Island Time

Chapter 37

The first place we went to when we got to the island was the ship. From there, we immediately went to my mother's lab. She happened to be in there, focused on someone else instead of the cure.

"What happened?" I asked, worried as I rushed over to Rapture. My mother had had someone pull a mattress into the room, where Rapture was now laying. It was taking up most of her lab space, but she was clearly worried about him, as she was bent over him, checking the boy over.

"And what happened to his clothes?" Gasman asked, frowning. "Is he infected? Is he going to be a zombie?"

I expected Rapture to say something, to retort back at Gazzy, but he still just laid there. My mother seemed relieved when she looked back up at us and saw me.

"Max, you're-"

"Is Rapture okay?" I got down on my knees next to the mattress, as it was just laid on the floor. "Did he get hurt?"

"Not from what Fang tells me."

"Which is?"

Mom finished wrapping a bandage on his arm before looking at Dylan, realizing his own wound would need mending too. "He did some sort of…attack or something, that killed the zombies."

"That's so cool," Gazzy yelled. "How? Huh?"

"Shhh," Mom corrected. "Be quieter. And I do not know, exactly; you must ask Fang and Angel."

"What happened to his clothes?" I asked. Someone's shirt, probably Fang's, was laying over the boy to keep him warm, but it wouldn't be enough.

"The attack disintegrated them, from what Fang said." She shook her head a little bit, standing. "He's something, Rapture is."

"Nudge," I said, turning to look at her. "Go find him clothes from somewhere. You said that the other children are on the ship, yes? Find them wherever you can get them."

She left and I made Gazzy go with her, if only to get him out of my hair for awhile. My mother wanted to get to work on Dylan's hand, so I sat on the mattress next to Rapture, stroking his head.

"It's not working on any batch!"

We all looked up as Ari came into the room, slamming a backpack on the counter. "Damn it!"

My mother frowned. "I told you, it was a shot in the-"

"You said you could get a fucking cure, so get a damn c-"

"Do not yell at her," I said, getting up and getting between my mother and Ari. I wasn't one hundred percent sure what was going on, but I knew that he wasn't going to boss my mother around. "What's wrong with you?"

Ari growled at me. Literally growled. I guess it's the Eraser in him. "What's wrong with me is that those zombies are getting restless! How much longer do you really think they'll stay there instead of up here?"

"Then why can't we just move the ship if it's in danger?" I asked, crossing my arms. I felt my mother lay her hands on my shoulders, but I didn't care. Ari was being a jerk, yelling at her like this was somehow her fault.

"We could," my mother said slowly, "but Fang wanted to stay here and try to deal with the zombies."

"Well, if his plan isn't working, we need to just abandon it."

"We could, if your stupid boyfriend would get his ass back here," Ari said, glancing over at Rapture. "What's wrong with Fang's son?"

I frowned, at first thinking he meant sun, which wouldn't have made sense either. Then I realized he was referring to how Rapture had made himself resemble my boyfriend. "He hurt himself somehow, trying to fight the zeds."

"I thought he was in the diaper room."

My mother shook her head. "He followed Fang."

"He always follows, Fang," I mumbled, also looking at him. Dylan leaned back against a counter.

"So what's this cure that Ari's complaining about?" He asked, his pain manageable now that my mother had medicated him.

"I had a cure, but apparently, it's not working. Fang said this also, he and Angel."

"Angel?" I frowned. "Angel's out there?"

"Fang feels she's safer with him."

"Fang's an idiot."

No one combated that, though it might have had to do with the fact Nudge got back at that exact moment, but I liked to think that it was because they agreed.

"I got a shirt and some pants, but I couldn't find him any underwear."

"That's better than nothing," I told her in earnest as I went to take them from her. "Where's the Gasman?"

"He found Iggy ripping up stuff, making weapons or something out of wood and things. He's helping."

