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𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀

The blaring, bright sun shone through the opening of the dark curtains. The outside world was tranquil, the most I could hear were the sounds of the morning birds singing. However inside, the bedroom was filled with the noise of his snores. His chest moved against my back and as I opened my eyes, I felt that I had experienced a fulfilling sleep despite the numbing pain in my arm that was pressed against the bed.

Realising I had slept in the same position all night, I felt the tightness and soreness of my body. It was so warm in the room most likely because Leonardo's large body was pressed against mine, his grip on me was tighter than before. Our bodies seemed to fit perfectly together. His head was buried in the nape of my neck. My top had slightly lifted over night and his hand had dropped to my bare stomach.

Quietly yawning, I felt too lazy to get up. I moved my head a little to check the time and recognised that it was still too early in the morning. His arm around me was strong and didn't allow me to move so much. When I told him to hold me like a teddy bear, he seemed to take that quite literally. I placed my arm on top of his, closing my eyes again as I decided to attempt to get some more sleep.

Although it was warm in the bedroom, I felt quite comfortable being with him in the bed. I wasn't used to sharing one, it had been a long time, but it felt good being so close to him. I even thought I slept better having Leonardo with me.

He seemed to have slept fine during the night. I did wake up a few times but each time, he was peacefully snoozing beside me. I was glad that he was finally getting some rest, I didn't want him to keep relying on sleeping pills and being fearful of sleep.

A few hours went by of getting some extra rest and I woke up again, that time feeling a little more groggy. My head felt quite heavy, and my body was getting more and more uncomfortable. It was already the afternoon and Leonardo had not moved an inch since before. I could feel the pressure in my bladder that was full, the urge to go to the bathroom was strong but I didn't want to wake him up since that was the most he had slept in a long time. I could only hope that he would wake up soon on his own accord.

I didn't want to move too much in case I woke him up, but the desire to stretch and turn was filling me. I closed my eyes and tried to keep my mind off needing the toilet, the shower and possibly some food. The duvet was starting to make me feel even more warm, it was way too heavy and covering the two of us from shoulders downwards.

When we were younger, it was quite the opposite. Leo's house used to get very cold sometimes during the winter. When I sought to escape from my parents and spent the night secretly at his house, the two of us would bicker and fight over the small blanket he had in his bedroom. We kept each other warm by staying close, sometimes holding each other as we slept. He was a lot smaller then, he didn't have all the big muscles all over him. Then, his arm strong body was practically crushing me in the bed, holding onto me.

I told myself at least he was sleeping well but found myself wriggling a little next to him, trying to get more comfortable. I was starting to lose the feeling of my leg.

Then, I was saved. The sound of his phone ringing cut the quietness of the bedroom. I kept still as it rang and eventually, his snores stopped and I felt him move a little beside me. His arm abandoned my waist and picked up the phone that was on his side of the bed.

"What is it?" I could've moaned right then at the sound of his husky, attractive voice. Tiredness did its wonders on his voice. Keeping my eyes closed, I pretended to sleep whilst he continued the phone call. "Late?" His voice was low and deep. He moved, leaning over me a little, I guessed he was looking at the clock on the table before returning to my back.

"It wasn't important. Reschedule it." It seemed the man on the other side of the call was wondering where Leonardo had been. He missed a meeting sleeping in. "Digli di parlare con la famiglia. Questo può essere discusso più avanti {tell him to talk with the family. This can be discussed some more later}." He hung up the phone and exhaled as he placed it back on the table.

I didn't expect him to then bring himself back to me, his head nuzzled in my neck and his arm back around me. He groaned quietly, bringing my body closer to him by gently drawing me in. Surprised by his actions, I still felt the need for the bathroom again, tingles were in between my legs and not in a good way. His hand was against my lower stomach and it wasn't helping my bladder. Holding back from moving, I allowed him to snuggle against me. It did feel good that he was being so intimate with me but in that moment, all I wanted was the toilet.

His thumb started rubbing against my stomach, his touch surprising me, and he sighed gently besides me as though he was about to drift back into sleep. I couldn't let that happen, I struggled to keep myself still. It was burning hot, I was so uncomfortable and desperately needed to escape.

So I shifted, indicating that I was awake. His arm immediately left me and I lifted myself up, sitting. I pulled my top down as I moved and turned my head to look down at him. He looked so handsome for someone who had just woken up, I could only imagine how much of a mess I appeared.

