Breakfast and School

The clean up went well with everyone, but it was tiring. As much as Derren wanted to just sleep surrounded by his lovers they unfortunately really did have plans with their own families. Well in Mia's case her dad ordered her home tonight and she was pissed about it. Regardless it was just going to be Derren and Rose tonight. It was a little awkward to be alone with her. Sure they had had a bit of a heart to heart but unlike with the rest of the women in his life there was no history with her. Regardless he could still show her around the place.

"Er, so there kitchen is on this floor, right over there. There is also a bathroom down the hall, and across from that door is the door to the basement. It's mostly just junk down there though." Derren said.

"Um, I appreciate you showing me around, but when I still thought I had to kill you I studied this house in detail. I know every nook and cranny of this house." Rose said.

"Uh-huh, yeah so anyway, since you don't need a tour, uh, you can just sleep in my parents room tonight. They've left town this week since I was pretty sure you were going to try to **** me this week. Oh, do you have any clothes to wear tonight?" Derren said.

"Yes. Florence lent me some." Rose said and after a bit of awkward silence she walked briskly upstairs.

Derren didn't see Rose for the rest of the night and figured she was spent and went straight to sleep. Either that or she was going to be like a ninja who guarded him from the shadows.

*Knock Knock*

"Come in." Derren said in surprise as Rose opened the door to his room.

"Um, how are you doing right now?" Rose said awkwardly.

"Did you really come in just to check in on me?" Derren asked.

*Clunk*

Rose blushed and then closed the door in a hurry.

About thirty seconds passed as Derren sat in silence.

*Knock Knock*

"Yes Rose?" Derren asked before she opened the door.

"Um, I didn't come here just to check in on you." Rose had stood silent for a bit and then finally spoke up.

"I know, so what do you really want?" Derren asked.

"Uh, I think it would be better for my job as your bodyguard if I can stay close to you. So, uh, I'd like to spend the night in here. Is that okay?" Rose said.

Derren looked over at Rose, she was blushing deeply, and wearing nothing but a shirt and panties borrowed from Flo. Her cheeks were blushing crimson and she was a bit fidgety. Derren figured she wasn't planning to suggest that she sleep on the floor.

"Where do you want to sleep tonight then?" Derren asked anyway.

"C-could I sleep next to you?" Rose asked.

She may be a fierce and deadly assassin, but she was also a shy woman with little interaction outside of her abusers.

"Sure Rose, thanks for keeping me safe." Derren said.

"Sure!" Rose said brightly as she bound into bed.

As Rose got into bed it was once again clear how mistreated she was, he could see the scaring on her back through the openings on her shirt. He could also feel her ribs as she lay against him. It was clear she was only given the bare minimum to do her job as an assassin. If he had to guess, she was viewed as a tool by the organization that she used to belong to. They'd use her so long as she was an effective killer, but would be thrown away if she was deemed unfit to serve.

"Rose?" Derren said.

"Yes." Rose said back.

"You're safe now." Derren said.

"What a weird thing to say, I'm the one guarding you." Rose said with a laugh as she rolled to her side to fall asleep.

"You can sleep soundly Rose. You're an amazing person, not a tool." Derren said as she cuddled up to Rose.

Rose felt his warm body press against hers for the second time today and his strong arm wrapped around her body holding her close. She understood what he was saying. It was ironic that these words she had desperately wanted to hear came from a man who had the power to make anyone his tool. He could claim people as literal property, but when a woman came in to claim his life he chose to be better.

"Mmmhmm" Was all Rose could respond with otherwise he'd know from her tone that she was crying again.

She still didn't want to be seen as weak by him, but she always felt so weak around him. Though strangely she felt like that shouldn't bother her that much. Yeah, maybe being weak isn't that bad, she thought to herself as she closed her eyes and embraced his warmth. Thought she still didn't want to cry in front of him again so soon.

"Sup Rosie!" Mia greeted Rose as she entered the kitchen.

