Levels (A Benedict Cumberbatch Fanfiction)

Chapter Two - "Goddamn"

I cupped my head in both my hands and took a deep breath. Inhale and exhale. Just the way they taught you in group therapy. Don't let the anxiety take over. Concentrate on your breathing. The fact that I was somewhat drunk wasn't really helping either.

"Are you alright?" He said,his presence drawing closer to me.

"I'm fine" I turned away quickly,not wanting to show my face.

Its just a lift. We'll be out of here in a couple of hours when the power is back on. I'm over exaggerating.

Inhale.

Exhale.

I had learnt how to separate myself from my surroundings. My body was in one place but my mind was in another. I could completely...disappear.

Four minutes. That's how long it took for me to gain control of myself. To stop shaking. To bring my hands away from my face and stand up straight. To turn around.

"Feel better?" He asked when I met his gaze.

He was sitting cross legged in the corner of the elevator,elbows perched on his knees. That's when I really looked at him. Studied him.

"Mm hmm" I nodded,fixated on the lingering figure sat in front of me.

Suit was tailor made. His shoes were Boss and I could see the distinct shape of a rollex watch peeking through under his sleeve. I suddenly felt conscious in my short,tight fitting black dress. I grabbed the hem and tugged at it, pulling it over my thighs a little.

"Take a seat"

I looked up from the floor,slowly. His hand was outstretched, directing me to the opposite corner of the lift.

"Why?" I didn't want to sit.

"We're gonna be here for quite some time. Might as well make the most of it" He nodded at the corner opposite him once again.

I didn't want to sit.

"What do you mean...make the most of it?" I asked,standing my ground.

"Sit" He ordered.

I didn't want to sit.

"I don't want to sit" I retorted, my voice shaky.

His expression didn't change. He didn't reply. All he did was stare at my legs which were at his eye level. I shifted my weight in embarrassment and tugged at my dress a little more.

Then I sat.

-

"Now" He uncrossed his legs,stretched them out and leant back against the elevator wall "What's your name?"

His voice was so deep,but his tone wasn't harsh. However, it definitely wasn't soft,either. It was...rough.

"Why should I tell you?" I said,raising an eyebrow.

"Why shouldn't you?" He answered back.

"I don't know you. Could be a stalker"

He let out the tinniest hint of a smirk. Only for a second. Then it dissapeared and he tilted his head up a little and I caught sight of his jawline which seemed to be clenched.

"If I was a stalker,surely I'd already know your name..." I had kept my gaze down before he said "...Estèe"

My head shot up and I saw him holding a small card between his two fingers. How the hell did he get ahold of that?

"Did you take that out my bag?" I asked with a gawing mouth,shuffling through my bag to see if anything else was missing other than my ID card.

"Calm down" He said "I saw it fall out of the open front pocket" He nodded towards the bag and he was right,it was open.