"I'll be fine, Mum. London's big, but it's not that big." I lied through my teeth and ended the call. My mother; ever the worrier. Looking for an apartment in London was extremely difficult, especially when I have somewhat of a low budget. The centre appeared to be the most expensive, so I figured I should aim for something on the outskirts of London. Hopefully the landlord would be nice…

I hailed a taxi and slid in, staring at the streets that went past rather slowly thanks to the constant traffic that littered London. It took about 40 minutes to get to the outside of London where most of the apartments were. The taxi drove away when I changed my mind and tried to ask for another location. I sighed and looked at the amount of apartment complexes everywhere. As much it couldn't hurt to look around, I didn't want to be surrounded by other apartments where there'd be lots of noise and things happening. I wanted a quiet place to relax when I wasn't working in the centre.

After another hour and 30 minutes of searching around, I finally found an apartment that looked to have only a few rooms inside. It had a sign that said 'To Rent' in a dusty window, but that was the only clue I had to seeing that it was, indeed, an apartment. It looked a bit shabby on the outside, but who's to say it'll be the same on the inside. I breathed deeply and walked up to the door, knocking gently. There was no response for a little while. I knocked again. Still no response. Damn. I leaned my back against the door and blew out the air that I had yet to exhale with frustration. It could have been a great opportunity. And then the door flew open and I flew backwards.

I landed on the hard floor with a graceless thud and groaned. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" A deep cello-like voice said sincerely. I opened my scrunched up eyes to find one of the most attractive men I had ever seen crouched down and looking at me. Not to mention that I knew exactly who this man was. His dark brown curly hair that was being grown out for his next role… His sharp cheekbones that had always appealed to me… His defined nose and bone structure… His angular but slender neck… That sharp cupid's bow of his lips… Jesus, even his eyes were beautiful. I was looking into the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen, and those eyes belonged to Benedict Cumberbatch.

"Oh… No, no, it's my fault, I shouldn't have been leaning on the door like that." I dismissed his apologies with wide eyes.
"Ah, but I should have gotten down here sooner. I was in the midst of getting changed when I heard you knock. I'm afraid I'm not very well-dressed for callers…" He continued to apologise and I cast my eyes down to his attire. He was wearing a very tight t-shirt and some jogging bottoms. I could feel myself getting redder by the minute.

"U-um… It's alright… You're dressed better than I am anyway…" I squeaked. He laughed at my poor excuse of a joke with what seemed like genuine amusement. Was that a hint of sincerity I detected? To be honest, he could always look better than me no matter what he was wearing. I was wearing a pencil skirt that was a little tattered and an off-colour blouse with a black coat. Not the most attractive I've looked in my life.
"I'm dressed like a slob, miss, but thank you anyway. Here, let me help you up." His soft, slender, agile, amazing hands clasped mine and he pulled me up with little to no effort. Dear lord, I've got it bad…

"Thank you." I mumbled with rosy cheeks. Benedict smiled back at me.
"Now, can I ask why you're here? You don't strike me as a reporter, and I try to keep my home address secret…" I looked up into his eyes again and shook my head.
"Oh, no, no, I'm in London for an apartment. I didn't want to be in a busy neighbourhood, so I came looking for a more isolated flat. This one was the best that I could find so I thought I would take a gander… There are still rooms to rent, right?" I asked hopefully. Benedict grinned and nodded.
"Yeah, there is! I'm so glad someone is interested. I've been hoping someone would find this apartment but I've never really been able to advertise it, since… well… Since I'm a bit well-known around here." He tried to say it as modestly as he could, bless his heart.

"Well, I already know who you are, to be honest, but I won't breathe a word to anyone if you don't want me to! My mum needn't know and I can avoid friends coming over and I'll give you as much notice as I can before someone invites themselves over!" I sounded like a pathetic little girl. "Please, this is the only apartment that I can really afford anyway…" Benedict placed a hand on my shoulder with a look of concern.

"Is everything alright, miss? Sounds to me like you're stressed…" I was getting rather flustered I suppose. I was begging a huge celebrity not to chuck me out because I had nowhere else to go and this was the closest place to where I worked.

