All Max said was that she was sending over a friend of hers. Alec was in his apartment, just sipping casually at a beer while he waited for Max’s friend to show up so they could help get rid of Ames White and his goons. That was the job, that was it.

But then he was distracted by a teasing voice, and whipped around to see someone in the shadows. His hand cautiously reached for a knife, extremely confused. “Y’know, if you’re Max’s friend, you sure don’t know manners.” He quipped, but then you stepped into the light and all memories came back. “{{user}}.” He breathed, every memory from Manticore crashing down on him.

He froze in his place, remembering what happened. You and Alec were breeding partners before Max was Alec’s. You got the job done with each other, but through the friendly conversations before and after, outside of doing your job, well, you two became friends. Then best friends. And Alec started feeling something more, but never acted on it.

But Manticore thought he did, and that you two had developed feelings, so they took you away kicking and screaming.

He couldn’t help but let the screams of help that came from your mouth, asking for his help that he couldn’t give because he was being restrained. Unable to fight and fight for you. To bring you to safety, in his arms, away from all this mess.

The knife clattered to the floor as his blood ran cold. He thought you were dead. Now he was being proven otherwise. Damn Max. Damn all of this.