Disclaimer: I don't own the Grisha Trilogy and its characters – it belongs to Leigh Bardugo. I do not own the Shadow & Bone TV series, which was developed by Eric Heisserer for Netflix and based on Leigh Bardugo's books. Any recognisable dialogue is from the books or TV show – some lines may be included verbatim, others in an amended form.
Inspired by episode 1 of the TV show You.
You
She's beautiful. She's talented. She's perfect.
Alina sits in the gallery, using the paintings as inspiration for her own sketches.
Looks up when she notices someone has sat down next to her.
Tall, dark-haired, unfairly good-looking, maybe ten years older than she is.
"May I see?"
Hands her sketchbook over a little nervously, always shy about showing her work.
But his eyes widen in appreciation, his mouth quirking upwards in a slight smile, "you're very talented."
Ducks her head, blushes slightly, "thanks. I'm still learning, but I enjoy it."
"I assure you," he says "your work will be up here one day."
"Oh, I don't know about that," Alina protests.
He grins, "I own the place and, believe me, I'd love to show your work."
"Really!" she can't help but light up.
She loves The Little Palace Gallery. It always shows such wonderful work, a brilliant way to spend an afternoon.
He pulls a business card out of his pocket, hands it over, "let me know if you've ever got something you want to show here."
Alina beams, takes the card eagerly, tries not to sound like a complete idiot as she thanks him.
Leaves the gallery with a skip in her step, fingers itching to paint.
Alina Starkov.
Her name, helpfully gleaned from the sketchbook he'd looked through, is imprinted on his mind.
Finds her on Instagram and Twitter.
Plenty of pictures of her wonderful art.
Photos too. He notes the red-head girl – Genya – who seems to be her best friend. Then there is the boyfriend – she looks at him with stars in her eyes, while his gaze foolishly strays to other girls.
Aleksander frowns, feels a burst of hatred for this boy who doesn't realise what a treasure he has.
Alina works for hours at the university studio, frantically sketching and then painting the image she's got in her head.
One of her professors comes by as she's finishing up, admires the work, thinks it's one of her best.
Wonders if she's brave enough to call the man from the gallery. She looks at the card, black with silver font – Aleksander Morozova.
Not yet, though. She thinks it would be best to have a few pieces for him to look at.
She's constantly posting on her social media pages.
He wonders if she knows how dangerous that is, her location on display for anyone who cares to look.
Not that he can complain right now, as it helps him follow her.
She sings to herself as she paints. Hums while waiting in line at the coffee shop. Smiles at the strangers she passes in the street.
Genya persuades her to go out, lends her a shimmering gold dress and does her makeup for her.
Isn't normally bothered by all the dressing up her best friend loves, but does feel pretty tonight.
The feeling goes away when she spots Mal, his hands all over another girl.
(earlier, he refused her invitation to come out, cited essays he had to finish).
Grabs a drink, then two, then three.
It's a bit of a blur after that.
Loses Genya at some point after David arrives and distracts the red-head.
Makes her way to the train station alone, cursing the heels she's not used to.
Waits for the train, sways slightly.
Doesn't realise how close she is to the train tracks until she falls.
It's an ideal opportunity.
And a good job he decided to follow her. His poor Alina clearly needs someone around to help her.
Pulls her out of danger, enjoys the warmth of her drunken but sincere hug.
Takes her back to her flat. Nabs her phone while she's not looking.
Says goodnight like a gentleman.
Alina's head is pounding.
Saints, how much did she drink last night?
Flushes in embarrassment as she remembers falling. Goes cold when she thinks how badly things could have gone.
Thank the saints for Aleksander. Saving her from the tracks, getting her home safe.
Decides to visit the gallery as soon as possible to thank him. It's the least he deserves.
He looks through Alina's phone. Her pictures, contacts, conversations.
She'd so helpfully given him her passcode last night, though he knows she was too drunk to remember that.
Discovers when she buys a new phone since it synchs up with this one, giving him an easy way to track her movements and conversations.
He does love technology.
And there is she is, telling Genya all about the hero who saved her from being hit by a train.
He grins.
She stops to buy a new phone on her way to The Little Palace Gallery, cursing her drunken self for managing to lose her old one.
Finds Aleksander almost as soon as she walks through the door.
Thanks him profusely, though he insists it was no problem, that he was happy he was there to help.
Can't help but notice how attractive he is, how he looks at her with undisguised admiration, so unlike Mal's disinterested gaze.
(she broke it off with Mal on the way, finally accepting that he might have been her childhood best friend, but what is between them now is just toxic).
Aleksander flirts gently, asks her out with a hopeful smile.
She says yes, her eyes fluttering shut as he leans down to kiss her cheek.
Wants his hands to roam, wants him to touch her, wants him inside her.
Says goodbye. Will see him later. Has high hopes for the night.
He's secured a date. Plans to seduce his Alina so thoroughly that she'll never even think about another man again.
Has just one piece of business to sort before the evening.
Easy enough to lure Malyen Oretsev to the gallery. The boy's an idiot, after all.
Traps him in the gallery's vault, a sound-proof, locked room only Aleksander has access to.
Daydreams about how he'll kill him, make him scream and cry and beg for mercy that will never come.
It's all falling into place.
Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed it.