Gloria Forworth was worried she'd be stuck being an assassin forever and wanted a break from it. However, she gets her wish when a young blonde comes across her doing a job. Long story short, she finds herself meeting the girl's (Charlie) father, Lu...
Gloria slipped silently through the shadows of the alleyway, her dark hair blending into the night. She had just completed her latest assignment - a corrupt businessman involved in human trafficking. The world was a slightly safer place with him gone.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
As she made her way back to her motorcycle, she pulled out her phone to check the time. 4:00am. If she hurried, she could make it home before Eira woke up.
Gloria sped through the empty city streets, the cool night air whipping past her face. These quiet pre-dawn hours after a job always left her feeling contemplative. Flashes of her painful childhood and the warmth of Eira's smile swirled through her mind.
Killing was the only trade she knew. But more and more, she wondered if there was another way to make the world a better place, one that wouldn't stain her daughter's childhood the way hers had been.
Gloria parked her motorcycle behind their apartment building and crept up the stairs. She unlocked the door and slipped inside. The living room was still dark. Good, Eira wasn't up yet.
One quick slash later, it was done. Gloria was already ghosting away into the shadows as the body slumped to the floor. Another monster removed from the world. Another paycheck to keep food on the table and a roof over Eira's head.
Stripping off her blood-spattered clothes, Gloria stepped into the shower, letting the hot water sluice away the night's work. Her mind wandered to Eira, no doubt still fast asleep at home, white hair strewn across her pillow. A pang of guilt twinged in Gloria's heart. Eira deserved a mother who was there to make her breakfast and walk her to school, not one skulking in the shadows and washing away blood. But this was the only life Gloria knew. The only way she could provide for the little girl who had stolen her heart.
Drying off, Gloria dressed in a simple t-shirt and jeans. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon as she slipped back into the tiny apartment. She stepped softly to Eira's bedroom door, peeking inside. A fond smile tugged at her lips. There she was, her little snow angel, slumbering peacefully. The pink scratch marring her face was a painful reminder of the abuse she'd suffered before Gloria took her in. But she was safe now. Loved.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
As if sensing her presence, Eira's eyes fluttered open. "Mom?" she mumbled sleepily.
"Good morning, sweetheart," Gloria whispered, perching on the edge of the bed. "Did you sleep well?"
Eira yawned and nodded before her brow furrowed. "You were gone again." It wasn't a question. Sometimes Gloria hated how perceptive her daughter was.
"I'm sorry, love. I had some work to take care of. But I'm here now." She stroked Eira's silky hair gently.
The little girl sighed before sitting up and stretching. "It's okay. I'm hungry." Her voice carried a slight edge that hinted at an impending tantrum if she wasn't fed soon. For a 5-year-old, Eira certainly knew her own mind.
Gloria dropped a kiss on the crown of Eira's head before rising. "Pancakes or waffles, your majesty?" she teased.
A contemplative look crossed Eira's face before she nodded decisively. "Waffles. With strawberries. Please." She tacked on the pleasantry as an afterthought. Gloria smothered a laugh. Her little girl was confident and had impeccable manners when she chose to use them. A true princess.
"Waffles with strawberries, coming right up." With a final fond glance at her daughter, Gloria headed to the kitchen.
It wasn't a perfect life. But it was theirs. And for Eira, Gloria would walk through fire. Or shadow. Whatever it took to keep her little snow angel safe and loved. No matter what.
Alright, this is first of my new series: Winter's Embrace. Basically the RadioApple Nanny AU from notherpuppet on Tumblr, but Alastor is replaced by Gloria. He's not gone and might make an appearance later in the fic. So Gloria (Glacia) takes his role as Lucifer's love interest and Charlie's nanny. And I made Eira into a kid, so Charlie can have sister moments with her.
The next chapter will be Gloria meeting Charlie for the first time.
