How Green Becomes Wood

"I am not dangerous." Dark said but nonetheless signaled to move over. He really did not want to let her out, he did not think it was safe to let even Ciara, with all the training he knew she must have, out on the street alone at this time of night, but he also did not like to make a habit of holding women against their will. And her demand he let her out stung deeply. It was distressing to learn she knew so much about him. Anyone would be distressed. But it made her feel safer to not be in the car with him.
 
"I never said you were," Ciara said, her tone slightly clipped. "This conversation, on the other had, is. Where do you think it will lead if you continue down this path? Do you think there will be any satisfying conclusion? Any answer I could give you that would make you more comfortable with what I know? The fact is that I know a lot of things about a lot of people, and not one of them is happy about that. Or would be if they knew about it, which most of them do not. It is my job, the hazards of my job, and a job I am very good at. I understand that makes you uncomfortable because you like your privacy even more than most, but it is not something I shall apologize for, because what distresses you makes other people safe."
 
"But I am innocent." Dark said, pulling the car to a stop in a nearby parking lot, "I have not so much have gotten a speeding ticket since I was twenty-two. I did minor shoplifting in high school and bought alcohol underage. So you do a background check, fine. Any job I have ever worked has too. But my twenty years of adulthood, going from when we met, without criminal history or any known affiliation to criminals, was not enough, your organization had to look at when I was a child? All because the aunt of the children I took in happened to work for the FBI? I go from presumably not being on their radar at all to having a dossier of my most intimate, private details all because you did not choose a different career path? Do you earnestly believe every word, every sentence about myself and Daizi was so necessary for national safety?"

Even though the car was stopped, he still gripped the wheel tightly, and he shut his eyes gave himself a couple moments to breathe. It was true he was upset with her, but it was not exactly like anger, and he needed to at least try to sort through his emotions. Finally, he raised his eyes and at least looked at her, the glow of the streetlights making his eyes glint almost yellow, "It is not your fault. I understand it is what your job requires but..." He gestured with one hand and then dropped it down to his lap, "I like you, Ciara. I enjoy spending time with you. Daizi loves you. But since we met you have had us at a disadvantage. You know, or have access to, the depths of our lives. But you do not share half as much with us. Before you even met us, you knew more than what I prefer to tell my closest confidants, but two years later..."
 
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