I walked into work the next morning with a pleasant smile on my face after spending yesterday with Aaron. I needed days like that, days of complete relaxation and just being in the comfort of a pair of panties and a top. Laying around enjoying each other's company. Although we never got to the fourth movie before Harry cockblock Potter, wasn't a cock block anymore and as I was trying to watch Sirius Black, Aaron was all for getting serious himself.

Reaching the workers room I looked at the chairs and debated on which one to sit on, not because of where they were too, or which looked better. But because Aaron seemed a little more dominate than the first time, in fact.. I had a hand print. I enjoyed every damn second of it and I was sure if he had hair? He'd definitely have bald patches, so lucky for him, he had a shaven head..

"Ms Luna.." Alec spoke making me jump slightly.

His eyes furrowed seeing that he had frightened me just be speaking. I pulled a smile quickly and chided myself mentally for not being alert. I knew Mark was in as well. How? His ticket had been punched.

"Hi." I breathed taking in his crisp suit and tousled hair. The man was a walking billboard for Armani and I was sure if he walked into their head office and stood there, they'd have him signed within the hour.

"How are we?"

"Good, thank you. Yourself?"

He simply nodded "So are we on professional terms or can we relax?"

I smiled gently "Relax please, I can't keep up formalities."

He grinned happy at my answer. "Glowing I see, lucky you remembered Aaron before I was 8 inches deep."

"That's not fair." I replied feeling my cheeks flush at his comment. Hell I knew he was packing, what is it with these men? What are they fed?

He looked away "Shit, I know it was uncalled for. I just... He's a lucky guy. That's all." He replied fiddling with paperwork.

"And you're an amazing guy, you'll find som-"

"Don't, spare me the there's someone for everyone. I had my someone..." she answered before walking away quickly having said too much.

I tilted my head as he disappeared back into the office leaving me alone.

And yet again, I was left with questions, something I hate as the questions tend to circulate until I get answers for them or until I mentally exhaust myself and I turn into Patrick Star of Spongebob. Just without drooling... Okay maybe a little drool.

I rubbed my forehead gently before turning my attention back to the contents of my bag trying to find my badge. After digging deep past the hairbrush, purse, body spray, headphones, lip balm, another purse for the Mother Nature, my baby(camera), and my drink, I hooked it out.

"Gotcha."

The door closed behind me and a cold chill went down my back. I spun quickly to see Mark stood close behind me.

"Well look who's here early." He smirked moving away before I could ask.

"Mark." I acknowledged.

He made himself soup, for him it would now be his dinner time after starting at 6am. So soup at 10am wasn't really considered as lunch, if you get me.

"So how have you been?" He asked as I swallowed hard.

"O-okay."

"Good. Been up to much? Besides flapping your gum?" He asked shooting me daggers.

I sensed the change and looked towards the office hoping Alec would come out for a pen or maybe just to see my face?

I don't know! I was panicking here.

I stood up, slowly collecting my things with the intention of running.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you.." He said opening a draw and picking up a spoon.

"W-why?"

His smile said it all and a shudder ripped down my spinal cord. With a quick stride, he was across the break room and in front of me.

"Such a pretty face..."

I flinched away from his hand. "Don't. Touch me." I warned.

His hand grabbed my throat cutting off my oxygen quickly "I'll touch what is mine. When I feel like it. Got it?"

His eyes drifted off mine and to my bag. He smirked, digging into my bag and pulling out my camera.

"Oh look, the precious fucking toy..."

"Mark please don't, I-" I gasped as he slammed it down against the floor, glass from the lens smashed instantly.

"You fucking ass-" He grabbed my throat tighter pinning me in place.

His eyes connected with something else, something on my collarbone...

"You little fucking whore." He spat. "You know what happens to them? They get punished!" He snarled. His hand covered my mouth as a sadist smile filled his face.

Searing pain entered my mind and instantly my body went into flight mode as I struggled.

My chest was on fire and despite my flailing arms, I was powerless, tears rolled down my cheeks as my head pounded for oxygen and from the pain.

"I'll destroy you until nobody wants you.. Slut." He growled letting go of the bowl in his hand.

It shattered across the floor as his hand let my throat go.

My whole body shook as I started at the red liquid. My knees buckled until I was on all fours the top hanging away from my skin slightly. Until I fell onto my back seeing black spots.

