Notice: I do not own Maximum Ride or the series content.
A/N: Sorry that last chapter was a bit vague and not altogether so great; I've been really busy and was a bit distracted when I wrote it. As a note, Fang was reading Max's lips out of the corners of his eyes.
I nodded in agreement and followed Fang back to the manor.
"Are they really worried?" Fang asked nonchalantly.
I stopped in my tracks and Fang looked at me with a curious expression.
"What?" he asked, confused.
My mouth opened slightly in disbelief.
"Um, let me think, yeah! You almost died in front of them- twice- and were completely and utterly emotionless for over ten years! I'd be worried about them if they weren't worried about you!" I was too shocked to really register how my words might affect him.
"Good point." Fang grimaced.
I calmed down a bit and placed my other hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay." I whispered softly in reassurance.
"Um…I can't hear you or read your lips." Fang muttered, and I realized I had spoken too softly for his eyes to catch. Heat flooded my face momentarily before I spoke again.
I moved so that our faces were inches apart.
"It's okay." I made sure I spoke slowly enough so that he could read my lips.
Fang didn't seem all too concerned with what I was saying, anyways. He was busy looking at me with a too-soft-for-words expression. Just as he was leaning towards me- to kiss me, maybe?- a voice called out from the manor.
"Would you two hurry up? We're trying to have a meal here!" Gazzy's blunt cry rang out across the cold air.
I looked at Fang with an exasperated glance, and found he was still leaning in. Right. He couldn't hear. I slowly brought my hand up to his lips and mouthed 'Gazzy, in his usual tactful manner, is telling us to get our butts inside so he can eat.'
Fang took my hand in his and laughed.
"Well, let's not keep him waiting."
When we reached the dining room, we found everyone was already seated and food was on the table, bless them.
"So….how was the walk between you two lovebirds?" Iggy asked obnoxiously. I could tell he was trying his best to seem natural after last night.
Fang shot a glare at him after a moment. If only Iggy could see it.
"Fang? Can you pass the corn?" Nudge called out from the end of the table.
Fang wasn't looking her way.
"Fang? Will you please pass the corn?" Poor Nudge; she seemed to think Fang was ignoring her.
I sighed sadly then tapped Fang on the shoulder. He looked at me in confusion, then I pointed to Nudge. He seemed to realize what had happened.
"Oh, sorry…." He mumbled, just loud enough for her to here. "I can't hear."
The silence in the room was almost tangible. I anxiously looked from face to face, to see everyone's reaction. Angel looked down nervously, and I assumed she had not told them yet.
"You can't…hear?" Iggy finally asked.
"Yes, Ig. I can't hear." Fang repeated as if he would prefer to be anywhere besides here at the moment.
"Well, that probably isn't too fun." Gazzy said lightly, gently. It was his way of letting Fang know we were there for him. The others nodded their agreement and continued eating, not wishing to make Fang uncomfortable by discussing the matter further.
Soon after we ate, we all filed down the halls to bed. We were exhausted beyond belief from all the recent events. I worried that the others may not be able to take much more. I, being the good, persistent nurse that I am, made sure Fang got in bed and took his medicine before I left him alone for the night.
I hastily got to bed as well. I was so tired I was excited to go to bed. What the world was coming to…I slept peacefully for a couple hours before I was forced to get up. What had gone wrong again so quickly? I found Nudge tugging at my arm urgently. I shot straight up.
"Max! Max, wake up!" Nudge whispered loudly.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice tired despite how alert I was.
"It's Fang!"
I leapt out of bed.
"Is he having more convulsions?" I asked anxiously.
"No, Max…he's…he's…" Suddenly, and without much warning, Nudge broke out in tears.
I pulled her into a comforting embrace and choked down my own panic.
"It's okay, Nudge. It's okay. Tell me what happened to Fang, please."
"He's gone."
