Azure: The Retired Assassin

Azure 53

Never in his whole life had Riley seen A this scared. For him she was the girl who beat him for that number one spot. She was the queen of assassins. The one behind code red. He felt his chest tighten knowing he's the cause of all these and for some other reasons he can't say. He knew Payton is here because of him.

"What if she told him everything about me?" Azure was petrified. She knows Payton will do anything to tear her down. And just thinking about the hatred she saw in Brice's eyes makes her cower in fear. She loved the boy. He was her first love.

Riley gritted his teeth as they settled in his sofa. He never anticipated the day he would see her this weak. He didn't like it one bit. And he would do anything in his power to bring back the Azure that he knew. Despite that nagging tug in his chest knowing that one boy can make her this vulnerable. He hates him yet he can't do anything about it because he can make her happy at the same time.

Azure is looking at Riley waiting for him to tell her everything is gonna be okay even if she know it's a lie. Sooner or later Brice will know and Azure knows of that fact. It's just that she wants to be the one to tell him not someone else. And that someone turns out to be the girl who hates her ever since they first met. "I won't give you false hope A. I won't say everything will be alright but I'll do whatever I can to help. I'll handle her 'kay?" It's the best that Riley can do now. He needs to talk to Payton before it's too late.

She felt assured. They might not be the closest of friends. Banters every now and then but deep in her heart she trust Riley. She trusts his words. "Can I stay the night?" she asked with expectant eyes. She was thinking about telling Jairus but between him and Riley she knows Riley can understand the situation better than her brother. Payton is the determining factor. Riley knows her even way better than Azure.

"Anytime" He breathed. He can never say no to her especially not in this state she's in. "Would you like to eat something before you sleep?" Azure just slowly shook her head. She doubts she can't take even a single swallow. "You can have the guest room. I'll lend you some spare clothes if you want to take a shower." Riley said. He is not a fan of words. He believes that the lesser he talks the less mistakes he'll make but for the sake of Azure he could be the most talkative person in the world at any given day.

Azure dragged herself towards the room. She felt so tired. She headed straight to the shower and cleaned herself mechanically. When she comes out of the bathroom a folded shirt and a boxer shorts is already lying on the bed. The moment her back touch the bed her brain automatically shuts down. She was that exhausted that she immediately succumbs to sleep. Riley on the other hand is pulling an all nighter on the Tyler Sy case. He knew he's getting there. If only he can solve this case the soonest he can help the girl sleeping in the other room big time. And he wants to very much.

He did not intend to sleep but he did in the process though he remembered he was still awake at five am. He jumped out of his bed and was greeted by nothing but silence. "Fuck!" Riley cussed when he saw the clock, it's almost 12 noon. He scurried to the next room and disappointment washed over him when he saw that the bed was already made with no sign of Azure anymore. Maybe she was already in school. He found a blue push-it note in the door of his ref with the hand written he knew all too well.

Thank you.

Two words but a smile creeps on Riley's face when he read it. Azure is never the 'thank you and sorry' type but the mere fact the she did and it was to him makes his heart flutter like he was some fucking teenager. But his smile drop when he remembers the time he planned to talk to Payton the earliest possible time. He fix himself swiftly hoping it's still not too late.