Happy Together

Black Sheep

"So," Manny said as they locked up the pastry case, "got any plans after this?"

Victoria shrugged, tossing her cleaning rag into the laundry bin. "Probably just going home, maybe watching something mindless before crashing."

"Sounds thrilling," Manny teased, locking the register. "Don’t forget to set the alarm before you leave."

"I won’t," Victoria promised, grabbing her bag from the back room. "See you tomorrow."

"Night, Victoria," Manny said, giving her a wave as he headed out the back door.

Victoria stood alone in the shop for a moment, the hum of the refrigerator and the faint scent of coffee lingering in the air. She double-checked the locks on the doors and set the alarm, the beeping echoing in the quiet space.

As she stepped outside into the cool night air, she took a deep breath, letting the crisp breeze clear her head. The streets were quieter now, the hustle and bustle of the day replaced by the occasional distant sound of traffic.

Victoria walked briskly down the dimly lit street, the soft hum of the city in the background. She clutched her bag tightly, her mind swirling with everything that had happened earlier with Alistair—and Lucius. It was a lot to process, but she wasn’t scared. If anything, she felt more determined to understand him, to help him, to see the man beneath the chaos.

Victoria clung to her bag tightly as she briskly walked down the dimly lit street. The soft hum of the city blended into the background. Everything that happened last night as well as this morning weighed heavily in her mind. Fear however didn’t factor into the determination or desire to help Alistair see the man she saw beneath the chaos.

“Hey,” a rough voice called. Heart leaping into her throat, Victoria whirled to see a shadowy figure. A man stood there, his face partially obscured by the hood of his jacket, a knife glinting faintly in his hand. “Hand over the bag.” The sight of the knife made her pulse quicken. Like a deer in headlights she faced her assailant. “I said hand over the f*****g bag lady!” the man growled angrily at her.

Her pulse raced, but she didn’t move. Frozen she took a deep breath to steady herself. Her stomach churned as she willed her voice to be steady. “Look, I don’t want any trouble,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear curling in her stomach.

The man stepped closer, the blade catching the faint light from a nearby streetlamp. “I’m not asking twice.”

Before she could even think of a response, a second figure emerged from the shadows behind the mugger. This one moved with purpose, his steps quiet but deliberate.

“Wrong move, pal,” came Lucius’s voice—low, cold, and dripping with menace.

The mugger turned, confused, and barely had time to react before Lucius grabbed his wrist, twisting it with enough force to send the knife clattering to the pavement. The mugger cried out in pain, but Lucius wasn’t finished.

He shoved the man hard against the wall of a nearby building, pinning him there with one arm. “You thought this was a good idea?” Lucius hissed, his face inches from the mugger’s. “You think you can just waltz up to people like her and take what you want?”

The mugger squirmed, fear now etched into his face. “I—I didn’t mean anything by it, man! I swear!”

Lucius’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “Didn’t mean anything by it?” A guttural growl escaping his throat His grip tightened, his knuckles whitening as he pressed the man harder into the wall. He felt the man's throat starting to slightly cave in his grip. The sensation of holding his life in his hands excited him. “What to do with you?” Lucius mused. “Cut you from gut to sternum? Nah too quick. Slowly choke the life out of you as she watches? That sounds fun.” His grip tightened as the vertebrae in his neck popped slightly. Stepping closer “Rip you apart with my bare hands?”

“Lucius!” Victoria’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. She was standing a few feet away, her eyes wide but focused. “Let him go. He’s not worth it.”

For a moment, Lucius didn’t move, his eyes still locked on the mugger, who was now trembling. Then, with a dramatic sigh, he released his grip, letting the man slump to the ground. “Run,” Lucius ordered, his voice holding back the rage that dwelled within.

The mugger didn’t hesitate, scrambling to his feet and bolting down the street without a backward glance. Lucius turned back to Victoria, his expression shifting to something almost smug. “You’re welcome.”

Victoria crossed her arms, her heart still pounding. “You didn’t have to be so rough,” she said, though there was no denying her relief at what had just happened.

Lucius stepped closer, his head tilting slightly as he studied her. “He had a knife. You think Alistair would’ve handled that any better?” He smirked. “Face it, sweetheart. I just saved your life.” his eyes scanned her up and down as a wicked grin crossed his lips.

Victoria didn’t flinch under his gaze. “You saved me, sure. But let’s not pretend it was out of the goodness of your heart.”

Lucius chuckled, the sound low and unsettling. “You’re smarter than you look. But you should be thanking me, not lecturing me. That guy wasn’t going to just walk away.”

“Thank you,” Victoria said flatly, though her tone carried no warmth. “Now, are you done playing the hero, or are you going to let Alistair come back?”

