Chapter 1
I thank the heavens that this day has ended. I could not bear another minute being with my colleagues trying to kill one man that has gotten away three times in the last two years. Ryan Mathyrs, a man known to the media as a technological genius for creating apps and computer programs for big businesses was leading a prostitution ring under his own company and pinning the blame on workers who rejected his promotional gifts. The ring consisted of said employees, missing persons reported to LAPD going back to three years prior, homeless citizens, delinquent students from high schools who no one would notice have gone missing, and some family members.
The man had no remorse for who his target was and was more concerned about how they would be captured and how they needed to be trained for their new owners; his clients. Ed, Eddy, and I were sent on this mission, again, to spit an end to this man and his escapades. We've failed the first few times due to killing the wrong person and for almost getting caught. This time was different because we were ordered to have two other colleagues come along with us to not mangle our objective.
Edd: Sigh, such a day will only be worth it when the money is wired and the people are saved.
I smiled at the night guard of my apartment building as he waved back at me. I pressed the button of the elevator and waited for it to open. This was not the filthiest mission that I've been on, it's not even the bloodiest. This was the most degrading mission of my life! I was paired with one of my colleagues and one of my teammates. We planned to enter the ring as a client and his "toy" who was to fight other "toys" to ultimately take them home as trophies. Of course, My female colleague acted that part as a wealthy businesswoman, and I am the prized toy to fight. The bell rings and the doors slowly open. I step inside and press the number of my destination, fourteen, and watch as the doors close and the subtle vibrations of the elevator lull me to relaxation.
As I played the part of a toy, the others made their move. After two hours, our target was dead and we left as the authorities made their arrests. My body was sore, my arm bleeding from fighting other people, my mind was riddled with profanities of which I have specifically chosen just for my team alone for the plan we had constructed. Of all the lunacies and crackpot ideas that he's schemed, this was by far the most asinine. As the elevator came to a halt, the bell rang once more and the doors slowly opened to an empty floor colored in dim lights, white lilies, and peach vases. The black walls accompanied by the gold trim and burgundy carpets are what I familiarized myself with as comfort.
Edd: My keys…
I fish out my key from my pocket and push it into the chamber. Twisting the handle I push the door open to a dark room partially lit by the dim hall lights. Stepping in and closing the door behind me, I flip the switch illuminating the living room clad in white and royal blue. My body was less than satisfactory as I held my bleeding arm. Filthy. Not only was the pain unbearable but I wanted to hurry out of these clothes to clean them. Taking off my hat and quickly replacing it with my signature black hat sporting two white lines. I traverse my flat taking off my clothes heading to the bathroom, and then the phone rings. Who could be calling at this hour?
I grabbed a towel from the open linen closet in the hall towards the bathroom and went back to the living room to answer the phone.
Edd: Hello?
Voice: 'Sup double-dweeb, how's the arm doing?
I recognize this voice, this condescending and brash voice.
Edd: To what do I owe the pleasure of this call so late at night, Ranger K?
I heard him grunt over the phone.
Kevin: We're not duty or on a call that the CDS monitors, so you don't have to call me that.
Edd: I am fully aware of that, why are you calling me?
Kevin: I wanted to ask how the mission was?
Why would he care about someone other than himself? Don't get me wrong, Kevin cares but not as much for my trio as compared to say, Nazz, Rolf, or even Sarah. He was the one in our childhood to always beat me, Ed, and Eddy up after our scams would go awry, and then later call us names when they weren't warranted.
Edd: It went fine. We killed Mathyrs and the rest of the patrons to his prostitution ring were arrested and are probably contacting their lawyers to get themselves out of this mess. This still does not explain your calling.
Kevin: I called because I was wondering how you were going to spend the rest of the night sleeping on your right side? You hate that.
As an assassin, it becomes second nature to study the habits of your target. You, essentially, become that person living in their shoes going through their everyday life. With that being said, how would he know that I don't like sleeping on my right side? No one but my parents knows this about me. Has he been inside my house recently?
