Sweet Nothings of Doom

By: Rogue White Dragon (aka Dragoness)

Disclaimer: I don't own TOS

Prologue

"Jerk." His eyebrow twitched for the millionth time, and by now, the odd, irritated, violent feeling forming in his stomach was something he'd become accustomed too.

"Idiot." Another twitch and he finally favored his traveling companion with an extremely annoyed scowl.

"Miss, I would appreciate it if you remained silent." She must not have heard him, because she went on, saying

"Bastard." His eyebrow was now beginning to feel numb, and when she added a few other 'names' such as 'ass-whole', 'self-centered-prick', and, his personal favorite 'annoying-mercenary-dude', he spun on his heel to face her, halting the young woman in her tracks. Puzzled, she only raised and innocent brow at him, and asked

"Why're we stopping?" Trying to piece back together his calm expression, he hissed through clenched teeth

"Because, Miss, I asked for one moment of silence, and an hour of your insistent-"

"I have a name, you know." He turned his back to her again, debating whether or not to just leave her be. A day on her own the middle of no-where could do her some good. On the other hand, so could some near-death experiences.

"Hey, Mercenary, say my name. Now." He shot her another glare, finding it near impossible to stay civil around her. He could deal with bickering royals, snot-nosed nobles, his psychotic boss, but this petite brunette? He shuddered as he began walking again. Maybe he should up his fee? He'd been far too kind in agreeing to escort her from Luin to Asgard for only half what he usually charged, simply because he was already on his way there, and a small tag-along hadn't seemed so bad. She had appeared harmless, if not just a little on the annoying side. Three days travel would go by quickly, and he would be rid of her. Looking back on his decision now, he was disgusted with how stupid he had been. That's the last time he took pity on a human.

"-come on, Aram, I'll bake you those brownies you love so much!" A brown haired young woman was leaning over the counter towards the only blacksmith in Luin, when Kratos stepped into the small weaponry shop. The young man the brunette had been pestering looked up in relief, and asked

"How can I help you?" Kratos approached the counter while ignoring the girl, unsheathing his sword to place in front of the man.

"I need this repaired." Was his simple, if not ordinary request. The blacksmith looked at the blade for a moment, before taking it and scurrying into the depths of his shop, away from the woman who was still standing near the counter. Now, though, her gaze was fixed on him, a curious look on her face.

"So…" She began, tugging on a stray lock of brown hair while looking him up and down. Her eyes strayed in the direction the man, Aram, had fled to, and then turned a frown back to Kratos. "…I don't suppose you're an assassin for hire?" He didn't even bother to reply, simply shifted the pack slung over his shoulder, and fixed her with a piercing stare that had left lesser men nothing more than shaking mounds of flesh. Unaffected, she sighed a little, looking mildly depressed. "Was worth a shot. Tell him I'll drop by later."

"Kratos." She had now taken to repeating his name. Over, and over, and over again. One hand touching the hilt of his sword, he began to weigh the option of running her through. One quick swing of his blade, and she'd shut up. Permanently. The idea was far too tempting, and he tried to shift his thoughts to more pleasant, less homicidal things. For example, the blacksmith had done an excellent job on his sword, giving the weapon a good tune up. Which, all together, meant it was now sharper, and more lethal then it had been before he had brought it in. All the better for stabbing.

"Kratooooos." Stabbing a certain brunette that refused to keep her mouth shut. Again, his hand strayed to the hilt of his weapon, as the blade all but called for him to use it. Closing his eyes, he glanced over his shoulder, and after a few deep breaths to calm himself, asked

"Yes?" She was apparently pleased with this, and soon started a one sided conversation about absolutely nothing. A head ache was forming, and the mercenary found himself quickening his pace. Much to his dismay, the girl did so as well, never missing a beet with what she was saying

"-so I said to her that if that bastard was going to go and-" she used words that a young woman should never say, and that he was frankly shocked she even knew as she described a young man from her hometown who should, in her opinion, "-die a horrible, horrible death, be brought back to life, and get disemboweled, have his spleen ripped out, and finally, or maybe this should have been first, castra-" he tuned her out, shuddering once again. She was by far the crudest woman he had ever met. She poked his shoulder, and asked innocently "Don'cha think? Mercenary Dude?" Something about leaving her home must've warped her brain. She had seemed all sweet and innocent back in Luin, and it seemed that the further they got away from it, the more sinister she became. Evil. She was completely evil.

