A/N: I'm glad you guys liked the last part. This mini trilogy is centered on the basic urges that humans have: need, want, and have (I'm quite aware that "have" isn't an urge, but whatever). This part is more lighthearted than the last one.
On another note, I just created a new forum called "Crash". I figured that almost all of the forums have gone extinct over the years, and this would be a great way for us authors and readers to chat about the show and stories, post challenges, recommend fics, etc. While it's centered on MA, anyone of any ship is welcome to come in and chat.
Set: Sometime after Hello, Goodbye
Crash was busy tonight. People milled about, playing foosball in the corner or getting their drink on at the bar. The stereo was blasting some upbeat pre-pulse song which some people were dancing to, but the focus of the crowd was on a game of pool, where one player was currently beating the pants off of the other.
It didn't take much to figure out who he was.
Max watched the game from afar, her gaze following every move Alec made. She knew that he could feel her watching him, as he looked up every so often from his game to flash her a cocky grin. She was just glad that that grin of his was back in place. She had spent so many days after Rachel's death seeing that pained look on his face that she was afraid she would never catch a glimpse of that heart-melting grin again.
They never spoke of that night. She had fallen asleep on the couch next to him and when she had woken up the next morning, he was gone. And that had been it. He never brought it up and she never mentioned it. She had to admit to herself that she regretted the loss of warmth, that that one night's sleep had felt better than the amount she got in a week. It was ironic that while she was supposed to be comforting him, it was his presence that had comforted her. She wanted to chalk it up to the fact that while she was alone she could never truly let herself go, never fall asleep without always having one eye open. But even she didn't believe her own lie. The thing was, Alec had changed since she had first met him. And she was finally starting to notice.
He had become more dependable, always there at her side ready to do whatever she asked him to without question. He had no real obligation to, but he did so anyways. Her lips twitched into a smile. It was also probably due to the fact that she always threatened bodily harm if he was going to be a smartass about it. The man had a sense of self-preservation at least.
She thought back to a couple of days ago, when he had gotten busted for crimes Ben had committed. Her heart constricted at the thought of her brother. They had ended up back at her apartment, and she had finally chosen to tell him what had happened. She had never told anyone before, never even considered it. Original Cindy, as much as she loved her, would never understand. Neither would Logan. Murder was murder, and even she was disgusted with herself at taking the easy way out. She had been afraid of going back there, so god damn afraid, that she had deserted her brother. Her own brother! She hadn't looked at Alec as she told him, hadn't wanted to see the shocked look on his face that would prove she was a horrible person even by her own kind's standards. But all he had done was put an arm around her, touch his lips gently to her hair, and say he was sorry.
Max, I'm sorry.
And that's when she knew.
She wanted him.
She wanted him with a passion that threw her, with an urge that burned like a raging inferno. She wanted to know what it felt like to kiss those lips, to be held in those arms of his. But what she wanted most of all was to be with someone who understood what she was, who would never judge her for her past. Someone who she felt she could tell anything to.
And that was him.
She was tired of denying it, at least to herself. How many times had Original Cindy hinted at it, how many times had she had to convince herself that the only thing there was between them was animosity? Even Logan seemed to see it; she had visited him to drop off the necklace she had found around Joshua's neck with the breeding cult symbol, figuring he'd want to know about the link between Sandeman and the cult. He had greeted her drunkenly, saying that he had seen Alec leaving her apartment. She hadn't known what to say to that, other than to tell him it was over. Then he asked if it was because of him.
It was the perfect way to get out of the situation, so she confirmed it. And then she realized she wasn't lying. There was someone else. She loved Logan and always would, but that chapter in her life closed a long time ago. They both had just refused to acknowledge it. She had to move on.
Which left her leaning against a table in Crash wondering what the hell she was supposed to do.
She wanted Alec. This she knew. But what she was going to do with the information she had no idea.
Go get him, her mind screamed at her. Well, this was fine and dandy in theory, but in practice? She couldn't just waltz right up to him and say "Alec, I want you".
Then again, why not?
She knew the effect she had on men. She had spent the years after the escape confused as to why they were so attracted to her until she had grasped the concept of sexuality, one she had played to her full advantage. If she had wanted something, or someone, she had never hesitated in making her move. She wondered when exactly all of that had changed. When she had become someone too afraid to go get what she wanted.
Suddenly feeling bold, she walked over to him just as he beat his opponent. Well, walked wasn't exactly the right term. Her hips had a sway to them that had every man's eyes locked on their movement. Alec spotted her coming, and his eyes widened in shock as she reached him.
"Hey."
That one word in itself sounded suggestive just the way she said it. Low and full of promise. She watched with satisfaction as Alec was totally put off center.
"Max," he replied. His face held a bemused smile, trying to figure out what exactly she was up to. "You feeling okay?"
"Never better." She decided to up the ante, and placed her hands at the hem of his shirt, toying with it. If she was going to do this, she might as well do it full out. She also decided she liked the totally bewildered expression on his face.
"Max?"
"Mmhmm?"
"You're touching me."
"So?"
"Willingly."
"Aren't you observant?"
"Are you in heat?"
"Nope."
"Uh huh." He nodded to himself, processing something. Then he yelled over his shoulder, "Sketch, my man! I found your missing crack! It fell into Max's drink!"
She smacked him upside the head.
"Ah, there's the Maxie I know," he said. "Now, what is going on with you?"
Say it, the annoying voice in her mind urged. SAY IT. What have you got to lose?
She really didn't want to answer that question. She took a deep breath, and decided to dive right into it.
Take a header into the deep end when the pool's empty, you're going to go splat.
She just hoped the pool was full.
"I want you," she said bluntly. Alec blinked, uncomprehending, so she repeated it. "I want you."
"You want me," he echoed. "Max, have you completely lost your mind?"
"No." Her nerve was beginning to falter. What if he didn't feel the same way? He had only lost Rachel a few months ago. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
"Don't play games with me Max," he said hoarsely. "I'm not going to be someone you yank around until you decide whether or not you want to be with Logan."
"I told Logan that we were over. I meant it. I can't do it anymore. We were trying to act like nothing had changed since I came back from Manticore. But it has. And… I don't feel the same for him anymore."
"But you do for me," he said doubtfully.
"Look Alec, we're not perfect. And when I'm with you, I don't feel like I have to hide the things that are wrong with me." She looked away from him. Confessions were never her strong point, and they made her feel vastly uncomfortable. She looked at him in surprise when he drew her nearer, the roughened pads of his fingers rubbing her bare arm gently.
"There's nothing wrong with you," he said softly. "You are perfect."
Her heart jumped at the words, but she forced herself not to get excited. That didn't necessarily mean that he wanted to be with her.
"I meant it when I said that I want you, Alec. They aren't empty words. I've heard enough of those in my life to know how much they hurt."
He seemed to be pondering something before he broke out into a broad smile. "I'm just shocked that you stole my line."
She laughed at that, and his arms came around her.
"One last question – why?"
She grinned at him. "Well, you're ass is cute as hell."
He mirrored her expression. "I always knew you wanted it, Maxie."
A/N: I couldn't help myself. It turned into fluff. I'm so very sorry. Haha.
And just in case the whole "pool is empty" metaphor is too obscure to understand, if it's empty, it means that Alec has no feelings for her, and she's going to be crushed.