"Good, good." Going over to Rapture, I moved aside Fang's shirt to dress him. When I touched him though, he woke up. Groaning softly, he opened his little eyes and stared at mine, making me shiver slightly due to their death factor.

"Max."

"Hi. I got you some clothes."

He glanced at them. "No superhero."

"No, but it's cute little puppy."

"I not cute, Max. I dangerous." He moved to sit up, but I just slipped his shirt over his head before making him lay back down. "Fang?"

"He's out right now."

"'lone?"

"With Angel."

"Gotta help Fang 'n' Angel, Max!"

He moved to get up, when just helped me out so that I could now put his pants on. That distracted him for a moment.

"I no gots undies, Max!"

"I know. You messed them up when you…what did you do exactly?"

He giggled, looking at Dr. Martinez. "I Rapture. I made to des…toy?"

"Destroy?" Dylan offered up and he nodded.

"I made to destroy you. Danny say no tell you, though, that I no have to do that anymore."

Mom frowned, coming closer to the bed. "Rapture, who made you?"

"Dr. Grapho."

I had a feeling that wasn't his real name, but what Rapture thought it was.

"Dr. Gerenapheno," Mom whispered, staring at me. "Oh my. Your brother should have said this much sooner."

"Said what?" I asked. "What does he mean, 'destroy me'?"

"Fang saw what he did, you should ask him," my mother said. "I have only heard…rumblings. There were many before Rapture, designed from your birth to…eliminate you if things got too sticky. I thought all of them had been annihilated, but he is so young…no one thought than they were still working on making someone to hurt you, not so close to the end."

Rapture looked down at his feet, which were without his shoes. He began to pick at his toes. "I no hurt Max. I like Max. Max 'n' Rapture!"

I frowned, wanting to know more, but knew that asking Rapture anything would just confuse him. "Where is Danny?"

"Max-" Nudge tried, but Rapture cut her off.

"Danny not here. Danny a zombie. It's okay, Max's mommy'll fix him," he said, as if someone had told him this repeatedly. Then Rapture stood up. "I go find Fang now. Bye-bye."

"No, Rapture, wait," I said, grabbing him as he walked passed. "You can't. Stay here with me."

"No, Max!" He started to fight me. "I gotta find- Fang!"

"Hey, buddy," Fang said, coming into the room with Angel right behind him. "You feeling better? You look better."

"I no nakie now." I let him go and he rushed to Fang's side. "Kill zombies?"

"Nope," he said, going to set his own bag of what I assumed was the cure on the counter next to Ari's. Then he looked at my mother. "It didn't work."

"So I've been told," she said, glancing at Ari.

"What's the game plan?" Fang asked, picking up Rapture willingly. I frowned, but decided that after saving Fang's life, Rapture deserved, at least, to be treated well by Fang. It was then I realized Fang was staring at me.

"Well," I said, standing up again. The room was beginning to get crowded, but there was nothing we could do about that. Angel came closer to me and I laid my hand on her shoulder. "Ari wants to move the ship."

Fang glanced at him before back at me. "If he thinks so, fine."

Wait…did Fang think I was asking his permission? I decided not to correct him on his mistake in front of the others, if only because we didn't have time.

"But, uh…does anyone even know how to drive the ship?"

From the way everyone was looking around, I could tell the answer was no.

Fang slowly lowered himself onto the bed next to me. "I never got to ask, so I will now."

"What?"

"What did Royce do to you while you were detained?"

"Nothing, actually," I said, wrapping my arms around his waist. Fang settled into my hold, sighing.

We had been given two hours to rest before we went back out there and killed zombies. Angel was off with her friends and, at the moment, Rapture was sleeping in our room, on a pile of blankets in the corner. The others had all gone off to eat, but Fang and I just wanted to be alone…as alone as we could get with his little follower around.

"What about you, Fang?"

"Rapture scared the shit out of me, doing that thing he did."

