"There was a very real phase in my life where I thought guys like Ne-Yo, Akon, and Shane Kingston were the shit. Their swag and fedoras... I wanted to be them so badly," Teddy shamelessly admitted.

"No.. not the fedoras..." Zoe groaned, the agonizing reaction interrupted by her giggling.

Teddy laughed as he glanced at Zoe, who was laid beside him and tucked against him under the blankets. Both of them were still naked and didn't have any plans on dressing until they had to leave this room. For now, they just wanted to lay in each other's embrace and talk. And talk. And talk some more. It was something they hadn't gotten to do in months, and even before that, their relationship wasn't as free and comfortable as it was now, so they were indulging in this time together.

As their fingers tangled and detangled a thousand times, Teddy flashed Zoe a smile and continued with his confessions. "You can't even imagine the kind of embarrassing family photos my dad had tucked away somewhere."

"Oh my god! There is photographic proof of your deepest darkest moments? You haven't burned them?" Zoe asked in her laughter, staring fondly at Teddy. "Can I see them?"

"No! Not if you're going to laugh at them! I admit, they're terrible, embarrassing pictures but you're just being cruel," Teddy joked. He liked Zoe's laughter and the beautiful smile on her face so her teasing jabs didn't affect him one bit. She could rail on him for his embarrassing fedora phase as long as she was still smiling like this.

"I'm only joking! I'm sure you were the most handsome boy with the most swag and the nicest fedora in school," Zoe teased as she leaned forward to kiss Teddy.

"Cruel..." Teddy groaned before he reached to hold Zoe's face in his palm and close the rest of the distance between them.

Though gentle and shallow, the intimacy of their embrace was not lost in their kiss. Having her fingers playfully tangled with another, naked body laid together with a man's, and lips brushing a familiar pair, Zoe had never felt such a complex mixture of tranquility and passion before. It was strange to Zoe how a connection with another person could make her feel so calm and carefree but also so charged and overwhelmed with emotion.

Zoe had never felt anything like this before, which let her know this was real, unconditional love.

When their lips separated, Teddy brought Zoe's hand to his mouth so he could savor every touch of her skin. She let his lips graze across her knuckles before she curiously turned her fingertips towards his lips to gently glide her fingers across them. They were soft, warm, like perfectly sculpted pieces of art. It especially made her smile when he pressed his lips against her gentle touches to kiss her fingers. And then it made her laugh when he managed to capture a finger between his teeth.

Teddy was handsome, Zoe had to admit. A fedora probably wouldn't distract from his good looks too much. But such an embarrassing confession did make Zoe think about Teddy's previous romantic life, which was supposedly nonexistent before her. There was Kim, of course, which plagued Zoe's mind. Part of her wished she didn't know about his attempt to get with her because it only reminded Zoe that she wasn't his first kiss. But she was the first one he ever had sex with. And the first girl he ever loved.

What are the chances that she'd be his only or ever his last love?

"What about you?" Teddy tangled his fingers with Zoe's again, his dark eyes locking with hers. "Any embarrassing childhood phases I should know about?"

Zoe perched her lips as she thought about it, trying her best to dig up past memories of clothes or music or hobbies she really liked as a kid but would haunt her now. No matter how much Zoe thought about it, nothing came to mind. Her mother used to dress her in big dressed with even bigger bows on the back of them, but she was maybe five years old then so it was as cute as it was ridiculous. She couldn't even think of songs or movies that were really terrible that she loved.

"My hair used to be dark," Zoe blurted as her wandering eyes returned to Teddy's. "Up until I was ten."

Teddy's smile faltered as his eyebrows furrowed. "Did you have a bad haircut or something? Accidentally bleached a chunk of your hair and then you just ran with it for a few more years?"

Zoe shrugged. "No. My mother thought blonde would make me stand out and look more delicate. I didn't do much with my hair when it was darker though."

Teddy nodded in understanding, although it didn't look like he understood at all. Of course he did. It was obvious. Zoe didn't have any interests, or any mind or thoughts or opinions of her own for that matter, since she was born. Her parents had orchestrated everything that Zoe was ever since she was born. Zoe didn't even know how to cling to things she'd find embarrassing in the future because it was always her mother making the decisions for her.

There was instantly an unsettling feeling taking root in Teddy's gut. When he thought about it, Zoe always had this problem. They went shopping the day Zoe and Carmen met and she never found anything she liked. And even when she did, she needed everyone else's opinion and approval before she even thought about buying it. Zoe probably didn't even feel a desire for things because she was never given the chance to want stuff, the decisions were just made for her. She was treated more like a prop than a person and it was so instilled in Zoe's head, she couldn't even think to challenge it.

Teddy could feel that aching in his gut grow when he realized what that meant when it came to his relationship with Zoe. She was given everything without ever asking for it, or even wanting it, and then she finally found something she wanted and he refused her without hesitation. No wonder she chased after him. Either she was desperate to finally have something she wanted or she couldn't understand what it meant to not automatically have something she wanted.

And then Rin came along and snatched that away from her too. The first thing Zoe ever wanted and it wasn't hers any longer. The first time she was making choices for herself, the first time she felt a desire for something, the first time that something was truly only hers, and it was snatched away. And Zoe had no say in the matter, whatsoever, because it was her mother and her mother always made the decisions. Not to mention, it was far too dangerous to simply steal him back.

"When we get home, I'm going to give you everything you ever wanted," Teddy declared with a soft but very real sincerity. He stared into Zoe's eyes, those sparkling brown ones he adored so much, with a smile on his face. "I don't care what it is, it's yours."

