The following day, Eliza and Ares went on another two hunts. It seemed the few days off the job let the criminals free in the streets. It was obnoxious, but it meant more money for the two of them.

Ares behaved, for the most part, but he kept sending Eliza a knowing smirk that she hated. He enjoyed himself more than he expected. The way Eliza visibly squirmed under his stare was intriguing. Frankly, he expected her to seek out revenge or finally kick him out, but she didn't. Her mouth would become a thin line and her eyes would focus on something other than him. Ares was loving it.

A solid week passed, and she reacted the same way every time he teased her. Eliza was also sure to be far from her room when Ares had to use her bathroom. He knew he riled her up pretty bad, but he wasn't expecting the avoidance. Plus, she grew quiet around him. He struck something deep in her. Patience would have to become his friend until Eliza warmed up to him again. Sadly, patience wasn't his strong suit.

Eliza came through the door attached to her hangar, her arms overloaded with groceries. Ares was on his feet in an instant helping her. He unloaded several bags from her grasp and carried them into the kitchen. Without being prompted, he began storing everything where Eliza generally kept them. She was wary of his willingness to help, but she followed his example with the remaining bags.

She was stuffing a few boxes of pasta into a bottom cabinet, squatting low, when Ares' knee bumped into her back. Eliza jumped and knocked her head on the cabinet door. She sat on the ground and rubbed her head.

"What the hell was that for?" she growled, peeking over at the apologetic man.

He kneeled down to take a look at the growing bump on her head. "I was just putting some cereal in the above cabinet and I thought I was far enough away. I didn't realize you were so close." His fingers gently pressed on the tender lump. "Do you need ice?"

She shook her head and stood, trying to put space between them. "I'll survive. I've hit my head plenty of times."

Ares chuckled softly as he stood straight and closed the cabinets. The hair on Eliza's neck stood up when she felt him stand next to her. She tried to focus on gathering the cans of vegetables left on her table but dropped a couple. She released a shaky breath and carried the un-dropped cans to a different cabinet.

"Are you doing okay, Lizzy?"

Like he didn't know. "I'm fine. I just need some sleep. I'm not used to be so busy."

"You just seem a little jumpy lately. And quiet. I don't think you've threatened to throw me out in a couple of days."

She shrugged, stacking the cans in a precise order.

Ares leaned against the counter beside her and watched. "I didn't mean to scare you, you know. I only wanted to push you a little."

"Push me to what?" Her voice was quiet.

"Don't know. I thought it'd be fun, ya know?"

She placed the last an on the shelf and turned toward her partner. "Well, I didn't appreciate it. I've tried to be nice, letting you use my apartment, my shower, but you don't seem very grateful for anything I've done for you."

"Of course, I'm grateful, Lizzy. I know you hate me being here."

"I don't hate you being here. I just don't like you staying here."

His eyes lit up. "I can go get my old apartment back if that's what you want."

"And get attacked? No. That's idiotic. I'm going to just have to live with this, with you."

Ares put his arm around Eliza's shoulder and grinned. "I'll try not to be so irresistible anymore. I know that just breaks your heart."

She murmured nonsense and slipped out from under his arm. Eliza busied herself with preparing dinner, ignoring the man watching her. Ares still didn't know exactly what was going on with her, but he didn't miss how the bridge of her nose flushed. Her front was strong, but the cracks were deepening further.

Eliza decided to take a bath after dinner, leaving Ares to entertain himself. He chose to take advantage of her absence. Pulling out his tablet, he began searching for a two-bedroom, two full bathroom apartment, all for the sake of her sanity. He felt bad for driving her crazy. He just loved to see her reactions. He added a two-starship hangar to his mental list on a good apartment. Jogging a few blocks to his starship in a parking garage would come to an end.

A couple of nice apartments came up, but none really left him giddy to show Eliza. He bookmarked a few in Nemesis but bringing them closer to the Scorpions wasn't what he had in mind.

Ares barely heard Eliza's door open when she finished her bath. He glanced at her, smiled, and kept up his search. Her curious stare didn't go unnoticed.

There was another apartment. It filled his requirements and wasn't too obvious to the public, just how Eliza preferred. Laying low was her game until forced from her cave. He decided that he might have found an acceptable home for them. It was just up to her.

Turning to look at Eliza, who rifled through their mail, he draped his arm over the back of the couch. He beckoned her over. Eliza wasn't too keen on joining him, but she did. She sat down and waited for him to say more. He handed over his tablet. She stared.

"What's this?"

"An apartment."

Eliza glanced at Ares in confusion. "Why are you looking at apartments?"

"We should move to a place that accommodates two people. There will be plenty of room and two bathrooms."

Eliza stared at the tablet, swiping through the photos. It did look roomy and a full second bathroom sounded like the best perk with Ares around. The cost wasn't much more either. And the police station would be closer.

She handed it back to him. "All right." She stood to continue rifling through the mail again.

"Really?"

She shrugged.

"You're really okay with this?"

"Sure."

He instantly sent a message to the landlord about scheduling a time to view the place. "I expected more of a fight. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

"I can agree with your ideas, Ares."

He smiled, "Should I mark this date?"

A glimmer of a smile showed up on Eliza's face before she waved her fingers and went to her room. She was charming when he caught her in a good mood. His smiled widened when his tablet rang with a notification.