нєαтнєя & Aηgєℓєηα :)

[E M M A]

?

[angelena.]

((Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't see this.))

Hugh was still watching her. Liva, of course, was used to having everyone’s eyes on her, used to being the center of her little universe. She was on the cover of every tabloid in Norway, guest starred on every big talk show in Europe, attending all the biggest celebrity events. Liva was a celebrity, a celebrity with far more power than any actor or musician. She would be the queen one day. She was Norway’s little darling and also Norway’s best loved scandal story, with all the trouble she got into. And Liva loved the attention, even some of the bad stuff. Deep down she wished she could have a normal life, yes, but at that shallow level of her spirit she liked when people looked at her, liked when they whispered about her and when they plastered her face on magazine covers. At least for a little while, she could pretend that the stares and the applause felt like love, could act as though that filled the gaping whole in her heart that never really went away…

But something about Hugh’s stare was…unsettling. Maybe she was still just a little out of it due to her hangover and the fact that she had woken up less than an hour ago, but his gaze sent a weird series of shivers throughout her, making her skin tingle. She had tried to get his attention for much of the day yesterday, tried to provoke him to show any sort of emotion. But she hadn’t considered what it would be like if he actually looked at her. And when Hugh looked at her…she felt like he was actually seeing her, like she couldn’t hide any part of herself. Liva felt suddenly vulnerable and exposed, laid bare before him once her defense mechanisms were torn down. She had…no power here, she realized. She was used to being completely in control of everything, of being able to manipulate people at her will. But yesterday had proved that wouldn’t be easy with Hugh. Any attempts to seduce him had been waved off and whenever she tried to use her position against him… She just felt guilty. What did that leave her with? What did she have besides beauty and power? What was beneath the false confidence those things gave her?

Liva blinked when Hugh spoke suddenly, rising to his feet before she could even comprehend his words. “Excuse me?” She raised an eyebrow, pulling herself to her feet despite the fact that she had no clue where he planned on taking her. She watched as he turned his back to her and began walking away, expecting her to follow like a little puppy. And without even meaning to… Liva smiled slightly. He was kind of…awkward, wasn’t he? It was a little bit adorable, if she were being honest, which was a lot different than how she would have described him the day before. The idea that her view could have changed so quickly shocked her and she tried to remember what had changed, tried to bridge that gap in her mind from the time when she was drunk. They were in the SUV and he…he slammed his hands on the steering wheel, said something that meant something… But why couldn’t she remember? Her heart fluttered a bit in her chest as she considered what it might have been that he said, that had made such an impact on her even if she couldn’t exactly remember it…

“I’m coming.” She grumbled, trudging after him through the halls until they happened upon a room - a gym, to be exact. Liva’s eyes scanned the space, finding treadmills and ellipticals and free weights and some equipment she barely even recognized. There was a well-equipped fitness center like this in the palace, though it was much larger and usually a little more crowded. Liva went down there twice a weak for a run - just to keep her figure in perfect shape. Due to her concern for her own appearance, Liva was fairly athletic…but she was no where near Hugh’s level and had certainly never had to use her athleticism in a life or death situation. Liva was still looking around, dumbstruck as to why she had been brought here, and she didn’t realize where she was being lead, almost tripping over the mat when they reached it. “Um…what?” Liva blinked. Surely she hadn’t heard him right… Why was he putting up his fists like that? “Oh - oh no. You’re kidding, right? I’m not going to - this is ridiculous.” She protested, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder. There was absolutely no way she was doing this… and to be honest, she had no idea how to do this. It was just like with cooking - she didn’t want to embarrass herself. Liva had absolutely no idea how to even throw a punch. But Hugh was still there, standing in front of her with his fists up menacingly, taunting her and appealing to that side of her that always wanted to be challenged. “No - no! This is sooo stupid. I’m not just going to - “ But he wasn’t giving up. Liva felt hopeless…but also aggravated. She could handle herself fine…maybe. Feeling as though she had no other options, Liva gave in after a moments hesitation. “Fine. Here.” She thrusted her fist forward, the punch weak and not at all aggressive.

((Lol, they're too cute. ^.^))

[E M M A]

Liva clearly did not belong in a gym. She didn't belong anywhere near a gym. She simply had no need for it, since he figured that with her wealth, she could easily afford a professional trainer, a proeffsional cool to craft professional diets for her, or simply, plastic surgery. However, no amount of wealth could ever have prepared her properly with what Hugh wanted her to learn, the necessary and vital key to her safe future. Bodyguard or not, Liva had to fend for herself, or at least have some tools in her back designer-jean pocket for emergencies. Emergencies like last night, when he had neglected her, and failed to attend to her endangerment until it was nearly too late. Had Liva made it to that car just two minutes before he arrived, it would be too late for him to do much then.

You could say Hugh was paranoid, but he also had another purpose to serve in mind. He wanted to prove a point. He wanted to redeem his status as someone respectable in his field, someone who wouldn't let down the clients not one more time. The king was already no doubt disappointed with him, and Hugh feared for his position on the team. Would he be demoted? Forced to quit? Suspended? Arrested? Yesterday had been an accident, and he was lucky he had been able to recover it the way he had. However, the CIA at the door, awaiting them on the front lawn, hadn't been a comforting scene. He realized now, looking back, his choice of words and tone with his boss hadn't been the wisest, nor had it been something that he'd dare say again. His anger, his flaring temper always got him into trouble, ever since he'd been young. If he kept his job for more than a week after an incident such as that, he was a lucky man. It wouldn't happen again.

Of course, Liva had been reluctant to listen to him, but to his surprise, she hadn't put up much of a fight at all for him. She complied, shuffling after his long strides down the hallway. He hadn't even been sure where exactly it would be that he'd start with her, with the vast arsenal of techniques and defenses stored in his capacious brain after years of experiences. The way he'd began, when he'd just graduated high school, was a rigorous physical fitness routine run by cacophonious sargeants that whipped them into shape, with terribly difficult work schedules. If anything, it was similar to that of a new Marine recruit, with nothing but physical and mental misery piled with stress and second thoughts. Poor malnourished, stringy, and at the time, incredibly thin, Hugh struggled to keep up with his peers. Perhaps it was his battling nature and firm strong mind set that kept him in the ranks, that kept him fighting even if he was the last one to finish the mile, mocked because his gear slipped and hung loosely on his shoulders and waist.

But. Liva, a female, was simply a whole lot more delicate. Even if he had had the means to run a boot camp of his own, Hugh didn't find it in his mind to even think of putting her through such torture. It was odd, how he didn't seem to hate Liva all that much. The emotion was conflicting, considering how she'd frustrated him the day before to no extent. Although Hugh was still furious, he didn't have the drive to be angry at her. Like... He'd forgiven her. It was extremely unnatural for Hugh to be passive or at ease about such a situation, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it. Liva was changing him, pushing and pulling him like putty to new lengths he'd never gone before. He'd never been so emotional with someone, he'd never told anyone even a glimpse of what went on through his complex mind, and he'd never felt defensive, protective over someone. He'd never felt like anyone was on his side, even if he was in a team of twenty fighting the bad guys. He never had anyone at his side.

Liva shook her head immediatelt, denying what he'd just asked her to do. And he'd asked nicely. Hugh didn't budge, simply poising his fists closer to his face in a ready stance, his knees slightly bent. His sharp blue eyes watched her between the space between his hands, her incredulous expression plastered to her tired face. "Well, you're certainly not going anywhere else... come on," he encouraged again, relentless, as he gestured with a hand. He didn't imagine that this would he incredibly painful at all, he had believed Liva to be small, and although she was feisty, he had a notion that she'd be slow, clumsy. He'd watched her when she'd been playing ping pong, the way she maneuvered didn't quite fit. Although he'd lost sorely at ping pong, at least he knew how to move when it mattered, right?

Again, Liva whined, but it didn't take long for her to cave completely. She huffed a sigh, stepping onto the mat in front of him. Instead of lowering herself into the same, similar position he was in, the universal stance for fist fights and boxing, Liva stood straight, a foot or so away from his arms held in front of him. He'd lowered them away from his face, letting them be tensed in front of his chest. It wasn't as if Liva could reach his height, could she? Liva shot her arm forward, and Hugh flinched. He expected some pain where she had hit him at his stomach, but nothing came. She had simply flung her hand, loose and unstructured, at his chest. And Hugh smiled. Genuinely entertained by Liva's weak response, Hugh almost even laughed in spite of himself, disbelieving that Liva had literally tapped his chest with the back of her hand and called it a "hit". Hugh's eyes, lit by a small, faint spark of interest, watched Liva, narrowing at her. "Is that it?" Hugh asked, his tone dry with an air of mocking.

"You'll never make it out there," he allowed his arms to drop to his sides, feigning disappointment. "Try again. And please, pretend you mean it," he huffed, hunching his posture again as he squared her, gently nudging his baby punches against her fore arm. Hugh figured, if all else failed, all he had to do was irritate her, to destroy her sanity, and it would do the trick to show him what she was really capable of. "If you want to get out there by yourself and get rid of me like you say, this isn't going to get you past the next street. With that cute little stunt you pulled? I wouldn't doubt for a moment that people are watching for you, looking for you. This place is pretty well guarded, Liva, but nowhere will ever be a hundred percent safe," Hugh warned, beginning to lecture her as he maneuvered, forcing Liva to turn in slow circles as he spoke, his feet shifting in small movements.

[angelena.]

He smiled. Liva blinked, surprised by the expression on his lips. She had never seen him smile, not like that. Tiny little smirks here and there…but this was real. It was enough to catch her off guard for a minute, but when she regained her senses rage rushed through her. Her cheeks flushed both from anger and embarrassment; her eyes flashed brightly for a moment. The princess pursed her lips, putting her hands on her hips as he fired off insults at her. Her punch hadn’t been that bad, had it? She hadn’t been very forceful, but it was…it was close enough! This was why Liva hadn’t wanted to fight him, hadn’t wanted to even try to throw a punch. She didn’t know how. She didn’t know the first thing about fighting and Hugh knew it. He was just trying to embarrass her with this little lesson, and that…that fact made her want to hit him for real. How dare he taunt her like this! She was a princess and the future queen of Norway. So what if she didn’t know how to throw a punch? She could write essays and give speeches and had the best fashion sense in all of Europe.

It wasn’t as though she had been trying to hurt him, so his taunts were not at all justified. She could - she could hurt him if she wanted to! Her pride wouldn’t allow her to accept that she was completely hopeless in this aspect, and she crossed her arms indignantly, lifting her nose to the air when he continued to make jabs at her. “You thought it was cute?” She smirked, her tone mockingly flirtatious. She flicked her ponytail over her shoulder, making her fair hair dangle down her back. “What are you - Stop that!” Disbelief and frustration played at her features as he hit her arm. And then he was moving, forcing her to move with him in a wide circle about the mat. No. No. Liva was not doing this. This was ridiculous! She wasn’t going to fight her bodyguard at ten in the morning with a major hangover. And…Well, Liva had already been embarrassed enough for one day.

“This is stupid.” She groaned in exasperation, trying to step away from him. But Hugh kept jabbing at her, kept hitting her with his words. Liva’s eyes flashed angrily. “Stop it.” She commanded. She was supposed to be the one in charge here, and if she didn’t want to do something, he had no power to make her do it. She was always, always, the one in charge. This…Not having control over this situation was driving her crazy. And if he didn’t stop hitting her arm… “You’re stupid if you think I’m going to fight you! And there was no one watching me - I’m perfectly fine. It’s not like I’m ever going to have to fight and - would you stop it?“ Liva was getting more and more frustrated, more flustered. Hugh wasn’t going to stop, was he? The princess let out a little growl of frustration. And then she hit him again, punching his arm. This hit was a little harder - at least she thought it was - but it still lacked any technique. It was limp and she wasn’t exactly sure where to focus her strength, how to apply true force to it. And her positioning was completely wrong, to add to her list of wrongness.

Liva was now frustrated with herself. “There. I hit you. I’m done.” She made to turn as his words turned into a lecture. She was not sticking around for a lecture. She got enough of that from her father, from her brother, from every stupid advisor in the Nordskov court. But Liva took three steps away from Hugh until his taunts made her pause. God, she wanted to hit him! Liva turned back slowly, wearing an expression that said she wanted to cut off his tongue to make him shut up. She tightened her ponytail. And hit him again. Another weak punch. Liva was growing more and more frustrated by the minute. So, she hit him again, square in the chest. Nothing but that stupid, stupid smile on his face for a reaction. “Ugh!” Liva dropped her flung out her hands in exasperation before dropping them to her sides. “This is pointless! It’s not like I’m ever going to need this!” She sweetened her tone then, deciding to take a different route. With fake niceness and a little pout, she added, “Are you implying that you won’t always be around to protect me?”

[E M M A]

Oh liva xD hahaha they're super cute

[E M M A]

Liva was absolutely pathetic. Hugh found entertainment and hilarity in the way she reacted to his insistence that she punch him, that they battle. Her face got pink, and her cheeks puffed up in that way that they always did when she was flustered, and her voice rose to that whiny high pitched sound he couldnt stand. It was absurd and idiotic on the King's part for him to not have ensured that his daughter was properly trained to keep herself safe. In his opinion, a Disney princess could defend herself better than that. He didnt really keep up with which princess was what and ended up with who, but he was pretty certain that Liva didnt even qualify for running away from an evil witch. She'd complain about the distance. Liva was a pansy, in his eyes, and needed protecting at all times. It was such a shame, too. If she got into the wrong hands... the effects would be devastating. And he'd be dead. So would she, most likely.

He rolled his eyes then as Liva flipped her ponytail for what felt like the upteeth time, her locks brushing against her shoulder in that glamorous way. Like she was some diva queen. This would get them nowhere, thought Hugh with disappointment, and Liva would still be endangered no matter what he tried to do to protect her. He didn't know why he even bothered. Perhaps it was the notion that if he made sure that she knew how to prevent being grasped or groped, whether it be by the very same assassin's who were after her father and her fortune, or some pervert, then it would decrease his chances of being fired or scolded if another event like last night had happened. He had to do something about the security, watch Liva until she fell asleep or something. As much as he didn't want to waste his time that way, creeping on his client, it would seem necessary to watch the princess at all times.

He had argued that he didn't babysit his clients, that he guarded them with a sense of duty and respect, but it didn't even seem that way anymore. Liva had to control herself, and something had to change. Starting with prevention. The man last night hadn't been particularly as violent ad he could have been, and had Hugh not provoked him, the chances were that the man was otherwise innocent and simply drunk. If there had to be a next time, Hugh wanted to be safe, not sorry, regarding Liva's safety. He couldn't take any more chances. He was the laughing stock and disgrace of the company, and after having bragged that Hugh had been the best in the company, his boss was bristling with shame and humiliation after the king and a few ambassadors had called him, furious that Liva had been carelessly "allowed" to go out to a party, to get recklessly drunk, and to be so close to a situation where she could have been taken forever. Then they'd have a ransom on their hands.

"I was being sarcastic," Hugh mumbled through his lips, his shoulders still hunched as he circled her. She seemed to be becoming a little hysterical in the way she began to turn in circles, moving this way and that without much coordination to follow his movement so he was never behind her. Good. At least she was smart enough to never turn her back on the enemy, right? It was a start. Hugh had to believe that they would progress in her training somehow, because otherwise, he knew that there was no way they'd survive living here, stuck indoors, for weeks, maybe months. He didn't want to think about years. "Stop what? I'm not doing anything, hit me," Hugh pressed, dancing around her slowly. Although he was tormenting her, he was pleased with how vulnerable Liva suddenly became. Her hungover had been forgotten, and it became to be horseplay and teasing between the two.

When Hugh began to stab insults, however, he saw a change, a flash in Liva's eyes. She became angry. He couldn't be more pleased as the rage rippled through her being, her tone snippy and harsh as she demanded that he stop. Hugh, of course, didnt, simply bumping his fist against her arm again and again. She didn't lash out st first, to his disappointment, but it sure did the trick to rile her out of her hungover moodiness. "Why? Are you afraid, Liva? You're not 'perfectly fine', I don't know what it'll take to show you that?" His own temper flared, and his tone rose as well to match Liva's urgency. He couldn't let her think this anymore, that she was safe. She wasn't. She never would be. Her guard was down, and that had to be the most harmful attack she could ever suffer. It would be too late if he let her believe that she was safe, but how would he ever convince her otherwise?

Hugh saw her hand shoot out and anticipated it, yet made no move to defend himself. Her hit hadn't been particularly harmful, although the knuckle had hit his skin in a way he was certain might leave a small bruise. It had been weak, effortless, yet he found the drive behind it to be something more than what she had previously put into her swing. "Not bad, curl your fist tighter, hit with the flat surface of your fist," he instructed, perking up at the fact that she finally had begun to fight back. "Done? Done? The enemy is not done, Miss Nordskov," Hugh cried, moving quickly around her to ensure that she never left the mat. In a way, he herded her to stay inside his little circle, desperate to keep ahold of the fire that he'd ignited within her. And then she hit him. Again. The same thing, in the arm, if not weaker.

"Hit me!" Hugh snapped at last, and it was then that Liva shoved his chest. He grinned, encouraging her then. "You are weak. We have lots of work ahead of us, now don't we?" He lowered his arms, scanning Liva with judgemental eyes. "You won't? And how do you know?" He pushed, his tone strong as he demanded things of Liva in his usual brisk, brute way. She pouted, masking her harsh tone of early with one that was coated in sugar and royalty, her eyelashes batting up at him in that innocent manner. "What do you think?" Hugh scoffed, frustrated. She didn't seem to understand anything. It took hours for something to process through that Danish brain of hers. Hugh was tense, poised as his blue eyes bore into hers, when his arm snapped out and in one fluid motion, his hand curled tightly around her forearm, yanking her body towards him.

He stuck out his leg, and, pulling her backwards over his leg, he managed to topple Liva backwards. Hugh fell with her, although it wasn't from imbalance. He caught her and carefully braced her fall with his arm underneath her, her annoying ponytail splayed about her head on the mat as she landed with a gentle thud. Hugh landed face down, sprawled on his stomach with his arm dead under Liva's back. His face was inches from hers, his free fist curled and pulled taught behind his head as if he was to punch her. "You're already dead," Hugh snapped, removing his arm from under her and getting to his feet. He could be positive that Liva had never experienced anything like that before, that she had always been this precious porcelain package that didn't have a single crack on her. Well, she'd learn.

[angelena.]

“So you don’t find me cute? Not at all?” Liva retorted teasingly, but her face was contorted with frustration as he continued to antagonize and she continued to fire weak little hits into his arm in an attempt to get him to leave her alone. Hugh represented all of her problems in that moment as he taunted her, as he reminded her of everything that could happen to her and of how she was powerless to stop it. She tried to escape their little ring, tried to step out of this tiring dance, but was pulled right back in. There was no escape from the inevitable. There was no escape from her crown. “I’m not afraid of anything. I have nothing to be afraid of!” She practically growled back, like a little lioness. “Quit telling me what to do! Don’t you know who I am?” What really made her angry was the fact that he was smiling during it all. Oh, how she wanted to smack that smile off his lips, even if she had thought it was a nice expression on him at first.

And then it was over. And Liva was staring up at Hugh’s little satisfied grin, wondering if she should be satisfied too, wondering if she had finally won someone’s approval for being the wildfire that she was, wondering if someone wanted her to burn brighter for once. People tried to tame her flame. Even Liva tamed her fires. She let herself burn chaotically without concentration as she went out and partied and painted towns red. And then she let her fires fade out into near extinction in order to go to meetings and classes and pretend that she liked her life… But she never used that little spark of passion and madness and cleverness inside her, never let herself rise to her full potential in fear of what that would mean.

A gasping sound left the princess’s lips as Hugh reached for her, pulled her close to him. But everything happened far to quickly for her to react, for her to decide whether or not to yank herself out of his grasp and hit him or allow the contact. Because in the next instant, she was falling. Down, down, down. A disorienting whirlwind. And then he was hovering above her, his face mere inches from her own, the heat of his body seeping through her clothes, and his feet was there too, ready to strike. Liva flinched without meaning to, bracing herself for a punch that never came. Of course he wouldn’t hit her…but the whole thing had been quite the scare. Liva’s heart seemed to tumble over itself in her chest, her pulse sounding loud in her ears. But now that things were starting to come back into focus, now that she could make out every feature in the face that was all too close to her own, she could feel Hugh’s arm wrapped around her, cushioning her fall against the hard mat.

