Cecily jumped out of the little bed exactly an hour after she'd fallen asleep. She was still exhausted, but her head was pounding with adrenaline. They needed to go. Now. The more time they had to run the better. She could finish sleeping when she was dead.

She burst out of the little room with renewed vigor and eagerness.

"Cecily," Orion said, his voice firm. "You need to sleep."

He was digging through newly packed bags right next to the criminal's dad. He'd peeked up from the bag to look at her.

"I did."

"For an hour."

"Still slept. We need to get going. Did Zeph confirm the location?"

Orion and Cecily's dad shared a look with each other.

"Sweetheart," her dad said in the voice that sounded like he was trying to cajole her into something, "you really need to sleep some more. You look like death on two feet."

"I'll be dead sooner if we don't leave. Right now, we have the choice of fighting our way to that place or running on fumes. I'd rather run on fumes without being tracked."

"She's right," the prince said, walking into the room with Reiko on his trail. The king to be was wearing slightly oversized clothes with a sword tied around his waist. "It'll be a long trip without many breaks. We need to leave as soon as possible." Even though he said the words, he was giving Cecily a worried look. "Remind me, again, how you came into possession of this property."

"A deal," she answered, "with your father. He told me that if anything happened to him, this would be insurance to keep you safe. He had one witness and that was enough."

Zephyr didn't say anything, but Cecily could see the frustration written across his features before he calmed himself. His expression, at least.

"We'll worry about that later," Alma said, coming up behind them. "Right now, we need to go."

Cecily nodded in agreement.

---

Orion fit himself between Cecily and Alma, making sure the two of them kept up with the rest. They were keeping nearby the trails so they had an idea of where they were going, but not so close that any passerby could see them. They were all criminals after all.

He especially kept an eye on Cecily. She was moving like normal, but the assassin got the idea that she could get stabbed and still pretend she was okay.

He caught the worried glances of Zephyr and Reiko as well. The three of them all had the same thought.

"So, where is it we're going, again?" Alma said just loud enough that the small group could hear.

The question was aimed at Cecily, but the hunter didn't seem apt on answering, so the prince answered for her. "A small house-"

"It's a mansion," Reiko cut in, unamused.

"A mansion, I suppose," Zephyr continued. "I'd forgotten about it. When I was younger, I used to take vacations there with... Yeah. Apparently, Cecily made a deal with my father when they met. In return for keeping me safe, she gets a mansion."

"Don't talk about me like that," Cecily bit back. It was foolish of Orion to think she wasn't paying attention - she always knew what was going on. "Like I'm just helping cause I get the mansion out of it. It was only if your father died - specifically if he was killed by someone on the list. He has someone verify too, just to be sure."

"But you're staying because you want the money."

Cecily stopped dead in her tracks and the others weren't far behind.

When she turned, a rage danced behind he obsidian behind her eyes, one that made the assassin's hairs stand on end.

To the former prince's credit, he didn't back down when she approached. He didn't meet her eyes either, but no one could blame him for that.

When she was within inches of him and they were nearly breathing the same air, she raised her hand...

And pinched his nose with her human arm, forcing him to look at her.

He looked at her with wide eyes.

"I'm giving you a pass for this one because I get that you've gone through something awful. I will say this once and only once so listen up - all of you. If I wanted to, I could've claimed the land and left all of you behind, but no. I took you to my home and introduced you to my family because I intend on protecting you and not for the money. All I needed was that house to keep my dad safe because my life has been dedicated to making sure his life is good. I put him in danger for all of you because, and listen to this. You. Are. My. Friends."

She let go of his nose, which glowed red in the white snow that was starting to drift through the air around them. The four of them were too caught on the fire that dance behind that obsidian of her eyes to look away for even an instant.

"Your father didn't put his faith in me, he put it in you and that too nice personality of yours. He trusted you to gain my trust. He knew if anyone could reform me it'd be you. So I'm giving you this one pass. But if you say it again, I'll put you in a wheelchair."

With that proclamation, she turned and continued in the direction they were heading.

The other four looked between each other with shock in their eyes, and it was Alma who spoke up first. "I think she's really tired and it might be affecting her filter because the Cecily I know would never admit to any of that."

Reiko scoffed. "The Cecily I know wouldn't say more than twenty words to get her point across."

The soon-to-be prince stayed quiet, his brows pinched in anger towards himself, and then he looked up with a new resolve.

When he moved to follow Cecily, so did the others.

---

When they reached the mansion, not at all a small house, Alma noted, Cecily collapsed on the nearest soft object, which happened to be a couch, and fell immediately into a deep sleep.

"That's for the best," Alma commented to the others. "She actually scares me more when she's talkative than when she's quiet."

Reiko scoffed in agreement.

Looking around, Alma noted that the mansion, which she originally thought had only three stories, also included a fully furnished basement that looked like it used to be the servants quarters. It wasn't as extravagant as the floors above, but it was certainly less overwhelming.

The Saint peered into each of the rooms until she found one that resembled sleeping quarters. There were, in total, six beds pressed up against the walls.

"Thinking of taking a nap?" A voice asked behind her.

She jumped a good foot.

Orion laughed.

"I didn't hear you," she pouted.

"I wouldn't be a good assassin if you did."

She scowled, but moved out of the doorway to make room for the assassin.

Alma watched Orion meticulously examine each and every corner of the room. His hands ghosted each of the wooden bedframes before he lazily slumped down on the soft white cotton furthest from the door.

"How're you feeling?" The Saint asked, striding over to him.

The assassin shrugged. "Better. A little sore. Stings sometimes."

Alma gave him a half smile. "While I appreciate the honesty, I wasn't asking about the stab wound. I know that's doing fine, I took care of it myself."

Orion laughed, moving over on the small twin bed to make room for the smaller Saint.

When she was settled, he moved just a bit closer - just enough so that their shoulders brushed every time one of them took a breath.

"In that case..." He looked at her, bearing all the honestly he never spoke in fragile eyes, "I'm tired."

Alma hummed, taking hold of his arm and tugging so that he was fully leaning against her.

"I want to help Zeph, I really do," he continued. "And not just because he's the prince, was the prince, you know what I mean, but because he's my friend. That's weird to say. Zephyr, former prince and future king, is my friend. Me, the assassin."

"It started out as just another job," Alma continued for him. "But turned into so much more."

Orion nodded before laying his head on her shoulder. "I've never had something like this before. Everyday was just work or another job, but now it's different. I actually care about Zeph, and Cecily, and Reiko, don't you dare tell him, and..."

Alma intertwined her fingers with his. "Yeah."

"Yeah. And it's... Actually caring for someone, for people, is exhausting."

Alma chuckled. "Yeah, it really is."

So they sat, content with the quietness and each other, until they were nothing more than two people with no troubles in the world.

You're up next.