Costco is like, the God of all supermarkets.It seriously is the only place I think that me and the Flock can actually feel at home at, mainly because it's not exactly fun to have people stare at you whilst you pick up your groceries... Even if there are more than two buggies full. Well, maybe it is kind of tied with Sam's Club, but Iggy, Nudge and Gazzy have that covered. Oh! And Ella. For some reason, she actually vouched to GO to Sam's even though she doesn't exactly have our super-strength... Or our super wings.

Yeah. That's right.

WINGS.

I pushed the buggy along, wondering if all was fairing well or if Ella had finally been pulled over by a cop for driving so recklessly (We can't exactly carry a ton of food home on our backs) and if we'd have to push Mom out of her bed to come get us AND Ella from jail. With a sigh, I tried to focus on how happy Angel looked as she skimmed the little girls section. True, she was lean and taller than most average 7 year olds (she's SEVEN now. I'm getting OLD.) and the shirt she had currently been looking at would barely meet her belly button, but who am I to crush her happiness?

Which brought me to another problematic situation: Clothing.

We were normally very good with getting grime, mud, blood and other fun things on our clothes, but apparently, that's not appropriet for the "real world". We each had a an exchange of probably two outfits and that's if we pot lucked. I sighed again, trying to think of a place that I could possibly be able to buy jeans long enough to go to Nudge's ankles. That girl has some SERIOUS legs. Speaking of which, I felt like I was showing too much of in Ella's too-big shorts. I kept getting weird looks from cashiers and others in the male department.

You know, besides Fang.

Who happens to be the only person I might not want to punch if they were looking.

Yeah, life really isn't fair to me, but what's a mutant bird-kid going to do?

Angel snickered as she picked up a shirt that was flowing and bright yellow. I could practically see her face light up and the cogs in her brain switching to "how can I make Max squeal, today?". She looked over at me, a maniacal grin in place and scampered over, her angelic blond curls bouncing around her head. Angel had the shirt in hand, swinging it so it hit the floor with every swipe. She smiled up at me and held the bright monstrosity out. "Max, I think this will make you look like a princess!" She exclaimed with joy.

I gave her a snort and kept on pushing past the clothing section. Fang followed me, walking more to my left than behind me. I wanted to see what he thought of it, but don't look. "I don't want to look like a princess, Angel."

"Every girl wants to be a princess." She pressed.

"Not me."

"Liar."

I whipped around and faced her, taking the dress from her and placing it on the movie section. "Angel, I'm not lying."

She crossed her arms in defiance and I couldn't help but see MY glare coming right back at me. The kids were right. It WAS frightening; especially from a 7 year old mind reader/controller. "You want to be Fang's princess." I blushed and opened my mouth but she cut me off. Yeah, I'm surprised too. "Don't even try! I'm a MIND reader, remember?"

I took a deep breath and tried to keep my head about me. "I don't want to be any princess. All they do is fall into traps, do stupid things, wave their beauty about, and wait for some guy in white..."

"Black!" Angel chimed, making me grit my teeth.

"...armor. Now, does that sound like something I would want to be related to?" I finished, turning away and pushing the buggy on. Angel stayed behind me the rest of the time, pouting until Fang told her she could get a free cookie (or more, knowing her other little power).

Fang kept close beside me, grabbing things two seconds before I could and helping me push the second buggy when the first was full. I didn't know exactly what to do now. Sure, the kids knewthat I liked... Loved... Fang more than a brother, but that doesn't mean we get all PDA at all around them. And they were ALWAYS around, so now when it was us all alone, I wasn't really sure how to act. Should I just keep on moving? Should I, like, hold hands or something with him?

Yikes.

Hand-holding.

That should NEVER be in the same sentence as Maximum Ride, World's Defender. Does that sound right to you? I think not.

Fang rubbed the back of his furry head nervously, as if he could pick up on my inability to do anything. He kept looking at me and I could tell he wanted to say something. Grabbing the strawberries just a second before he could, I smiled at him in encouragement. Well, I tried smiling; it was probably more like a grimace. Fang sighed in response and took the second cart away from me. He walked next to me, a little closer than stately necessary, but I didn't mind... Well... I don't think I would mind my boyfri...

Yikes-ER.

BOYFRIEND.

That's what he was, right? That didn't quite seem like a word to fit Fang. More like... Lover? Oh, heck no. Special someone? Ha. Yeah right! My second in command that I let kiss me and liked when he kissed me? That sounded almost there...

"My princess?" Fang asked, a small smirk in play as soon as my cheeks turned a dark shade of red.

"I'm no one's princess." I growled. My eyes narrowed at him and I pushed on, going a little faster to be rid of his horrible expression of delight. He caught up to me in seconds with those long legs of his. Damn him being so tall!

Fang caught my eyes with his dark shining ones and lowered his head like he was being bashful.

Another two things that shouldn't be put together: Fang and bashful.

He shrugged lightly. "I wouldn't mind saving you every once in a while, Max. You can't always go it alone, you know..." I stopped dead in my tracks. Spinning on him, I give him a deadly, dark glare and point my finger at his chest like I was scolding him.

"I don't need saving. And when I do, it's normally because I trusted someone to do the saving for me." My voice comes out in a small yell that causes people to look over at us. Slowly, yet swiftly, he took my hand and wrapped his warm, calloused fingers around my own.

Fang moved close to me, his head bent down so I could feel his breathing in my ear. His smell washed over me and I tried to hold onto my anger. "Despite said belief, Max, I know you're not invincible." He murmured, giving me a small kiss on my temple.

I did the only thing I could to possibly salvage my pride.

I ripped and stropped away with a quick "Don't hold your breath."

I think we needed more Ben & Jerry's anyway....


Hi there. New story. I felt bad for posting so many one-shots and decided I'd make my OWN sequel to MAX.

Review please and I'll carry on. ;D

MiniFeverency....