A/N Just a short scene involving a different sort of Max and Alec. This is obviously AU, with Alec being a little more Manticore-y in experience. You'll see. A different take on everything altogether. And anything you recognize isn't mine. It belongs to someone else. Everything always does.

And I KNOW I've not updated stuff in forever. My computer committed hari kari. Take it up with her. I'm scrounging computer time when I can, so things MIGHT be coming sooner rather than never. Be grateful. And review. You know you wanna…

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His female was sitting at the bar. It appeared as if she was upset and drinking vast quantities of alcohol. Like that would solve anything. She was irritating. Wouldn't even properly acknowledge that she was his female. 494 mentally snorted. She was paired off with him and was now his responsibility. Just because some people felt they were too good to abide by the rules did not negate his duty towards them. Manticore gone or not, she was still his female. If she would only stop ignoring him it would make his job a whole lot easier. Problematic female.

"452…" her glare was like a solid thing, real and tangible. He swallowed. There was no need to use her designation if the silly thing preferred her name.

"Max." Better. At least her decidedly unfeminine grunt was in some way conceding he existed.

"We can't get drunk, you know." He had tried not to sound snotty, but damn it, he couldn't help it if she twisted his stomach into knots. Not that that was really possible or anything. A stupid figure of speech. He shook his head to clear it.

"Giving it the good old college try." His head jerked back almost imperceptibly at her words. Surprised. No. A life on the run wouldn't allow…

"Did you even go to college?" It was his interrogation voice. She didn't seem perturbed. But then again, being Max, she was well acquainted with interrogation techniques. Her recent trip to reindoctrination had been particularly brutal. And she'd still come out snarky. Typical.

"Of course not asshole. That was my point." His eyes narrowed. Bitch.

"Manticore was your point?" That had not been the tone he'd been attempting. He'd had more than enough of her… shit. Hesitant was not an appropriate tone of voice for this confrontation. But he still didn't know what she fucking well meant. Damn it! Common Verbal Usage apparently only went so far.

"Well, it's a fucking good reason for another drink isn't it?" Was that a challenge? It sounded like it. But… not exactly. She sounded more… amused? Maybe. She was perplexing. 494, looked at her thoughtfully, head quirked to the side. Assessing.

"Yeah." It fell from his lips almost begrudgingly. He was a little disgruntled. Wary of the whole conversation. He thought he'd detected the hint of a smile from her… but no. it was gone. Unfortunate, but not unforeseen. She was prettier when she smiled.

Max nodded briskly. And then the most surprising thing happened. She poured another shot, and slid it down the bar to him. He stared from the shot, to her and back to the alcohol again.

"I always knew you'd come around to my point of view." And she called him arrogant.

The end. Now tell me what you think.