Liva’s face burned; heat rose up her neck and splayed red across her pale cheeks. You’re already dead, he said. His words echoed throughout her head, worsening her headache and making her wince, but they were hollow, meaningless, nothing compared to the embarrassment she felt clouding her judgment. How could she focus on self defense and the danger that she was currently in when Hugh was laying on top of her? As he pulled himself easily to his feet, with that unnatural grace that any athlete or trained killer had, Liva stayed lying where she was for a moment, her eyes on the ceiling as she caught her breath and come to her senses. And then she scrambled to her feet, far less graceful than she normally was. Her cheeks still burned and she looked… Well, flustered was the best word for it. She brushed herself off, straightening out her workout clothes with nervous hands. “Well, if you wanted to be on top of me, all you had to do was say so.” She snapped, not looking at him as she flitted about. Her voice sounded much more annoyed than flirtatious now.

“You can’t just do things like that. Insufferable man…“ Liva grumbled under her breath in Danish. My, wasn’t this strange… Liva wasn’t used to being flustered. Maybe it was because she wasn’t the one in control in this situation. She couldn’t make him flustered, no matter how hard she had tried yesterday. The power, it seemed, had been transferred to him. Hugh, afterall, was the leader around here, as much as she hated to admit it. He was the one who knew how to cook things and defend himself and disable cameras. God, she felt like a stupid little girl! She needed to find a way to balance out the power again. “Fine, maybe I don’t know how to defend myself.” Her eyes were hard, full of aggravation, but their was a certain, very true, vulnerability behind them. “And maybe there is someone who wants to cut off my head and take my crown. Maybe my whole world is going to Hell and I am helpless to do anything about it.” She put her hands on her hips, giving him a level stare. “But I don’t need you reminding me of that. And maybe - maybe I don’t care. Did you ever think of that, hm? You don’t think I realize that if someone bursts through that door and shoots you, I’m as good as dead?”

She hadn’t meant to have the sudden outburst, hadn’t meant to reveal any of that. Liva…she didn’t think about those things, didn’t admit them even to herself. She convinced herself that the danger wasn’t real, that it would all blow over. Or that the her coronation was so far away that she didn’t have to worry about it and she could live her life the way she wanted. Or that she didn’t constantly feel empty because of the loveless life she led. Liva’s anger began to dissipate and she looked at Hugh for a moment before turning away from him. She was afraid, she realized. Liva didn’t want to die, so she didn’t think about dying… But god was she afraid? Not wanting to appear weak or let the atmosphere become too serious, Liva forced herself to recover. “I mean that this is silly, of course. And if you really want to be close to me, maybe you should try a different approach.” She smirked. Ever the actress, she was.

[E M M A]

Hugh didn't find Liva cute. At all. He seldom, if ever, found her, or anyone, anything, cute. Hugh hadn't been reared to show affection, nor had he known it. Cute was a bit of a foreign term to him. Little puppies? They were just nuisances who made messes everywhere, barked, peed. Supermodel women? Too fake, too artificial, too high minded. Children? Oh please. Hugh couldn't stand them, those little screaming, sniveling brats. Liva didn't quite act like a child, no, she had more poise than that. "You're not cute, Liva. I wasn't even using cute in that context," he hissed through his teeth, irritated by the girl's obnoxious questions. All he had wanted was her to hit him already! Was it so hard? The day before, Liva seemed to have no difficulty lifting her hand to slap him, twice, across his face. Hard.

It was entertaining to watch the princess huff and puff, working herself into a little frenzy that seemed to redden her cheeks, and ignite that familiar spark behind her blue eyes. It was endearing, the way Liva spoke of herself boldly and courageously. There seemed to be no doubt in her spoiled little mind that there was no danger, and that she, the future ruler of her Denmark, was perfectly safe and content with how she liked to live her lifestyle. Hugh was bothered by this, wondering what he could put to blame for Liva's naiveté and refusal. Had her father told her this when she was little? Had one of her spectacled old advisors patted her head and pinky promised that the world was going to cave to her will, that if she repeated it over and over enough, no harm would ever cross her path? Or had her wealth and her bodyguards shielded her from the horrible things that could have happened to her back in Denmsrk, so she had no clue about what really did, or could, happen?

When Hugh had taken her down on the mat, he had full intent on at least convincing Liva to be somewhat aware of what was going on around her. To shake her up a little. He hadn't been so sure if he succeeded in doing either. The blonde had gasped when he gripped her arm, then flinched visibly when he raised his arm back as if he were making movement to drive his knuckles straight through her face. It would have left her a broken nose for certain, and possibly a few cracked bones around her nasal cavity, maybe the jaw. Hugh would have never intentionally hurt Liva even for demonstration purposes, but he had wished that Liva would have given him some sort of fight. That she would have been something more than a weak little princess who acted like a fussy, rotten teenage daughter.

It was beginning to drive him mad. The blonde would get herself killed, if she continued to live in her oblivion and self centered thoughts! It was so easy for Hugh to imagine the countless possibilities of things that could go wrong, to which he'd be blamed then crucified for allowing, "allowing", Liva to do. Starting with her having snuck out somehow yesterday. What had been that stupid saying the trainer at the Academy had said? You could take a horse to water, but couldn't force him to drink it. Hugh could train and tackle and yell at Liva all he wanted, but if she didn't want to hear an ounce of it, he had better give up hope on her. What did it matter anyway? He could find another job, maybe, once his boss fired him this week from "letting" Liva get kidnapped or shot.

For a few moments, the princess lay on the mat face up, her eyes wide as she panted with horror. Hugh initially had only had a slight concern that he had broken her spine, explaining why she wouldn't, couldn't get up- but she quickly proved him wrong. Liva scrambled and struggled to her feet, staggering unsteadily until she was upright again, facing him. Hugh had crossed his arms in dissatisfaction, eyeing the disgruntled blonde with glum annoyance. He raised an eyebrow at her comment, his jaw tightening as he struggled not to burst at the seams with his usual anger management problems. "You weren't supposed to let me get that far," Hugh answered, swallowing the heated words that flamed off the tip of his tongue. He itched to take her down again.

He'd paced around the mat, walking one length with his long strides while Liva gathered herself again. His head perked when she spoke in her native tongue, no doubt showering insults and curses upon him. Good for him. "Is there a problem?" Hugh insisted, huffing with equal annoyance. So Liva didn't think she was in danger, didn't care, didn't want to learn how to defend herself, didn't respect his rules for the household thst were primarily for her safety, and now, she was hungover on top of it. There was a thick interval of silence, one that Hugh almost walked out on, then Liva spoke. Hugh had been toeing at the mat under his feet, glancing time to time up at the princess. Her words came strong, full of spite. Hugh shrugged when she admitted to not being sale to defend herself, but he was a little off put by what Liva said next.

So Liva did understand what he'd been trying to tell her? She wasn't some stupid ditzy blonde. Then why had she acted the way she had? She'd captivated his attention now, and Hugh stood still. His eyes gazed over at Livas, his arms recrossed in front of his chest. He was left shocked by her attitude concerning what had left those lips. She didn't care? About being hurt by her enemies? Of experiencing undefinable suffering? It had never crossed Hugh's mind that Liva had any intelligence at all, particularly after the way she'd been acting up so often in such short interval of time. He hadn't said anything, his tongue tied in his mouth. He couldn't retaliate at that, and tell her she was wrong for not caring. He didn't care about his life either, and it would be too hypocritical if he told her she had to care. But their circumstances were different.

She was wealthy, everything under the sun could be delivered to her at the snap of her fingers. Hugh? He had no pretty pennies. He had nothing. Not even an inheritance, not even a family. Liva had the entire world set up for her, she was going to be a queen - and she wanted to waste it like this-? It made Hugh angry, defensive to some sort. She had this great oppurtunity that he never had, and she was willing to throw it all away because she was supposedly "fed up". He had still been brooding over it, when Liva attempted to lighten the mood for her sake. It did little to bring Hugh a smile to his face, his frown only growing deeper as he scowled at her. "Don't flatter yourself," he snapped defensively, slightly pink at her accusation. As if he'd even want to be that close to her, on his own terms? Never. Right?

"Well, even if you don't care about it that much... I want to keep my job, princess. Please," he murmured, his plea barely a whisper off his lips as he eyed her across the mat. "Don't get yourself killed." It would be a lie to say that Hugh didn't care for Liva not a single ounce. He wasn't madly in love and adoration for the Dane, but she had been the kindest to him, she had actually said nice things to him. Even if she was drunk. Hugh had never had that in his life before, so he clung to Liva in his heart in hopes that he'd just be able to have that warm feeling in his chest again. He had appreciated the fact that he had been able to blurt his feelings in the car that time, and Liva had listened. That was certainly brand new to him. Nobody ever listened to poor little Hugh at that awful dirty orphanage, usually they shoved him out of the way, or told him what he could go do. He yearned so desperately to have another glimpse of being "normal", a sensation he'd never experienced before Liva. Even if she did harbor hormonal mood swings, and almost got him fired, he didn't exactly want Liva kidnapped, killed. Hurt. He knew what that was like, he had seen it. She made him feel like a human being. Important. Like something, not nothing. Not trash.

[angelena.]

Liva didn’t want to look at him, was afraid of what would happen if she met his eyes. Would she see pity there? Would he feel bad for the poor little princess who had lost her way, treat her like a child like all of her advisors did? Or would he not care at all? Would his eyes just be as cold and unforgiving as they were before? Liva wasn’t sure what would be worse; him treating her differently because he knew how she thought or him not treating her any differently at all. Maybe she wanted a change, wanted to embrace that fire he had provoked in her. Maybe she wanted to be intelligent and clever and vibrant and tough. Maybe she wanted him to look at her like she was something more than just a pretty face, like she was his equal and could actually take care of herself. But Liva wasn’t really ready for such a drastic change from the normal. She clung to her old idealisms. No, Liva couldn’t control that flame. Either she felt empty or she felt everything all at once. And it was better that way, because controlling her fire, controlling herself… Well, that would mean embracing who and what she was, accepting the fact that she was a queen in the making and that everything she did could affect the fate of a nation. She was just 21, for God’s sake! Who could handle that sort of responsibility? Liva certainly couldn’t and she didn’t want it - at least she didn’t think she did. Liva wanted to live for herself…Not for a country.

She knew. She had always known the dangers that came with her title. Her whole life, she had known. Wasn’t that what every single relationship she had ever been in had been about? Most guys, the guys she didn’t just pick up randomly at clubs and parties, used her to get closer to her father, to try to worm their way into her heart and into a throne of their own. The friends she had within the court… Well, they weren’t friends at all. Simply young woman who liked the fact that Liva had money and power and could get them anything they desired. At least the strangers she met at night, when heavily under the influence, weren’t trying to use her for her crown. They didn’t even know who she was… God, was this all her life was? Did she even have an identity of her own aside from princess or future Queen?

“I was… I was kidnapped, you know. When I was little. I don’t really remember much of it, but I know I was taken by some terrorists who sought to change some law and saw me as a means to an end… They would have killed me if it wasn’t for my father’s secret service - or so I’m told…” Liva muttered under her breath. She knew she had probably repressed most of the memory, but she also knew it served as proof. That situation proved that she could never be safe, that the moment she was born she became a target. She was so used to it, so used to being nothing more than a place holder, a title. She was a shell of a human being, an empty husk… And the only time she actually felt alive was when she was out causing mischief, and even that was a cheap kind of thrill. All her life, Liva had wanted more, had longed for raw emotion and - and something that she could call her own. She wanted to be an actually person, not just a princess… She longed to reach out and touch the sun and she would burn for it. Liva wanted to feel something, anything, and she would do whatever reckless thing she had to in order to do that… But this, this strange fire Hugh was trying to ignite within her… That was the one she was always afraid of, the one flame she never played with. It was a flame of vibrance and intelligence and passion. A queen’s flame. And Liva had already made it perfectly clear that she had no interest in being a queen.

In a desperate attempt to regain control over the situation, to buy herself time to patch up her defensive walls and prevent herself from giving away more secrets of her innermost being, she had made that little joke, that flirtatious little jab in her bodyguard’s direction. But the way he responded made her smile for real. “I flatter those who deserve flattery - myself included.” She retorted with a weak smile. This had all gotten far, far too personal… And it seemed it wasn’t over yet. She watched Hugh then, watched his eyes as he said something about keeping his job. But it was his next words that revealed what he truly felt. Don’t get yourself killed. Would he care if she died? The thought stunned her and she blinked. How…strange. She was forced to wonder again what had happened between them last night. Liva’s frustration and her fear of being vulnerable suddenly seemed to fade away. She smirked slightly, a little of that teasing light coming back to her eyes. “You don’t care, do you?” She asked slowly. “You don’t think I’m…cute? Or beautiful? Or…other things?” Liva wasn’t sure what he wanted from her. With other guys, it was always so clear. Either they wanted in her throne or they wanted in her pants. But Hugh… she wasn’t sure. All of a sudden, Liva was crossing the distance between them, keeping eye contact with Hugh until she was right there. And then she kissed his cheek faintly, lingering there for a moment so she could whisper in his ear, “Fine then, Mr. Miles… I’ll try not to get myself killed.” She pulled back, that smirk still playing at her lips as she added, “But only because you asked so nicely.”

[angelena.]

((Either - or both - sound good to me. ^.^))

[E M M A]

It hadn't been in Liva's handy little file he'd been handed at the agency, one that was supposed to be detailed with every past occurance and incident, every parking ticket, every school picture. He'd briefly pored over the files on top, before the uncomfortable feel of invading someone else's privacy got the best of him. The fact that no one had told him about kidnapping, and thst he hadn't known about it, came off as a little bit of shock. Hugh watched her carefully to gauge if this was some sort of trick, another one of her annoying little stories, but Liva was solemn. Serious. He absorbed this newfound information like a sponge, hanging on to every last word that tumbled from Liva's lips in case it would be handy in the future. How had he not known that the princess had already been kidnapped once?

Moreover, why hadn't she learned from the first time how terrible it had been? Unless her captors had pampered her, Hugh doubted it was a pleasant experience to begin with. So why didn't she care anymore? What was not to care, given so much wealth and responsibility? It was almost as if Liva had been asking to be kidnapped, taken by some unknown stranger the night previous. How couldn't she care. Appalled, Hugh worked words in his mouth, but none seemed to be voiced. It was unnerving to know that even from a young age, Liva had already been thrown in to the cruelties and complications of national security. Who was to say that someone wouldn't attempt it again? What if the men who had attempted to assassinate the king had been retaliating for Liva's escape earlier on in her childhood?

He had so many questions- too many questions. They swelled and squeezed his head until he felt like he could explode, his mind swimming with concerns. He would have to be alot better at his job. He had to be. Although Hugh feigned not to care for Liva as a person, even in the short period of time he'd known her, he had some sort of odd connection to her, a faint tie that kept him coming back to her. Naturally, Hugh didn't like it. He couldn't stand change, he couldnt cope with a derision of his normal routine habits and moods. However, the princess had somewhat persuaded his mind to act differently than he normally ever would. He had more emotions, he noticed, and he had actually been in a decent mood a few brief moments. He had been able to experience comfort, however drunk it had been, and it hadn't been all too bad of an experience. Liva felt more... tolerable.

"It won't happen again," Hugh finally said in regards to Liva's statement about her kidnapping. She had actually shared a snippet of her personal life with him, which came as somewhat of a shock. When they'd first met, the two had butted heads. He clearly recalled snapping at her within the first half hour, on that drive home when she had persisted on touching the radio and windows. It had been alarming with how personal they had become after Liva had snuck out of the house, and he wondered if it were to be beneficial. Then Hugh decided that it was foolish, stupid of him. Liva didn't, couldn't possibly, be interested in his poor boy story, or about his lonely frustrations. She was rich, popular, beautiful... she had it all. She would never be able to relate to him, no matter how hard she tried. Besides, any day from then on, he could be dismissed as her bodyguard.

He'd never see her again, and she'd be alright with it. Why? Because he was a bodygaurd, nothing more. Because he was an it- someone who she wouldn't want to be around anyway. Her father probably wouldn't have had it, either. Besides, Hugh knew better than that. Being in love was certainly out of the question, and so was being best friends. In a few months, he doubted Liva would have remembered who he was. The blonde snapped him out of his depressive, conflicting thoughts, once again answering with smart and eloquent tone. Like royalty. He noticed that she attempted to keep things light and not too heavy, only confirming the fact that she didn't want to get any deeper than that with him. He understood; it had become too out of the norm for him to hear so much about one persons life. "Cocky, cocky," he sighed heavily.

It was nice to see Liva lifted up in spirit after starting the morning with a terrible scowl, and he felt that maybd, maybe today would be a better day. It would go smoothly, and he'd settle this house back in order. He'd fulfill every bodyguard duty, and never violate a single rule or code he'd swore his life on. Of course, Liva teased him again as was in her nature, her blue eyes playfully flickering over to him across the mat. He nearly choked when she suggested things to him, his face flaring a fair pink. "You are my client, nothing else, Miss Nordskov," he insisted through grit teeth, although he nervously rubbed his forearms. He found his feet to be plastered into the floor, however, as Liva slowly shuffled her feet on the mat, directly towards him. They never broke eye contact, as much as Hugh attempted. With a tingling, burning sensation at his stomach as she brushed up against his chest, Hugh held his breath, his body tense. What was she doing now?

Before he knew much of what was going on, Liva had leaned up towards his face, her eyelashes tickling his cheek. Automatically, Hugh had frozen himself, his chest hammering painfully as she pressed her soft lips against his cheek, by his ear. A shiver rippled down his arms, his eyes fluttering shut for if only a brief second. His first kiss. Technically, it hadn't been a legitament kiss, but for Hugh, it was all he needed to be flustered. He'd never been kissed before, save for the rare and few times his caretakers had pressed their lips to his forehead when he was a newborn. After he turned a year old, it seemed to be that not even the caretakers loved him anymore, that no one could. For Hugh, he could have never dreamed of a kiss. Yet, here he was. His ears buzzed with thrill yet fear, his hands fidgeting eith his pockets.

He almost missed what she had said afterwards, his ears aflame. He hadn't exactly been in love with Liva to begin with, but it had been the mere gesture, something so simple yet something he held in such high esteem. She called him Mr. Miles, her lips tickling his ear with her warm breath. "Th-thanks," he stammered lamely, clearly still overwhelmed by her gesture. What could it have meant? He knew she didn't love him, of course. Nobody ever had. But was it one that children gave to their parents, and vice versa? Or the kind that the French used to show fondness for a friend? Hugh didn't know. For once, once in his life, Hugh couldn't understand how to decipher Liva, or any of this. It made no sense. He figured it had been just to tease him, and maybe he had been right.

"Very thoughtful of you, Liva," Hugh managed to find his voice once she'd pulled away from him. His heart still continued to drum in that odd way, and Hugh found himself disliking the situation more and more. He didn't like this vulnerability. All of a sudden he was felling very warm, his palms seemed to clam up if even in the faintest measures. "Have you even considered my proposal, for me to train you to be... more able to... survive?" Hugh sputtered, struggling with his words as he attempted to change the subject. Quickly. He couldn't stop meeting Liva's eyes, trying to read what exactly it was behind them. It had been the second day of his assignment, and she'd already left the house, almost been kidnapped, then kissed his cheek. It was silly, but he couldnt remove the feel of her lips against his clean shaven face. He didn't even dare think about if he kissed her back, the idea was stupid and it would have been beat down by the agency. "We're gonna be at the house for some time, we might as well put or to good use... I mean, I guess you don't have to, you could go... do your own thing instead, as long as it's indoors," Hugh faltered. Midway through his offer he'd realized that Liva wouldn't exactly be jumping for joy at the idea of spending countless hours with him in this very gym, exercising of all things. He wasn't the gentlest coach, as his previous experiences showed, and he doubted Liva would find it very entertaining. After all, he was still just serious, grouchy Hugh, as she'd put it.

