The Taisho fire

To keep a good dog down

In need of goodness.

Emboldened by the overgrown pet sprawled in her lap, Gwen traced the sharp ridge of his straight nose, then massaged the corner of his eyes, his jaw, his chin. He was too beautiful to exist and yet, she was permitted to touch him. Reality was so much richer than any fantasy she might have conjured. Too bad she didn't know how to draw, for the ridges of his muscles and the beauty of his features should have been painted.

"How am I going to go without your skin for entire days ?" she mused.

Golden eyes snapped open, drilling into her with the intensity of a tidal wave.

"Why would you have to ?"

Gwen shrugged; surely he wouldn't want her here all the time, right ? And they couldn't go around gallivanting their relationship in the station; it wouldn't be too proper.

"No mingling at work, right ? Can't really touch you in front of the guys."

"Of course you can."

The tone was not harsh, but he brooked no argument. Startled by his determination, Gwen's fingers paused.

"But... don't you think people will scream favouritism ?"

Tōga's posture shifted in the blink of an eye. His face rushed to hers so fast that she nearly fell backwards; heart thundering, she realised he was now sitting by her side.

"I trust you to do your job, regardless of how much you've seen of me. As long as you respect the chain of command, I can state my claim."

State his claim. Wow. A compliment, wrapped in a demand... and strangely, the independent, modern woman that was Gwen didn't feel belittled by those very possessive words.

"I will," she nodded, touched by his trust.

His fingers flexed, pulling taut some cords of muscles on his forearm.

"And if people have something to complain about, they can always challenge me."

Challenge him. The memory of boxing gloves tickled her mind, and she cocked her head aside.

"Is that what happened with Mark ? Did he issue a challenge ?"

Uneasiness flickered in Tōga's beloved golden eyes.

"Mark... not really..."

Gwen was hanging on his every word, and the Captain sheepishly scratched his nape.

"I challenged him."

"Why ?"

When he saw she wouldn't be deterred, his countenance became serious again.

"He was feeding rumours. He needed to be taught his place."

Spoken like a true alpha... but she sensed a story there, and wanted more than the scraps he was offering.

"What kinds of rumours ?"

A pregnant pause filled the room, and Gwen wondered if she'd gone too far. So when Tōga started to speak, she nibbled on her lip and listened.

"Listen, I'm alright with the pool bet about my age because I'm the Captain, and people wanting to know more is natural. But I don't tolerate colleagues spreading rumours about others, it breaks the team spirit."

What could she possibly respond to that ?

"All right ?"

She could have left it at that, but the sight of Gwen's puzzled expression pushed him further than he was comfortable. After all, it concerned her. Tōga sighed.