Taking Care of Things

Aveira tried to quell the rising hope. "You sounded like you were saying goodbye," she told him simply.

"This is my home. Of course I'm coming back here. You did intend on staying, didn't you?" Matthew stared at her intently.

A smile spread across her lips. "If you don't mind," she said, laughter coating her voice. "I'm glad I won't have to give up my boyfriend so quickly."

"If I don't come back, that means I'm dead. So keep that in mind. The hard part isn't getting there and completing the contract, it's doing all of that and getting out unnoticed." He hit a button on the computer and the music stopped. He had grown tired of it.

Aveira stood up and walked over to sit in his lap. It was the closest thing to affection that she'd ever shown. "I'd prefer you didn't die," she said in a bland voice. "I haven't found anyone this interesting in a while."

He put his arms around her. "I'm glad that I'm interesting," stated Matthew, calm as ever.

She grinned and licked his scar. "How long will you be gone? I can stay here while you're away, right? I'm technically homeless otherwise." She nibbled his earlobe.

"Should only be a few days. You're very strange you know that?" He looked at her oddly. "I can't say anyone has licked my scar before. Anyway, we've already been over this. Yes, you can stay."

She laughed happily and wrapped her arms around him before leaning backwards, toppling out of the chair with him above her. "Do you like when I lick it?" she teased.

"Like? It's more like indifference." He smiled.

She pouted. "I like it. I never get scars, you know." She traced it with a fingertip.

"That's right, isn't it? Well mine won't ever go away. In a way I like it there. It's a reminder." He pondered the past for a few moments.

"I could do with a few of those," she remarked. "I hope I don't forget you while you're gone...Perhaps I'll put a bunch of sticky notes around the house in the form of your name...Do you have any sticky notes?" she asked brightly.

Matthew opened a drawer which had a few pads of sticky notes of different colors and then one extra large pad of the normal yellow. "I use a lot sometimes, and sometimes none."

She grabbed a pad of sticky notes of varying colors and started sticking them on the wall in seemingly random patterns:


They spelled out in braille "Don't forget about Matt."

Matthew chuckled. "So this will make sure you know who I am when I get back?"

"Maybe!" she said cheerfully. "I'm not sure." She smiled brightly. "At least I'll know that I'm supposed to remember something," she said.

"What happens if I come back and you've forgotten to stay?"

She thought about this for a while. "I don't know. Just go murder some people in the park again. That's how you found me the first time." She started stripping her clothes. She'd suddenly remembered all the dried blood that was caking them. "I need a shower," she said unhappily. "And I've probably stained that outfit beyond repair."

Matthew just blinked a few times. "We'll get you some new clothes."

"Mmkay," she said absently. She started walking toward the bathroom. "You coming?" she asked. "You can tell me more about your mission in China."

Matthew shrugged and followed Aveira. "Sure."

Climbing into the shower, she closed the glass door and began washing the blood from her hair. Her form was quickly hidden by the steam, though a vague outline of her body was still visible. "So what's the mission exactly?" she asked.

"Parachute onto the roof of the building of a company in Hong Kong. Stealthily get to the office of the head of the company that resides in the building. Quietly kill him and get out." He seemed to be pondering what he'd do.

"Mmm," Aveira replied noncommittally. "Does he have any guards?" she asked curiously. "Also, isn't parachuting into a building just a tad obvious?"