[angelena.]

((Aww! They're so cute. ^.^ Replying now!))

[angelena.]

Nothing else, Miss Nordskov… She wasn’t sure why, but Liva wasn’t too fond of that statement. Maybe it was the way he had stopped calling her by her first name, or the fact that he was setting boundaries that part of her didn’t want to accept. Liva pushed boundaries. She had done it all her life, provoking servants and guards to the point of cruelty. Not because she had any sort of malicious intent, no, but because she wanted to prove that those so-called boundaries didn’t exist, that those limits that society set for her weren’t real. That there was more to people. That someone, anyone, felt the same way about it all that she did. That someone had this reckless fire inside of them, too. If she found a fire that played well with her own…maybe she would stop being so lonely. Part of her, some deep part of her heart that didn’t communicate well with her mind, had considered Hugh. She thought she saw it some times, felt a little pull in his direction that made her feel that she wasn’t so alone. She could swear she saw that emptiness in his eyes, an echo of her own hollowness. And last night… If only she could remember what had gotten him so riled up! Why had he raised his voice and slammed his hands on the wheel? He had acted… alive… Or maybe that had just been a silly dream.

Being near him like this… It was just a joke, she told herself, just another attempt to ruffle his feathers. But she couldn’t deny that little tremor that went through her when she was so close to him, when she could feel the heat of his body so close to her own. It was…unsettlingly surprising, just as the realization that he didn’t care about what she looked like was. Hugh seemed…genuine. Even if his truth lied in his hatred for her. Liva wasn’t used to people who were honest, people who could look at her for what she was. And the way he talked to her, like she was a child, like she was a terrible person, like he couldn’t stand her sometimes… Well, she’d be lying if she said it wasn’t intriguing. People never disrespected the future Queen of Norway, and yet here Hugh Miles was, unafraid of what would happen if he called her out for being spoiled and stupid and bratty. He forced her to accept how weak she was, tested her boundaries… Liva was startled by the realization that here was someone who would push her just as hard as she pushed him. A challenge. A real challenge for once in her life… One that part of her wanted to rise to meet. But the other part of her was completely unsettled by all of this change. Too much, too fast…

As she beheld her visibly flustered bodyguard, Liva couldn’t help but smile slightly. How strange that someone who seemed so moody and angry could be so easily flustered. Hugh was blushing and, Liva realized with a start, so was she. Despite the fact that she was the one who had initiated the contact, a light rosy color now dawned her cheeks. She looked down almost bashfully, which was new for her, to say the least. Liva didn’t get embarrassed around men, always the one in control… Why was she being so awkward now? In that moment, everything felt a little too realistic for once, like something more than just harmless flirting. Liva swallowed thickly, trying not to think about how adorable Hugh’s little blush was or how… how he had promised that he wouldn’t let her get kidnapped again. Far, far too real. The smile vanished from her lips.

A heavy sky escaped the foreign blonde and she looked away, shifting her weight from foot to foot as she spoke. Liva’s arms swung up and she crossed one across her body, holding it in place as she stretched it out languidly. “Let me get this straight, Hugh. You want me to come to a gym every day and get all bruised and sweaty in the hopes that I’ll somehow be able to defend myself from an attacker?” Liva raised an eyebrow at him as she switched her arms. “Um…ew.” She made a face, returning to her little princess act. But her eyes flitted about nervously, refusing to focus on his face. She was avoiding the truth again, avoiding responsibility and the knowledge that she was in danger. And there was that whole embarrassment factor. Their little practice a few moments ago had already injured her pride, so in favor of not deflating her ego too much, she would rather not fail further…

But as Liva thought over it, the idea became more and more appealing. She liked the way it had felt for a brief moment, when she had released her anger and shoved back against Hugh, had taken her life into her own hands for once… Maybe it would be nice to learn something, to have an outlet for all of her frustrations. When she was a teenager, she had always went running whenever she was feeling upset, so it wasn’t like the exercise would bother her. And in terms of company… Well, Liva was becoming more and more comfortable around Hugh. What was stopping her, then? Wouldn’t it be good for her to know how to defend herself? “It’s not like I need to train with you. What are the chances of something happening? And it’s… They won’t come for me. They’ll go after my father and - “ She swallowed thickly. All was silent for a moment before she finally spoke again. “What…what time?”

[E M M A]

It was becoming more and more impossible to gauge what it was that Liva was trying to do, where they stood somewhat as coworkers. Her wealth provided him with the housing, luxuious accomodations, and abundant food; he made sure she didn't have a bullet through her skull. It was a simple exchange, a mere task of making sure that Liva didnt get out of control and do anything else stupid like she had the night previous. However, everything seemed to be much more complicated than it seemed. When he'd first been assigned the job, he'd anticipated Liva to be bossy, rude, and selfish, like most spoiled women were. She had the looks, the fame, and the crown, not to mention, that certain flirtatious charm that seemed to work on anyone else but him.

Liva had proved him right within the first hour of him picking her up at the agency, with her whole scene of making sure that she gave him a hard time about being her bodyguard. Liva had made it very clear that she hadn't wanted, nor needed him to begin with. That had stung his pride, a precedent for the future conflicts they'd have throughout the day. He never could have imagined them getting along, not even when he'd trailed after her to the club late at night. It was in the car that all of it had seemed to do a 180, and since then, Hugh couldn't shake the odd feelings stirring in the pit of his chest. He found some sort of... empathy with Liva, when they both pitted in at some point during the evening that they weren't all too happy at all, that they didn't like the lives that they led. That they wanted to be treated differently- equally. Just like every other human being seemed to have the oppurtunity to be, except for them.

Not only that, but Liva had been his friend. Maybe not friend in the sense that someone else with a normal upbringing would say, but for Hugh, Liva was a friend. She may have caused him countless migraines and elevated blood pressure, she may have insulted or teased him, poked fun at him- but all in all, Liva, in just one day, had come to mean something to him. He was plenty more relaxed and comfortable near her, more than he was with other strangers. He didn't find her threatening, and she didn't regard him as threatening either, as was the norm. Neither had wanted to be here to begin with, but both had to make it work. They had to. For the next weeks- months, even- they would be the only company the other had. Hugh had no acquaintances or soul mates, no wife, no girlfriend, no family- in essence, he had nowhere better to be, no one better than Liva to bless with his companionship.

And, Liva didn't seem to really... hate him. Not as much as he was accustomed to seeing. Sure, they had acted hostile the other day, but things had changed. Their tense bitterness for each other's incompatibility had begun several brief wars that had upset either sides, but today, things had begun off to a good start. Hugh didn't feel as harsh looking at Liva. In fact, she was a little bit of a welcome sight to him. She reminded him that he wasn't alone, that he had someone he could talk to. Although she didn't remember anything from being drunk, he still felt a slight bond between them, as if they shared a secret. Hugh had never shared secrets with anyone before. He had had no one to share them with. Hugh was just... disappointed that Liva seemed to recall nothing , or at least, pretend to. Maybe she hadn't wanted to remember it.

The princess regarded him with a heavy sigh, lazily stretching her arms. He hadn't thought that training Liva would be a bad idea, plus it would have given him the excuse to have something to do. Hugh gave Liva a slow nod with a raise of his eyebrows to her reiterating his offer, impatient to earn the girl's say in the situation. Not only would he be occupied for some time training Liva, but he could breathe a little easier knowing that his client knew what she was doing, and was aware of a few things. Right now? She was definitely dead in any situation he could think of. Hugh had perked in the hope that Liva would finally say yes, but he was easily disappointed by her girly response. "Ew?" Hugh's jaw dropped incredulously, shattered by her refusal.

Shifting his weight onto his other leg, Hugh released a big breath of air in another sigh. He pocketed his hands, discouraged by his poor results. She had said no. Being turned down, although he was somewhat accustomed to it, still always had that familiar burn in his chest, that feeling of regret for even asking. He just had wanted to help. Now what would he do in his free time? Count the number of strands of the carpet? Drink his feelings down? Do a jigsaw puzzle? Feeling rather at loss, Hugh chewed on the inside of his cheek, rubbing the back of his head. To aggravate him even more, Liva seemed to have more and more to say to him. Everything he'd already heard. When she'd started talking again, Hugh had groaned and rolled his eyes, grouchy and irritated with her repetitious words.

What was the point of even trying? It was silly to try to convince her of anything, Hugh thought to himself with a sour edge. He decided not to interrupt her as she wasted her breath, his side turned to her already as he picked up his pacing again, refusing to look at the princess any more. It was fruitless, in vain. He'd never convince her that she would need to know how to protect herself! She would never cave into his suggestions, simply because she was the princess of Denmark and she could do whatever she pleased. A thick silence ensued once Liva had cut herself off short. Hugh wondered what it could have been to stop Liva midsentence, and where he could get more of that magical power. her voice came again, but this time, weaker. What time? Hugh turned sharply, studying Liva with blue eyes that slowly narrowed at her.

Was she being for real now? Was this some sort of joke? "Y-you'll do it?" Hugh managed at last, once the initial shock had unstopped his mouth. "It doesn't matter, I guess... its not like we have anywhere to go," he pointed out slowly. "How's your hangover?" It was true that Liva had been brought up into better spirits, and the alcohol, clear into the afternoon, had worn off. It was good to know that at least she was tolerable now, not scowling and snapping at him for making coffee or giving her any looks. "This week we need to lay low, stay in the house, especially after you were outside in such a dangerous place. I don't know when exactly we can have the freedom of just even driving around back, but my boss is supposed to let us know," Hugh piped up, his voice slightly strained when he mentioned his boss. He was fed up with that stout, pig faced man.

[angelena.]

“Yes, I’ll do it. That’s what I said, isn’t it?” Liva rolled her eyes at Hugh’s shock, though it felt good to know she had managed to catch him off guard. She didn’t want to train with him, to learn how to punch and kick and all that stupid stuff… But what else could she do? If Liva was going to be stuck in here for however many months, how else would she be able to spend her time? By reading the one book she had brought overseas? By going on her laptop to surf the two sites she was allowed access to? She was used to being bored in meetings and classes, but this took it to a whole new level. Besides, part of her had liked how it felt to fight with Hugh moments ago, to let go of all her pint up anger and frustration and fear in that instant where she shoved him, even if it had been a weak attack. It made her feel just as elated as making her own grilled cheese sandwich had. All her life, Liva had had things handed to her, been waited on hand and foot. While that came with obvious benefits, it also left her feeling quite…powerless. She didn’t know what it felt like to be in control of her own life, her own destiny, despite the fact that she had always longed for such control.

Though her headache was a lot better now that she had been up for awhile, she was still in a fairly sour mood due to the dull ache behind her brows. She couldn’t help but be sarcastic now when Hugh asked her about her condition, even if she didn’t necessarily mean to be nasty to him. “Oh, it’s fantastic. Just as you’d expect a hangover to be.” She grumbled. Liva was no stranger to this feeling, though. She was, afterall, a notorious party girl. She was used to staying out late, drinking in clubs until she couldn’t see straight and was puking her guts out in the royal bathrooms. You’d think she’d have built up an immunity to hangovers by now. But no, unfortunately they would always be just as painful, the curse of having unethical fun being the feeling of a thousand tiny knives pressing into your skull until you regret every decision you’ve ever made. And right now, Liva was regretting ever living this stupid temporary hideout. If she hadn’t left, she wouldn’t’ be in this fitness room, wouldn’t be receiving lectures about self defense or feeling strange about her relationship with Hugh. And most importantly, she wouldn’t be stuck in here even more than she was to begin with.

But even so, the princess couldn’t help but protest. “Dangerous place?” Her eyebrows rose incredulously. “It was just a nightclub, Hugh! It wasn’t dangerous. What’s the worst thing that could have happened? I would have went home with a stranger and woken up on the other side of LA?” She rolled her eyes, always the stubborn one. If Hugh hadn’t come, she most likely would be full of regret the morning after her little adventure, but her pride would be the only thing harmed. “The chances of anything happening are so, so slim! Haven’t you ever went out? Or is it too dangerous for you?” She challenged, her eyes sparkling slightly at the idea. Liva felt like she had said these words a billion times, for it was always the argument she had to use when she spoke to her father or her brother or her guards about why she should be allowed to go where she pleased.

“Your…your boss?” The words seemed to strike Liva in an unusual way. She blinked, frowning slightly as a memory rushed to her from the previous night. A short, chubby man on the lawn waiting for them. Liva recalled the way the man had yelled at Hugh. The exact things he said were a mystery, but Liva knew the jist of it. Hugh’s boss had blamed him for what had happened, for what she had done. She thought of that vague memory of being in the car with Hugh, of her dear bodyguard getting so upset and slamming his hands on the steering wheel and yelling about…something. It all meant something, she knew. And for some reason, Liva felt a little…defensive all of a sudden. “Your boss is a b*tch.” She muttered, looking away to hide the sudden burst of anger she felt. Anger on Hugh’s behalf, of course. Liva crossed her thin arms over his chest, meeting Hugh’s eyes as she asked, “Why do you let him talk to you like that? Last night…” She bit her lip, not really sure how to finish the sentence. She wasn’t sure why the memory unsettled her so much, but it did. Why would Hugh put up with all that mistreatment from his employer?

[E M M A]

"Well-" Hugh cut himself off, deciding not to argue then with Liva. She had said yes, and he has better take it as an answer before she changed her mind. He still was in disbelief that she would volunteer her time to him, although there wasn't much else she could have done instead anyway. There was nowhere to go, no one else to see, not even Internet to use. The only kind of Internet websites she was allowed on was trusted news websites and possibly that new Netflix thing, where you supposedly watched television shows and movies without commercials. He didn't even bother with it anyway, since he was sure nothing on it could keep him entertained. Besides, Liva kept him preoccupied for the moment, and Hugh sure wasn't taking any more chances of blowing over the whole operation. He didn't fail. He never did, and he never would. He still had a point to prove.

Breathing more freely now, Hugh relaxed his shoulder somewhat, his brain already wiring itself to think about how he'd train Liva tomorrow, what exercises and drills he'd have her run through at the crack of dawn. His initial thoughts had mostly been based on what he had done for the Academy when he'd first left the orphanage, how his skinny, weak legs had barely been able to surpass a mile in the specified time when all the other men had easily completed it well before him. He'd been last on the track, and worse, everyone had been there to see it. Now he could run a mile in under five minutes, easy, but things were different after so many years. Liva would definitely never get to his level of intensity, but he figured he'd start out small and build on the concept until Liva was strong. Well, stronger.

Today definitely was out of the question to start pushing her to at least do push ups, and Hugh didn't try to justify it in his mind. She wasn't going to do it, particularly with that hangover of hers. Hugh had forgotten how miserable those were, as he hadn't been under alcohol's poisoning spell for a good amount of time now. She scowled at him again with that familiar, snippy tone, to which Hugh winced at. He had just been trying to be considerate and sound like he cared, did it trouble people too much? "Not my fault," he pointed out with a raise of his eyebrow, a sigh huffing from his lips. Hugh swept his hand through his hair, his eyes flickering over Liva's slightly disheveled appearance. On her arms he could see the remnants of him pushing her onto the ground, appearing as small scabs on her elbows and under her forearms. Hugh still felt guilty for having been so forceful, but had he not, Liva would have ended up between someone's fist and someone's face. Then he'd be suspended, permanently, without a doubt.

He still sported some hidden evidence of the fight, some that he found as he bumped into things and discovered the sensation of a bruise that already lived there, or washing his hands and feeling a sharp excrutiating sting in his skin where a cut wasn't even visible. He wasn't vocal with his injuries, sometimes merely because it didn't hurt, but sometimes, because he felt like it wasn't manly to do so. He could distinctly remember a certain blonde kid at the orphanage, one with menacing green eyes and grubby fingers. He seemed to like picking on Hugh, since they were next door roommates and he was easy to bully. The one time Hugh had fallen on the playground in second grade and scraped his knee, and moaned about it in his room, the kid had made a point to make sure Hugh fell on that very knee again several times that day.

It seemed to be that the tradition carried on to his adulthood, when he was attacked on assignment and nursing a particular finger, other agents who didn't particularly favor him made certain that it was broken by the end of the day. Throwing him heavy bags of gear without him looking, knocking their body into his side when he tried to ice it. Everyone was savage, and he didn't trust them. He didn't even trust Liva fully at this point, even if she did seem harmless. It was just automatic. His skull could be cracked open and he wouldn't dare tell anyone, in hopes to give his body a break from the greater harm that would come if he said anytime aloud. Currently, Hugh could easily forget the weak pain that numbed his knuckles, and the trivial bruise on his jaw, but he still was delicate in the way he moved as to not upset them. He couldn't show weakness, either, to his client or to their enemies.

If he had expected Liva not to interrupt him again when he called the club dangerous, he was clearly stupid and hadn't learned a thing about Liva. Per usual, she raised her eyebrow and interjected, using that specific tone he hated with him. Hugh opened his mouth to ask her to let him finish, but instead, he took a gulp of air, inhaling so his chest rose, and exhaling so it fell. Shaking his head in irritation, an antsy Hugh massaged the back of his skull again, his teeth clenched so he wouldn't say anything to upset the somewhat existent harmony between him and Liva. Besides being at the end of his tiny short fuse with Liva, Hugh was rather... disappointed. She didn't learn anything from all his lecturing, he wondered if she was even worth it. He didn't want to waste his time anymore, or his breath.

He didn't want to waste his care on someone who didn't even think she needed it, and it hurt him to think about. It was like when your own child insisted that drugs weren't bad for you, yet their lives all around them were crippling and deteriorating. Liva didn't see the danger, the potential horror. And that's what kept him worried. What if she did it again? She was bound to break more rules if she did it once! Hugh was silent, brooding with that stone cold face of his that didn't even look at Liva. His eyes were trained on the weight rack in the corner of the gym, his fingers curling and uncurling repeatedly. His lips were tight, and he didn't try to justify his point. He already had, too many times. Through his reckless anger, it was always easy for Hugh to forget the good in the person, to forget the happy times, even if they had been few. He had forgotten the kiss, and how his cheeks had felt so warm, how he had felt a little spring of hope. There was none of that now. He was just mad.


After a brief blesisng of silence, he spoke. "You don't get it -" he'd finally lashed out, his eyes snapping back to Liva's bright blue ones, his hands waving for emphasis, but he had been too late. Liva's face had rippled with a new challenging idea, a fiery excitement behind those eyes. She interjected into his comments, and what she said hit him again, and again, and again. And it hurt more than any of her punches ever could. First off, Liva didn't trust him, or take his word for it. He lived in the area, he knew what happened, and he knew all the possibilities. He had seen them. He'd dragged bodies out of gutters and dumpsters, of one night stands gone wrong. He'd done that. Then she provoked him, throwing it back into his face asking if he'd ever gone out. Hugh had never been a social butterfly, and the few experiences he had at bars had been near death ones.

If he ever let down his guard, he was dead. Hugh made enemies with his job, and on top of it, it didn't help that he looked like he could be a serial killer with that ever existent murderous look in his eyes. He never had a purpose in goijg out on the city, and it never ended well either. So he stopped. After two times. He didn't want to ruin anyones night anymore. "That's enough from you!" Hugh barked, his face growing red as the tendons in his neck seemed to strain more than usual. He was breathing hard, he hadn't noticed, and his fists had tightened. He had wanted to hit her in that moment, he knew, but he managed to turn away from her and shove them into his pockets. "I give up trying to save you," he snapped under his breath, quieter as he forced himself to relax with his back to her.

There was a tense thickness thst separated them now as their words were left hanging in the atmosphere, Hugh's head ringing with Liva's taunting words. Now that he wasn't stuck in the intial shock of it all, he could think of several different sarcastic answers to her questions, all that he would never dare say to her or anyone and reveal that much about himself. He hated himself, he hated how he had to lie all the time to keep himself safe from pity, from disgusted looks. Especially from some rich know it all princess who'd had everything she ever wanted at the beckon of a finger. It only fed his fire. It wasn't fair. Suddenly Liva spoke up about his boss, which to him, seemed to be completely irrelevant. His grouchy tone had inferred that he had hated the man, and yet Liva seemed clueless about what had happened. She really didn't remember anything, did she. It was such a shame. He hadn't said anything meaningful, anyway, Hugh thought bitterly. Her harsh tone swearing at his boss caught Hugh insanely out of sorts, his head swiveling to watch Liva's expression contort into one of hatred. He was shocked. Did she remember the fat man on the lawn? How he had yelled at them in their face? Had she remembered something, for once? Hugh, who had already been brewing his storm for quite some time now, slowly turned to face her again, his expression still unwelcoming and full of bitterness. Like usual.

