1972
Two years went by and staying with Ozymandias was both a blessing and a curse. He had me under his protection. The downside was that he kept me a secret. Adrian was my tutor aand guidance in everything. Exercise. Dieting, though to improve my initial health I had to eat meat, so we weren't on the same diet. Finally, Education.
Now sixteen, Adrian has focused my studies on the arts as I easily mastered all the other sciences and philosophies. it was strange at first calling him by his first name, but he kept persisting that there was no need to use formalities unless in front of others, which was very rare since I basically lived inside of his tower without any association to the outside world. All except the television he had placed in my room.
*Sigh*
What else is there to do other than read here? What else is there to do other than train? What else is there to do other than wait for Adrian to come back home?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
*Sigh*
Again I sigh. Finally realizing just how bored I have become. I have nothing better to do than lay on the ceiling and staring down at the specially designed marble floors. I close my eyes and sigh again and listen to the silence. How long does it take to get used to silence? I asked Adrian once when I first noticed how quiet his home is a few days after he took me in. We had been eating lunch in his dining room. Him at the head of the table and I to his left. He looked so perplexed that I didn't think he would answer until he suddenly smiled at me,
"It's never quite to me. I'm always thinking. Therefore, I never hear silence. Even in my sleep."
To which I slumped in my chair and looked away from the sharp man,
"It's always quiet. It's not like I'm not thinking, but more like I have my thoughts in order enough to know what to expect and just wait for something to happen. When I first was taken to that facility, I did not cry, I did not speak, I did not answer the many taunts. It just felt like I was waiting."
Without even looking at him I knew he had tilted his head in wonder,
"And what were you waiting for? Your freedom did not come for some time and there was nothing for you to do there. You have much to do now. So why are you noticing the silence of my home?"
"Because it was never silent there or in my old home. There was always crying. Always screaming. Loud noises and talking. So much noise that I almost got out in my first few attempts of escape because it was so loud I knew how to avoid guards, alarms, and the scientists. But there is always some else who is quite too and that is the only reason I was caught. Here it is so quiet that my thoughts seem loud and it makes me anxious."
Deep laughter sounded beside me and I looked at Adrian's smile,
"You would have become a nightmare had they trained you like they wanted. So calculating and eager but patient and subtle. You would have been their snake. Their spy. Their little temptress should you have grown up there. A snake indeed but not my enemy. A snake to lead down the right path."
I smiled up at Adrian then,
"Don't you mean your path Mr. Veidt?"
His face stilled with his smile and he suddenly turned serious,
"I am not your enemy and you are not mine. What I will teach you is to save your life and our future. Not because I want you to be like me."
"Hmmm, could it be that you have never taken care of another person with such intimacy then Mr. Veidt?"
His eyes went wide and I could see anger start to bubble within him so I continued,
"You hardly have company over but you keep everything looking prestine. I know for a fact that you do not have any friends because the only person you have talked to as long as you have with me is you secretary and you keep those conversations clipped. The Watchmen are not your friends either given how tense and aloof everyone was, not just the Comedian. All of your contacts, which I have looked through, are potential business partners. All of the women in your vacintity are either reporters or work for you. I'm the only person you have let in in a long time and talked to in such an informal manner. That is intimate Adrian. Close proximity. Informality. Care."
His eyes glowed vibrantly as his intense and thundering eyes held mine,
"You are still young. Intimacy means other things that I do hope you have not yet experienced, but my...distinct closeness to you is because I am your mentor and I want you to feel comfortable. If you feel that being so intimate as you say is anything but for your training then I will distance myself until it is clear what our relationship is."
I raised an eyebrow at his words, or choice of words, for the matter,
"Are you implying that I will, what, fall for you or something Adrian?"
His smile grew cocky,
"You are an adolescent. You are out of your captivity and your hormones are going to start their natural changes as I train you. It is only natural for your age range to experience curiosity and raging new emotions as you body changes. Being that I am the only person who will be around you regularly and most often, it is inevitable for you to grow attracted to me if you aren't already."
My jaw dropped and I shook my head,
"You sir, are wrong. I like to play games, that I will admit. I was only teasing about the intimacy thing. But, while you are a cat, I am not a mouse. Cat-and-mouse games are not my style. Now, if you were to say Predator-and-prey, I would say that is my favorite game. That is a game you would lose to me Mr. Veidt without any doubt."
I had turned so serious by the end of my statement that there was some resemblance of understanding in Adrian's eyes. He nodded and the subject was dropped. All the while, I couldn't get his words out of my head as we continued to eat our lunch. "It's only inevitable."
Two years have passed since that lunch conversation and I had proven Adrian wrong. But if he could read my mind, he would know that he has won.
Click. Click. Click. Click. Click...Click...Click...
Opening my eyes to the sounds of heels loudly coming from the building elevator into our suite. I am on the ceiling where I am unseen, but I see black glossy heels in the archway. The person hesitantly takes two steps closer, glancing around the hallway looking lost. No. Looking for something. A reporter? Her dark auburn hair shines in the reflection of the ceiling lights and her face is admittedly attractive. To attractive to be one of his secretaries. Turning onto my torso, I silently crawl to follow her as she makes her way down the hall towards... Adrian's room. I can hear her mumbling to herself,
"Straight from the elevator to the hallway. Turn right and the door all the way down to the left. Turn right and the door all the way down to the left. Damn, what were the rest of his instructions?"
She stopped and began to dig through her purse. Maybe she is a reporter then. Adrian never sends his secretaries up here to retrieve anything. Especially since he knows that I am always up here. But I see her pull out a note that looks to be like an invitation. Focusing, I look at the card as she reads and something begins to feel heavy in my stomach.
"Once inside my room, strip, discard your clothes, and take a shower. I will be joining you shortly after."
Adrian's handwriting. Those instructions. Oh ew...ew ew ew ew ew ew ew. Has he lost his mind? Or...maybe he knows that he has won? Shit.
The woman disappears into his room and I drop from the ceiling silently. I want to breath heavily but instead go into my room that is on the far right of the left hall and locking the door behind me. This is the third time. He told me that the first two were reports he was doing in private, but there is no way he can excuse this. Not this time. You don't hold an interview in your bedroom.
What is going on in his mind lately? Bringing women around when I don't. Do who knows what out there when I'm always in here? Is that even fair? I always follow his rules. But in this moment I am thinking, who ever said I had to follow them this long? He's running out of things to teach me and once he's done, there's no reason for me to stay around. Or maybe that's what he's counting on. Me not knowing anything about the outside world and wanting to stay by his side. He treats me like a child. I mean for goodness sake, I don't even own a bra.
Pausing in that moment, there is a mirror in front of me and I see me. I see the slightly fitted black dress I have been wearing for over a year that was once so loose is now snug. Pushing off the straps I pull the dress down and finally see what I think Adrian has been trying to avoid. What he was trying to ignore by slowing my studies. I have a woman's body still in transitioning. I need bras, I need flattering underwear, I need clothes that will show that I am a woman.
The Watchmen haven't been keeping touch in so long and none of them could help me. Even Lorey since she's off with Dr. Manhattan who knows where. No one can help me except me it seems. All there is to do is wait until Adrian gets here, puts his jacket with his wallet full of cash he rarely spends, and heads into his bedroom to enjoy his 'interview,' grab the cash and get out.
I stood in my room, in my snug black dress, with my eyes closed, just listening. Waiting to strike. A snake he called me then. It makes me want to laugh. Oh if only he knew how much of a snake because now I have venom.