It's not always necessary to be strong,

but to feel strong.

Jon Krakauer

I yelp when his hand moves towards his gun. The man has a blue hearing aid in his ear and I get momentarily distracted.

"That's so pretty !" Stupid Maya always saying the wrong things at the wrong time. But it is pretty.

"The fuck you on about ?" His brows are furrowed and his lips are pulled back in a snarl.

"Y-your hearing aid. It's pretty. I like it. I like blue." I compliment before my confidence vanishes.

His hand grasps the gun in his belt. My confidence has now vanished.

He stares at me in confusion before hiding it from my view.

"Uh.. okay. Weirdo." He mumbles the last part but I hear him. He's funny. He looks flabbergasted for a second before letting me into the warehouse. I should tell Dalaric to upgrade his security because this man just let a weird girl into an assassin joint.

The man has black hair with some blue strands , he's also wearing all black except for white sneakers. We walk to the lounge where the chatter doesn't stop this time. I hide behind his back because some people are staring. He turns to me , blocking me from the crowd's view and looks at me skeptically.

"You here for Ricky ?" He speaks Dalaric's name with respect. As he should.

"Um-yes. Yeah." I nod my head , probably looking like a bobble head.

The guy-I really should learn his name- walks to the office. He doesn't wait for me to go in first and lets the door almost hit me.

Note : Not everyone's like Dalaric.

I expect to see him there , in the rolly chair signing some papers but the office is empty. I sit on the couch while the guy stands by the door, eyeing me down.

"What's your name ?"

"Jan."

"Nice name ! My name's Maya." I give him a smile but it isn't returned.

A few minutes of silence pass us before the door opens , revealing an angry Fatima.

"Did you let her in ? Are you crazy !? You're the head of security !" She screams at Jan. Fatima's wearing a dark grey hijab today as well as a matching tracksuit. I think monotone outfits are a thing here.

I look down to avoid her distaste at me being here. Makes sense though, I would steal the rolly chair.

"Hi Fatima ! Nice to see you too ! I let her in because I can , now leave." He folds his arms across his chest and sits next to me on the couch , throwing one arm behind me lazily.

"I'm telling Boss." Fatima deadpans , threateningly.

"Okay and ?" Jan seems bored, his eyes are shut as he leans back into the sofa.

Fatima sighs before opening the office door to leave , just after Jan mocks her ,

"My name's Fatima and I'm a big , big snitch !"

She throws a huge stack of post it notes on his face , which leaves him groaning and clutching his extremely read forehead. That's violent.

She's only angrier when she leaves the office.

"You guys have a nice friendship." I smile at him after handing him a few tissues from my pocket. There's a slight scratch where blood drips.

Yikes.

"We don't," Jan rolls his eyes. "This was your fault anyways." My fault ?

"I don't think it was my fault that you didn't do your job." I cross my arms stubbornly. I dislike it when people blame things on me.

"You look like an angry tellytubbie." Jan laughs , one hand on his forehead and one on his stomach.

I throw a pillow on him, making sure it doesn't hit his face or the scratch. He picks it up and smushes it on my face.

"You're such a meanie ! Leave me alone." I escape his clutches and get off the couch to throw the pillow at him. He gets up as well and tries to grab the weapon from me , both his arms enveloping me. I try to kick him but he doesn't budge. Stupid below average legs.

"Give me the pillow, weirdo." He grabs it from me harshly and laughs when I pout.

Only then does a deep, all-too-familiar , enticing voice sounds out in the office.

"Done ?"

Jan gulps. Then I gulp. He places the pillow on the couch, quite awkwardly and makes a L sign with his fingers once he's at the door and out of Dalaric's view , who's standing with his hands behind his back as he looks accusingly.

I only fiddle with my ring-less finger as he stands there in silence. I'm embarrassed that he watched Jan's and I's childish fight. It's not my fault that Jan's annoying. That's rude, Maya.

Not being able to bear the silence anymore, I break it hopefully, "I-um lost my ring. Papa gave it to me and I can't find it. So I thought that um-"

"-that my head of security had it ?" Dalaric speaks. I shake my head , denying the accusing gaze and suggestive sentence. I don't know what he's thinking but I already don't like it.

"I- We were just waiting for you to get back. He-he threw a pillow at me." I pout remembering the violent action.

Dalaric sighs and shakes his head. He walks to his desk and opens one of the drawers before taking out the sentimental object I had come here for. Other than the sentimental person.

A grin makes its way to my face as he walks towards me, while I make grabby fingers at the ring. He takes my chubby finger and slides it on. I stand on my toes to kiss his cheek as a thank you but when I remember Joshua and Landon, I retreat painfully.

His face hardens. I can only look down in shame before the office door opens revealing a

bandaged Jan who has an annoyed look on his face.

"Boss ,is there a prob-" Jan speaks.

"Out. Now." Dalaric is in boss mode right now and it's hot. I try to not stick my tongue out at Jan when I walk towards the door. Sadly, I don't make it very far when I get pulled back by my shirt.

"Not you." Aw. I'm the exception.

Jan leaves after glaring at me. I stand awkwardly with my back to the door as Dalaric walks towards me. I gulp when he places both his gloved hands on either side of my bobblehead.

"Look at me. Tell me what's wrong." I knew he would ask eventually. Again , I look down in shame. Here he is, almost begging me to tell him why I've been rudely ignoring him and I'm acting like a scaredy cat.

"I have to go , Dalaric. I can't , Im sorry. You can just um-" I close my eyes painfully because it hurts to say the next words.

