After Alex staged a grand explosion in Opportunity, solely to enrage Handso Jack, he remained seated in the bar, in the company of Moxxi and four mischievous girls — Anya, Tina, Jinx, and Nyaruko. The girls were noisily playing a board ga, getting more and more carried away with each passing minute, their emotions running wild. Luckily, Moxxi's bar was nearly empty at the ti — after the recent events, the people of Sanctuary had far more pressing concerns than hanging around and gawking at the hostess.
Alex passed the ti in lighthearted conversation with Moxxi. Their topics were simple, almost dostic, as though both wanted a short break from endless dangers. Still, Moxxi couldn't resist a bit of teasing and playful flirting, always trying to provoke a reaction from him. It amused her how he sotis tensed, sotis brushed it off, and it only made their talk more entertaining.
She listened to his story about the past — how Alex worked as a rcenary, how he took down enemies while still caring for his daughters. Even about Tina, who technically just beca friends with his three girls, he spoke with warmth and care. The contrast between his ferocity in battle and his tenderness with children struck Moxxi deeply.
She, so used to n chasing only carnal pleasures, suddenly saw soone who didn't try to lure her into bed with smooth words or tricks. And if Alex had been one of those n, his gaze would've long betrayed his intentions. But he looked at her differently — straight, open, almost holike.
As a woman with experience, Moxxi knew well: if so many won gathered around one man, it ant there was sothing special about him that made them stay. And that "sothing" made her regard Alex with growing interest.
Alex, anwhile, realized that Moxxi wasn't the carefree woman he only knew from his past life — from the ga. She was a living person with her own story, thoughts, and choices. He knew he had no right to judge her past: on Pandora, only the strong survived, and Moxxi had used every trait she had — cunning, flirtation, manipulation — not just to live, but to get what she wanted. Her caution mixed with ruthlessness, and her ability to laugh in the face of danger only made her more alluring.
Even sitting beside Anya, Nyaruko, Jinx, and Tina, she spoke freely of her past. Though she veiled her words carefully — Alex's sharp look made it clear her stories weren't exactly things the daughters should hear in full detail.
"So, sweet thing," Moxxi drawled, lazily running the tip of her foot along Alex's thigh, "what are you up to now? Last ti you said you had to quit your job…"
"Hmm…" Alex rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That's not easy to explain. Hard to put in a few words. And it would take so ti."
"We've got ti," she replied with a soft smile. "The bar's closed, no guests, none coming. So go on, tell ."
Her voice carried genuine interest. She already knew about his past, and now she wanted to understand what he lived for in the present. Alex hesitated, wondering if he should reveal the truth, when he felt a light tug on his sleeve. He turned and t Anya's eyes. The little girl stroked her tummy and looked up at him pleadingly.
"Daddy, I'm hungry," she said softly. Nyaruko, Jinx, and Tina all nodded in unison, confirming they were hungry too.
"Of course, sweetheart," Alex gently patted her hair. "I'll cook sothing. But we'll need a place to spread out."
"I'd offer my apartnt, but…" Moxxi waved a hand at the half-ruined bar. "As you can see, not exactly the best conditions."
"Don't worry," Alex replied with a smile. "I know a place where we can have dinner. And if you'd like — you're welco to join us."
"Ohh, inviting to dinner?" Her lips curved into a playful smirk. "How sweet of you, sugar."
And it was clear she had no intention of refusing.
Alex only smiled and rose from the table. Anya, Nyaruko, Jinx, and Tina imdiately set the board ga aside — their minds were now occupied by one thing only: food. Alex gallantly offered Moxxi his arm to help her up. She smiled in return and thought to herself that the gesture was unexpectedly sweet for a man like him.
Leaving the bar, they walked through the Sanctuary. Alex held Moxxi's arm, and their odd pair instantly drew the gazes of passersby. Moxxi was too famous for her appearing next to a stranger to go unnoticed. People whispered and exchanged looks — a mix of curiosity and bewildernt.
"You're not planning to cook right here, are you?" Moxxi squinted as they approached the Crimson Raiders' headquarters. "As far as I know, there's nothing inside suitable for a kitchen."
Alex only smiled mysteriously and led everyone up to the second floor.
They arrived just as Lilith, Brick, Mordecai, Maya, Akston, Salvador, and Zer0 were discussing plans to oppose Jack. But the mont they noticed Alex entering with Moxxi on his arm, the conversation abruptly fell silent. Lilith froze especially: her gaze slid from Moxxi to Alex, full of suspicion and a hint of jealousy.
