A chuckle escaped Dumas.  “You should collaborate with our famous dj.  Then you could be White Rabbit and Bunny Girl -- although that sounds more like a superhero duo than a club act.”  Shaking his head again, Dumas accidentally knocked a few unruly curls of hair into his eyes.  It made him resemble a shaggy stray puppy.  “I’m sorry, Mari.  I’m crap at inventing nicknames.  I always have been.”<br/><br/>Dumas knew that Mari was his friend, that she would help him if he asked.  But hearing her actually say it meant a lot to him.  Trying to explain how he felt, Dumas fumbled with his words as if they were greased marbles.  “Thanks.  The steak and the rub were great...but just being here with you for a little while...that’s what was really nice.”<br/><br/>Then Mari bent down, gently kissing his cheek.  And a painful longing threatened to rip open the seams of Dumas’s heart.  Twisting around, he placed his hand against the side of Mari’s face, preventing her from withdrawing.  His gaze held hers, their mouths so close together that they could feel each other’s breath.  Was it really that easy?  A single kiss and their loneliness would fall away like some fairy tale enchantment?<br/><br/>But harsh reality intruded, as it always did.  Neither of them was in a good place for starting a romance.  And even if Mari returned his kiss, how would he know that she wasn’t just doing it to please him?  How would he know if it was something she truly wanted?  Reluctantly, Dumas drew his hand away and stood up. “Promise me you won’t work too hard, okay?  I know being busy helps, but you shouldn’t exhaust yourself.”<br/><br/>After giving Mari a smile and a farewell salute, Dumas went into the bedroom.  First, he removed the stun stick and pistol, giving them a careful inspection before he hid them under some clothes in Mari’s dresser.  Then he took off his own clothes (except for a pair of boxer shorts) and carefully hung them up.  After his shift, he’d go back to his place and get some supplies -- but for now, this outfit was all he had.  Finally, Dumas tossed the sheet and pillow onto the floor, climbed into his improvised bed, and soon drifted into a light sleep.