"MR WILLIAMS!" Mark yelled rushing out banging on the office door. "I DIDN'T SEE HER! SHE- SHE WAS RUSHING TO GET HER PHONE! THE SOUP ITS ON HER!"

A hand lifted the top gingerly until it was away from my skin "Easy Luna..." Alec spoke as I tried to move away.

"It burns!"

"I know but I can't pull it off, I do that and I might take your skin, can I touch you?"

I whimpered biting my hand.

His hand went up my shirt and to where the soup was on my top. "GET ME SCISSORS MARK AND GET THE SUIT BAG OUT THE OFFICE!" He ordered.

I didn't miss Marks smile as he sauntered away.

"Did he do this?" He hissed.

I kept my mouth shut as my body vibrated in pain. Mark reappeared with the items and put them down.

"Right now leave and close the door on your way out." Alec ordered.

"I think I should sta-"

"Just go!" Alec glared.

Mark gave me a narrowed look before leaving closing the door behind himself. Alec then went to work on my uniform...

***

"I think you should let me take you to a medical centre, if you don't want to go to hospital."

I shook my head "It's okay. Just shock more than anything. Thankfully it was a polo shirt."

He nodded at the remnants of it from where he cut it off my body. "He did it on purpose, didn't he?"

I looked down not wanting to lie to his face like that.

"Christ Luna stop protecting him.. You're sat in my shirt because he tried to burn you, he did burn you!" He answered holding his hands out in gesture to my reddened chest.

"I-" I stopped to clear my mind. "I am tired, I wasn't watch-"

I jumped from the loud bang in the office, my eyes went to Alec whose face was like thunder.

He stood up over me coming close before backing away clenching his fists. "It started out as the odd dig, play fighting that got out of hand, the hits always hurting a little more than the last. The odd comment, turned into the daily criticism. Arguments turned into violence, a slap for the wrong type of coffee, a punch for not having dinner ready. A ki-" he shook his head "A kick for not having a beer bottle waiting.. Then came the control, not going out, don't speak to them, stay away from them, give up your job, you don't need those friends."

I looked up at him "Y-you went through that?"

"No. Not me."

"Oh.."

"Then there was more.. More hitting, punching, burning, kicking.. Then nothing. And you know why Luna?"

I shook my head "Because he killed her. Her obsessive controlling husband killed her. You hear about it on TV, or in a paper. But you never really know what it's like until an officer knocks on your door, with a solemn look in their eye and explains that your mother was beaten to death by your father."

I covered my mouth to stop the cry that wanted to leave.

"You know her mom.. My gran. She wanted to see her baby, but they said no, advised her not to have an open casket or to see her because of what that fucker did! I never kissed her goodbye that morning and now she's gone!" He yelled falling into the office chair.

I wiped my tears and moved my chair to his. "Alec..."

He wiped his face hard and pushed his walls back up. "And every time I look at you, I see her in there. In those eyes. I don't think it was coincidence that we met, I don't.. Fuck Lu, you were black and blue when we first met."

I nodded.

"Stop protecting him. Please, because he could be doing it to someone else and what if they aren't strong enough to survive?"

The idea broke me and I eventually broke down.

"I can't."

"Y-yes you can! You can! I'm right here! I'm gonna be beside you all the fucking way. You hear me?"

I nodded.

"Let's get out of here. Screw work."

"I can't just go-"

"You're coming with me, we can go anywhere." He answered.

He stood up and looked down at me "As friends... If that's what you're worried about?"

I smiled gently "Okay.."

I collected my bag picking up my camera slowly I felt tears spring to my eyes as I cradled it.

"Y- Did he do that too?"

I took a small breath trying to stop a cry that threatened to leave my mouth.

"So much for taking it to the shop to get a decent bag. It's ruined!"

He gave me a sympathetic rub on the back, knowing my camera was my escape. The soup had been cleared up off the break room floor, now just leaving a stain on the floor.

Alec was right, we could go anywhere as we both left work and nobody mentioned a thing. It was only when I got into his car that I frowned.

"Where was Andy?"

"He's on his way back from a meeting, your shift is covered. Relax."

I sank back into the leather and laid my head back. As Alec pulled away, my eyes turned to the sky watching the clouds until I fell asleep with a hope that when I woke, my camera wouldn't be broke.