"Don't mind us," Alex said calmly. "We only need the balcony. Continue planning how to beat Not-Handso Jack."
Moxxi caught the looks from Lilith and Maya and a sly smile touched her lips. She looked as if to hint, "If you don't hurry, the chance will be gone." Lilith, however, took it as an outright provocation.
Alex walked out onto the balcony and without hesitation began to clear it out: he simply tossed all the junk over the railing. The girls, seeing this, happily joined in — squealing and laughing as they threw boxes down.
"What are you doing?!" Lilith couldn't contain herself and rushed closer. "Why are you throwing our stuff out?!"
"Making space," Alex answered calmly, tossing out the last box.
No sooner had Lilith started to ask another question than he produced a table, chairs, and kitchen utensils out of thin air. Then a charcoal grill appeared, neatly placed against the wall. The girls imdiately sat at the table, eagerly anticipating dinner.
The highlight was his outfit: a white apron and a headband with blue bunny ears. Seeing a stern rcenary turned into a cook like that was utterly unexpected — everyone in the room oscillated between shock and laughter.
Moxxi, anwhile, made herself comfortable, resting her cheek on her hand and watching with pleasure.
Alex brought out at and fish, marinated them, and prepared a light salad of cabbage and tomatoes. A simple dish, but even that looked appetizing. First he put steaks on the grill. The sll of sizzling at quickly filled the balcony, and many stomachs — including those at the table — complained loudly.
When the steaks reached perfect doneness, Alex carefully wrapped them in foil to "let the at rest." Next on the grill went fish and shrimp.
"I don't know exactly what you're cooking, but it slls divine. Mind sharing?" Brick couldn't help himself; he stepped closer and tried to swipe a piece.
Smack! Alex's tal spatula ca down hard on his hand.
"Don't touch. It's for the kids," Alex said without looking. "Wait your turn. Or do you want to wake up tomorrow in a skag nest?"
"We're friends, y'know," Brick grumbled, rubbing his reddened palm.
"I wasn't talking about myself," Alex said, nodding the spatula toward the table.
The four little gremlins simultaneously lifted their heads from their cheesy toasts and stared at Brick. Their eyes shone with such a hungry, mischievous light that a chill ran down his spine.
Brick turned to look at Anya, Nyaruko, Jinx, and Tina. The intense stares from the four made it clear: try to bite into a piece of their food and you'll wake up in a skag nest in your underwear. Brick jerked back and took a step away from the table. He considered himself tough and reckless, but testing a skag nest was one gamble not worth taking.
While the seafood finished on the grill, Alex pulled bottles of good wine and a glass from his inventory and carefully set them in front of Moxxi.
"How sweet of you to offer a drink, sugar," Moxxi said with a small smile.
"Glad you like it. Lilith, Maya — sit down, it'll be ready soon. If you want anything to drink — say so," Alex replied and turned to the sirens.
"And what about ? Are you deliberately ignoring ? Or do you like playing the 'neglect' ga?" Tannis jabbed, darting a finger at him.
"Do I need to invite you?" Alex asked calmly.
"No, of course not. I would've sat down anyway," Tannis waved him off and plopped into a free chair.
Alex simply shrugged and set a cold beer in front of Tannis; she imdiately popped the cap. He put drinks he chose in front of Lilith and Maya. In that mont Alex's gaze fell on a group of guys at a table — clearly missing sothing festive. Alex sighed, pulled a keg of cool ale from his inventory — a gift from the dwarves of Erebor — and the whole male section cheered.
"I never thought a man who can cook could be so attractive," Moxxi said, pouring wine into her glass.
"You want a man who can kill and shoot, not just cook," Lilith replied sarcastically, taking a sip of whiskey.
"Who knows, Lilith. Maybe you just haven't looked closely enough," Moxxi smiled. "Aren't you curious what he really is like?"
"I'm curious too," Maya added quietly, "how he uses abilities similar to ours without being a siren."
"That's because our daddy is the coolest," Anya chid in with her cheeks full.
Moxxi, Maya and Lilith turned to the kids and saw Anya, Nyaruko and Jinx nodding with cheeks full and hamster-like eyes. Lilith was about to point out that "coolness isn't a asure of strength," but she held back — not wanting to spoil the mood.
While cooking, Alex told them he'd just made a "little interference" for Jack: he'd blown up part of the construction sites in Opportunity. Everyone looked at him: when did he have ti? Alex shrugged and admitted he did it about half an hour ago. Moxxi confird — she'd pressed the detonator.
Brick burst into loud laughter and couldn't get enough of it; Mordecai snorted; Zer0's mask lit up with
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