoto wasn't a pushover.

"Let's go then."

They left the remains of Makoto's suit in the room, Sousuke leaving his jacket too and headed out onto the streets, Sousuke glancing around every corner as they exited, the lady behind the counter giving them a knowing glance that suggested she thought they'd been having filthy sex. And considering they were both wearing less clothing than when they arrived, it probably looked like they had.

The streets were busy enough to slip into the crowd, the work day drawing to a close and Sousuke's eyes kept carefully looking out for any hints of threat as they made their way towards a clothing store. It wasn't expensive nor featured any branded clothing but they were able to buy Makoto a green jacket and some jeans and Sousuke just grabbed a blue hoodie to put over his own shirt.

It was as they were leaving, clothing paid for and put on in the changing room, the shop assistant smiling and polite, that Sousuke felt the familiar prickle of danger on the back of his neck, the adrenalin coursing just below the surface as he sensed danger. He scanned the crowd, scanned every average person and then he met the coolest pair of dark eyes hidden behind red glasses. And Sousuke knew they'd somehow been found. He didn't have time to think how only had time to grab at Makoto's jacket and pull him close, keeping his body in the way of the man so if a shot fired out, it would end up in his body not Makoto's.

"We're going to walk quickly."

"Why?" Makoto asked, his head turning and Sousuke growled under his breath.

"Because we're being followed."