[Log] Ben S and Lizzy R Who: Ben Sorenson and Lizzy Raleigh What: Ben comes over to Lizzy’s When: After this Where: Lizzy’s Condo Rating: Tame
True to his word, Benji headed straight to Lizzy’s condo as soon as he received the address. Without a car and unwilling to spend the money on cab or on the bus, he began jogging there. Thor’s excitement felt like electricity at his fingertips and even though he was worried for Lizzy, the other man’s emotions dimmed all else. Entering the code at the gate, he walked up to the building itself, willing his breath to slow and showed the doorman his ID. If sweaty men often showed up Lizzy’s door, the man didn’t show it and after verifying that he was allowed up, he walked deeper into the building and towards the elevator.
On the ride up, his breathing finally evened out. The physical exercise seemed to have calmed the other man in his mind as well, enough so it no longer felt like joysorrowadrenalinelightning in his veins. The elevator dinged off and Benji stepped outside, hoping he didn’t look a frightful mess when he arrived at her door. There was little to be done about it now though except hope as he knocked on her door.
There was something about reflecting on the fact that she was indeed still in danger from the abuser who had attacked her the Sunday before that made Lizzy even more afraid. It was made twice as bad when Felicia was concerned and insisted she hire bodyguards. She had managed to work herself into a tizzy, and ended up with someone coming over at a late hour to make sure she was okay. It was someone she didn’t even know, but if Felicia trusted him, she trusted him.
Fortunately, the doorman called ahead, so she did not completely freak out when there was a knock on her door. Granted, her heart was still pounding in her chest, and her hands were shaking as she stood up to answer the door. Holding the hockey stick in one hand and the pepper spray in the other, she peeked out the peephole. She saw a man there that clearly was not Rita’s husband, and breathed a small sigh of relief. Still clutching the hockey stick, she opened the door and said in a nervous voice? “Ben, I presume?”
“Yeah. Lizzy? Hi.” He pulled out his wallet again and passed her his ID through the door, so she could verify it for herself. “Do you want to call Felicia and make sure its me?” Ben volunteered, only because he wanted to make sure she felt safe. If that meant she took a picture on her cell phone and sent it to Felicia to make sure it was him -- that was fine.
In a city like this, one could never be too careful. He even took a step back from the door, hands open and wide so she could see he wasn’t carrying anything else.
Even though she shouldn’t be, Lizzy trusted that Ben was who he said he was. After all, she really didn’t think anyone would go to such trouble as to procure false documents to get into her apartment. She wasn’t that crazy -- yet.She took a deep breath and then stepped back from the door, handing him back his wallet, and shutting the door as soon as he stepped through, locking the locks and setting the alarm.
She stepped back and then really looked over the man Felicia had sent. He was handsome, in that rugged sense she supposed. She suddenly felt embarrassed to be in her faded Dallas Cowboy’s t-shirt and sweatpants that were a few sizes too big, her feet in a pair of ridiculous striped socks her six year old half sister had given her. This guy was likely to think Lizzy was some sort of paranoid loon.
“So,” she said, her voice lacking its usual confidence, “Thanks for coming. I know you probably have better things to do than babysit a paranoid lawyer.”
He expected her to look him over -- he would have been worried if she hadn’t -- but didn’t return the look. The last thing she needed was someone giving her a thorough once over in her own home; both he and Thor had better manners than that. That didn’t stop him from noticing her t-shirt and comfortable sweatpants or the fact that she was cute with her pointed chin, high cheekbones and bright eyes. “Cute socks,” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting.
“You’re welcome, I’d rather make sure you’re safe,” Ben said honestly. Yes, there were things that Thor wanted to do, but nothing was going to happen tonight that demanded either one of them. Everything could wait until tomorrow. Besides, he’d been the one to volunteer to come over. If he could help her feel a little safer, he’d do it for no other reason than she was Felicia’s friend.
“Why don’t you show me around? I’ll make sure the windows are locked and secure and then you can get some rest, yeah?” It was something he’d seen his family’s bodyguards do often enough and while he doubted the guy that did this to Lizzy was going to come through a window, he knew it helped people to feel safe nonetheless.
