Title: The Laws of Attraction
Author: human28
Spoilers: Post-Freak Nation.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Max and Alec are obliged to share an apartment. Although both claim that they are not attracted to one another, will they be after sharing the same living space?
A/N: A lot of you are asking about the whereabouts of the infamous Logan Cale. Well, I'm still deciding on whether or not I'm putting him in the story. For now, let's just forget about him, alright? What's important is that there's Alec. And there's Max. You do the math.
The Laws of Attraction
Chapter Four: Of Egos and Lap dances
…
Boredom had invaded Alec's brain. They (he and James) had finished all of their responsibilities for the day and were now left with absolutely nothing to do.
After ten minutes of coming up with a variety of suggestions on what to do (some of which were a little insane – i.e. practicing stunts on their bikes, and some downright stupid – i.e. playing a prank on Mole, stealing all his cigars and replacing them with lollipops. Yep. That would result to a week of total hostility from the lizard man.) They finally came up with a normal idea: Pool.
Since it was mid-afternoon, the make-shift bar created within Terminal City was completely vacant. Even the bartender, a transhuman named Mickey, was nowhere to be found. At this time of the day, the bar was only opened for the purpose of playing pool. Which was what the two transgenics came to do.
After five straight games and five straight losses, James gave up, throwing in his cue stick. "That's it man. I'm done. I don't think my ego can take any more bruises." He moaned dropping onto the nearest chair. "Where's Mickey when you need him?"
"I am invincible!" He crowed, raising his hands up in the air in a show of exaggerated victory.
"I beg to disagree," came a rather familiar voice. It was Max. Behind her was a pretty redhead with startling blue eyes. She was presumably one of the newer additions to Freak Nation.
"Whose your friend Max?" James asked, eyeing the redhead interestedly.
"Oh yeah. This is Danielle. She just arrived this morning." She introduced. "The pig-head's Alec --"
"Hey!"
"-- and that one over there is James."
Danielle graced them with a small smile before seating herself in front of James.
"So what do you say Alec?" Max asked, a challenging look on her face.
Alec smirked. "Sure. So long as we play by my rules." His eyes glinted with mischief. "Loser strips to their underwear...on top of the pool table."
Max smirked back. "Fine. Care to add a strip dance to that?"
"Nah, let's leave some to the imagination." Alec grinned wickedly. "You break."
…
With their two top leaders busily making sure that they would not end up half-naked in front of their friends, the other two transgenics in the room took the opportunity to get to know each other a little bit. Well at least James did. "So Danielle. Have you settled in already?"
Danielle withdrew her stare from the pool table to look at James. "I haven't actually. It seems that all the apartments are full already. Max invited me to stay with her a little bit while she looks for available space."
Bad idea. James thought to himself. There was no way Alec's plan would push through if there was someone else living with them. He flashed Danielle his most charming smile. "I have a better idea. I'm actually living by myself, and there's enough room for the two of us."
Danielle smiled. "Thank you, that would be great."
James realized that she had dimples. Cute. He thought vaguely, cocking his head to one side and letting his gaze wander her delicate features. Her skin was flawless, albeit a little pale. It was a sharp contrast to her fiery red hair and deep blue eyes. His eyes lowered to her lips, which were smirking at him. "Like what you see?" she questioned impishly.
James smirked back at her. "Read my mind."
Their shameless flirting was interrupted by a shout of triumph coming from…Max.
…
Alec was still trying to overcome his current state of shock. He couldn't believe he lost. He always won. Always. Even back in the day when they would play at Crash. Okay, so he did lose two or three times. But all those other games? He won. He won.
"On the pool table, Alec." Max ordered, leaning on her cue stick and grinning smugly at him.
Alec groaned. "Do I have to?"
"A deal's a deal Alec." She said in a sing-song voice.
"Can't they at least leave?" he asked, gesturing towards where Danielle and James were sitting. Both were also grinning.
"Why leave when we can perfectly enjoy a free show?" James asked, obviously delighting in the fact that Alec had finally lost. "I think the bruises in my ego have transferred to yours bro." He laughed.
Alec scowled. "Some friend you are."
James shot him a look that blatantly said: this is your chance.
Chance my ass. He grumbled to himself. He would've gladly stripped in front of Max. But not in a public bar and most definitely not in front of his best friend and the new girl. He wouldn't let me hear the end of it.
Max was tapping her foot impatiently. "Do we have to wait until the bar fills?"
Realizing that it was almost 5, Alec snapped to attention and reluctantly climbed on top of the table. Here goes my ego.
…
Max watched as Alec finally stood in the center of the pool table, his head almost touching the low ceiling. After a brief moment of hesitation, he took of his favorite grey leather jacket and dropped it on the table. He kicked off his shoes, and then proceeded to take off his jeans. Nice ass. Max noted absently, as her eyes strayed over his backside.
"Take it off Alec! Take it off!" James called out in a falsetto.
Alec fixed his best friend with a death glare before peeling off his shirt and flinging it at his face. This resulted to much disgruntled muttering from the dark-haired X5. When James was finally able to remove the offending shirt from his face, a scowl was firmly set on his features. Danielle didn't bother holding back her laughter, and neither did Max.
Alec cleared his throat. "Am I done here?"
Almost forgetting about Alec, Max turned to face him and for a moment her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes were tightly locked on his six-pack. Only one word popped into her head. Hot.
"If you're done with your staring, I would really like to put my clothes back on." Alec said languidly, quirking an eyebrow. Max broke off from her reverie, wondering briefly if she was in heat, although knowing deep down that she wasn't.
"Yeah, whatever." Max said breezily. She feigned an uninterested grin. "Nice show Alec. You would do well in a strip club."
"And would you be my first customer Max?" he asked with a smirk as he began putting his clothes back on. "Oh wait. Wasn't I your first ever customer? That was quite some lap dance."
James looked dumbfounded. "Max gave you a lap dance?"
"Oh yeah," Alec drawled, climbing down from the pool table and coming to stand a few feet in front of her. "If I can recall clearly, it was at the Blowfish Tavern, right Maxie?"
Max felt her cheeks heat up, and she glared at him. "We were on a freaking mission you stupid ass!"
Alec laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "Just playing Maxie. Just playing."
James shook his head and murmured to Danielle in a low voice. "Talk about unresolved sexual tension."
Danielle couldn't help but agree.
…
A/N: Please review. Thanks!