"No cursing," I said before moving to allow him to lay on his back next to me. I quickly laid on his chest, which pleased Fang. "Rapture said that he had been designed to kill me."

"I've heard."

"Hmmm?"

"Your mother mentioned it when you went to the bathroom." He ran a hand over me. "He wouldn't ever hurt you on purpose."

"I know. He's so cute." I glanced over at him, but found he was still sleeping. "All that stuff you traded to get him shoes and they just got destroyed."

"Actually, no, his shoes are on the ship."

"What?"

"He stepped in Total's poop again, so he took them off when I first got back. He never put them back on." Fang closed his eyes, breathing deeply. "I was so worried about you."

"Really You didn't even greet me when you came into the room."

"I can hold back my emotions."

"Oh, trust me, Fangers, I know."

He smiled at the name. "You know I love that, hearing you call me that."

"I know. That's why I do it, silly."

Fang reached down, stroking my stomach. "First Ari claimed I was his brother-in-law, now he keeps calling Rapture my son."

"He's trying to get under your skin."

"I don't know. Maybe he thinks that you put out." Fang shook his head. "He's sadly mistaken though."

"Fang."

"I'm kidding." Then he kissed my head. "God, how much more time do we have?"

"Not enough."

"It'll never be enough," he agreed. "Jay's missing."

"What?"

"Yeah."

"Is he a-"

"No one knows."

"God. We have to find him, Fang, you know that right?"

"Oh, I know. I did spend the day Angel."

I cuddled even more against him. "Rapture's awake."

"Huh?"

"I saw him open his eyes." I looked over at the boy. "You might as well come over here, Rapture. It's okay."

He quickly jumped up, leaving his blankets behind as he climbed into bed with Fang and I. Laying on the opposite side of Fang than I, he quickly cuddled up against the pillow on the bed, giggling.

"Thank you for saving Angel and I, Rapture," Fang told him. "I don't think I've said that yet and I really should. You were a big help."

"Thank you, Fang." He hid his face though, clearly embarrassed. Smiling at this, I ran a hand down Fang's chest, still watching the little boy.

"I'd really appreciate if you never did that again though," Fang said, making Rapture look up. "I don't want you hurt."

"Mad?"

"I'm not mad. I just don't want you to injure yourself." He reached out and touched Rapture's arm, which had been wrapped by my mother. "How did that happen?"

"When I fell, after doing my trick."

"Trick?"

"Power."

Fang patted the boy his head. "I'd all so really like it if you listened better and stop following me around. Again, I don't want you to get into trouble and end up hurt."

"I have to follow you. Fang 'n' Rapture," he defended. "Forever."

"Forever," I whispered, staring up at Fang about ten minutes later, as Rapture finally fell back asleep. "Max and Fang?"

"Forever," he agreed. "Though I prefer Fang and Max."

"Well, your preference matters not to me."

"I had a feeling you would say that." He glanced down at Rapture. "If Danny gets killed being a zombie-"

"Fang, don't say things like that."

"I was just going to say…I mean, Total's kind of gone off and started his own life with Akila."

"Yeah," I whispered. "And?"

"Well, that leaves a vacant spot in our flock."

"Which Dylan fills."

"…But according to your brother, we're married," Fang tried again. "That makes us one, huh?"

"I don't remember agreeing to that."

"To the marriage?"

"Yeah."

"You were drunk."

"Try again?"

"Uh…I spiked your drink?"

"Fang."

"The point is, Max, that we should take in Rapture. You know….take care of him."

"Well, quite honestly, Fang, I don't care, but I really hope that we find his brother. He's the only family he knows, you know."

"I know."

"And no matter how great and amazing and wonderful you are," I looked up at him as I paused, "you're responsibility is not in Rapture. It's in this flock. I don't want any of them getting hurt because you're trying to take care of Rapture. Alright?"