He seemed to be all business, which Lizzy appreciated. After all, there was a time to be social, and a time to make sure some crazed stalker didn’t want to come in and beat her brains in. The latter certainly applied, though as soon as he felt things were secure, she’d be a proper southern girl and offer him a drink and a snack.
“Well, the only windows that open aren’t really windows,” she said, motioning to the balcony doors that lead out to a large, furnished patio. “If he can climb up 22 stories... well, I think we are all in trouble.” Still, she stepped back and allowed him to go check the locks and whatnot, mostly because it made her feel better. “And I went ahead and moved a dresser in front of the service door that we have for the cleaning staff to enter through. They don’t come until Friday, anyway.” Lizzy’s condo was comfortable, but it was very clear that she was of the upper middle class lifestyle.
Deciding she needed to just get out of the way, she sat down on her sofa and waived her hand around, “Go where you want, inspect anything you want. Do whatever you think you need to do to keep me safe.”
Benji laughed at the comment about how high up they were. It was true -- if he could get up those 22 stories without issue, they were in trouble, but that didn’t keep him from flushing slightly and rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s habit,” he started to say as he moved through her condo. The doors and locks were all checked, as well as the closets, the bathroom, under the beds and of course the windows. He didn’t know how long she’d been home, but he knew from watching Mike and Gary that you checked everything, no matter how long you’d been gone for.
He didn’t dally in any of the rooms and double checked the service door and dresser to make sure that it was enough of a deterrent if someone wanted to come in that way. The dresser was heavy enough to do that and even if someone was really determined, it was going to make enough noise being moved to alert them both. Satisfied that all was as it should be, he returned to her.
Men that weren’t used to the obvious comfort showed in her home might have stared, but he’d been raised around opulence, his touch nor his gaze lingered on the items in her condo. Besides, to stare would have been rude.
“All set,” he said, smiling warmly as he came back into the room. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, how’d you get involved with this guy? What’s the story there?”
The feeling of helplessness, of needing to depend on someone else was making Lizzy feel a bit stir crazy. She was curled up on the couch, her knees to her chest and her chin resting on her legs. She could do this. She could ride this out for a few more weeks, and this man would be arrested. Then she could go back to her normal life.
When Ben came back in, she gave him a smile and took a deep breath to answer his question. “Well, I am a lawyer. I do a lot of pro-bono work for the Las Vegas Free Clinic.” She shrugged, not thinking it was that big of a deal she did it. After all, she thought that she could do more, and she would once she was able to leave the house more. “So, there is this woman, Rita, and she and her son were being brutalized by her husband.” She closed her eyes, her body giving an involuntary shiver at the bruises she had seen.
“A colleague and I, Dr Adam, helped her leave her husband. And once the restraining order was filed, he came after me since he didn’t know where she was.” She rubbed the back of her head where he had hit her with a baseball bat. “He jumped me in a parking deck, hit me with they think a baseball bat. And he’s still out to get me. But I am not going to let him scare me off. I just have to be smarter than he is, right?”
His jaw tensed as she relayed the events that led up to this and he finally had to force his teeth apart before he began grinding them. Not only was this man a coward to have hit a woman, but he attacked someone with their back turned. There was no truer mark of a coward in both Benji and Thor’s minds.
A part of them both almost wanted him to show up. Thor had no love of cowards and Benji had no love of men that hit women. “Smarter,” he agreed, nodding. “And better armed. The best thing you can do is to not let him change what you do. Even if it means having someone else around, as long as you do the things you’ve always done, he hasn’t won.” His gaze met hers. “He doesn’t deserve any control over you. They never do.”
Nor they deserve to have more of the conversation devoted to them. “Unless there’s more you think I should know about him, he’s gotten enough time, yeah?” The corner of his mouth quirked up into a small smile. “So what types of things do you do for the Free Clinic?”
The sigh that escaped Lizzy’s lips when Ben mentioned not to change what she was doing was a good indication that Lizzy had clearly changed everything. “I wish I could keep from changing things, hon. But the concussion left me stuck at home. They were scared I might get dizzy and fall down, bonk my head on the curb and we’d be right back where we started.” She rolled her eyes, her body relaxing a bit, and her legs drifting from their curled up position to a more relaxed one. She knew the risks after a concussion -- after all, her own father was an NFL player -- and she had taken them seriously.
