Author's notes: I'm more or less following the original construct of the show, but with a twist of Alec. Chapter four continues after Max returns from her restroom visit. We're still in Crash. And...a dash of something completely different in the form of Max picking up a sixth sense.
Music suggestions: 'Things I've seen' by Spooks.
Disclaimer: Reference chapter one's disclaimer.
An Even More Unusual Development
Max halted suddenly as she entered an entirely different scene and atmosphere as she exited the hallway leading to the restrooms. A man from each chapter of her life squared off in front of her, each looking murderous. Well, except perhaps for Logan, who had a, for the lack of a better description, smug expression on his face. Alec stood a few feet from the doorway she was standing in, as if guarding her from the other two. Rafer stood opposite Alec, sneering reproachfully.
Rafer really had no idea what he was getting himself into. She didn't know much about Alec and what kind of training he'd had, but she was fairly certain that he could easily kill Rafer five different ways before the paramedic even realized Alec was moving. Hell, she could take him out fairly effectively and effortlessly, and she hadn't put in nearly as much time at Manticore.
What the hell was going on?
To make matters all that much worse, Rafer started inching closer to Alec.
It was the freakiest thing, but she could almost see the silent rage radiating from Alec like a red wave pulsing from his very pores as Rafer crowded into his personal space. She stood a few feet behind him, but she could almost predict the expression on Alec's face...a compact and lethal killing machine hidden underneath a thin veneer of cool detatchment.
Something even more unusual and noteworthy: laced within all that rage, ran a deep purple, instinctive urge to protect.
That was something new. Both the aura-reading ability and the protective vibe from Alec.
Max tuned back into the scene when Rafer started speaking.
"And just what exactly would you have more in common with Max than me? What makes you think that she'd choose you instead?" Rafer spat out belligerently, his head cocking to one side.
"Well, for starters, we're both..." Alec began in a superior tone, taking a step forward to call Rafer's challenge.
Max cut him off abruptly. "Alec!" Max gritted out threateningly. "Jeez. What's gotten into you?" He'd practically outed them for no good reason, just to win an argument.
Alec's lips slammed shut into a thin line and he retreated back to his original position, his eyes glaring daggers at Rafer. She could almost visibly see his pride take a blow when she called him off, which made no sense at all. She didn't need anyone to fight her battles, a fact she'd reminded him of more than once. Even when she didn't know what was being brought into question.
"What Alec was going to say is that we both went to the same boarding school." Max said, finishing Alec's sentence as she stepped around him and inbetween the two bickering boys.
She could have sworn Alec's aura encompassed and interlaced itself around her as he physically stepped to her right side, still partially behind her but ready to launch himself at anyone that made a wrong move towards her.
Any other time, it would have been irksome and irritating. However, right then, she found it rather reassuring.
"Didn't know there were any of those around anymore." Rafer stated challengingly, looking down into Max's eyes skeptically.
"Before the pulse. As kids." Max lied smoothly, folding her arms over her chest. Alec continued to glare over her shoulder in silence.
"I thought you were an orphan." Rafer volleyed, thinking himself clever at catching her in a lie.
He didn't realize he'd just unknowingly hit one of her sorest spots. Her eyes narrowed into thin slits and her fists clenched.
Alec's lips curved into a menacing smile, extending one arm out to rest his hand on her right elbow. She then felt something blue and mellow wrap around her quickly frazzling emotions, soothing her. Somehow, she recognized it as also coming from Alec and relaxed minutely. Both his presence and his support reminding her of where they were. And that he was there for her.
"I wasn't always an orphan, smartass." Max retorted in a voice filled with suppressed anger.
The haughty expression was wiped quickly from Rafer's face at Max's grave tone, leaving him floundering.
Max herself felt like she was floundering. "Just go. Leave me alone." Max ordered in a weary tone, uncrossing her arms to wave him off. Her movement also dislodged Alec's gentle touch at her elbow.
Once Rafer was out of earshot, Max turned her barely contained anger towards Logan, who appeared chagrined before she even started speaking.
"What the hell, Logan? At least Rafer has an excuse for acting an idiot." Max accused, hands on her hips. "You, on the other hand, should have known better. I mean, really? You just encouraged an ordinary to rile Alec, of all people. You should know what a transgenic is capable of. Like poking your finger at a sleeping tiger's nose." She finished her emphatic speech by waving her hand in Alec's general direcion.
"Wow, Max. Thanks for the compliment." Alec said in a half-teasing tone.
"Shut up." Max snapped at him, backhanding him in the chest without turning to look. He always seemed to be within reaching distance.
"You're right, Max." Logan admitted begrudgingly. "I apologize." Without further encouragement, Logan turned from the duo and dejectedly made his way to the table he and Asha were seated at.
When it was only Alec remaining at her side, it was then that Max took in the full affect of just what Alec was wearing.
"What are you wearing?" Max queried aloud, her tone a cross between weariness and perplexed.
"A costume." Alec answered proudly, turning back and forth in each profile for her to admire. "Know who I am?"
"Robin Hood?" Max guessed after a thoughtful pause.
Alec held his hands out from his sides and gave an exaggerated sigh.
"Green Arrow, Max." Alec said. He shook his head and held his hands up in exasperation at her blank expression. "Oliver Queen? Formed the Justice League? Billionare by day, vigilante hero by night?"
"No idea." Max said at Alec's expectant look.
"You're killing me, Max. Don't you watch TV at all?" Alec asked imploringly.
The red had almost completely ebbed away, to be replaced with a dazzling swirl of purple, royal blue, and a shimmery pale green. Max emitted a low chuckle at his antics, the first time she'd truly laughed that day. His relaxed and content essence was contagious.
For about six seconds.
An eerie silence descended around them, cutting off Alec's diatribe midsentence as both Max and Alec turned their heads in unison towards the abrupt hush at the back of the bar.
"We need to go." Max stated succinctly. Alec followed behind on her heels as she rushed off towards the back exit.
"Found body." Joshua said as Max and Alec hurdled past him in pursuit of the fleeing headless transgenic.
"Alec, we need a car!" Max yelled, the back door slamming against the brick wall as they all rushed out in a line.
"On it." Alec volleyed, relaying a hand signal towards his first search area.
"I've got a head to retrieve." Max muttered in a determined tone to Joshua, who stalked a few paces behind her as she caught sight of OC waiting out front of the club, blue pillowcase in hand.
ooouoooxooo*oooaooodooo*ooonooomoooo
Phew! This was one of my longer chapters. Actually, it's more on par with my usual writing, so I don't know what I'm complaining about. Confused by Max's aura-like empathic ability? I'll sort of explain it in the next chapter. Also, in my version, it actually is Logan and Asha making out at that table instead of a couple look-a-likes (Just a little heads up to tuck away for future reference). Up next, we really start to go AU from the show.