{Currently on hold} Target Practice

Hard Times

I know, I know, I shouldn't be starting a new book when I'm barely scratching the surface on my first one, but this idea came from CAPTA1NCALGARY and their one-shots book Think Again. We've been in contact and they're actually working as my assistant for this book. Think of it as an Assassin's Creed au, because that's basically what this is. Anyway, that's all I really have to say, so enjoy Target Practice

The white mask that haunts so many of her days, standing there silently, waiting eerily, calmly, for the moment he can spring into action. Danielle ever so patient adjusts her weight, slightly in a defensive position, knowing how he loves to strike first when it comes to them being toe-to-toe.

The serene atmosphere should not have been as calm as it was, given the events that were about to take place. The sun was just starting to set and the leaves were slowly turning brown. The autumn breeze was just there to chill those that were watching on the sidelines for the two top of their classes to go toe-to-toe. Dream was not even a year older than Danielle, but they were separated into different classes. To say that Danielle was nervous would be an understatement, and across the field, Dream could feel the waves of nerves rolling off of her and his smirk could be seen miles away from under the mask that he always chose to wear.

Beaten and bloody is the way Calvin Whitachire found Danielle on that terrible morning, and yet instead of leaving her for dead like everyone else, he took her under his wing and trained her to be one of the best assassins to be seen in generations beaten only by the man in the mask. Dream. Her mortal enemy up until this point. The unconscious girl was taken under Calvin's wing because he didn't want her to go through any more pain than what she had already been through. The morning when Danielle woke up it was a lot calmer than it should have been if she were at home, but she wasn't, and when she realized that she started freaking out. All of the previous day's memories came back with a vengeance. Since Calvin was standing outside the door he heard everything Danielle was going through, he knocked on the door.

"Danielle, are you okay? You're safe, we're at my house. They can't get you here, if they start looking for you we'll change your name and everything about you."

Danielle opens the door with red eyes and puffy cheeks and runs into Calvin's arms. He wasn't expecting the overwhelming show of affection that caused him to stumble back a step. Danielle lets go of him and heads into the bathroom to clean herself up and to get ready for the day.

"Hey, Danny, when you get finished let's go to the field and train, yeah?"

"Yeah, just let me clean these cuts up and we can go."

Calvin nods and heads back towards the kitchen. Danielle takes time to get alcohol to clean the wounds, then she grabs bandages to cover them so they don't get infected. Once that is finished, Danielle changes into her training attire and heads to the kitchen. Calvin notices Danielle's presence and heads outside to find her following him as expected.

The trees were just starting to change colors to match the fall weather that was coming in soon. As Calvin and Danielle continued walking all that could be heard was the crunching of leaves under their boots. The peace and quiet was all Danielle needed so she could prepare for a day of intense training.

"Calvin? Why do you want to train me? What did you see in me that caused you to pick me up from the side of the road?"

"Well Danielle, a former friend of mine has a protege and I want you to be at least as good as him, or better than him. That is why I picked you up, also it was because you have a certain rage towards life that I haven't seen since I was younger."

Danielle shrugs and picks up her sword and switches into a defensive stance. Her shoulders are back, her feet are shoulder-width apart, and her sword is up ready for a blow.

Danielle's navy tank top was blowing gently in the wind, her leggings were tucked into her brown boots that were laced up to under her knees. Across the field, Calvin was wearing a worn-out green shirt and some sweatpants.

"How do you know the correct positioning for defense if you come from a royal bloodline? Most royal families don't teach the princesses self-defense since they have the guards to protect them."

"Well, with my family, the king and queen were so stuck up that I didn't even go to them first. I went to my trusted guard and asked him to train me."

Calvin's head shoots up when the words king and queen leave Danielle's lips.

"That doesn't make any sense, if you're one of the royal princesses, why haven't your parents sent out a search party? They would've noticed your absence by now."

"They would've if they weren't completely wrapped around my sister and her fiancé helping them get ready for the upcoming wedding. Not only are my parents completely enthralled by her, but the entire kingdom is as well since she's the next in line for the throne. Nobody noticed when I just slipped away and didn't return."

Calvin nods his head solemnly in what seems to be an understanding way.

-----

"Earth to your royal highness, are you still with me?"

Danielle shakes the memory from her head and turns to look at him.

"What's it to you? Since you just want to be the best of the best and claim to read me like a book. What was it I was thinking about?"

"It's not what you were thinking about, my dear. It's about what would happen if we were close like we were all those years ago, doing something almost exactly like this as a training exercise."

He turned around and stalked towards her and she backed up for every step he took and eventually hit a tree. He rested an arm against the tree next to her head, as he towered above her he dipped his head down and whispered in her ear.

"You haven't changed a bit princess, you still react the same way to my movements just like you did back then."

The smirk is ever-present on his face as he drags a finger up her jawline, and just as he expected she jumped from the touch.

Danielle drew her dagger to put some space between them. Seeing the glare, he backs up and puts his hands up in mock surrender.

"Look at you go, actually pulling a dagger and not being scared to use it on me anymore. Calvin really pulled out the underlying boiling anger you had towards your family, didn't he? You see, he may know you, but I will always know you better."

Danielle looks down at the daggers in her hands and takes a shuddered breath, when she looks back up, Dream is casually leaning against the tree. Getting fed up with his cool exterior, she throws the dagger in her right hand above his head.

Dream glances up at the dagger above his head.

"You know you missed, right?"

"Oh, I know. That was the point. You think you're so cool with the fact that you can stay calm in situations like these, but one day that facade is going to fall. I'm just slowly chipping away at that exterior."

Danielle turns away, but Dream, being the stubborn man he is, draws his sword and places it right on Danielle's neck.

A/N:

WC: 1290

So, here it is, the long-awaited first chapter of my next story.

This is the start of book one in the Dreamers storyline, basically, it's a royalty bounty hunter au and I'm really excited to work with one of my favorite authors on it. As always leave some feedback, it's appreciated.

Ciao !!