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It was supposed to be a simple drug bust. They had gotten information for the meet-up ahead of time. It was small enough that only Laurel and Nyssa were needed to take care of it. Nyssa dropped down in the middle of the fighting leaving Laurel to fight the men on the outskirts. Everything was going well until someone snuck up behind Laurel while she was fighting. She saw him in just enough time to block the swinging bat aimed for her head. Her first opponent took the opportunity to slash at her midriff. Fortunately for Laurel, her attacker’s angle was bad and the wound wasn’t very serious. Before the vigilante could re-engage her opponents, two black arrows buried themselves into the mens’ chests.
Nyssa stormed over to Laurel and grabbed her shoulders with a bruising grip. The assassin roughly turned her to inspect the wound.
“Stay here, I will finish this,” Nyssa commanded.
She turned and stalked off. Laurel followed after her.
“Nyssa, I’m fine. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
The assassin whirled on Laurel. Her narrowed eyes burned holes into the lawyer. “Stay here,” her voice was a low growl.
A shiver of fear ran down Laurel’s spine. She nodded mutely.
Despite her teacher’s words, Laurel followed after her at a safe distance in case Nyssa needed backup. It was unnecessary. The Heir rounded up and tracked down the remaining thugs with ruthless efficiency. When Nyssa finished, she walked over to Laurel.
“Go home, Laurel, you are done for the night.” Her tone was clipped and emotionless.
Laurel barely held back a flinch and for once did not argue.
Thunk. Thunk. Laurel’s fists pounded into the bag. A steady rhythm contrasting her ragged breathing. After Nyssa’s flippant dismissal, Laurel had headed straight to the gym needing to work off some of her emotions. She gasped when her stomach wound pulled painfully. Laurel doubled over and sucked in the gasps of air as her body forced her to stop. After finally catching her breath, Laurel lifted her shirt to reveal a hastily wrapped bandage. Red had soaked through part of the white material. The lawyer cursed. She collected her stuff and left the gym. The night air was cold on her warm skin, and she shivered as she made her way back to her apartment.
Sitting on her couch, Laurel’s hands shook as she went to dress her wound. A soft knock at the door stopped her. A glance through the door view revealed Nyssa. Laurel sighed and opened the door. Laurel sat back down to resume tending her wound. Nyssa observed silently, and only moved when she saw Laurel’s shaking hands.
“May I?” She inquired in a soft voice.
Laurel flinched at the sudden proximity.
“You are scared of me.” It wasn’t a question.
Laurel said nothing. She wouldn’t meet Nyssa’s gaze.
“This was a mistake,” Nyssa said. She turned to leave.
“Wait, don’t go.” Laurel gently grabbed Nyssa’s arm. “Help me, please,” she added in a near whisper.
The assassin stood for a long moment; She nodded and settled down next to Laurel. Her hands fluttered around the lawyer. Her normally decisive movements were marred with uncertainty.
“I’m not made of glass.” Frustration made her bold.
Nyssa’s hands stilled.“Perhaps not, yet it seems you do not understand your own mortality.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Harshness colored her voice.
“My apologies, Laurel, I overstepped boundaries tonight, yet I feared for your safety.”
Laurel winced as Nyssa cleaned the wound. The assassin’s eyes remained fixed on her task.
“I will understand if you do not wish to continue with me as your teacher,” She said in a near whisper.
Laurel whipped her head up to stare at the assassin. Nyssa’s shoulders had hunched in on themselves, and the open living space seemed to dwarf her in size.
“What? Of course I want to keep training, Nyssa. I admit tonight you did scare me. Sometimes I forget just how different we are.” Laurel backtracked when Nyssa’s head bowed farther down. Her hair fell over her shoulder, and obscured part of her face from view.
“But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Nyssa, you’re a great teacher, I mean it. I’m proud to be your student.”
Nyssa finally raised her head as she replied “Laurel, I am again grateful for your kindness to a person such as myself.”
Silence reigned as Nyssa finished dressing the wound.
“Change the bandages tomorrow.” Nyssa stood.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then.” It bordered on a question.
A pause, and a nod. The assassin turned to walk away.
“And Nyssa,” The assassin turned her head, “Thank you.”
A slight smile played at the assassin’s lips, and she was gone.