As soon as she looked at him, he refused to maintain eye contact. He was still mad at her, even if she did agree that his boss was mean. She was one of the only people that did. Her, and his therapist/psychiatrist, a.k.a. his limp old punching bag at home. Liva had softened now, and she asked him why he let his boss talk to him like that. Hugh almost laughed, and he almost cried. He had no choice but to let him say those things. Hugh didn't matter, he had no opinion. If he did, he was fired. And if Hugh was fired? He didn't want to go back to living on the streets like he sometimes had when he ran away from the orphanage in hopes of finding someone, anyone, to take pity on him and to adopt him into their family. Well, it had never happened, but it had been worth the try anyway.

If Hugh lost his job, he lost everything.

This had been all he had had left, financially, and mentally. he needed this job. He didn't know why he wanted to keep living, but he did. Natural instinct. If he lost his job, Hugh was actually scared, that he'd... lose his sanity. He couldn't allow himself free time, because free time was Hugh's worst enemy. If he was ever alone with a bundle of aimless time on his hands, he was in big trouble. That's when he started to drink, or destroy things, or wallow in his sorrows wondering why he ended up this way. He needed, needed this job. And the worst part? His boss knew that. He knew everything about Hugh. At first coming into the program as a newbie, he'd been taken under the man's fat wings. He had taken Hugh's skinny self out to lunch on him, and Hugh had learned to trust that man. So he had told him everything. Everything . As darker and deeper Hugh's thoughts got, the more his boss had become frightened and upset. And distant.

And things changed, and well... Hugh was trash now, with plenty of blackmail pinned to his forehead. He had to keep his job, and he had to keep his boss happy. He had no other choice.

[E M M A]

But of course, of course Hugh wasn't going to tell Liva that. He wasn't going to tell anyone. "He's just like that," he lied through grit teeth. "Forget about it. I'm going to go find something to eat," Hugh snarled, although he hadn't intended to be that nasty to Liva. It just... happened. As if he'd just let his boss talk to him like that, for no reason! Hugh was no doormat, although he sometimes acted like one for convenience. He hated that pig, that greedy, fat, diabetic pig! Oh the things Hugh could do, wring his neck, anything! Hugh brushed past Liva with a massive storm cloud over his head, his mood being totaled and shattered into a massive wreck. He wasn't even hungry. He just wanted to be alone. He didn't trust having deep talks with Liva, he was stupid to have said anything the day before.

[angelena.]

((Poor little box baby Hugh! So, where should we go from here?))

[angelena.]

“Hugh - “ Liva reached out to him as he stormed away, though she wasn’t sure what she would have done if she had been able to latch onto his arm and make him stop. How did she apologize when she wasn’t sure what she had done wrong in the first place? “Wait, I - “ But it was of no use, for he had already marched through the door of the fitness room and left her behind once again. Liva’s bodyguard still remained a mystery to her; it seemed his walls built right back up every time she managed to break them down. She hadn’t meant to upset him by talking about his boss and challenging his sense of danger, just as she had not meant to offend him yesterday before dinner. Every time that it seemed she had gained his companionship, had found someone who maybe wasn’t so different from her, she said something that crossed some line she couldn’t see and suddenly they were back to square one. Whatever. It wasn’t like she wanted his friendship. Hugh Miles was just a lowly bodyguard. A cruel, grumpy, controlling bodyguard who meant nothing at all to the princess of Norway. It didn’t matter that he had carried her drunken body away from a dangerous nightclub and nursed her back to herself. It didn’t matter that he had showed her how to make a stupid sandwich. It didn’t matter that for one brief little moment during their “fight”, he had let her see what it was like to let go of everything, to be powerful and in control. It didn’t matter that she kind of liked that feeling.

Annoyed with herself, Liva grumbled in her native language under her breath and stalked over to a treadmill. Maybe she didn’t know anything about guns or how to throw a punch, but she could run. And the machine itself wasn’t too different than the ones at the workout room back home, so she easily had it turned on and moving in no time. She jogged for quite some time, ignoring the burning sensation in her legs and the way her breaths kept getting shallower and shallower. She didn’t have the speed or endurance of a secret agent, afterall, but one could tell that she ran regularly. Liva had to keep her figure nice and slim somehow, right? It was about that, she told herself, not about the way the air against her face felt freeing, not about how she kind of felt like she was flying when her legs turned to jelly and seemed to disappear altogether. It wasn’t about running away. Running was just about her appearance, just about the part of her that everyone could see.

After some time, Liva finally turned the machine off and stepped down, the Earth seeming to move beneath her for a moment before her legs felt normal again. She took a few strangled breaths as she swaggered over to a towel rack by the wall. She used one of the clothes to wipe away the sweat from her neck and face, making a disgusted face at the feel of it all. She had run a little harder today than she normally did, if only to prove to herself that she could - or rather, to prove it to her bodyguard. She could be strong and fast and tough if she wanted to be… She just didn’t want to be. Feeling sticky and in need of a shower, Liva tossed the towel away and headed to the kitchen to grab herself a much-needed bottle of water. Her shirt clung to her form and she worked at separating it from her skin as she walked, leaving her in her sports bra. Liva normally wasn’t a very modest person, which was clear by the way she dressed. She looked pretty and she didn’t care if people recognized that. But Liva found herself shrugging the shirt back on before she got too far, thinking of Hugh and the way he had blushed when she showed up at his door with only a towel on. She wasn’t sure why the memory made her blush too.

She was going to get a bottle of water and then going to head off to her personal shower… So she wasn’t exactly sure how she ended up at Hugh’s door, knocking softly on the wood, hesitant to speak to him after he had hurried away so quickly earlier. As she waited for him to answer, she began to regret the decision to come here. Liva should have went and changed first, should have showered and made herself more presentable. And most importantly, she should have spent a little more time to consider the scene that had played out earlier and how she could make amends for whatever the hell it was she had done. Had he just been angry with her because she was stubborn and wouldn’t accept that her lifestyle was dangerous? Was he mad because even though she had agreed to train with him, she wouldn’t let him change her perspective on all of this. Liva, personally, didn’t want to think about any of that. Things hadn’t gotten a little too real for her in the fitness center and it was time to regain that light atmosphere she had grown so dependent on. “I’m sorry.” The words came out of her as soon as Hugh answered the door and they felt strange on her foreign tongue. She hesitated a moment, shifting on her feet. Liva wasn’t used to apologizing to people and it was obvious. “I will - I mean, I do want to train with you. And I’m stupid. And the world is one scary place. And people want to kill me. And I’m sorry for saying that about your boss. Maybe you don’t think he’s a b*tch or maybe you didn’t know and - “ She threw her hands up hopelessly. Most of the words didn’t mean anything. Liva didn’t think her perspective was insignificant and she still was reluctant to learn self defense. But she was sorry that he was hurt, and sorry for being the cause of that hurt, and there was something genuine in her eyes even though her voice sounded sarcastic and her mannerisms were annoyed looking. “There. Now come do something with me before I die of boredom.” She demanded, sounding completely serious as though she really believed being bored could be a cause of death. Liva, of course, had deeper reasoning. She didn’t want Hugh to brood in his room over something she had said. She wanted him to smile and be happy… But she would pretend it was just because she was bored, would lie to herself more than she ever would anyone else.

[E M M A]

Of course, Hugh didn't stick around to hear what it was that Liva had to say. He never did that kind of thing. All it was was run, run, run. Run Hugh. Run. When it came to his emotions and his mind, he was trapped, he couldnt get out of it. He could never face them; no one had ever taught him how. He'd always been treated like the scum of the earth from the moment he'd been born, and things were no different now. If he weren't so tall, Hugh didn't doubt that he'd still be picked on. It was an issue Hugh could never fsce, a monster inside of him that he couldnt vanquish for once. He was a coward. A coward. He fled from scenes if they ever got problematic, he fled from scenes if the conversation took a turn he didn't like. In a way, it was childish. He'd never grown up, and learned to deal with it like any normal man would.

Just when Liva had started to somewhat care, he shoved her out of his mind, and he shoved her hard. Hugh was battling his own problems inside that big brain of his, but it was slowly destroying him from the inside. He felt his walls crumble and be chipped away both by Liva's harsh and sympathetic words, walls that had lay untouched for years and years. Nobody had ever bothered to be really interested in Hugh's affairs, nobody backed him up like Liva just had. The thought that scared him most was the fact that he thought someone cared- maybe it was true, maybe not- but he didn't want to be let down when he found out they didnt. It was all in his head that Liva was jsut talking to him because she had nothing better to do, and even if she did have any interest in him, Hugh couldn't see it. He wouldnt. He refused to.

And now that things had grown more personal in just two days, Hugh was frightened. Genuinely frightened. He didn't trust her, yet somehow, little snippets of his closed in, irrelevant opinions kept tumbling from his mouth. He kept trustingher. He kept trying to take care of her. It had to stop, before he dug himself a hole too deep, and ruined himself. It had been a few months since he'd gone through one of his emotional withdrawls, those ugly scenes he kept only to his apartment. It varied, but usually included some sort of destruction, moping about how terrible his life was, and drinking. Pathetic he knew, but he couldnt help it. It had been habit since he was younger, and the more he grew older and saw more of how people around him were, the more he beat himself up over how he'd been a failure. How nobody wanted him, no matter how he tried to be the best, to be a good guy. It just wasn't in him.

It would have meant something to him that Liva had tried to reach out to him on his dramatic exit, but he was too blinded by rage to feel her soft fingertips brush against his elbow. It took no time at all for Hugh to disappear out into the hallway, steam practically shooting from his ears. He'd never been so upset or disappointed with one person. Liva had agreed that her life was dangerous and that she would do her part to keep herself safe, yet she turned around and refused it, was ignorant to the obvious at hand. It was something Hugh could not stand, something he fumed about for a good forty five minutes. He wouldn't admit it, but he did have some sentimental attachment to Liva, in the sense that she had been the first and likely the only person to make him feel if not a fraction of importance, and thst they had been able to have somewhat of a friendly conversation.

Until he ruined it with his zero social skills. He didn't doubt it now, as he flew up the staircase, that Liva had probably thought he was an over sensitive, big baby. Maybe he was. Maybe he was too much, maybe he was just someone who was too pathetic to cope with the normal people. Everyone knew one of those. He was that person. He destroyed any and all chances of making peaceable conversation with the princess. He was causing a disgrace to him, to the program... but then again, he was a ghost Nobody saw him. Nobody but Liva, who he'd managed to confuse and complicate with his complex mind. All he could hope as he closed his door shut with a semorseful click, that Liva would still talk to him later that day. For now, he needed to cool off, take a step back from reality and get in touch with the present. He'd never been more concerned with someone else's opinion of him more than now.

Hugh sunk into his luxurious matress, his temple still throbbing from his outburst. He hadn't meant to come across so.... ruthless, so tyrannical and... like a jerk. Minutes passed, then nearly an hour, and he heard nothing from his client. As Hugh sat there, his elbows digging into his knees and his face in his large palms, he sunk further and further into his own self hatred. Why had he had to be so short with Liva? What had happened to his patience, his leniency with the princess? He had to get it through his mind that even if the princess said something he didn't like, he didn't have to force it down her throat. "What have I..." Hugh trailed off aloud to himself, distraught. He had been out of place with Liva, and now, he wasn't so sure how he had left things up in the air. For once, Hugh wanted to go apologize. But of course, it nearly took him an hour to work up the nerve to even stand from his bed, but by then it was a little late.

Harried and flustered, Hugh had managed to tousle his hair as part of his nervous habits, as well as wring the edge of his sheets into permanent wrinkles. He'd been pacing the length of his room, his eyebrows knit above his worrisome blue eyes, when a knock sounded at his door. His gaze flashed to the door, halting mid step. For someone who was accustomed to being home alone often, it was still something he had to adjust to. Hugh turned the handle in the door slowly, his heart in his throat as he ducked his head in shame and embarassment. He worked at words in his mouth, but it seemed impossible as he faced her. She was panting as if she'd just... gone running? Sweat made her shirt stick to her skin in some places, and her flyaways were matted above her temples. He couldn't look down at his feet without somehow glimpsing Liva in his peripheral, and for a moment, a silence strangled him.

I'm sorry.

Something stirred in the pit of his stomach, a sensation he could never explain. He'd never heard those words directed to him before, and Hugh couldn't help but gawk a little shocked at the princess. He would never have imagined that Liva, of all peolle, would have apologized to him; and for what, it didn't register. For him, those words of apology had always only bee reserved for severe mistakes, such as not covering his men one time during a stake out and one of them consequently being shot in the leg. "I'm sorry," he'd muttered to that agent. Nothing more. It didn't occur to him that it was a common phrase, especially among royalty, rich peolle who always thought that their opinion was the only one that stood.

Before he could protest, his tongue still tied, Liva launched into a lengthy explanation. It was all he had needed. Hugh cracked open the door slightly wider, his shoulder pressed into the door frame as he slouched. He was thoroughly impressed. For a while, he'd even forgotten about what it was that she was coming to him for. A faint glimmer of hope shone behind his irises, his breath held in anticipation as she rattled off a list of things she agreed she'd been wrong about. She would not only train with him, but she admitted she was stupid? Where was Liva Nordskov? And who was this blonde girl? Hugh visibly flinched when she mentioned his boss, although he chose not to say anything about that man. He didn't want to make any situations worse, and he never could know for certain where the bugs and cameras were located in the mansion. That morning he'd removed a majority of them or repositioned them to be less intrusive, but he easily anticipated that his pig eared boss was watching him through a grainy video at his office.

Hugh had began to nod along with what she was saying, his lips pursed as he studied Liva. It was hard for him to focus on what she was saying, his attention primarily into what had incited this sudden spark of change in her. Why was she being nice again? Was it just so he wouldn't yell at her anymore? Hugh could almost start clapping when Liva finished talking, then demanding that he come keep her preoccupied. That apology had been the most sincere, most beautiful thing he'd ever witnessed. "Thank you, Miss Nordskov... I... I shouldn't have gotten so angry, either," Hugh spoke up finally, his voice weak and somewhat hushed. He found it to be nearly impossible to look her in the eyes, his body shifting weight uncomfortably in the doorway. "And.. I'm sorry," he squeaked, the words choking him as they left his lips.

A weight lifted partly off his shoulders, his heart thundering in his ears as he tensed to see if Liva would take it. The fact that she had come to him herself still had left him shell shocked, and curious. This was... unlike the Liva he had first met st the office, the rebellious, bratty one. He was surprised she hadn't tried to break out of the house by now, just to push his buttons. "What... what can I even do? I'm... boring Hugh, remember?" He laughed drily, his tone attempting at humor. He struggled to find that comfortable rythm he'd had with her earlier, that... friendship. What if he'd destroyed it completely? It wasn't ever that one of his tempermental outbursts were treated with an apology, with humbldness and humility from the opposite side. If not anything, Hugh could learn the same from the princess.

[angelena.]

She wasn’t sure why he had gotten upset earlier. She wasn’t sure exactly what this little scene meant for them. She wasn’t sure if it meant anything at all. But there was something about this little moment that weighed uncomfortably heavy on Liva. It meant something. No, she tried to tell herself, I just mumbled some stupid words to him so that he’d come out of his room and entertain me. But she did mean to apologize, even if she didn’t know exactly why she was doing it. As silly as it may have sounded, Liva didn’t like the way Hugh’s eyes looked when he was upset. It was stupid, she knew. “Well…good. I forgive you.” She said a bit awkwardly, trying to force some shred of composure on herself. Liva glanced down the hall, suddenly very aware of the fact that they were alone. Was it odd that she took comfort in the hidden cameras in that moment? That the reminder of people watching them made her feel less unsure?

“Stop that.” Liva said suddenly, rolling her eyes. “Stop calling me Miss Nordskov. That’s not my name.” It was, of course, an acceptable title… but it felt so painfully formal. “When did you start doing that? Why? Just - ew - don’t’ do that.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust. Miss Nordskov made her sound like some old lady. Of course, she should have liked it, should have relished in the boundary he was creating between them, the boundary that she clung to as proof for why she didn’t care about him one way or another. But something about it felt so off to her. “My name is Liva, Mr. Miles.” She smirked, throwing a formal title right back at him.

Liva raised an eyebrow in her usual expression of disbelief, crossing her delicate arms over her chest. But it seemed like Hugh was almost trying to make a joke - though he did so at his own expense. Liva was beginning to wander if that was how he saw himself, if that was why he had gotten upset with her the other day when she had commented on how grouchy he always looked… But that was silly, right? Was it possible that Hugh didn’t have a high opinion of himself? “That’s a stupid thing to say.” Blunt as always, she was. Liva let out an exaggerated sigh, reaching forward to grab his arm. “Come on.” She said, starting down the hall despite any protest. “I’m sure we can find something to do, even if you are boring.” She tossed a wink at him over her shoulder as she marched them down the hall. Liva was just happy he wasn’t brooding anymore, that he wasn’t angry with her. Liva was stuck here with him, no matter how they felt each about each other, and Liva couldn’t stand the thought of spending this next few months feeling completely alone. Especially now, after that little episode of hers in the fitness room. Liva needed people around her, needed distractions and needed this little fake persona of hers to keep her from breaking down.

As they came upon the living room, Liva released Hugh. She moved over to the entertainment center, sifting through DVDs. “Are you sure we can’t go anywhere?“ She whined. She didn’t really want to watch a movie right now, though. Sitting still for two hours was not ideal. Liva moved onto the next cabinet, finding several board games piled up. Some she had heard of, some she had not. As she looked, Liva hesitantly asked, “So, what exactly happened last night? Aside from you shoving me down and me getting my knee skinned.” She glared at him over her shoulder, though the look didn’t hold much hostility. “So, you got in a fight? Your boss yelled at you? What…what else?” There was something more; she could feel it. Liva kept seeing that image in the car, kept seeing Hugh’s face distorted in anger and pain as he slammed his hands against the steering wheel and yelled…yelled something while she cried in the passenger’s seat. “Here, we’re playing Battleship.” She said absentmindedly, bringing the board game to the coffee table. She plopped down on the floor and began to set it up. It was silly, she knew, and Liva really wasn’t a big fan of board games. But she needed something to occupy herself, something to make her stop thinking about what had happened with Hugh in the fitness room and what she had admitted to him. “It sounds like it was pretty exciting; I’m sorry I don’t remember it all. At least tell me that guy was cute?” She made a face. It was then that Liva realized that she was still gross and sweaty from her run. She pulled at her shirt again, trying to separate it from her skin. Wait… F*ck this. I shouldn’t be embarrassed around Hugh! He’s just Hugh! So, Liva peeled the tank top away, leaving her in her sports bra. She used the shirt to dab away the sweat from her forehead before discarding it beside her. Liva was in control of this situation, as she was in control of every other one. “We should play for something.” She said as she positioned her ships around her side of the game board. “Winner gets…” She thought for a moment. “To ask the other player a question. Something they must answer truthfully.” There was a little sparkle in her eyes, something dangerous. This was the way she used to play games with her brother when they were younger. There was no use betting money or valuables when you were royalty; they had everything they could every want. So they gambled for secrets.

[E M M A]

Liva regarded his own apology with her statement of forgiveness as well, the words trying to form in her mouth as she said them. He didn't know how she'd react to it, and he wasn't so sure that she could ever really comprehend the things he said to the depths that he meant them. When Hugh said he was sorry, he really was sorry. He'd never felt as guilty as he did for yelling at someone who didn't deserve that kind of treatment, royalty or not. Liva, for now, was his only "friend", the only person who would talk to him merely because she had to. He was the only one here. While it lasted, Hugh wanted it to be the least painful experience possible- he wanted to see what it was like to be able to wake up everyday with someone else in the house, and to bicker over little things like leaving puddles of water by the kitchen sink. Besides, they had a deal now. Liva would be his student for a while, so she could make things easier on his job, and also earn his trust back.

