Thanks for the reviews. Half of that (more like 2/3) was over a year old. So, shout out to my beta Starspike7. Other news, I'm slowly going to be transitioning over to AO3, since I'm getting tired of assholes hounding me over content. I haven't decided if I'll continue to post here or not, but you guys can still read my stuff over at AO3, I have the same username. Answers to questions/comments: Thanks Skyler and yes, Elemental Dragon Slayer, this is Fax, but I call it Mang. It'll be rough for a bit, I haven't read any of these books in years, but this is going to explore more of Phoenix, rather than the world.
Ok, I officially feel like a dog. I may have kicked Iggy's ass, but now I'm getting on the receiving end. Val and Max ignore me, refuse to give me any food (because I damn sure can't ask Iggy), and I have to sleep on the damn couch. But then, that's like a stray animal bitching about his adopters. This is probably the best I've lived in five years. Still, here I am, on the couch, Max is giving me the cold shoulder, Val is messing with her kid, Shaylin, I think, and I get to sit here drinking goddamned diet coke watching a goddamned soap opera. Maybe drugs, whores, and gangs weren't so bad… speaking of drugs, I never got my fix and I'm still itchin'.
"So…" I said, almost to no one, given the response. "Max, when are you going to stop treating me like a shithead?"
All that came was her flat response, "Don't curse in front of your son."
I sat, pissed that she wasn't going to be straight with me. "You didn't answer my question."
"When you stop being one." That got me, in a bad way.
"What the he-"
"Mom, take Shaydon somewhere. Fang and I have to talk." She cut in. As Val started to lead the child away, I stood.
"Don't bother. I knew this was a mistake. Treat me like a leper, I'll act like one." And on that note, I did two things. I left the house, and I outdid the soap opera in terms of drama.
(Break)
I walked down the street, feeling my old swagger follow me through the steps. I looked up and saw him. Now, I was really just out to get some coke, but withdrawals could wait. It was the kid from before, when I got knocked out. I couldn't stand it. He was facing away from me, and I came up to him. It took all I had in me to keep from throwing a deadly punch at him, but damn if I didn't slug him. Right in the back of the head, but I made sure I didn't knock him out, I didn't have time for that. I dragged him back into the alley he was standing in front of and beat the hell out of him.
I stood over him, his thin broken frame below me, and I said one thing I know I'll regret: "Don't fuck with me, kid."
Being the dramatic type, I walked away slowly and carried on with my business, not caring what happened to him.
Walking out of the alley, I did try to look like I hadn't nearly killed someone, but who wouldn't? Though, I should thank his scrawny ass; it gave me a vent and I think I could be around Max without losing it now. Some to think of it, I should probably head back there pretty quick, don't want Max to think I ran off again.
(Break)
Fang made sure to slam the door behind him. Did he think a temper tantrum would make me let up? He'd be damn stupid to. He really thinks he went through as much shit as me? Hah, yeah right. He probably just spent five years hanging around some pussy gangbangers who thought smoking pot made 'em hot shit. If he even knew-
"Max." Mom broke into my thoughts, pissing me off a bit, considering that that was a pretty good rant. I turned to her, seeing that she was folding clothes that were on the table. I decided to help, since Shaydon was camped out in front of the TV and I don't like to watch the little kid shows.
"Yeah, mom?" I asked, making sure Shaydon wasn't hearing us. Once I was sure, she continued.
"I… I can't believe I'm about to say this." I looked at her, arching an eyebrow.
"Point, mom? Get to it." I really wasn't in the mood for beating around the bush.
"Right," She said, nodding. She'd become more… passive, I guess? She was afraid of making me cry when I was all sensitive after Fang left. I needed it then, but not anymore and she hasn't adapted yet.
"I think you need to go get Fang." She continued, and kept on before I could respond. "I know he hurt you, but you need to get past that. Believe me, I hate him right now, but if we keep on him like this, he'll leave all over again. Do you want that?"
"Yes." No.
Mom actually started to look frustrated. "Just go, Max. You're too damn stubborn for your own good sometimes." Wonder where I got it from?
I didn't respond; I just left. Guess I have to track down my idiot.
I closed the door and whipped my wings out. It felt good, they were stiff from under-use. I hadn't flown in months, since I only needed to during emergencies and I had no leisure time. I fluffed them a bit to spread the feathers and took off.
