BIRD IN A CAGE (CH.1)
Pairing: Benjamin Poindexter x Female ! Reader
Summary: You're the daughter of a Senator who happens to be on Dex's hit list due to his involvement with Fisk's release. Unintentionally, you inadvertently become a part of Dex’s plan to assassinate The Senator while becoming his new North Star.
Word-count: 2.9K
Warnings: Stalking, Obsessive Behaviour, Dex being a CREEPER, Talks of Dex inflicting violence upon people, Family Abuse, Bruising
Author's Note: After two years of actual hell on earth, I'm back. They do not kid when university and life puts you through the wringer. Some things never do change with time, and I always come running back to this site lol. Fond memory of everybody hating on Dex in 2018-2019 but am so glad we are all getting to appreciate this freaky man. I'm home right now and start work soon but will try to update as frequently as possible! I had Ch.1 and Ch.2 written out and Ch.3 is a work in progress. Will warn that this chapter is a little slow as it's the layout, but Ch.2 and Ch.3 will pick up speed. Reader is F! and also this takes place post S3 around DDBA S1 with some changes. Dex goes through rehab but (somehow) gets out of jail time and is living on the run as a mercenary. Playlist for anybody who is interested. Anyhoos enjoy! Feels good to be back :D
The first time Dex met you was on a cloudy morning in early March.
It wasn’t his intention to meet you. After his surgery, and the grueling months of rehabilitation and isolation and escape, Dex found his purpose in playing with people's lives. It was his game of torture, after everything Fisk had set onto him. That was starting with Fisk, and the circle that surrounded him. It was the only way for him not to make money, but to get the revenge he craved for. One by one, he would knock them down, whatever it took. It wasn’t like he had a ton to lose, as he already had.
He wanted Revenge.
But that was all in the past. He now sat in a Black SUV, wearing an uncomfortable black suit and feeling the pain ache in his lower back, his head hawkishly awaiting for the Senator. The Senator was obviously not his real name,e but rather a nickname Dex had made for him. Charismatic, healthy, and good in front of the cameras, especially at those countless charity events while sliding those funds to help Fisk get out of prison. Like Fisk, the Senator was nothing but a corrupt criminal who used people like toys, and once finished, threw them out. The Senator had significantly aided in Fisks’ release from Prison, which all circled back to the FBi’s involvement and Dex’s downfall. The Senator, unintentionally or not, had played a hand in destroying Dex’s life.
He wouldn’t kill him–just yet. He needed the right moment to properly execute it.
The thought and feeling of being slammed into a brick wall made the ache furthered in his back. Not only was it from the physical stress, but the emotional as well. Holding back a wince, Dex unremovable shifted in his seat and leaned his head back. Closing his eyes and rolling his head, he looked back out the window.
Dex felt his jaw tighten.
The first thing he noticed was the sun. Admit the clouds, it had peaked out, making the grass seem a little greener and the whiteness of the Senator’s house illuminate a little annoyingly more.
Out came the Senator, dressed in a navy blue suit with a Starbucks Coffee in Hand. It was a Venti Cold Brew, which was picked up by a newbie guard which Dex graciously followed to his house. Shockingly, for a high up Senator, it was poorly guarded and security was shockingly minimal, but that wasn’t Dex’ issue. If anything, that was his in. The Senator, Guarded by Detail, about to enter a Black SUV to head to City Hall.
Then came you.
It was exactly 7:31am in the morning when you appeared in the driveway. Dex has the idea of when he first met you engraved in his mind. He immediately recognized you as the youngest daughter of the Senator through photos from news publications, online Galas, and more. You had just come back from a run with sweat making your skin glisten in the sudden sunlight. Dex had focused not on the Senator, but your form. From a distance, your skin looked incredibly soft. It soothed the ache in Dex’s back.
Dex wasn’t focused on the Senator, but rather you.
You wore a gray Nike Sports bra along with navy blue Lululemon shorts. Your running sneakers were pristine white, looking newly bought. Taking out your headphones, Dex focused on your braid that went down your back– messy with small pieces sticking out from the side. Babyhairs stuck to the side of your nape, while longer pieces slightly poked out, framing your face. Dex didn’t know what the urge was, but if he was there, he would move the longer pieces out of your face just so he could stare longer at it. In that moment, he wanted to take in all of you, and all of this softness you radiated amidst the men in dark suits.
Something about you soothed Dex. He maintained his focus on you, but maximized his balances to capture you in his frame. Your father had noticed you and you had run up, giving a quick peck to his check and waved goodbye to him. Then you disappeared back into the house, leaving Dex leaning back against his seat. Obviously, the Senator is on his mind, but now are you.
Dex would remember the time for later. As the SUVs pulled out of the driveway, Dex waited a minute before following en suite.
Dex would remember the time-7:31am. For later.
