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[controlledvariable]

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[5055034455]

[But he doesn't mean them individually; he means them as a unit. As a couple. Or whatever it is they are.

The kiss lasts for a few seconds, but that's all. It's when his hand slides into her hair that he realizes where they are and thinks better of standing there and kissing her as much as he'd like. Too dangerous.

At least it gives him the opportunity to say:]

I love you.

[controlledvariable]

[She's really starting to get over the whole secret part of this, but she knows it's the smarter decision.

And it reminds her of something else she wanted to talk to him about.]

I love you, too.

[She steals one last quick kiss, then:]

Saul. [a breath] What do we do if Walter shows up?

[Jesse doesn't want him to know about him and Lisbeth, does the same apply for them?]

[5055034455]

[He doesn't want to do what they did last time, so...]

You do your thing. Stick to the shadows, don't let him know you're there. We need to know what's up with him before... well, before anything.

[controlledvariable]

Okay.

[She knows she should take a step away from him, in case any of her roommates turn up, but she can't bring herself to. Not with what she's about to say next.]

If he finds out about me, promise you won't let him use me against you.

[5055034455]

[Saul knows that's a promise he can't make. If that were to happen, there's almost nothing Saul wouldn't do to fix it.

He bites his lip, looks at her, and says:] If that happens, I'll try.

[controlledvariable]

[No.]

Trying isn't enough.

[She needs him to promise this, she needs to know she won't be a weakness that Walter can exploit.

A little more forcefully:] There's nothing he can do to me that hasn't been done. That I haven't survived already. Don't let him use me.

[She's not a piece to be played; she'll die before she lets anyone use her like that again.]

[5055034455]

[If Walt does anything to her, Saul will kill him. Fuck the plan.

He squeezes Steph's hand, expression grim.]

I won't.

[controlledvariable]

Thank you.

[She doesn't kiss him again, just curls her fingers around the back of his neck and leans up to rest her forehead against his.

Quietly:]

Do you know why I was so angry?

[5055034455]

[Just as quietly:] Because I'm an asshole?

[controlledvariable]

[Damn it, Saul.

She sighs.]

Because it felt like you were undermining me in front of people I need to trust me.

[Because it gave the impression that he didn't trust her, whether that was true or not.]

[5055034455]

[Isn't that what he just said?

He reaches up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.]

I'm sorry.

[controlledvariable]

[She's quiet for a long moment, and she has to close her eyes to get through this next bit:]

My best friend used to knock me unconscious and leave me on a rooftop if she thought I wasn't gonna be able to handle the fight in front of us.

[She knows Cass was just trying to protect her, that she didn't exactly have social skills, but it still hurt.]

Please don't do it again.

[Everyone else undermines her; she can't stand it if Saul does it, too.]

[5055034455]

[Wow, look at how not surprised he is by that. He manages to keep a sad sigh at bay, but there's no hiding the look on his face.]

I won't, neshomeleh.

[That'll help, right?]

[controlledvariable]

[She doesn't even need to look at him to guess at his expression right now.

And it does help, both the reassurance and the familiar term of endearment; with a quiet sigh, she moves in for another hug.]

Thank you.