Fang's View
SongNormal
"Speaking"
'Thinking''Accented'
Maximum Ride:
Lost without youChapter 1
A sound compelled me look up and abruptly he was standing in front of me just inside the entrance to the cave. He looked like an angel. His raven black wings were fully extended, and his head was partially blocking the sun making it halo like. I could just barely distinguish his features. He was smiling, one of his very rare smiles and his night eyes shone. I knew that expression. Fang. I tried to stand up. I wanted to run to him, to ask him what had happened, but I couldn't. It was as if I was rooted to the spot.
"Max? What's wrong?" Angel's, the youngest of my flock, worried face appeared before me. We were in the Hawk Cave. It had been four weeks since we had escaped from the Itex castle, and since then we had made it our home.
I stared down at her wide-eyed then glanced back up; Fang was no longer there. He had disappeared just as suddenly as he had come. Something bad had happened. Something was really wrong. I didn't know how I knew, but I did. "Iggy, you're in charge." My voice sounded choked even to me. I jumped up, grabbed the bag with the medical supplies and sprinted toward the ledge, leaping off when I reached it. Then snapping my wings out and pouring on the speed. I knew exactly where Fang was.
I had been following the canyon for over an hour and it was growing increasingly darker. The canyon used to have a river flowing through it, but was now just as rocky and parched as the rest of the land surrounding it. The canyon was huge two miles across, and was more than 300 miles long, but just ahead of me it began to narrow. The place where I was heading the canyon wasn't even twenty feet across. Up ahead I spotted a figure, just barely darker than the night air surrounding it, lying in the middle of the narrowest part of the canyon.
It was Fang. I fell into a steep dive, my eyes focused on him, and everything else was lost. I braked at the last second and dropped to the ground beside him. He was in bad shape; his right leg was bent at the wrong angle. Broken and his muscle shredded, ripped away from the bone. The rest of him was covered in purpling bruises and nasty cuts, only his face was whole, and he was still conscious. The worst of his cuts, aside from his leg, was about an inch deep and ran from his right shoulder to his left hipbone. He was lying on his back blood running down his body. I pulled out the water and bandages, and began washing away the sand and dirt.
"Fang!" Even the whisper echoed in the canyon, my voice repeating itself over and over again.
"It's just a scratch."
My voice cracked, "Stop talking. The last time you said that you were bleeding to death," My voice had risen into a shriek, and I noticed the tears mixing with the dust.
He had noticed it too, "You're crying! Why are you crying?"
I couldn't answer. I had bandaged almost all of his wounds. All but the one across his chest, and the one near his broken bone. Gently I helped him into an upright position and started wrapping the gauze up and over his shoulder. Shifting every time from diagonal to horizontal back to diagonal, trying to keep the binding secure.
I stopped suddenly, finally aware that something was missing. I stared at Fang horrified. "Turn around."
"What?" He was reluctant.
"Please. Turn around." I almost begged he did so hesitantly. His wings were tucked into the indentations near his spine. I unwrapped the bandages so I could see clearly. "Spread your wings." He just watched me, staring over his shoulder. There must have been something in my eyes because he slowly uncertainly unfolded his wings. It was bad, but much better than I had thought. His wings were ragged. Many of his feathers were missing and there were cuts everywhere. There was nothing I could do about his wings so I began binding his wound again.
After I had finally set his leg to the best of my ability he spoke, "NO." He knew I was planning to carry him to Dr. Martinez.
"I'm taking you whether you like it or not."
"How do you plan on carrying an extra hundred pounds for over two hours?" He was right. I had flown the opposite direction from Dr. Martinez's house to find Fang. And as another downfall I was tired.
"It doesn't matter." I mumbled. "You need help. Dr. Martinez is the only one who can help you and I'm going to get you there."
"Max, you can change your mind…" I blushed. Deja-vu. He had said exactly that before kissing me in the cave. He sat up gingerly, still staring at me. "Or I can change your mind for you." He finished.
"We're going to Dr. Martinez," I tried to sound commanding, but couldn't. Not with him that close.