"When we get home?" Zoe sat up and placed her hand over Teddy's chest, feeling his heart gently beat against her palm. She looked worried. "Who says I'm going anywhere? Who says you're going anywhere? You forget, Teddy... that these decisions aren't ours to make anymore."

"Don't you want to come home?" Teddy's smile dissolved.

Zoe ran her fingers through her hair, combing all of her blonde strands back before they fell back into place like a waterfall of liquid gold. Teddy admired every strand, reaching to play with the ends of her locks as he solemnly awaited her answer.

"Teddy." Zoe's call shifted Teddy's eyes from her hair to her eyes again. She had a no-nonsense look on her face that stiffened his spine. "That decision is not up to me. I ran back into my cage and the door locked behind me. I'm not going anywhere until she says so. And... I don't think you've realized... you're in the exact same boat as me. My mother said, after tonight, you're no longer a trainee. You're hers, completely."

"So then.. what?" Teddy twirled Zoe's hair around his finger again and again. "We work for her everyday and go to bed together every night until we're not needed anymore?"

Zoe scoffed and lifted her hand off Teddy's chest to caress his handsome face. A strand of hair fell in front of her face and Teddy was more than happy to brush it behind her ear for her. "You say that like it's-"

"Simple?"

"Yes..."

"And it's not? I know what I was hired for. You're my priority. You can go do your hosting stuff, go to business meetings, high end fitting appointments, and I'll be your shadow. Your bodyguard. Like the Mission Z guys. And then we'll return to the same room every night, make love for hours, and fall asleep in each other's arms."

Zoe smiled at the naivety of Teddy's proposal. "Again, you make it sound so simple, as if this place isn't my Hell."

"I'll stay by your side. We can be happy that way."

"Teddy..." Zoe sighed and lightly pressed her forehead to his. Her heart ached because Teddy really didn't get it. "I'm suppose to be the naive one, not you. There is no joy here, and even if we could somehow find it, it wouldn't last long. I've lived this life for years, Teddy. Happiness is a myth."

"I'm not leaving your side," Teddy declared, his voice a whisper against her lips. Just knowing they were so close made his urge to kiss her unbearable.

"I know.." Zoe whispered before she cradled Teddy's face in his hand and closed the small distance between them.

Teddy followed the rhythm of Zoe's lips without interruption, feeling his entire body ignite with pure bliss, desperate longing, and unbridled arousal. He blindly reached to comb her hair back, as it was tickling his face from the angle they were in, and held her gently between his palms. Every graze of her tongue got Teddy more excited and he loved the way she prolonged certain kisses, like she never wanted them to end. Everything about her was so intoxicating.

Once Teddy had Zoe under him again, her wrists pinned on either side of her head and her legs wrapped around his hips, Teddy was on the road to round two and he wasn't going to stop. Zoe had little complaints since she was just as intoxicated by him, but she was still sober enough to warn him not to go inside her. The only condom Teddy brought with him was already in the trash and there certainly weren't any in this house.

To say round two was disappointing in comparison was far from the truth though. Even if they didn't get to go all the way, fingers and mouths seemed to work just as well. They were still learning each other and learning themselves, since sex was new to both of them, but every second together was a learning experience that they both enjoyed. Zoe tried to take Vanessa's advise and communicate as much as possible, which mostly resulted in lots of unwavering agreement and endless praises.

Zoe didn't think she would ever get sick of the way Teddy looked and sounded when he climaxed. He tried to delay it for as long as possible, but once he accepted it, it was like he had never felt such release. He looked so handsome and masculine but also vulnerable and full of bliss. And she loved the way he turned to mush afterwards too. He needed to have her close and give her endless praise and remind her how much he loved her. It was so adorable and filled Zoe with so much joy.

As did the orgasms Teddy gave her. She wasn't the only one doing the admiring during their love making. Teddy was not as subtle about it as Zoe was though. She absorbed the little details she adored about him and kept them to herself, while Teddy appreciated her in an equally silent but more aggressive manner. Instead of telling her everything he adored about her, he showed her. His mouth laid claim on every inch of her skin that Teddy found appealing, and even left marks where he got a little carried away.

"I never thought it would be like this. Never thought I could feel this," Teddy breathlessly whispered between heated kisses, his fingers burying themselves in Zoe's hair so he could hold her close. He felt like he was buzzing with constant need for Zoe and the feeling was so addicting, he couldn't stop trying to fulfill that need.

"Happiness?" Zoe asked with a knowing and humorous tone lacing her voice.

Teddy chuckled and bit playfully at her swollen lip. "Something like that..."

-

Teddy stared at Zoe as she slept, his mind racing in a million different directions. The sun was still below the horizon but the clock on Zoe's nightstand was warning him of the approaching morning with every minute that passed. Teddy tried not to pay any attention to it and simply traced patterns up and down Zoe's spine as he admired her and let his mind wander.

The last time he was laying with her was after he had rescued her from being tied up and drugged in a wooden crate in a cold warehouse. Lots of things were different then. He had laid beside her but hadn't touched her all through the night. He admired her from a distance, silently longing for her, and dedicating his life to protecting hers. Now he got to lie naked with her, touch her all he wanted, and silently apologize for dedicating his life to protect hers.

Teddy knew now that it wasn't what Zoe wanted and he was sorry to betray her. She worried about him and he could see it in her eyes. She was so scared and it was his fault and he felt sorry, but he wouldn't change a thing. Zoe needed him in her life, no matter how stupid he was or how dangerous their love was. It was the same the other way around as well. Teddy needed Zoe like he needed air. Even thinking about interrupting this moment to get up to go to the bathroom was unthinkable.

