Unraveling (Lex)

[Dorian Humbert]

Lex had an interesting way of trying to make Dorian, or anyone close to her, see reason. Insulting him in his inebriated and vulnerable state was not going to make him change his mind but Lex seemed to like to call him names when he was being exceptionally obtuse, and if he couldn’t make the girl he loved happy then he would settle for letting his friend find some comfort in pointing out his stupidity.

But bringing up his parents was a low blow. He had shared his emotions about the demise of his adoptive parents with her in confidence, a confession that he had not shared with anyone else. Even Christine had not been privy to his deepest thoughts on the subject, not wanting to alarm her. Dorian had bottled up his feelings over his father’s murder while he attempted in vain to comfort his deranged mother. After his mother took her own life he suppressed those emotions, too. Lex was right, he had not let anyone in since then. Except Christine, and look where that got him.

He was angry now and lashed out at Lex in a manner a sober Dorian would have better sense to avoid. “Twice! Because of me, Christine has been captured twice by dark wizards! And all I’ve done is reprimand her. If you are her friend as you claim to be you will not push her toward me. You would warn her against me! And if you are my friend you would leave it be!”

[Aleksandra "Lex" Eiriksen]

Lex didn't beat around the bush. She was direct and gave a good dose of reality when someone she cared about was in need of it. Of course that often meant that she appeared to be a b*tch most of the time.

She hadn't brought up painful memories to tear Dorian down, but rather confront him about his feelings.

"It is not your fault she was taken!" Lex returned. Dorian may have been intimidating, but he had nothing on their brother Alek, or on their father Eirik. And yet Lex saw even Dorian had not escaped their father's darkness. Beneath the thin veil of nobility and steadfast civility there was a dangerous animal to rival any Eiriksen.

"I'm trying to help you Dorian. I want you to be happy. I want Christine to be happy. Do you think I would push either of you into something that would hurt you further? I care about you, you're my-"she caught herself just as the word brother would have slipped past her lips, but there was deep emotion in her eyes.

"You deserve to be happy Dorian. You deserve it more than most."

[Dorian Humbert]

"It is not your place to push us into anything!" he scolded. They were partners, work colleagues, and new friends. They had become good friends, but still Dorian did not let many people in. He certainly did not need to be reminded of the dangers of having loved ones in his chosen profession in the same breath as being told to pursue the only woman he'd ever let himself love.

[Aleksandra "Lex" Eiriksen]

Zero for two this morning. Lex wasn't having much luck; the people she loved were unbearably stubborn.

"And whose place is it?" she asked him roughly.

She pushed back away from him and moved toward the door "Who else gives a damn?" she asked before leaving and slamming it behind her.

[Dorian Humbert]

No one. No one else gave a damn because the only other people Dorian let close to him were either sleeping with Alek Eiriksen or dead. As Lex left Dorian continued his bender by finishing the rest of the bottle he held in his hand and stumbling to the kitchen to search for more.