Those striking eyes of his met mine, they were radiant with the sun shining on them. They were light brown infused with specks of green, gazing into mine. I blinked a few times at the intensity of them. "Good morning," I said in a high tone before correcting myself, "I mean, good afternoon." I slightly pushed the duvet away for me some more to get rid of the heat.

"Sorry for waking you up," his deep voice replied in a soft, husky tone, he sat up as well, stifling a yawn. I shook my head with a small smile; he had no idea of the kind of night I had. "I was already awake." I was about to get up and relieve myself until he starting talking again, running his hand through his messy hair that just made him look even more attractive.

"I. ." Leo looked down momentarily, his hands tugging the comforter awkwardly. "I slept well last night," he slowly admitted before meeting my eyes. "Thank you." He sounded sincere and a lot warmer. I gave him a smile in return, shifting around again as I felt the pressure in my bladder getting worse.

"Are you free today?"

Surprised, I blinked at him, taking some moments to process his question. Was I free? I had missed practice that morning since I slept in and there would be no point in joining the group one half way. I would have to make up the hours and work hard the next day instead. I questioned what he meant and what his intentions were, Leonardo never offered to go anywhere with me. I doubted it would be anything interesting or romantic since he lacked the will to do any fun activity.

"Depends what for," I nonchalantly responded, putting one leg over the other as I tried not to pee myself.

"Daphne White was defenceless when she was attacked," Leonardo began and I held back from frowning. I knew then that whatever he wanted to do with me had to do with the case, not us. I nodded, feeling bad for the innocent girl. "How good are you at self-defence?"

I almost scoffed at his lack of belief in me. He had no idea what he was in for.

The training centre was huge with dummies and targets lined up, waiting to be used. My eyes widened at the sight of the range of guns and knives they had stored in a glass cupboard, each with different sizes and bullets. It was the perfect place practice.

I watched as a few people were blowing the heads off some dummies, their ears covered by big, red headphones. They were perfect, their aim was precise. One woman in particular with a muscular and curvy frame shot fired all over the doll, she seemed pleased with herself as she took off her headphones. I couldn't help but praise her in my head; she looked so cool. I knew I was good but questioned whether it was enough for Leonardo's standards.

My eyes flickered over towards a small group of tall men standing not too far away. Noticing their intense stares on me, I glanced around, wondering when Leonardo would be back, I could sense that they were saying something about me but I wasn't sure what. My Italian wasn't as good as Leonardo's, another thing my parents failed to do was teach me fluently. I definitely lacked the accent too. My mother forced me to learn so many languages and yet her native tongue was one I least understood, she mainly spoke in English to me.

Thankfully, the sound of his powerful voice filled the room as he demanded for people to leave the room. I turned as he began approaching me, my eyes taking in his handsomeness. In a way, he looked more refreshed, more alive; his hazel eyes seemed much brighter, those sparks of green were evident under the sunlight, not dissolving in the brown as before. It must have been the sleep.

He placed a knife in my hands. Looking down in astonishment, I took in the magnificence of the blade as it glistened from the light. "What a beauty," I murmured, my fingers running around the smooth, sharp blade.

"Show me what you've got. Begin with the first dummy," Leonardo said in a strident tone. He folded his arms, showing off those massive biceps of his and I nodded confidently, turning around and facing the first poor doll. "Aim for the neck."

Lifting my arm towards the target, I could hear the conversation of the three men from before as they approached the door to exit.

".. Sempre quelli attraenti ma lei sembra un bastoncino. L'unica cosa che farà qui è rompere {always the attractive ones but she looks like a stick. The only thing she will do here is break}"

"Vero, ma ha una bella figura rue?
{true but she's got a nice figure, don't you think?}"

The sound of their laughs pissed me off. I scoffed, turning around and without hesitation, throwing the knife towards them.

Simultaneously, Leonardo turned and angrily began, "Chi ti ha dato il diritto - {who gave you the right-}" he stopped at the sudden throw of the weapon than landed straight into one of the men's small shoulder, embedding itself perfectly into his flesh.

The balding man yelled out in pain, his goons exclaiming in surprise, their eyes wide at the sight of me. I brushed my hands off my black, skinny jeans before folding my arms and beginning to approach them slowly. A small smile was on my face but it was laced with fury. The blood was flowing out of him so fast, a small puddle was starting to form on the floor as his shaking hand held onto his injured shoulder, completely bamboozled at my sudden attack. They knew I heard them and were backing away slowly as I got closer.