Teddy considered his plans moving forward while he laid beside his sleeping love. He promised her he wouldn't leave her side and that she could be the boss of him now that Ezra was gone, and he planned on keeping his word, but he wasn't going to let this work go yet. Abe advised him to climb the ladder so that he wouldn't get lost in the weeds and Teddy still liked that plan. Maybe, the closer he got to Rin's level, the less she would play with him like her little doll.

And in return, Zoe might just have it easier too.

That's all Teddy wanted. He wanted Zoe to have the freedom she deserved. If she wanted to work, he wanted her to do that. If she wanted to wear black or dye her hair or wear sweatpants, he wanted her to too. Diet or no diet, smile or no smile, hair up or down, it didn't matter to him as long as it was Zoe's choice. She was a human being just like everyone else. Her mother couldn't force her to be a prop for the rest of her life.

Zoe didn't want Teddy to be here though. She didn't want him to have anything to do with this line of work, even if he was doing this for her. And if she didn't want him to climb the ladder....

Well, Teddy didn't know what to do about that yet.

Rin would probably ask for some gruesome and taxing things from Teddy in order for him to earn her favor and he wasn't scared of that. The only problem was that Zoe was scared of that. He didn't want to betray her trust or deny her of the normal, simple life she desired but he also couldn't defy Rin without ending up at the bottom of the food chain. Someone needed to compromise and Zoe, Rin, and Teddy all felt completely justified in their desires.

Imagining the day when Teddy would go against Zoe's wishes again and watch her storm out on him was making Teddy nauseous. He had been there, done that, and the memories still ached. He just got her back. Finally. He never wanted to watch her walk out on him ever again. Unfortunately, Teddy could feel the inevitability of that moment and he hated it more than anything.

The restlessness inside Teddy soon became too much when he thought about those things and it forced him to climb out of bed before his alarm had even gone off. He could lay with her for another ten minutes before he had to get ready to stand in line with all those other henchmen, or he could brush his teeth for a few extra minutes and use that time to soothe the anxiety that was using his heart as a rattling toy.

Once Teddy was stood in front of the bathroom mirror, a smile quickly returned to her face. Zoe left scratch marks on him. His shoulders, his chest, his biceps. They were only reddened lines of raised flesh that would probably disappear throughout the day, but Teddy adored them. He also adored the little hickeys she left. They were so small, like he was pelted with a few nickles, but he liked them. If only they didn't fade. He remembered the horrible feeling of loss when the marks she left behind faded the first time.

Halfway through brushing his teeth, Teddy's alarm went off and he absently silenced it. Unfortunately, the noise had awoken Zoe before he could stop it.

"T-Teddy? Teddy!" Zoe shouted in a panic from her bed.

The sound of pure fear in Zoe's voice sent a shock of alarm up Teddy's spine that made every inch of his skin prickle and ache. Teddy left his toothbrush in his mouth as he rushed out of the bathroom and towards Zoe, who was clenching her bedsheet to her naked chest and had a trembling hand over her mouth as she stared glossy-eyed at her dark, empty bedroom.

"What? What happened?" Teddy rounded Zoe's bed with quick, determined strides. "Are you okay?"

As soon as their eyes met, Zoe let out a shaky breath of relief and let her eyes fall shut. Teddy sat on the edge of Zoe's bed and tentatively brushed her hair behind her ear as he massaged her arm. His heart was still racing and he was worried, but he could tell whatever had caused Zoe to panic was gone now. She was taking deep, slow breaths and even reached out to grip at Teddy's arm, as if to ground herself in reality.

"Bad dream?" Teddy asked through the toothbrush and foam in his mouth.

Zoe shook her head, sniffled to collect herself, and flashed Teddy a sad smile. "No, I just got scared when I opened my eyes and you weren't in bed with me anymore. I... imagined the worst."

A crooked smile broke across Teddy's face, his racing heart calmed by her words. "I'm right here. I'm okay."

"Until she beckons you..." Zoe groaned and dropped her head into her hands, a heavy sigh falling off her chest. "Ugh! This sucks! I haven't been awake for five minutes and I already wanna throw up."

Teddy sighed but couldn't wipe the smile off his face. He loved how much Zoe cared about him. It was reassuring when he cared about her just as much.

Gently, Teddy guided Zoe out of bed and pull her blanket from the bed to wrap it around her before he walked her toward the bathroom. With a simple lift, he placed Zoe on the vanity counter and spit the foam in his mouth into the sink. Zoe hugged her bedsheet to her chest and watched Teddy finish brushing his teeth. When he was done, he leaned toward her with puckered lips and she entertained his request with a simple peck.

"Morning, baby." Teddy grinned.

"Morning, love." Zoe reached to wipe some toothpaste off Teddy's chin. Teddy found himself rather fond of that pet name and let his smile broaden until he was flashing his freshly brushed teeth. "What's got you in such a good mood this morning?"

"Well, I got laid last night and then woke up next to you so I have no reason not to be happy"

"Yeah? So the girl last night treated you well?" Zoe chuckled, watching as Teddy pulled a razor free from his toiletry bag so he could shave his face.

"She was fantastic. Great stamina, beautiful moans, cursed like a sailor. Blondes can be feisty little things sometimes," Teddy joked with a knowing glance at Zoe. She was already smiling again.

"Speaking from experience?"

Teddy winked at Zoe, which sent a fleet of joyous butterflies into her stomach. Zoe smiled fondly at Teddy as she watched him begin to shave. Teddy was a pretty domestic guy but their romantic relationship had never been this domestic before. It made Zoe happy. Sitting here watching him get ready in the morning, after waking up from cuddling beside him all night, felt so comfortable and peaceful and relaxing. She also enjoyed just admiring how handsome he was.