"I-I… I have nowhere else to go unless I go live with my mum… And she's an absolute nightmare - we'd be throwing books at each other over the stupidest of things. I… I don't know where else to go. I hate to bother you, mister Cumberbatch, bu-."
"Please…" Benedict stopped by raising his other hand, "Call me Benedict. And really, it's no worry. I didn't put that sign up for nothing." He smiled warmly at me. "Come on. I'll show you to your room." He turned to walk up some stairs.

I gaped at him. "You-you don't have any questions for me? No forms for me to sign? Nothing?" Benedict turned and looked at me with a big grin.
"Nope, nothing. You're a nice girl, miss. I'm not going to leave you on the streets, not if my life depended on it." Oh, if Tumblr could see me now…

"Now, what's your name, miss?" He questioned. For a moment, I forgot what it was.
"U-um, it's Natalia. Natalia Frame." Benedict smiled and shook my hand.
"Pleasure to meet you, Natalia. I'm Benedict Cumberbatch." He winked cheekily and kissed my hand quickly before letting it go and gesturing for me to follow him. Was this such a good idea? Fuck it.

The stairs were old and creaky, and I knew that if I stumbled in after a midnight shift at bar, I'd wake everyone up, which made me think of my next question. "Mister C-Benedict?"
"Mmhmm?" He hummed, his voice purring from where he walked in front of me. He peered over his shoulder at me and stopped at the break between two flights of stairs to look at me properly. I felt a shiver run up my spine and I tried my hardest to supress it. Not gonna happen. "Does anyone else live here?" I asked.
"No, just me. I've been waiting for someone else to join me here for a while. It's been a bit lonely since Olivia left, but I'm sure it'll be more exciting now that you're here." He winked again and then continued up the stairs. We were on the top floor, where there were two doors.

"I'm on the floor below you, as I need to be close to the door. Pick which room you want. They're basically the same." He offered. I peered at both of the doors. The one on the right, furthest from the stairs, seemed to appeal to me more. I pointed at it and Benedict smiled encouragingly. "Ah, I'll be right below you then." Oh lordy…

"Have you got any stuff with you?" Benedict asked as he unlocked the apartment, his back straining through the tight white t-shirt. Hnng…
"U-um, it's at work at the moment. I asked them if I could keep my stuff there until I found a place. I've been sleeping in the back on the sofa for about a week and it's not comfortable at all." I rambled a little. Benedict chuckled.
"Sleeping on a sofa? I'm glad you came here instead – there's a lovely bed in here with an extremely comfortable mattress. I've got the same one downstairs. It's like sleeping on air." The door opened and we walked inside. It already had furniture in it, which was absolutely spectacular. I beamed as I surveyed where I would be living. There was a bed over in the corner with half of a wall separating it from the rest of the room. There was a kitchen on the side near the door and the living room was at the window end, near the bedroom. There was a random door near the bedroom that looked like it would lead to a nicely fitted bathroom and everything was already furnished.

"Everything is already here? Did someone not need this furniture?" I inquired as I looked at Benedict. He shook his head.
"The previous landlord couldn't afford to keep the place but he didn't want to give it to the government for some other purpose. I offered to keep the business going for him and he left all the furniture he had bought at the beginning of his landlord days. He's retired happily in Glasgow actually." Benedict explained cheerily. I smiled and nodded.
"This place is amazing… How much will I need to give you?" Benedict appeared to be thinking hard as he looked at me.
"I think… a tenner a week?" I gasped.
"That low?!"

Benedict laughed loudly. "Of course, you're my first customer! You get discount!"
"A huge discount!" I screamed with delight and shock.
"Well, I suppose it's a little low… Tell you what, if you help out with cleaning the downstairs, it'll be perfectly fine." He's a saint, he's a saint, he's a saint, he's a saint…

"Oh my goodness, this is just… this is an amazing offer and I will not let you down!" I was so excited I hugged him enthusiastically. He stumbled a little but laughed anyway and returned the hug. Holy shit… I'm hugging Benedict Cumberbatch… And he's hugging me back… And he's in a tight top… And he smells amazing… Oh… God… I pulled back with a very red face. "Sorry, I guess I was excited…" I murmured sheepishly. He chortled at me and hugged me again.
"You have every reason to be." He replied and then let go.