"You know I wouldn't do anything to endanger-"

"I know that right now, you feel indebted to Rapture because he saved you and Angel-"

"It's not just that, Max." Fang sighed a little bit. "He just…he really likes me. Like…he looks up to me."

"I know."

"I like that, you know?"

"I'm sure." I reached up and stroked his face. "You're starting to get stubbly."

"I don't have anymore razors."

"It's fine. It makes you seem more…grown up."

"Well, I do have a wife and four year old child."

I shook my head, cuddling into him. "I'm going to kill Ari."

"Not if I do first. And only after we use him to get what we need."

I nodded numbly. "I know. Right now, though, let's just rest."

"Yeah. We don't have that long, do we?" Fang brushed his lips against my hair. "How'd you guys get away from Royce?"

"Nudge and Gasman just let out us. They said that they chained Jamie to a tree, but Royce never showed his face."

"That's weird."

"It's more than weird," I mused, now focused again. "What if he wanted us back here?"

"Why would he want that?"

"I have no idea," I said, shaking my head. "I just-"

The door to our rooms was suddenly opened and Fang and I both turned to see who it was.

"Fang, Max, you're needed," the kid who was standing there said. She couldn't have been more than eight and were clearly nervous about addressing us.

"It hasn't been two hours yet," Fang complained as I got out of bed, careful not to wake Rapture. "What's going on?"

The kid just shrugged. "They said to tell you to meet in the bridge."

"What?" Fang got out of bed also as the kid ran off. "There's a bridge on the ship?"

I rolled my eyes. "The bridge is where the steering wheel is, Fang. It must be something about moving the ship. Come on. And leave Rapture."

He had moved to pick the boy up, but stopped at my command. Once we were outside of the room, he said, "You notice how the kid said my name first?"

"Yeah, and?"

Fang shrugged. "Just wanted to make sure you noticed."

Rolling my eyes, I interlaced our fingers. "Don't make me hurt you, Fang."

"I'll try not to."

When we got to the bridge the rest of the flock was there, this time Total included, along with his wife. My sister, mother, and brother were also there, though Ella was as far away from Iggy as possible. Great. They're fighting.

Fang and I went to stand next to Dylan, though I'm sure that Fang was just following behind me and could have done without being around my ex.

"Nudge found a book," Iggy told us. "All we have to do is set the propellers to go and make sure that the steering wheel is in the right direction. It controls the rudder, I think."

Fang slipped his hand out of mine, moving to cross his arms over his chest, though we were still leaning towards each other enough so that we could touch. Fang went as far as to open his wings, leaving his right one around me. I had to shift my weight to not hurt it as I leaned back against the counter.

"So…who's going to figure out how to turn on the jets or propellers or whatever?" I asked. "Not me, because I'll screw it up."

"I'm blind," Iggy said, holding up his hands. Nudge rolled her eyes as Fang and Dylan didn't even offer up excuses, though I'm sure Dylan's would be his lack of one hand and Fang's would be…well…I'm not sure, but I'm sure he could think up something.

"I'll do it," she said, to which I nodded.

"It's probably best anyways, Nudge," I said. "You're good with electric stuff."

"How far out should we go?" My mother asked, though she directed the question at Ari.

That angered me slightly. Fang had told that apparently Ari had gone to my mom to cure him and she agreed, behind all our backs. I knew the effects that my supposed father had on her, but it was getting kind of creepy, Ari being able to manipulate her…if that's really what he's doing. God, I hope not. I mean…ew. That's, like, my mom getting with my brother, just without the incest…yeah…

Fang, sensing my discomfort, kicked my foot gently with his, trying to make me center in on him. Leaning more heavily on him, I answered for Ari, whether my mother liked it or not.

"I don't think we should go too far," I offered up. "Only a few miles. After all, we're still going to need access to the island."

Fang nodded a little bit, speaking up also for some reason, though I'm sure it had to either do with proving himself equal to me or prove himself high ranking than Ari. Either way, I let him speak.

