One more disclaimer: this song is "Can't Fight the Moonlight" by LeeAnn Rimes. Sorry if you don't like the song lyrics. What can I say? I'm a music junkie!
~~*~~
~
Um
Wait
Slipped
Shit
Ow
Where'd it go?
Safe
Damn
I think I missed
Don't get pissed
It was bad for me
Was it bad for you?
~
Jondy crossed her arms and sat back, glowering, unhappy and unsatisfied. Roger might have been a good dancer, but in bed, well, he sucked, for lack of a better term. So now she was in the bed of some guy she barely knew and still jumpy as hell. She had to get out of here. Quietly, she pulled on her clothes and sneaked out.
She got on her motorcycle and rode off into the night, a lone figure in the darkness. As the trees and houses merged into one shapeless blur, the vibrating machine between her legs only served to intensify her agitation. Dammit, she thought. I'm in heat and the only guy I'd let fix me – I mean, fix it, is acting all weird.
She thought things couldn't get any worse. And of course, whenever someone thinks that, that's exactly when it does. This time is no exception because this is a cliché story where things like that happen. So on with the story.
She pulled up in front of the motel and got off her bike. As she did so, she started shaking. Just little tremors at first, then they became more and more violent. She had only reached the door when she collapsed.
This isn't fair! Isn't it against the rules to have this many bad things happen in one night? Don't I at least get to be in the privacy of my own room before it happens?
At any other time, she would have berated herself for thinking fairness had anything to do with it, but seizures tended to make her think a little irrationally. So did being in heat. The combination made her outstandingly stupid. Finally, she had a total system shutdown and blacked out.
~*~
The receptionist was the one who found her. "Miss? Miss, are you all right?"
The girl didn't respond, either because she was still unconscious or because it was a stupid question. (It was the former, although the latter would have been just as believable.) The receptionist, Allison, didn't have the slightest clue what to do. Should she call 911? The police? The girl didn't appear to have any injuries, but that didn't mean anything.
Not wanting to leave her out on the sidewalk, but not strong enough to haul her in, Allison rushed back inside. She nearly collided with the young man who had arrived with the girl. "Excuse me," she stammered, "but the young lady you came with – outside – something happened, I don't know–" She couldn't stop babbling. Luckily, the young man had grasped enough of what she had said to understand that his girlfriend was outside and that something bad had happened to her.
Zack ran outside. Jondy was sprawled on the sidewalk, unconscious, her already pale skin paper white. Luckily, it was still early in the morning, so there weren't any people standing around and gaping like idiots. He brushed her hair away from her face and checked her pulse. It was there, strong and steady. He felt her forehead. Her skin was clammy, but her temperature was normal.
He scooped her up in his arms and carried her inside, barely straining under her weight. The receptionist was there, still prattling to herself. When she saw Zack, she asked, "Should I call 911? The police? The–"
"No."
"But–"
"No."
~*~
Jondy came to an hour later, still very much in heat. ("Oh, just go away!") Zack was looking out the window, his back to her. She sat up, mentally checking herself for injuries. Her head hurt a little (she suspected she may have hit it a few times on the cement), but other than that, she was fine.
"Zack."
He turned around and walked over to her, sitting on the bed next to her. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
Damn, he looks good – Stop. Just stop.
She shrugged. "I'm okay. I think I may have knocked my head against the cement a few more times than is healthy, though."
"Turn," he commanded. She obeyed, making a face when he couldn't see her. Gently, he checked her for injuries. "Does that hurt?" She didn't mind answering the first time, but after about a dozen times, she was starting to get a little irritated.
"Zack. I will tell you when it hurts, okay?" She said it slowly as to make sure he understood.
She could feel him trying not to smile. "Okay."
But any male touching her, Zack or no, made her feline DNA very…active. Finally, when she couldn't stand it anymore, she turned around and kissed him hungrily, her tongue exploring his mouth. In a few minutes, their clothes were on the floor and she was pushing him down onto the bed.
Finally.
~
Take me
Take me
Today for you
Tomorrow for me
Today me
Tomorrow you
Tomorrow you
Love
you
Love you
I love
You I love
You!