"Do you want help moving in?" He's given me so much, I can't possibly take any more. I voiced this thought and he just shrugged it off. "Pfft, I'd be a terrible landlord if I didn't help a young damsel in distress." He winked again and I giggled. I fucking giggled. Oh god…
"Well, even so, I can manage. Don't want you hurting your back before you can film Sherlock anyhow." I replied cheekily and grinned at the room again. "This is going to be perfect."

I hauled all of my stuff out of the taxi and thanked him profusely. He was kind enough to help me lug it all in and lug it all out. I paid him and gave him a bigger tip than I normally would and he drove away with a beep of the horn. I waved and turned back to my things. Fumbling with the keys Benedict had given me, I unlocked the door and put a stopper in the door to stop it from slamming shut.

Box after box came inside. I had about 15 of them. Most of them had clothes and books in them. I had a chest or 2 as well. I didn't pack lightly, and I knew I never would be able to. I had to have books with me at all times. I especially adored Shakespeare, poetry and zombie thrillers. Yeah, a huge contrast with that last one. So, most of my books consisted of beautifully written words of love, tragedy and brains getting munched on. Lovely.

Sounds of feet coming down the stairs told me Benedict had heard me yelp a little when I lost my grip on one of the huge chests and my back and neck twinged with the strain, along with my hands and arms. Immediately, Benedict ran over and took it from my arms. He was a little startled by how heavy it was, but it wasn't as much of a burden to him as it was to me. I noticed he had changed. He was wearing dark jeans that were sort of tight, but sort of baggy too, and another tight t-shirt. His arms looked huge in the t-shirt, but I could see his chest muscles and back muscles move as he juggled it a bit and then put it down.

He then turned and looked at me somewhat disapprovingly. "You thought you'd be able to bring that in on your own?" I shrugged sheepishly.
"I got it here, didn't I?" I mumbled with reddening cheeks. I probably looked like a stubborn child to him. I hid my face behind my hair in shame and cleared my throat, leaving to get the other chest.
"Natalia, I'll get that." Benedict said, walking past me.
"No, it's fine. It's not your burden to bear, I'll take it." He looked back at me, his curly brown hair moving slightly in the breeze, like mine.
"That was almost poetic." He joked a little. "But it's fine really. I could see that it was hurting your back. And I'm guessing this chest it just as heavy as the last one."
"Um… It's going to be heavier…" His eyebrows shot up.

"What's in these, if you don't mind me asking?" I shuffled a little.
"Books and a few clothes. But mostly books." My face was scorching once more and I was thankful for the gust of wind that blew my hair in front of my face. I heard Benedict laugh.
"Now that's something worth risking your backbone for." He chuckled, and I did as well. "It's okay. I've got this. After all, we still need to get these to the top floor, don't we?" I groaned as he laughed at me. I'm glad I could make Benedict laugh at my silliness and immaturity. Thank god someone does.

After bringing the last of the boxes in and taking them upstairs, we were stuck with the mammoth task of taking the chests upstairs. The entire job of moving everything was awkward in my pencil skirt, but I didn't want to have to find the right pair of jeans for me to move properly, so I just left it. I would pull the chest up and Benedict would push it, as he was dead-set on it ("I don't want you to get squashed if my grip fails!"). The first chest – the lighter one – went up first, and it was relatively easy. The second one, not so much. We both decided that both of us pushing it would be easier. So, I was walking up the stairs with Benedict by my side as we struggled to push the heaviest chest up two (four, technically, if you count the little breaks in between) and keep the other upright. I'd slipped quite a few times on the stairs from pushing too hard and my foot just slipping off the step I was on. Luckily, Benedict always managed to grab me and keep the chest up with his shoulder. I apologised profusely every time.

Finally, after such long and arduous work, we managed to get the chest to the top floor. Benedict insisted on taking it in himself, and he did, to my surprise; he looked as exhausted as I was. I counted the boxes and sighed with relief, thankful I had everything up here. I turned to Benedict. "Thank you so, so much for the help you've given me, Benedict. I wouldn't have done this without you." Benedict shrugged.
"I did tell you so, didn't I?" He said cheekily with a grin. "It was my pleasure, Natalia. I'm glad to help anytime." He was so sincere, I had a hard job of not believing him.

