Blood and Sweaters

Chapter 5

Mirk

Partially or totally dark

A couple of weeks went by after the knife incident. Neither of them spoke about it. Ransom fell into a routine but the silence in the house was killing him. Even though they cooked, ate, and trained together, Aria never really talked to him unless it to show him what to do when they training or pass something while cooking. It was driving Ransom mad. He was the type of person who always got what he wanted, people always gave in to him.

Ransom sat on the edge of the tall cliff that overlooked the freezing ocean below. He enjoyed the slight chill in the air. Winter was slowly setting in and soon snow would begin to fall.

"Coffee for your thoughts?" Aria offered one of the black mugs to him. She settled down next to him, her legs dangling off the edge.

He took the mug and smiled at the girl, it was the first time he heard her speak to him in weeks, that didn't include cooking or training.

"Just reflecting on life, " he replied plainly.

"Mr entitled rich asshat, reflecting on life?" she scoffed.

"Hey! I might be spoilt and an ass but I have feelings, " Ransom frowned staring at the steaming beverage.

"That's exactly what I want to talk to you about. I know you have feelings but these feelings cloud your judgment and in the game, we're about to play we can't let anything get in the way, no matter how we feel."

The two sat in the cold winter breeze understanding everything that was not spoken but implied. Aria gazed into Ransom's eyes, she noticed how the blue was darker around the edges of his irises and turned lighter in the middle near the pupils. His baby blue eyes were the only thing that seemed bright and full of life in this dull weather. She ran her fingers through his silky brown hair. There was nothing she wanted more than to kiss his soft pink lips and for a moment she almost threw caution to the wind and gave in to her heart. But the pain of the past hurt more than any love that was forming in that ice-cold heart of hers.

"Maybe one day, " she whispered so softly, leaning her forehead against his for a few minutes.

She pulled away and placed a kiss on his forehead. Ransom snaked his arm around her and pulled her closer to him as the two sat in silence gazing at the ocean.

Ransom's heart hurt. Never in his life did ever care about anyone else but himself. He was a self-preserving person and he never denied it. But sitting here on the edge of the cliff in the middle of nowhere with this amazing girl in his arms, he wanted nothing more than to hold her and love her for the rest of his life. He would do anything to see her happy. To give her a family. To take away the pain.

Aria felt something cold fall on her arm. When she looked up she saw small white snowflakes gently falling all around her. A bright childlike smile slowly spread on her face making Ransom's heart melt.

At that moment Ransom vowed by the time the snow melts he'll have her heart for his own. He would help her with her revenge. He will help her find her peace. He would teach the cold-hearted assassin to feel the warmth of love.

~~~

Over the next couple of days, the snow formed a beautiful icy white blanket, that covered as far as the eye could see. Aria looked out the window taking in the slow but steady snowfall. She had always loved when it snowed. When she was little her mom would make a pot of hot cocoa with the little white marshmallows and bring it to the training grounds. The little marshmallows always reminded her of snowflakes and the rich chocolate taste could remedy any injuries picked up during the long strenuous day. After her parents died Aria stopped drinking cocoa, the taste reminded her way too much of her mom's warm smile and her dad's firm yet loving ways. The vivid memory was embedded so deep within her that she could practically feel the sore muscles and taste the warm beverage that cured them.

The sound of shuffling interrupted her thoughts. She turned to the direction the noise had come from to find an incredibly handsome Ransom coming down the stairs. He wore light jeans and a huge grey sweater that enhanced his large muscular form. His dark hair was brushed back messily, but it only amplified the mischievous glint in his eye. The sight of him made her smirk. She knew exactly what training she wanted to do today.

"Good morning dewdrop, " he said with a trademark smirk.

"Why do you call me that?" she asked a little annoyed.

"I'll tell you..." he said coming up so close to her that she could see the hint of green in his ocean blue eyes.

Being this close to him affected her but just how much she was never going to show him. His fresh, woody scent engulfed her. Ransom quite enjoyed the way her chocolate brown eyes widened a little at their closeness.

"One day, " he kissed her cheek with a cocky smirk and walked away feeling quite proud of himself.

Aria was irritated by Ransom's cocky behavior but if there's one thing her job taught her was to be patient for revenge and she knew exactly how she was going to get hers.

Grabbing two guns and two bulletproof vests from under the kitchen counter, she made her way to the door where Ransom stood watching her cautiously.

"How good is your aim?" she smirked walking out the door with a rather nervous Ransom in tow.

~~~

After a short walk, they found a small clearing at the edge of the cliff. Ransom pulled off his sweater revealing a white tank underneath. He put on his vest tightening up the straps so that it sat snag against his chest.

Aria couldn't help but stare at the tattoos that peaked out from under his tank. A quote of some sort was on the left side of his chest and a Tauras bull sign adorned his bicep on the same side. On the opposite side of his chest feathers peeked out, Aria had to admit that all the ink made him quite intriguing.

"Like what you see?" he smirked.

Aria had it with him today, he was really testing her patience. Turning to him she quickly pulled out her gun from her waistband and shot him three times in the chest. He fell onto the snow-covered ground with a thud.

"What the fu-"

Aria walked up to him dead serious.

"Piss me off again and next time I'll shoot when you're not in the vest, " Aria held her hand out to help him up but he ignored it altogether.

He glared at the girl in front of him, wondering why he had feelings for someone who could never be trusted. She was after all a cold-blooded murderer.

"Okay Bub. Let's train." she said flashing him a bright smile as if she didn't just shoot him a few seconds ago and even though he was pissed at her for it, his heartstrings tugged at the sight of her smile.

The feeling was short-lived once they started training. Aria was a ruthless teacher that he knew that from the first day of training. She pushed a person to limits even they didn't know existed. She was of those teachers who never seemed to be impressed and if she was she never actually showed it.

They worked on aim and dodging and even though Aria would never admit it in front of him, Ransom was actually quite good. Aside from being an entitled asshat, he was a sharp learner. He observed techniques and picked up quickly. Surprisingly he listened to every word she said and acted upon any advice given.

Once Aria was satisfied with the session, she took a seat on the edge of the cliff with Ransom.

"I think you're finally ready. Tomorrow we begin with part one of our plan. We going to be gone for a couple of days so pack accordingly. Tomorrow we hunt down our first deer." Aria smirked looking into the horizon.

Ransom could see the change in her attitude.
The heartless hitman was back and ready as ever.
~~~