A/N: The first day of 2007! YEA! Well, this is the epilogue. Mostly, it's filler bridging over to the sequel, but whatever, it's still important. Hope you guys had a great New Year's Eve!
Epilogue: Resolutions
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Dawn had come- I could feel the sunlight creeping up my shoulders. I hadn't moved from my position in Fang's embrace. I could hear his heart beating and the slow rush of his breath. Fang was still gently rubbing the space between my wings. His other hand was wrapped around the back of my neck, fingers tangled in my hair, his thumb resting right on my pulse point. He was tired, I could tell.
I shifted his head slightly to look up at him. "You should rest," I murmured, finally breaking the silence that had stretched onward from The Kiss- Version 2.0. I could tell that this was going to become another one of our taboo topics, just like The Spring of 2003, The Beach, and The Beach Returns. At least Ig and the kids hadn't been audience members to this one.
Fang's hand ceased its movement and the other one dropped down to join its brother at the small of my back. "I've fine," he answered, voice so soft I wouldn't have heard him if I wasn't where I was. "It's morning anyway."
The Voice interrupted the still moment. "Don't let him get off that easily. He hasn't eaten since yesterday. He hasn't slept since he woke up at that vacation home."
But that was two days ago! And he was flying! That isn't possible. There was no way Fang could've made it all this way without sleeping.
"What part of he-has-a-mental-disorder do you not get?"
Fang was watching me suspiciously, almost as though he could tell we were talking about him in my head. Then again, he could read me so well, maybe he did know. I sighed and closed my eyes grimly. Reverse NPD. That was why he didn't stop. Because finding me mattered more than if he fell out of the sky.
"You shouldn't listen to it, Max," Fang said suddenly. I opened my eyes at the randomness of the sentence.
"Why?" I asked. Of course, I knew why- it wasn't like we hadn't discussed this before- but from the way he said it, I knew he had some fresh evidence.
Fang hesitated, then muttered, "Something… something I found out on the way here."
I stared at him curiously. What's he talking about? I directed at the Voice.
"Oh no. You guys are going to have to discuss this on your own."
Fang sighed and added, "Plus, there is something else I need to tell you."
I was practically dying of curiosity now, but the bruise-like circles underneath his eyes stalled my enthusiasm. "There is some stuff I need to tell you too," I replied. "But we can talk after you sleep. And after you eat."
Fang rolled his eyes stubbornly. "I'm fine," he repeated.
I slid my hands up his arms till my thumbs touched the insides of his elbows. "No you're not." He shook his head. "You need to sleep." A little softer, I added, "I'm not going anywhere, Fang. Please?"
Fang sighed. "Fine. But I'm going to clean you up first."
He released for the first time in practically an hour and reached behind himself for his ever-present backpack. He dug out the first aid kit and started rubbing antiseptic on all my cuts and scrapes, going extra gentle around the bruises. He didn't ask where they'd all come from. And when he saw the large, dark blue bruise on my side, he frowned and asked, "Is that from the crash?" It was almost as though he already knew about everything that had happened. But I didn't bug him about it; we could talk when he woke up.
I helped him fix up all of his injuries and change the bandages on his burns. When I was finished, I sat back on my heels and let out an audible breath. The tension in the air was practically tangible, but I didn't know how to distill the awkwardness. It was going to be making company with us for a while, I could already see that.
Thankfully, Fang broke the quiet this time. "What are we going to do?" he inquired. I looked up at him, at his unreadable face.
"I don't know," I responded honestly. But then I remembered. "Hey, how many days until Iggy's birthday?"
Fang glanced at his watch. "Six days." Then he grinned.
"What?" I asked. Fang shook his head, a teasing smile flitting across his mouth. Suddenly, it hit me- Iggy's birthday was January sixth. So that meant today was…
"It's January first," I marveled. Then I laughed. "So, last night was…?"
Fang nodded. "Some New Year's Eve party, huh?"
I couldn't help smiling like an idiot. "Next year, let's just go to New York and watch the ball drop instead. What do you think?"