"I plan to go back today, if possible. I'm taking others with me this time," he said. "We're not going to try and cure, only kill. Royce let Max and Dylan off way too easy. I think he's planning something and I want to eliminate as much of the threat as possible."

I kicked his foot back gently, holding down a smile. Fang was so good at articulating his thoughts these days, or at least more so than he used to be. I was expecting a kick or touch back, but Fang was into the game plan now. Though it hurt me at times, I also found his eagerness to provide for the greater good…sexy. I mean, yeah, sometimes it meant that I couldn't be first in his priorities, but I always knew that he was just doing what he thought was best. Who could fault someone for that…so long as their best wasn't something evil, Jeb…not that I'm pointing any fingers…

"Then it's settled, eh?" Iggy was relaxing in a chair, probably nursing a hangover. Nudge had mentioned him and Ella getting drunk before the island erupted into zombie hysteria. Personally, I would have figured that he had lost the ability to get hangovers by now, but I guess he's not a full on alcoholic yet. "We'll go out and kick some zombie arse!"

"Iggy!" My mother frowned over at him.

"What's arse?" Gazzy asked Nudge.

"The cool way of saying ass."

"No, the foreign way," Ella corrected, which got them all a correction from my mother. I sighed as Fang finally checked out of the conversation and kicked my foot back gently. Glancing over at him, I smiled at him and he gave me a nice look, though not a smile. I would take what I could get though.

"Oh, God," Dylan mumbled, apparently watching us. Fang immediately straightened, though the wing that was draped across my shoulders tightened somehow. I think he pulled them in and curled them to accomplish this. Regardless, I molded against him, watching the others argue about the orgin of the word arse as my mother protested such a discussion.

"Think we can sneak away and make out a little before we leave to kick some zombie…butt?"

I smiled at Fang even brighter, just because he was so damn cute when he tried. "Is that what you want to do?"

"Of course."

"Hmmm, let me think about it."

At that, Dylan walked off, over to where Iggy was. Taking in the fact that that now meant no one was watching us, I reached up and forced Fang's arms apart so that I could drag his arm down and interlace our fingers. A smile played on his lips as Fang brought our intertwined hands up to his lips to kiss them, though he didn't allow himself a full on grin. I felt warm inside from this, like I used to when we first got together and just a little kiss on the cheek could get me flustered.

When I felt eyes on me, I turned and saw Ari watching us, his face as blank as Fang's typically was. Fang was still staring at me, but when he saw my look, he turned to follow my gaze. As his settled on Ari's, Fang's little smirk changed, leaving me angry with Ari for yet another reason. Fang just moved to kiss me very gently and very quickly on the lips, I think to make some sort of a point to Ari. I wasn't sure what, but Fang never does anything without reason.

"That's enough," Mom said as she finally spotted us. Fang just removed his hand from mine to replace his wing, which retracted, leaving his hand in the small of my back, acting protective towards me in a way that was unbelievably hot…I have got to start spending less time with my sister and Nudge…

I sighed a little bit, my fingers now feeling cold without his protecting them. "The point is, guys, that we can move the ship, but only enough so to keep the zombies away. Nudge informed me that some of the zombies are members of this island; that means that they have wings. I'm leaving behind some people to watch over the young kids. I don't want anyone getting hurt, you hear me? And yes, Gazzy, you are considered a little kid still."

"That's okay, Max," he told me. "I need to stay here anyways and help plan."

"Plan what?"

"How we're going to take down Royce," he told me. "You know, monster movie style."

"That's great, G-"

"Fang!"

We all frowned as someone came bursting into the room. Who other than Rapture? I shook my head a little bit at his urgency, but Fang moved to get down on the little boy's level as he reached him, wanting to make sure that he was alright.

"What's going on, buddy?" Fang asked, staring into his eyes in a way I knew I never could. "Are you hurt?"