God, I forgot how good this felt. It was especially nice given that it was October and it was nice and cool, even in Arizona, God's ashtray. We live a couple miles from Phoenix, so I was there in no time. I imagine Fang was on the ground, so I had a bit of an advantage. Hawk eyes come in handy at times like this. I followed along the first road and sidewalk I encountered and before long I saw Fang. I was about to land on a roof when he darted into the building's alleyway. What's he up to?
I looked over the railing on the edge to see Fang beating the hell out of some kid. What the hell? After a few minutes, he dropped the kid and walked off. I saw him walk down the street and fly in the rough direction of the house when my cell went off.
"Max! Where the hell are you?" It was my friend Rachel from work. If she was calling me, that meant…
"Ah, SHIT!" I had work. Matt was going to kill me. Everything I just saw went to the back of my mind.
"Matt's pissed, but you have a couple minutes, think you can make it here?" I'll be damned if I can't.
"Yeah, be right there."
"See ya." I ended the call, and flew to work. When I got there, I texted mom that Fang was coming home if he wasn't there already.
I walked inside, almost running into Matt. Great.
"What the hell? You're almost late." Yep, he was pissed. It was subtle, but I could tell.
"Sorry," I said, trying to think of an excuse. "I have… family in town."
He shrugged. "Whatever, just get to work. At least you aren't late." I walked past him, hearing him mutter something about "having other shit to deal with".
I walked behind the counter and leaned against it. Another grind to get through.
(Break)
I walked up to the house door and stopped. I realized I didn't have a key, which I'll have to ask for, and rang the doorbell. Val opened it, seeming a bit eager, but then her expression dropped.
"What?" I asked.
"Is Max with you?" She backed away so I could come in.
"No," I said, following her and closing the door behind me, "Why would she be?"
Val sighed, obviously frustrated. "I sent her to look for you."
I froze. "How long after I left?"
"Just a couple minutes, why?" She turned to look at me. I'm usually an emotional brick wall, right? Somehow, she still noticed I was nervous. "What did you do?"
I contemplated not telling her. I really did, but I need to keep her happy if I'm gonna hang around, especially since I'll be living in her house. "… I got in a fight."
Val's face was somewhere between pale and frustrated at my stupidity. "Why?" she asked, putting her hand over her face.
"He was one of the guys who knocked me out. Don't worry, I didn't kill him."
Val's face went straight to pale this time. "Should I have?"
"No, I'm not going to kill anyone… unless I have a damn good reason.
"God, Fang."
(Break)
I looked up from my magazine and saw a guy standing in front of the counter.
"Yeah?" I asked, not really caring about courtesy.
"20 on pump five and a pack of Marlboro's." I eyed him up and down. He was sixteen at most. This was the most interesting part of my day.
…Gas stations are pretty boring to work at.
"ID?" I asked, eyeing him with suspicion.
"Uh, yeah, here." He handed me a card that said he was 30.
"I'll take the 20, but your ID's bullshit. Try to get one closer to 20 next time." I handed him the card, seeing as how he could probably get another in an hour anyways.
He looked pissed and walked out and went back to reading.
Rachel walked up to me, having just come from stocking the drink coolers.
Stepping behind the counter, she stretched and yawned loudly.
Ugh. "Got something to talk about Rach?" She lit up with excitement. I could read her like a book.
"Question actually. Who's the family in town? I thought you just had your mom." She must have overheard my excuse. I handed her a coke, since I knew I was about to get a spit-take out of her.
"Thanks." She said. "So, what's the story?"
I sighed. "Fang's back in town." And just like that, the counter was covered with spit and coke fizz.
(Break)
I'd been sitting on the couch for about ten minutes before I finally asked.
"Val? What's taking Max so long to get back?"
She was standing behind the counter making food for the kid. The kid was still across the room, out of earshot and distracted by TV. "Don't call me that, and I'm not sure so-" At that moment her cell buzzed and she pulled it out.
"Who is it?" I asked, curious to see if we lucked out.
"Max. She's at work."
"She works?" I was surprised. I would think a vet could support two adults and a kid.
"Yeah, at a corner store. She felt like she was deadweight, so she got a job to give us some disposable income. Speaking of which, are you looking for one?"
"What? A job?"
"Yes." She looked at me as if I was insane.
"No, why should I?" I wasn't about to just bow to her rule. I knew I was gonna end up with a job, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna let her tell me to.
