I wake up with a groan. My wound itself, though it hurts, isn't that bad. It's the pounding headache that I have, thanks to blood loss. I squint in the bright light streaming in from my window. I sit up easily, and look around as my eyes adjust to the bright light.

My room is the exact same as I left it, except that Isa is sitting in a kitchen chair she must have dragged over from the kitchen.

"How are you feeling?" She asks, concerned.

"My leg is fine. I've been through worse. My head is killing me, though," I reply, wincing at the effort it take to speak.

"YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH WORSE?!" Isa yells, before realizing that that'll just make my headache worse. I nod, and open my mouth to speak, but Isa cuts me off before I can begin. "You can tell me later. First, I'm going to get you some painkillers for your head. Don't try to move, that'll make your leg worse."

And with that, she's gone. I never noticed how fast she was. I thought about it. She's fast, brave, and even though she tends to stutter, I think she's starting to get better. If she wasn't so caring, she'd make a good assassin. But despite everything she's been through, she still seems to have an optimistic outlook on life. She's cute, caring, and.. wait, what?! I can't be thinking like this. I recognize the feelings I'm having. Even after only two weeks, I'm already developing a crush on Isa. I can't do this. In my world, love, or any kind of affection, is a weakness. If anyone found out about my feelings, they could use Isa against me, hurting me and her in the process. I'm in too deep already.

When Isa comes back, I push my thoughts away. I'll deal with my feelings another day. She hands me the pills and a glass of water. "Here. Take these. Are you hungry?"

"Thanks," I say, quietly. "No, but I should eat. Don't worry, I'll get myself some toast," I say, a little louder.

"No. I'll get it. You shouldn't use your leg, you could reopen your wound," Isa protests.

"Isa, seriously. Don't worry. I've had much worse," I reply, a little stern.

"Fine. You can get up. But I want to hear what else you've been through," she consents, getting up. She grabs my hand and pulls me up, and I put weight on my leg. I got stabbed in my thigh, so it doesn't hurt too much.

We walk to the kitchen, me limping a little, and I grab bread to make toast. "You want any?" I ask. Isa nods. When the toast pops I butter both slices, adding cinnamon and sugar. Handing one to her, I sit down at the kitchen table.

"So what else have you done?" Isa asks, curious.

"Well," I start. "I've been shot in the arm on multiple occasions, stabbed in the stomach, and hit in the head so hard with the butt of a gun that I passed out."

Isa looks horrified. "How?"

"The bullets to my arms were because I was either double crossed by a client, or my target fought back. The stab to the stomach was an accident. I was sparring with Ced and he stabbed me because we weren't paying enough attention. The hit on the head was because in my old place, I was broken into by a gang where I had killed one of the higher ups. I fought back, but they knocked me out. Luckily, Ced still had an ear in the gang world, since he runs the fighting ring, so he was able to stop the gang before I was either kidnapped or killed. I've also had smaller stab, and bullet grazes, as well as many bumps and bruises and scratches."

"Wow."

"Yeah. It helps that I have a high pain tolerance."

"I could never do what you do. Killing people, getting hurt all the time, I just wouldn't be able to handle it."

"When I was little I thought the same thing. I've done what it takes to survive, and I'm good at what I do."

Isa smiles at me. "I'm just surprised you haven't been caught yet. I mean, you let a stranger into your home. What if I had been an undercover police officer?" She asks, amused at the thought.

I smile back. "I knew you weren't. You're too genuine. Plus, if you were, you'd never have become Shadow."

Isa giggles a little. "True," she concedes. "Anyway, I'm just glad you're okay."

"Me too, kid."

"HEY! I'm not a kid!"

I laugh. "Sure, kid."