Notice: Still don't own Max Ride or the series content, my friends. Thanks for the reviews everyone!
What had struck me the most, was that I had been through what Fang was going through now. I had watched my brother die….because some scientists had decided it was time he took a break and 'retire'.
Through my tears I wondered what time it was. I should probably head back, so the flock wouldn't worry. But Fang needed me. Now. I weighed the two options, but couldn't decide which had the most priority, in a logical sense. In an illogical sense, Fang was much, much, much more important. Not that I didn't love the flock beyond belief, but because…he was Fang. And there isn't much more to say.
I didn't have time to decide, however, before Angel timidly tapped my shoulder. She helped me to my feet and looked up at me with sad eyes. In that moment, I could see past her eighteen-year-old self, into her spirit, that of the orphan six-year-old.
"Max…..Fang needs you. He's….crying."
Wait. Fang was crying? He had just been angry, and, before that, with less emotion than a rock. The idea of Fang, well, Former Fang, crying….tough, quiet Fang? Even less, this New Fang. I couldn't comprehend that idea all too well.
"Angel….where's Fang?" I asked, barely managing to scrap together an imitation of calm.
"I don't know. I think he's in a cave, up on top of….you know, that one mountain. Where we had Iggy's thirteenth birthday."
"Okay, Angel, okay…you head back to the flock and stay with them. I'm going after Fang." I felt like I was back in the old days. Still the leader, making the decisions, calling the shots.
Angel nodded wordlessly and started to walk away. Midstep, she paused.
"Max….he's thinking scary things." And then she was gone.
Angel's words pumped new adrenaline throughout my body as I took flight, my wings vast and a contrast to the sun's rays that filtered through them. I remembered roughly where the mountain was….about ten minutes away. If you didn't have wings. About three minutes away. If you didn't have wings and super speed on your side.
I flew up the side of the mountain full speed, only slowing when I reached the highest cliff.
"Fang?" I called, into a small opening that was part of the mountain.
"Go away, Max." Fang's words were not annoyed. No, that was putting it way too lightly. He sounded as if he had welded burning steel into his words. I involuntarily took a step back from the opening, shocked.
"I'm sorry I can't do that. You see, I sort of like this guy I used to know. I believe his name was Fang. You may have heard of him. Rather famous these days. Anyways, I would like to speak with him again, kick him in the shins again, and all this other fun stuff we used to do way back in the day. So, if you wouldn't mind…wait, no, even if you do mind, I'll stay right here." My voice was steady and firm, to my pleasure. Fang would have to realize sooner or later I would not just 'go away'. Then we could talk through all this, so I could kick him for having the flock and I get this worried.
"Well, then, I'm sorry you're about to waste your time." Fang replied, his voice abruptly cooling to faded ice.
I sighed. I walked into the opening and sat across from him, leaning against the cave wall. "How would you like to do this? We can begin by me saying something reassuring, or…..you letting out your feelings…or me telling you how stubborn you are…..or this."
I stopped talking, and leaned across the small space. I touched my lips to Fang's. Though his heart and the rest of him was hard and cold, Fang's lips were soft. They were the only vulnerable part of him, not hard and armored against the world.