Zoe watched the muscles in Teddy's arms flex as he moved, admired his jaw line as he angled it to run his blade across his skin, and smiled at the sight of his necklace shifting back and forth over his collarbones. Teddy looked so delicious, she just wanted to bite him. He had more than enough marks already though. Zoe never intentionally left some so the few he had were small but there were more than she expected. And she knew Teddy did, intentionally, leave some on her so she was afraid to look at herself.

"Are you going to call me 'Baby' all the time now?" Zoe asked.

Teddy ran his blade under running water to get rid of the shaving cream and stubbled hair as he stole a glance at Zoe. "Do you want me to? Do you not like it?"

"No, I like it." Zoe trapped her bottom lip between her teeth to contain her giddy smile. Teddy could see the joy in her eyes anyways and smiled at her before he returned to shaving. "Should I call you 'Babe', then? I don't think 'Baby' suits you."

"I don't know. I liked when you said it last night. Although, it might have just been the way you said it. I don't think it really matters as long as you throw 'Love' in there every once in awhile."

"You like 'Love'? I can call you that?"

"I don't know. Give it to me one more time," Teddy requested, a playful smirk on his face when his eyes shifted to Zoe.

"Anything you want, Love." Zoe's smile was uncontrollable. She felt too giddy discussing pet names for each other to hide it. After all, she had been dreaming about being like this with Teddy since she first laid eyes on the hunk.

Teddy moaned with content. "Mmm... See, I like that."

"Then I'll be your Baby and you'll be my Love," Zoe said before placing a kiss on Teddy's clean shaved cheek as he worked on the other side.

Teddy smiled at her and watched through the mirror as Zoe hopped off the counter and shed the blanket hiding her naked body as she strutted towards the shower. A surge of possessiveness shot through him at the sight of the hickeys littering her hips and thighs. He wanted to leave more marks on her. If he didn't have anywhere to be this morning he would jump in that shower and see how many times he could make his baby scream.

-

Ten minutes later, Teddy was plucking his leather jacket off of the camera in the corner of Zoe's room and shoving his arms into it. Zoe was still showering so he pushed the curtain back to say goodbye, causing her to yelp in shock. Teddy laughed and grabbed the back of Zoe's neck to plant a long, passionate kiss on her lips. Zoe moaned against his lips, resisting the urge to pull him into the shower and get him all wet now that he was fully dressed.

Teddy resentfully broke from Zoe, knowing he had to leave before he ended up being the last one in attendance this morning. It seemed he didn't have to worry so much about that though, because the second Teddy opened Zoe's bedroom door, he spotted three different people standing idly across the hallway. Abe and Burgess were leaned against the wall as Finnegan sat sprawled out on the floor between them. They looked like they had been here awhile, simply waiting for him.

"Hey! My man! Mr. Build A Bear!" Finnegan cheered as he jumped up from the floor. Teddy cursed under his breath and pulled Zoe's door shut behind him. "You can fuck, dude! Like a fuckin' stallion, it sounds like!"

"Jesus Christ..." Teddy's cheeks warmed as his hands found purchase inside his jacket pockets. Abe and Burgess smirked as Finnegan threw an arm around Teddy's shoulders. "You weren't listening, were you?"

"Well, I was gonna watch with Mel and Alex but they kicked me out after you covered the cameras. That was selfish of you, Morgan. It hurt. I felt personally attacked. I had to run all the way here and press my ear against the door just to hear anything," Finnegan said, a hand on his chest and sincerity in his bloodshot, dark circled eyes.

Teddy shoved Finnegan's arm off his shoulder and shot him a heated glare. "You're disgusting." He turned to Abe and Burgess. "You two listened too, huh? I knew Finnegan was a pervert but I thought better of you two."

Burgess lifted his hands to show his innocence but couldn't stop his smiling. "Hey kid, I just got here this morning. I have no interest in listening to teenagers fuck."

Teddy looked at Abe, who shamelessly shrugged and started walking. "I only stuck around long enough to make sure Rin didn't come running with a shotgun."

"Oh god... Does she know?" Teddy whispered as he kept pace with Abe.

"She knows you two fuck. She wasn't watching the cameras live and can't hear you on the other side of the house, but to be fair, she's probably reviewing whatever footage there is as we speak." Abe's dark, piercing eyes caught Teddy's as they walked. "And I'm warning you right now, she doesn't like when her cameras are covered. Keeping Rin in the dark on anything is a very bad idea. She's going to make you pay for it."

Teddy could already feel himself sweat. When he covered those cameras last night, he never even considered there'd be consequences. Him and Zoe didn't want anybody to watch them have sex and certainly didn't want a recording of it so he just covered them. It's what made sense at the time. He was about to have sex with the girl he was in love with after being apart for three months. He would have fashioned a fucking invisibility cloak if he had to.

"So I just have to be okay with Rin watching me and Zoe have sex every time?" Teddy asked with complete outrage, although he kept his voice quiet as they passed others in the house.

"No, you moron," Abe scoffed. "You do it in a car, in the middle of the night, by a park somewhere, like a normal teenager would. Borrow a room at a house party or rent a hotel room for a night. Do it in the shower where there are no cameras and a goddamn curtain." Abe sighed and shook his head, clearly disappointed that he even had to say any of this. "You really don't use your brain when that girl is in it. You're usually more clever than this, you know."

Teddy wanted to defend himself against those accusations but he had to admit that Abe had a point. He didn't use his brain when it came to Zoe. He never did. His emotions controlled him when it came to her, whether it was hatred like when they met or his overwhelming love for her now. There was just something about her that consumed him. He couldn't think about anything that didn't have to do with Zoe.