Hugh took a deep breath, his shoulders straightening out a little more as he lifted his head. Looking at Liva was a bit more bearable now, although he still could feel the regret gnawing at his stomach, his shouted words still ringing in his head. Thankfully, he could count on Liva to drag him from his thoughts with her accented words. Now she seemed to be accusing him of calling her by her last name, her nose shrivelling in absolute distaste that had Hugh wide eyed and confused. Don't call her Miss Nordskov? What was the big deal? "Of course it's your name," he began to protest, but of course, he was unheard to Liva. Calling her by her first name sometimes made him uncomfortable, since that was a sort of thing one did with people they were on friendly terms with. When he argued with her, he tended to side with adressing her by her maiden name. It was also more respectful that way, and retained the proper client and employee relationship. That, and he was used to it. Around the office, it was his last name that was barked, since it was easier for most people to associate it with being audible and easy to recognize in the field. His boss sure knew Hugh's last name quite well.

"I- fine. Fine," Hugh held his hands up in surrender, backing off the matter just as quickly as it appeared. "Mr. Miles," he retorted under his breath, resisting the urge to roll his eyes in the back of his head. Instead he opted for shaking his head at her. He was unaccustomed to hearing "Miles" put so nicely, from someone who had an ounce of respect for him, and didn't openly announce how worthless he was, and how Miles wasn't even his real last name. It was like when a child had done something unpardonable, and their parents screamed their first, middle, and last name, followed by a harsh warning to explain themselves. For Hugh, the name "Miles" was that exact same thing, yet he didn't mind so much hearing Liva tease him.

By now Hugh had opened the door and stepped away from the doorway, his previously unsettled stomach beginning to relax as the conversation seemed to release the tense, unbearable vibes that had existed between them only minutes earlier. He didn't have too hard of a time forgiving Liva now, especially now that she had admitted to being wrong, that she had agreed to train with him. The sheer intentions of her coming to his door had lifted his poor spirits, and now, Hugh found the day to have some sort of potential again. Even if they couldn't go anywhere, and Liva was hungover. Hugh scoffed when she so blatantly stated her opinion, her over exaggerated motions leaving him amused. "You did say that yourself," he pointed out as a matter-of-factly, although he didn't, for once, find himself growing defensive, or even the slightest bit, angry.

Liva reached out for his arm that had been dangling at his side, his heart lurching as she tugged him away from the safety of his room. "What- where are we-" Hugh interjected, stumbling after her as she led the way down the hall, her fingers fitting easily with an iron grip around his wrist. "Hey," he pouted, weakly defending himself in the fact that he wasn't boring. That would be lying to himself and everyone around him, who was he going to fool? He felt a little sorry for Liva being stuck with him as a bodyguard, especially since he was so... awful. He had no patience, no social skill, and no idea of anything that wasn't war or violence or government related. "Whatever you please, Miss Nordskov," he sighed at last, lengthening his stride to match her pace. Although he wasn't so sure if he ever wanted to voice his opinion again, he did like Liva's company for the most part. Their arguing drained him, and he preferred just to make her happy, to see her smile. Previously, he couldnt even make an infant giggle in a grocery line, in fact he made them cringe and cry out to their mothers. Just to be welcomed was something entirely different, something he cherished and clung to with all he had.

Downstairs in the vast living room whose open floor plan nearly consisted of the size of his entire apartment, Liva finally released his arm, the warmth of her hand leaving his skin as soon as she did. There was a distinct red mark from how she had held his wrist, but it wasnt as if Hugh minded all that much. His blue green eyes watch Liva as she flicked through the brand new movies in their organized shelving system hidden inside a cabinet, her back to him. Watching her, he began to wonder what it had been that Liva had been doing to make her sweat so much. Had she decided to take training upon herself? Did she use the punching bag? Or had she used some of the ellipticals? Moreover, he wondered why. Especially, when she had been nursing a hangover. He supposed he'd never know. It was none of his business, anyway.

Hugh sat on the corner of an ottoman, one of his legs extended out while the other was tucked against the leather. "Absolutely positive. I don't think we would make it past the front door before CIA comes back and removes me from my position," he informed her drily, hoping she didn't have any ideas again to go frolicking about in Los Angeles while his back was turned. Liva switched cabinets, fruitless in her searches for something to watch, something to do. This cabinet appeared to have what looked like board games, none of which he had played before. It was quiet, and Hugh drank in the peaceful silence as he examined his slightly bruised hands. Of course, Liva couldn't leave alone the matter of what had happened while she was drunk. His eyes froze and narrowed at a particular purple spot on his left middle finger knuckle, her question ringing in his ears.

Hugh lifted his head, meeting her sarcastic glare for him having pushed her down on the pavement. She pressed and expanded the question before he could provide a blunt and plain answer, his tongue tied as to what to say, what to reveal. She had three aspects of the evening down, as well as a fourth that she hadn't mentioned about the man at the club. It was as if she were looking for him to say something specific, as if she were trying so desperately to piece together her fuzzy memories. "That's basically it, Liva, I'm surprised you... remembered... everything," Hugh murmured slowly, although he couldn't help a minute tone of disappointment in his voice. "You know, since you were drunk and all." He should have been relieved, Hugh told himself, that Liva hadn't been too keen on any details. How she hadn't remembered that he had pushed her because the man was trying to keep her, or that he had had a mental break down his first day on the job, or that he had treated her so tenderly as opposed to his usual rough and insensitive ways.

Liva tugged a box from the cabinet labeled "Battleship", the game seeming to already have been gently used and regifted to the house. Hugh slid off the ottoman to his knees, moving himself across the rug to where the coffee table was. Liva began to open the box and it's contents while he looked along from across her, his eyes locked on the small pieces. He had no clue how to play the game. He didn't even recognize it, although the name sounded vaguely familiar. He wasn't sure what a peg board had anything to do with battle ships and war of any kind, but he had to humor Liva and play a game with her. He didn't want any more arguments between them, and the more mindless tasks he did for her, the more she would hopefully respect his authority. Maybe.

Just as Hugh began to think that he had gotten rid of the painful topic, Liva seemed to want to bring it right back up again. "Thrilling," he grumbled, toying with a few colored pieces on the table. "I doubt a thirty something year old sleaze with plenty of tattoos who was most likely cheating on his wife would very much please you, Liva, but if you're into that sort of thing..." Hugh trailed off, pretending to sound nonchalant, although inside, his blood boiled at the mention of that bastard. That idiot. He shifted his folded legs this way and that in an attempt to get comfortable, although nothing seemed to work quite in his favor. At last he opted for sitting with his legs Indian style, his large hands sitting in his lap limply. By then Liva had almost finished setting up the board game, one which he still had no idea how to play. Hugh opened his mouth to shamefully announce this ignorance, when she stripped herself of her tshirt, directly in front of him.

Hugh's stomach dropped, his eyes quickly averting as his cheeks blushed. She had caught him really... off guard. Smoothing a hand through his hair as he regained his unsettled composure, Hugh nervously glimpsed at the security camera mounted in the opening of the living room. "L-liva-" he whispered, his face feeling hot from such a display. He refused to look at her, but no doubt, if anyone at the office was watching, they'd have zoomed in on Liva. Like pigs, of course. "Don't you think....? Maybe a... a shirt?" He tried miserably, now becoming more embarassed that he had even brought it up. It wasn't as if she was naked, that and she was considered pretty. What was wrong with him? It was his natural instinct to become uncomfortable around women, especially growing up in an all boys school where girls his age in the next plot of land over were considered alien. Hugh mentally kicked himself hard for humiliating himself, most likely in front of the cameras as well. He shut his mouth finally, pursing his lips as he attempted to relax his worries. A shirtless girl. What was he going to do with himself?

Just then, Liva announced terms for the game. Winner could ask the other a question. A private question, no doubt. Hugh, on top of being extremely uncomfortable around Liva and all her "nudity" already, almost considered forfeiting before the game had started. "I- I don't know how to even play, that's unfair," Hugh protested weakly. He didn't like how Liva's eyes seemed to challenge his own, as if daring him to beat her somehow. Swallowing, Hugh sat up straighter, gathering his pieces somberly. "Do I just... put them on?" Hugh asked, slightly leaning towards the whining, reluctant side. He knew he was going to lose. He had no idea what he was doing, and yet, Liva was already finished setting up her side of the gameboard. No doubt, she was a pro with how much confidence she was displaying. Hugh didn't want to play, in fear of the conditions that she had stated. If she asked him a question that he had to answer truthfully, how was he going to respond? Yet for fear of being mocked by anyone who was watching at the office to "make sure Hugh didn't step out of line with the princess", and for fear of disappointing Liva and angering her, Hugh was slowly succumbing to oblige.

[angelena.]

((Yeah, I'm sorry that I've been a little more inactive recently. School and choir/drama stuff has kind of been kicking my butt lately. I will try to be more active on the weekends, but this weekend I had my nephew's birthday party and a parade to be in. I'm really, really sorry! Hopefully I'll be able to get in at least a post a day this week. I'm working on the reply right now though, and I'm going to try to have it up before I go to bed tonight!))

[angelena.]

((Yeah, I'll try to from now on! So, so sorry! Thank you for being understanding, Heather! ^.^))

[angelena.]

“Oh…” She sounded disappointed. Liva wasn’t sure what else to say. He wasn’t telling her the truth, that much she could tell. But why would he lie about something like this? What could have happened last night between them? Liva glanced behind her discreetly as she rummaged through the cabinet, almost wishing he would blurt out the truth and it would be something incredible. What did she want from him? Liva wasn’t sure… But she wanted something. She was silent for the most part as she sat down and began to set up the board, finding it was difficult to keep up her cheery, care free disposition when she was missing some vital, world-changing piece of information. But then Hugh caught her attention again. Liva raised an eyebrow at him across the table. “Maybe I am into that sort of thing.” She said a little indignantly. If he wasn’t going to tell her the truth about last night, why should she care about his opinion? “Why should you care what I like? It isn’t any of your business.”

Liva looked up in surprise when he said her name - well, more like whispered it. So sheepishly, so embarrassed… She blinked, at first not understanding what had him so visibly flustered. The sight of his reddened cheeks caught her completely off guard. The men she knew didn’t blush. They smiled their devious little smiles and didn’t care who they hurt. For a moment, all Liva could do was stare in wonder at the way Hugh ducked his head and averted her eyes. But then she realized why he was acting that way. A sudden chill heat her body, the air from the AC cool against her skin and reminding her that she wore no actual shirt. She felt heat rise to her own cheeks then, though she couldn’t exactly explain why. Liva wasn’t modest. And she didn’t care about Hugh or what he thought of her. Or so she told herself. “Um… It’s fine - I’m fine. It’s hot.” Liva muttered awkwardly, shifting a little in her own embarrassment. God, why did she have the urge to reach for her discarded shirt and cover herself immediately? It wasn’t like she was naked, for crying out loud! No, Liva needed to regain her dominance over the situation, over every situation between them. “Why? Do you have a problem, Hugh?” She leaned closer to him from across the coffee table, a conspirator sharing secrets. “I thought you didn’t find me attractive…” She said in a whisper, ignoring the way her heart lurched at the closeness she had forced upon them. Her mind was screaming at her: abort, abort, abort! But this was one challenge Liva couldn’t back down from, not if she planned to keep what was left of her dignity.

Hugh surprised her again. He didn’t know how to play Battleship? Liva had assumed he would know all about these American board games that seemed so foreign to her, just as she would know about the games in her country… Didn’t he play board games? Liva studied him for a moment. And then a slow smile spread across her lips. “Then we’re playing on an even field, Mr. Miles.” She leaned back a bit, before lifting one of her hands up into his view. She held a little paper pamphlet…. Instructions that she had been glancing at under the table. “I’ve never played, either.” But boy could she fake her way through anything? It was the one thing she had learned from her father that came in handy, the one thing Queenly thing she would practice - the ability to put on a different face. Always the actress. Always the liar. Liva could sit through poker games and win every hand, could walk into a room a different person every day. She could lie to herself as much as it took to forget who she truly was, what she truly felt. And apparently, that ability made her powerful.

Liva leaned back all the way then, erasing that close, intimate air she had created moments ago even though the distance made her heart throb uncomfortably in her chest, as though it longed for a companion. She pursed her lips as her eyes scanned the English instructions. “That’s what it says. Just place them around your side of the board. And then I guess a letter and a number, and you tell me whether or not I hit it. If I did, you put a red peg in that circle. When the boat is full of red pegs, it sinks. When you’re out of boats,” She flashed him a grin as if the game’s victor was already decided, “You lose.” She tossed the paper on the table towards him so that he could look it over, just in case he didn’t trust her instructions. “Don’t look so scared, Hugh. It’s just a game… Isn’t there anything you’re dying to know about me?” She studied him closely. “You have the world’s greatest enigma sitting right in front of you…and you aren’t even the least bit curious about unraveling her?” Liva taunted, trying to motivate him… Or maybe she was just flirting.

[E M M A]

Hugh balked at how quickly Liva's tone could change, her words sharp as she spat them back at him. He hadn't meant to offend her, but it seemed as if he really didn't know what he was doing. He really did doubt that Liva, a princess with plenty more dignity than she let on, would be open to the type of person he had vaguely described. "I was just-" Hugh began to defend himself, quickly giving up. It wasn't worth the fight, was it? He knew he'd lose the argument anyway, it happened every single time he tried to prove a point to Liva. She always had soemthing to counter his valid points, and it simply exhausted him. "Sorry," Hugh grumbled, deciding to leave it at that and not take much heed to her sudden sour mood. It wasn't any of his business. She was right, as always. And he wasn't going to push it.

Seeing Liva first in a towel, and now shirtless, Hugh was a bit horrified. Liva was hardly the conservative type, he learned, and clearly she had no problem putting herself on display. It was a wonder how she didn't get into any trouble with men, with how easily she was ready to walk around the house the way she did. But then again, he was a nobody, just her bodyguard. Perhaps she didn't think of him of anyone besides another house servant. It wouldn't be too shocking of a notion, and for now, he justified her reasons as that. "But..." Hugh trailed off, biting the inside of his cheek with a glance at one of the cameras mounted above the entry arch of the living room where they were seated. "Nevermind. Forger I said anything," Hugh huffed with an equal awkwardness, toying with his watch with sudden interest in its clasp.

And suddenly, Liva was in his face, her breath puffing against his cheeks with every word she spoke. Hugh was rigid, his finger frozen as he didn't dare move, not so much as bat an eyelash. His breath was caught in his throat, Liva's eyes burning into his forehead as she whispered. "I don't- I was- you're not attractive..." he stammered, fumbling like a fool over his own words. His face felt hot, and he became uncomfortable again as he squirmed in his spot on the floor of the rug. He couldn't imagine how his boss would react to such an act on Liva's part. They all already didn't trust that he'd treat the princess with respect, and they all thought that Hugh would screw up again like he had last night. None of the other agents liked Hugh and how he had the privilege of being on assignment with Liva Nordskov, the blonde beauty of Europe, the future queen of Denmark, a gorgeous sweetheart that they all adored. Him, who had no such appreciation or equal respect of her status.

It made him extremely uneasy with Liva's proximity to his face, and the reminder that the cameras stationed in the living room were in fact operational. "Liva, please," Hugh squeaked at last, leaning back act gains the couch away from his client. He didn't want to lose his job, or gain any dirt against him. She seemed to oblige, although there was still that... spark in her eyes. That challenge. Hugh found the ability to breathe again, his tightened clasped hands retreating into his lap. He eyed the pamphlet that she brandished from under the table between her manicured fingers, waving it for him to see. "Well. I suppose this will work out," Hugh said lamely, although he was fairly certain that he'd lose. If he played any sort of game, his experience was losing. He always lost. He never... won things. Why would now be any different?

Liva sat back in her spot again, tossing the pamphlet back to him across the table as she recited the instructions with that accent of hers. Pretending to be invested in the set up of the game and not the anxiety he felt from having been harassed by Liva, Hugh quickly unraveled the instruction manual to hunch over. His eyes found the game play, and sure enough, everything that Liva had said had been from off the paper. "Scared?" Hugh lifted his head, saying the word as if he didn't have it in his vocabulary. He rolled his eyes then, returning his attention to the instructions. "You're my client, it's none of my business to know about you and your personal life," he murmured, rustling the papers after a few moments. With an air of finality, he folded them and tossed them back towards Liva's side of the table, raising his dark eyebrows. "And what makes you think I would be so curious about you?" Hugh tilted his head, almost as if taunting her right back with his carefully put insults.

She wanted him to win so badly, to ask her some big question, but why? In all honesty, Hugh didn't even know what he'd say, granted if he won. Which, he aimed to do in the next ten minutes. Whatever question Liva wanted to compromise, he didn't want to hear it. He was sure it was some cruel invasion of his privacy, a touchy subject. Anything for him could be turned into a tender, sore matter, something that would send him off. Again. The urgency became a little more real to win then, and Hugh arranged for his battleships to be in what he thought could be clever positions. "And who goes first?" He pursed his lips, impatient to get the game over with. He stole a glance at Liva, and he immediately regretted it. Compared to the first day he'd met her, she seemed alot more... normal.

No expensive designer clothes and makeup, but a more... normal approach. Exercise apparel and a sloppy ponytail. For some reason, Hugh found himself plenty more comfortable around Liva when she was this way, as she felt less intimidating in this aspect. Hugh couldn't recognize the world's most beautiful woman even if he tried, as he was sincerely blind to the female species. Yet, Hugh didn't mind Liva so much.

[angelena.]

((Who should win the game???))

[E M M A]

((Liva!!!!!!! Hahhaa i honestly have no idea what hugh would even ask... you could narrate out to the end of the game if you wanted so we cam get to the juicy stuff! Maybe Liva can be really plauful and tease him over a question and this time hugh wont get so mad probably just really uncomfortable ((

[angelena.]

((Aww, they can have a cute little awkward moment. xD I'll have a reply up soon!))

[E M M A]

((And the flirting can begin xD))

[angelena.]

Liva laughed. She couldn’t help herself, couldn’t keep her expression neutral with the way Hugh stammered and blushed and averted his eyes. She had never seen anything quite like it. “Of course I’m attractive.” She protested, feeling heat rise to her own cheeks due to this awkward little encounter. Liva knew she was a pretty thing, and no one had ever told her otherwise. Surely Hugh didn’t think she was unattractive, right? He was just trying to spare himself of the embarrassment that would come with admitting how he felt about her appearance… For some reason, Hugh thinking she was pretty was far too important. Maybe it was because he had resisted all of her charm the day before that she wanted to impress him now. “Don’t lie, Hugh. It doesn’t suit you…” She taunted. Hugh was just like every other man, saw her the same way that they did. She had to convince herself of this, had to prove that this situation was no different than any other she had faced. Their wasn’t any weird, deep connection between them. Hugh didn’t make her feel different than she did around other guys. When she was with him, Liva didn’t want to be a better version of herself. And most of all, being like this around him didn’t make her flustered… And she wasn’t blushing!

“What are you so afraid of?” Liva said after another tinkling little laugh, her eyes sparkling with a bit of challenge as she glanced over to where he kept looking. There must have been a camera over there. “Hugh, I’ve been in front of cameras my whole life. Hell, the second I was born people were taking my picture to plaster on magazines. I stopped caring about what people see a long time ago…” So long as they never see the real me. “Maybe you should, too.” She studied him for a moment, her eyes looking a little older in that instant. Liva thought she was getting closer to discovering what kind of person Hugh was, thought she had hit it right on the nose with this new point. Hugh kept looking at those cameras. He got upset with her when she said he looked grumpy. He wouldn’t speak out against his boss… If only Liva knew what he had said last night during the drive back to their little home.

A tiny smile lit up her features when Hugh repeated her choice word. “Yes, scared… I think you have secrets, Hugh. Locked up tight in the pretty lead head of yours.“ She tapped a manicured finger against her own skull to illustrate her point. “You’re right. I am your client…. But you have to be a little bit curious about me, even if you know it isn’t any of your business.“ His question surprised her. What was that little glimmer in his eyes? Almost as if he was teasing her right back. Well, the question was enough to ruffle her feathers, to say the least. “Why wouldn’t you be?” She asked a little defensively. “I’m a beautiful, mysterious princess from a far away land who never does what you expect me to.” She informed him indignantly. Liva had to make him curious! She couldn’t be the only one with questions here! But it wouldn’t surprise her if Hugh saw right through everything, if he could see through ever act of hers to the vulnerability and uncertainty that lied underneath… No! She wouldn’t accept that she was an open book to him!