"No, Fang." He looked up at him, unblinking as his purple irises stared into Fang's dark ones. "Royce is here."

"What?" I pushed off the counter. "You saw him?"

"No," Rapture said slowly. Then he looked around and got embarrassed by the fact everyone was listening to him. Motioning with his hands, he waited for me to crouch down like Fang, so that we were all on the same level. Then he leaned between the two of us, whispering in our ears, "I feel him."

"What did he say?" Ari asked as Fang picked Rapture up, holding the little boy with one arm. Angel saw this and frowned, probably jealous of Fang's new attention grabber.

"He said that he can feel him," I said, standing up straighter also. From Fang's arms, Rapture was as tall as me, if not mere inches taller, and reached out to pat my face, thankful that I was speaking for him. Fang bounced Rapture slightly, not used to holding a child, much less not one so old.

"What?" Iggy asked, but my mother just sighed.

"Not this again," she mumbled.

"It's probably one of his powers," I defended. "Like those blasts he can put off. He's powerful, Mom."

"Yep," Rapture bragged. "I powerful."

"Shhh, Rapture," Fang mumbled. I crossed my arms, though not in defiance nor annoyance, but rather to show the others that I wasn't up for debate. I believed Rapture when he said that Royce was here.

"Can you take us to him?" I asked Rapture.

"Mmmm…Danny."

"What?"

"Danny."

Angel, who was over by Nudge, spoke up. "He's saying that Danny can explain what he does better, but Danny's…"

"Danny's a zombie," Rapture told us all in earnest. Then, remembering that meant that his brother wasn't with him, the four year old moaned, cuddling into Fang. "I love Danny. Max's mommy'll fix him, huh?"

Fang nodded slightly. "Now can you take us to him?"

"I feel him."

"Well, would you be able to feel if you, maybe, got closer? Hmmm?"

Rapture nodded. "Yes!"

"Fang, I don't feel good about this," my mother said, frowning a little bit. "If Royce is planning something…Rapture's so young. I'm sure there's another way-"

"No! I stay with Fang," Rapture told us all. Total groaned.

"He's more obsessed with Fang than you are, Max," the Scottie accused, which about got him thrown overboard, wings clipped.

"The point is, Mom," I said, shooting daggers at Total, "Rapture wants to help."

"I big help, huh, Fang?" He snuggled into Fang's neck, which I figured would be where my boyfriend drew the line, but he just looked uncomfortable instead of stopping it. "Fang 'n' Max 'n' Rapture!" Then he giggled. "'n' Nudge, 'cause she's pretty."

Nudge rolled her eyes. "If he can get us to Royce, then what?"

"We capture him."

"We kill him," Fang said, frowning at me. "Max, he is beyond capture. Heck, we couldn't even keep Jeb locked down."

"That's because Mom let him out to help her. That won't happen with Royce. We'll keep him locked away and-"

"If I get to him, I'm killing him," Fang spoke over me, apparently intent on defying me. Rapture giggled at the face I made.

"No, you're not, Fang. I'm telling you; flat out that you're not." I turned to stare into his eyes and he met mine with utter insolence written all over his face. "I'm leader, not you."

That pissed him off, but come on. Fang keeps acting like this is our island, like we are actually one. That's not true. I'm in control, I always have been. I guess our relationship made things messy, especially given that when he first came back, I allowed him to do as he pleased, if only because I didn't want to fight. Now well over a year of him returning to the flock, I had to get him back under the reigns, before he begins to think he runs the show.

"Yeah, well, you don't lead me. Come on, Rapture, let's go get Royce." Fang started for the door. "You too, Angel."

"No, Angel, you're staying," I said, which made Fang turn around.

"Guys, this really isn't that serious," Iggy intervened, fearing Fang and I would get into a fist fight over this.

"Yeah," Dylan said, moving away from Iggy and back to me. Fang just stared at him, unfazed Mom finally stepped into the middle of the room, speaking loudly so that we all knew not to interrupt.