"You have a lot to say for someone who has never met me before," I coyly noted, my eyes focused on the blood soaking his cream shirt, admiring my work, the knife was so deep inside that I was surprised my own strength.

"D-Donna. . ." He quivered, his back against the wide, glass door in fear. The blood smeared against the door. I went over and quickly yanked out the knife, making him yell out in pain as he gripped onto his shoulder, tears filling his eyes. I wiped the blood on his other shoulder, holding onto the knife and pointing to towards the other two men.

"So, now it's donna?" I shrugged, twirling the knife between my fingers. I cocked my head towards Leonardo who came by my side. "I don't think these guys understand who they're talking about."

Leonardo met my eyes, his filled with vengeance. "Tell me, what do you want done with them?"

I pretended to think for a moment, using the knife's sharp tip to tap my chin. "Have them dragged out and break them like a stick. I'm sure they'll snap quicker than a ballerina would." Their faces dropped immediately at my words, the colour draining itself from their pathetic faces. I smiled innocently before turning and walking back to the doll carelessly and prepared myself to resume the training.

I had no idea how he'd do it, but it wasn't long before the men were taken against their will, begging for forgiveness. Leonardo returned by my side and the place was finally quiet with just some guards standing by the entrance.

I clenched my jaw and looked at him with slight annoyance. "I thought your organisation would have more intelligent people, not body-shaming men."

"They will be taken care of. They're not all fucking disrespectful," Leonardo responded coldly, he looked irritated at thought of them. I rolled my eyes before throwing the knife at the neck, the blade sitting firmly in the doll.

I gave him a confident look. "What's next?"

Continuing our session, I followed the instructions he gave me in a focused manner. Concentrated on aiming, I perfectly hit each part of the dummy that he commanded me to attack. In my own mind, I envisioned the body of a man wearing a dark clock, its face invisible and body covered in a dark clock, the representation of the stalker. I threw each knife with power and frustration, as though that person was right there, in front of me.

But I missed one. The knife pathetically bounced against the dummy's crotch and dropped onto the floor was a clatter. I snapped back to reality and picked up the weapon, about to throw it again until I was stopped by Leonardo's words.

"Stop," he commanded, his deep voice breaking through the silence. I turned slightly to face him, his arms folded as he looked at me, unimpressed.

"Not good enough."

"Not good enough?" I repeated with incredulity, raising my eyebrow and placing my hand in my hip. "You saw me hit all those targets."

"Except one," he responded bluntly, his eyes glancing at the knife in my hand that I could have so easily thrown at his neck. I scoffed about to object again until he continued, "you need training. Start again - this time-"

He rambled on about something to do with needing to protect myself - it was the most he had spoken in a while - but I shifted my attention onto the fact that he had pointed out one simple mistake and suddenly became convinced that I couldn't protect myself. I pondered momentarily if he was. .worried about me; he seemed to be quite serious about self-defence after what happened with Daphne.

"Contessa!"

I zoned out completely during his lecture. His loud call brought my attention back to him. Leonardo's voice immediately brought in the woman from earlier, the muscular, powerful person who was training earlier. My eyes expanded at the fight of her, gazing in awe at the sight of her hard, large muscles. She looked like a body builder with all of her beauty. Her long, blonde hair swung as she walked magnificently, her mere presence felt worthy of authority.

She stood by Leonardo and together they were a mass of muscles. Mine could definitely not compare. "Don," she respectfully greeted, her voice polite and strong. I blinked in surprise, wary of what Leonardo was thinking.

"She will train you," Leonardo decided, his eyes back on me. Both of my eyebrows raised in shock. The woman glanced over at me, a small tilt of head for respect which I returned with a small, slightly tight smile. I suddenly felt small in the presence of the two of them, so big and strong.

"M-Me?" I stuttered as he continued to emotionlessly stare at me, folding his big arms, intimidating me a little. I was debating on pointing out that the stalker was most likely a man but by the looks of the woman, she would definitely be suitable for training me. I nodded and accepted his demand.

"I am Contessa, Donna," the lady introduced with a warm smile that immediately put me at ease. She had quite a cute face for such a muscle packed body. "We'll keep it simple first," she explained, her stern eyes beginning to scan my body as she took in my athleticism. I bit my bottom lip, questioning how it would go.

Then she gave me a determined and serious look. "But. . .it will be tough. Are you able to handle it?"

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~ Author's Note ~

Another cute one!

Maria's self-defence lessons start now. They should be useful later on down the line. . .

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