Eager to start the game, and to win the game, Liva smirked in response to her bodyguard. “I always go first.” She said matter-of-factly. Liva looked at her side of the board, assessing all the spaces and trying to decide where Hugh was most likely to have placed his pieces. “B7.” It was a miss, unfortunately, and Liva made a face when he informed her of that. But he didn’t hit any of her ships on the first turn, either, so they were pretty even to begin. The game went on like that, both calling out letters and numbers on their turn in an almost mechanic way. Liva forgot about cameras and secrets and hangovers as the sat their together in the middle of the living room, both intently focused on discovering the others strategies. It was almost…contenting. Liva realized this with a bit of a start and she glanced up at Hugh without meaning to, seeing how he stared down at his game board intently, his brow furrowed in concentration. This moment was so oddly peaceful, for some reason. And so, so normal. Liva never lazed around on Saturday mornings playing board games. She would have rolled her eyes at the notion last night, when all she could think about was drinking and dancing and the company of a stranger. She shifted in discomfort, suddenly not very sure how she felt about all of this. Sitting still, doing what normal people did, being completely content to sit in near silence with someone…

Liva was so caught up in it all that at first she didn’t realize she had won the game. She blinked at Hugh, coming back to reality. Glancing down, she saw that while most of her ships had been filled with little red pegs and cast aside, there were still two small ones standing. But when she glanced across the table, she could see that all of Hugh’s little ships were visible to the side of his board. She had sunken them all… “Oh.” She cleared her throat, blushing as she took a second to compose herself. “Guess that means I get to know your secrets, hm?” She asked softly, a small smile on her lips as she examined his face. “What happened - “ But then she cut herself off. Liva had had every intention of demanding to know the whole story of last night, the missing pieces to the puzzle that he refused to fill in for her for some reason. But as she looked at him now, Liva realized she didn’t want to know what ever it was. Maybe it was better to just fantasize about what those mysteries were… And maybe it was because she didn’t want to push Hugh, didn’t want to upset him as she had done before. Liva paused, changing gears. “I mean, you say you don’t have a wife or a girlfriend… so I’m a little curious.” She recovered quickly, easily masking her deeper emotions with a teasing sort of lightness. Liva rested her elbow on the low coffee table and her head on her hand. And she watched him curiously. “Why not?” She asked then. “I mean, it’s none of my business, and it’s not like it really matters one way or another… But have you ever been with a woman?” Her emphasizing made it very clear what she meant by been.

[E M M A]

Liva made Hugh squirm. It was the first time that anyone had ever made him feel in such a way, the first time someone had made Hugh Bennett Miles uncomfortable in the personal sense. Sure, some people called him out on his mistakes at work or for something as trivial as that, but it had never been someone poking at his emotions. Generally, that was limited to anger, disapproval, and irritation. Never this... embarassment, or sudden bashful behavior. Hugh didn't like it. It made him vulnerable to her, and Liva saw that, took advantage of it as best she could. Laughing, Liva shook off his odd behavior and insisted her beauty, to which Hugh bit down his lip on and tried not to contemplate. Maybe she was pretty, he'd never know. He didn't want to know. He refused to allow his brain to think that way of his client, or anyone for that matter, and so far, it had always worked. He had never been in love, he had never cared for a single woman in his life. Why couldn't Liva just leave it alone?

"I- I'm not!" He blurted, raising his voice with insistence. "I'm not... lying. I just-" Hugh struggled with his words, forgetting how to spit out his eloquent words with how much distraction Liva had produced. He didn't particularly appreciate the situation he had gotten into, his skin feeling heated and his cheeks rosy from being taunted. Hugh didn't have a crush on Liva, that was for certain. He never had crushes on anyone. Never. She wasn't beautiful, or funny, or with a kindred heart, she was his client, someone he was supposed to be protecting from bad guys. That was all. She was the King's daughter, a blonde princess who didn't care much about anything, and loved to disobey his rules. There certainly was no deep meaning behind everything that had occurred in the last 24 hours, and the speech he had given in the car was long forgotten by the blonde by now. Things were back to normal, to square one. No more personal stuff.

It seemed to be relentless, that laugh. Her bright blue eyes found his own across the table, before flickering over to the exact same spot his had been only seconds earlier. Way to make it more obvious, he thought bitterly, wondering how much of this his boss was seeing, and how much insult the man would have to say to absolutely demolish any pride Hugh had left next time they met. Liva told him something about not caring what people see, about cameras and such, but he had seen it in a completely different way. He had to care what people thought of him. He had to. If he didn't care what his clients, his coworkers, and his boss thought of him, Hugh would be in plenty of trouble. He didn't have money, he didn't have a position of power, he wasn't well respected like Liva was. He didn't have any of that. He had to care, and he had to care especially now.

After he'd yelled at his boss's face on the front lawn, with a drunk girl in his arms, that was when things would have really began to become jeopardized. It was his strike two, the first one being letting Liva out in the first place. Now, he had to watch what he was doing, and maintain his professional relationship with Liva. He couldn't let things get so... friendly. Although nothing was meant by her shirt off, it was still risky to be in the same room as her, or so he thought. Anyone at the agency would make any sort of justification for him being removed and replaced, so that the princess could have a proper, moral bodyguard, who didn't "mess around" and not do his job correctly. As much as Hugh was trying, Liva made everything nearly impossible to handle, and he was teetering on the edge of giving up all hope, and letting the job run its course. "It's different, for you," Hugh retorted through grit teeth, although his tone was slightly anxious. He returned his focus to the game, if anything to divert his attention from thinking too much about what was actually going on.

It was then that Liva had slyly worded one of his deeper thoughts, the fact that he did have secrets. Hugh had lots, lots of secrets. Some of them were serious, life threatening secrets, some of them were as simple as what his favorite color was (blue). Secrets were often considered to be big things such as crushes, or things that one's done wrong, but for Hugh, secrets had an entirely different meaning. Secrets, he thought, were things that nobody knew, nobody except you. And for someone like him, secrets were easy to possess. So what if nobody knew if he had had his first kiss yet, or if he had actually witnessed a murder when he was thirteen? No one cared, and Hugh knew that. Nobody had really gotten into his business before, none except one man in particular that had betrayed his trust, and now, Liva. "And?" Hugh huffed. So what if he had secrets? Was he not allowed to have those, either?

Liva defended herself and once again, pressed the matter of her importance and how he had to be curious about her. Was he at all concerned about Liva? Did he really have any underlying questions he was just dying to know? Hugh had grown up minding his own business, and he had learned that being nosy wasn't ever a good thing. He had a scar to prove it, one that was hidden in his hairline. Naturally, his brain wasn't wired to think the way she was wanting him to. Hugh rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to point out her cocky attitude. He almost felt sorry for her, because she had met him, some grumpy old guy who didn't have a sense of humor, had emotional and mental problems, wanted her to stay inside at all times, and didn't worship her just as every other man she had ever met (and hadn't) always did in both her home country and abroad.

"Go ahead," he encouraged, watching her scan her game board before stating a letter - number pair. The game was in fact quite mindless, there hadn't been much strategy to it at all. Almost boring... but yet, relaxing. Hugh had never had anyone to sit down and play board games with, especially in a peaceful setting such as this. He almost... enjoyed it. Just the two of them, in the living room sitting on the floor, around this coffee table, and the board game on the surface. The rounds took a while, merely because Hugh was indecisive and random with his guessing. Nothing seemed to hit, and he was growing increasingly nervous with every "hit" he mumbled. And then the last of his ship was taken down, and Hugh found himself staring at an empty board, with his ships all having been disarmed. It was quiet, and then he murmured, "You won," with such disappointment and disbelief. The game had been over too fast. He... he had to win! And yet.

Hugh lifted his eyes from his pieces, trying not to look bummed about his loss. He didn't really like the feeling of losing against Liva. Especailly when it came with a price. "I.. I suppose," he sighed loudly, leaning back against the couch and stretching his long legs under the table past where Liva was sitting across from him. She began her question with a smile on her lips, before something shifted in her eyes, and a better idea seemed to take hold of her mind. In anticipation and nervousness, Hugh began removing the red pieces from his game board, refusing to look at Liva for hopes of avoiding any awful questions that would rip his soul apart. He'd already been careless about what he let spill earlier, and he just needed those kinds of things to stay under the rug.

Wife or a girlfriend. The words rung with a sting throughout his mind, reverberating and just reminding him of how lonely and painfully single he was. Swallowing a slight lump that had formed in his throat, Hugh gathered all his little pieces, now removed from the game board, and began to fuss with them in little piles. Why not? Hugh almost began to laugh, laugh with such hysterics that tears would come to his eyes. He could ask the same thing. He really could. It was obvious he wasn't a chick magnet or some super handsome guy, it was that obvious. No girl in her right mind would even want to get to know Hugh, or even risk a date with him. Women were smart like that. Hugh stopped his hands on the table, his eyes flashing up from his game pieces. Had he been with a woman?

Oh, please, Hugh thought to himself, trying to hide the bitterness to his thoughts with a slight roll of his eyes. "I don't have time to even take naps, how am I supposed to bother with a girl? Besides... I don't have anyone that I... really like," Hugh phrased awkwardly, his tone sounding slightly crest fallen and disturbed as he began to poke at the pieces again. "And if you're wanting to know so badly, no. I haven't 'been' with anyone... I've never even held a girl's hand," he retorted drily, finally scooping the small pieces into his large palm for clean up. "And that was two questions by the way," he pointed out in accusation, although there hadn't been so much force in his tone. More like... exhaustion, again. He was just tired of being reminded of what a loser he was all the time. "We're done with this game?" The pieces rolled in his palm as he tilted it back and forth, pretending to be amused by the noise it created.

[angelena.]

((AWW HUGH!!!! This is going to be cute! I have to clean my room and do work on a project for school, but then I'll reply to this!))

[E M M A]

I KNOW. hahaha hes a little dramatic but then again im dramatic so xD okay!

[angelena.]

((Sorry I couldn't get it up last night! Got caught up in that stupid project. :/ ))

Different. Liva considered that as they played their game, that single word seeming to strike her in some way. In what ways were they really different? She thought about pointing it out to Hugh that he had spoken against his boss, had said what he thought without fear, and everything was fine. Maybe they were kind of on house arrest, but Hugh hadn’t lost his job, right? Liva didn’t entirely understand the way jobs worked, though. Why would someone bite their tongue so often in order to keep one? Why would Hugh let a boss treat him so poorly for fear of getting fired? Couldn’t he just get another job? Liva tried to wrap her head around it all as she moved a red peg to her ship, marking a hit Hugh had gotten on the little carrier ship. She realized that she didn’t want him to get fired and find a new job, didn’t want another agent assigned to her. Maybe her and Hugh hadn’t gotten along at first and maybe he was still a pain… But she was content with him. But then again, maybe it would be better if he left before things got too real, too close, too comfortable, too everything she tried to avoid… Hugh scared her not because of his size or his training or his attitude - he terrified her because of what he represented for her. Hugh inspired something in her that she tried so desperately to hide…

Liva didn’t know whether she was surprised or not, or whether she was relieved or amused. Maybe it was both. Never even held hands with a girl…? What the hell did he do during his teenage years? Perhaps Liva was a little out of touch with how normal people lived their lives and how relationships really should work, but she was fairly certain that that wasn’t normal. She found herself studying Hugh then, trying hard not to focus on the way his eyes looked upset again. No, not upset - bitter. She found herself wondering again about his past, about those secrets that he had. Liva knew everyone’s secrets back home, could make a few assessments or spout a few clever words and learn every intimate detail of a persons life. People were easy to manipulate, easy to uncover. She was supposed to be the one shrouded in mystery, the one who held the secrets of every person she encountered as well as a whole arsenal of her own. It was odd to think that the true enigma in the room was someone other than herself… And that Liva desired to discover his secrets for more reasons than just that cruel curiosity of hers. Could it be possible that she cared? “Done?” She raised an eyebrow at him, her eyes falling to the playing piece he toyed with in his hands. She wanted to place her hand over his, to stop the motion, to make some sort of contact - Wow… Strange thought. Liva shook her head, plastering that little teasing smile to her lips again. “The games are never over, Hugh.” She corrected. And yes, the games were ever going in her world. Games of politics, games of love, games of scandal and secret, games of war… Games, games, games. And Liva would consider them as no more than that. Liva looked away from his hand as he messed with the game piece, rising to her feet with a feline sort of grace. She stretched her arms out as she walked innocently towards Hugh, teasing as always as she sat down on the ottoman beside him, lying across it on her stomach so that her face was near his, her head propped up on her arm. Closeness made people nervous, made Hugh nervous. And nervousness lead to blunders - blunders could be answers.

“There’s no one that you’re interested in?” Liva questioned, feeling a sharp prick to her chest. She brushed off the feeling, convincing herself that the disappointment she felt was just because she wouldn’t have any new dirt on him. “Well maybe you should let me take you out, hm? I bet I could find someone you’d like…” She edged, her eyes sparkling with the prospect of playing matchmaker. Of course, she didn’t think he’d really take her up on her offer. And besides, for some reason the thought of him finding some random chick at a bar upset her. He was her bodyguard and he needed to stay focused on his job, on her - his client. “I bet I can show you a good time if you’d let me.” She continued to tease, her heart lightened a bit by the thought of him in a club. She couldn’t even form the picture, couldn’t imagine him out partying and doing the stupid stuff she did. He was so serious, so rough around the edges… “What type of women do you like then, if none have caught your eye so far?” Liva smirked a bit, feeling that weird panging sensation in her chest again. “Surely you have a type; everyone does. I’m always a sucker for a bad boy…”

She wasn’t sure what sort of answer she expected. Hugh probably liked brunettes. Smart girls who worked in offices and never laughed at anything. Girls who were elegant and put together and mature. Girls who weren’t spoiled little princesses like her… Not that it mattered. In truth, Liva found herself wondering how Hugh viewed relationships, viewed love in general. If he hadn’t been with anyone because he didn’t like anyone… Did that mean he was waiting for love? Liva liked that idea, had always liked the idea of soul mates and love’s first kiss waking a sleeping princess like in her stories. She liked to romanticize things in her head, in secret, but she knew how to separate those fancies from reality now. She knew that things like that didn’t happen. Maybe Hugh was like that, too… Or maybe he just didn’t believe in it. Hugh was so serious, so focused and grumpy and uptight. Liva thought he could benefit from a little female attention, but she wasn’t so sure that he would want it. Why was that thought disappointing?

[E M M A]

((Thats so cuuuute omg ♡♤♡ omgg i love liva hahaahahah))

[E M M A]

Hugh had hoped that at all costs, they'd avoid any personal matters, and just simply enjoy the moment for what it was. Clearly, he didn't learn anything from his hours with Liva. He constantly found himself surprised by the kinds of things she said to him, always shocked and tongue tied when she poked at his personal life. Hugh wouldn't have minded so much if he had the canny ability to craft wild stories to cover for the bitter, dark reality that he hid behind, but Hugh was never, and never would be, that sort of person. He was too shrunken into his own sourness that it just had no appeal to try and pretend his life was something so amazing and normal, when it wasn't. That was just something you couldn't lie about, or at least, something he couldnt lie about. She raised her perfectly sculpted eyebrows at him, questioning him. He had expected that they'd only play one round, since that's usually as far as he ever got in board games if he had been lucky enough to entice an oblivious, younger child to play with him back in his childhood. More than one round, especially now that he'd run his mouth again, just seemed impossible and unbearable.

"We've played the game for about fifteen minutes, aren't you bored of it?" Hugh pointed out, perplexed at the idea of losing another round and facing the shame of having to answer one of Liva's strangely crafted questions. The ones that made him feel bad about himself. Huffing, Hugh sat up, regathering the pieces he'd poured into the lid of the box. Another round would kill him, but what else were they to do? Just as Hugh began to hesitate setting up his board for another round, Liva stood from her spot on the rug. Hugh's eyes followed her as she now towered over him from across the table, and tracked her to the ottoman. "So-" he began weakly, clutching the red pieces in his palm tightly as she draped herself across the expensive leather ottoman he'd been propped up beside, her hair tickling his arm with how close she lay. He could always, always count on her to make him uncomfortable.

Although Hugh constantly fussed in his mind about how he needed to stay as far as humanely possible from Liva both emotionally and physically, subconsciously, he felt... different. Sometimes when Liva teased him, or tossed her hair over her shoulder, or did other things of that nature, it always toyed with Hugh's mind. He was terrible at interpreting a female's flirtatious behavior, and even worse with handling it. On top of it all, he had to be the only one in the agency who didn't want to be on his end of Liva's attention. Didn't openly want it, anyway. "There's nobody I'm interested in," Hugh restated through grit teeth, although he said it with somewhat of shame and disappointment in himself. Even if he did have an interest, there wasn't a single chance. He was broke, had an unstable job that could have him severely killed or injured at any given second, he had no family to speak of, and he had his own share of... issues.

In other words, he wasn't desirable. Handsome, rich, outgoing, someone who liked to have fun and have parties. He didn't drive a fancy car, he didn't wear designer clothing. He wore the same dark clothes every day, whether it was his suit or his workout attire. He hardly spent a spare penny on himself, rarely treated himself out. He was saving up everything he had, but he didn't exactly know why. For what? What was the point? He had no friends to impress, no legacy to carry on, no family to boast about his accomplishments. What was he even doing here, putting in his time and stressing hismelf out, just babysitting an overly hormonal and opinionated princess? Hugh had plenty of questions for himself, questions he'd been asking himself since the beginning of the time he was capable of such consious thoughts. He had no answers, and it was frustrating him. Dwindling him down to the very last fuse, the last lick of flame he had left in him.

"No-!" Hugh barked at her proposal almost as immediate as it had left her lips, his subconscious seeming to speak out for him instead of allowing for any of his thoughts to form in his mind. He never let himself think decisions over, because over thinking things, without fail, always blew up in his face. That, and if he didn't contemplate his choices, and was impulsive as was the usual case, he still managed to destroy something. Usually his pride. "I'm perfectly capable, you don't need to interfere," he grumbled grouchily, scowling. He didn't like the mischief in her eyes, and he wasn't sure he trusted her. Moreover, he didn't want to go out and find someone. He'd had too many unfortunate experiences with finding friends- how on earth would he ever find a girlfriend? It was outrageous, and such a stupid notion that Hugh could almost laugh it off.

By now, Hugh had discarded the red pieces back into the box, taking advantage of his need to preocuppy himself by cleaning up the game board. Well, at least stalling it. He pulled out each peg very slowly and cautiously, with such over dedication that anyone could tell that he was trying to escape the conversation this way. "Stop," Hugh's pink face flamed, his jaw taut as he battled the increasing humiliation. What was it about Liva that made her so difficult? Was this how royalty raised her to be? She then pressed the matter even further, testing dangerous waters as she asked him what his type of woman was. Hugh, if he was being honest with himself, had no idea. What was he supposed to say? 'Someone who pays attention to me? Someone who doesn't care what kind of background I'm from? Someone who will love me... no matter what?' These discouraging thoughts filtered through his head, his blue eyes glaring at the little red pegs he now yanked from the notches.

"I don't know, Liva. I don't know what kind of 'type' I like or whatever. I don't have time for a girl. Now will you get off the ottoman? You're pushing it into my side." His eyes had lost some of its hostility, but he still felt incredibly down on himself and discouraged. What if he didn't have a type, because there was no one out there that existed for him? For some reason, when Hugh heard her say she liked herself a "bad boy", he was uneasy. Perhaps it was because he hadn't seen her show any sort of kindness or gratitude to anyone but to himself since yesterday, he hadn't been accustomed to considering the possibility that there were other people who Liva would prefer over his company. It stung a little, since he didn't think he was even a sort of type. Not a desirable one, anyway. He was the sour, unblinking, serious one. The orphan kind.

