A/N: It has been a very long time since I have been a part of any fanfiction. In fact, I was writing L word fanfiction on a site that no longer exists using dial-up internet, and that was a good seven? Years ago. In any case, I have just discovered Max and Chloe recently and hope I can do this some justice. It will be VERY AU but, that doesn't mean I own any characters or the world in which they live. I will try to maintain as much of the character integrity as possible to keep things reasonable however, I have a plot in mind, and we'll just have to see what happens.
Dontnod did a bang up job with all of this but like so many I was sad to see the ship end so abruptly and without answers and that just wouldn't do. At any rate, love it, hate it, like it, or comment, all are much appreciated and hopefully this will knock some dust off this imagination and get things going. Also, trying to get the line breaks and such down to a science. Going to take some time to get into the swing of things again. Thanks for you understanding, time, and attention.
It was good to be home, back in the States even if it was just a crowded airport at the moment. It was familiar and safe. Smoothing the invisible creases from her uniform, she clutched the straps of her pack and made her way towards baggage claim. Eyes were scanning her surroundings, just in case.
She had watched as her brothers and sisters had departed the aircraft and met loved ones, tears filling their eyes. The applause from the crowds was deafening, and she had noticed more than one of her comrades flinch slightly. Cinching her pack up on her shoulders, the Major held her head high, accepted the random pat on the back, the many thanks, and the silent pleading acknowledgments of what she had done or seen. Making her way towards the overly crowded coffee shop, she was ushered immediately to the front of the line as people parted
The little barista offered a brilliant smile and stood a little straighter "What can we get you?" He asked proudly
"Just the largest, black coffee you can." She offered politely. Fumbling inside her pocket for the folded bills she kept there, she pulled the neatly folded currency and noticed the grains of sand that were still in the bottoms of her pockets and had attached to the American bills.
Feeling the panic rise in the back of her mind she shook the particulates away and went to slide the bills across the counter but, instead was greeted with a wonderfully happy smile once again from the barista.
"No, ma'am. It's no charge. On the house." pushing all of the money back across the counter and offering his wonderfully happy smile in return. "Thank you force your service."
"Thank " Trailing off to take note of the boy's name tag. Inhaling the rich smell of the beans, the Major tipped her cup towards the barista and the rest of the customers who seemed to be holding their breaths. "Cheers." Gently sipping the liquid, she allowed her eyes to close for a brief moment before smiling politely and making her way back out of the coffee shop.
Making her way outside, she found a bench off to the side near a small planter that held a few small plants and a little tree of some kind. Sliding the pack off her shoulders and dropped it on the ground before sitting down and resting her dusty combat boots on top of the canvas sack.
Clutching the cup to her chest, she closed her eyes and listened to the birds. Chloe smelled the familiar smell of jet fuel and fast food. The occasional waft of cigarette smoke, the muttering of a thousand conversations, a few of her tidy hairs breaking free and tickling her face. It was good to be home, even it was just a crowded airport it felt right to be safe and to be surrounded by familiar things.
"Mind if I sit?" A soft voice asked, breaking the Major from her reverie.
Not opening her eyes, she pushed herself into a proper sitting position and sipped the dark liquid. "I wasn't sure if you would come."
"Why wouldn't I?"
Opening her eyes, she took in the sight of the model pretty woman sitting beside her. Her messy cropped hair, lightly glossed lips(probably just chapstick), piercing blue eyes that could touch your soul, and of course the typical Max attire. Well worn and faded blue jeans, an old white t-shirt covered by a loved and comfy looking zip up jacket.
"I appreciate it." Covering the smaller woman's hand in her own and squeezed gently "More than you know." Wrapping her arms around the woman, she pressed her face to her neck, and for the first time in over eighteen months, she let the tears escape their prison.
Rubbing soothing circles on the Majors back, she held the woman close and allowed her to cry silently for a moment." I'm so happy to see you, and I'm so glad you asked me to be here today."
Crying for a moment longer, the Major released her hug, wiped her eyes and gave a watery smile to the beautiful woman sitting in front of her. "Thank you for coming, Max. Wanted to surprise mom and David."