"All of you listen to me," she began as Ari went over to a chair on the other side of the room from Iggy and the others, where he then flaked out, prepared for a long speech. "No one is going to be fighting each other. At all. Max is leader, Fang. You-"

"With all do respect, doctor," Fang started, still staring passed her and at me. What? Am I supposed to be scared of him? Please. When someone has told you their deepest darkest secret and it's to own a bike, you no longer fear them. Ever. "I don't take orders from a Whitecoat. Especially one that hasn't done shit since curing Angel other than invite our enemy into our base and allow the other one to get away. So, you know what? If my girlfriend flips out on me and I happen to slug her, that's our business."

"No, that's my business," Iggy said as Dylan bucked up, one hand and all.

"Yeah," Gasman said, standing when Iggy did. After a look from me though, he sat back down.

"Ooh ooh," Ari called from his side of the room. "I don't have to kill the two of you, do I, Max, Fang? You'll do it yourselves. I've never been prouder to be your in-law, Fang."

"Shut up," he said, still staring at me. "Fuck you, Max."

I put my hand on Dylan when he rose to the bait. No way Fang would fight him now that he was missing a hand…would he? I wasn't sure of anything at the moment.

"Guys-" Ella and Nudge both tried, but it was too late.

"Come on, Angel," Fang said, turning to walk out of the room, not even turning to see if she followed. Rapture waved at me over Fang's shoulder, but said nothing.

"Don't go," I told Angel, but I didn't move to stop her, knowing that this had to be her decision. "I mean it."

"I want to go with Fang though, Max," she said, staring at me for a moment. "If Rapture can find Dr. Royce, then he can find Jay. Nadia would be really happy with me then, right? And not bother you so much?"

"Leave that to me."

She just shook her head before running off to catch up with my boyfriend.

I stared at the wall for a long moment, my hand still pressed into Dylan's stomach, holding him back although Fang was already gone. I think in reality, I was using him as to comfort me. Fang defies me and I lie to myself, saying that I find that hot and appealing. Dylan always tries to please me, but I won't admit that I love that. How long can I continue being deceitful before it catches up to me?

"Well?" I said after a moment, looking around the room before settling on Nudge. "Start the boat, huh? Iggy and Gazzy'll help you. Then, Gasman, I want you back to…whatever it is you're doing. Ella, go help Mom when she goes back to the lab. Total too. Dylan, you come with me."

"Where are we going?" He asked.

"With Ari to rally together everyone."

"For?"

I finally removed my hand from him, though he moved to touch me regardless. For once, I didn't move away.

"We're going to kill some zombies."

"Fang? How come you were going to hit Max?"

He groaned, glancing over at Angel. "Not right now, okay, Angel?"

"Can't you just tell me?"

"It's not that simple." He looked over at Rapture, who was flying slightly in front of them, leading them to Royce, or so he hoped. With Rapture, you never knew what to expect.

"I thought you said that you can't fight with a girl?"

"I wouldn't hit a girl, but Max isn't a girl. She's…different."

Angel seemed shocked. "Ew."

"You know what I mean," he said, frowning at her. "Max and I we…it's not the same if a guy hits you when you get older or if one hits Nudge. Me and Max are close in a way that no one else will ever be."

Angel frowned. "I don't think that's fair."

"It's not," Fang agreed before calling up to Rapture if he was okay.

"Taking Fang to Royce," he yelled over his shoulder.

"Or Jay," Angel reminded, but Rapture didn't say anything back about that. He was only four after all, which of course meant a one track one mind.

"The point being, Angel, is that Max and I follow a separate set of rules from everyone else."

"But why?"

"We've gone through hell together. We deserve to-"

"Hit each other?"

"No," he said slowly. "Get our points across however we see fit. And, for the record, I wasn't going to hit her back there, not today."

