Greetings,
This is my first fanfiction that I have ever published. Any thoughts and opinions on this would be most appreciated.
I recently played the Tomb Raider (2013) and I really enjoyed the game. This story will follow mostly the game, but with some slight differences.
Of course, I don't own Tomb Raider… If I did, why would I be writing fanfiction? I would be writing for the games themselves. :)
Prologue: Many Meetings at Nine Bells
To say that it was raining in London would be like saying whiskey was alcoholic. The rain was coming down in sheets while thunder rumbled nearby. There were a few people in the old Irish bar, but Lara really didn't mind. Sometimes it being slow was a really nice experience and allowed her to talk with her good friends and regulars. At one table was Mr. and Mrs. Morris, who were an older couple in their late 60s, they played cards, talked and laughed. Lara couldn't help but wonder why they would be out here at such a storming time of night, but it was always good to see them. They had been coming before she had started working at Nine Bells and they tipped well. They were the kind of people that generally cared about everyone and anyone. They thought her goals of going into archology was cool and encouraged her to pursue her dream.
Over in the corner that was dimly lit was a young man. His face was washed in blue-white light from his laptop as he was busily typing away. Probably programming again. Lara thought to herself. Alex always sits in the same corner and doesn't seem to notice anyone. And. Lara smiled, like a typical American he always wanted his beer cold and with the most hops possible. He was dressed in what must be the nerdiest way possible. A grey hoodie with decals on the back, and a dark blue shirt with the Dungeons and Dragons logo blazed in red on the front. His brown hair was tousled and unkept. He would look a lot better without those glasses covering his eyes. Not that he doesn't pull it off, but… Lara blushed, it was ridiculous, maybe Sam is right, I need to just get laid. Could that really be what she needed?
Lara knew she didn't lack in the looks department. Though only 19 years old, she had matured to the point where some guys would just come in to 'Talk' with her. With her long dark brown hair in a pony tail, soft brown eyes and a body, 'Even a Greek Goddess would be jealous of.' At least according to Sam. Mostly these men didn't come to talk but, ogle her. She had never really tried to have a relationship though with a guy. Not that she was against it, she just didn't have the time for hassle that comes with a boyfriend. Her best friend Samantha Nishimura had been trying to set her up for the last year that they had lived with each other. Lara had always said "No!" quite forcefully in fact. Of course, that didn't stop Sam from pursuing her own 'activities'. There were many times at night Lara would wish Sam's room was more… soundproof.
Lara's eyes focused again as she suddenly realized that she had been staring at the young man the entire time. Only now, he was looking back at her, his piercing blue eyes curiously watching her. 'Damn! I've been caught staring! Look elsewhere, pretend to be looking at something else!' Lara could feel the heat rising to the roots of her hair, 'thank God he won't see that I am blushing. Maybe no one will notice.' It seemed that God was not on her side today. As her dear best friend's voice teasingly broke Lara's thoughts, "Sam calling to Lara, Sam calling to Lara, you there girl?"
Turning to the American, who's heritage was obviously of Asian decent, Lara scowled. "Of course I am here. Once up?"
Sam burst out laughing, "You ignored me for like 10 minutes while I was talking with you. I am just wondering why you find the corner so… interesting?" Mischief danced in Sam's brown eyes. "Could it be that its not the corner, but the occupant?"
If Lara had felt like her face was hot before, it was now the Sahara Desert at noon. "Sam!" She groaned, "come on, it's not…"
"…like that, I know." Sam finished for her. "You say that every time. It's not my fault you are drooling over Alex."
"I was not… dr… drooling over him." Well, maybe a little. He's not bad looking and he's tall. But, he is so strange. Strange, go with that! "Besides," Lara continued quietly, "he's really strange."
"Strange?" Incredulous was the only word for the look on Sam's face. "Strange?!" Sam's voice was getting louder as Lara tried to shush her, sure there weren't a lot of people in the bar, but they were now all looking at the two 19 year old best friends.
"What's strange?" A deep gruff voice startled the girls. Sam let out a squeak, why Lara's face broke into a broad smile at the rugged greying man next to them.