Lucius’s smirk faltered slightly, and for a moment, something darker flickered in his eyes. “You think it’s that simple? You think I just step aside when you snap your fingers?”

Victoria took a step closer, meeting his gaze with surprising defiance. “I think you’re more interested in control than you are in hurting me. You wanted me to see you. Well, here I am. And I’m not scared of you.”

For a moment, they stood there in silence, the tension crackling between them. Then Lucius’s smile returned, smaller this time but no less unnerving. “Interesting,” he said quietly. “I can see why Alistair likes you.”

Before Victoria could respond, his body stiffened slightly, his expression softening. When his eyes met hers again, they were filled with confusion and remorse.

“Victoria?” Alistair’s voice was shaky, his posture collapsing as he looked around. “What... what happened?”

Victoria exhaled, her shoulders relaxing as she stepped closer to him. “You saved me,” she said, her voice gentle. “Well... Lucius did. But you’re here now. That’s what matters.”

Alistair’s face crumpled with guilt as he noticed the discarded knife on the ground. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t—he didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“No,” Victoria assured him, her hand resting lightly on his arm. “I’m fine. Let’s just get out of here, okay?”

He nodded numbly, letting her guide him away from the scene. But as they walked, Victoria couldn’t shake the memory of Lucius’s smirk—or the strange feeling that, in his own twisted way, he was starting to take an interest in her.

They made their way to Alistair's apartment, both talking about their day as if trying to escape the previous night and the events of a moment ago. "I would ask how he knew I was in danger, but it's not important. The important thing is you are gonna cook for me tonight," Victoria said, a smile curving on her lips as she leaned into Alistair. "To tell you the truth. I have no idea how I got there. One minute I was at my desk and then here I am with you." he said he stared ahead. Shaking his head he smiled.

Holding hands they quietly walked just enjoying each other's presence.

He’d gone all out for dinner, preparing a dish his mother used to make when he was younger—rosemary chicken with roasted vegetables and a light lemon sauce. The scent filled the small apartment, a comforting contrast to the unease that had settled in his chest after last night. She watched as he meticulously cleaned each utensil and surface as he worked, taking great pains to be thorough. Alistair caught her gaze "I learned to be a great cleaner living with him." he said half chuckling.

Victoria stood there, a soft smile on her face. She looked relaxed tonight, wearing a simple black sweater and jeans, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. She held up a bottle of sparkling cider. “I figured this might be nice after... well, you know.”

Her gaze swept the room, landing on the neatly set table and the warm glow of the candle in the center. “Wow,” she said, clearly impressed. “You really went all out.”

“I wanted tonight to be... normal,” Alistair admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “After everything that happened.”

Victoria set the bottle down on the counter and turned to him, her expression softening. “Alistair, you don’t have to try so hard. I’m here because I want to be. You don’t have to prove anything to me.”

Her words hit him harder than he expected, and for a moment, all he could do was nod. “Thank you,” he said quietly.

They sat down to eat, the atmosphere light and warm despite the lingering memory of the previous night. Victoria took a bite of the chicken and immediately groaned in delight. “Okay, this is amazing. Seriously, if you ever get tired of your job, you should consider being a chef.”

Alistair chuckled, his tension easing bit by bit. “I don’t think I could handle the pressure of a kitchen. Cooking at home is more my speed.”

“Well, you’re really good at it,” Victoria said, taking another bite. “This is better than most restaurants I’ve been to.”

As they ate, the conversation flowed easily, weaving between lighthearted topics and more personal ones. Victoria talked about her childhood on the island, how she’d always loved the holidays despite the tropical heat, and how she’d started working as a barista. Alistair listened intently, feeling a strange sense of comfort in the rhythm of her voice.

When the conversation naturally turned to the mugging, Alistair tensed, his fork pausing mid-air. “I don’t even know how to explain—”

Victoria cut him off gently. “You don’t have to explain, Alistair. I know Lucius is... a part of you. But I’m not scared of him.”

Alistair blinked, startled by her calm demeanor. “You’re not?”

“No,” Victoria said firmly. “I mean, I get it. He’s... intense. And maybe a little scary in the moment. But he saved me. And in his own way, I think he’s trying to protect you, too.”

Alistair looked down at his plate, his thoughts swirling. “He’s not always like that. I mean, he’s done terrible things. Things I can’t forgive.”

Victoria reached across the table, her hand resting on his. “But you’re not him, Alistair. I know that. And I think, deep down, you do too.”

For a long moment, he didn’t say anything. He just stared at her hand on his, the warmth of her touch anchoring him. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet. “You’re... amazing. You know that?”