She sighed. "Because I don't want you and Max living here until the day I die. Besides, Max told you she'd be nice if you stop acting like a shithead. Welcome to step one."
"Fine. I'll find a damn job."
"Good." She smiled. "And stop cursing."
"Why? You do, why can't I?"
"I've only been since you've come back. I guess you bring out the worst in people." Before I could respond to her quip, she continued. "To answer your question, there is a five-, well, four-and-a-half, year-old child in the house, and he shouldn't be exposed to language like that this early in life. On that subject, since I doubt you're doing anything of real importance, why don't you talk to your son? Might be nice if you got to know him."
Sigh. I don't do kids. "Fine." I'll give her this and the job thing, but that's it. I've had .45's stuck to my temples. I refuse to let a veterinarian control me.
(Break)
"So, he's back?" Matt asked, obviously lacking in the "shit to do" department, despite his mumbling.
"Didn't you say you had stuff to do Matt?" I asked. I don't care if it was bad workplace behavior, and neither did he. We had something of a game with giving each other attitude, but we were friends. I could rely on him, Rachel too. I have two other friends too, Jess and Ophelia. I guess Ophelia's boyfriend, Avarice, is fine too, but I won't go calling favors on him.
"Max, you've known me for how long?" Here we go…
"4 and a half years." Here it comes…
"And how often do I actually do shit that needs to be done?"
Never. "About as often as you get laid."
He chuckled a bit, but he doesn't take crap lying down. "Speaking of, this boyfriend of yours is back?"
Asshole. "Yes, and I'd appreciate it if you left it the hell alone."
"Left what alone?" Jess asked as she walked in. We have what is probably the lowest official business rate, so we just screw around and talk all day. For example, Jess doesn't work here, but she spends a solid amount of her week here.
"Max's boyfriend." Matt said. Asshole to his dying day, I swear.
"What?" Jess said, getting all excited. Jess was a… big girl. Not fat, just bigger built. Wide hips, defined hourglass figure, that kind of thing. So, when she starts jumping around most guys shift their attention elsewhere.
"You have a boyfriend!? Why didn't you tell me? God, I swear you don't tell me anything anymore."
"He just got back today. And he's not my boyfriend." Right now…
(Break)
I sat on the couch next to the kid. "Hi."
… starting out real strong.
He looked at me like I was weird. I think Max might be raising this kid a bit… strangely.
"What's your name?" Surprisingly enough, he asked that.
"Fang."
"Mine's Shaydon. Why are you here?" Pretty good question, I still don't really know the answer.
"I'm a friend of your mom." I half-lied.
"Like Iggy?"
"Yeah, but Max likes me more."
"Like a daddy?" Crap…
"Uh…"
"I don't have a daddy. Do you?"
Funny he asked. "Nope. I lost him when I was little, like you, and never found him."
"I can't find mine either. No one will tell me who he is." I just schemed up a plan.
"Tell you what," I said, putting my hand on his shoulder. "I'll be your daddy. I know how it feels to not have one."
He grinned really wide. "Yay! Daddy!" he said, all excited and wrapping his arms around me. God, I feel like a dirty bastard, lying to my own son.
"Yep." I said, trying to not let the guilt come through my voice.
Looking beyond the couch, I saw Val was staring daggers at me, making sure I didn't fuck up. I stood, letting Shaydon get back to his show, so I could talk to her. She looked kinda surprised.
"Did he just hug you?" she asked as soon as I came close enough to speak quietly.
"Yeah, why?" I asked, "he seems like a pretty friendly kid."
She shook her head. "That's the thing. He's not. He hates strangers. It wasn't until his first birthday for him not to cry when anybody but Max held him. Even now, Max or I have to be around him or he gets scared. That's why we don't have him in daycare. I don't know what we'll do when he has to go to school."
"Wow, I didn't realize he was like that." She picked up the plate of food for Shaydon, turning to walk to him.
"There's a lot you don't realize, Fang." She all but spat before walking away, leaving me to feel like an ass.
(Break)
Iggy was laid up in his room, trying to sleep off the beating Fang gave him.
How in the hell did he do that? That punch was inhuman, or at least, more inhuman then we are. Even with our mutations, none of us are that strong.
Iggy cared less about the fact that Fang was back, and more about how he'd changed.
"You like that Iggy? Nice little thing I learned." What did he mean? Where the hell could he learn something like that?
Unless…
"Shit." Iggy said, barely audible.