"Hmph." Was his only response.

"-thanks, Aram! If I didn't have to leave, I'd bake for you for a year!" This was followed by hugging the poor blacksmith till his face turned red. Whatever was in the bundle that Kratos had witnessed Aram giving to the young woman, she was obviously overjoyed. When he was released, Aram produced his only other work of the day, and laid Kratos' sword carefully on the counter. Then, as if the brunette's last sentence had just clicked in, Aram darted wide eyes towards her, and asked

"You're leaving? Why?" He paled a little, and half demanded "You haven't been going near the ran-!?" he stopped himself, his eyes pleading as he stared at her. She grimaced, spared Kratos a glance, then shrugged to Aram, and said

"Because there is no way I'm going to marry some old-geezer that mom picked out for me." Aram had seemed puzzled, as he said

"Nathan's not old, he's only thirty." This earned the blacksmith a small glare, as she replied

"I'm nineteen, Aram, that's like, eleven years difference. Anything beyond three is just…well…creepy." Kratos had looked away to hide his half smile, thinking her words nothing more than childish whining.

"Where are you going, then?"

"Asgard."

Why oh why couldn't she be just a shy girl, who kept quiet and stayed out of his way? Because she's the spawn of all that is evil. If ever the root to all evil was discovered in a single human, it would be her.

"Hey, Mercenary? You should really talk more. My dad always said that talking about your feelings was the best way to express yourself." Her words sounded almost concerned, but he wasn't fooled.

"Miss, I'll ask only once more for you to be quiet." She only tilted her head to the side, and then chose to ignore his warning.

"I can tell you have a lot of pent up rage since you're clenching your hilt reeeeally tightly. That hints at a lifetime of anger. I think if you talked about it…" Not even looking at her, he growled

"The only way I'd talk to you about any-" She yelped suddenly, and pointed towards a monster that had stumbled into their path

"Why kind of body guard are you?! Kill it!" Gracefully, he slid his blade clear of its sheath and approached the large insect, imagining it as a larger version of the woman standing behind him.

"You're a mercenary? Wow, that's so cool!" She had exclaimed after asking his profession. He was already prepared to leave, but the small being standing in front of him bared his way out. Shrugging at her, he hoped that she'd move aside quickly, since he wanted to be on his way.

"If I hired you, could you bring to Asgard?" Her eyes had pleaded, her lip had trembled, and was certain she was fighting the urge to ring her hands in front of him. Sighing a little, he shook his head

"I'm sorry Miss, but even if it wasn't my destination, I do not usually escort young women who only wish to flee their duties." She gazed at him with tearful eyes, one hand again tugging at a rogue lock of hair.

"They're trying to force me into a marriage I want nothing to do with!" She sounded as if she were fighting back a sob, and his conscious seemed to take control of his voice as he gave another sigh, and replied

"Alright."

The monster destroyed, he had to listen as she began to list all the ways in which the giant insect had been killed with more 'murderous intent' than needed. Glancing at the sliced up, shriveled mass that had stood before him, Kratos gave a satisfied nod in its direction. Turning towards his client, he said, sounding much more relaxed

"Come, Anna, we'll never reach Asgard standing around."

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soooo, I wrote this cause I needed a bit of a break from my other fic (which, for anyone who's reading TOJ, is now mostly finished). I kind of liked the idea that Anna wasn't some innocent bystander, so when I update, it'll be less of Anna as the innocent ranch victim saved by Kratos and such. So yeah, anywho, the next chapters will be longer than this, sooo thanks for reading, and please review.