I realised after I posted it that 'H' was probably too short and vague, even by my standards. I promised myself I'd make up for it with this chapter, and while it is longer (longest yet) it didn't go where I was planning at all. I've already written 'L' and 'N' so errrr… I blame them! They distracted me!
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed up to now:
Stratagem, p3karen, Chica De Los Ojos Cafe, radnessISbadness, Mahine, darkaznangel452, Midnight Parallax, grayceg, angelofdarkness78, Icebox724, Kare38, throwerpro, GodivaOnTheRocks, ashleykitten, dizzy25 and nickeldime17. The challenge creator gave me a lovely review. I'm all aglow =)
I is for
Imposter
Max looked up from her desk when the door slammed with a bang. It was Alec. Naturally. Only he would dare do that. The side of his face was bruised and he was glaring at her.
"What happened to you?" her annoyance at the door-slamming dissipated at the sight of his face.
"Logan happened to me," she gaped at him. Concern was replaced with trying desperately not to laugh at the fact that Alec got nailed by an Ordinary.
"Logan did that?" her voice was incredulous, which just irritated Alec more.
"Didn't I just say that?" he snapped. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"What did you do?" Alec narrowed his eyes back at her.
"Of course. Shoulda known you'd think it was all idiot, screw-up Alec's fault," he glowered at her and threw himself into the chair opposite her. "Couldn't possibly be the fault of the precious freakin' Eyes Only. The man without fault!" She let him simmer for a moment, but didn't even try to soften her tone as she flicked her pen between her fingers.
"So?" Alec shook his head at her monosyllable, but let her tone wash over his head. It wasn't exactly new and unusual.
"Mr holier-than-thou was drunk as a friggin' skunk. He asked me to come over because he said he had supplier info for T.C. Soon as I walked in the door though, he used that damn exoskeleton to kick a stool at my head. A metal stool." The last phrase was almost a growl, and Max grimly realised just how angry Alec was.
"Why?" As Alec had spoken the pen-flicking had got a little more rapid. Alec glared. His eyes were accusing.
"Why do you think? Drunken dick wanted to take out some aggression on your boyfriend."
"Well you must have done something to provoke him." she snapped. Her pen flew out of her grip and smacked into the wall. Alec barely even glanced at it, so intently was he staring at her.
"No. Actually. I didn't even smack the jerk back though I really wanted to. Today he just wanted to be a tool." Max released a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. Logan wasn't hurt. One problem less. Now she just had to deal with a snarling Alec. Easy enough… Maybe.
"Thanks for not hurting him," her voice was sincere, and Alec looked shocked. His mutter almost sounded reluctant.
"Yeah well, next time he might not be so lucky."
"Seriously Alec, thanks. You know he… we've gone through a lot." Alec shook his head and stood abruptly.
"We? It's been almost two years since you told him you were with me. And I haven't corrected it because you asked me. There's no 'we' anymore and this," he pointed to the bruise on his face, "was not part of the bargain. Tell him to get the hell over it or next time I'll throw down. How long has it even been since the two of you touched? Two and a half years? Three?" She was shocked. He was shaking with anger. She mirrored him and stood, adrenalin racing as her own anger surfaced.
"Just because we can't touch doesn't mean we can't feel." Alec's laugh was short.
"Spare the Hallmark crap Max, it doesn't suit you." Max felt like he'd slapped her.
"You unbelievable bastard. You think this is easy for me don't you?"
"No, but I think you could make it easier if you really wanted to," she froze, like the revelation was an insult. The wounded look in her eyes made Alec's anger start to dissipate. Not entirely, but a little.
"What the hell would you know?" he shook his head at her and spoke slowly, like he was speaking to a child.
"I know you need to just get rid of this martyr complex. This doomed love approach. It's twisted and fake and your obsession with it is turning you into a shadow of who you are," he sighed and sat on the edge of the desk. "Who you should be. The Logan crap is stopping you from doing your job, your duty to T.C. You're a washed out imposter in this office. And I think you know it." She pressed her lips together so they formed a thin, furious line.
"Get out," it was almost a hiss and he instinctively squared up to her. If her instinct said flight, his was determinedly fight. "I'm not kiddin' Alec. Get out."
"Make me," she swung at him. A heavy left hook that rattled his head and hit him exactly on Logan's bruise. He shoved her with full force back into the wall. She was stunned, but shook it off quickly. She kicked him in the chest, making him stagger back a few steps and he ducked when she lashed out again. He grabbed her arms and pulled her into a bear hug. She struggled against him, swore, hit where she could, tried to trip him, but he held her there until she stilled.
"The ordinary is messing with your head, and you're letting him. You're stronger than that Maxie. You are." She tried again to shake him off but Alec just rested his chin on top of her head and tightened his grip. "You're stronger than that." He repeated. She fell still and her breath hitched. She was shaking, telling herself it was an adrenalin come-down. "You are." He whispered. When Alec felt the first wet patch on his T-shirt, he slackened his grip a little. Her arms dropped down to her sides, and he stroked her hair softly. When he felt her arms raise he tensed, ready for her to shove him away, but they wrapped around his waist instead. He let her hug him silently and kissed the top of her head.
She finally pulled away. She cleared her throat and sat at her desk without looking at him.
"Ok. I've got work to do. Get out of here."
He nodded. Picked up her pen and laid it on the desk. The door shut softly behind him, but he heard her whisper and smirked.
"Thanks Smart-Alec."
