AN: I'm a horrible person. Sorry I'm slow updating this month, guys! Stuff goin' on. If you actually want to know, you can get to my DeviantArt page through my profile. Mainly, I've got a picture I think might actually be good that I want to sell, and I'm writing a book. Please to be seeing the profile poll, kthx. Also...when was the last time I updated this? Pre-Fang? Sheesh. Wanna have a chat about it, head on over to DA.

Disclaimer: I don't own MR (wouldn't want to right now!)
Claimer: I own my loosely mentioned OCs.

On to tha chaptaaa!

(3rd Person PoV) (KSPoV)

What had started out as a small drizzle was rapidly turning into a violent thunderstorm. The sounds of angels bowling seemed to actually rattle the windows of the room, as rain spattered the glass. Max didn't worry too much about it, though. How could she when she was so comfortable here in Fang's arms?

It was so weird. The rain was out there, just a few feet from her, but Max felt like she was a whole world away. On another planet, while someone else was here, a few feet from a downpour. She was instantly jealous of that person, whoever they were. She was stuck on some other planet, while they were here with her Fang.

…Maybe she wanted that.

What was she thinking? She sighed, squirming in place a little to bring herself closer to Fang. His heartbeat was loud, warm, and comforting. Surely she was on this planet, with that steady drumming to keep her anchored.

But it was keeping her up. She wanted to sleep!

The rhythm was lulling her into a dream.

"Maximum, stay awake."

"Not now, Voice. I'm tired. Just let me fall asleep with Fang, I'll save the world later."

But that stupid heartbeat was keeping her up!

"Maximum, it is important. Stay awake. Pay attention to what's going on."

"I don't want to."

She didn't want to pay attention. She didn't want to be awake. She didn't want to be here with Fang. She didn't want to save the world.

Maximum! Stay Awake! Fight it!

"…Fight what?"

Maybe the Voice meant that stupid heartbeat. She had to make it stop.

"Maximum Ride! Snap out of it!"

"…What?" What…was…happening…?

All she had to do was reach around, put her hand on his neck, and squeeze. Then the heartbeat would be gone and she could sleep.

"…Tired…sleep…heartbeat…? Yeah…okay…"

He wouldn't suspect a thing. She could make the heartbeat stop, and then she could sleep. She just had to move her arm…

"…Move…? Wha'…? …Okay…" Max's body went limp, all her effort on moving her arm. She just wanted to sleep, here with Fang…

Fang. Fang's heartbeat. She was going to…stop Fang's heartbeat?! Her arm twitched minutely, all her energy bent on strangling the one she loved. The one problem, or perhaps the one thing that saved him, was the fact that her arm wouldn't move. Instead, her vision began to turn black. Yet, at the edge of her mind, Max registered two things.

One: Her arm was no longer under her control, and was moving towards Fang's neck slowly enough that he might not notice before it was too late.

Two: The Voice was, for a split second, recognizable. Someone she knew. Someone who knew her. Someone who knew of Fang's unawareness when close to Max, and knew that if he didn't pay attention, he'd be unintentionally strangled by the person closest to him.

"NO MAX!"

AN: Short. Chapter. Is. Short. Blah. Yeah, this one...this one is short, because I wrote its companion first. Yeah, I have a few written out of order. I think the next one's at least half-way good to go, so...great.

R&R? Si vous plait? Merci. No idea if that was spelled right. Meh.

So, uh, poll. Picture. Yeah. And stuff.

Vio: And me.
Me: Yes! Guys, this is Vio, from the LoZ: Four Swords manga. He, my favorite, is here to aid me in my literary endeavors. Anyone who read the manga knows that his whole thing was just being the only one who can see the big picture, and he's happy to have me as a like-minded peer.
IH: We're still here, though!
Me: Yup, they be here. And to economize on space, stuff might be scrunched together like this. So yeah. Bye!
Vio: It was a pleasure meeting you.