Take me
Take me
I love you
~
~*~
Wow. I just had sex and I'm not in heat anymore. Things are looking up.
Jondy settled back against the pillows and looked at Zack. He was lying on his back, hands on his stomach, his eyes closed. As if he felt her gaze, he opened his eyes and looked at her. Smoky blue eyes met soft gray-green ones. They looked at each other without saying anything. Finally, Jondy spoke.
"Do we just use each other for sex?"
Her voice was mild and didn't betray what she was thinking.
Zack didn't answer.
"Because it always seems like whenever you visit, I'm in heat and then we always end up having sex and…well, I was just wondering…you know…" she ended lamely.
When it became apparent that he wasn't going to answer, she turned her back to him and began searching for her clothes. "Where's my bra?" she muttered, hunting through the pile of clothes on the floor. "Zack, have you seen – oh." He tossed it to her and she finished dressing. She started to pull on a boot when she realized it was about two sizes too big. Not bothering to look, she tossed it behind her in Zack's general direction. "Think fast."
She heard him catch it, then: "I do."
She turned around briefly to stick her tongue out at him, then went back to dressing. When she had finished lacing her boots, she ran a hand through her hair and stood up. "Well, I only signed the room out for a couple of days, so we should probably get going before we're actually forced to pay for it."
~
We're not gonna pay
Last year's rent
This year's rent
Next year's rent
Rent rent rent rent rent
We're not gonna pay rent
'Cause everything is rent
~
~*~
By the end of the week, they reached Crescent City, a small city on the water near the California/Oregon border. "Have a thing for lakeside views, huh?" Zack asked Jondy.
"Better believe it," she replied with a grin. "You stickin' around?"
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Oh." She didn't know what else to say. Instead, she focused on painting her toenails, a luxury she allowed herself every now and then. (She had already done her fingernails.) The nail polish was the color of midnight, a deep blue-violet, laced with silver shimmer.
Zack glanced at her. "What is that smell? Did you steal one of Zane's stinkbombs?"
"Nope, better." She held up the nail polish bottle. "A formaldehyde bomb."
Zack groaned. "Women."
"Men. Hey, I was thinking of visiting Tinga next week."
Zack looked at her, then back at the floor. "She's not in Portland anymore."
Jondy stared at him with surprise. "Why not? I thought she wanted to stay with Charlie and Case."
"I made her leave."
"Of course you did, O Sensitive One. Why?"
"It was getting too dangerous."
"Why was it getting too dangerous?" For some reason, Jondy had to know. Zack had always evaded her when she asked questions about her pseudosiblings, and she had let him, but now she wanted to know.
"Lydecker was on to her." He still wasn't making eye contact.
"How did Lydecker find out where she was? For that matter, how did he find out where I was?" He didn't answer. "What aren't you telling me, Zack?"
He hesitated, as though debating whether to tell her something, then, finally, he spoke. "The last couple months, before I came to visit you, I was at Manticore."
The fearless leader of the X-5s got caught? What was this world coming to? Jondy had to joke about it, or else she would crack. Like Ben had.
"How did it happen?" she asked at last.
"I was careless."
"Bullshit."
He looked at her. "You don't think I can be careless?"
"No, I don't," she replied frankly. "You being careless is like…" She waved her hands around, trying to find an adequate simile. "Me being subtle. Just ain't gonna happen."
He smiled, but it was strained.
"Who helped you get out?" Jondy wanted to know.
"No one," he answered quickly.
"No one my ass. If you're just going to lie to me, Zack, save your breath." Disgusted, she got up to leave. As she turned to go, Zack said one word.
"Max."
Slowly, Jondy turned around. "You know where Max is?"
He nodded.
"Where?" When he didn't answer, she demanded, "Where is she, Zack? Tell me."
He shook his head. "I can't let you–"
"Fuck what you can't let me do! Tell me where she is!" She was almost yelling now. She didn't care what anyone heard, she didn't care about any of it anymore. All she wanted was to know where her sister was.
Apparently Zack had decided that he had told her enough. He crossed his arms, looking at her, but not saying anything. Jondy had had enough. In a surprising burst of speed, she shoved him against the wall, nearly choking him.
"Where is she?" Her voice was dangerously low.