"All you had to do was ask, Chloe. They didn't ask too many questions; I did fabricate a bit of a story about wanting to do a welcome home piece for you so, there's that." Holding the uniformed woman at arm's length, she drank in the sight of her. She was still tall, much tanner, her hair was still the same sandy blonde it had been when they were growing up. She had tiny laugh lines at the corners of her beautiful blue eyes. Her arms felt bigger and solid through the sleeves of the uniform shirt. To put it mildly, Chloe looked great except, for the sorrow that betrayed her eyes.
Chloe quirked an eyebrow and looked at Max opening her mouth to speak but her stomach protesting...loudly.
Laughing, Max released the taller woman's arms and stood pulling her up by the hand "Let's get you out of here and get something to eat, I'm starving, and I'm sure you would like something as well."
"Lead the way. Oh, and..bacon, please. A giant plate of greasy, delicious bacon." Chloe requested and hefted her bag across her shoulders.
Driving through town had been a bit like stepping back into some strange time portal that tossed you fifty years into the past. The small town still looked the same, still bustling like a working bee hive with foot traffic and errand runners, the retro signs still proudly displaying their trade or craft. The brick buildings still standing strong through the test of time, and the tree-lined sidewalks with the occasional brightly colored flower beds or strategically placed benches.
Chloe exhaled through her nose and adjusted her cap sitting on her knee, not looking away from the window she dared break the comfortable silence for once just basking in the peace, acknowledging it was there and welcoming it back with open arms. The sunlight filtering through the window warmed her face, not in the scorching melt your face way the desert sun had, actual birds were flitting about instead of vultures or whatever those things over there were, and there were grass and green trees. So much life and energy instead of the suffocating sand, heat, and destruction.
"I know Joyce will be thrilled that you managed to be in a full week early," Max mentioned, trying to bring small talk into the confined space of the cab glancing from the road to gauge the other woman's reaction.
Breaking her gaze from the window, she looked at the smaller woman sitting to her left " She'll either beat me with a frying pan or cry. Could be both."
"Absolutely. " Max responded cheerily before trailing off and focusing back on the road a crease forming between her perfectly manicured brows.
Chloe looked at Max for a moment, wondering what was going through that beautiful mind of hers but thought better of asking and just turned her gaze back towards the window and out onto the passing streets. Each one becoming more and more familiar, the smell of the salty ocean air beginning to fill her nostrils more and more. Fumbling with the styrofoam cup in her hand, she gulped the remaining liquid and placed the cup in the tidy center console.
"You're getting awfully giddy over there. Either you have to pee; you're hungrier than we both anticipated, you're terrified of my driving, or you are glad to be home." Flashing Chloe a dazzling smile she continued, "Or, it could be a combination of all of those things.
Returning Max's smile, Chloe pinched the squishy foam around the cup "It's just so good to be back. And, I have to pee."
"Lucky for you, we are here." Clicking the blinker on, Max steered the truck into the parking lot and quickly pulled into the first available space. "And, a good thing my windows are tinted. I'll come back out in a minute to grab my 'forgotten' camera." she said with tiny air quotations and once again smiled that glorious smile and shut the door.
Sitting alone in the truck, Chloe looked at all the things that were telltale signs for anyone who knew her that this truck belonged to Max. The flash drives stuffed in the other unused cup holder, the stack of notebooks piled in between the seats, the battered pencil case wrapped in duct tape barely holding the pens and pencils in one place. Her messenger bag was in the floorboard at her feet, and the most touching and heartfelt Max item was Chloe's old necklace hanging from the rearview mirror with a set of dog tags now added to the chain.
Sighing, Chloe felt her messy hat hair and tried to smooth it down some before giving up and just pulling the battered cover over her head, making sure it was just right and once again smoothing the invisible creases and wrinkles from the camouflaged fabric. Picking at an invisible thread on her name tape Chloe jumped noticably when Max ripped the truck door open and grabbed her hand.
Reaching across Chloe's long legs, Max grabbed her bag from the floorboard and tossed it over her shoulder "Come on, lady. Finally, got the wrangled into a booth together and happily pacified for the time being. Do you even know how hard it is to get your mom to stop and take a break?"
Chuckling, Chloe unfolded herself from the cab and pushed the door shut behind her, sliding her hand comfortably into Max's they pushed their way through the silver door and towards the backs of her waiting parents.