"I'm so sorry for any back ache I've caused you though! I may as well offer you a cup of tea for all the help you've given me." He looked reluctant. "Please? It's the least I can do. And I can pay you back for everything. I can help clean anything you want! I can even do shopping if need be!" I was desperate to show him how much I appreciated the help he'd shown me.
"Natalia, I'm grateful for the cleaning you're going to do, and a cup of tea would be smashing, but there'll be no need for you to do any shopping to repay me. This is my duty as a landlord." He had walked closer as he'd said that and we were about six inches away from each other. I sighed and nodded. "So… a yes for the cup of tea?" I asked with a hopeful smile. He grinned and nodded.

I quickly busied myself with grabbing the box labelled 'kitchen' and started unpacking it, looking for my kettle. I plugged it in and turned it on as I started putting cutlery, mugs, glasses, plates, etc, away. "Sit down, please." I gestured to the seating area. He smiled and sat down casually.
"How do you take your tea?" I asked, looking over my shoulder at him. My lips parted slightly as I took in how he was sitting and what he doing. He had opened one of the trunks and he was reading one of my favourite poem books (albeit, it's from my ex-neighbour's daughter's GCSE English exams) and he was thumbing through it casually with his left leg propped on the other at the ankle (of the left leg) and he was murmuring the words.

"Quite strong with one sugar, please." He said pleasantly with an equally so smile. I smiled back.
"Which poem are you reading?" He looked up with a devilish smirk.
"It's 'To His Coy Mistress' by Andrew Marvell." He said with a slight teasing tone in his voice. I gulped.
"It's one of my favourites, despite its… ahem, slightly inappropriate context. The annotations on all of the poems aren't mine. Well, some of them are. The anthology used to belong to my next-door neighbour's daughter. She finished her GCSE year and gave it to me, since she hated poetry. I used to help out with analysing the poem's language and structural devices… Oh lordy, I sound like a teacher." I chuckled slightly at my antics. I always rambled when I was a little nervous.

"It is a very interesting read… Would you like me to read it aloud? It is one of your favourites after all, and I'm sure you'd enjoy a listen." Benedict reasoned. He seemed like he very much wanted to read it to me. Hm.
"Alright then, Benedict. Give it your best shot." I challenged lightly with a grin. He smirked back.

"Had we but world enough, and time, this coyness, lady, were no crime." Oh dear lord… "We would sit down and think which way to walk, and pass our long love's day; thou by the Indian Ganges' side shouldst rubies find; I by the tide of Humber would complain." Why… Why would I ask him to do this? His voice was the sound of perfection, it really was. He sounded like a cello in one of its perfect symphonies, humming along to the vibrations of the strings it would make. Oh no, I'm going poetic and descriptive about his voice, I'm head over heels or something, aren't I? "I would love you ten years before the Flood; and you should, if you please, refuse till the conversion of the Jews. My vegetable love should grow vaster than empires, and more slow." OH GOD. "An hundred years should go to praise thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze; two hundred to adore each breast, but thirty thousand to the rest; an age at least to every part, and the last age should show your heart. For, lady, you deserve this state, nor would I love at lower rate." I could feel my eyes try to close in the pleasure I was receiving from simply hearing his voice reading such a suggestive and erotic poem. God… "But at my back I always hear time's winged chariot hurrying near; and yonder all before us lie deserts of vast eternity. Thy beauty shall no more be found, nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound my echoing song; then worms shall try that long preserv'd virginity, and your quaint honour turn to dust, and into ashes all my lust." I think my ovaries just burst. "The grave's a fine and private place, but none I think do there embrace." He paused and I looked over to see why. He was staring over at me with dark eyes that I could not read. The tea had long brewed. Our eyes remained locked.

"Now therefore, while the youthful hue sits on thy skin like morning dew, and while thy willing soul transpires at every pore with instant fires, now let us sport us while we may; and now, like am'rous birds of prey, rather at once our time devour, than languish in his slow-chapp'd power. Let us roll all our strength, and all our sweetness, up into one ball; and tear our pleasures with rough strife thorough the iron gates of life. Thus, though we cannot make our sun stand still, yet we will make him run." He finished the poem and then looked back up at me.

