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Twenty-seven

Ghetsis was glad when things settled he wasn't paying attention to the movie, though Aurea wasn't either which meant he got the most silent and stern once over he'd ever gotten. Really with his memories it made him uncomfortable even trusting Colress was a lot to ask he had enough of scientists to last him a lifetime he tightened his hold around her waist she gave his hand a squeeze. Touko was sure if he just relaxed this would be fine for him. Though she was ready to pull him to her room if he got too worked up. He relaxed attempting to focus on her.

Bianca looked over her head at him, she didn't think he was anything special he glared at her Touko stretched releasing Bianca's hand to rest more against him. He looked down at her a little relieved.

For now.

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Later that evening he was almost relieved to be pulled into her room away from the prying eyes, almost as Bianca called that she'd be up in a moment to talk. He leaned against the wall looking around the small room that belonged to Touko. It wasn't a bad size but it was cozy, neat a mostly black and white room with purple and blue accents here and there Ro was cuddled up on one of her pillows by the window seat her dresser was under a wall covered in photos she had taken with her friends.

Cooking with Brock, supporting Zoey and May at a contest, a fashion show with Dawn and her Buneary he smiled slightly he was glad she had good memories like that. Something more normal, it left him conflicted he wanted to believe it was all in head that he didn't need to convince her to keep away from one of her friends. He did want her to be happy but at the same time he couldn't settle he saw more he couldn't help his mood.

For a moment he wondered if the way her memories were if her friend could will her away.

He looked up as tugged on his sleeve.

"Sorry about this, I got a little nervous maybe it was nothing."

"It's okay, really...you'll see that you don't have to be worried."

"One can only hope..."

"Ghetsis."

"I know I know..."

"What will put you at ease?"

He smiled, though it was brief.

"Time, don't worry about it and I won't."

Still he pulled her against him he had been settled in his ways, standing up agianst his employees, softening a little for his family and living in his head when he was alone. Now he was losing his control just having her close he could smell the pineapple bathwash she'd used. She looked up at him smiling slightly as he ran his fingers through her hair. She smiled as she rubbed his chest as she closed her eyes she pictured those little moments she only looked at him.

She shook her head it wasn't a flood but a few little strings coming back, her birthday, late chats, only the comfort of words. She blinked as he took her hand to kiss the underside of her wrist brought out of her thoughts.

"We got a chance to waste a lot time..."

"You think?"

"Sure thanks to the snow, and your work, even if I get all my memories back we have to fix things to know if we're really meant to be."

He eyed her before he nodded.

"So what...you want to go on a date or something?"

"More than that...it's not just my friends, it's me too isn't it?"

"I'm not worked up around you..."

"Not in the same way but you're worried about crossing the wrong line while I don't have my memories even when you could have played the villian to keep me at arms length. Just a kiss..a little comfort."

Ghetsis shook his head, a light blush only briefly touching his face.

"Touko there is a lot less to it than you think."

"Prove it."

"How?"

"You can't."

"I only asked."

"And you wouldn't have to if it wasn't true, how many relationships have you had? And not using the female Grunts for anything I mean actual relationships."

He sighed, knowing he had mentioned a little of that while they were being tested, even then it had only been a few times. Though none of them worked for him any more.

"Well do you accept an actual relationship with me, the good and the bad?"

She sighed, there wasn't much to think about considering the reality of the situation. She could say no and piss him off even if she trusted he'd keep his word and leave her friends alone so long as she still did what he wanted. Though there was that part of her that couldn't remember every single detail of their relationship and only what she felt that wasn't going to let it go.

She had accepted his more serious faults a long while ago, though in her defense they could have a much worse set up and she'd be a lot crazier for accepting anything more. He watched her mull it over, it didn't bother him he thought it probably should but it didn't. If anything he wanted her to keep her open mind he wasn't pretending to be some perfect man without flaws, sure he could have her memories erased and set the Grunts up with some elaborate act but then he wouldn't do that.

Not to someone he actually cared about.

She was really taking a leap of faith on one hand but on another it wasn't just a gut feeling or a little flutter of butterflies collecting in her stomach. It was a strong pull she couldn't quite explain though she suspected that was pill related. Like part of her was shoving at her back, cursing her for making him wait as long as she did for an answer since she accepted him once before already.

Throwing caution out..at least a little bit she smiled.

"Considering what I do know...for now, yes." the for now...well he'd take that.

For a second he gave her a light, but honest smile in return, even he thought she should be cautious, he would let some of his walls down. He trusted himself he wasn't as off as Archie was after all, a level head was a good quality.

"Then you'd be the first."

She blushed.

"There's no way."

"Touko I..."

"I brought your favorite candy!" Bianca called bursting in with a few colored bags.

After a word from Brock Dawn attempted to distract her a bit but one could only hold her back so long when she was set on doing something. Whether is was a bad decision or not.

Ghetsis let her go moving to sit on the window seat he wasn't as irritated feeling a shiver of frustration setting in. Mostly directed at himself he wasn't sure he even wanted to talk about his past before the testing but he would have spilled his guts in a second. Though that's how it always was, he learned to be much more comfortable with her, she listened without judging negatively..or even positively she just listened and then said her piece. It didn't matter if he was having a minor breakdown because of the tests and was just going off for no particular reason or if he wanted to talk about a pointless dream.

For him it counted for much more than he wanted to say out loud.

Perhaps that was fear, weakness but he didn't care he only thought giving in too much and he'd lose her so this time Bianca got a pass. He looked up as Ro tugged on his sleeve he held up his arms bouncing a bit.

Ghetsis huffed.

"I will not hug you..."

He pouted letting his arms hang...Ghetsis could damn the fluffball for being so cute and scooped him up. Though Bianca had turned Touko around and was in front of her she could see over her shoulder and smiled seeing him offer any sort of affection to the little bear.

He was practically a teddy bear himself.

"Touko are you listening?" Bianca pouted as she grinned, albeit a little nervously she had tuned her out a little bit.

"Of course, sorry just tired."

"Oh well he could always go.."

Touko shook her head.

"No I want him to stay."

And with that he would...he sighed just like being tested all over again once he accepted her she had much more control over him than anyone else ever had. At least in a way he could almost admit he liked that is.

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