"Good morning Mia." Rose responded.

As Derren, Mia, Miko, Florence, and Eva sat around the table to breakfast Rose stood behind Derren.

"What are you doing Rose?" Derren asked .

"It is a guard's duty to always protect the one they serve." Rose responded. Her resolve cemented further by her growing fondness for Derren.

"No he means why aren't you having breakfast with us, idiot." Florence said with an eye roll.

"Oh, well it isn't really my place." Rose stammered feeling awkward about sitting at a table with others to enjoy a meal.

"Come on it was my day to cook today so I say you're eating!" Miko said as she placed a plate at a vacant seat.

Rose stood stoic looking at the plate that was just placed still unsure about what to do.

"Rose, please sit down with us." Derren said.

"O-okay." With trepidation Rose sat down in front of a plate with bacon and eggs, and to the side was a bagel with cream cheese spread across it.

"I hope you like it!" Miko said with a bright smile.

"Yeah especially since Miko used to not be able to cook for shit, but I must say she's improved a lot." Mia added.

"Come on! You didn't need to tell her that did you!" Miko blurted out in protest.

"Sorry, sorry! It was meant to be a complement." Mia said as she defended herself from playfully thrown bits of bagel.

"Eva loves all your cooking everyone!" Eva interjects.

"Thanks Eva!" Miko said.

Rose picked up a fork and stared at the food before her. She was apprehensive to take a bite. She wasn't sure if this was a test or not, but she chose to trust Derren. Taking a modest amount of egg onto her fork she brought the food to her mouth and took a bite. There was no lectures, no poisoning, and no beatings. No, she just ate a normal egg at a normal table with fun banter playing out around her.

"Ah damnit Miko your food made her cry!" Mia said as the table looked at Rose. Tears were flowing down her face as she ate.

"BUT IT WASN'T EVEN BAD THIS TIME!" Miko whined.

"Agh, damnit! I can't stop crying!" Rose said as she tried to wipe the tears out of her eyes.

"Seriously are you okay?" Florence asked.

"I'm sorry, I swear I'm not a weak crybaby. I just can't stop these damn tears!" Rose sobbed.

"It's your first time eating with a family isn't it Rose?" Derren asked.

"Mmm-hmm" Rose acknowledged. Her hand covered her eyes but she didn't hide the quiver in her lip as she continued to cry.

"Aw! It's okay sweetie! You cry as much as you need to." Mia said as she got up and hugged Rose.

"Yeah that doesn't make you weak that makes you human." Miko said as she also got up and hugged Rose.

"You don't have to be shackled by the past you know, we want you to start fresh too." Florence said as she joined the group hug.

"Eva welcomes you to the family Rose!" Eva said as she joined in the hug as well.

This touching moment did nothing to curb the tears flowing from Rose's eyes. She was once again crying hysterically, but this time four other girls joined in as they all sobbed together. Derren was glad the focus was on Rose because this moment got to him too as he also shed some tears.

When things finally settled down everyone returned to their now cold breakfasts. However, though the food was basic and cold, to Rose they tasted like the best food in the world. The smile on her face couldn't be wiped away.

Even though the heavy emotions of breakfast left them drained they still needed to go to school, so everyone settled down as best they could as they departed.

All it took was a conversation with the principle to show that Derren owned Rose's role as his bodyguard to allow her to stay by his side throughout the day. As she was "owned" by him it was acceptable and the principle alerted the teachers to Rose's situation.

"Hey! What's up Derren?" Jessie said as she saw Derren and Rose leave the principle's office.

"Oh, this is Rose my new bodyguard." Derren said.

"So she's the you know?" Jessie said.

"Please don't bring up my greatest shame." Rose interjected.

"Yeah, we're putting her past behind us from now on." Derren said.

"Oh cool. Well nice to meet you Rose! My name's Jessie!" Jessie introduced herself to Rose.

"The pleasure is mine." Rose said.

"Hey are we still going to the movies this weekend?" Jessie asked Derren.

