After Alex is first brought to Benriya.
"You said we could take whatever we wanted, so this our trophy"
Worick's teasing words echoed in her ears as they walked. The rain had stopped as the three of them made their way back to the Handymens' office. Alex glanced over her shoulder at the stern face of the deaf man behind her. He was looking at her too, his eyes cold and unmoving. She shivered under the borrowed jacket she wore.
They reached the bottom of the stairs leading up to the suite. Worick turned to her and smiled sheepishly. "Eh, it's not much to look at, but you should stay here for a while." Alex nodded solemnly. The silent presence to her rear unnerved her to no end. Worick climbed the stairs, unlocking the door and showing her in.
The collection of furniture in the office area looked worn but comfortable. She saw two doors to her right as well a doorway that seemed to lead downstairs to another level of the building. "You can sleep here, if you want," Worick indicated to the couch in the center of the room. "Or, if you think you'd be more comfortable, you can sleep with me." He raised one eyebrow, grinning, as he pointed to the second door.
Before she could respond, Alex heard a grunt from behind her. Worick looked over to his partner. She saw both of their hands moving in short, concise movements but could not comprehend their meaning. Whatever the outcome of their conversation, she heard Nicolas grunt once again, seeming somewhat displeased. He brushed past her, heading downstairs.
"Ignore him," Worick chimed. "He's wet and grumpy. If you'd like you can borrow something of mine to wear. Your dress looks pretty soaked." Alex stared at him for a moment before she could comprehend what he had said. Her thoughts were always so hazy.
"Ah... No, thank you. I have clothes of my own. I can get them later." She shrugged out of his jacket. "Thank you for letting me borrow this."
Worick smiled. "I may have been wearing it, but it's not mine. You can return it to Nico." He nodded his head toward the descending hallway. "I'm going to get changed. Feel free to take a shower. You must be freezing." And with that, he entered his bedroom and shut the door lightly behind him.
Alex stood in the entryway at the top of the stairs, uncertain as to what she should do. "...take whatever we want, so this is our trophy..." Those words filled her mind, clouding her thoughts. Was she their woman now? She had seen them kill Barry. She knew she no longer had any other place to go. What did they expect her to do?
She clutched the jacket tightly to her. "You don't get shit for free; You have to earn it," she heard Barry's voice say. She only knew one way of earning her keep. She heard muffled sounds coming from Worick's room, then the soft protest of a mattress. He had closed his door, not wanting to be disturbed.
Alex looked at the jacket in her hands. He had told her to return it. She bit her lip and took an uneasy step toward the descending hallway. She thought of the powerful, violent man who lived down there. Tag. The word seemed to have some deeper meaning, but she couldn't recall what it was. She had seen his dog tags, taking him for a mercenary, which he obviously was. But something nagged at her about his tags. She knew he was dangerous, thinking of the police car he had rocked on its side with just one kick. Tag. The word sent a shiver down her spine.
"...our trophy."
She was no stranger to violence. She had seen people shot, maimed, tortured and killed. She had suffered Barry's blows and the rough hands of depraved men. But something about the silent Nicolas made her skin crawl.
"...take whatever we want..."
She was their property now, to do with as they pleased. Her eyes sought Worick's door once again. She could hear the gentle sounds of snoring. Trembling, Alex headed down the staircase that lead to the bottom floor. Her steps were tentative, each one heavier than the last.
As she neared the bottom she heard a low exhalation of breath. A faint creak, another exhalation. Creak, exhale. Alex reached the last stair and saw the source of the noise. Nicolas was laying with his back on the floor, legs strapped in to the seat of an old sofa chair. She could see his sword leaning against the opposite side of the chair. He paused in the middle of his next sit up to look at her.
His chest was bare and she could see the dozens of scars that littered his skin. His big hands came out from behind his head and he propped himself up, still staring at her with his black, calculating eyes.
"I-I wanted to return this," Alex stammered, holding out the jacket. Nicolas continued to watch her wordlessly. Had he not been able to read her lips? "And to say thank you,"
Nicolas grunted, but in acknowledgment or irritation she could not say. He stood and crossed to her, taking the jacket she had folded over her arm. With him so close, she realized they were almost the same height. Neither of them moved.
"Th-thank you-" Alex reached for him, finding his belt. Nicolas started with genuine surprise as he felt her hand working on his buckle. He quickly dropped the coat in his arms and grabbed her hands. Alex looked up at the sudden pressure on her wrists. When had she closed her eyes?
A low whimper escaped her unwillingly as she waited for him to act. He held her hands tightly, the grip almost painful. The tears welling in her eyes and the slight tremble of her lips told him all he needed to know. Nicolas released her, stepping back sharply and picking up his fallen jacket. He then pointed to another door on the other side of the room.
Alex followed his direction, stepping up to the door. When she looked, Nicolas was still on the other side of the room, watching her. She pushed open the door of what she thought was his bedroom. Alex was very surprised to instead find a cramped bathroom, a neat set of clean towels on the counter.
Turning again, Alex looked at the deaf man. "TAke a SHOWer. You'RE gOIng to STink uP the plAce," he said with some effort, then turned to go back upstairs.
Alex watched the strange, intense man climb the stairs until he was out of sight. She then entered the bathroom and turned on the taps.
I have a few ideas insofar as one-shots, primarily involving Alex, Nicolas and Worick. If you have any requests send me a message. Thank you for reading!