"I've never done this with a patient before, at least not personally," Ajax said as he restrapped Alex for her next experiment. He enclosed her ankles, one to each front leg of her chair with the worn brown leather belts. Next he belted her midsection to the chair's back, and pressed down the bit of her splotchy gown that had hiked up her thighs as he threw her a wink, "modesty." Her eyes hurt. It was the only thing that kept Alex from rolling them. "Usually I wouldn't even have Angel monitor the sleep depravation trials—they rarely yield the desired results—but I thought 'to hell, a sleepover might be fun.' And we haven't tried it yet with you, so why not have a go?"

Ajax was being uncharacteristically chatty, although by now Alex has basically dismissed any notions of Ajax being exceptionally suspicious. Everything that he did was motivated by an awful curiosity or sadistic streak, Alex knew that now, and often wondered if he had always been this way. Had she missed something years ago? Had she really been so naïve, or he so cunning? Either way, she determined both were strong possibilities. "I'm honored, truly Ajax. You're attentiveness is spoiling me."

He grinned as he crossed her wrists and held them gingerly as he rose from his crouch before her and tethered her together, hanging her arms from a low hook that dropped down from a pipe somewhere above them. "You're finally beginning to appreciate me."

"It took some adjustment time," Alex replied. She wasn't lying. The mental strain had been just as bad as the rigorous torture schedule that she had been exposed to the last three weeks. At first, she had to rewire her recognition and predetermined feelings towards "Ajax", formerly known to her as Francis. She had to abandon everything that she knew about that face, that voice, that scent… and convince her psyche that this man, Ajax, is a stranger that happened to know quite a bit about her. But then again, he probably knew quite a bit about every one of his patients. After the initial week, she had to quell her resentment towards the workshop and it's new host of inhabitants. Alex reminded herself that she had the upper hand in knowing how to handle this ring of hell, and she knew that the resentment would be more wear and tear to her than affect anyone else. No one cared about how angry she was. It was best to let it go and come to terms. Ajax of course helped cement that understanding as he gleefully poked pins into each eye, silently for hours on end, a few nights ago. Humor. Humor the doctor, give him what he wants, and go quietly into the night. Unlike the patients that signed up for Project X, she hadn't a whole lot to live for in the outside world. Until her return to New York, she lived the lifestyle of a gypsy: completely alone and free to come and go as she pleased. And she did, never staying in one city too long. She was never afraid of being alone; it was in this place full of men that scared her.

After giving her wrists a few tugs, he seemed satisfied with her security. Ajax crossed the room and pulled a metal folding chair out of the shadowy corner near the cell-like space's entrance that they had came in thru, then placed it mere feet in front of her. He walked back into the shadows, then returned with a handful of long, narrow papers…restaurant menus? He noticed her, noticing him as he sat down before her. "I was thinking we could order out tonight. I imagine that cafeteria food must be wretched to you, although I've long forgotten the taste of the gruel we funnel down your throats."

"Wha—let me get this straight: your concerned that I don't like the compound meals?"

"Oh come now, Alexandria. I'm not a savage," he chuckled. She wasn't buying it, but Ajax didn't expect her to. "I had Angel scavenge these for me. Let's see, we've got Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Seafood, Greek…" he said in complete seriousness as he flipped through his stack.

"I like Chinese food," she said hesitantly.

"Really? I would've pegged you for the Indian type," he responded nonchalantly.

"You don't remember what food tastes like, remember?"

"Touche. I should I read it to you or do you know what you want?"
She thought it out quickly. Was this any indication of how he intended on keeping her awake? Why would he strengthen her? "Read it to me, please."

Ajax stared at her briefly, searching for something on her face but acquiesced to her request momentarily. "Alright."

He read, flickering his eyes across her features every four items or so on the extensive cheap takeout menu. She let her eyes close as her conscious gave into the resonance of his voice, the way he made General Tso sound like poetry, as she lazily tried to connect the dots in this fun, new experiment that Ajax was seemingly very invested in.

"I'll have the Sweet and Sour chicken with white rice and a miso soup."

"Miso soup is Japanese, love."
"But you read it off the menu," she pointed out.

Ajax smirked, "I was quite certain that you weren't listening."

"But I was, and now it looks like Angel is going to have to hunt me down some Miso Soup."

His smirk grew wider and something akin to prideful deference seemed to glimmer somewhere in the depths of his crystal blues. "It seems she will." He rose from his chair and disappeared into the darkness. Alex heard the metal clang of her cage as he exited, sniggering to himself. Not playing his games displeased him, but if she was too good at them that could set him off as well. She reasoned that for once, this experiment could be less painful if she indulged his relatively good mood just so. She tried to relax, but without the British drawl consuming her thoughts, she was acutely aware of a splinter digging through her hospital gown and piercing her skin from the back of her chair.

Ajax promptly returned and resumed his seat. They gazed at each other, smugness penetrating glazed curiosity. She waited on him and he basked in that.

10 minutes went by. It dawned on Alex that he wasn't wearing his white doctors coat. Unusual. An indicator that he didn't intend on getting dirty tonight, or at least not immediately.

"You're going to have to untie me so I can eat," Alex sighed.

"Jumping ahead, are we? We'll cross that bridge when we arrive on it. Let's start with this: how has your time been at the workshop this time compared to the last?" Ajax asked.

"About the same. I get to see you're handsome face most days. Can't complain too much."

"And Angel Dust? Are you girls bonding?"

Alex snorted. "She's a keeper, that's for sure."

"Is that jealousy I hear?" Ajax asked with a smirk.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall the torture being this excessive once proven to not bring about a mutation. Perhaps if she were the one less jealous…"

"Things have changed."

"I've noticed. And that's why you want me to compare and contrast my experiences? Would you like my review to compare with your own notes?"

"You're pushing it, love. We're having a nice chat."

Alex looked down at her feet bound individually to the chair legs. The leather was beginning to wear thin red lines into her skin. "You're the only doctor here, aren't you?" Ajax laughed. Alex shook her head simultaneously surprised yet somehow unsurprised. "What do you want from me, Ajax?"

….

Authors Note:

We're baaaccck. So sorry guys. I put a hold on this story for a number of reasons pertaining to reflection and planning.

First of all, I'm really struggling with the fact that I chose to name Alexandria 'Alex' in this story because reading about Ajax and Alex confuses even me. It irritates me consistently. Anyone else feel this way?

Secondly I'm surprised I haven't gotten a review about how Mary-sue Alex comes dangerously close to being. I'm having a hard time with the consistency and temperament of her character. I don't think Ajax would crave someone who was too complying or stood against him too much. It's not just in this story, but I've been rereading my old ones and I've noticed how this is a trend with a lot of my female characters as awful as that is. They're not as strong as I would like them to be. Something I learned in my Young Adult Fiction class is character sketches, which I think will really help me strengthen Alex and future characters because I can refer to how she's supposed to be any time I feel myself straying from that. I've been working on this with my Avenger's fan fic lately.

Bottom line: Bare with me. This fiction isn't has good as it could be and I'm rededicating myself so it can reach its full potential. Thanks for sticking around J