His Assassin

Chapter 36: The Worst Kind Of Red

Vixen

I parked my Jeep in the driveway, coming home from eliminating a target. This one actually put up a fight, it's nice to spice up the kill every once in a while.

Andy pulled up next to me, also coming home from work.

I pointed at him with a smile, "AAAYYYYYYYY!"

He saw and copied me, then got out of his car and came up to my door. Nothing like coming home from killing someone at 1am.

He opened my door for me, "hey, babe."

"Hi, baby!" I jumped out and hugged him.

The side of his face has slight blood spatter and his clothes have even more of it. As an assassin with better experience, I never really get blood on me anymore. He'll get there soon.

"You go take a shower, I'll try to get these stains out. And a piece of advice: don't wear light colors to kill. This is a white shirt." I tugged at the fabric as I walked past him.

"Yes, ma'am." He smiled.

While Andy showered, I was rubbing the stains on his shirt with detergent and bleach. I glanced up at my reflection in the mirror for a second, but my eyes flickered back up again.

What...what is on my face? Three little red bumps are on my left cheek...oh no. It's here.

It was like I was paralyzed while looking at the bumps in the mirror. They seemed to grow and already have white puss building up in the middle. My hands gripped the edges of the sink bowl.

I strained a whisper, "why am I so ugly?"

A tear dripped off one of my eyelashes...shit, I didn't even know I was crying.

The shower turned off behind me and Andy came out with a towel around his waist. He froze when he saw me, "...what's going on?"

Taking action, I went for my medicine cabinet and got my acne spot treatment. Dabbing it on in big globs, I whimpered, "I'm so fucking ugly."

"Babe, you're not ugly," he said, "and don't put so much of that cream on, you know it'll dry your skin."

"I have three zits on my face!" I shrieked. "How else do I make them go away?!"

"Stop," he took the acne medicine out of my hand, "come here."

He led me to the bed where he wiped the excess cream off my face and patted in a reasonable amount.

"Vidalia, your skin is a wonderful golden beige and your emerald eyes compliment it perfectly. That paired with your long black hair makes you a gorgeous sight to behold. So don't even think about three little zits putting a dent in your beauty." He kissed my forehead.

Just like that, the feeling that the world was ending disappeared. But see...now, I'm hungry.

"Can you please get me some fries? McDonald's fries though, I want those." I asked of him.

He blinked in confusion, probably expecting something like "thanks, baby, I love you" or "you're so sweet", not "get me fries".

"...sure! I'll be back." He nodded.

Thank god our McDonald's is 24 hours.

The moment he got back, I ran to the front door, "YYYYEEESSSS, THANK YOU."

"No problem." He followed me to see me jumping onto the couch, resuming my episode of The Office.

"...aren't you tired?" He asked.

"Nah, I'm good."

"Are you good? You've been acting a little strange." He stood next to me. "I've never heard you call yourself ugly before. You're usually confident as fuck. Also, it's 2am, you're eating and not tired. You normally crash after coming home from a job."

"Period." I munched on a fry.

"Oohhhh," he understood better, "gotcha. Need anything before I go to bed?"

"No, thank you."

"Alright," he leaned down and kissed my cheek, "see you in the morning. I love you."

I hooked my fingers onto the neck of his shirt, placing a kiss on his lips before he could leave, "goodnight, I love you too."

•••

The next day was when I actually started bleeding and GOD, WHY? I think...I might just remove the damn thing. A hysterectomy sounds good every time the blood rivers of hell make an appearance.

After groggily making my coffee, I sat on the couch to continue my marathon of The Office. Andy's out getting more stuff for the safe house and thought it was best I stay home. The clicking of claws on the floor let me know that Cujo is coming over to say hi.

He's pretty big now, reaches up to my hips in height. And he never misses his meals, eats every crumb in his bowl, always expecting more after.

He came up to me and rested his head on my thigh.

"Hey, buddy! What's up?" I pet his head. My favorite thing about him is his ears, they're crazy soft.

He lifted his head to reveal that he slobbered on my pajama pants. Drool mixed with food crumbs plastered on the comfy material. Not only that, but a certain stench went up my nostrils...I could vomit.

"Why? You slobbed on me, then farted. I can't-" I got another whiff, "GOD, Cujo."

The smell was so bad, I had to step outside for a second. Good lord, that dog can pass gas!

I sat in a rocking chair on the porch...which I shouldn't have done because I heard my heart beating and started thinking about the cells in my body and...existential crisis time.

•••

When Andy came back, he found me on the living room floor with Cujo's head resting on my stomach.

"Cujo, is your mommy dying?" He asked, approaching slowly. "Vidalia...you good?"

"I need..." I groaned.

"What?"

"I need..."

He came closer, crouching down next to me, "what do you need?"

"Sweet tea and cuddles." I pouted.

"Ok...are you gonna cry? Don't cry, I'm getting the tea," he said.

Still, a tear ran down my cheek.

"What's wrong?"

I wailed, "you're not wearing my favorite shirt! You have to cuddle with my favorite shirt!"

"I'll get it! It's ok!" He dashed up the stairs.

As quickly as I started crying, I stopped, taking a seat on the couch. Andy came back with his softest shirt and a glass of tea.

"I'm so annoying, I'm sorry." I frowned, sipping my tea.

"No," he hugged me, "you're perfect to me."

"Do you still like me?"

"Vidalia, I married you. I love you." Andy laughed.

"I know...I'm being kind of difficult though."

"No one said this was supposed to be easy, babe. In marriage, I will love you through the good times and the bad times. It's how we get stronger."

"You're gonna stay putting up with my needy ass?" I looked at him in his crystal blue eyes.

"You're my wife," he cuddled up to my neck, "I'll put up with your needy ass like a real husband does."

One thought: YES SSIIIIRRRR

Through my unpredictable 0-100 mood swings, there was one thing I knew for sure. Andy really does love me. If he was anyone else, they would've left to do something and never came back.

In the end, I wouldn't find myself alone. Andy never let my hand go in the first place.