He pulled me even closer, so I was almost sitting in his lap. His eyes stared into mine, and his breath caressed my lips making me shiver. His lips touched mine and it felt as if fire was racing through my veins. My mind went completely and utterly blank, I was aware of him alone. His lips warm and firm above mine, his hair, softer than silk brushing my cheek, his arms, strong and gentle holding me close to him. I wanted it to go on forever, but all too soon he pulled away. His eyes were wide with surprise, but a smug smile slowly spread across his face.
"I'm fine! I promise." He whispered breath caressing.
"No," My voice was soft, "You're hurt and you need help."
He stared at me for awhile, but finally gave up. "…Fine, but you have to rest at least until you've gotten all of your energy back." I glanced at him, sighed, and then nodded. He looked exhausted. He laid back down closing his eyes, his breathing slowed, and he slept.
I gazed down at Fang, and brushed his bangs out of his eyes. Then traced a single finger over his temple, down his cheekbone, to his lips gently smiling. I began to sing softly, hearing it echo even quieter back and forth among the cliffs. I sang for him, putting my entire heart into it, knowing that no one could hear.
"Mysterious, that's what I'd call you
I'm curious about you
I'm sacred and I'm not sure that you are safe
But your eyes seem to say that you are good
This is not a dream that I'm livin'This is just a world of your own
You took me from all that I knew
Shown me how if feels to hope
With you, with me, facing tomorrow
Together I can learn fly
Feels like I'm living in the lion's mouth
But the lion is an angel"
I stopped. Emotions overwhelmed me, and I could sing no longer. I stared up at the sky tears again falling like raindrops; coming from a never-ending sea.
A new voice took up the song, though. Powerful and mysterious, it echoed back again and again.
"Wise eyes, you see the core of me
Your gentleness, melts me
And now I know that words cannot describe
The power that I feel when I'm with you
This is not a dream that I'm livin'
This is just a world of your own
You took me from all that I knew
Shown me how if feels to hope
With you, with me, facing tomorrow
Together I can learn fly
Feels like I'm living in the lion's mouth
But the lion is an—"
His voice dissolved into the shadows of the night and my voice rose to take its place. Like the sun giving way to the moon's light. Both as striking as the other, both unique.
"Peace and power, love forever
Who am I to stand before you
I am speechless, and in my weakness
You are here and all—is—well
You took me from all that I knew
Shown me how if feels to hope
With you, with me, facing tomorrow
Together I can learn to fly
Feels like I'm living in the lion's mouth
But the lion is an—"
Then together our voices soared up past the clouds strong, breathtaking, celestial. Like the voices of the angels. We were stronger, better together than either of us was alone. We were one.
"This is not a dream that I'm livin'
This is just a world of your own
You took me from all that I knew
Shown me how it feels to hope
With you, with me, facing tomorrow
Together I can learn to fly
Feels like I'm living in the lion's mouth
But the lion is an angel"
His voice faded, leaving mine soft and ethereal.
"Is an angel"
A hush descended upon us, and only the wind could be heard. I was the first to break the silence. "Ready?"
"Yes," Max stood up gracefully, and helped me to stand without putting weight on my broken leg. I pulled her to me so that she was in the circle of my arms. She blushed. "What are you doing?"
"I'm not going to be carried like a child," A smile flit across my face though I tried to suppress it, "I'd much rather be carried this way," I whispered watching her blush even harder, if that was possible.
Still she encircled my waist with her arms. How we took off I really don't know, but she managed it, barely. The wind was freezing, laced with snow and sleet, but winter was ending, and there was a hint of warmth to the cold. Max flew us straight there and for over two hours she struggled to remain airborne. I didn't say anything, it would only have distracted her, I just watched and waited.
The landing was more of a 'crash and burn' thing than an actual landing. The instant she touched the ground she collapsed, I dropped too and somehow Max ended up on the bottom. That might have been a problem, if I had wanted to get up, but luckily for us, I didn't. I grinned mischievously, gazing down at her. She stared up at me, her eyes going wide and a blush crept up her cheeks.
"Umm—I don't think…" Max faltered.
"Well I knew that." I could tell I had vexed her and grinned. She looked up at me, tried to glare, but failed and found out that trying to maintain even a straight face was impossible. She finally gave up and smiled up at me, and her smile was like the night sky, utterly pure.
"Fine, but you have to get off you big bully, you weigh a ton!" She laughed.
"And if I don't want to?" I demanded, teasingly.
"Well then that's your problem," She grinned, trying to push me off.