–
You had inadvertently become a part of Dex’s plan to assassinate The Senator. Dex had begrudgingly learned the Senator’s routine not for pleasure, but for business. The hours he left and came from work, the congressional hearings, his coffee orders–all mundane details that gave Dex better access to his life. The Senator still had remained a target, but you became a piece within the plan.
Dex fully intended on giving you a nickname, like “The Daughter” or “The Girl”. Just another nameless face. But you weren’t. To Dex, you were ____. Dex liked that name a lot. He really liked it, and looked forward to calling it to you once you were face to face.
Just as Dex learned the Senator's Routine, Dex had also taken note of your routine. Both out of precaution and intense interest.
Each morning from that point on, right at 7:32am, the Senator was not the only person Dex intended to take from the house.
You were just as those magazines, social media posts, and blogs had described. The perfect daughter–straight A’s at a good university, involved heavily in community service, and more. Every photo of you, whether it be from a family photo or a tagged post of you and your friends going out or a photo of you from one of your Sorority Formals, every photo radiated some softness that was indescribable, yet intoxicating, to Dex. Dex was particularly drawn to your pretty smile, and in particular the small dimples that would form. It was even better to see in person. Whenever Dex felt slightly aggravated or felt an ache coming on, your presence would make all of the pain dipper, and regulate his nervousness system.
You had a father, a mother, and a younger brother. Your family used to have a pet dog, a Cockerspaniel, but it died recently. Everything seemed perfect on the outside, but upon further inspection, corruption laid within the routes. Your father was a workaholic, and a corrupt one at that, allocating charitable and donor funds to himself and his personal pleasures of drugs, prostitution, and more. He was an avid cheater, and took no shame in hiding it with numerous women. He was home only on weekends, yet seemingly maintained a stable relationship with you and your younger brother. The three of you would go out for Ice Cream, and Dex learned you loved Banana Ice Cream with Rainbow Sprinkles. Those were the moments of peace you had with your family–inside of your family jeep, driving with the windows down, not thinking of anything but the pleasure of the moment.
On the other hand, your mother was fully aware of this and either drowned her sorrows in alcohol or trips to Europe. Dex saw her visit the package store every single afternoon, buying two cartons of alcohol and a bottle of wine, all consumed within the same night. When you were home, you’d usually stay in your room, not wanting to see your mother’s drunken and hysterical fits. You’d usually block it with your headphones, but Dex knew you were still able to hear it. When she was drunk, she was verbally abusive towards you, and sometimes threw things at you as a result of drunken anger. Your father’s secret allocation of money was becoming less of a secret, causing more drunken nights and outbursts. Dex would not tolerate that.
The more digging Dex did on you, the more you became incorporated into your father’s assasination.
The first time he had seen you was on your spring break at home. While keeping eyes primarily on your father, Dex had elected to keep tabs on you while you were back at school, whether that be making sure you got back to your apartment safe after a night out, properly being rested, and making sure no one was giving you an issue. You had come home for the summer–perfectly aligning with Dex’s plan. He knew you’d understand why your internship had been rejected.
You were an incredibly structured person, which Dex very much admired. Whether it be running or cycling, you would either do it in the early mornings or early evenings between the hours of 7am and 5pm. You worked out five days a week, and occasionally once every weekend day, but that was really if you felt like it. You usually ran on the weekends if you had gotten into a scuffle with your father. Dex had occasionally followed you on your runs, and trailed you in his car on your cycle rides. You’d always stop to take a photo of something, or add a fun title, to your Strava Runs. You were rather fast, and Dex always admired the cute commentary you’d post. Not to mention, he liked your running and cycling outfits. Preferably, your running outfits the most. Whether it be an old t-shirt and leggings or a sports bra and shorts that your mother would scold you for wearing, you looked completely effortless, even sweaty. Dex liked when you wore that strappy black Lululemon Bra that crisscrossed against your back. Dex was enamored when he saw you move your back, seeing the one pop out in the back. All he wanted to do was put his hands on the center of your back and drive them under the straps to feel your soft skin.
You were also a rather private person, with all of your social media accounts being private and friend groups being small. At school, you liked to go out but didn’t mind having a night to yourself to do things on your own. One of your little traditions is that you would treat yourself to going to the movies by yourself on a Friday night. After using Friday as one of your long run or cycle days, you’d shower but not blow dry your hair. You let it air dry, and Dex preferred seeing your natural texture over anything. With wet hair and fresh comfortable clothes, you head to the theatre and watch any kind of movie, sneaking in a Fireball Shooter and moving it into a slurpee of Cherry and Coca Cola. Dex had sat two rows behind you, also enjoying the mixture. You were onto something there. Whether you laughed or gasped at a scene, Dex just wanted to be right next to you, whether it be holding your hand or throwing an arm over your shoulder to bring you close.
There was something so pure, and so kind about you, that Dex admired. He wanted it for himself, and him only.
