Shield

Shun and Nel professionally welcomed Milo and Oli at the airport.
For Milo, a polite handshake, for her brother a short hug he begrudgingly accepted. His mood was foul.
"You must be tired," Nel said brushing him off in a conversational manner, Oli nodded distracted walking away from her.
"We are staying in the hotel," Milo told her and Nel smiled happily, knowing she was not required there.
They had lunch together in a high-end restaurant where Shun and she were grossly underdressed much to Milo's distaste.
Nel politely declined to eat, she had no appetite and decided not to force it as she siped mineral water with lime counting the minutes to leave.
During dessert, Nel handed Milo his Christmas gift with a shrug and a smile. "Better late than never," she said, Milo gave her another polite grin, opening the small jewelry box.
He stared at the cufflinks, appreciating them, genuinely impressed.
"You have good taste," Milo told her. "I will make sure to use them." he put them safely in his breast pocket.
"Let's go," Oli barked., dropping a fork noisily on the table as he stood up with a scratch. Shooting a side look he added, "Next time leave your dog in the car."
Nel glanced at Shun who just shook his head, confused, they followed them out.
"You can leave first," Milo instructed Shun. "We still have things to do."
Shun and Milo interchanged a short conversation, Oli waiting in a different car that they had left in the parking lot.  With a pat on the shoulder, Shun and Milo parted ways with a stern expression.
Alone once more with Shun, Nel relaxed. Driving in the car she held tightly to his hand in the front seat, looking out the window thoughtfully, lost in thought.
"You ok?" Shun asked, not taking his eyes off the road.
"Ok," Nel said and squeezed his hand affectionately.
"Take me home," Nel said in a distant voice and Shun stiffened, pulling over.
"Where would that be?" he asked, turning sideways to face her his brow wrinkled. "Where would that be?" he repeated without batting an eyelash, his face a disguise of sudden rage. "Home to Sammi, home to Milo, home to me?"
Nel looked at him in visible confusion, silence fell heavily over them as he pulled his hand away from hers.
"To start driving, I have to know where I'm going," he said coldly, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"I don't-" she began but Shun cut her off "Where do you want to go?" he said.
Nel shook her head. "What's wrong with you guys today?" her words were salt on an open wound.
"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice harsh.
She shook her head again, already over the conversation. "I swear, Milo appears, and everyone loses their shit," she said, opening the car door and passing to the back seat.
"So, I'm your fucking chauffeur now?" he growled indignantly, not turning around.
"Yes," she said coldly, "Now drive."
Shun's fists clenched around the steering wheel, the sound of tightened leather loud in the silent car.
"Where to madam," he asked coldly.
"East district mansion," she replied in the same emotionless voice, looking out the window.
They drove in silence, Nel on her phone texting, Shun looking back at her through the rear-view mirror gritting his teeth, every glance angrier than the one before.
Nel ignored him, talking to Charlotte on her phone.
"You need to educate your son better," Nel told Charlotte.
"What's wrong?" Charlotte asked.
"Shun's being a jerk. He's mad or something," Nel replied.
"What happened? "Charlotte asked.
"Don't know," Nel answered. "We went to eat with my brother and he's mad. Throwing one of those little fits when he doesn't get exactly what he wants."
"Milo in town?" Charlotte asked.
"Yeah, why?" Nel countered.
"Don't know. Did you fight?" Charlotte asked.
"With Milo?" Nel asked.
"With Shun," Charlotte said.
"No, he's got an attitude," Nel said.
"Give him some sugar, you know how jealous he gets," Charlotte suggested.
"He doesn't deserve it," Nel pouted.
"Did you ask him?" Charlotte asked.
"No," Nel said flatly.
"Ask him," Charlotte insisted.
"No," Nel said again.
"Then bicker!" Charlotte said, exasperated.
"Fine," Nel answered.
"Fine!" Charlotte concluded.
"Love you," Nel ended the conversation.
"Love you more," Charlotte answered.
They pulled up and before Shun could get out of the car Nel said, "Go home, I will see you tomorrow," she got out alone, walking away without looking back.
The car sped noisily out the driveway seconds later.
Sammi welcomed her suspiciously and asked her why she was alone. "Shun needed a time out," Nel said jokingly and Sammi nodded understandingly.  Following Nel inside she said, "Don't we all".