"Actually I think it's your problem," I smiled even more dazzling, "especially since I'm not moving."
Suddenly the back door to the house scraped open and I looked up, startled. Ella, Max's half-sister, stood there staring, open-mouthed before turning and shrieking into the house, "MOM! It's Max…and Fang. Hurry!" Dr. Martinez appeared in the door a few seconds later.
"Max?" There was a questioning sound to her voice. She seemed surprised, but since I was still lying on top of Max that was probably normal.
"Umm…Fang you should probably umm…move." She whispered. I rolled off of her without a word, not even trying to stand up. She leapt up as fast as she could, but collapsed, immediately unconscious.
"Max! Dammit, Max! Stop pushing yourself so hard. You can't do anything if you're unconscious." I snapped, catching her before she hit the ground. "Dr. Martinez, she's hurt herself again. She's been pushing herself too hard."
"Well, can you get her inside?"
"Uh…actually…No."
"You can explain when we get you inside," She said giving me a hard look, "Ella could you please get Max? I'll get Fang." I won't tell you about the trip inside, suffice it to say that it was total humiliation. I ended up sitting in one of those chairs you would usually find sitting around the kitchen table. Dr. Martinez had moved the chair into Max's bedroom where she was lying still unconscious, assuming that we would be more comfortable near each other. I was but I wasn't going to tell her that. The next thing that I knew Max had awoken and was sitting up in bed with Dr. Martinez and Ella talking to her getting the explanation. I must have fallen asleep. Max was the first to notice me, not unusual for her.
"Fang? You okay? Has Dr. Martinez seen your injuries yet?" She asked worried.
"What? Injuries? What injuries? You told me nothing about any injuries!" Dr. Martinez gave me another hard look.
"It's just a scratch!" I said trying to keep a straight face. My leg hurt. A lot, again something I would never admit to any of them. "And anyway you collapsed, I haven't," 'Yet' I thought to myself almost grimacing.
"You're lying!" I couldn't say anything to that, she would have seen through it instantly. "You need help, and you are going to get it. Whether you like it or not." She was very demanding.
"Yeah, sure, and you love me soooooo much!" I just couldn't resist baiting her, 'Wait…something must be wrong with me, brain damage or something,' I considered it, but dismissed the thought.
"I'm going to kill you!"
"Didn't you just want to get me some medical help?" I asked in mock confusion. She shrieked and launched herself at me. "Hey no hitting the wounded!"
She paused considering her options. "Okay I won't hit you!" She smiled mischievously and leaning down kissed me. I thought about letting her go, but made a split second decision and slid my hand behind her neck holding her to me before she could pull away. I hooked my other arm around her waist and drew her onto my lap. The kiss deepened and everything else faded, I could no longer feel the pain in my leg, and Dr. Martinez and Ella were no longer there. All that mattered was her lips pressed against mine. My entire body was on fire. Wonderful, delicious fire seared through me. Even if the kiss had lasted forever it would have been too short. I never wanted this to stop. It was my life now, my very soul, my being depended upon it. And now no matter what anybody else said Max was MINE!
It ended all too soon, but I didn't show my disappointment instead a wicked grin found its way to my lips. "Too bad you're not wearing a mini-skirt. I would've liked that!" She just stared at me, seemingly unable to say a word, but saying it all with her silence. Because she hadn't spoken I knew she agreed, she just didn't want to admit it. My smile grew. It was then that Dr. Martinez interrupted us.
"Not to interrupt anything, but what about those—ahem—serious injuries?" For once it was both—not just Max—of us who were staring mystified.
The pain finally returned to me. "Crap!" I went on swearing in increasingly inventive ways. Max jumped off my lap, guessing correctly why I was cursing.
"Okay then, what's wrong with your leg?"
Max spoke because I was still swearing a blue streak. "It's broken and torn to the bone. And then there's the gash across his chest, and the additional cuts and bruises. Oh and um his wings are sorta, well mangled.
She gawked "How 'mangled' is mangled?"
"You'd probably better just look. Fang get on the bed." It was an order. In the end I needed help to even move, but let's not go there!
"I can set the leg and the gashes are going to need stitches, but your wings…I don't know. It's pretty bad," Dr. Martinez hesitated, "It's probably better if I leave the wings alone…but if I let his wings heal like that they'll scar and he will be unable to fly!" She sounded distressed.
