group
Sterling sighed and wrapped his arms around her. Obviously he wasn't helping with his words, so maybe he could just help her calm down a little by holding her.
𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓿𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓡𝓟 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓙𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓼!
group
She took a couple shaky breaths. "Just a dream…" She relaxed a little.
group
Sterling continued to murmur softly to her, running his hand over her hair. He really didn't know how to comfort people…
It took another 5 minutes but she managed to calm down. "Sorry you had to see me like this…nightmares are pretty frequent for an assassin." She mumbled.
group
"It's okay… I'm glad I was here to at least try to help you " Sterling said softly, continuing to run his hand through her hair.
"I thought I was over them already. Guess not though." She sighed pulling her hair out its braid to comb it with her fingers.
group
Sterling kissed the top of her head. "Hey, that's not something to be ashamed of. Everyone has nightmares. Some more than others."
"But I shouldn't. I was trained better." She tensed up at the thought before relaxing. "It's just different now. Rather than friends of mine being hurt or killed…now it's you. And I can't stand that."
group
"Just because you were taught something, doesn't mean it's right," Stelring said. He gently cupped her cheeks in his hands and lifted her face to look at him before he kissed her softly. "So you can cry all you want. It's completely normal and expected."
She buried her face in his shoulder, her tears finally bursting forth. "I just don't want you hurt because of me."
group
"Shh… It'll be okay… I'm right here; no one is going to even dare to hurt me while you're with me. Plus, I know how to handle myself. I've been in tough situations before…"
"You're a weakness. Something that shows I have a heart. And people will stop at nothing to take that weakness and exploit it and break me down. If you got hurt or even killed because of who I am, I…" Her grip on him tightened. "I don't know what I'd do…"
group
"It's okay, Cass. I'll be okay," Sterling murmured softly.
"Promise?" She flinched when she said it. She had a horrible history with promises of protection. The other person always broke it when the times got tough. Leaving her to defend herself.
group
Sterling paused for a moment. "I promise to keep myself as safe as possible."
"That's not what I meant." She picked her head up slightly. "Promise that even when times get tough, that you'll value your own life over mine. That if it costs my life to save yours, you'll let me."
group
"No. I can't do that," Sterling said, shaking his head. "I won't do that."
"Sterling please." Her eyes pleased with her. "It's my job to kill who I have to and save who I can. If I have a choice to save you over myself, of course I'll do it."
group
Sterling shook his head slowly. "That is one thing I cannot promise you, Cassandra… I'm sorry," he whispered.
She sighed slowly. "Alright. Fine. But if the situation comes up, you'll have to make a choice."
group
"I know," Sterling said softly, kissing her cheek.
Let's just hope you make the right one… She smiled a little.
group
"So anyway," Steeling said, loosening his grip on her. "I brought you breakfast and an ice pack."
"Thank God, I haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday." She chuckled.
group
Sterling cocked an eyebrow at her. "You had the option to eat last night."
"Never eat something until proven it's safe. It's just a rule." She shrugged.
group
"So… The hundred or so students and faculty who ate it and didn't die or get sick didn't prove it for you enough?"
"Slow acting poisons exist. Better safe than sorry."
group
Sterling nodded slowly. "Okay, true… You're going to eat now, though, right?"
"Well if I ever got my food, I would!"