Zack took too long to answer. She tightened her vice-like grip on his throat.
"Seattle."
She let go. She knew he could have fought her, but he didn't. Maybe he just wanted to be able to say that she hadn't really kicked his ass this time because he didn't try to fight back. A bruised ego, particularly Zack's, could be a wondrous thing.
She pulled on her jacket, freeing her hair from under the collar.
"Where are you going?"
"Seattle. Where else?"
Where else, indeed.
~*~
Zack had decided to tag along after all. After they had gotten a hotel room, Jondy grilled him about Max. What was she up to? Where did she work? Did she have a boyfriend? (Zack refused to answer that one.) Jondy eagerly absorbed all the information she could on her sister and once best friend.
"Where does she live now?"
Zack shrugged. "She lives in Sector 4, but a…friend of hers has an apartment in Sector 9."
"Sector 9?" Jondy repeated. "Isn't that where the rich people live?"
Ignoring that, Zack continued, "You can usually find her there."
"What's the address?"
Zack gave it to her. "The guy's name is Logan Cale."
"Ooh, so there is a guy in the picture. Does he know…?"
"Yeah," he answered shortly.
"This just keeps getting better and better. Thanks, Zack." She took a deep breath, trying to smile. "Well, here I go. Wish me luck."
"There's no such–"
"Yeah, yeah, there's no such thing, blah blah woof woof. See ya."
~*~
Jondy dropped in through the skylight, landing silently on all fours. Just then, a man entered the foyer, studying the papers he was holding. "You know," he said, "there is a door–" He looked up, and Jondy froze.
They stared at each other from their separate vantage points.
Cute, in an intellectual preppy sort of way.
Beautiful, in an other-worldly kind of way.
Replying to his earlier comment, Jondy remarked dryly, "Thanks for the heads-up."
"Anytime. So," he said conversationally, as though he wasn't a complete stranger whose apartment she had just broken into, "how can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Max."
"She's not here right now. May I ask who's calling?"
It took Jondy a second to realize that it was a joke.
I will never understand rich white guy humor.
"I'm…her sister."
"Sister?" he repeated. "Are you…?"
"One of those supersoldier superfreaks?" she finished, standing up. "Yup. Name's Jondy. You must be Logan."
"Jondy? I've heard a lot about you."
"Most of it good, I hope."
"Most of it," he said with a grin.
Jondy raised an eyebrow, smiling in spite of herself. "So how long have you and Max been together?"
"Ah…we're not like that."
The arched eyebrow went higher. "Riiight. Do all guys go through phases of denial or are you and Zack just special?"
"Zack?" He made it a question.
She shook her head. "Never mind. So, do you know where Max is?"
"Last I heard, she was going to Crash."
"Crash? As in, sleep? Max doesn't sleep."
He stared at her in confusion until he realized what she meant. He laughed, and it was a nice-sounding laugh. Jondy could see where the attraction came in. "No, Crash is a club." He told her the address.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Um, this isn't meant to offend you, but aren't you a little young to be from Manticore? You look like you're sixteen."
"I'm nineteen," she retorted defensively. Like living on the run wasn't bad enough; now she was being told she looked young for her age. "Anyway, I'll be going. See ya."
"'Bye."
~*~
After she called Zack, telling him to meet her at Crash, she headed to the club. As she walked in, the first thing that struck her attention was a big cardboard sign that said, "Kareoke Contest! Prize: $500".
Wow, a chance to meet her sister and earn some cash at the same time. Jondy was psyched. (Hey, she needed the money, okay?) She signed up, then took a seat at the far corner of the bar. She scanned the crowds, looking for Max. Would she know her when she saw her? Or would she have to go up to complete strangers and ask them if they knew someone named Max? She preferred the first way, but she didn't always have a choice in the matter.
An hour and a few drinks later, Jondy was still in her seat, watching the singer on stage. The girl was singing a song about heartache and denial. How ironic. Jondy thrummed her fingers on her thighs impatiently. She was almost up, and Zack still hadn't shown.
I swear, if he bails on me this time…
Well, she had kicked his ass once. She could do it again.
"Introducing…Angel!"
