Perfect School

Jonah:

“Are you going to stop keeping me at a distance then? I’ve hardly seen you these past few days. Kyra has come to see me more than you have,” I said. She finished her work. I was running out of time. “I don’t want you to shut me out again.”

Putting everything back on the tray I sighed. "I still don't have an answer for you." I warned. It was hard to know what I wanted. If it was going to be a good thing or not. But I didn't have any reason to avoid him anymore. "But I wont keep you away."

Jonah:

I wanted more from her, but I understood that I couldn’t push her right now. It would only drive her more away. “Okay,” I said. I wasn’t satisfied, but I would let it drop for now.

I sat up slowly and stood up form the bed. I put a and over my side. “Thanks for this.” I moved over to my dresser and pulled on a plain gray v-neck shirt.

I moved towards the door after he got up. I paused after opening it, looking down at the ground for a moment. "For what it's worth Jonah." I glanced at him over my shoulder. "I haven't said no yet."

Jonah:

I turned to look at her. “Yet.” I turned the light off by my bed. “Leave the door open, I’m going to breakfast too.” It would be the first time I had been to the cafeteria since my injury. I was tired of my room.

I shrugged at his response. "We'll see." It was surprisingly pessimistic of him to say that. I knew his offer was tempting. I did feel...something for him. But I didn't know if it was going to be good for me to agree to his desire.

Jonah:

I sat opposite her at breakfast. A few people moved over to ask how I was. I claimed I felt well. I would start teaching classes again today. Kyra came in with Andrew trailing behind her. She sat next to me. She questioned if I should be getting back into everything so soon, but I told her it would be fine. I only looked at Kira from time to time.

Kira:

I didn't join in the conversations, but most people were used to that by now. Unless I was spoken too directly I wasn't one to talk to any of the other staff. MY thoughts were on Jonah's question that still remained unanswered. I couldn't deny that I was attracted to him. I'd seen more handsome men, but they didn't have his eyes or his smile. They also didn't understand me the same. I found I wanted to say yes. But I also wanted some proof from him that it would be worth it.

Jonah:

Getting back to teaching classes felt good. I was useful again. I was more defensive with the kids than I ever was before. When I would do a demonstration I would hardly let them touch me.

In the evenings I would sit in on training with the team even though I would hardly participate. They didn’t need much correction now. Afterwards I would work out while Kira did her own training. I wanted to get back to it with her, but I wasn’t healed enough to do that.

“Come for a swim with me,” I said after a session of physical therapy for me and training for her. The past few days since I had been out and about I had mostly left her alone. I didn’t pursue her, not to the extent I had been in the past. I merely shared her company in silence. It was my belief that if I left her alone long enough that she would miss the attention from before. But some times I did what I wanted, like asking her to go to the pool with me.

Kira:

I was enjoying the rhythm. It felt good to settle into a routine and helped me feel like things were fully returning to normal. The only difference between what it had been like in the past and now was Jonah. He let me keep my small distance. It wasn't a bad feeling either, having him give me space.

When he asked me to go for a swim my limbs felt heavy from training. The idea of just floating in a pool drew me in and I agreed. I let him lead, asking a few questions about his physical therapy until we had to separate so I could change in the locker room and rinse the sweat off before I got into the pool. Once in the water I kicked off from the wall and went right for floating on my back. "This was a good idea....thank you."

Jonah:

I wore a t-shirt and swim trunks. I didn't want others to see my healing scar. "I'm glad you joined me," I said as I paddled slowly around the pool. It was a good idea. I should be doing more training in the water. It took the stress off my side. I turned over and floated on my back like she was after a few laps around the pool

"How is your wound holding up?" I let out a slow breath and shifted to just be treading the water. Kicking I found him and watched him. I still wasn't sure about my decision, but looking at him now I had to admit that he seemed peaceful for once.

Jonah:

I kept my eyes closed when I answered her. "It's healing well. There's definitely going to be a scar, but who in our profession doesn't have a few scars?" It wasn't the worst scar I had either. There was a raised lump on my scalp from an injury long ago. What I had on my side was simply a mark, nothing more.

