We're back for more I see. Glad you are enjoying the ride as much as I am. Quick shout out to the reviewers. I do enjoy the comments. I too wish that the fuzzy moments between Alex and Nicolas were officially cannon... then again, who is to say they might not become that as the manga progresses. Until then, let's close our eyes and go with this alternative reality!

I also wanted to credit others with the interesting way to type Nicolas' spoken words. I was not clever enough to think of that odd combo of capital and lower case letters. Not sure who thought of it first, but it wasn't me. Kudos creative fiction writer somewhere out there!

Chapter two is ready for YOU!


Nicolas' eyes remained squarely on the dark skinned man ahead of them on the nearly silent street. He could see no weapons, and yet every bit of him knew that something dangerous stood before them.

The woman behind him began to shake, as she grabbed onto his back for support before she pushed away.

"Emilio?" Her voice stayed at a disbelieving whisper. So many emotions went through her mind seeing the face of the man she knew to be her brother.

"I finally found you, sis." The man said looking from Nicolas to Alex.

The former mercenary's eyes went wide after reading the stranger's lips. Sister?

Alex rushed forward, evading the Twilight's attempt to grab her hand. Nothing was going to keep her from her brother any longer.

Seeing no smile on her brother's lips, Alex faltered and stopped a few feet between the two stationary men.

"Oh god... Emilio... I'm sorry." She sobbed burying her face in her hands, assuming his lack of movement towards her meant anger. Knees going weak at that thought, she fell to the ground and wept.

"I'm sorry... so sorry," she repeated not able to look at him.

The deaf man stood warily watching, on the alert to strike if this newcomer posed a threat in his movements towards the distraught woman.

"Shhhh," Emilio voiced out as he took a few steps to close the distance between them, and knelt down. In one motion, he held her to his chest. The embrace instantly reminded them both of the times she had done this for him. "It's ok, Alex. I've found you."

Alex's heart skipped a beat hearing the love in her younger brother's voice. It relieved her in so many ways, and instantly her arms crushed him tighter.

"Oh my god," she whispered over and over as the siblings stayed on the ground for a time before Emilio pulled back and lifted her head to see into the eyes of his sister for the first time in nearly a decade.

"You're more beautiful than I remember."

"Emilio," she blinked looking at his changed face. Her hands went to touch his scarred forehead. "What happened?"

"It's a long story sis. But that doesn't matter. I've finally found you." He tried to calm her worry by taking her hands from the scar. Instead, he stood and helped her up as well.

When they were at full height, he stepped back and took in the sight of her - just slightly taller than his own frame.

Nicolas continued to monitor the interaction. Looking harder at the younger man, he could easily tell they shared many features. The same skin tone showed some African ancestry and the blue eyes...

He could easily read her brother's lips from his position, but not Alex's. Her back remained to him, and her part of the conversation lost.

The siblings pulled each other into a tight embrace after standing once again; this time laughter and happiness filled them both. Or so he guessed. Nicolas remained silent taking in the pair's actions.

Alex's tears of sadness turned to ones of joy as she realized her brother did not hate her. In fact, now he seemed overjoyed as he picked her up and he twirled her around a couple of times, getting them both laughing.

"This isn't a dream, is it?" She smiled, her hands once again going to cup his face. Alex needed to touch him, feeling that if she let go now, it would fade away.

"No, we're really together again," he let her run her hands through his hair, still taking in all the changes from the boy she left in East Gate.

A grunt from behind her caused Alex's smile to grow wider. Letting go of her brother's face, she turned to the man she forgot still stood there. He's probably confused out of his mind.

"Nicolas, sorry. It's just… this is my brother, Emilio." She began to sign.

"Sis? Who is this?" Emilio asked looking at the swordsman with a similar hint of caution.

"Emilio, this is Nicolas. He helped me get my life back." She made sure that she still faced Nicolas while she spoke, knowing that it would be easier to have him able to read her lips in case she didn't sign correctly.

The ex-mercenary tried to keep his focus on Alex's words and not the other standing very close. He would not let on how good it felt hearing her say such a thing about him with that look on her face. The feelings threatened to swell through his tightly controlled barriers.

"I am eternally grateful to you then." The younger man stepped forward offering his hand. Nicolas didn't take it. Instead, he continued to look at him before shifting to glare directly at Alex.

