I've marked this story as "complete," but there will be more one-shots added on in the future. I just wanted to point that out to avoid any confusion. This part is purely stand-alone.

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Max stood next to Alec, gazing through the flaming "X" at their fellow transgenic. Biggs was hung by his neck off the bridge , but it was obvious that he had been dead long before he had been hanged. His face was so bruised and bloodied that he was barely recognizable, and his arms hung at awkward angles, as if pulled from socket. She hadn't known the X5 well, but she couldn't help the tears that welled up in her eyes as she took in the scene.

Max turned away and brushed at her eyes in irritation. "Let's go, Alec. There's nothing we can do." She took a few steps before she realized he wasn't following her. She turned back around. "Alec...." The complaint died on her lips when she caught sight of his face. Alec was staring sightlessly at his friend, a dazed look on his face. He was fighting hard to keep his emotions in check, and he was obviously losing the battle.

Max approached him uncomfortably, unsure how to handle the situation. Alec was stubborn and prideful; she didn't know how he would react to her trying to comfort him. But she couldn't just leave him to deal with it on his own. Especially after he had reached out to her when she needed him. She cleared her throat as she stepped back to his side. Alec glanced at her, but quickly looked away. A tear snaked its way down his cheek, and Max was struck by how out of place it looked there. "Alec? You... alright?" she asked, floundering for words. This wasn't really her thing....

"Fine," he replied, his voice husky. He took a shuddering breath and scrubbed a hand over his face. "I'm fine...." Max thought it sounded like he was trying to make himself believe it, not her.

"Alec, I know he was your friend...."

"Don't, Max. Please. Let's just... get back to Terminal City." He turned and stalked away, and Max could see the tension in his shoulders. She followed silently, lost in her own thoughts. It wasn't until she heard Alec gasp for air that she realized he was shaking.

Max grabbed the man's arm and spun him toward her before he had a chance to react. "That's it. Alec, talk to me." He stared at the ground as more tears fell from his eyes. He was struggling to breathe evenly, biting his lip and sucking air desperately through his nose. "It's okay to be upset. Biggs was a friend."

Alec laughed humorlessly in reply, startling Max. He wiped his eyes and finally met her gaze. The intensity in his eyes unnerved her. "You always talk about your 'family' from Manticore, Max. Biggs was the closest thing I had to a brother. Hell, he was my brother. As much as Zack and Ben were yours. It's not okay, Max. I'm not okay. But talking isn't going to make it better. So just drop it."

Max stared at him for a moment, unsure of how to react. She had felt the same for a long time after escaping Manticore. It had taken nine years for her to open up to anyone, and she still had issues with it. Alec had spent those nine years still at Manticore, and he had only been out for a year. So it didn't surprise her that he was closing in on himself, burying his feelings and ignoring the pain. It was what they had been trained to do. But that didn't mean she would let him do it. She shrugged. "Suit yourself. But I don't think Biggs would want you to do this to yourself. You don't have to hide how you feel anymore, Alec. You're not at Manticore."

Alec held out for another minute before he sighed heavily and sank to the ground on his knees. He buried his face in his hands and and continued to shake, grieving silently. Max stood in front of him, feeling extremely awkward and out of place. She hadn't expected him to actually open up in front of her, and his reaction scared her. Finally, she knelt beside him and placed a tentative hand on his trembling shoulder. "I'm sorry, Alec. I know nothing I can say will make it better, but...," she hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and continued. "I'm here for you." Alec didn't say anything, and Max simply remained as she was, trying to reassure him with her presence. A few minutes later Alec sighed and once again wiped away all signs of tears. He glanced at Max quickly before standing up, and she was stunned by the brief flash of gratitude she had seen there.

It was gone quickly, though, and was replaced by his usual smirk. He took off in the direction of Terminal City, and Max followed, knowing the moment had passed. By the time they had slipped through the gates, no sign of Alec's breakdown remained. Max didn't say anything as they filled in the rest of the transgenics on what had happened. She didn't bring it up when Joshua asked her if they were alright. And she didn't mention it to Alec until they were alone again and Alec's carefree expression faltered and slipped away. The pain was still in his eyes, and Max approached him warily. "Are you alright?"

Once again the mask was put into place. "How many times do I have to tell you, Maxie? I'm always alright."

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