"I can see why you like it." He mumbled, his voice still rich and delicious to listen to. I nodded breathlessly and turned back to the tea with my face burning as though the hot water was scalding my face. "It has a certain… charm to it." Is he flirting or is he analysing?
"I s-suppose it does…" I replied with a tiny stammer. I hope he didn't notice. I poured milk into the tea, stirred it and then brought over two mugs, placing one in front of Benedict. He smiled and placed the anthology down on the table. We sipped our tea in unison and made noises of appreciation as the hot beverage poured down our throats. "I do love a cup of tea." I murmured to myself. Benedict agreed whole-heartedly.

We ended up talking until it was about dinner time, and I realised I needed to go shopping and continue unpacking. I decided shopping could wait until tomorrow. I – shamefully – lied to Benedict, and said that I had food that I could unpack and he reluctantly went downstairs to make himself some dinner. The smells of pasta and tomatoes wafted upstairs quickly and my stomach growled. I defiantly continued to unpack. Only when it was quarter past one in the morning did I finish unpacking completely and realise how hungry I was. I had absolutely no food and no shops would be open that were close to the apartment. I didn't trust London this early in the morning so I grumbled to myself about my stupid decision. My stomach continued to make noises and pester me until I stamped my foot in frustration. I immediately winced when I recalled Benedict lived below. Oh no, please say I didn't wake him up… After a few minutes of silence, I decided it was safe and continued to ignore the persistent sounds and aches from my stomach.

The more I waited for the hunger to pass, the more the shadows seemed to stretch towards me and try to take me into their depths. The horror films I watched and the horror books I read were certainly contributing to my overactive imagination and I shuddered, quickly flicking on all of my lights. The entire flat was completely silent, save for my breathing. I despised the silence in this particular moment. Any other time, I would have welcomed it. But then, I was frightened and I had to get out.

I pulled on some shoes and put on my big coat, hoping I could find a bar or café that would sell a sandwich of a sort and just get away from the room I had to sleep in for the next year or so. Unfortunately, I had forgotten about the creaky stairs. I went down them and winced when one of them creaked extremely loudly. After a few moments of silence, I heard shuffling coming from behind a door just behind me. I scolded myself and tried to keep going but the door opened, throwing the hallway into light. I turned and blinked a bit in the brightness. Benedict flicked on the hallway light and looked at me concerned. He didn't even appear tired. He did appear to be worried, however, and he was only wearing jogging bottoms. He wasn't wearing a shirt. No shirt. No top. Just bottoms. I can't tell if the guy upstairs loves me or hates me right now.

"Natalia." He said simply, tilting his head a little. I gaped like a fish a little at being caught so quickly but I snapped my mouth shut quick.
"Benedict." I returned shyly.
"I could hear you moving about upstairs a lot. You sounded distressed." I didn't say anything. "Where are you heading off to?" He asked curiously, leaning against the doorjamb. Oh god, he's leaning against the doorjamb with no shirt on, oh god… Tumblr, help me, what do I do?

"I… I was going out for fresh air…" I lied through my teeth and he knew it.
"I don't mean to be a bother to you, Natalia, if you don't want to stay, you can say, and I'll help you mo-." I quickly cut across him.
"No, no! No, I'm not trying to leave or anything, not after everything you've done for me, no! I…" I sighed dejectedly and my shoulders slumped. "I didn't have any food packed away so I figured I would find a café and see if they sold any sandwiches. And… I was a little scared of being alone in a new room." I confessed shamefully. Benedict's posture visibly relaxed and he held out his hand. I looked at it with a frown.
"Come on, I'm not going to bite." He chuckled softly. I half returned it and reached out. He clasped my hand gently and pulled me over. He led me inside and sat me down.

"When was the last time you ate?" He asked as he looked around in his cupboards. I sighed again.
"The day before yesterday. I had a quick sandwich for dinner." He looked at me.
"You didn't eat at all yesterday?" He questioned with surprise. I shook my head.
"I just wasn't hungry. I was so busy." He nodded.
"I understand that." He replied and continued to look for food. In the end, Benedict put a bowl of egg fried rice in front of me with a fork. I looked up at him hesitantly and he smiled encouragingly at me. "Go on." He urged me. I took it from him slowly and began to eat it. It was really nice, I recall. When I finished, Benedict whisked the bowl away and led me back upstairs.

