No Longer a Guest

I suddenly find myself standing on the floor in front of Barney.  My shirt is buttoned and straightened.  I look down at myself and then at my bulging crotch, looking back to Barney with a "So what you gonna do about this?" expression.  He only kisses me on my forehead before striding to the doors and opening both of them revealing Tachi and Naka lock in an intimate embrace, making out shamelessly in the hallway.

They both stop and turn towards the doors.  "Barney?  If you were in there, why didn't you open the doors?" Tchi asks as he brushes past Barney and walks towards me in the business suite.  "Ah, good.  You feeling better?  The staff said you were sick this morning.  Told me to give you another hour or so to get yourself sorted out."  Tachi says as he moves to the table and lays out some folders.  Turning back to me he just smiles and nods towards the table.  "So, we going to go over all of this or do you want to just hang out and chat?"

I look at the folders and can't really tell what any of it is.  "I just want to know, why we have to fake Naka's death and keep him hidden when the stalker and the spy have been eliminated already." Tachi nodded and pulls out a chair, gesturing for me to sit while Naka and Barney move to the other side of the table, sitting down as well.

Tachi moves to the head of the table and stands behind the chair, resting his hand on the backrest.  "It's a long story so just settle in.  If you have any questions, just jot them down on a pad there on the table and we can go back to them later."  I just nod, taking a pad and pen from the center of the table and give Tachi my full attention.

Needless to say, Tachi's recounting of the events from the last year till today was quite enlightening if not confusing and downright comical, except for the death threats, kidnapping attempts and of course, the attempted murder of his husband, Naka.  I had written down a few questions about the time line and who certain people were and where they were now but ended up scratching them all out as it didn't mater now.

Once Tachi ends his story, he takes a seat at the head of the table and Naka moves to him and sits in his lap.  They touch their foreheads together and close their eyes, both sighing and relaxing into each other.

"So, basically." I begin to lay out what I understand to be situation. "Someone is trying to kill you by getting to Naka but things went wrong because of a stalker that had no connections to the spies so instead of showing that Naka survived, you are going to let the rumor of his death continue and even validate his actual 'death by stalker' to see who comes at you next?"  I finish and down the glass of water that was placed in front of me by Barney who now stands behind me with a light hand on my shoulder.

Tachi and Naka both nod.  "Yeah, basically."  Tachi adds.

I hold up my hand to stop him from adding anything else.  "So, if I may ask, why the FUCK DID YOU LET ME BELIEVE NAKA WAS DEAD!"  I am on my feet and lunging at the both of them to punch those smug smiles off of their faces.  I feel Barney one step behind me, grabbing me by my waist and keeping me from crawling over the table and strangling both men.

Naka tumbles out of Tachi's lap and jumps to his feet with his hands in front of him while squealing out, "It was him!  Tachi!  He needed to make sure you weren't working for the people trying to kill him!"  Tachi glares at Naka who just shrugs his shoulders and tries to hid behind one of the other chairs.

I turn to Tachi and a growl starts to grow in my throat.  "Well!  What the Fuck, Tachi!"  I'm grabbing at Barney's hands, trying to get him to release me but damn his big strong hands that just won't let me get a good hold of them.

Tachi smiles and nods at Barney who relaxes his hold and puts be back on my feet.  I straighten my shirt while still glaring at Tachi. "Hey, I don't know you, didn't know you.  You have no internet presence or news mentions for over year.  I have no idea who you work for so I had to make sure you weren't here to hurt me or Naka."  I just stare at him with a deadpan expression.

My gaze shifts to Naka and back to Tachi.  "And now?  After two major panic attacks and my near death due to your games?  Do you think I'm a threat to either of you now?"  I cross my arms over my chest and take a step back so my back is against Barney's chest.  I find I'm coming to rely on his presence to keep me calm and collected.

Tachi's posture changes to one of openness, arms wide inviting me in for a hug or something.  "Of course!  And I do apologize for all of the stress this has put you through.  Naka did warn me that you had panic attacks in the past when you or he were in dangerous situations but we had both hoped you had gotten better."  Naka steps forward and nods his head emphatically.