The younger man looked confused but let it pass, as Alex took the hand instead, happily wrapping her hand around his arm.

"What are you doing here Emilio… is, is everything alright?" She glared right back at Nicolas before returning her focus to her long lost brother. "Did father?"

"That bastard died a long time ago. I was better off without him… we both were." His face softened seeing the hurt in her eyes. "You owed him nothing Alex. He basically sold you to continue his drinking problems and hatred!"

"I'm sorry I left… I should have never done that to you."

It was Emilio's turn to cup her face with his hands.

"None of that matters. We're together again."

"How… I mean… look at you! You're all grown up!" She pulled him into a tight embrace again.

While resting his chin on her shoulder, the dark skinned man's eyes went to the other man once more.

Nicolas didn't know what it was, but he didn't like this guy. It had nothing to do with Alex being extremely happy or affectionate with him, but something was off.

"I am. I got a job, and once I had the money, I knew I needed to find you. To bring you home."

"Home?"

"Well, I sold the house. But we can build a new one, away from all this disease. Monsters live here Alex, I've seen them."

"Monsters?" Pulling away, she thought about his words. Yes, monsters did indeed live inside the city walls. The kind that attack innocent people merely because they are different. Ones that take innocent people and destroy lives for some misguided holy war, she thought, but stopped.

"It doesn't matter. You're with me; I can protect you." He took her hand and turned to walk in the opposite direction of the Benriya. "Let's go."

Stunned at all that was happening – her brain tried to catch up and recover from the fact that her brother was here – she allowed him to pull her for a few steps. Before they got to where Nicolas stood, she hesitated and placed a hand on his, over her wrist.

"Emilio." Her voice sounded conflicted. "I… I can't just leave." She looked to Nicolas, who would not make eye contact with her. "Where would we go?"

"I have a hotel room. We'll spend the night there, you can relax there for a time, and we can plan our next steps." He turned to respond.

"I can't leave my friends right now. Something very wrong has happened. I need to… help."

Emilio looked her over as if searching for something… trying to figure out exactly how she could help maybe, but Alex wasn't sure.

"HeY!" Nicolas stopped the familial dialogue with his gruff voice. His hands began speaking for him, not really wanting to divulge much to this newcomer, no matter who he appeared to be.

"What the hell? You just going off with him at a time like this?"

"I… he's my brother." She spoke and signed back.

"You can't just leave!" Even without an audible voice, she could tell Nicolas would have snarled that response. His wrist movements swift and calculated.

"I know…" her voice sounded hesitant, thinking back to the internal conversation of a few hours earlier.

My brother is alive. And he still loves me, even, after all I put him through… but leave? Why does my heart feel so happy, but also so pained? No answers came to her as she looked at Nicolas, hoping for any reaction from him to keep her there.

"Idiot, don't you know you're my woman? You can't just leave!"

Alex's eyes went wide with shock at the term 'my woman.' He had called her that once before, though she thought it was a joke. Granny also confirmed it didn't have much meaning to it, but now, he looked dead serious… almost hostile towards her.

"What the hell does that even mean?" She yelled, not bothering to sign that, instead, her fists balled at her sides, and her shoulders began to shake. "You don't own me, you hardly even like me, and now I'm your woman?"

Nicolas' strong hand grabbed her arm and yanked her back in the direction of the Benriya. He wasn't gentle, and Alex cried out in pain from the pressure on her wrist as she struggled.

"Let her go." In an instant, Emilio had jumped over the pair and stood blocking their path once again. Both members of the Benriya Trio looked shocked at the feat of controlled power the other man exhibited.

"GeT OuTTa mY WaY BozO," Nicolas spoke in a threatening tone.

"Are you her pimp? Is that what this is? You sell my sister for money?"

"No, Emilio. Nothing like that." Alex spoke up not wanting the two men to fight. A feeling in the pit of her stomach worried her; these two felt like they both waited for that final spark to ignite their rage. Pinching Nicolas' hand, she got him to release it, and she stepped in between the two, her arms out keeping them apart.

"What gives him the right to think he owns you then?" Emilio's blue eyes narrowed moving closer to her outreached hand.

"Emilio, he doesn't own me," she said turning so Nicolas could see her lips.

"What is wrong with you?" Nicolas watched as she signed to him with a frown on her face. Blinking at her a few times, he found it hard to believe that for someone with so much power like he had seen in that alleyway all those years ago, she could not even sense a dangerous aura.