"But you said-"

"I only said that so that as a reference. Dr. Martinez does not control my relationship with Max in any way."

"But she's Max's mom."

"And? She wasn't there for a huge chunk of Max's life," Fang told Angel. "She's not a 'mom' like you think, like was in those shows that you used to watch back before the world got so screwed up. She's still a new addition to our life. I've always been in Max's life."

Angel let that go for a moment before asking, "What about Iggy?"

"What about Iggy?"

"He doesn't want you to hurt Max either."

"Iggy has no say in my relationships until he learns to not cheat in his."

Angel's eyes widened. "Iggy-"

"No, wait, I didn't-"

"Really?"

"Angel-"

"On Ella? Iggy cheated on Ella?"

"Well-"

"Ew! How? With who? Ew!" She seemed overly interested and Fang immediately started to think of anything other than the fact that Iggy fingered Nadia and, probably, countless others. Oops, he thought of it. "Ew! Nadia? Ew!' What does fingered mean?"

"Angel, stop it. Now!" Fang began to fly fast, catching up with Rapture before he thought more about the true meaning of fingered. Even though he was mad at Max right now, he'd have to get her to have a talk with Angel about personal thoughts and why they should be left alone.

"Are we any closer, Rapture?" He asked, just to distract himself. Glancing back, he saw Angel flying faster to also catch up. "To Royce?"

"Feel him closer," Rapture confirmed. "No Jay near."

Angel sighed, but Fang didn't really care. He was more concerned with Royce, honestly. That was his only goal now; to get revenge on the man that caused all of this.

It took forever to catch up with Fang, Rapture, and Angel. I was using my hyper speed, flying as fast as I could towards the island. Luckily for me, by the time I got to them, Rapture was singing his repertoire of songs for my boyfriend and baby.

"-how I wonder what you are. Up above- I feel Max!" Rapture turned around, staring at me. "Hi, Max."

I had slowed down by then and managed a wave, though I was tired. Fang didn't even look at me, though Angel greeted me.

"Hey," I said back to her and Rapture, pulling up next to the little boy. "How closer are you to Royce?"

"Really, really, close. Like…close, close." Rapture smiled. "I sing for Fang 'n' Angel."

"I heard."

Fang shook his head, but still didn't speak. Angel, however, did.

"Why do you have that club?"

I frowned before realizing she meant the piece of wood I had sticking out of the backpack on my back. "Oh. I was out zombie killing. I didn't like it that much and it looked like everything was under control."

"No injuries?" Fang asked, finally speaking to me.

"Nope," I said, keeping all emotion out of my voice like he had done his own. All though, I did add in a snarky tone, "I guess I'm a pretty dang good leader."

"Seeing that I'm the one that decided to rip up furniture to create weapons?" Fang shook his head. "You always take credit for my plans."

"Is that what this is about?"

"This isn't about anything. This isn't even a thing!"

"You don't yell at my mother, start fights with other flock members, and then tell me that this is all nothing."

Fang glanced at Angel and then Rapture. "We'll talk later, alone."

I wanted to argue, if only to prove my standing as his leader, but instead just nodded. Ultimately, he was right. We were on a mission right now. Whether it be to kill Royce or capture him wasn't the point. We just had to get to him first.

"Close, close, close," Rapture sang after a minute, now beginning to descend. We all followed, each preparing for whatever happened. No telling what we were walking into; I only hope we can also walk back out of it.

I was going to finish this chapter last night, but, I kind of, accidentally, deleted all 12gb of music I've collected on my laptop since forever, so I spent the night mourning the loss of it. *Sniffle* It's so hard to get music now without Limewire and Frostwire...

Anyways, this story is kind of coming to an end soon. I have my sights set on 40 chapters, but I might go a little over. Just thought you should know that this thing is coming to a head (in a non-sexual way) and is coming to a climax (again with the non-sexual thing). Now I have to go download some more music and try to get my huge collection back. Yay...