Bound by Deception

2.1 A Meal for One

The getaway car was a gift that Sterling had been given from one of his connections. It had survived countless missions but was very obviously used. Holes from missed bullets were indented on the side of the car and the engine would cough constantly. Aria had suggested multiple times that Sterling should scrap the old machine, but her partner always refused her ideas. She often thought that the car had sentimental value to Sterling. He was new in the business when he was given his first seduction assignment from Madame. Aria hadn't had enough time to train him to keep his emotions away from their work, and even though Sterling would deny it every time she brought it up, she thought that the car reminded him of his first love.

They sped down the highway in Sterling's beloved vehicle, sitting in silence, observing the flames that rose behind them. The roads were empty for a while, but soon the parallel side was filled with the sound of sirens and flashes of white, red, and blue. It was like watching a racing event. When Aria mentioned it to Sterling, he laughed.

"It does look like that," he said cockily. "Imagine their faces when they see what we've done! Shit, Madame is really going to kill me."

Aria smirked. "I told you to be more careful." She shrugged and rubbed her knee. "Are you driving at the speed limit?"

"I'm not looking to be pulled over."

"Wow, look who's actually following the rules for once."

"I'm tired as hell," Sterling grumbled. "I don't have the energy for another fight, much less with those damn cops."

"Just bribe them," Aria said. "It always works for me."

Sterling's eyebrow rose incredulously. "You don't even drive! How do you get pulled over?"

Aria sighed. "My cousin," she said. "The little shit always gets himself in trouble with the law."

"He takes after his older cousin, it seems," Sterling chuckled. "Is this the one whose birthday is today?"

Aria nodded. "Unfortunately, the little bastard is turning sixteen. He's let it get to his head that he's at the highest point he could possibly be at. I suppose I'll let him live in that fantasy...for now."

"That's brutal but fair. What did you get him?"

"This." Aria reached into the pocket of the door and tossed a DVD into Sterling's lap. "Some stupid video game. I have no idea why he gets so excited over shooting cars, but what do I know about boys anyway?"

"Not a lot, evidently." Sterling grins. "But hey, it looks like he's taking after you in terms of a side job."

Aria's face darkened. "I hope not," she said. "That's something I'd never want Noah to get into."

"Assassin's work?"

"Yeah." She studied the serene highway. "It's not the life that everyone makes it out to be, and you and I know that better than anyone else."

"It's hypocritical to think like that, don't you think so?" Sterling pulled out of the highway and the car chugged into a shrouded path. "I mean, being an assassin is your job."

"Call me a hypocrite then," Aria said indifferently. Her cold stare fell on the dashboard. "But Noah deserves better than living an assassin's life, Sterling. He's too jovial for this kind of work."

"I'm jovial."

"And dangerous. Noah can't even kill a moth," Aria scoffed. She reached over Sterling's lap and took the gift, studying the plastic-wrapped video game. "I'll let him live in this fantasy for as long as I have to." She studied Sterling's side profile. "Keeping them in oblivion is the safest thing we can do. You know that."

A shadow passed over Sterling's sharp features. His icy stare seemed to glow in the uneasy flicker of moonlight that drenched the front of the car. "Yeah...I do." His voice was barely above a whisper.

Aria bit her lip. "Sorry," she murmured. "I didn't mean to..."

"It's fine." Sterling rebuffed her coldly. His muscles tensed and his narrowed eyes briskly observed their peaceful surroundings.

They spent the rest of the ride in silence, each lost in their own thoughts while absently cleaning their bodies. Blood stained much easier than they had anticipated, and Aria especially didn't want to show up to Noah's birthday covered in Lord Garmond's blood. That would be a story that she wouldn't enjoy explaining.

The car continued to drift noiselessly through the thickets and into the small town of Bishops. Rumbling along the cobblestone streets, Sterling followed Aria's gestures and stopped in front of a large, white, colonial home that covered a large expanse of land and rose into the sky, like it was trying to touch the moon.

Sterling whistled. "I didn't know you were rich," he teased.

"You say this every time, and I reply the same way every time. I'm not rich. My aunt and uncle are." Aria rolled her eyes. She unbuckled her seatbelt and plucked a few wipes from the packet that Sterling offered to her. "Thanks."

"Sure." He watched her clean the last parts of her dress and toss the wipes into the small bin they kept between them. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and pocketed a few small rubber bullets. Aria always liked to be safe rather than sorry. That was what everyone in the office knew her by, much to Sterling's amusement.

"Hey." Sterling grabbed her wrist as she started to get out of the vehicle. "I'm sorry about snapping earlier, Aria. I didn't mean to."

"It's fine. I know I kind of tugged a nerve." Aria smiled sheepishly. She started to sit on the seat again and squeezed Sterling's hand. "Do you want to come inside? Get something to eat and say hello?"

"Nah, you go ahead." He grinned. "I know I'll cause a ruckus if you show up to your rich-ass cousin's house with a hooligan."

"You're not a hooligan!" Aria giggled.

Sterling flexed his arm, and through the ripped fabric of his suit, Aria could see the faded green tattoos on his skin flourishing with color.

"I have tattoos, piercings, and an old-as-hell car," Sterling said. "What else would they think of me?"

"A spoiled rich kid?" Aria suggested humorously.

Sterling rolled his eyes. "Yeah, probably." He laughed. "But seriously, go on. Have fun with Noah. Maybe try video games for once."

"Hell no." Aria scoffed. "These shooter games are shit. It's too predictable and nothing makes sense."

"Since when does anything make sense in the world?" Sterling's jaw loosened and his smirk melted into a genuine smile, one that Aria knew had many falling head-over-heels for her charming partner. She, however, found his bizarre charm ridiculous.

"I suppose you're right." She sighed, making the syndicate symbol with her hands. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. You gotta be there in person to see Madame blow my head off after the mess I made today," Sterling chuckled. He mirrored the symbol that Aria was making on her chest. "Night, Ari."

"Goodnight, Sterling."

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unedited

Part one of chapter 2 is up now! We see some more of Aria and Sterling's relationship here and we're going to be meeting Aria's family soon! 

Also, just a reminder that I will be posting all of the chapters first and THEN editing, so if you have any suggestions just let me know! 

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