The Las Vegas Free Clinic was one of Lizzy’s favorite topics, and she was rather excited Ben had asked. “For the most part, I offer simple legal advice to patients.” Her voice was far more animated than it had been all evening just with that simple sentence. “Most of the time the people who come in have other issues, like landlord disputes, domestic violence or even just trying to get public services. So I spend an afternoon a week there, helping whomever comes in. Usually I help them with a form, or tell them where to go, but sometimes it gets a bit personal.” She looked up at her new guardian, pushing the stray strand of blond hair that always escaped her ponytail off her forehead. “Like the client I just helped. But I am willing to take the risks if it means she and her son are safe. I recognize I have a privileged life. So, I try to give back where I can.” It was a bit hokey, and a lot touchy feely, but it was Lizzy in a nutshell -- the wealthy liberal with a plague of white, rich girl guilt who was determined to save the world, or at least Las Vegas.
“So, other than babysitting Felicia’s friends, what do you do with yourself?”
Her passion for her work was obvious as soon as the first sentence was out of her mouth. More than the words, it changed her entire demeanor, her shoulders going back, her body relaxing further, even the fact that she had to keep her hair out of her face wasn’t lost on him and he found himself smiling in return to her obvious joy at her job. It might have been a bit hokey, a bit touchy feely, but it also showed her true self and the fact that she wanted to help people who were at a low point in their lives meant far more in his mind than anything else.
“A lot of people wouldn’t,” he said quietly. He’d led a privileged life, though he hadn’t known it exactly at the time and as far as he could remember, beyond his mom’s charities, they hadn’t done much to help anyone else. Maybe one day he’d be able to do that, but he didn’t want to think about that too much now. The future could change so quickly.
“I think babysitting Felicia’s friends tops the list right now,” he said with a laugh. “I -- I’m still trying to balance what goes on on the other side of the door with being here.” Ben almost wanted to leave it at that, but she’d shared about her job and anything less on his part would have been rude. “And making sure her friends are safe isn’t as bad as it may sound,” he grinned at her. “I like making sure people are safe. If it means that both you and Felicia can sleep easier at night because you know I’m around then I’m doing my job right.”
Lizzy’s blue eyes didn’t stray away from Ben as he spoke. She was taken with what a genuinely nice guy he seemed to be, and that wasn’t something she thought of most people. After all, Lizzy worked in a law firm that could be a bit cut throat on a good day. Yet, it seemed like Ben was one of those people who had a genuine heart. In some strange way, it made her feel safer.
“I don’t know much about my other side. I’ve been once. I considered going there, well, as a safety precaution, but since it’s London in the seventeenth century, the medical facilities leave a lot to be desired.” She scooted over a bit more and then patted the sofa. She didn’t want him to stand there all night and be uncomfortable. It was just rude, and Lizzy was raised with Southern social graces. It didn’t matter if Ben was her bodyguard, he was a guest in her home, and there was an obligation to be a good hostess.
“So, I know you kind of rushed over, hon. Are you hungry? Thirsty?” She did a mental scan of what she might happen to have in her pantry. There were leftovers from the food Felicia brought over, sodas and if all else failed, peanut butter and jelly. She was far too kind to offer him the lentils and brown rice her stepmother sent her. “Don’t sit here all night and be uncomfortable. It’s the least I can do since you are spending your time keeping me safe.”
The mention of the medical facilities made him chuckle. She would notice that since she worked at a free clinic, he’d probably be the one eying up the different weapons. “Thank you,” Ben said as he took the offered space on the couch. She might have been raised with Southern social graces, but between his mother and Justine, good manners and chivalry had been beaten past his brow and directly into his brain. He would never sit until invited.
“I’m good, thank you,” he said as he tilted his body to face hers, one leg tucked up, foot off the couch and under his other knee. He’d need water eventually, but he could get that later. He’d need a shower too, but that, like the water, could wait.
“I think you should definitely go. I’ve only been on the other side twice but where he comes from? It’s bloody brilliant,” he said, smiling, his time in Britain clearly showing. “There are things going on there, I think I’m going to be spending more time there, but,” there was that little laugh again, “I think I’m actually looking forward to it. I don’t know what kind of medical facilities they have, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re good.”