"You enjoy walking into trouble, don't you?" He had to remind himself to keep the speed of his motions slower so she could read them. "You don't know where he's been. Who he's working for!"

"He's my brother!" The frustration rose to the point she couldn't sign. "Why would he hurt me?"

"You're too trusting."

"And you're too jaded to want to see the good in people."

The pair continued to converse through gesture and lip movement without a sound, leaving the other man out of the discussion.

"You belong here." At the end of that gesture string, he crossed his arms in stubbornness.

Alex took a deep breath and looked straight into Nicolas' eyes. There was an odd amount of emotion flaring in them, and that confused her.

"So, is this some kind of proposal or horribly gone wrong declaration of love?" It surprised her that she knew the motions of the things she wanted to say, well, she hoped she did. Stopping, she waited for the Tagged Twilight to respond, her hands resting on her hips.

Shit, Nicolas sighed internally. How did this go from that guys is dangerous to I don't want you to go?

Her features looked on edge, preparing herself for whatever he would do next. The sequins of her dress sparkled in the lighting, and he honestly didn't know what to say.

"dO wHAt yOu WaNT. GeT YoUR SeLf sOLd anD RaPED aGAin. JuSt EnD Up DeaD. StUPId BiTch WHoRe, I DON'T CARE."

Alex felt the verbal slap against her face. This was how he felt about her… and the way he so clearly said those last three words knocked the breath out of her lungs.

Eyes wide, she forced herself to blink before the water welling up threatened to escape.`

And that is it, she thought. He doesn't care. He never did.

"I'll pick up my things tomorrow then." Pride took over, and she looked away as she signed the message to him.

Emilio, having just about enough of the strange conversation stepped up and took his sister in his arms, noticing her emotional change.

"Come on sis, you don't need this asshole."

Not one to let someone walk away from him, Nicolas took one last look at Alex and her brother and jumped up on the rooftops heading back home.

The gush of air from his push off hit her bare legs, and suddenly she felt cold. Shivering, she leaned into her brother's embrace.

"Idiot." She let out, trying not to cry.

"Let's get some sleep. We can plan our future in the morning."


The blond haired gigolo reclined on the couch that evening with the window wide open, a book in hand. He enjoyed relaxing after a hard day's work in his underwear. While he knew Ally wouldn't think anything of it, it just felt weird being that comfortable around a female… one that he wasn't really interested in sexually.

Not that he would have minded seeking comfort in the valley of her ample breasts. In his expert opinion, Alex Benedetto's chest remained the best in all of Ergastulum.

The whole package, huh? He mused to himself looking at the clock on the wall. Looks that could kill, voice like an angel, soft skin and with some kind of rare quality that makes her immune to the filth of this city – even on her worst day.

Worick knew exactly why it was pointless to fantasize about being with his curvaceous secretary. A smile spread across his lips, as he put down his book and stretched.

They should have left the Bastard by now. Nothing like a romantic stroll home to help even the most inept of men… something is bound to happen one of these nights.

For the last several evenings, Worick sent Nicolas to escort the part-time diva for the Cristiano Family's club. The first night Nicolas put up quite a fight, but Worrick still needed rest from his injuries. The Twilight already healed - for the most part - accepted the notion of someone having to escort her after Worick practically ordered him.

The second night, much less protest came from the deaf swordsman. Now, nearly a week on, the dark haired man did not offer any complaints. Knowing not to press the other man on a touchy subject like this, Worick decided not to comment when that evening his friend appeared to have cleanly shaved and put on a clean shirt and jacket for the journey.

Little signs arose shortly after the pair took in their newest employee. Then again, the first time he noticed something off about his long time friend's behavior around the woman happened shortly after she both saved and then nearly killed him.

Then when she suddenly reappeared in that stairwell, Nicolas often started his day gazing at her. Then the handkerchief, the concern that only a few of his companions received from the ex-mercenary, the way Nicolas would vanish at sudden moments to run to her aid… yes, his little mercenary was in love. Or as close to it as the Twilight would allow himself.

Scratching his bare stomach, Worick sat up on the couch. Allowing his elbows to rest on his knees, he hunched over thinking about exactly what that revelation meant.