Edd: Well, if you must know, I'll sleep on my back.
Kevin: A great choice, I sleep on my stomach mostly. I heard that you played the part as a trophy.
Edd: Then you must know that I lost my last round of the fight. It was hard for me to even wear such clothing and to act in such a vulgar manner pained me.
I walked around my flat while talking trying to figure out if this man was even here.
Edd: I also have a wine stain on my suit from Eddy as we left too.
He chuckled at my statement.
Kevin: Funny, Eddy doesn't drink wine and you only have blood stains along with dirt on your person.
Big mistake. You never give yourself away when watching someone, especially up close.
Edd: Oh, well then, why not come out from hiding in my flat and explain to me why you're here?
I heard him chuckle once more and the call ended. I heard scuffling coming from the living room closet where I held the holiday decor. It slowly swung open revealing the man of the hour. standing tall in his work clothes, Kevin Barr, the CDS' only sharpshooter. A red button-up shirt with a matching red hat sporting a black band, white form-fitting pants, and light grey combat boots all under holsters. He wasn't wearing his black mask showing off his emerald eyes.
Edd: As you broke into my apartment, did you not realize that you were still wearing your hat?
Kevin: I am aware of it.
Edd: I see, take it off, please.
He scoffed, turning his head and taking his hat off. He threw it towards the rack landing it on the hook. As a gentleman, I uphold the stereotypes of what a real man is supposed to be. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in my domain. I go back to my business and walk to the bathroom to fix up my arm. I heard him follow me into the bathroom and lean against the wall behind me. Standing in front of the sink I spoke.
Edd: I assume that you're just going to watch me as I tend to my injury?
Kevin: I doubt that you would want me to fix it myself since I know next to nothing about first aid.
Edd: Point taken.
I'd rather he left entirely. I felt...uncomfortable now. I have to take this shirt to suture up the wound, but I have a shyness of doing so in front of other people. He's has been watching me for some time and knows some things about me that only close friends and family would know. I turn to him seeing a smirk grace his clean face.
Kevin: Is there a problem?
Edd: I don't care for people watching me disrobe.
Kevin: Shy are we?
Edd: Indeed. Do you mind?
Kevin: No, I don't mind, carry on.
I detest this man and his "my way" attitude. I turn back to my arm and shakily take off my shirt. As my shirt fell to my waist I felt his eyes bore into my back leaving marks that could never be washed away. I grabbed the first aid that I left on the small table and opened it. I prep everything and start the procedure. For a man that kills for work, I don't have a high tolerance for pain. Sticking the needle into my skin I pull back feeling the fresh sting on already bruised flesh.
Kevin: Having trouble there?
Edd: Kind of. My skin has become sensitive from the fighting and getting hit by one of Jimmy's attacks only made it worse.
I heard him walk over behind me. I turned to come face to face with him as he knelt. His green eyes were like a wide-open field that held no flowers in view.
Kevin: You look like you need help.
Edd: I assure you that I am more than capable of directing medical aid.
Kevin: Well, sucks to be you because it looks like it won't ever get closed up by the speed you're going.
He's right. I want this done so I can clean up, kick him out, eat, and go to bed. Without hesitation, he moved me from the sink to the tub where he got in and sat me down.
Edd: What're you doing?
Kevin: I'm going to help you out with this.
Edd: What? I said I could handle this alone.
Kevin: You would be halfway done if that were the case.
He scooped up my legs and turned my body into the tub. He stood me up and stepped in as well and sat down behind me.
Edd: I inquire again, what're you doing?
Without a word, Kevin pulled me down into his lap and shoved the medkit into my lap.
Kevin: What you're going to do...is coach me through stitching up your arm.
Edd: But-
Kevin: I'm not taking "no" for an answer, Edd.
Since the call, he hasn't called me by any other name. He called me a "double-dweeb" earlier, but also there are times where he has called me by my first name because the situation was serious. I must say this man is a spectacle. He reached around his waist taking off his belt and then tying it around my arm. The searing pain of the pressure being put on my arm was something I couldn't handle.