"Will you be alright on your own?" He asked as he followed me to my bed. He seemed to pick up on my reluctance to leave him just yet. I'm a wuss, I know, but I don't like unfamiliar places, much less sleeping in them. "I… I don't know. I think so. It's just a new room, and I'll get used to it. I guess the horror stories I read about girls moving into haunted apartments aren't exactly helping any." I chuckled a little and he did as well.
"I've done a thorough sweep of the place. No ghosts, demons, ghouls, poltergeists or anything supernatural. I promise." Benedict reassured me with a warm smile. Damn, why is he so nice?

"Again, I have to thank you… I don't think I've thanked anyone this much in one day, to be honest." The corner of my lip quirked up as he continued to smile at me. "I met you yesterday and you've given me a roof to live under, you've helped me move in, you're not charging me half as much as you should and you've catered to my need of food as well. I don't even know where I'm going to start when I need to repay you." My head was lowered again, for shame that he'd decide that I was too weak for him to bother with because all I did was thank him or apologise. I was too stubborn to accept help most times, even when I knew that I needed it. I felt like a child in front of my role model and celebrity crush (big time crush) and this wasn't helping any.

Instead of a snort of disgust (thought it would have been very un-Benedict), I felt warm bare arms enclose around my body, and my face was right next to his neck. He was hugging me… without a shirt on. I could literally feel all of his muscles relaxing as I returned the hug and I, ashamedly, buried my face into the crook of his bare neck. Hnng. That's all I can say.

After about a minute of the much-needed embrace, we both pulled away, neither of us daring to look into the other's eyes. Or at least, I dared not to look into his eyes. That could have been dangerous. "I'll stay with you." Benedict assured me. I nodded. He walked to the other side of the wall, near the kitchen, so I could change into some pyjamas. It was just a pair of grey shorts and yellow spaghetti-strap top. "The room looks great with your stuff in here." He complimented.
"Thank you." I blushed still, thankful that he couldn't see me. I changed quickly and then walked out from behind the wall. "You can have the bed, as you're my guest." I pointed out. He turned quickly and appeared to freeze for a moment before continuing.

"No, I refuse to take the bed. It's your first night here, and you're going to be comfortable." He gave me a look when I tried to argue. It made me feel a little guilty and childish, but he was thinking of my best interests, I knew. "Fine…" I muttered reluctantly. He immediately smiled at me.
"Excellent. Now, go on. Try out your new bed." He encouraged happily. I chuckled and crawled into the bed. He was right. He was incredibly comfortable. Benedict laughed as I gasped with delight at how amazing it was. I smiled up at him from my bed. He returned it and went around flicking lights off.

When all of the lights, but my lamp, were out, he grabbed one of the two blankets I had on the sofa and lay down over the cushions with the blanket on top of him. "You can have both of the blankets if you want." I offered. He pulled the other one over him and thanked me. I flicked off the lamp and settled under the duvet, guilt gnawing at my gut, but happiness clenching my heart. "Good night, Natalia." I smiled weakly.
"Good night, Benedict." I think I just fell in love with a man I had only met yesterday.

Wow. It's been months. And I've been resurrected with a new story! My obsession with Tom Hiddleston has been somewhat sated, and replaced with a burning infatuation with Benedict Cumberbatch XD He's so attractive :3 Oh, guys, I'm going out with someone! Omfg, huzzah! :D Woo! He's really nice, he's funny and sarcastic, really tall and, shhhhhhh, he reminds me a bit of Benedict! ;D He's ticked all the boxes, hehe! I've used the name Natalia again because it just sounds like it would be an amazing name to come from Benedict's mouth ;D I AM SO SORRY FOR MY HIATUS ON MY STORIES AND ACCOUNT IN GENERAL. I'M TRYING TO PICK UP FROM WHERE I LEFT OFF AND I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT I'M HALFWAY THROUGH WRITING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF IMMORTALITY. I'VE BEEN SOOOOO BUSY WITH EXAMS SINCE IT'S MY FINAL YEAR AT HOGWARTS, I MEAN, MY ORIGINAL SCHOOL, THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO KEEP WRITING WHEN I'M UNDER SO MUCH PRESSURE! I'LL TRY TO KEEP UPDATING! I LOVE YOU ALL! CHEERS FOLKS! ADIOS!

MOTHERFUCKINGLUNAYEEAAHHHHHH