"Once I heard tell that the less you have the better assassin you are. But I also wonder if that's true. Sometimes you can't play it safe. An assassin with scars is one who has survived an encounter that would have killed them." I turned my attention away so I could swim towards the edge of the pool, resting my arms on it to support my weight.

Jonah:

I came back to an upright position. "I should never have gotten hurt in the first place. It was a stupid mistake. I didn't think she would be dangerous. I underestimated her. And I'm paying for it now. It won't happen again." I swam over to her slowly and stood, leaning against the wall of the pool.

I shrugged at his words. "You would be surprised who in this world could hurt you. You can't always be looking over your shoulder and preparing for anyone to attack you." My lips quirked into a faint smile. "But yes you should have thought better of Krissy. There had to be some reason she got together with Michael. Some reason they came to know each other."

I glanced over at him and my eyes narrowed slightly. I could just barely reach the bottom of the pool with the balls of my feet, and yet he seemed quite comfortable being able to stand. It was small and petty thing to be bothered by and yet I was for a few moments until I could brush it aside.

Jonah:

"I would have guessed they met through Kyle. I didn't think Krissy was very into this life style. She seems too soft for it," I said, glancing at her. "Although, after the way she took out the man in the suit, I'm reconsidering that idea."

I considered for a moment then shook my head. "I don't think so. But I agree that Krissy seems soft. Perhaps that is what makes her an effective assassin then. People underestimating her." I waved off the subject and turned it to more mondain topics than my family. How classes were going, his views on our teams training, and even delved into our different opinions on why one location to relax at was better than another. IT was...nice to feel normal for once.

Jonah:

After a little while longer I pulled myself out of the water and sat on the edge with my feet still kicking gently. I could tell Kira was relaxed for once. I didn't want to cut our moment short, but my side was aching. Usually, after a therapy session, I would lay an ice pack on it. The water helped, but it wasn't the same.

"Do you want to come to my room for dinner?" I asked her. She would likely say no. It was too forward. But maybe she would hesitate. She would be conflicted. Perhaps it would help show her what she wanted.

I don't know what surprised me first. That he offered such a thing, or that I didn't immediately turn him down. I took several moments to consider it before shaking my head. "No. Not tonight...maybe something tomorrow." My lips quirked slightly for a brief smile though I didn't look his way with it. "Bring me breakfast tomorrow."

Jonah:

My eyebrows went up as I looked at her. "Breakfast in bed?" I asked with a mischievous smile. I would never have expected her to say that. Her words alone were proof of how far she had come.

I gave him a long look. “Probably not in bed. At least not for you. I will sit on my bed while you can sit on the floor if you’d like. We will see what happens.” I looked away then a ghost of a smile on my lips. Turning around I pulled myself out of the water and gave my suit a few tugs to settle it properly. “Thank you for the swim Jonah.”

Jonah:

For a moment I had the overwhelming urge to kiss her.  Not like at the casino, when we had been ordered to act that way.  But a genuine kiss between the two of us.  If I surprised her she might not even object.  It was only her conscious mind that pushed me away.  

"Of course, Kira," I said with a smile.

With only a wave I made my way towards the locker room, wanting to shower and change back into my clothes before I went off to grab dinner. I couldn't help myself, even after trying to lock the feelings away, to be looking forward to tomorrow. I tried to reason with myself that it was only because I was getting breakfast with a chance to be extra lazy.

Jonah:

I showered and went to my bedroom to have dinner alone. All the while plans were forming in my head for what I would do in the morning. That night when my phone went off, in the second of confusion when I fist woke up, I thought it would be Kira.

It wasn’t. I was wide awake after I read the message from Mare. There was a car waiting outside. I had five minutes to get out there. There wasn’t time to talk to Kira or even leave her a message that wouldn’t be found by anyone else.

I got dressed, grabbed a couple of things and headed out to the car waiting for me. Marie must have been suspicious about what happened with the man in the suit. Even if I had not been there she would have to suspect me.

I had my entire argument already planned out with every detail. It would be difficult to convince her, but unless Zero had made a mistake, and that was unlikely, Marie wouldn’t have much proof. The only sticky part was my scar.