"What's fucking the bosses daughter like, anyhow?" Finnegan asked, reminding Teddy of his presence with the worst possible question. Teddy's eyes were wide with shock. "She was a virgin before you, wasn't she? And she's a pretty petite girl. I bet her pussy would feel-"

Teddy lunged in the blink of an eye, twisting Finnegan's arm behind his back as he forced him into a wall. Keeping his arm pinned painfully behind him, Teddy pressed his forearm against Finnegan's shoulders to keep his chest and face mashed against the wall. Abe and Burgess stopped walking and watched from the sidelines with amusement.

"Finish that sentence, Finn, I dare you." Teddy growled in Finnegan's ear. His jaw flexed as he gripped Finnegan's arm without mercy.

The possessiveness Teddy felt over Zoe was roaring wildly within him. His chest was already heaving and his heart pumping like he was about to run into a grand battle. Another word from Finnegan about Zoe or what her body would feel like in has hands and he'd snap his arm without hesitation. It didn't help that Finnegan was somewhere in his early twenties, making sexual comments about an underaged girl. One of which he would never ever get the chance to lay a finger on.

Finnegan snickered and muttered against the wall, "look at Big Boy Morgan trying to teach his big brother a lesson. How adorable."

"Still cocky, even with your face against a wall." Teddy gave Finnegan's shoulders an aggressive shove, only pushing him harder against the hard surface he was pinned to.

"Rightfully so," Abe chimed from behind them.

Teddy turned to Abe with a questioning look on his face before he felt Finnegan move under his restraints. The moment between Finnegan moving and Teddy falling on his back was blurred into a nanosecond that Teddy couldn't quite comprehend. He just knew that he was standing and then suddenly he was on the ground as Finnegan kneeled over him, plucked a knife from his black, platform boots with way too many buckles, and pressed the tip just under his chin.

With a cocky smile full of yellow teeth, Finnegan said, "You think someone can have a mouth like mine and not know how to get themselves out of a scrap. I would've been long dead if that were true, Morgan."

Teddy clenched his jaw, feeling his heart pump in his ears with the feeling of Finnegan's blade pressed to his skin. He wasn't afraid of Finnegan killing him, but it wasn't so unpredictable that Finnegan would cut him just to teach him a lesson. After all, the guy was a lunatic and looked like he was on drugs during all hours of the day. Teddy hardly liked him and definitely didn't trust him.

"Come on! We don't have time for this!" Abe appeared beside them, sounding more annoyed than angry.

Abe didn't give Finnegan the chance to move off of Teddy before Abe threw his foot into Finnegan's stomach. Finnegan rolled off of Teddy with a groan as Abe offered his hand to Teddy, who begrudgingly took it and returned to his own two feet. Abe, Teddy, and Burgess continued walking and Finnegan scrambled to get up and join them. The content look on his face as they walked let Teddy know he didn't hold a grudge over their altercation.

Stuff like that was probably common around here, after all, Teddy thought to himself. The threats, the blades, the minor altercations. There was a lot of dangerous people here. It was only inevitable.

Everyone was awake and returning to their daily duties, like yesterday morning. The girls were in the foyer, stuffing their guns and knives into hidden parts of their clothing before they walked out with two other men. They were probably heading out to keep watch on someone or bother a trainee somewhere. Three other men were being sent out to join a crew at the docks they were at last night.

Mostly everyone had something to do and they were ready and moving without any commands. It was just apart of their everyday life here.

Teddy wasn't sure what he would be doing today, as an official member of this 'clan', until Kenneth closed in on him and Abe with purposeful steps and a deep stare. "Rin wishes to speak with you."

Instinctually, Teddy's eyes looked at Abe for some sort of reassurance. The serious and flat tone in Kenneth's voice gave Teddy a chill and it worried him. Abe had already mastered his a poker face a long time ago, so he simply stared right back at Teddy. It was up to him to gain his own courage, not look for it in Abe. It was just hard for him to do that when it was Abe that was warning him about being scolded in the first place.

Teddy reluctantly nodded at Kenneth, agreeing to comply with such a request. It wasn't like he could refuse the wish, which wasn't a wish at all, but rather a demand. Kenneth guided Teddy towards Rin's office and Abe followed silently in tow. If Rin was going to scold his apprentice, he wanted to be present and take responsibility if he needed to. After all, Teddy made a mistake that could have been prevented if Abe had remembered to teach him.

"Teddy's here," Kenneth announced as he stepped into Rin's office.

Rin turned from looking out that window as she rung her fingers through her hands. Teddy stepped in behind Kenneth, Abe following suit. Rin looked over the two men and the boy stood between them, her eyes narrowing into slits.

"And my daughter?" Rin asked, her words punctuated. She kept her eyes glued to Teddy, which made him believe he was suppose to answer that question.

"Showering." Teddy held Rin's stare.

Rin's mouth twitched with a devilish smirk before she dropped her arms at her sides and began advancing towards Teddy. "And how would I know that, Teddy?"

"I'm telling you."

"But I have other ways to get that information. And I trust them more than I trust you."

Teddy gulped, his spine stiffening when Rin got too close for comfort. She looked hungry for blood and it terrified him. "You mean, the cameras? You can't watch her every move during every hour of every day. She needs more independence than that. She needs-"

Rin struck Teddy across the face with the back of her hand, swinging so fiercely that the sound echoed through the room. Teddy caught himself before he was knocked over by her strike, grabbing his face as his right cheek stung and throbbed with pain. Rin shook out her hand with a deep breath in and out, trying to calm herself as the anger boiled deep within her.