[angelena.]

Sorry I couldn't get a reply up yesterday! Working on one now!

[angelena.]

Liva smiled wider at his adamant refusal, urged on by his opposition. “No?” She raised an eyebrow. Liva threw another glance toward the spot Hugh was looking at earlier, where a camera must have been hidden. Was he just afraid of being embarrassed in front of the other agents? Liva thought back to her first day in America, when she had been cooped up in the agency all morning waiting for Hugh to arrive and take her to the house. She thought of the guys who had escorted them out of the building, with their dark suits and their roving eyes. They had challenged Hugh, jested about him not being able to handle the job… And Hugh had flipped them off through the dark-tinted windows of the SUV as they left. Were all of his relationships with his coworkers so hostile. Well, those men were pricks. She didn’t blame Hugh for not liking them. In fact, she felt a little sympathetic in that moment as she thought of what it would be like to work with people like that. Seeing as Hugh’s back was mainly turned to her, she was able to move her hand just slightly, discreetly giving the camera the same gesture her bodyguard had given to those men that first day. Boys… she thought, satisfied with herself. She would never understand why it was so important for men to out-man each other, why they could never show vulnerabilities to one another. Obviously, Liva was very, very fond of manly men some times, but some of their nonsense was just that - nonsense.

“How do you know you’re perfectly capable?” Liva demanded, her voice rising a little in incredulousness. She huffed impatiently. “You can’t know if you never try, Hugh. And I’m an expert. You couldn’t ask for a better um - wingman than me!” She struggled a bit there, momentarily forgetting the American term. “Oh, come on, Hugh!” She pleaded teasingly, her eyes sparkling with delight at this turn of events, at the way he seemed so flustered and agitated - but not necessarily angry. She didn’t get to act like this with people at the castle. Yes, she would tease servants and heirs and heiresses some times, but they would never argue with her. They would take whatever she said, not even daring to laugh, and continue on obediently. But this… Liva wished there were people like Hugh at the castle, people who weren’t afraid to disagree with her, people who reacted to the things she did rather than just practically ignoring her like everyone else did.

Instead of moving as Hugh requested, Liva simply smirked and rolled onto her back, able to fit her entire body on the plush thing with her knees bent. With this new position, her head was right next to Hugh’s. She was almost cat-like, the way she lounged on things, the way she studied him with those clever eyes of hers. “So, what? You don’t want a girlfriend? That’s ridiculous; every guy does.” She waved her hand as if to dismiss the silly thought, her eyes focused on the ceiling. “I’m sure you know what your type is, Hugh. Just think, okay? What kinds of things are you attracted to in girls? Do you like the educated-pencil skirt-business lady types? Or quiet, shy girls? Redheads?” She turned her head then, reaching out with a gentle hand to gently grab a hold of his chin, forcing his eyes to meet hers. This position put their faces dangerously close. No, not dangerous. It’s just for fun. Nothing’s going to happen. She ignored the way her heart fluttered, making sure her eyes sparkled with teasing light as she added, “Or maybe you’re into beautiful blonde princesses, hm?” Her tone had dropped to a seductively little whisper. Liva held his gaze, her first intention being to make him squirm… But then they were just staring at each other, her arm bent at an odd angle to keep a grip on his face. The contact added a second too long, just a second, before Liva quickly caught herself and released him. She laughed, shaking off those strange shivers that raked down her spine. She would keep her teasing air - because it was just a harmless joke. Nothing real about it… Nothing hopeful in those words.

Liva stared at the ceiling a moment longer before pulling herself up to her feet again, complying with Hugh’s past request finally. She moved about the room again. She had to keep moving - movement meant distraction, afterall. So, Liva looked around curiously at things, studying the silly decorative painting that hung on the wall, with it’s oil painted sunflowers, and then moving on about the room innocently. She may not have been helping to clean up the game, as she was in a bad habit of not cleaning things like that up, but she also wasn’t going to leave the living room while he was still there. “You know, I don’t think you’re too busy for a girlfriend. No, that’s not a real excuse.” She glanced over at him, taking in his appearance before quickly averting her eyes. “Saying your busy is just a cover up - I think you’re just afraid.” She said. There was an unspoken challenge in her eyes. Everything she said, it seemed, was some sort of challenge, some sort of provocation. “There is no other convincing reason for why you don’t have a girlfriend, Hugh. I mean, you’ve got a cool, dangerous job, you dress nice, you’re reasonably handsome… Though you might be more so if you stopped brooding and smiled a bit more.” She gave him a pointed look, raising a daring eyebrow.

[E M M A]

"No," Hugh had repeated softly, in a much calmer tone than he initially had spat the refusal. He didn't understand why she insisted, and why she insisted so many times, to push a matter he didn't want to discuss. It was as if she enjoyed torturing him with provoking thoughts. He didn't even understand why she cared so much about his personal life. Perhaps it was because he was so boring that she acted this way. Poor Liva had no idea how difficult it would be to even start to persuade him to think differently than he always did, but he was interested to see how she'd take the challenge. Would she give up after three days, and cease talking to Hugh altogether? Would she become irritated, more pushy in the way she talked to him in hopes that he would crumble? Or would she lash out, behave oddly like yesterday and rebel as a sort of blackmail until he decided to cave to her lures?

He failed to catch Liva's subtle move to the camera, and he, altogether, refused to turn his head for fear of the extreme proximity of her face to his. He could hear her breathing, and what he was certain was her heartbeat. Or was it his? "I don't need your help. This sort of thing... its supposed to come naturally," Hugh faltered. Or not at all, he thought to himself with a scowl. It would jsut be embarassing seeing Liva try to find him a girlfriend, a humiliation and an overall disappointment had he said yes. He didn't want to waste his time, her time, and watch the rest of his ego erupt into flames. In Hugh's mind, there was no way he could actually end up... not single. Perhaps part of his reasons why he refused to accept Liva's thoughtful offer was because he was afraid of change. Just in two days, Liva had weeded her way into his head, and now was picking precariously at the defenses he kept throwing left and right at her.

No meant no, which also translated to definitely not, in Hugh's book. He never liked being pestered or swayed to change his answers, and it made him squeamish to hear Liva whine in his ear about her being his wingman, his love expert, heck, his marriage counselor. "What part of 'no' did you not understand, Liva? I don't want to have this conversation- just drop it," he countered, his blue eyes flashing at Liva in warning. Usually him raising his voice and giving a person a certain look made them stop what they were trying to accomplish, but oh no, not for the princess. In fact, it seemed to fuel her efforts, to Hugh's later disapproval. He wished they could have just played Battleship, an easy game without the nonsense, so called prize at the end for the winner. Why, whenever Hugh was starting to enjoy himself, why did things have to become so personal, an invasion of his mind? Why did he have to give up his secrets to some nosy little girl?

"I said I didn't need one," Hugh grumbled through grit teeth, becoming glum by the moment. He couldn't have one, anyway. They shouldn't have been having this conversation, because it was a worthless use of his breath. They could have been doing better, more productive things, things like training Liva how to defend herself from someone if they were to hurt her under his care. Yet... "Well, now you've seen it all. A guy who doesn't want a girlfriend. Wake up, Liva, not everyone is the same," he snapped, although it had been initially unintentional. Although the girl only meant well, he was sure there was some devious plot behind it that he wasn't seeing, something that would cripple him in the future. He was careful and selective with what he chose to say around Liva Nordskov, because he didn't know if he could trust her to keep his secrets too.

He attempted to tune her out and made it clear that he was trying, readjusting his spot on the floor or checking his watch. He was uninvested in the conversation, until Liva asked him about his types. He didn't know about types. Did he have a type? Considering that he had learned since day one to basically blind himself from any females he met or passed during the course of his day because he knew it was fruitless to fall captive to such a thing as love, he didn't know what types even existed. He couldn't anticipate Liva's next move as she trailed her fingers to his jawline, her fingers lightly holding his chin to face her. Their noses nearly brushed together, and Hugh didn't dare breathe. Shocked, his body tensed, his hand frozen mid air above the coffee table. His blue irises had widened, looking into Liva's for some kind of explanation. This was wrong. This was all wrong. He was so close to her, too close!

There was a taunting in her eyes as his cheeks flamed bright pink, the tips of his ears shading red to match. Her tone suddenly switched to somewhat of a seductive route, and inside Hugh's head, alarms were whirring, blaring, and screaming. Get out of there. He was mute, unblinking, unbreathing. All he could seem to focus on was those bright eyes. Those fingertips grasping his chin. The feel of Liva's warm breath against his nose. It was all too surreal. He was nearly convinced that she was going to kiss him, but as always, Hugh found out that this was not the case, that he would be deprived of having that oppurtunity. Again. He'd never been so close to a girl before, and the adrenaline surging through his veins, the energy that pumped his quivering heart- he wished he hadn't ever experienced it. Before he could find anything clever to say, Liva released him, giggling most likely over his reaction. Although embarassed by the close call, he was yet relieved.

He'd signed a contract yesterday to agree with the terms of not violating private space of his client, or coming too close to her in any sort of emotional or romantic way. They hadn't wanted Liva's bodyguard to become attached to her, to which then they'd possibly become distracted. That's primarily why they had picked Hugh, because he was a brick. He seemed to have no emotion, and no such feelings. His palms had been perspiring, and the front of his face felt extremely hot as Liva retreated onto the ottoman. He breathed in air greedily, gulping it down as discreetly as he could. His heart still bounded against his rib cage, painfully spiking his pulse and his anxiety levels. He felt like he was going to crack. Liva then got to her feet, and the conversation seemed to remain suspended in the air. Hugh had never said a word as to what type of girl he liked, and nor did he feel compelled to share with the princess. Not like he knew, anyway. Right?

Hugh sat up, swallowing a large lump in his throat now as his eyes warily followed Liva around the living room, his eyes flicking anxiously to the camera. Had they seen? What if they became suscpious? If they ridiculed him? Not like he ahd much pride left, but what if? Hugh's hands resumed cleaning the board game as slowly as he could, the pieces being dropped one at a time into the square box on the table. "Well you're thinking wrong," Hugh retorted immediately under his breath, wondering how Liva would really react if he told her how his love life really was. How sparse and negative it had been. How he didn't even want to try anymore. Still, Liva pressed on. She complimented him, which shocked him, and moreover, made him second guess himself. If Liva, a stranger, was saying g these things, could they be true?

Or was the princess lying? When she had called him handsome, he had nearly choked on his own spit hearing that term used. Handsome? Liva thought he was handsome? A strange sensation bubbled in his stomach, nerves crawling all over his stiff and clammy fingers. Stopped brooding and smiled a bit more? Hugh turned his head to meet Liva's teasing expression, her eyebrow neatly raised with her hands on her hips. "Liva, I'm happy with the way things are now, I don't need you to be my match maker. Okay?" Hugh sighed, having lost animosity from his voice, but instead replaced by some kind of pitiful tone. A weak, unconfident one. Hugh slipped the lid over the cardboard box, the coffee table completely cleaned off by his efforts. "Here, why don't you put this back," Hugh held the box up from where he sat, still his legs sprawled underneath the coffee table.

[angelena.]

Hey, I'm going to try to reply to this tomorrow night cause right now I'm really worn out from work and tomorrow I have a choir audition earlier in the day. I'm so sorry for the wait! Just been a really busy couple of days... :/

[angelena.]

Lol, I just read your comment above about Liva taking him to a bar and that sounds HILARIOUS. YES YES YES. xD Replying now!

[angelena.]

Wasn’t that a nice thought? Liva faltered a bit when he said that relationships were supposed to come naturally, blinking at his words. Naturally… So not just picking up some drunk girl in a bar. Had she ever had a relationship come naturally? Just those fake ones with nobles and heirs and wealthy young men in Norway, where they kissed only for a camera. Well, there was Silas… But she didn’t like to think about him. Ever. Liva found herself studying Hugh, wondering again what his views on love were. He was afraid, she thought, afraid of rejection in a way she never had been. She could tell it from the way he blushed and ducked his head that what he said about his experience with women was true. She wasn’t sure where the thought came from, but for a moment she considered kissing him - being his first kiss. It wouldn’t be a romantic thing. Just a friendly little gesture to show him what he was missing out, how to go about these things… Oh god, what was wrong with her?! Liva blushed fiercely, an odd sort of reaction from her, and she was happy that he refused to look her way. Stupid, stupid, weird thought. No. No. No.

“Maybe you’re right…” She muttered to herself thoughtfully. “Maybe they aren’t all the same…” Maybe he was different than other people. She had already begun to reach that conclusion. He wasn’t like most of the guys she had known, with their lustful, lingering stares and their conniving little minds, always hungry for something, be it power through her title or darker things. He didn’t want anything from her… But he pulled on something inside her anyway. She remembered what had happened in the fitness center, the way he had pushed and pushed and pushed until she broke, until she wanted to hit him. Liva liked challenges. She liked the little board games or ping pong matches… But she didn’t like things that challenged that deeper part of her, the part that was groomed for queen hood. That clever little fire within her was terrifying - but Hugh challenged it. And it terrified her even more that with Hugh, she wanted to rise to the challenges. He made her want to learn how to fight and use her mind and be queenly, be something greater than what she was.

“Why do you look so surprised?“ She pressed on, if only because backing down from this challenge would mean admitting that it made her uncomfortable, that the reason she retreated was because of that weird connection she felt between them. There was nothing there, nothing about Hugh that made him special. They weren’t going to be friends or - or anything else. Besides… She really was curious about his opinion of himself. Did he not see himself as handsome? Well, he kind of was… Liva hadn’t really noticed it much when she first met him, but now she saw it more. It wasn’t a striking sort of beauty, but it was there. His figure was lean and muscular, defined from countless hours of exercising no doubt. His facial features were proportioned well, his lips had nice coloring and his eyes - God, his eyes. Liva blinked, dropping eye contact with him. His eyes were pretty, she supposed. She raised an eyebrow at him when he basically told her to put the box up, but she took it nevertheless, purposely grazing her hand against his during the hand off. “Fine.” She smirked down at him and then turned her back to him in order to take the box back to the cabinet.

“What are you so afraid of?” She asked suddenly, biting her lip as she tried to piece it all together. She turned back to him, the box still in her hands as she gave into her curiosity and forgot about putting it up. “You don’t look happy, so why let things stay the same?” Her questions were surprisingly gentle then, but there was something more urgent in her eyes as she tried to understand his approach to life. She wasn’t content with her own life and had spent most of it looking for someone who felt the same fire she felt within her, had provoked servants until they cried just because she wanted to see if they would fight back. The fire inside her was so chaotic and frightening…but it was a lonely little fire that threatened to burn her from the inside out. “You’re boss is a prick, your coworkers are pigs, you don’t have a girlfriend, and you’re stuck babysitting a b*tch like me. Trust me, I can always tell when people are lying… Especially when they’re lying to herself.” She looked away then, her ponytail falling over her shoulder to rest against her collarbone as she knelt in front of the cabinet to place the game box back in it’s specific place. She was done playing games. “But fine… If you’re happy being a doormat, it’s no business of mine…” She mumbled, crossing her arms as she leaned against the closed cabinet of the entertainment center, looking at the floor. Her voice sounded almost…hurt. Maybe she was a little upset that things weren’t going the way she wanted them to, that Hugh kept insisting that he was happy even after she had said all those stupid things in the weight room about her own problems.

[E M M A]

Hugh's eyes were special. They were blue in some light, green in another, a beautiful blend of both if he played his cards right. He was one of those blessed individuals who were born with bright eyes and dark hair, which contrasted nicely and made him a unique face. The eyes were the window to the soul, they all said, and anyone who looked into Hugh's eyes would definitely be able to attest to this age old belief. His eyes were filled with an unexplainable grief, despair, hopelessness. It was never something he could explain to anyone else if he wanted to, that feeling of betrayal and being unwanted, lonely. Ignored. Just a shadow, someone who didn't matter, someone who was despised for just being born. His parents were living proof that he was hated from the moment he popped out of his birth mother. They hadn't wanted to keep him, and they had left him- cold, starving, malnourished, and naked- in a simple cardboard box at night. Since then, since his coming into this cruel and terrible world, he'd been unappreciated, constantly bagged on and blamed for things, always being watched by others for fault. And all he had ever done was live.

Since Hugh hardly smiled or laughed, any joy he'd ever had would have been read in his eyes- and only for a brief moment. Such emotion felt foreign to him, as he'd never really, really been happy. He'd never experienced that excitement Christmas morning opening presents from Santa, his achievements growing up had never been celebrated. When he graduated the Academy for his training for his job, nobody had given him a pat on the back for doing a good job after the ceremony, nobody had offered to take him out to celebrate. He'd never been proud of his past, nor of his present. He'd never accomplished much of anything at all. It seemed that he was the bearer of bad news and all things associated with negativity, and over time, he'd just morphed into those adjectives himself. It seemed to be the only thing he was known by, his bad temper and moody attitude, his stern voice and vulnerable past.

Hugh tried to ignore Liva's soft fingertips that stroked his hand as she removed the box from his outstretched hand, her ponytail brushing against her shoulder as she turned away from him to return the game. Now, without anything to do and being trapped inconveniently under the coffee table, Hugh sat with his back against the couch, examining his knuckles with sudden interest. Silence save for Liva's movement by the cabinet settled over the room, and Hugh tried not to think about what would happen next. He'd never had so much free time, especially while he was on duty. Normally, he'd be burning through his assignments one after the other, but now that his assignment was a 24/7 thing, one that could last months, he wasn't sure how he'd survive.

He hoped to transfer out at some point, put himself to good use. Perhaps this thought was because he was indeed lost without his usual routines and the brutality of his normal day, and he didn't want anymore of Liva's words wheedling their way into his head. He'd been emotionless for so long, and now that he was being forced to think about his own life and it's direction, he was becoming increasingly exhausted and unmotivated. Liva spoke up in the peaceful quiet he'd hoped in vain to maintain for the next half hour at least, her question ringing in his ears. It seemed to reverberate in his skull, and taunt him as endless answers began to flood his mind. Of being unwanted. Of being mocked. Of trusting people. Of dying.... alone. Of debt. Of being captured. Of being tortured. Of... growing old by myself. Of being unhappy. Of living. Of change. Of happiness. The list could continue, on and on and on.

He may have always seemed tough, of being well to do and strong, but inside, Hugh was weak, vulnerable, still the child who'd never grown up. Not the right way, anyway. In his silence, Liva continued, now asking him why he let things stay the same. Why he didn't move on, try to change things to be happy for once. There wasn't a demanding tone to Liva's voice, and she offered consolation in the way she talked to him. It was deja-vu again, a 19 year old Hugh sitting with tears stinging in his eyes as a potbellied man leaned across the café table, his brown eyes kindly inquiring what it was that Hugh wouldn't tell him. His fingers curled around themselves on top of the coffee table, his jaw clenched as his eyes bore into the beautifully finished surface of the table top. He refused to talk, unable to shake the image of his boss from his mind, of the kind man he'd once been to Hugh- of the friendthat he'd once been to Hugh. The slanderous rude lies that had then been spread across the agency months later, the relentless jeering... Hugh could remember it now, in detail. It had been just a few years ago, but he felt like it was coming back to him in a massive wave.

"Do you think I want to be a door mat?" Hugh's voice came then, low and trembling as he grit his teeth. Liva didn't understand anything he went through, she never could. She would never know what it was like growing up by yourself, being raised in hell, being told that you would never become anything at all. That you were worthless. A mistake. That you weren't supposed to be here. She would never know being ignored, being invisible to everyone around you, going hungry because the older kids would take your lunch, having a fever without anyone to dab your forehead with a cold cloth and tell you that you'd get better soon. She would never know what it was like to be three years old, and experience a thunderstorm, all by yourself in your room for the first time, while you screamed at the mysterious loud bangs and rumbles and flashes of light that briefly illuminated your room and cast strange shadows in the corners of your old bedroom and sobbed yourself to sleep.