"Sounds like a plan."
I sighed, hand-combing my hair tiredly. "I guess this means we need to go shopping for Ig's present, huh?"
"Probably."
"But you're going to sleep first!" I quickly added, before Fang could wiggle his way out of it.
Fang rolled his eyes, but nodded grudgingly. I held out my fist and we stacked and tapped- something we hadn't done for ages it seemed. When the gesture was done, Fang leaned down and lightly placed a kiss to my forehead before muttering, "Wake me up in a few hours."
Roses bloomed in my cheeks as he laid down neatly on his side. I remembered earlier tonight, the taste of his mouth pressed against mine. Firm but soft- like the skin of a ripe apple. We were definitely going to have to discuss that sooner or later. Hopefully later.
"We need to talk as well," the Voice said unexpectedly.
I tore my eyes off Fang's already drowsing form as I leaned heavily against a tree trunk. You're telling me. You've got some serious explaining to do.
"Firstly, can I apologize?" The sincerity I felt radiating in my head surprised me. "I looked at the situation from every possible angle, followed all the unlikely variables, and there was no way out of it without either you or Fang dying. And if you died, then we're all screwed."
I banged my head against the bark twice, trying to focus. The thing about variables is that they tend to vary, I replied sarcastically.
"So I've heard…" The Voice dropped off, and then continued, quieter. "Do you have any idea how lucky you are? What Fang did… shouldn't have been possible."
I stiffened. What do you mean?
"He was completely knocked out. Since he hadn't rested or eaten in so long, he should have been unconscious for hours. But… he woke up. And not a second too late."
I shivered, remembering how close I had been to… death. Well, that's Fang for you.
"Apparently."
A long silence followed. I closed my eyes, rubbing the scar on my arm distractedly. As the prolong quiet stretch, I finally asked, You're leaving, aren't you?
"I need to for a while, yes." It paused and- almost hesitantly- added, "I just… want you to know that you can trust me. Everything I do… it's for the best."
The Voice had never sounded so self-conscious. So… real. Yeah… I know. I do trust you. Amazingly, it was true. When had that happened? But are you ever going to tell me who the heck you are?
The Voice chuckled. "Maybe. You need to do some things for me first."
I groaned, covering my face with one of my palms. Like save the world?
"Exactly. It's not like you've got anything better to do."
Great. Can't wait. The Voice chuckled again. I could feel a dripping sensation along the back of my brain and I knew it was the Voice leaving. Wait.
The trickling stopped. "What?" The Voice was quieter than it usually was and I had to strain to hear it.
I breathed deep and then asked, Does Fang really… like me- that way?
A short pause followed, but eventually the Voice answered. "I'm not sure. He believes so. But it is hard to tell the difference between the emotions of love and the protectiveness and adoration caused by Reverse NPD. There is someone who would know, though."
Who? I inquired interestedly.
"Iggy."
I almost snorted. Ig? How would he know?
Dodging the question, the Voice said, "Have fun at Iggy's birthday party, Maximum. Because after that, you've got some work to do."
And then, I was alone in my head.
I lifted my hand away from my face and looked over at Fang, listening to his steady breathing. How I was supposed to save the world, I had no idea. What was going to happen with my relationship with Fang, I was clueless. Hell, I didn't even know what I was going to get Ig for his birthday.
But as long as Fang was around to watch my back and the Voice was 'pushing me in the right direction', everything would sort itself out. Or, at least, I hoped so.
What I didn't know then was that everything was already breaking into a million pieces.
THE END
A/N again: I swear, I didn't do that on purpose! I said waaaaay back in chapter three that Fang's birthday was November 5, and that places Ig's in early January. The dates just happened to coresspond. Cool, huh?
Well, the closing note will be up later today. PLEASE READ IT! It is VERY IMPORTANT and I spent a LOT OF TIME on it. So yeah. Read it. And REVIEW!!!!!!! I need 25 more to hit 700!