"Teddy Morgan, I have no interest in hearing what you think my daughter needs. Only I know what my daughter needs. And what she doesn't need is to be trapped in a room with a boy I don't trust." Teddy looked up at Rin, still holding his face. She looked completely unforgiving. "You blinded me, Teddy, and I'm the one in charge here. How do you think that makes me feel?"

Teddy dropped his hand from his face and clenched his jaw. "I would never hurt Zoe. I wouldn't even think about such a thing. You're the one that hired me to protect her. I promised you I would."

"Abraham," Rin blatantly ignored Teddy as she turned her attention toward his mentor. Abe took a single step forward. "You do remember what happened to the last man that covered my cameras, don't you?"

"I do," Abe answered simply.

"Why was he covering cameras?"

"He was plotting to kill you."

"And what happened to that man?"

Abe glanced at Teddy, sighed, and said, "he blinded you so you blinded him. Eye for an eye."

Teddy's own dark eyes widened in shock, his heart thumping anxiously in his chest. Rin had blinded someone for covering her cameras. Granted, he was trying to kill her, but that seemed a little extreme. Eye for an eye... a replaceable camera for the eyes in someone's head. It was twisted. Teddy certainly wished he knew about that before now, although he internally cursed himself for not predicting such a story beforehand.

"And did you fail to give such a lesson to Teddy or did he fail to follow orders?" Rin asked Abe.

Abe swallowed another sigh as he shamefully dropped his eyes. "I failed. I did not expect him to cover cameras but I should have mentioned it anyways."

Rin opened her palm toward one of the Hives lingering behind her, though she never let her eyes stray from Abe. A knife was quickly placed in Rin's hands and she twirled it absently in her hand. Teddy gulped, feeling his heart race at the thought of Abe being punished for mistakes he didn't make.

"So which one of you do you think should be punished?" Rin waved Abe forward, instructing him to stand beside his apprentice.

Teddy stepped ahead of Abe, refusing to stand beside him and let him take any blame. "This isn't Abe's fault. I did this."

Another one of those dark smirks crept on to Rin's face as she held Teddy's very brave stare. She asked silently for Abe's hand with a wiggle of her fingers and he gave his left, already knowing what was coming for him. Teddy stared as deep into Rin's eyes as he could, begging her not to hurt Abe over this. Her head tilted, a challenging look in her eyes as she gently pressed the tip of the blade against Abe's palm.

"Please!" Teddy hissed as he reached to grab Rin's wrist and stop her.

The moment his fingers wrapped around her, the two Hives behind her pulled out their guns and pointed them at Teddy's head. His eyes shifted to them and their guns but he didn't let go. Teddy could tell Rin wanted to give Abe the same injury he had. Her blade was vertical, aligned between his bones and his tendons to imitate his own injury. And Abe looked fearless. It would be painful but the damage would be minimal, considering.

"The last guy that I mentioned. The one Abraham should have warned you about," Rin said with a hushed, threatening voice. "Would you prefer to receive such treatment as him, Teddy?"

Teddy didn't answer, too terrified of her threat, but not terrified enough to let go of her. Teddy didn't like disappointing people so he was taking her threats personally. His parents, Carmen, Zoe, Abe, it didn't matter. His mistakes were meant to be his own. He didn't want them to reflect upon others around him or even affect those around him. Somehow Rin could see that and she was using it against him in this moment.

Abe used his free hand to grab Teddy's and pry it off of Rin's. Teddy looked at him, shocked and confused, but Abe just looked angry. He didn't even say anything as he grabbed the bit of hilt that Rin wasn't holding and forced it down into his hand. Abe groaned and winced and cursed as the blade went all the way through and poked through the other side, causing some blood to trickle on to the floor and down his sleeve.

"Mm... Good boy," Rin whispered in praise before yanking the blade out. Abe stared at his hand as it bled, Teddy's eyes wide and breath heavy as he also just stared. Rin quickly turned the blade to Teddy, pressing it threatening under his chin until his eyes met hers. "Abraham is a man that respects order. He is smart, prideful, loyal, and best of all, he doesn't ask questions or talk back. He is perfect. That is why he is on top. And it is your job to be his reflection, especially when I am entrusting you with my daughters life. You have no room for error. You have to be perfect if you want to stand beside my daughter."

Teddy's eyes flickered to Abe, who was too busy trying to cover his wound to stop the bleeding. With only one hand and two sides to his wound, it was hard to do that without causing even more pain. Teddy could see his pain too. Abe's poker face had melted away, his forehead creased, and he bared his teeth as he breathed through the pain. Teddy was flooded with guilt. He didn't mean to cause trouble for Abe. He didn't even know it was possible. But Teddy was learning.

One day and mistake at a time, Teddy was learning.

"The next time you screw up, Theodore Morgan, it will be your head." Rin pressed the blade even harder against the underside of Teddy's chin. He could feel it pierce his flesh but the wound was small and swallow. This threat felt a whole lot more deadly than Finnegan's. "Do you understand?"

"I understand," Teddy muttered, tilting his chin up as he tried to look down at Rin.

Her blade dropped and so did the guns still pointed at Teddy's head. She gave him an approving smile and turned around, handing the knife to the Hive that gave it to her before she started towards her desk. Abe was still bleeding but he hadn't retreated yet. He hadn't been given orders to leave, and as Rin said, Abe respected order. That's exactly why he stabbed himself. He was doing poorly with his trainee and he deserved punishment for it.

"You're both dismissed! I wish to speak with Zoe!" Rin announced to Teddy and Abe.