"Yeah we'll have to let Rose come too. I made her my bodyguard after all, so I don't think she'll let me out of her sight." Derren said.

"I'll watch him like a hawk." Rose said as she sidled in close to Derren wrapping her arms around his arm in the process.

"Ooooooh, I can play that game too new girl." Jessie said as she did the same thing on Derren's other side.

As Derren walked to his first period class he was feeling pretty good with two girls hanging off his arms, but unfortunately he didn't make it far from the principles office before trouble arrived.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Vivian yelled in the empty hallway.

"""Fuck""" Derren, Rose, and Jessie said in unison.

"Let's just ignore her." Rose said.

"Don't you dare!" Vivian rushed over to them.

"Piss off Vivian." Jessie spat.

"This doesn't concern you traitor." Vivian said with equal vitriol.

"I send you to kill this asshole and even warn you about his power and you still fall into his arms, literally. You useless bitch!" Vivian ripped into Rose.

"Hey bitch I don't work for you anymore I'd watch your tongue if I were you unless you want to lose it." Rose said with fury in her eyes.

"Yeah Vivian I'm not in the mood for you today, beat it already would you?" Derren added with a sigh.

"No no, this is far, far, far from over Derren dear." Vivian said condescendingly.

"What else do you need to bother us with then?" Derren said barely keeping his cool.

"Here a little gift to congratulate you on a new job Rose." Vivian said as she threw a red carnation at Rose.

Rose's eyes went wide and her grip on Derren's arms tightened.

"How long do we have?" Rose said.

"The contract starts after school. I'd get into a heap of trouble if something happened at the school after all." Vivian said.

"YOU BITCH! I CAN'T WAIT TO SKIN YOU LIKE A FUCKING FISH YOU RICH SPOILT LITTLE CUNT!" Rose exploded on Vivian but never made a step towards her almost as if an invisible barrier had been put up between them.

"Yeah I never liked you either, but I'll put flowers on your grave at least, if I can bother to remember you existed that is. Hahaha, what fun it was to catch up. Well see ya later, or maybe not. Hahaha." Vivian cackled as she walked away.

"Rose what was that about?" Derren asked.

"We're fucked she's hired another assassin." Rose replied.

"Aren't you one of the best of the best?" Jessie asked.

"Yeah when it comes to tactical precision I'm second to none, but where Carnation goes carnage follows." Rose said.

"So this Carnation woman is after us now?" Derren said.

"Yeah and unlike me who only kills when necessary and leaves as little collateral damage as possible, Carnation's specialty is leaving a mess. She'll kill her target even if she has to raze a city in the process." Rose explained.

"So then we should expect a war." Derren said.

"We should expect a bloodbath. Frankly I don't know if I can keep everyone safe, but i swear to you I will do my best to see my new family through this to the end." Rose said.

"Okay we have until 4 today before everything goes to hell, so we'll spend today formulating a plan." Derren said.

"We're going to need a miracle. Carnation is coming and as I said before where Carnation goes carnage follows." Rose said.

Outside of town a woman with fiery red hair picked the food she liked off the shelves in a convenience store. There were five people in the store when she entered and their corpses now littered the ground.

"What a shoddy warm up you chumps left me with! I thought the guy behind the counter with the shotgun would at least have the chance to fire it once! Oh well, at least you guys carry my favorite chip brand, can't do my job on an empty stomach you know!" Carnation said as she laughed her way out of the store.

"I can't wait to play with you again little Rosie!" Carnation said as she drove off. A wicked smile spread across her face.

Author's Note: Hey everyone I'm debating starting up a patreon since quite a few people seem to like my stuff. So I'm leaving a link to a poll please vote wheather you'd support a patreon or not. Full disclosure, I don't expect a lot and I'll be sticking with my day job so I can't guarantee deadline on the patreon but I have some ideas for benefits. Anyway, I'll leave the link here and please vote if you'd be interested or not:

https://strawpoll.com/6pow8b9fw