Okay, she was up. She stood up and walked on stage, politely making way for the girl who had just been on. She scanned the crowds for Zack.
Dammit. Aw, hell, screw him. Oh, wait; I did.
Finally, she nodded to the DJ. He pressed a button and the music started. As the intro played, Zack walked in. Fashionably late. When he saw who was on stage, he raised his eyebrows. Jondy resisted the urge to make any sort of facial gesture in response. Instead, she just waited for her cue and began singing.
"Under a lovers' sky
Gonna be with you
And no one's gonna be around
If you think that you won't fall
Well, just wait until
'Til the sun goes down
Underneath the starlight - starlight
There's a magical feeling - so right
It'll steal your heart tonight…"
Why did it feel like she was singing to him? Zack wondered. Well, he told himself, she probably was. She didn't know anyone else there.
"You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know
But you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark
You'll surrender your heart
But you know
But you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight
No, you can't fight it
It's gonna get to your heart…"
~*~
Max glanced at the girl onstage. Surprisingly enough, she actually had some talent. Most of the time, it was just a bunch of wannabes who weren't singers for a reason. She looked more closely at the girl. She looked familiar. Blonde hair, blue eyes… Suddenly, her eyes zeroed in on someone else. Was that Zack at the bar? She must be dreaming.
"There's no escape from love
Was the gentle breeze
Weaves its spell upon your heart
No matter what you think
It won't be too long
'Til you're in my arms…"
"Be right back," she told Original Cindy.
"A'ight, boo," Cindy replied absently, her eyes focused on the girl onstage.
Max grinned and got up, walking over to Zack.
"Hey, big brother," she greeted him. He turned, startled, as though he hadn't expected to find her there. Right. Like he would come to Seattle for any other reason. To a club, no less.
"Hey, Maxie." He was silent for a moment, then asked, "What do you think of her?" He nodded to the girl onstage.
Max shrugged. "She's pretty good, I guess. Better than the usuals, who sound like fingernails grating on a chalkboard. Why do you ask?"
He just smiled secretively. "No reason."
Yeah, right.
"Whatev."
"Underneath the starlight - starlight
We'll be lost in the rhythm - so right
Feel it steal your heart tonight
You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know
But you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark
You'll surrender your heart
But you know
But you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight
No you can't fight it
No matter what you do
The night is gonna get to you…"
~*~
As soon as Jondy saw the girl talking to Zack, she knew who it was. Max. She looked just like Jondy remembered, with big brown eyes and porcelain-like skin. Only difference was, now she had dark brown curls that fell to her shoulders. Like Tinga, Max favored the black cat-suit look. Go figure.
"Don't try then
You're never gonna win
Part of me the starlight - starlight
There's a magical feeling - so right
It will steal your heart tonight…"
Just then, Max looked at her. Really looked at her. Her eyes widened in shock, and Jondy
knew she had recognized her. She didn't know what to do, so she didn't do anything. She just kept on singing.
"You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know
But you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark
You'll surrender your heart
But you know
But you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight
No, you can't fight it…"
Her eyes wandered back to Zack. He kept looking at her, then Max, and back again. Finally, she caught his eye and smiled. He smiled back. Maybe it was silly, but she really did care about him. In spite of the fact that he could be an asshole. In spite of everything.
"You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know
Don't you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark
You'll surrender your heart
But you know
But you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight
No, you can't fight it
It's gonna get to your heart…"
There was a moment of silence, during which all of Jondy's self-confidence crumbled, then everyone burst into simultaneous applause. She grinned and bowed gracefully before walking off the stage. "They like me! They really like me!" she joked to herself as she joined Zack and Max.
Although it had only been moments before that she had been onstage, the object of everyone's scrutiny, it was only now that her stomach was aflutter with butterflies. Max. Her sister. Her friend. It had been, what, ten years? Too long.
"Hi, Max," Jondy ventured after they had stared at each other for a good five minutes without saying anything.
Max just shook her head, like she couldn't believe it. "Jondy…I…" Finally, Max just hugged her. "It's so good to see you."
"You, too," Jondy murmured, returning her sister's enthusiastic hug.
"So," Max said once they had sat down, "how have you been?"