Kenneth heard her call and grabbed Abe's shoulder to pull him out of the office. Teddy rushed behind them and cluelessly followed as Abe made his way through the house. He was looking for something or someone but Teddy didn't know who or what. Kenneth had already split to find Zoe, leaving Abe to fend for himself. Teddy was beginning to feel worse and worse by the second. He wanted to help and apologize and promise he'd be better, but Teddy was still in shock.

After all, Rin almost just tore his eyeballs out of his head.

"Abe." Teddy followed cluelessly as Abe clenched the wrist of his bad hand and rushed through the house. Abe was audibly breathing through his gritted teeth, fighting through the pain—and probably frustration too. "Abe, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. Covering the cameras was stupid. I should have known that with how crazy Rin is. I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry."

"Stop it!" Abe spun to face Teddy, stopping them both in their tracks as his good hand landed on Teddy's shoulder. A vein in his forehead was about to pop and his bad hand was violently trembling. "You shouldn't be apologizing, Morgan. You should be thanking me. I made the mistake of not teaching you well enough and I paid the price. You should be grateful you ended up with a mentor humble enough to take a punishment for their student."

Teddy gulped, his eyes locked with Abe's. Teddy began anxiously nodding. "Right... Okay... Thank you, Abe. I owe you."

"Don't mention it, kid." Abe gave Teddy's shoulder a squeeze before he returned cradled his back arm against his chest.

Abe took off through the house again, calling for a man named Mason. He was the same one that stitched up Teddy the night before. A few guys playing poker in one room pointed Abe in the right direction and Teddy followed Abe's lead, unable to leave his side until he was sure he was okay. Mason was on duty outside, guarding the parameter of the house, but had someone replace him when he realized Abe was bleeding all over himself.

Mason was studying in Med school before he stumbled upon Rin, so he had enough training to stitch up wounds, realign broken bones, and even popped joints. Stuff like that was common around here so Mason had even more medical training working with Rin. Teddy had asked him the night before if he wanted to go back to school or work in a hospital or something and Mason said no. He liked this work more.

Even if Teddy didn't quite understand it, not everybody hated it here.

"We're rushing..." Zoe muttered anxiously to Kenneth as she tried to keep up with his long, quick strides. "Is she upset?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Kenneth whispered back.

Zoe sighed and tried to keep pace with Kenneth as best she could, flipping her wet hair over her shoulder when she got sick of it clinging to her shoulder. Kenneth opened the door for Zoe once they reached Rin's office and he walked in just after her, announcing her presence, just like he had with Teddy. Zoe reluctantly stepped into the room, stopping in her tracks when her barefoot stepped in some kind of liquid on the floor.

Tilting her foot to the side so she could peak at the underside of it, Zoe easily spotted the color of blood staining her skin. Zoe silently gasped and stumbled back, focusing her gaze on the dark brown wood flooring so she could see just how much blood there was. Luckily, there wasn't a lot of it, but still more than Zoe would have preferred to stumble upon. Literally.

"Someone... disobeyed?" Zoe asked as she raised her eyes toward her mother.

Rin tossed the silver, side-swept bangs aside with her skinny fingers and glared at her daughter from across the room. "Teddy."

Zoe's eyes widened. "Teddy? Wha- How? He wouldn't- Where is-"

Zoe turned on her heels and bolted for the door again. She didn't need anymore details, she just needed Teddy.

"Kenneth!" Rin commanded with a cold, stern voice.

Kenneth stepped in front of the door before Zoe could reach it, staring down at her with an apologetic look in his eyes when she stared helplessly up at him. Zoe turned back to her mother, her heart already racing and breath unsteady. She couldn't function properly knowing that Teddy was punished and hurt. She needed to be with him to make sure he was okay. She needed to tend to him, comfort him, apologize for getting him into all of this.

"I am trying my absolute best, sweetheart." Rin slapped her hands down on her desk and pushed herself up and out of her chair. Zoe turned from Kenneth to her mother. "But your little boy toy is testing my patience. My employees are not allowed as many second chances as he has been granted."

Zoe gulped, her hand subconsciously clenching the ruffled hem of the dress she threw on after jumping out of the shower. "Then... why do you keep giving him another chance? Shouldn't you just.. fire him?"

Rin fought a smirk as her eyes lifted to meet Kenneth's. He was right. Zoe wanted Teddy to fail so Rin would get sick of him and cast him aside. The frustrating part was the fact that Rin was working to do the opposite. She was going to force Teddy to succeed in one way or another so that she could never let him go and Zoe would have nobody to blame but him.

What Teddy wanted alluded both Zoe and Rin, however. He told Rin he wanted to work, yet he constantly failed and showed defiance. He promised Zoe he would stop listening to Rin and leave it all in Zoe's hands, yet he was persistent on living the role as the hero and the provider. The back and forth battle between Zoe and Rin would probably be easier for both of them if even one of them knew how to properly use Teddy against the other.

"You're the one that wants him, Zoe. I am keeping him for you." Rin's voice was much lighter and more inviting. Zoe felt comforted by that voice, but not by those words. "I do these things for you, my daughter."

"I know, mother..." Zoe sighed and combed some damp strands of hair back.

Her chest was tight with guilt and confusion. Her mother always reminded her that everything was for her. Even if Zoe didn't like it, Rin did it because she thought it was right for Zoe. She had to appreciate that much, at least. Even if Rin was scary and dangerous and kinda psychotic, she always provided for Zoe. Even if she was sometimes harsh and maybe even a tad negligent, she still loved her daughter deep down. Zoe knew that. Her mother just wasn't so great at paternal affection, but she did her best.

