agilebrit | Snippet, uh, Monday! (Reply)

Since this seems to be the sort-of consensus based on my quick-and-dirty poll.

Setup: Ben made an escape attempt, which went, yeah, about as well as you'd expect. And now he's back in Ange's place, discussing it with her while he recovers. And this one is a bit lighter in tone than the relentless awfulness that Ben's life has been lately.

"I don't know whether to cheer that he got out or clock him upside the head for making it harder for me," Ben said.

"You'd not have cheered this one on, puppy. He was a piece of work who deserved every bit of what was dished to him."

"Who was he?"

She shrugged. "Don't know, he wasn't mine. Rutger somebody. A lot of things changed after him." She eyed Ben and said, "He cut a swath similar to the one I suspect you would, if you ever got the notion. Staked everyone who lived on his floor, and did it quiet enough that no one noticed until it was over and he was gone."

Ben gave her his best baby seal expression, which he knew didn't fool her for a second. "I wouldn't hurt anyone who didn't ask for it."

"I did notice that you considerately left me alive."

"You've been good to me. And I have a thing about beating up women. I try not to." His lips twisted. "Even when they're bigger and stronger than I am, and attacking me. But lying there, sleeping and defenseless like that? No way."

"Knew I read you right." She snorted softly. "Leaving me a note that said 'sorry.' Good god, Benji."

He shrugged. "Seemed crass to just go."