Alex was no ordinary girl. Granted she looked it on the outside, but both men knew differently. In that alleyway all those years ago, when pushed too far, her dormant powers swelled forth. Thankfully, that memory for her laid hidden as well. They would just have to keep an eye on her carefully during these dark times.

He likes the challenging ones, it seems. The blond had a sad smile. There was once a time where he thought Veronica would be the one to get his friend to enjoy life. Those two had been too similar with love of fighting and unfortunately, the need of those drugs. It meant the end of Veronica and the near destruction of his friend. With Alex, she brought a difference that might hold the key to refocusing Nicolas' priorities… once this nasty Hunters business finished.

No, for now, they needed Nicolas the berserker Twilight.

After. Worrick nodded sitting up straight when he heard footsteps on the roof. Realizing it was odd that anyone would be up there he stood and grabbed his gun.

Waiting silently, he threw open the door and pointed the weapon.

The sulking figure in the dark corner came into focus and Worick slightly eased up.

"What the hell are you doing up here?" He asked, signing as much as he could with one hand and the other with a gun in it. "And where's Ally?"

When the other man didn't respond and simply walked past, the one eyed gigolo felt a twisting in his stomach.

"Where is she?" He yelled, knowing that Nicolas could not see his lips, but he knew the deaf man could assume that question would arise.

Slamming his fist on the wall, he stormed after the man who stripped off his jacket and hung it up before heading for the living area downstairs.

Anger growing, Worick grabbed the back collar of the black shirt, stopping his friend.

"I asked where is Alex?" He moved around the other man.

"Gone."

"Gone as in gone back to the club? Gone whoring?"

Nicolas' eye grew in rage at his friend even thinking Alex would do that again. Quickly containing his anger, he looked at his friend.

"She found… her brother."

"What?" The look of shock quite clear on Worick's face faded as the seriousness on Nicolas told that it was true.

"So, she's left then?"

Nicolas grunted, not wanting to talk about it. The woman had done enough damage for one day, and he didn't want Worick to add to the discomfort.

"And you didn't invite them both here so I could meet him?"

"That punk smelt of blood."

"And you let her go with him? Knowing that? What kind of a moron are you?"

"What was I supposed to do? Drag her here?"

"You could have… no, never mind, it would be impossible for you to actually admit that you care about her!"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Have you not even admitted it to yourself yet?"

"I don't care about her."

"My ass you don't!"

"What do you know?"

"When it comes to you? Quite a bit. I've known you for years Nic, and I've never seen you act the way you do around Alex before. Not even with Veronica."

"Don't bring her into this!"

"Why not? It's not your fault her body couldn't hold up after all those overdoses."

"ShUT UP!" The other man roared, not liking the feeling of being caught in a corner.

Damn you Worick, seeing too much… he always did know me too well, he thought as he closed his eyes. It was true, he felt partly responsible for Veronica, but he never forced her to take the drugs.

"If you didn't care, you wouldn't be this pissed. Would it be so hard to let her know? I'd say she feels very attached to you as well."

"Don't lie to me."

"Are you blind as well as deaf?"

"What about you? Don't tell me you wouldn't fuck her if you had the chance!"

"You know I appreciate women's bodies. And our Ally sure does make an enticing specimen, but you dolt, I'd never make a move on my best friend's woman. I've known from the beginning. How you would limp into the room while she slept after I found you both"

"How do you know I have feelings for her? I was going to kill her after that job for Chad and the families."

"Were you really? Could you have?"

"I kill people, it's what I do."

"Fine then. You don't love her. So what's got you all on edge then?" Worick knew he had said enough for his friend to stew for a bit on that topic later. And prying an admission out now might do more damage.

The blond waited for his friend to explain.

"He smelt of blood."

"Everyone smells like blood in this city. I'd be surprised to find one person not tainted by it in this mess."

Nicolas silently glared at his partner and then turned. Leaving the room, he knew Worick might be trying to talk to him, but at the moment, he needed to get out.

Damn her… damn both of them. Given their interactions with him, he pondered how they could not realize that he would never function like a normal human. Worick could pass as nearly ordinary. The way he could interact with people, he at least interacted with his family and others before they met. Nicolas had nothing. His father saw him as a weapon, his mother... he never knew anything except she had powers…

He would never know how to seek out affection, nor could he ever see himself doing the family thing that so many around him appeared to desire.

Survival. That is what his mind thought of as important. It was all he knew. And even if he had started to see Alex as something that he looked forward to each day, he didn't know how to go about changing the focus of his life.