"Did you let that boy cover the cameras in your room last night?" Rin asked.

Zoe's eyes widened as they lifted from the blood on the ground to her mother's deadly gaze. She didn't want to answer that question, but knew there was no option. "Yes..."

Rin tapped her fingernails against the top of her desk as she glared at Zoe. "That's not allowed, Zoe. I put those cameras there for your protection. What if he had hurt you?"

"Teddy would never."

"But as your mother-" Rin paused, letting her words sink into Zoe's conscience. "You can see how that would worry me, can't you, sweetheart? I put all those camera's up to watch out for my darling daughter and a nasty little boy covers them so he can put his dirty hands on her? Lately, you've made everything I've done for you feel useless. It's insulting."

Zoe bowed her head in shame and embarrassment. "I'm sorry, mother. I don't mean to make you feel so poorly. It won't happen again."

"It better not." Rin sighed and lowered herself back into her seat. "Because I'm giving you a month off and I don't want you disappointing me while you're away."

Zoe looked up at her mother again, her heart thumping in her chest. "A full month?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because that's what you want, right? You want to go back to Ohio, go to school, graduate with those slimy little friends of yours?"

"Yes, I want that very badly."

Zoe's heart was racing. She was scared to go home and face all of the people she ran from, but she also wanted to cry because she was so excited. She missed Carmen and the babies so much. She missed her friends. She missed school. She missed the normal life she had with Teddy. If she could get it all back, even for a moment, she wouldn't refuse it, no matter how scared or nervous she felt.

"And Teddy... he'll come too?" Zoe reluctantly asked as she moved her hands behind her back so she could fidget nervously with them.

"Of course. I hired him to protect you. He'll operate under Mission Z. And with your relationship the way it is, I am trusting you both to learn how to behave together in public settings," Rin said.

The reality of Rin's generosity hit Zoe like a truck. Rin wasn't letting her and Teddy go back to Ohio just to loosen the leash the let them have what they wanted. It was a test. The school was a smaller, more controlled environment for Teddy and Zoe to practice their public affection. After all, Rin wanted to milk their relationship for the press. Letting them practice in the face of their classmates first would probably result in better publicity photos once they returned.

Zoe's racing heart slowed until it sank into her stomach. This all reminded her that neither her nor Teddy were free from Rin, no matter how far away they ran. Their lives belonged to her. Even their romantic relationship was no longer their own. And it wasn't like Zoe could refuse. If Rin was going to keep flaunting Zoe's romantic life in the face of cameras, she had to practice looking comfortable in public and not acting trashy or tasteless while showing affection.

Otherwise, the consequences would be even worse than the act itself. And that's only if Zoe considered what social media would say about her and her relationship. Rin's consequences were a whole different story.

"I understand." Zoe straightened her spine and raised her chin, shaking herself out of the bad thoughts taking over. She gave her mother a sweet smile. "I will be leaving soon, then?"

"Whenever you'd like." Rin shrugged and turned her gaze to her computer, already tuning herself out of this conversation.

Zoe felt that giddy excitement return and she bounced on her toes as she said. "Thank you very much, mother. I won't disappoint. I'll be seeing you."

Rin gave Zoe a dismissive wave of her fingers and Zoe turned to rush out of the office before Rin changed her mind. She was also too excited for her own good to tell Teddy that they could go home. She was so worried that they would be stuck here forever now that Teddy had came here on his own volition. and that still might be the case in a month when they had to come back, but for now, Zoe just wanted to be happy for a moment. And the easiest way to do that was to not think about tomorrow.

I didn't mean to have a 2 week break for a minute there but there's a lot going on. I'm packing to move, playing Animal Crossing, just got Disney+, trying to force myself to write something I can actually publish one day... I'm distracted and procrastinating alright...?

I've been thinking about Teddy and Zoe a lot though. Not really story stuff but more AU stuff. I keep imagining what TikTok's Teddy and Zoe would be into. Because Zoe would definitely do that challenge where you drop your towel in front of your s/o and film their reaction. And the "would you still love me if I was a worm?" Zoe would convince Teddy to let her climb around him like that one challenge and probably kick Teddy in the nuts on accident. Zoe would really trick Teddy into any couples challenge you've seen. Teddy probably wouldn't even have an account but he'd be in half of Zoe's videos.

Howl would probably convince Teddy to do ONE trendy TikTok dance in the middle of the road and I'd simp for them in a heartbeat. Howl would also get Teddy high and then film them having an existential crisis. I'm sure Howl's entire TikTok account would be full of him and his friends and Fisher being full crackheads tbh. All the comments on all Howl's TikTok's would just be white girls asking to see him and his boyfriend in another TikTok together because it's the only content they care about tho...

Zoe and Fisher would probably try TikTok dances but end up messing up and hitting each other and turn the TikTok into crackhead best friend energy. I can imagine them secretly filming each other in class because one of them said some dumb shit and now it's an internet joke that has 1.2m likes. Zoe would convince Fish to dye his hair and the TikTok would just be clips of them fucking it up over and over until Zoe's laughing in the corner and Fish is shaving his head.

Zoe and Howl would also do trendy TikTok dances together because tiny cute Zoe and huge gay dude Howl would be a combination that everyone loves. They'd do a lot of duet lip sync content because they just vibe together like that. Can you imagine the fashion content they'd make...? Modern Disney Princess' and Princes' but they'd have mad accessories and poses (unlike most dry ass TikTok's with that concept. No tea no shade no pink lemonade.)

My brain be doin too much and nothin at all tho seriously! I can write about 20 TikTok concepts but write zero chapters of an actual story.... sorry y'all...😂😂