"Hm, well, I haven't had an attack in over a year and I really did feel like I have been better at handling stressful situations but thinking that I had lost Naka, those lyrics that no one should have." I glare at Naka. "And the feeling  of being alone and helpless again just brought too much to the surface too fast I guess."  I shrugged my shoulders and moved to stand up again.  Barney puts his big protective hands on my shoulders for added moral support.

Sighing, I moved to sit back in my seat as did everyone else.  "So, where do things go from here?" I ask, resting my chin on my clasped hands.

Naka and Tachi look at each other and I can hear Barney shifting in his chair next to me.  I raise an eyebrow and wait for someone to speak up.  "Well, since we kinda made a scene at the funeral and the wake, I'm worried that you may now be targeted as well.  I would like for you to stay here, at the compound, for a while.  Just until we can find out who is trying to kill me and take over the organization."  Tachi said in a very business-like tone.

"I can't.  I have obligations at home."  I state plainly.  I can hear Barney's chair groan as he shifts suddenly.

It's Tachi's turn to raise his eyebrows at me.  "Like what."

"Obligations, like things that require my attention.  Stuff like that."  I say plainly.

"No you don't."  Tachi says, narrowing his eyes at me in a challenging manner.

Instead of approaching his challenge as an educated adult, I just don't.  "Says who!"  I blurt out like a 8 year old.

Tachi openly laughs as he lays he hands palms up on the table.  "Says my research team.  We didn't have much information on you before you arrived but we have plenty now.  You have no job, or at least you aren't employed by any company.  I can't find any rental history so you are either crashing with a friend, sleeping around to have a roof over your head or you're being 'kept' by someone."  He winks as he makes the last statement.  Naka gasps dramatically and slaps his hands over his mouth.

"Thanks a lot, bestie." I growl at Naka.  "So what?  That means nothing.  I have things in the works."  I stammer out as Tachi sits back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest.

"What do you want, Sobata?"  Tachi says quietly.  I'm not sure exactly what he means but I feign being insulted by dramatically gasping and placing my hands over my chest.

"I have no idea what you are getting on about, Tachi.  Are you going to bribe me to keep me here?"  My facial expression is one of total surprise until Barney leans forward with his lips dangerously close to my ear.  This man has me so figured out it's both exciting and scary.

I keep my eyes on Tachi as he turns his gaze away from me and Barney.  "Please stay.  Stay with me, Sobata.  You know I can't leave here.  My duty is to Tachi.  I want you too.  Stay."  I am nearly sliding out of my chair by the time Barney is done convincing me that staying here is the best for everyone.  Especially my little brain that is now fully awake and invested in this conversation.

"Maybe." I squeak out before clearing my throat and starting again.  "Maybe it would be best for me to stay, and be here for Naka."  This causes Naka to perk up and clap his hands a few times.

"See Tachi, baby.  I told you he would stay.  Just needed the right motivation."  He finishes by winking at Barney who appears to be blushing and trying to hide himself behind me.  At least this makes me think that his breathy request wasn't something that was planned.

I straighten in my chair, gaining everyone's attention.  "I won't just stay here and not contribute.  I don't like being idol with nothing to do.  I'm very good at organization and planning.  Do you think you could use my skills somewhere?"

Tachi pushes his chair back, getting to his feet and walking towards me.  I rise as well and grasp his outstretched hand.  "I'm sure we can find a place for your skills.  I will have Becky look over your history and come talk to you today.  Thank you for reconsidering and agreeing to stay here for a little while.  Naka would have killed me if you had left."  I laugh and nod my head. 

Tachi and Naka leave my room and Barney closes the doors behind them.  He turns and stands with his hands clasped in front of him.  "Do you want me to leave and stand guard outside your door or are you comfortable with me keeping guard from inside your room?"  He asks in a very professional tone but I noticed that he didn't say 'Sir' so I relax a little.

"Whatever makes it easier for you but we do need to discuss some boundaries, don't you think so, Barney?"  I move to the sitting room and settle onto the loveseat across from the unlit fireplace.  Barney joins me sitting in the loveseat to my right.  I adjust my posture so I'm facing him.