And if, by some miracle, she did feel for him as Worick said, would she expect things… things that he couldn't provide? The thoughts all converged and assaulted his already conflicted mindset.

The one thing that he knew with certainty- sleep would not be coming that night.


Her slender fingers pruned from the long soak in the large bathtub, but the warm waters calmed her down from the ordeal she survived the night before.

After she parted ways with her supposed friend on the streets, Emilio brought them both to a stylish looking hotel on the opposite side of the city from the Benriya and her old life.

After talking more with her only remaining family member, Alex felt herself losing the battle with wakefulness.

At some point, she fell asleep. She knew this because when she awoke the next day with the sun shining in through the curtained window, her head rested on a soft pillow. The large bed allowed her to stretch out like a cat, content from a restful sleep.

Sitting up, she noticed her brother sleeping on the couch, much as she had done at the Benriya.

I have to go back. She thought allowing herself a moment longer to enjoy the silken sheets beneath her.

Not wanting to wake her brother, she had slipped into the bathroom shortly after getting up. She peeled off her dress and let the warm waters comfort her and her worries - which is where she found herself at least a hour later with wrinkled finger tips.

When I go back… what do I do? Just get my things and leave? How can I stay there with someone who… she shook her head, not allowing the tears to continue.

At least, I know now. The attempt at positivity didn't do much to heal the pain that still thudded in her chest. And they've all been telling me to move on. I'll see what Emilio's plans are. Maybe we can stay in town at least till Connie is found… and I can sing and make money to help support us.

The next time she looked at her hands, they were wrinkled.

I suppose I need to get out of here. I can't stay forever. And with a nod to herself, Alex Benedetto left the safety of the tub.

Pulling on a robe, she decided against putting her dress back on. Instead, she found a bag of her brother's few belongings. Not really snooping, she pulled out an extra hoodie of his and a pair of shorts. They both were too large for her, but it was better than nothing.

Using a piece of string she found, the shorts were secured at her waist. The white hoodie fell to her mid thighs. It felt almost like a dress, but a bit too free flowing for her to use it as one. Hair high on her head, she took a last look in the mirror before writing a note to her brother on where she was going, Alex left the hotel.

Feeling like a new woman, Alex decided to take the main streets towards her destination.

Walking past her favorite stairwell, she looked up at the Benriya.

Would they even be up, she wondered as she began to ascend the stairs. Using the key that Worick gave her shortly after becoming their official house-guest/secretary, she opened the office door, praying not to see a particular individual.

To her surprise, Worick lightly slumbered on the couch where she normally slept. It was odd to see him there and hoped that her departure hadn't caused him to worry.

She didn't have much time to stress about that as the phone began to ring. Quickly making it over to the desk, she answered it without a second thought.

"Thank you for calling the Benriya. How may we help you?"

Worick stirred on the couch and sat up recognizing the voice.

"Are you sure? I'll let them know. Yes, ok. No, I understand. See you soon, Loretta."

Hanging up the phone, Alex knew she had to face the blond man.

"Good morning." She smiled moving towards the couches. "There's a person who has information on Connie and the group that's attacking Twilights. The Cristiano group invited you to join them if you wanted."

Worick nodded but didn't say anything.

"I didn't mean to worry you," she said instead, knowing that he might be mad at her for not returning after her shift at Bastard.

"No, it's ok, Ally. I didn't get much information out of our silver-tongued friend, but your brother finally found you?"

She smiled brightly clasping her hands together.

"He's here for some job and knew this is where Barry had a base of operations. I guess he heard me signing the night of the party but wasn't sure. So he'd been waiting on the streets to see if it was me or not."

"I'm happy for you Ally. So what are you going to do now?"

"Now? Well…" She wrung her hands, not knowing how to respond. "We haven't talked much about it. Our father's dead… he sold the house to take a job… so we're going to have to figure something out. Maybe live here in the city or move back to East Gate. Not sure."

"Well, it will be sad to see you go. I've liked waking up to a lovely face in the morning. Nic really isn't my type." He tried to joke. Alex walked over to the window and looked down on her stairwell.

"Speak of the devil," Worick noted the arrival of the aforementioned man.


Confrontation! Maybe a confession? Probably not likely yet.. but we're working on it!

Thanks for joining the plot bunny driven insanity all, see you next time!