Liva would never know neglect. She would never know loneliness. She was a princess, rich, spoiled, and worshipped in her home country. Everyone loved her. Everyone saw that her needs were met, and more. How was he supposed to tell her anything? She wouldn't understand. "I don't have a choice. This is my life, and I can't change any of it. Day after day, it's the same thing, the same people. And I just have to shut my mouth and bear it, just so I can make sure my rent gets paid at the end of the month. You think it's so easy!" He snapped bitterly, glaring at Liva now as she returned the box to the cabinet. "If it satisfies you, I'm not happy, and I probably never will be. Is that a good enough answer for you?" By now, Hugh was heated, his blood boiling and his pulse spiking again. "Why do you even care? I'm just your lowly bodyguard, aren't I?" He stated more than questioned, not doubting for a second that that's how Liva viewed him. He was defensive, but it was natural for him to behave this way. Last time he'd gone and trusted someone, they'd betrayed him. Big time. They'd let him down, further excluded him from reality, made him paranoid and crazy.

[angelena.]

ASDFGHJKL I have a test that I'm (kind of) studying for right now, but I'll try to have the post up in just a bit!!!

[angelena.]

She hadn’t expected him to speak up, hadn’t expected the soft, dark rumble of his voice to reverberate throughout her entire being. Liva looked up, meeting his eyes across the room. And she caught it, that deeply rooted sadness in those bright eyes of his… She thought she had been imagining it when she had glimpsed it before, but there it was. Liva glanced quickly towards the direction of the camera, hoping that whoever was supervising the footage couldn’t care less, hoping that it wasn’t one of those men she had met at the agency. She didn’t want Hugh to be given grief about this incident, about putting his true feelings out there for her to see. “I - I didn’t say that.” She protested defensively, afraid that he was going to start screaming at her for calling him a doormat. Liva wondered what Hugh was like when he was really angry. He had gotten frustrated with her, had stormed off when she upset him with the wrong word choice… But she had never actually seen him angry. And surely an angry Hugh could do all kinds of damage with his particular skill set.

Liva remembered being a little girl then, remembered what it was like to be in that huge princess bedroom of hers, in an old stone castle. Her room was filled with children’s books and toys and everything a child could possibly want… but even her very kind and loving mother was too busy to tuck her into bed at night. Liva had a nanny, but she was busy trying to get Mikkel to sleep in a room down the hall. So, Liva was left alone, staring up at the ceilings so many nights…. Always so, so alone. Even when she was with other people, it felt as though she had no one. And things got even worse after her mother died and her brother became very dedicated to his kingdom, became serious and started being more of a prince than her brother. She hadn’t expected Hugh to go on, to continue his little speech, but when he did… Liva was even more speechless. She swallowed hard, her back falling against the closed cabinet behind her. She let it hold up her weight as she stared at Hugh, as she saw too much of herself in him. Day after day. The same thing… It felt as though he was taking the words straight out of her very core. She didn’t know what it was like to struggle to pay the rent or obey a harsh employer… but she knew what it was like to feel trapped. “Hugh…” The word came out so, so oddly soft…

The princess flinched visibly at her bodyguard’s clipped tone. “Well, I didn’t ask to be a queen, either.“ She retorted quietly, feeling as though it was useless to keep that bit of information tucked away now after she had already revealed it in the workout room. Her words contained enough vehemence that it was obvious that he shouldn’t try to argue with her there. Hugh didn’t know what her life had been like, what it was like to have an entire country resting at your shoulders… But then Hugh proposed another question. Was she satisfied? Was this what she had wanted? Maybe, in a strange way, it had been. Liva was always pushing people to get them to this point, to let her glimpse inside their hearts and see what secrets really dwelled there, if their demons could play well with her own. But now that she had gotten what she wanted… Liva wasn’t so sure if she did want it. She hadn’t wanted to hurt Hugh, afterall. Maybe it was this fact alone that encouraged her to softly mutter, “I’m sorry.” And she was. Liva didn’t realize that people were…people, sometimes. She said things, did things, without thinking that people might be hurt by them. And now she had injured Hugh… Again.

“I… I do care.” Liva choked out, her eyes focused on the floor. She shook her head then, unable to bare the thought. “I shouldn’t…” But she did. Liva saw something in Hugh’s eyes, a pitiful little darkness that sometimes entered her own expression when she was alone. Something bitter and lonely and hurt and….empty. As though he had grown too used to routine, lost the will to fight it. Liva may act out…but she never fought against anything. What could she do, afterall? Refuse her title? Tell her father that she didn’t want to go to socials and balls and polo matches? She couldn’t do that… Never. “Let’s watch a movie.” Liva said suddenly, pushing off the cabinet and turning around. Her face was burning as she knelt to peer at the bottom shelf of the entertainment system, where the dvds were stacked. She couldn’t meet his eyes right now, not after what had just happened. So, instead she scanned through the movie selection that had been provided for them. Liva didn’t recognize most of the American titles, but she supposed they were picked for her individual tastes. She would probably like them… and even if she didn’t, at least they would provide some distraction. “Here.” Liva cleared her throat and pulled a the disc of a horror movie from it’s case, slipping it into the DVD player. “How do I work this?” Her composure still wasn’t completely repaired and she wouldn’t turn around to look at Hugh.

[E M M A]

He could tell that the words he said struck Liva, and in a particular way that he'd never gotten across to her before. Hugh had shed a light, a burning spotlight, on his life, day to day. He had drawn attention to the pitiful existence that he was, the pitiful existence who couldn't even defend himself or find another job with a merciful employer. That he would let his boss walk all over him, for the sake of seeing food in his fridge and keeping the landlord away. Far away. He'd come close a few times with late payments, and he never wanted to endure that kind of stress for as long as he lived. No amount of self control could have kept Hugh's anger and defensiveness from seeping from his pores, his face growing a noticeable shade of pink as he growled at the princess like the usual grouch that he was.

Why he chose to share information like this, he didn't know. Perhaps it was the satisfaction of seeing someone shocked that this was how he lived, or maybe the slight relief he felt when he was granted with such liberty to say what he wanted. That, and being provoked by a spoiled blonde princess wasn't something Hugh was just going to back down from. He was tired of looking like a loser, and in front of the only person he could consider as a friend? Unacceptable. He wanted the truth to be on the table for once, instead of masking his past behind a resentful visage. Every. Day. Perhaps he was taking advantage of the fact that someone had actually been concerned about his personal affairs in some degree, that he mattered. Well, at least he liked to think that he mattered.

Not even the slightest pity had been taken on him before, and there had only ever been one who was merciful towards him, only one who welcomed his crippled heart into open arms. And that person had wrapped their pudgy fingers around it, and squeezed it. Suffocated it. They wrung his heart until he bled out, with nothing left but the limp shell of his former self. Maybe it was unfair to force that blame and accusation onto Liva, but Hugh couldn't exactly filter the words that flew from his mouth. Liva, shocked, or just nervous that he'd explode with anger from what she'd just said, had fallen back against the cabinet, her body shrinking into the wood as it clicked closed behind her. Once again, Hugh had seemed to be able to twist words and interpret it too harshly in his own mind, and snap out at someone who had even taken the effort to offer advice. Even if it was advice he couldn't take. Hugh felt the tension build in the air, friction formed by his own sharp words directed like knives back to her.

He felt the urge to flee again, uncomfortable with the personal level this had taken, but Hugh remained where he sat to save his pride. He was sitting up straight now, his fists curled on the table. Liva wouldn't look directly at him, but her voice tremored with his name. She mumbled something about having not asked to be a queen under her breath, but Hugh had caught it. His eyes, although not many would be able to catch it, softened in the slightest degree, the two sharing a momentary symapthy for if only a brief moment. Liva hadn't wanted to be a queen, Hugh hadn't wanted to be an orphan. Yet, they had to make do with what life had given them. Make lemonade out of it, or however the saying went. Lemonade seemed to be impossible, though, for someone like Hugh. He jsut couldn't understand why Liva was do upset about being a queen. Royalty! Of being doted on, of being protected and fed and clothed and pampered. What could possibly be her problem with being queen?

Liva seemed to be faltering with every attack Hugh seemed to throw at her. He couldn't help it, snarling rudely at her although the least she had been trying to do was offer counsel of what she thought, to which he had a distorted view of, and had butchered into another mess. Another fight. They just couldn't get along, now could they? Not with Hugh around. And Hugh was sorry for her. Something flickered behind his irises, a muscle in his face twitching when she admitted to caring. Did she really? He had a hard time believing her, only more enraged out of frustration. She wouldn't look at him, shrinking as if... she feared him, his injuring words. He had done it again, hadn't he? "Don't worry about me," Hugh mumbled softly, forcing himself to relent, to relax, to uncurl his fists before the fingernail marks in his palm bled.

Brooding, Hugh didn't respond to Liva's suggestion to watch a movie. It was the perfect oppurtunity for him to steal his free time, and he couldnt feel more relieved. He needed a dose of fresh air, perhaps in the backyard where he could destruct something. Maybe an awning or something, a bush. He'd take a bush. Hugh hadn't really caught that Liva had included him in watching a movie when she said 'let's,' the words slipping right through his mind. He wasn't supposed to stick around for these kinds of things. He catered to people's needs, then he left. He brought his boss and all the other higher up's coffee from the lounge downstairs, then dismissed himself from the meeting that revolved around a case that had been dragging on for months that he could easily crack in half an hour. Hugh just wasn't a popular guy to be around. Why would Liva want to watch a movie with him, after he'd yelled at her for what seemed like the fiftieth time today?

She shuffled about the cabinet of all the latest movies, her back to him as she fussed. No doubt, Liva was thinking the same things he was, which were that he had been rude, that it had been completely unnecessary to react to her comment about being a doormat. Why had he said anything at all? What was he thinking? He just kept pushing himself further and further off a ledge, he just kept uncurling finger by finger as he grasped the unkind edge of a cliff while his weight dangled precariously over a vast volcano. He was already dead, no matter how many times he would try to recover and hoist himself up onto the cliff. There was always someone to kick him back down. Always. Her accented voice trembled with anxiety as she held up disc, somehow managing to slide it into the DVD player.

Getting to his feet silently, Hugh soon joined Liva at her side. He hunched to become eye level with the DVD player, every muscle in his body tense as he brushed his arm accidentally against Liva's side. Now look what you've done, Hugh thought to himself with resentment. He'd destroyed their friendship. Again. Was it even friendship? Did she even look at him as a friend? Not anymore, no doubt. He couldn't even have a normal conversation with her. "Let me see," Hugh's weary voice came, his head ducked into the media system. He pressed a few buttons on the flat screen television, before the home screen flashed to life, blaring theatrical music. "There," Hugh murmured, although the malice from his tone had melted away. "I'm sorry." The apology had been whispered, and had been the only instance which Hugh could bear to look into Liva's blue eyes earnestly and mean it. "Enjoy your movie," Hugh managed to say wistfully, his eyes flickering at the screen as he automatically dismissed himself, shoving distance between them. He doubted Liva wanted to watch a movie with him after what he'd said.

[angelena.]

Liva felt heat rush to her cheeks when Hugh accidentally brushed against her and in that moment, she regretted taking her shirt off to make a point. She watched soundlessly as Hugh fiddled with the buttons on the television…until his words caught her by surprise. He was sorry. Liva caught his gaze for a moment, locking eyes with him as he apologized to her. Her breath seemed to freeze in her lungs for a split second… Why apologize? Liva blinked in confusion once she regained her bearings, watching as Hugh made to turn away from her. He shouldn’t be apologizing to her for saying what he felt. He hadn’t… hadn’t done anything wrong, had he? Liva glanced towards the camera for the millionth time, an action that was immensely strange for her. She was so used to being on film that she never even looked in the cameras direction. She never cared what the paparazzi saw because she was the princess of Denmark, because she was untouchable… But now she realized that that was not the case for Hugh. Her bodyguard didn’t want to lose his job… Well, she wasn’t going to let that happen. Was he afraid that if he upset her she would have him fired? It wasn’t such a stretch, she supposed, from the things she had done in Denmark. The occasional servant would slip up on a day when she was in a bad mood, and suddenly they were out of work. But Hugh was different than them, though she couldn’t say why. Hugh had done exactly what she wanted, afterall, had given in to her provocation and showed a deeper part of himself. That’s what Liva wanted, to see inside someone’s soul and let them see her own. Human connection, that was all…

Even though the air between them was tense and awkward and uncomfortable, even though his temper frightened her and she was half-afraid he would pull out his gun if she said the wrong thing, even though there was a camera in the corner of the room watching their every motion, Liva grabbed his hand as he turned to leave. “Wait.” She instructed quietly. “You don’t expect me to watch a scary movie by myself, do you?” She swallowed hard, meeting his eyes. But there was something hopeful in her own blue eyes - there was forgiveness there, and that forced lightness that she always had within her composure. It was better to smile and act confident than to face the actual emotional damage she had… Liva glanced towards the TV screen, where the main menu had appeared for the movie she had selected. The title screen read The Woods in bloody lettering and an image was shown of a girl running through a forest. Ah, yes, the stereotypical horror movie lead. Maybe the American horror flick wouldn’t be scary, but it could be worth a few laughs…right?

Without waiting for Hugh’s consent, she started towards the couch, tugging him after her by their joined hands. And then she released him in order to plop down on the sofa and reach forward to snatch the remote from the table. Wordlessly, the princess patted the empty seat beside her. After pressing a button on the remote, the picture changed on the screen and the movie began. Opening credits began to flash and the music changed into an eerie little tune. And for a moment, that silence continued… But just like earlier, when they had been playing Battleship with one another, Liva felt…content. Was it strange to feel like it was them against the rest of the world? The princess knew that there was something there, some string of fate that connected them. They were kindred spirits, if you will… Two sides of the same coin, entirely different yet completely the same. Because what Hugh had said during his rant…made so much sense to Liva. He felt the same way that she did about life; trapped. Maybe they had been brought up in opposite ways, but they could understand each other. And Liva didn’t want to lose that connection.

“You shouldn’t apologize for things like that.” She said suddenly. Liva sighed, laying her head against Hugh’s shoulder without thought. Her eyes remained locked on the screen as a busty brunette stumbled through forestry, looking lost and scantily clad. When dark laughter came from the trees and the screen turned black as she screamed, Liva couldn’t help but smirk. That’s what you get for trying to have sex in a scary movie… Always the first to go. “People are rarely ever sorry anyway. They saw what they mean, they just don’t mean to say it….” She sighed again. The movie scene shifted, showing an office building where a business man was inviting his secretary, whom he was most likely having an affair with, to go with him to some cabin over the weekend. Classic horror movie mistake… “I get it, though… Day after day, same old routine… Apologizing for what you feel is stupid, though.” Things quieted down after she said that, silence settling in the living room aside from the sounds of their movie. But when a girl on screen was slit across the abdomen, her guts spilling onto the forest floor, Liva cringed, ducking her head into Hugh’s arm to hide from the image. “Ew, ew, ew!”

[E M M A]

Hugh turned to go, and he couldnt anticipate feeling Liva's hand clasping his own as he made movement to leave her. He'd never held a girl's hand before, let alone be stopped from removing himself from someone's presence. She called out behind him, and his heart thudded in his chest. Turning slightly to meet her eyes with a confused set of his own, Hugh looked to her as if for explanation. Wait? Why did she want him to stay? Her hand felt heavy in his own, his palm dwarfing the small, petite one that seemed to burn against his touch. He didn't feel like it was acceptable for someone who had done what he had done to touch her hands, her delicate, unstained, untainted hands that saw no evil, no violence and hatred. "You could find a different movie," Hugh's voice faltered as he argued back.

He subtly grasped Liva's hand a little more securely, appreciating the slight comfort he felt in being able to touch another human being. She didn't shy away from him, or suddenly yell at him to go away. She didn't send him packing, or call his boss to complain about his behavior. Perhaps that was what Hugh found strangest in Liva, was that she was kind to him, that she forgave him easily. Too easily. He always dwelled on things he did wrong, even if they weren't even considered wrong to any normal person. He took it hard on himself, beat himself up over petty matters. He didn't deserved her forgiveness, her companionship. Hugh thought he had to be the worst person in the world for losing his temper so quick, burning through his short fuse the instant someone said something he didn't like. It was childish, really, and as with any other time he got upset, Hugh felt compelled to leave, to desert the scene so he could escape judgemental eyes.

However, Liva's blue irises contained no trace of this malice, of hatred, or of any sort of grudge. They were kind, welcoming, even. His defiance withered under her gaze, his heart crippling and buckling under the touch of her hand. He never wanted to let her go, from that very moment. How could someone forgive him like that? How? He followed her gaze to the flat screen that most likely costed more than everything he owned in his closet, the sharp resolution displaying a dark and eerie scene of some forest shrubbery and the main menu selections. The Woods. Hadn't this been the movie that secretary lady down the hall and half of his coworkers had been quoting and chattering obsessively about during coffee breaks a few weeks ago? After they had all gone to see it at the theaters, the one that he hadn't been invited to?

Hugh felt his legs automatically begin to trail helplessly after Liva, towards the couch where she intended for him to stay. His stomach churned, although his brain was sparking with a whole new set of thoughts. Why did she act the way she did? Why did she accept him so? Was it a foreigner thing? Was it because she was a girl? Was it because she didn't have anyone else around to keep her company? He was sure the latter had been the reason. Why else would she bother with him? Hugh slowly sunk into the couch next to her, almost as if he didn't know how to sit down. His awkward mannerisms would make anyone think that he simply didn't know how to behave around a woman. Surely, the men on the other side of those security cameras were having a blast at watching him fail. His weight sunk into the brand new leather couch at last, his back rigid against the backing of the couch as he sat stiffly beside Liva.

The creepy introduction music didn't phase Hugh as much, although it did draw his eyes to the moving images that flickered across the screen. When had the last time been when he watched a movie like this, simply for the fun of it? He genuinely couldn't remember. He avoided sneaking glances over at Liva while the movie started, but he couldnt help the occasional glimpse of uncertainty at her, as if he were waiting, just waiting for her to change her mind and tell him to leave. Not like he exactly wanted to leave, and be alone again, but... how could she bear his presence? He couldn't even stand himself. Liva's lips parted, and she chastised him for apologizing. "But I needed to," the lines in Hugh's face deepened, creases forming above his forehead as he tore his eyes from the screen. The scene had been making him squirm with anticipation, the piling suspense squirreling with his mind. Maniacal laughter echoed from the blaring surround sound, jerking Hugh's attention cruelly back to the screen.

The girl had disappeared, and the screen flashed to black. What had that been about? Had he missed something? "But I am sorry, I wasn't exactly.... nice," Hugh reminded her, trying to be as genuine as possible. He had been sorry, yes, he felt extremely out of line for having snarled at the princess and spilled so much unnecessary information about himself, just to make her regret asking him a question that had been intended to show her concern. Then again, maybe he was saying it out of habit, in hopes that his pathetic apology would mend emotional wounds he had caused. Hugh wasn't exactly paying much attention to the movie already, unaccustomed to the kind of setting they were in. Silence followed, the only noise being the music from the movie as Hugh was left to think about what Liva said.

Her head had fallen on his shoulder in that casual friendly way, like he had seen couples do when they sat on park benches or waited in line at a fast food restaurant. What was it really that Liva thought about him? Hugh didn't move her, regardless, enjoying what he could of her warmth and the feel of another person next to him while he could. It wouldn't last long, that was for sure. The scene had Hugh curling his fist in anxiety as the tension picked up on the screen, the girl of course getting into a dangerous, stupid situation and being stalked by a crazy killing monster. Out of nowhere, although he had anticipated it, the girls intestines spilled from her body, her eyes rolled grotesquely into the back of her head as the camera zoomed in for dramatic effect. Hugh had clenched Liva's hand in reflex, his heart leaping from his throat at the sudden surprising death. It certainly wouldn't have been the first time he'd seen something that graphic in real life, but it still unsettled him. Liva's face disappeared into the back of his arm, her hand curled around his bicep as she cringed. "Come on, Liva, it's fake!" Hugh managed to joke, temporarily amused by her behavior. Girls. Girls and their weak stomachs. He had relaxed to some degree as he realized that Liva wasn't upset with him, resuming the previous friendly atmosphere they had had before, during Battleship. It wasn't so bad, this bodyguard thing, Hugh thought to himself. He was still skeptical and worried, though, and his flickering eyes glancing at the camera proved it.

[angelena.]

Sorry that I've been busy! I'm gonna try to have my reply up within the hour!