It was so much easier to speak with Ben now that they were on closer to eye level. She was a bit disappointed she didn’t get to properly feed him. That’s how girls of her social standing and culture showed appreciation, sympathy - really any emotion could be expressed by feeding someone in the South. Her body shifted unconsciously to mirror his posture, showing a certain level of comfort, but also perhaps it was her own way of trying to make him comfortable, too.
“I went once. It was dull, and it only made Anne sadder, bless her heart. The castle was there, but her daughter, her family...” She shrugged, not really understanding the whole situation, but knowing that Anne sulked for days after they left, though she heard something about her daughter that cheered her up. Though lately there was a nagging feeling that Anne wanted to return, if for no other reason than to make others pay tribute to her as queen, and wait on her every whim.
“But I suppose I will go back, eventually. Once the doctors clear me for work, which better be next week.” She rolled her eyes and grinned. Lizzy was going crazy sitting in the house, and was even working from home in spite of the doctor’s order to rest. She simply didn’t know how to slow down. It wasn’t in her nature to be idle.
Ben nodded in understanding. When he’d first left home, it had been hard to come back to wherever he was staying and not to see his family. Thor felt the same pangs when he returned to Asgard, but they depended on him there. His loneliness couldn’t prevent him from going back.
“I couldn’t imagine him not going back now that he’s been,” Ben said, grinning at the look on her face when she mentioned that she had to stay away from work. “Did they tell you can’t go out or just not to work?” It made a difference, especially if she was already feeling cooped up. He’d said earlier that she shouldn’t change her life because of this guy and from her reaction, he knew she had. But if she could go out, he had no problem going with her, even if it was nothing more than a walk around the block.
“As lovely as your flat is,” he started, finally looking away from her to gesture to the whole of the condo, “a cage is still a cage. If the doctors have okayed you to leave, we could go out. We could go someplace relaxing, a garden, I know a couple of monasteries if that interests you.”
“Darlin, wherever you are going, it sounds ten times better than Tudor England.” She grinned at his enthusiasm at his alter’s world. She was a tad bit jealous - it seemed so many people got super heroes or something amazing, and she got a sulky dead queen with a taste for vengeance against her former husband. It was only slightly unfair, but the trade off not being needed in her other world was a bit of a relief.
“The doctor’s orders are to take it easy, not to overextend myself, and not to do anything that might get me knocked in the noggin again.” Lizzy’s language was a bit down home sometimes, betraying the fact she graduated with honors from Berkeley and UNLV. It was hard to shake Dallas, even after being away for 12 years. “But I am sure some fresh air would be good for the soul, and aren’t you supposed to have a certain amount of sunshine to keep you from being depressed?” Any excuse was a good excuse to get out of her condo and do something other than fret about her safety.
“It’s, yeah, it’s awesome,” he laughed. “But I think I’d enjoy Tudor England too. Logically you know things weren’t good then, that we have so much more now, but there’s a certain amount of romanticism that comes with the time period. Knights, ladies, jousting... The plague should probably be avoided though,” he said, smiling. “That would put a cramp in any enjoyment of it, but there’s still a lot that could be enjoyed.”
His smile widened as she mentioned going outside. “That’s what they tell us, yes. Vitamin D, sunshine. We could go anywhere you like, even out of the city if that would make you feel safer.” Since he’d become more aware of Thor, Ben also noticed that he liked spending much more time out of doors, in the fresh air, even if it meant simply sitting outside on a porch. It was far more enjoyable than being cooped up inside. “Lady’s choice, anywhere you would like to go.”
The fact that Ben even knew the proper definition of romanticism made Lizzy smile. “So, you are fond of the chivalry, then? Well, I imagine I could be convinced at some point to drag you and your alter with me to the royal court.” She eyed him again, and thought he would look quite good in the fashions she had seen the last time they were there. Granted, she was expecting him to look like his alter in appearance, since she and Anne strongly resembled each other.
“To be honest, I wouldn’t mind getting out of the city. Maybe head out to one of the state parks or something. It’s not that I don’t love Vegas, but I also love fresh air and silence, which you simply can’t find here.” Trips to the state park were a staple of weekends with Lizzy’s family, especially now that her sister was getting older, and more able to hike some of the more challenging trails.