"Fix them," I commanded her.
"Bu-"
"Fix them," Max agreed.
A loud gulp proceeded by a deep, shuddering breath was our only reply.
-LATER-
My leg is set and the 'scratches' are sewn up. The only things left were my wings. "Are you sure about this?" Dr. Martinez asked one last time, before the operation was to begin.
"Yes," my answer was firm, even though inside I was petrified, 'I have to hold strong. None of the flock has ever heard me admit to any pain or fear before, and that's not going to change now.' I was lying on my front on the cold metal table in Dr. Martinez's office. It was after hours so there was no one around to see my wings. All of us were there, Dr. Martinez and Ella were obviously terrified, and though Max showed none of her concern, I could tell that she hated this as much as I did. No one touches our wings. It was something no one, but the others of the flock were allowed to do. Only I could see the terror hiding behind her beautiful brown eyes, she was afraid. Still she held my hand and tried to keep an emotionless façade through the entire operation.
"You're done, a lot of the slashes on your wings needed stitches, but I've gotten them all sewn up. I couldn't do anything about the missing feathers but I bandaged the rest. You won't be able to fly; even with your increased healing process for about…I don't know a month, maybe more. Also you are not to put any unnecessary weight on your broken leg. If you want to go anywhere get one of us to help you." With a stern expression, despite her anxiousness, she helped me up and back out of the office into her car. I relaxed the instant we left the smell of antiseptic and the white plaster walls behind. I hated it, it reminded me of the School, and even though I knew it was gone I couldn't help, but remember. Every similarity made me feel like I was going to crawl up the walls.
The first week at Dr. Martinez's went amazingly well. Nothing totally disastrous happened. Well actually there was that one time when Ella and Dr. Martinez insisted on bringing Max shopping, I of course demanded to go along, I wasn't going to let Max out of my sight, you remember the last few times I did that. We arrived at the mall and well, they got this glint in their eyes. I regretted my decision instantly. I was dressed up like a doll; I was forced to try on every piece of clothing in sight. And none of it was black. An upside though, Max was put through the same process, and she had much more to put on; but she enjoyed it. We ended up with seven enormous bags, most of which contained Max's clothing, I refused to get anything that wasn't black. Max was outfitted with five mini-skirts, Ella insisted glancing at me whenever they chose one. One plaid one almost made me smile, it was gonna look good on Max.
I had been given a bedroom to last me for the visit, it was adjacent to Max's room. It also had a connecting door, but Dr. Martinez locked that and was keeping the key on her person at all times. 'It's as if she suspects me, I have no idea why she would think that. I mean what have I done to induce such thinking?' I thought grinning at memories that had probably supported her decision.
I was lounging on my bed reading a book that I had found, when Max appeared in the doorway to my bedroom. She was wearing one of her new mini-skirts, for the first time, it was the plaid one. I almost smiled, but held it in.
'Wait, why am I resisting? I want her to know.' I grinned, and tossed the book aside "Hey."
"Dr. Martinez wanted me to tell you that she's going on an errand, and won't be back for a couple of hours at the least." She seemed preoccupied and didn't notice my expression. If she had she would have been blushing, but she didn't. I had to do something about that.
"What about Ella?" I asked, standing up, my broken leg was almost completely mended and I could put my weight on it for a short period of time, and began walking slowly towards Max.
"It's Tuesday. She's at school." She still hadn't noticed anything.
"Good." That startled her and she looked over at where I had been. And then noticing I wasn't there anymore stopped and glanced around until she saw me. I was maybe a foot away from her when she finally saw my expression. The blush was instantaneous. 'I knew it!' My thought was gleeful and my smile widened, if that was at all possible.
"Um…what do you mean by good?" She demanded trying to remain in control.
'I love that about her. She is always trying to stay in control even when it's impossible.' My smile turned from gleeful into wicked, "I mean that no one else is here and that is a very good thing."
"Umm…I have to go! Sorry!" She turned ready to flee, but I pulled her back and turned her around.
"I like the mini-skirt." I glanced down at it.
"I noticed," she had regained her composure, "It wasn't that hard a guess. Why do you think Ella demanded I wear it today?"