"Roth!" Lara came around the bar and gave the man a big hug which he returned. "What a wonderful surprise! I wasn't expecting to see you until Saturday." She then saw the concern on his face. We are still going right? Dr. James Whitman didn't cancel did he?"
The man gave her a grim smile. "We're still on, well, as long as I can find us a new technician. Freddy needed to go back to Scotland because of a family emergency. So if I can't find in three days we won't go."
"Oh come on Roth!" Sam pouted, "we have to find someone, this adventure is WAY to cool to cancel. The lost treasures of Yamatai are waiting for us."
Lara bit her bottom lip, disappointment fighting for control of her. Of course, she wouldn't let it win. There was no way that Roth could have foreseen this happening. They would just need to find someone before Saturday.
The flash of light and explosion of thunder happened instantaneously. Everyone gasped as the bar was plunged into complete darkness, well not complete darkness as the laptop in the corner was still running on battery power and Alex's face was lit even more.
"Damn!" Roth cursed, fumbling in his pockets until he found his flashlight. As he turned it on, Lara and Sam both turned on their flashlight apps on their phones. Mr. Morris ambled over to them, as the lights hadn't turned back on. "Crackers, Ms. Lara. Seems like your breaker is duff!" He placed a 20 pound note down on the bar. "Have a good even." As he and his wife shuffled out of Nine Bells.
Roth turned to Lara, "Where is the breaker here?"
"I'm not sure, I would imagine somewhere in the back rooms."
Roth headed into the back. Lara and Sam stood next to each other as they waited. Sam groaned, "Seriously, this is just getting better and better. We might not get to go on our Awesome Adventure, but now I can't another margarita." She pouted at Lara, "You wouldn't be able to make me one by flashlight do you?"
"Of course she can!" causing both girls to turn as Alex walked up to them trying his best British accent. "Lara Croft is the most talented barmaid in all of London Town. Not only that, but her looks are smashin' enough to knock out the lights." He ended with a chuckle. His voice, was soft and strangely calming to Lara. Great, Lara thought, just another thing that I can say is strange about him. Alex didn't seem to notice that Lara was engaged in her own thoughts as he continued this time in his normal American accent "Lara, do you know roughly when this building was created?"
"First, your British accent is terrible!" Lara laughed feeling already at ease. "Secondly, my looks aren't enough to cause lighting to strike buildings."
Alex's blue eyes lit up as he feigned hurt. "Ms Croft, I'm deeply cut to the heart. My London brogue is amazing! As for the lighting," he laughed lightly, "they say lighting is attracted to hot stuff."
Both girls groaned at the painful line and Lara rolled her eyes. "Alex," Sam stated straightforwardly, "that must be the worst line I have ever heard."
"To answer your question about the building," Lara's brow furled as she thought. "I think it was 1920s. I am not sure though. Why?" Alex walked over to the door and for a second Lara thought he was going to leave without paying. But he just looked out the window in the door. "Well, it seems like our block is fine. It might not be our inside breaker but the outside especially with how old the building is. If so, we'll need to go outside to get to it for repairs."
Lara blushed again, here she went thinking he was going to leave without pay. Instead he was going to try to help. Damn it all Lara, you need to stop underestimating Alex. I need to focus on the task at hand. Thankfully Sam started talking again.
"What do we need to do then Alex?"
"Let me grab some tools and my coat." Alex replied as he headed towards his stuff. He rummaged in his satchel obviously looking for something in the darkness.
Sam watched Lara out of the corner of her eye. Lara was focused again watching Alex, so she didn't notice Sam lean over and teasingly whispered. "You should go with him. He might need help. Who knows, he might be able to help get your box all heated up."
Lara blushed scarlet, rounding on Sam she hissed. "Stop it! I am not interested in Alex in the slightest. He is a giant nerd!"
"I hear they can be great in bed…" Sam whispered back mysteriously. "It's some of the best I have had and that's for sure!"
"Sam! We are NOT going to discuss this!" Lara replied as Alex was heading back toward them.
Alex gave them a shy grin. He actually looks sheepish right now. What happened the confidence he had just a few minutes ago?
"Uh so," Alex began and then sighed. "My phone's dead. Could I borrow one of yours?"
Lara could feel Sam's glaring at her. Basically saying "Lara Croft if you don't go with him you will be missing the opportunity of a life time!"