I smile and relax as Barney also smiles.  "Okay,  so if I'm going to be working for Tachi or for Tachi's organization, I assume, as my personal bodyguard, you will be accompanying me to where ever it is I will be working, is that a correct assumption?"  Barney just nods so I continue.  "There will be no touching, other than what is necessary to keep me safe.  No taunting or suggestive comments, words or conversations on the way to the office or on the way home."

Barney nods again, leaning forward in his seat a bit.  I raise an eyebrow at him and he relaxes back in his seat.  "I'm not sure what my actual hours will be but I am also going to assume that you will be on the clock 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, correct?" I pause and wait for Barney to confirm or correct my last statement but he just keeps staring at me with a weird grin on his face.

I clear my throat and lean to my side against the back of the loveseat, gesturing to Barney that's it's is turn to contribute to this conversation.  He blinks rapidly a few times and clears his own throat.  "Oh, yes.  I'm to be with you or have eyes on you at all times.  I am to either, stay inside your room or stand guard at your door, after I have confirmed your room is secure.  From 2300 to 0400 I am relieved of my duties after confirming your room is secure and you have retired for the night."  I blink and try to remember what he just said.

After running the times through my head a few times I nod at Barney.  "Okay, then between 2300 to 0400 you are no longer my personal bodyguard, correct?"  Barney tilts his head as if it will help him comprehend my question better.

He inhales and holds it for a second before blowing it out. "Well, no.  I'm always your bodyguard but during those hours, the house is secured and there are guards inside and outside the property, patrolling so it’s not required for me to be guarding you."  I scoff and try not to get frustrated.  Barney looks at me with a worried expression.

I try again.  "Okay, but if I were to say, invite you to watch a movie, in my room, with just me, and maybe some snacks and definitely some alcohol, you wouldn't be expected to be actually guarding me.  Correct?"  He scowls and leans forward.

"I don’t think you should be drinking alcohol for a while, Sobata."  He says in a serious parental tone. 

I burst out laughing and cup Barney's face while I demand his full attention.  "No you goon.  What I'm trying to say is, when can we be together as boyfriends and do boyfriend stuff?"  Watching Barney's pupils fully dilate right before my eyes is nothing less than astoundingly beautiful as the realization of what I'm trying to say finally hits his brain, and probably his dick at the same time as he jumps forward in my hands.

"Oh, oh.  Yes, that would be correct.  Between the hours of 2300 and 0400, I am your boyfriend.  Yes, correct, sir?"  He ends with a questioning tone and I can't help but place a gentle kiss on his lips before releasing his face.

I lean back and smile in self satisfaction that I was able to make Barney flustered without much effort.  He smiles and looks at his watch and back at me, then back at his watch.  I get what he is insinuating and roll my eyes.  "Alright, smarmy pants, it's not between the hours of 2300 and 0400 but I have also not been officially offered a position with the company so I'm not in the wrong.  You, on the other hand, may have just been sexually assaulted on the job by the person you are ordered to protect."  I wiggle my eyebrows at Barney allowing a smile slowly fill my face.

Barney checks his watch again and moves his gaze to the closed doors. "Well, Uh, I really should make sure, or should check with Tachi to see what his expectations are."  He turns to face me again sporting a full on red faced blush.

I can't help myself and start to laugh.  It's low in my chest and I'm trying so hard to stop it from becoming louder but I just can't.  "Barney, are you embarrassed to tell Tachi we are boyfriends?  I mean, I'm pretty sure he knows we have been sexing it up regularly."  Barney's eyes go wide and dark suddenly but his blush continues to intensify all the way to his ears and down his neck.

I become concerned and my chuckling ceases instantly.  "Barney, what is it?  Did Tachi threaten you or something?"  I take his face in my hands again and make him look at me.  "What did that bastard say to you?" I growl out.

Barney pulls away and shakes his head while lowering his gaze to his lap.  "Uh, well.  There was this, uh, sorta… well, there was a bet… "  He trails off into silence with the last word.

"A bet?  Like, who I would sleep with first?  Something like that?  Did you win?" I perk up thinking that, knowing Tachi, the prize for winning had to be something grand and to think, Barney might share that with me.  After all, I did help him win.

Barney stiffens and clears his throat.  "Um, well.  I kinda did win but I'm afraid you will think I did all this just to win the bet."  He looks up slowly and meets my eyes.