“Maybe tomorrow. After all, it’s late, and I don’t want to wear you out.” She glanced at the clock, not even realizing the time. Staying at home so much had made time seem to pass at a strange rate. “I have a spare room, if you need it. I’ll put out some towels since there is a bath en suite.” She chewed her lip for a moment, thinking. “And there is cable, Netflix, and Hulu on my Playstation. Please make yourself at home. Anything you want, help yourself.” She knew before long she would turn into a pumpkin, and she wanted Ben to be comfortable.
“A little,” he said, laughing. “Though if you did that, I’d have to take you to his.” Ben didn’t know if she looked like her alter or not. He didn’t look like Thor, even though he was taller than most and kept himself fit, Thor was simply in a completely different body class. “It’s different and he can’t dance. He can do this shuffling two step, but,” Ben shook his head. “Do not let him dance in front of anyone.”
His confession was met only by a slightly amused and embarrassed silence from the man in his head. Thor was much more interested in one of the state parks. “As long as you don’t overextend yourself,” Ben said, lightly teasing her. “Going out tomorrow sounds brilliant to me.”
As much as he didn’t say it, between his new job, going back and forth between Asgard and Vegas, he was getting tired. Going tomorrow meant a chance to rest, recuperate a little bit, and that he wouldn’t be completely dead while trying to hike. “Thank you, but I’d be just as happy sleeping on the floor.” A bed did sound fantastic, but he’d already prepared himself for either sleeping on the floor or the couch. When he said he’d stay, he meant it. The only thing he really wanted was a shower before he crashed. “So, whatever is most convenient for you.”
“Bless his heart, Anne would be all over teaching him to dance, and I pity if he told her no. I really don’t think many people tell her no.” Anne was a force to be reckoned with and the thought of her going against a god would be well worth any misery she might get in the long run. Anne needed someone to take out her emotions on, or so Lizzy thought, and who better than someone who needed to learn to dance?
The fact he would sleep on the floor made Lizzy wrinkle her nose. “Oh, darlin, don’t get uncomfortable on my account. If you want to sleep out here, I’ll get you some pillows and blankets for the divan. Or you can use the spare room. Wherever you are most comfortable.” She wouldn’t force him to use the guest room, but she didn’t want him sleeping on the floor, either. That would not only be rude, but she imagined it couldn’t be good for his back.
Ben laughed. He could only imagine what Anne and Thor might get up to if they were left on their own. The Asgardian liked a challenge and he could only think of Anne as being challenging. They’d either enjoy each other immensely or hate one another on sight, but Ben was hoping that they could keep the both of them under control.
“I can take the guest room,” he finally said. “I’ll leave the door open in case you need anything.” If that man somehow managed to get this far into the building, or there was a problem, Benji didn’t want anything that could muffle the sound. “And if you need anything, you can just come get me, yeah?”
Lizzy nodded and stood up from the sofa. “Well, let me go make sure everything is set up.” She stepped down the hall and into the bedroom, turning down the covers and then getting out some clean towels, soap, and some other toiletries she had stashed in a drawer that she had snagged at various hotels either on business or pleasure. He was here doing her a huge favor, and she wanted to make sure he was well taken care of. Before she left the room, she fluffed the pillows and smiled. Perfect.
She stepped back into the living room and nodded at him. “I put a couple of towels on the counter, along with some toiletries. There is more stuff if you need it in the top drawer, and Tylenol in the cabinet. Most of my guests are visiting Vegas, so I am more prepared for hangovers than anything else in there.” She rested her hands on the back of the sofa and yawned. “I am going to crash. I’ll leave my door open, just in case, and please, make yourself at home.” She highly doubted he would, but she had to offer.
Ben nodded to all she said and did his best to resist yawning after she did. It’d been a long day, but a full and rewarding one. Standing up, he smiled again, “Thank you. Though you can close your door if you need to, I’ll keep an ear out for anything out of the ordinary.” Some people felt safer sleeping behind closed doors, even locking their own bedroom doors. Whatever she was most comfortable with, he would work around.
“Sleep well, Lizzy. I’ll see you in the morning.” Walking towards the guest bedroom, he made sure to wait until he saw her disappearing into her own room before turning into his. He’d take a shower first, do another check on the condo and then climb into the rather inviting looking bed in his room. As Lizzy was taking care of him, he’d make sure to take care of her as well.