After his surgery, Dex had a lot of time to think about his wrongdoings, particularly with Julie. Julie died because he didn’t fully protect her. He didn’t fully protect her from all of it, and that was a mistake he paid gracefully for. With you, it would be another sorry, You wouldn't be another Julie. Dex wouldn’t mess it up–he knew of it.
Upon further research, Dex saw you had a good group of friends at school, like your roommate and girls from your sorority and friends from your other clubs. Whether it be getting dinner, studying, or calling on the phone, you kept in good contact with all of them. All minus your boyfriend, Jaxson.
Whether it be hearing his name, or seeing a photo of him with his hand wrapped around your best, all Dex wanted to do was throw a kitchen knife straight into his skull.
Dex hated him just as much as your father.
You and Jaxson had been dating for about a year, right after he graduated from school. He was a year older than you and had graduated, working as a Business Analyst. The two of you had met through one of your close friends at a formal, according to a Facebook Post from one of your friends. Once your relationship became long-distance, things began to sour. You two stopped being as close, fighting over the tiniest of things. It was clear that the relationship was on its final straw, but Jaxson was trying to make it last way more than you had. Whether it be fights over the phone or Jaxson calling at 1am to talk, Dex hated the sounds of him. But he wouldn’t be an issue anymore. Dex would have no problem taking him out, but he knew it would upset you, so he’d resist for the time being.
The relationship between you and Jaxson was now purely transactional, between the fights and 1am bootycalls. Dex knew he would treat you far more significantly than that. Not to mention, Jaxson played baseball at your local university, but they had a losing streak. Dex would also make sure to make up for the shitty boyfriend with respect, and much better aim.
The summer nights you were home were the most intimate to Dex. Seeing you drive around town, workout, play with your little brother, lounge in your bed, read–all of it made Dex more obsessed with you. He craved you immensely. Dex knew the right moment to strike on his plan when he saw you and your father get into a full-blown screaming match at a family cookout. It had been over a bill your father had been passing, and you refused to associate with him due to it. In the heat of the moment, your father shoved you into the back of the outdoor table. You fell against it, and would have small bruises on your shoulder and your lower back for the next couple of days.
Seeing that made something snap in Dex. The car he rode in saw his fingers pressed into the steering wheel, breaking the leather on it. At that moment, all Dex wanted to do was to throw all of the grilling utensils at his feet and hands, making sure to have the sharpest knife hit an artery so your father would bleed out. Dex wanted your father to watch you be taken by Dex to somewhere where nobody would hurt you.
The night when Dex knew he had to carry out his plan, he dreamed of you. Normally, he didn’t dream minus if it was a nightmare, but once he met you, you kept appearing in them non-stop. Dex dreamed of killing your father and carrying you off with him. You would wrap your hands around his neck, and Dex would place a gentle kiss on your forehead. There, he would take you back to a safe location and spend hours kissing you and exploring you. Dex didn’t just crave you, but he needed you.
You and your father were two separate entities. You were actually a good person, who Dex convinced could do no wrong, while your father pretends to be a good person, guised by flashy cameras and pristine charismatic smiles. The time to commence the plan was set with a week to prepare specific arrangements.
The week before the assaination, Dex needed to gain access to the house. Dex had finally found entry to your large house. It reminded him of those Colonial Houses he used to see growing up with a modern touch. Decorated in pristine furniture from Pottery Barn, along with thousands of family photos. He was able to map the exact route, and figure out each creak in the floorboard and security cameras littered around the house, on how to execute his plan perfectly. He mapped out where your parents room was, your little brothers room, and your room most importantly. He went through your drawers, not touching, but glazing over the pieces you wore the most. Throughout the week, he’d take small pieces of clothes and not enough for you to notice, but enough for you to have when you were at your new home.
The plan was set to occur on a Saturday evening where Dex knew The Senator (and you) would home, and in bed no later than 10pm. He had managed to figure out the routes of each security guard and configure most of the security cameras on a loop. All that there was left to do was execute the plan itself–kill the Senator and take you.
Dex knew you would be up, but most likely in bed. First, the Senator would need to be eliminated. Then, Dex would disappear–with you. It would be a battle, and struggle, but you’d manage to be fine. You would all understand why Dex did what he had to do to protect you from being corrupted.
With the mass sums of money he had collected from his kills, he had saved away in the event of needing to disappear. It was enough to survive off for a long time. Originally a part of his retirement plan, which was barely developed when he was in the FBI, Dex had invested in buying a nice home in upstate Connecticut, away from the bustle of the city. It was where people went to not be found. It would be a good place for him for privacy, and for you as well.
Not to mention, there was enough nature for you to enjoy, with him too of course. It would take some time for you to understand, but Dex knew you’d come to your senses. As Dr.Mercer had always said to him, these things take time. Execution was key.