Edd: Kevin I-
He ignored me and gave me the thread and needle. He held them looking at me with a stern look. He wasn't playing around. Reluctantly I took them and prepped them for him. I watched his hand reach for the peroxide and open it.
Pouring the bubbly clear liquid onto the open wound made it hurt worse. He took it and looked at my arm in his hand and loosened his grip when I flinched. He gave no warning and shoved the needle in my arm.
When you've felt pain, like a paper cut, you know the pain and how the irritation of it distracts your mind. But after time passes you tend to forget the initial pain and you'd think it didn't feel this bad the first time. He didn't stop even when I pleaded. Halfway through and I couldn't hold back the pained groans, my hands were gripping the edge of the tub as the needle went in and out of my skin.
After a few minutes it was over and I could finally relax. I couldn't move for a while, everything was spinning and my heart was pounding.
Edd: Are you going to tell me the real reason for you being here?
Kevin: As I've said before, I came to check on you.
Edd: I highly doubt that you would even concern yourself with my health when you've done nothing but belittle me and my friends as you harassed me on every mission that we've worked together on?
I stood and got out of the tub and wrapped my arm with more bandages. He didn't do a bad job stitching me up and cleaning the wound. His hands weren't as clean as I would hope for them to be but I most likely won't get any infection from it either. As he got out of the tub I put everything back where it was. I went into the bedroom and grabbed a short-sleeved white shirt and proceeded to my kitchen to make something to eat. Of course, he followed me and watched every move I made.
Edd: As much as I don't want to ask, would you like to stay for a late dinner with me?
He smiled as he grabbed a green apple from the bowl on the counter.
Kevin: Seeing as I didn't eat anything today, I would be delighted to.
He sunk his teeth into the apple like a ferocious animal. In a way, I felt as though I were that apple in his hands. Feeling his teeth bite into my flesh and savoring it, not just the flavor of my body but also the fear wafting from my eyes. I go about my business and gather things to make dinner. After a while of just prepping things, I noticed his gaze, once again, never leaving me.
Edd: Instead of watching me cook, why not go into the living room and relax?
He seemed insulted by my suggestion.
Kevin: Why? I'm very comfortable right here.
He sat in the chair at the counter and kicked his feet up. They were on my sterile countertop...how disgustingly atrocious! I put the knife down and wiped my hands with a rag. Staring was something that I hardly did with people unless I was angry or in surgery.
Edd: While your visit is unwanted, and I don't mind the company, I ask that you respect my house rules and not have your feet on my clean countertop.
He looked at his feet and then back at me. His blank face changed slowly into a devious smile, I've seen this look when I would work with him. Every chance he has gotten to make a fool of me he has taken, abused, and reveled in as I went back home and regretted the life choices that lead me to even be alive.
Kevin: I'll do so if you do something for me.
Edd: What?
He got up from his chair. He set the half-eaten apple down on the countertop and stood in front of me. He has always been taller than me in the past and even with just this domineering presence, he still has something hanging over me to look up at. Was he exacting an ultimatum?
Edd: What are you trying to say here?
Kevin: I want something from you.
Edd: Is this something that only I can give you? Because if not then you can go someplace else for it.
Kevin: Only you can give me what I need. I won't be satisfied with someone else filling out my request.
But why me? What could I give him that no one else could?
Kevin: However, this is a special request that I must ask of you.
Edd: And what makes this request so special?
As I finished my question his hands grabbed my hips and pushed me into the refrigerator. I look at him seeing those same green eyes filled with aggression and wanting that I felt immobilized. He wants something that only I can give him, no one else can assist him, but even now I can't figure out what that thing might be.
Kevin: Let me stay here with you for a year…
I felt the tension slowly fade when I heard his request. Was that all it was? To stay with me for a year? He could've done this with anyone else! He's friends with almost everybody at work except for me, Ed, and Eddy, why was this a lie that needed to be told?!
Kevin:...as my lover.
...well, that was new.
END of 1