f a l l [or, when temptation mixes with tragedy]
Summary: They're both failures. They might as well be failures together. /or, worlds turning to dust
Pairing: Ari&MaxII
Dedication: to the wonderful MidnightFlyte, who Beta'd && is an awesome writer ! You're amazing yourself, doll.
.
He pulls out a cigarette and she says, "You're going to die like that, you know."
He snorts—loudly. "Like I'm not going to die anyways." He thinks of saying, Fuck it, but is honestly too tired of curses and profanities and words not meant for children.
She checks for the expiration date on the back of his neck—and if she were Maximum Ride, would say I won't let you die, Ari.
But she's not, so she just grabs his cigarette and uses it herself.
.
She stays up late, looks at the moon, wonders if her double is doing the same. "What makes you so special?" she asks, and there's no answer.
.
—You never see a crash till it's head-on.
.
If life were a fairytale, he'd comfort her when she has bruises, say it's all right and mean it. She'd help him confront his past, saying you don't have to do this alone. He would wrap his arms around her while she sleeps and stay awake just to watch her. She'd buy him coffee just so they could pretend they were normal.
If life were a fairytale, they wouldn't curse the Fates every second of every day.
.
Some days she wants to just ask, "What is Max like, Ari? The one you love so much?" But to be honest, she doesn't have the courage, nor the balls, nor the strength to hear the answer.
So she always says, "Kiss me," instead.
.
The reality:
He has temper problems. [Damn it, Max! Damn it! Why can't you be more like her, Maxie?] She has an attitude to boot. [Don't you fucking compare me to her! That's not fucking fair and you know it!] He'd prefer gin over coffee any day; she wouldn't roll out of bed to get him some, anyways. Their nightmares rouse them more than anything else. And normal, of course, isn't an option.
Reality isn't worth shit, but that won't change anything.
.
—May these memories break our fall.
.
[I trust you with my life but not my heart because anything is better than the fallout.]