"No worries Alex, I'll come with you." As soon as the words left her mouth she realized the innuendo in them. Instantly she blushed again, thankful for the darkness. It didn't help that Alex looked stunned and Sam started snickering.
"Uhh… thanks Lara, I appreciate it. But you don't have to come… I mean help me. That is if you don't want to." While this is awkward, Lara thought, at least he's cute when he is flustered.
"No problem. I'll grab my coat." Lana walked to the behind the bar praying that no one noticed that she was as flustered as Alex was.
The rain had still not stopped and was coming down quite hard as the two of them headed out into it. Getting drenched was not something Lara really wanted, but she felt pretty sure neither did Alex. Who, unlike her, didn't need to be doing this. It was not his job yet he had volunteered to try to help. Alex really didn't talk much as they searched around until they found the breaker. Lara shined her light as he opened it and got to work. To say, it was a mess would have been an understatement. However, Alex just gave her a small smile as he got to work. Lara was shivering as he final stopped tinkering with the breaker and then turned it on again. Almost instantly, Lara's phone buzzed. Looking down she saw a text from Sam.
"The lights are back on! Whatever you guys did worked. Please tell me there was so hot and heavy action to get it going again! ;-)"
"Glad to hear. No!"
"O come on!"
"Sam…"
"Fine, Roth is back and wants to see you" "And your boyfriend. :P"
Lara looked at Alex as he gave her a slight smile getting up after closing the breaker again. "Did it work?"
Nodding, Lara turned. "Lets get out of this rain."
"You don't have to ask me twice that's for sure."
As they were walking back, Lara kept stealing glances at him, she couldn't help it. Curiosity was too strong. "So, Alex. You have been coming to Nine Bells for a couple of months and besides your name I don't know much about you. Why are you in London?"
Alex chuckled, "Education mostly, I am going to be an electrical engineer."
Lara smiled. "Why London?"
"Change of scenery, I was going to school in the States and then I had an opportunity to come here for two years and decided to take it. Always wanted to see London. What about you?"
"Well, working at Nine Bells but also going to school."
"Really? What's your poison?"
"Excuse me?" Lara was perplexed.
"What are you studying?"
"Oh, archeology. I love the aspect of finding lost treasures of ancient past civilizations."
"That's cool. What got you interested in archeology?"
"My father did. You could say that it is a family business." Lara smiled.
"So that gentleman was your father?"
"Who? Or you mean Roth? No, he took me in after my father died."
Instantly there was a very awkward pause. Finally, broken by Alex. "I'm sorry for your loss."
Tears started to come to Lara's eyes as she turned and saw through the downpour Alex looked actually sad. And not just for show either.
"Thank you. It's still hard. I would rather not talk about it please."
"Of course. Well, we should go in. They are probably wondering what has happened to us." Alex stated looking at her.
It was then that Lara noticed that they had been waiting at the door to Nine Bells for quite a while which caused her to blush. It's just to easy talking with him. I hope that I will get more opportunities soon. Lara laughed lightly and opened the door and walked inside.
Instantly Sam's voice greeted them laughing. "I don't know if I have ever seen two people that look more like drowned rats that you two." She turned to Roth continuing. "Roth, this is Alex. He is the EE I was telling you about. He's pretty cool."
Lara looked from Sam to Alex to notice he was blushing from the praise but trying to appear unaffected by it. Hmm… handsome, good with his hands, kind, funny and humble. Quite an interesting person.
Sam continued with her monologue though. "He is SUPER smart, he is like the top of his class and he can hack into almost anything." She glanced at Lara, "Alex is also really good with his hands." Lara blushed for what must have been the tenth time that night, which Sam noticed before turning to Roth again. "He could be perfect for our technical needs on the Endurance!"
What? Lara thought looking at the group in confusion. She noticed though that only Roth and Sam didn't look confused. She and Alex were apparently out of the loop on this one. Before she or Alex could say anything Roth took over.
"Ever worked on a ship son?"
Lara didn't really know how it happened but in less then a half hour not only was the expedition still happening but now Alex Weiss was going to go with them on the hunt for the isle of Yamatai in search of the tomb of Himiko.
Thank you for reading. Please R&R. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Shadowlord7