"-forget about me." His hands fist against the wood, a sigh of frustration is let out before swirly grey eyes look at me with utmost seriousness.

"I'm not fucking letting you go if you don't tell me what's wrong." He leans closer with each word and I can feel his breath fanning my face. Peppermint. Sigh. This man.

"Mayella ,right fucking n-" I then do the only thing I can think of and kiss him.

My lips only touch the corner of his but I can feel just how soft they are and I relish it before I escape his man-made barrier and stand away from him , my eyes wide as I cover my mouth.

I'm so stupid. I just- my first almost-kiss! I make a mental note to write it down in my diary.

Only then does the realization seep in.

Oh my. Oh my. Oh no.

Dalaric just stands there unmoving , his hands at his side before he turns , so slow that I cower back at the dark look in his eyes. The look on his face is predatory. I'm standing right in front of the rolly chair as he takes large steps forward. He doesn't stop when he reaches me so i'm forced to sit down on the chair. Not that I mind.

Dalaric lowers his head as his hands grasp each armrest. They tighten around it and I can hear the plastic creak.

Only then does my stomach grumble. I cough to try and cover the embarrassing sounds but it doesn't work judging from the unbelieving look on Dalaric's face. I sheepishly smile and give him a peace sign.

He grabs one of my fingers and lifts me off of the chair after shaking his head. I hesitantly follow him since I'm not sure where he's taking me. Home , I hope. Although, I don't know where that is.

We exit the office and are met with a arm wrestling competition between Jan and Fatima. I clap for Fatima since she's winning. People look at me weirdly before their eyes widen when they see Dalaric. Fatima smiles in appreciation and I return it but bigger.

I wish I was that strong, maybe then i wouldn't get hurt so often. Dalaric notices me checking my biceps and shakes his head before turning my face towards him using his hand , the glove long forgotten.

"You're strong." Aw. His eyes search mine , probably to see if I believe him. And I do , I may not be the strongest but I believe everyone has a 'lil bit of strength in them , even if not physical.

He's so sweet and now I want to cry.

Don't cry , Maya. Don't cry , Don't cry-

"Don't fucking cry." He says, an expression of sincerity etched onto his angelic features. I nod like the sheep/bobble head I am and he seems pleased with it. My eyes sting from holding them back but I don't want to seem weak in front of all his friends. Or followers-I don't really know.

He does this weird sign thing and all the people in the lounge nod, even the ones making out on the couch at the back of the room. We walk through the dark hallway and I hold his hand with both of mine as I notice a spider on the wall.

I really don't like spiders.

They're only cute on those pet videos I watch at the café.

As we're walking to the car , I ask him something I've been curious about.

"What's the sign thingy you do ? Why were they nodding ? Oo-also ! Can you teach me ? It looks sick-"

"We have a mission tomorrow."

"Oh. You don't have them often ?"

"Once or twice a month." Sounds more realistic than the books I read online. The gang leaders publicly kill like twenty people everyday.

He opens the door for me and I sit in , biting the tip of my thumb since I'm extremely worried for Dalaric. Assassin missions are dangerous , right ? And what if he gets hurt or something. I watched some assassin movies on the café computer and Jim told me they're not real. Still, it's concerning and there's always risk. The man does carry three guns , though so-

"Stop worrying , Mayella." I hadn't realized that I was now picking at my nails and tearing some of the skin. Dalaric's warm hand covers mine as he softly strokes the back of my hand with his thumb. It's soothing and I give a him a smile , slightly awestruck at the upward curve of his lips. He really is beautiful.

He stops at the building and opens the car door for me, frowning when I take out my keys before I get out.

"Home alone ?" Dalaric's eyes are glaring at my arms , exactly where the now-healed wounds are. I nod and he shuts the car door, with me still inside.

My brows furrow at his actions while he gets into the drivers side. Is he getting me wendy's again ? This man.

"Is everything alright ? You locked the-" I try to ask without sounding unappreciative.

"I'm not letting you live alone. Never should've." He mumbles the last part but I act like I don't hear it.

It's not that I want to stay home alone. I don't even get any sleep so this could be a fun adventure until I have to get to school. I hope I can find a cab or a bus wherever he's taking me.

I feed pretty boy some fries that we got from wendy's as he pulls into a dark, dark driveway. It looks to be about midnight and all I can see is empty land around a house. I can't exactly make out the house's shape either. Dalaric uses a remote behind the steering wheel and the lights come on.

Oh em gee.

It's beautiful. There's lush green land around a mansion that has a modern yet comfortable edge to its. The black roof is triangular and the front has three parallel , tall windows. A double door stands proudly at the end of a black-brick driveway that is bordered with luscious bushes.

I never expected an assassin to love nature so much. Only makes me like him more. A warm hand lands on my lower back and ushers me to the entrance. Dalaric pulls me back when I go to inspect the bushes and almost fall into them. I only smile sheepishly as he puts his finger on the handle of the double doors. It clicks open with a beep and he uses one of his fingers to shut my mouth close.

"Can I try ? Please , I want the fingerprint boop thingy. How much does that cost ?" I could lock the liquor cabinets in the house.

Dalaric turns on the lights and I gasp as colorful wings flutter in front of me before I feel a light weight on my shoulder.

"Ricky." A loud chirp sounds in my ear.

I just heard a parrot talk.

______________________________

Ricky's Point Of View next ? 👀

Comment your thoughts !

Hope you had an amazing day ! School's starting tomorrow :)

Love you ,

always ,

-.