"I'm really going to have to thank her, aren't I." I had returned my eyes to Max's face, she wasn't blushing anymore. That wasn't going to last long. At least not with me there. "I say we go on a date! What do you think?" I didn't even let her answer before continuing "Yes? Oh good! An ice cream shop okay with you?"
"What…wait a second!"
"No." I smiled and pulled her behind me out into the street.
"Bu-"
"No buts!" Then I stopped, "Do you really want to go on a date with me? You don't have to if you don't want to." Faking a feeling of rejection, I turned away, back towards the house.
"…I do want to go…but umm…" her checks were a bright pink, and she muttered, "Never mind."
"Okay!"
"What?" she glared at me and then sighed, "You weren't really feeling rejected were you?"
"No. But I would have if you had said that you didn't want to go out with me." She smiled up at me and it was as if the moon had been uncovered on a cloudy night out where there were no lights. And right then the moon outshone the sun. She was so beautiful. Stunning, nothing could ever compare to her. "Ice cream okay?" I managed though I was breathless.
"Sure." Then she whispered so quietly that I could barely hear. "Anything, as long as you're there." I pretended I hadn't heard. Deciding to wait until I had had a time to think on what it could have meant.
The ice cream parlor we chose was called Ivana Cone. It had a retro sixties look. Poodle skirts and all. The instant we entered I got only a glimpse of the actual parlor before a gaggle of poodle skirted girls converged upon us. Actually they were only interested in me, for some reason.
"Excuse me?" That was Max's voice, she was shoving her way through the crowd. "What do you think you are doing?" The girls scattered at the menacing tone.
"Max is jeaaallouus." I whispered in her ear grinning.
"…Yes." She paused, then added defensively. "So what?"
"I'd like to thank said jealousy. I was surrounded, I was going to die of pink overdose!" I almost pantomimed a horrible death, but resisted the urge. 'Cool I'm supposed to be cool…sure and that's possible with Max around.' I thought sarcastically. I ordered a triple scoop Double-Chocolate and French Vanilla cone, Max ordered two Hot Fudge Sundae Deluxes. The service was actually pretty good, except for of course the giggling poodle skirted girls that couldn't help but stare at us…me. The guys around us were similarly preoccupied, staring at Max. That pissed me off. Max was MINE! One by one the girls approached our table, each of them asking to be my girlfriend, a lot of the customers also stopped by. Max was ticked, to put it lightly. In the end I jumped up onto the table. "Okay girls…I'm taken, give up!" I paused and then continued, "Oh and guys. Max is taken as well so leave off."
Groans issued from all watchers. "Awwhh. That's not fair! All the hot guys are taken!" Was one comment, another such one from the guys "I'm better than he could ever be! Dump him!" Catfights and screaming contests broke out among the crowd.
"We should probably go now." I whispered in Max's ear.
"Probably," We had traveled for three blocks before either of us spoke again, "What do you mean you're taken?" Her eyes were fixed on me; she was going to hurt herself. "And why am I taken as well?" She demanded.
"You really haven't guessed yet? I knew you were dense, but I didn't think that you were that dense!" I was half joking, and I searched her face looking for any trace of mockery. She really didn't know. I stopped in mid-step "Dang, you actually don't know? Do you I have to spell it out to you?"
"Maybe I haven't guessed yet because you haven't been giving good enough clues. But yes. I would like you to spell it out for me."
"I think I've been giving good enough clues. I could give you another one if you would like…never mind, I'll just ask you. Max would you be my girlfriend?"
She gaped at me, and then smiled. I would have said it was a timid smile, except it was Max, and Max is not shy. "Yes," It was simple, but her next move said it all. She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed me on the lips. I let her pull away this time. I wouldn't have been able to move even if I had wanted to. "You're blushing!" Max was incredulous, "You never blush," she scrutinized my face for a minute, "You should blush more often. It's cute."
"Cute?" My voice sounded strangled, "I'm not cute."
"No you're not," She admitted and began walking back towards Dr. Martinez's house, then in an afterthought. "You're hot."
A/N: I'm sooooo sorry for taking so long to change this! Please forgive me! Also sorry for ending it right here…I didn't really want to do a really, really, really big cliffy. But I had to end it somewhere.
Thank you for reading. Please review!
--Sui-chan
